Daily Inspiration 3-14-11

"Instead of comparing our lot with that

of those who are more fortunate than we are,

we should compare it with the lot of the great

majority of our fellow men. It then appears

that we are among the privileged."

-- Helen Keller

When I saw this quote, it made me think of President Obama's news conference the other day. It was not even 24 hours after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded with a devastating tsunami in Japan and spreading around the pacific. He spent approximately 1 minute about that event, and then turned to try to soften the concerns of rising gasoline and propane prices in the US. I stopped listening after many minutes.

I suppose that was a good time to bring up the rising prices issue so we could all compare our losses with others around the world losing somewhat more. We are only something in comparison to something after all. It is all a judgement call.

I don't mention this as a political issue, but just one that was an interesting example. We do it all the time in various ways, and it is okay. I think that the only thing to try to keep in mind is that having more or less than someone else isn't really very important in the long run. What is important is how we feel about what ever we may have.

People can be rich today and lose it all and be flat broke tomorrow, or they could be destitute today and win the lottery tomorrow. Fortunes can change quickly. Health can change quickly. Natural disasters can change things very quickly. How we react and how we feel about all those various points of being is what makes or breaks us. We can choose joy at any point, under any circumstances, and we can choose any other feeling as well. Ultimately, who we are and have become dictates that choice. It is not anything external to us.

Empathy And Sympathy Are So Very Different.

Spread Some Joy Today--Rejoice in your experience of life. It will after all make it a life worthy of living.

Daily Inspiration 3-13-11

"Putting is like wisdom - partly a natural gift

and partly the accumulation of experience."

-- Arnold Palmer

"Successful action is cumulative in its results."

-- Wallace D Wattles

Any experience adds to the whole, thereby making each leap forward from a new perspective. This is reason enough to get excited about what we are doing right now. What we are doing right now will certainly add to the whole and make our next adventure easier and more fruitful.

I started a commercial truck operation at a dealership in mid-1989. It grew very slowly at first, but we kept moving and focused on activity knowing that results would take care of themselves. It was true and we grew then much more rapidly and it became a very successful enterprise. It was also a learning experience, and experimental station where much was tried and less was proved, and much was gained as a result.

Four years later, I started a second commercial truck operation at another dealership, except this time, what took four years to achieve with the first operation, took only about a year at the second. I carried all of that learning, knowing better what to do more quickly and efficiently in the second operation. This then expanded somewhat further than the first operation.

In addition, the accumulated learning from many years before in things I gained experience in was instrumental in making both commercial truck operations more successful.

I have found this to be true in all situations and I am thankful for the learning opportunities. It has also given me a great deal more confidence to start again not being concerned about starting over, but starting from here. If we looked at everything we are involved in this way, it would make for a happier disposition in general and especially in transitions planned or unplanned.

Where We Are Is Somewhat Further Along Than Where We Were, When We Pay Attention. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--find joy in learning and growing. It will be of service down the road.

Daily Inspiration 3-12-11

"There is nothing more galling to angry people

than the coolness of those on whom

they wish to vent their spleen."

-- Alexandre Dumas

People complain, don't ya know, and many of them complain most all the time. Having been in that group for such a long time, I do know it well, and Mr Dumas' quote above is so perfect and so, so true.

In recent years, I find a bit of fun with it. Airports and airplanes are good places to find lots of complainers. It's the weather or the missed flight, the bag problem, charging for the bags, just peanuts and crackers, de-icing the plane, delays, the lousy food at the airport, the price of the food at the airport, and oh my goodness, the list goes on. What's really fun is while someone is complaining about one of those scenarios, just be so calm and cool and collected and how those kind of things just roll off you, because they are trivial in comparison to real problems, and so on. Even better than this is to state positive things about your airport and plane experiences and how they just keep getting better. They stop complaining pretty quickly.

What's really weird is to start conversations with people by telling them how grateful you are that things are going so well, that good things always seem to happen, how interesting the changes have made the trip, how much better things seem to get and so on. Pretty soon, you hear the sound of no one listening. Not so many like a praiser, but complainers they like better.

It's a funny world in this. . .

Uppers and Downers. Hmmm. I Choose Upper.

Spread Some Joy Today--find something good to say about everyone you come in contact with today. You want to really be bold? Tell them.

Daily Inspiration 3-11-11

"Statistics suggest that when customers complain,

business owners and managers ought to get excited

about it. The complaining customer represents a

huge opportunity for more business."

