Sunday, January 31, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-31-10

"Every day we slaughter our finest impulses. That is why we get a heart-ache when we read those lines written by the hand of a master and recognize them as our own, as the tender shoots which we stifled because we lacked the faith to believe in our own powers, our own criterion of truth and beauty. Every man, when he gets quiet, when he becomes desperately honest with himself, is capable of uttering profound truths. We all derive from the same source. There is no mystery about the origin of things. We are all part of creation, all kings, all poets, all musicians; we have only to open up, to discover what is already there."

-- Henry Miller


Yes!


How Does It Feel To Be A King Or Queen? Awesome!

Spread Some Joy Today--If we are all kings and queens, who is leading who? No one but ourselves, baby, no one but ourselves!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-30-10

"I was thinking of my patients, and how the worst moment for them was when they discovered they were masters of their own fate. It was not a matter of bad or good luck. When they could no longer blame fate, they were in despair."

-- Anais Nin


"Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie
Which we ascribe to heaven."

-- William Shakespeare


It has become the American Way to blame. America is a litigious nation. And it doesn't stop there. We have been trained to find fault and to assign blame and seek "justice." We even blame God, heaven and earth, fate (that mysterious thing), circumstance, the devil, evil spirits and on and on. It seems sometimes with some people that the absolute last place they look to blame is themselves--their own beliefs and thinking. Yet, this is the key place to look first and I found it hard at first to get the hang of that myself. Nonetheless, I have found that it has been the most beneficial of all things I have learned.

I have a sign on my wall from the coaching of Bob Proctor and I repeat it every time I see the sign, which is every day. The sign reads, "I am responsible for my life, for my feelings, and for every result I get." So now, when something is not working well, I seek to find what I've been thinking or have been thinking in the past. Then I can see how the results I've been experiencing came about. Some are challenging to find, because I hide them from myself.

The way I was brought up and so many that I know had similar lives, I was taught very well how to find fault outside of myself for my problems--and that even more important, I had to look outside of myself for the solutions to those problems because they weren't really my fault. I was just a victim in the scheme of things. I learned to first find fault and then affix blame, then seek justice through judgement. That is how the court system works after all.

If I on the other hand, accept responsibility for my thinking, my results and even the solution to my problems, I have no need for blame, just understanding. It's not the high interest rates on credit cards, it is using them as if it were my money. It's not the external thing, but the way I think that creates the problem. Credit cards are neutral. How I choose to use them, creates results. If I choose to follow my thinking to determine where this philosophy came from and how I adopted it, I then can understand and then change the thinking to change the result. In this situation, there is nothing external that will help. It is an inside job as they say.

"Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie
Which we ascribe to heaven."


I Mold Myself Daily By What I Think And Believe.

Spread Some Joy Today--Look at what is happening in your life that you are not pleased about, then look back seriously into your past thinking around that subject. You will find it if you look. Now understand it and resolve it to your satisfaction.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-29-10

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-- Marianne Williamson


Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be."

-- Karen Ravn


You are so much more than you think. Celebrate!


As I Expand, I See Evermore Room For Expansion. There Is No Telling What Joy I Can Create. Workin' On It!

Spread Some Joy Today--Share some of that extra joy you've been receiving with someone else today who seems a quart low. What a great day you'll have.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-28-10

"Too many people overvalue what they are not
and undervalue what they are."

-- Malcolm S Forbes


"Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-brake on."

-- Maxwell Maltz


"We probably wouldn't worry about what people think of us
if we could know how seldom they do."

-- Olin Miller


Seeking approval is a very common activity. I've most likely spent several hundred hours on it throughout my life. It's part of the programming many of us were given at a young age and unless there is something that happens to change that, it becomes a lifetime endeavor. It is only in recent years that I have really changed that and now give myself approval, and though I like getting approval, I no longer require it from others as I once did.

I'll tell you a very short story. I was a sales manager at a car dealership and in my early 30's, having been a sales manager since I was 25. The owner of the store was there almost every day, but he let the general manager run things. I had a talk with the owner one night and since he was a quiet man, I asked him what he thought of me working for him. You know, what kind of job I was doing--seeking approval, of course. I will never, ever forget what he said after I asked that question. He said, "you know, the subject of Terry Minion is not something that comes up very often." You might as well of shoved an ice pick in my heart, but I made a clear note to myself that I needed to not worry about what others think so much--even the owner.

Building confidence and feeling good in your own skin is so darn important. Matter of fact, I would rate that as so high on the list, that it is of primary importance. Veronica A Shoffstall said it nicely: "Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers." I concur. It is excellent advice.

So many of us think that praising ourselves and building ourselves up is like being boastful and a braggart. It is absolutely not that at all. A long time ago I studied Transactional Analysis and in that they say that the best place to be is, "I'm okay, you're okay." Being a braggart is saying, "I'm okay, you're not okay." That is not a good place to be and it wouldn't help us in the least.

I really like what Oscar Wilde said: "To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance." The Bible also says in several passages to "love your neighbor as yourself." Clearly, the more you love yourself, the more love you have for others. To love others and not yourself is a sham.

So, I hope this will give you permission to, as Oscar Wilde said, to begin a life-long romance and love yourself. One of the most helpful books to aid you in moving in this direction is "Psycho-Cybernetics" by Maxwell Maltz, M.D. I highly recommend the original version, though some references are dated. It is a powerful book.


I Love Myself More Everyday! I Am My Best Fan!

Spread Some Joy Today--Think about loving yourself and feeling really good about yourself. It should bring a big smile to your face. You are awesome! A fantastic creation. Now, when you encounter others today, keep that thought--and add one more: you love them as much as yourself. Think how powerful that is!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-27-10

"You cannot hold on to anything good.
You must be continually giving--and getting.
You cannot hold on to your seed.
You must sow it--and reap anew.
You cannot hold on to riches.
You must use them and get other riches in return."

-- Robert Collier


"For true love is inexhaustible: the more you give, the more you have.
And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead,
the more water you draw, the more abundant is its flow."

-- Antoine De Saint-Exupery


The Bible says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." -- Acts 20:35 and "Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over. . ." -- Luke 6:38. Most of us have heard these two, particularly the quote from Acts. But what does it mean? Give what? How? To whom? For what purpose? Each of us gets a shot at answering those questions ourselves.

Much of giving I hear is of giving money to charity, or church, or needy people, or the Red Cross, or whatever-the-current-crisis-is, etc. That is important and valuable--and easy. The more money you have, the more you have potential to give to help even more. I'm all for financial giving.

You can give your time, your energy, your blood, your sweat. There are an infinite number of projects that are always in need of people to volunteer.

Or, you could teach.

Teaching is the most powerful and long-reaching method of giving that I can think of. As the old saying goes, "give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish, and he eats for a lifetime." The fundamental issue in all need is what will happen when you stop giving the money, time, energy, sweat? So many times, things revert to what they were. As Michael Todd said so well, "being broke is a temporary situation, being poor is a mental state." The only thing that will create long-term growth and improvement will be those concepts, ideas, procedures, that are learned through teaching.

Whatever you know well, I highly recommend that you find a way to share it with others. You never know who you will touch or how powerful that little touch may turn out to be down the road. Teaching is without a doubt the most powerful and rewarding thing that I do. And, I try to do it every day in some way. Obviously, this is one way by writing these pieces, but I do it in many other ways as well.

Here's a formula that works for me and I highly recommend:

1. Get inspired. Read and listen and watch inspiring things every day. There's a lot of UN-inspiring things all around you all day. Most of it is in the papers and on the TV and coworkers and friends have a tendency to spread it. Without daily inspirations, you will only hear that other stuff.

2. Study and Use What You Study. Hearing something, reading something or even watching something once is not nearly so helpful to your learning as some repetition. One way that is effective for me to study is hearing it over and over again until I almost have it memorized. Each time I hear it, I hear something I missed the other times. Then, put it to use. Feel it. Try it out. Mess with it. Take it for a spin around town. Use it in your life.

3. Share it. Teach it. C.S. Lewis said it this way: "Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours." Sheldon Kopp said, "you only get to keep what you give away." If you look at that on the surface it doesn't make any sense, then it does. For me, it is in teaching all of this that I keep it--that it means so much more to me and that allows and even encourages me to share it wider and more confidently. You just never know who you will touch and encourage and inspire. It is the absolute best!

