What’s the Missing Ingredient?
Today’s edition of C.J. Hayden’s Get Clients Now! ™ e-zine asked me to consider what ingredient might be missing from my marketing recipe. My mind shifted gears though, and I wondered “What ingredient might be missing from my life?”
C.J. used the cooking analogy to emphasize her point. And although I tend to stay as far from the kitchen as I can, there are a few things I like to cook or bake. But I do know that if one or more ingredients are missing, whatever I’m trying to produce just isn’t going to taste right.
I may think I could substitute flour for baking powder because it almost looks the same (both are white, after all) but the end results would be very different. Likewise, sugar and salt look almost the same, but if you swap one for the other your taste buds will certainly know the difference.
Could the same thing be true in people’s lives? Do people think they can substitute something totally inappropriate and unsuitable for something of quality and purpose? Would they realize their mistake when they “tasted” the end result? Would they know enough to check the ingredients they used to make sure they chose and used the right ones?
When you look at your life do things “taste” funny? Does it look like it should?
Some common ingredients for most people include health, family, work, play, spirituality, community involvement, and others. Are these ingredients part of your life? Are they quality (but not perfect) ingredients? Or do you substitute more of one when another is lacking?
If your life isn’t what you want it to be, double check the ingredients you are using. Do you have them all or did you run out of something and think you could get by without it? Did you use a substitute ingredient that doesn’t perform the same service to the recipe?
Luckily you can make corrections to your life recipe as you go. You may not be able to eliminate all the bitter tastes or make it rise as high as you’d like, but you can definitely create a uniquely satisfying treat if you pay close attention to the ingredients you’re using.
As for me, there are definitely a few ingredients missing in my life. Now that I’ve acknowledged that fact, it’s up to me to do something about it.
The first thing I plan to do is sign up for a Beginning Acting class at my local adult education center. This will be a mix of play (which is scary for me) and developing a skill that should help me with my presentations. But the truth of the matter is… I’ve long wanted to get involved in community theater but my work schedule prevents me from doing it. So acting lessons might be the next best thing.
I think I’ll call this ingredient “Creative Trepidation.”
Bon Appetit!
