Browse Attitude and Perspective

After stumbling across the following article on Linked In, I totally had to reproduce it (with permission of course). Author Colleen Slaughter (www.coachforauthenticleaders.com) shares a simple solution for worry warts that create so much stress for themselves it often leads to being seriously sick. Here's what she writes:

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Do you know what Billy Joel, Henry Ford and Lance Armstrong have in common? They never gave up. They failed their way to success with passion and persistence. One look at history reveals this is the single most common thread of all successful people - they faced their fear and did it anyway. Whenever we do this we become fearless. Kinda sorta… After living in Houston for 20 years as a motivational speaker and professional piano entertainer, I was of the opinion that life was pretty good, in spite of pesky hurricanes and high humidity that makes for bad hair days.

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In today’s economy and competitive workforce there is no room for mediocre skills. Gen X & Gen Y are competing for the same jobs as baby boomers. Gen X & Gen Y bring all kinds of digital know- how to the job table. Baby boomers bring years of experience. The younger generations have no clue how to communicate with people (it’s text, Twitter or nothing). Baby boomers are behind the curve when it comes to technology thingies (whatsa widget doo hickey?) So who gets the job? Sadly, many times it’s the youth.

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Was your last meeting one big snooze fest? Whether you’re an association executive, on a program committee, in corporate meeting planning or staff development training the challenge to maintain people’s attention is huge. With four generations in the workplace today meetings can be a headache to get everyone on the same page let alone excited about being there.

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Are you Linked Up to here and Twittered out to there? Do you have your best mug shot on Face Book? In today’s high tech world of texting, tweeting and emails there are more communications but less personal contact. This translates into a greater risk of being misunderstood with the written word. Check your emails before you click send. What kind of tone comes across? Does it sound warm and friendly, polite and professional? Remember people do business with people they like. Would YOU want to do business with you?

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As the world’s eyes focus on the Vancouver Winter Olympics our minds are filled with hopes and aspirations of the athletes: the glory of victory, the agony of defeat, the dreams that are fulfilled or crushed in a matter of seconds, the years of training that bought them to this moment. Can you possibly imagine how it would feel to walk under your country’s flag out into an arena of sixty thousand people cheering for you? No pressure there. Maybe you don’t have an audience of thousands watching you. Maybe it’s just your boss, your customer, your employee or your co-workers.

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Are you tired of hearing nothing but doom and gloom about the economy? Perhaps you’ve recently lost your job and all you’ve heard is how many other people are out of work and are now competing for the same job. Don’t you wish the media would start focusing on some uplifting practical solutions ...

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I walked out of his office inspired. All I could immediately recall were those soft-spoken words, “STAY WITH IT”. They were from no less a person tha Rev. Sam Adeyemi of Success Power fame, on whom I had gone to pay a courtesy call. The first time we met was two years earlier when he came to my ...I walked out of his office inspired. All I could immediately recall were those soft-spoken words, “STAY WITH IT”. They were from no less a person tha Rev. Sam Adeyemi of Success Power fame, on whom I had gone to pay a courtesy call.

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Within is the person we really are. Within lies our very existence. And only from within can we make it happen. This is where our very all subsists. Within you is the ability, the “what it takes” to make it all happen for you, just the way you want it. WITHIN! WITHIN!! WITHIN!!! Oh what a place! ...Within is the person we really are. Within lies our very existence. And only from within can we make it happen. This is where our very all subsists. Within you is the ability, the “what it takes” to make it all happen for you, just the way you want it. WITHIN! WITHIN!! WITHIN!!! Oh what a place!

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Associations have to hold meetings. They need to attract new young members while at the same time retaining seasoned members interests. How do you do that? How do you avoid snooze fests at meetings? Hand out Red Bull? The Institute of Real Estate Management in Houston is a group that reeks success on a stick with over 600 members that makes it the largest chapter in the world. What's their secret you ask? Executive Director Jo D Miller is a large part of it. She offers her membership all kinds of benefits outside the usual ho hum. Check them out: http://www.iremhouston.org

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When I was about ten years old, I got lost! My Father did not send out a search party and my Mother did not call the police. I had not wondered into the woods by myself, nor had I run away from home. Actually I was at home. I was in a room in my own house. But I was lost.r

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In researching content for my topic on Extraordinary Performance I came across this article by Peter Bregman at Fast Company and thought it worth reprinting to help deal with a difficult colleague, motivate better teamwork, boost morale and productivity...

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Having just returned from visiting my family over the holidays in Adelaide, South Australia, I discovered how Americanized I’ve become in my thinking. Not a bad thing. Just different from how I grew up in this Down Under city of one million people.

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Once upon a time long ago, when men rode to work on horses, and women stayed at home, there lived a very wise man. He lived a simple life, working long hard hours at his trade, mending the chariot wheels and fixing the shoes the horses wore. The sign on his little shop said: BLACKSMITH

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The happiest person I know is a woman who at 104 years young exudes a depth of Peace of Mind and a joy of life that is profound. Aunt Grace is a very happy person.r

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It’s so easy to ignore the roses and see only the thorns ! An unknown sage said it beautifully, “you can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses” We seem to be built in such a way that the thorns get our attention, while the roses remain in the background. In today’s world our attention is captured by the headlines that scream “crisis, catastrophe, the end” while next door in your community, there are some who are experiencing love and kindness, courage and hope.

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Last week I was the after lunch speaker at a regional manager’s conference for Weingarten Realty. The theme was “The Power of Team” and my sixty minute presentation was entitled “Extraordinary Performance: The New Norm for Tough Times”. The challenge? Keeping people awake and engaged after the proverbial lunch time sugar high wears off. No worries with this group… We covered the five basic keys to improved performance for these property managers and their teams:

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It’s Not All About You So a colleague bad mouthed your work, the client didn’t like your product, a friend doesn’t call any more, you get one bad evaluation after your speech. What to do? Stop and rethink. It’s not about you. They don’t know who you really are. They can’t get inside your head to understand your thinking. When someone yells at you for whatever reason – it’s usually about them. It’s about THEIR fears, insecurities, problems, mood and THEIR agenda….not yours.

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“Why didn’t they tell me this in school?” This is the questio I consistently hear from participants in workshops and seminars I conduct. They are surprised that some of the basic strategies for living a happy, successful and fulfilling life are never mentioned during school days. They enter the work world, thinking they are well equipped for the journey of life, only to find that important things are still missing. The road to a safe and happy life is not complex or mysterious. It does not require a PhD. or a fortune in the bank. “Life One-0-One: Find your Purpose”

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Who would have thunk it? A grand piano at an engineering services exhibit booth? What’s the world coming to? The world is coming to realize that extraordinary is what it takes to stand out from the crowd and succeed in today’s marketplace.

