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Rapid Fire Learning in April

Over at Joyful Jubilant Learning Network, Rapid Fire Learning, the monthly scan of what we've learned this month is being led by Steve Sherlock.

Here at Pink Apple it's been a big learning month on both business and personal fronts.

Here's my list of new (renewed) learnings for the month:

1. Plunging In (instead of tippy-toeing round ever so cautiously) can work!
   
   By nature, I'm a cautious kind of gal.  Enthusiastic I may be, but my longstanding fear of failure, and loss of control, always makes me wary. 
   
   It reminds of being a little girl who was scared to try new things.  I often needed someone to hold my hand.  These days I still need that metaphorical hand, and have an array of friends and colleagues on whom I call when necessary!  They don't seem to mind and I'll happily hold theirs when they need it too!
   
   Knowing that about myself can help me to hold the hand of my fear (sometimes very tightly) but still have the courage to go plunging in. 
   
   I've been trying new things this month and (surprise, surprise) I've survived and thrived.
2. "Techno-challenged", or any negative comparison, is a relative thing
   
   While SweetP sometimes labels me a gadget queen (just because the pantry, kitchen drawers and my handbag stock the odd gadget or 50), I believe I'm actually seriously "techno-challenged"!
   
   I come to this conclusion when I compare myself to my SweetP, the scientist and software expert, Lovable Geek, my son the hardware and IT networking specialist, Leah MacLean the Techno Queen (ooh, it rhymes!) and many of my fellow contributing authors at JJLN as well as a few of my blogging mates!
   
   In fact, when I tried a few technically challenging tasks this month, I was surprisingly effective.  SLOW, but effective.  My brain HURT after a while, but I DID it and I felt so proud of myself and SO successful!
   
   So what I learned (AGAIN) is that comparing ourselves, our businesses, our relationships, our bodies, our coping skills, our intelligence etc is a valueless and demoralising exercise.  Accepting what we are and our differences frees us up to just be, and explore our potential when the opportunities arise!
   
   In other words, if you're "vertically-challenged" (ie you're short) then all you need is a step ladder to be successful.  We're none of us so challenged that we can't achieve a relative level of success!
   
3. When you're busy juggling many balls in the air, you can forget to breathe!
   
   We've all watched people, and even ourselves, do feats of derring-do.  (See #2 - it's all relative!)
   
   As we watch the juggler, we literally hold our breath.  As we run around like wet chooks (poultry for my overseas readers), we can also forget to breathe.  Just like a deep breath seems to aid our body to renew its task, pausing and allowing ourselves some thinking space gives us time to find new solutions!
   
   My trip to Queensland allowed me to work but it also allowed me to breathe and take a day or two to renew myself, recharge my batteries, refuel the motor, etc!  It's amazing how much more effective my brain and my body is for having taken that breath.

So what is ONE thing you've learned recently?

More Time to Boost Your Energy

Due to a technical glitch, Pink Apple returned from her stay in Queensland, to discover that the April Zing-By-Phone scheduled for this morning would have to be POSTPONED.    (Aaaaaaagggghhhhh)

Amidst the cursing, and then the deep breathing, I got over it.  Then I saw the opportunity to offer the TeleWorkshop on Energy Boosters For Your Success to an expanded marketplace.  (How's that for turning smokin' ears into a cheery smile?)

So just to let you all know the April Zing-By-Phone will be held in MAY!  (Yes we do like to be quirky here!)

Thursday May 3rd at 10.30 AEST.  (Check here for the time in your time-zone.)

Just to remind you  about WHY you'd contemplate this, here some answers to some questions.

Who should participate?    

YOU!      If you're:

• noticing your own drop in productivity or creativity
• finding you're putting up with lots of energy drainers
• searching for time to get things done
• ignoring the squeaks and groans from your body trying to tell you it needs help
• putting off doing something until ...
• struggling to start work on a project or a goal, let alone complete it
• feeling down and disheartened by something
• ready to re-find your ZING

What will you get?

You'll leave knowing

• the ways YOU "let out the plug" and allow the energy to draaaiiinnnn away
• how you can recognise if the plug is leaking again
• exactly what first step you'll be taking to reverse the slump and BOOST YOUR Energy
• what reward you'll give yourself for taking the first step, and the next one, and ...
• what you'll be doing to make sure you keep your promise to yourself!

More details to be found here and registrations can be booked here.

How Long will the Workshop take?

60 minutes to make a big difference to how you regain control of your energy!

And How Much Will it Cost You?

THIS IS A FREE WORKSHOP. 

All that's needed is a pre-purchased phone card to dial into the conference line.   There's more explanations of TeleWorkshops and TeleClass calls here.

So WHAT is stopping YOU from boosting YOUR energy for YOUR success? 

Away and Yearning for Home

Pink Apple is gallivanting.

And it's fun but it isn't!  I've been up in warmer northern climes hanging out with Karen Wallace.  Actually it's been extremely hard yakka with the occasional end-of-day wine as reward. 

You'll hear more about that as our new business takes shape.  For now it will remain mysterious enigmatic and a conundrum and a puzzle!  I hope THAT's got you intrigued!  Suffice it to say, WE'RE VERY EXCITED!

But I digress!

Being away from home is difficult, as those who travel regularly for business know only too well!

The bed's not your own (it's really comfy -just not yours!).  The pillow's not yours.  The bed's lonely without your usual person to snuggle.  The clothes are in the case or in some other wardrobe. 

Debriefing you day over the phone just isn't the same as chatting over a pre-dinner drink or an after dinner coffee with your loved ones. 

I don't do this often enough to have an array of managing tricks up my sleeve!  But I am making the most of my opportunities to enjoy new things and experiences and storing them up to share with my gorgeous SweetP when i get home.

Have YOU my readers got some advice for me and all of us on how to cope when our Significant Other is someplace DISTANT?

Is Your relationship at Peak Fitness?

Back in a former life, Pink Apple was a nurse.

As anyone who's been in a hospital would know, nurses are obsessed with taking your pulse. 

While their visits might often seem a little untimely, (like when your room is full of visitors) there is a very good reason for the odd pulse-taking exercise.  It's about monitoring and keeping up to date with your health.  We even describe people as having a "finger on the pulse" when we want to be clear about how up-to-date they are!

In fact, these days personal trainers also encourage you to take your pulse as you work up to fitness. Your pulse is a guide as to how fit/unfit you are, and how much more effort is needed.

Pink Apple reckons that the same can be said for relationships.  All of us need to take the pulse of our relationships on a regular basis.

That way we can keep an eye on our relationship's fitness, and how and where to focus our efforts!

So Pink Apple has prepared you a simple quiz to help you Take the Pulse of Your Relationship!  It'll take you about 2 minutes (with maybe a few extra seconds for thinking time). 

Let me know what you think by sticking a comment in at the bottom of this post, or by sending me an email.