"Some self-confronting questions: 'Where do I want to be at any given time? What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be? What's the first, small step I can take to get moving?' "~ George A. Ford
If you ask these questions of yourself, they can be intimidating, scary and challenging. Here's part of the key in answering them...you must have total clarity of what you want and where you want to be. See, must of us have a general idea of what we want, but not a crystal-clear vision of what we want. “If you are clear about what you want, the world responds with clarity."
Decide right now what you want. Get crystal clear about it. If you have fuzzy thinking about what you want, that's what you are going to get. Fuzzy stuff.
"What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be?" Ask and ANSWER that question now. Oh, you can think about it, but until you seriously ask yourself that question, you will never be able to get to where you want to be. It takes steps. Figure out what steps you need to take to get you started towards where you want to be. You don't have to see the whole path, just get started.
The difference between where you are now and where you want to be is called "the gap." How big is your "gap?" For some people it's huge...and that stops them. For others, it's not that big...and that stops them. The key to bridging "the gap" is to take action! TAKE ACTION!!!
George Bernard Shaw said "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." Start creating the life that you want, NOW. Remember, it's your choice, no one elses. Stop looking and start creating. It all starts with your thoughts!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Some self-confronting questions: 'Where do I want to be at any given time? What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be? What's the first, small step I can take to get moving?' "
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The Amount Of Work Is The Same
"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same." ~Carlos Castaneda
What are you emphasizing? Are you spending your time on things that matter or things that don't matter? Most people start out working on the things that matter and then are distracted and end up emphasizing the wrong stuff. Then we end up miserable because we don't understand that we are concentrating on things that don't matter. What is it that you are emphasizing?
Susyn Reeve said "When you focus your attention on the people, places, things and activities that you bring you pleasure - pleasure is what you experience." This is part of the reason that we need to doing something that gives us pleasure for our jobs. 75% of workers today HATE their jobs! Is that you? I hope not, because it is a choice. Your choice!
Do you believe in the Law of Attraction? It works every time. The challenge for most people is that their focus is on the wrong thing. They are focusing on what they don't want instead of what they do want. Is that you? Start focusing on what you want and you will see the difference.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same."
What are you emphasizing? Are you spending your time on things that matter or things that don't matter? Most people start out working on the things that matter and then are distracted and end up emphasizing the wrong stuff. Then we end up miserable because we don't understand that we are concentrating on things that don't matter. What is it that you are emphasizing?
Susyn Reeve said "When you focus your attention on the people, places, things and activities that you bring you pleasure - pleasure is what you experience." This is part of the reason that we need to doing something that gives us pleasure for our jobs. 75% of workers today HATE their jobs! Is that you? I hope not, because it is a choice. Your choice!
Do you believe in the Law of Attraction? It works every time. The challenge for most people is that their focus is on the wrong thing. They are focusing on what they don't want instead of what they do want. Is that you? Start focusing on what you want and you will see the difference.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same."
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Do Not Wait!
"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along." ~Napoleon Hill
Are you waiting? If you are, what are you waiting for? Why? "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life! But there was always some obstacle, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business." Are you dealing with the obstacles and not allowing life to begin? It's real easy for us to do and we get caught up in dealing with things that before you know it, another year has passed.
Start now with whatever you have. Stop waiting for whatever you think you need and just do it. NOW! As Goethe said there is boldness in beginning!
The week between Christmas and New Years can be the most productive week of the year! Why? Because fewer people are working...which means less email, phone calls and interuptions. Also because the people that are working are usually coasting...nuff said there. This can be a week of "Reflecting Back and Planning Forward." Look at what you did well in 2012 and look at what you didn't do well in 2012. (If you are interested, I can send you a worksheet to do this.)
So, how will you use the most productive week of the year??
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."
Are you waiting? If you are, what are you waiting for? Why? "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life! But there was always some obstacle, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business." Are you dealing with the obstacles and not allowing life to begin? It's real easy for us to do and we get caught up in dealing with things that before you know it, another year has passed.
Start now with whatever you have. Stop waiting for whatever you think you need and just do it. NOW! As Goethe said there is boldness in beginning!
The week between Christmas and New Years can be the most productive week of the year! Why? Because fewer people are working...which means less email, phone calls and interuptions. Also because the people that are working are usually coasting...nuff said there. This can be a week of "Reflecting Back and Planning Forward." Look at what you did well in 2012 and look at what you didn't do well in 2012. (If you are interested, I can send you a worksheet to do this.)
So, how will you use the most productive week of the year??
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
"I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely." ~ Charles Dickens
"Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man/woman has to be himself." ~ Francis C. Farley
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Appreciate What You Have
“Appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic good of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder and even excitement, however stale these experiences may have become to others.”~Abraham Maslow
Do you appreciate the basic good of life? With awe, pleasure and wonder? Really, or are you more caught up in the day-to-day life that only allows you to see the challenges? In our 'microwave society' it seems to always be about the next thing that we have to have or our life won't be complete with out...
Paul Coelho said "You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle." Are you paying attention to the daily miracle in front of you? Do you see it? It might be a new flower, a new friend, a new opportunity to serve others...
Realize that good is present in your life right now and more will be added to you. We have become a society of whiners, complainers and generally grumpy people because we don't see everything as a miracle.
During this holiday time it's easy to appreciate each other and what we have. Take that appreciation with you throughout the whole year. Remember, 50% of the world has never used a flushing toilet. You are part of the top 3% in the world, never forget what you have!
“Appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic good of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder and even excitement, however stale these experiences may have become to others.”
Friday, December 21, 2012
The Sacred Gift vs. The Faithful Servant
"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."~Albert Einstein
Wow, even back then, Albert got it! Think about our society today and how many ways we have done this...
Our government schools train people to be factory workers, robots, all with the same viewpoint. "When everybody is thinking the same thing, no one is thinking." Yet that is the way we are teaching children today, still. We stifle creativity out of kids, make them sit still and memorize answers so they can pass a test that tells us how "smart" they are.
Think about that for a while...
Maybe we've become the "Fantasy Nation." Remember Fantasy Island with Ricardo Montolban and Herve Velasquez? We've become Fantasy Island on steroids, we are the Fantasy Nation. "Da plane, Boss, Da plane!"
Our society celebrates celebrities simply for being a celebrity. I mean really, how has Paris Hilton affected your life? Really? What about all these "reality shows?" Reality??? They are the farthest thing from reality!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."
Wow, even back then, Albert got it! Think about our society today and how many ways we have done this...
