Friday, July 30, 2010

Are You the Lone Entrepreneur?

"No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it."~H. E. Luccock

Are you trying to create a symphony all by yourself? Being the lone entrepreneur, not needing anyone's help? Guess what? No one has ever made it on their own! We all need other people and we need their help.

Look at all successful people and you will see a whole team of other individuals that worked on the success of that one individual. Who is on your team? Who is working to make you a success? Why are they helping you? Why aren't others helping you?

This "New Economy" requires that we spend even more time on those relationships where we can help others succeed and they can help us succeed. Are you spending the time doing that? Why not? Are you doing what you have always done? How's that working for you?

Action:
Find those people who are working towards your success and let them know that you appreciate them and how important they are to you. I have a whole list of people and I'm sure that you do to.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it."

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Fearlessly Be Yourself

"There is only one of you for all time. Fearlessly be yourself."~Anthony Rapp

Are you fearlessly being yourself, or are you playing someone else on this stage that is called life? Who are you playing and why? Is it because it's what your parents told you, or what a teacher told you, or maybe what a friend suggested you become? If you are not being yourself, who are you being?

"Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you."

When do you get the feeling that you are the person who you always wanted to be? At certain times? Once in a long while? Never?

Action:
Fearlessly be yourself! And if you don't know who that is, find out. Spend some time contemplating what drives you and what makes you feel the most authentic. Search for that feeling and when you find it, hold on to it with all your heart.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"There is only one of you for all time. Fearlessly be yourself."

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

In A Great Place

“Instead of placing judgments on where you find yourself, consider the positive possibilities. Instead of extending assumptions out from your limitations, imagine your most treasured dreams extending out from your current situation. ~Ralph Marston

Are you placing judgments on where you find yourself? STOP IT!! RIGHT NOW!! Start to consider the positive aspects of where you are now and stop only looking at the negatives.

Instead of extending your assumptions from your limitations, extend NEW assumptions that are unlimited. See, we often view the world from our limited perspective, rather than from the infinite perspective that it exists in!

Take your dreams and put them to work from this point forward. Don't worry that you haven't done it until now, celebrate the fact that you are doing it now!

Action:
Stop placing judgments on where you are now.
Stop viewing the situation from a limited point of view.
Start working on your dream. NOW!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Instead of placing judgments on where you find yourself, consider the positive possibilities. Instead of extending assumptions out from your limitations, imagine your most treasured dreams extending out from your current situation."

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Less Than You Can Be

"If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I must warn you that you'll be unhappy for the rest of your life."~Abraham Maslow

Are you planning on only accepting a little of life? Why? We were made for abundance. I don't think that most people plan on being less than they can be, but have the desire to be all they can be driven out of them. By well-meaning teachers, parents and friends...

How can you reclaim the feeling of becoming capable of doing anything? Confidence, belief in yourself and knowledge that there are no accidents or coincidences. There's a reason that you are where you are right now. It could be to help someone else out, it could be because you have something to learn, but there is a reason why we are all where we are.

"Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you."

Action:
Play BIG. GO FOR EVERYTHING YOU CAN GET! Don't allow how others feel about you to diminish who you are.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I must warn you that you'll be unhappy for the rest of your life."

Monday, July 26, 2010

Come To the Edge

"Come to the edge, Life said. They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, Life said. They came. Life pushed them... And they flew."
~Guilliame Apollinaire

Are you on the edge or are you safely in the middle? Are you afraid? Why? Fear doesn't exist anywhere...but in your mind! That's right, it's all in your head and the stories that you are telling yourself. Harry Truman said "Don't be afraid to go out on a limb...that's where the fruit is." That is so true, but you have to convince yourself of that, daily.

Action:
Realize that the only thing holding you back are the stories your are telling yourself and often those stories are just not true. They have been programmed in you for a long time. Start eliminating those stories today that don't serve you any more.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Come to the edge, Life said. They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, Life said. They came. Life pushed them... And they flew."