-- Zig Ziglar

It wasn't something that I learned quickly, but slowly I began to look upon complaining customers as an opportunity. In sales training, I would state that until a customer complains or has a problem, they really don't know how you as a person or as a company will perform. If the complaint or problem is solved smoothly and efficiently, the customer then has the opportunity to not only know for certain how you or your company performs, thereby gaining in trust, but they also have the opportunity to become an advocate and help you grow your business.

It's not like we want complaints, but I think we need them. I know this, for sure and for certain (always loved that phrase. . .), that I would much rather have a complaint than a customer feeling poor about our company or performance and then not saying anything at all to us. The likelihood of that person saying poor things to a lot of other people is strong. I prefer to hear it directly--even in my face, so to speak.

This is not a theory. It has proven itself consistently over time and in operation of several businesses including my own. Since this has been true, I find myself looking forward to complaints--at least from that perspective.

This has also been proven: in an extremely high percentage of those that complain, regardless of the size of the fault, they then become advocates and do more business and send more business. Seriously true! From that perspective, I LOVE COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS!

Now, the key is how the problem or complaint is received and how smoothly it is retired. There is no room for making excuses, blaming others and so on. We must accept it head-on by accepting responsibility for taking charge of the solution and care of the complainer at the same time. It's really no more than the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If we had a problem or complaint, we would want prompt attention to solution, and we would detest blame and excuses, don't you think?

I suppose we could say, success is dealing with problems--effectively.

"Problem Headquarters! We Got Some Love For Ya!"

Spread Some Joy Today--Get excited about opportunities to help people and solve problems for them. There is a certain joy in that.

Daily Inspiration 3-10-11

"People have really gotten comfortable not only

sharing more information and different kinds, but

more openly and with more people--and that social

norm is just something that has evolved over time."

-- Mark Zuckerberg

I am in constant awe when I consider nature and when I consider some of the things man, or humankind has done. A perfect example of something that wows and awes me is communication tools like facebook and other so-called social media sites like Twitter, LinkedIn and more. Now YouTube is considered a social media site as well.

As a history buff, it is easy for me to just look back a few years and see how dramatically the world has changed in the way of tools and environment. Less than 200 years ago, it was a 3 mile per hour world. Now, thousands of planes every day fly in excess of 500 miles per hour, we have space ships exceeding 25,000 miles per hour and we have only scratched the surface of speed.

It was less than 120 years ago that the typewriter began use. The automobile is just a little younger. Modern, cleanly medicine is younger still. The airplane is less than 100 years ago. The copy machine is a baby in comparison. The stereo and television are similar. Heck, color TV is very young.

Personal computers are less than 40 years old. If you count when they became more widespread in use, they are less than 30. The Internet is so young it is mind-bending to think of what it has become in the short time it has even existed. Websites would not exist without it and now there are billions of them.

Then I come to something so interesting and powerful as facebook. There were social sites before it, but it is a game changer. Now the buzz in all business circles is facebook and how it can benefit a business. There has yet to be a tool quite like it. It is unique and being copied in concept at hundreds of sites.

What a wonderful time to be alive! So many things going on, making life better, providing maximum value. What a joy to use a tool like facebook even for what it was originally intended for. It is the popularity of it that makes it a success and it is the value of it that creates that popularity.

Thanks Mark. It's a wonderful world, and you helped it to be a bit moreso.

I'm In Awe Almost Constantly Now. Sure Joy.

Spread Some Joy Today--Find something or someone to appreciate and then do it.

Daily Inspiration 3-9-11

"Mishaps are like knives that either

serve us or cut us as we grasp

them by the blade or handle."

-- James Russell Lowell

"The components of anxiety, stress, fear,

and anger do not exist independently of

you in the world. They simply to not exist

in the physical world, even though we

talk about them as if they do."

-- Wayne Dyer

The other day, I walked out by the pool and it struck me suddenly that my eyes do not see. My eyes only receive. They are not active in seeing as a task, but are receivers. As I thought about that sudden thought, I realized it was true because at night, when I cannot see very well, I would be able to see if my eyes actually saw. Light wouldn't really have any effect. As it is, my eyes reflect the light available and the mind then interprets that data to create vision. What ever we see, we interpret and make judgements in our mind, which is ultimately what we see. I realize that I'm tickling this idea, but I do have a point.

Then, a couple days ago, someone told me how they have so many things that are causing stress in their life. I didn't swim upstream with the person, for that would be pointless, but I thought about that concept and it made me think about seeing again.

