Sunday Story…Who Are You?

 

Deep down, at your core, who are you? Who is your authentic self?

Is it the kind, generous, empathetic person you show up as when you are at your best?

Or is it the cranky, irritated, impatient person who shows up when we are stressed, tired or busy?

 

The first person is who we strive to be at all times. The other one? The one that slips out is the incomplete and less competent version.

 

We can see this in children. They begin as little self centered and egotistical beings. They have no choice. Their world view is small and consists of very few other beings. As they grow and mature their world gets larger and other ways of being come into focus. They begin to grow taller and as they do their view becomes larger and more expansive. The opportunity arises to become kind, generous, and empathetic.

 

As we grow and mature our vision enlarges and becomes clearer. Pity the grown up who never grows up, whose vision remains fixed on the small and the petty and the selfish. We choose to create our interactions. We choose how we show up. Change how you show up if you look back and see a toddler.

 

Show up as the change you want to see in the world.

 

John Mariotti

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

www.crossfitodyssey.com

7753382412

Sunday Story…Resilience

 

Mental toughness, intestinal fortitude, the grind, grit, unconquerable mind, are things we say when we mean resilience. Resilience is the ability to make things work even when those things aren’t going according to plan.

 

None of us planned for 2020 to have a worldwide pandemic that would see people thrown out of work, get hospitalized, or die. Did you wilt, roll over and give up, or did you figure out how to thrive? That’s resilience. That’s mental toughness.

 

If there is one skill, one trait that we all can get better at it’s the ability to roll with the punches and come out swinging. Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the face. But once you get hit in the face what do you do? Quit? Give up? Or do you take it on the chin, say “good one” and then get back after it?

 

We all get hit in the face. It’s part of the human condition. Adversity happens. It is inevitable. Everything is not always going to go according to plan. What you do when it doesn’t is a measure of your resilience, your grit. How do you measure up?

 

John Mariotti

www.crossfitodyssey.com    

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

775-338-2412

 

 

Sunday Story…The Department of Customer Delight

 

Years ago I had a friend who worked in the customer service department of a property manager’s office. She called it the department of customer delight. Her job was to make sure each person who called had a delightful experience. When you approach each interaction with that goal in mind it makes the job so much more rewarding.

 

Imagine what might be possible if we started each project with the idea that what we would create would delight and amaze? It wouldn’t just be utilitarian, although it would. It wouldn’t just be designed to do the intended job although it would do that. It would be elegant and simple and practical.

 

If I design a thing or an experience to perform as needed but also make it beautiful and delightful we will be drawn to it. If all you want is the bare bones you can get that easily. But if you want a thing that combines form and function and delights the user then you have a thing that will be irresistible.

 

We can always choose to make things that work. But choosing to make things that delight and work? That will be a thing worth seeking out.

 

John Mariotti

www.crossfitodyssey.com

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

775-338-2412

Sunday Story…Just Looking

Also known as “shopping” or “browsing,” just looking is code for “I’m really not terribly interested and just need to waste a little time aimlessly looking at whatever is in front of me.

 

This is true of many pursuits…the student who is just putting in the time versus the one who is truly engaged with the subject matter…someone who is just turning the pages of a book versus someone who is making an effort to absorb and integrate the lessons contained therein.

 

The difference between the two is obvious and palpable. When we are committed amazing things take place…learning takes place, a shift takes place. We are open to profound and useful lessons. We can formulate questions that probe and expand understanding.

 

Too much of our time these days is spent “browsing” and maybe that’s why all those things you use on your computer and phone to go places are called browsers. They are designed to facilitate you “just looking.” The more you scroll and semi-engage the more likely you are to stumble on something, anything. If you are committed you won’t mindlessly scroll through anything and browse past what’s really important.

 

The question isn’t what’s next; the question should be what’s important. Find that, stick with it, and move forward instead of treading water and doom scrolling.

 

John Mariotti

www.crossfitodyssey.com

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

775-338-2412