Progress, Not Perfection… I Stay Winning

In work, love, and life I aim for progress, not perfection. And progress is a process.

Progress is the Key to the Goal

I’m taking baby steps to work on some of the things I mentioned in my new years post back in November 2010.

 

The three things that have my priority right now are:

1. Plugging through the edits and rewrites on my book (my editor finished two weeks ago so it’s time to get started).
2. Winning one of my Toastmasters club contests this month: I’ve been studying 1999 World Speaking Champion Craig Valentine’s 52 Speaking Tips, the last of which I received this week, and this is the first opportunity I’ve had to compete in a long time since I couldn’t compete last year as a district officer.
3. Lexi’s 6-month Weight Loss Challenge: Although I don’t look it, I weigh 192 pounds (size 16) and would like to lose about 25 (I’ll fit a size 14). I’ve stopped eating fast food, red meat, and desserts,  increased my green vegetable intake, and hope to get some kickboxing/dance workout DVDs soon (any suggestions?) so I can feel (and be) more energetic.

I’ll write more about these goals as I progress. I’ll also recount my Lasik enhancement experience that is happening this morning (my left eye has been blurry since having done Lasik the first time 4 months ago). Although I don’t want to endure this procedure again, at least I’m not scared.

I Will Stay Winning in 2011*

As a continuation of my 2011 theme, “All I Do is Win,” I’ve come up with my own affirmations/declarations. May they inspire you to make your own list, and be a big winner this year, too!

All I Do is Win a publishing contract.

All I Do is Win the heart of my Boaz.

All I Do is Win the “battle of the bulge.”

All I Do is Win a bigger and bigger savings account.

All I Do is Win Toastmasters contests.

All I Do is Win clients and speaking engagements.

All I Do is Win favor over haters.

All I Do is Win friends and influence people.

All I Do is Win satisfaction and happiness.

All I Do is Win WHATEVER I put my mind and hand to do.

Aim for progress, and stay winning!

*It’s not grammatically correct, but I like it.

I Can Add “Award-Winning” to My Title Now…

I just learned that I won an award for one of my entries in the Writer’s Digest 79th Annual Writing Competition! The top 100 winners in each of several categories will be named in the December 2010 issue, and I received 82nd place in the Magazine Feature Writing category. As someone who has never been published in a national magazine before, I’m feeling quite honored. I submitted entries in three different categories, but so did thousands of others.

I could not have written the article without a few accomplished (and busy) authors/publishers who didn’t hesitate to contribute their reflections and advice. To Regina Brooks, Karen Hunter, Mitzi Miller, and Denene Millner, I thank you so much for giving of your time so I could interview you in December 2009, not knowing where the article would turn up, or if it would ever see the light of day! I admire you all so much, and it was a great honor.

If I am allowed to, I will post the award-winning feature article on this blog before the year is out. Yay me!!!