We take data into our minds via the physical senses, and then we interpret that data by comparing it with what is in the memory, and making judgements, which causes our view or individual interpretation of what we are experiencing. Some might interpret that as stress, or pressure being applied without our desire or permission. As long as this is the case, that person will always be blaming external circumstances, events and other people on what they think, when the ultimate reality is that this is not actually possible. It is really a choice, regardless of how poorly it serves the chooser.

The one thing that separates us from everything else is our ability to choose our thoughts, or to interpret our thoughts based on an experience. The only question worth asking at this stage is our thoughts serving us or cutting us? We get to choose the handle or the blade.

Stress Is A Personal Affliction.

Spread Some Joy Today--Let go and let joy. Wow! That was easy!

Daily Inspiration 3-8-11

"In Seattle you haven't had enough coffee until you

can thread a sewing machine while it's running."

-- Jeff Bezos

Starbuck's just turned 40. Who would have figured? As a late Starbuck's advocate (approximately 5 years ago), I was amazed to hear they are 40 years old. Their humble beginnings obviously lasted longer than their meteoric rise to stardom.

Some like to say, "it's not about the coffee. . .", and of course it is really, but it's not, is it? Well, I love the coffee, and I've had Peet's and many other coffee names, and they are all good. So, I love Starbuck's coffee, and I don't love it more than I love the Folger's or Hills Bros. I drink at home; however, except in the morning at home, I wouldn't go out of my way for the stuff at home, but I certainly do for Starbuck's. Maybe I do love it more. . . nah.

I agree that it isn't about the coffee. What Starbuck's did was create an environment to which coffee was a separate and welcome delight. It is indeed the experience that is what I see as Starbuck's success. When it comes to that experience, except for a few locations where the music is just a tad too loud, it is superior.

I go there for coffee, but in the last three years, it has become an offsite meeting room, Internet cafe, and half hour to an hour respite from the hustle bustle of the world. It is a treat. I love stopping in for my usual Grande Latte, while I enjoy reading on my Kindle or checking email. It has become a consistent meeting place and everyone seems to know where the Starbuck's are in their town or city. It's easy and efficient. The Wi-Fi is easy and helps make fast work of using the Internet for a few minutes.

And, Starbuck's is yet more. It is a learning experience to watch it's growth, and how they do things. Take that information and apply it to your own business. It will apply pretty much anywhere. Think about a car dealership, for example. It's not about the cars, it is the experience. It is isn't it? It is what makes the difference. It's not the price either. Starbuck's isn't cheap, but successful seems too calm a term to use. I think there are so many ways to compare what Starbuck's has done and have it applied and benefit our personal lives and our business lives.

It's The Consistent Experience. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--try loving those cranky, impatient people in line. . . it takes some extra love sometimes, but worth it. It's the experience.

Daily Inspiration 3-7-11

"You cannot be lonely if you like

the person you're alone with."

-- Wayne W Dyer

Do songs have an effect on our philosophy and thinking? I say, absolutely. Two reasons: one is that music affects the whole mind, not just part of it in comparison with speech alone, and two, the repetition of the songs in media, and in our own playing and replaying the ones we like so well. What we like about them is complicated, and much of it is the sound styling.

I remember when I was a teenager, the Beatles were the number one group. We couldn't wait to get the next album and we would listen to them again and again. We began singing the next song no matter where it was on the album because we pretty much had them memorized. I'm sure I could state some lyrics and leave part of it blank and you probably would have no trouble filling in the blank.

When I saw this quote by Dr Dyer, a song immediately started playing in my head. It was written by Badfinger, and made ever more popular by Harry Nilsson. It is called Without You. So, here's some of the lyrics:

Can't live,

If living is without you.

Can't live;

Can't live any more. . .

Poor guy. . . but he's not alone. If you check the lyrics of the most popular songs in the world, many of them have this same theme. Movies too: "You complete me. . ." I used to lament similar things, and perhaps much of it was from the training of thousands of hours of listening to sad lyrics of unrequited love. Then, I thought how silly that all is to allow others that much power over us.

I'm all for love and sharing experience with someone you love and want to be with, but the whiny can't live without you stuff will no longer do. And, the only thing that changed in my thinking about that is that I realized that I cannot allow others to control my happiness because they do a terrible job generally. One day they love you, the next you aren't meeting their expectations and you're slipping down their most loved list. However, if I love myself first, I will attract someone that is more a match to that and then there is something worth sharing.

Love The One You're With . . . 24-7. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Smile. God loves you! You're covered.

Daily Inspiration 3-6-11

"Most people would rather be certain they're

miserable, than risk being happy."

-- Robert Anthony

"Happiness is a conscious choice,

not an automatic response."

