Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Every Day Is The Best Day

“One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. No man has learned anything rightly, until he knows that every day is Doomsday.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Are you under the illusions that the present hour is not critical? We have a twisted sense of time and sometimes we really value time and sometimes we just waste our time, causally and without thought.

Do you view every hour as critical? Why not? Tomorrow is promised to no one, so we need to view every hour as critical...to us. How often do you just blow off and hour or two and use the excuse that you needed to veg. I know that I have. The challenge is to continue to be productive!

Now, I understand that sometimes we DO need to veg, to relax and catch our breaths. The key is to not make it a habit. Work all day, come home and plop in front of the tv or your computer and waste your precious time. Stop doing that!!

Action:
Today, when you get to do something, decide if you are investing your time or spending/wasting it. The key is to always be investing your time.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. No man has learned anything rightly, until he knows that every day is Doomsday.”

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Be Yourself!

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Are you really yourself? Really? Or are you playing a role that someone else has decided for you? The world around you is constantly trying to make you something other than who you are. How do you deal with that?

What makes you different, or do you try to fit in and NOT stand out? We've always been told to be like everybody else, fit in, don't be different, don't be unique. What a crock! You were created to be unique...Live that uniqueness. Don't back away from it, revel in it.

“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Be original” As much as we like to think of America as a land of individuals, we don't often enough insist on being ourselves. We imitate others, we fit in, we don't rock the boat.

Action:
Today, STAND OUT!! When given an opportunity to be yourself, DO IT! And watch the difference it makes

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Monday, August 29, 2011

Do Not Follow The Path

This is Ralph Waldo Emerson week:
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Are you a trailblazer or a follower? Really? Most people are followers. Oh, they will think that they are trailblazers, but they really are followers. Think about the last time you did something that nobody had ever done before...not coming up with much? Don't feel bad, as I said, most people are followers.

Emerson is trying to get us to think and act differently. Different from the status quo. Different from the well-worn path. To create a trail that others can follow. To find a new way to do things. To find a different way to do things.

Don't ask yourself "Can I do it?" Ask yourself "How many ways can I do this, Make A Difference, and enjoy myself along the way? (thanks to @Jeff Herring for the question)

Action:
Start small. When you have a task to do that you do often, think about ways to do it differently. You don't need to blaze the whole trail, just make a start.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

Friday, August 26, 2011

Think HIgh, Think Low

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!”~Dr. Seuss

As we come to the end of Dr. Seuss week, the great philosopher leaves us with this thought.
"Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!” Do you ever think about what you're thinking about??? Really? It's called Metacognition and we don't do it often enough. We let negative thoughts just flow through our brains without ever stopping them or re-framing them.

How often do you really think during the day? 5, 6 times? More or less? We think that we think, but most jobs rely on you doing the same thing over and over again without thinking. Who designed these jobs?? When was the last time you thought about doing your job differently? Ever??

Action:
Today, when you are confronted by a normal challenge, don't solve it the usual way. Think of a better way to deal with it. Who knows? You might create a new way to do things!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!”

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Troubles of More than One Kind

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" ~Dr. Seuss

How often do we treat our troubles with a big bat? Not often enough. We don't swat our troubles away, we live in them, wallow in them and stay stuck in them. "Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" what a great way to face our troubles.

We all have troubles. The problem is not that we have troubles, the problem is thinking that we shouldn't have problems. Life is what it is. We get to decide how to respond to troubles or challenges. It is our choice. Sometimes we have good choices and sometimes the choices are not as good, but we always have a choice.

Action:
Realize that we have a choice to respond. We don't have to stay in the challenge, we can choose to say "Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Today, You Are You!

"Today you are you, that is truer than true; there's no one alive who is youer than you."~Dr. Seuss

Be yourself, everyone else is taken! Too often we think that we have to act the same as everybody else or we need to be like somebody else. WRONG!! We were meant to be ourselves and nobody else. We've been created to be unique, special and one of a kind. To be someone you're not is to waste who you are.

What is the gift that you bring to the world? The gift that no one else can bring to the world. If you don't bring it to the world, no one else will and the world will be robbed of that gift. So, what were you meant to bring to the world?

Action:
Be yourself. In everything you do, be yourself. You will find that life is easier when you don't have to remember who you are but just be who you are. Bring your gift to the world will all your might. It will change someone's life!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Today you are you, that is truer than true; there's no one alive who is youer than you."

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Go Places No Others Go

"If you want to catch beasts you don't see every day, You have to go places quite out of the way, You have to go places no others can get to. You have to get cold and you have to get wet, too."~Dr. Seuss

What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result! If you want to catch beasts your don't see every day, or clients or new products or new things, you have to go places quite out of the way. In other words, do things differently!

When was the last time you changed something in your business or your advertising or marketing? Are you INSANE??? I don't think you are, but sometimes we get into areas of our business or our lives that we feel that we can't change, so we keep doing what we've always done.

