Is It the End or Is It The Beginning?

Happy New Year 2018 - Is it the end or is it the beginning?

Is your cup half empty or half full?  If you are one who sees the cup as half empty then you probably look at New Year’s Eve as the end of 2017.  It’s your choice but for me I’m choosing to see it as the beginning of a Brand New Year.  My prayer is that you will continue the journey to a Brand New You.  

When you look back on 2017, don’t be mad, be grateful for change and growth.  It took 365 days to get to where you are today--the eve of 2018.  Whether you in 2017 identified with the #metoo moment, was disappointed in a love one, disillusioned by government, lost faith in your church leadership, lost your partner or just got depressed from the constant reality show politics, remember, “we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Cor 4:8-9 NIV)

So, we can choose to see 2018 as an opportunity to create a Brand New You.  If you are feeling pressed, perplexed, or persecuted, I invite you to watch and listen to the lyrics of Alicia Keys song, Brand New Me.  Don’t be mad, embrace the Brand New You; the journey continues!  It takes a brave, brave person to tell their story.  In 2016 I shared my story in Start Where You Are: My Journey from Childhood Poverty and I have no regrets.  Today I am stronger, wiser, and happier and have helped others have a breakthrough in their own story.

When I look back over 2017, I see more successes:

recipient of the Air Education and Training Command and Air Force, Blacks In Government Meritorious Service Award, completed San Antonio Rock n Roll Half Marathon, helped provide water to 28 children in Africa, partnered to bring Live2Lead, leadership seminar to veterans, teamed with a nonprofit to provide backpacks to children returning to school, received 10-year Civilian Service Pin and was promoted.  What do I contribute my success too?  I sure didn't do it alone.  I had the tried and true Fs--Faith.Family.Friends+Failures.  Of course, there were NOT failures, right? You are correct, those were just refueling pit stops and new growth opportunities--the glass is half full.

Go ahead and reflect on your 2017.  While you do, let me share my 7 Start Where You Are Success Strategies with those of you who are following the Storyteller4Change.  Try them and leave me a comment on my blog, facebook or twitter @mmanyweather.

Start Where You Are Top 7 Success Strategies

1. Know yourself;  know your passion.  Don’t underestimate the power of self reflection.  
2. Have a plan!  Any road will get you there if you don’t know where you’re going; the plan will help you recalculate.  
3. Let some things go so you can continue to grow—know when it’s time to say goodbye.  Is it the end or just the beginning?
4. Focus daily on building your own brand and editing your own story—each day is a day to reshape a chapter, an ending, or create a new beginning.
5. Never invest to sell a product or service and don’t invest in others to sell your story; invest in you to share your story so others can overcome, learn, and grow.
6. To inspire others by your story, you must first be inspired by it—if it didn't inspire you, it won’t inspire them.
7. Know yourself and know your passion (strengths and weaknesses).  Others can help you with some things but they can never substitute your passion nor tell your story like you.  Keep editing to keep climbing to keep growing.

Start Where You Are and there will be Much Success to You in 2018!