October 31st, 2008
Halloween costumes bring out the real character hiding behind the grey flannel suits—male and female. We don’t sponsor a costume competition at our company, but I know it’s a popular employee activity at many companies.
Wouldn’t it be helpful if folks would just wear their costumes all year long, so that you could figure out how best to work with them? Let me give you some examples of common disguises. First, the shady characters:
The pirate loves to take your ideas, your lunch, your stapler—anything of value that can save him time and effort. In the meantime, you’ve been cheated of your possessions and occasionally the credit you are due for your work. Yo-ho-ho—protect your treasure chest from this co-worker.
The clown makes a joke of everything. A sense of humor is one thing, but the pranks and pratfalls get old after a while, especially when the boss doesn’t think they’re funny. Make sure this goof-off knows you take your job seriously and stay out of tiny cars.
The ghost is always present and never there. She hovers in the background and makes others nervous. What is she doing? Is she spying on you? Are you in trouble? The creepy presence hinders productivity, spooks workers into second-guessing their abilities, and leaves an aura of uncertainty. Don’t let this spirit possess you.
The vampire sucks the life out of any project he’s involved in. No matter how well researched, how thoroughly considered, or how obvious, Dracula can sneak up and destroy your project, deflate morale and generally be a pain in the neck. Keep garlic handy to fend off the vampire in your office.
The wicked witch may not wear a pointy hat, but you can be sure there’s something brewing as she cackles at your ideas. Her broom sweeps away all good.
The caveman refuses to try anything new. He won’t update his skills, thinks technology is a passing fad, and carries a big club to deal with those who disagree with him. Don’t worry about this guy reinventing the wheel—he’s still trying to figure out what a wheel is for.
The French maid/Chippendale dancer, also known as the office flirt, has been the cause of many involuntary resignations, outright firings and some very messy divorces. If your company has a policy on fraternizing, pay attention. If not, and if your job outlasts your fling, your reputation has probably taken a beating.
On another rack of the costume shop, you’ll find where the positive people in your office hang out.
The police/firefighter comes in to save all kinds of difficult situations. He isn’t afraid to put himself on the line to right a wrong. He can put out a fire or make sure the bad guys don’t get away. Don’t be afraid to ask him for help if you need to be rescued.
The angel just knows when to offer help, without looking for any credit. This creature brings special skills when miracles seem necessary. She provides moral support when you’re ready to give up, stays by your side until you can move forward, and then gets out of your way. Angels earn their wings but don’t expect any payback.
The nurse/doctor is a lifesaver who can take an ailing project and restart the heartbeat. She can diagnose a problem and recommend appropriate remedies. Whether the fix is a bandage or major surgery, you want this person on your care team.
The superhero seems to appear out of nowhere and only uses his powers to do good things. It doesn’t take a searchlight in the sky to call for help—this guy can sniff out trouble. Don’t look in a phone booth for your superhero—he’s doing his job quietly and will show up when he sees a bad situation.
The cowboy may seem to defy all the rules, but he is actually an independent thinker who is willing to take some calculated risks. The cowboy is not reckless, but has good instincts and can depend on old fashioned horse sense to iron out a mess. Round up a few cowboys when you need to get pulled out of a rut.
The cheerleader encourages you when you have lost all your enthusiasm. She is as excited about winning as you are, and supports your team through thick and thin. She’s a good sport.
Office Halloween costumes: They’re not just for October 31!
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October 28th, 2008
Sept. 22, 2008) Greeted every morning with news of falling stocks and debates on whether the U.S. economy is in recession, charitable spending right now is likely not on the top of many donors’ priorities—a daunting thought for fundraisers looking for strong fourth-quarter income.
“This is a big enough ripple that major donors are looking around and asking themselves where this ends,” said Melissa Berman, president and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, a New York firm that counsels donors on charitable giving. “And as the financial crisis bleeds onto Main Street, ordinary folks are feeling less comfortable donating money.”
In what will likely be an uphill battle, fundraisers in the final months of 2008 say they are not making drastic changes, but rather going back to basics and focusing on need.
