Daily Inspiration 4-2-12

"There are opportunities everywhere, just as there have always been. . . ."

-- Charles Fillmore

Some people go around yelling, 'the sky is falling!' and other such dribble. Others complain about lack of opportunities especially for certain classes of people that are called the disadvantaged. As we look around, listen to what is being said, read what newspapers print, watch what goes on the news, etc., we could easily mistake the world as coming soon to an end.

All of those things and more like them are true. They are all true for those who pay attention to them and live within them.

The hopeful news is that the world is full of untapped opportunities that are so grand in quality and quantity that what was once though completely impossible will be found to be child's play. There are indeed opportunities everywhere, just as there have always been, and just as will always be.

These things and more like them are true. They are true for those who believe this and allow themselves to be open to those opportunities to be seen.

Think about one of the most world changing things that has created millions of jobs, businesses, fortunes, and incredible public service all at the same time: the Internet. Let's only go back to say 1998 when it was just picking up steam using browsers to navigate through websites and such. Millions of jobs have come in this short period of time. Companies have exploded in unprecedented growth with unprecedented speed.

Just take one example of those companies that went from nothing to billions in revenue and stock value--Google. According to the Internet, Google earned just over $29 billion in 2010. For most of us, that is just a stupid number. It is a monster, and that is just one company dealing in the Internet creating value, products, services, employment, and much more. Such a young company too and have only just begun their earning potential.

Our own Internet company is a tiny spec on that scale so small that it could not be seen with the naked eye; however, it has provided income, employment, services, and much value. There are hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of companies just like us.

And you know what? The Internet didn't even exist a very short time ago. Facebook is only six years old. What a wondrous thing this Internet has become and who knows where it will take us in the coming years. One thing seems certain: it will be more tomorrow than it is today.

Opportunites Are Like That.

Spread Some Joy Today--Live in hope and confidence. Those two things combine into joy.

Daily Inspiration 4-1-12

"What lies behind you

and what lies in front of you,

pales in comparison

to what lies inside of you."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think about it. . .

. . .Often.

Spread Some Joy Today--What we all want is not outside of us. That's why we are powerful and enabled.

Daily Inspiration 3-31-12

"Let everything you do be done as if it makes a difference." -- William James

That is just so well said and so full of meaning, I will leave it alone.

Viva La Difference!

Spread Some Joy Today--Because it matters, and someone's got to do it. . . it might as well be you!

Daily Inspiration 3-30-12

"Compared to what we ought to be, we are only half awake.

We are making use of only a small part of our physical and

mental resources. Stating the thing broadly, the human

individual thus lives far within his limits. He possesses power

of various sorts which he habitually fails to use."

-- William James

I love this quote except for the phrase 'ought to be.' Everything in our life as far as I can see is a choice that we make, and so many times, they are made by default without our conscious knowledge or understanding. Yet, once we do, there are no more excuses. And this quote shows how much we leave on the table.

I have done so much and yet, I have done so little. The difference is what is and what I could have done. The good news is the vast potential of all of that. At any moment, there is so much more available should we choose it, as well we could see so much less should we choose it.

I Cannot Help But Choose More And This Is What Drives My Own Motivation. I Choose Expansion.

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing how much you have to give.

Daily Inspiration 3-29-12

"The optimist sees the doughnut,

the pessimist, the hole."

-- McLandburgh Wilson

 

Do you know any people, perhaps even someone that is in your life pretty regularly that no matter what is presented them, they have at least one negative comment. Maybe it is something missing, or something not to their liking. They are more than just complainers, but have a perpetual pessimistic outlook.

I love this doughnut and doughnut hole quote because it clearly shows what I'm talking about here. What is missing versus what is there. Here's a couple of other similar quotes that say it just a bit differently that I like:

"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one see stars"

-- Frederick Langbridge

"The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist, the opportunity in every difficulty." -- L. P. Jacks

I generally try to avoid these people just like I avoid the news media, but sometimes that isn't a clear option; however, just because they may have this view, doesn't mean we have to justify our view, or be upset by our association. Though the idea of pessimism and optimism are opposites, doesn't mean that we have to be that way with each other. There are plenty of ways to come together should we desire to do so. This becomes the key to seeing other people's point of view without necessarily giving up our own.

By allowing other ways, other attitudes, other views, even opposite views to exist in our midst, and at the same time, stop all judgements of good or bad, we can learn to appreciate how others claim their position while viewing it from our own.

 

"Yes, We Are All Different, But Not So Different That We Cannot Get Along With One Another. . . If We Will Disagree Without Being Disagreeable."

