The Glass Is Always Full

"Some folks go through life pleased that the glass is half full. Others spend a lifetime lamenting that it's half-empty. The truth is: There is a glass with a certain volume of liquid in it. From there, it's up to you!"~Dr. James S. Vuocolo

Well there are your choices...Is it half full or half empty? Your answer will say a lot about you (but I would imagine that most people will say it's half full, because that is what they are supposed to say...) Why not think of another answer? I say that the glass is FULL! Half with water and the other half with air. Just because I only gave you 2 choices, you thought that those were the only answers.

See, we've been taught to think sequentially, not simultaneously. We've also been taught that most questions require an either or answer...Why not think of AND instead of the either or? Let's say that you want to do a couple of things on vacation, so you say well we could do this or that. Why not say, we could do this first AND then that second! You might not get to spend all the time you wanted on one thing but you were able to do them both!

Aristotle said "Happiness depends on ourselves," and Edison said “There is a time for everything.” The choices are up to us AND there is time for everything. Remember, think AND instead of either or!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Some folks go through life pleased that the glass is half full. Others spend a lifetime lamenting that it's half-empty. The truth is: There is a glass with a certain volume of liquid in it. From there, it's up to you!"

Yesterday Never Comes Back

"Tomorrow never comes and yesterday never comes back, so live today to it's fullest so that your yesterdays will be remembered with happiness and your tomorrows will be full of brightness and hope."

Are you living today to the fullest? Are you playing full out? Why not? What is holding you back? Tomorrow is promised to no one, so it could never come. Are you planning on doing something someday? Guess what? Someday NEVER comes. Too many people are waiting for that someday.

Are you stuck living in the past? What benefit are you getting from doing that? There must be some benefit otherwise you would have left it behind a long time ago. To be able to live in the present, you have to let go of the past...especially the past that is holding you back. You can't create your future if you are constantly living in the past.

Do you want your tomorrows to full of brightness and hope? Then live full out today!! It is the only way to create the future that you want. Here's a secret...I can see your future! How you ask? You future is being created by the things you do today and the thoughts that you have today. If you are wanting tomorrows that are full of brightness and hope, start today with brightness and hope

Live in the present. Live in the NOW. Be present NOW! There's a reason they call NOW "the present." Enjoy it!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Tomorrow never comes and yesterday never comes back, so live today to it's fullest so that your yesterdays will be remembered with happiness and your tomorrows will be full of brightness and hope."

No Little Plans

“Make no little plans. They have no Magic to stir Men's blood.”
~ Daniel H. Burnham

How big are your plans? Are they real big or are they just normal size? Why? I work with clients and ask them to come up with a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) and usually, without fail, they come up with a goal that is reachable with a little more effort, but not one that would require too much work to achieve.

Average plans will not cause you to do whatever you need to do to accomplish it. You will quit on average plans because your reason for doing it doesn't stir your soul...oh, sure, it stirs your soul you say...right. Be honest with yourself.

The world is waiting for you to play big, not small. Your average plans will keep you right where you are...average. I suppose that you could say that in being mediocre, you are always at your best...but that's a backhanded compliment that's not worthy of you. Do you realize that you are worthy of playing big? Yes, YOU are worthy to play big, so show the world what you are here to show the world. Don't hide behind anything, step out and claim your greatness!

If you don't bring your special magic to the world, the world will never see it, because it was up to you to bring it to the world. Don't deprive the world of your magic.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Make no little plans. They have no Magic to stir Men's blood.”

Create Your Mindset to Win

"You were born to win, but to be a winner you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win." ~Zig Ziglar

YOU WERE BORN TO WIN!!! Do you realize that? Really? Most people just accept what they get without any thought of winning, just happy to be alive...Oh, they wish that they would win and sometimes they even win...but they don't have a winner's mindset. See, there are 3 things that you have to do to create a winner's mindset. 1. Plan 2. Prepare 3. Expect.

Sometimes we plan but most of the time we don't plan, or plan to win, because it takes some work to plan. It's said that "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Cute wording but oh so true!! Yet there we are, just going about our day without planning, and reacting to everything that comes our way. Make a plan. Plan your work and then work your plan.

