"It is not what you get that makes you successful,
it is what you are continuing to do with what you've got."
-- Denis Waitley
I've studied a number of extremely successful people. They all accomplished many good things and made a lot of money. The difference that stands out to me is what they did or didn't do when they stopped doing what they did that made them successful. Some made bad investments and lost everything, some retired to an easy life and died shortly after, some kept on creating, giving and living.
As an example, William C Durant, the founder of General Motors and Chevrolet who was rich and famous, lived on a small pension in later life and managed a bowling alley before he died. Another example was Andrew Carnegie, who sold his business in 1901 at age 66 and went on to create a system of public libraries throughout the country that were commonly called Carnegie Libraries--over 3,000 of them! One gave up and the other shifted gears. It wasn't a matter of money, it was a matter of spirit, attitude and purpose.
On a more personal scale, I think it is incredibly beneficial to continue to grow and seek and change and expand--not just in knowledge and experience, but in gratitude and generosity. It seems like sometimes life is a lot of working on getting, whether it is knowledge in school, experience in work, money from employment and that a fully successful life would include that, and also include giving much, if not all of that back.
This was Andrew Carnegie. He did both getting and giving back exceedingly well. William C Durant was good at getting while times were good. He never got around to giving back. Even if I amassed a pittance in comparison to Andrew Carnegie, I have so much I can give back from other attributes that I have gathered.
Isn't that just as true with you? We can start giving it back now. There's no need to wait. I think getting and giving go together so well that there need be no separation between them. It is all part of the same experience by just opening ourselves to that possibility.
Ain't it grand how great our capacity is? It is endless!
Grow Baby Grow! There Is So Much Living To Do! There Is So Much Giving To Do!
Spread Some Joy Today--While you're getting what you want to get, what can you give today that will make a difference? It is as easy as a smile, as thoughtful as a kind word, and as profound as a voice of encouragement.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-13-09
"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this."
-- Henry David Thoreau
Sounds like a vacation in Tahiti. . . or a real life Fantasy Island.
Henry was a thinker, and a great one.
I Choose To Live Life Boldly!
Spread Some Joy Today--See how many times you can think of something that causes you to smile or laugh. Way cool.
-- Henry David Thoreau
Sounds like a vacation in Tahiti. . . or a real life Fantasy Island.
Henry was a thinker, and a great one.
I Choose To Live Life Boldly!
Spread Some Joy Today--See how many times you can think of something that causes you to smile or laugh. Way cool.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-12-09
"The man who does not read good books
has no advantage over the man who cannot read them."
-- Mark Twain
This was me until age 22. How did I get through school? It hasn't stopped since.
I Read. How Cool.
Spread Some Joy Today--Go buy a book you've been meaning to read. Here's a suggestion: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
has no advantage over the man who cannot read them."
-- Mark Twain
This was me until age 22. How did I get through school? It hasn't stopped since.
I Read. How Cool.
Spread Some Joy Today--Go buy a book you've been meaning to read. Here's a suggestion: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-11-09
"If you had a friend who talked to you like you sometimes talk to yourself, would you continue to hang around with that person?"
-- Rob Bremer
Isn't this a great question!
I've always wondered where that negative talk comes from. Maybe you have experienced this as well. I can't find something and the first thoughts in my head are that someone moved it, took it, discarded it, or otherwise made it become missing. I search my memory for the culprits. Then, I remember, I put it in the drawer so I could find it. It reminds me of the "I didn't do it" syndrome from childhood and I'm still looking for someone to pin it on.
Many times I've thought of what instantly was a great idea in my mind, only to have the conversation in my head questioning my ability, my finances, my intelligence, how others will perceive it, the risks and on and on tearing it apart shred by shred. Trouble is that it has operated automatically this way all my life until late and I've found out who the culprit really is: The Ego.
In Dr. Wayne W Dyer's book, The Power of Intention, Dr. Dyer talks of Ego being made of six primary ingredients that account for how we experience ourselves. The top three are these: 1. I am what I have. My possessions (or lack of them) define me. 2. I am what I do. My achievements (or lack of them) define me. and 3. I am what others think of me. My reputation defines me. The phrases in parenthesis are mine.
Until I read that, I didn't really think about the Ego much, but that really had it make better sense to me; sort of an ah-ha experience. Now, when I hear that voice in my head trying to talk me out of something or put me back in my place, I see what the Ego is trying to do. It is trying to protect me and keep me safe from harm. Trouble is, it is making that decision much of the time without my permission. I've just let it have control when I really didn't think that through.
