Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Never underestimate the power of belief when it comes to fulfilling your dreams. I can say with no hesitation that every person I've ever met who has achieved any degree of success has one thing in common: they believed with all their heart they could do it."
~Mac Anderson
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Introduction from:
Secrets of the World Class
by Steve Siebold
I have had the privilege of competing against, coaching, being coached by and observing world-class performers since I was six years old. As a junior tennis player competing throughout the United States from ages 7 - 18, I became fascinated with what it takes to become a champion. My dream was to be ranked among the Top 10 players in the world, but I fell short. At my best, I hovered around the Top 500 in the world, and that's as high as I could seem to reach. Deep down, I knew I had the talent to make my dream a reality, and I knew the missing link was mental. After I hung up my racquet for the last time, I became obsessed with uncovering the mental toughness secrets of champions.
Starting in 1984, I spent every free moment conducting interviews with champions, reading their books and studying everything I could get my hands on about the psychology of peak performance. My friends said I was obsessed. They were right. This book is the result of my 20-year obsession.
When I started to implement the ideas in this book, my whole life changed. It wasn't overnight, but sometimes it seemed like it. There's no magic here, just practical thought processes, habits and philosophies drawn from the greatest performers in the world.
This book contains no theories. Every secret comes straight from the street of experience, either my own or that of our clients. This book is loaded with ideas you can implement immediately. Some will be familiar and some new. All of them have the power to catapult your results, no matter how high you're flying. It's been said that speakers and writers espouse wisdom on the very topic they need most. Now that you know my story, you know this is true for me. After 20 years of studying and teaching mental toughness to people throughout the United States, Canada and 10 other countries, I can honestly tell you that many times I still think like a complete amateur, operating out of the same middle-class consciousness that I ridicule in this book. After all these years, my mental toughness growth is still a work in progress. The good news is that mental toughness is a skill that can be learned, and the tougher you get, the bigger you'll dream and the more fun you'll have.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Concentrate all your thoughts on the task at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to focus."
~Alexander Graham Bell
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Only about 2 percent of people can work entirely without supervision. We call those people 'leaders'. This is the kind of person you are meant to be and that you can be, if you decide to be."
~Brian Tracy
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow."
~Norman Vincent Peale
"Loving what you do is one of the most important keys to maintaining a positive attitude. You can't fake passion. It is the fuel that drives any dream and makes you happy to be alive."
~Mac Anderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secrets of the World Class
by Steve Siebold
I have had the privilege of competing against, coaching, being coached by and observing world-class performers since I was six years old. As a junior tennis player competing throughout the United States from ages 7 - 18, I became fascinated with what it takes to become a champion. My dream was to be ranked among the Top 10 players in the world, but I fell short. At my best, I hovered around the Top 500 in the world, and that's as high as I could seem to reach. Deep down, I knew I had the talent to make my dream a reality, and I knew the missing link was mental. After I hung up my racquet for the last time, I became obsessed with uncovering the mental toughness secrets of champions.
Starting in 1984, I spent every free moment conducting interviews with champions, reading their books and studying everything I could get my hands on about the psychology of peak performance. My friends said I was obsessed. They were right. This book is the result of my 20-year obsession.
When I started to implement the ideas in this book, my whole life changed. It wasn't overnight, but sometimes it seemed like it. There's no magic here, just practical thought processes, habits and philosophies drawn from the greatest performers in the world.
This book contains no theories. Every secret comes straight from the street of experience, either my own or that of our clients. This book is loaded with ideas you can implement immediately. Some will be familiar and some new. All of them have the power to catapult your results, no matter how high you're flying. It's been said that speakers and writers espouse wisdom on the very topic they need most. Now that you know my story, you know this is true for me. After 20 years of studying and teaching mental toughness to people throughout the United States, Canada and 10 other countries, I can honestly tell you that many times I still think like a complete amateur, operating out of the same middle-class consciousness that I ridicule in this book. After all these years, my mental toughness growth is still a work in progress. The good news is that mental toughness is a skill that can be learned, and the tougher you get, the bigger you'll dream and the more fun you'll have.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Concentrate all your thoughts on the task at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to focus."
~Alexander Graham Bell
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Only about 2 percent of people can work entirely without supervision. We call those people 'leaders'. This is the kind of person you are meant to be and that you can be, if you decide to be."
~Brian Tracy
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow."
~Norman Vincent Peale
"Loving what you do is one of the most important keys to maintaining a positive attitude. You can't fake passion. It is the fuel that drives any dream and makes you happy to be alive."
~Mac Anderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
good thots
When you delightfully fantasize about something you want, you set into motion a wave of energy that calls that situation into reality.
-- Alan Cohen
-- Alan Cohen
good thots
Your Gift To The World
by Helen Gordon
You have a dream, an urging to express yourself. Hold on to it for the dream is God's idea eager to be expressed through you. It is God's choice through you the idea should be fulfilled. God gave you the idea with a restlessness to live it and with the tools, passion, and joy to see it through full manifestation. Through this idea, the grace of God is experienced within all who come in contact with it.
Sure, you have a dream. We all have a dream, a strong desire of some kind, something that provides deep satisfaction. If you feel this does not apply to you, let's find your dream. If you know what it is, let's enhance it.
Now this is not a dream of fantasy. It is a physical activity of sorts in our human experience, which takes place while fully awake. The idea may be in the form of a song, a painting, a sculpture, a garment, a poem, a literary work, an oratory, a community service, a recipe, a garden, or many forms but it is the idea of God that ultimately comes forth in all Its splendor.
Perhaps right now we have chosen to deny the dream's existence as if it were our own little secret. Thus, believe we control when, if ever, it will be exposed to the world. Doing so gives a false sense of control. The dream cannot be controlled or contained within us since it does not belong to us. Remaining closed to the dream does not give us control of it nor can we imprison its divineness.
Our human being is an incubator for the dream and desires to come through us effortlessly. An idea of God eventually emerges from its incubator for it has a purpose in this human experience. Fulfillment of that purpose unfolds regardless of our conscious participation.
We have the opportunity to be the main conduit for the dream to unfold. Simply shoving it deep into our subconscious is an act of denial where insecure thoughts grasp the illusion it knows nothing of the dream. This is a form of fear. We fear clarity of the dream for our knowing dissolves the lies we have created or accepted about ourselves which prevent us from pursuing this desire.
Fear, our worst enemy, tries to convince us of the seeming limitations or impossibilities of reaching our dream's goal. Although we fear failure, God cannot fail Itself. Sometimes those insecure thoughts question our worthiness, playing on the self-created shortcomings we have invited into our lives.
