Lately I find myself frequently recalling a particular Jewish folk story.  It’s typically entitled something like “It Could Always Be Worse.”  In case you’re not familiar, here it is (with thanks to The Bonai Shalom website for sparing me rewriting it from memory):

A poor man lived with his wife and six children in a very small one-room house. They were always getting in each other’s way and there was so little space they could hardly breathe!  Finally the man could stand it no more. He talked to his wife and asked her what to do. “Go see the rabbi,” she told him, and after arguing a while, he went.


The rabbi greeted him and said, “I see something is troubling you. Whatever it is, you can tell me.” 
And so the poor man told the rabbi how miserable things were at home with him, his wife, and the six children all eating and living and sleeping in one room. The poor man told the rabbi, “We’re even starting to yell and fight with each other. Life couldn’t be worse.” 
The rabbi thought very deeply about the poor man’s problem. Then he said, “Do exactly as I tell you and things will get better. Do you promise?” “I promise,” the poor man said.

The rabbi then asked the poor man a strange question. “Do you own any animals?” 
”Yes,” he said. “I have one cow, one goat, and ten chickens.” 
”Good,” the rabbi said. “When you get home, take all the animals into your house to live with you.” 
The poor man was astonished to hear this advice from the rabbi, but he had promised to do exactly what the rabbi said. So he went home and took all the farm animals into the tiny one-room house. 


The next day the poor man ran back to see the rabbi. “What have you done to me, Rabbi?” he cried. “It’s awful. It’s gone from bad to worse – far worse. I did what you told me and the animals are all over the house! Rabbi, help me!”

The rabbi listened and said calmly, “Now go home and take the chickens back outside.” 
The poor man did as the rabbi said, but hurried back again the next day. “The chickens are gone, but Rabbi, the goat!” he moaned. “The goat is smashing up all the furniture and eating everything in sight!”

The good rabbi said, “Go home and remove the goat and may God bless you.” 
So the poor man went home and took the goat outside. But he ran back again to see the rabbi, crying and wailing. “What a nightmare you have brought to my house, Rabbi! With the cow it’s like living in a stable! Can human beings live with an animal like this?” 


The rabbi said sweetly, “My friend, you are right. May God bless you. Go home now and take the cow out of your house.” And the poor man went quickly home and took the cow out of the house. 


The next day he came running back to the rabbi again. “O Rabbi,” he said with a big smile on his face, “we have such a good life now. The animals are all out of the house. The house is so quiet and we’ve got room to spare! What a joy!”

Since the legal issues of my divorce were finally settled late last month, I feel like a cow, ten chickens, and a goat have moved out of my home. Now that I’m done dealing with the lawyers, the court system, the negotiations with my ex, and my internal voices of fear and worry, my previously perceived small home feels more than spacious. 

We have such a good life now. My brain is quieter and roomier. Now, all I have to do is take care of my 20 clients, 3 team members, 2 children, the house and myself, all as a solo parent/entrepreneur.  Three-and-a-half years ago I seriously doubted I’d be able to handle all these responsibilities independently.  Yet by the grace of the Divine and some special humans (including but not limited to my children), we made it through all that and over the major hurdle of the looming trial. What a joy!

One way to interpret the folktale above is that life could always be worse – barn animals might move right into your home.  Today my personal and professional interpretation is actually the opposite – no matter how challenging life feels for you now – your life could miraculously become better.  Those barn animals you never thought would leave might actually go somewhere new to live.  

This weekend I had the privilege of hearing Ann Mukherjee speak at the HBS Dynamic Women in Business conference.  She’s the SVP and Chief Marketing Officer for Frito-Lay North America who started out in a seemingly hopeless life situation, and as an adult she’s experienced  many painful hurdles.  Now she’s a star, in every aspect – as an executive, a leader, a woman, a mother.  She emphasized that the key to getting through the hardest moments in her life was always to imagine her success.  

My legal case was my personal flock of barn animals.  Right now, what’s taking up precious space in your home or head?  What miracle can you imagine? 

Share it in the comments below and I’ll hold that image with you.  Or, if you’re having trouble even imagining your miracle, email and we’ll find it together.  Your small but seemingly expansive one-room home could be right around the corner. 

My life has a way of connecting me with extraordinary clients who become part of my extended family. Brilliance-Based Businesswoman Kelcy Roth is the perfect example. She’s traveled the world, living her dream career and building a stellar client list, while nurturing her three now-grown children. As you enjoy Kelcy’s story, ask yourself how being bold with your brilliance could change your life.

What are the highlights of your career story?

I studied art history in college and then went straight to Columbia to get my Master’s.  But I became weary of art history – it felt too pedantic. I didn’t want to sit in a dark room looking at slides and talking to people I couldn’t see.  So I took a break. Since I spoke French, I got a job in Paris as the head of the National Student Association Travel Office – running student tours and giving discounts for American students travelling abroad. 