-- J Martin Kohe

Spread Some Joy Today--Lighten up.

Daily Inspiration 3-28-12

"There is no truth. There is only perception."

-- Gustave Flaubert

It fascinates me how I as a service provider and they as a service receiver can see the truth of those services sometimes in a completely opposite view. We could argue long and hard and have no movement beyond defending our own position on the view of truth. We can even use the word of truth stating it as if that were something in and of itself was a pure and singular, as so many do from the hilltops and valleys and boardrooms. How many times have we argued truth only to have that frustration of disagreement, which to us is actually impossible when it comes to truth. After all, there is only one truth we say. We say there can be many perceptions, but there can only be one truth.

This idea is hard to let go of, and is the brunt of the world's problems whether from a moral or more realistic view. We see them as wrong and we as right. We have truth and they have the lies.

At some point, it will be helpful to change our thinking about that concept. If we begin to see that there is no such thing as truth as I've just discussed, but there is only each persons perception of truth, we can find real empathy and also growth within ourselves. As we hold to our truth dearly without any other considerations, growth is pretty much impossible. What it will also improve is communication and then the relationship can be more beneficial to each.

In so many cases I have found and am finding as I practice this, that it really doesn't matter what I think, it matters more what they other thinks. It's not that I have to leave my position to join with theirs, but that I am open to see it from their position in order to attempt to understand how and why those differences might exist. As I understand their position, I more fully understand the real meaning of compassion.

 

According To Google, There Are Currently 6.8 Billion Truths. That Can Either Be A Serious Argument, Or An Ocean Of Love. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--At our core, we are love. Let us peel the layers of cares and find it again and share that joy with every one.

Daily Inspiration 3-27-12

"There is an ongoing battle between conscience and

self-interest in which, at some point, we have to take sides."

-- Robert Brault

I worked for others for just over 40 years, and for myself for about 9 or so. Most recently I've worked for myself for the last 4+ years. There is one thing about working for myself that stands out more than anything else and that is the ability to make choices in policy and make decisions on the spur of the moment and to do what I think in my heart is the right thing. What's even so much better than this is having real partners who think the same thing.

I worked in the car business for over 25 years and it is notorious for self-interest. Even as much control as I could get as a manager wasn't enough. I remember having to make choices that I had a very hard time with and all of them were focused on saving money. The really funny thing is that in almost every case, it ended up costing them much more money to get it finally resolved. Their fear of loss and instinct for protecting themselves ended up being the thing that cost the most in the end.

And now, I get to choose and the buck stops here with us. We get to choose to do what we think is right even if it costs us money. In fact the money is almost insignificant in the mix. Going with our heart of hearts is the best instinct every single time. As I look back on some of those choices, I see how clearly this was the best choice.

Here's a quote from one of the world leaders in customer service and retention, Nordstrom's: "Rule #1 - Use your good judgment in all situations. There will be no additional rules. - Nordstrom's Employee Handbook."

 

 

Make Your Best Choices Regardless Of What Others Think: Go With Your Heart.

Spread Some Joy Today--You can sit right at your desk and in a moment go into joy. Just think of something funny! Maybe something like the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles. Oh, that's just a guy thing though. . .

Daily Inspiration 3-26-12

"The only person you should ever compete with

is yourself. You can't hope for a fairer match."

-- Todd Ruthman

Assuming you're going to compete at all, this is the way--and I think the most meaningful as well.

As a sales manager, I hated all those contests that focused on the top 20% pretending to be motivational to the rest. The truth was that anyone could win, but it was rarely someone outside the top 20%. What's the point of that?

So I always tried to develop contests that would have one showing a certain improvement level over where they were in the past and it certainly made for a more interesting and effective contest. There was also participation by the majority whereas before, so many would give up right out of the gate.

I don't like the idea of competition, but I do like the idea of growth, of becoming more that I was and desiring to get better at what I do. I like contests that everyone can win rather than the top person.

We Are All Winners! In This, There Are No Losers.

Spread Some Joy Today--See what you can do to make your coworkers feel like winners.

Daily Inspiration 3-25-12

"At this very moment, you may be saying to yourself

that you have any number of admirable qualities.

You are a loyal friend, a caring person,

someone who is smart, dependable, fun to be around.

That's wonderful, and I'm happy for you,

but let me ask you this:

are you being any of those things to yourself?"

