Today, I finally did it. I caved in to the pressure. I became a blogger. You have to understand one thing about me. I don’t like to write. I’m not into anything that feels labor-intensive.  But the real reason I don’t like to write is a deep-seated fear about my writing ability. My third grade teacher, in front of the entire class, told me that I was a lousy writer. Every kid in the school knew about my writing inability by recess. Isn’t it amazing what sticks to us, depending upon the source of the criticism? Thank goodness for friends. Two friends helped me with a Mindset Shift™. That is, they shifted my thinking from immobilized to empowerment.

The first friend, Carrie Perrien Smith (http://www.soarhigher.com), told me to separate my ideas/content from my grammar. This was an eureka moment for me.

“You can hire an editor to correct your grammar. But only you can come up with your content.”

“It just haunts me that you don’t have more in print because of something a teacher told you years ago.  You are way smarter than that teacher will ever be and doing really important things. I don’t think teachers really have any idea that things they say innocently or by accident can shape a person’s personal truth. Even if you were a crummy writer (which I know you aren’t), editors make their money turning great content (which you have in your head) into digestible books for your target audience. Your time is now!”

Thank goodness for friends.

My other good friend, Darren LaCroix (http://www.humor411.com), convinced me in two sentences and a question.

“A blog is nothing more than an email sharing what you’ve learned. You do this for a living. Can you write a two paragraph email about what you’ve learned?”

Darren pointed out that I’m a copious note taker. It’s true. Whatever meeting I attend, I take lots of notes. I want to make sure that I get the key ideas… the Key Notes. I’m also a keynote speaker. So the name of my blog is “Key Notes.” Yes, it is a double entendre.

Thank goodness for friends.

Presto!  There it was a Mindset Shift™. It took years to develop this phobia about writing and I’ve created an amazing story about how I do not like to write. But my friends dissolved that excuse in seconds — like Alka-Seltzer in water.

Have you ever experienced a Mindset Shift™ in a matter of seconds? That is, you felt one way and in a matter of minutes or seconds, your mindset shifted? So what’s your story? What cherished beliefs (excuses) are you holding on to that’s keeping you from growing? What area(s) of your life needs a Mindset Shift™? Maybe you need a people-shift. Write me your two paragraphs (or less).

P.S. I welcome your comments if you catch any grammatical errors.  But you must give your Mindset Shift™ ideas first and the corrections second. It’s my blog. My rules.