4. Celebrate and Bless. I have to add this fourth point because it will be most helpful. Celebrate those who receive your teaching and respond by learning. Celebrate those who grow by doing as a result of the teaching and their learning. A few will tell you, most will not. It's okay. Bless those who don't receive your teaching or respond by learning. They are happy where they are. That is okay. Bless them and keep moving.

Here's to the inspired teacher in all of us!


By Teaching, I Become A Stronger, Better Student!

Spread Some Joy Today--Get inspired. Feel it. Share it. Celebrate. Joy is that easy! [Of course, that is only one way to joy. . . the reality is that all you have to do, is decide to be joyful, then act joyfully. That is the shortcut. . .]

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-26-10

"Let not your mind run on what you lack
as much as on what you have already."

-- Marcus Aurelius


"My crown is in my heart, not on my head,
Nor decked with diamonds and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen: My crown is called content;
A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy."

-- William Shakespeare



I have had money and have been without it at different times and I can say without a doubt that having it is better, but it is not happiness or contentment that comes from having it. The times I remember when I was the least cash rich, I remember fondly enjoying what was at hand. It's not that I look back and think being broke made it that way, but being broke has a tendency (if you pay attention) to see if you can enjoy life on its terms. If you do, the memories are very good.

Giving presents to each other is even better because it comes from the heart since there may be little else. The situation encourages creativity. Later with cash plenty, the presents were much larger and expensive, but held less heart.

Though these things have been true for me and I think many, we have this tendency to focus on what we lack rather than what we have--even, and maybe even especially, when we have much. That is strange, isn't it?

I want more. A lot more. Nonetheless, I am learning better and better how to enjoy thoroughly where I am and in what I have currently have. I am happy regardless of the current situation or the potential outcome. My happiness is not dependent on external circumstances, but merely--or rather, powerfully--on my decision to be that way. It is all internal.

What a difference from how I grew up! I love it. The power to decide is always in our own control. In that realization, I am content and celebrate my independence!



I Lack Nothing That I Need To Be Happy And Content!

Spread Some Joy Today--There is nothing so glorious as my wife smiling at me. It shows in her eyes, and they are bright and happy. If her smile affects me that way, just think how yours affects others. Wear it today!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-25-10

"We all have voices in our heads which talk to us
 on an almost constant basis. Our voices give us messages
continually, and what they say to us affects us. . ."

-- Juliene Berk


"This inner speech, your thoughts, can cause you to be
rich or poor, loved or unloved, happy or unhappy,
attractive or unattractive, powerful or weak. . ."

-- Ralph Charell


"One comes to believe whatever one repeats to oneself
 sufficiently often, whether the statement be true or false.
It comes to be the dominating thought in one's mind."

-- Robert Collier


It's those voices in our head! It's your own voice, as well as other people's voices as you play out scenarios of what was, what is or what might be. There seems to be a tendency with most people that I have talked to about it, that these voices and the situations played out are not usually uplifting and inspiring. Though we don't want things to happen that way, or interpret things that way, it is repeated over and over in our head anyway. Sometimes there even is a battle going on between opposing views of the same scenario. It reminds me of a cartoon I saw as a kid where the little devil was on one shoulder and the little angel on the other arguing at each other with the head in between.

Well, there you go. That's it. The real you is in the middle of this grand battle going on between the dark side and the light side, good and evil. It's hopeless. There is no way anyone can win in this battle. As much as we might want good to win, there will always be evil . . . what can a person do? Take Prozac? Get therapy? Accept the life you live?

Rubbish!

James Allen says, "the path to cheerfulness is to sit cheerfully and to act and speak as if cheerfulness were already there." He also said, "the greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." When I first read this last statement, it was like a light turned on in my head. These are not new thoughts, but it was to me.

But, just understanding what these quotes say and making the change are two different things. I thought, since humans have this tendency to complicate everything, I have to find the SIMPLE solution to make the change. I found it and I only found it in the last few years, but here it is:

How I talk to myself and the theme of the scenarios in my head are who I really am. If I want to change, I must change what I am saying to myself and change the theme.

Here are some simple steps to get started:

1. Start praising yourself. Yes, you read it here. Start praising yourself. You are a valuable creation and don't let anything or any book tell you otherwise. You are God's gift. Yes. You are. You can be or do anything you choose to be or do. You are worthy and deserving. Your organic chemicals that make up your body may only be worth about $32 as they say, but the you that is inside that organic suit is worth millions of millions (that's trillions!). The fact is, as they say in the commercial, you are "priceless." You are the world's greatest! God made you and threw away the mold. You are, as they say in manufacturing, a one-off. The one and only one.

2. Gobbledegook. I learned this technique from Anthony Robbins, although I changed the name, so now it's mine. . . When you detect that you are thinking stinking things, immediately, and even in mid-sentence, STOP! Now play it backward with cartoon images and listen to the voice talking backward. It's such fun. Then, pretend there are some hands with a very sharp, large knife, chopping that mass of gobbledegook into a million little bits and the wind just blows them away and they are no more. Change it up each time, so it's all fun. Next time, take the sentence out of the air and throw it out on the freeway and let those big trucks just run over it. Or, pretend you take the whole paragraph and run it through a wood chipper into the back of a truck. What fun!

3. Change the picture. Instead of being the foe in your movie, become the hero. See yourself winning, making the right decisions, and being recognized and rewarded for your wisdom and intelligence. See the world clamoring for your products. See the 50,000 friends on Facebook. You are going to play the movie no matter what. It cannot be helped. But, you are the director. That's right. YOU are the director. The director makes the movie! You and only you choose who plays in it and how they play. You are in total control. It is awesome! You are awesome!

Well, there you go. Simple. It doesn't need to be hard. You don't need drugs. You don't need anything external at all. It is an inside job. You don't need a resume. You are already the boss.


I Am The Director! I Am In Charge! I Love My Movie!

Spread Some Joy Today--Praise yourself every chance you get. No, it's not conceit, it's love. Conceit is thinking you are better than everyone else. You are unique. There is no other exactly like you. Love yourself first, love everyone else for their uniqueness next. That's another way of saying, what comes around, goes around. . . or was it the other way around? It's a circle no matter. . . a circle of love.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-24-10

"Patience, persistence and perspiration
make an unbeatable combination for success."

-- Napoleon Hill


From this Napoleon Hill quote, let's call this the 3-P's: Patience, persistence and perspiration. It might even seem strange to have patience in this sentence, but it is a wonderful formula.

Patience. To me patience is confidence. It is belief. It is the prerequisite for accomplishment that can be finalized with the help of the other two P's. Patience is necessary--critical in fact. It would be belief that would give you the patience to hang on when things don't look like they're working. It is the control mechanism for the machine.

Persistence. Without the ability to keep going, your mind will easily talk you out of making the trip. The people around you will talk you out of it. It might seem like no one wants you to succeed. That's why it is only you who can persist. No one can do that for you. The best they could do is encourage you, but the coach doesn't run the race, the runner does. You're the runner. Strong desire is the engine that runs persistence.

Perspiration. There are things that need to get done. It is only done by doing them. It may be physical or mental or a combination, but it is action. Without action, there is no result generally. You can change your thinking, but if your actions don't change, your thinking won't matter much. Sometimes it just doesn't matter what you do, so long as you are doing something on what you have decided. It's like looking in the mirror and deciding to comb your hair differently. You can see the picture of it done in your minds eye, but you actually have to make use of the comb to have a result that matters.

I think these are in order of importance as well.


It's A Threepeat!

Spread Some Joy Today--Demonstrate your patience and persistence to others today through your perspiration. Maybe it can be a group workout!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-23-10

"Every memorable act in the history of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity but with it you can accomplish miracles."

-- Og Mandino


"To become enthusiastic, act enthusiastically."

-- Frank Bettger


There is great advice in the Og Mandino quote above, and even simpler and easier to deal with advice from Frank Bettger. I like them both, but I have adopted Frank Bettger's advice because it works every time I do it. No matter how I am feeling at the moment, if I want to change how I am feeling, I know I can instantly by acting enthusiastic. It always results in the change I desire. How can you beat something that works every time.

Frank Bettger wrote several books beginning in the late 1940's. His most popular book was first published in 1949 and was titled, How I Raised Myself From Failure To Success In Selling. Long title. Great book. I've read it more than 10 times and first found it as a brand new salesman for a car dealership in 1972 at the public library. It was an immense help to me starting out in that business, and there are many aspects of that book that I use to this day. The greatest and most rewarding of these is his chapter on enthusiasm which is the first chapter in the book. Anyone in sales of any product or service can benefit from this timeless classic.

