Monday, March 31, 2014

Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Taken!

"To be nobody-but-yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you somebody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." ~ e. e. cummings

Are you nobody but yourself? Really? Think about it, are you yourself? Well, "Of course" you say, but look deeper. Is that really you saying that or is your parents, your teachers, your buddies? The world is trying to make everybody the same. Even the government is trying to make sure that everybody has equal results, rather than equal opportunity. Don't be someone else! Be You!

Be Yourself! Why? Cause everybody else is taken!!! Dr. Seuss said "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"

You have a unique gift to give to the world. If you don't give your gift to the world, the world will never get that gift, because only you can give it to the world. Don't deprive the world and your circle of influence the gift you have to give.

This is the biggest fight that you will ever have and it will be against the world and yourself. The key is to never stop fighting the battle to be you. You will want to sometimes just give up, but that is when you are almost there. Never stop fighting the battle to be you. Don't let the world win.

"To be nobody-but-yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you somebody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." 

Friday, March 28, 2014

Are You Listening To Your Inner Voice?

“Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, "This is the real me," and when you have found that attitude, follow it.” ~William James

What is that mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive? Have you ever thought of that before? Probably not, because we are not taught to do a lot of self-examination...and when we do, it's because of something we've screwed up! But I ask the question again, What is that mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive?

James says that when you find what that is, you need to follow it because that is "the real you." Do you know who the "real you" is? Sad to say, most people don't have a clue. They are what other people say they are. They are who other people want them to be. They have taken Shakespeare literally when he said "All the worlds a stage," and they are just playing parts, just acting, but not being real, not being who they really were meant to be.

If you are not deeply and vitally alive, then you are not being who you were meant to be, you are playing small and the world does not benefit from you playing small. The world does not benefit from you keeping your talent hidden from view. We need more people who are ALIVE!!! Most people just survive from day to day, hardly anybody really lives anymore...

Be the real you...because everybody else is taken. Play Big. Play to Win!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, "This is the real me," and when you have found that attitude, follow it.”

Thursday, March 27, 2014

The Answer? Questions!

"In order to be more effective with others -- the most important thing we can do is make sure we're in the right frame of mind to begin with. To that end, the questions we ask OURSELVES make all the difference in the world." ~David Levin

Are you in the right frame of mind when you are dealing with people? Do you even think about it or do you just go and do it? Your attitude tells people far more than you words, so it might be something to start thinking about. What frame of mind do you want to have? Helpful? Inquisitive? Confrontational? Educational? There are many more, but have you thought about it? Sometimes the best thing to do is reschedule a meeting, especially if you aren't in the right frame of mind. 

Here's something to consider as well...what frame of mind is the person you are meeting with in? Can you tell? It's a talent that most people haven't developed yet. If they are in a frame of mind that is anything but receptive or open, it might be best to ask them to reschedule.  I've had to do that more than once and each time, the other person thanked me when we met later.  They knew they were in the wrong frame of mind to take the meeting.

What are the questions you are asking yourself? Are you asking yourself any questions at all? Some people might but most people just go through the day without ever asking themselves the questions that will help them get to where they want to go. It is all about the questions that we ask ourselves.  As Tony Robbins said "Questions are the answer."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Focus On What You Have Left

"Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost." ~Robert H. Schuller


We all go through change. Sometimes the problem is that when we do, we keep our focus on what we lost, rather than what we still have or what can now come to us from the change. Have you done that? I'm sure that we all have. The trick is to look at what we have left.  When you focus on what you have left, you get more of what you want, rather than pinning for what is no longer there.

One of my favorite quotes is "The place for what you want is currently occupied by what you have settled for." When you lose something, know that it will be replaced by something even better. But what have you settled for? Why?

If you want new things to come into your life, you need to get rid of the things that you settled for. Open up that space and it will be filled. That's just the way it works. The other thing to keep in mind is that whatever happens in your life, to be grateful about it and you will get more things to be grateful for!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost."

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Defeat? Nothing But The First Step To Something Better

What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first step to something better."~Wendell Phillips

Is that the way your view Defeat or Failure? It's not that way for most people. I had a chance to experience this first hand...as someone objected to my posts and reported me to Facebook. Interesting...it has required me to re-write that post and make it even better!

Defeat is nothing more than an education. It is nothing more than a learning experience. Do you see that when things don't go your way? Do you see that when you experience the thing that we call failure? I hope so. Henry Ford said that "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." Now that's the way to look at defeat/failure. Don Shula said, "Failure is never final." What a great way to look at things.