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The great majority of those around us see work and daily activities as unpleasant, difficult and boring, certainly not something to be grateful for. A few discover the joy of work and the peace and satisfaction that flows from their gratitude for the opportunity.r

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As the eyes of the world focus on the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton I tip my hat (or should that be fascinator?) to an outstanding performance by the Brits. They are SO all about pomp and ceremony. And we are SO intrigued we’ve been watching it for months. Why? In this humble speaker’s opinion it’s because we need some good news. We need a distraction from devastating weather, a sagging economy, bloody battles and bickering politicians.

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It took 17 years for me to master the piano and become a professional entertainer. It's taken 10 years to become a good motivational speaker. The Beatles and Bill Gates each put in 10,000 worth of practice to reach the levels of excellence they did. Ove ight success is a myth. Original author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series Jack Canfield said his book was rejected by 144 publishers before it was accepted by one. Billy Joel played piano in dives around the Bronx for years and even attempted suicide due to challenges he faced.

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Two thousand years after the birth of the Prince of Peace, we are still searching for peace. It seems that we still do not yet understand the prescription for peace. We continue to search through the logical avenues such as the League of Nations and the United Nations. But evidently the answer is not there. Maybe the answer is somewhere else. Long ago I read a story about Shangri-La.

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Ultimate Health with the Amazing Placebo by Vince DaCosta When you got out of bed this morning your heart was pumping. Without any conscious effort, it continues to pump. It may have been pumping for quite a while. Twenty years? Forty years? Fifty or sixty years? Doesn’t matter, because you’ve never made a conscious effort to make it pump. It’s all been done by your subconscious mind. It also makes your lungs breathe, and your digestive system work. What a miracle!r

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Houston we have a problem. Last week was the huge Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) with over 70,000 delegates from all over the world visiting our fair city. As an Aussie expat living in this great country, I had the pleasure of attending a fancy schmancy luncheon honoring Australia and sat next to an oil & gas recruiter from Perth where the economy is thriving to the point of less than 4% unemployment. Andrew Tomich of Hudson said by the year 2020 they will need 250,000 more workers to cope with the rapidly flourishing industries in Western Australia.

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IF you are looking for success . . . if you are hungry and thirsty and yearning for Happiness and Peace of mind, the message that Earl Nightingale brought back from his long journey and search is for you. Earl Nightingale was one of the great educators of the twentieth century. He was born during the Great Depression and saw enormous poverty and suffering. All around him there was hunger, pain and misery. He became obsessed with finding the answer to wealth, success, and peace of mind. Surely there was an answer to the suffering and pain he saw everywhere. He began a great Search!

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On March 22, 1982 I had an epiphany ! An epiphany is a moment in your life which you will never forget as long as you live. It is a watershed moment that changes your life and your behaviour forever.

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Polo. "Tis the sport of kings they say. Jolly good and all that. As a motivational keynote speaker on peak performance it was fascinating to watch a game at the Houston Polo Club to draw some parallels between business and sports. The ponies are trained for years to stop on a dime and turn on a whim. The players are passionate, skilled and dedicated to the game. Both pony and rider are in perfect sync with one common goal: to win. Extraordinary performance takes commitment, discipline and focus. Do you have what it takes?

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As a keynote speaker on peak performance one of the points I emphasize is accountability.

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Having experienced much frustration with unretu ed calls from vendors I wonder how these people stay in business. Whatever happened to common customer service? In this economy how can they afford to ignore customer calls? I came across a blog from speaker colleague Bruce Turkel a branding expert. He writes: Eighty percent of success is showing up. It’s the ability and willingness to get the work done that matters. People don’t buy what you do, they buy who you are.

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She’s gone. The legendary Queen of daytime TV talk shows said her last farewell in a surprisingly quiet fashion. No guests, no celebrities, no cars for audience members, no gadget giveaways. But yet, it was an extraordinary performance by an extraordinary woman. Oprah Winfrey spoke for an hour about lessons she learned from having interviewed over 30,000 people in 25 years. She highlighted the people and stories that touched her the most and was moved to tears several times as she gave heartfelt thanks to her viewers. Here’s the takeaway for you:

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As the world mou s the death of a Hollywood legend, I recall vividly the night I met the man with the striking violet eyes. I was totally and completely mesmerized…

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Mavis was a beautiful young woman, but she was in prison ! I worked with this capable and promising young woman for many years. Unfortunately, unde eath all that beauty lurked a sad secret. She had a “habit of thought” that she was worthless. That she would not and could not be successful. That she would not and could not ever be loved. That she was not worthy of anyone’s admiration and respect.

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What does the word "Mom", "Mother" bring into your head? First thoughts? Mine is a bit American style vision - a woman, mid age, wearing a kitchen apron, with a cooking glove on one hand and holding a glass of lemonade in the other. Brown hair, no glasses, no makeup. This has a lot to do with my mother, but it also differs a lot. You see - my mother is a businesswoman. She helps my dad run a company. This tends to interfere with many household chores which need doing. I wonder - what would my kids see in me when they grow up? What expectations would they have of me and would I meet them?

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Leading can be a heavy burden. It's much like you can expect it. And a lot worse sometimes. It really doesn't matter if you lead a team of geeks trying to construct a submarine model, a football team, or a cleaning team. Your duties remain the same. I have read a lot of leadership articles and none of them shows this from a simple enough perspective. They compare characters like Stalin and Hitler and Trump and Che, but they are so far from us, that we think about "leadership" as something distant and unachievable. Let me tell you my story.

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A request was made that I incorporate some management and leadership tips into the tone of it, so here it is. We each interact with the world in different ways; we create our situations just as much as they create us. This “circle of life” can be summed up with the following six statements: 1. Different persons respond differently to the same situation.

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We could talk passion all day, it is a catch word, and there have been thousands of articles written about it; but it still seems to be something covered in mystery. A life of passion is a life of Achievement.

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Bad events do happen, unpredictable events happen. For mental toughness we need to strive to keep negative events, together with our responses in proportion. We need to gain perspective, as some events are clearly worse than others. We are responsible for how bad we perceive events to be and it is within our control how we react to them. It is the attitudes and beliefs that we take to events (and not the events themselves), which determine whether we will be overwhelmed and become victims, or whether we will be resilient and recover.

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Here is an essential principle of Mental Toughness We all experience frustration when our needs, wants and demands are not met, or when we are faced with obstacles that impede our progress. Frustration is a fact of life; therefore our ability to tolerate frustration is crucial to the successful achievement of our long-term goals.

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The following article looks at "demanding" and "preferring". Understanding the difference between these types of irrational and rational thinking is key to Mental Toughness. Demands are rigid thinking patterns and rules, where we insist that others, the world and ourselves must be a certain way, in order for us to be happy. Albert Ellis, who pioneered Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), called this rigid thinking "demandingness".

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We are all encouraged to have goals – to set objectives and have targets. When we think of goals, usually we only consider the big long-term goals, such as buying a home. However it is often our everyday goals and actions which we need to focus on in order to increase our happiness and make life more enjoyable. Our thoughts, emotions and behaviour can either support or undermine us in our pursuit of goals and objectives. Goal directed thinking and behaviour supports us in our aims, objectives and survival.

