Management guru, Tom Peters (www.TomPeters.com) happens to be my sister’s current virtual mentor. Below is a paragraph that became her mantra:

“I’m older than most of you, and I sometimes worry about what my tombstone will read. But I recently figured it out. I do not want it to go like this: “Thomas Peters, He Would Have Done Great Things, But His Boss Wouldn’t Let Him.”

I've been thinking a lot about women and the way in which we take (or don’t take) initiative. How do we choose to spend our time and energy? Return to school? Change careers? Travel? End a marriage? Find someone else to love? Teach a child to read? Kayak on the Hudson? Go to a gym?

Too often too many of us automatically (like a knee-jerk reaction) let loose with our “buts” without thinking — not our butts, nor our buns, but rather this kind of but:
“I’d like to my invite some friends for dinner, but…”
“I’d like to paint my apartment, but ….”
“I’d like to go to that book signing….”

You get the idea.

With our “buts”, we squash our own original and adventurous spirit. Why? Don’t ask. Who cares? Let’s just consider reducing our buts and think about opening ourselves to being more of ourselves.

Read these sentences aloud and really listen as you read: “I could’ve done some really cool stuff, but my (choose one or more--boss, mother, husband, children’s father, children) wouldn’t let me,” and I could’ve done some really cool stuff, but I wouldn’t let myself.”

How do you feel hearing those sentences?

I challenge you, as I challenge myself, to change it up a "but" (or "bit") by asking yourself: “What really cool stuff could I do today?”

Then consider doing it — (We’ll revisit this in future blogs, I’m certain.)

I’d love to hear your thoughts, but…. ;- )
(seriously, I really would love to read your thoughts)