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Five questions

November 11th, 2008 posted by wisequeen

Todays post is a series of questions I try to ask myself at least once a week as a writer and trainer, because you can’t give from an empty bucket.

Success

So here goes you answer them 1-5 honestly.

1. Am I passionate about what I am doing, can others see/feel that?

2. Am I open to change and to new talented people coming into my work network/ or threatened by it?

3. Can I explain to others what I do to earn my living easily?

4. Am I listening to my critics or encouragers, what do I do with this information.?

5. Am I treading water until the next big wave hits/ or am I up on the wave now ready to ride it?

A post Liz Strauss wrote that helped me to think, read my comment.

Answer these 5 questions in a comment, send them to all your followers, to everyone you love and Know.
Donna Jackson
Social Communications Specialist
Wisequeen

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Comments

Miss Expatria says:

November 11th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

1. I am passionate about what I do, because I love every second of it. And I think that comes across in both areas of my work (the freelance writing and the travel writing).

2. I am open to change, and I enjoy the energy that comes from new ideas and new points of view. I feel… not threatened, but intimidated, when I find new people who are so much more experienced than I am in the travel writing community. It makes me realize how much more work I have to do, and that can be disheartening.

3. Yes! I’m a freelance writer. Boom.

4. Encouraging words are always welcomed, and it makes me want to keep going and overdeliver. Criticism is great when coming from knowledgeable sources; when it comes from those with a lack of context or with a personal bias, I try to first see if there is any truth the the core of what they are saying, and certainly I implement any changes that come from that.

5. Oh, I am SO READY.

Cherrye at My Bella Vita says:

November 11th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

I think Miss E needs to elaborate on #3. I don’t get it.

Great questions. I love the one about being threatened or welcoming new people. It amazes me how many people are threatened by other talented people. I think this is a confidence issue and you either have it, or you don’t.

Thanks for the deep thoughts so late in the working day!

wisequeen says:

November 11th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

thanks Cherrye, but you didn’t answer the questions. come back and answer

wisequeen says:

November 11th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

Miss Expatria! We have a winner!! great answers BTW, and Your book is on its way. Who will be next.??

Chris (from Lifestyle Project) says:

November 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

1. Still trying to find my true passion.
2. Open to change
3. Yes, but current job bores me.
4. I take onboard all feedback and try to act on it.
5. A bit of both. I am ready to ride it though.

wisequeen says:

November 11th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

Thanks for being honest Chris. Now go do something about number 3. I guess your blog is that new direction. It’s great the new look, I want that hammock well done.

Kevin Elliott says:

November 11th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

1. Am I passionate about what I am doing, can others see/feel that?

I am always incredibly passionate about what I do and want to do. Passion is a very important ingredient in the entrepreneurial recipe. If you’re not doing something you absolutely love, people will innately know. Your passion needs to bleed through. I absolutely love what I do, and when I talk about it, people know, see, and feel it.

2. Am I open to change and to new talented people coming into my work network/ or threatened by it?

I’m absolutely open to change, when it’s needed. Over time, I’ve learned that receiving as much *constructive* criticism from those more senior (and even in completely different fields) as possible gave me an opportunity; an opportunity to reflect and reevaluate whatever it was that I was doing, even if their advice was wrong/canned/old. Bringing these people into my network is something that I’ve never refused, and I always embrace people in it. People who are more successful, more talented, more connected, more intelligent, more attractive, and more popular are always out there… They are critical to my success, even if they’re a little intimidating.

3. Can I explain to others what I do to earn my living easily?

Yes, I can. It’s important to me that I think every business opportunity and venture through in order to be able to answer this concisely and with meaning.

