Daily Inspiration 5-14-12

"No person was ever honored for what he received; honor has been the reward for what he gave." -- Calvin Coolidge This Calvin Coolidge quote sort of puts giving into perspective in my opinion. Voltaire says this sentiment similarly with, "I know of no great man except those who have rendered great services to the human race." Some people think that successful people get there on the backs of others, but Mark Caine states the facts clearly with, The successful man doesn't use others, other people use the successful man, for above all the success is of service." Next time I'm thinking about what I'm getting, should be getting, or not getting, these quotes will hopefully bring me to my senses!

"The Measure Of A Man Is. . . In The Number Of People Whom He Serves." -- Paul D Moody   Spread Some Joy Today--Serve someone! It creates amazing joy. . . for you!

Daily Inspiration 5-13-12

"Not what we have, But what we enjoy Constitutes our abundance." -- J Petit-Senn Sometimes the shortest message has the most to say. Say it with love.

Happy Mother's Day!   Spread Some Joy Today--Enjoy your day! That was easy. . .

Daily Inspiration 5-12-12

"As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do." -- Andrew Carnegie I love a good story. I've heard plenty of them. Some of the worst employees gave me the best interview I ever had, encouraging me to believe they were the ideal person. It was always a disappointment when that didn't pan out. I hear what people are gonna do. They're gonna do this; they're gonna do that; they're committed to the project, and all that stuff. Like one of my favorite men in history, Andrew Carnegie, builder of men and steel empires, I pay much more attention to what people do, rather than what they say they're going to do. To keep myself on track, I take that sentiment to heart myself. I don't want to be the all talk and no show person, so I try to keep this in mind. My other mentor, Jim Rohn. told me on a tape that he would expect "reasonable results in a reasonable time." He said, "that's why the box is so small that it only fits a number and not an excuse." I've heard hundreds of the excuses and a few are even compelling, but they aren't doing, they're telling, aren't they? So these two ideas make a lot of sense and can help us stay real with ourselves. 1. Paying attention to what we do, rather than what we say we will do. and 2. There must be reasonable results in reasonable time.

Do Or Do Not Do. There Is No Try.   Spread Some Joy Today--Buy a friend a latte, or their favorite. It's a great treat!

Daily Inspiration 5-11-12

"To be identified with your mind is to be trapped in time: the compulsion to live almost exclusively through memory and anticipation." -- Eckhart Tolle We have a certain amount of things in life that we follow regimens in, such as, going to work at a certain time for a specified number of hours, having a list of things to do and working through them and so on. We could call these things a routine. Often, these routines become so habitual that we may even feel trapped within them. I know some people who made themselves sick in order to periodically escape them. One of them was me at one time. This is because sickness is an accepted excuse for upsetting the routine for a temporary period of time. I think it is healthy and full of personal wisdom to periodically escape the routine on purpose and on the spur of the moment if possible without needing the crutch of sickness as an excuse. I'm not advocating making a habit of it and lose your position in place (or is that place in position?), but often enough that the habit of the routine is not feeling obligatory. Some call it playing hookey. It's an old game where you make up your own rules while you play. I've grown fond of it, and yet I forget to pull it out and play it often enough. I think I've found a new reason to pull it out more often. Today was a day worthy of note and exceptionally pleasing. Easily one of the most enjoyable afternoons I've had in many years. I took the afternoon off. I decided to take my wife and dog to a park with a river and stop and get a sandwich and took some chairs and vegged by the water in the shade for a couple hours. It was 85 degrees, but in the shade it was perfect with a nice breeze. We read, enjoyed the birds, geese, and other scenery that we don't normally see every day. It was so peaceful, and since it was the middle of the week, there were very few people there. It was absolutely joyful. Then we went to a farmers market and wandered through booths of vendors, listening to tropical music in the background, with food being cooked and giving off delicious aromas. It was soothing and interesting and fun. I was practicing what Eckhart Tolle calls living in the NOW. In fact, his book, The Power of NOW was the inspiration for today's activities and being present in them. I will have more to say about this book and that concept, but I am pleased to share that today's inspiration from Eckhart acted upon spontaneously, was enlightening and absolutely wonderful.

Sometimes We Just Need A Love Break.   Spread Some Joy Today--by being present where ever you find yourself.

