Since we’ve been on the road all these years, we try to spend as much time as we can at hot springs locations. You know, where the water bubbles up from the center of the earth hotter’n'hell and you can soak in it. To me, there is little else that is so sublime as this.
While I really prefer a natural hot springs out in the middle of nowhere where you can soak in a pool surrounded entirely by nature, the hot springs where we stayed recently is a commercial enterprise that features a hot pool that looks just like any other pool, but is fed by the natural hot springs underneath. Think of it as a giant spa.
And it seems that anytime you are in a public pool area there are lots of rules. I was struck by all the signs posted at the pool that all started with the word “No” except for the one sign that started with the word “Absolutely” but was followed by the word “No.” For some reason they needed extra emphasis on that admonition.
No Food in Pool Area. No Diving. No Smoking. (Well, that’s one a good rule.) No Diving Allowed. No Lifeguard on Duty. Absolutely No Glass Containers or Bottles in Pool Area. No Dogs in Pool Area. Of course, these admonitions are there for a reason and they serve a purpose in helping us be in a safe and clean environment.
Yet, it seems like we live in a world full of “No” doesn’t it? No, no, no, no, no! Look around and you’ll likely see lots of signs telling you that you can’t do something and often the consequences you can expect if you do.
Did you hear “no” a lot when you were growing up? Are you still hearing the word “no” — only now, it is you saying it to yourself? How many times a day do you hear the word “no” in your head and stop doing something that you enjoy — or that might be risky?
“No, I couldn’t do that,” you say, “what would people think?”
“No, I can’t say I’m an expert at what I do. What would people think?”
“No, I couldn’t do that in this bad economy. What if I lose my money?”
“No, I can’t send out an ezine. I don’t have enough people on my list.”
Of course, sometimes saying “no” might save your butt, too. But if you hear yourself continually saying “no” to yourself out of fear of the consequences — both real and imagined — then you run the risk of becoming stagnant and bored — and a stagnating and boring business doesn’t attract clients.
So what could you say “Yes” to this week? Is it time to start sending out that ezine? Is there a networking event you could attend? Could you write a couple of blog posts? How could you put yourself out there as the expert that you are?
Just for fun, this coming week, when you hear yourself saying “no,” stop and ask yourself, “What would happen if I said yes instead?”