Nothing happens without some excitement; some enthusiasm. It is not only a catalyst for you, it is a catalyst for others at the same time. It is contagious.

When you're enthusiastic, you are optimistic. It is impossible to be enthusiastic and pessimistic at the same time. They cancel each other. When you're enthusiastic, your body shows it with a brightness in your face, a smile, looking forward, energetic posture. It is impossible to be enthusiastic and hang your head low. Much of this aspect, I learned from Anthony Robbins. He says, you can change your thoughts just by changing your posture. He is right.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of being enthusiastic. It is a high. You feel wonderful and excited and interested. It can come in an instant and through your practice of acting enthusiastically, it will begin to come naturally. You can be sitting at home alone and just start thinking enthusiastically and the grin on your face will have you feeling so darn good about everything. That is worth it, don't you think?

Now, let's take this where it needs to go:

To become ____________, act ______________.

Fill that in as many ways as you can. Here are some ideas:

To become cheerful, act cheerful.
To become more loving, act with love.
To become smarter, act smart.
To become more intelligent, act intelligent.
To become more organized, act organized.
To become more generous, act generously.

Fake it 'till you make it, baby!


Yesterday, I Couldn't Spell It, Today I Are One!

Spread Some Joy Today--Be a faker today. Fake feeling good and see if anyone notices your deception. Instead of wondering what you're up to, they will probably want some of that feeling good stuff too.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-22-10

"I can change. I can live out of my imagination instead of my memory. I can tie myself to my limitless potential instead of my limiting past."

-- Stephen Covey


We can change. That is such a powerful idea. We have the power. And it's not really will power or determination, although those can be useful. It is so much easier than that. It is simply a decision to do so. So incredible to be able to change by just making a decision to change.

Vincent Roazzi says, "for things to change, you have to change." So there's the whole formula in as easy and simple a language as can be said: For things to change, we have to change and we can change by deciding to change.

So. . . what do you want to change? You now have the formula.

Ain't it grand?

Kick that wonderful tool you have called 'imagination' into gear! Napoleon Hill says, "what the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." Read the story of Walt Disney and how Disneyland came to be. What an imagination! What courage! Forget how things are and think how you want them to be and get into that picture!

Tie yourself to your limitless potential instead of your limiting past. I can't do anything positive about the past except be friends with it. It is gone. But, the good news is that my potential is unlimited. Only I can allow that or argue against it. People who argue for their limitations, always win.


The Power To Change Is Such A Gift. Thank You!

Spread Some Joy Today--Make a decision to change something. You've probably been putting it off for some time. Do it now. Notice how good that feels. Feel it. People around you today will notice something different about you. I guarantee it!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-21-10

"Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary
to a worthwhile achievement."

-- Henry Ford


We may think mistakes are a problem. We might even use words like failure, or consequences, or bad. Those are some ways of looking at it, but consider these mistakes:

Silly Putty

Due to a rubber shortage in World War II, the U.S. Government asked scientists to try to find an alternative to use in the war effort. James Wright, a General Electric engineer mixed boric acid with silicone oil. He was so happy with the outcome, he threw some on the floor and found that it bounced. Yet GE didn't really know how to utilize the product, and sold it to toy store owner Ruth Fallgatter and her friend Peter Hodgson. Ruth gave up marketing it after a year and Peter Hodgson took over and renamed it Silly Putty in 1950. The rest is history. See more about this story here: History of Silly Putty.


Velcro

From Wikipedia: "The hook-and-loop fastener was invented in 1941 by Swiss engineer, George de Mestral who lived in Commungny, Switzerland. The idea came to him one day after returning from a hunting trip with his dog in the Alps. He took a close look at the burrs (seeds) of the burdock that kept sticking to his clothes and his dog's fur. He examined them under a microscope, and noted their hundreds of "hooks" that caught on anything with a loop, such as clothing, animal fur, or hair. He saw the possibility of binding two materials reversibly in a simple fashion, if he could figure out how to duplicate the hooks and loops." And the rest is history. You didn't know Velcro was that old, did you? Here is more of the story: Velcro History.

Post-It (R) notes

From Wikipedia: "In 1968, Dr. Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M in the United States, with the help of Jesse Kops, a fellow scientist, accidentally developed a "low-tack", reusable pressure sensitive adhesive. For five years, Silver promoted his invention within 3M, both informally and through seminars, but without much success. In 1974, a colleague of his, Art Fry, who had attended one of Silver's seminars, came up with the idea of using the adhesive to anchor his bookmark in his hymnbook. Fry then developed the idea by taking advantage of 3M's officially sanctioned "permitted bootlegging" policy. 3M launched the product in 1977, but it failed as consumers had not tried the product. A year later 3M issued free samples to residents of Boise, Idaho. 90 percent of people who tried them said that they would buy the product. By 1980, the product was being sold nationwide in the US; a year later Post-its were launched in Canada and Europe." See the rest here: Post-It History.

There are countless products that have become mainstays and started as accidents. Foam rubber is another. Now, don't you wish you made mistakes like this? You most likely can! Never fear making mistakes for "even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile achievement."


The Word 'Mistake' Is A Judgement Of An Event Or Decision. I Am Now Less Critical And More Interested!

Spread Some Joy Today--Try looking back at some of your so-called mistakes. Now that there is time between you and the event, do they look less negative? They should. They are partly what led you to here. Here is good! Let it be okay!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-20-10

"You are a success when you have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and are optimistic about your future."

-- Zig Ziglar


Success is one of those words that are problematic because it has so many definitions and shades. The vast majority of the definitions I have seen relate to money in one way or another. This is but one of the ways a person can define success. There is so much more.

I have kept my eyes open for a definition of success that I think is simple and that the vast majority of people could get behind. I think I have found one in the quote above from Zig Ziglar.

In so many, myself included, it is the past that has been a problem. Regretting the past is a complete waste of time and counterproductive in the present. Doing this even creates more of the past in the present, thereby repeating it over and over again. Making friends with the past and letting it be what it is without judgment is critical to success I have found.

Focus on the present. There is only today, this moment, one at a time. Enjoying each moment, each day, each experience as we travel where we will is also critical to success I find. Plus it sure makes life worth living! This cannot be possible without making friends with the past, can it? And, I will say this is my favorite part because now I enjoy it all the time every day no matter what is going on. To me, that is so powerful I want to just jump up and down with joy!

Optimism. The glass half full. If we don't have something to live for; to work toward; to have desires to be somewhere, there is pretty much nothing worth living for. Einstein said this: "I think the most important question facing humanity is, 'Is the universe a friendly place'. This is the first and most basic question all people must answer for themselves." What you believe about that says what you believe in the future I think.

Making friends with the past, enjoying and living fully in the present, while looking forward to a bright future--that is motivational to me. How about you?

Of course. . . I really do love this quote too: "The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation." -- Mark Twain. Yeah! That'll work!


I'm Having The Best Time Of My Life Right Now!

Spread Some Joy Today--Look in the mirror. Pretend you're having the best time of your life right now. What would your face look like with that thought and feeling? Ooooo! There it is. . . now wear that all day today!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-19-10

"Create your future from your future, not from your past."

-- Werner Erhard


I laughed when I read this quote because it is way too simple and way too brilliant. After I read it a few times, I thought, "of course! It makes total sense."

I've set goals a lot of times and failed to achieve them or have them make a difference in my life because I was "creating my future out of my past." What that comes down to is the very same thing that Albert Einstein so eloquently stated--"you cannot solve a problem with the same thinking that created it." Yet, many of us do.

Take for example credit card debt. How many of us have amassed credit card debt, paid it off and charged them up again? Been there, done that. That's creating a future with past thinking. Future thinking will probably be more like, zero credit card debt and all the money I used to spend paying back credit cards now goes into investments.

That is a tangible example, but there are many others, less tangible. How about frustration and anger? We sigh and say phrases like, "whatever. . ." or we express our frustration with this or that, or we complain about not enough of this or too much of that, or what someone else is doing, all the while trying to change. More creating a future out of the past. The better future will only come from less caustic thinking. You really can get to a place where there is almost none of that if you decide to change it and create your future out of your future.