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You may often hear the phrase “you are what you eat” and clearly there is some truth in that; we are constantly reminded by the media and government to eat healthily. However, what we think is more important and in particular, that inner critical voice which we hear all day long. Our inner voice either supports us and makes us feel good or undermines our self-esteem and self-worth causing us to feel down. With that in mind I have included in this article a common thinking error called labelling, which can make anyone feel lousy. The simple truth is “You are what you think!”

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Many people head their articles or book chapters with a quote; this lends gravitas, authority and authenticity to whatever follows. On the whole I like a good quote, although seeing the same quotes and anecdotes repeatedly, (Edison and his light bulbs, Colonel Sanders and his chickens) starts to grate after a while. With that in mind, here is a quote that changed my life, from "The Book of Five Rings" by Miyamoto Musashi (translated by Thomas Cleary). Have a read and I'll explain why. "FIVE KINDS OF GUARD"

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Wake up to reality

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The time in between seasons, autumn and spring, can be devious. We often let our guard down because of either slowly warming or slowly cooling weather. In first case we are eager to put some clothes down after a long winter and in the second, we try to prolong the warm days as long as we can. Too bad - these acts often lead to cold and flu, which run rampant during that time. You may as well spend the last and first of the good days in bed with fever. Fortunately for you, there are ways to battle early flu symptoms.

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Do you ever have these out-of-body experiences, when you are doing something that you enjoy very much, and then you just relax and your mind goes to places and thinks about things that are SO far away from the real world, that you wish to stay there forever? Such utopias come to you when you feel either very good or very bad. Reminds me a bit about that speech Morpheus gave Neo about the real world and the dream world. Which pill would you choose?

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Words of Ruminn This being human is a guest house Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness,n some momentary awareness comesn as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them ...

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Many people cook in their ovens and are used to the hard cleaning which comes after. They are so used to it, that they consider it a waste to even try to prevent some of the spills, which occur while cooking. It turns out that there are many ways you can prevent most, if not all of them. Professional oven users would like to share some of the tricks of trade with you, so that you can bear the cooking better.

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So I had an interview today about my next project, which is tentatively called the 12 laws, and I was asked a question that I get asked every time I talk to people and I just realized it. “Why do you think most people never get what they want?” My answer, “because most people never decide on what they want, and if they do decide, they never expect to get it.”

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So continuing in the theme of the last few post I decided to put together another list for change and growth. I call this one: 3 Steps to Refining Your Life by Refining Your Mind. 1. Work on responding instead of reacting.r

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There are about as many different tips to changing yourself as there are people in the world, and every time someone is born they add another tip to the jar. So with that being said, here are some of my tips for how you can change the person you currently are to the person you want to be. 1. You are who you believe yourself to be. Put simply, if you believe you’re an honest person you will be compelled to be honest. This is more than lip service however, you must be honest with yourself when analyzing the way you feel about yourself.

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One of the most important things I think we can do while we are this earth is to help others. We all have the opportunity everyday to be someone’s miracle. I believe that you may not change the entire world, but you can change someone else’s world by being their miracle.

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Life is choices and there is no way around that. From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep your entire day will be filled with choices that you have to make. Even if you decide not to make a choice you are still making a choice. But the question you should ask yourself is: Are these choices creating leverage for me to later go and get what I feel my life is worth; or are these choices creating reasons for why I don’t really even deserve what I already have.

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So how do we develop this philosophy, well, the word of the day here is “why.” Instead of thinking in terms of why you can’t do something, think in terms of why do you want to. Why not go after that job, and why do I want to go after it. Ask yourself questions that yield meaningful answers. The worst response you can ever get to trying to get something is no. But then another step is required in forming this philosophy of no limits. That is simply understanding that life isn’t saying no to you forever, it’s just saying that at this moment, the answer is no.

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As people with the power of choice it is interesting how we use it. In nature no creature is allowed to go less then all out. If a Cheetah goes half speed during a chase it starves to death. If a group of bees go half speed in their manufacturing they starve to death. If a shark goes half speed chasing down its prey it starves to death. Notice a pattern. But we as human beings with choice continuously make the choice to go half speed. Some of us throughout the course of our lives never even attempt to go all out for anything.

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One of my favorite quotes on gratitude is by Zig Ziglar. He states that “Of all the “attitudes” we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.” When I read that quote it just reminds me that we always need to be grateful for everything in our life. I mean everything. Can you imagine being grateful you were fired? Do you think you’d be happy if your significant other broke up with you? Can you picture yourself getting shot and saying, “Thank You!”?

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A story frequently told by guru’s to show people the kind of desire they need to have in order to achieve success is as follows: A boy walks up to an old successful philosopher and says, “I wish to have success like you.” So the old man tells him to meet him at the lake early the next morning and he will impart all of the wisdom that the boy needs to be successful.

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With time, car's headlights accumulate dust, dirt and get dull, leading to a driving hazard, to say the least. With time removing all that dirt becomes harder and harder. Here I will tell you how to clear your headlights once again, to give them back their effectiveness, by following these simple guidelines. You will need a few items to do this: 1.A soft cloth 2.A window cleaner 3.A sandpaper, of 1000, 1,500 an 2000 number 4.A headlight cleaner 5.Blue duct tape

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I would like to give you a simple, yet professional, from all points of view, guide for cleaning your camera lenses. Contrary to the common belief, it is not complex, neither difficult, but if you don't have some pointers, you may wreak some havoc, if you are not used to it.

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Silver has a nasty tendency to get dark, almost black with time. This is a natural process, due to oxidation. As natural as it is, it does not look good. Here I will give you one way to remove the blackened layer without any effort from your side. It's been tested and it works.

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Many people have switched from having a pet, to look after and have fun with, towards having a PC and looking after it, instead. This may sound like something from a science fiction book, or so dumb, that it's not worth saying, but seriously – we compare human health issues with a computer hardware issue, we compare our brain, a living one with a mechanical part of the computer, which is the hard drive.

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What is faith? You hear about it. You read about it. But what is it? One dictionary defines faith as “a confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, an idea, or a thing; a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.” To me, faith is ACTION. One of my favorite passages from the Bible defines faith: For we walk by faith, not by sight. —2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)

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Whenever I think about my past I feel like there’s an old movie reel in my head. When I’m feeling down or when I doubt my ability to face up to a challenge, I can hear it click on. It starts replaying all my failures, the hurtful words other people have said, the stupid things I’ve done, and all the missed opportunities I’ve had. It’s like watching a movie of the worst parts of my life. But I also try to remember the good times: times at the beach, traveling the country, spending fun summers with my grandmother, and hanging out with my friends. I have some amazing memories.

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Your life is not only a lifelong project—it’s a lifelong learning project. Approach it that way and you’ll always be developing better, smarter habits. The problem is most people work harder on their jobs than they do on themselves. What do I mean by that?

