LESSONS LEARNED

For those of you who have been sitting on pins and needles, waiting to hear how the contest went—I’m happy to report, it was a HUGE success. And, I didn’t die in the process of stepping out of my comfort zone.

Honestly, when I signed up to do the contest (please refer to my last blog if you don’t have a clue what I’m talking about), I wasn’t sure I would live through the experience. But, I did, and along this journey I learned some valuable lessons I want to share with you today.

Lesson #1:
Strength comes in numbers – I knew I couldn’t pull off this contest without a lot of help from my friends. I asked for volunteers and the minute I did, people stepped up to help me. In all, this contest needed 25 helpers. From Toastmaster to Video Person - every role was important in helping make this contest a success.

Lesson #2:
Knowledge is golden – Always remember to surround yourself with knowledgeable people. From the beginning, I gleaned from those who’d gone before me. Without their knowledge and expertise, I wouldn’t have known what to do and when to do it. Another important benefit I discovered – people are willing to share what they know. All you have to do is ask.

Lesson #3:
Ask questions - This is the only way a person learns how to do something they are unfamiliar with. Asking questions, concerning the contest, made me feel comfortable with moving forward with any task I needed to do. I’m sure you’ve heard this before - there is never a dumb question. I’ll add my two cents - But there are plenty of dumb mistakes if questions aren’t asked. I did myself a favor when I took on this challenge – I asked questions – lots of them.

Lesson #4:
Just do it - Step out of your comfort zone. Trust me, it won’t kill you. At any given time I thought it might, but each day I spent time doing something concerning the contest. For once I didn’t procrastinate. If I wasn’t emailing someone, I was checking out paperwork given to me to read. Anything to stay ahead of the game. Preparation is the key to success. Things will run smoother if you have all your ducks in a row.

Lesson #5:
Pray – When fear of the unknown coursed through my veins, I prayed. The verse, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” popped into my head. Those comforting words calmed me down. And when I trusted Him and not my own understanding, I (with my team of volunteers) accomplished the task set before us.

Love ya,
nettie

PS: Thanks everyone for your help!!!!!!