Friday, September 30, 2011

What's Left to Take Away?

"Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." ~Antoine de Saint Exupery

Wow, what a different way to look at things. We are so used to adding more and more things to make it work, but according to Exupery, he says that perfection is achieved when there is nothing left to take away.

Michelangelo always said that his famous "David" was inside the marble all the time and all he needed to do was take away the excess. What are you adding vs. what can you take away to make things perfect? Think about that, take away the excess and you will be left with the most important stuff. Too often we add and add rather than take away.

Action:
Look at everything that you do. Stop adding to what you do. What can you take away? Look for your perfection in the taking away rather than the adding.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Make Things Happen, Today!

"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened." ~John M. Richardson Jr.

Which one are you??? I know, you are one of those who make it happen, right? But really, do you make it happen or do you just say that you do? It's real easy to say, but much harder to do and when things get hard, we tend to not do them. Because it's too hard or will take too long or we are not committed to doing it, so we don't. Then we just let life happen to us.

Here's the thing about letting things happen to you. If you don't have a plan, you will have to be a part of someone elses plan. And guess what, their plan doesn't have much for you. I hope that you aren't one of the ones who just wonder what happened. Everything happens for a reason.

Action:
Go about today and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! Don't go through this day just letting it happen to you. Create the life that you've always wanted.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened."

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Your Dreams and "Someday"

"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." ~ Tom Clancy

How real is your dream? Do you allow yourself to dream or do you put it on the back burner so that you can deal with your responsibilities? Are you more concerned with your duties than your dream? Now, don't get me wrong, your duties are important, but not as important as your dream! Are you putting off your dream until "someday?" Here's a little secret...someday never comes!

Only you can take your dream away from you. No one else can. Do you realize that or have you let others take your dream away? I sure hope not, but if you have, you can reclaim your dream right now. Just do it! Right now! Your dream is your choice. Make sure that you choose well.

Action:
Take one step toward your dream today. That's all it takes, is one step a day. Soon you will so close to your dream that you will be able to touch it and feel it! Remember, someday never comes!

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."

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Stop Listening to Your Negative Self

“Want to overcome discouragement? Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself.”

Are you listening to yourself and not talking to yourself? It's a real easy trap to fall into. And we often listen ourselves out of opportunities, don't we. Have you name your little voice? Mine is Ziggy, for Sigmund Freud and the comic Ziggy. That make it easy to talk to and make it either stop or at least tone down the noise.

Your brain is NOT your friend. It is designed to keep you safe and to challenge anything new or different. How can you grow unless you try new or different things? You need to constantly ask questions and challenge how you think. Can you do that? It is difficult, but I believe that you can.

Action:
Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself. You will be in a better frame of mind and even more productive!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Want to overcome discouragement? Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself.”

Monday, September 26, 2011

Say YES to Your Adventure!

“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.” ~Joseph Campbell

Are you ready to say a hearty YES to your adventure? Really? Then, what are you waiting for? Permission? OK, I give you permission to say a hearty YES to your adventure. Now, what are you waiting for?

Oh, you need to let go of yesterday, right? The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday. You may not have known it, but you need to let go of the past if you are every going to move forward. Are you ready to let go of the past and live in the present?

Action:
Start leaving the past in the past so you can live in the present and move into your future. The future that you create. The future of your dreams. "It's never too late to be who you were meant to be."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.”

Friday, September 23, 2011

Thnking of You...NOT!

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do."~Eleanor Roosevelt

I just love this quote! Read it again. Now, think about how many times you didn't do something because of what other people thought about what you were going to do Guess what? They weren't thinking about you!

Think about when you meet someone and tell them what you do for business. Guess what? They don't care about what you do for business. What they care about is what you can do for THEM!! That is the only time people really think about you...when you can show them how you can help them! It's all about them. Never forget that.

A favorite quote of mine is "It's none of my business what you think of me." See, because when I care about what you think about me, I change who I am to fit what you think about me.

Action:
Realize that most people are NOT thinking about you. What they do care about is what you can do for them! So don't run your life based on other people's thoughts.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do."

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Turn A Problem Into A Opportunity

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."~Joseph Sugarman

This is so true...the problem is that we focus so much on the problem that we can't see the opportunity. A long time ago, one of my first mentors told me, "don't come to me with a problem unless you also have a solution." That's always stayed with me. Do you think like that? What would happen to you if you did?

