Every town has an organization that makes a difference in such a meaningful way that you can’t help but admire – and be humbled by – it. In central Iowa, one such organization is Amanda the Panda (ATP), a not-for-profit offering support for families grieving the loss of a loved one. Their mission is simple, significant, and changes lives.
Charlie, the executive director of ATP, joined The ASPIRE Success Club this year and set a BOLD goal: to secure a stand-alone site to house ATP.
Charlie knew this was a significant stretch goal – but also knew how it would help her team more effectively support the many families that come through their doors. She clearly connected her goal to their overall vision.
She also knew not to “go it alone” and relied on the accountability, idea-sharing, and cheerleading that ASPIRE provides.
At each monthly ASPIRE meeting, Charlie’s progress was up…then down as something fell through. Then up as another prospective site came up…then down. And each month, her fellow members supported, encouraged, and offered suggestions.
Last week, Charlie posted the following on our ASPIRE discussion forum:
“I am excited to share that Amanda the Panda has a new home! My bold goal was to make progress on purchasing a stand-alone dedicated grief center. Well, the Maddie Levitt and Susan Glazer Burt Foundations made it a reality with their amazing gift. GDMLI also selected Amanda the Panda’s proposal (out of 25) to help renovate the center! The power of positive thinking, positive talk, and keeping focused on the goal! We hope to move by April.”
And Charlie’s not alone. We’ve had members this year become published writers, double their incomes, and run their first 5k races. One grew her joyful side business to such a success point that she left her day job; another created a measurable sense of balance in her busy life…the list goes on and on.
To encourage your achievements, ASPIRE members share these 3 tips that helped them significantly in their journeys this year:
Get support. Join a group, hire a coach, find a trusted accountability partner. “Knowing I’ll be reporting back to a group has made a big difference for me,” said ASPIRE member Dianna.- Proceed step by step. It’s insufficient (not to mention overwhelming) to simply state the Bold Goal. You need to know what you’re doing this month, this week, today that’s moving you closer.
- Surround yourself with uplifting people. Don’t seek out the naysayers and critics – they can find you easily enough 🙂 Do seek out inspiring, positive people who believe in you and want to see you succeed.
As a coach, for example, I am only successful when my client succeeds – so I am 100% invested in their success. These are the types of relationships you want to cultivate when striving for something bold!