Thoughts are Powerful

Thoughts are powerful. 

I thought I’d start with that. Not only because I’ve been meaning to write an entry for several months, and if I write it down, it will happen (some believe so); rather that if I at least write down my statement of intent, the rest will start to develop. 

The reason to write a new blog entry was meant to be for business/ seo (search engine optimization) purposes; however, I’ve been advised by my trusty co-founder/friend Christine that although my blog content is “meaty”, we (7 Summits Snacks) shouldn’t just copy-paste from this blog to the “blog for the seo” on our company website. This lead me to delineate the the two entries where the blog on the 7 Summits Snacks site is about our achievements this year (check out that entry on our website from Dec 31st); whereas, this entry stems from our forward progress to speak about the core values and beliefs I personally nurture to allow me to manifest my business as I have and will. There is overlap in theme around my mindset, but that’s about it. I’d say that this entry precedes or is a potential philosophical explanation for the company entry. 

I recognize that this opener seems a bit like “awww, do I have to?”, where I would like to justify that it’s more from the camp of “I choose to write my blog, I like to write my blog, I just feel like I haven’t had the time to write my blog (because being an entrepreneur is a time-heavy endeavour)”. Alert! Alert! Limiting beliefs identified!! Check that!

Introducing theme 2: Limiting beliefs. 

Remembering theme 1: Thoughts are powerful.

I’ve generally been a good manifester. Some see manifestation as the  spirituality of god acting: god has given one grace and opens doors. Others see it in the hairy-fairy spiritual new-age sense: stars are aligned, energies are working, good stuff happens. I sit more in the latter camp, but the essence of the two is the same. Your thoughts are powerful, you spend energy thinking about a topic or a passion (through prayer or meditation or belief or worry) and energy comes back to you in alliance with your thoughts. “Energy flows where attention goes”- Tony Robbins. A podcast I recently listened to (Oprah Super Soul: Intention) reminded me of that sentiment: The energy you put out in the world is the energy you get back in life. Set your intention!

There have been many examples of manifestation in my life, where I think of something that I want, and it tends to happen. It’s not a superfluous want or superficial wish that comes true… I still haven’t won the lottery; however, it’s a want or wish that resonates with the core of my being. I only recognized this aspect of the original thought after listening to the aforementioned podcast. And if I look back at some of these manifestations, open doors, etc, I can notice that their acquisition has been from comments that might have been in passing versus ones that have been meditative or deeply visualized. 

Be careful what you wish for! Words are powerful. I remember when I was in Brussels, knowing that I was being made redundant, so was thinking what I wanted to do in my life… I made the comment to my friends “I’d maybe like I job where I can wear my running clothes all the time” . Needless to say, the last two years I’ve been working from home staring at my closet of pretty office clothes whilst wearing any pair of lycra running leggings or sweatpants. Oh yeah, because I am now working on my own schedule as a contracting chocolate scientist- amazing! Freedom (of schedule) being the core value that resonated with the statement about wanting to wear my running clothes whenever I felt like it, and perhaps that I really like running. 

However, back to the limiting belief siren. Positive self-talk, thoughts, and beliefs are concepts that have been on my radar for quite some time now; introduced to me in my formative years as a competitive figure skater (visualise your clean performances) and reinforced by those who were/are obsessed with personal development and propelling their lives in positive directions. To some I know I come across as an eternal optimist, potentially even naïve to the sadness and misfortune in the world, but when YOU have the choice “spend your time in belief versus spending it in worry” J. Osteen in Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations, I will continue to choose to spend my energy believing in what positive actions CAN happen in this world, thus willing good energy to where my attention is focused. 

What does this have to do with limiting beliefs and business then? I come back to my title, Thoughts are Powerful because I notice negative thought patterns and self-talk in and from others. I notice when people get stuck in a loop of “we don’t have the money”, “I’m too tired/busy”, “I’m getting to the top. Full stop.”. And these statements strike me hard, likely because of experiences in my life. 