Defeat is nothing more than the first step to something better. Wow, what a great way to look at things. I'm sure that is the way that Edison looked at his invention of the light bulb. He focused on what it would do for the world and not that it took him so many times to figure it out.

How do you look at defeat or failure? If you are having trouble overcoming a past defeat, realize that something better awaits you...only if you are looking for it. We get what we are expecting and what we look for. If you get bad stuff and it keeps happening, STOP looking for and expecting it. Change your focus!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first step to something better."

Monday, March 24, 2014

Are You Doing What Makes You Come Alive?

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”~Harold Whitman

What makes you come alive? Your work? Only if you are a part of the 22% that like/love what they do...as 78% of Americans hate their job. Wow, what a depressing statistic. 78% of people hate their jobs!!! My question to those of you that do...WHY? Why are you still doing what you hate to do? To pay the bills? To keep up with the neighbors? To get that next toy? Is it really worth it???

Do what makes you come alive!!! The world needs more people who have come alive and are willing to share it with the world. I talk with people all the time who say they can't do what they want to do because of this reason or that reason. The main reason is fear (thought they won't say that) and it's holding them back and keeping them stuck where they are. So sad.

If you are doing what you love, congratulations. Are you remarkable doing it? I hope so, because the world needs remarkable people and each of you are unique and if you don't bring that uniqueness to the world, the world will never see it...because only you have it to bring to the world!

If you are not remarkable, then maybe we should talk. Remember, being remarkable doesn't mean being remarkable to you...it means being remarkable to others. Are you remarkable to others??

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Friday, March 21, 2014

Winning And Losing Are A Byproduct

"How you run the race-your planning, preparation, practice, and performance-counts for everything. Winning or losing is a byproduct, and aftereffect of that effort." ~John Wooden

How are you running the race? How is your planning, practice and performance? Do you plan daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or do you just do what you've always done and get by doing that? Are you practicing your performance? Really? When was the last time you practiced your sales presentation? When?

See, winning takes place in the preparation, not in the presentation. All those years that Wooden coached UCLA, he never spoke about winning and losing, only about maximizing his players abilities. His success proves that the winning is in the preparation.

Winning or losing is a byproduct, and aftereffect of that effort. Do you realize that? Most people don't see it that way. It's your preparation that allows you to win or causes you to lose.

So I will ask again, how is your preparation? Stop worrying about making the sale and prepare like a champion for the presentation and you will win as often as Wooden did.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"How you run the race-your planning, preparation, practice, and performance-counts for everything. Winning or losing is a byproduct, and aftereffect of that effort."

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Information and Communication

"The two words 'information' and 'communication' are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through." ~Sydney J. Harris

Do you think that you are a good communicator? Why? What most people call communication is no more than exchanging information, not communication. Do you see the difference? Let me explain...

Let's say you are at a networking event and you meet someone and you start talking about your job and what you do. They are nodding their head, and speaking at the right times and at the end of the conversation, you think that you were communicating...SORRY...all you were doing was giving information, not communicating!

Communicating is getting through, being understood and remembered! Are you memorable? Most people aren't. Why? Because they've been programmed to be just like everybody else...Boring...Penguins...all together...staying safe with the group.

So, who are you? No, not what do you do, but who are you? When you are able to answer that question and communicate it, you will start to stand out and be unique. Be a first rate version of yourself rather than a second rate version of someone else.

http://www.perrythepeacock.com/

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The two words 'information' and 'communication' are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through."

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Some People Are Ready To Change

"It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not." - James Gordon

Are you ready to change? Some people are, some aren't. I actually disagree with the first part of the quote because there are people who have will power and there are those that don't, or at least won't use it...but it does come back to being ready to change, so I will ask again, Are you ready to change?

Now, some of you are thinking to yourselves, "I don't need to change." Really? How's your life working for you now? Got everything you want? Done everything that you wanted to do? Do you live a life of leisure or do you slave away at your job every day?

Here's a formula for you. Your CFZ will equal your WZ. "Your Comfort/Familiar Zone will equal your Wealth Zone. By expanding your Comfort/Familiar Zone you will expand the size of your Income and Wealth Zone." A better way to explain it is your Familiar Zone, because the only reason it is comfortable (and it really isn't) but you think it's comfortable because it's what you know. And what you know seems better than what you don't know. So, are you ready to step out of your Familiar Zone?