“Donors may not give as quickly or as readily, so you need to make a really compelling case,” says Brian Bonde, ACFRE, president of Children’s Care Hospital Foundation. Bonde advises nonprofits not to back down on marketing; instead redouble the effort. “If there is any doubt of real need, the donor may not give right now. This is not going to work if you are doing things the way you do them in better times. In tough times, we really need to communicate the hurt.”
“It’s like a football team. When you’re down, focus on fundamentals,” Bonde continues. “Go out and talk to your donors. Try to identify people who can be opinion leaders to the rest of the constituency—create a bandwagon effect. Prepare your boards for what may be the worst and try to make it the best.”
Last Quarter Critical
How important is the last quarter of each year for fundraising? According to AFP’s Holiday Giving Survey, conducted in December 2007, more than 40 percent of charities raise on average between one-third and one-half of their entire annual contributions from October through December. In addition, almost three in 10 charities raise more than 50 percent of their annual contributions during that time. Nearly two in 10 respondents receive more than 40 percent of their annual contributions in the month of December alone.
Despite the urgency of the situation, members agree that keeping the general program moving forward, focusing on the bigger picture and NOT panicking are critical to success.
“Look at your donors case-by-case, some are being hit hard by the economy, some are doing okay,” advises Matthew Haag, senior director of major gifts and regional programs at the University of Rochester. “And with all your donors and prospects—don’t stop communicating. Now is an opportunity to show that you are interested in them beyond the financial, because you know some just don’t have it to give right now. Don’t lose sight of the long-term relationship you are building.”
As for what not to do, Bonde says fundraisers should not move away from long-range strategies and long-term cultivation in order to fulfill annual goals.
On his blog, The Fundraising Coach, Marc Pitman writes that the three deadliest mistakes a fundraiser can make in a bad economy are to spend less on fundraising, become pessimistic and apologize when asking for money.
“Timidity is a sure-fire way to not raise money,” Pitman says. “We need to continue getting out from behind our desks and inviting donors to give.” It is important to show that you are aware that these are tough times, he adds. “But there’s nothing compassionate about not asking.”
How is your organization faring during these times? What are you doing to reach your fundraising goal through the last quarter of this year?
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October 28th, 2008
You have incredible powers of mind and emotions that give you timely and accurate feedback in every area of your life.
In this newsletter, you learn how to “tune in” to yourself so you can make the right decision in every situation.
Using Your Inner Guidance System
We know that the body has a natural bias toward health and energy. It’s designed to last for 100 years with proper care and maintenance. When something goes wrong with any part of our body, we experience it in the form of pain or discomfort of some kind.
We know that when our body is not functioning smoothly and painlessly, something is wrong, and we take action to correct it. We go to a doctor; we take pills; we undergo physical therapy, massage or chiropractic. We know that if we ignore pain or discomfort for any period of time, it could lead to something more serious.
How to Tell Right From Wrong
In the same sense, nature also gives us a way to tell emotionally what’s right for us and what’s wrong for us in life. Just as nature gives us physical pain to guide us to doing or not doing things in the physical realm, nature gives us emotional pain to guide us toward doing or not doing things in the emotional or mental realm. The wonderful thing is that you’re constructed so that if you simply listen carefully to yourself-to your mind, your body and your emotions-and follow the guidance you’re given, you can dramatically enhance the quality of your life.
Just as the natural physical state of your body is health and vitality, your natural emotional state is peace and happiness. Whenever you experience a deviation from peace and happiness, it’s an indication that something is amiss. Something is wrong with what you’re thinking, doing or saying. Your feeling of inner happiness is the best indicator you could ever have to tell you what you should be doing more of and what you should be doing less of.
The Messenger
Unhappiness is to your life as pain is to your body. It is sent as a messenger to tell you that what you’re doing is wrong for you.
