Intentions

If I had a dollar for every intention I’ve ever had, I’d have a lot of dollars!! There are so many things I intend to begin, do and finish…the list is endless!! For example, I sometimes pile things I would like to read. Then after the pile gets too high and I’m frustrated, I throw the whole pile away. Sometimes I think it is a commitment problem, sometimes I think I’m lazy…mostly I’ve come to believe I just don’t do everything I intend to do and need to revisit what intentions are really about. It is definitely time for a reality check.

The lovely thing about being part of Tuesday Topic is that the intention to blog has a new element of pressure to it. I have to think about how disappointed Jen Goode would be if I didn’t blog or how some of the other bloggers of the group would feel if I didn’t fulfill this commitment. I vowed to do this over milkshakes in the middle of the night at a Las Vegas conference. These are the pinnacle moments that define our lives and character. If you can’t keep a promise you’ve made after way too many cocktails over chocolate shakes, then your intentions are definitely in question. Or so I believe…

One of my peeves about intentions is when they are used as an excuse for promises not kept. When you ask a person why they haven’t fulfilled a promise and the answer is, “it was my intention…” It has dirty, rotten liar written all over it!! Intending to do something isn’t the same as doing it!! If you are going to do something just do it, intentions don’t cut it.

On that same note…I love intentions. When someone tells me about an intention, I get excited. Intending to do something is a promise of hope and vision. “My intended” is a loaded phrase as well promising the future of possibilities with a special someone. I prefer the notion even to fiancé. It is loaded with subconscious programming as to what the future might hold.

What are my intentions? Well, to express my innermost thoughts about how I view life and the subtle nature of the greenness of the pea. To study the nature of grass and other things that grows effortlessly creating the havoc of traffic and grocery store lines. These are all thoughts of a madwoman I know, but I never intended to be anything but what I am. Judge me as you wish, I bother no one by existing in my little slice of heaven on South Beach. I never intended to be anything more than what I am.

Promises made at #ASW09

The funny thing about conferences is that sometimes you make the connections; set up an agenda and fail to follow through…We’ve all been guilty of it at one point or another. I think that is what the conference bags end up being, a collection of cards, brochures and promises we end up sticking in a closet and dispose of in following months.

This Affiliate Summit, I had some of the most intense and interesting conversations of my professional life. The topics were of integrity, best practices, dealing with stress, mentoring with a conscious, cross promoting and general support of each other with common goals. I want to name each person I spoke with and make this a long love letter, but it would be endless. You know who you are…I love you!!

My huge highlight of this conference was having my website critiqued by some of our industry’s finest young minds. (Scott Polk, Eric Lander, Carolyn Shelby and David Snyder) What a thrill!! When I thanked them profusely, they kept on suggesting more things to me. Their generosity was a lesson within itself. It was a humbling experience I am very grateful for. I am looking forward to making all the changes they suggested.

The mentoring program was also a wonderful experience thanks to Jen Goode. (Yes, having a young and handsome mentee was nice. I’ve heard it!) Having a talented, profound and interesting person I could introduce to the affiliate industry was very rewarding. It was my chance to give back the generosity and nurturing my mentor (Andy Rodriguez) had given me years ago. I hope what I shared will impact Peter Doyle as much as sharing impacted me.

My hope is that I can live up to my promises and truly practice what I preach. This is a fascinating time to be alive and when how we live matters more than ever. After so many abuses in our society, economy and policies have been committed; values are paramount. This is the perfect time for real talent and proven strategies to take form and lead the path for others.

Thank you Missy Ward and Shawn Collins for providing such an amazing ride!!