I Dropped the Ball

Lebron James Picked up the Ball

In a radio interview I made an excuse as to why I hadn't blogged for months. "I'm working on getting a Wordpress blog, for more visibility," I said. That's true. And still, even as those words rolled off my tongue something in me knew I was making an excuse. Something in me knew the truth: I'd dropped the ball. I'd dropped the ball when I stopped blogging, when I ceased to do something that I'd committed to doing, something that matters to me, something I'm meant to do, something that honors the commitment that I made to myself to give to the world through the written word.

So, let me confess the truth to you: I dropped the ball. That's what came to me as I walked through Druid Hill Park the other day. Before I fessed up though, I beat myself up. You understand, we tend to beat ourselves up when don't keep the commitments we make...to ourselves. Or we fail to live up to our own self-concept. As soon as I was able to tell myself the truth not only did I feel better but I freed myself to do something about the dropped ball.

What's more I had an epiphany. Yes, I'd dropped the ball. So has Lebron James. Still James is deemed one of the best basketball players of all times. Ray Lewis has dropped his share of balls. Still he took the Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl. James and Lewis are winners. You know why? They are winners because when they drop a ball they bend down and pick it
up. Yup, that's what winners do. Winners don't make excuses for why they dropped the ball. Winners don't stand there staring at the ball on the floor. Winners bend over and pick up the ball and keep playing the game.

Okay, you've dropped a ball or two too. But guess what, if you stay in the game you are playing to win. So the next time you drop a ball, waste no time explaining, lying, denying what you've done. Shucks, humans drop balls. Just make sure you stay in the game. Either pick the ball up, or decide it's not your ball to play. Whatever you do, stay in the game and play to win!

DeBora M. Ricks

Author/Speaker/Producer 

Why Did He Break Up With Me? Lessons in Love, Loss & Letting Go

Visit my website!

Molly Will Never Get My Business

An editor contacted me, after reading my blog. Said she liked my posts and could help me make them better with a bit of editing. I'm an editor, so I know how important it is to have another set of eyes look at my writing. I'm the person who says "edit or regret it." Well, I called her the morning I read her email.

We decided we would barter. She would edit my website, rather than my blog, and I would edit hers. I'd seen a mistake on the first page of her website and chalked it up to her being human, like me. Humans make mistakes, right?

Several weeks passed. Today I got an email from her and some notes. She said she hadn't edited my pages but provided me with some notes about what changes are needed. In her email she wrote, "I certainly hope you aren't offended by the Notes." I cringed. I opened her Notes cautiously, fearfully.

Perhaps her feedback is spot on but it's hard to swallow because of the tone and spirit in which she delivered it. Had I done anything right on my website? One thing? Something? Not according to Molly. If I had, she never mentioned it.

Here's the lesson, if we're in business to help people then we'd better learn how to give them feedback with love and care. Molly helped me. She caused me to remember that it's not just what we say...but how we say it. People are fragile. We're doing what we do to the best of our ability. Isn't our effort worth something? I think so.

Molly won't get my business. Nor will I send any clients her way. Why would I? She's clueless about how to treat them. I don't know about you, but Molly has reminded me to treat people like I want to be treated, with love and care. Even when we're doing business. We either treat them right or they're go away. As they should!

Peace & Love, DeBora