Are you ready to expand your Wealth Zone? Really? Step out now!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not."

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Are You Using Your Signature Strengths?

“I do not believe that you should devote overly much effort to correcting your weaknesses. Rather, I believe that the highest success in living and the deepest emotional satisfaction comes from building and using your signature strengths.”~Martin Seligman

(Martin Seligman is a psychologist, educator, and author.  His theory of "Learned Helplessness is popular among scientific and clinical psychologists.)
 
Are you devoting too much time to your weaknesses as opposed to building up your signature strengths? It is a problem that most of us have, wanting to improve where we are not strong, when we should be improving our strengths! What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? I bet you could tell me your weaknesses before you could tell me your strengths!

I was in a Mastermind group and we took a test that measured our strengths and weaknesses, but listed only the top 5 strengths. The funny thing was that a few people wanted to see what their weaknesses were...almost to confirm that, "ya, those are my weaknesses." Like it was something to be  proud of...WRONG!! They were proud of the fact that they were working so hard on their weaknesses...but they had it backwards.

What is one of your Signature Strengths?  What will separate you from your competition and everyone else? Revel in your uniqueness! Let the world see why you have been put here!  Become who you were meant to become!

Your deepest emotional satisfaction comes from building and using your signature strengths.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“I do not believe that you should devote overly much effort to correcting your weaknesses. Rather, I believe that the highest success in living and the deepest emotional satisfaction comes from building and using your signature strengths.”

Monday, March 17, 2014

Is Your Thinking Fenced in?

"No Limit Thinking...As children we believe that we might become president, a great artist or a great explorer. But as adults we begin to put fences around those dreams."~Tom Asacker

No limit thinking...what did you want to be when you grew up? Why didn't you do it? Why? Did you or someone else put a fence around those dreams and tell you that you couldn't do that?

Stop putting fences around who you want to become. Become who you were meant to become! Tony Robbins asks a great question, “Who will you have to become to achieve all you want?” Have you ever thought about that? Really?

Success isn't determined by the size of one's brain or IQ, rather success is determined by the size of one's thinking!  How big is your thinking or is it just about as big and the area fenced in for you?

To achieve all that you want, who will you have to become? Are you ready to become that person or are you content to stay small, not bringing to the world your uniqueness.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"No Limit Thinking...As children we believe that we might become president, a great artist or a great explorer. But as adults we begin to put fences around those dreams."

Friday, March 14, 2014

It's Not About Getting Ahead Of Others

"Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves -- to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today."~ Stewart B. Johnson

Are you getting ahead of yourself or are you trying to keep up and get ahead of your neighbors and friends? See, our society has made it a game about keeping up with the Joneses. All the advertising is directed at making you feel as if you need everything to keep up. And if you don't, well, you might be thrown out of Scottsdale!! I mean, come on, we have a reputation to uphold here...lol

How shallow have we become to buy into that crap? I sure hope that we are finding our way out and just worrying about keeping ahead of ourselves. That's where growth is! That's where change is! That's where happiness is!

Take a moment to think about how you can 'outstrip your yesterday by your today.' What would it take to make today a better day than yesterday? That's all you have to do...consciously think about how you can make today better than yesterday...and then do it!

When you realize that even the poorest American is in the top 3% of people in the world as far as wealth goes it might change your thinking. Or that 60% of the world doesn't have running water or indoor plumbing, or that 50% has never made a telephone call, you will realize that our job is just to get ahead of ourselves and not anyone else.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves -- to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today."

Thursday, March 13, 2014

It's None Of My Business What You Think Of Me

"I have no need to conform to the stereotypes others have defined for me." ~Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Are you conforming to the stereotypes that others have defined for you? Why? I mean really, why? Were you told that you needed to be this way or that way and you did it? What were you thinking?

Here's a favorite quote of mine, "It's none of my business what you think of me." See, if I make it my business what you think of me, then I change who I am to gain your acceptance, trust, love, whatever. But to really live that quote, you need to be confident in who you are, and know who you are!

“Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.” Too many people today are only pushed by their problems and aren't led by their dreams. Be led by your dreams! But make sure that they are your dreams and not someone elses...

You, and only you, get to choose how you spend each precious moment of your life. Choose carefully and well. It is always your choice.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"I have no need to conform to the stereotypes others have defined for me."