Questioning our worthiness says we need somehow to make a change. If there were a need to change something to establish our worthiness, that particular dream would not be so urgent to express through us. Questioning our worthiness also says God did not know what He was doing when He chose us for our role in the dream. He must have made a wrong choice. This is absurd and we no longer allow our fears to imply such an insult to ourselves or to God!
If necessary, a challenge of human preparation, such as formal training, to strengthen our faith in ourselves, may be in order. Training can help release thoughts of limitations. Releasing the limitations haunting our little self frees the power of our higher Self. Progressively, our faith in ourselves strengthens. God's faith in our ability to fulfill our calling, i.e., our role in the dream, is stronger than ours, unshakable and certain of our success.
Regardless of the appearance and seeming influence of the dream, we will be guided and inspired righteously. Others' dreams may appear more significant than ours so we feel there is some queue for us to wait in before pursuing our dream. All dreams are equal in the eyes of God. God's idea is not in waiting; it continuously unfolds.
Faith is weakened when concerned with how impossible the dream may seem. There is no impossible dream. God did not create a dream or idea He cannot fulfill. God has no need to fantasize. This dream was deliberately given through us knowing it can be expressed and manifested best with our particular skill. We are perfect for our role.
Steps toward perfecting this skill progress easily. This skill unfolds happily in the form of a "natural gift." However, a natural gift is merely a complete inner instruction manual on how to live this dream to its fullest. We have ready access to this inner manual at any instant because it is as much a part of us as the flesh on our body. Inquiries of this inner manual can be made at will. It is ever present to support us in every way. This is Its purpose.
But it's too much fun? Desires are meant to be enjoyed; otherwise, they are a chore! Chores are far more difficult to start. God knows that making the dream desirable is an advantage for all.
Go forward with the dream with sincere humility. Humility creates that space in the mind for greatness to express through us. As we fully accept this role of grandeur, God has more grand and glorious things awaiting us.
Acceptance of our abilities in this role allows us to put truth in visible action. From this action, there is divine reaction, the natural unfoldment of abundant blessings. We discover a special joy as we develop the dream. We cannot help but feel good when engaged in fulfilling the dream because we are fulfilling our calling, God's idea. There is no need to focus on who validates our dream's worth. We are magnificently and wonderfully made for what God has purposed; our existence is not a mistake. Our role is valuable.
Our activities inspire many who in some form or time have the opportunity to witness the joy of our work. Within each one's inspiration is a revelation. Perhaps it is the revelation of our own divine dream. One dream reveals another, inspires another, prepares for another, unites with another, and is shared with another to expand this idea of God. This idea was established well before our first breath. We had nothing to do with its inception. It must be made manifest here on earth.
Reaching the goal of the dream is not the end. It is the beginning of a new one, usually apparent well before the goal is reached. Eventually it is revealed how that goal was merely a stepping-stone for the expansion of the dream.
Commitment to the dream allows us to live in a state of grace for we become aware of the Truth about who we are and our reason for being. Grace becomes obvious to us. The purpose of our dream becomes clear. Our commitment becomes stronger. Life is joyful.
Commit to the dream but not for the sake of personal recognition or monetary gain. Commit for the glorification of God, for in our commitment, there is obedience. For this reason, we are rewarded beyond our imagination. This is the Law.
by Helen Gordon
You have a dream, an urging to express yourself. Hold on to it for the dream is God's idea eager to be expressed through you. It is God's choice through you the idea should be fulfilled. God gave you the idea with a restlessness to live it and with the tools, passion, and joy to see it through full manifestation. Through this idea, the grace of God is experienced within all who come in contact with it.
Sure, you have a dream. We all have a dream, a strong desire of some kind, something that provides deep satisfaction. If you feel this does not apply to you, let's find your dream. If you know what it is, let's enhance it.
Now this is not a dream of fantasy. It is a physical activity of sorts in our human experience, which takes place while fully awake. The idea may be in the form of a song, a painting, a sculpture, a garment, a poem, a literary work, an oratory, a community service, a recipe, a garden, or many forms but it is the idea of God that ultimately comes forth in all Its splendor.
Perhaps right now we have chosen to deny the dream's existence as if it were our own little secret. Thus, believe we control when, if ever, it will be exposed to the world. Doing so gives a false sense of control. The dream cannot be controlled or contained within us since it does not belong to us. Remaining closed to the dream does not give us control of it nor can we imprison its divineness.
Our human being is an incubator for the dream and desires to come through us effortlessly. An idea of God eventually emerges from its incubator for it has a purpose in this human experience. Fulfillment of that purpose unfolds regardless of our conscious participation.
We have the opportunity to be the main conduit for the dream to unfold. Simply shoving it deep into our subconscious is an act of denial where insecure thoughts grasp the illusion it knows nothing of the dream. This is a form of fear. We fear clarity of the dream for our knowing dissolves the lies we have created or accepted about ourselves which prevent us from pursuing this desire.
Fear, our worst enemy, tries to convince us of the seeming limitations or impossibilities of reaching our dream's goal. Although we fear failure, God cannot fail Itself. Sometimes those insecure thoughts question our worthiness, playing on the self-created shortcomings we have invited into our lives.
Questioning our worthiness says we need somehow to make a change. If there were a need to change something to establish our worthiness, that particular dream would not be so urgent to express through us. Questioning our worthiness also says God did not know what He was doing when He chose us for our role in the dream. He must have made a wrong choice. This is absurd and we no longer allow our fears to imply such an insult to ourselves or to God!
If necessary, a challenge of human preparation, such as formal training, to strengthen our faith in ourselves, may be in order. Training can help release thoughts of limitations. Releasing the limitations haunting our little self frees the power of our higher Self. Progressively, our faith in ourselves strengthens. God's faith in our ability to fulfill our calling, i.e., our role in the dream, is stronger than ours, unshakable and certain of our success.
Regardless of the appearance and seeming influence of the dream, we will be guided and inspired righteously. Others' dreams may appear more significant than ours so we feel there is some queue for us to wait in before pursuing our dream. All dreams are equal in the eyes of God. God's idea is not in waiting; it continuously unfolds.
Faith is weakened when concerned with how impossible the dream may seem. There is no impossible dream. God did not create a dream or idea He cannot fulfill. God has no need to fantasize. This dream was deliberately given through us knowing it can be expressed and manifested best with our particular skill. We are perfect for our role.
Steps toward perfecting this skill progress easily. This skill unfolds happily in the form of a "natural gift." However, a natural gift is merely a complete inner instruction manual on how to live this dream to its fullest. We have ready access to this inner manual at any instant because it is as much a part of us as the flesh on our body. Inquiries of this inner manual can be made at will. It is ever present to support us in every way. This is Its purpose.