Our government schools train people to be factory workers, robots, all with the same viewpoint. "When everybody is thinking the same thing, no one is thinking." Yet that is the way we are teaching children today, still. We stifle creativity out of kids, make them sit still and memorize answers so they can pass a test that tells us how "smart" they are.
Think about that for a while...
Maybe we've become the "Fantasy Nation." Remember Fantasy Island with Ricardo Montolban and Herve Velasquez? We've become Fantasy Island on steroids, we are the Fantasy Nation. "Da plane, Boss, Da plane!"
Our society celebrates celebrities simply for being a celebrity. I mean really, how has Paris Hilton affected your life? Really? What about all these "reality shows?" Reality??? They are the farthest thing from reality!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Open To Learning?
"If we are not responsible for the thoughts that pass our doors, we are at least responsible for those we admit and entertain." ~Charles Newcomb
We cannot control thoughts that just pop into our mind. We can control those thoughts and decide if they are of value and allow them to stay in our minds. The challenge is that it takes discipline to make sure that we only allow the thoughts that will benefit us and block out those that can be negative for us. Metacognition = Thinking about what we think about. It's challenging but you can do it. You just need to practice your thinking. When was the last time you practiced your thinking...thought so.
Henry James said "Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." This is so true. Realize that the better you get at thinking, the better things will go for you. But it just doesn't happen, you need to work at it. Daily.
Another way to get better at thinking is to attend workshops and seminars. Other people know things you don't and if you are open to learning (which most people say they are, but really aren't) you can learn from anyone. Even me! Join me today!
https://www.facebook.com/events/520986871244773/
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"If we are not responsible for the thoughts that pass our doors, we are at least responsible for those we admit and entertain."
We cannot control thoughts that just pop into our mind. We can control those thoughts and decide if they are of value and allow them to stay in our minds. The challenge is that it takes discipline to make sure that we only allow the thoughts that will benefit us and block out those that can be negative for us. Metacognition = Thinking about what we think about. It's challenging but you can do it. You just need to practice your thinking. When was the last time you practiced your thinking...thought so.
Henry James said "Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." This is so true. Realize that the better you get at thinking, the better things will go for you. But it just doesn't happen, you need to work at it. Daily.
Another way to get better at thinking is to attend workshops and seminars. Other people know things you don't and if you are open to learning (which most people say they are, but really aren't) you can learn from anyone. Even me! Join me today!
https://www.facebook.com/events/520986871244773/
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"If we are not responsible for the thoughts that pass our doors, we are at least responsible for those we admit and entertain."
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Limitations or Success? Your Expectations Decide
“Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on your own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.”~Denis Waitley
What are your expectations? Or better yet, what are your intentions? Have you ever thought of them seriously or are they something you think about in passing? Unfortunately, most people just think about them in passing. What would happen to your life and business if you always had great expectations and intentions?
What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.” And the universe bring about. We've all heard about "what we resist, persists." And we also know that what we focus on we bring about. So, wouldn't it make sense to start having great expectations and intentions? People say, 'don't have high expectations, you will only be disappointed.' So what of that? Have you never dealt with disappointment before? It's not fun, but it's part of life.
Don't let your limitations be part of your expectations! You can create your expectations without limitations. Do it NOW! You can also "Create Your Success Plan For 2013" this Thursday. Join us and create new expectations without limitations!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/520986871244773/
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on your own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.”
What are your expectations? Or better yet, what are your intentions? Have you ever thought of them seriously or are they something you think about in passing? Unfortunately, most people just think about them in passing. What would happen to your life and business if you always had great expectations and intentions?
What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.” And the universe bring about. We've all heard about "what we resist, persists." And we also know that what we focus on we bring about. So, wouldn't it make sense to start having great expectations and intentions? People say, 'don't have high expectations, you will only be disappointed.' So what of that? Have you never dealt with disappointment before? It's not fun, but it's part of life.
Don't let your limitations be part of your expectations! You can create your expectations without limitations. Do it NOW! You can also "Create Your Success Plan For 2013" this Thursday. Join us and create new expectations without limitations!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/520986871244773/
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on your own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.”
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Stop Selling Yourself Short
"The story of the human race is the story of men and women selling themselves short." ~Abraham Maslow
I see this every day. People dragging themselves to jobs they hate because they sell themselves short as to what they really could do. They are stuck in life and afraid to break out. They sell themselves short as to what they could do or accomplish if they only decided to. How many people do you know that are selling themselves short...way too many!
Dr. Seuss said “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Don't ever let anyone make you believe that you cannot do anything you want to. You can steer yourself in any direction YOU CHOOSE! It's YOUR choice, no one elses.
Stop selling yourself short...NOW!
One way to do that will be to join us this Thursday at the workshop "Create Your Success Plan For 2013." You will learn how to Create Your Success and stop selling yourself short.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The story of the human race is the story of men and women selling themselves short."
Monday, December 17, 2012
Never Allow Others To Define Your Potential
"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!” ~Anne Frank
YES. Inside you, right now is good news. You don't realize how great you can be, what you can accomplish, what your potential is! You are the Undiscovered Country! Don't fear it, find it! Create it! Be it! The only thing holding your greatness back is YOU. Do you realize that? Sure you say, but I've got to do this and that, the economy sucks and the boss hates me. SO WHAT? You are the one in charge of you, no one else is. You get to decide what to do and who to become, only you!
Marjorie Brody said "Never allow others to define your potential." Too many of us have allowed others to define our potential...our teachers, parents, friends, whoever. Don't let them, only you can define your potential and what you can become. And it's never too late to become who you were meant to be. So start right now!
One way you can define your own potential is to join us at the workshop "Creating Your Success Plan For 2013" this Thursday. https://www.facebook.com/events/520986871244773/
You will learn how to Create your Sales Plan, Your Marketing Plan and Create Goals that are worthy of you!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!”
Friday, December 14, 2012
Anticipation, Not Apprehension
"The reason why most people face the future with apprehension instead of anticipation is because they don’t have it well designed." ~Jim Rohn
Are you facing the future with apprehension? It could be because you haven't really been specific in the design of your life. You might have an idea of where you want to go but without specifics, you end up sidetracked and going down the wrong roads, chasing the wrong things.
It's important to realize that we get to choose the design of our life, no one else does. And even if they have a plan for you, it's not much of a plan.
Jim Rohn also said "If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much." It will always be that way. You have to choose what you want and then go after it.
Look to the future with anticipation and design your own life plan. If you don't know how, join us next Thursday and learn how to Create Your Success Plan for 2013. https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/520986871244773/
It's no one else's responsibility other than yours. Do it now!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The reason why most people face the future with apprehension instead of anticipation is because they don’t have it well designed."
