The 100 Years Club Installment #117: My Woo-Woo Week

OK. Time for a “pivot.” (Ugh…I do not like that word…it brings back memories of fear and masks.)

How about “reboot” or “transformation” instead?

I launched my new brand about a month ago.

Now I can finally cut back on shameless self-promotion and switch back to my (hopefully insightful, provocative, and inspiring) posts tied to my monthly themes.

In March, that theme is LUCK, PROSPERITY, and ALL GREEN THINGS.

Aside from tales of leprechauns (which I finally learned to spell), rainbows, and pots o’ gold, how can we be inspired to turn our luck around this month and throughout the year?

Something that came alive for me this week is the concept of “STAYING OPEN.”

What does that really mean?

• Talking to random strangers and hearing their stories
• Connecting human-to-human with people you meet via social media. However, people investing in mass blasts via LinkedIn are not building relationships. Genuine connection comes from voice-to-voice communication. Old school? Hell, yeah! But it works!
• Keeping in touch with people from your work and life past. In business, maintaining relationships with past friends and colleagues is way simpler than building new circles.

As my week winds down, I ponder some of the connections and reconnections I made this week.

Call it karma, kismet, bashert, luck, manifestation, or any other woo-woo or pragmatic term. But extraordinary things can happen when you calm down, stay open and curious, and explore. Just in the past 7 days, I:

• Talked to my best friend from third grade, who saw one of my IG posts. We started messaging each other and had a chance to reconnect. (I kept in touch with her but hadn’t spoken to her in a few years!)
• Booked a fantastic podcast guest. He’s a guy I met on a dating app years ago and built a professional relationship with. I had a guest drop out at the last minute, and he gladly stepped in!
• Made one great new work/life connection from a Facebook group I belong to and another from a random Google search for an article I was working on. We have so much in common and will find a way to collaborate.
• Dragged myself out to a networking (another word I dislike) event, where I met some engaging professionals (including a couple I interviewed for my business column) and discovered a fun new social community and venue.

But enough about me.

These 5 things can help you make your own luck and moments of kismet

1. Be open and curious to new experiences. Say “Hell, yeah!” but set boundaries when necessary.
2. Smile and talk to strangers. You never know who you may meet.
3. Keep old valued friends and family close. Not only is it a mood-booster, but you realize as you age that our time on this planet is limited.
4. Avoid toxic, negative, and self-centered people. They can drag you down and bust your spirit and suck out your soul.
5. Reflect on things that have happened throughout your life that seemed random at the time but have led to new opportunities, relationships, career opportunities, or deals. Keep the faith!

Remember, you can still be a planner and pragmatist, but keep your eyes, mind, and heart open to new experiences, connections, and opportunities.

No need to invest in crystals or hire a shaman.

Just stay OPEN!

(And listen to or watch the Age Blind podcast to hear stories of people who made their own luck!)

And check out my book on Amazon!