Stronger….or Give Up?

As a business owner and quilting teacher, I may not be involved in groundbreaking research or national security, but to my students, what I do matters.  At one point, I was about to give all of that up.  My “business” was a drain on our family finances.  It was an excuse to support my fabric and sewing machine “habit”,  and could not come close to being called an “income”.  I was feeling guilty after spending almost 10 years working 50-60 hours per week, away from my family, just breaking even.    

Diane Conklin is a business coach that I met 6 years ago through another quilt designer.  Diane has helped me grow from a “hobby owner” into a “business owner”. She has the courage to ask hard questions, give a bit of tough love, and guide me with patience and understanding. 

I find Diane’s weekly newsletter very inspiring, so I wanted to share this post filled with Diane’s unique brand of heartfelt lessons, in business and in life. Read more from Dian’s Blog HERE: https://www.completemarketingsystems.com/cms/stronger-or-give-up

Diane Conklin writes:

“Stronger” is a movie that chronicles Jeff Bauman’s life after he lost his legs in the bombing at the Boston Marathon in 2013.

I watched it this weekend on Netflix and was reminded of how important every decision we make is. And it also reminded me of how every encounter we have with another person can be life-changing – whether we know them or not.

Carlos Arredondo was also at the marathon and instead of running away when the bomb went off, he stayed and helped. Ultimately, he saved Jeff Bauman by slowing his blood loss and putting him in a wheelchair, and getting him to help. Jeff Bauman lost his legs, but Carlos Arredondo saved his life.

Jeff Bauman fought hard to recover and then appears to lose his will to have a fulfilling life. Until he meets with Carlos Arredondo and hears more of his story, and something clicks that changes everything for Jeff and he turns his life around.

There are so many moments, so many decisions that are made in the movie, and in our lives every day, that affect so many other things. And one single encounter, one decision, one second can make all the difference in our lives… and the lives of others around us.

You’ve probably heard it said that you are where you are today based on the decisions you’ve made up to this point in your life. It’s true!

It’s easy to go through life unconsciously and just go through the motions. But when you’re awake, aware of your decisions, and aware of the importance of your actions and presence on others (and theirs on you), life and business look different.

I’m not talking about all kinds of heavy stuff here – just being more present in your everyday situations.

Realizing your impact on others…it’s pretty amazing when you really look at it. You touch people’s lives every day – whether you know it or not and whether you want to.

What kind of impact are you having?
Whose lives are you affecting today?
What decision have you been putting off that you can make today?

It matters… it all matters!

Get stronger!

Never give up!

To Your Success –

Sue writes:  As a business owner, I have struggled to find my purpose.  Designing and making beautiful things are not exactly the stuff they make movies about!  But in my own way, I can make a difference. Giving quilters the confidence and skills they desire, giving them a safe place to be themselves, and gently fanning a student’s creative spark: this is the gift I’ve been given to share with my quilting students.  

A great big THANK YOU to Diane, and to all of YOU who make such an impact in my life! You may not realize it, but your presence in my life has many ripples!  You support my small business by sharing and commenting on this blog, by taking a course, by purchasing materials, or by “liking” my social media posts.  You allow me to support my family by doing what I do best, designing patterns, teaching, and sharing my love of applique.  Plus, you make me smile from ear to ear when I see your accomplishments!  

“What kind of impact are you having?
Whose lives are you affecting today?
What decision have you been putting off that you can make today?

It matters… it all matters!”

Read more of Diane Conklin words of wisdom at https://www.completemarketingsystems.com/cms/stronger-or-give-up

To reach me, you can comment on this post! 

Note: You may have read about my special connection with the Boston Marathon from my previous blog post about a special Greek Marathon runner. I live about 5 miles from the start of the Boston Marathon…so it is a part of my world…even my quilt guild is named “Marathon Quilters”.  One of the Boston Marathon bombers was sadly a student at my alma mater, UMass Dartmouth.  I’d read the inspiring book, “Stronger” a few years ago, so when this newsletter came from Diane, it really hit home!