But it's too much fun? Desires are meant to be enjoyed; otherwise, they are a chore! Chores are far more difficult to start. God knows that making the dream desirable is an advantage for all.
Go forward with the dream with sincere humility. Humility creates that space in the mind for greatness to express through us. As we fully accept this role of grandeur, God has more grand and glorious things awaiting us.
Acceptance of our abilities in this role allows us to put truth in visible action. From this action, there is divine reaction, the natural unfoldment of abundant blessings. We discover a special joy as we develop the dream. We cannot help but feel good when engaged in fulfilling the dream because we are fulfilling our calling, God's idea. There is no need to focus on who validates our dream's worth. We are magnificently and wonderfully made for what God has purposed; our existence is not a mistake. Our role is valuable.
Our activities inspire many who in some form or time have the opportunity to witness the joy of our work. Within each one's inspiration is a revelation. Perhaps it is the revelation of our own divine dream. One dream reveals another, inspires another, prepares for another, unites with another, and is shared with another to expand this idea of God. This idea was established well before our first breath. We had nothing to do with its inception. It must be made manifest here on earth.
Reaching the goal of the dream is not the end. It is the beginning of a new one, usually apparent well before the goal is reached. Eventually it is revealed how that goal was merely a stepping-stone for the expansion of the dream.
Commitment to the dream allows us to live in a state of grace for we become aware of the Truth about who we are and our reason for being. Grace becomes obvious to us. The purpose of our dream becomes clear. Our commitment becomes stronger. Life is joyful.
Commit to the dream but not for the sake of personal recognition or monetary gain. Commit for the glorification of God, for in our commitment, there is obedience. For this reason, we are rewarded beyond our imagination. This is the Law.
An Excerpt from
Goals...The 10 Rules for Achieving Success
by Gary Ryan Blair
Success is the intentional, pre-meditated use of choice and decision. Unless you choose-with certainty-what it is you want, you accept table scraps by default!
The world is plump with opportunity. With boldness and conviction, stick a fork into the goals you want by being decisive.
You are born with great capabilities, but you will not achieve your potential until you call upon yourself to fulfill it. You will rise to the occasion when it presents itself; yet, to assure self-fulfillment, you must provide occasions to rise to. Clearly defined goals allow you to travel toward another horizon that represents the end of one experience and the transition to a new and better existence. The objective is to choose the right goals, and then to create the necessary causes-the effects will follow!
The difference between what one person and another achieves depends more on goal choices than on abilities.
The profound differences between successful people and others are the goals they choose to pursue. Individuals with similar talents, intelligence, and abilities will achieve different results because they select and pursue different goals.
Each decision affects what you become. We form our decisions and our decisions form us.
There is no escaping this; the smallest choices are important because-over time-their cumulative effect is enormous.
Never overlook the obvious: The nature and direction of your life change the instant you decide what goals you want to pursue.
Once you make a decision you start down a path to a new destination. At the moment the decision is made, your decision to pursue a goal alters what you are becoming. A single choice can alter your life, your destiny, your legacy.
Think about it-your goal decisions represent and express your individuality. You seal your fate with the choices you make.
You define yourself by your decisions.
Your dialog with success is ultimately a solo one. Decisions and goals made must be your own if you are to call your life a success.
Always establish the best goals you can. Goals are the seeds of success-you become only what you plant. The quality of your harvest is a direct reflection of the quality of your seeds...your decisions!
Indecision is the big eraser of opportunity and potential. Risks and costs accompany every decision; however, the price of decision is far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. When it comes to decisiveness, squatters have no rights.
Everyone has an official wish list of things they think are "reasonable." What about the unofficial wish list? The one that common sense tells you to ignore? The list that exists deep in your mind, the list that keeps you up at night, the that makes your toes wiggle when you think of it? Why not choose that list for a change?
How long have you dreamed of being, having, and doing what you really want? Think big, as when it comes to your goals, the size of your ambition does matter.
A decision to lose weight and keep it off must be remade every time you feel hungry.
A decision is never made only once.
Goals...The 10 Rules for Achieving Success
by Gary Ryan Blair
Success is the intentional, pre-meditated use of choice and decision. Unless you choose-with certainty-what it is you want, you accept table scraps by default!
The world is plump with opportunity. With boldness and conviction, stick a fork into the goals you want by being decisive.
You are born with great capabilities, but you will not achieve your potential until you call upon yourself to fulfill it. You will rise to the occasion when it presents itself; yet, to assure self-fulfillment, you must provide occasions to rise to. Clearly defined goals allow you to travel toward another horizon that represents the end of one experience and the transition to a new and better existence. The objective is to choose the right goals, and then to create the necessary causes-the effects will follow!
The difference between what one person and another achieves depends more on goal choices than on abilities.
The profound differences between successful people and others are the goals they choose to pursue. Individuals with similar talents, intelligence, and abilities will achieve different results because they select and pursue different goals.
Each decision affects what you become. We form our decisions and our decisions form us.
There is no escaping this; the smallest choices are important because-over time-their cumulative effect is enormous.
Never overlook the obvious: The nature and direction of your life change the instant you decide what goals you want to pursue.
Once you make a decision you start down a path to a new destination. At the moment the decision is made, your decision to pursue a goal alters what you are becoming. A single choice can alter your life, your destiny, your legacy.
Think about it-your goal decisions represent and express your individuality. You seal your fate with the choices you make.
You define yourself by your decisions.
Your dialog with success is ultimately a solo one. Decisions and goals made must be your own if you are to call your life a success.
Always establish the best goals you can. Goals are the seeds of success-you become only what you plant. The quality of your harvest is a direct reflection of the quality of your seeds...your decisions!
Indecision is the big eraser of opportunity and potential. Risks and costs accompany every decision; however, the price of decision is far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. When it comes to decisiveness, squatters have no rights.
Everyone has an official wish list of things they think are "reasonable." What about the unofficial wish list? The one that common sense tells you to ignore? The list that exists deep in your mind, the list that keeps you up at night, the that makes your toes wiggle when you think of it? Why not choose that list for a change?
How long have you dreamed of being, having, and doing what you really want? Think big, as when it comes to your goals, the size of your ambition does matter.
A decision to lose weight and keep it off must be remade every time you feel hungry.
A decision is never made only once.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
good thots
"We all believe we exist. So we all believe in existence
and existence is God. Being is God . . . This search for
God is a search for the state, the place, of no pain. The
place of peace. And we know it's there because it's our
own state. Somewhere inside us there is this knowledge of
our own state, of the painless state, of the state of
complete peace. That's why we search for it."
- quote from Nani Ma in Dialogues with the Masters
and existence is God. Being is God . . . This search for
God is a search for the state, the place, of no pain. The
place of peace. And we know it's there because it's our
own state. Somewhere inside us there is this knowledge of
our own state, of the painless state, of the state of
complete peace. That's why we search for it."
