Please Kick Me

Do you ever feel like you have a "Please Kick Me" sign on your
back?

I remember my first experience with this sign. I was in
junior high (not a good time for me, or for many, physically)
and it was a tough school--riots, lousy lunches, and no toilet
paper.

One day I was being harassed and getting kicked in the butt.
I thought it was a normal day; maybe kids were just giving me
a little more grief than what I usually endured. I finally
caught on that there was a "Please Kick Me" sign taped to my
back.

I never really thought of that sign again after junior high.

But the same sort of thing happens in life all the time.
Although there are no actual signs, there are days when you
feel as if you have a "Please Kick Me" sign on your back.

Suppose you are travelling to work and your car breaks down.
Not a problem - you'll call for roadside assistance.  You
initially think, "Cool, I'll just wait and read my book."
Then you realize you left your book at home. Of course, it
takes roadside assistance over an hour to arrive.  You spend
your time fantasizing about having a different job some day.
Finally, your assistance arrives and gets you and your car
back on your way.  You arrive at work only to find a message
from the boss, "Please see me." Your boss is kind enough to
help you with your fantasy; he hands you a pink slip and
says, "Sorry, we are downsizing-- it's the economy."

Now that's a nice swift kick in the rear!
 
Please understand this, friend-- there will be many times when
you'll feel like the soccer ball at one of those championship
games. It will seem that every player gets a chance to kick
you around.

What can you do about it?
 
You have to figure out who's doing the kicking.

If family and friends are sucking the time away from you with
their problems, you are going to have to create boundaries.
Tell them politely that you'll call them back and/or set a
specific time to speak with them on your timetable.

If work is kicking your butt, maybe it's time to re-evaluate
your position or job.  Although now is a tough time to leave
your job, it is possible to advance yourself in this economy.
For example, one of my coaching clients had to take on more
responsibilities since his employer has been terminating some
key employees.  Yes, my client is working harder for the same
money, but he is demonstrating greater skills which will
advance his position once the economy turns around.

It's time to take off the "Please Kick Me" sign.

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Dr. Michael Kaye
Knowledge, Action, Results