-- Mildred Barthel

Someone said to me that they have very little joy in their life. I said that the good news about that is that you can start right now having joy. Then, I heard the BUT list, and after several buts, I decided to continue on my journey away from them.

And it is true, you know, that joy is ready, willing and able to be a part of our lives any time we decide we want it. That sounds easy, and I know for some this would be too simple, so I'll share some ideas that have worked extremely well for me. In the past, I rarely had joy and now I experience it many times every single day--and I have found so many different levels of joy as well.

First and foremost is deciding I want joy. Some people say they want it, and they don't really mean that. Decide to have joy and lots of it.

Second. The fastest way to joy is to suspend judgment about all the things that I don't like. Do it at least for a short time as a test.

Third. Once judgement is suspended, then the trick is to focus on what helps me feel better. It really doesn't matter what it is, or who it is. It can be a thought from my past, the view out my window of the trees swaying, a dog wagging its tail. Just focus on things that encourage us to feel better, however temporary.

Fourth. Practice it constantly. If it works for 30 seconds, it can work for 5 minutes, and then 30 minutes, two hours, and so on. If you practice it enough, there won't ever be any problems that create unhappiness again. It will just be a temporary bump that is navigated more and more easily as time goes on.

That's it. It's just a matter of deciding to feel good and finding ways to do so and also avoiding things that don't feel good. It really is that easy.

Happiness is an inside job. It is not something someone else can give us, it is something we choose to give ourselves. If our happiness depends on external circumstances, events, or other people, we are doomed to an unhappy life. Once that is a habit, the BUT list gets longer and longer.

It is okay to feel good regardless of what is going on. Who's in charge, anyway?

There Is No Pursuit Of Happiness. It Is Just Choice.

Spread Some Joy Today--decide to be happy today. Find things that help you feel good. Pull out some photos, think of someone you really love, dream about something that feels great. It's all good.

Daily Inspiration 3-5-11

"Don't fight forces, use them."

-- R Buckminster Fuller

"Focus on the solution, not the problem."

-- Walter Anderson

Yesterday, I had an issue to deal with and I enjoyed it very much. I had to call a company that does some work for our company. It would be incredibly easy to be upset about the problem, re-explaining it again and again in higher and higher tones. And, it would be very typical, even for me, but I've been practicing something different.

I explained the situation and the fact that the two people before this guy didn't solve the issue, but I was complimenting the company--sincerely, of course--because they are a great company and do excellent work most of the time, and they generally fix it when there is a problem. Nonetheless, I wanted this issue solved immediately and so I used my newfound calm persistence to see it through to a successful completion.

As I was looking at quotes, I saw the one by Buckminster Fuller, and the first thought that came to my mind was taking Judo lessons when I was around 13 years old. What little I remember about Judo was that you don't fight the force or the strike, but you move with it, thereby deleting most or all of its adverse effect. Then, at the same time, you use their momentum with a few little techniques to have their intended effect turned instead on them. And, all so smoothly and almost effortlessly.

I know this may not be logical, but the next thing I thought of was that phone call. I was thinking of how these service reps must learn to do Judo with the caller when they are upset, which is probably a higher percentage than they might like. I know they are trained to be calm in the face of anger and frustration. I also thought that it must be a joy for them to not have to deal with anger and frustration, but to just deal with the problem and get it solved as quickly as possible while still enjoying the day.

How we deal with problems says a lot about who we are and where we are emotionally. Since I began to practice the calm persistence idea, it has transformed the way I deal with issues. Although I still might get upset, or even a bit tinkled, it is almost momentary in caparison with the way it used to be. I tell you what, that makes me feel wonderful and like a Judo black belt.

How Can I Feel Good And Deal With Problems At The Same Time? Don't Focus On The Problem. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--whatever problems you have today, focus on feeling good by focusing on the solutions, or at the very least, something pleasant.

Daily Inspiration 3-4-11

"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone

who is more deserving of your love and affection than you

are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere.

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire

universe deserve your love and affection."

-- Buddha

You are probably not like me, but the way I've talked to myself most of my life, you would think that I was a nothing and a nobody--a loser. Not outwardly so much, for I've learned to put on the show pretty well, but inwardly, I have carried on a battle of questioning my own authority to make decisions, so much of the time thinking that what others said or thought about me was more important than what I thought and so on. I've certainly wanted to be friends with myself, and I do have to say that progress has been significant, especially in recent years.

It is so much more than just being friends with myself, or respecting my own authority, it is the loving and affection for myself that I strive for now because I know how that makes all the difference in how I affect others and my capacity to love others.