I see what I want in my future and I see what I need to be thinking, who I need to be associating with, how I need to handle and think about money, how to open my thinking to partnerships rather than trying to hold it all (100% of nothing is nothing, 20% of something is 20%. . .). As Jim Rohn said, "to have more, you must become more." That requires creating my future out of the future. He also said, "success is something you attract by the person you become."

That has little to do with money, but everything to do with everything.


I'm In Charge Of My Future Today, Right Now.

Spread Some Joy Today--Start your reading list and get started reading some classic titles that will inspire you. Here's one for you: "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. Powerfully good book about changing your thinking.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-18-10

"We must learn to help those who deserve it, not just those who need it. Life responds to deserve not need."

-- Jim Rohn


I read past this quote many times and then today, as I read it again, it really had new meaning to me. This is the aspect of quotes that I dearly love. Quotes, especially short ones, can be a true catalyst to a new way of looking at something. It's sort of like looking at a map, then seeing the Google Maps satellite view, then street view. It's a whole new view of the same thing.

So I read, "we must learn to help those who deserve it. . ." I think that means that they are the people who are seeking. They are the ones reaching out; wanting; looking for change. To me, they are deserving. They have desire. They are hungry for answers and hungry for improvement. I think we need to help everyone as much as they are willing to be helped who are in that frame of mind, for as long as they desire it. This is service at its finest.

Next is, "not just those who need it." Those who need. . . I think of that sort of like the Bible refers to the poor. Jesus said, "the poor you will always have with you." They need. It is a condition of thinking for most, and for others a way of life. Mike Todd stated that "Being broke is a temporary situation. Being poor is a state of mind." There are a large number of poor people and we have a duty as humans to do what we can to help them.

The last sentence ties it so sweetly together--"Life responds to deserve not need." Wow. Isn't that the truth! The poor get our donations, our leftovers, a bit of our excess. If it is a tax write off, maybe a bit more. But the world responds to deserve. The world responds to people who seek, who open doors, who reach out and who create. The world rushes to their aid and gives them everything they need, even sometimes smoothing the path ahead of them in anticipation of their arrival. And the ones who need, who try so little, who whine and complain, who make the same mistakes over and over again--they get what is left over.

The advice that this quote gives to me is that I have renewed motivation and interest in being deserving rather than needing. I seek everyday. I seek more knowledge, more skill, more ideas, more networking, more partners, more opportunities, more joy, more calmness, more confidence, more life. I share openly, heartily and enthusiastically with those who deserve.

Guess what? If you're reading this, you are deserving!


I Have Great Joy In Being A Deserving Person! There Is No Joy In Being Needy.

Spread Some Joy Today--Open your eyes and your heart to deserving people in your life and share all you have in helping them in every way you can. Do this for large numbers and your reward is off the chart!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-17-10

"What you think of yourself is much more important
than what others think of you."

-- Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BC-65 AD)


"What the mind of man can conceive and believe,
the mind of man can achieve."

-- Napoleon Hill


Of all the lessons I have needed to learn and succeed with, it is the concept of the quote above by Seneca the Young: "What you think of yourself is much more important that what others think of you." I have to say that this is an easy thing to say and write, but for me at least, it has been one of the most challenging things to truly accept and believe.

You know how it is when you're young, you're always looking for your parents approval, your family approval. Then there is school and you are looking to fit in and to gain the approval of the other classmates and learn how to get along in the world. Then, there is finally adulthood where we get a job and try to fit in and gain the approval of the boss, the coworkers and others. Then, there is your own family you seek the respect and admiration of. Whew! That is one heck of a lot of approval seeking from a world full of others. It's no wonder it's a challenge.

When I was young, I found that I would gain my mother's approval if I did certain things, so I learned to do those things and did them whenever I could to gain her approval. As I got older, I found myself doing very much the same thing with other people, my spouse, coworkers, employers. It didn't really help me much, but it was a way to fit in.

In recent years, I think I have finally accepted myself and my thinking and have taken a firm stance in that. I can tell you this first off: It feels GREAT! I still listen to everything everyone else has to say and I am not inflexible in my thinking; however, I have staked out my own territory so to speak and find that I now have total confidence in myself, my abilities, my skills, my thinking, and even my so-called shortcomings. What a feeling this new level of confidence in myself is. I can hardly express how exciting it is to feel this way after living so many years feeling as if I were coming up short. It is like a new life.

My ex-wife and dear friend told me something over 25 years ago. She said, "if you ever really started believing in yourself, there would be nothing stopping you." I've never forgotten it, yet didn't really believe until now. So, for you people who are late bloomers like me, there is hope. Keep working toward believing in yourself and keep expanding and growing; keep reading uplifting messages, books, listening to motivational materials, attending seminars and having your own positive, uplifting thoughts about yourself. Tell yourself a better story than you have been. Make yourself a success in your own mind regardless of the so-called reality all around you. I can assure you, it is worth every moment and ounce of effort to get to this feeling of total confidence.

"What the mind of man can conceive AND BELIEVE,
the mind of man can ACHIEVE."

It is a fact!


I'm Capable Of Anything I Set My Mind To--ANYTHING!

Spread Some Joy Today--Go buy this book: You Were Born Rich by Bob Proctor. It may be hard to find as a printed book, but they are out there. You can get a free copy in an e-book version (yes, free!) from www.bobproctor.com. Here is a direct link: http://www.bobproctor.com/getbook.asp. This book will amaze you and have you feeling unstoppable about yourself very quickly. Want more? Send me an email, I'll give you a list (tminion@commercialtrucksuccess.com).

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-16-10

"Do you know how to digest your food? Do you know how to fill your lungs with air? Do you know how to establish, regulate and direct the metabolism of your body--the assimilation of foodstuff so that it builds muscles, bones and flesh? No, you don't know how consciously, but there is a wisdom within you that does know."

-- Donald Curtis

"Your belief that you can do the thing gives your thought forces their power."

-- Robert Collier


We can do so much more than we think we can most of the time. Our bodies are doing amazing things as a matter of course, yet many times we tell ourselves that we are not good enough, not skilled enough, not smart enough or that we don't have enough of some thing like money, time or energy.

And all the while we tell ourselves these things, our bodies are duplicating cells, absorbing and utilizing oxygen, breathing is being done, the heart is beating, the blood is flowing through miles and miles of organic veins, feeding cells, muscles and organs throughout the body, not to mention the power and mystery of thought going on inside the brain while part of the brain that we are unaware of is running everything without our conscious interaction.

And then we have the audacity to think we are not good enough, not skilled enough, not smart enough. What a joke!

The truth is we are all miracles of creation and we have powers we haven't even imagined, let alone tested. Your brilliance is there. If it is not shining brightly for the world to see and share in, it is up to only you to polish it up.

You Are Worth-y. You can do whatever you set your mind to believe!
Yes, that means you choose!

That's the God power that's in you!


I Am. Wow. What Miracles Await!

Spread Some Joy Today--Send three or four heartfelt, positive, uplifting and short notes to some people you like today. Use Facebook, Linked In, Email, or Regular Mail. What's even cooler is to say it to their face!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-15-10

"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."

-- James Dean

"There is no passion to be found playing small--in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."

-- Nelson Mandela


I have experienced a number of different goal setting plans from a number of different people over the years. I have never experienced one with the depth of thought as is the one going on right now by Darren Hardy, Publisher of Success Magazine. He has offered this special 16-lesson program (2 per week for 8 weeks) at no charge whatsoever. I've shared it here and through direct emails to friends. In case you missed it, here is a link to sign up for the program (you can sign up any time during the program and you will have access to all the previous lessons and free downloads) Designing the Best 10 Years of Your Life.

Answering the questions in the download lessons is absolutely fascinating and enlightening. I guarantee you will learn a lot. The second lesson download starts out this way:

"Last Day Reflection

Imagine that your doctor told you that you have only 24 hours to live. I know this is a morbid thought--and a scary one (that's part of its effectiveness)--but it's one very worthy of contemplation. It would be worse to die not having given it thought. Take this seriously. If you were to die in 24 hours, how would you feel? Now, take the time now to reflect deeply on the following questions.

Three regrets, things I did or didn't do.
Three risks I wish I would have taken.
Three people I wish I would have loved more expressively and vulnerably.
Three major loose ends that will burden those left behind.
If I could live my life over again, what would I do differently?"

