It is fantastic to step up and be the change you want instead of just talking about problems. Most of people play more than one role in their daily lives and each of those roles has its own set of potential problems. Each of those problems need someone to get up and make a change. Here are just a few of the roles I lay each day:
- Wife
- Mother
- Writer
- Publisher
- Consultant
- Advisor
- Cook
- Transportation coordinator
- Party planner
- Director of discipline
- Dispenser of hugs and kisses
Those are a lot of balls to juggle each day, and this is the list for a regular day, not a busy one.
Stop talking about your problems and start solving them. In my business I am currently dealing with a situation involving one employee stealing ideas from other employees and passing them off as her own. In my personal life, I am dealing with a school district facing an achievement gap that must be remedied. Each of these situations is bad. People are talking and complaining about both situations. However, all the talking and complaining in the world is not going to change the situation.
You don’t have to solve every problem in one step, sometimes it takes many steps. In the situation with the employees, steps are being taken to remove the stealing employee from the company. Why was the employee not immediately fired? There are projects that need to be transferred from one cost center to another, interviews for a new employee must be done and the transition must be done smoothly to keep the thief from gaining access to any other real or intellectual property. The employee has been quarantined, though he does not know it and will be out the door shortly. The change is on the way.
You don’t have to solve every problem by yourself, learn the value of team work. With the achievement gap issue, I have been part of a few school committees working to improve the matter for the past few years. Recently at a dinner for parents and school officials I shared my opinion that one part of the solution is that parents need to learn how to appropriately advocate for their children. I explained why I thought this was a problem and why fixing this problem could help with the larger mission to eliminate the achievement gap. As a result, I was selected to prepare a seminar this summer teaching parents how to advocate for their children. I am not going to solve the achievement gap problem alone, however with the school administration, other parents and district officials all working towards a common goal, the problem will be solved. Together, this team will make the change.
Get busy living or get busy dying. The previous sentence is a line I am paraphrasing or borrowing from the movie Shawshank Redemption. I interpret that sentence to mean you can either start doing something or you can sit back and suffer with your problems forever. For the music lovers among you, think about the Staples Singers’ song, Respect “talking about the government won’t stop air pollution. Put your hand on our mouth when you cough that might help the solution.” The choice is yours, but, if you want things to change, get up and make the change.
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In conclusion, it is fantastic to step up and be the change you want instead of just talking about problems. So, the question for you this fantastic day is, what are you going to step up and change today?
Wendy, you know what they say, “Great minds think alike.”
This sounds like advice from my mother. She would always say “instead of talking about it, why don’t you do something about it”. Great advice and great post!
Great post! There are a few “changes” I need to make, and this was my motivation!
Thanks for reminding me to get up and MOVE today!~
This is a wonderful post and it definitely teaches us something. So true, those are a lot of balls to juggle with and that is the reality. And, instead of talking about, do something to sove the problem instead and be done with it. So true! It is motivational and I always love reading your article. So much to learn and inspire.
Thank you for the motivation and inspirational post here. Love to read articles that boost self esteem 🙂
Make sense and really a nice post! I agree with the stop talking instead start taking action in solving the problem. And as the saying goes “no man is an island” so solving problem with the team will be a good idea.
How do you always seem to know exactly what’s on my mind each day?
yep, that’s my problem all talk! I think talking and putting what I say into action is the key!
Some people will disagree about not talking about the problem but I do agree. Instead of complaining, start doing what needs to be done to fix it.
A lot of people complain about situations that they have control over and can change. You’re so right!
I especially like the tip about allowing others to help you.
Great advice! I have heard people who actually enjoy complaining about something they should do (rather than taking the steps), and if that is their source of enjoyment, good for them. I wouldn’t change them. But, personally, I’d like to be the change 😉
Such great advice, one step at a time. That’s always how it works successfully.
Great advice….Drives me nuts when people complain about something and I ask what are you doing to change the situation. They say nothing! I’m thinking really! Then why complain!
I agree 100% with this! If we all stopped talking and started doing, we could get a lot more done!
I think it’s so true that to solve a problem in one step, sometimes it takes many steps. People are sometime overwhelmed by how they have to do. But it’s many little steps that will get the job done
Fantastic topic. Good advice for everyone.
Your posts are always so insightful. There are several things I need to step up and change.
Excellent advice! There’s nothing worse than someone who complains all the time, but never takes action to change their situation.
Great ideas! One thing I like to remind myself is to not stress over problems you can’t change!
I love that saying! This is such a great article, with lots of tips and motivation. Thanks for sharing
step by step and being focussed on what can be done
thanks for the tips!
Great ideas… I love reading your blog and all your very interesting point of views!
Janeane! I’m going to call you the queen of common sense!! I <3 your posts. Stop complaining and DO something about your problems, people!