Are you facing the future with apprehension? It could be because you haven't really been specific in the design of your life. You might have an idea of where you want to go but without specifics, you end up sidetracked and going down the wrong roads, chasing the wrong things.
It's important to realize that we get to choose the design of our life, no one else does. And even if they have a plan for you, it's not much of a plan.
Jim Rohn also said "If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much." It will always be that way. You have to choose what you want and then go after it.
Look to the future with anticipation and design your own life plan. If you don't know how, join us next Thursday and learn how to Create Your Success Plan for 2013. https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/520986871244773/
It's no one else's responsibility other than yours. Do it now!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The reason why most people face the future with apprehension instead of anticipation is because they don’t have it well designed."
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Inspired By Some Great Purpose
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations and your consciousness expands in every direction. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be. ~Patanjali
Are you inspired by some great purpose? Some extraordinary project? What is it? Or are you not really inspired at all and have no extraordinary projects to work on?? If you don't know or can't say what your great purpose is, that's ok. It's never to late to find your purpose, your extraordinary project. The key is to be searching within yourself to find it. It will not be outside of you. You already have it.
Here's what happens when you do find your great purpose...Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive! Have you ever experienced that? It's so cool when it does. The other thing that happens is that you discover yourself to be a far greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be! When you find that purpose, all that negative self-talk disappears.
Challenge yourself this week to make sure that you are inspired by your great purpose. I dare you!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations and your consciousness expands in every direction. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.
Are you inspired by some great purpose? Some extraordinary project? What is it? Or are you not really inspired at all and have no extraordinary projects to work on?? If you don't know or can't say what your great purpose is, that's ok. It's never to late to find your purpose, your extraordinary project. The key is to be searching within yourself to find it. It will not be outside of you. You already have it.
Here's what happens when you do find your great purpose...Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive! Have you ever experienced that? It's so cool when it does. The other thing that happens is that you discover yourself to be a far greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be! When you find that purpose, all that negative self-talk disappears.
Challenge yourself this week to make sure that you are inspired by your great purpose. I dare you!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations and your consciousness expands in every direction. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
No Limitations To Your Mind
“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge” ~Napoleon Hill
What limitations are you accepting and acknowledging? How often do we talk ourselves out of doing the thing we want because of our supposed limitations? Too often, we are our worst critic and we constantly sabotage our efforts because we don't think that we deserve it.
Richard Bach said “Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours.” How often are you arguing for your limitations? Stop doing that. Now!! Start being who you were meant to be. Stop living life at less than you were designed to live it. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge”
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Be You, Everyone Else Is Taken.
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”~Judy Garland
Are you a first rate version of yourself or are you a second rate version of someone else? Really, think about it! My feeling is that we start out as trying to imitate someone (a second rate version) and sometimes we break away from that, but sometimes we are stuck in it because we are never able to be as good as the original. What do you think?
While it's good to have role models and people that we can follow, it's imperative that we become who we were meant to be. To bring our unique gift to the world, for the world will never see it unless we each bring it. Too many people have shrunk from who they could have been and are just living to survive or until their "ship comes in." Guess what? That ship is never coming. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be.
Terry Josephson said “Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities” That's the challenge for us today and from now on. Think in terms of YOUR possibilities! Wow, do you see how empowering that is? Your possibilities are limitless! You do realize that, don't you?
If you're having a challenge in seeing how you can be a first-rate version of yourself, let's talk about that. Sometimes you just need a different perspective. Be You, everyone else is taken.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”
Monday, December 10, 2012
Don't Be Afraid Of "The Gap"
"Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and your reality. If you can dream it you can make it happen."~Belva Davis
Are you afraid of that space? Is that what is holding you back? Afraid of the space between your dreams and your reality? That space is called "the gap."
There's nothing to fear in "the gap." Anything that you have thought about being able to cross "the gap" or not, it's all just a story that you are telling yourself. Are you telling yourself the story of your success or are you telling yourself a losing story? Most people keep reliving all the losses and never create a story about their successes.
If you are dreaming it, you've already been given everything that you need to make it happen. Did you realize that or are you still focused on "the gap?" Do you believe that you can create your reality? Really?
Do you believe in your dream or is it just a fantasy, a place where you can go and wish? Too many people who say they have dreams, just have wishes, never working on them, just wishing for them. For these people, the bone that gets the most work is the "wishbone." If you have a dream and need some help in getting it from the invisible to the visible, from the wish stage to the goal stage, send me a message and we can talk about how to do that.
What is your dream? Start focusing on it now and take the first step toward attaining it. Without taking the steps to attain it, it's just a wish.
Are you dreaming or are you wishing?
"Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and your reality. If you can dream it you can make it happen."
Friday, December 7, 2012
Success Lies Just Beyond
“We must never be afraid to go too far, for success lies just beyond.”
~Marcel Proust
Are you afraid to go too far? A lot of people are. They are not content where they are at but fear making a change that could bring them success. So they settle for what they have. Are you settling for what you have so that you can stay safe in your comfort zone? Success lies just beyond your comfort zone! Too many people in their comfort zone who don't want to be there stay there either out of fear or by settling and not taking a chance.
Max Du Pree said "In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining who we are." Wow, "We cannot become what we need to be by remaining who we are!" How powerful is that? Do you realize this? It's called GROWTH! And it takes us out of our comfort zone and allows us to become what we need to become.
Here's another quote about settling: "The place for what you want is currently occupied by what you have settled for." Is this you? Have you settled for things that you know aren't the best for you? Why? Stop now and clear out what you have settled for, then you will have the room for what you want.
If you are serious about becoming successful you will need to do two things:
1) Not be afraid of going too far, and
2) Not remaining who you are. That is your challenge for today and from now on!!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“We must never be afraid to go too far, for success lies just beyond.”
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Remaining Bound
"Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound." ~James Allen
Wow, was Allen right about that!! But I would want to make a slight change to his quote. I would say that people are willing to improve themselves, but they are unwilling to do the work involved in improving themselves. In our society, we want instant answers, instant riches, instant health and most of us are unwilling to do what we KNOW we should do to get those things. Just give me a pill...
For every person who climbs the ladder of success, there are a hundred still waiting for the elevator to show up. Are you a stair climber or are you waiting for the elevator? Be a stair climber. Make things happen, take action, improve your circumstances, improve yourself.
