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September 2017

Viewing posts from September , 2017

When Life Throws You a Curve Ball

Life loves to throw curve balls directly at you, good and bad. I’ll never forget that phone call. It was a bone chilling cold, gray and gloomy December day right before the holidays. I took a day off work to study for my final for my master’s degree. I was deep in concentration focused on my notes and calculating solutions. Ring, ring. It was my boss. That’s odd. Why would she call me at home on a day off? Boss: Are you sitting down? Please do so. This may be shocking. The company called an all-hands meeting announcing the recent company consolidation would move the entire company 2.5 hours north to Philadelphia. By the end of the year, we will receive notification of retention bonus and severance package and timeline for events over the next year. I realize this wasn’t what you wanted to hear on your day off. I wanted to keep you apprised of what happened today. Me: Wow. Thank you for the head’s up. My life went from I choose my jobs to now I may not have one. I knew little details to go on. Would I really want to move to Philadelphia? Did I want to stay with this company? Did I really love what I worked on? My company was thriving so this was completely unexpected. Opportunity knocks at your door in mysterious ways. Here’s how I differed from my colleagues to the news… I didn’t over react. Most of my colleagues wasted their day with gossip and a lack of focus. I saw this as an opportunity to evaluate my options. What was I looking for in a new neighborhood? What environment did I want to work in? What projects brought excitement to me? What type of colleagues did I want to work with? Was leaving friends and family worth keeping my job? At least 50% of my co-workers rushed to find new jobs even though their job was secure for at least nine months. Over the next six months, I carefully considered all my options. When life hits you with a ton of bricks, it is key to remain calm and assess your options thoughtfully without haste to choose what’s best. When we get still, we identify what’s important and what we’re willing to compromise. Being open to new possibilities may be the exact opportunity you’re looking for. Attitude to change is everything. We often get frustrated and frazzled when our decisions are not in alignment with who we are or what we want. Stay tuned, I have a special announcement later this week to get you in full alignment. Wishing you an abundant, joyful, and prosperous day! Lora Polowczuk Chief Energy Officer © Priority Retreats International

Part II: 3 More Lessons from the Taj Mahal

The mesmerizing Taj Mahal in its magical beauty impacts all those who come to see it. Its size and grandeur pierce your eye with beauty and your ears perk up while listening to the historical undertaking  of this magnificent piece of art. We discussed the first three lessons here. Let’s see what else the Taj Mahal teaches us. The Taj Mahal was built by the Emperor Shah Jahnan to honor his wife who fell gravely ill. She wanted to be remembered in the years to come and the Emperor commissioned the Taj Mahal to be built. With a love story entailed, I was amazed that centuries ago such a monument would stand for another person the Emperor admired. Who in your life are you honoring today? How are your daily choices honoring them? Lesson 4: Honor those closest to you. Not only was the Emperor keeping his wife’s memory alive, he built a magical piece of art to share with others. As guests enjoy the courtyard, garden, and beauty, the views offer beauty never seen before. As with my own visit, there was a lasting impact from what I saw. The Emperor created a legacy that others after him could view and take part in for generations to come. What legacy do want to have? What impact do you want to be known for in the years to come? Lesson 5: Leave a legacy A structure this magnitude was not built overnight. In fact it took 22 years to build the enormous Taj Mahal. The more impressive fact is how many people were involved. Drum roll, please. Twenty thousand people helped design, construct, and build the Taj Mahal. I can’t even imagine the coordination. The Emperor did not attempt this on his own. Yet, in this world, massive corporations have the same number of people working on a global basis to support one mission. Why do we always think that we must dream big and do it on our own? Think as this Emperor did. Who is on your support team to make your dreams happen? The African proverb states, It takes a village to raise a child.  The same holds true for your dreams and aspirations. Lesson 6: Build your support team. As you take in each lesson, think what is working and what needs attention. We do not live perfect lives. It’s the micro adjustments that we make that bring us in tune with the harmony we truly want to experience in our lives. Wishing you an abundant, joyful, and prosperous day! Lora Polowczuk Chief Energy Officer © Priority Retreats International  

5 Lessons from the Taj Mahal: Part 1

World Heritage sites are filled with rich history, divine beauty, and exquisite architecture beyond what seems humanly capable. The Taj Mahal met these characteristics and more. The story behind the Taj Mahal teaches each of us how to live a high performance life. The Taj Mahal sits on the bank of the Yamuna River and is made of solid marble and steel. The marble weighs 19 pounds per square inch. Do you realize how heavy that is? Think of holding 2 babies on your thumb.  The weight of the Taj Mahal is enormous. The architects had to shore up the sandy foundation and build massive steel arches to support this weight. Your dreams are as massive as the Taj Mahal. For your dreams to flourish, a solid mindset is key. How do your daily choices support your vision? Lesson 1: Build your foundation In the quick rush of everyday life, we want our dreams to happen now. More like a minute ago. Workers built the Taj Mahal in 22 years. Working a little each day on your dreams adds up to big gains over time. Spending two hours a day in one year adds up to 730 hours in one year. Imagine the progress that you can make in that much time. Will you spend 2 hours a day building your dream? What’s the potential for your life to look like in 22 years? How amazing can it be? Lesson 2: Commit to your dreams daily The exquisite details of the Taj Mahal are impressive beyond my imagination. Every piece of marble is carved into a unique pattern. Then, the border is chiseled out more to embed gorgeous gemstones to lay in the marble. This results in a unique finish where you can rub your hand over the marble and stones and it’s completely flat with no ridges and its feels like one unique piece instead of several. This creates a beautiful work of art. Thousands of gemstones are used for each piece of marble. The precision to finish and polish the gems took weeks. Your dream life takes the same amount of precision and time. Lesson 3: Have patience These are the first three lessons from my visit to the Taj Mahal in India. Check in next week for the additional lessons learned and how they serve as reminders in how to live your life as a high performer. Wishing you an abundant, joyful, and prosperous week! Lora Polowczuk Chief Energy Officer © Priority Retreats International