Once upon a time, there was a donkey that fell into a well. The farmer thought he only had one choice—to put his hard-working donkey out of his misery as quickly as possible. The farmer ran to his house to get his gun. When he returned to the well, he couldn’t bring himself to doing such an awful task to his life-long companion.  Instead, the farmer gathered all the neighbors and told them to bring their shovels.  Everyone began to throw shovel full of dirt, after shovel full of dirt.  The donkey became hysterical.  Eventually, the donkey calmed himself down and decided to shake the dirt off and step up with each shovel of dirt.  Before long, he was able to walk safely out of the well and live happily ever after.

Needless to say, after being told this story, there were lots of  teachable moments, but there is only that stuck with me over the years—the dirt!  In life, you have two types of dirt—dirt that is thrown at you and dirt that you place on yourself!

In my life, there were people who cared for me who said, “Don’t be so happy, people will think you’re fake. You’re crazy to take a job that is equivalent to your annual bonus. What story do you have that people want to hear? Put lipstick on.  You look like death warmed over. Training is a bunch of fluff and is the first thing to get cut when the economy goes south.”

I also could have chosen to self-sabotage myself and say, “I don’t have time. I don’t know how to run a company. What if my employer doesn’t like what I’m doing? I don’t know how to build a website. My following isn’t big enough.”

The time is now for everyone to clear the dirt and help others do the same! 

A donkey is bred to carry heavy loads.  We have to work hard at developing our own mental and physical strength.  Some of my personal mantras were, “I have enough money and time for family. I enjoy living the life I have chosen to live. I attract people who care about me and my wellbeing. My family, friends, and co-workers respect me for who I am. I make the impossible, possible. I live a life that matters.” Some were truths and some were wishes, but in time, they all came true!

As a result of my stepping it up and shaking it off…

I developed my own speaking company—Molly Sunshine Group.  I now help others build theirs—Dave Magrogan’s Rhino Living speaking company.

I wrote and published five books in less than two years.  I now help others write and publish their books through Legacy Producers.

I live my 5 P Philosophy—Get one with your Principles, define your Passions, surround yourself with People who want to see you succeed and can help you succeed, demonstrate your Persistence, and define your Peace. I now help others align their 5 P’s so that they can live their dreams.

I increased my job satisfaction at West Chester University and work guilt free. WCU and the state system of higher education are reaping the benefits from my newly developed skills and abilities… and it didn’t cost them a dime!

I challenge all of you to step it up and shake it off in all you do! 

Your family, your community, your employer, and our future need you.  It’s easier to dream big and shine bright when you choose to face the dirt and seek your own truth. Live empowered and create your best life!

Shine on!

Molly

Molly Nece

Motivating Speaker, Coach, and Author, Molly Sunshine Group
Speaker Platform Consultant and Publisher, Legacy Producers
Philadelphia’s Main Line Today Magazine’s Top 24 Women on the Move