Take a moment today to improve yourself. Then do it every day. You will be amazed at your growth and the positive change it will make for you. And for your business, spend 30 minutes a day working ON your business before you work IN your business. You will see the results almost immediately! If you need some more ideas on improving your business, send me a message.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound."
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Interested or Committed?
Are you interested or committed?
Most people are interested in their business. Oh, they will say that they are committed to their business but the proof is right there in front of them. Here's the difference between being interested and being committed. If you are interested, you will do what you can do. If you are committed, you will do what you have to do. There's a huge difference between the two. Think about that...
What do you HAVE to do in your business or in your life? Do you stretch yourself to do what you have to do or do you only do what you can do? Brian Tracy said “Make a total commitment to your company, your job, your career and your life. Uncommitted people have no future.” Wow, "Uncommitted people have no future."
Realize that it's never too late to make a commitment to your business and your life. Your past does not dictate your future. It's your choice, always.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
Are you interested or committed?
Most people are interested in their business. Oh, they will say that they are committed to their business but the proof is right there in front of them. Here's the difference between being interested and being committed. If you are interested, you will do what you can do. If you are committed, you will do what you have to do. There's a huge difference between the two. Think about that...
What do you HAVE to do in your business or in your life? Do you stretch yourself to do what you have to do or do you only do what you can do? Brian Tracy said “Make a total commitment to your company, your job, your career and your life. Uncommitted people have no future.” Wow, "Uncommitted people have no future."
Realize that it's never too late to make a commitment to your business and your life. Your past does not dictate your future. It's your choice, always.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
Are you interested or committed?
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Perceptual Blindness
"Perceptual blindness sheds much light on why we miss obvious solutions. By focusing on one thing (a problem), we miss something else (a solution)."~Michael McMillan
Another success killer is focusing on the problem rather than the solution. It is a learned behavior to focus on the solution, because our brain just wants to focus on the problem. Yes, you need to look at the problem, but only long enough to start to come up with solutions to that problem. Once you have a few solutions to work on, focus on the solutions!
What we focus on expands and unless we work on metacognition (thinking about what we think about) our focus will not be strong enough to stay on the solutions...our minds will drift back to the problem. That's just the way our brains are wired. What are you focusing on? The problem or the possible solutions? If you are focusing on the problem, I can imagine that you see the problem getting bigger...however if you focus on solutions, the problem will work itself out.
A good thing to work on is when you bring problems up at your work, at home or wherever, in addition to talking about the problem. bring a solution to the discussion. By bringing a solution to the problem, it allows the mind to search for other solutions instead of going back to the problem. Work on that this week.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Perceptual blindness sheds much light on why we miss obvious solutions. By focusing on one thing (a problem), we miss something else (a solution)."
Monday, December 3, 2012
Impatience and Greed
"The twin killers of success are impatience and greed."
In our current microwave society, we have become impatient, about most everything! If the computer doesn't load fast enough, we complain. If someone ahead of us at a light doesn't go as soon as its green, we get mad. As soon as the power goes out, we are on the phone to APS, demanding to know when the power will come back on. As one of the killers of success, our impatience keeps us from being present in the moment.
Most people lose sight of the fact that when you are present, more things come into your frame of reference. Being present means not being impatient. Being present means listening to what someone is saying and not thinking about what you are going to day before the finish.
We no longer appreciate delayed gratification. There was a study done with children and they told the kids that they could have a candy bar right away, but if they would wait for 10 minutes, they would get two. What do you think happened? You're right, most of the kids took the candy and didn't wait for the second one. As one of the twin killers of success, impatience has become a major problem. And it's getting worse.
Here's a suggestion. How long should you try? Until. Until. Until it is finished, until you can't go on any more, until it can no longer help you. Jim Rohn said "Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you’ve signed up for a season, see it through. You don’t have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through." See it through.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The twin killers of success are impatience and greed."
Friday, November 30, 2012
Get Away From the Mass of Unimportance
“80/20 thinking requires, and with practice enables, us to spot the few really important things that are happening and ignore the mass of unimportant things. It teaches us to see the wood for the trees.” ~ Richard Koch
80/20 thinking. Have you ever done it? Really? For how long? A couple of minutes? Most of us are steeped in the "mass of unimportant things" and never get to 80/20 thinking. You all know Pareto's Principle, but when have you applied it to your thinking? Our challenge is to get away from the "mass of unimportant things" and start concentrating on the 20% of important things. Imagine what you could come up with if you spent time thinking about the important things. Our brain will naturally want to go to what is normal and known. It will take a while to get to that 20% but is it worth it!!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.” Too often we put the things that matter least in front of the things that matter most. Brian Tracy has a saying, he says "Eat the frog first." Think of what's most important and take care of that stuff first and the easy stuff will get done.
Action:
1) Join us today (It's not too late) at the Goals, Goals, 2013 Goals Workshop. See https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/208483549286126/
2) Spend some time thinking about the important 20% and what it means to you. Then do what matters most first! It's a winning combination.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“80/20 thinking requires, and with practice enables, us to spot the few really important things that are happening and ignore the mass of unimportant things. It teaches us to see the wood for the trees.”
80/20 thinking. Have you ever done it? Really? For how long? A couple of minutes? Most of us are steeped in the "mass of unimportant things" and never get to 80/20 thinking. You all know Pareto's Principle, but when have you applied it to your thinking? Our challenge is to get away from the "mass of unimportant things" and start concentrating on the 20% of important things. Imagine what you could come up with if you spent time thinking about the important things. Our brain will naturally want to go to what is normal and known. It will take a while to get to that 20% but is it worth it!!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.” Too often we put the things that matter least in front of the things that matter most. Brian Tracy has a saying, he says "Eat the frog first." Think of what's most important and take care of that stuff first and the easy stuff will get done.
Action:
1) Join us today (It's not too late) at the Goals, Goals, 2013 Goals Workshop. See https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/208483549286126/
2) Spend some time thinking about the important 20% and what it means to you. Then do what matters most first! It's a winning combination.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“80/20 thinking requires, and with practice enables, us to spot the few really important things that are happening and ignore the mass of unimportant things. It teaches us to see the wood for the trees.”
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Someday Never Comes
"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way." ~ Eileen Caddy
I know that you set your sights high, but are they set the higher the better or are they just set high enough? High enough that it will challenge you a little, but not to much. Not a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), just high enough. Do you expect wonderful things to happen RIGHT NOW??? Every expects wonderful things to happen someday. Here's the problem...someday never comes! There's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday. There's no SOMEDAY!
What are you allowing yourself to be stopped by? Only you can stop you. Anais Nin said "We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." Whatever is holding you back is in you, not in outer circumstances. We see things as we are!
