Daily Inspiration 6-30-14

"Any change, 

even a change for the better, 

is always accompanied by 

drawbacks and discomforts." 

-- Arnold Bennett 

Yesterday I talked about not feeling up to par and working through that to get back on track, and today, I had some of the same things, only not to the degree of yesterday. Then, finally, this evening, it hit me what it was. I have been needing to change a thing or two and have been reluctant to do so. That's where the resistance was coming from.

When you have something that you know is in your best interests, though it sounds so easy, often it isn't so easy to make that change. It's only going to stick when it becomes something I want to do versus something I need to do. The spiritual work is to come into alignment to the point that I want to do this thing. That might take years. I know that so well, then one day, it just washes over you to let go and allow the change. I remember always that the resistance is like me playing tug-o-war with myself which I only win by letting go of the rope. Today, I realized that I was there after a weekend of tug-o-war.

It's not about letting go of something you no longer want, but more a wanting of something new or better. It's not about what is wrong, but more a matter of what the benefits are to my internal well being, or rather my joy.

Ever since I decided on my rest-of-my-life single goal to enjoy myself, I've noticed things that I do that I used to enjoy, or at least I thought I did, and I noticed things that I do out of habit that is connected to some mysterious place, that I really don't like much anymore if I were telling the truth about it. Isn't it funny how we lie to ourselves about stuff like that? It's one of those things on the list of 'that doesn't make sense.'

Forty-four days ago, I gave up the wheat with no fake replacements. It was just an experiment to see if I could since wheat is so pervasive in our culture. I thought it would be hard, but it wasn't. I have seen many benefits and I think my success with this helped me with the other things I want to change.

Now, I want to change, and after my experiment, I know for sure that I can and I also know that it will be easy. I just had to come to a conclusion, let go of that stupid rope I've been holding on to for no really good reason, and move on. I'm there.


What A Relief To Know What The Resistance Was. 

Spread Some Joy Today--You're in total control of your joy since it comes from within, never from without.

Daily Inspiration 6-29-14

"Awareness is the greatest 

agent for change." 

-- Eckhart Tolle 

People say I'm the most positive person they know and I'm happy that they think that because that is exactly what I want to be, and often am. However, there are days when I'm just not feeling as good as I would like and today was one of those days.

I was working on the Internet for some clients and got some things done, had to get up and went to walk the dog and enjoy the warm sunshine and get us both out of the office. I wasn't unhappy exactly today, but not as happy as I often am. I think the main thing that causes this for me is that I get lost in the past a bit. 

Memories are interesting sometimes and I have millions of them, and I was noticing that pretty much everything on my walls and around me is something from the past, whether photos, plaques, memorabilia. Each of these I see causes a memory of some kind from them, and often I will not spend any time on that, but today, I think I sort of got lost in some of it.

The other thing I do that causes physical discomfort is that when I am thinking about the past, I have a tendency to eat too much. Seems like that just goes along for the ride.

In years gone by, I did this a lot and for long periods, but now my saving grace is awareness of what I am doing. I am paying attention to how I feel and as I realize that I am feeling poorly, I want to feel better and can do something right away about it, or at least sometime during the day.

What I was going through mentally was resistance. I can feel it in my gut and also my shallow breathing. So, I felt the resistance, realized my breathing and I started breathing more deeply. After a few minutes of that, I was already much better. Then, I started finding things to be grateful for and to appreciate, and pretty soon I was back with the living and in the present instead of the past.

I like how Eckhart Tolle says this in more detail: "Always say "yes" to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane, than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say "yes" to life--and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you." I had to highlight the one very short sentence in there that says to 'surrender to what is.' What a powerful reminder to learn to allow rather than resist.


"If You Get The Inside Right, The Outside Will Fall Into Place. Primary Reality Is Within; Secondary Reality Without." -- Eckhart Tolle 

Spread Some Joy Today--Lighten up on yourself. Find 25 things to praise yourself about.

Daily Inspiration 6-28-14

"Knowledge is said to be power, 

but habit is what rules." 

-- Albert K Strong 

Today in a class I was sharing some thoughts I had on the way to the dealership for training. I have studied for a lot of years--earnestly for over 40 years--and much of what I learned in the first few years was sufficient to do very well, yet I have found that knowledge is powerful and helpful, but habit is what rules.

I might have the knowledge. I may have even studied it with vim and vigor, but the only way it ever becomes effective in my life and activated within me is when it becomes a habit. The great Og Mandino, who should know, said that "only a habit can subdue another habit." So, if I want to change my habitual patterns, I need to actively overwrite those other habits with the ones I prefer, otherwise, all the knowledge in the world will just be a library in my head.

The audiobook and matching book, The Secret, changed my life. It was exactly what I needed when I needed it. I had been attracting it for some time, and when I first heard it, I knew that I did not want to know it from a knowledge point of view, or even know it enough to teach it. No, I wanted it to become me. I wanted to live the rest of my life that way. So to help create the new habits, I listened so many times that it became me, and now I live that way every day. And, by the way, not in the perfection of it, but in the practice of it. It requires practice to become a habit and a belief because a belief is just a thought that we keep thinking.

So, whatever it is, whether it is wanting to be a really good sales prospector, engineer, business person, whatever, we need to desire it and practice it, live it, feel it in our lives and it will in short time become us. Success is just a practiced art, and habit rules that domain.


"We Must First Make Our Habits, Then Our Habits Make Us." -- John Dryden 

Spread Some Joy Today--Call a friend. Share your joy with them.

Daily Inspiration 6-27-14

"We often exaggerate 

our own importance 

relative to those beneath us." 

-- Albert K Strong 

The ego is an amazing device that can, on occasion, protect us, but more often is liar of our own importance relative to the world and to each other. It's amazing how important we can make ourselves, and under other circumstances we may not know our bottom from a hole in the ground.

I figured out early on in the business world that moving upward is harder only for one reason: there are fewer positions as we move upward. There is only one CEO, but there might be thousands of drivers, line workers, office personnel and more. So, when moving up, there are two challenges. One is having the space to move into. The other is having the space you move out of covered.