Why do people do business with you? Because you solve a problem for them, that's why. We are all looking for our problems to be solved for us. Those who can solve the problems are rewarded, not those who can't or only see the problem.

Action:
Stop focusing on the problem and start focusing on solutions! Analyze the problem but then search for opportunities. Don't stay focused on the problem, only the opportunities.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Questions Are The Answer!

"Some self-confronting questions: 'Where do I want to be at any given time? How am I going to get there? What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be? ... What's the first, small step I can take to get moving?'"
~George A. Ford


Questions are the answer! When was the last time you asked yourself these self confronting questions? Have you ever asked them? Most people just go through life without ever asking these questions and don't know why they do what they do, other than to pay the bills. Without asking these questions, you will never be who you were meant to be, never become the person who can change the world with your unique talents...all because you stayed safe by not asking those self-confronting questions.

Stop playing small!! Be who you were meant to be! Bring your unique talents to the world, because if you don't, the world will never see them. Each of you were meant to bring something great to the world, why are you keeping it to yourself??

Action:
Ask yourself those questions and more. Challenge your perception of who you are and who you are becoming. Be who you were meant to be.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Some self-confronting questions: 'Where do I want to be at any given time? How am I going to get there? What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be? ... What's the first, small step I can take to get moving?'"

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Do You Control Your Destiny? YES!

"Understanding that we control our own destiny is the key to our success in life. Simply put, when we decide how we want our life to be we must take responsibility and move forward." ~Mac Anderson

Do you realize that? YOU control your own destiny! It's not controlled by the economy, your boss, your spouse, your parents...YOU control your own destiny!! The challenge is knowing what you want it to look like and being specific! Most people really don't know what they want. They want to be "rich." To be "happy." What do those things mean?? Nothing to your brain. You need to be specific in knowing what you want and why you want it.

Why do you want to be "rich?" And what does "rich" mean to you? Put a number on that. Say, "I want to make $750k a year!" Your mind can get around that. Now, why do you want to make $750k a year? The whys will be your driving force when you slow down or are depressed or not feeling excited about what you are doing.

Action:
Be specific about what you want out of life. Real specific. Realize that it's your choice...no one elses, only yours.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference

"Understanding that we control our own destiny is the key to our success in life. Simply put, when we decide how we want our life to be we must take responsibility and move forward."

Monday, September 19, 2011

Limitations to Overcome

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome."~Helen Keller

What is limiting you now? Why are you letting it limit you? Most of our limitations come from our own mind. Is that what is limiting you today? Why?

Samuel Johnson said "Adversity has ever been considered the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself." Are you becoming acquainted with yourself? Who are you becoming?

Our lives are based on overcoming our limitations and dealing with adversity. How are you doing? Really? It's important to realize that we are never face with a problem that we can't deal with or overcome...unless we choose to not deal with it or not overcome it. Dig deep, find that limitation and adversity overcoming button within you. It's your choice, no one elses.

Action:
Find your overcoming button within you, if you already haven't. When was the last time you needed to use it...you might be needing it now.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome."

Friday, September 16, 2011

Attached To Your Burdens?

"People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them."~George Bernard Shaw

Are you attached to your burdens? Sometimes we grow to accept our burdens and then don't get rid of them, but keep them attached to us. Is that you? Are you keeping that burden attached to you?

"Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable."~Theodore N. Vail

Are you allowing those imaginary difficulties to keep you down? "Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable." Yes, real difficulties CAN be overcome. It's the trash in your head that is unconquerable. Wow, it all comes back to what we think. "No thought lives in your mind rent-free." What are you paying for the thoughts that you have? Is it costing you or are you getting a return on your investment for what you think?

Action:
Realize that the biggest problems that you will face today are the imaginary ones, not the real ones. Lose you attachment to your burdens. It's your choice!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them."

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Do You Swim Upstream?

"Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everyone else is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction."~Sam Walton

Are you swimming up stream? Ignoring the conventional wisdom? Or are you going with the flow, doing what everyone else is doing? Being a penguin rather than a peacock?? BE YOURSELF, everyone else is taken! Too many people are stuck as penguins in the sea of sameness, not standing out, not being all that they could be. Is that you? I hope not.