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If you have never had the chance to see a New Orleans cemetery, you missed something special. They’re not morbid rows of headstones. They’re beautiful cities of stone; the monuments and mausoleums are works of art. Weeping angels, cathedral-like monuments, granite statues, wrought-iron fences, marble tombs worthy of royalty— they are breathtaking. It feels like walking through an old church. There’s a sense of a sacred peace as you walk by shrine after shrine memorializing life. Your life pauses as you feel a delicate tug on your heart and mind.

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This month I saw my one of my ultimate goals and dreams come to pass: the publication of my first book, Get off Your Attitude! For two years, I have been working on it and I must be honest with you, it wasn’t easy. It was a struggle. There were times that I thought “this is never going to happen.” The long hours, late nights at Starbucks, working weekends and daily efforts might have been time wasted. I asked myself: Are you crazy? Should I be doing something else? Is all of this struggle worth it? Now, I can say, honestly, loud and clear, YES!

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Why is a positive attitude so important? Because it determines everything else in your life!

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I’ve written several blogs about the power of positive, it is a subject I love and the theme of everything I do. A question that I have been getting asked repeatedly especially when the book came out initially was and still is, ”what do you mean by think free be free, you mean if I just think about stuff it will magically appear?” To which I normally smirk and say I don’t believe in magic because I think it is just another word for ignorant.

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If you have never spent time around an older person then that is something that you should probably schedule some time to do. Listen to their stories and their regrets, listen to their loves and their hates, and last but not least listen to their mistakes. I spent some time talking to elderly people and one of the things that they all seemed to stress was to take advantage of your youth. To make the most out of your years because before you know it, those years are behind you and all your left to look at is the end.

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Don’t you hear people say, “I wish there was more time in the day!” We all live a very fast-paced lifestyle. It seems like everything is happening at a hundred miles an hour. We’re being pulled in a hundred directions – all at the same time. We have our family, business, career, church, hobbies, friends, and everything else. Too often, we let our personal health take a low priority. Trying to balance all our daily activities depletes our energy level. Not taking care of bodies only makes the problem worse. No wonder we’re tired all the time!

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Are you a salesperson who’s frustrated each month trying to reach sale quotas? Do you worry that a career in sales might not be a good fit for you? Sales can be frustrating and complicated, or it can be very simple. Now when I say “simple,” I don’t mean that it is not difficult. Selling is difficult. However, once we take out some of the complications you’ll be able to sell more, and hopefully, enjoy doing so.

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Doesn’t it seem like every time you turn on the TV or get on the computer, there is always more negative news that just weighs you down. On top of that, you have your own personal issues to deal with. This “negative storm” can cause someone to feel stuck, lost and full of anxiety. It is the fear of the unknown that builds up in our mind and takes over like a dark cloud. This dark cloud follows us and rains on us, making us negative in our personal and professional lives. As humans, we sometimes focus on the negative and stay under that negative cloud that we created.

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In one of the chapters in Get off Your Attitude, I talk about how to deal with the obstacles and challenges that we all face in life. I also share ideas and principles on how to deal with adversity in a positive manner. In this article I will do the same, suggesting how you can deal with negativity and remain 100 percent in charge of your happiness. Most people deal with adversity and circumstances in a negative manner. It’s the way we are programmed. We want to lash out every time something bad happens to us. But that is not the way to handle life, at least not a happy, joyful life.

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My question to you is, what do you believe about yourself? Do you believe you can do great things and that you have great things ahead in life, or do you believe that everything around you is hopeless? Unbelievably, the way you think and the way you talk to yourself, play a huge role in what happens to you for the rest of your life. Your thoughts are fundamental to greatness or failure, and can lead you to either the highest or the lowest points in your life. The secret is to keep your thoughts positive.

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I heard a very interesting statement not too long ago that really made me think and it has stuck with me for sometime now… this person made a statement saying “you can measure a person’s height, you can measure how high a person can jump, you can even measure how fast they run, but you CAN NOT measure a person’s heart. What that person meant and what I got from that statement is that you never know what’s in a person’s heart and just how hard someone will work for something.

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During the holiday season, it’s important to have “an attitude of gratitude.” This is the perfect time of year to remember how blessed we are, how truly amazing life is, and how wonderful the people around us are. Now - more than ever - is the time to show our appreciation towards the things in our lives that makes us happy. Adopting this habit - showing how thankful and grateful we are - will put us in a state of mind to better enjoy the holidays and life altogether.r

Published · 4,043 views · Rated 4/5 from 2 votes

In today’s world, we are experiencing more uncertain and troubling times than ever before. Every time you turn on the TV or get on the computer, it seems there is always more news that just weighs you down. On top of that, you have your own personal issues to deal with. This “negative storm” can cause someone to feel stuck, lost and full of anxiety. It is the fear of the unknown that builds up in our mind and takes over like a dark cloud. This dark cloud follows us and rains on us, making us negative in our personal and professional lives.

Published · 1,600 views · Rated 3.9/5 from 7 votes

Five Key Principles of Mental Toughness and Resilience

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Mental Toughness and Commitment Recently, I have been interviewing people to work on a nightshift, for company in London. In addition to the candidates’ skills and experience I am keen to find out what thinking, beliefs and attitudes they hold and get some insight into what makes them tick. As you might expect I have my own style in order to get the right people and talent for the positions on offer.

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Mental Toughness and The Meaning of Life Here at Mental Toughness HQ we like to go after the “big fish” and ask the difficult questions. So along with the usual questions about their health and circumstances I will often ask clients “what and where is the meaning in your life?” In short, what I am getting at here is: What’s your purpose in living and being? - What’s the point of you?

Published · 1,682 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

What’s your excuse? Can we really change who we are and how we think and behave? Can a leopard change its spots? I recently had this conversation with someone who wondered whether a therapist is merely painting over the “leopard’s spots” and that unde eath we all stay the same. Well, the fact is that I don’t see many leopards in my consulting room but I do see humans that change all the time. A healthy attitude to change is essential for mental toughness and resilience. Read on and I’ll discuss this issue further.

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When I was a kid my mother’s younger brother Sammy was a guy to look up to. A marine during world war II, a foreman in an auto plant after the war, a decent house in a nice neighborhood, wife, two kids. He was a big happy friendly guy who was fun to be with.

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Are you gaining on success or falling behind? I have heard many times that businesses are either going up or down. Never staying the same. We lose customers every year for one reason or another. They die, retire, move away, their brother in law becomes a competitor, you irritate them somehow. If you don’t have an ongoing program to gain new customers you are shrinking.

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“Dad and mom think rock music is stupid, poke along under the speed limit, and I wouldn’t be caught dead in their clothing and hair styles.” Sound familiar? It’s what I thought in the teenage years while wearing my blue suede shoes with white socks, cuffed jeans and greased hair. In later years it was followed by “Where did these teenage clothing and hair styles come from? The boys are trying to look like girls and the girls like something in a horror movie. Their music is so loud I cover my ears.”