Limiting beliefs, on repeat, are only stories you tell yourself often because you are afraid to take a risk (and enter the uncharted territory- to you). They are clung on to because these limiting beliefs are well known. The certainty of the thought pattern on repeat (or the excuse), is comforting because you basically know what is going to happen… but remember, “energy flows where you attention goes”. 

Facing into the unknown, taking part in the journey, and accepting what comes takes courage, yet you can still mitigate complete disaster (maybe just a mindset problem) through scenario planning, expectation management, or sheer acceptance. “The trouble is when you are a chapter in your story, immersed in it, you can’t see how things will progress in the future. You lack perspective”  D. Franklin in Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations. If you get stuck in the worry loop, because that is the self-talk you employ when you are afraid, of course you are more likely to actually attract the worse-case or negative situation you worry about. You are not noticing, embodying, or attracting the multitude of positive options that might be possible. The course of 2021 is not likely to be dramatically different to that of 2020… all you can change is your perspective and where you focus your energy.

So queue a new year after a hard year for most. Remembering that your internal words and thoughts are powerful, why not try out belief instead of worry or excuse? Choose a positive emotion or thought pattern for your energy. Step away from what you know. Gather the perspective you need to see how your life’s story might unfold, or at least what the next door to open could be. Choose the action that you haven’t tried before.

On that note, and to correct myself: 

“I haven’t had time because being an entrepreneur is a time-heavy endeavour”

Versus

“the time and energy I put into my business will allow it to grow, so choose how I spend my time accordingly”

should set me up for a successful 2021!

And finally, voila! This entry is now published (after I set my intention).

The hard part is becoming...

“The hard part is becoming a runner. Not just a person who runs, but a runner... Somehow they had to stick with it through the transition from thinking ; “Will I run today?” to thinking; “When will I run today?” The race is inextricably intertwined with life. Family issues... “When will I run today?” Work issues... “When will I run today?” This is not like blocking out a day or weekend, and tolerating the discomfort for long enough to finish. This is taking your life and injecting a race into it with no end in sight.”

This is a quote from the great Laz Lake to the participants taking part in the Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee (GVRAT). A virtual event that Laz has instated this year to give runners something to do during these strange pandemic times. 

To some of you, Laz is the Race Director of the infamous Barkley Marathon. To those who don’t know him, another rather eccentric trail/ long distance/ ultra runner. You can catch his film The Barkely Marathons on Amazon Prime these days. 

I am personally taking part in this summer event because as a somewhat obsessed runner (and someone who is really just dipping their toe into the cultishness that running CAN be), I needed something to look forward to and motivate my butt to run with purpose. You all know I am a big fan of purpose. Quickly though as this isn't meant to be a blog about running, the GVRAT is a “1000km” point to point “race” across Tennessee. There are RATs and BATs being chased by Laz’s metaphorical buzzards to complete their chosen challenge by the end of August. The language and even the challenge itself (it’s actually 1021.68km) is all akin to the absurdity of the iconic Barkley Marathons; so when Laz created the event thinking maybe 1000 people would take part, he himself was overwhelmed by the over 18,000 entrants he received, most of whom were excited by the opportunity to actually take part in something created by this cult classic!

Moving on though, perhaps Laz is a better motivator than Race Director. This quote from early July and just over the halfway point resonated. I have identified as a “runner” rather than a “person who runs” in the past years; however, what resonated was the similarity in purpose to that of being an entrepreneur. In fact, my co-founder Christine has been known to quote to a similar sentiment:

“The thing I love the most about the entrepreneurial community is that it reminds me of the athletic community that I grew up in. The people are amazing. It’s not just about the outcome, it is that they are willing to try HARD at something that might well be impossible”- Christine Reimer, CEO Seven Summits Snacks.

So, I am an entrepreneur. 

I am an entrepreneur ?!

I AM an entrepreneur! 