Most people don't set their sights high enough and don't expect wonderful things to happen. Don't be part of the most people crowd. Don't allow others limited perception of you to define you. Only YOU can define YOU!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way."
I know that you set your sights high, but are they set the higher the better or are they just set high enough? High enough that it will challenge you a little, but not to much. Not a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), just high enough. Do you expect wonderful things to happen RIGHT NOW??? Every expects wonderful things to happen someday. Here's the problem...someday never comes! There's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday. There's no SOMEDAY!
What are you allowing yourself to be stopped by? Only you can stop you. Anais Nin said "We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." Whatever is holding you back is in you, not in outer circumstances. We see things as we are!
Most people don't set their sights high enough and don't expect wonderful things to happen. Don't be part of the most people crowd. Don't allow others limited perception of you to define you. Only YOU can define YOU!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way."
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
No Compromises
"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise." -Robert Fritz
Do you limit your choices to what seems possible or reasonable? Really?? When I ask people what their BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is, they usually answer with something seems possible (20% increase in business) or reasonable. That is not a BHAG! That is a compromise and most people will compromise on what they want.
Why do we do that? Our mind defaults to the negative and so it's difficult for us to create things that seem unreasonable. But reasonable men have never changed the world, only those who were unreasonable made the impossible, possible.
Jeffrey Gitomer said "Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you." This is so true. You are the only thing that is stopping you. It's not the economy, not your spouse or friends, not anything but you...think about that.
Don't let you stop you. Join us this Friday and learn how to create exciting goals that you will achieve every time. https://www.facebook.com/events/208483549286126/
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise."
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Are You GIVING Enough?
"If you are not GETTING what you want out of life, maybe you're not GIVING enough to it."
What do you think? Are you giving enough to get what you want out of life? What are you willing to pay to get what you want? Money, time, extra effort? Before you can get what you want, you need to determine what you are willing to pay to get it. Some people decide that they don't want to pay the price to get what they want and they settle for what they can get. I hope that's not you!
Think about your business. Are you giving it enough to get what you want? Or are you only giving enough to make ends meet, keep the boss happy, pay the bills? Think about it. Maybe you aren't giving it what you need to give it to be really successful. Here's the thing about this. You don't have to answer the question...your results have already answered the question for you! You will have results or you will have excuses.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said "The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common." Take a look at what you are giving. See the miraculous, and if you don't see the miraculous, look again until you see it. And if you don't see it then, maybe you aren't giving it enough...
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"If you are not GETTING what you want out of life, maybe you're not GIVING enough to it."
What do you think? Are you giving enough to get what you want out of life? What are you willing to pay to get what you want? Money, time, extra effort? Before you can get what you want, you need to determine what you are willing to pay to get it. Some people decide that they don't want to pay the price to get what they want and they settle for what they can get. I hope that's not you!
Think about your business. Are you giving it enough to get what you want? Or are you only giving enough to make ends meet, keep the boss happy, pay the bills? Think about it. Maybe you aren't giving it what you need to give it to be really successful. Here's the thing about this. You don't have to answer the question...your results have already answered the question for you! You will have results or you will have excuses.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said "The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common." Take a look at what you are giving. See the miraculous, and if you don't see the miraculous, look again until you see it. And if you don't see it then, maybe you aren't giving it enough...
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"If you are not GETTING what you want out of life, maybe you're not GIVING enough to it."
Monday, November 26, 2012
Refuse To Accept Anything But The Best
"It is a very funny thing about life, if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it."~ W. Somerset Maugham
Here's our challenge, we too often accept anything rather than refusing to accept anything but the best. It comes down to our choices. We have been taught to take what we can get rather than what we want. We're told that "that's the best that you can do, you better take it," and we believe those well-meaning people. So we accept things that are less than the best in our lives.
What would happen the next time you come to this choice and you say "No, I will only accept the best and I'm not settling this time!" Do you think that things might change for you? Do you think that maybe you will get the best or does you mind quickly tell you that "you're not worthy," " you shouldn't have the best" or "you don't deserve it?" DON'T LISTEN TO YOUR DOUBTING THOUGHTS!! You ARE worthy! You SHOULD have the best! You DO deserve it! We ALL do.
Action:
Stop settling NOW. A favorite quote of mine is that "The place for what you want is currently occupied by what you settled for." STOP SETTLING NOW!
Join us this Friday at the "Goals, Goals, 2013 Goals Workshop" and start only accepting the best!
Small Business Saturday through Cyber Monday:
Message me for one of two special discounts for this Life Changing Workshop.
https://www.facebook.com/events/208483549286126/
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"It is a very funny thing about life, if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it."
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Gratitude Unlocks The Fullness Of Life
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie
Are you grateful? Not just because it's the day before Thanksgiving, but are you grateful for EVERYTHING that happens to you in your life? Many people aren't. Look at the quote again and all the good things that gratitude does for us...you would think we would live perpetually in gratitude...but we don't.
It takes work to be grateful. It's not our natural thought pattern. It's a challenge to our normal way of thinking. But it's worth it! Gratitude is a vibration that's one of the highest vibrations that we can have. Gratitude allows the Law of Attraction to work almost effortlessly in our lives.
William Faulkner said “Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and
discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” You can't keep gratitude bottled up, you must discharge it. It's a great cycle, produce - discharge, produce again - discharge again. The more you discharge, the more you will have to be grateful for!
Action:
Make today a gratitude day and have gratitude for EVERYTHING that happens today. Feel that vibrational high and stay there as long as you can! Produce gratitude and then discharge it, over and over.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Take Things For Granted Or With Gratitude?
“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” ~G. K. Chesterton
Do you take things for granted or with gratitude? I hate to say it, but most people take things we have here in America for granted. And then we are only grateful on holidays, for a short time and then we go back to taking things for granted.
Do you realize how lucky we have it here in America? 50% of the world's population doesn't have running water or indoor plumbing. If you live in America, no matter what your economic situation, you are part of the top 3% of wealthy people in the world.
William Faulkner said“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” If you don't show your gratitude, it's like having a present and never taking the wrapping paper off.
Action:
Start taking things with gratitude and not for granted. Start to realize that we who were born here or have come here are the luckiest people on earth. Start showing your gratitude, produce it and discharge it!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”
Monday, November 19, 2012
Merely Surviving?
"A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine." ~Og Mandino
Are you frittering away your precious hours? Really? Are you sure? I think most of us have gotten real good at frittering...What could you be doing RIGHT NOW to create the things you want in your life?
