Not Technology But Trust

"Trust, not technology, is the issue of the decade." ~Tom Peters

In our microwave society, we are being brought back to issues that were relevant 20-30 years ago that some people thought went out of relevancy. They were wrong. Technology is not the be all end all that many people think and want it to be.

Businesses, now more than in the last 30 years, is realizing that Trust is the key element. Think of all the challenges that we have faced over the last few years. What do they have in common? A lack or an abuse of Trust.  All of the Enrons and Bernie Madoffs and the politicians say "What does it matter?"  What matters is that Character and Trust is more important now than ever!

We do business with people we know, like and trust. I would say that out of those things, trust is the most important because you can not like someone, but if you trust them, still do business with them. You can not know the salesman but if you trust his company, they can get the business.

Start working on your trust level. Is it lacking? Part of being trustworthy is trusting others. How's your trust level? I find most people do have a hard time trusting others. Here's the challenge...Trust people. Sure, some will let you down, but most people will honor that trust.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Trust, not technology, is the issue of the decade."

Danger And Opportunity Are Inseperable

"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?  Your brain is not your friend.  It was designed to keep you safe, not to make the best decisions.  That's why most people tend to expect danger rather than opportunity.  To expect opportunity, you must retrain your brain to expect opportunity!

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!

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."

Do You Think You Have No Choices?

"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!

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."

Develop Your Belief In Yourself!

"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 up 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.  Believe that you are better than you think you are.  Believe in YOU!

Don't let your mind talk you down. When that voice tells you that you aren't worthy, tell it to be quiet. Here's a proven way to quiet that voice.  Simply say, "thanks for sharing, cancel!"  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."

The Future: Infinite Possibility

"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."

Are you still listening to those negative voices?  Or maybe you are thinking that you need to "be realistic?"  Well, I've found that realists are usually pessimists in disguise!  Don't listen to them!!

Stop living out of your past and history and start living out of your imagination! NOW! Seize your infinite possibilities today!  What are you waiting for??

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."

Impose Your Own Terms On Life

"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.

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."

Entrenched Assumptions And Mindsets

“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??  Or are they working against you?

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!

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.”

Are You An Imitator Of Another?

"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 inner 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.

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."

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?  See, you can believe in yourself in your conscious mind however do you really believe yourself in your subconscious mind?  Remember that your subconscious mind runs about 96% of what you do each day.

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!

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."

I've Got A Secret...

"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 creating Raving Fans for your business.  I know what you are saying, "I already know all about that..." The four most destructive words ever put in a sentence. "I already know that."
http://www.mentoringyoursuccess.com/create-raving-fans/

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" and join us Thursday June 26th in Scottsdale.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

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

Who's In Control, Your Comfort Zone Or You?

“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.” ~Denis Waitley

How often are you out of your comfort zone? Really? Think about it because I would bet that you are in it more than you think. What is your creative vision for your life? Does your creative vision allow you to feel comfortable outside of your comfort zone? If you are stuck in your comfort zone then you aren't growing. And if you aren't growing, you are shrinking. 

There is no middle ground, no status quo, no staying the same.

Here's another thing about our "Comfort Zone." It really ISN'T a "comfort zone." It is a FAMILIAR ZONE, because we are familiar with the pain. And the pain that we know is always less than the pain of something new, so we stay in our Familiar Zone.

Peter McWilliams said “To the degree we're not living our dreams, our comfort zone has more control of us than we have over ourselves.” Has your comfort zone taken over your dreams and your life? Too often we don't even realize it until it's too late. Well, it's not too late! GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT/FAMILIAR ZONE!! START LIVING YOUR DREAMS! 
NOW! What are you waiting for?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference

“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.” 

Absurd Excuses and Earthquakes #1600

“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

Reading the Phoenix Business Journal the other day and there was this article about the year's most absurd excuses used when calling in sick.  As I'm writing this, we just had a minor earthquake here in Phoenix.  It was just a jolt, I'm guessing about a 2.9 or a 3.0 on the Richter scale,(it was actually a 4.1 about 35 miles away from Phoenix) not the rolling kind and it reminded me about Emerson's quote about knowing that every day is Doomsday.  After living through hundreds of earthquakes in California it was sharp reminder!

Back to the absurd excuses, here are my favorites:
Employee claimed his grandmother poisoned him with ham.
Employee was stuck under the bed.
Employee said his wife put all his underwear in the washer.
Employee said he hurt his eye sleeping wrong on it.