Now, I say, "thank you! I know you mean well, but I will take it from here this time." I have to say that the Ego is persistent in its efforts to keep me from harm. You gotta appreciate that kind of care. But, I'm either in charge or it is, and though I appreciate its efforts, I know this opportunity is right for me and I am going ahead even at the disapproval of my Ego.
This has all been so helpful for me and gets easier every day. I hope your Ego was better trained at letting you be in charge. You probably had nice parents who encouraged you and loved you and guided you. You probably lived in a nice neighborhood and rode in nice cars and got taken and picked up at school and didn't have to ride the bus. And you went to college and. . .
Oops. Sorry. That wasn't your Ego at all, was it?
Go create your world! Nobody deserves it more than you!
My Ego Serves Me. Not The Other Way Around.
Spread Some Joy Today--Listen to that self-talk today and take over for the well intentioned, but misdirected Ego and do it so it serves you well.
-- Rob Bremer
Isn't this a great question!
I've always wondered where that negative talk comes from. Maybe you have experienced this as well. I can't find something and the first thoughts in my head are that someone moved it, took it, discarded it, or otherwise made it become missing. I search my memory for the culprits. Then, I remember, I put it in the drawer so I could find it. It reminds me of the "I didn't do it" syndrome from childhood and I'm still looking for someone to pin it on.
Many times I've thought of what instantly was a great idea in my mind, only to have the conversation in my head questioning my ability, my finances, my intelligence, how others will perceive it, the risks and on and on tearing it apart shred by shred. Trouble is that it has operated automatically this way all my life until late and I've found out who the culprit really is: The Ego.
In Dr. Wayne W Dyer's book, The Power of Intention, Dr. Dyer talks of Ego being made of six primary ingredients that account for how we experience ourselves. The top three are these: 1. I am what I have. My possessions (or lack of them) define me. 2. I am what I do. My achievements (or lack of them) define me. and 3. I am what others think of me. My reputation defines me. The phrases in parenthesis are mine.
Until I read that, I didn't really think about the Ego much, but that really had it make better sense to me; sort of an ah-ha experience. Now, when I hear that voice in my head trying to talk me out of something or put me back in my place, I see what the Ego is trying to do. It is trying to protect me and keep me safe from harm. Trouble is, it is making that decision much of the time without my permission. I've just let it have control when I really didn't think that through.
Now, I say, "thank you! I know you mean well, but I will take it from here this time." I have to say that the Ego is persistent in its efforts to keep me from harm. You gotta appreciate that kind of care. But, I'm either in charge or it is, and though I appreciate its efforts, I know this opportunity is right for me and I am going ahead even at the disapproval of my Ego.
This has all been so helpful for me and gets easier every day. I hope your Ego was better trained at letting you be in charge. You probably had nice parents who encouraged you and loved you and guided you. You probably lived in a nice neighborhood and rode in nice cars and got taken and picked up at school and didn't have to ride the bus. And you went to college and. . .
Oops. Sorry. That wasn't your Ego at all, was it?
Go create your world! Nobody deserves it more than you!
My Ego Serves Me. Not The Other Way Around.
Spread Some Joy Today--Listen to that self-talk today and take over for the well intentioned, but misdirected Ego and do it so it serves you well.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-10-09
"We are not retreating--we are advancing in another direction."
-- General Douglas MacArthur
This is a great quote regardless of how you might feel about Douglas MacArthur because it demonstrates a different outlook on what most would call defeat or failure. It's a very good one!
I'm just a few pages from finishing rereading Failing Foreword - Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones For Success by John C Maxwell. If life has been a little challenge of late, the first few chapters of this book should help to give you some renewal in your spirit. John Maxwell says, "The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure."
In his book John tells stories of many well known people and the mistakes that it seemed that they made, and each one of them makes it clear that it wasn't so much a mistake as an activity that didn't produce the results they imagined, and yet, it was really a stepping stone toward their objective though that was not necessarily clear to them at the time.
It has been said that everyone has 20/20 hindsight because you can see the whole path from here to there. That's really kind of a good way to look at it. Pretend that you're looking at a Google map, maybe a satellite map and as you zoom out, you can see from here to there really well. Pretty soon, as you continue to zoom out, you can see where everything leads and where everything is in relation to one another. When you zoom back in all the way, you can only see what is in front of you.
Next time something happens and you think it is a mistake or a failure, try zooming out in your mind and see if you can see a different picture. For example, I've lost jobs in the past and it was the best thing that could have happened to me for a list of reasons, yet at the time, it seemed so terrible. As I zoom out and look back and around, I can see that it was a stepping stone to where I am and what I have become. And today is the same. I am on a path of stepping stones from one place to another. As I am able to zoom out enough to see more of my path, I am satisfied and excited and appreciative of where I am at the moment. It is that power to be okay with where you are that helps make where you are going next so much better.