- quote from Nani Ma in Dialogues with the Masters
An Excerpt From
Finish Strong: Teen Athlete
by Dan Green
Western Oregon University's Sara Tucholsky had no idea that the first - and, as it turns out, only - homerun of her career would cause ripples that would make her last swing of the bat as a college softball player a national media sensation.
With two runners on and her team down a run to Central Washington University, Sara hit a homerun to centerfield. As she rounded first base, she missed the bag. When she turned to tag the base, she injured her knee. Able only to crawl back to the base, Sara was told that she would be called out if her teammates came to her aid. If a pinch runner checked into the game, her homerun would count only as a single.
Players and fans alike were stunned when Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the conference's all-time homerun leader, asked the umpire if there was any rule against opponents helping an injured player around the bases.
She was told that there was not. Together, Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace picked up Tucholsky and carried her around the bases, stopping at each bag to allow Sara to touch it with her good leg. "It was the right thing to do," Holtman said in an interview on national television, after the respectful act of sportsmanship had been witnessed by millions on ESPN and had become a YouTube sensation.
The three runs sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington's chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs.
"It's a great story," Western Oregon coach Pam Knox said, "something I'll never forget - the game's about character and integrity and sportsmanship, and it's not always about winning and losing."
As it turns out, the players who helped Sara had no idea of the circumstances surrounding the at-bat, or that the story would make headlines around the country. "We didn't know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run," Wallace said Wednesday. "That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her." The gesture left Sara's Western Oregon teammates in tears. "I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation," Sara said. Central Washington coach Gary Frederick called the act of sportsmanship "unbelievable."
"In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much," Holtman, who initiated the act, said. "It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a homerun."
Finish Strong: Teen Athlete
by Dan Green
Western Oregon University's Sara Tucholsky had no idea that the first - and, as it turns out, only - homerun of her career would cause ripples that would make her last swing of the bat as a college softball player a national media sensation.
With two runners on and her team down a run to Central Washington University, Sara hit a homerun to centerfield. As she rounded first base, she missed the bag. When she turned to tag the base, she injured her knee. Able only to crawl back to the base, Sara was told that she would be called out if her teammates came to her aid. If a pinch runner checked into the game, her homerun would count only as a single.
Players and fans alike were stunned when Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the conference's all-time homerun leader, asked the umpire if there was any rule against opponents helping an injured player around the bases.
She was told that there was not. Together, Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace picked up Tucholsky and carried her around the bases, stopping at each bag to allow Sara to touch it with her good leg. "It was the right thing to do," Holtman said in an interview on national television, after the respectful act of sportsmanship had been witnessed by millions on ESPN and had become a YouTube sensation.
The three runs sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington's chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs.
"It's a great story," Western Oregon coach Pam Knox said, "something I'll never forget - the game's about character and integrity and sportsmanship, and it's not always about winning and losing."
As it turns out, the players who helped Sara had no idea of the circumstances surrounding the at-bat, or that the story would make headlines around the country. "We didn't know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run," Wallace said Wednesday. "That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her." The gesture left Sara's Western Oregon teammates in tears. "I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation," Sara said. Central Washington coach Gary Frederick called the act of sportsmanship "unbelievable."
"In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much," Holtman, who initiated the act, said. "It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a homerun."
good thots
We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.
-Abigail Adams
(1744 - 1818)
The surest test of discipline is its absence.
-Clara Barton
(1821 - 1912)
If I can stop one heart from breaking I shall not live in vain.
-Emily Dickinson
(1830 - 1886)
The triumph can't be had without the struggle.
-Wilma Rudolph
(1940 - 1994)
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
-Maya Angelou
(1928 - )
I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse.
-Florence Nightingale
(1820 - 1910)
A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.
-Amelia Earhart
(1898 - 1937)
Everyone has the power of greatness. Not for fame, but greatness. Because greatness is determined by service."
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
-Abigail Adams
(1744 - 1818)
The surest test of discipline is its absence.
-Clara Barton
(1821 - 1912)
If I can stop one heart from breaking I shall not live in vain.
-Emily Dickinson
(1830 - 1886)
The triumph can't be had without the struggle.
-Wilma Rudolph
(1940 - 1994)
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
-Maya Angelou
(1928 - )
I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse.
-Florence Nightingale
(1820 - 1910)
A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.
-Amelia Earhart
(1898 - 1937)
Everyone has the power of greatness. Not for fame, but greatness. Because greatness is determined by service."
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
good thots
"We don't know who we are until we see what we can do."
~Martha Grimes
The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself. If we don't have that we never grow, we never learn, and sure as heck we should never teach."
~Maya Angelou
Everything will change when your desire to move on exceeds your desire to hold on.
-- Alan Cohen
What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first step to something better."
~Wendell Phillips
Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
~Martha Grimes
The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself. If we don't have that we never grow, we never learn, and sure as heck we should never teach."
~Maya Angelou
Everything will change when your desire to move on exceeds your desire to hold on.
-- Alan Cohen
What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first step to something better."
~Wendell Phillips
Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thursday, October 21, 2010
good thots
An Excerpt From
212: The Extra Degree
by Mac Anderson and Sam Parker
The 212° concept is one of the most powerful communication concepts that I've ever experienced. Since I wrote the book with Sam Parker, it has been successful beyond our wildest dreams! (over 600,000 copies sold) Here's the idea...
At 211 degrees...water is hot.
At 212 degrees...it boils.
And with boiling water, comes steam.
And steam can power a locomotive.
And, it's that one extra degree that...
Makes all the difference.
And, of course, so many times, in business and in life, it's that one extra degree of effort that separates the good from the great.
What I love about the 212° idea is that you can use it to fit your own needs. It may be 212° service that you'd like to reinforce, or 212° attitude, leadership, or quality. Or maybe, you'll choose to build your entire company culture around the 212° concept...to differentiate you from your competition.
However, what makes the 212° concept #1 in my mind is this: It's very simple, but more importantly, it's MEMORABLE! If you're trying to create a 212° culture your people will get it! And, not only will they get it, they'll remember it! When you say 212° service, they'll know exactly what you're talking about; when you say 212° attitude, teamwork, leadership...they'll understand.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the most amazing things about business (and life) is the power of one idea. And one of your great challenges as a leader is to understand how to find and nurture them."
~Mac Anderson
212: The Extra Degree
by Mac Anderson and Sam Parker
The 212° concept is one of the most powerful communication concepts that I've ever experienced. Since I wrote the book with Sam Parker, it has been successful beyond our wildest dreams! (over 600,000 copies sold) Here's the idea...