Very often, you’ll suffer from what has been called “divine discontent.” You’ll feel fidgety and uneasy for a reason or reasons that are unclear to you. You’ll be dissatisfied with the status quo. Sometimes, you’ll be unable to sleep. Sometimes, you’ll be angry or irritable. Very often, you’ll get upset with things that have nothing to do with the real issue. You’ll have a deep inner sense that something isn’t as it should be, and you’ll often feel like a fish on a hook, wriggling and squirming emotionally to get free.
Divine Discontent
And that is a good thing. Divine discontent always comes before a positive life change. If you were perfectly satisfied, you would never take any action to improve or change your circumstances. Only when you’re dissatisfied for some reason do you have the inner motivation to engage in the outer behaviors that lead you onward and upward.
Listen to yourself. Trust your inner voice. Go with the flow of your own personality. Do the things that make you feel happy inside and you’ll probably never make another mistake.
Action Exercises
Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action.
First, listen to yourself and trust your own feelings. If there is a part of your life that causes you stress and unhappiness, resolve to deal with it.
Second, identify those areas of your life where you are dissatisfied or frustrated for any reason. What changes should you, could you make?
Third, remember that nature wants you to be happy, healthy, popular and prosperous. Any deviation from those conditions is a signal to you that action is necessary.
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October 27th, 2008
You are your most important critic. There is no opinion so vitally important to your well being as the opinion you have of yourself. As you read this you’re talking to yourself right now. “Let’s see if I understand what he means by that… How does that compare with my experiences? – I’ll make note of that – try that tomorrow – I already knew that… I already do that.” I believe this self-talk, this psycholinguistics or language of the mind can be controlled to work for us, especially in the building of self-confidence and creativity. We’re all talking to ourselves every moment of our lives, except during certain portions of our sleeping cycle. We’re seldom even aware that we’re doing it. We all have a running commentary in our heads on events and our reactions to them.
• Be aware of the silent conversation you have with yourself. Are you a nurturing coach or a critic? Do you reinforce your own success or negate it? Are you comfortable saying to yourself, “That´s more like it”. “Now we’re in the groove.” “Things are working out well.” “I am reaching my financial goals.” “I’ll do it better next time.”
• When winners fail, they view it as a temporary inconvenience, a learning experience, an isolated event, and a stepping-stone instead of a stumbling block.
• When winners succeed, they reinforce that success, by feeling rewarded rather than guilty about the achievement and the applause.
• When winners are paid a compliment, they simply respond: “Thank you.” They accept value graciously when it is paid. They pay value in their conversations with themselves and with other people.
A mark of an individual with healthy self-esteem is the ability to spend time alone, without constantly needing other people around. Being comfortable and enjoying solitary time reveals inner peace and centering. People who constantly need stimulation or conversation with others are often a bit insecure and thus need to be propped up by the company of others.
Always greet the people you meet with a smile. When introducing yourself in any new association, take the initiative to volunteer your own name first, clearly; and always extend your hand first, looking the person in the eyes when you speak.
In your telephone communications at work or at home, answer the telephone pleasantly, immediately giving your own name to the caller, before you ask who’s calling. Whenever you initiate a call, always give your own name up front, before you ask for the party you want and before you state your business. Leading with your own name underscores that a person of value is making the call.
Don’t brag. People who trumpet their exploits and shout for service are actually calling for help. The showoffs, braggarts and blowhards are desperate for attention.
Don’t tell your problems to people, unless they’re directly involved with the solutions. And don’t make excuses. Successful people seek those who look and sound like success. Always talk affirmatively about the progress you are trying to make.
As we said earlier, find successful role models after whom you can pattern yourself. When you meet a mastermind, become a master mime, and learn all you can about how he or she succeeded. This is especially true with things you fear. Find someone who has conquered what you fear and learn from him or her.
