Maybe I'm Amazed

The pretty little blond-headed girl with the long pink ribbon in her hair, stood for several minutes by herself in the check-out line of the discount store. She was probably 7 or 8 years of age, I guessed. My hands were brimming with lollipops for my training session while the girl stood empty-handed in front of me.

When it was her turn to greet the cashier, she very politely inquired "Yes Miss -- do you take food stamps?"

"Nope, I'm sorry we don't...next!"

The little girl said "okay" and scurried off to the back of the store to relay the message, I suspect, to someone who'd sent her on the go ask'em errand.

Times are tough. There was such a sadness about that five-or-so-second exchange I witnessed. For whatever reason, the scene has stayed with me. Maybe it was the honesty of the inquiry from such an innocent little girl. Maybe it was the disinterest of the clerk and the negativity of the answer that loomed so large and loud. Maybe it was because I didn't think fast enough to say to the little girl that I was good for a sack of groceries. Maybe, maybe, maybe...

Last week I spent the better part of a 90-minute coaching session discussing one word with my client: FEAR -- the kind of fear that holds you back, keeps you stuck, and squelches your ability to move forward with creativity, confidence, and a clear head. When's the last time you got your courage up and asked an important question of someone, or self? Who's on your call list that you don't have the nerve to call? What's the name of the person you need to connect with about a job possibility? What seems to be getting in your way -- could it be a little three-letter word that starts with "y" and ends with "u"? How do you cope with rejection? Who do you send to ask questions on your behalf?

posted by: billiesucher