Daily Inspiration 5-10-12

"Shortly after I met my mentor he asked me, "Mr Rohn, how much money have you saved and invested over the last six years?" And I said, "None." He then asked, "Who sold you on that plan?." -- Jim Rohn I rarely talk about money because I've been such a bad example of its proper uses. The other day I was talking about knowing what to do and not doing it, and that is how I dealt with money most all my life. I know that I have lots of company in that, but it doesn't make it feel better. Heck, even our government is a bad example. Jim Rohn is a great mentor in money and psychology. He simplifies it to the extreme as in this very short few sentences: "The philosophy of the rich versus the poor is this: The rich invest their money and spend what is left; the poor spend their money and invest what is left." There you have it. Also, in that statement, rich and poor have little to do with dollars and everything to do with philosophy or attitude. There are many people that are poor that earn tens of thousands of dollars a month, and more. Here is a telling one from Jim: "I remember saying to my mentor, "If I had more money, I would have a better plan." He quickly responded, "I would suggest that if you had a better plan, you would have more money." You see, it's not the amount that counts; it's the plan that counts." About six years ago, I was doing some training at a dealership and we were listening to a Brian Tracy set of CD's. One thing that was said that really struck home with me. He said, "you can't be great if you don't learn how to save money." Of course, those of us who were great consumers and users couldn't be bothered with that until we had a better plan which never seemed to arrive. To make all of that so much worse, it was the borrowing for that huge home we didn't really need, but was convinced was an investment, along with the credit cards, numbers of them to get those things we needed when we didn't have any money left. The easy payments began to grow into uneasy payments and then we were serving our lifestyle instead of enjoying our lives. I know it all too well. For a long time I was ashamed about it inside, but I've let all that go. I'm just bent on making better decisions. The other thing is about the idea of living within our means. We need to live below our means if we want to save and invest. I've learned that someone who has learned to save and invest can have the same downfalls and lose everything just like the rest of us can. The difference is that they come right back up because they have the philosophy down and where ever they start, they start with the better philosophy. Jim made it easy and we all know the philosophy and we know it is better as well. All we have to do now, is live it.

Happiness Is NOT More Money. It Is More Freedom.   Spread Some Joy Today--Consider a better plan to take the burden off the issue of money. Seek the joy of freedom in using it instead of it using you.

Daily Inspiration 5-9-12

"A constant struggle, a ceaseless battle to bring success from inhospitable surroundings, is the price of all great achievements." -- Orison Swett Marden I'm sorry, but I have to say bunk to this statement. I love Orsion, but struggle, ceaseless battle, inhospitable surroundings is too damn much work and it is so dang iffy a proposition. No wonder people are afraid to succeed. It's hard and sweaty work. Or not. In thinking back on my life, I find the opposite to be true. It was the times when I worked the least, and enjoyed it the most that the most success came and it came without the struggle and battle. It just showed up. Not on its own, of course, it did require activity on my part, but more than this, it required focused energy. This morning I went for a five-mile walk and had a couple significant thoughts that I had to record. One of them was about this struggle and battle issue, or a more common way to put it is to "make it happen." The thought was how interesting the difference is between making it happen and allowing it to be. It was one of those ah-ha experiences. Making it happen is the old style, nose to the grindstone (yuck) mentality that you just go out and find a way and make it happen, pull that success from inhospitable surroundings, escaping the jaws of death; the "it's not personal, it's just business" idea. Scares the crap out of most people. On the other hand, to begin with gratitude for what we already have, see the beauty that is all around us, have an idea to do something and act on our inspirations that naturally come, we don't have to struggle, but relax into our success by allowing it, or accepting it. Think about those very different approaches to what we say we want, and consider how appropriate allowing it to be is in comparison to making it happen. And, here's a simple way to understand and appreciate the difference. When I am getting in my car to go somewhere, I mentally state my intention to have "safe, efficient and pleasant travel to and from all destinations today." Even if I'm travelling several places, I need only state it once. Then I accept it and relax in it. If I feel my habit pattern create traditional tenseness, I remind myself to relax in it. Tense is making it happen, worrying about getting there on time, who's in front, side and behind me, looking for cops, getting antsy behind the slow driver, etc. Relaxing is full expectation of success. It is confidence and gratitude as if it is already done. Then it comes to be exactly like that.

There Is A Flow To Allow Or Swim Against. The Choice Is Our Own To Make Moment By Moment.   Spread Some Joy Today--Next time you feel tense, practice your joy in relaxing. The people around you will thank you.

