I’m sitting in a new deli and coffee shop in my neighborhood to write this.  It’s so wonderful – the delicious food is Afghan -and the decor is rich gold / burnished trim, vibrant pink, green, orange, blue and yellow accents.  It’s warm, alive and inviting and it’s the only one of its kind in the city.  Cafe-Rumi at www.cafe-rumi.com.  The owners are delighted to be here, they have wanted this a long time; they have given themselves over 100%.  And they are attracting business.  Read more to explore the idea of 100%.

I just got off a phone call about enrollment with Patrick Ryan of Awakened Wisdom Experiences (http://www.awakenedwisdom.com) and he said the biggest difference in enrollment of clients (or in a marriage or a project or relationship or anything in life) is your enthusiasm.  If you are willing to “throw yourself down on the mat and give yourself over 100%” to what it is that you are engaged in, the people you are talking to will get that about you.  Everything else you say or do will support that when you bring it to the conversation.  There are a hundred ways to throw yourself into it at 100% – aggressively, quietly,gently, intelligently, etc. – whatever is appropriate to you.

Patrick says to ask these questions regarding your commitment to a project, relationship, etc.

* The first step is to check and see if you are at 100%.
* If not, ask if you are willing to go to 100% engaged.
* If you are not willing, then ask what’s needed to be willing.
* If you are willing, ask what’s needed to be 100%, then take action.

These are wonderful questions.  He doesn’t want you to figure out why you’re not at 100% but if you’re willing to go there.  He doesn’t ask you to figure out why you’re not willing, but what’s needed to be willing.  They engage you in forward momentum, not in paralyzing analysis.

This discussion lead me to notice where I am not at 100%, and it’s uncomfortable as well as an opportunity to call me forth.   It’s exciting to see an opportunity for growth.  I’d say my marriage has been fulfilling for 25 years because we both chose to give ourselves over to it 100%.  My business struggles when the 100% enthusiasm sags and erodes in the wake of discouragement or fear. And discouragement and fear are the ideal triggers to throw myself on the mat at 100%.

Mini coaching:

Pick a project you’re doing or a relationship you’re in and ask the questions that Patrick suggests above.  If you’re doing it, isn’t it worth doing at 100%?  Otherwise, why bother?  What would your world be like to “throw yourself down on the mat and give yourself over 100%” to everything that mattered, including your downtime, intimate time, work time, playtime, think time? Great!  Leave a comment-thanks!