If you feel stuck and like you aren't getting anywhere "there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction." Can you do that? Can you try? Don't be stuck in "this is the way we've always done things" routine. Look for a way to stand out! Let your beautiful feathers shine, not just the black and white of a penguin.

Action:
It's never too late to be who you were meant to be. Challenge your assumptions and beliefs today. See if they really hold up or they were given to you by someone else. BE YOU!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everyone else is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction."

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Stressed? Ask One Question

"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter five years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go." ~Catherine Pulsifer

Will this matter 5 years from now? What a great question to ask about everything that comes into your life! Too often, when we are in the midst of challenges, we think that they will never end. That's just the way our minds work...so ask yourself that question. Will this matter 5 years from now?

"The moment you accept responsibility for EVERYTHING in your life, is the moment you can change ANYTHING in your life."~Hal Elrod

You want to change anything in your life? Take responsibility for everything in your life...everything. Sometimes, we take some responsibility but not for everything. The key is taking responsibility for everything. That is the best way to change anything in your life.

Action:
When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself that question, Will this matter 5 years from now? After answering that question, then take responsibility for everything in your life!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter five years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go."

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Change Your Beliefs

“Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible. This power becomes available to you just as you change your beliefs.”

Do you believe this? Really? Then why haven't you done the things that you never dreamed possible? What's stopping you from doing it? It is our beliefs that hold us back. What belief do you have that's holding you back? You aren't smart enough? Your too old? You're doing the only thing you know how? What is holding you back?

Dr. Joyce Brothers said "In each of us are places where we have never gone. Only by pressing the limits do you ever find them." Have you pressed your limits? Why not? Fear only exists in your mind, nowhere else. Are you ready to do things you've never dreamed of???

Action:
Analyze your beliefs about yourself. See what those beliefs hold for you. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be. Make it happen!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible. This power becomes available to you just as you change your beliefs.”

Monday, September 12, 2011

Are You A Tight-Closed Bud?

"A rose only becomes beautiful and blesses others when it opens up and blooms. Its greatest tragedy is to stay in a tight-closed bud, never fulfilling its potential."

Are you a tight-closed bud, never fulfilling your potential? No? Really?? I find that most people never fulfill their potential. Some are even a tight-closed bud. That to me is really sad, when people are just doing what they are doing and not really knowing why, or when they don't know what they want out of life.

That's the main problem for most people, they don't know what they want out of life. They also don't believe that they could have what they want to have because someone told them that, or they tried once and failed, so they quit trying. Is that you?? I hope not.

Action:
Realize that right now, today, that "It's never too late to become what you were meant to be." Choose to be who you were meant to be! Now!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"A rose only becomes beautiful and blesses others when it opens up and blooms. Its greatest tragedy is to stay in a tight-closed bud, never fulfilling its potential."

Friday, September 9, 2011

Circumstance vs. Attitude

"All the water in the world cannot drown you unless it gets inside of you.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

No matter what the problem, financial situation, history or whatever difficulty is around you --let it be around you. It's a circumstance. It's around you but is not meant to control or determine your attitude. Are you letting it control your attitude?

Our attitude comes from our state of mind, and the state of our heart. Let us keep our mind and our heart focused on gratitude and appreciation. Gratitude is a harmonious vibration with abundance. When you are grateful, you get more things to be grateful about.

All the water in the world can be around us and we can float on top of it, swim in it and play in it. It doesn't have to drown us because we view it only as a circumstance, something that can't control our attitudes...unless we let it.

Action:
Realize that circumstances can't control your attitude or actions. It is a choice that you have as to how to deal with each circumstance. Don't let it negatively affect you.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"All the water in the world cannot drown you unless it gets inside of you.”

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Opportunty vs. Danger

"Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity; whenever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable. They go together." ~Earl Nightingale

Danger/Opportunity. Two side of the same coin. the question is, "Do you concentrate on the danger or the opportunity?" Well, which one rules your mind? Unfortunately, most people allow their fears and the PERCEIVED danger to rule their lives. I hope that's not you, because the opportunity is out there for everyone...not just the "lucky few."

Norman Vincent Peale said that "We tend to get what we expect." Are you expecting danger or opportunity? Really?