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Create Your Success, Create Your Mediocrity

“Believe that you are the one who creates your success, that you are the one who creates your mediocrity, and that you are the one creating your struggle around money and success.”~ T. Harv Eker

I know that you believe that you create your success, but do you believe that you also create your mediocrity? Well guess what? Hate to break it to ya, but YOU DO! Too often we blame others, parents, teachers, spouses, the economy, when it is our responsibility, our choices, our decisions.

Don't give your power away by blaming others, because that is what you are doing. Take responsibility for you actions and create the life that you want. Your "personal brand" should be all yours, not someone elses.

You are in charge of EVERYTHING that happens in your life. EVERYTHING. Take back you power today, right now, this moment. You create your success, you create your mediocrity. It is your choice!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Believe that you are the one who creates your success, that you are the one who creates your mediocrity, and that you are the one creating your struggle around money and success.”

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Are You Leaving A Trail?

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why is it so hard to follow Emerson's advice? Because it is easy to follow the path rather than creating your own path. It's easy to do what everyone else is doing, but at what cost? The cost you pay is that you become another me-too person or a me-too business!! Is it worth it to you to break away from the me-toos?  You were created to be an individual, not part of a collective.  Start acting like an individual!

Go instead where there is no path and leave one. Be the trailblazer! Roger Bannister was a trailblazer. He broke the 4 minute mile when scientists said that it was impossible for the human body to be able to run that fast. Here's the thing, everyone after him that has set the record in the mile has just been faster...but not a trailblazer. Think about that for a while.

Where can you be a trailblazer? Have you ever thought about that? I challenge you to challenge your imagination and come up with a way that you can be a trailblazer! Albert Einstein said "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere else!" Are you ready to go everywhere else?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

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

Monday, March 10, 2014

It Has Something To Do With Belief

“When you believe something is impossible, your mind goes to work for you to prove why. But when you believe, really believe, something can be done, your mind goes to work for you and helps you find the ways to do it.” ~David J. Schwartz

Our brain is the greatest computer ever designed. It is a million times more powerful that the most powerful computer and when you believe something, you mind will bring the things to you that validate your thinking. Henry Ford said "Whether you think you can or think you can't you're right." If you believe something is impossible, then guess what...IT IS impossible...FOR YOU. But it is not impossible for someone who believes is it possible.

Here's another view on possible and impossible “If it is possible, it is done; if impossible, it shall be done.”~Charles Alexandre de Calonne Wow, is that powerful? If it is impossible, IT SHALL BE DONE. Do you think this way? Can you think this way? Break out of your self-imposed mediocrity and attempt the impossible.

And don't let the realists stop you, you know who they are, the ones who are always saying, "Oh, be realistic." See, a realist is really a pessimist in disguise. Go for it. Attempt the impossible and when they come to ask you how you did it, just say "It's a secret...but it has something to do with belief..."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“When you believe something is impossible, your mind goes to work for you to prove why. But when you believe, really believe, something can be done, your mind goes to work for you and helps you find the ways to do it.”

Friday, March 7, 2014

You Were Made To Be An Original!

"Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive; and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done."~Benjamin E. Mays

You were born to do something unique. Do you realize that? You were born into the world to do something unique! Are you doing it or are you doing something that is normal, mediocre and boring? While you may do something that a lot of other people do, you can make what you do UNIQUE! Because YOU are unique, you can make what you do unique.

When we are sent to school, we are told to "fit in," to "be like everyone else," to "not be different." We need to allow our children to become who they were meant to be, not what the government schools say they should be. Our uniqueness is driven to a point within us where it is hard to find, but it is still there...waiting to get out. If you have not let your uniqueness out, what are you waiting for? It will be the best thing that you have ever done!! But if you don't do it...it will never be done. Because you are here to do that one unique thing.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones  you did do." I ask again, What are you waiting for?

The Reverend Billy Graham said "Since God made us to be originals, why stoop to be a copy?" Become who you were meant to be. Be unique! Be You! Be different! It's never too late to be who you were meant to be.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Your Vision, Your Ideal, Your Controlling Desire

"Whatever your present environment may be, you will remain, fall or rise with your thoughts, your Vision, your Ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration." ~ James Allen

You will remain, fall or rise with you thoughts. Wow! Think about that! You get to decide to remain, fall or rise, all based on what you think. I know that you know this...but do you believe it and know it without a doubt? Sometimes that's the hard part, we know it intellectually, but can't make it a part of our consciousness.