Be Prepared. The Boy Scout motto that we learned as kids...but do we continue it in our daily work? No, for the most part, we just kind of wing it, don't we. What is it that you are preparing for? Anything? Your next appointment? A new sales call? NO, after a few times, we think that we can just do it without preparation. Preparation creates confidence...and confidence is what makes good things happen for you.

Expectations. I train sales people and always, without a doubt, when I ask them if they expected to make the sale, they reply no. Why is that? They have never been taught that expectations create your reality. In fact, when they don't make the sale, the first thing they say is "I knew it." Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy!!! They knew they couldn't make the sale, but didn't think that they could make the sale...How screwed up is that?

There are 3 things that you have to create the mindset do to win.
1. Plan 2. Prepare 3. Expect.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You were born to win, but to be a winner you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win."

Is Your Existence a List of Problems?

"Life without dreams is no life at all. When our existence gets reduced to a list of problems to solve or things to check off, passion dries up. Imagine a different list, one comprised of projects and activities that are the expression of your heart and soul. Reconnect to what makes you happy. Do you know what that is?" ~Marcia Wieder

Do YOU have a life? A life of dreams to be pursued and attained? Has your passion for life dried up because of your list of things to be done, checked off, finished? Has your passion for life dried up because of WORK?

This weekend, reconnect with what makes you happy. What gets you going, what really excites you. It's ok to let your list go for a day, those problems and challenges will still be there when you get back to them. But for right now, let them go...and have fun today! It's ok. Sometimes we feel like we need to ask for permission to have fun... well, I give you permission to have fun. TODAY!

Create a new list, a list with all the things that you REALLY want to do. Work equally on both lists, but for today, concentrate on your new list, the one with all the things that you really want to do. Maybe it's your "Bucket List."

Reconnect with what makes you happy. Do you know what that is? Find out if you don't know and then just do it. We were created to live a life of abundance and joy and if you are missing these things, then you are cheating yourself. Remember, I gave you permission!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Life without dreams is no life at all. When our existence gets reduced to a list of problems to solve or things to check off, passion dries up. Imagine a different list, one comprised of projects and activities that are the expression of your heart and soul. Reconnect to what makes you happy. Do you know what that is?"

Who's Plan Are You Working On?

“If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone elses plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”~Jim Rohn

Have YOU designed your life or are you working on someone elses plan? It might have been your parent's plan, your partner's plan, your teacher's plan, but it's not your plan. Take the time right now to analyze where you are going and if that's where you really want to go. Go ahead...I'll wait.

OK, good. Now, if you are working on YOUR plan, congratulations. If not, well then START RIGHT NOW working on your plan. "It is never too late to be who you might have been." The world doesn't benefit by you working on someone elses plan, only when you are working on your plan, does the world get to experience the gifts and talents that you have.

Plan BIG. Think BIG. Do BIG! If you are going to plan, think and do, you might was well do it as big as you possibly can, right? Tell me your big plans, so we can help each other make them happen!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone elses plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”

Excellence to Maturity

"It takes a long time to bring excellence to maturity."~Publilius Syrus

Are you trying to bring excellence to maturity too quickly? Taking short cuts? Don't.

You need to experience things before they can become part of your learning. In today's microwave society, the "I want it now" crowd may get to where they want, but they won't be able to stay there long...

"Amateurs do it until they get it right, while professionals do it until they can't do it wrong."

What a great thought! Don't just work on it until you do it right, but work on it until you can't do it wrong. Are you doing that? Are your skills honed so well that you can't do them wrong? Why not? We are taught to do something until we get it right, not to work on it until we can't get it wrong.

Think about how things would change in your life if you worked on them until you couldn't do them wrong...and go out there today and work on those things that you can until you can't do them wrong.

Fight the microwave society thinking that you must have everything right now. Realize that through delayed gratification, discipline is born and can be allowed to mature.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"It takes a long time to bring excellence to maturity."

Beyond What You Already Know

"Somewhere out past where you're now comfortable, there's a pleasant surprise. Beyond what you already know you can do, there are exciting and fulfilling and new things you'll be able to do.