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Computerized everything, rocket ships, cars produced on a copy machine. Hundreds of ways to terrorize and kill us. We have astonishing numbers of people making a whirlwind of discovery and invention on all fronts. We have specialists in fields we didn’t know existed just a few years ago and are considering travel to distant planets. Will we choose door one, survive and prosper or door two, wipe each other out? Here are a few details we should keep in mind.

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I googled “how can I improve my life” and got 216,000,000 results in one third of a second. Millions of different people worldwide are contributing advice. The problem is not finding advice but finding some that I can use. There must be help for people in my circumstances in there somewhere. If I can sift through 10,000 Google results per day I can get to them all in 80 years or so. Piece of cake.

Published · 1,002 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

My vision of happiness is not party style joy and excitement. Although that is fun it is not sustainable. Instead I see being comfortable and relaxed about myself, others, circumstances and progress. Movies, sports, TV programs and other entertainments are also fun briefly but lose something when overdone. An interest in and effort toward improving myself and my day to day life is a steady source of pleasure for the rest of my life. An activity I control that keeps on giving. Five specific things that support lasting happiness are:

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Around 100 AD an old Greek writer named Plutarch said the Spartans only ask where the enemies are, not how many. His description of the Spartan attitude was simple. We have a problem so we are going where it is and face it. We will see what to do and do it when we get there. I can find no better attitude. Whether the problem turns out to be too big to handle, not so bad, or just my imagination the first thing I need to do is get face to face with it. Realistic dimensions are needed before construction.

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Heredity: The passing of physical characteristics like the color of hair or eyes from one generation to the next. Kids in the family also pick up parents habits causing others to feel they and their parents look alike and act alike. Regardless of heredity, habits or what others thought in your childhood you are not your mother or father. Each child is a combination of both plus ancestors on either side. There are enough variables in the conception process to guarantee you are different.

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I've heard that said since I was a little boy. Usually when talking about some awful deed that was committed. Fraud? Theft? Robbery? Murder? It's all been done to get money and will be again. Many people believe the origin of the saying is religious. The Bible (Timothy 6:10) says something like the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil causing some to stray from the faith. That message doesn't say money itself is evil but that some of us value it above more important things. Sounds like things haven't changed much since then.

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Others have tried to mess with it by giving advice but are not to blame. I have listened to teachers and motivational speakers, read inspirational books and thousands of quotes written throughout history. The internet has exposed me to much more. Some of it good, some not. Once in a while over the years I have met, spoken with or traded emails with a top business executive, famous actor or athlete.

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Like most people my age I started smoking as a teenager. At first it was obvious that my body did not want that smoke in my lungs. The coughing, nausea, foul taste and eye irritation were worth putting up with in order to look grown up. Before long my body adjusted and the habit was formed.

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Words that describe nonsense in the dictionary include pointless, meaningless, irritating, disrespectful, obnoxious. Nonsense is words or actions that others don’t understand. Doing or saying things that seem illogical. In my experience, nothing is really illogical. If it seems illogical I don’t know all the facts. We send and receive nonsense from childhood onward. We act and speak in puzzling ways accidentally or on purpose. We may or may not become aware of it. It can affect our lives temporarily but usually not permanently.

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A life insurance agent once said to me “Ken, you are not immortal.” Picture a tall bird with his head in the sand. I was in my 30’s, with military, college and business experience plus a wife and kids. This was not new information. He made his point by starting with a truth that most of us avoid. He kept it friendly but serious. When he got my head out of the sand he sold a policy.

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I was the first child of two people with negative blood types. Doctors didn’t know how to handle that yet and as expected only the first child survived. My younger brother and sister didn’t live long enough to make it home from the hospital. Lesson: I am alive by dumb luck, not superiority.

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Because I know how much better life can be with a few adjustments. I have experienced it. I believe there are people who will greatly enjoy experiencing it too. I am not Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Sam Walton, the Dalai Lama, I am the guy next door and if I can do it, you can do it. You have to experience it to appreciate it and begin to enjoy it. Until then it is just an idea you might try some day if you have time. The truth is you have time today. You are just in the habit of filling it with something else.

Published · 983 views

Life is for the most part a challenge, and as it brings us expected and unexpected ups and downs, we can take some control of our lives through our thoughts. Ultimately we are the constructors of our reality, often without doing so consciously. Moving to a more conscious thought practice can change our life outlook and ultimately provide positive direction in our lives. Neuroscience has shown that pathways can be strengthened and positive messages are powerful in regard to altering the complicated neural connective make up of our brain.

Published · 1,325 views · Rated 3.7/5 from 3 votes

Hello, let me welcome you to the world of attitudes. It is a world of mirrors, where the way you define yourself positively reflects on you. It mirrors itself in your thoughts and actions. It forms your posture and affects your world view. Your attitude is the fragrance you leave behind everywhere you go. People take a whiff of it and determine the kind of person you are. You may not have given your attitude a serious thought, but it is your authentic brand. People stop to smell your attitudinal fragrance whenever you announce your presence.

Published · 1,315 views · Rated 2/5 from 1 votes

My fist thumped into the soft mattress of my bed as I realized that, once again, I was wide-awake. What was the time? I didn’t know exactly, but because I had been waking at roughly 2am each morning for the last six weeks, I could guess it was around this hour. Frustrated, I tossed and turned and tried to force myself back to sleep. As usual, this approach didn’t work and I grew increasingly angry with my inability to sleep.

Published · 1,567 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

Would you consider yourself to be an unreasonable person? What would your friends, family and colleagues say? Surely you’d want them to answer with a resounding ‘no’? Surely you’d want them to confirm that of all the qualities you possess, being reasonable is one of them. Because reasonable is good. Reasonable is likeable and easy to get along with. You’re never going to get any trouble from reasonable. However, reasonable just accepts and herein lies the problem. What will you accept?

Published · 1,509 views

Perfectionism, in psychology, is a belief that perfection can and should be attained. In its pathological form, perfectionism is a belief that work or output that is anything less than perfect is unacceptable. Hamachek (cited by Parker & Adkins 1994) describes two types of ...

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1. Solutions, Solutions, Solutions. Okay, I heard the problem nnow what’s the solution? There’s always a way and an answer. Your job is to find it. 2. Daily Improvement (DI) - Decide – Resolve – Act. Everyday do njust 1 more thing to improve. What if you improved 1 thing every day? 3. Take ...

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I have read well over 500 books in the last fifteen years in the field of motivation, business and personal development but this is one very special book. The author Bill Strickland is truly a unique and amazing individual with a story you just have to read. This book may change your life if you ...

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Hollywood Ending - Family Lost and Found The story I’m about to share is a true one but it feels more like a movie script. The story starts with my parents leaving Ireland in their 20’s and jou eying to America circa 1928-29. It’s a story of the American Dream but it’s also a story of the ...

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If you are a true entrepreneur your business is your passion. Most of us marketing our business have learned about the importance of logo and branding. Beyond the solid principles related to branding, in regard to marketing, are the motivational aspects tied to your brand. I am not just talking about your customers. What about you? Did you have a vision for your logo or your website and when you saw the design as it as it progressed did that not build your momentum? If not, why not?