When you make a mistake in life, or get ridiculed or rejected, look at mistakes as detours on the road to success, and view ridicule as ignorance. After a rejection, take a look at your BAG. B is for Blessings. Things you are endowed with that you often take for granted like life itself, health, living in an abundant country, family, friends, career. A is for accomplishments. Think of the many things you are proud of that you have done so far. And G is for Goals. Think of your big dreams and plans for the future that motivate you. If you took your BAG – blessings, accomplishments and goals – to a party, and spread them on the floor, in comparison to all your friends and the people you admire, you’d take your own bag home, realizing that you have as much going for yourself as anyone else. Always view rejection as part of one performance, not as a turndown of the performer.
And, enjoy those special meetings with yourself. Spend this Saturday doing something you really want to do. I don’t mean next month or someday. This Saturday enjoy being alive and being able to do it. You deserve it. There will never be another you. This Saturday will be spent. Why not spend at least one day a week on You!
Action Idea: Go for one entire day and night without saying anything negative to yourself or to others. Make a game of it. If a friend or colleague catches you saying something negative, you must put ½ dollar in a drawer or container toward a dinner or evening out with that person. Do this for one month and see who has had to pay the most money toward the evening.
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October 26th, 2008
One of the keys to success is to have successful relationships. We are not islands and we don’t get to the top by ourselves. And one of the key ways to grow successful in our relationships is to be “life-giving” people to others. Every person we meet, we either give life to or take life from. You know what I mean. There are people who encourage you and when you are done being with them you feel built up. Then there are others who you feel torn down by. Successful people are people who have mastered the art of building others up.
One of the ways we build people up is to praise them. There is power in praising people! Something begins to happen in them, in you, and in your relationship when you praise someone. Remember a time when someone told you something about yourself in a praising manner? It was great, wasn’t it? You probably liked that person more after they praised you, didn’t you?
Now I am not talking about praising people for the sake of praising people. I am talking about honestly looking for and praising positive character traits and action of others around you. Don’t lie to people. If they have done something wrong, correct it, but when they do something right, Praise it!
With that said, here are benefits of and ways to start praising people.
Benefits
Your relationship grows. Life is about relationships. Family relationships, friends, and co-workers. When we begin to praise people for their positive aspects, our relationships grow. It puts them, and us, on the fast track. Your leadership and influence grows. Who is going to have greater leadership and influence capacity in the lives of their followers, the one who tears down or the one who builds up?
Stronger relationships and loyalty. When the person is appreciated and praised, they become fiercely loyal, because they know that you care for them, love them, and appreciate them. This will take you to success.
Happier, more fulfilled people. I truly believe it is our job to build others up and that they need it. It is a good thing, in and of itself to invest in the lives of others by praising and encouraging them. Even if we never get anything in return, it is the right thing to do to build up other people. Someone else will always come along to tear them down; the successful person will instill in them the power of praise!
Some ways to praise
Character traits. Is there someone you know who is joyful? Hard-working? Honest? Then let them know how much you appreciate that in them. You can do it with a word or a card, or a phone call. Say something like this, “You know Tom, I think it is great that you are such a hard-worker. It seems like you are always the first one here and the last one to leave. You really set a good example and I want you to know how much I appreciate that.” Simple!
Action
Same idea as above. “Sue, I don’t know if anybody else has told you this, but your work on the Johnson account was excellent. You have a wonderful ability to communicate the vision of the project and that helps all of the rest of us out in our roles and tasks. Thanks for that. It is greatly appreciated.”
Other ways you can show praise and appreciation is with a card, a gift, or time off from work.
Make it your goal to praise at least five people a day. If you can, praise ten people a day. Or perhaps you can try to praise everyone you come in contact with. It will take work but it is possible. It just takes discipline and a little work.
Any way you cut it though, there is power in praising people. First for them, then for you!
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October 24th, 2008
How many times have you started a new activity (such as a personal project or exercise routine) with a burst of enthusiasm, only to see that initial momentum evaporate? This often leads to depression and causes us to give up prematurely. I’ve experienced this letdown dozens of times myself. But fortunately, with a bit of thought and reflection you can turn this negative emotion around.