It's a very short distance between what you think you can do and what you don't think you can do. That distance is the size of just one thought.

Once you decide that it is possible for you, it is possible for you. Once you have the thought that it can be done, it can be done.

The world you experience is contained within the world you expect to experience. Expect more, and suddenly a whole new set of possibilities will open up to you.

Ask yourself what you would like to be able to expect. Then go ahead and bring your expectations in line with your desires.

Each day is an opportunity to grow beyond yourself while at the same time more fully expressing your authentic self. Touch your highest vision, expect it to happen, and you'll surely see your way there."

It's never too late to be who you were meant to be.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Somewhere out past where you're now comfortable, there's a pleasant surprise. Beyond what you already know you can do, there are exciting and fulfilling and new things you'll be able to do.

Are You Being Uniquely You?

"Your most important job is to be you. There are contributions you can make, and gifts you have to give, that no one else can duplicate."~Ralph Marston

You have a perspective that is unique and valuable. No on else has your unique viewpoint! No one else has the same valuable insights that you have. Share the insights and energy that come from that perspective.

You have feelings and longings that flow from the core of who you are. Express those feelings and fulfill those longings in your own special way. The world is waiting to hear those feelings and longings. Don't deprive the world of that opportunity to learn.

There is great treasure in your authenticity. Your authenticity is what brings the world to your doorstep. There are beautiful possibilities that spring from the genuine person you are. Don't hide them, let us all share in those possibilities.

Through you, life experiences itself in a way that is unique and special. If you don't share it with the world, that unique and special experience dies with you, never to be shared. Don't cheat the world from your uniqueness!

Use this opportunity to make a difference in a way that only you can do.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Your most important job is to be you. There are contributions you can make, and gifts you have to give, that no one else can duplicate."

Mediocrity: A Form of Madness

"Mediocrity is a form of madness, a dream embraced by the masses because it makes just getting by an acceptable -- sometimes applauded -- social art form." ~Guy Finley

Have you embraced mediocrity? Really? Are you excellent in every thing? Do you always strive to be the best that you can be, or do you sometimes slack off...just a little?

We have become a society that makes getting by an art form. Working for the man, doing enough to not get fired, but not going all out to stand above the crowd. Too many people are playing small. The world is not served by your playing small...PLAY BIG!!!

Look at the things you do. What are you an expert at? What are you good at? Where have you settled on being mediocre? I'm sure there are not any places that you would say you are terrible, so let's make mediocre as the bottom rung.

How can you move out of mediocrity? Do you even want to? Or does that frighten you too much. You were meant for so much more, go for it!!!

Let's take a look at settling. One of my favorite quotes says "The place for what you want is currently occupied by what you have settled for." Is that you? Have you settled on mediocrity? I sure hope not...

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Mediocrity is a form of madness, a dream embraced by the masses because it makes just getting by an acceptable -- sometimes applauded -- social art form."

Success Is A Lousy Teacher

"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." ~Bill Gates

Have you been successful before? Are you successful now? Have you found that you learn more from success or more from failure? Why is it that our society so deeply frowns on failure?

What is failure? How do you describe it? How do you feel about it? To me, failure is nothing more than feedback. It's telling me that what I'm doing isn't working and I need to change the strategy or the direction that I was going. Most people when they fail, either quit or "try harder." Are you "trying harder" but getting the same results?

Einstein said that "Doing the same thing over and expecting a different result was insanity." Yet how many people do you know that are doing that?

Success is a lousy teacher. Why do you think so many championship teams don't make it back to the championship game? Their success didn't teach them to be better, they didn't have the same hunger and with everybody trying to beat the champs, their success wasn't able to allow them to be prepared for the new challenges.

Most of you reading this are smart...Don't let your success make you think that you can't lose.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose."

Nothing is as Real as Your Dream

"Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away."

Do you realize that nothing is as real as a dream? Most people can't understand that. Your dreams can be as real as you want them to be, but unfortunately, most people choose to leave their dreams in lala land and never take any action toward making the dream happen.

