Below is the first issue of what is now known as the “Business Class” E-Zine. The feature article, actually the only article, was entitled: “Ready—Set—Go!” Here’s a funny thing about it. I was petrified to send it. It was ready. It was set. And then I read it and re-read it. Over and over. I just couldn’t push the send button. It was my sister who finally said, “SEND IT!” It was just the encouraging nudge or kick in the pants that I needed, after which I said, “Ready—Set—Set—Set—Go!”, and finally pushed the button.
That was January 22, 2001. Ten years and over 125 issues and 700 articles later….
thank you AGAIN to my sister! And thank YOU for reading, commenting, questioning and suggesting ways to enhance the resources provided here at Business Class.
In year 11 and beyond, our goal is to continue adding take-charge, make-it-happen, inspirational leadership tools so that with every visit, you find something of value. Something instructional or inspirational that provides just the right shift, aha, nudge or kick in the pants that you need to get you and your team closer to whatever it is that you want or want to do.
But before we go forward – let’s go back in time to January 22, 2001.
Ready — Set — Go!
January 22, 2001
Ready or not…there we went… into a brand new year.
Did you know where you were going?
Do you know now?
Here’s a little story (author unknown) about a seahorse in search of his fortune (or dream or goal).
Before you click to something else because a story about a seahorse sounds stupid – let me tell you – it IS a little stupid. A bit silly.
Read it anyway. The message is important.
Once upon a time, a seahorse went out to seek his fortune. He had $20 to his name.
Before he had traveled very far, an eel came along and asked the seahorse where he was going.
The seahorse proudly explained, “I am going to seek my fortune”.
The eel offered a speedy flipper in exchange for $10, explaining that the flipper would “get him there twice as fast.”
The seahorse gladly paid the $10 and sped off at twice the speed.
Soon he came across a little fish, who asked where he was going. 
When the seahorse answered, “I am going to find my fortune”, the little fish had an offer to make. For $10, the little fish was willing to give the seahorse a jet-propelled scooter so that he could travel even faster!
The seahorse took the deal and zoomed through the sea twice as fast on his new scooter.
Soon the seahorse came upon a shark who asked where he was going.
“I’m going to seek my fortune”, replied the seahorse.
“You are in luck. If you take this short cut,” said the shark, pointing to his open mouth, “you’ll save yourself a lot of time.”
“Gee thanks,” said the seahorse, and zoomed off into the shark’s mouth.
As you might imagine, the seahorse was never seen nor heard from again.
Moral according to the storyteller: If you aren’t sure where you are going, you are liable to end up somewhere else!
Additional moral from Jan: And – if you don’t know how you’ll get there, you may end up nowhere. Or some place like the belly of a shark.
It’s okay to wander and explore – as long as it doesn’t matter where you end up and when you end up there.
If either of these do matter, a plan is critical.
If they matter a LOT, get a good coach to help you. The investment will more than pay for itself.
Jan is a coach, speaker and writer.
She is an expert in take-charge, make-it-happen, inspiration leadership.
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