Action:
Change something in your business or life that hasn't been working for you. Don't let the fear of change stop you from doing it. Do it now and reap the rewards that will come.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"If you want to catch beasts you don't see every day, You have to go places quite out of the way, You have to go places no others can get to. You have to get cold and you have to get wet, too."

Monday, August 22, 2011

It's Your Choice, It's Always Been

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the one who'll decide where you'll go."~Dr. Seuss

It's always been your choice...even though you were never really told that. As Dr. Seuss says, "You can steer yourself in any direction you choose." When we were younger, parents and teachers steered us in the direction that they thought best for us...but we really didn't choose it ourselves. Are you still on that same path? How's that working for you??

"You know what you know. And you are the one who'll decide where you'll go." You are the one who'll decide where to go. If the path that you've been on isn't working, why not go in the direction that you want? It's your decision. Don't tell me about why you can't...tell me about why you can! No one else is in control of you, only you control you.

Action:
If the path that you are on isn't working for you, look at why it isn't and see if there is another path that you can go down. There's always another choice, another path...you just have to be willing to take that path and make that choice!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the one who'll decide where you'll go."

Friday, August 19, 2011

Better Than You Think

"Remind yourself regularly that you are better than you think you are. Successful people are not superhuman. Success does not require a super-intellect. Nor is there anything mystical about success. And success isn't based on luck. Successful people are just ordinary folks who have developed belief in themselves and what they do. Never sell yourself short."~ David J. Schwartz

Too often we beat ourselves down or let other beat us down. STOP IT!! You need to be reminding yourself that you are better than you think you are. The next time you feel unworthy, think of all the things that you have to be grateful for...and that will change your thinking.

Successful people are just ordinary folks who have developed belief in themselves. Have you developed that belief in yourself? Why not? It's your choice to believe what you want to believe.

Action:
Don't let your mind talk you down. When that voice tells you that you aren't worthy, tell it to be quiet. You are worthy, but you have to claim it. No one else can claim it for you!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Remind yourself regularly that you are better than you think you are. Successful people are not superhuman. Success does not require a super-intellect. Nor is there anything mystical about success. And success isn't based on luck. Successful people are just ordinary folks who have developed belief in themselves and what they do. Never sell yourself short."

Thursday, August 18, 2011

There Are No Secrets, Just Info You Don't Know Yet

"To look is one thing. To see what you look at is another. To understand what you see is a third. To learn from what you understand is still something else. But to ACT on what you learn is all that really matters." ~W Mitchell

Here's a simple 5 step process to success. There are no secrets to success. You can just look around and see many ways that people have been successful and here's 1 more way...5 simple steps.

1. Look. 2. See. 3. Understand. 4. Learn. 5. ACT!

Some people can't even do the first step, they don't even bother to look. Some people look, but they don't see. The some people see but fail to understand what it is that they see Still others get to the understanding part but never learn about their understanding. And then there are those that get the first 4 but fail to ACT! Which one are you? Why?

What is holding you back? Only you are holding yourself back, no one else. It's not the economy, your job, your friends, family, no. You are the only thing holding yourself back...why? .

Action:
Think about that today and break free from whatever that is holding you back. If you are having trouble sorting it out, look back at the simple 5 steps to success and see where you are getting stuck.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"To look is one thing. To see what you look at is another. To understand what you see is a third. To learn from what you understand is still something else. But to ACT on what you learn is all that really matters."

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Think About What You Think About

"Make every thought, every fact, that comes into your mind pay you a profit. Make it work and produce for you. Think of things not as they are but as they might be. Don't merely dream -- but create!"~Robert Collier

Too often, we don't even think about what we think about. Think about that for a minute...Do you make every thought pay you a profit? It takes a strong mind to be able to do that. Most of the time, thoughts just filter in and out without any real thought about the thought. (I know, a little to much to think about??)

When a thought flows into your mind, STOP and think about that thought, rather than letting it go. There are reasons that you think what you think and a lot of times, you are getting the answer to a question or a problem you've been working on.

Think of things not as they are but as they might be. Most people are too stuck in the problem that they can't think of a solution. Or they are too stuck in the past. Get out of the problem and live in the solutions. Get out of the past and live in the present. Living in the past never solved anyone's problems.

Action:
Stop and think about what you think about. It's called Metacognition and will help you become better at whatever you are doing. Stay in the present. That's where everything happens!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Make every thought, every fact, that comes into your mind pay you a profit. Make it work and produce for you. Think of things not as they are but as they might be. Don't merely dream -- but create!"

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Stop Living Out of Your History

"The future is simply infinite possibility waiting to happen. What it waits on is human imagination to crystallize its possibility." ~ Leland Kaiser

YES. YOUR future is infinite possibility waiting to happen!!! It really is, you just need to embrace that. What you've embraced so far isn't infinite possibility, but more likely just finite probability. Things that you've just accepted as your future rather than things that you've created for your future.