I am not failing. I am succeeding in another direction!
I Am Enjoying My Journey!
I Can't Wait To See What Will Come Next.
Spread Some Joy Today--Try zooming out on some of your past experiences and see if you can see how great it all worked out. Try it on some happening now.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-9-09
"Everything is something you decide to do,
and there is nothing you have to do."
-- Denis Waitley
My goodness! There is such power in that statement. There is freedom in that statement. There is peace in that statement. I think it is worth writing out of a banner and putting on our office walls, but phrase it in the present tense, like so: "I choose everything I do. There is nothing I have to do."
It is incredibly empowering to learn how to think this way. To take away all the silly little things that we make up about why we do things will be a huge blessing. Even the simple, everyday events will change color. For example, rather than saying, "I have to go to work today," say instead, "I choose to go to work today." What a difference between those two statements. It is like night and day.
How about, "I hate paying so much in taxes." Change that to, "I choose to pay these taxes and be grateful for the benefits I receive throughout the year." You could even have some serious fun with this change in thinking, by kicking it up several notches, to, "I love paying these taxes. I love all the benefits that I receive that I only pay a tiny fraction of and I get the full benefit of!" Yo! It might change your life!
How about this: "I love getting up early and I am choosing to have one of the best days of my life today. I don't know why really, but I just feel it in my bones this morning. I am going to rock out and feel the music today!" So much better than, "man, I hate going to work. I can't wait until I can retire and be done with all that. I just want to kick back and take it easy. I've been working all my life and I'm ready to relax." Some people are really dead, but just haven't fallen over yet. How about some living! Some enthusiasm! Some fun! Lots of Joy!
It's all good. I don't want to get you too excited. You might start a new Facebook or Wal Mart or something. Be rich and famous and drive a car that cost what you earned in your previous entire life. Be cool. It's okay. You go on and mellow out and get ready for retirement. Gotta supplement that Social Security you know. Sixty-Five and all that.
Are you crazy??? No way!! Let's rock on right through the end! With gusto and bravado and silliness and excitement.
Dang. Ain't it exciting that you get to choose?? So cool.
I Decide. I Am In Charge. The Buck Starts Here!
Spread Some Joy Today--Totally feel the excitement of having 100% power of decision in everything you do. It's a responsibility you've been waiting for!
and there is nothing you have to do."
-- Denis Waitley
My goodness! There is such power in that statement. There is freedom in that statement. There is peace in that statement. I think it is worth writing out of a banner and putting on our office walls, but phrase it in the present tense, like so: "I choose everything I do. There is nothing I have to do."
It is incredibly empowering to learn how to think this way. To take away all the silly little things that we make up about why we do things will be a huge blessing. Even the simple, everyday events will change color. For example, rather than saying, "I have to go to work today," say instead, "I choose to go to work today." What a difference between those two statements. It is like night and day.
How about, "I hate paying so much in taxes." Change that to, "I choose to pay these taxes and be grateful for the benefits I receive throughout the year." You could even have some serious fun with this change in thinking, by kicking it up several notches, to, "I love paying these taxes. I love all the benefits that I receive that I only pay a tiny fraction of and I get the full benefit of!" Yo! It might change your life!
How about this: "I love getting up early and I am choosing to have one of the best days of my life today. I don't know why really, but I just feel it in my bones this morning. I am going to rock out and feel the music today!" So much better than, "man, I hate going to work. I can't wait until I can retire and be done with all that. I just want to kick back and take it easy. I've been working all my life and I'm ready to relax." Some people are really dead, but just haven't fallen over yet. How about some living! Some enthusiasm! Some fun! Lots of Joy!
It's all good. I don't want to get you too excited. You might start a new Facebook or Wal Mart or something. Be rich and famous and drive a car that cost what you earned in your previous entire life. Be cool. It's okay. You go on and mellow out and get ready for retirement. Gotta supplement that Social Security you know. Sixty-Five and all that.
Are you crazy??? No way!! Let's rock on right through the end! With gusto and bravado and silliness and excitement.
Dang. Ain't it exciting that you get to choose?? So cool.
I Decide. I Am In Charge. The Buck Starts Here!
Spread Some Joy Today--Totally feel the excitement of having 100% power of decision in everything you do. It's a responsibility you've been waiting for!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-8-09
"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself."
-- Lucille Ball
I hear a lot of people that are discouraged about a lot of things. What good comes of that? Is there a requirement to feel discouraged when things are not going your way? Is there some kind of benefit to feeling crappy? Is it going to change anything having this feeling? Will the answers to change it suddenly appear after feeling it for a while? No. It's all downhill into more and more crappy feelings, like frustration, disappointment, anger, despair, depression. None of those are any good at all.