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. Be present!!

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 an 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!

This is my 1600th blog post and boy have things changed in the time that has past from start to now!
The earthquakes haven't though...

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.” 

Did You Build Fences Around Your Dreams?

"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?  

Here's the challenge for most people.  they start out following their dreams that then they run into a roadblock, a challenge or something stops them and they give up!  That is what true failure is, giving up!!

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."

Break Your Own Records!

"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...

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 97% 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."

Have Others Defined You?

"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?  Too many people conform to what others have defined for them!

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.  Then I become inauthentic and I'm just acting.  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."

Stop Creating Your Struggle

“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.”

Go Where There Is No Path

"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?

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."

Are You Working On Your 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

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.

One of your Signature Strengths should be you "Personal Brand" and your "Platform." Your personal brand is what will separate you from your competition and everyone else. Your Platform is what will attract your prospects to and your business.  Revel in your uniqueness!

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.”

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. You will either have excuses or results.  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.”

Failure: 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 this 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 fatal or final." Do you look at failure that way?  Too many people give up when they face failure and giving up is THE ONLY WAY to failure!

Defeat is nothing more than the first step to something better. Wow, can you look at defeat that way?  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.  What are you focusing on, the defeat or the learning experience?

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."

Is This The Real You?

“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. There 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.”

The World, Trying To Make You Someone Else

"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." 

Are You In The Right Frame Of Mind?

"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.  

Once, when I sold advertising for a large sports magazine, I had a meeting scheduled with an advertiser and their agency.  When I arrived, they were yelling at each other about who did what and why.  I walked into the room and they said, "Ok, what are YOU here to sell?"  "Nothing," I said, I won't be meeting with you today.  I can meet with you tomorrow morning at 9am and I will see you then," and walked out.  They were shocked...but at 9am the next morning, they were all there and we signed an agreement for their advertising for the next year.  I firmly believe that had I taken the meeting the day before, I would not have gotten the business...because of their frame of minds.

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!

"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."

Do You Accept Complete Responsibility?

"William Henley said, 'I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.' Once you believe this (I mean, really believe it,) nothing will hold you back. Something unexplainable happens when we accept complete responsibility for our behavior and our results. But it's not an easy thing to do."~Mac Anderson

Are you the master of your fate? Or are you just letting life happen to you?? Do you believe that you make the choices of the things that happen to you or that you have no choices? Why?

Get out of your victimhood and allowing circumstances to rule your thinking.  You need to start thinking differently, start acting differently, live in gratitude and become a person of increase. Accept responsibility NOW!

Something unexplainable happens when we accept complete responsibility for our behavior and our results. Have you accepted complete responsibility for your behavior and your results? Not an easy thing to do...especially when our society almost demands that we blame something or someone.  Here's what happens when you blame someone or something...you give away YOUR power!  You give away YOUR responsibility!

Break away from that crap. Take responsibility for your choices and actions. Know that you always have a choice and that YOU get to make that choice, no one else can make it for you.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"William Henley said, 'I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.' Once you believe this (I mean, really believe it,) nothing will hold you back. Something unexplainable happens when we accept complete responsibility for our behavior and our results. But it's not an easy thing to do."

I Give You Permission To RELAX!

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life." ~Socrates

Wow...beware the barrenness of a busy life! Take a look at your life. Are you always busy?  Is it barren?  Are you running from meeting to meeting, driving like a maniac banchee to get to where you need to be next...without any consideration of others?  How's that working for you?

Socrates, 2500 years ago saw the barrenness. Do you? REALLY?? Our society has programmed us to WANT MORE, NEED MORE, GET MORE...But is that all there is? More?

More recently, Mahatma Gandhi said "There is more to life than increasing its speed." Yet, that is all we seem able to do. Knowledge is doubling every 6 months...Computers that you bought 6 months ago now could almost be obsolete. There's so much new information coming at us, we can't keep up (and that's tough for us recovering perfectionists...lol)  In fact, according to Google, there is more information posted online every 48 hours than was known from the beginning of time to 2004!  According to YouTube, 100 hours of video are posted there every MINUTE!!

It has been said that "The time to relax is when you don't have time for it." Take a few moments today, stop your hectic schedule, put away the IPad,  I-Phone and I-RELAX!!!!! Go ahead, do it. Turn technology off fo 5-10 minutes.  You can do it.  OK, you say that you need permission...I GIVE YOU PERMISSION...to relax for 5-10 minutes today. That's all, 5-10 minutes. It will change your day, your week, your month...maybe even your life!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life."