You will become as small as your controlling desire. What is your controlling desire. Does it really benefit you? Does it allow for your greatness to be seen? Or is it holding you from your greatness?

You will be as great as your dominant aspiration! What's your dominant aspiration? Is it life changing? Is it world changing? Is it something that drives you every day or just something you pull out when people ask you what it is?

It is your choice! You will become as small as your controlling desire or as great as your dominant aspiration. Choose wisely.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Whatever your present environment may be, you will remain, fall or rise with your thoughts, your Vision, your Ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration."

Change: Your Choice How To Respond

"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 on how we react to change. The choice really boils down to this...either we manage change, or it will manage us."

CHANGE IS SIMPLE!! But it's not easy Things will always change, so why is it that we try to stop change, fight against it or ignore it? Some things need to change, some things don't. Allow the things that need to change to change and stop the things that don't need to change. It's that simple, but it's not easy.

Here's the thing...we have a choice as to how we respond to change. It is our choice alone, no one elses. Too often we act like we don't have a choice and we have to accept whatever comes our way. NOT!!! It is your choice, your decision, your ability to respond the way that you want to react to change. Respond with your power, with who you are!

So, manage change through your choices or be managed by change through your choice to not choose, your decision to allow life to happen TO you and be a victim of change. Don't allow who you are to become a victim of change. Rise above it. Choose to respond the way you want to respond.

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 on how we react to change. The choice really boils down to this...either we manage change, or it will manage us."

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Not Unfair. Impartial

“Difficulties in life are constant and impartial. Not unfair. Impartial. It is up to us to give meaning to the challenges we face, and decide how we will carry on once they've occurred.” ~ PJ McClure

Our difficulties are not unfair, they are impartial. Wow, think about that for a minute. Kinda changes things around, doesn't it. We've always been told that "life is not fair," when it should be that "life is impartial." Now, do things still happen to us? Yes, and some of them we might classify as "bad." But remember what Shakespeare said that "there is no good or bad, only what we apply to them."

Viktor Frankl said "The one thing you can't take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me. The last of one's freedoms is to choose one's attitude in any given circumstance." It is up to us to choose the way we respond to any situation. Are you choosing to respond rather than react? I hope so 'cause then you are using one of the last freedoms we have.

It is up to us to give meaning to the challenges we face. And remember, that where you put your thoughts and energy is where you will either see the challenge or the opportunity. I hope that you are seeing the opportunity, because we all have our opportunities and it's up to us to make the most of them.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Difficulties in life are constant and impartial. Not unfair. Impartial. It is up to us to give meaning to the challenges we face, and decide how we will carry on once they've occurred.”

Monday, March 3, 2014

Make Thinking Make Magic For You

“Think big and you’ll live big. You’ll live big in happiness. You’ll live big in accomplishment. You’ll live big in income. Big in friends. Start now, right now, to discover how to make thinking make magic for you. Start out with this thought of the great philosopher Disraeli, “Life is too short to be small.” ~David Schwartz

Are you thinking BIG? Why not? Oh sure, you say, "I think big." But do you really think big or do you think just big enough to stretch yourself a little? That's what most people do. They think that their thinking is big when it's really just a little more than they've done before.

Schwartz goes on to say this: “Here is the first step towards success. It’s a basic step. It can’t be avoided. Believe in yourself, believe you can succeed.” This is where most people fall down...they think big but really don't believe that they can do big things. Thinking is a start but if you don't have the belief, all the positive thinking in the world is not going to get you anywhere! Do you BELIEVE you can succeed or are you just hoping to succeed? Belief, beyond a shadow of a doubt is what is necessary, so I'll ask again, do you BELIEVE you can succeed? If not, you need to work on your belief.

So, how does your belief change the way you live your life? Do you not worry about new things and try them without a care because you know that you will succeed? If you can't do this, then your belief is a little shaky. You've heard this question before but, What could you do if you knew that you wouldn't fail? Belief gives you that kind of freedom.

Life is too short to play small! Think BIG. Believe BIG. Play BIG.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Think big and you’ll live big. You’ll live big in happiness. You’ll live big in accomplishment. You’ll live big in income. Big in friends. Start now, right now, to discover how to make thinking make magic for you. Start out with this thought of the great philosopher Disraeli, “Life is too short to be small.”