Lisa Rice wrote this.

I recently celebrated my birthday.

Another year I’ve learned, lived and loved.

Learned more about the art of voiceover and life in general.

Lived some moments that will always bring a smile.

Loved the people I’m blessed to call family and friends.

 

As a child, I couldn’t wait to be one year older.  My perspective has definitely changed.  In fact, some days I wish I could make time stand still.  Since I’ve given up on that idea, I’ve embraced another…staying anchored in the moment.  By this, I mean focusing on what I’m doing instead of what I’m about to do or have just done.

 

Have you tried it?

Next time you’re with friends or family stop and anchor yourself in the moment.

Listen to the sounds nearby.

Take a deep breath and smell the aromas encircling you.

Watch the expressions of everyone with you.

Look in their eyes. Take time to notice something new.

 

There’s a verse in the twenty-seventh book of Proverbs that says, “Boast not yourself of tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

 

None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.

Today is a gift ready to be opened.

I’m planning some anchor time.

How about you?

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Lisa Rice wrote this.

Failure, obstacles, tribulation and quandaries.

Funny how those words sound depressing and even dreary yet we’ve all experienced them at one time or another.

Was it an exam? An audition? A relationship? Or the dreaded New Year’s resolution? Put a check next to every one of those for me!

The question is what do we do with them?

Learn from our failures?

Move past the obstacles?

Press through tribulation?

Fix the quandary?

If I’m honest with myself, every failure, obstacle, tribulation and quandary I’ve faced molded me into someone better.

Studying people fascinates me. One of the best resources to feed my habit is Wikipedia. Take some time to discover the back-story of yesterday’s and today’s headlines and you’re sure to unearth a treasure trove of life lessons.

The business icon, actor, musician and politician we might consider a success often traveled a rocky path leading up to it. It’s how they handled adversity that becomes intriguing.

Did they become stronger, more sensitive, incredibly resilient or wildly interesting?

I came across the video below several months ago and have found myself returning to it more than once. Usually when life has handed me a beating. It culminates with the statement, “If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived.”

Put it that way and failure doesn’t sound so bad after all.

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Lisa Rice wrote this.

I’m reminded of this as I conduct business from my private studio each day. Customers from all fifty states and as far way as Ireland, India and Korea send scripts they need voiced. I record digitally and upload an mp3, wave or aiff file.

When I was a child my family visited Disney World. An entire section of the park was dedicated to the future. You could walk from one interactive display to another that previewed the many ways technology would one day affect our lives.

I recently ran across a video that reminded me of this and wanted to share it.
Technological advances have changed the way we all do business. The Internet has made the world our marketplace.

So let’s get to business.
Email me a script.
I’ll record and upload it so your production can move forward.
All thanks to technology.

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Lisa Rice wrote this.

You’ve seen them. Those yellow, diamond-shaped traffic signs often placed strategically along winding roads.  Each one warning us to slow down and pay more attention because a dangerous curve lies ahead.  And if your experience is the same as mine, they always seem to pop up when I’m running late.  Ultimately though, we know they’re posted for our own good and in turn, benefit the drivers coming toward us in the opposite lane.

You know, we also need to be mindful of these on the road we call Life. The only difference here is that they manifest themselves in the form of health issues, spiritual anemia and relationship problems. 

I'm pretty sure this is one area where the "good 'ol days" probably were. Our 24/7 work schedules owe their existence to the internet and the opportunity to find customers on several different time zones.  Erased from our memory are Blue Laws, a day of rest and one or two family vacations per year. Yet, I'm convinced that applying the brakes in our personal lives on a daily, weekly and annual basis helps our journey become richer and more meaningful.

By allowing ourselves to recharge our battery, so to speak, and refuel with things we enjoy that aren’t work related, our business only stands to benefit.  We also become better equipped to negotiate those hairpin turns everyone eventually comes upon…illness, family issues or death.  And let’s be honest, we probably won’t be on our deathbed wishing we’d spent more time working.

Our jobs continually threaten to overrun our personal lives. This is especially true for those of us who are self-employed. Herein, lies the challenge.

So how will we respond?

If we look at it the same way as driving on a winding road, we have two choices. Keep moving forward full-speed ahead or apply the brakes so we don't crash emotionally, spiritually or physically. Worse yet, take the risk of not staying in our own lane!

I love the quote from Adrian Rogers. "Decisions determine destiny."

We don't always have control over every aspect of our life. This is one we do.

Here's to a safe journey through every curve that comes your way.

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Lisa Rice wrote this.

In our home, a set of wooden alphabet blocks sits perched on the mantle high above our fireplace. They announce each season, holiday or special occasion. Every New Year’s Day, we pack up the Christmas decorations and move things back to their normal place. I asked my daughter to arrange the blocks this month and to my surprise she positioned them to say, “Happy New You.”

The more I think about it the more I like it. Those three words represent the premise of every resolution made this time of year. We determine to change what hasn’t worked over the last twelve months to what we hope will. We consider modifying actions, habits and thoughts to yield a happier life. We keep the good, discard the useless and consider adopting a new strategy.

What will you keep, discard or adopt?
Work more or use your time wisely?
Start a new diet or eat smarter?
Begin another exercise routine or find creative ways to introduce movement throughout your day?
Change one area of your life or strive for balance as a whole?
Continue advertising the traditional way or use message-on-hold and website video?
Stick with familiar equipment/programs or stretch your technical muscles?

Every day we make decisions. We face choices big and small that make up our personal and business life cumulatively. We can keep, discard or adopt.

My plan involves re-examining every physical, mental and spiritual habit I own.
Did it work last year?
Will it work this year?
Is there something better?

Keep, discard or adopt.
Here’s to a Happy New Year and even happier new you!

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