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Using a journal as a meaningful tool to self discovery and growth is invaluable. Instead of the ‘dear diary’ once used to vent negativity, this outlet can be used to better understand yourself and to foster emotional growth. Once you make a commitment to examine your values and motivations through writing, you will define the characteristics that guide the choices you make in your life. Your journal is a place to align focus on what you want, rather than what you do not want. Through writing you can better organize your thoughts, define goals and create action plans.

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“If you fail to be a lizard in your own land, you will fail to be a crocodile in another land.” – Akan proverb In today’s world, the essence of the individual is at the centre of conversations and the forefront of design and production. All around you, everything is about you. The whole universe is being mobilised, structured and empowered to respond to you and your ideals. The great change of our day is positively skewed in your favour. And why not, you are the most important person in your world.

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“The one who asks the way does not get lost.” – African proverb

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“The lion's power lies in our fear of him.” – Nigerian proverb

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Be honest... Have you been sucked into the rabbit hole of “marketing automation” confusion and the promise of “passive income” when you’ve all the ducks lined up in some distant future, yet got derailed from focusing on what truly matter to you and your business right here right now? Have you got fed the kool-aid of “making money while you sleep” before you've the clarity to guide the decision, design a brand-aligned user journey and set the foundation to allow for meaningful and successful automation?r

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I am a huge fan of claiming our superpowers and marketing our uniqueness as individuals, so we can fully express our value and passion in our business, while standing out from competition. However, there is ONE thing about us not being totally “unique” can work in favor of our marketing. And that is, we are human beings marketing to other human beings who share the same underlying psychological triggers and drivers. (Even if you service pets, it’s a human that is paying you.)

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The coaches, consultants and service professionals I work with are a special breed. They are multi-passionate, multi-talented, and have a creative streak in them that makes stuffing themselves into the “usual” marketing box not only frustrating but also the cause of patchy results. They face a unique set of challenges, which leads to 3 common mistakes they tend to make in marketing their businesses – whether they are just starting out, or have been in business for a while but just can’t seem to hit the bull’s eye. Mistake #1 – Lack Cohesive Message

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If you’re like many of my super intuitive clients who deliver results that are more experiential than “intellectual” (you know who you are!)… It may be hard to put your process into words (and you probably resist writing sales copy) because “on paper” it doesn’t differ much from your competition. You just KNOW when they actually do the work with YOU, they get results like gangbuster. Period.r

Published · 1,868 views

The common perception of “niche” lacks the fluidity and adaptability essential for long-term fulfillment through business. With the premise of niche being an anchor to our community through our business, let’s reframe our perception of “niching” from some disconnected marketing exercise to a continuation of how you express YOU through business and marketing: Reframe #1 Niche is NOT something you pick from a “niche menu” just because someone says it’s viable or lucrative. Niche is NOT determined by exte al factors alone.r

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Having a signature program doesn't mean you'll build a successful coaching business. But not having one means you don't have something to sell and when you don't have something to sell, you don't have a business. If you're ready to have a coaching business that is fulfilling and satisfying, you'd probably want to have a signature program that’s a reflection of who you are, encompassing your value, conviction and superpowers. You want a program you can call your own, and can be proud of.r

Published · 1,280 views

Blogging for business growth is not just a writing exercise in which you cough up 500 words and call it a day. When you have clear understanding of what matters to you, your niche and your business, you can use this 3-step process to generate article ideas, so you won’t be staring at a blinking cursor on a blank screen again: 1. Write down the various aspects of _____ (business, relationship, career etc.) that your ideal clients care about.

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If you are using your blog to support sales and marketing, you can't afford to throw spaghetti on the wall and hope that something will stick. Here are 4 things to cover (not necessarily in one single post :)) for sales- and conversion-focused content: 1. Cultivate Personal and Emotional Connectionr Unless you are Walmart of your industry, you want to be competing on more that price & features.r

Published · 1,281 views

If your business offerings fall in areas that are considered “vague”, “out-there” or “woo-woo”, you probably find yourself banging your head against the wall every time you go through some marketing training and were told to “list out the benefits” that are concrete, solve an urgent problem, or just plain “sellable.” Or maybe you have gotten dinged too many times during those 5-minutes-of-fame coaching calls and sent back to the drawing board to twist yourself into the “come up with something the sells” box. What if... you can get your clients to buy whatever YOU want to offer?r

Published · 1,218 views

Your website’s About Page can be very powerful in building trust, credibility and connection with your audience. Unfortunately, many people aren’t giving it the attention it deserves. As a result, most About Pages are sitting around collecting dust, instead of taking a website visitor closer to becoming a client. I get it, writing the About Page is often tricky… It’s about you, and it’s NOT about you. You’ve to communicate your experience, skills and credentials, without making it dry and boring like a crusty ol’ resume (reminder: boring doesn’t sell.)r

Published · 1,082 views

A “thought leadership” status is great for business and marketing. It positions you as an authority, and gives you an edge when it comes to scoring publicity opportunities, or charging a premium for your services. Good news is, being a “thought leader” is not just the playing field for the “bigwigs.” The world is a big place. There is enough for us to carve out a little piece of our pie, and claim our expert status without being the Coca-Cola, Wal-mart or Nike in our industry. Let’s start with a bike ride…rnr

Published · 1,257 views

Your website can be the most comprehensive “inventory” of what your business is about. It can be catalyst to crafting how you present your vision, values, convictions and superpowers to the world. If you go through the process of designing your website with discipline and disce ment, you’d be surprised by how much clarity you can gain about the driving force behind your business and how you can effectively communicate it to the right people. Here’s the first thing to know:r

Published · 1,370 views

Despite the numerous "sales page templates" want us to believe, there's no one-size-fits-all way to write a sales page. To get people to buy from you, your sales page needs to build trust. You want your readers to feel connected to you and resonate with your message. To do so, it's essential that your unique message and personality come through, and that you tailor the content to your "relationship" with the target audience. 1. Start with a POV

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rnWhat comes to mind when you hear “SEO?” Most would answer KEYWORDS! SEO and keyword is often nerve inducing for us content creators who don’t have “SEO” or “keyword” in their job titles. Good news! Keyword is only one piece of the SEO puzzle. You don’t need to be a whiz in the ever-changing Google algorithm or re-researching a mile-long long-tail keyword spreadsheet every month to win the organic traffic game.r

Published · 1,328 views

As coaches and mentors, how much are we "diagnosing" our clients' problems through the lens of the tools/skills we possess? And by doing so, while we are offering a solution, are we in a way limiting our clients’ possibilities? When I was working on my Sacred Money Archetype Coach Training, I interpreted many things that came up for my clients through the lens of money mindset. When I was getting my Fear Releasing Method certification, seemingly every problem's root cause was fear.

