Reverse, then make a right

By Walt F.J. Goodridge

Special to the Saipan Tribune
Originally published: April 8, 2009


The only way to take control of your life, raise your standard of living and move beyond merely surviving is to create your own unique product or service that you offer to increasing numbers of people in exchange for the things of value that you desire. This simple formula applies to countries as well as people. A self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace. That thing of value is based on your natural talent, skill, or interest—in other words, your passion!

It’s not a sign of weakness to admit that you were wrong
In fact some say you’ll access strength that’s been there all along
It’s not the end of greatness to admit you might be lost
It’s greater to save time than to save face at any cost

It won’t invite disaster to admit when you don’t know
For only to the emptied cup will wisdom ever flow
It’s not the road to ruin to go back and start again
The options on the retraced path elude most average men

It’s not through compensation that you heal a victim’s heart
To listen and seek justice...that’s the best way you can start
And not by way of vengeance do true justice you invite
But actions that reverse your course, and serve to make things right.

A coaching client of mine once commented that she could never see herself conducting workshops about her passion the way I do because she didn’t feel smart enough, and that there were things she didn’t know.

“What would I do if someone asked me something I didn’t know?” she asked fearfully.

“Tell them you don’t know,” I replied.

I suggested she practice saying: “That’s a great question. I’m sorry, but honestly, I don’t have an answer to that, but if you give me your information, I’ll do some research and get back to you.”

Once I gave her that freedom, a whole new world of opportunities opened up! She became more confident to do speaking engagements and follow her passion.

Imagine that. That simple addition to her vocabulary

While it may be true, as Shakespeare said (through Lady MacBeth), that “what’s done cannot be undone,” I believe the effects of many of our actions and decisions in life can often be reversed. Embarrassment, failure, mistakes, hurts and many of the effects of our actions can be reversed if we’re willing to add a few words and ideas to our own vocabularies.

How would your life be affected if you added “I don’t know,” “I apologize,” “I was wrong,” “I need help,” and “How can I make it right?” to your life? Think about it.

Once I added those phrases to my own life, my own fear of speaking engagements subsided, relationships improved, sales increased, and customer approval ratings increased! As a result, freedom, that once-elusive concept that now allows me to follow my passion full-time, and see movies in the middle of the day, became reality! They freed me from the chains of ego, released me from the need to always be right, and introduced a humility that is at once empowering and disarming. It allowed me, and others with whom I dealt with, to move forward in a spirit of mutual respect, equality that fostered true cooperation and win-win outcomes for all parties. When all are seeking remedies that truly serve, heal and lift the society upward, many new, never-before-tried possibilities become evident.

While listening to an interview with the author of a book titled The Myth of Moral Justice: Why Our Legal System Fails to Do What’s Right, it occurred to me that those same phrases and the ideas behind them would also come in handy in seeking real justice for the families of victims of certain crimes. As the author suggested, in our society, we’ve mistaken compensation and retribution for remedy. Money and vengeance don’t soothe the victim. Payment does not soothe the heart. Punishment of a perpetrator does not bring back a lost loved one or help with the healing that needs to take place. It caters only to vengeful minds and hearts.

It might make our justice system more effective if, instead of reducing pain and suffering to monetary terms, we develop ways to “reverse and make a right!” Try it in your own life!

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Note: Ever wanted to direct your friends and family to a set of websites that said good things about Saipan? Do what I do: send them to www.bestofsaipan.com!

Note: Fans and followers of Chicken Feathers and Garlic Skin: Diary of a Chinese Garment Factory Girl on Saipan may now find copies at Bookseller Bookstore in the Joe-Ten Plaza in Susupe or on Amazon.com.Hurry, there’s a limited supply!

Note: For more tips on overcoming your fears, acting on your ideas, changing the game, and creating a passion-centered lifestyle, visit www.passionprofit.com!

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Until next week, remember, success is a journey, not a destination!


Send article suggestions, entrepreneur nominations and feedback about this article to walt@passionprofit.com.