At 211 degrees...water is hot.
At 212 degrees...it boils.
And with boiling water, comes steam.
And steam can power a locomotive.
And, it's that one extra degree that...
Makes all the difference.
And, of course, so many times, in business and in life, it's that one extra degree of effort that separates the good from the great.
What I love about the 212° idea is that you can use it to fit your own needs. It may be 212° service that you'd like to reinforce, or 212° attitude, leadership, or quality. Or maybe, you'll choose to build your entire company culture around the 212° concept...to differentiate you from your competition.
However, what makes the 212° concept #1 in my mind is this: It's very simple, but more importantly, it's MEMORABLE! If you're trying to create a 212° culture your people will get it! And, not only will they get it, they'll remember it! When you say 212° service, they'll know exactly what you're talking about; when you say 212° attitude, teamwork, leadership...they'll understand.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the most amazing things about business (and life) is the power of one idea. And one of your great challenges as a leader is to understand how to find and nurture them."
~Mac Anderson
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
good thots
"Teamwork requires training, practice and trust…each member counts on one another to perform."
~Michael McMillan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Excerpt from The 100/0 Principle
by Al Ritter
What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.
Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.
The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.
STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.
STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.
STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.
At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.
Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!
Principle Paradox
This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.
~Michael McMillan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Excerpt from The 100/0 Principle
by Al Ritter
What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.
Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.
The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.
STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.
STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.
STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.
At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.
Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!
Principle Paradox
This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.
good thots
To me every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle.
-- Walt Whitman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.thedashmovie.com/?cm_mmc=CheetahMail-_-MO-_-10.18.10-_-DASHMovie
GO TO THE ABOVE WEB SITE FOR AN INTERESTING MOVIE, TQ
-- Walt Whitman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.thedashmovie.com/?cm_mmc=CheetahMail-_-MO-_-10.18.10-_-DASHMovie
GO TO THE ABOVE WEB SITE FOR AN INTERESTING MOVIE, TQ
Monday, October 18, 2010
good thots
Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn't be done. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life, the process is its own reward. Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And if they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others."
~Amelia Earhart
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~Amelia Earhart
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"As you begin to embrace the idea that life is here for your joy, that every moment is a gift, showing you the path to fulfillment, you will discover magic happening in your life."
- From The Passion Test
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
~Thomas Edison
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You may not always be able to turn up the heat and hit the boiling point, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't make the attempt. It's what you'd advice others to do and it's what we should teach our children."
~Mac Anderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
--Albert Schweitzer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Excerpt From The Slight Edge
by Jeff Olson
Use The Moment. Using the moment means taking control of your life in the moment-right now, today. It means not blaming the past or worrying about the future. The only time you have is the present, because the past is gone and the future hasn't happened yet.
Always remember this: Even with all your problems, there is still an invisible you. The invisible you is who you will be someday. It may not be tomorrow or next week, but some day. And the little choices you make every day are what will put you on the path that takes you there.
The little things you do every day-or don't do-are creating that invisible you of the future.
Most of the bad things that happen to us are completely out of our control. The reality is, you can't control the weather, and you can't control your circumstances.
What you can control is how you feel about your circumstances. You can control how you feel about yourself. And you can control what you do about your circumstances.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.
-Abigail Adams
(1744 - 1818)
The surest test of discipline is its absence.
-Clara Barton
(1821 - 1912)
If I can stop one heart from breaking I shall not live in vain.
-Emily Dickinson
(1830 - 1886)
The triumph can't be had without the struggle.
-Wilma Rudolph
(1940 - 1994)
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
-Maya Angelou
(1928 - )
I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse.
-Florence Nightingale
(1820 - 1910)
A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.
-Amelia Earhart
(1898 - 1937)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm."
~Winston Churchill
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There are those days when it's hard to put one foot in front of the other, but those are the days when champions are created. It's about making the most of the minutes you are given."
~David McNally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You cannot borrow greatness from another. You can only claim it from within yourself.
-- Alan Cohen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Understanding that we control our own destiny is key to our success in life. Simply put, when we decide how we want our life to be we must take responsibility and move forward."
~Mac Anderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
-- Cicero
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Love After Love
The time will come
when with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile to the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was yourself.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
Peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
~Derick Walcott
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, And looks to God alone; Laughs at impossibilities, And cries it shall be done.
-- Charles Wesley
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Effective communication is an art. While it comes easier for some more than others, it can be developed and improved by all of us."
~Twyman Towery
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Excerpt from Oil for Your Lamp
by Lisa Hammond & BJ Gallagher
Virtually every woman we know has the same problem - she knows what's good for her, but she often doesn't do it. She knows she should eat less and exercise more, but still she doesn't make healthy choices. She knows she needs to spend her time and money more effectively, but good time and money management elude her. She finds herself always putting others first, while neglecting her own needs and wants. She doesn't get enough rest or sleep and her endless to-do list hangs overhead like the sword of Damocles. As our friend Brenda Knight laments frequently, "Why am I always riding in the back of my own bus?"
We don't do the things we know are good for us because we are so busy taking care of others that we neglect ourselves. The problem isn't lack of information - we have plenty of information about the importance of sleep, healthy foods, and exercise. The problem is how we prioritize our lives.
Psychologists tell us that some people are inner-directed and some are other-directed. That is, some people focus on their own internal guidance system for making choices about how to spend their time and energy. Their own self-interest ranks very high on their list of priorities. "What's best for me?" is a key guiding principle in determining where they focus their attention and how they make day-to-day decisions.
And some people are other-directed, which means that their primary focus is external, not internal. They are primarily concerned with relationships, especially people they care about. "How can I help others?" is a key question in how they spend their time and energy. Building and nurturing relationships with loved ones, family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers is the guiding principle in their lives.
Research indicates that, in general, men tend to be more inner-directed, while women tend to be more other-directed. There are exceptions, of course, but as a group, men are focused on themselves while women are focused on other people. Men like to build things while women like to build relationships.
This difference in psychological orientation goes a long way toward helping us understand why we women often do such a poor job of taking care of ourselves. We run around filling others' lamps with oil, but forget to fill our own lamps first. Then we wonder why we're often exhausted, frazzled, stressed-out, anxious and/or depressed!
Awareness is the first step toward solving a problem. So the first section of this book is devoted to helping us acknowledge the problem and understand the reasons for it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Great service is not an accident. It starts by deciding what kind of experience you want your customers to have—a clear vision."
~Ken Blanchard
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world."
~Lawrence G. Lovasi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changing the world is a natural result of inner peace, not a substitute for it.