What are you waiting on? Use your imagination! Remember when you were a kid and the world seemed like endless possibilities were everywhere? Then people started tearing your dreams and possibilities down. "You can't do that." "Nobody in our family has done that." "Be realistic, you have no chance of doing that."

Action:
Stop living out of your past and history and start living out of your imagination! NOW! Seize your infinite possibilities today!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The future is simply infinite possibility waiting to happen. What it waits on is human imagination to crystallize its possibility."

Monday, August 15, 2011

Are You Accepting the Terms Life Offers You?

"If you haven't the strength to impose your own terms upon life, you must accept the terms it offers you." ~T.S. Eliot

Wow...how many people are going through life simply accepting what life offers them??? I know a lot of people that are stuck in that place. It's a real shame, because our life is what WE MAKE OF IT, not what is presented to us.

So, what's a person to do? Gain or create the personal strength to impose your own terms on life! I know, I can hear you now..."But David, the economy, my 401 now 201k, all this stuff that's happening to me." Do you hear the excuses? It's not the stuff that happens to us...it's how we deal with the stuff that happens to us. WE are in control of our responses. Be in control of your responses and forget about reactions.

Action:
Realize TODAY, that you are in control of everything that happens to you. You can react or respond to those things. Work on RESPONDING rather than reacting. And impose your terms on life!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"If you haven't the strength to impose your own terms upon life, you must accept the terms it offers you."

Friday, August 12, 2011

Are You An Imitator?

"Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Are you yourself or a base imitator of another? Really? In a world that is constantly trying to homogenize everyone, are you who you really are down deep? Or are you playing a role that you've been assigned?

Listen to that inward voice and obey that. Listen to yourself. You can take input from others, but you need to decide who you are...and be that person. Too often we allow others to majorly influence who we are. Sometimes that works for us, sometimes it doesn't.

Do the things that you are great at, not the things for which you were never made for. Ever thought about that? The things you aren't made for? That may clear up some questions about what you should be doing. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be, not just an imitation of someone else.

Action:
Don't be an imitator, be yourself. Listen to your inner voice. do the things that you are great at.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for."

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Are Your Assumptions and Mindsets Entrenched?

“Routinely seek opinions from people who ‘know nothing’ on a subject. These can be the most refreshing sources of new information, since they are not entrenched in assumptions and mindsets.”~Jim Canterucci

Are you dealing with people who are entrenched in assumptions and mindsets? Are you that person? Most of us have our assumptions and mindsets but are yours really working for you? I mean really??

If you are doing what everyone else is doing, how are you different? How do people know that you are different, because you say you are?? Doesn't work, you need to show them you are different. Too many people and businesses try the "me too" style of business. They copy what the leaders are doing and say, "look at us, we do it the same way."

Be authentic. Be who you are, not who you think you have to be!

Action:
Today, when you are doing a regular part of your business, check and see if you can do it differently. See if there is a better way. Don't do it the same way because "we've always done it that way."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Routinely seek opinions from people who ‘know nothing’ on a subject. These can be the most refreshing sources of new information, since they are not entrenched in assumptions and mindsets.”

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Challenging You to Change Yourself

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." ~Victor Frankl

Wow...have we missed this truth. Too often, we continually try to change the situation, trying different things, different ways, different ideas. All the while neglecting to change ourselves!!

Think about the last challenge that you had. Think about all the things that you did to rectify the situation. Sometimes you are able to fix things, but what happens when you don't? Do you ever even think about changing yourself?? I know that most of the time, I didn't. Now, I make sure that I look at myself and see if I need to change.

Action:
In dealing with your next challenge today, see if changing yourself will make a difference. I bet it will! Look at yourself from all angles and change what needs to be changed to solve the challenge!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

I Already Know That

"The secret is…there are no real secrets. Just information you don’t have."

THERE ARE NO SECRETS. THERE ARE NO SECRETS. THERE ARE NO SECRETS. Just information that you don't or didn't have...

Wow, kinda puts everything in perspective, doesn't it.

I have information that you don't have and I'm willing to share it with you so that you will have it for the rest of your life. Are you interested?? It's information about sales psychology and how sales really work. I know what you are saying, "I already know all about sales..." The four most destructive words ever put in a sentence. "I already know that."

When you say that, learning stops and you remain stuck where you are at. No chance for growth, no chance to change your situation...all because you "already know that."

Action:
If you are ready to learn some things that will change your business and life, stop saying and thinking "I already know that."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The secret is…there are no real secrets. Just information you don’t have."

Monday, August 8, 2011

Do You Believe in Yourself?