We can't be having the place disrupted by not getting the work done. As a result of this outlook, I've never, ever feared anyone who wanted my job. Instead, I often encouraged others to want it and learn enough to be able to do it when the time came. It's good to have the bases covered when the guy or gal above me leaves, gets fired, or gets sick.

Because I prepared and learned all I could about the position above me, I was able to take advantage of those situations and also be able to operate to a certain degree from the start.

In my own company, I want people to be able to take over whatever little amount I might do and not lose any momentum. I want the business to grow and become long after I'm out of it, or on to other things. There's no good reason to build a business and then watch it dissolve.

What that means to me is to learn to delegate as much as possible. My ego might want me to hold on to it, but I know better. I have also learned another valuable lesson. There are people who can do it so much better than I can. That's a revelation, but a good one to get in touch with. There is nothing more inspiring and productive than to surround yourself with people who excel and for me to be a part of it, or have a hand in it.

Raising children is a constant process of allowing and letting go. A business is like raising a family in that sense. 


Who's Coming Up? 

Spread Some Joy Today--Help someone along their way. It will do you better good than them, I'm sure.

Daily Inspiration 6-26-14

"When you try to do things, 

and they will not go the way you want, 

leave them alone." 

-- White Eagle 

I found the above quote so true and perfectly stated. It is also an idea that is promoted much by Esther Hicks and the teachings of Abraham, and I have added it to my life with excellent results.

It doesn't matter how committed you are to something or how important it is to you, there are just sometimes when nothing is going well, going right, or there is some kind of blockage. Who knows what it is, and the reason there is a blockage doesn't really matter either. What is happening is that the energy is just not flowing. After five years of daily messages, I'm committed to the CTS Daily Inspirations, and I typically do them before I go to bed at night. Once in a while, no matter how much I want the idea to come, or no matter how many quotes I might look at, I am blank on something I want to share.

I have learned that the best thing to do in this case is to go to bed and let it all go. The next morning, or sometimes in the middle of the night, I am awake with a message in my head after several hours of leaving it alone. It is amazing how that happens, and now I use it in everything I do. If it isn't coming, and I've given it my best shot, I let it go and come back to it later with a fresh perspective. Often I come back with a better solution than I might have come up with before.


There Is Something So Powerful In Letting Go For A While. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing yourself to be yourself. Sometimes we are so hung up on being what others want or expect. There is a letting go in this that is equally powerful.

Daily Inspiration 6-25-14

"Send them love. 

Wish them peace. 

See them happy. 

Everyone, always, forever. 

And prepare to be astounded." 

-- The Universe, aka Mike Dooley 

Accepting and living the message above is tantamount to the biggest challenge of my life. I have accepted the challenge. I desire to live this kind of life. I want this for myself. I'm better at it all the time, and as long as I am willing to practice it, catch myself as soon as I am off track and realize it and then get back on track, it is so awesome and powerful.

As I do this, I find that I attract less of the people who might be ones that I have a hard time feeling this way about. So, that is a good thing. Still, from time to time, I feel the challenge of not feeling good and yet wanting to, but I would surely like to find a day when it is automatic for me, where I don't get off track.

The bigger part is that in practicing doing this with others, I also need to remember to pay myself the same love and respect, peace and wellness that I send to others. It used to be thought of as good to be selfless, but I have found that I need to be self-full in order to be better at giving this unconditional love to others. In fact, I think it is easier to give to others but without it coming from a whole person, it is not nearly what it could be.

Consider accepting the same challenge if you haven't already. It is a work (more like play) that is worthy.


"Whoever Believes In The Good In People, Draws Forth The Good In People." -- Jean Paul 

Spread Some Joy Today--Help someone in some way that makes a difference to both of you.

Daily Inspiration 6-24-14

"Success is easy." 

-- Jim Rohn 

Early yesterday morning three of us were having a conversation. One was talking about the price needed to pay to do well. That phrase hit me because I've heard that so many times from so many people as if it isn't easy and the price means that it is costly, or another way it is often said is that you have to put your nose to the grindstone and work hard, some even add other hardships like you have to work hard into the night, or pay a higher price than anyone else and other such statements. I used to believe that and may have even promoted that idea myself, but no more. My clearest statement about success now is that if it isn't easy, it won't get done.

So much of the sales and management training, personal development and so on that I've been through talked about the 3% factor. They say that 97% fail, only 3% "succeed" by earning plus or minus 10% of what they spend. And, then they talk about the 1% that is financially independent. Who wants to join a club where only 1 or 3% succeed? The truth is everyone succeeds. Everyone acts based on their internal highest values.

Jim Rohn was one of my earliest mentors about business after hearing him on a cassette tape back in 1980 for the first time. He is one of those that promoted the hard work of it all, but he did it with humility and style. Here is an excerpt that speaks volumes about success and how it is easy and needs to be easy, and it was matching his desires with his highest values that caused this to be true in his life:

"People often ask me how I became successful in that six-year period of time while many of the people I knew did not. The answer is simple: The things I found to be easy to do, they found to be easy not to do. I found it easy to set the goals that could change my life. They found it easy not to. I found it easy to read the books that could affect my thinking and ideas. They found that easy not to. I found it easy to attend the classes and the seminars, and to get around other successful people. They said it probably really wouldn't matter. If I had to sum it up, I would say what I found to be easy to do, they found to be easy not to do."

I have learned that if it is going to get done, it needs to be easy, otherwise we will have to rely on external motivation all the time. Sales prospecting has to be fun and easy or it won't get done consistently. I love my work, and that makes it not work, but fun and so it gets done. It must speak to our highest values to get done, and the good news is that if we want to, we can link the things that don't seem like fun to our highest values, thereby making them fun. Then, they will get done. As Jim says, success is easy. Or not. Guess which one works consistently?


Life Is Only Hard If You Think It Is. If You Think It Is, Maybe It's Time To Think Again. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of all the struggles in your life. Just for today. Pretend you're wealthy and don't have to do anything. Now go do what you enjoy. It is even possible that is what you do for a living!

Daily Inspiration 6-23-14

"Don't let your special character 

and values, the secret that you know 

and no one else does, the truth-- 

don't let that get swallowed up 

by the great chewing complacency." 

