What’s So Great About “Great?”

Posted on by
2

 

selective photo of gray shark

Photo by GEORGE DESIPRIS on Pexels.com

Yep, that’s right. “Great” is overrated.

For quite awhile, I have been thinking about the possibility of eliminating the word “great” from my vocabulary.

Is “great” a noun? An adjective? An adverb? Or, most likely, all three? What makes it so great to use “great” in a sentence? What is the meaning of “great?”

I always took “great” to mean “large,” as in the phrase, “something greater than myself.” Or, to use examples from the animal world, “great white shark” or “great horned owl.”

Another bothersome point for me is that “great” can refer to things both wonderful, like great art — and devastating, like great destruction during wars or storms.

And, I’m confused why so many of us (myself included) answer “Great!” when asked, “How was your weekend?” Does that one-word response really mean “large?”

It’s almost as if “great” has become an easy catch-all, something we use when we’re too lazy or uncreative to use a descriptive, attention-grabbing word — whether we’re speaking or writing.

What if, instead, when asked by a friend or colleague, “How was your weekend?”, I answered, “Delicious — A friend and I tested several new French recipes on Saturday night and we can’t wait to try more!” Or, “Mind-numbing — I spent the entire weekend working on my tax return!”

And, what if I worked to delete “great,” as an adjective, from my vocabulary?

I might challenge myself to be more descriptive in these instances, as well. Rather than saying, “That was a great concert last night,” I could replace “great” with a more thought-provoking adjective: “That was an emotional concert last evening, don’t you think?” Perhaps this change would open up a real conversation about emotions and feelings around the music for both myself and my concert-mate.

What’s your take on “great? I’m thinking “great” might not be so great any more.

Trust Yourself

Posted on by
4

TrailOne of my many learnings during these long, stay-at-home days is how to trust. A few years ago, I penned another post about trust. I titled that one, “The Nature of Trust.” It was focused on building and maintaining trust with others.

What I’m discovering lately is the importance of trusting myself. During these times of aloneness, self-trust is paramount.

For instance, I’ve learned to trust my financial decisions, both personal and business-related. It’s easy to take for granted that little “emergency fund” I set up years ago, but I trust it will allow me to keep a positive attitude (and cash flow) during these times.

I’ve learned to trust my instincts as I’m utilizing more and more online tools. Rather than asking a technical colleague for help on how to do “x, y or z” online, I’m trusting myself to learn on my own. All this free time helps me build trust in myself.

And, I’ve been getting outside more than ever lately, hiking trails and paths I haven’t hiked in years (if ever). When I’m out there, all alone, enjoying the weather, the scenery and the terrain, I sometimes let self-doubt creep in: Did I take a wrong turn? Will I find my way back to the trailhead? What if I get lost? In actuality, however, I’ve learned to trust my sense of direction and trust that I’ll always be able to find my way home.

The over-arching issue that I’ve grappled with is whether I can trust myself to get through all the uncertainties, unknowns and overall unease in this world we live in today. Can I weather this storm?

The answer is “yes.” We should all remind ourselves not to overlook the self-trust that we have cultivated over the years. Or, as Dr. Benjamin Spock (remember him?) was known to have uttered,

“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.”  

Stay Productive.

Posted on by
4

My business friends are amazing. I’m observing numerous ways in which they are staying productive during these unsettling and uncertain times.

One longtime friend and very successful small business owner, has decided to update her website on her own. Although her web team usually takes care of updates for her, she is determined to use some of this downtime to learn how to make quick updates herself. She is fully capable of learning how to use her content management system and, when she has done so, I can only imagine how good she will feel. An added benefit is that she will, most likely, keep her site more up-to-date than ever before. In today’s ever-changing business climate, the ability to accurately portray her products and services will help her remain fresh in her marketplace.

Another colleague has started a new company — yes, in these uncertain times. He is finding that he is now able to focus a bit more easily on his new venture, since his existing business is “a bit quiet at the moment.” Sometimes, our dreams are never realized because we’re too busy focusing on our core activity. I suspicion this new entity will succeed with flying colors!

One of my neighbors, who is an extremely savvy business owner, is finally taking the time to get started on social media. She knows she should have done this long ago, but her business was thriving anyway. I suspect she’ll thrive even more soon.

Yet another business friend had always been curious to try email marketing for her company. She has recently taught herself how to design and launch an email campaign using one of the many readily available free tools. After her first campaign, she immediately gained a new client and will, most likely, make email marketing an integral part of her overall marketing strategy.

What about you?

What are you doing to stay productive in these unprecedented times?

Please share your experiences.