Shortly after I returned to the U.S. from  France, my husband was drafted into the military.  We turned around and went straight back to Germany – and that is a highlight of my career story because I became involved in languages and teaching English as a second language. In the German town where we were stationed, there was a French-German language exchange program to teach German to French students.  As the only American, I was accepted to this 6 month intensive program, so I learned German in French. 

In the second location we were stationed was the English language training center of IBM, so I started teaching English to the engineers of IBM. I was so nervous about teaching that the first 6 weeks I stood in front of class I had to take tiny chips of Valium. Eventually I mastered standing in front of a classroom and taught there for 3 years.

I found that teaching English as a second language really turned me on – especially the contrast of a highly successful professional struggling with what some 3 year-olds can easily do – speak English. And this also tapped into my communication skills.   

With my husband finishing the military, and I eight months pregnant, we returned to New York where he started his residency training in psychiatry. After living in Europe for 5 years it was a great adjustment for me to be anchored by a baby and the responsibilities of motherhood, although I was a passionate mother.

Several months after my daughter was born, I started back at Columbia from square one – to get my Master’s in English as a Second Language. They allowed 5 years to do it; I took 4.5 because I had my second daughter in the interim. We then moved to suburban DC (VA) where my husband set up his private practice. I knew there was a good chance that in DC there would be people needing to learn English. I started tapping into the large German community there – the embassy, military people, private industry – and taught English part-time. 

In an effort to expand my work, I signed up as a tutor at George Washington University.  And that seemingly small step changed my life and opened another door. After getting my name from the University, a small cross-cultural training and consulting firm hired me for a project in the Netherlands training the German Manager of General Electric Plastics in Europe. That call changed my life. I taught him for 2 weeks in the Netherlands in 1982 – I arrived at the airport in Amsterdam, realizing my young son’s Legos were still in my coat pocket as I waited for the company chauffeur. I thought, “This is nice!” And the program was a great success. 

After thinking for a couple of years about how I could reproduce the amazing experience of intensive English programs in Europe, I met with a marketing consultant. The appointment was for 2.5 hours. I paid him $250 and then went home and cried for 2.5 hours because I realized the mountain I had to climb in order to launch my little ESL consulting company. I climbed that mountain! I made a brochure.  I was no longer on Valium in front of students, but it was a quite a thing to make marketing calls in German (in my nightgown!) at 6:00 AM. General Electric Germany gave me a few projects…and I moved on from there. I also built my business from the DC German community, doing very targeted marketing.   

You never know how each stepping stone will so dramatically change your course.The first day I booked my contract with GE, I floated. I felt 10’ tall.

As they grew, my 3 kids were very proud of my successes. They understood that I could not stay home and bake brownies. They even understood I couldn’t be very active in the PTA – Executive English was my thing. All 3 of them and my husband were and still are very supportive.

One thing I am especially proud of was supporting my kids and helping them to fulfill their potential in whatever direction they chose…. and that I recognized the potential of each child equally. I never labeled them: “the athlete”, “the brain” etc. It’s my special pride that all three of my children went to graduate school in their own field of interest. That played out with the oldest going to law school, the next one medical school – and then came the youngest wanting to go to business school. Unlike the first 2 kids, I didn’t have a clue how to advise him, but I told him (on a transatlantic call from Germany where I was giving a program) that there are experts ‘out there’ in business school admissions, and I encouraged him to seek one out. That’s how he met Debra – and she changed all of our lives.

As best as you currently understand it, what are you here to do?  Who are you here to serve?  What difference do you make for your clients?

I empower my international executive clients to have confidence to manage to their potential in English. I empower people to do extraordinary things using English as a second language. Just like me, my clients do not entertain failure.

What changes have you made or experienced in your life and business that have enabled you to experience more ease?

Several years ago, when I decided to move to Cambridge, my son connected me with Debra. Up to that point, other than the $250 I paid the consultant, my husband and I were my marketing team. A psychiatrist and an English teacher: insane.

Debra opened the doors at MIT Sloan for me and I walked through them. I have the ability – whatever it is, to connect with my clients, but Debra gave me the standards, the financial vision and the confidence to charge way more than I ever had before. From Debra I finally have recognition of my worth. She taught me to believe “I’m worth a lot of money!”  I think money is important. It gives you freedom. It enables you to surround yourself with beautiful things.

How do you define “success” for yourself?

That I fulfill or exceed my potential. That I have thrilling projects to work on. That I am paid my worth. That I have strong family connections. That I have personal passions. And soon I’m going to be a grandmother, a long-held dream of mine. 

What would you love your next breakthrough to be?

The next breakthrough I’m waiting for is for my grandchild to break through his or her mother’s uterus!