The key to harnessing your emotions is understanding them. The natural pattern of human emotion is peaks and valleys. When we start a new project we’re filled with tremendous optimism. All we can think about is the expected benefits, and since we haven’t started yet, we aren’t aware of the difficulties involved. This natural high causes a surge of mental and physical activity. The peak is a great thing because the energy boost gets projects off the ground. If you’re a creative type like me, you know that this period is euphoric. You feel like nothing can stop you.
The downside of this surge of energy is that it inevitably ends. Exerting large amounts of energy wears you down, and after the initial optimism wears off we feel extremely tired. However high you started off, you fall down just as low. This causes a loss of confidence. The combination of fatigue, scant results, and an awareness of impending adversity makes us want to give up. From personal experience I’ve learned a few ways to hold strong against negativity.
Be Prepared for a Letdown
Emotions, by nature, lose their power when we understand them. Prove this to yourself. Next time you get angry, take a moment to reflect on the reason behind the emotion. When I step back and reflect, it’s easy to see that my anger is caused by insecurity/selfishness/jealousy etc. After I understand the cause my anger fades away.
The same technique applies to a loss of motivation. Instead of giving into negativity, step back and analyze. Look at the causes. Are you tired, burned out, disappointed by the results? Are these feelings justified, or are they a by product of a low point in the emotional spectrum?
To illustrate these ideas, I’ll use my most recent project as an example, the creation of this site. When I launched Pick the Brain it took an enormous amount of effort. I was completely new to blogging, web design, and traffic building so there was a steep learning curve. Writing new posts, setting up the site, and trying to build traffic took up nearly all my free time. After about three weeks I was completely burned out. I got depressed and started to question if the site was worth the effort. I wasn’t seeing any returns and I started to find enormous faults in my writing and the purpose of the site. There were moments when I was resigned to failure.
One reason I was able to overcome this loss of motivation is that I prepared myself for a letdown. Beforehand, I researched blogging and learned that it generally takes 9-12 months before a site begins to see significant traffic. Knowing that my lack of success was perfectly normal helped me get over it. The same is true for other endeavors. If you know losing 20 pounds in a month is unrealistic, you’ll be able to accept losing only 5 more easily.
I also knew my own emotions and was prepared for the initial emotional peak to pass. When I was first inspired to launch a website, my expectations were through the roof. Dreams of AdSense revenue danced in my head and I pictured throngs of loyal readers as if they already existed. But because I understand my emotional pattern, I realized this optimism would give way to depression. In the back of my mind, I foresaw the impending motivational battle, and when it came I was ready.
Reevaluate Your Strategy and Motivation
The passing of the emotional peak is a blessing in disguise because it allows us to reevaluate our plans from a fresh perspective. At first we are blinded by our own optimism. When we lose our motivation we can see gaping holes our in plan. We can either get down on ourselves and give up, or we can use this negative emotion to discover our faults and correct them. After I pulled myself out of the motivational cellar, I went back to all the negatives thoughts I’d had and applied them to improving the site. Having a pessimistic attitude opened my eyes. It made me realistic about my abilities and expectations. Emotional valleys bring us back to reality. Without them we’d be raving lunatics with unlimited self-confidence.
Use a loss of motivation as an opportunity to reconsider what your motivation really is. One reason I lost motivation is that I became too concerned with the financial aspect of blogging and lost sight of the real reason I started: sharing my passion for self improvement and the pursuit of happiness. When I realigned my motivation with my passion, the lack of results didn’t matter. My motivation returned because I realized connecting with people through my writing is an end in itself. Even if this site never makes I dime, sharing my ideas and experiences to help other people is worth the effort.
In truth, sometimes giving up is the right decision. If you started doing something for the wrong reasons you’ll likely lose your motivation. This is a good thing. It allows us to see what really motivates us. In these cases, the best choice is to move on to a new endeavor. Don’t fight self doubt, use it for your benefit.
Conclusion
Dealing with emotional highs and lows is an experience common to all people. We generally accept our emotions as beyond our control. They are powerful and mysterious and appear quite irrational. But if we contemplate our emotions, if we explore the inner workings of our minds, we find that like all things, emotions obey the law of cause and effect. Armed with this knowledge, we can continue to allow our emotions to dominate our lives, or we can use them to our benefit.
