Standing in the garage of a dilapidated, creepy salvage yard, it was like an episode of Criminal Minds—but not the scene where sexy Derek Morgan rushes in and saves us…the two damsels in distress. It was more like the moment when the girls realize they are in trouble!
It started on my recent road trip to North Carolina when my tire kept losing air. Thinking I needed a simple patch, my sister Shawna and I visited the local auto shop. The mechanic concluded it was not my tire, but my dented rim was the culprit.
He directed us to an area with several salvage yards, where we could find a replacement rim. Luckily, we found it at the second stop (enter the Criminal Minds scene). Waiting, we noticed a small puppy sleeping on the counter. After a few minutes, it became clear it wasn’t sleeping—it was taxidermied. My inclination was to run, but I didn’t have many options. I needed that rim!
We were directed down a pathway to the garage. Each step took us farther away from the main road and civilization. Already disturbed by the stuffed puppy, I jumped when my sister exclaimed, “Oh my God…do you see those bones?” I dared not look, but apparently there were some type of remains alongside the path!
In the garage, we spotted a wolf-like dog lounging on a filthy couch…that was the last straw! I sent a simple text to my mom letting her know our whereabouts. I wasn’t expecting anything bad to happen, but just in case…I wanted someone to know where we were.
As we waited, I kept wishing I had taken care of the problem sooner. The rim had been dented for a while, but I kept riding on it. In coaching my clients, I often find that they too ride on with the illogical hope that ignoring problems will make them disappear.
In life we can’t just coast along, we have to be proactive about moving forward. Here are some helpful tips:
1. Acknowledge Reality: Fairy tales make great bedtime stories, but they are not the foundation for a healthy and well-adjusted life. Whatever you’re facing, whether it is a challenge in your body, a broken relationship or financial problems, one of the best things you can do to empower yourself is gain a clear picture of the truth of your situation.
2. Act Urgently: Most things only get worse when we don’t do what needs to be done in the moment. I am not a mechanic, but I knew my rim was distorted. Dealing with it before it became an emergency would have saved me time, possibly money and afforded me the option of taking care of my problem in an environment where I felt safe.
3. Ask for Assistance: As I said, in jest, I sent my mom a “just in case” text. In life, sometimes the first step out of a difficult situation is letting someone know our challenges. Too often, the biggest obstacle between where we are and what we need is the fact that we are too busy pretending that we already have it! Be honest, be real and be surprised by the fact that there are really people invested in your success.
Do Your Work: Download this Wheel of Life to gain clarity and schedule your free 20-minute coaching session to evaluate what your wheel is telling you.
Define Your Wealth: Affirm out loud, “I do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. I rise to the moment!”
Named the “North America’s Next Greatest Speaker” by eWomenNetwork, Felicia T. Scott is a Certified Empowerment Coach™ who empowers her clients to turn their Worth into Wealth as she partners with them to DISCOVER their WORTH, DO the WORK and DEFINE their WEALTH. Get more insight, download the FREE “8 Choices Winners Must Make” seminar MP3 on her website.