On the other hand, what do feelings of optimism, excitement, enthusiasm, cheerfulness, joy and confidence create? Feeling great, empowered and in control. What good comes of this? Everything! Is there a requirement to feel joy when things are not going your way? If there were, life would be a joy! Is there some kind of benefit to feeling great? Absolutely! Is it going to change anything to have these feelings? Absolutely! Will the answers to change things come? Absolutely.
So, the answer is very clear. Feeling good is the way to go and the way through. Is the next question, how do I have that feeling when things are not the way I want them? Here's the key: Practice. Yes. Try it, do it, do it again, do it again and again and again and again. At first you need to use your memory to go back to a place where you felt great and hold that thought and feel it and spend some time in it. After a lot of practice, you just change your thought and you're done.
Lucille Ball learned the hard way. I suppose that we all have, but many of us have never decided to move away from it. That is the first step. You do have the power and you can do it. You must choose it.
Focus on how you want things to be and then live there in that fantasy as much as you can. Your mind works on pictures and will go to work to make that picture happen. If someone tells you that you're denying reality and living in a fantasy world, tell them, "Absolutely!" Next time, don't tell anyone and keep what you're doing to yourself. If they want to know why you feel so good, tell them, "I just felt like feeling good, so I did." It's okay to keep people curious. Worst case scenario is you will feel great when others are feeling crappy. How bad can that be? Best case scenario, you will arrive in your fantasy for real!
What kind of self-confidence do you have now?
Rock On!
I Will Choose To Feel Good--Because I Can.
Spread Some Joy Today--Feel yourself feeling like a million bucks! It's better than money. Money doesn't bring happiness. You choose happiness. It's FREE!!!
-- Lucille Ball
I hear a lot of people that are discouraged about a lot of things. What good comes of that? Is there a requirement to feel discouraged when things are not going your way? Is there some kind of benefit to feeling crappy? Is it going to change anything having this feeling? Will the answers to change it suddenly appear after feeling it for a while? No. It's all downhill into more and more crappy feelings, like frustration, disappointment, anger, despair, depression. None of those are any good at all.
On the other hand, what do feelings of optimism, excitement, enthusiasm, cheerfulness, joy and confidence create? Feeling great, empowered and in control. What good comes of this? Everything! Is there a requirement to feel joy when things are not going your way? If there were, life would be a joy! Is there some kind of benefit to feeling great? Absolutely! Is it going to change anything to have these feelings? Absolutely! Will the answers to change things come? Absolutely.
So, the answer is very clear. Feeling good is the way to go and the way through. Is the next question, how do I have that feeling when things are not the way I want them? Here's the key: Practice. Yes. Try it, do it, do it again, do it again and again and again and again. At first you need to use your memory to go back to a place where you felt great and hold that thought and feel it and spend some time in it. After a lot of practice, you just change your thought and you're done.
Lucille Ball learned the hard way. I suppose that we all have, but many of us have never decided to move away from it. That is the first step. You do have the power and you can do it. You must choose it.
Focus on how you want things to be and then live there in that fantasy as much as you can. Your mind works on pictures and will go to work to make that picture happen. If someone tells you that you're denying reality and living in a fantasy world, tell them, "Absolutely!" Next time, don't tell anyone and keep what you're doing to yourself. If they want to know why you feel so good, tell them, "I just felt like feeling good, so I did." It's okay to keep people curious. Worst case scenario is you will feel great when others are feeling crappy. How bad can that be? Best case scenario, you will arrive in your fantasy for real!
What kind of self-confidence do you have now?
Rock On!
I Will Choose To Feel Good--Because I Can.
Spread Some Joy Today--Feel yourself feeling like a million bucks! It's better than money. Money doesn't bring happiness. You choose happiness. It's FREE!!!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-7-09
"Watch your manner of speech if you wish to develop a peaceful state of mind. Start each day by affirming peaceful, contented and happy attitudes and your days will tend to be pleasant and successful."
-- Norman Vincent Peale
Many people think they know, but really do not understand what affirmations are. When I'm complaining about anything for whatever reason, that is an affirmation. If I say, "this is going to be a 12-hour day and I'm running low on energy and I'll be dragging by the time it's over," that is an affirmation. If I say, "I feel great today and I am looking forward to each and every experience I find today," that is an affirmation. Which do you think brings results? Both. Indeed, they will bring different results, but results nonetheless. The question is, which results do we want? To be tired and frustrated, or excited and optimistic? They are equally in our power.