What brings you joy?

The success of my children. That I’m passing into life’s next phase, of being a grandmother. I’m proud of the fact that while most people in my age group are playing mahjongg and golf in Florida, I’m checking my email to see whether my client has confirmed our next project in Europe.

I am humbled to tears that an institution like MIT Sloan has embraced me as they have.  My work there has expanded to capacity. How lucky I am! How extraordinary that they didn’t have someone before me to run an English program for their international students.  I’ve learned that sometimes people don’t address their problem until you present a solution.  

As a successful Brilliance-Based Businesswoman, what’s your best advice for other aspiring and active Brilliance-Based Businesswomen?

I learned that in business you need to persevere – to stick with it, but to always evaluate the strategies. If you don’t know how to do something important to you, find the person who’s right to help you. 

I have a treasure in Debra. I relinquish to Debra business activities that I used to insist on doing myself. What a relief. We’ve navigated our differences and each other’s lives – the ups and downs. She is a career highlight for me.

Today we present Topic #6 of the Brilliance-Based Blog Panel series, in which some of my favorite Brilliance-Based Businesswomen come together to share their perspectives on topics near and dear to the hearts and minds of women entrepreneurs.  I welcome you to add to the dialogue by commenting below on today’s topic.

As Brilliance-Based Businesswomen, what are your SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Rewarding and Time-bound) for the first quarter of 2012?   

Stefanie Frank - Initiative Based Writing

My first quarter SMART Goals are:

• Average $8500 per month in revenue in my business
• Train 7-14 hours per week for Ironman Boise 70.3 and the Ironman World Championship 70.3
• Take every other Friday OFF
• Eat at least three servings of green vegetables per day

The goal that feels the most scary and challenging is the money – but I know it’s possible based on my January numbers, my marketing plan, and my record of perseverance.

I place high value on health. Hence, the goal to eat three servings of greens each day. Smoothies! Delicious and easy to make!

Food is an area where I tend to struggle and as an entrepreneur and triathlete staying on top of what I eat and when is crucial.

Staying consistent is key to attaining any SMART goal – along with desire. I’ve often revisited goals over the years to make sure they are aligned with what I really want to do and who I want to be in life. From there it’s easy to prioritize my actions, manage my energy, and be picky about how I spend my time.

Jennifer Urezzio - Know Soul’s Language

My Soul Languages are action oriented and I can bog myself down in doing and goal setting.  I was noticing that it was creating a no-win situation in my life and my business. 

So the way I set up SMART goals, I set specific ways I want to feel, connect and be.  This way I know that I will and do meet them.  For instance: this year I set goals for a deeper connection for myself with the Divine, to be more true to myself in relationships and to be of joyful service.

With those everything else seems to fall into place.

Bryn Johnson – Bryn Johnson Consulting

My SMART Goal for Q1 2012 looks like this:

By March 30, I will have a new WordPress version of my website (www.brynjohnson.com) completed with the collaboration of my design and website team. In addition, a comprehensive promotion calendar for the new website features will be executed as well.

Wow- that feels GREAT to say out loud!

Now, let’s hear yours!

Do you have a clear vision for your 2012?  Beginning with the end in mind  - described so each component goal is specific, measurable, attainable, rewarding, and time-bound – is crucial to achieving your Unique Definition of Success!  If this post has resonated with you, this is your moment to take one small step toward propelling your growth by setting your goals for the next quarter!  Need support?  Pause now to visit BBBSalon.com or email us to arrange a brief one-on-one chat. You’ll feel an inner shift immediately. 

Stefanie Frank is an entrepreneur and triathlete who lives, works and trains in southern Nevada, USA.  She supports entrepreneurs and small business owners to write clear, influential, inspiring marketing that not only gets bottom line results but is aligned with each client’s big vision of why she’s in business.  Stef writes awesome content for private clients and has created an affordable high level “do it yourself” writing and content marketing program for creative, forward thinking entrepreneurs who believe in the power of great writing to help effect change in the world.  Visit Stef at http://initiativebasedwriting.com.

Jennifer Urezzio is the spiritual director and founder of Know Soul’s Language – away to create a conscious connection with your Soul.  She guides leaders and healers to create a more conscious deeper relationship with themselves and the Divine.  Download Jennifer’s free report 5 Days to a More Powerful Life with Soul Language at http://www.knowsoulslanguage.net/?page_id=1360.

Bryn Johnson spent 20 years in Corporate America as a passionate leader of high-performing teams and endless multi-million dollar projects.  ONE of her many secrets for success?  Her ability to take complicated, often impossibly overwhelming information, and to quickly make it simple and fun.  She is now bringing that same passion for planning and collaboration, along with her laser-focused implementation strategies, to her clients and broader online community.  Visit Bryn at http://www.brynjohnson.com.