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There
is a cliché about "scraping the bottom of the
barrel" which can be interpreted a number of ways
depending on the circumstances. This metaphor has
been applied to commodities or resources, to ideas or
options, even to people.
Some
have used this metaphor in terms of employee recruitment
saying, "We're really scraping the bottom of the
barrel for staff." Think about that
statement. Just who is at the "bottom of the
barrel?" Who wants to be referred to or thought
of in that way? I don't. And I can't think of
anyone else who does either.
Our
attitudes determine how we interact with others as well as
how we view the world around us. If we voice the
belief that we are "scraping the bottom of the
barrel" for anything, what we are really saying is
that we believe that our opportunities are limited,
whether for success, substance, or relationships. If
we look for specific qualities in an employee, a company,
a service provider, a product, a friend, or a companion,
and find ourselves "scraping the bottom of the
barrel," it means that we are ready to take what we
can get rather than expecting to receive what we
desire. We are settling for less.
Once
there was a supervisor who was quite disappointed in the
follow through of a staff member. This supervisor
said to the employee, "You know, I ask very little of
you." The employee responded, "That's why
you don't get much."
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Whenever
we say or think that we're "scraping the bottom of
the barrel" we have set in motion an attitude of lack
and limitation and have already lost our dreams.
It's no secret that we must ask for what we truly desire
and then expect to receive it. We have heard this
stated in many ways by many different philosophies for
centuries. It is the truth.
The
only thing that holds us back is our own sense of FUD:
fear, uncertainty, and doubt. We are the only ones
who can eliminate FUD from our lives. No one can do
it for us. It is interesting that we are more
willing to buy a lottery ticket than we are to eliminate
FUD from our lives. Those who buy lottery tickets
know the odds of winning are huge and based purely upon
chance yet will justify their investment by saying,
"Someone has to win. It only takes one
number. Why not mine?"
Attitude
and expectation have to be renewed daily. The first
step is to believe that we deserve what we desire.
That sets the tone for the rest of our day and thought
processes. We may look into the barrel and at first
glance it may seem pretty depleted. Yet we never
know what will be contained in that last scraping or
whether what we thought was the bottom was simply the
surface of another reservoir of opportunity.
Our perspective determines what we find.
Nothing else.
Have
a Great Day and be good to yourself. You deserve it!
Speaker, Author, Educator,
Human Resources and Training Consultant, Gail Pursell Elliott is
president and founder of Innovations "Training With A Can-Do
Attitude"TM - Promoting Dignity and Respect, No Exceptions,
in companies and communities nationwide. To receive Food For Thought messages via email
join the website mailing list at www.innovations-training.com
For permission to reprint in a newsletter or publication,
contact Gail at info@innovations-training.com
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