I just told my business partner this afternoon that "things are not what we want right now, but the interesting thing is that I am awash with optimism! I am absolutely excited about what is yet to come!" He agreed that he had the same thoughts. We get to choose how we are going to feel and we can have bombs going off all around us and choose to look forward with optimism.
When people ask me, "how are you?" I always say something like, "awesome!" or "I'm over the edge with excitement!" Words have a lot of power and choosing the ones that empower you rather than disempower you is worth the effort.
I absolutely love Anthony Robbins book, Awaken the Giant Within. In that book, he has a list of empowering and disempowering words and phrases. Each have a tendency to achieve a different feeling or attitude. For example, rather than saying, "I'm pissed at so and so for doing that!," instead you could say, "I'm a little bit tinkled about that person's choice of actions." Pissed and tinkled have a completely different sound and feel. I'm choosing tinkled because it serves me better. Being pissed doesn't serve me, it distracts me.
Tony has several pages of word and phrase transformations on pages 226-231 of his book, such as changing from disgusted to surprised, or overwhelmed to maximized, or anxious to expectant, or terrible to different. Then he suggests we even pump up the positive words and phrases like from comfortable to smashing, energized to turbo-charged, good to vibrant, pretty good to coolamundo, strong to invincible. These small changes are extremely powerful.
Words, words, just a bunch of words. What does it matter? What we say to ourselves matters so much because it molds us into who we are. Look around you at someone you know who is an angry person. Listen to the words and phrases they use. It is really clear where they are and who they are. Maybe you also know someone who is generally happy and upbeat. Listen to the words and phrases they speak. I'm sure there is a dramatic difference.
Choosing different words and phrases will be hard at first, but with practice it will be a good deal of fun. Begin today. Pay attention to what you say and how you feel. Start by finding some different words and try them out. I think you'll be amazed how much of a change it will create in you. I only know that because of what it did for me.
I Will Pay Attention To What I Say Aloud.
Spread Some Joy Today--Share some of your new found responses with others today! Watch their faces. Feel the fun of it. Feel yourself feeling good!
-- Norman Vincent Peale
Many people think they know, but really do not understand what affirmations are. When I'm complaining about anything for whatever reason, that is an affirmation. If I say, "this is going to be a 12-hour day and I'm running low on energy and I'll be dragging by the time it's over," that is an affirmation. If I say, "I feel great today and I am looking forward to each and every experience I find today," that is an affirmation. Which do you think brings results? Both. Indeed, they will bring different results, but results nonetheless. The question is, which results do we want? To be tired and frustrated, or excited and optimistic? They are equally in our power.
I just told my business partner this afternoon that "things are not what we want right now, but the interesting thing is that I am awash with optimism! I am absolutely excited about what is yet to come!" He agreed that he had the same thoughts. We get to choose how we are going to feel and we can have bombs going off all around us and choose to look forward with optimism.
When people ask me, "how are you?" I always say something like, "awesome!" or "I'm over the edge with excitement!" Words have a lot of power and choosing the ones that empower you rather than disempower you is worth the effort.
I absolutely love Anthony Robbins book, Awaken the Giant Within. In that book, he has a list of empowering and disempowering words and phrases. Each have a tendency to achieve a different feeling or attitude. For example, rather than saying, "I'm pissed at so and so for doing that!," instead you could say, "I'm a little bit tinkled about that person's choice of actions." Pissed and tinkled have a completely different sound and feel. I'm choosing tinkled because it serves me better. Being pissed doesn't serve me, it distracts me.
Tony has several pages of word and phrase transformations on pages 226-231 of his book, such as changing from disgusted to surprised, or overwhelmed to maximized, or anxious to expectant, or terrible to different. Then he suggests we even pump up the positive words and phrases like from comfortable to smashing, energized to turbo-charged, good to vibrant, pretty good to coolamundo, strong to invincible. These small changes are extremely powerful.
Words, words, just a bunch of words. What does it matter? What we say to ourselves matters so much because it molds us into who we are. Look around you at someone you know who is an angry person. Listen to the words and phrases they use. It is really clear where they are and who they are. Maybe you also know someone who is generally happy and upbeat. Listen to the words and phrases they speak. I'm sure there is a dramatic difference.
Choosing different words and phrases will be hard at first, but with practice it will be a good deal of fun. Begin today. Pay attention to what you say and how you feel. Start by finding some different words and try them out. I think you'll be amazed how much of a change it will create in you. I only know that because of what it did for me.
I Will Pay Attention To What I Say Aloud.