I sometimes have to repeat that to myself, in that certain way you’re meant to proclaim your affirmations to make them stick. I then slightly tilt my head inquisitively and think- heck yeah I am! This is a bit of a surprise to me because I remember learning about entrepreneurs as a school-aged child thinking, “no thanks, that’s not for me”. Although, I think my Mom will also tell you that I used to hate running, too. 

Here is the bulk of Laz’s post from July 5th (with my stretch of interpretation).

Greatness: 

What they discovered was a race that was both easier and more difficult than they expected. And they discovered they had greatness in themselves that they did not know was there.

The hard part is becoming a runner (entrepreneur). Not just a person who runs (a business), but a runner (entrepreneur)… Somehow they had to stick with it through the transition from thinking ; “Will I run (my business) today?” to thinking; “When will I run (my business) today?” The race is inextricably intertwined with life. Family issues... “When will I run (my business) today?” Work issues... “When will I run (my business) today?” This is not like blocking out a day or weekend, and tolerating the discomfort for long enough to finish. This is taking your life and injecting a race (business) into it with no end in sight. 

...

Everyone of us has greatness inside. But, we have to call on it to discover it. When the race begins, the runner is the one who encounters the obstacles. They are the ones who must reach inside, for something they never knew was there.

-Gary Cantrell, aka “Laz”arus Lake, Race Director of the Barkely Marathons and GVRAT (yeah, he even gave himself a different name)

I am an entrepreneur. 

I have started my own chocolate company. 

This is real!

The race has begun! 

We, as Seven Summits Snacks, are now live and collecting pre-orders for the chocolates that we created as the power of three extremely driven women entrepreneurs through the ATB BoostR platform. Click here to buy our chocolates!

Everyday as an entrepreneur is now a hustle, and much like I decide how my life fits around running, I now also think about how running a start-up chocolate company fits within my run plans. 

Each day I am excited about the opportunity to be great in some way or another. Even if I am only just outrunning the buzzard, I’ve still pushed myself this year and at this point have run 85% of the distance I ran in all of 2019. 

Each day I am excited about the opportunity to be great in some way or another: I am selling my own chocolate bars!

Choose to be great in YOUR own way! Find a platform to enable you and surround yourself with people who are your cheerleaders and support you. You, too can be a runner… or perhaps more than the “person who…”.

"The best laid plans..." or To a Mouse

or 

To Robin.

A quote often quoted, by Robin, and others, and perhaps a fitting reminder on this day of tribute and remembrance. My plans to note the day today were meant to be grand, and yet I sit at home in reflection rather than traipsing across the Khumbu Valley paying homage in the Climbers’ Memorial. At this point I want to give a huge shout out to Jemma and Rich, great friends of Robin and I, who have made an epic tribute to Robin this past weekend. Both have "Everest-ed" in their households by climbing the height of Everest on the stairs. They have also been raising funds for charity during their feat. The links to their donation pages are below. Check them out! I'm super proud of both of them for creating and completing this challenge. 

Jemma's fundraising page

Rich's fundraising page

Instead I’ve chosen to share my reflections with you in this published way. 

The quote “the best laid plans” are in reference to the poem “To a Mouse” from the poet, Robert Burns. Here is the quote in English translation from the original Scottish version.

“The best-laid schemes of mice and men

Go often askew, 

And leave us nothing but grief and pain, 

For promised joy!”

Robert Burns, 1785

How fitting in tribute by adding the next two lines for consideration. With all the best intentions set out, many of us have been left with grief and pain, continuously flowing and ebbing, and eventually fading over the months. For some, it is likely that this grief and pain will never fully dissolve. For others, our lives rebuild, old relationships are strengthened and new  and fulfilling relationships are formed. Relationships with memories. Relationships with others. All built on our experience of loss. All built on our experience with you, Robin.

Robin, rest well. You are remembered; and not only on this anniversary. 

As what often happens with a poignant piece of prose I encounter, it takes me much later to understand the full and deeper significance of the piece of work. 

