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The REBOOT Specialist

The safe route is not the safe route

Published 3 months ago • 3 min read

About this time 12 years ago, I was looking forward to my very first opportunity to present "This Moment Matters" to a live audience.

I was booked to speak for the Independent Community Bankers of America, at their annual convention in Nashville.

I was nervous, but also excited.

After making the decision to put myself "out there" as a speaker the year prior, I wrote in my journal:

"This new speaking/writing path is actually the one thing I've wanted to do for 10+ years... it's really my true passion—to learn and teach. I've been trying to work around this for years, but this is the ONE thing I've wanted to do for a long time."

If you've heard me speak, and you've seen me share my journal entry from 2008 where I felt lost, empty, and depressed... one of the reasons is because I had been trying to "work around" this passion.

When you've got something so strongly pulling on you, saying, "come! follow me! do this! this is the way!" and you don't answer... it will eat you up until or unless you follow it.

That's why I said on The Better Life Better Business Podcast a couple of weeks ago, "You should do that (thing that you've been wanting to do)!"

That's why I created the "Rock the Reboot" online intensive workshop, to help people see disruption and change as opportunities to create the life and work they truly love... and step into it.

It's scary, I know.

But as I once heard someone say, "The safe route is not the safe route."

No.

The safe route will kill you... or your spirit, anyway.

But on the other side of following that calling, which I believe is a divine desire, what might happen?

After that very first speaking engagement, people lined up to tell me how much the message meant to them. A woman named Beverly wrote on the session feedback form:

"Attending this program at the recent convention was one of the most meaningful… being able to truly connect with others and fully enjoy each moment is a gift we’ve all been given but need to be reminded to embrace in our daily lives."

One of the most meaningful sessions? With me? A newbie? The guy who was once the shyest kid in school? The guy who barely got a C in speech class?

Yep.

Because when you follow your passion, magic happens.

Because the divine—call it God, call it Good, call it the Universe, call it Infinite Intelligence, call it Bob—wants to do something special through you.

When you step up, and then step back, and let the divine flow...

Well, I can't even put it into words.

Just try it, though.

Follow the divine urge at some point today and see what happens.

You will come alive... and you'll bring life to someone else.

As my girlfriend's sweet daughter, AJ, would say: "That's how this works."

Up we go.

P.S. Wanna hear a bit of that first "This Moment Matters" presentation? I recently came across a recording of me rehearsing for that event and I shared the first 15 minutes in the latest episode of The Better Life Better Business Podcast.

P.P.S. By all means, if you find something in this email that speaks to you, please share it with someone! Forward the email. Post on social media. I'm grateful to support you, and I'm grateful for your support in reaching others. Let's work together to help people embrace change and get on the road to coming back better than EVER!


Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

  1. Inspiring Keynotes: Looking for an energizing, empowering speaker to help your team rise above disruption and come back better than EVER? My "Adapt & Thrive" and "Beyond Resilience" keynotes are just what the doctor ordered. Call The Speakers Group at 615.526.6600 or click here to tell us about your program. I’d love to support you.
  2. Rock the Reboot: When you're feeling lost or uncertain in the midst of one of life's "reboots," my signature 5-week online intensive workshop will help you find your footing and get on the road to coming back better than EVER. Guaranteed.
  3. Quick Guide to Adapt & Thrive (PDF): Adapt & Thrive offers a practical approach to finding calm, clarity, courage, confidence, and community in times of change. Equip yourself with timeless strategies to turn challenges into opportunities for personal and professional growth.

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The REBOOT Specialist

by Shawn Ellis

Resilience Strategist and Keynote Speaker Shawn Ellis is guiding a new wave of resilient leaders to adapt, grow, and emerge stronger from challenges, creating a more fulfilling, human-centric work environment. Shawn is the creator of The Reboot Roadmap, a transformative framework that helps individuals and organizations not only survive challenges, but go Beyond Resilience to thrive and come back better than ever.

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