Published · 1,064 views

Are you a multi-talented, multi-passionate person who finds it hard to “commit” to doing “just one thing”? Sometimes I feel like a loser when I couldn’t just “stick with it” when something ceases to give me a deep sense of excitement and purpose. Some may call it ADD. Do you identify with being a “wanderlust” in life – not only having a desire to travel physically but also (and more importantly) to embark on a personal journey that involves experiencing all parts of SELF and all aspects of LIFE?

Published · 1,157 views

A lot of times we are caught in codependent relationship we are not even aware of, and if it is a business or client relationship, it may be costing you dearly. A lot of us grew up conditioned to be “responsible” – so we try to be, often out of wanting to be approved or accepted, or not be made to feel guilty or shamed. Being “responsible” out of “being good” or “being approved/loved/accepted” may send you down the trap of “codependency” that will cause you not just your sanity but also potentially your business.

Published · 2,092 views

In this age of information overload and instant gratification, it’s not uncommon that we feel overwhelmed. We wake up to 52 emails in our inbox, each demanding our attention or action. What to do? First step is kind of counterintuitive. Instead of trying hard to multi-task and check everything off the list – which actually scatters your attention and make your less effective – put a stop to everything and get clear on what’s important for you.

Published · 1,280 views

No matter how awesome your stuff is, it does you no good if you can’t communicate to the relevant people about it. When you get down to the purpose of communication, it’s to GET YOUR POINT THROUGH. Which means, if you get too convoluted in your communication you’re going to lose your audience's attention. When your audience gets lost, you don’t get your point through and they don’t understand you have good stuff for them. You don't get to sell your stuff, and that's not good for business. I see a lot of “verbal diarrhea” in most marketing communications – online and offline.r

Published · 1,262 views

Have you ever felt like you want to throw your hands up in the air and walk away? … or, stared at a long-ass to-do list but have NO idea what to DO? … or, just wanted to shut it all down and take a perma-vacation… from everything? Last week, I froze. My worst business nightmare came true. I created an offer, put the word out, but felt disconnected from it and couldn’t get myself to promote it anymore. I cooked up a list-building project, got the word out to a few partners and then lost steam. I tried to write a blog post, gibberish came out.r

Published · 1,228 views

My client N. came to me feeling “at the end of the rope” with her biz. After just ONE session, she had her second best day in sales and opportunities popping up left, right and center. What could have changed in just one session? We haven’t even gotten to the “strategies and tactics” piece yet. It’s how she SHOWS UP when executing her strategies and tactics that made all the difference in the world. It’s not only what comes out of her mouth, but HOW it comes out. It’s the energy, conviction and enthusiasm behind her communications that drew customers and partners to her.r

Published · 1,374 views

The typical elevator pitch goes like so: I help the blah blah blah do the blah blah blah… YAWN! Does that sound like yours? Are you excited about sharing your elevator speech, or do you drag your feet in those networking events hoping you’d never have to whip it out? After spending 6 weeks agonizing over an elevator pitch, how many times have you actually used it? Is whatever script you landed on so freakin’ boring and formulaic that you’d rather dress like captain underpants than recite your elevator pitch that makes you sound like everybody else?r

Published · 1,618 views

A coaching client was nearing the end of her intensive program. We were at the stage to design a marketing plan for the next 6 months so she can cut the busywork and do what truly matters. She is an experienced coach using a particular method. However, she has been “selling” the method in a very generalized manner without much focus. As a result, she had only been doing some workshops here and there for anyone and everyone who walked into the door, and never been able to funnel many of the participants into private clients and charge a premium for her services.

Published · 1,183 views

How you BE in your business can make a big difference to how fulfilled you are in your business, and how many clients you get. I urge you to ask these questions – because they get you to consider human behavior andalignment – stuff you have to work with because trying to change them is an uphill battle you can’t win: What/Who do your ideal clients want their [coach/mentor consultant/etc.] to BE? What personality trait, value or approach inspire and motivate them so they take action and get results?

Published · 1,234 views

Many people are reluctant to go into selling their products, programs or services because of fears. If we can look under the hood of what’s under those fears, the awareness will help us get pass them so we can do what we need to do. What kind of selling works? Genuine selling. The kind that you don’t hide behind scripts and templates. The kind that you put yourself forward and connect with your potential clients. But our fears are making us hide… instead of making the connection so critical to getting “yes” from potential clients.

Published · 1,610 views

It’s not news that many have been complaining about how the new Facebook algorithm is screwing them up… bringing their reach down to single digit. Here is the thing – you can complain, or you can research, experiment and figure out what you can do about it. Don’t fall into the victim mentality trap because everyone is writing and bitching about it. If you can’t weather a Facebook algorithm update, you are probably building your business & marketing on quicksand and need to reconsider your strategy.

Published · 1,327 views

When I first started blogging, I did a lot of research and invested in quite a few trainings. Most touched upon how to come up with topics to write about. Many covered how to re-appropriate content so it looks like you are “everywhere.” A few shared deeper tactics on promotion and syndication. Another handful delved into using content to launch/promote products and programs. But soo I realized all those strategies and tactics were only half the story…r

Published · 1,172 views

Short answer is, Yes, and No. No – because “niche” is somewhat an intellectual construct that helps us wrap our head around the marketing thing, and it is very useful. It gives us a starting point, a home base and a framework to do our research, communicate* our message and create our offerings. (* communicate, not create – that’s why it should not be the driving force in my opinion. More on that soon.)

Published · 1,212 views

Sometimes technology can do more harm than good…rn… because many people are putting the cart in front of the horse: • They worry about what bells and whistles to put on a yet-to-be-built website before they define their message and niche • They pull their hair out about the nuts and bolts of autoresponder before they start their lead generation effort and having a list to mail to • They drive themselves up the wall about shopping cart set up before they decide what products to creater

Published · 1,234 views

A few days after we moved into the new house, when the chores that kept us on our toes eased up, I had a moment to freak out. I didn’t know what to do with myself in this new place… I didn’t have a routine, and barely knew what is where. Work grinded to a halt – I could hardly focus. For a recovering Type-A overachiever, not getting stuff done can be nightmarish. FEARS and DOUBTS set in, and I started “white-knuckling” through my business and marketing activities. Forcing myself to sit at the computer and keep typing was doing more harm than good.