-- Alan Cohen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"People often ask me...what is the most effective technique for transforming their lives?" ALDOUS HUXLEY
He then said, "It's a little embarrassing that after years and years of research, my best answer is just be a little kinder."
This is the paradox of the power of kindness. It doesn't feel powerful at all. In fact, it almost feels too simple to be important. But as Huxley said, it is the #1 thing that can transform your life.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late."
~Paula Fox
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Apply the 80/20 Rule to Everything"
An Excerpt from Eat That Frog!
by Brian Tracy
The 80/20 Rule is one of the most helpful of all concepts of time and life management. It is also called the "Pareto Principle" after its founder, the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who first wrote about it in 1895. Pareto noticed that people in his society seemed to divide naturally into what he called the "vital few", the top 20 percent in terms of money and influence, and the "trivial many", the bottom 80 percent.
He later discovered that virtually all economic activity was subject to this principle as well. For example, this principle says that 20 percent of your activities will account for 80 percent of your results, 20 percent of your customers will account for 80 percent of your sales, 20 percent of your products or services will account for 80 percent of your profits, 20 percent of your tasks will account for 80 percent of the value of what you do, and so on. This means that if you have a list of ten items to do, two of those items will turn out to be worth five or ten times or more than the other eight items put together.
Number of Tasks versus Importance of Tasks
Here is an interesting discovery. Each of the ten tasks may take the same amount of time to accomplish. But one or two of those tasks will contribute five or ten times the value of any of the others.
Often, one item on a list of ten tasks that you have to do can be worth more than all the other nine items put together. This task is invariably the frog that you should eat first.
Focus on Activities, Not Accomplishments
The most valuable tasks you can do each day are often the hardest and most complex. But the payoff and rewards for completing these tasks efficiently can be tremendous. For this reason, you must adamantly refuse to work on tasks in the bottom 80 percent while you still have tasks in the top 20 percent left to be done.
Before you begin work, always ask yourself, "Is this task in the top 20 percent of my activities or in the bottom 80 percent?"
The hardest part of any important task is getting started on it in the first place. Once you actually begin work on a valuable task, you will be naturally motivated to continue. A part of your mind loves to be busy working on significant tasks that can really make a difference. Your job is to feed this part of your mind continually.
Motivate Yourself
Just thinking about starting and finishing an important task motivates you and helps you to overcome procrastination. Time management is really life management, personal management. It is really taking control of the sequence of events. Time management is having control over what you do next. And you are always free to choose the task that you will do next. Your ability to choose between the important and the unimportant is the key determinant of your success in life and work.
Effective, productive people discipline themselves to start on the most important task that is before them. They force themselves to eat that frog, whatever it is. As a result, they accomplish vastly more than the average person and are much happier as a result. This should be your way of working as well.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It's not the things we get but the hearts we touch that will determine our success in life."
~Mac Anderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you are clear on "want to," "how to" shows up.
-- Michael Neill
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself and be lenient to everybody else."
~Henry Ward Beecher
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life is worthwhile if you TRY.
Try something to see if you can do it. Try to make a difference. Try to make some progress. Try to learn a new skill. Try your best. Give it every effort.
Life is worthwhile if you STAY.
You have to stay from spring until harvest. If you have signed up for the day or the game or the project, see it through. Don't end in the middle.
Life is worthwhile if you CARE.
If you care at all, you will get results. If you care enough, you will get incredible results.
Care enough to make a difference.
Care enough to turn somebody around.
Care enough to change.
Care enough to win.
Life is worthwhile if you PLAN.
If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan.
Life is worthwhile if you GIVE.
Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process.
Life is worthwhile if you BE.
Wherever you are, be there. Develop a unique focus on the current moment.
Let others lead small lives, but not you.
Let others argue over small things, but not you.
Let others cry over small hurts, but not you.
Let others leave their futures in someone else's hands, but not you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your attention is the strongest currency at your disposal. Whatever you invest it in will yield more of the same.
-- Alan Cohen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Think Like a Golfer
The amazing thing about golf is that at the end of the day golfers don't remember the multitude of horrible shots they made. Find out how I learned some positive thinking tips from an addicting sport.
By Jon Gordon
In this article: Positive Thinking Positive Thinking Tips
WEB EXCLUSIVE
I found one of the keys to life on a golf course. Golf course, you might wonder? How could a game that makes grown men cry like babies and throw their clubs like toddlers hold the key to anything but frustration and pain?
It’s simple really. The amazing thing about golf is that at the end of the day golfers don't remember the multitude of horrible shots they made. All they remember is their one great shot and this memory inspires them to come back again and again in an attempt to make another great shot. It’s no wonder that golf is so addicting.
I couldn't help but compare this thought process to how many of us approach work and life. Instead of focusing on the one good thing that happened to us each day we often think about the 100 things that went wrong. Instead of thinking about our successes we replay our failures over and over again in our mind. No wonder why so many of us retreat from life and work instead of getting addicted to it.
Daily Guideposts 2011 Portable Edition
Lead a busy lifestyle? Always on-the-go? Want to take your devotions with you? The Daily Guideposts 2011 Portable Edition is a lightweight, compact size that easily fits into pockets and purses. Buy Now!
The key is to think like a golfer and remember the one great conversation, the one energizing meeting, the one act of kindness, the one meaningful accomplishment or the one special moment that made you smile, laugh and cheer.
No matter how difficult our days are, there’s always a positive moment we can choose to focus on. The key is to remember them, focus on them and get addicted to them. Let them inspire you to wake up and take on each day just as you would a golf course. You'll go through life learning from your mistakes but remembering and focusing on your successes.
Sure, there will be days that make you want to give up but the memory of your successes and positive experiences will motivate you to come back again and again. You'll forget the 100 things that went wrong and you'll remember the one thing that went right. You’ll get addicted to the moments that make life the greatest game in the universe and you’ll intoxicate yourself with positive energy, happiness, joy and success!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is much in the world to make us afraid. There is much more in our faith to make us unafraid.
-- Cropp
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."
~Herman Cain
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Identify with excellence, put your name on your work, and both your work and your name will stand the test of time."
~Dr. Denis Waitley
If you want to soar with the eagles, you need to associate with eagles!"
~Barry Gottlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."
~Lou Holtz
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"To live a great life is to discover the life you have right now, instead of trying to invent a whole new life."
~Betty Mahalik
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some people have so much respect for their superiors they have none left for themselves.
-- Peter McArthur
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leadership is about taking charge and influencing others to follow your vision. It's about going against the odds and accepting responsibility for the outcomes along the way."
~Robin Crow
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you're down there."
~George Burns------------------------------------------------------------------------
- From The Passion Test
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
~Thomas Edison
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You may not always be able to turn up the heat and hit the boiling point, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't make the attempt. It's what you'd advice others to do and it's what we should teach our children."