4. Am I listening to my critics or encouragers, what do I do with this information.?

Absolutely! Some people are discouraged when they receive advice they’re not looking for. I use to struggle with the idea that people would make comments about me that I wasn’t seeking. Then I realized that both critics and “encouragers” are vital to your success. Malicious critics are to be ignored immediately, but I look to see if there is meaning in normal advice. I seek it. I embrace it now, and I’ve learned to become less attached to what people say. It keeps me honest, and moving forward. Most importantly, I use what I learn from people who give me positive or “negative” advice as a way to find out what things work, and what I can do to improve.

5. Am I treading water until the next big wave hits/ or am I up on the wave now ready to ride it?

I’m on the wave!

-Kevin

wisequeen says:

November 11th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

Wow Kevin! I believe you are on the wave I see it. I love this game I’m learning so much from others authenticity and honesty. Thanks for sharing this with us, it’s very motivational.

wisequeen says:

November 11th, 2008 at 5:04 pm

P.S great blog Kevin it’s in my reader now.

Cherrye at My Bella Vita says:

November 13th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

Ok. ok. Here goes!

1. I am passionate about it and I hope others can see it. Eight years ago I took my first international trip and said I wanted to be a travel writer. While I have been doing this for about a year now - and written and published a few articles already - it really hit me the other day. Wow. I’m living my dream.

2. I love to surround myself with talented people and can honestly say I’ve never been threatened by talent. There is plenty of work to go around and good things come to those who work hard.

3. I’m a writer and B&B owner, living in southern Italy. Sums it up well, methinks.

4. I listen to critique harder than I listen to encouragement. If one person has the guts to tell me something negative, there must be others who think the same thing. I should do something about that.

5. I’m working hard - treading water, maybe - until the next big thing comes along. I believe that hard work pays off and I’m investing time now developing skills that will help me when the wave arrives.

wisequeen says:

November 13th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

Mybellavita I love this game! it’ sos inspirational to read others journeys. You are living the dream, thanks for sharing Now who will be next? Can you think of someone to send the link to?

Tina says:

November 20th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

okay finally answering these.

1. Yes, I am passionate about what I do. Translating is what I have wanted to since 2004 when I took the CILS exam in Siena. Translate Italian/English and work independently. The Tango dancing (I am a dancer and a teaching assistant for an old milonguero), well, it wouldn’t be Tango if I did it without passion.

2. I’m surprisingly open to the thought of new people coming in. I’ve had a few people write to me asking if I would help them by providing links and/or advice and it’s kind of cool that they look me.

3. I can very easily explain what I do. “I’m a translator”. And if they have time I also tell them “I’m a translator and a tango dancer”.

4. The critics are in my little head. The encouragement comes from everyone else around me. If I didn’t listen to the encouragement I wouldn’t be here today. The critics sometimes have to be kept at bay.

5. I feel like I’ve been treading water the entire time I’ve been here in Buenos Aires. It’s a treading water kind of place. I think I’m ready to ride the next big wave now because I’m ready to do something more with my career or even do new things on top of it, such as writing! Who knows. But I feel like it’s time.

Tina says:

November 20th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

Oh, to piggyback on my answer for #2 - that answer was translation-related. A Tango related answer would be that I’m not threatened by new talent because as far as the people in Buenos Aires are concerned, I AM new talent! (I’ve been dancing 6 years but have only been here 9 months). I love being surrounded by beautiful dancers who inspire me. Especially if they blow my mind with their talent and passion.

wisequeen says:

November 20th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Love this game! I find it inspiring to hear others stories. So I’m envious, not because I want to be a translator, been there got the T shirt. but because I want to be a tango dancer in BA. That sounds wonderful. Your blog is supendous.

romano says:

November 26th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

1. not always passionate, but when I am it is quite obvious
2. no threat, I like challenges in my job
3. yes, I think I am good at teching and explaining
4. yes, if I feel that critics are honestly said to help me or improve my results. I get irritated if it becomes a habit, it means that the goal is just to keep me down.
5. I am working hard with this wave and getting ready for the next one

wisequeen says:

November 27th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Thanks for sharing your answers Romano. Who will be next?

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