Your world can change around you, but your dream remains. Responsibilities can't take your dreams away, only you can take your dreams away. Your dream is within YOU. You are the chief caretaker of your dreams. Are you keeping them safe, in your head or are you taking a chance with your dreams, taking action, taking your dream from your head and bringing it in to your reality?

This is your choice. You get to choose. No one else has a say in it. Choose wisely.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away."

Why Are You Doing What You're Doing?

"If you're not making much progress, it's time to give yourself a boost. Remind yourself why."~Ralph Marston

Remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Remind yourself why you selected the priorities that you now follow. Remind yourself why you are where you are.

Perhaps it is time to focus on a new destination. Or perhaps you could simply use a good, clear reminder of what's truly important to you. What IS important to you and Why? When was the last time you thought that?

It can be all too easy to get caught up and dragged down by the day-to-day business of life. To deal with all the crap that comes your way, other people's bad attitudes, mean people and things that cause us to forget WHY. Take time to regularly give yourself the benefit of the big picture.

Take time to treasure the things you treasure. Admire, appreciate and be inspired by all that is beautiful to you. Take the time to be inspired this weekend. Do something that you love to do and haven't done in a while because or dealing with all the stuff thrown at you.

The best of what can be is yours to create and experience. It is your choice to either do it or not. IT IS YOUR CHOICE, NO ONE ELSE'S. Remind yourself why, and make it so.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"If you're not making much progress, it's time to give yourself a boost. Remind yourself why."

Strive to the Max for Your Dignity of Choice

"Every life form seems to strive to its maximum except human beings. How tall will a tree grow? As tall as it possibly can. Human beings, on the other hand, have been given the dignity of choice. You can choose to be all or you can choose to be less. Why not stretch up to the full measure of the challenge and see what all you can do?"~Jim Rohn

Why, when you have been given the "dignity of choice" would anyone choose to be less than they can be? Is it because it's too hard? Is it too much work? Does it interfere with your surfing on the web or playing video games or the Wii?

A tree, given no choice, simply grows and grows and grows until it dies. I've been to most of the National Parks in the country, and I have seen some weird growing trees, around rocks, through rocks, trees shaped like a Z to grow around an obstruction...but still growing.

You being less than you can be does nothing for the world or yourself. Why play that game? There is so much more out there for you to go after...DO IT! Stretch to the full measure of what you've been put here to do and DO IT! Don't wait for someone else to tell you what to do, but if you need permission to DO IT, I GIVE YOU PERMISSION.

Mark Twain said that "In 5 years, you will be more upset about the things that you didn't do, instead of the things that you did do." Don't regret not doing what you were meant to do.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Every life form seems to strive to its maximum except human beings. How tall will a tree grow? As tall as it possibly can. Human beings, on the other hand, have been given the dignity of choice. You can choose to be all or you can choose to be less. Why not stretch up to the full measure of the challenge and see what all you can do?"

Your Destiny is Your Choice!

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved."~W.J. Bryant

Are you waiting for destiny to happen to you? A lot of people are and guess what? For them, it will never come!! It's not a matter of waiting until your "ship comes in," you have to swim out to meet it!

It is a matter of choice, not a matter of chance.

Most people meticulously plan their 2 weeks of vacation but don't bother to plan their life. HOW CRAZY IS THAT? They think that their destiny will just happen to them. Sorry to burst your bubble here, but that just ain't happening.

The future just doesn't happen, it's shaped by the decisions we make. Every decision we make will go into how our future will look. Do you think about that before making decisions, or are you just making the decision based on what's good for right now?

Destiny isn't something to be waited for...it is something to be achieved! And just because you haven't gotten where you want to be, that isn't a good enough excuse to wait even one minute longer. Start NOW!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved."

Your Attitude Towards Obstacles

"What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity." ~J. Sidlow Baxter

How do you see obstacles? Do you see them as roadblocks or stumbling blocks. Roadblocks might require you to go back and then around them while stumbling blocks just knock us off course a little and then we correct our way and continue on.

Too many times, people let the obstacles in their way dictate whether or not they do or finish something. Don't let an obstacle stop you from doing what you want or need to do.

