Use life experiences as motivation to achieve

June 20th, 2011

Recently a motivational speaker posted this question on Facebook.
“Where would you be, what would you have and how would you think differently if you didn’t let anyone or any negative thought from your past rent space in your head?”

In my opinion…you wouldn’t be anywhere near who you are today!

It is a fact that some of the very best drivers for personal and business success are things that happened to us in the past.

Did you know that over ninety percent of all great comedians had a tough childhood?
They have “felt” our pain and “been there and done that.” That is why they touch us with their universal stories and make us laugh. They learned how to overcome problems and challenges and now use it in a constructive manner to generate income and make people laugh.

Personally, I wouldn’t want a life without the wisdom that comes from messing up, falling down and using those life experiences as motivation to achieve.

What is interesting is that this same speaker who is telling us not to have negative thoughts in your head… has negative stories about divorce with his family splitting up and hard times on his website.

Now why would it be OK to announce to the world negative things, but not rent space for them in your head?

If you are continuously telling these same stories from the past… tell me HOW they cannot be in your head?

Just saying here.

Or maybe the moral of the story is that it’s OK to have the negative past experiences… as long as you use them to pay the rent!

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A little more effort and a little less whining.

August 30th, 2010

Yes, it is tough to be self employed and in business. You have to do more than ever. OK… then do it without the whining please.

If you have to work longer… do it. At least you have work to do.

If you need to improve your job skills… do it. Staying on top of your profession is a good business decision. Nobody wants you practicing on them. Get so good that everybody wants you working with them!

If you lack good communication skills… who can learn them for you? There are just some things that you have to do for yourself. So… do it. Learn about listening, asking good questions, and understanding what people intend to say. There are plenty of books and classes and mentors available. Ask around. Find out what someone you admire has done to get really good at communication… and then learn, practice and do what is required to raise your skill level.

Give up your woe is me story. Really, why inflict your sad pity party on other people?  Come up with something to be grateful for and then share that. Uplift people, don’t inflict them.

Decide to do something productive today. Make your efforts at work mean something. Do it for you. Take pride in giving your best. And then do it again tomorrow… and the next day… and the next week, month and year.

We need people to stop slacking and start making a positive contribution every day.

If we all do this… we won’t be in a recession.  We will see this economy turn around without government help… without handouts… without finger pointing… without making anybody wrong.

And it starts with you!

What can you do today that will make a positive difference at work, at home, and for someone else?

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of all the negativity. It’s time to say something nice about other people, instead of attacking them. What solutions do you have to offer? Now, that would actually make a difference.

It’s time to respect each other and be accountable for what we do on a daily basis.

It’s time for a little more honest effort and a lot less whining!

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What keeps you busy?

June 13th, 2010

What keeps you busy?

Are you majoring in minor things?

Stop and take a moment to really look at your day. Like most people, at the end of the day, you are tired. Your brain is full and your energy is low.

But… what did you really accomplish that mattered?

Oh, I get that you were busy… but… what did you DO that was significant?

Honestly, how much of what you did today was just like what you did yesterday… and the day before?

Is your life a version of the movie “Groundhog Day”  with Bill Murray?

The first step in making a positive change is to become aware.

Awareness leads to choice.

So, what can you let go or release in your life that is causing you stress?

What better thoughts and actions can you take that will bring you more joy?

What non-productive habits can you stop doing?

What productive things can you do instead?

When you choose to make better choices throughout the day, it is amazing how much more you actually accomplish.

And as a bonus, because you had more completions of things and tasks that were important for you to do…you have more energy left at the end of the day.

Give it a try. You will be pleasantly surprised at your new found results!

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I want Results!

May 18th, 2010

I want Results!

Right… we all do.

But what we don’t really think about is HOW we communicate what results mean to us.

When we just assume that the other person “knows what we mean” we are setting ourselves up to be disappointed.

For example, if I said to a painter, I want my living room painted a nice shade of green… is it possible that the painter may have a different picture in his mind as to the exact shade or variation of green that I wanted on my walls?

In our day to day conversations with people… if you stop and really listen to how people talk, clean, crisp communication with a clear understanding rarely happens.

If you are in business, and part of your job is to convey to buyers and sellers, or clients and customers, why they should buy from you and your company…. and you assume that they already know what you offer… is it possible that they may not know specifically what you can do for them?

Without properly sharing what benefits your products and services offer them… and how those advantages relieve the pain of the problem they want fixed… and deliver to them better results… can you see how you may find yourself at a disadvantage if they also talked with a competitor who did a better job of asking questions and finding out what end results these same buy/customers were looking to achieve?

So to consistently enjoy better communication and ultimately get better results, always pay attention to your words and how they land with people.

Sometimes, all you need to do is watch the facial expressions on the people you are talking with. What do their facial movements and expressions tell you?

If they roll their eyes, does that mean they may not like what they just heard? If they break eye contact with you, could they be thinking about what you just said and what that means to them? If they lean back, could they be creating space between you and your ideas?

Don’t just talk at people, listen with your eyes and ears to see if they understand and agree with what you just said. Do they look confused or engaged?

People broadcast what they think and feel all the time.

For today, make it a point to observe your communication style. What you find may be eye-opening.

Do you every time accurately articulate what you expect from them, and what they can expect from you?

Sloppy communication brings about less than satisfying results.

Good communication is the foundation for a trust relationship. If they don’t trust you, they won’t want to work with you.

How well you communicate directly determines the results you enjoy!

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The answer is to become different

March 27th, 2010

“If you want things to be different, perhaps the answer is to become different yourself.”
~Norman Vincent Peale

Far too many people get stuck in just going through the motions. It’s easier that way. Yet, it is not reaching our highest potential. It’s OK to coast for a short while, catch your breath, or regroup… but it is not what you were born for. You came here on Planet Earth for the Full Adventure. So, dust off your childhood dreams, revisit the ideas that you have placed limitations on… and Go For It! Do at least one thing every day that stretches you a bit. And do one thing every day that makes you happy. Why not create a Miracle in your life?

“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me?!?”
~ Ayn Rand

Don’t be your own worst enemy. Be your best cheerleader!
It is too easy when things are not going well to get down on ourselves. It is at this very time that we must give ourselves an emotional pat on the back and heartfelt encouragement.

Nobody said that this thing called Life would be easy.
And, it certainly is worthwhile.

Every year we have 4 seasons. And every human gets to experience all of the seasons in life. That is exciting, exhausting and exhilarating! (Sometimes all in the same day)

Don’t let life discourage you; every single person who got where they are… had to begin where they were.

What is most important to realize is that we are all on our own Hero’s Journey and that both the good and bad and the happy and sad, are all a part of what helps us to grow into our unique potential and gifts.

So if you are still here… get moving because there is more for you to learn and more for you to enjoy and more for you to risk and more for you to experience!

Remember, YOU are the Author of your own Life story!
So, you can battle dragons along the way… and still create a happy ending!

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