~Mac Anderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
--Albert Schweitzer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Excerpt From The Slight Edge
by Jeff Olson
Use The Moment. Using the moment means taking control of your life in the moment-right now, today. It means not blaming the past or worrying about the future. The only time you have is the present, because the past is gone and the future hasn't happened yet.
Always remember this: Even with all your problems, there is still an invisible you. The invisible you is who you will be someday. It may not be tomorrow or next week, but some day. And the little choices you make every day are what will put you on the path that takes you there.
The little things you do every day-or don't do-are creating that invisible you of the future.
Most of the bad things that happen to us are completely out of our control. The reality is, you can't control the weather, and you can't control your circumstances.
What you can control is how you feel about your circumstances. You can control how you feel about yourself. And you can control what you do about your circumstances.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.
-Abigail Adams
(1744 - 1818)
The surest test of discipline is its absence.
-Clara Barton
(1821 - 1912)
If I can stop one heart from breaking I shall not live in vain.
-Emily Dickinson
(1830 - 1886)
The triumph can't be had without the struggle.
-Wilma Rudolph
(1940 - 1994)
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
-Maya Angelou
(1928 - )
I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse.
-Florence Nightingale
(1820 - 1910)
A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.
-Amelia Earhart
(1898 - 1937)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm."
~Winston Churchill
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There are those days when it's hard to put one foot in front of the other, but those are the days when champions are created. It's about making the most of the minutes you are given."
~David McNally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You cannot borrow greatness from another. You can only claim it from within yourself.
-- Alan Cohen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Understanding that we control our own destiny is key to our success in life. Simply put, when we decide how we want our life to be we must take responsibility and move forward."
~Mac Anderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
-- Cicero
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Love After Love
The time will come
when with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile to the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was yourself.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
Peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
~Derick Walcott
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, And looks to God alone; Laughs at impossibilities, And cries it shall be done.
-- Charles Wesley
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Effective communication is an art. While it comes easier for some more than others, it can be developed and improved by all of us."
~Twyman Towery
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Excerpt from Oil for Your Lamp
by Lisa Hammond & BJ Gallagher
Virtually every woman we know has the same problem - she knows what's good for her, but she often doesn't do it. She knows she should eat less and exercise more, but still she doesn't make healthy choices. She knows she needs to spend her time and money more effectively, but good time and money management elude her. She finds herself always putting others first, while neglecting her own needs and wants. She doesn't get enough rest or sleep and her endless to-do list hangs overhead like the sword of Damocles. As our friend Brenda Knight laments frequently, "Why am I always riding in the back of my own bus?"
We don't do the things we know are good for us because we are so busy taking care of others that we neglect ourselves. The problem isn't lack of information - we have plenty of information about the importance of sleep, healthy foods, and exercise. The problem is how we prioritize our lives.
Psychologists tell us that some people are inner-directed and some are other-directed. That is, some people focus on their own internal guidance system for making choices about how to spend their time and energy. Their own self-interest ranks very high on their list of priorities. "What's best for me?" is a key guiding principle in determining where they focus their attention and how they make day-to-day decisions.
And some people are other-directed, which means that their primary focus is external, not internal. They are primarily concerned with relationships, especially people they care about. "How can I help others?" is a key question in how they spend their time and energy. Building and nurturing relationships with loved ones, family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers is the guiding principle in their lives.
Research indicates that, in general, men tend to be more inner-directed, while women tend to be more other-directed. There are exceptions, of course, but as a group, men are focused on themselves while women are focused on other people. Men like to build things while women like to build relationships.
This difference in psychological orientation goes a long way toward helping us understand why we women often do such a poor job of taking care of ourselves. We run around filling others' lamps with oil, but forget to fill our own lamps first. Then we wonder why we're often exhausted, frazzled, stressed-out, anxious and/or depressed!
Awareness is the first step toward solving a problem. So the first section of this book is devoted to helping us acknowledge the problem and understand the reasons for it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Great service is not an accident. It starts by deciding what kind of experience you want your customers to have—a clear vision."
~Ken Blanchard
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world."
~Lawrence G. Lovasi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changing the world is a natural result of inner peace, not a substitute for it.
-- Alan Cohen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"People often ask me...what is the most effective technique for transforming their lives?" ALDOUS HUXLEY
He then said, "It's a little embarrassing that after years and years of research, my best answer is just be a little kinder."
This is the paradox of the power of kindness. It doesn't feel powerful at all. In fact, it almost feels too simple to be important. But as Huxley said, it is the #1 thing that can transform your life.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late."
~Paula Fox
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Apply the 80/20 Rule to Everything"
An Excerpt from Eat That Frog!
by Brian Tracy
The 80/20 Rule is one of the most helpful of all concepts of time and life management. It is also called the "Pareto Principle" after its founder, the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who first wrote about it in 1895. Pareto noticed that people in his society seemed to divide naturally into what he called the "vital few", the top 20 percent in terms of money and influence, and the "trivial many", the bottom 80 percent.
He later discovered that virtually all economic activity was subject to this principle as well. For example, this principle says that 20 percent of your activities will account for 80 percent of your results, 20 percent of your customers will account for 80 percent of your sales, 20 percent of your products or services will account for 80 percent of your profits, 20 percent of your tasks will account for 80 percent of the value of what you do, and so on. This means that if you have a list of ten items to do, two of those items will turn out to be worth five or ten times or more than the other eight items put together.
Number of Tasks versus Importance of Tasks
Here is an interesting discovery. Each of the ten tasks may take the same amount of time to accomplish. But one or two of those tasks will contribute five or ten times the value of any of the others.
Often, one item on a list of ten tasks that you have to do can be worth more than all the other nine items put together. This task is invariably the frog that you should eat first.
Focus on Activities, Not Accomplishments
The most valuable tasks you can do each day are often the hardest and most complex. But the payoff and rewards for completing these tasks efficiently can be tremendous. For this reason, you must adamantly refuse to work on tasks in the bottom 80 percent while you still have tasks in the top 20 percent left to be done.
Before you begin work, always ask yourself, "Is this task in the top 20 percent of my activities or in the bottom 80 percent?"
The hardest part of any important task is getting started on it in the first place. Once you actually begin work on a valuable task, you will be naturally motivated to continue. A part of your mind loves to be busy working on significant tasks that can really make a difference. Your job is to feed this part of your mind continually.
Motivate Yourself
Just thinking about starting and finishing an important task motivates you and helps you to overcome procrastination. Time management is really life management, personal management. It is really taking control of the sequence of events. Time management is having control over what you do next. And you are always free to choose the task that you will do next. Your ability to choose between the important and the unimportant is the key determinant of your success in life and work.