-- Aesop, 620 BC - 564 BC 

As I was looking at notes from The Values Factor book, I ran across the quote above and I just had to share it. First of all, it is a very powerful message, and secondly, it was stated a very long time ago. There was plenty of knowledge in the past, it is just that they had a terrible distribution system, unlike the Internet of today. What a challenge it must have been to disseminate information back then.

What I get out of this quote and why it jumped off the page for me is that I think he is saying that we need to love and respect ourselves and that each of us is important. Indeed, more than just important, each of us has a special and unique character and values, just as Dr. John Demartini has been teaching me through this book.

The quote also says to not hide your specialness, but to find a way to express it. There is a great benefit in that for ourselves and for others too. It also says that this special character and unique values are our truth. Each of us has our own truth by that statement and that there is no such thing as THE truth.

And, last, he cautions us to not to just give in by fitting in. Our truth, our real self, our inner self, our uniqueness needs to be expressed and be alive in us. When we give in to the crowd, the pack, the group, we must let go of that in order to fit into other peoples values. Dilution is not a good solution and full strength is the best strategy.

In short, we need to be ourselves, to love ourselves for who and what we are in our travels to wherever we are going. If we can find a way to express ourselves along the way, to respect ourselves and each other for all our uniqueness, I cannot think of a better formula for success.


What Are Your Highest And Unique Values That Beg For Expression? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of any stress like dropping the tug-o-war rope, and turning to see those issues from the point of view of joy. Just because something looks like a problem, doesn't mean that it really is. What you perceive, you receive.

Daily Inspiration 6-22-14

"Maximum growth and development 

occur at the border of support and challenge, 

ease and difficulty, order and disorder." 

-- Dr. John F Demartini 

I have no idea where I got the idea that by finding the right partner, the right job, the right place to live, and other such concepts, would lead me to have ease without difficulty, support without challenge, and order without disorder, yet I seem to have had that thought or thoughts and that often led to frustration. It's not just that the grass might be greener on the other side of the fence, but thinking that it will never get weeds and never needs mowing generally doesn't enter our minds as we see all that green beyond the fence.

Dr. Demartini says, "many people live in a fantasy that they can have ease without difficulty and support without challenge. Then, when they encounter difficulties and challenges, they feel frustrated, almost insulted, that life isn't working out the way they'd fantasized. He adds, "the amount of challenge that you think belongs in your life is not necessarily the amount of challenge that life is going to throw at you. It is all about your perceptions." He advises that "when we live according to our highest values and embrace both support and challenge equally, we grow and develop most efficiently and fulfill our most inspired missions."

We might often see these challenges as obstacles that are in the way of what we want. And, here Dr. Demartini says something that really helped me change my perception. He said, "Obstacles are not in your way, but simply on your way."

To see challenge and support equally is to realize that our perceived problems or challenges are not in our way, but simply on our way is to lead an inspired life. There is nothing in nature, he says, that has support without challenge, or only challenge without support. There is no such thing, and even if there were, there would be no life for it is in the challenges, and especially at the border of challenge and support that we grow and are alive.


It Is Amazing How One Sentence Can Change Perceptions. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by focusing on loving yourself today--the whole of you, not just parts.

Daily Inspiration 6-21-14

"What we value most 

shapes how we process information, 

what we remember, and how we act, 

so that our minds, emotions, and intentions 

all work together to fulfill 

those most meaningful values." 

-- Dr. John F. Demartini 

Last year, Dr. John F. Demartini published yet another great book titled, The Values Factor: The Secret to Creating an Inspired and Fulfilling Life. Now, I'm tired of seeing the phrase, "the secret" in the title of books because in my lengthy study, there are so many who claim THE secret, when there aren't really any secrets, just points of view. Now, I also admit that I have found so many of these points of view to be not only interesting, and informative, yet, sometimes transforming. This book is in the upper echelons of that mix.

I highly recommend the audio version of this book which is 12+ hours long and took me from just below Yakima, Washington all the way to Vacaville CA to read. It would have been much more of a project to complete reading with my eyes, and in this particular case, I think the audio is helpful and user friendly. Audible.com and my iPhone app took care of all I needed.

I am reeling from the experience of listening to this. I am now amazed at how often I have beat myself up again and again for not doing something that I think I need to do, should do, and so on, and this book tells you why that happens and how to change it from torture to joy. I also have to warn you that this is a practical book with a proven message and is not for the faint of heart, yet it is for everyone who wants to know why we beat ourselves up so often and why we don't achieve that which we say we want and so much more.

It all comes down to our highest values. The interesting thing to me about this book is how Dr. Demartini sees everyone on the planet as powerful, yet often people don't realize it, or they accept other peoples values instead of their own. He talks (or, rather the narrator) of case studies that are fascinating and might even remarkably come close to our own situations.

For example, this passage is telling: "Anytime you find yourself saying, "I should. . .," "I need to. . .," or "I really must. . .," you can be pretty certain that you are talking about social idealisms or the values of some external authority instead of expressing your own true highest values. When you hear yourself saying, "I desire to. . ..," "I choose to. . .," or "I love to. . .," then you know that you are talking about a goal that is truly valuable to you. Those goals you will inevitably achieve because they align with your highest values."

I saw so much on this trip and have yet to even process it all; however, this I know for sure: I learned a lot just by plugging in my headphones while I was enjoying the view. One thousand, nine hundred and thirty two miles of it. When we finally got home at 1:15am this morning, Charlie was dancing around the living room with joy! He loves to travel, but he was as glad as me to be home--maybe more so.


Old Dogs Can Learn New Tricks. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by hugging someone you love.

Daily Inspiration 6-20-14

"Peace is the result of retraining your mind

to process life as it is,

rather than as you think it should be."

-- Wayne Dyer

I've learned much on this trip. For example, no matter who planned what, there is a tendency for things to not work according to plan. There are a lot of reasons for that that I need not go into, except to say that life sometimes is a series of constant interruptions, and this is especially true in businesses and in families with teenagers.

It is only a problem with me if I were tied to a specific outcome, and as I have learned oh so well, if I just learn to go with the flow, the flow will take good care of everyone involved. And, it has this week.

Today, I was at a dealership doing some commercial truck videos and teaching several people how to do it. It didn't even get going until mid-afternoon; however, once started, it was flat amazing how much we got done and also how well it all turned out. There were so many interruptions earlier in the day and even during the videos, but it came out perfectly anyway. This is the power of going with the flow.

