I was talking with a colleague the other day and she mentioned a quote that has stuck with me. I’m not sure who to attribute it to as it had been passed down to my colleague as well. The quote is, “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” I don’t know if any of you are feeling overwhelmed these days. I am. It’s hard to know where we’re going sometimes because the end or the goal isn’t always clear and often is changing. To just start where you are is comforting. And it doesn’t feel so overwhelming to dig into the body of work I’m asking of myself to do right now.

I was reminded of a technique my brother shared with me that one of his writing professors taught. When you’re having trouble starting, focus in on something small. My brother used an example of remembering a pair of his hockey skates. The brand was Bauer© and he remembered how the white lettering was slightly at an angle and bright against the black skate. All of a sudden he had an idea of where to start. What’s important for you to be focusing on right now? Start there. Think about the value you bring, the strengths and talents you have and do what you can to take the first step.

I learn by teaching and as I’m writing this blog post, it’s reinforcing what and where I need to focus. It’s causing me to take stock of the strengths and abilities I bring to my work and I’m getting clarity on what I can and need to do to move forward. I hope this has helped you as well. If you’re still having trouble getting traction around a work deliverable or need a sounding board, feel welcome to reach out.

Lisa