"You have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine." Do you realize that? You do have the ability to accomplish so much. But you might need to make a slight change. What could that change be? It will be different for everybody but you need to decide what it is...no one else will be able to tell you.
Jim Rohn said "Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced every day." What are your simple disciplines? Do you know what they are? If you don't, ask...otherwise you will be practicing the wrong ones and not getting what you want.
Action:
Stop frittering away your precious time. Figure out what that small change is and make it RIGHT AWAY! Decide what your simple disciplines are and start practicing them every day. Save the date: November 30th, Friday afternoon, "Goals, Goals, 2013 Goals" workshop. Learn why you struggle to reach your goals. Learn how to more effectively use your time getting what you want!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine."
Friday, November 16, 2012
Are You Living Your Life Backwards?
"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."~ Margaret Young
Are you living your life backwards? Our society kind of pushes us to live it backwards doesn't it. We are constantly bombarded with ads that tell us that if we just buy this product, we will get what we want. Buy more products and you will be happy! Easy, right? NOT!! See, happiness doesn't come from things, it comes from who you are and what makes you tick.
First, you must be who you really are. Are you who you really are or are you playing a role that you created or someone gave you? WHO ARE YOU??? Really, who are you...down deep. Are you doing what you were created to do? Are you sure? Most people aren't, they are just playing a role, just existing...really, just taking up space.
Most people live their lives in a Have-Do-Be mentality when they need to be living from a Be-Do-Have mentality. Before you can Do and Have, you need to Be. Who are you???
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."
Are you living your life backwards? Our society kind of pushes us to live it backwards doesn't it. We are constantly bombarded with ads that tell us that if we just buy this product, we will get what we want. Buy more products and you will be happy! Easy, right? NOT!! See, happiness doesn't come from things, it comes from who you are and what makes you tick.
First, you must be who you really are. Are you who you really are or are you playing a role that you created or someone gave you? WHO ARE YOU??? Really, who are you...down deep. Are you doing what you were created to do? Are you sure? Most people aren't, they are just playing a role, just existing...really, just taking up space.
Most people live their lives in a Have-Do-Be mentality when they need to be living from a Be-Do-Have mentality. Before you can Do and Have, you need to Be. Who are you???
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Exepct More!
"Life... It tends to respond to our outlook, to shape itself to meet our expectations."
~Richard M. DeVos
What are your expectations? Are they for your dreams or are they just enough to get by? Unfortunately, we have been taught to not expect too much because if we don't get it, we will be disappointed. We were taught that by well meaning people but guess what? You can't protect people from disappointment!! It's part of life and it allows us to grow. But most people keep their expectations low.
As a Sales Trainer, I always ask my students when they go to meet a client, if they expect to make a sale. Most of them say no. My answer to them is "Why bother going?" You create your reality with your expectations so always be expecting the best. Sure, you might be disappointed some times but more often than not, you will be rewarded for your expectations!
Just 4 words separate the most successful people in the world from those who struggle to just get by: Expect More ~ Execute Better. Are you expecting more and executing better? Sounds simple, but it's not easy. You have to train your brain to expect more and you also have to work on executing better. Those 4 words are what separate the most successful people from those who are struggling. Expect More ~ Execute Better. Start expecting more NOW!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
~Richard M. DeVos
What are your expectations? Are they for your dreams or are they just enough to get by? Unfortunately, we have been taught to not expect too much because if we don't get it, we will be disappointed. We were taught that by well meaning people but guess what? You can't protect people from disappointment!! It's part of life and it allows us to grow. But most people keep their expectations low.
As a Sales Trainer, I always ask my students when they go to meet a client, if they expect to make a sale. Most of them say no. My answer to them is "Why bother going?" You create your reality with your expectations so always be expecting the best. Sure, you might be disappointed some times but more often than not, you will be rewarded for your expectations!
Just 4 words separate the most successful people in the world from those who struggle to just get by: Expect More ~ Execute Better. Are you expecting more and executing better? Sounds simple, but it's not easy. You have to train your brain to expect more and you also have to work on executing better. Those 4 words are what separate the most successful people from those who are struggling. Expect More ~ Execute Better. Start expecting more NOW!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Life... It tends to respond to our outlook, to shape itself to meet our expectations."
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Comfort Zone? Nah, Familiar Zone
“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.”
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.”
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Focus Means Saying No
“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas." ~Steve Jobs
Wow!! Do you get the wisdom in that? As small business owners, it seems that we are always looking for the next whiz-bang thing that can take our company to greater heights...SQUIRREL!!! But Jobs is telling us to let them go. He is telling you to stop chasing the squirrel.
Did you know that Apple had the IPad ready for production 5 years ago? But Jobs kept it on the shelf until the IPhone was solid and all the apps built for it would then work on the IPad. Talk about saying no to a good idea. It really wasn't a no, but a not yet. Let go of the hundred good ideas and concentrate on only a few.
When Michelangelo was asked about his sculpture of "David" he said "He was there already, I just had to take away everything that didn't belong there." Think about your business. Have you taken away everything that doesn't belong there or do you have some chiseling to do? I would bet that you have some chiseling to do. What are you waiting for? Get chiseling!!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas."
Wow!! Do you get the wisdom in that? As small business owners, it seems that we are always looking for the next whiz-bang thing that can take our company to greater heights...SQUIRREL!!! But Jobs is telling us to let them go. He is telling you to stop chasing the squirrel.
Did you know that Apple had the IPad ready for production 5 years ago? But Jobs kept it on the shelf until the IPhone was solid and all the apps built for it would then work on the IPad. Talk about saying no to a good idea. It really wasn't a no, but a not yet. Let go of the hundred good ideas and concentrate on only a few.
When Michelangelo was asked about his sculpture of "David" he said "He was there already, I just had to take away everything that didn't belong there." Think about your business. Have you taken away everything that doesn't belong there or do you have some chiseling to do? I would bet that you have some chiseling to do. What are you waiting for? Get chiseling!!
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas."
Monday, November 12, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Your Future? Hidden In Your Daily Routine
"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine."~Mike Murdoch
How does your routine change? Or does it always go a certain way and you are just hoping for different results? Einstein called that insanity.
If our future is hidden in our daily routine, How would you change yours? What would you stop doing and what would you do instead? Why? Oh, you realize that what you're doing isn't working, but just haven't changed it yet...hmmm. Why?
You know that you want to achieve more but you just can't put your finger on what to do...