Friday, July 23, 2010

Forward or Backwards

"You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety." ~Abraham Maslow

Are you stepping forward into growth or back into safety? Maslow sure had it right. If you are not moving forward, you are moving backwards. While it is into safety, it is still moving backwards. I don't think that you can ever just tread water and stay in one place.

Most people don't realize that they are moving backwards, they think they are staying at the same point. Don't fool yourself with that story, it just isn't true. The challenge is that it's an easy out to just say that you are holding in place rather then putting yourself out there to become who you were meant to become.

Anias Nin said “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” When will the risk become too painful for you? When will you be ready to grow, to move forward? How about NOW??

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety." ~Abraham Maslow

Thursday, July 22, 2010

See the Opportunties

"Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death." ~James F. Byrnes

Are you missing opportunity? Most people are because they are too worried about security. They stay in a dead-end job, that they hate because of security. Is this you?? I hope not.

EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DO MATTERS.
YOU HAVE BEEN CREATED IN ORDER THAT YOU MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
YOU HAVE WITHIN YOU THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

Know that your actions cannot be hoarded, saved for later, or selectively used. So stop living looking for security. See the opportunities and start to play big! If you don't, there world will never know what you had to offer, because only your can provide it to the world.

Your life…And what you do with it today…MATTERS FOREVER.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death." ~James F. Byrnes

Monday, July 19, 2010

Life Moves Forward

"Life moves forward not backwards. It cannot move back and you cannot go back. It is like time. It is time. Do not let words or judgments that people put on you stop you from moving forward. You have no time to waste to allow anyone to push you back. You must move forward to keep up with who you are and what you want in life."

Are you moving forward or are you moving backwards? Life always moves forward, but sometimes we get stuck and don't move forward or even go backwards, but all the while, life continues to move forward!

Too often, we allow other people's words and judgments push us backwards. One of my favorite quotes says, "It is none of my business what you think of me." Don't allow other people's judgments of you and your work push you back. If you allow their judgments to change who you are, you stop being authentic.

You must move forward to keep up with who you are and what you want in life. Keep moving forward, keep being who you are and keep going for what you want out of life. Do it now!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Life moves forward not backwards. It cannot move back and you cannot go back. It is like time. It is time. Do not let words or judgments that people put on you stop you from moving forward. You have no time to waste to allow anyone to push you back. You must move forward to keep up with who you are and what you want in life."

Friday, July 16, 2010

Tyranny of Immediacy

"I will not be governed by the tyranny of immediacy."~Mary Anne Radmacher

Are you governed by the tyranny of immediacy? Do you allow others immediacy to govern you? Why? What do you get? Take control your life and stop that NOW! Here's an example; email. Do you keep it open and look at it as soon as they come in??? I hope not.

In today's microwave society, we want everything 2 minutes ago. We have lost the ability to have delayed gratification and are constantly seeking immediate gratification. Why?

The problem with immediate gratification is that as fast as it comes, it's gone again that fast and then we need to find another source of gratification. It's a vicious cycle that never ends until we step back and slow down and stop the tyranny of immediacy.

Very often it's our friends and clients who try to impose the tyranny of THEIR immediacy on us. We need to learn to politely tell them that that we run our own life and that their issue while important, it doesn't rise to OUR immediacy level. Don't allow them to give your their issue.

Here's a challenge for today, don't allow the tyranny of immediacy to win even once today.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"I will not be governed by the tyranny of immediacy."

Thursday, July 15, 2010

"Clear, written goals have a wonderful effect on your thinking. They motivate you and galvanize you into action. They stimulate your creativity, release your energy, and help you to overcome procrastination as much as any other factor." ~Brian Tracy

Here's the problem...only 3-5% of people have clear, written goals. 3-5%!!! This also creates a problem for knowing what you want. Most people don't have any idea of what they want out of life. They are just coasting, thinking about all the things they don't want. Guess what that gets them...more of what they don't want!