Daily Inspiration 5-8-12

"You life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision." -- Anthony Robbins Have you have said to yourself or someone else, "I know this stuff, so why am I not doing it?" I don't admit that often, but I know this stuff, so why am I not doing it? And, I know what the problem is that keeps me from doing it. Some people call it being overwhelmed, and they would be right, or some people focus on circumstances, and they would be right. It is all too easy to forget for a time the sheer power that we all have inside to make changes no matter how things may appear to say that is impossible or improbable, etc. As Anthony Robbins says, "your life changes the MOMENT you make a NEW, CONGRUENT, and COMMITTED decision. It's not those silly decisions we make all day, everyday, but the far more important ones that we make when we're sick and tired or being sick and tired, or you've had a wake-up call that you health is suffering, or you're just tired of feeling this way or that. It does seem that these decisions only come after a certain amount of weight has been allowed to build up. It's rather like earthquakes and the tectonic plates moving all of a sudden after so much build up of pressure, don't you think? I'm sure you've come to these kind of decisions from time to time yourself. So, I've made two decisions just in the last several days and both of those decisions are dam-busters. One is about health, and me taking control of my health and not allowing a doctor to do it. I know this stuff, so why am I not doing it? I am now. I got up to what I call a stupid number on the weight scale--numbers I've never seen before--plus my blood pressure was high and it has never been before in my life, and more. So I have made immediate and major changes that will bring me back to health where I belong. I am in charge and always have been, though I've allowed poor choices and overwhelment to reshape my body recently. It's over now. The other decision is about money and what it means to me and how I deal with it. I've changed my attitude completely on this subject and expect to see a far brighter picture very soon. Anthony says, "If you don't set a baseline standard for what you'll accept in your life, you'll find it's easy to slip into behaviors and attitudes or a quality of life that's far below what you deserve." I'm not just thinking about it anymore, but drawing a line in the sand of what is acceptable and what is not. I'll share the good news in the coming months as this new plan unfolds. Of course, if you've been where I'm talking about, come on along with me and make some changes. You deserve it!

"Man Is Not The Creature Of Circumstances; Circumstances Are The Creatures Of Men." -- Benjamin Disraeli   Spread Some Joy Today--make some decisions you've been putting off for a better time. The joy you will feel from just making the decision is enough to share!

Daily Inspiration 5-7-12

"Your chances of success are directly proportional to the degree of pleasure you derive from what you do. If you are in a job you hate, face the fact squarely and get out." -- Michael Korda I am blessed in that, for the most part of my life, I've had jobs that I liked. I didn't necessarily like all of it, but the majority of it was satisfying. However, it wasn't until going off on my own that I have found that I don't just like what I do, but love almost every aspect of it, and have continued to love it and grow more fond of it as four years have passed and am now in the fifth year of it. That to me is probably the most wonderful and fulfilling part. Now, knowing what I know about the difference, I recommend to anyone and everyone to find something that you really loving doing and do it. I especially appeal to young people to allow themselves the liberty of finding this that they love doing before they build a lifestyle and then focus on maintaining the lifestyle instead of building a life. I know both intimately now, and guess which one is more rewarding?

Love Yourself Enough To Allow Your Own Liberty.   Spread Some Joy Today--Find a few things to thank God for today and then thank God, while thanking a few folks along the way.

Daily Inspiration 5-6-12

"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." -- William Shakespeare Whatever comes after, "I'm afraid. . ." is holding us back. These fears are often expressed as part of common conversation or in talking about our business, work, the economy, the family, home, and a thousand other things. Get rid of it. Stop using that beginning and stop talking about what you're afraid of. I was talking with a business owner today and he was saying he was fearful of this, afraid that wasn't going to work out, fearful of the unknown future, and much more. Then I found out his business was down significantly. I said that I had two solutions. The first was to stop worrying, talking about and emphasizing your fears. You are living in fear and are anchored to the ground as a result. The second was to try a better approach to making sales and I had a lot to offer there. Our own fears are insidious enough, but to have our customers, friends, associates and others talking negatively about the world, the economy, what is and isn't made in the USA anymore, and ten thousand other complaints, adds to the general negativity in our fearful life. Then, to make this a compound fracture, we agree with them, and discuss it at length adding our own stories, thoughts and complaints. Some may say it is just conversation. Jim Rohn covers that well with this thought: "Some people you can afford to spend a few minutes with, but not a few hours." Then he says, "Get around people who have something of value to share with you. Their impact will continue to have a significant effect on your life long after they have departed." The seemingly innocent things we say to each other matters more than we think. Facebook has a great deal of value, but complaining with each other is not one of them. Always fighting against things is not one of them. There is so much positive energy and experience in the world, but when you're complaining all the time, you cannot see it. Think of it as if you're in a rowboat in a flowing river. As you row and row and row upstream fighting the current and struggling as best you can, all you can see and feel is stress and work and pain. Yet all it takes to change that pattern is to stop rowing. Let it go. When someone is complaining, stop agreeing with them. Do not extend their conversation, customer or not. Be polite, sure, but don't encourage them either. It isn't beneficial for you and it isn't beneficial to them. Just let go of the oars. It is the same with fear. Stop rowing, fighting the fears, worrying about the future, concerned about circumstances. Just stop rowing and let it go. And, even though you've probably developed a strong habitual pattern of rowing upstream. Each time you notice that you're doing it again, just stop rowing and relax. Everything will work out just fine. Seriously. It will.