Don’t be surprised by a loss of motivation and don’t be disappointed by it. Understand it as natural effect of the human mind, and utilize this knowledge of self to make your emotions work for you.
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October 24th, 2008
If you want to make things happen the ability to motivate yourself and others is a crucial skill. At work, home, and everywhere in between, people use motivation to get results. Motivation requires a delicate balance of communication, structure, and incentives. These 21 tactics will help you maximize motivation in yourself and others.
Motivation
1. Consequences – Never use threats. They’ll turn people against you. But making people aware of the negative consequences of not getting results (for everyone involved) can have a big impact. This one is also big for self motivation. If you don’t get your act together, will you ever get what you want?
2. Pleasure – This is the old carrot on a stick technique. Providing pleasurable rewards creates eager and productive people.
3. Performance incentives – Appeal to people’s selfish nature. Give them the opportunity to earn more for themselves by earning more for you.
4. Detailed instructions – If you want a specific result, give specific instructions. People work better when they know exactly what’s expected.
5. Short and long term goals – Use both short and long term goals to guide the action process and create an overall philosophy.
6. Kindness – Get people on your side and they’ll want to help you. Piss them off and they’ll do everything they can to screw you over.
7. Deadlines – Many people are most productive right before a big deadline. They also have a hard time focusing until that deadline is looming overhead. Use this to your advantage by setting up a series of mini-deadlines building up to an end result.
8. Team Spirit – Create an environment of camaraderie. People work more effectively when they feel like part of team — they don’t want to let others down.
10. Recognize achievement – Make a point to recognize achievements one-on-one and also in group settings. People like to see that their work isn’t being ignored.
11. Personal stake – Think about the personal stake of others. What do they need? By understanding this you’ll be able to keep people happy and productive.
12. Concentrate on outcomes – No one likes to work with someone standing over their shoulder. Focus on outcomes — make it clear what you want and cut people loose to get it done on their own.
13. Trust and Respect – Give people the trust and respect they deserve and they’ll respond to requests much more favorably.
14. Create challenges – People are happy when they’re progressing towards a goal. Give them the opportunity to face new and difficult problems and they’ll be more enthusiastic.
15. Let people be creative – Don’t expect everyone to do things your way. Allowing people to be creative creates a more optimistic environment and can lead to awesome new ideas.
16. Constructive criticism – Often people don’t realize what they’re doing wrong. Let them know. Most people want to improve and will make an effort once they know how to do it.
17. Demand improvement – Don’t let people stagnate. Each time someone advances raise the bar a little higher (especially for yourself).
18. Make it fun – Work is most enjoyable when it doesn’t feel like work at all. Let people have fun and the positive environment will lead to better results.
19. Create opportunities – Give people the opportunity to advance. Let them know that hard work will pay off.
20. Communication – Keep the communication channels open. By being aware of potential problems you can fix them before a serious dispute arises.
21. Make it stimulating – Mix it up. Don’t ask people to do the same boring tasks all the time. A stimulating environment creates enthusiasm and the opportunity for “big picture” thinking.
Master these key points and you’ll increase motivation with a bit of hard work.
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October 22nd, 2008
DETERMINATON
In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
“We told them so.”
“Crazy men and their crazy dreams.”
“It`s foolish to chase wild visions.”
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.
Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realized with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.
Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.
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October 22nd, 2008
It is not what happens to you that counts. It is how you react to what happens to you, especially when you have unexpected problems of any kind.
In this newsletter, you learn powerful strategies you can use to keep yourself thinking and acting positively and creatively.
Here are four things you can do to assure that your attitude is the very best it can be, under all circumstances.
Focus On the Future First, whatever challenges you face, focus on the future rather than on the
past. Instead of worrying about who did what and who is to blame, focus on where you want to be and what you want to do. Get a clear mental image of your ideal successful future, and then take whatever action you can to begin moving in that direction. Get your mind, your thoughts, and your mental images on
the future.