Spread Some Joy Today--Share some of your new found responses with others today! Watch their faces. Feel the fun of it. Feel yourself feeling good!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-6-09
"Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better place?' It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is 'How can I make it better?' To that there is an answer."
-- Leo F Buscaglia
It is a selfish world after all . . .
I Will Become A World Changer, One Day At A Time.
Spread Some Joy Today--Try a little kindness. Strike that. Share a LOT of kindness today. It is such an easy thing and so rewarding.
-- Leo F Buscaglia
It is a selfish world after all . . .
I Will Become A World Changer, One Day At A Time.
Spread Some Joy Today--Try a little kindness. Strike that. Share a LOT of kindness today. It is such an easy thing and so rewarding.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-5-09
"We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them,
climb over them, or build with them."
-- William Arthur Ward
Oh, the choices. . .
I Will Become A Builder.
Spread Some Joy Today--Being on Facebook is one way to build. If you don't Facebook already, now is a great time to try it.
climb over them, or build with them."
-- William Arthur Ward
Oh, the choices. . .
I Will Become A Builder.
Spread Some Joy Today--Being on Facebook is one way to build. If you don't Facebook already, now is a great time to try it.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-4-09
"You have your way. I have my way.
As for the right way, the correct way,
and the only way, it does not exist."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
This is the first time I've seen this exact quote; however, I learned this message many years ago. I have stated many times, 'There is no right way or wrong way, there is my way, your way and their way.' This phrase has helped me immensely over the years to put things into perspective.
Every time someone tries to tell me that there is only one way to do a thing, I remember this phrase. Any time someone uses the word 'should,' I think of it again. The truth is that there is no right or wrong way. Those are purely judgments by the person stating it is right or using the word should. It is their belief (assuming they state it with conviction). Almost all of Europe thought the world was flat at one time, so that is an indication of how beliefs can ebb and flow.
I truly believe that there is no right way or wrong way, but a way. As a result of this, I find that the word 'could' to be much more appropriate in making 'suggestions' to people about things they 'might consider' in case they are looking to change their results. If I state it any other way, it is my ego chiming in.
Don't we all know by now that the only way to convince anyone of anything is to speak in a way that allows them to convince themselves? Any other way will likely be unproductive.
I love suggestions and a bit of time, then I allow it in.
Oh, you too?
I thought it was my way. . .
I Will Listen To Your Way and Their Way, And In The End, I Will Do It My Way.
Spread Some Joy Today--Let other people have their way today. Just coast for one day and let everyone have their way.
As for the right way, the correct way,
and the only way, it does not exist."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
This is the first time I've seen this exact quote; however, I learned this message many years ago. I have stated many times, 'There is no right way or wrong way, there is my way, your way and their way.' This phrase has helped me immensely over the years to put things into perspective.
Every time someone tries to tell me that there is only one way to do a thing, I remember this phrase. Any time someone uses the word 'should,' I think of it again. The truth is that there is no right or wrong way. Those are purely judgments by the person stating it is right or using the word should. It is their belief (assuming they state it with conviction). Almost all of Europe thought the world was flat at one time, so that is an indication of how beliefs can ebb and flow.
I truly believe that there is no right way or wrong way, but a way. As a result of this, I find that the word 'could' to be much more appropriate in making 'suggestions' to people about things they 'might consider' in case they are looking to change their results. If I state it any other way, it is my ego chiming in.
Don't we all know by now that the only way to convince anyone of anything is to speak in a way that allows them to convince themselves? Any other way will likely be unproductive.
I love suggestions and a bit of time, then I allow it in.
Oh, you too?
I thought it was my way. . .
I Will Listen To Your Way and Their Way, And In The End, I Will Do It My Way.
Spread Some Joy Today--Let other people have their way today. Just coast for one day and let everyone have their way.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-3-09
"Your organization will never get better unless you are willing
to admit that there is something wrong with it."
-- Norman Schwarzkopf
"Your organization will never get better unless you are willing
to focus on and constantly expand on what's right about it!"
-- Terry Minion
Sorry Norman, I know you mean well and you have far more education than I; however, I have to disagree completely with this quote. Frankly, it is a piece of cake to admit there are things wrong with a company, or a person, or a situation, or life, or the world, or whatever. It takes no brains at all to do that. Line 10 employees up and ask them what is wrong and you will get a serious earful. If they feel free to talk, that is. And if they do, look out! Here comes the judge. . .
What is really needed to move a company forward (or a person, situation, life, the world, or whatever), is focusing on what is right and constantly expanding on that. Who cares what is wrong? Focus on what you do well and expand on that.
I tell you this from long experience: naysayers are a dime a dozen. You can find them anywhere anytime and any quantity. And, I'll tell you this from experience: they don't do anything to help anything. They are anchors and sinkers and balloon poppers. My best advice is to move quickly away.
