An important decision to be made

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Life Coaching Business Advice with JJ Jalopy

You’re back! How lovely it is to see you again.

I was hoping you’d come by. Sit anywhere you like. Don’t worry about your shoes.

Today I’ve been thinking about decisions.

And really one decision in particular.

Allow me to elaborate by means of an example.

Now I’m sure you’re nothing like the person I’m about to describe. What I’m about to say might not apply to you so you may need to play along a little…

Imagine that you have a job. Or imagine that you don’t.

(…and given that we’re pretending, why not make yourself incredibly attractive and charismatic, just like me!)

It's me!

Maybe you really enjoy your job. Or maybe you hate your job. Maybe you would enjoy your job if it weren’t for that idiot boss or the guy next to you who’s told the same photocopier anecdote to the last ten people who were unfortunate enough to walk past his desk.

Either way you get up in the morning to go to work, you do your eight hours a day, and you come home.

But you also have a dream.

Maybe it’s the kind of dream that slaps you in the face every time you walk into the office building. An “I’m going to run this place” dream; an “I’m going to be a Broadway star” dream.

I know what I want!

Or maybe it’s not so clear just yet. Maybe it’s just a sense that you’d like to be working for yourself.

You carry the dream around with you. You daydream about it during the day. You tell yourself you’re going to make it happen just as soon as you have more money, more time, more knowledge, more training, more confidence…

You carry your dream around with you as a little ray of light in your working day. A happy little distraction from Boring Bob and his stories about his combination boiler. A convenient excuse for not really going for that promotion- because what does it matter, right? You’ll be leaving soon to make a million on the internet.

Except that you won’t.

Because there is always an excuse. You can always be better prepared.

<< Sip of tea >>

I do love me a cup of tea!

Can I tell you a secret?

Can you guess who the person in the story is?

It’s me. The inimitable JJ Jalopy.

Before I decided to really go for my dream I could list a million excuses for not really committing myself:

I don’t have the time
I don’t have enough money
I’m not good enough
Other people are so much better than me
I don’t have the confidence
I’m scared I’ll screw up
I’m scared I’ll look silly.

Can you imagine it? The magnificent JJ Jalopy thinking these things?!

Of course you can! Fear and indecision live within all of us. It’ll always be there. But we get to choose how we respond to that fear.

Love the fear!

An awesome book that I’ve never read is Feel the Fear and Do It anyway by Susan Jeffers. I picked up the book, glanced at the cover, put it back on the shelf and headed straight to the in-store Starbucks for chai latte and brainstorming. The title told me everything I needed to know. It was time to commit.

(I call that speed of implementation, by the way. It’s a super important concept that I’ll be sure to hammer into your consciousness in the coming weeks and months of our relationship.)

What I’d like to challenge you to do today is to make a decision. Either you commit to going for that dream right now, or you commit yourself fully to the other areas of your life, putting that dream away for now, happy that you’re concentrating on the right thing.

Those are the only choices. I urge you to make the decision now.

Whichever way you decide it’s okay. You made a decision and it’s the right one because you made it. You’re black or white, no longer grey. Grey is for dirty computer peripherals. You deserve better.

A wonderful thing happens when you bring yourself fully to a task. Just you wait and see!

Now before I go, I have one last thing to ask of you.

A wise man once advised me to never leave the scene of a decision without taking some action that backs it up. (I’d tell you who it was, but I mentioned him yesterday and I don’t want to reveal my self-help man crush just yet. We’ve only known each other a day or two…)

I can see his bum!

So I want you to think of one little action that you can take right now that supports the decision you’ve just made.

Perhaps you could think of someone you could call to offer your coaching or consulting services? Perhaps you could write down an action to perform tomorrow morning at work to affirm your commitment to achieving that promotion?

Now go do it. Go go go!

Don’t worry, I’ll shut the door. Come back again.

Run run run!

JJ Jalopy.

Become a Life Coach

If you enjoyed my writing, please share it with your friends. Thanks!

29 comments so far

Comment by Steve Chambers
1 April 2009

What a great post. Well written, humerous and fun…it made me want to keep reading.

“Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” – As you pointed out, you only need to read the title, not the book. You found it motivating while walking through the bookstore, that’s a powerful message.

Good luck in your endeavor.