Are You Prepared For Something Wonderful?

"Prepare yourself for something wonderful to happen; when you do, it probably will."

Are you prepared for something wonderful to happen to you? No? Why? Are you always thinking that bad things are going to happen to you?  Are you beat down by life and circumstances? Have you lost hope for things to get better for you?

There’s a lot to be said about self-fulfilling prophecy. Do you remember making that call to the client who you just knew wasn’t going to buy? And did they? I doubt it. But what about that call when you knew that they were going to buy? I bet they did! Whenever you start thinking that good things are going to happen to you, they usually do and by the same token, when you start going down that negative/victim/woe is me route, what do you get? That’s right, more of the same. The universe responds to the vibrations of energy we send out...and if those vibrations are negative, we get more negativity from the universe, but if those vibrations are positive, we get more positivity from the universe! You have already done it before. Just realize that this time, you are doing it because of an intention.

Gary Zukov said "Every intention sets energy into motion. Whether you are conscious of it or not." Do you realize that you are setting energy in motion? Are you conscious of whether it is positive energy or negative energy. You can set negative energy in motion just as easy as setting positive energy in motion. But it is up to you. You decide which energy you are going to set in motion.

Make it positive energy and those around you will thank you for it!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Prepare yourself for something wonderful to happen; when you do, it probably will."

The Worst Habit You Could Have

"Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have."~Dale Carnegie

Wow, leave it to Carnegie to call people out of their victimhood!!! He would be considered un Politically Correct because he doesn't "care" enough for people going through problems. But really, look at the quote again...what does feeling sorry for yourself accomplish? It might make you feel better, but other than that brief feeling, it accomplishes nothing!

Feeling sorry for your "present condition?" Think back a year. What conditions were you dealing with that you thought you would never be able to deal with or get over. The key is that all of our issues are "present" but are subject to change. Know that it will change...usually for the better.

"The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken."~Samuel Johnson.  Don't get into the habit of feeling sorry for yourself, because as Johnson says..."they are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken." Think of the habits that you have developed, both good and bad. Now, start thinking how you can get rid of the bad ones and only do the good ones.

We fall into habits like that all the time. The key is to realize it and break them while they are still weak and not wait to break them when they have become too strong.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have."

Are Your Expectations WILD?

"Nobody succeeds beyond his or her wildest expectations unless he or she begins with some wild expectations."~Ralph Charell

Are your goals beyond your wildest expectations? Why not? Really, why not? Most people make their goals something that they think they can achieve, not something that would be beyond their wildest dreams. See, we have been taught that we shouldn't have wild dreams because we will be disappointed when we don't reach them...What a crock!

It all does come back to your expectations. Are your expectations really big or are they just big enough to make you work a little harder to get, but not your wildest dreams??? Start trying to reach beyond what you think you can do...You'll be amazed as you start doing some great things.

St. Francis of Assisi said it this way "Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." Here's a real easy way to do the impossible. Go out and do it.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Nobody succeeds beyond his or her wildest expectations unless he or she begins with some wild expectations."

Great Results Come From Great Expectations

"Your expectations, opens or closes the doors of your supply. If you expect grand things, and work honestly for them, they will come to you. Your supply will correspond with your expectation." ~ Orison Swett Marden

How often do you think about your expectations? Too much, not enough, just right? Where do those expectations come from? Past history, other people, your mind? How do you know the expectation you hold is the right one?

According to Marden, your expectations hold the key to your success or failure. Do you believe that? Why or why not? I know that when I'm in a sales situation, that if I don't expect to make the sale, I never do. Wayne Gretzky said "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." I like to equate that to expectations. You miss 100% of the expectations that you don't have for yourself.

Winners expect to win. Losers hope to win. There's a huge difference in those two words, expect and hope. When I played basketball in college, we had a pretty good team.  Several times before games, players on the other team would come up to us and say "Hey, take it easy on us, ok?"  Now, were they expecting to win?  They had already lost in their minds!  Are you hoping to be successful or are you expecting to be successful? As always, the choice is yours and yours alone. Nobody can make it for you.

Start your day off with great expectations and watch them come true. Great expectations will equal great results.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Your expectations, opens or closes the doors of your supply. If you expect grand things, and work honestly for them, they will come to you. Your supply will correspond with your expectation."