Here's the key to this in my mind: It is developing, or rather practicing, the art of unconditional love, meaning that I love without any need of a reason to do so, or the slightest desire to have anything in return. Of course, this is not very normal. We always seem to have some kind of agenda if we think about it clearly. And, who better to practice on that the one I spend the most time with: me.

I'm not there. It isn't a success. . . yet. However, it is a now conscious endeavor now and I am paying attention and reversing much of that old self-talk to something more generous and even kind. It is working and it will be a work in progress from here out. It doesn't matter that it took me this long. It only matters that I learned it and made a decision.

Who Knew? It Would Be Nice To Teach This Stuff Early. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--start with yourself. Give yourself some joy! You deserve it.

Daily Inspiration 3-3-11

"Wealth after all is a relative thing since he that has little

and wants less is richer than he that has much and wants more."

-- Charles Caleb Colton

"The truth is that relative income is not directly related

to happiness. Nonpartisan social-survey data clearly show

that the big driver of happiness is earned success: a person's

belief that he has created value in his life or the life of others."

-- Arthur C Brooks

This is another way to say that success is all in the mind, because it is. There is no such thing as success; or rather, everyone is a success. We can even be a success at failure, just to play with the whole concept a bit.

The biggest, brightest, and most enlightening truth about this that I have found is that it is all relative; it is all a judgement call.

We may think that it is others who make the relative decision and judgement, but at that we would be clearly mistaken. I have come to understand and believe that it is always one hundred percent our decision and our own judgement about ourselves. We may allow others to influence our decision and judgement, but in doing so, we are yet in control. It's just that we may decide to accept their decision as our own.

Life Is An Inside Job. Totally.

Spread Some Joy Today--Make a different choice, or not. You're in control.

Daily Inspiration 3-2-11

"The most elusive and desired quality of leadership is vision.

Vision is the perfume of the mind."

-- Harriet Rubin

"Any man who selects a goal in life which can be

fully achieved has already defined his own limitations."

-- Cavett Robert

A couple nights ago, I watched the movie, The Social Network about the start of facebook. It was a wild ride passion, vision, backbiting, sabotage and focused, furious work toward a grand objective of "the next big thing." I found the movie rather dark, but interesting.

One of the things I noticed about the Mark Zuckerberg character was his vision. His 30% financial partner didn't share the same vision, and frankly was, in my opinion, suggesting a much more limited end result--indeed, and end result that still is playing forward with no end in sight. But Mark saw so much more. He wasn't sure what it was, but he wanted to continue to find out what more that might be. He just knew it was much bigger thing than his partner saw. Consequently, I saw his partner holding him back to protect the smaller, more realistic vision. It was at this point that their partnership changed.

There were numerous opportunities for the partner to remain an integral part, and each one was rejected for a more conservative view. This kind of thing I have seen in my own life from time to time, so it seemed crystal clear to me. I absolutely don't agree with the methods taken, but the handwriting was on the wall.

There were others who got the vision who came in to take the place of those who saw something smaller. I think that will always be the case in a growth business. It wasn't about making money really, it was about doing the thing and doing it big and seeing what can be done and it is still in play and evolving as we speak.

I believe from personal experience of having worked in management of a number of different companies and watching so many more, that the vision of the leader of the enterprise is THE MOST IMPORTANT aspect for company growth, profitability, and expansion. Management is insignificant without it.

It Requires No Skill Or Motivation To See And Do What We Already Know How To Do.

Spread Some Joy Today--send a card or a special heartfelt email to a friend you haven't communicated with in a while.

Daily Inspiration 3-1-11

"Good humor is a tonic for mind and body.

It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression.

It is a business asset.

It attracts friends

It lightens human burdens.

It is the direct route to serenity and contentment."

-- Grenville Kleiser

I don't think there is anything as effective, quick and easy as humor to change a situation from one side to another. I find that I need it every day in business.

I used to be an auto mechanic many years ago. In studying for that field, I learned that in an internal combustion engine, the metal parts are so close to one another and that if it weren't for a very thin layer of engine oil coating the parts, they would melt from the heat of the friction from the movement of the parts. I liken humor to the oil in the engine. It keeps things lubricated, cools, and protects. It is a protective layer that keeps ourselves from melting down.

There is nothing so quickly uplifting and problem-releasing as humor. It is also something that is best when shared with at least one other person. Get a group going and it can turn into a party!

In the heat of business, it is often the protective layer of humor that keeps things cool and smooth flowing.

Laughing Is Loving.

Spread Some Joy Today--Share some humor today. There is nothing like laughter to attract joy.