"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success."~Norman Vincent Peale

Do you believe in yourself? Really?? Not just the normal "I believe in myself," but the real I BELIEVE IN MYSELF!!! Take a look deep inside your mind and heart and ask yourself the question again...Do you believe in yourself?

Most people pay lip service to believing in themselves, but when you examine them down deep, there is fear and loathing, not belief! If this is you, it's never to late to start over with your beliefs. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be! Start right now, examine your beliefs and work towards the goals that they line up with!

Action:
Challenge your unbelief. Challenge your beliefs to see how strong they are. Build on that strength so that your belief is unassailable!!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success."

Friday, August 5, 2011

Work on Your Sacred Gift

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." ~Albert Einstein

We have created a society that honors the servant (the rational mind) and has forgotten the sacred gift (the intuitive mind). Why is that? It makes no sense at all. Einstein also said that "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Because imagination is unlimited while knowledge is limited.

Think about how often you use your sacred gift vs. the time you use your faithful servant. You spend most of your time with the servant, right? Here's a challenge...use your sacred gift for at least 30 minutes each day. Develop that gift and your life and business will become everything you want it to be. It's never too late to become who you were meant to be.

Action:
Work on your sacred gift. Nurture it. Develop it. Master it. Know that you must combine you Sacred Gift with your faithful servant to become all you were meant to become.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Most Resilient Parasite

“What’s the most resilient parasite? An idea. A single idea from the human mind can build cities. An idea can transform the world and rewrite all the rules.” ~From Inception the movie

What is your most resilient parasite? What idea can you just not get away from? What idea dominates your thinking? And what have you done about it? Nothing? Why???

Nothing has ever been created without first a thought. That is where everything starts. What thoughts are you letting dominate your thinking? Thoughts of lack? Thoughts of fear? Thoughts of negativity? Or thoughts of abundance, thoughts of action and thoughts of positivity?

See, we get to decide what we think about. No one else can make us think about anything unless we allow it in. Have a negative friend? Don't hang with them! Have a family member that's always talking you down? Distance yourself. It's you choice as to who to hang with...choose wisely!

Action:
Today, choose wisely what to let into your thinking. What resilient parasite you want crawling around your brain. It is, after all, your choice!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“What’s the most resilient parasite? An idea. A single idea from the human mind can build cities. An idea can transform the world and rewrite all the rules.”

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Not Easy, But Simple

"Change is not easy, but it is simple. Things will always change. We don’t have a choice about that. But we do have a choice about how we react to change. It really boils down to this…either we manage change, or it will manage us."~Mac Anderson

How do you deal with change? Change is not easy, but it is simple. I love that. We make things much more complex than they have to be and this boils it all down.

Do you realize that we have a choice in how we react to change? We do, but you need to recognize it. In fact, our lives are all about choices. You are today where your choices have brought you and you will be tomorrow where the choices of today take you. And don't give me any flack about not having any choices. You always have a choice, not always good ones, but you always have choices.

So. Do you manage change or does it manage you and your time???

Action:
Realize that you always have choices. The next time your brain says I don't have any choice, think again and look for the alternatives.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Change is not easy, but it is simple. Things will always change. We don’t have a choice about that. But we do have a choice about how we react to change. It really boils down to this…either we manage change, or it will manage us."

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Encouragement Does More

"Correction does much, but encouragement does more." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We are constantly being corrected but how often are we encouraged? I'd say that it's at least 10 to 1, correction over encouragement. What do you think?

Today's post is to ENCOURAGE you to become all that you were meant to be. That means playing big, not shrinking back and hiding in the crowd! Don't let your lizard brain scare you away from being who you were meant to be!! Your lizard brain will tell you that it is too dangerous, that people will not like you, that you can't become who you were meant to become. DON'T LISTEN TO YOUR LIZARD BRAIN!!! The lizard brain is why I say that your brain is not your friend.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, who is one of my mentors said "Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be." If that is you, take this message as your wake up call to be inspired to be all that you were created to be!

Action:
Take today to encourage someone you don't know and maybe even some people that you do know and see what a difference it makes in their life.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Correction does much, but encouragement does more."

Monday, August 1, 2011

Are You Aiming For Success or Achievement?

"My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others. That is nice but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success."~Helen Hayes

Are you aiming for achievement or success? There is a huge difference. In our society, it seems like everyone wants success but few are willing to work for achievement. Think of your achievements. Were you able to have success without the achievement? Usually not, but most people still go for the success.

Einstein put it another way, he said "Rather than being a man of success, be a man of value." Wow, look at the value you provide rather than the success, because the success comes from the praise of others.

Always aim for achievement and forget about success. Always aim for providing value, for the more value you provide the more you will achieve.

Action:
Think about this today, are you aiming for success or achievement? Your achievement is always a part of your inner world while success is a part of your outer world. Keep working on that inner world...because it does create your outer world.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others. That is nice but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success."