--Philip C McGraw

Most of us have probably been trained since childhood to think of others first. Parents have a way of instilling this "getting along with others is the ideal thing" idea. We may have even been trained in the so-called Christian ethic of forsaking ourselves for the benefit of others. Women in particular are often trained to be submissive by putting their family and/or spouses first as a moral security in keeping things together and functional. We may have even been taught that pampering or paying attention to ourselves is selfish, especially if we do this ahead of our prime directive of thinking of others first.

At some point in our lives though, we realize that though we may keep all the balls in the air with the best of them, we are broken and tattered inside. We've looked outside of ourselves to get reinforcement through praise and love and may not have received that which we have craved.

It's time to ask ourselves, how is that working out for us? Probably not as good of a plan as our well meaning teachers, preachers and coaches put forth. It is most likely high time that we gradually and consistently let go of that old, worn-out, ill-fitting plan for a far better one of taking care of ourselves first. Yes, first.

As we follow our own desires, our own internal guidance, our own lining up with our source, though our resulting well-being, we can be the better servant, encourager, supporter, friend and lover. We will also be far better leaders and teachers for others and hopefully stop the propagation of these old broken ideas of self-sacrifice being some moral ideal. As we love ourselves, we open a floodgate of love possibilities. As we appreciate ourselves, we multiply and expand our appreciation of every one and every thing around us. It is without a doubt the best place to begin.

 

It's Not Only Okay To BE ME, It's Okay To LOVE ME.

Spread Some Joy Today--As always, it begins with us. Seek and allow your joy and in your joy, it is automatically shared. Remember that your joy is not dependent on anything anyone else says or does, but only on what you think. You have all the power, and the only power.

Daily Inspiration 3-24-12

"Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another."

-- Marquis de Condorcet

Have you made $250,000 in a year yet? How about $150,000? How about a million? How many luxury vehicles do you have? How many square feet in your home? Is it over 3,000? How much is in your retirement account so far? $500,000? $100?

There are a zillion ways to compare ourselves with someone else and they are all a complete waste of time and energy. It really doesn't matter what someone else is doing since it isn't your life, it's theirs.

Many times we compare ourselves to some point in the past or some potential point in the future. This too is a complete waste of time and energy.

The only thing that makes any sense to me is to ask instead, 'How have I grown? What have I learned? How have I loved? How have I shared?' In other words, what have I become? It is pretty much impossible to not be more than we were yesterday, and likewise we will certainly be more in the future. It is better to celebrate our becoming and our experiences and our more-ness.

Whatever that is for you and me is worth celebrating along with the rest of the world and whatever they have become.

 

Things and Accomplishments Become Less Valuable Over Time

Spread Some Joy Today--Relax in yourself, who you are, the power of your choices, the joy in your life. Celebrate yourself.

Daily Inspiration 3-23-12

"Just let awareness have its way with you completely."

-- Scott Morrison

It is such a simple thing and yet I've paid so little attention until recently. I am so much more aware of what goes on around me, in me and through me. I've always had eyes and yet didn't really see so well. Now I see a completely different world. It didn't change, but I did. The change is simple and cosmic at the same time. It is that I began to practice seeing the world, and especially the world from where ever I am at the moment as perfect, wonderful and not broken. In so doing, that is exactly how it is and it brings me peace of mind and joy.

I used to see what was wrong. I would complain about it to myself and to others. I would even make those things and other things outside of myself as reasons for my unhappiness, discomfort, or lack.

To be fair, I am practicing this every day and getting so much better as a result. Today for example, I went for a walk and it was awe inspiring as I just allowed myself to experience the weather and fully enjoy myself and everything that I saw. Earlier in the day I watched two Junco's in the back yard and I watched them take turns diving into the swimming pool on a shallow dive and then come up and out and back up to a branch. I've never seen anything like that before in 25 years of watching birds around our home.

Today was a special day and I am learning to allow awareness to have its way with me. I also have to add that I watched no news on TV, read no newspapers, saw no news on the Internet, heard no radio. It should not be amazing how much this helps the cause.

 

Enjoying Life's Simple Pleasures. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Have fun! Enjoy your day, your surroundings, and the people around you. It really is a choice to do so or not to.

Daily Inspiration 3-22-12

"If we clearly realize that the creative power

in ourselves is unlimited, then there is no reason

for limiting the extent to which we may

enjoy what we can create by means of it."

-- Thomas Troward

I was brought up as the eldest of five in an environment of lack. The common complaint was that there wasn't enough, yet the reality is that there was always enough. A better way to say it was a lack mentality, or there was a focus on lack, or always looking at the glass as half empty on its way to empty.

