Setting the Sails for Failure or lack thereof

I was recently having dinner with some friends and the word failure popped up.  I have to admit, I have a hard time with that word and how it is used freely by people.  It is one of those words that I do not see in my vocabulary, much like the phrase "I can't".  While on the topic, I started to ponder what it is about the word failure that I had such a hard time with.  What does that word even mean and how can failure be avoided?

So to begin my quest on understanding failure I of course looked up the definition.  Failure: Lack of success.  OK, I am sure you are thinking, yeah I already knew that.  The opposite of success is failure right?  But let's think about that for a moment, shall we? 

The definition of success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.  So by looking at the term success we can see the formula for avoiding failure.  Living with purpose, and more importantly in that definition is the understanding that you must set aim onto something.  In order not to fail you have to charter a course, to set sail and reach for a goal, using "purpose" as the wind in your sails.

So what is purpose?  Purpose is defined as the reason for which something is done or for which something exists.  Now I am not going to tell you how to find your purpose, but purpose can be found in relationships, your career, business endeavors, and even physical fitness goals.  A relationship with the purpose of creating a family and spending your last days together, a purpose of spending a few years at a company and moving on, or to reach your ideal weight.  Any goal that you set - has a purpose.

So how does that help me not to fail?  The secret is understanding that, much like a ship, you have to be prepared to change course and change your target.  In science the term failure is used quite frequently to describe the results of an experiment.  The test was either a success or a failure, but why is that?  With science the whole purpose of the experiment is not to change the testing mid way - with one target.  But what if you continually adjusted your target?  Looking at your progress and adjusting course by changing the experiment or your aim, essentially CHANGING to keep on course. 

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the different results.  If that is true, than how can you expect to succeed if you never change course? 

So this means if your purpose is the wind in your sails than your purpose will blow you to your goals - but you have to be open to rough waters and the possibility of charting another course around the globe to get to the same island of success. 

Failure does not have to be the result if you realize that the secret is in you and your ability to CHANGE.  The ability to change habits to reach your purpose.  You do not need the word failure in your personal dictionary if you are constantly defining your success and let your purpose guide you.

Thanks for reading. Set sail!


- Jessica Donnelly

Making Your Brand: When the Product is You

BRANDING - Ah, you hear that word all over the place.  With celeberties starting clothing lines, fragrances, and cosmetics - it is no wonder that word is everywhere. The difference between an artist and the rest of the population is that an artist has to work on their personal brand for their entire life. Their image, name, and brand is what they use to try to make a lucrative career out of what some would only consider a hobby. Personal branding however isn't only for artists and celebrities - you can have a personal brand too.

There are actually some benefits having a personal brand - after all you are more than a social security number. Having a good sense of who you are, what you like, and keeping track of your accomplishments are just one part of personal branding. The rest is believing in yourself and having the 4 things I list below.

The most important steps to having a personal brand are:

1. Examples of your work. If you do not have a portfolio - get one. No matter if you are showing a client, an employer or your friends - you need proof of what your capable of. Sure you might be a great flash designer and worked for a few large companies, but your style, aesthetic taste, flavor, is completely different from someone else - use it. What ever it is that you put into your work make sure it shows and trust your own judgement and options. No one is like you, thinks like you, or has the ability to be you - you are your brand.

2. A website. Almost everyone has a website, from hairdressers to energy consultants. No matter where you are in your career path or what company you are working for - don't be a robot! You are more than just an employee working for a large or small corporation, you are a brand. Even if it is just a website with your resume, interests, and a bio, it shows employers that you consider yourself a personal brand or an asset.

3. Create a Logo. OK, your wondering why a accountant needs a logo - it is simple: you are your own brand! Are you catching on yet? Even if the logo is just your name at the top of your website to look like a brand - how amazing is that! It shows you believe in yourself and what you can offer. Now I am not saying if you are in IT to go out and have business cards made with your logo on them, but you could use this logo for your blog or other activities you do to get involved in the community. Which brings be to the next item on the list.

4. Get involved. There are tons and tons of groups and affiliations that you can be a part of. This is so that although you think your amazing and have a great personal brand - your not completely narcissistic and you do care about other things besides yourself. This can be related to your career or not, more importantly it shows you make time for personal growth and others - and if nothing else you can function and work together in a group.

Creating your personal brand will set you apart from the 70% of the population that are just worker ants and don't want anything more than a 401k and a retirement plan. I guarantee that if nothing else, it will just make you feel good about yourself and your accomplishments. If you really take the time to look at what you want your brand to be - who knows you might finally change careers and do what you love!

Thanks for reading and I hope you start thinking of your personal brand!

- Jessica Donnelly

Success - Have you caught the disease?

Success is a funny thing. Ask any two people what what they want to do to be successful and it will be different. However for most, it all relates back to money. Success is so much more than your w-2, it is accomplishing your goals and dreams. No matter if being successful to you is being a great Mom or curing cancer- you have to work at it. It starts with creating goals and in the end achieving them. Ask the question.. how can I be successful at ________, what does that term mean to me?

For me, success is something I have dreamt of since I was a little girl. Flipping through the pages of a womans work wear catalog and looking at all the suits, I knew I wanted to have a career and no matter what it was I decided to do as a career - I wanted to be successful at it. This meant I needed to find out what the term meant to me. Over the years my definition has changed slightly and my goals and dreams have evolved with it. I started my first bucket list when I was 18, and happily have have crossed off a number of things on my list. Sure some of them seem silly to me now - but it is important to me that the girl who once dreamed of success is happy. As adults we too often sacrifice success for "excuses".

When some are faced with the task of creating personal goals, they simply can not do it. Why is that? Because the idea frightens them that they could potentially fail. There are more people in the world scared of failure than there are people willing to follow their dreams. If your one of those people - surround yourself with people who will push you and encourage you. Otherwise your fear will paralyze you and I am sad to say it but - chances are when your 60 you will make excuses why you were never successful. At the end of the day they are simply that "excuses".

The great part about success it that it can be achieved at any point in your life - success doesn't discourage. So, there is no excuse for not starting your on your plan today! Even if your plan takes years to finally accomplish, it should be what you wake up thinning about and what you think about before bed. After all, no one else is going to make you successful - so it is up to you to want it.

My Dad always told me growing up that unless you want something - you will never have it. It is as simple as that. Sure you think about what your life could be like - but do you WANT it. You have to want it - and when you want it bad enough - you will get it. So if you don't want success you will never make it happen. The trick is turning your want into a forward momentum to actually achieving something (this is where most people get stuck).

Below are some tips for taking your want to actually achieving SUCCESS!

1. Believe in yourself - your dream, your abilities, and your success. If you believe in it - it can happen.

2. Be passionate - if your passion is involved you are all in and there is no turning back.

3. Live on the edge - do not get comfortable. If you hit a wall think of a new plan to get around it - there is always another way to reach the same goal.

4. Focus - make it a priority everyday. Make time for it! Were all busy - successful people just make the time for it, even when they are too tired.

5. Trust your gut - don't listen to what everyone else thinks you should do, if you think their wrong - it is OK to follow your heart.

6. Make failure not an option - Never give up, if you want it see yourself with it and you will eventually have it. It is your WANT that will push you to go forward!

If success is what you want - then my friend - there is no reason why it can not be yours. There is a reason why they call it a disease because when you really want it - it will consume you. Have you caught the disease? If not you might want to catch it - before your immune.

Thanks for reading I hope you catch the success disease - soon!

- Jessica Donnelly