I had a desire in mind, but I did not concern myself whether it would be fulfilled or not. In fact, I was willing to scrap the whole trip if necessary in order to be of service, and yet it all worked out wonderfully. That includes the weather, wind, street noise and other issues. How marvelous is that?

This whole trip has gone exactly that way. I missed my turn and went way out of my way yesterday by almost two hours and it was such a blessing to see two fantastic valleys in the Yakima WA area. I had no intention of going to Yakima, but there I was making the best of it and it was the best of it. Charlie is enjoying the adventure as well.

Then, this morning driving from Hood River OR (did I say beautimous?) into Portland at 60-something degrees at 8am and clear blue skies. . . oh, my goodness what a gorgeous drive. Then I missed my turn and got to use Siri on my phone for the second time. Where was this great voice and directions all my life? Whoa. Did I say awesome? Turn here, turn here, I turned there, she refocuses without a hitch and re-guides me. Flat amazing.

The list of issues that could have been upsetting issues, along with the list of mistakes that could have been upsetting mistakes is long on this trip, and it hasn't fazed me in the slightest. I am going with the flow, bending with the wind, not caring so much about any specific outcome. The food is better, the accommodations are better, the connections with people are better. Isn't that amazing? Plus I've read almost 3 books and learned an amazing number of things and will finish 4 by the time I'm home. I don't know how it could get any better.


No Worries, Mate!

Spread Some Joy Today--Let go of expectations, and just flow with it.

Daily Inspiration 6-19-14

"It is never too late

to give up our prejudices."

-- Henry David Thoreau

Prejudices are one of those words that have been said enough, but it doesn't seem to have the impact it could have. Maybe a better way is PRE-judgments, or Pre-Judge, or just judging before you know what the heck you're talking about.

Once it is presented more thoroughly like that, it should take on a different appearance perhaps. When it is said like that it makes it seem silly, uneducated, unsophisticated, unfair, and certainly unwarranted. In fact, now it seems more like something to run away from than to embrace or accept.


What Would Really Help Is Simply To Make Our Own Decisions And Adapt Our Own Values Rather Than Those Of Others?

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of all those judgments and love people the way they are without any insistence that they satisfy us.

Daily Inspiration 6-18-14

"No matter how much fault

you find with another,

it will not change you."

-- Wayne Dyer

The more I learn, the more I see that there is nothing in another that I need to find fault in. I'm certain that I have plenty to go around. I have enough to share with others should they want some, but I don't think anyone is interested. Yet, no matter what I might find that I think is wrong with another person, I am still me. It certainly doesn't help. In fact, Wayne Dyer adds that "all blame is a waste of time."

Whatever my current outside circumstances, all my happiness and joy lies within me and not without me. I am constantly reminding myself now, catching myself mid-thought much of the time to turn that fault finding mission to praise and appreciation.

And, here is the most important thing: most of my negative thinking is me about me. It is me finding fault with myself. I don't need to find fault with others because I've done such a good job over the years of finding it in me. Strange but true.

The good news is that I've realized all of this, and I know how to turn it all around. The trick is to catch it quickly, let it go and choose a better feeling thought. Even if I am not paying attention to a specific thought, I have learned to pay attention to how I am feeling and often I realize that I am tensing up, or my stomach muscles are tightening, and little clues like that. As soon as I feel that, take a breath, choose something, anything in my view or that I can bring to mind to appreciate and be thankful for, and instantly I am back on target.

It used to be that I would have one negative thought, then another, and another, and they would build upon one another until I became upset, angry or just bummed. Now it rarely gets to that point. Awareness is power, and then I can choose better feeling thoughts, then more, and more. Circumstances do not guide my life, my choices do, and as long as I get to choose, I am going to choose to feel good.


No Matter How Many Praiseworthy Things I Find With Others, It Will Not Change Me. That's Because I Wouldn't Have Seen Them Without Changing Me.

Spread Some Joy Today--Praise yourself. Find praiseworthy things to recognize. Feel good about yourself, love yourself.

Daily Inspiration 6-17-14

"The secret of education 

lies in respecting the pupil." 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

I find this so true, and one of the best ways to respect the pupil is to have the learning be interesting and fun. 

I've stated many times that I became a serious (as in actually doing it!) reader in my early twenties. I also mentioned a few times how much audiobooks did for me in my 52 mile daily commute for four years I did in the late 80s and early 90s. I bought and read somewhere around 120 books on cassette tape back then and still have many of them. Later I switched to CD's and now it is even easier.

I just took a 900 mile trip and listened or 'read' two complete books. Besides doing a far better job of keeping me awake and alert than music, I get to learn so much with so little effort.

If I might recommend a product and service that I have found to be impressive, I highly recommend www.Audible.com, which is owned by Amazon.com. With the Gold membership you pay around $14 per month and get a credit and one credit buys any audiobook, even ones that sell for over $50. It is a silly bargain, and I have now amassed around 50 audiobooks this way.

But here's the best part. I have an app on my iPhone and download the book to my phone and listen away. So, so easy, and so beneficial.

If you haven't got much time to read, and I understand that, this is the answer to get the info and have it easily fit into your schedule.

One of the ones I listened to yesterday was Jeffrey Gitomer's Little Black Book of Networking and anyone can benefit from the wonderful and in depth presentation of that material read by the author himself. Outstanding stuff. I will listen to two more on the way home at least. I love it.


Learning Is Fun, And Making It Easy Helps! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by sharing something you're passionate about!

Daily Inspiration 6-16-14

"Opportunity never knocks. 

It hangs thick in the air all around you. 

You breathe it unthinking, 

and dissipate it with your sighs." 

-- Roy H Williams 

Opportunity is a perception. One might perceive that opportunities are limited and that there isn't enough of them to go around, or one could see them as grains of sand in the Sahara Desert, so plentiful that they remain uncountable, and all the perceptions in between. It is also a personal view, adding to a personal belief and philosophy that has an effect on much of what we do, and the choices we make or fail to make. Yet, it is not static. It can change, and as it is changed, results and effects are changed.