I didn't really know any better than to think those same things and then throughout my own life, I chanted similar sentiments, continually reinforcing the lack. Luxuries were a rare event for sure, but looking back, I see clearly that there was always enough and that it was this attitude, or way of looking at things that created a consistent flow of more of the same.

It is only now that I am thinking differently about this by ignoring what is, and focusing on opulence and generosity, which naturally means that there is more than enough so that there is plenty to give away. One thing that has helped me is a short piece by Thomas Troward called, The Spirit of Opulence. I've shared the entire piece previously, but today I want to share just a bit to reinforce what I am saying about my purposeful change in attitude.

I'll start with this short quote with bold highlights that are mine: "The spirit of opulence--the opulent mode of thought, that is--consists in cultivating the feeling that we possess all sorts of riches which we can bestow upon others, and which we can bestow liberally because by this very action we open the way for still greater supplies to flow in. But you say, "I am short of money, I hardly know how to pay for necessaries. What have I to give?"

"The answer is that we must always start from the point where we are; and if your wealth at the present moment is not abundant on the material plane, you need not trouble to start on that plane. There are other sorts of wealth, still more valuable, on the spiritual and intellectual planes, which you can give; and you can start from this point and practice the spirit of opulence, even though your balance at the bank may be nil. And then the universal law of attraction will begin to assert itself. You will not only begin to experience an inflow on the spiritual and intellectual planes, but it will extend itself to the material plane also."

I have taken this wonderful advice written in approximately 1921 to heart and have concentrated in the last several years on practicing the spirit of opulence by giving most generously in many ways other than in dollars. There are many who concentrate on nothing other than dollars, and I think this is so limiting. I am so wealthy in so many ways and it is sheer joy to share any and all of that wealth in the spirit of opulence.

I Highly Recommend This Practice!

Spread Some Joy Today--Realizing that you have spiritual wealth is the embodiment of joy sharing capacity. Focus on your wealth to realize you have more than enough to share.

Daily Inspiration 3-21-12

"The best way to inspire people to superior performance

is to convince them by everything you do and by your

everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them."

-- Harold S Geneen

I've learned so much from studying businesses great and small, and it is in this quote above that I see them succeed or fail the majority of the time.

Some business leaders (I should say 'those who are in control' rather than leaders), seem to think that the company means something in and of itself. It is absolutely nothing without its most valuable asset: the people who do the work. Just as on a football, baseball or any other team, it is the people and they way they work together that makes or breaks them.

In this, it saddens me every time that I see businesses who are forsaking, undermining, and otherwise manipulating their employees. I also cannot leave out vendors, because they are also an integral part of performance and quality. I've also seen many businesses who grind up and spit out their vendors to their demise.

People will rise to the occasion, to superior performance if encouraged and supported and cared for. It isn't always about money either. I've seen people perform like super stars at very low pay, because they see something far greater than immediate monetary reward. Just think what it can be like to surround yourself with these super stars.

Valuing people in a business is the single most important quality of a successful company, product or service. Those who ignore this basic concept do so at their own risk.

"Leadership Is Practiced Not So Much In Words As In Attitude And In Actions." -- Harold S Geneen

Spread Some Joy Today--Appreciate yourself first, then find others to appreciate. You won't have far to look.

Daily Inspiration 3-20-12

"The principle part of faith is patience."

-- George MacDonald

Of course! The principle part of faith is patience. Yet, somehow we missed that in Sunday school, and certainly at home, and then at the office. Mostly, it seems that we have been taught that faith and patience are two separate things. Now I see them as one in the same, or that patience is faith in action.

I think we also think of patience as lack of action, but I see patience as action as in a commitment, belief, faith, solidarity. Some might think of patience as weakness, and I see it as strength. Indeed, I see patience often requiring great strength.

When we want something so much, or we have worked for a long time to have something come to a certain circumstance of fruition, it is our impatience at work that can undue a lineage of effort and caring that brought us to this place that we are now. In our rush to make it happen, this is where the decisions can go awry. Staying the course, with patience and conviction that it will come true is the best course. When the time is right, the inspiration to move will be so clear and feel so good that there will be no doubt about its correctness. When the time is right, doors will open, things and circumstances will change to bring about the clarity we've been seeking.

When we feel rushed whether from the outside or the inside, it is up to us to renew our goals or intentions in order to add more clarity and then remind ourselves that our faith is put into action by our patience in the belief that it will come as we have imagined.

Demonstrate Your Faith - Have Patience!

Spread Some Joy Today--You cannot be denied. Seek joy and joy will be yours. Once it is yours, it is then yours to share.