Then it goes on:

"If your life is going to be summed up in a single speech or newspaper clipping, what is it going to say? Well, don't leave it, or your life, to chance. Pick it now, write it now, design it and your life now. Be sure to add not only your name, residence, education, hobbies and family members, but also what you achieved, who you impacted, how you impacted them, what great contributions you made, and whose lives will be forever positively changed because you lived.

My Obituary


At the end of your life, if you and your existence had to be summed up in a single sentence, what would that sentence say?

My Epitaph"


I tell you what--I have never had the volume and depth of questions as this program and it is very enlightening. I absolutely love it. I had to force myself to sit down for about 30 minutes to an hour and really concentrate, but what a great process to learn about yourself and what you find important and what you really want.

Writing the obituary was the hardest and I put it off until last, but then it was easier and I just wrote it out. I'll share My Epitaph with you as an example:

"He loved and was loved, and encouraged millions to believe in themselves and experience greater joy."

James Dean said it so well: "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."



I'm Not Only Open To It, But Excitedly Looking Forward To Learning Anew Every Day--Even About Myself!

Spread Some Joy Today--Share the Darren Hardy goal program with people you know. The web address to sign up is http://darrenhardy.success.com/. You might inspire someone to a whole new life!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-14-10

"If we are ever to enjoy life,
now is the time,
not tomorrow or next year. . .
Today should always be our most wonderful day."

"The world is a great mirror.
It reflects back to you what you are.
If you are loving, if you are friendly,
if you are helpful, the world will prove loving
and friendly and helpful to you.
The world is what you are.

-- Thomas Dreier


Of the many grand lessons that I have learned well in the last few years, one of the grandest is to simply enjoy myself every day and if I can manage it, every hour of every day, constantly. Oh, stuff happens you know, and it does its best to get you off track, or at least that's the story we tell others. Truth is, we can enjoy ourselves locked up in prison. If we choose to. We can enjoy ourselves at work, if we choose to. We can enjoy ourselves wherever we are and whatever circumstances exist, if we want to. It is 100% a choice how we want to feel all the time.

I was brought up in a series of divorces where one parent is blaming the other, even trying to get the kids to take sides, spy on each other, and other TV drama. We were taught that people do things to you that make you feel bad and that they are to blame and must be accountable. Ain't it awful. Looking back on that drama so many years ago, I just have to laugh at how silly it all was and how none of it ever worked the way they wanted it to. Fortunately for me, I saw all that as the eldest child and decided I wanted none of it in my life. Great thought, but hard to follow through on. Yet, I've learned over time that it can be done.

If nothing else, I know absolutely now that I am 100% in charge of my own feelings about anything. In that, I rejoice!

Another lesson that is similar that was learned is that the world gives you back pretty much what you give out. Want more love? Give more love. Want more recognition? Give more recognition. Want more knowledge? Teach more knowledge. Want more skills? Share your skills. Whatever you feel you are lacking, just turn right around and give it away and you will be filled. Want more inspiration? Inspire others. A number of people have told me how I have helped inspire them to make positive changes in thinking and action. That's awesome. And it is not nearly as awesome as the inspiration I get out of doing it. And it's all free. Who knew?

The world reflects you. Whatever you want more of, give more of it to others. Be a servant. Serve one and then another and then hundreds or thousands. The more you serve, the greater the reward coming back, not to mention the powerful rewards going out.

Let me share a song that I wrote with you that expresses some of this. I wrote it in 1987 after meeting Nancy who became my wife shortly afterward. It is called Nancy's Eyes because it was her eyes that were mesmerizing me!

Nancy's Eyes

1st verse:
Nancy's eyes reflect the joy I feel in me.
In Nancy's face I see all I've come to be.
And in her smile, my love comes back to me
In Nancy, I see me.


Chorus:
In here I see reflections of what's inside of me.
She radiates the qualities that once I couldn't see.
Now I understand, the love she sees in me,
For I reflect the love in here she's choosing to set free.


2nd verse:
In Nancy's voice, I hear the feelings I express.
In Nancy's touch, I feel the warmth of my caress,
And in her laugh, the laughter, I possess.
It's me, that she reflects.



Just for the fun of it, I took this song and a few others and put them on My Space. Most are not pro recordings. In case you might want to hear this song, go to https://myspace.com/terryminion/music/songs.

The world reflects us as other people reflect us. Whatever we want more of or whatever we feel we are lacking, if we will give that away, we will get all we need.


I'm Never Going Back To Being Bummed.
I Now Enjoy Everyday As Wonderful--Regardless!

Spread Some Joy Today--Cheering someone up is an easy thing and costs nothing. Even so little a thing as just smiling at them may do the trick. Some are hard core and you have to do more than just smile, but oh. . .the joy in that!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-13-10

"The guy says, "I wish someone would come by and turn me on."
What if they don't show up?"

-- Jim Rohn

"If. . . I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me."

-- Abraham Lincoln

"The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated."

-- William James

"We increase whatever we praise.
The whole creation responds to praise, and is glad."

-- Charles Fillmore


I just love Jim Rohn's quote above. Indeed, what if they don't show up? Great question. He says, "you gotta have a better plan for your life." He's absolutely right. And William James is exactly right as well--at least in all I know personally--that we pretty much all crave appreciation. If not you, I know I do. There is absolutely nothing that fires me up more than appreciation and encouragement. It's better than money and lasts a lot longer too.

But, in our quest for appreciation, what if they don't show up?

Let's say you do something special that you haven't done in a while like making a special dinner for a loved one, or sprucing yourself up on the outside, or creating a romantic situation, or any number of interesting things. You probably do it mainly because you feel like it. You're motivated for some reason. You're not really looking for appreciation (so you say. . .), but yet, you are expecting a positive response. Then, it happens. They miss it completely, or they say something stupid, or they are just oblivious. Heck, it has happened to me many times.

It is so typical in those situations to feel spent, unappreciated, disappointed and other emotions. Hey, stuff happens, right? You might even feel a little silly doing it in the first place.

All you need is some appreciation. What if they don't show up?

Don't throw in the towel. You're motivated, excited and interested. Stay on that track! It's the right track. Now it is time to think a bit differently and have a better plan for your life. Here's the plan: From now on, do it for you! Don't do it for someone else expecting a return. Do it for you and if someone else responds nicely to it, that can be a side benefit, but not the goal. If they respond poorly, you don't really care because you did it for you, not them. That is a plan that will work! I guarantee it!

I love Abraham Lincoln's quote about being his own best friend. Self-esteem is of primary importance. Let me repeat that: Self-esteem is of primary importance.

Here's a good way to get started: Praise yourself! Love yourself! Pamper yourself! Be a friend to yourself. Say only good, uplifting and flattering things to yourself. It doesn't matter what any one else thinks if you think highly of yourself. If you think lowly of yourself, then it only matters what others think. Not so good for you. What if they don't show up? What if they give you crap? Let that go away.

Charles Fillmore said above that "we increase whatever we praise." Don't we know it is true. So get the praise machine dusted off and plug it in. Turn it on high and feel the breeze! We're praising now! Lifting ourselves up! Shining like a bright star! Feeling good! Get on with your shiny self! If anybody deserves it, it's you! Don't be saving it up for some rainy day. Let it all out. That bucket will never run dry. Trust me!

What if they don't show up? Indeed. We don't need them to show up. We got it going on right here, right now!

That's what I'm talkin' about!


I Am A Shining Example Of God's Creative Talent! He Only Made One Of Me! That's All Right By Me! And, He Did A Fine Job Too!

Spread Some Joy Today--Get that smile going from ear to ear. Get that look of total confidence back in your eyes. Get that worthiness back in your step. Keep that kindness in your heart. Help someone else feel better about themselves today. Just because you want to share the feeling you have. It's all about the love!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-12-10

"One comes to believe 
whatever one repeats 
to oneself sufficiently often, 
whether the statement be true or false. 
It comes to be 
the dominating thought in one's mind."

-- Robert Collier


I've had a few people tell me that affirmations don't work and are a waste of time. Indeed, they say that just repeating happy phrases won't change anything; that it is delusional. I've even been told that I am being brainwashed by all that self-help, positive attitude stuff and that I'm just lining the pockets of the perpetrators of the pump-me-up products.

Thank God!

Albert Einstein said, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result." He also said, "we can't solve problems using the same kind of thinking that created them." When you're finally ready for a change, you have to be ready to change. I've been ready.