I was talking with an upbeat young man about job hunting and finding work and different ways to go about that. A common approach with young people is to have them go out and get applications and fill them out like throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping something sticks. A numbers game.

Here are some things I shared with him. First, I've hired a lot of people and I would never, ever, run an ad in the newspaper. Why? Because of the dribble, I have to wade through in order to find a decent candidate. I tried it a few times so I have experience, but never again and not for the last 25 years anyway.

Second, there are so many who just go into popular places and pick up applications. What a waste of time generally, and the odds of winning at that are slim. Again, it's a numbers game, and the numbers are not in one's favor with this path.

Third. I've had a lot of jobs and different kinds of experiences and I can think of only two positions where I ever filled out an application before I got the job. All the others, I filled it out after I got the job. I think many young people think that doesn't make sense, but it makes all the sense in the world.

Fourth, it is who you know. We all need somebody. Put the word out in a lot of different ways of what you might be looking for in the way of an opportunity and it is amazing how this person knows that person who knows this person who thinks there is an opening. It's called networking.

Fifth, find some 'centers of influence' and get to know them. These are people who know a lot of people and who are benevolent and excited about helping others to succeed. Many are entrepreneurs and they appreciate gumption and self-starters.

Sixth, why follow the path everyone else is on. There are so many businesses that need part-time help from electrical contractors to auto dealers to light manufacturing to beauty shops to you name it. Forget the mall because everyone and his brother are going there, find a different path. The opportunities are endless.

And seventh, what about starting your own business? This is especially good for freedom of time to work around school schedules and more. The point is that there are so many ways that are ignored, or just not thought of, and networking is the first place to start. Of course, the same things apply to adults looking for a job or opportunity.


What We See Is What We Get. But, We Can Open Our Eyes And See Much More. 

Spread Some Joy Today--There is such joy in new ideas and new excitement! It's the best.

Daily Inspiration 6-15-14

"He didn't tell me how to live; 

he lived, and let me watch him do it." 

-- Clarence Budington Kelland 

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there, whether you are a biological father or a father figure, I salute you. This quote above is wonderful because it indicates the kind of father that is leading by example, maybe even failing by example from time to time, and yet transparent enough so that whom ever is within the life zone of that person sees that they are genuine. And, there is one other thing and that is that they do it from a foundation of love. Who would need to ask for more?


Happy Father's Day! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Hug a father!

Daily Inspiration 6-14-14

"A person is limited

only by the thoughts that he chooses." 

-- James Allen 

"No matter how old you are now. You are never too young or too old for success or going after what you want. Here's a short list of people who accomplished great things at different ages

1) Helen Keller, at the age of 19 months, became deaf and blind. But that didn't stop her. She was the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
2) Mozart was already competent on keyboard and violin; he composed from the age of 5.
3) Shirley Temple was 6 when she became a movie star on "Bright Eyes."
4) Anne Frank was 12 when she wrote the diary of Anne Frank.
5) Magnus Carlsen became a chess Grandmaster at the age of 13.
6) Nadia Comăneci was a gymnast from Romania that scored seven perfect 10.0 and won three gold medals at the Olympics at age 14.
7) Tenzin Gyatso was formally recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama in November 1950, at the age of 15.
8) Pele, a soccer superstar, was 17 years old when he won the world cup in 1958 with Brazil.
9) Elvis was a superstar by age 19.
10) John Lennon was 20 years and Paul McCartney was 18 when the Beatles had their first concert in 1961.
11) Jesse Owens was 22 when he won 4 gold medals in Berlin 1936.
12) Beethoven was a piano virtuoso by age 23
13) Issac Newton wrote Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica at age 24
14) Roger Bannister was 25 when he broke the 4 minute mile record
15) Albert Einstein was 26 when he wrote the theory of relativity
16) Lance E. Armstrong was 27 when he won the Tour de France
17) Michelangelo created two of the greatest sculptures "David" and "Pieta" by age 28
18) Alexander the Great, by age 29, had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world
19) J.K. Rowling was 30 years old when she finished the first manuscript of Harry Potter
20) Amelia Earhart was 31 years old when she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
21) Oprah was 32 when she started her talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind
22) Edmund Hillary was 33 when he became the first man to reach Mount Everest
23) Martin Luther King Jr. was 34 when he wrote the speech "I Have a Dream."
24) Marie Curie was 35 years old when she got nominated for a Nobel Prize in Physics
25) The Wright brothers, Orville (32) and Wilbur (36) invented and built the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight
26) Vincent Van Gogh was 37 when he died virtually unknown, yet his paintings today are worth millions.
27) Neil Armstrong was 38 when he became the first man to set foot on the moon.
28) Mark Twain was 40 when he wrote "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", and 49 years old when he wrote "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
29) Christopher Columbus was 41 when he discovered the Americas
30) Rosa Parks was 42 when she refused to obey the bus driver's order to give up her seat to make room for a white passenger
31) John F. Kennedy was 43 years old when he became President of the United States
32) Henry Ford Was 45 when the Ford T came out.
33) Suzanne Collins was 46 when she wrote "The Hunger Games"
34) Charles Darwin was 50 years old when his book On the Origin of Species came out.
35) Leonardo Da Vinci was 51 years old when he painted the Mona Lisa.
36) Abraham Lincoln was 52 when he became president.
37) Ray Kroc Was 53 when he bought the McDonalds Franchise and took it to unprecedented levels.
38) Dr. Seuss was 54 when he wrote "The Cat in the Hat".
39) Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III was 57 years old when he successfully ditched US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009. All of the 155 passengers aboard the aircraft survived
40) Colonel Harland Sanders was 61 when he started the KFC Franchise
41) J.R.R Tolkien was 62 when the Lord of the Ring books came out
42) Ronald Reagan was 69 when he became President of the US
43) Jack LaLanne at age 70 handcuffed, shackled, towed 70 rowboats
44) Nelson Mandela was 76 when he became President"

 --Pablo.


Boy, I Got Off Easy On This One, But It Was So Well Said I Couldn't Resist. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by releasing those self-imposed limitations. Do it anyway. Do it for the heck of it. Do it for the joy in it.

Daily Inspiration 6-13-14

"Man needs, for his happiness,

not only the enjoyment of this or that,

but hope and enterprise and change."

