One month into 2011, what question(s) are you living? Are there any prompts/questions that arose during #reverb10 that are still resonating in your life? Are you living new questions?
The prompt included these instructions: Like #reverb10, you may respond to this prompt as-is or remix it to suit your needs. Write, blog, photograph, draw or respond however you'd like.
I have been pounding out a good bit of writing lately, don't have any photographs that speak to this topic exactly, and you don't want me to draw. For a change of pace, I think I will employ a SWOT analysis. I found myself recommending this approach to a friend recently as she tried to wrestle with a decision about returning to work after several years being home with her kids. A few years ago, I employed SWOT (looking at the strengths/weaknesses/opportunities and threats inherent in a situation in order to make a well-reasoned business decision) when I ended up one-on-one with a fairly high ranking executive of our Third Party Administrator at a time when I wanted to establish a rapport but also take advantage of an opportunity to share some concerns.
To try to chip away at the questions still unanswered in 2011, here is a SWOT look at my life:
Strengths
Proofreading, editing, writing - I find great satisfaction in using these skills and feel confident that I can serve authors such as Rhett Devane and Senator Bob McKnight, for whom I edited Accidental Ambition, and Donna Meredith, for whom I edited The Glass Madonna.
Weaknesses
I need to get a backbone. I don't speak up when I am right and I apologize way too often as a way to placate when an apology is the wrong strategy.
Opportunities
They are why I do it all. Despite all of the tension and frazzled moments inherent in being a family of four, I wake up each day with the gift of being mom and wife:
New York City August 2007 (Photo Credit Dan Carubia)
Threats
I read a quote this morning that resonated, especially since I knew I was going to write about this topic tonight:
The greatest success, is successful self acceptance. Ben Sweet
On a day when I allowed a perfectly nice string of hours with my teenager to deteriorate into a spiral of negative self-talk over a $5.99 ring from Target that had not made it into the bag, with a few accusations flying both ways, self acceptance remains a question that still insinuates itself too frequently.
How is a SWOT analysis supposed to end? I suppose that is where this post detours from the business purpose. It won't necessarily help me make more money, get anything done faster, or satisfy a board of directors. But hopefully when I revisit it in February 2012, there won't be a spineless jellyfish to be found.
3 comments:
Wonderful....
I am going to take this approach today. I appreciate your words... I obviously needed them today!
The question I am living this week is rather "airy fairy" "What can I do to express an abundance of love in my work this week?"
Perhaps if I layer a SWOT analysis over the airy fairy?
Will let you know how that goes...
My question to live...
You mentioned about having no backbone and then there's a jelly fish photo. No backbone. Right but they do sting!
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