Opportunities surround us all the time. The key is to be looking for them and not the danger. When your mind is present where you are, you will start to see opportunities everywhere. Be present. NOW. Challenge your brain to see the opportunities!

Action:
Don't allow fear and danger to rule your mind. Become an opportunian. I just made that word up but it means that your mind is open and looking for opportunities all around you.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity; whenever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable. They go together."

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Your Future Choices Expand When...

"You create opportunities for yourself. The greatest tragedy in your life is to think you have no choices. Your future choices expand as you choose to be more, do more and live more."~Mark Victor Hansen

Do you realize that? That you create opportunities for yourself? Really or do you need to be constantly reminded of that fact?? How are you going about creating opportunities? Are you trying to find them or are you creating them?

Most people think that they have no choices. Is that you? I hope not. You always have choices...some are good and some are not as good, but you always have choices. "Your future choices expand as you choose to be more, do more and live more." Do you see your choices expanding? If not, then you need to be more, do more and live more. NOW!

Action:
Realize that you have choices and then choose the one that works best for you. Don't fall into the trap of believing that you don't have any choices!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You create opportunities for yourself. The greatest tragedy in your life is to think you have no choices. Your future choices expand as you choose to be more, do more and live more."

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

We Never Direct Our Focus

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.”~Tony Robbins

Are you dabbling your way through life? Have you never decided to master anything in life? That's why you aren't achieving as much as you want, because you haven't put the power of focus to work for you. It is said that it takes 5000 hours to become competent at something and 10,000 hours to become a master. How are you coming along towards that 5K?

Most people don't have what they want because they don't know what they want out of life. Do you? Really?? If you do, good for you. If not, decide right now what you want and focus on getting it. Be specific about what you want and why. Your why will always be the strongest partner for you because your why will drive you to get what you want.

Action:
Decide what you want. Stop dabbling your way through life and start to master something. You can't get to 10k hours without putting the first hour of work in!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular."

Monday, September 5, 2011

Change Is Not An Event

“Change is not an event. It’s a tiny decision made over and over again. Change isn’t once. It’s daily.”~Don Kuhl

We often think of change as an event...but it's not. It's a tiny decision made over and over again...until it becomes part of who we are. Think of the last thing that you changed in your business or your life. Examine it closely and you will see that it wasn't an event but a decision that was made over and over again.

To make a positive change requires growth. Gail Sheehy says "Growth demands a temporary surrender of security." Are you willing to make that positive change by temporarily surrendering your security or will you stay safe? Too many people are unwilling or unable to let go of the security to experience positive change and growth. It requires that we get out of our comfort zone and be uncomfortable for a while.

Action:
See if what you are doing today keeps you safe in your comfort zone or if you are challenging that comfort zone and expanding it. Once it is stretched, it will never return to the smaller zone that it was.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Change is not an event. It’s a tiny decision made over and over again. Change isn’t once. It’s daily.”

Friday, September 2, 2011

Who Will You Decide To Be?

Last installment of Ralph Waldo Emerson week:
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Who have you decided to be? Anyone? No one? Most people don't realize that they have that choice. So, who have you decided to be? When thinking about that, don't just settle for the least you can be. Think big, dream big, create BIG! It's your choice, why not??

“People only see what they are prepared to see.” That being the case, prepare to see BIG things for yourself. No one else will for you, so see BIG things! Prepare your mind to see greatness. Prepare you mind to see things that you have never seen before and create them!!

Action:
Prepare your mind for greatness by seeing your future as great as it can be. It is your choice and no one else can choose for you. So step and and choose BIG!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Finish Each Day

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely.”~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Leave yesterday there, don't bring it with you! Too often we bring along all the baggage from yesterday to today an it steals from your day. Finish each day and be done with it!! Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day. Treat it as such. The key to being able to do this is to be present. Be present in every moment. this is a challenge for most people, because they have so many things to do and think about. Our society has sped up so much that it tries to not give us any other choice then speeding up to stay with it. We do have a choice. We don't have to speed up and we can take things at our own pace. That's another part of being present. Choosing to BE present.

Action:
When talking to someone today, give them your whole, undivided attention and remain in the moment. You will be surprised what you hear. The more you hear, the more you know. Be present today!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely.”