-- Bertrand Russell   

Claire, a dear Daily Inspirations friend and client sent me a link to the following video, and I just had to share it because it is amazing. If you ever get to thinking that life is a big challenge and you feel things are going against you, take a pause and come back and watch this video again. The joy that is expressed in this is the most amazing part. The ear to ear grin, the best outlook. It makes any of our problems seem lame. Enjoy.

"To Live Happily Is An Inward Power Of The Soul." -- Aristotle

Spread some joy today by feeling the way the guy in the video feels about his life.

Daily Inspiration 6-12-14

"Life is full

of obstacle illusions."

-- Grant Frazier

I've been reintroduced to goal setting philosophies as part of a youth mentoring program I just entered. Let's see, there are short-term and long-term goals, then there is the SMART goal system--Specific requiring precise action, Measurable and tangible so we can see it coming together, Attainable so that we aren't just dreaming, Realistic, so that we aren't pulling the wool over our eyes, and Time-Based, so that it has some sort of deadline.

These are great if someone can truly relate to them and make use of them. I have studied goal setting most of my life by reading books, going to seminars, listening to tapes and more. I've heard from and read some of the best in the world on the subject. I've tried and tried and tried with this program and that, this form and that, this philosophy and that, this success secret and that. None of them helped me a bit.

It's probably just me. I'm sure all my readers are avid goal-setters and have the system, whatever it is, down to a science and you're fulfilling all your life desires with precision, focus and accountability. You probably fill out goal setting sheets for all your goals and keep them in a notebook, checking, re-checking and updating your progress. Or not. Maybe you do. Frankly, I haven't met anyone who does this well, but it could be you. You'll have to send me an email and tell me all about your success secrets.

It's not that I don't have goals from time to time. It's just that I finally gave up on all that other stuff and just did what I found worked for me. What that was is to find my desire, focus on it, build energy upon it, execute activity with that in mind, and stay on target. We could call that the FDFBES system I suppose, but that won't really help much.

Decide what you want, and make sure it is something you want and not something you think you should want, or that someone else wants for you. You alone decide. Since you want it, focus on it. Get all the delicious details spinning around your head. Watch videos, get brochures. Build energy around it. See it, feel it, touch it in your mind, picture yourself there doing it enjoying it, drinking all the joy of it in. With those thoughts in mind, act on your inspirations. Be fearless enough to take some steps without necessarily seeing the whole picture. Step out in faith. And last, stay with it through temporary obstacles which may be many. It's just your own ego trying to keep you in place. Heck with that! You still want this, don't you? Then stick to the vision!

That works for me, and the more visual it is, the better!


What Is It That You Said You Wanted?

Spread Some Joy Today--Tomorrow is another day. There is only now. All joy is felt and created in the now. Just do it. Waiting until tomorrow will not help.

Daily Inspiration 6-11-14

"For it is in giving 

that we receive." 

-- Francis of Assisi 

I was caught over tipping the other day. I don't think most usually notice, except, of course, the waiter or waitress and me. So, to answer curiosity, I explained a little why I did that.

It's a little hard to explain, only because I have a lot of reasons for doing it and I became a good tipper in my early twenties because my first wife worked for a number of inexpensive restaurants where tips were usually in coins. We would count them each night and put them in rolls.

It wasn't much of a job when it comes to compensation and the work was hard and required a lot of patience and endurance too. Back then, if someone tipped 10% that was special and anything more was quite remarkable. I learned how to become at least a 20 percenter because I remember those days very well.

The over tipping began later, several years ago. I think my main motivation was to bring joy to the waiter or waitress. The other thing was that it caused me to feel generous and richer than I was in reality.

I remember a funny movie called, My Blue Heaven, where Vinny, the lead character played by Steve Martin over tipped everyone and even tipped people that normally don't get tips--like FBI agents. He said that he had this whole philosophy on over tipping and was going to write a book about that and his life. The movie is a bit of a romp, but I loved that philosophy about tipping.

The other day getting caught, it was an $18 bill and I tipped $10. But, you know, the food was excellent, the service was excellent, and it was a stupid bargain with all of that, and besides, I love to spread joy. Do you think the waitress was joyous about that tip? I'm certain of it, but it might be true that it brought me more joy to give it and for her to receive it.

When I see a check, I take the total times two so that I know what the absolute minimum is, then I give what is in my heart to give. Who knows? It could be anything because I have developed a wonderful habit of over tipping.


"The Wise Man Does Not Lay Up His Own Treasures. The More He Gives To Others, The More He Has For His Own." -- Lao Tzu 

Spread Some Joy Today--Follow your heart, not your head.

Daily Inspiration 6-10-14

"It's so easy to make a mistake

in language if you aren't careful. 

What if you meant to say, 

'What's troubling you?' 

and what you actually said was, 

'What's wrong with you?'" 

-- Jim Rohn 

I was thinking more about yesterday's post about positive news and negative news and how the negative stands out so much, though it is a tiny fraction of the positive things going on in the world.

This caused me to think about how often we communicate with each other and the questions that we ask and how that has a tendency to either bring up something negative or kill the communication entirely.

An extremely common question is, 'how are you?' or 'how are you today?' If it is Monday, they might say, 'did you have a good weekend?' or 'what did you do for the weekend?' and if it is Friday, they might inquire what plans you might have for the weekend and such. All of these are lame questions in my mind, and they provoke lame answers that say pretty much nothing.

So, how about changing some of that just for a few days and see what happens and pay particular attention to how different people's responses are, and what you find out about them that you never would have found.

After you ask these newer questions, make sure and listen well. We've sort of trained ourselves to not listen or pay much attention to the answers to the 'lame' questions. Here are some good questions to ask people:

What awesome (or fun, interesting, joyful, exciting, etc) thing is going on in your life?

What is going really well for you right now?

What did you learn recently that is worth sharing?

What is your favorite movie?

Ask something about what they are wearing, or about their hair. This is especially good after a compliment.

Speaking of compliments. This has become such a habit with me and it not only spreads joy to others, it brings me joy as well. I find something to compliment everyone on and quite often I speak it aloud to them. It is always sincere and I am always looking for something to compliment others on.