Every opportunity has obstacles that we must overcome. And every obstacle has opportunity waiting for it to be found. Do you look for the opportunity or do you just see the obstacle? Most people will say. "No, I see the opportunity," but do they really, or are they just saying that because that is what they are supposed to say?

How is you attitude today? Is it ready to find the opportunities or is it stuck on the obstacles???

Make sure that YOUR ATTITUDE is in the right frame of mind. Remember, it's YOUR CHOICE! YOU get to choose your attitude!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity."

Is Your Mind Clear?

"Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves." ~Blaise Pascal

Do you have clarity of mind? Really? Most people don't and that is their biggest challenge to getting the things they want. They aren't clear on what they really want. They say I want this or I want that and never become CRYSTAL CLEAR on what it is that they truly want. Take some time right now and think if you are Crystal Clear on what you want, because without it, you're just wasting your time.

Do you have clarity of passion? If you don't have clarity of the mind, you can't have clarity of passion. You can have passion but if it isn't clear, it isn't as white hot as it can be. Most people have some passion and they may even say it's real strong passion but imagine your passion 10 times stronger, 20 times stronger. That is what will happen when you have clarity of passion.

Work on having Clarity of Mind and Clarity of Passion today and let me know how it went and how different you felt.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves."

Are You Serving Others?

"Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?" ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

What are YOU doing for others? This used to be important, 20, 30 years ago and we got away from it, but now, people are starting to realize that it is what is MOST important to almost anything. It is no longer "what can I get for myself," but "How can I serve others?"

So I ask again, what are YOU doing for others? Think about it for a while. This goes beyond what your business does for others, what are YOU DOING FOR OTHERS? And How are you doing this for others? And Why are you doing this for others?

Emerson said that "A man cannot truly help another person, without it helping himself." Do you realize that is the way the world works? When you help others, when you do for others, you end up helping yourself? We as a society have fallen into the "ME" trap. Here in the United States, it used to be US. But with political correctness, we've been divided into groups and classes.

It used to be "One for All and All for One," but we've been duped into believing that if I become part of a group, I can get what I want. What happened to the rugged individualism that made this country great? What happened to American Exceptionalism? We've thrown it away all for diversity!!!

King also said, in his "I have a dream speech," that he hoped that someday, "his children would be judged on the content of their character and not on the color of their skin." I wonder what he would say about today's society?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?"

Who Will You Become?

"We become what we make our minds to become. It is nobody's fault that the great majority of the people never make up their minds to become anything at all."~William James

Have you made up your mind about what you want to become? What, you haven't yet? What's stopping you? What's holding you back? Why haven't you? You can become whatever you decide you want to become. At any time and any age!

I disagree with James as far as fault of the great majority of people, because now, with everything that we have available to us to learn, to grow and to think, it IS the fault of those who never make up their minds to become something. It is their responsibility to become what they want to become. It is not the responsibility of others to tell us what we should become or do. Too many people would just rather blame someone than take responsibility for their own life...and that's too bad.

Step out of your playing small ideas and thoughts and create the life that you truly want. Decide today to become who you want to become. Don't wait another minute...Do it NOW! What are you waiting for?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"We become what we make our minds to become. It is nobody's fault that the great majority of the people never make up their minds to become anything at all."

What is Your Personal Philosophy?

“Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out. Don't borrow someone else's plan. Develop your own philosophy and it will lead you to unique places.” ~Jim Rohn

Do you have a "Personal Philosophy" or Mission Statement for your life? Why not? According to Rohn, your personal philosophy is the determining factor in how your life turns out. Might make sense to have one...don't you think?? Do you think it might help you top have one? I do.

Make it YOUR Personal Philosophy. Don't let it be your parents, boss, teacher or who ever might want you to share or take theirs. This is YOUR Personal Philosophy and will take you to places that you have never been or even imagined.

Yesterday we spoke about how Beliefs + Behaviors = Results. These all flow from your Personal Philosophy. Your Personal Philosophy needs to be in alignment with your Beliefs and Values.

Take some time right now to create your Personal Philosophy. Well, what are you waiting for??

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out. Don't borrow someone else's plan. Develop your own philosophy and it will lead you to unique places.”