 “The best-laid schemes…” quote, often mis-quoted, and likely misinterpreted through nonchalance or whim.. Such as: “… best laid plans, and all that 🤷…” echoing a “meh” for recognizing that a change has had to occur due to some unforeseen circumstance. I am certainly guilty of this downplay; however, perhaps the sentiment remains the same from the deeper to the surface meaning of the quote.

To understand the deeper meaning, the next block of the poem is essential.

“Still you are blessed, and compared with me!

The present only touches you:

But oh! I backward cast my eye,

On prospects dreary!

And forward, though I cannot see,

I guess and fear!”

With the local event of the loss of Robin one year ago, and the global, ever evolving event of this epidemic we are all facing at the moment, I find this next block of the poem a fitting reminder to live in the present, rather than to re-live the past and fear the future. One is blessed when they can stop looking drearily on past events, as well as choosing to not be fearful of the future.

EVERYONE has experienced “the best-laid schemes” over the past year.

How we are choosing to face into these plans, ripped up and tossed in the wind, PLUS whichever shitty life events are also happening (cancer, job loss, isolation, separation, etc), I find this block of prose to be a reminder about grounding and taking control of what you can control- You. In this exact moment. That is it. That is all. You cannot even control the moment as a whole, rather only your reaction to the present in which you sit. 

Be equipped with the tool of grace to notice what you are experiencing and which door you choose to open next. Be flexible and challenge your natural modus operandi if progress is what you yearn for. 

Those of you who wish to plan, will naturally continue to do so. Plan and plan and plan and you will be prepared to seize the moment with the ever-sharpened tools within your tool box.

Those of you who wish to accept the moment as it comes, are well grounded and skilled in adaptation to allow yourselves to cope with the downward strikes that you encounter. 

In whichever camp you identify, you are united. Others are feeling the same way. Others have dealt with the same emotions… from times far before Burns’ creation of To a Mouse. 

Unite in your grief and share what you are experiencing.

As an individual, find solidarity. I continuously find life lessons to teach me that individualism is not as strong as the summation of support from willing others. 

Change is inevitable. Acceptance is your unlocking key. 

Okay, I’ve entirely oversimplified this last point, but maybe in another year I will be able to verbosely elaborate. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_a_Mouse

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43816/to-a-mouse-56d222ab36e33

Introducing... Seven Summits Snacks

At the very start of the year, someone I am rather fond of asked me one of the best questions I have ever been asked: “choose one word to describe your 2020”. It took me a little while to choose wisely, but in the end, I chose the word: ambitious!

To my regular readers, you won’t be surprised at this response with the marathon (literally and figuratively) race calendar I had already described for the first half of the year: Tokyo, Boston, Everest. Subsequently due to the world crisis, Tokyo has long since been cancelled and Boston and Everest are both postponed... where it will not be possible to run both this year.

No 6-star medal this year, a dream I had excitedly thought was to be a sure thing for 2020.  However, in reference to “well, that wasn’t in the plan” and trying to build a life with certainty within it, I find myself yet again wondering what worldly life lessons I meant to be learning... I suppose it has something to do with my tendency to want to make a plan to get ahead of the game (of life) somehow. 

Anyways... What I deeply describe as my most “ambitious” task for they year is NOT the three marathons in three months, nor that the last marathon would have started at an altitude with half of the amount of available oxygen as a “normal” marathon after an 8 day/ 60km acclimatization trek in... no, I was not even phased about completing those tasks because for some reason (obviously based on past experiences), they feel like perfectly natural and safe progression patterns. 

Although these three races did form part of my initial answer to describing my ambitious year ahead, and with running not actually the most ambitious task in my mind, what warrants the description of ambitious?

Instead, moving on with life in the “normal” sense is! Which is driven mainly by me trying to carve out a successful chocolate consulting business AND launch Seven Summit Snacks. THESE are the two tasks that I find deserving of the word “ambitious”. These are the two tasks that have the most unknowns to me. These are the tasks with the biggest personal risk, causing me to stretch outside of my comfort zone. 