Here's another problem...most people don't think! Oh, they think they think, but basically, they think about the things they thought about yesterday, and the day before, and the before...

I challenge you to articulate and create clear, written goals. It will motivate you and help you follow thru on the action that is dictated by those goals. It will help you overcome procrastination, release your energy and stimulate your creativity.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Clear, written goals have a wonderful effect on your thinking. They motivate you and galvanize you into action. They stimulate your creativity, release your energy, and help you to overcome procrastination as much as any other factor."

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

"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.

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 trusting 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."

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Are You Growing, Broadening?

"If you do not feel yourself growing in your work and your life broadening and deepening, if your task is not a perpetual tonic to you, you have not found your place." ~ Orison Swett Marden

Wow, it was like Marden was speaking to us today, instead of 100 years ago. With the recent statistics that close to 80% of people who ARE employed, hating their job, I guess most people haven't found their place yet. If that's you, keep reading...if not keep reading anyway...

Are you growing in your work? Is your life broadening and deepening? Unfortunately, most people aren't. It's not easy to find what you love to do and grow with that. It's difficult to make changes, especially after you've lived life for a while...Believe me, I know. It was 3 years ago that I realized that I wasn't growing, deepening and broadening my life. The changes haven't been easy but they have been worthwhile!

Find your place! Remember, that the place for the things you want is currently occupied by what you've settled for...Don't settle! It's never too late to be who you were meant to be!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"If you do not feel yourself growing in your work and your life broadening and deepening, if your task is not a perpetual tonic to you, you have not found your place."

Monday, July 12, 2010

Succeeding at Things That Don't Matter

“Our greatest fear should not be failing, but it should be succeeding at things that don’t matter.”

Why have we developed this sense of fear of failure? What has led us to thinking that failure is a bad thing? Most people have come to realize that success isn't possible without failure, but we make that failure label so painful that people will do just about anything to not fail. Including nothing at all...for fear of failure.

Our greatest fear should instead be succeeding at something that doesn't matter! I know a lot of people who are great at things that don't matter. What's the point? Are you succeeding at something that doesn't matter? What makes it matter for you? Maybe someone else has decided that it needs to matter to you, but does it?

Does what you do matter?? (Other than providing you with a paycheck) Does it really matter? I think too often we get stuck doing things just because...Just because it pays the bills...just because it's easy to do...just because it's what I've always done...

Decide what matters to you and do that!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Our greatest fear should not be failing, but it should be succeeding at things that don’t matter.”

Friday, July 9, 2010

Time

"Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions."~ John Randolph

How often do we think about time that way? Not often enough! Our most valuable yet perishable of all our possessions. We need to remember that tomorrow is promised to no one. NO ONE! So make each minute count.

"In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking."~ Sir John Lubbock

Here's the truth about time. You will make the time for the things you choose to do. So the next time someone asks you to do something, don't say, "I'm too busy." Be honest. Tell them that what they want you to do isn't important enough for you to do it. They may thank you for it or they may hate you for telling them the truth, but you will feel a lot better.

Here's another thing about time...You will never FIND more time. You need to MAKE more time. This comes down to priorities. Make sure that you are always doing the most productive thing at any given moment!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions."

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Start Today

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."~ Maria Robinson

How true is that?? The challenge is that most of us get caught up in the hashing, re-hashing and bitching about the choices we made before. We need to let go of those thoughts and start fresh every day!

YES, YOU can start today and make a new ending. Yes you can. Don't let those doubts slow you down or stop you. John Kanary said "If doubt is challenging you and you do not act, doubts will GROW. Challenge the doubts with action and YOU will grow." Don't let them grow, act on your new beginning and you will grow, not your doubts. After all, doubts are just stories that we tell ourselves, usually not based in truth or reality, just stories we tell ourselves.

Gandhi said "The future depends on what we do in the present," and yesterdays quote was "The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine." It's all determined by what you do today! Remember, every single thing you do matters!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Your Daily Routine

"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine."~ Mike Murdock

Can it really be that easy? Yes, it can. The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine. So, that being the case, what is your daily routine? Is it serving you or hurting you? How often do you even consider your daily routine?