Here's a great question to ask all the employees: What are we doing well? Then, some follow-up questions, like, How can we do more of that? How can we expand that? What do you hear our customers say that is good about us? Can we give better service? How? How can we give such great service that our customers will rave about us? How can we lower prices and still provide more value? How can our company be a better participant in the community? How can our company have employees to rave about working here?
What's even better than this is to ask your customers and prospects: What is your experience like with us? What do you like about what we do? What do you think we could add to make it better? For you to tell all your friends about this company, what would we need to be doing to have you that excited about doing business with us?
Focus on successes, not failures. Leave the failures for history to sort out. Get the enthusiasm rolling and the excitement arcing and the fun laughing. Turn it on and watch it glow. It just needs a spark and some insight and ideas. Let's rock it out!
TODAY IS THE DAY!!
Let's Get Started!
I Focus On What I Am Good At And Get Better.
Spread Some Joy Today--There is almost nothing better than giving someone else some encouragement. Find something to encourage someone else and don't keep it to yourself--TELL THEM--NOW! To their face is okay. . .
to admit that there is something wrong with it."
-- Norman Schwarzkopf
"Your organization will never get better unless you are willing
to focus on and constantly expand on what's right about it!"
-- Terry Minion
Sorry Norman, I know you mean well and you have far more education than I; however, I have to disagree completely with this quote. Frankly, it is a piece of cake to admit there are things wrong with a company, or a person, or a situation, or life, or the world, or whatever. It takes no brains at all to do that. Line 10 employees up and ask them what is wrong and you will get a serious earful. If they feel free to talk, that is. And if they do, look out! Here comes the judge. . .
What is really needed to move a company forward (or a person, situation, life, the world, or whatever), is focusing on what is right and constantly expanding on that. Who cares what is wrong? Focus on what you do well and expand on that.
I tell you this from long experience: naysayers are a dime a dozen. You can find them anywhere anytime and any quantity. And, I'll tell you this from experience: they don't do anything to help anything. They are anchors and sinkers and balloon poppers. My best advice is to move quickly away.
Here's a great question to ask all the employees: What are we doing well? Then, some follow-up questions, like, How can we do more of that? How can we expand that? What do you hear our customers say that is good about us? Can we give better service? How? How can we give such great service that our customers will rave about us? How can we lower prices and still provide more value? How can our company be a better participant in the community? How can our company have employees to rave about working here?
What's even better than this is to ask your customers and prospects: What is your experience like with us? What do you like about what we do? What do you think we could add to make it better? For you to tell all your friends about this company, what would we need to be doing to have you that excited about doing business with us?
Focus on successes, not failures. Leave the failures for history to sort out. Get the enthusiasm rolling and the excitement arcing and the fun laughing. Turn it on and watch it glow. It just needs a spark and some insight and ideas. Let's rock it out!
TODAY IS THE DAY!!
Let's Get Started!
I Focus On What I Am Good At And Get Better.
Spread Some Joy Today--There is almost nothing better than giving someone else some encouragement. Find something to encourage someone else and don't keep it to yourself--TELL THEM--NOW! To their face is okay. . .
Daily Inspiration 12-2-09
"Feelings are much like waves.
We can't stop them from coming,
but we can choose which ones to surf."
-- Jonatan Martensson
In the early 1970's, I studied T/A (Transactional Analysis), a self-help method of understanding psychology. It hit the public with the launch of a book, Games People Play, by Eric Berne, MD and was followed by another very popular book titled, I'm OK, You're OK, by Thomas A Harris, MD. The first one was copyrighted in 1964 and the second book in 1967. It is interesting that these books are still available new today on Amazon.com and elsewhere. I was certainly not alone in finding them extremely helpful and instructional, as I still believe they are equally today.
One of the things I learned that has never left me is to "own my own feelings." The premise is that no one can 'make' you feel anything, but that you 'make' yourself feel. There is a great deal of truth in this. I have used this for myself for almost 40 years, and I use it all the time. Whenever I feel something, I pretty much automatically now think that I need to own that feeling and not blame it on someone else. This helps me to understand what is really going on instead of reacting to others. I'm not a robot, it is a constant work in progress, and I get better at it all the time.
So, here's the deal: I can 'feel' the emotion, but I don't have to 'feel' the pain if that makes sense. This is why I love this quote above so much because I can feel the feeling so that I'm not like a stone, but I can choose which feelings I want to 'surf,' or plug into or explore.
