It’s Not What You Do, It’s How You Do It

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200 words, Alberta, Calgary, Conviction, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, embarassment, good work ethic, grateful, growing up, Guilt, hard work, humility, integrity, joy, kindness, life, memories, passion, pride

If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’

Martin Luther King Jr.

When I moved to Calgary in 1990, I accepted a housekeeping job at a hospital.

I was so embarrassed by this job, when people asked what I did, I said I was an environmental engineer, which is what they called my position, and then quickly changed the subject before they could ask what that was.

I hated working there, so I cut corners and consistently scored low when my employer did surprise quality control checks.

But I started to feel guilty. So I decided to be grateful that I had a job, many did not, and I cleaned each room as if the next patient was Jesus.

A funny thing happened.

I began to take pride in my work.

I did little extras for patients.

I consistently scored 100% when my employer did surprise quality control checks.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

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When Inspiration Begins To Reveal Herself

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200 words, bigger purpose, creativity, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, hard work, helpful, inspiration, mission, teamwork

Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.

Pablo Picasso

Maybe your mom used to tell you that idle hands were the devil’s workshop. She may have felt that if you weren’t working on something productive you would end up getting into some kind of trouble.

I’m sure we can all recall times when we longed for our muse to inspire us, hoped for that next great idea that would catapult us into fame, desperately tried to move past the latest round of writer’s block…

So when I read the above quote it reminded me that inspiration doesn’t just present itself to you on a silver platter. Inspiration typically hits after a long and arduous period of hard work and/or an I-wanna–poke-my-eye-out-with-a-screwdriver monotonous time period.

It’s while we’re living our lives, doing those mundane tasks with loved ones, co-workers and sharing our thoughts and hopes and dreams with each other.  It’s when we do something, anything that is productive while letting the inkling of ideas turn themselves over and ruminate and bloom in the back of our minds that inspiration begins to reveal herself.

Inspiration does exist but it must find you working.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

I Promised To Do My Best…

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200 words, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, growing up, hard work, health, integrity, job, joy, life, memories, passion, Purpose

Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching. – Thomas Jefferson

I remember reciting: “I Promise to do my best, to be true to myself, my beliefs and Canada.  I will take action for a better world and respect the Brownie Law.”

When I became an adult and joined the workforce, it became clear that it was easier to do my by best when I loved my job.

I didn’t do well in jobs I didn’t enjoy.

I worked in the housekeeping department at a hospital once.

I hated it.

I felt it was below me.

I barely squeaked by when management arranged surprise quality control inspections.

Yet even back then, my conscience nagged at me. I was fortunate enough to have a paying job, but I wasn’t really earning my pay.

Looking back, I would have fired me.

And so I imagined that God would be the next patient in the room I was cleaning.

It worked.

Subsequent inspections resulted in 100% ratings.

Even when you have a job you love, it’s likely there will be parts of your job you don’t like.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

What motivates you to your best?

Easy to Start, Hard to Stop

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200 words, celebrate, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, entrepreneur, Fundraising, generosity, hard work, learning, listen, mission, Purpose, sacrifice, share knowledge, tenacity, The Other Bottom Line, vision

To succeed, you need to be easy to start and hard to stop. ~ unattributed

It’s been one year since I started The Other Bottom Line. And in that time, I’ve:

• provided one organization with their fund development history and 3-5 year strategy.
• worked with another organization as a bum-in-a-seat employee.
• facilitated the process to find a sponsor for, and drafted a gift agreement for another.
• helped another consulting company conduct searches for two non-profits.

The in-between times haven’t always been easy. I’ve had my hopes dashed a few times. I’ve spent some time playing the ‘Hurry Up and Wait’ game. I’ve been disheartened.

When I have wanted to give up, I kept going by:

• Documenting processes and accomplishments; referring to them often.
• Doing the things I vehemently didn’t want to do; moving them to the top of the list.
• Sacrificing the fluffy things. You’d be amazed how much you don’t really need.
• Being generous. Sharing knowledge and expertise.
• Celebrating the wins. Learning from the losses, then moving past them.
• Being open. Asking questions. Listening to others who have been there. 