Start with analyzing your daily routine. See what you are doing that no longer serves any purpose for you and replace it with something that does serve you. The more things you do that serve you, the better chance you will have of creating the future that you want.
Maybe it's something as simple as making coffee at home instead of paying $5 bucks for Starbucks, or maybe it something as difficult as getting up an hour earlier to work out or take a walk. Maybe it's something as difficult as not eating those donuts or maybe it's something as easy as spending an hour reading more about how to improve your networking...(maybe those should be turned around...).
Analyze your daily routine and make sure that everything you do is serving you. Not anyone else, but you.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine."
How does your routine change? Or does it always go a certain way and you are just hoping for different results? Einstein called that insanity.
If our future is hidden in our daily routine, How would you change yours? What would you stop doing and what would you do instead? Why? Oh, you realize that what you're doing isn't working, but just haven't changed it yet...hmmm. Why?
You know that you want to achieve more but you just can't put your finger on what to do...
Start with analyzing your daily routine. See what you are doing that no longer serves any purpose for you and replace it with something that does serve you. The more things you do that serve you, the better chance you will have of creating the future that you want.
Maybe it's something as simple as making coffee at home instead of paying $5 bucks for Starbucks, or maybe it something as difficult as getting up an hour earlier to work out or take a walk. Maybe it's something as difficult as not eating those donuts or maybe it's something as easy as spending an hour reading more about how to improve your networking...(maybe those should be turned around...).
Analyze your daily routine and make sure that everything you do is serving you. Not anyone else, but you.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine."
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Learned Optimism
“Learned optimism is not a rediscovery of the ‘power of positive thinking.’...Changing the destructive thing you say to yourself when you experience the setbacks that life deals all of us is the central skill of optimism.”~Martin Seligman
Have you learned optimism or are you just faking it. Learned optimism is the best thing that you could do for yourself and your self-talk. It is not just the power of positive thinking, it is much deeper than that.
Would you like to change the destructive things you say to yourself? Would you hang around a friend/person who talked to you the way you talk to yourself? Think about that for a minute...Would you? I used to until I realized that I didn't need that kind of self talk and I could change my habits of thinking.
The central skill of optimism (not polly-anna ish thoughts) is changing the destructive things we say to ourselves when things go wrong. Try it sometime and see the difference that it makes.
You can change the habit of your thinking, RIGHT NOW!! DO IT!!!
If you want to learn how, just send me a message or call me at 602-577-2624.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“Learned optimism is not a rediscovery of the ‘power of positive thinking.’...Changing the destructive thing you say to yourself when you experience the setbacks that life deals all of us is the central skill of optimism.”
Have you learned optimism or are you just faking it. Learned optimism is the best thing that you could do for yourself and your self-talk. It is not just the power of positive thinking, it is much deeper than that.
Would you like to change the destructive things you say to yourself? Would you hang around a friend/person who talked to you the way you talk to yourself? Think about that for a minute...Would you? I used to until I realized that I didn't need that kind of self talk and I could change my habits of thinking.
The central skill of optimism (not polly-anna ish thoughts) is changing the destructive things we say to ourselves when things go wrong. Try it sometime and see the difference that it makes.
You can change the habit of your thinking, RIGHT NOW!! DO IT!!!
If you want to learn how, just send me a message or call me at 602-577-2624.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“Learned optimism is not a rediscovery of the ‘power of positive thinking.’...Changing the destructive thing you say to yourself when you experience the setbacks that life deals all of us is the central skill of optimism.”
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Choice and Passion
“The essential conditions of everything you do must be choice and passion.” ~ Nadia Boulange
The essential conditions of everything you do must be...choice. Do you realize that you are now where you are because of your choices? No one elses, No outside interference, No other reason than your choices. It's not your parents fault, Your teachers fault, Not even your spouses fault. IT'S YOUR FAULT. Accept that responsibility! Here's the great news though, You can right now choose to make new choices, better choices, the ones that will bring you to where you want to be!
The essential conditions of everything you do must be...passion. Mason Cooley said “Passion crashes into obstacles; Reason peers around them.” Are you so passionate about what you do that you crash into obstacles as opposed to avoiding them? Sometimes I'm that passionate. Some people are that passionate. It comes down to "How you do anything will be how you do everything." Will you do the little things with as much passion as the big things? The great thing is that right now, I can choose to be more passionate. I can choose to be passionate about the little things, I can start to crash into obstacles...and so can you. Are you ready to join me???
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“The essential conditions of everything you do must be choice and passion.”
The essential conditions of everything you do must be...choice. Do you realize that you are now where you are because of your choices? No one elses, No outside interference, No other reason than your choices. It's not your parents fault, Your teachers fault, Not even your spouses fault. IT'S YOUR FAULT. Accept that responsibility! Here's the great news though, You can right now choose to make new choices, better choices, the ones that will bring you to where you want to be!
The essential conditions of everything you do must be...passion. Mason Cooley said “Passion crashes into obstacles; Reason peers around them.” Are you so passionate about what you do that you crash into obstacles as opposed to avoiding them? Sometimes I'm that passionate. Some people are that passionate. It comes down to "How you do anything will be how you do everything." Will you do the little things with as much passion as the big things? The great thing is that right now, I can choose to be more passionate. I can choose to be passionate about the little things, I can start to crash into obstacles...and so can you. Are you ready to join me???
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“The essential conditions of everything you do must be choice and passion.”
Monday, November 5, 2012
Not Just A Job
"You can view (running a business) as not just a job but as an honorable livelihood where you can, by using your imagination, develop the human spirit."~ Anita Roddick
How do you view what you do for business? Is it just a way to "pay the bills?" Is it just something that you fell into and stayed there? Is it what someone told you that you would be good at so you did it? Or do you view it as a way to "develop the human spirit?" What a great way to look at the work that you do. Keep on developing the human spirit.
Sir Richard Steele said "People spend their lives in the service of their passions instead of employing their passions in the service of their lives." Think about that...spending your life in service to your passions as opposed to employing those passion in the service of others. In any business, if you are not serving your customers, they won't be staying around.
What is your passion and how do you use it in the service of others?
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"You can view (running a business) as not just a job but as an honorable livelihood where you can, by using your imagination, develop the human spirit."~ Anita Roddick
Friday, November 2, 2012
Always Respond, Never React
"You may not be able to control the events that occur during the day, especially those events that are unexpected and challenging. But, you definitely have a choice whether you are going to allow these events to ruin your day, and how you are going to face these challenges." ~Barry Gottlieb
Do you ever get up "on the wrong side of the bed?" Ever had a "bad hair day?" How do you handle them? Do you let them ruin your day or do you change your mindset before leaving the house? You do have a choice in how you respond to those events. Be sure to exercise that choice. Don't stay stuck in that negativity.