Think About the Solution Second, whenever you’re faced with a difficulty, focus on the solution
rather than on the problem. Think and talk about the ideal solution to the obstacle or setback, rather than wasting time rehashing and reflecting on the problem. Solutions are inherently positive, whereas problems are inherently negative. The instant that you begin thinking in terms of solutions, you become a
positive and constructive human being.
Look For the Good Third, assume that something good is hidden within each difficulty or challenge. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, a major proponent of positive thinking, once said, “Whenever God wants to give us a gift, he wraps it up in a problem.” The bigger the gift you have coming, the bigger the problem you will receive. But the wonderful thing is that if you look for the gift, you will always find it.
Seek the Valuable Lesson Fourth, assume that whatever situation you are facing at the moment is
exactly the right situation you need to ultimately be successful. This situation has been sent to you to help you learn something, to help you become better, to help you expand and grow.
Decide to Be Positive A Positive Mental Attitude is indispensable to your success. You can be as
positive as you want to be if you will simply think about the future, focus on the solution and look for the good. If you do what other successful people do, if you use your mind to exert mental control over the situation, you will be positive and cheerful most of the time. And you will reap the benefits enjoyed by all successful people.
Action Exercises
Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action:
First, become solution-oriented with every difficulty you face. Make a habit of looking for the answers to your questions, the solutions to your problems.
Second, seek for the valuable lesson in every adversity. Make a list of every idea or insight you can gain from every setback or difficulty.
Third, think on paper. Take some time to write out every detail of the problem, and then take the most logical next step to solve it.
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October 21st, 2008
For America to develop its full potential as a country, its leaders must promote and encourage the individual success of its citizens. After all, your success blesses others!
The Right to Excel and Fail
As Americans, we have the right to the pursuit of happiness, not the right to happiness itself. We have the right to equal opportunity, but not the right to equal outcomes. We have the freedom to succeed and the freedom to fail. We have the right to make the choices in our lives we believe will make us happy. If we make wise choices, then we have the right to enjoy the fruits or effects of those choices. If we end up making the wrong choices, then we must naturally suffer the negative consequences.
The Option of Working Harder & Smarter
Fortunately, we then have the right to learn from our mistakes and make better choices in the future. We have the option of paying a bigger price and of earning a bigger reward. We have the right to plan more, read more, learn more, work more, practice more, risk more and become more than the person next to us. This means we also have the right to be better and achieve better results. We can exercise the equal opportunity to become unequal, or we can choose to be average.
The Politics of Mediocrity
Nothing is quite so damaging to the future of America as the proliferation of resentment and envy toward the minority of peak performing men and women who are frequently and collectively referred to by the media as “the rich.” This negative attitude toward the financially successful is manifested in campaign slogans promising to “soak the rich” and “let’s make them pay their fair share.” But could there be anything more cowardly than a politician seeking to gain power by dividing Americans by economic class? I call this type of political warfare, “The Politics of Mediocrity,” and it is, no doubt, toxic to the American spirit.
Gold Is Best Worn By Those Who Earn It
Promising to punish, through higher taxes, those who’ve already excelled financially and succeeded (As many Americans would love to do) sends a mediocre message to the rest of the population. It is like taxing a gold medal winner in the Olympics. We could call it “The Phelps Tax.” Imagine, whoever wins the gold must have his or her medal melted down and redistributed to the second and third place finishers whose medals would then be redistributed to those who did not even place in the race. This would spread the wealth around a bit.
What do you think? The fact that Phelps had a clear goal, outworked his competition, and made maximum use of his God-given talent is immaterial. It simply isn’t fair that one athlete should succeed so greatly when so many other hard-working athletes have to return home with no medal at all. Olympic gold is best worn by Michael Phelps and money is best spent by the individual who earned it.
