Oh the difference a week makes!!  A cold chill has stretched across much of the middle and northern USA this week, bringing snow and temperatures in the single digits.  This time last week we were taking part in the National STMA Conference, sitting out on the beach in Daytona enjoying 80 degrees and plotting the next step of the Revolution.

As you returned home,  did you feel a renewed excitement to get back to work?  Almost a sense of refreshment… coming from the camaraderie and education sessions that you enjoyed in Daytona?  Were you carrying an extra amount of motivation? Feel like you had a bit more gas in the tank,  convinced that you could take on the world and fix all of the challenges you faced in 2013?

I know I did!  And I know I have fellow colleagues that did as well.  I hope you are experiencing that the same as we are!!!

But… now we are all back home.  Back to the cold weather, faced with catching up on piles of work from being out for a week.  For us personally, we are preparing for an early, cold Saturday morning of work tomorrow; clearing Friday night’s (tonight) forecasted 1-3″ of snow from 3 fields so that Saturday and Sunday scheduled outdoor activity can carry on.

Oh can’t we just return back to Florida?!?! 

This situation creates today’s discussion topic on how we “carry on” and continue the excitement and motivation of last week into the “real world”.  Sure last week was real..  the excitement, the motivation, the refreshment…  it was very real.  Those kind of emotions are what make life wonderful!!  But being back home… faced with challenge, having days filled with trials and tribulations, and no longer being surrounded by our colleagues that would do anything for you to ensure that you succeed…  this is “real life”.  To be the best that we can be, we want to carry the feelings and emotions of last week with us this week and continue them throughout the year!!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr (Happy Birthday to the late Dr. this past week btw!!) had a famous quote that illustrates our challenge:  “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.”  

Bitter cold weather, early morning weekend work, facing an upcoming spring of increased events and projects v. warm weather, relaxing, sharing fellowship w/ our friends and colleagues.  That equates to moments of challenge and controversy v. moments of comfort and convenience does it not?!

So we ask ourselves…  can we carry the excitement and motivation we felt in Daytona for the National STMA throughout the year?  Can we be the leaders and positive, pro-active, and strong people that we want to be even when faced with challenge and controversy?

I SAY YES!!!

But we are already experiencing it…  it will not be easy!!  Have you heard the cliche “nothing good in life comes easy?”   Frank Clark offers a different variation on that quote- “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it likely does not lead anywhere.”  Wow.  Isn’t that so true?  Carrying on the excitement and staying positive is hard!  It will take us working together:  Positive reinforcement for each other.  Sharing motivating articles and quotes with one another.  Even something as simple as writing an inspirational quote on the mirror in the bathroom to share with your family and yourself.  As we support each other.  As we work together sharing information and ideas.  As we create new ideas and strive on… YES we can carry on that excitement.

“Real life” is COLD.  “Real life” is challenging.  “Real life” is even frustrating sometimes…  But isn’t “real life” is WONDERFUL!?!?!?  “Real life” is where relationships grow stronger.  “Real life” is where we are provided with the opportunities to succeed and excel.  “Real life” is where we have the opportunity to be extraordinary.

Together, WE WILL CARRY ON THE EXCITEMENT!!

“A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes.  It is a catalyst and its sparks extraordinary results” –  Wade Boggs