Monthly Archives: March 2014

Spring Into Action with Dr. Sheri (Part 2)

by guest blogger Dr. Sheri Prentiss

Yesterday, I talked about setting goals and working toward achieving them. Now here are some practical tips that have worked for me:

  • Reaffirm your commitment – Make sure you take a firm position in your mind that no matter what happens you will stick to your goals. Pledge firmly that you won’t forget about your goal until you achieve it.
  • Get priorities in order – Your goals should be in sync with where you see yourself in the future. Get rid of the immediate obstacles and assure incremental progress.
  • Take a deep look – Are your goals realistic? Each of you is equipped with the strength, willingness and determination to achieve your goals, but these traits will not be enough if you are spreading yourself too thin.
  • Make an action plan – You have set goals, maybe you’ve even written them down, and now you are all set to start achieving them. First step – make an action plan! There could be more than one way to achieve your goal, so you have to decide which one works best for you.
  • Track progress – If you don’t track your progress, you don’t get an idea if you are going in the right direction or if you will achieve your goal in the time frame you had set in your mind. So track your progress every day.

San Diego Day 1

  • Involve others – It is always good to involve others in the process of setting and achieving goals. Let them know your plans so they can support you – reminding you when you veer off track and congratulating you when you succeed. Take advice when necessary, and don’t be rigid. There are people in your life who are willing and want to help, so let them!
  • Welcome failure – I don’t know anyone who had an absolute smooth run on the road to success. Failure is an important part of the entire process. Welcome it. Learn from it. And remember, you’re not a failure because you try something and it doesn’t work out; you fail only when you stop trying!
  • Persist – Don’t give up. Try out different methods. Learn and improve. Be patient. Be persistent.
  • Celebrate – Celebrate when you have successfully taken the next step. You’ve just shortened the path to your destination. Stop thinking for a while and enjoy the moment.
  • And finally, don’t lose sight! Stay focused! – “Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs.” Mario Andretti.

Never lose sight of your goals. Remember where you want to go at all times. Learning to spot opportunities that will propel you closer to your goal is important. Remembering where you need to go, even more so.

Never forget where you’ve been. Never lose sight of where you’re going. And never take for granted the people who travel the journey with you.

 

Spring Into Action with Dr. Sheri (Part 1)

by guest blogger Dr. Sheri Prentiss

Philadelphia Day 3

I used to have a habit of walking with my head down always deep in thought, planning my next move and sometimes very conscious of making a misstep. Then one day a stranger on the street yelled out to me and said, “Hey young lady, your future is too bright and your plans are too big for you to ever walk with your head hung low. Look up and see your wonderful life unfold, otherwise you’ll miss it.”

It’s possible you looked to the sky at the beginning of the year, saw great potential, set high goals or made New Year’s resolutions bigger and better than you ever did before. If you aren’t careful, you could be like I was and resume old habits of keeping your eye on your footsteps and losing focus of the big picture. I quickly learned that once you’re in the habit of looking up, you have a clearer view of any obstacles and you’re able to make sure your footsteps will lead you in the right direction. I encourage you to not fall back into old habits this year and to stop worrying about taking the wrong step. Instead, stay focused on the big picture, keep your head up and determine how you can make your goals your reality.

“The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.” Oprah Winfrey

Those who walk that extra mile and make an impact are the people who have goals. They set goals and don’t lose sight of them until they have achieved them. It has been only three months since you made those New Year’s promises to yourself. But I bet that some of you have already given up. That’s the thing about goals. Setting them is easy. Losing sight of them is easier.

I am not someone who achieves every goal she sets; I struggle and procrastinate too.

It happens all the time. Confronted with choice, we take the easy option. We do what’s convenient, rather than what’s required. We float, allowing ourselves to get carried away without getting anywhere, rather than pushing ourselves and swimming to the intended shore.

Life is like that. Tempting us continuously with comfortable but unproductive options – moving us away from the hard work required to achieve our goals.

As luck would have it, the path to your goals in life is often strewn with obstacles. It’s a bumpy ride. There may be roadblocks and hardships, but it’s often the only way to get to your goals. There will be exits tempting you to leave the chosen path and take another road. Don’t succumb to it. The nice easy road may look tempting – but remember to check if it will take you where you want to go.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my post tomorrow, when I’ll talk about some tips that have helped me reach my goals. In the meantime, leave your comments below about how you have set goals and achieved them.

3-Day Participant Center –Tools for Connecting

Whether you’re participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® as a fresh-faced first-timer or a wily veteran, your Participant Center on the Komen 3-Day website is packed with resources to help you prepare for your 3-Day® journey.

I could fill a dozen blog posts going into detail about all of the nifty tools on the Participant Center, which empower you in your fundraising, training and event preparation, but for today, I just want to focus on a few that will help you connect with your fellow walkers and crew members. The first two resources below can be found under the “Connect” header in the left-side navigation menu on your Participant Center homepage:

komen_3Day_participant center_connect
Message Boards – Do you have a question that you want to ask your fellow walkers or crew members? Are you curious about other walkers’ reasons for getting involved in the 3-Day? Are you looking for creative fundraising ideas? The Message Boards are a great place to post your questions or comments where other 3-Dayers will see them. The boards are divided up by 3-Day location, and then further divided into categories, making it easy to navigate the postings.

Komen_3Day_participant center_message boards

Friend Finder – The 3-Day Friend Finder an online database that registered participants can search to find other walkers or crew members in their area. You search the Friend Finder by zip code, and can also filter the results with other criteria, such as walking speed or gender, and if you’re looking for a team to join, you can also sort the results to find team captains with open teams. Participants don’t show up in the Friend Finder search until they’ve visited the Friend Finder page for the first time (and have checked “I am willing to share my contact information…” in their profile) so if you’re registered for the 3-Day, be sure update your Friend Finder profile so people can find you too!

komen_3Day_participant center_friend finder

Training Walk Calendar – So you’ve connected with your fellow walkers online and now you’re ready to hit the pavement and train with them. Under the “Train” heading on the left-side menu, registered participants can access the training walk calendar. This is another list that’s sortable by zip code, making it easy to find walks that are close to you. Training walks are also a wonderful place to meet new 3-Day friends.

Komen_3Day_participant center_training walk calendar

Your Participant Center is packed with amazing resources, so take some time to log in and explore! If you ever need help finding something you’re looking for, the coaches are ready to point you in the right direction. Give them a call at 800-996-3DAY!