OK, now write out some of your own questions. The best thing is to elicit a positive, perhaps even uplifting response from the other person. You may see joy spill out of them, or enthusiasm, and most likely, they would love to tell you about whatever it is.


What A Difference You Will Make! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by bringing out the best in others.

Daily Inspiration 6-9-14

"Daily Republic seeks good news for column. . . 

Do you have some good news? 

If so, the Daily Republic would like to

include it in a column that runs on Saturday. . . 

Include your name and phone number 

and put "Good News" in the subject line." 

-- Non-Graphic Ad in the Daily Republic newspaper, 

Fairfield CA 

We're way beyond being accustomed to the definition of news as being what went wrong today, or what tragedy happened and so on. So, I looked up the definition of news, and here it is: "Newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent or important events." I don't see anything about negative or what is wrong in there, but you know that whenever you pick up a paper, check the Internet, or hear people talk and it is about negative news.

So, I found this quote above actually in the newspaper and I started laughing when I saw it. You will never see an ad like that looking for tragedies, problems, and general ills and tribulations. No, they don't need to request that because of its being in all of their newsfeeds upstream, and from national sources, etc. But, good news? Geez, we gotta run an ad to find some. How sad. Just go out and talk to some people, or some businesses and ask them what is going well for them. That's pretty easy. Or not.

It might make someone think that this is a negative world and all there is nothing but problems. And, of course, there might be some who would agree with that. It is easier to see that if all we did was pay attention to the news from whatever source. Yet, the world is also very, very positive. There are 100,000 more positive things going on to every 1 negative thing, and so the negative thing stands out. It makes sense. We just have to realize that all the media have accepted their own reporting and now that is all they see.


We Know Different, Don't We? Just Count Your Blessings And You Will See. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by counting those blessings. One, two, three, four, fifteen, thirty, sixty-seven. . .

Daily Inspiration 6-8-14

"How people treat you is their karma; 

how you react is yours." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

When people do something that isn't to your liking, there are many times an immediate reaction that may involve words and/or actions. There are so many ways that someone can push our buttons and create a reaction and sometimes people may even do it on purpose for a variety of reasons.

I have focused many years on reducing anger and especially reactive anger, and in many situations, I have succeeded very well. As each situation comes up, I notice how I am feeling, and then I make a conscious decision to let it go. Other people can be angry or have issues and that is on them and I don't have to go along. I have the power to choose for myself.

Today was a glorious day and I didn't do a bit of work and just went on a nice ride with little Charlie the dog, taking him on walks, getting a breve latte, enjoying the weather. You know, having a good time. As I'm coming over the hill from Napa back home, there are so many people in such a hurry and several of them were just riding my tail. They must watch too much NASCAR racing because being that close is dangerous, to say the least, and on a windy road to boot.

As each of the several that did that came upon me, I felt such pressure to get out of their way, but there just wasn't much opportunity based on the road. I could see in the rearview mirror that they were extremely impatient and visually upset that I was in their way even though I was going the speed limit or better.

I had several thoughts. . . How about I slam on the brakes and have you buy me a new car? Maybe I should show you how I feel with one finger! I felt my body tense up and noticing what I was feeling and thinking, I chose to let go, pull over when I could and not give it much thought.

When people are pushing you--and we all know there are lots of ways to do that--it is almost an instinctive reaction to push back. A while back I wrote about some Judo training I took as a teenager and how Judo is more the art of using your opponent's energy to foil their attacks. In other words, go with the flow, let it flow past you, only control it, don't fight it or push against the forces.

The only decision that made any sense to me now was to release the tension in my body by changing my reactive thoughts and allow them to go by when it was safe. This I did. It is only my willingness to practice that helps me to grow beyond instinctive reaction and dissolve provocation.


Awareness And A Willingness To Practice Are Key Ingredients.

Spread Some Joy Today--by showing your gratitude in some way today. You have so much to be thankful for.

Daily Inspiration 6-7-14

"What's money? 

A man is a success 

if he gets up in the morning 

and goes to bed at night 

and in between 

does what he wants to do." 

-- Bob Dylan 

One of the best two-sentence philosophies of a successful, enjoyable, and fulfilling life as I've ever seen. Bravo!


It's Always Better When It Is Simple And Straightforward. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by simply enjoying yourself. It's amazing what that does for your own well being and that of those around you.

Daily Inspiration 6-6-14

"Listening to both sides of a story 

will convince you that there is more 

to a story than both sides." 

-- Frank Tyger 

We are conditioned during childhood to believe that there is only one reality, and that is not even close to what is true. One person's reality is the reality to them, and another person's reality is real for them, and there can be a reality that is real for every single person on the planet. They are all real to them.

I bring this up for two reasons. One is to point out that everyone has their own reality and they are all real to them. And two, to suggest that if we were to have flexibility in the belief of our reality--just enough to allow us to see other realities--this would go far in allowing us to come together, and work together.

It is easy for us to be judgmental of others because their reality doesn't match our own. Though we may find some who we think do share our reality, it is more likely that we just share some values. This is a good way to come together, but we will never really know the other person's reality completely, yet finding some commonalities is a really good start.


This Is How Enemies Can Become Friends. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by celebrating your life and all that is around you.

Daily Inspiration 6-5-14

"As long as I have a want, 

I have a reason for living. 

Satisfaction is death." 

-- George Bernard Shaw 

I don't remember the website, but one site had some interesting security questions. One question was, 'What was your favorite activity in high school?' My answer was learning. Then a few days ago I was talking with some friends and I said, 'my favorite thing in life is learning.' So my major want in life is to learn and grow and expand and share, then do it some more.

I also have a tendency to be what I call a binge learner, where I go, go, go, then pause for a bit and then go again. It mirrors life in that there are waking and activity and then also a rest period.

I'm driven by a desire to know, and after all these years of learning and growing, I find as many answers within as from other teachers. Sometimes I think that maybe I know enough and just stop and enjoy the fruits, but I enjoy life more as I learn more, so that keeps me going.

So early this morning I was thinking about what it is that keeps me wanting to be alive and it is wanting. Esther Hicks says over and over that, 'you never get it done.' I find peace in that. There's no rush, nor is there an end other than one that we may choose. John Dewey says it nicely: "Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another."