Back to affirmations. Of course affirmations work. Robert Colliers says that we "come to believe anything that we repeat to ourselves sufficiently often." Brainwashing is exactly right. Tell a kid he's no good often enough and it is likely he will believe it and act accordingly. Tell a kid they are the greatest, smartest kid ever often enough and the opposite will most likely be the result. Of course they work.

The only question is, what are the things that we are repeating to ourselves? Whatever it is, that is an affirmation. Do we go over and over our mistakes beating ourselves up for making a "stupid" decision? That is another affirmation affirming something and it is something we really don't want. We can be our own worst enemy sometimes.

How about "reality?" Maybe finances are in a negative spiral and there are many words blaming or reviewing the circumstances, worrying about the future, lamenting past foolish decisions, wishing it were different than it is, and on and on. Perhaps it is being said to you and you are repeating it to yourself, either agreeing or self analyzing. All affirmations.

So, sure. I want positive, pump-me-up stuff and frankly, I'm happy as heck to pay the people who took the trouble to produce the product. I get plenty of negative stuff everywhere I look, so the more positive stuff I can accumulate, the better. How else do you change where you're at? It certainly isn't the same thinking that got you there and it for sure isn't repeating the problem over and over again.

Time for some better affirmations. Maybe it's time to repeat them all day long for however long it takes. See it the way you want it and state it as if it is there now. It isn't necessarily easy to change, but it certainly is available to those who will simply reach out for it.

Join the club! I've joined and it is awesome!


I Am Smart, Handsome, Healthy, Successful and Happy!

Spread Some Joy Today--"I am" is probably the most powerful statement you can make. Fill in the blank the way you want it for everything in your life.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-11-10

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

-- William Shakespeare


"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment that you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get."

-- Matthew 7, The Bible



Of all the many thousands quotes I have ever seen, none is more powerful to me in my life than the one by William Shakespeare above. And I was thinking this morning of virtually every world problem that has ever existed has at the root of the matter, judgement between opposites and shading, whether good or bad; right or wrong; loving or hating; and the whole of the spectrum of comparison. It is most difficult to imagine, yet to attempt to live, a life without judgement. Yet, what a life it would be!

I have been working on this theme in earnest for several years now and I admit progress is evident, and the ideal is still desired and on the horizon. It has been difficult for me to change. It is also an exciting challenge. Indeed, the more I move toward this ideal, the more love and compassion I experience. What a concept!

It is also great fun. As I see something and my trained "reaction" is to judge the event, person, or circumstance, I catch and remind myself of "The Way." The Way has helped me so much to learn and grow rather than react:

The Way

There is only

Your Way
My Way
and
Their Way

There is no only way, just a way.

As I remind myself of The Way each and every day, I get better and more humble as well. Each way is a way. If I accept this, I get along nicely. Sure, I have a way. I always have a way (my opinions, my learned skills, knowledge gathered) that I could share. Yet the most important thing I've needed to realize is that it is only a way, not the way.

Each way will bring a result. That is true and certain. Not judging the result is equally important. The result is just the result. A much better question than is it good or bad, right or wrong, would be to ask if the results are what is desired? If not, another way might bring the desired results, yet it doesn't judge the way or the result as we are used to.

This takes me to blame. When I blame, I am judging. As I choose that I am "right," I can much more easily claim another to be "wrong" and thereby blame them for their wrongness by virtue of my righteousness. Of course, many of us blame ourselves for things as well as others. My experience is that blaming others or ourselves doesn't help anything.

Very interesting stuff. . .


Today I Will Use 'The Way' Throughout The Day.

Spread Some Joy Today--Share your calm confidence with everyone you interact with today. Let your heartlight be seen from a distance. Share your cheerful kindness.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-10-10

"The two things I did learn were that you are as powerful and strong as you allow yourself to be, and that the most difficult part of any endeavor is taking the first step, making the first decision."

-- Robyn Davidson

"My mother taught me very early to believe I could achieve any accomplishment I wanted to. The first was to walk without braces."

-- Wilma Rudolph


Sometimes I hear people say the can't do something. It is only lack of confidence in their own ability. Here is a short inspirational piece from Wikipedia:

"Wilma Rudolph was born prematurely at 4.5 lbs., with 19 brothers and sisters, and caught "infantile paralysis" (caused by the polio virus) as a very young child. She recovered, but wore a brace on her left leg and foot which had become twisted as a result. By the time she was twelve years old, she had also survived scarlet fever, whooping cough, chicken pox and measles. Her family drove her regularly from Clarksville, Tennessee to Nashville, Tennessee for treatments to straighten her twisted leg.

Wilma Rudolph at the finish line during 50 yard dash at track meet in Madison Square Garden, 1961

In 1952, 12-year-old Wilma Rudolph finally achieved her dream of shedding her handicap and becoming like other children. Wilma's older sister was on a basketball team, and Wilma vowed to follow in her footsteps. While in high school, Wilma was on the basketball team when she was spotted by Tennessee State track and field coach Edward S. Temple. Being discovered by Temple was a major break for a young athlete. The day he saw the tenth grader for the first time, he knew he had found a natural athlete. Wilma had already gained some track experience on Burt High School's track team two years before, mostly as a way to keep busy between basketball seasons.

While attending Burt High School, Rudolph became a basketball star, setting state records for scoring and leading her team to the state championship. By the time she was 16, she earned a berth on the U.S. Olympic track and field team and came home from the 1956 Melbourne Games with an Olympic bronze medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay.

At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome she won three Olympic titles; the 100 m, 200 m and the 4 × 100 m relay. As the temperature climbed toward 110 degrees, 80,000 spectators jammed the Stadio Olimpico. Rudolph ran the 100-meter dash in an impressive 11 seconds flat. However the time was not credited as a world record because it was wind-aided. She also won the 200-meter dash in 23.2 seconds, a new Olympic record. After these twin triumphs, she was being hailed throughout the world as "the fastest woman in history". Finally, on September 11, 1960, she combined with Tennessee State teammates Martha Hudson, Lucinda Williams and Barbara Jones to win the 400-meter relay in 44.5 seconds, setting a world record. Rudolph had a special, personal reason to hope for victory-to pay tribute to Jesse Owens, the celebrated American athlete who had been her inspiration, also the star of the 1936 Summyer Olympics, held in Berlin, Germany. Rudolph sprinted in the Drake Relays in Des Moines, IA and won first place.

Rudolph retired from track competition in 1962 after winning two races at a U.S.-Soviet meet."

You can do anything you set your mind to.


I Can, Can. Yes, I Can Can. You Know I Can, Can. I Am.

Spread Some Joy Today--Inspire someone with your confidence and your smile. It will inspire you more than them.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-9-10

"False friends are worse than open enemies."

-- Proverbs

"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away."

-- Raymond Hull

"We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others
that in the end we become disguised to ourselves."

-- Francois Duc de La Rochefoucauld


Did you ever know someone that you work with perhaps that is fairly nice to you, yet you just know in your heart that they would not hesitate to bring you down? Maybe it is even someone at church that you find has been talking you down to others. Not a good feeling, is it? Do we do any of that ourselves?

Ever find yourself talking others down to someone or a few people? Maybe it's the stupid boss who hasn't got a clue, or that other person who is such a thorn in your side. Or maybe you have listened to others doing this.

I have to admit, that I have been a party to all of that in the past and I've even been quite brutal about it with some. In recent years, I have mellowed greatly. Ask yourself this question: If they (the group or person you are talking with), are talking down this person and that person all the time, what might they be saying about you when they are talking with others? I'll never forget as a sales manager at a dealership, I called the service writers office on the intercom (remember those?) and he answered a question that thought that I clicked off. Then the service manager came into the room with the service writer and just went on and on about what an idiot I was and said it out in no uncertain terms. I got an earful about me.

Another thing that has really stuck with me is a quote from Abraham Lincoln: "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better." I have found this quote to be so helpful to me. It has really opened my eyes and my heart to learn to love some previously challenging people. You know what? I found they were just wonderful people. You know what else? I find that 99% are wonderful people. All trying and doing and failing and succeeding and living and working, and having many of the same fears.

We have learned to not be ourselves--especially in a business environment. I now go away from that and do my absolute best to just be as much me as I can and that will just have to do. I have no fear of losing a job since I have confidence in my abilities and value, so that helps me be more comfortable. I also avoid as much as possible talking down about others. I want to uplift others. If someone is in charge and they are not doing what I would do, that is just another way to do it. When you judge that what they do is right or wrong, there is the biggest problem, I've found. It's just another way and if you were in charge it would be done another way. It's sort of like personalities. We each have one and no two are alike.