Rest, Rest, Rest Your Oars, Floating Down The Stream, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, My Life Is All Downstream. . .   Spread Some Joy Today--Take deep breaths today and relax often. Zero stress. . .

Daily Inspiration 5-5-12

"You can start right where you stand and apply the habit of going the extra mile by rendering more service and better service than you are now being paid for. . ." -- Napoleon Hill Most of my adult life I've studied motivational philosophers of business such as Napoleon Hill who have all said much the same as above. I have a library of Tom Peter's books beginning with In Search of Excellence which glorifies those companies who make going the extra mile a daily mantra and habitual activity. So, I can say that I've had loads of mentors on this subject and believe in this philosophy myself. Do I always embody this in my daily business life? No. Do I want to? Yes. Is there a point that too much service is given for payment rendered or scope of contract? Where is that line? Who draws it? What is the criterion for individual judgement? Or is there a universal criterion? I may have a personal philosophy that has me feeling perfectly okay to do one thing, while other team members of high rank or lower may feel somewhat different, especially about certain clients. Some clients are clearly needy in comparison with others. I think this will always be the case. So, the common question remains of how far do we go to serve the client? These are all interesting questions, and I don't have the answers to all of them, yet as a business leader, I know what I want to do. I want to serve the client to the best of my ability and resources less based on financial criteria and more based on how I feel in my heart. This is commonly expressed throughout time as the Golden Rule. To do unto others as we would have them--even like them--to do unto us. It is easy as pie to say, "they didn't pay for this, so they shouldn't get it," and such kinds of judgements based on financial aspects and attitudes of the client and the server. Even the fact that this is true doesn't make it good for business. This takes us back to the old adage of "business is business," and "it's not personal, it's business." I've always disliked those personally. Then, I think of all the transactions and feelings that I have had as a consumer or customer and especially the ones that didn't feel good to help guide me to not repeat those scenarios to my own clients. Based on all of that, I go with my heart more than anything and I feel good after the decision. Personally and professionally, I think this is all that really matters in making the right decision.

If I Feel Good About It, It IS Good. If I Feel Perfect About It, It IS Perfect. That Works For ME.   Spread Some Joy Today--Feeling good is far more important than we realize. Following our bliss, our heart, or however we might say that is a guiding light that is truly amazing and beneficial. It's always personal.

Daily Inspiration 5-4-12

"We cannot rise higher than our thought of ourselves." -- Orison Swett Marden What an interesting man was Orison Swett Marden, founder of Success Magazine in 1897, author of over 18 books, and a positive thinker at the turn of the last century, when they called that the New Thought Movement. He helped thousands back then and continues with his timeless words today. If you have a Kindle, you can get most of his books for free on Amazon. The brilliance of the thought expressed above is priceless. We cannot rise higher than our thought of ourselves. So true. He elaborates: "The size of your accomplishments, the quality of your achievement, will depend very largely on how big a man you see in yourself, what sort of image you get of your possible self, yourself at your best." When I think on this idea, I can see so clearly into the past of how my own image of myself has always been the culprit to keep me at a lower level than I claimed to have wanted. I just couldn't seem to picture myself there. I can also see that much if not most of that came from people teaching me and I accepting their doctrine. I don't blame them. They did what they thought was best, but this is the whole idea of study on my own to find a better way. I have always had that drive inside me to know and to feel better about myself and accept the me I could be. There is not much that is as powerful to help a person as a strong sense of self through confidence. This is why I practice to get better. This is why I teach what I learn, so I can go from learning to knowing, all the while sharing valuable knowledge and ideas. Another thing on this subject that I've recently learned that has helped me a good deal is this: celebrate other people's successes. Celebrate them getting what they want, winning the prize, moving up the so-called ladder. It is one of the ways to open the venue of abundance, which helps everyone the same. By celebrating others, we can also believe even more in ourselves.