Living in the space of uncertainty around where your next pay check is actually coming from is terrifying to many people. Trusting that you have the ability and skills and hustle to put food on your plate and pay your rent when you don’t actually have a physical contract is the epitome of the concept of blind trust in yourself and the universe. Ambition in this sense is of the definition to have “intended to satisfy high aspirations and (is) therefore difficult to achieve”.  Okay!! I get it!!

My aspirations are high! They always have been, and when I have achieved what would have been an aspiration, I am naturally looking to what is next, bigger, better. Having the opportunity to try this (chocolate) out for myself, without the safety net of a large corporation, is a leap that not many can make when they have the security of a pension, benefits, regular pay check, etc. But for my own personal values, I knew I would be doing a disservice to myself by taking a corporate job in a location away from my family, or else a job near to my family in an industry I am not passionate about. A heartfelt door closed in my life and several exciting, new ones opened. I have chosen to walk through those doors. I’ve given myself a period of time to make it work, where I will rationally evaluate if I need to jump back on the safety bandwagon or not, but at that point I will know deep down that I tried my best. 

So what makes 2020 the year of ambition to me? Queue one of the official unveilings of Seven Summits Snacks!

I, and my two other co-founders, have started a chocolate business! 

We are official (only official businesses have websites, apparently), with a national incorporation and everything!

How are we making this happen? 

Well, somehow we just are!

We are not starting completely from scratch as many entrepreneurs who we have connected with over the past month are. I have worked in the industry at a global scale for the past 10 years (again, this seems to be more experience than most new start-ups), and Leanna has often been my muse for new product developments. My family as a whole has always had some of the first tastes of the work-in-progress (without context, of course). Our third co-founder is a new business strategist who now gets to put into effect her years of training.

In effect, Leanna came to me with the consumer problem; empathetically I thought this problem was solvable; and from there we have been ideating, prototyping, and testing steadily over the past months. Good product development is rooted in Design Thinking. 

We now have a range of products visualized and are currently working out how to make scalable, sale-able product for the summer! We will test your tastebuds and we will also take your monies- as investment cash, and by the end of this year, for product. We endeavour to build a Kickstarter platform in the next little while as we work out our supply chain. 

I won’t go into more detail than that right now as future blogs will warrant details and specifics of the how. I will however leave you with our website to peruse which introduces our story and products.

I will closeout though, with a note on grace.

For Christmas, Leanna gave me a hoodie with the word Grace and the following note:

"To the best big sister ever... I love you so much, you have been my saving grace this year. Your strength is courageous..."

I was deeply touched by her note as grace is a value I have long held on a pedestal, aspiring to have embedded within my daily life. An ambition, of sorts. And to be regarded as someone else's saving grace is a great compliment. Since then, and of course as I seem to come to many epiphanies of sorts through podcasts, I listened to a Tony Robbins podcast about the gift of Grace.

“Grace is not something you earn. It’s not a reward, or something you pray or ask for. And it has nothing to do with karma, or your past actions. You don’t deserve grace – it just falls on you.

What’s remarkable about grace is that the more you acknowledge it, the more it appears. Grace can be a guiding force when your intent is pure and your will is strong, but something else pushes you through.”

I had previously recognized that grace is about acknowledgment rather than  wanting or earning or deserving, thus resonating with the sentiment. I can honestly say that I am here today because of accepting what has befallen me over the past 15 months. Rather than list all of the negative events I have experienced, where one of these events often causes people to spiral into a depression, I choose to acknowledge where I am today because of these events. I choose to be grateful that I am healthy, happy, and alive. With that, I welcome what challenges are still yet to come, and whichever life lessons I have yet to learn.

In this time of global difficulty, I invite you to invite grace into your life; to be grateful you are where you are when you are, and to be creative and open to the doors that are opening in front of you. If you look, you will see them. Be brave and use this opportunity in front of you.