Let's all let our love out rather than keep it hidden. This alone will change the world--especially your world.


I'm Building Up Myself And Others At The Same Time. We Can All Be Larger And More Loving.

Spread Some Joy Today--When someone starts talking others down, try changing the subject or saying something different. If that doesn't work, excuse yourself and walk quickly away. There is nothing to gain staying there except an earfull.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-8-10

"What counts can't always be counted;
what can be counted doesn't always count."

-- Albert Einstein

"It's good to have money and the things money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things money can't buy."

-- George Horace Lormier

"To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right."

-- Confucius


One of my very favorite quotes is the Albert Einstein quote above, "what counts can't always be counted; what can be counted doesn't always count." You might write that on a little card and carry it around for a week or so and read it often to let it just settle in nicely. It is such a lovely quote and so powerfully true.

This morning, I am relating that quote to business. For the past 38 years, I have been involved in sales and sales management and those things for most people are all about numbers. Numbers of sales, gross profits, commissions, monthly and annual projections, market share, are just a few of the numbers that come to mind. It seems much of the time as if it is all about what did you do today to put some numbers on the board. No numbers, equals a bad day. Some numbers, equals an okay day. Good numbers, equals a good day. Even if the boss isn't on you about the numbers today, you're on yourself about the numbers because you've been trained so well how important the numbers are.

"What can be counted, doesn't always count."

Here's one example of what I mean by that statement. You're working in sales for a business and you're selling as best you can. The company you work for cares a lot about the numbers. They are spending the money to move the numbers up by advertising and hiring the people. They are sincere about moving the numbers, but, they don't have a larger vision of what they want to do. They want more customers every day to bring in more sales and more profits, but they don't take care of the customers they have. There is no vision or plan for dealing with this. Many of the customers become disgruntled with the company for their lack of caring for their needs and wants. And it goes on every day just like the day before.

"What counts can't always be counted."

This is obviously how a lot of companies go out of business. They don't see a big enough picture and see how some things are so important, though they may not be seen that way today. It is like a small leak in a boat that goes unnoticed and unrepaired until the boat sinks.

Can we relate that to our personal lives? Do we smile at at others and act as if we care about them, love them, are glad to see them? Or, are they just there every day and that is the norm? Do we compliment them and uplift them with encouraging thoughts? Or, do we complain to them about what's not right today and how many things are not right in the world? Do we hug them as if we love them? Or, is it a glance as we move past them?

There is joy in every moment of every day that is available for the accepting of it. Joy is not something you receive from an event or situation, it is something you create out of thin air. Accepting it is powerful enough, but what is the best is sharing it with every one you meet, every day, every where. It counts better than any numbers could.


I'm Throwing Away My Calculator! I Count Differently Now! I Even Use My Fingers and Hands!

Spread Some Joy Today--When you get to work today, sit quietly for a few moments and think of something that makes you smile with your whole face. Hold that thought. Feel that thought. That's a bit of joy. Now share it by having that smile when you greet others today. Find something to compliment them on. People love compliments.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-7-10

"If we study the lives of great men and women carefully and unemotionally we find that, invariably, greatness was developed, tested and revealed through the darker periods of their lives. One of the largest tributaries of the river of greatness is always the stream of adversity."

-- Cavett Robert

"Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true."

-- Cinderella


Everyone has adversity in one way or another. There is plenty of it to go around. All you have to do is pick up any newspaper anywhere in the world, or listen to any news report on TV anywhere in the world, or listen to what many people talk about to each other, and it should then be clear to you that there is plenty of adversity to go around. What you will also find, if you step outside and look in, is that the vast majority of people "react" to these events or issues.

In my study of great people, the main difference is that they "respond" to adversity, they have learned that reacting is not helpful for what they are trying to achieve. There is a world of difference between reacting and responding--it's like the difference between a pinball and a bullet. Thomas Edison tried 10,000 different things to create the electric light bulb and if he had reacted to each event, I dare say he would not have gotten past ten. It could only be responding that would allow him to go on so long.

The other thing that is very clear in studying these people is their absolute tenacity in achieving their dreams and goals. They are rather like ants. They find an obstacle, and go around, go over, do whatever it takes to get where they were going. That tenacity only comes from belief. They believe they will succeed and they do. They don't let little things like bankruptcy, or impending doom (sound so ominous. . .) dissuade them from their target. That makes adversity seem like child's play!

Is it possible to not only accept adversity as a given, and welcome adversity as a tool, but also to be thankful and grateful for adversity as a blessing? Well, follow that path and you will soon see a completely different life. Imagine what it might be like. Practice it. It's becoming on you.


I'm Turning Mountains Into Molehills. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Here's a concept that is hard at first, but gets easier as you go and produces the most fantastic results: Anticipate adversity, embrace change, and believe right through it all.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-6-10

"It is not the critic that counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement. And at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

-- Theodore Roosevelt

Love that message . . .


I'm Doing. Going For It. Becoming. To Heck With What Others Think. Come On, Let's Roll!

Spread Some Joy Today--You don't see it often, but you can tell someone who has great confidence. You can see it in their face and their demeanor. It has an unmistakeable effect on others. That's now how you are not affecting others! Ain't it cool?

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-5-10

"If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind."

-- Seneca

"Those who cannot tell what they desire or expect still sigh and struggle with indefinite thoughts and vast wishes."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I had never considered that I might actually "plan" to do any of the things I do for the last time. I've always figured I'll die while I'm still doing what I love doing. When folks say they've heard I'm retired, I say with mock surprise, "Retired! Friend, you weren't listening! I said I was reFIRED! I'm not gonna ease up, shut up, let up, or give up until I'm taken up! Matter of fact, I'm just getting warmed up!"

-- Zig Ziglar
(At age 82, from his latest book, Embrace the Struggle, 2009)

Goals is one of those words that people have heard so many times, they hardly acknowledge it. It is also something that so many have done so little with. I have been one of those who has had some goals, and a lot of time had no real goals. I like the way Ralph Waldo Emerson put it about how they "still sigh and struggle with indefinite thoughts and vast wishes." I have had plenty of vast wishes in my time.

This is also true: the times when I really got things done was when I had a definite aim and a focus. That's essentially what a goal is except that most people think of a goal as having a time line or deadline. I think that is most people's problem with goal setting--the time table.

The active ingredient is really the desire; the knowing what is truly wanted and that desire will translate into action with a focus on that desire, and if that focus is maintained, the goal is a foregone conclusion. The time frame is of no material interest except as a way of keeping score on the path toward the desire. It is also not nearly as important as it is made out to be. That should make it easier on everyone.

The most important aspect of goals to me relates to Zig Ziglar's quote from his latest book. It is doing what you love. It is what drives him. It is what gives him joy and energy. It is a passion for him. With that, it is a really hard thing to not do it.

Every time I have lost my spark; my drive, my goals, I remember this quotation that I have always loved from Jack London: "I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."

To that I say, Yes and Amen! Or should I say, "Goooooaaaaaallllll!"


I'm ReFIRED! Got The Goals Goin' On!

Spread Some Joy Today--Share some of your boundless enthusiasm with everyone you meet today. There is nothing so contagious and joyful! You have the power to change yourself and others will want some of that too.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-4-10



"'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
'I don't much care where--' said Alice.
'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat"

-- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

"If you don't know where you are going,
you will probably end up somewhere else."

-- Laurence J Peter


Starts Tomorrow!

Today's CTS Daily Inspiration could lead to a lifelong world of inspiration through goals. I want to share an email I received from Darren Hardy with you. Darren Hardy is the person behind the reintroduction of Success magazine and what an awesome job he has done making it a thousand times better than it ever was in the past.

He is a very successful entrepreneur and the more I hear of him, the more I like. He has developed a program of 16 lessons, two per week for 8 weeks on setting and achieving goals. I have not seen this ahead of time, since he hasn't given it; however, based on what I do know about Darren Hardy, it should be well worth all of our time and energy.