A 4:8 America Is Excellent and Worthy of Praise
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America was founded on the principles of self-reliance, limited government, private property, individual initiative, hard work, and daring. Individualism has made America the great country it is today. Consider the American lifestyle today without the likes of Apple, Microsoft, Dell, Federal Express, Amazon.com, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Ford, Home Depot, and Kodak…..all companies founded by exceptional individuals and all of which add tremendous value to our lives.
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A Little History…In the Name of Fairness
During the national crises created by World War I and World War II, the American people began to allow more and more government involvement in the economy through taxation and regulation. Sound familiar? Then, as American prosperity soared, many began to believe it was only fair and even “right” for the government to take some away from those who were doing well and pass it along to those who were not doing quite so well. Many economists and academics began to embrace the socialistic concept of controlling the means of production as well as the distribution of goods produced.
Socialism Is Not an Accident
Along the way, the idea of reshuffling America’s wealth became a very popular and often effective political strategy. Politicians would be in charge of taking from those who produced more and giving to those who produced less. Since the percentage of those who do really well (the top producers) tends to be quite small, it’s fairly easy to gain mass support for taxing them. In other words, if you take from Peter and give to Paul, you will very likely have the vote of Paul, and Paul represents the majority of votes. This perpetual dependence on government rather than self, spreads like social cancer, but plays very well to the lower side of human nature.
The Something for Nothing Obsession
This Robin Hood tactic of penalizing the successful and re-appropriating their assets would never even get off the ground in America unless it were fueled by the natural human tendency to try to get something for nothing. This is an all too fashionable fantasy which is always shattered in the long run.
When you try to get something for nothing you become nothing. You will only succeed financially and otherwise to the degree that you are able to resist the something-for-nothing urge that is so pervasive in our society. And all lasting success comes from putting in far more than you plan to take out. When individuals, via governmental interference, consume without producing, then others must produce without consuming.
Make This Promise, Achieve Genuine Success
Make a promise to yourself that you will expect rewards only after you create authentic value for others. Decide to consume only after first producing. These decisions will boost your self-worth and your potential for great success in the long run.
Remember, when you punish the achievers, you hurt most everyone else as an unintended, secondary consequence. Abraham Lincoln said, “You cannot help the poor by tearing down the rich. You cannot help the wage earner by hurting the wage payer.” For a society to prosper, it must never forget who creates the jobs.
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The Class Envy Strategy
The creative minority who take responsible, persistent action toward their dreams often become the envy of those who stand by and just watch or report. Left out of the popular debate are the endless stories of true American enterprise, stories of incredible work habits, stories of entrepreneurs scarred with years of sacrifice, stories of individuals overcoming obstacles and thousands of other efforts hidden from view that, brick by brick, build the American dream. And those who promote the idea of assessing a punitive tax on this super productive minority seem to forget the lessons of history.
Who Needs Innovation Anyway?
You can look around the globe and see the destructive consequences of societies like the Soviet Union who, in the name of fairness and equality, tried to disallow success. Do your own research. Is there a single country that has punished its producers that you believe America should seek to emulate? These societies starved themselves from the ideas, innovation, services, products and jobs triggered by the so-called “rich.” As a result, they were unable to thrive and they eventually collapsed. While the strategy of class warfare succeeds in winning elections from time to time, it never really helps the intended beneficiaries (unless that is the politician) and, in the long run, hurts America by eroding and undermining the principles upon which it was built. To argue, even elegantly, against personal initiative, self-reliance and individual success is to take a cheap shot at the American dream.
Join The Magnificent Minority
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Instead, become a member of the Magnificent Minority. Reject “mutual responsibility” and accept complete responsibility for both your actions and your results. Acknowledge that you are totally responsible for your success. Not the government, not your boss, not your parents, and not society as a whole. Only you. Despite the long-winded promises to the contrary, no one is coming to the rescue! Only you have the power to make the individual choices that will accumulate into the fruits of an exciting, successful, and satisfying life. Remember, the pursuit and attainment of joy-filled success is absolutely up to you. Choose to take the initiative and you’ll find opportunities you never imagined existed. It’s the right thing to do…and your success blesses others!
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