Effective, productive people discipline themselves to start on the most important task that is before them. They force themselves to eat that frog, whatever it is. As a result, they accomplish vastly more than the average person and are much happier as a result. This should be your way of working as well.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It's not the things we get but the hearts we touch that will determine our success in life."
~Mac Anderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you are clear on "want to," "how to" shows up.
-- Michael Neill
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself and be lenient to everybody else."
~Henry Ward Beecher
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life is worthwhile if you TRY.
Try something to see if you can do it. Try to make a difference. Try to make some progress. Try to learn a new skill. Try your best. Give it every effort.
Life is worthwhile if you STAY.
You have to stay from spring until harvest. If you have signed up for the day or the game or the project, see it through. Don't end in the middle.
Life is worthwhile if you CARE.
If you care at all, you will get results. If you care enough, you will get incredible results.
Care enough to make a difference.
Care enough to turn somebody around.
Care enough to change.
Care enough to win.
Life is worthwhile if you PLAN.
If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan.
Life is worthwhile if you GIVE.
Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process.
Life is worthwhile if you BE.
Wherever you are, be there. Develop a unique focus on the current moment.
Let others lead small lives, but not you.
Let others argue over small things, but not you.
Let others cry over small hurts, but not you.
Let others leave their futures in someone else's hands, but not you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your attention is the strongest currency at your disposal. Whatever you invest it in will yield more of the same.
-- Alan Cohen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Think Like a Golfer
The amazing thing about golf is that at the end of the day golfers don't remember the multitude of horrible shots they made. Find out how I learned some positive thinking tips from an addicting sport.
By Jon Gordon
In this article: Positive Thinking Positive Thinking Tips
WEB EXCLUSIVE
I found one of the keys to life on a golf course. Golf course, you might wonder? How could a game that makes grown men cry like babies and throw their clubs like toddlers hold the key to anything but frustration and pain?
It’s simple really. The amazing thing about golf is that at the end of the day golfers don't remember the multitude of horrible shots they made. All they remember is their one great shot and this memory inspires them to come back again and again in an attempt to make another great shot. It’s no wonder that golf is so addicting.
I couldn't help but compare this thought process to how many of us approach work and life. Instead of focusing on the one good thing that happened to us each day we often think about the 100 things that went wrong. Instead of thinking about our successes we replay our failures over and over again in our mind. No wonder why so many of us retreat from life and work instead of getting addicted to it.
Daily Guideposts 2011 Portable Edition
Lead a busy lifestyle? Always on-the-go? Want to take your devotions with you? The Daily Guideposts 2011 Portable Edition is a lightweight, compact size that easily fits into pockets and purses. Buy Now!
The key is to think like a golfer and remember the one great conversation, the one energizing meeting, the one act of kindness, the one meaningful accomplishment or the one special moment that made you smile, laugh and cheer.
No matter how difficult our days are, there’s always a positive moment we can choose to focus on. The key is to remember them, focus on them and get addicted to them. Let them inspire you to wake up and take on each day just as you would a golf course. You'll go through life learning from your mistakes but remembering and focusing on your successes.
Sure, there will be days that make you want to give up but the memory of your successes and positive experiences will motivate you to come back again and again. You'll forget the 100 things that went wrong and you'll remember the one thing that went right. You’ll get addicted to the moments that make life the greatest game in the universe and you’ll intoxicate yourself with positive energy, happiness, joy and success!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is much in the world to make us afraid. There is much more in our faith to make us unafraid.
-- Cropp
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."
~Herman Cain
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Identify with excellence, put your name on your work, and both your work and your name will stand the test of time."
~Dr. Denis Waitley
If you want to soar with the eagles, you need to associate with eagles!"
~Barry Gottlieb
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."
~Lou Holtz
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"To live a great life is to discover the life you have right now, instead of trying to invent a whole new life."
~Betty Mahalik
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some people have so much respect for their superiors they have none left for themselves.
-- Peter McArthur
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leadership is about taking charge and influencing others to follow your vision. It's about going against the odds and accepting responsibility for the outcomes along the way."
~Robin Crow
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you're down there."
~George Burns------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Excerpt from The Power of Discipline By Brian Tracy
Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority?
I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future.
And then I began asking, "Why are some people more successful than others?" This question changed my life.
Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, "Success is tons of discipline."
Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four.
A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit.
With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.
It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once.
After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, "Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?"
He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, "The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, 'Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'"
He went on to say, "There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work."
Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.
In the pages ahead I will describe seven areas of your life where the practice of self-discipline will be key to your success. These areas include goals, character, time management, personal health, money, courage and responsibility. It is my hope that you'll find a few "nuggets" that will help make your dreams come true.
I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future.
And then I began asking, "Why are some people more successful than others?" This question changed my life.
Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, "Success is tons of discipline."
Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four.
A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit.
With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.
It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once.
After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, "Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?"
He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, "The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, 'Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'"
He went on to say, "There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work."
Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.
In the pages ahead I will describe seven areas of your life where the practice of self-discipline will be key to your success. These areas include goals, character, time management, personal health, money, courage and responsibility. It is my hope that you'll find a few "nuggets" that will help make your dreams come true.
good thots
Do what makes you smile.
-- Dr. Richard Bartlett
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“You are unique. You have unique gifts which no one but you
can give. You have those gifts because you have a special role
to play in the world which requires giving those gifts"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People who warn that everyone but members of their religion will go to hell don't realize they are already there.
-- Alan Cohen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Always be on the lookout for new ways to do old things, and keep your mind open to using alternative methods and plans of action."
~Amy Jones
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You can learn new things at any time in your life if you're willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you."
~Barbara Sher
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The best rule of friendship is to keep your heart a little softer than your head.
-- Source unknown
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The measure of a truly great man is the courtesy with which he treats lesser men."
~Anonymous
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Nothing is so contagious as an example. We never do great good or great evil without bringing about more of the same on the part of others."
~Francois Rochefoucaul
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Dr. Richard Bartlett
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“You are unique. You have unique gifts which no one but you
can give. You have those gifts because you have a special role
to play in the world which requires giving those gifts"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People who warn that everyone but members of their religion will go to hell don't realize they are already there.
-- Alan Cohen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Always be on the lookout for new ways to do old things, and keep your mind open to using alternative methods and plans of action."
~Amy Jones
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You can learn new things at any time in your life if you're willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you."
~Barbara Sher
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The best rule of friendship is to keep your heart a little softer than your head.
-- Source unknown
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The measure of a truly great man is the courtesy with which he treats lesser men."
~Anonymous
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Nothing is so contagious as an example. We never do great good or great evil without bringing about more of the same on the part of others."
~Francois Rochefoucaul
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)