In other words, I don't have to agree with someone who may be saying something to me. I can choose a different thought about that. Sally Field said it this way: "It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes." Taking charge of which emotions to surf is critical in an entertainers life for sure but just as important on our own.
People only have the power that you elect to give them based on what you think of yourself. Frankly, it is a wonderful thing to realize this and take charge of it and control it myself. Even if something someone says that I don't like rubs off on me and I feel little crappy for a while, it will be a very short while until I realize what I've done and then turn it back around and be back in charge of my own emotions. Believing in yourself, your value, your worth is awesome and you will be rewarded with an uncrushable self-image.
That kind of self-image is unstoppable!
I Choose My Emotions. I Do Not Allow Others To Choose Them For Me. I Am In Charge Of Me.
Spread Some Joy Today--Today I Want You To Choose Happy Thoughts About Yourself All Day. Have A Lot Of Them On Purpose. Smile As They Pass By. Feel The Joy Inside. You Are Awesome! You Are Exceptional! You Are Wonderful!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Daily Inspiration 12-1-09
". . . there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
-- William Shakespeare
Judgement. It is a tough thing to give up. We're so used to it and many of us use it so often, even many times in every day. It becomes our own righteousness that we defend for judging others as wrong automatically makes us right. We think. Or does it?
You've probably read or heard this famous bible quote: "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. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." - Matthew 7:1-5
My experience is that this quote doesn't really affect Christians very much. It's like it is meant for something other than every day life. Again, we're so used to judging, that it is so darn hard to let it go.
But that is what it takes: letting it go. I'll give you a challenge: for the next week, do not label anything bad or wrong, no matter what it is. You can acknowledge that it is, but not that it is bad. It's not bad weather, it is the weather. It's not bad news, it is the news. It's not a bad situation, it is what it is. They didn't do it wrong, they did it. If you can give up labeling things bad, or wrong, you're halfway to paradise.
It doesn't matter if the things are big or little, the key is not judging them as bad or wrong. It is probably counter to everything you learned growing up--I know it was for me. The list of bad and wrong things was very long and constant to the point there was so little right in the world. Big Brother, Uncle Sam, the Republicans, the Democrats, the Unions, the Corporations, the Wealthy Aristocrats, Taxes (on many levels), Prices, Wages, Global Warming, Receding Hairlines, Yellow Teeth, Scratchy Toilet Paper, and as you can see, this list could go on indefinitely.
I am willing to bet, that if you can really do it for a week, you will find yourself feeling better about all kinds of things and I am sure that then you could make it two weeks, a month, a year and the rest of your life.
Of course I am speaking for myself since I am a recent convert. You're probably way ahead of me praising everything. . . Rock On!
I Am What I Am. It Is What It Is. Deal With It.
Spread Some Joy Today--If a co-worker starts down Negative Lane, or Wrong Avenue, encourage them to Peaceful Place. You have more power than you think.
-- William Shakespeare
Judgement. It is a tough thing to give up. We're so used to it and many of us use it so often, even many times in every day. It becomes our own righteousness that we defend for judging others as wrong automatically makes us right. We think. Or does it?
You've probably read or heard this famous bible quote: "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. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." - Matthew 7:1-5
My experience is that this quote doesn't really affect Christians very much. It's like it is meant for something other than every day life. Again, we're so used to judging, that it is so darn hard to let it go.
But that is what it takes: letting it go. I'll give you a challenge: for the next week, do not label anything bad or wrong, no matter what it is. You can acknowledge that it is, but not that it is bad. It's not bad weather, it is the weather. It's not bad news, it is the news. It's not a bad situation, it is what it is. They didn't do it wrong, they did it. If you can give up labeling things bad, or wrong, you're halfway to paradise.
It doesn't matter if the things are big or little, the key is not judging them as bad or wrong. It is probably counter to everything you learned growing up--I know it was for me. The list of bad and wrong things was very long and constant to the point there was so little right in the world. Big Brother, Uncle Sam, the Republicans, the Democrats, the Unions, the Corporations, the Wealthy Aristocrats, Taxes (on many levels), Prices, Wages, Global Warming, Receding Hairlines, Yellow Teeth, Scratchy Toilet Paper, and as you can see, this list could go on indefinitely.
I am willing to bet, that if you can really do it for a week, you will find yourself feeling better about all kinds of things and I am sure that then you could make it two weeks, a month, a year and the rest of your life.
Of course I am speaking for myself since I am a recent convert. You're probably way ahead of me praising everything. . . Rock On!
I Am What I Am. It Is What It Is. Deal With It.
Spread Some Joy Today--If a co-worker starts down Negative Lane, or Wrong Avenue, encourage them to Peaceful Place. You have more power than you think.
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