So, I highly recommend following the link, watching the explanation video and then registering for this program. Did I mention it is FREE? It's FREE! Here's a copy of the email I received:



Designing the Best 10 Years of Your Life:


Your Personal Strategic Plan for Achieving Lifelong Goals
by Darren Hardy



Starting January, the 5th, 2010


Before we get started next week I wanted to share with you a personal message of WHY I am doing this program... And why for FREE (I always like to know someone's motivation)... And a little bit more about HOW it will work.


Please view my video message below:


CLICK HERE TO WATCH

----------------------------------------------------------

Taking Charge Of Our Lives! I Love It!

Spread Some Joy Today--Share this offer with your friends. What if it changed their life? What if it changed yours? No need to wonder. I'm confident that it will. There is nothing but joy in that!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-3-10

"I've come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy."

-- Anthony Robbins

"See things as you would have them be instead of as they are."

-- Robert Collier

"Picture yourself vividly as winning, and that alone will contribute immeasurably to success."

-- Harry Emerson Fosdick

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

-- Albert Einstein

We have so many opportunities to learn and to do. Sometimes we do things that don't work out, and sometimes they stick in our thinking a long time into the future. They need not. You can change the outcome in your mind and leave it as a success instead of the way it was.

A long time back in late 1979, I started a business full time. I opened a musical instrument store. It ended up that my wife and I both worked the store full time, giving up our previous incomes and relying on the store to take care of that loss. The store did well, and grew. Of course, growing has a cost, so we got through, but struggle was a word that described much of the process. After a year and a half, I gave up. There is more to that part of the story, but we sold everything off, paid everyone and came away with a little left. It didn't fail, I gave up. Quitting was the only failure.

The main problem was that I didn't have a big enough vision of the business. I thought I did, but I didn't. I know this now because I looked back and have made it a thorough success of it now by changing my thinking and making different and more effective and productive decisions. This is a really good and fun way to change your thoughts of past events: relive them, but revamp them! So, today, I went back and did it differently and I got a much improved and different result. Essentially, I repaired the memory.

Before, I only wanted to be in the store and run it. Truth is, that means I bought a job. That's not necessarily bad, there are hundreds of thousands of businesses that do that. Now, going back and changing, I have hired a manager to run the store, while I supervise periodically and keep it growing while I do what I need to do to move forward. I take less for myself, but I now can multiply my efforts over and over again. Now it is like a separate entity whereas in the past I was so closely tied to it, there was no separation. And now, it is a chain of successful stores.

Sure it isn't what actually happened in the past, but it sure is a great way to learn from it instead of feeling crappy about it, don't you think? Heck, you can do this with any memory of events or circumstances in your past. Make it the way you want it. Forget reality and make your own, and do it well.

The reason I share this is that it is all in how we think about things. It isn't what we're doing or what is happening to us, or around us. It is how we think about those things.

Do we see opportunities or do we see the lack of them? Do we see a business growing as an entity, or do we see ourselves doing a business? Do we stop short of success? Do we learn from what we call mistakes?

If not business, I know these same thoughts apply to every thing else we do. How we think about what we do is everything. It has everything to do with what we do in the future as well.

I see hope, opportunity, love, success, abundance, joy. It's the way those words make me feel. They make me feel good. That's as good a reason as I need.


This Time I Won't Stop. I Will Expand My Thinking!

Spread Some Joy Today--Who can you encourage today? It is the sweetest thing to receive. It costs you pretty much nothing but thought energy. Let's spend it lavishly since you're a Billionaire in thought energy! You have more than you could ever need.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-2-10

[re: Mickey Mouse]
"He popped out of my mind onto a drawing pad 20 years ago
on a train ride from Manhattan to Hollywood
at a time when business fortunes of my brother Roy and myself
were at lowest ebb and disaster seemed right around the corner."

-- Walt Disney

"Everything depends on the way we look at things. . .
The hopeful man sees success where others see failure,
sunshine where others see shadows and storm."

--Orison Swett Marden

"There is no such thing as a problem without a gift. . .
You seek problems because you need their gifts."

-- Richard Bach


I'll bet that if you kept a good, detailed diary over a long period that you would find that every problem brought you a blessing. Of course, they don't look or feel that way at the beginning or while we are experiencing them, but after the dust is settled, the benefit can be clearly seen. It has been said that everyone has 20/20 hindsight. What most of us could really use is 20/20 foresight so we could see the benefit up front and it would make it so much better dealing with the problem. Or, so we think. Truly, we may not have nearly the motivation knowing the outcome up front.

Looking back, I could give you a long list of problems I went through finding blessings on the other side. One thing that I have changed recently is making all the difference in how those problems feel. It's all about the feeling, isn't it? Many times, it feels unpleasant (saying it kindly) to deal with problems or to experience certain circumstances. The thing I changed is how I look at them. I see them and welcome them now as learning experiences and frankly, as blessings. I know absolutely that I am going to be better, things will be better and I will feel better afterward, so I have chosen to feel good about them up front. I tell you this: it makes all the difference in the world what they feel like. No more being unhappy about them, putting up with it, dealing with it, complaining about them. Now, I praise them, look forward to them and even get excited about them. Of course, I am a work in progress, so it does get easier and better as I move forward.

What is really interesting is to look at other people and watch them go through what I used to go through. It's like watching someone smoking. I think, "man, I'm so glad I don't do that any more!" It is empowering and energizing and affirming.

Another interesting thing is to read about others like the Walt Disney quote above. I know that was a very long time ago, but look where he and his brother were and where their lives and where the little company went. It went off the charts! It became a world wide mega business and is still growing even 43 years after Walt Disney's death in 1966. Matter of fact, it grew many times the size it was when he died. That is a powerful legacy.

Think of what can be done when you believe in yourself and know that you are going to do something special. Persistence, vision, tenacity, hope, faith, joy, laughter, confidence, dream are words that come to mind.

What was that problem again?


I Enjoy The Journey and See Opportunity Everywhere!

Spread Some Joy Today--Try thinking differently just for today. Pretend that money is not an object of concern. You're at a party and someone important asks what you do and why you do it. You answer, "________________________ . . ."

Friday, January 1, 2010

Daily Inspiration 1-1-10

"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business."

-- Henry Ford

"A job is something you do for money. A career is something you do because you have an inner calling to do it. You want to do it. You love doing it. You're excited when you do it. And you'd do it even if you were paid nothing beyond food and the basics. You'd do it because it's your life."

-- Denis Waitley

"You reach a point where you don't work for money."

--Walt Disney


I think most people get this concept of not working for money, but a very small number ever experience it for themselves.

I was consulting with an auto dealer and had a meeting with their entire management staff (a large gathering. . .). I asked them what the company goals were. They had two: One was to be profitable, and the other was to be in a special dealer group acknowledged by the factory. I said that those goals were way too small and that those goals did not motivate anyone in the store except a very few senior executives. I said that the goal must be much more grand than this and that it has to appeal to the people who do the work.

They weren't very pleased with me at that meeting, but the truth is that their goals had no draw. I am certain that it didn't even motivate the managers, let alone the rest of the employees. A goal to be profitable is almost meaningless to an employee, though it may mean a great deal to an owner. That's why it isn't big enough. It includes very few. As Henry Ford said so eloquently, "a business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business." Henry Ford had extremely grand goals and visions of his enterprises.

How big is your dream for your business? How big is your dream for yourself? Napoleon Hill said it well: "A goal is a dream with a deadline." Does your goal have drawing power? Does it get you out of bed in the morning, raring to go? It will if you love doing it.

I've had very few jobs in my life. Mainly it has been a career. Most of it I have loved doing even when it challenged me to do something I've never done, and I've grown immensely as a result. And now in the last three years, I have such a passion for what I do that I can hardly stand it and it challenges me almost every day. Some of what I do makes no money at all at the moment, but it doesn't matter a bit. It is all part of the joy of doing it and knowing where I am going with it. I tell you that is a powerful and exciting place to be.

Even if you are in a position that is not exactly where you want to be or working for someone who isn't the greatest, you can find that passion within you and you can work yourself right through it toward what you really want. In Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, he says to decide what you want and work right where you are giving everything you have to it with all your power of focus, and things will begin to change for you. Oh, the hope in that! (By the way, if you haven't read this book, I highly recommend to get it immediately! It is a book worth serious study.)




I Work Because I Love To Do It!

Spread Some Joy Today--Close your eyes. Imagine what it would be like if everyone at your place of employment absolutely loved doing what they do. How would they look? How would they talk? How would they interact with each other and customers? Got it? Okay, now pretend you are one of them. Just for today. . .