Founder – Chief Change Optimist – Author – Host – Speaker – TV/Radio Personality – Mentor
Ariane de Bonvoisin - Founder and Chief Change Optimist
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Thursday, July 2, 2009

The Woodpecker Syndrome

I am often asked what's the secret to success? to being an entrepreneur? to getting a goal? to pursuing a dream?

Well, I've come to answer all of these questions with the same answer. Be a woodpecker! Yes, a bird!

Here's how I see it. Woodpeckers are one of the smallest birds and yet they take on Giant Trees without really having any doubt that they have the capacity, strength, determination to make those trees fall.

Here's what happens. The tiny bird gets up and goes to its tree—its goal, dream, business—daily. And it pecks away. Yes, at the end of the day, I can assure you, its beak hurts. Some days it wonders if it took on too big of a tree—goal. The other birds and animals look at the woodpecker and kind of think it's crazy.

And yet, on certain days—and the woodpecker never knows which ones—the big tree falls. Just because of one more small peck—action.

Does the woodpecker celebrate? I am sure it does. And then it picks another tree and does what it feels it must do all over again.

I often think of myself as a fellow woodpecker. I've picked some big trees. My beak hurts. Other people think I'm crazy. And yet, trees do fall, dreams have come true.

So, pick a tree—a dream—and simply stick to it. Start pecking away. Be immune to what other people say. And remember, your tree can fall at any time.

Grizzleesgirl

If I were a woodpecker, I think my beak would have fallen off by now! I have struggled with almost everything throughout my entire life. I went through Nursing School, Got all the way up to the last 2 semesters and then...Wham! Heart attack & TRIPLE BYPASS at 42 years of age! I went back to school to be a Medical Assistant, started my new career and was FIRED after 15 months. First time since I was 15 when I didn't care about anyone or anything. I give my all in life... relationships, love, work... you name it, and I keep getting "blown" out of the tree! Why?, Don't know, DO care!
Negitivity running rampant right now, but I am sure this site will help me a bit. I want to change my life! Any tips or advice is requested. I have a teeny tiny beak left, and I'm still a little pecker when I choose to be (translate that in anyway you see fit, lol)
TX & love to all, Leigh
They say that some people mistake kindness for weakness, I am kind, but I am also a very strong woman with a big heart, an open mind and an ear for anyone else who is hitting a "rough patch" in life as well, so let me know how I can be of assistance, I will help in anyway that I can! In life, I know a little about alot of things, which, in my humble opinion is better than knowing alot about very little in life!
God Bless us all!