"You Are The One Who Can Stretch Your Own Horizon. . ." -- Edgar F Magnin   Spread Some Joy Today--As you look around today or travel today and see others doing well, driving fine cars, living in vast homes, celebrate their success. Sing their praises along with them.

Daily Inspiration 5-3-12

"One comes to believe whatever one repeats to oneself sufficiently often, whether the statement be true or fase. It comes to be the dominating thought in one's mind." -- Robert Collier "Thoughts become things," as Mike Dooley has said thousands of times. What begins as an internal thought, becomes externally spoken, and the action of sharing, to reinforce the thought as it quietly and silently becomes a belief. It becomes you and your reality, and it really doesn't matter if it is truth to anyone else, as it is truth to you--at least for the time being. You can claim to be a positive person, but if you heard yourself on a tape recorder, you might find otherwise. The habit of discussing and reinforcing the realities of life from statistics (correct or incorrect), news, or friendly banter is strong and leads many in a circle in disappointment and frustration. Here's a way to check yourself, because most of your friends will just agree with you instead of allowing you to hear yourself: Is what you are saying uplifting? If it is not uplifting then it is not positive. I love Jim Rohn's phrase that there are two ways to build the tallest building, one is to become known as a builder, the other as a destroyer. Well, slightly paraphrased, but I've adopted it as my own. So, I ask myself, "am I building, or destroying?" It appears that a majority like to discuss the problems. It may not be true, but it seems that way. Whether it's on facebook, the news, the locker room, or the living room, there is a lot of discussion about what is wrong. There is nothing positive about that. The positive would be to discuss what is right or good. Praise is uplifting. Appreciation is uplifting. Peace is uplifting. Next time you're in the car talking, at the office, on the job, or where ever you find yourself, begin being aware of what you are saying and/or agreeing with. Then ask yourself if you are a builder. I now find myself doing this all the time, catching myself (yes, habits can be a challenge), and politely changing the subject with friends, or even pointing them in a more pleasing direction--for both of us. Because I am convinced that thoughts become things, I'm much more careful what things I want coming into my life. It wasn't always so. But, it damn sure is NOW.

"How Shall I A Habit Break?" As You Did That Habit Make. As You Gathered, You Must Lose; As You Yielded, Now Refuse. Thread By Thread The Strands We Twist Till They Bind Us Neck And Wrist. Thread By Thread The Patient Hand Must Untwine Ere Free We Stand. -- John Boyle O'Reilly Spread Some Joy Today--by speaking of the joy that you find and feel inside. Speak of it often.

Daily Inspiration 5-2-12

"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself." -- Napoleon Bonaparte What is wrong with this statement? Of course! You have to do it. This is nothing but the ego run amuck! Granted, there might be times to step in and do a thing, but to judge that the only way it will be done right is for you to do it is pure ego. Control is not the answer. Leadership is.

Responsibility And Control Are Not Best Friends.   Spread Some Joy Today--Let go of being in charge of all the right answers to every problem. Consider yourself hands tied and lips sealed and see what you can do.



Daily Inspiration 5-1-12

"One of the healthiest things you can do for your well-being is to make yourself dispensable." -- John C Maxwell When I was young, I always liked attention and being in charge; however, as I've grown up and was focused on business, I learned to change that thinking. Now, in building my own business, I feel it is a self-built trap if I make myself indispensable. Indeed, the more dispensable I can make myself, the better and bigger my business can be. Besides, I want to eventually travel and be away from my business, so it only makes sense to let go by empowering others. Some people want to hang onto all the control and the stock and my goal is dramatically different. I want to own just 10% of a large number of enterprises that I've helped in one way or another to thrive by turning control and equity to those that can make it their own and do far better than I. It is the small 10% amount that thrills me when I will see others moving the business and I being handsomely rewarded for their creativity, skill and drive. Yet, there is still much that I do and I am constantly working on letting go of it. As soon as I start thinking that there is something that I am doing that only I can do just so, I am in trouble. That is not what I want, so I begin immediately to work on making it easier for someone else to do.

I Want To Be An Insider On The Outside Looking In.   Spread Some Joy Today--Success is a team sport.