Steve
Comment by Rob Northrup
2 April 2009

JJ,

To paraphrase Jack Nicholson’s loony tunes character in “As Good as It Gets”, “You make me want to be a better writer.” I love both your content and the way you present it…

Seize the Day,
Rob

Personal Asset Protection For Small Business Owners
Comment by Avery
2 April 2009

Very inspiring! I made a decision right here and right now to be more respectful and improve my digestive health.
Thanks a bunch JJ Jalopy!
Comment by Philip
2 April 2009

Hi JJ,
What a great blog you have! I will be coming back often.
I’d love to hear you expand on the advice to “never leave the scene of a decision without taking some action that backs it up.” It sounds like good advice, but I don’t totally get it yet.
Thanks JJ,
Philip
Comment by Bob Kaufer
2 April 2009

JJ,

Very coooooooool,

Bob Kaufer
If you MOVE like the Tin Man, you will THINK like the Scarecrow and FEEL like the Lion
Comment by DIY Lawyer
2 April 2009

Thanks for the post

The DIY Lawyer

DIY Lawyer – Where you can learn to do your own estate planning
Comment by Christian Haller
2 April 2009

What a unique style! Very creative.
Comment by Darryl Pace
2 April 2009

JJ Jalopy,

Fantastic post! Very inspiring.

Darryl Pace
Comment by Pat Becker
2 April 2009

JJ Jalopy,

Hey, can I take lessons from you – great illustrations on your blog.

-Pat
Business Owners Fast Track to Internet Profits
Comment by Pam Schulz
2 April 2009

JJ Jalopy,

What a motivational post! Your inspirational style makes for a great life coach. It will be a pleasure to visit your blog throughout the course and beyond!

Pam
http://www.greatwealth.com
Comment by Lisa McLellan
2 April 2009

Hey Jalopy dude, babysitting lady here…. great post. you must have a lot of time! lol funny guy! I love to laugh – looking forward to your posts.

Lisa McLellan, Child Care Expert – Babysitters, Nannies, and Au-pairs
Comment by April Braswell
2 April 2009

JJ, you are fabulous. great book recommendations PLUS you are a fun hoot and a half to read.

Plus, even though I’m an American, I DO love tea and know how to make a good cuppa. Lived in England when I was under 3. Inculcated unto tea drinking from an early age.

Cheers!

All the best,

April Braswell
Dating Expert and Online Dating Coach

Online Dating Sites Review, Internet Dating Sites Guide
Comment by Duane Cunningham
2 April 2009

Hey JJ,

That was awesome! It was like one of those movies that just drew you in on a spellbinding adventure that you never realized 3 hours had whisked by!

And that is the secret to great persuasion and influence being able to tell a story that draws people into your world

Awesome JJ! Looking forward to reading more spellbinding stuff soon

Duane

Tap Into the Psychology of the Mind with Persuasion Expert Duane Cunningham
Comment by JC MacKenzie
2 April 2009

Great post. Looking forward to more!

JC
Comment by Mitchell Rehaume
2 April 2009

Wow!

You’re post is amazing and has a ton of information. Very impressive!
Comment by Rosemarie Jones
2 April 2009

Fantastic fantastic fantastic!

As a life coach, I can tell I’m going to get a ton of value from your site.

Keep it up JJ!
Comment by Coach Kalpna
2 April 2009

Hey JJ!

You’ve hit the nail on the head, so to speak. Dreams, inertia, fear, decisions and action – all in one friendly post.

Keep them coming!

Coach Kalpna
http://www.coachKalpna.com
Comment by Sonya Lenzo
2 April 2009

HI JJ, I particulary the little pictures you interspersed in your post!! “feel the fear and do it anyway ” has always been one of my favorite sayings….since I am just starting a new business of my own, (jewelry), I am sure I will get a lot out of your posts!!!
Sunny Marie
Glamour And Glitz
http://www.sunnymarie.vox.com
Comment by Jennifer Battaglino
2 April 2009

Hi JJ,
Love the post and the flow and I respect the fact that you didn’t read the book…reminds me of someone I know…

Looking forward to more
Jen

http:/www.theharwoodcenter.com
Comment by John Ho
2 April 2009

Hi JJ,

I like your sense of humour, the graphics & the concept of “speed of implementation” & of excuses.

Great posts you have!

Keep them coming!

Your “Go go go! …. Run run run!”

looks too much alike my “trademark”:

ho, Ho. HO!
go, Go, GO!

Quite tempted to serve you an infringement or royalty paynent notice !

LOL.

John Ho
Understanding Personalities for Better Influence & Persuasion
Comment by Philip Graves
2 April 2009

Perhaps there’s a bigger market in selling extra excuses rather than helping people overcome them… (only kidding of course).

I like your style!

Philip
[Consumer Behaviour Expert]
Comment by Lynn Lane
2 April 2009

Decisions and Dreams!

It is a must.

Lynn Lane

http://www.Warriorofsuccess.com
Comment by Avery
2 April 2009

I find myself coming back to your site often, hoping you’ve made another post. I’m eagerly awaiting some more JJ Jalopy inspiration!
Avery
Comment by Yann Vernier
2 April 2009

Great post. Great insights. Great writing.

This really hits home with me.

Gotta go now… My dreams are calling.

All the best,
Yann
http://www.ProfitsTactics.com
Comment by Jenna Love
3 April 2009

You’re funny!

Jenna x