The best thing about this is the fact that you can change your daily routine today! Right now! You don't need to remain stuck in that old, depressing routine, you can change it!

If your business is slow now, look back a couple of months and take a look at the effort that you put in then. It's really easy to see how effective you were then, based on the results that you get today.

"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine." If you aren't succeeding like you want to, look at your daily routine.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine."

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

You Need New Eyes

"True discovery consists not in finding new landscapes, but in seeing the same landscape with new eyes." ~Marcel Proust

Are you ready to see new landscapes? Change your eyes!! Proust really means, change the way you think about things. When you see something, do you always think the same thing? Why? Start asking questions about why you think those same things...you might be surprised by the answers.

Are you ready to change the way you think? Einstein said that "You can't fix a problem with thinking the same way that created the problem." He was saying, change the way you think! I challenge you to do it, change the way you think. A whole new world might open up for you.

See the landscape with new eyes! Change the way you think!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"True discovery consists not in finding new landscapes, but in seeing the same landscape with new eyes."

Monday, July 5, 2010

Break Some Eggs!

“You can’t make an omelet without breaking the eggs.” ~ Joseph Campbell

Why is it that people think that they can transform their lives without some challenges? And when the challenges come, they quit working on themselves. Is this you? Challenges are a part of life. They are what makes us grow, learn and help us become who we were meant to be.

Wayne Dyer says "In my world, nothing ever goes wrong." Wow!! What a great view of life to have. Can you have that kind of view? Why not? Everything that happens to you happens for a reason, that's how he can view the world that way. I know that you realize this but have you ever thought about it this way? How do you view your destiny?

“So that’s what destiny is: simply the fulfillment of the potentialities of the energies in your own system.”~ Joseph Campbell

Simply the fulfillment of the potentialities in your own system. Are you reaching your full potential? Why not? What is holding you back? Stop letting reasons keep you from becoming who you were meant to be!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“You can’t make an omelet without breaking the eggs.”

Friday, July 2, 2010

Who You Hanging With?

"You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change." ~Jim Rohn

Who are you hanging with and how are they affecting you? Alright, I hear some of you saying "My friends don't affect me, I affect them." Right...
If EVERYTHING YOU DO MATTERS, then it would also be true that everything the people you are hanging around does matters...AND AFFECTS YOU!!

What are you becoming by hanging with them? Better? Smarter? Healthier? Are you growing or shrinking...there is not staying put. Too often, we don't analyze our relationships and whether or not they are positive or negative for us. Start doing that now. Stop letting what others want and do affect you, even in the slightest way.

Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change. You might have to change some of the people you are hanging with, maybe even some family. Make the changes that YOU need first before you try to help others with their changes. If the people that you are around aren't challenging you, find some who will!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference

"You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change."

Thursday, July 1, 2010

EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DO MATTERS!

"EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DO MATTERS.
You have been created as one of a kind. On the planet Earth, there has never been one like you…and there never will be again. Your spirit, your thoughts and feelings, you ability to reason and act all exist in no one else. The rarities that make you special are no mere accident or quirk of fate.
YOU HAVE WITHIN YOU THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
Know that your actions cannot be hoarded, saved for later, or selectively used." ~Andy Andrews

Did you realize that everything you do matters? Really? Most people don't either believe it or know it, but EVERYTHING YOU DO MATTERS. It matters to you, to your friends, family and everyone else on the planet.

You have been created as one of a kind. TOTALLY UNIQUE. Totally special, no one else has been created like you. So, what are you doing with your uniqueness? Anything special??

Did you also realize that you can't selectively use, hoard or save your uniqueness? It needs to be released from within, but if you don't release it, the world will never see it, because it only lies in YOU. Release your uniqueness, you have the power to change the world.

EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DO MATTERS.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!