Some people might think that we shouldn't want so much, and we should just be satisfied with what we have. Well, I agree with appreciating what we have, but without wanting more, there would be no life. Wanting is good.

The argument I heard when I was young was not to be greedy as an omen of squashing desire. I agree with the idea that being greedy is not a positive thing. Greed is fear and very limited thinking. A greedy person has a need to take from others thinking there is only so much, but the truth is that there is plenty, so wanting whatever we want is okay as long as it is not harming others.

Next time you're thinking that maybe you want too much, remember that without wanting, there would be no life. So, wanting is life-giving.


Want Away! There Is No Limit. There Is No End. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by just being yourself. You are perfect just the way you are.

Daily Inspiration 6-4-14

"You cannot strive for peace. 

Striving is the opposite of peace. 

You can only choose peace." 

-- Alan Cohen 

I just got this quote a couple days ago and it spoke to me right away. Consider this: Fill in the blanks.

You cannot strive for _________.

Striving is the opposite of _________.

You can only choose ___________.


You Get To Choose. 

Spread Some Joy Today--for no good reason. The fact that it is Wednesday might be good enough. Today is good. Right now always works.

Daily Inspiration 6-3-14

"If you cannot be the poet, 

be the poem." 

-- David Carradine 

I'm fascinated by things and people I run across these days, and even more fascinated in how I feel at the time.

Today, I was out for lunch with a friend, and on the way back home, I stopped at a bank to make a deposit. I was in line and as I looked up from filling out a form, a woman came to get in line behind me and my eyes were delighted by the uniqueness of her. She was an African-American, so her skin color was medium brown, and she had what I call splotches of white skin all over her face and hands. There was no pattern to it at all, and it was quite dramatic to see.

This is the kind of situation where most might avoid looking to insure no staring, and certainly no speaking, just move along in line and exit in a timely manner. So, I turned to her looking her straight in the face and said, "you have a very interesting face!" She began telling me that she has this unknown thing where the pigment in her skin disappears. She has to wear lots of sun screen to avoid sunburn even inside sometimes. She said that it even moves around, and one day her ear will be partly white and the next day not and so on. I said, "how interesting is that?"

I moved up in line, then I wanted to tell her what I thought when I first saw her, so I said, "I think you have a very attractive face." She said something about not blushing, and then said, "thank you very much. I rarely get any compliments and I appreciate what you said." I introduced myself and said it was a pleasure to meet her, then I went to the window and as I was leaving, waved to her and she waved back with a big smile.

It's amazing what we can do to make someone's day special. All it took for me today with two people is say what I thought when I looked at them. Yet, how often are we bold enough to do that? That's one aspect of these two meetings.

The other aspect is that each of us is unique and at the same time we are all the same. We're made of the same materials and energy, and we all come from the same source, yet our choices and families and circumstances have created a unique person in each of us that is worthy of knowing, which will ultimately bring us to our mutual oneness.

We often might want to hide uniqueness to mirror others and blend in, but I like unique more and more all the time. This woman with the interesting changing face really was beautiful to me. I didn't feel the slightest bit strange being with her or talking with her. In fact, I was honored and blessed to have made her acquaintance. In fact, both of them made my day, not the other way around.


Celebrate Life, Each Other, And Ourselves! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Compliment people if it's sincere. It might make their day, but I know it will make yours!

Daily Inspiration 6-2-14

"There is nothing more galling to angry people 

than the coolness of those on whom 

they wish to vent their spleen." 

-- Alexandre Dumas 

I had an interesting phone call today from a customer whom I have never talked to before. He had another party with him and they caught me at the grocery store in my car and were so angry and upset that it was sounding more like rage. One was more restrained than the other, but I wouldn't want to live on the difference.

I was very surprised by the call and very calmly tried to ascertain exactly what the issues were and after a couple of minutes, I simply hung up. It was a Sunday, and I don't need to be beaten up like that, and I couldn't seem to have them listen, so I just let it go.

Afterward, still surprised by the whole thing, I had the thought that I can't reason with anger, and especially rage. About the best possible scenario facing anger like that is finding some way to diffuse it. You just can't talk to anger and have it work out very well.

First of all, that kind of anger is not MY problem. It is theirs. Elizabeth Kenny said it so well that, "he who angers you conquers you." Calm heads prevail. Second, losing my own joy is not an option. I get to choose how I want to feel and I want joy. The other party gets to choose also. Their choice has nothing to do with me. It's all about their own interpretation.

Another thing I learned about anger, in this case, is that they were creating more anger among themselves by virtue of their openly sharing and agreeing with each other. They were trying to express how they felt I'm sure, but it just wasn't a great way to achieve the objective of convincing me to help them. They wanted something from me and found I wasn't open to their type of persuasion.

And last, if I were as enlightened as I want to be, I would have been sending these two gentlemen love thoughts while they were talking. It is easy to think about that hours later, and I would rather learn to remember it at the time that it would be beneficial. Of course, any time is a good time. Even now!


"Anger Blows Out The Lamp Of The Mind." -- Robert G Ingersoll 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting joy rule your day.

Daily Inspiration 6-1-14

"Happiness is not having what you want. 

It is wanting what you have." 

-- Rabbi Hyman Schachtel 

Of all the things we want, it makes sense that to want the things we already have is at least one of the keys to a happier life. We will never stop wanting things, nor should we. It is the discovery of what we want which is based in large part in what we don't want that leads us on all of our desirous journeys. And, it's okay to not want things we have anymore and let them go, and if they are not appreciated or wanted, letting them go is a perfect response and activity. Someone else will want those things.

Being happy with what we have is a healthy idea. It is so because it means we are wanting what we have, and wanting what we already have means that we spend less time looking for happiness in some other place, or thing, or person. Besides, happiness doesn't come from getting things, it comes from gratitude and joy and the feeling of at least a few moments of enough. It is a contented place; a comfortable place; a place to enjoy.

Whatever we have that we no longer want or need then takes up negative space. Release it and give it away so that someone else can enjoy it. This is a great way to share some joy that we once had in what we no longer care much about. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.


Cleaning Out The Negative Space. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--See joy landing on everyone you see today. Intention is a powerful sharing device.