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

How do you ensure that you’re easy to start and hard to stop?

Sweet Sizzling Summer in The City

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alone, Calgary, daughters, Diana Schwenk, family, hard work, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, kids, living in the moment, shadows, summer, sunshine, Tourist in my own city

I AM CRAZY-IN-LOVE WITH SUMMER!

It’s been so hot! My thick ‘Russian-hat-like-hair’ makes me sweat like crazy.

But I’m not complaining. No Sir! I am crazy in love with summer!

And today they’re calling for 31c, that’s almost 90f for Pete’s sake, it’s gonna be a scorcher and unlike places further south, most of us don’t have AC.

Sleeping at night is a fan-on-stay-on-top-of-the-covers and don’t-let-any-part-of-your-body-touch-any-other-part-of-your-body affair.

But I’m not complaining. No Sir! I am crazy in love with summer!

And because I love summer so much. I try to get out there as often as I can.

I’ve also been quite busy with work. I have several projects I’m working on so my days have been pretty full even though I’m getting up extra early to fit it all in. I haven’t had a lot of time for socializing, or writing and reading posts. I miss my friends and keeping up with what you’re all up to!

For an extrovert like me, it’s been an interesting experience.

It’s been just me and my shadow…

But I have something else to look forward to. My daughter is coming to visit this weekend!

Check out my latest summer photos below.

Music Saturday in Tompkins Park has started again!

The site of the old Mustard Seed. I come here sometimes when I need to feel grounded.

Flowers at Olympic Plaza

Flowers are everywhere!

Foliage meets concrete

A reminder that there are some folks who don’t get a break from the elements in any season…

I’m always learning new things from signs I read on store windows…

View from pedestrian bridge at the Stampede Grounds over Macleod Trail facing north

This is my favourite grass, it’s so soft!

Alberta is Wild rose country

Between working and trying to get out in the sunshine as much as possible, my days are pretty full.

But I’m not complaining. No sir! I’m crazy in love with summer!

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

How’s your summer going?

 

 

Love Your Life!

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200 words, blessed, caring, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, family, friends, grateful, growth, hard work, judging, learning, life, love, making a difference, opportunities, passion, Purpose, shadows, understanding

Fall truly, madly and deeply in love with your life; all of it, even the shadows, and never stop falling! ~ unknown

Fall madly in love with your life…

I read this quote the other day and thought to myself, “I want to be that person.”

In many ways, I already am. I consider myself quite blessed.

I love my family, my friends, this beautiful country I live in and the wonderful opportunities I’ve had, and still have, to make a difference in this world.

But what about the shadows?

For the most part, I love them too…

…love might not be the right word. I’m grateful for them.

But there are times, when I feel like I’m not measuring up

I’m not doing enough; working hard enough.

There are times when I feel like I haven’t been treated fairly

I haven’t been heard or understood

I’m being judged harshly.

These are things that I must accept as part of my life as well. Things that I must embrace and hold dear. After all, I learn from them. I grow. And isn’t that what love is all about anyway?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

It compels me

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200 words, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, dream, Fear, hard work, mission, passion, Purpose, vision

“When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it. ” ~ W. Clement Stone

I need to do this

Fix to the Horizon via Painter Magazine

explore this

because its pull demands it.

I can’t help it

It speaks to who I am

it’s what I do, it’s what I want to do.

When my mind tells me to just do the safe thing

when I see the look of worry in your face

when everything around me and within me is screaming to be reasonable

when the weight of the burden to do what’s expected brings me to my knees

when fear tightens its grip on me and I struggle to breathe

I gather my courage, stand up, straighten my posture and set my sight on the horizon.

I love you for your concern, I do – I’m scared too.

Can you understand?

This is what I am compelled to do

it burns within me

if I fail, then I fail

but if I don’t try I will always wonder.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

What compels you?