Stephen Covey said "If you start to think the problem is 'out there,' stop yourself. That thought is the problem." Too often we get caught up in thinking the problem is 'out there' when it is really with us. Realize that you are in control of your life, no one else is. It will be your choice to either react or respond. Reaction is without thought. Response requires thought. Always respond, never react.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"You may not be able to control the events that occur during the day, especially those events that are unexpected and challenging. But, you definitely have a choice whether you are going to allow these events to ruin your day, and how you are going to face these challenges."
Do you ever get up "on the wrong side of the bed?" Ever had a "bad hair day?" How do you handle them? Do you let them ruin your day or do you change your mindset before leaving the house? You do have a choice in how you respond to those events. Be sure to exercise that choice. Don't stay stuck in that negativity.
Stephen Covey said "If you start to think the problem is 'out there,' stop yourself. That thought is the problem." Too often we get caught up in thinking the problem is 'out there' when it is really with us. Realize that you are in control of your life, no one else is. It will be your choice to either react or respond. Reaction is without thought. Response requires thought. Always respond, never react.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"You may not be able to control the events that occur during the day, especially those events that are unexpected and challenging. But, you definitely have a choice whether you are going to allow these events to ruin your day, and how you are going to face these challenges."
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Be Flexible, Open and Willing
"Embrace fully your capacity to create, To think in unlimited ways and to pursue everything that you have been wanting. Be flexible, open and willing to let the new come to you. "This can be the most prosperous, and creative time of your life."~Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer
Have you embraced your capacity to CREATE? Have you learned to think in UNLIMITED ways? Are you pursuing EVERYTHING you have been wanting? Why not??? You have an unlimited capacity to create (even though that art teacher in 7th grade said you couldn't). How many people believed the teacher that said something like that about your creativity? Don't believe it! We ALL have the ability to create.
Are you pursuing everything you have been wanting? Too many people put off what they truly want, Thinking that they need to wait for the good things they want. Now is the time to go after what you want. There's no need to wait. Go for it NOW!
Have you learned to think in unlimited ways? Really?? Many people have learned one way to think and that's the only way they think. Don't get stuck in that trap. There are many ways to think, you just need to get out of your own brain. Learn to think differently. Challenge you thinking. Expand your mind.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference
Have you embraced your capacity to CREATE? Have you learned to think in UNLIMITED ways? Are you pursuing EVERYTHING you have been wanting? Why not??? You have an unlimited capacity to create (even though that art teacher in 7th grade said you couldn't). How many people believed the teacher that said something like that about your creativity? Don't believe it! We ALL have the ability to create.
Are you pursuing everything you have been wanting? Too many people put off what they truly want, Thinking that they need to wait for the good things they want. Now is the time to go after what you want. There's no need to wait. Go for it NOW!
Have you learned to think in unlimited ways? Really?? Many people have learned one way to think and that's the only way they think. Don't get stuck in that trap. There are many ways to think, you just need to get out of your own brain. Learn to think differently. Challenge you thinking. Expand your mind.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference
"Embrace fully your capacity to create, to think in unlimited ways, and to pursue everything that you have been wanting. Be flexible, open and willing to let the new come to you. "This can be the most prosperous, and creative time of your life."
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Danger and Opportunity
"Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity. Wherever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable. They go together."~Earl Nightingale
Are you stuck looking at the danger instead of the opportunity? Or do you only see opportunity and not the danger?
It all depends on your perceptions. Because "the reality of life is that your perceptions - right or wrong - influence everything else you do." Do you realize that? Your perceptions influence everything else that you do...So what are your perceptions? When was the last time that you examined your perceptions?
Have you ever examined them or do you just go about your day having them and reacting to them? If you have examined them, how often to you go back and examine them again? this needs to be a constant examination, but most of us prefer to just live life without thought or examination.
I can hear you saying, 'An examination was something we had to take in school, I'm done with that stuff.' If that's the case, then there will be no growth, no stretching beyond where you are now. You'll get to stay in your comfort zone and simply react to life rather than responding to life.
Take another look at your perceptions and make sure that they work for you rather than against you.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
Are you stuck looking at the danger instead of the opportunity? Or do you only see opportunity and not the danger?
It all depends on your perceptions. Because "the reality of life is that your perceptions - right or wrong - influence everything else you do." Do you realize that? Your perceptions influence everything else that you do...So what are your perceptions? When was the last time that you examined your perceptions?
Have you ever examined them or do you just go about your day having them and reacting to them? If you have examined them, how often to you go back and examine them again? this needs to be a constant examination, but most of us prefer to just live life without thought or examination.
I can hear you saying, 'An examination was something we had to take in school, I'm done with that stuff.' If that's the case, then there will be no growth, no stretching beyond where you are now. You'll get to stay in your comfort zone and simply react to life rather than responding to life.
Take another look at your perceptions and make sure that they work for you rather than against you.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity. Wherever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable. They go together."
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Greatest Power Is Always In The Present
"What's the good of dragging up sufferings which are over,of being unhappy now
just because you were then." ~Seneca
Your greatest power is always in the present moment. When you re-live past misery in the present you are committing an act of violence against yourself. When misery from the past enters your consciousness you have the power to choose how to view it. What choice do you make?
Here are a couple of self confronting questions to bring you into the present: "What am I trying to accomplish today?" "What one thing am I not doing --that if I did do, would greatly improve my life six months from now? Think ahead, not behind.
Take some time and answer those questions. I know that the answers will give you the direction and power to make it happen.
Finally, two thoughts to take with you today. Your greatest power is ALWAYS in the present moment and the choice is YOURS to make.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"What's the good of dragging up sufferings which are over,of being unhappy now just because you were then."
just because you were then." ~Seneca
Your greatest power is always in the present moment. When you re-live past misery in the present you are committing an act of violence against yourself. When misery from the past enters your consciousness you have the power to choose how to view it. What choice do you make?
Here are a couple of self confronting questions to bring you into the present: "What am I trying to accomplish today?" "What one thing am I not doing --that if I did do, would greatly improve my life six months from now? Think ahead, not behind.
Take some time and answer those questions. I know that the answers will give you the direction and power to make it happen.
Finally, two thoughts to take with you today. Your greatest power is ALWAYS in the present moment and the choice is YOURS to make.
Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"What's the good of dragging up sufferings which are over,of being unhappy now just because you were then."
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