Published · 1,162 views

Have you been jamming content into your program just because you’re afraid that just you being YOU is not “good enough”? Have you been structuring your delivery format even though it doesn’t put you in the flow, just because others are doing it that way? Have you been talking about your offering in a way that feels icky just because you were told you’ve to “sell” that way? In a sea of “should’s” and “how-to’s”… have you lost sight of the most critical ingredient in a fulfilling and profitable signature program? YOU.r

Published · 1,463 views

Productivity hacks? Nope. Time management apps? Nope. Hiring and delegation? Nope. The core of being efficient and effective in your business starts with YOU. Your strength, your superpowers. Being efficient and effective is not about having a cookie-cutter blueprint or a me-too tactic. You need the right strategies and customized plan to give you the biggest bang for you time- and energy-bucks. The best way to make your business run efficiently is to tap into your strength, and design structures and systems to maximize the income-producing potential of your strong suits.rnr

Published · 1,314 views

Last week I sent out a newsletter of a very personal and vulnerable nature. I wrote it not because some email marketing best practice says so. I wrote it because I HAD to. Life is too short to have a message bottled up inside. In fact, I might have broken every single “rule”… No “5 simple ways” or “7 easy steps.” Screw SEO. Not particularly actionable. Definitely quite a bit about “me” and not a whole lot about “you.” Not exactly uplifting and definitely not kumbaya easy reading. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the metrics a few days later: 3 people unsubscribed. THREE.r

Published · 1,109 views

Writing is a final expression of our WHY, of what we stand for, of what we want to be known for. So we can turn the Truth inside of us into communication others can relate and resonate. Content that converts is supported by the energy and inevitability of authentically voicing our beliefs and convictions. To achieve that, we have to be brutally honest and transparent, with ourselves and with our readers. To create content that connects, we need to own our vulnerability.r

Published · 1,339 views

As part of our relocation from Santa Monica to SF Bay Area, we took the boys on a road trip up the Pacific Coast. During our stay at Carmel-by-the-Sea, I sent the boys to the Monterey Aquarium and went on an 8-mile walking meditation/exploration along the shoreline… Are You “White-Knuckling” about the Wrong Things? Even though it’s peak tourist season, I managed to get off the beaten path and found a stretch of desolate beach with no one in sight (but a 4-bar LTE reception!!)

Published · 1,164 views

Long story short - my kid gave me the Frozen Treatment. Here is the long story: This personal experience has a few poignant lessons that I hope, will open up space for you.

Published · 1,213 views

Have you ever felt like everything is spinning out of control and you are so overwhelmed that you have NO idea what to do? Here are a few tips on how to put yourself back onto the driver’s seat. The first thing is to assume personal responsibility that we can take back control. When we feel like everything is out of control, we are relinquishing our personal power to exte al circumstances and taking on a victim mentality.

Published · 1,318 views

Your content (be it video, audio, blog post, sales page or the next new thing) is the key to building an equity of trust and relationship with your community of clients and customers that will lead to conversion and loyalty. You’ve probably heard a whole lot about “storytelling” and “vulnerability” these days. Yep, these are great ways to build trust and relationship with your audience. Sadly, IMHO, it’s been abused. When there’s some training that gives people “templates” to “do vulnerability” – you know someone has jumped the shark.r

Published · 1,460 views

Even though I have a thing about bashing the assembly-line style some people were led to implement what they learn from business trainings, I do acknowledge the value of programs, blueprints and systems. But I have also experienced – first hand and through my clients’ jou eys – how cookie-cutter strategies and tactics can stifle our creativity and derail us from fully expressing our individuality, value and purpose through our businesses.

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If you are a coach, consultant or service provider, you probably have heard time and again to “charge what you are worth.” We have also been told to raise our fees and sell premium packages so we can earn more and work less. All sound good on paper, until the rubber meets the road and you actually have to sell that premium package to a client. I have seen so many people who have gone through some trainings to design a “premium package”, only to find it collecting dust on their website.

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Indecisions are open loops, which means they are energy-suckers. They distract us from other things that may be more important. We can all be more effective if we make better decisions, faster. Some get caught in indecision when they feel they don’t have enough information. Or they overload themselves with data and facts that got them stuck in overthinking, or analysis-paralysis.

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There's ONE word to keep in mind, if you want to design a signature offer or program that your potential clients can't wait to purchase from you. If your offer is not ______________ to the people you are marketing to, they won’t care no matter how awesome your service is. If your offer is not ______________ to YOU, your selling and marketing is going to suck. How excited would you be about your business if you’re just punching the clock? Can you guess what that ONE word is? I’ll tell you in a bit… Let’s look at your market… Your offer has to be relevant to them.r

Published · 1,377 views

There Is Nothing Wrong With You, Except…YOU ARE BORED! Yeah, I know, if you are anything like me, you are screaming, “That’s not me!” You have this list to build, that website to upgrade and those programs to launch. Oh, and the kids to chase. You don’t even have a moment to pop a zit, let alone sitting around toiling your thumbs wondering what to do or hmmm, feeling bored. But what if, all the things that are keeping you busy are the source of your boredom?

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Have you been performing certain tasks for clients (often just “throwing it in”) and delivering phenomenal results, yet haven’t made it “official” that you’re offering it as a standalone service so you can be compensated for it fairly and squarely? You probably have a dozen reasons why you aren’t doing it (yet.) At least half of which seem VERY convincing. I’m going to go out on a limb and bet there’s a 95% chance that those “reasons” are just excuses so you don’t have to OWN IT. Because when you do, you really have to STEP UP and do it like you mean it.r

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Here’s the ONE word to follow for effective email marketing: rnRESPECT 1. Respect Your Subscribers’ Inboxr They signed up to get your freebie doesn’t mean you’ve earned your place in their inbox. Besides making good on your promise and sending the freebie, set an expectation on what they’ll get from you going forward – and deliver on it. What kind of content can they expect? How often? How’s your content valuable and relevant to them? Why would they want your content?r

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When one assumes an identity, one takes actions to realize or match that identity. As human beings, we are wired to avoid cognitive dissonance. When we take on an identity, we make sure our actions and results match that. You can use this psychology to create marketing communications that connect, resonate & convert. Without being a tad manipulative. You don’t have to do anything weird or sleazy… I won’t make you do some dubious NLP tricks. I’m talking about HONEST MARKETING.r

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You have invested thousands of dollars in programs and trainings. You are working your butt off on your business day in and day out. You follow the instructions to a T. You do everything by the book. Sometimes you make a few sales, get a few clients… sometimes you don’t. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. You can’t figure out why, and it is frustrating the hell out of you because society has trained us to operate on the binary system of “do something –> see outcome.”

Published · 1,267 views · Rated 3.7/5 from 3 votes

Remember that inner geek you tried so hard to leave at home when you were in high school? Or that angry misfit in you that was dying to come out but got stuffed back into the box every time you tried to blend in? They may not be good for high school survival, but turns out there may be a thing or two we can learn from them to stand out and get more clients: 1. Channel Your Geek for Client Care & Acquisitionr The cool ones pretend they don’t care. They pretend they’ve so many friends that they don’t give a crap about anyone.r

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As an introvert with a flashier personality in words than in person, I found writing to be much more in line with my strength and personality than going to networking whatever 8 days a week, or “scoping” 3x a day. Since most of us don’t have a big content marketing budget, we have to maximize our efforts and here’s why: Most sites require original content that has not been published, which means for the time spent on creating content, we need to make sure we get the biggest bang for the buck. We need to be strategic when selecting what sites to write for.

Published · 1,269 views

Being apologetic and making ourselves wrong doesn't help us step up to live our awesomeness. Drawing conclusions about our wrongness closes the door to unseen opportunities. Unfortunately, we’ve been conditioned into being apologetic… I hear it so often when people tell me what’s happening in their businesses: An owner of a wellness center with a loyal local clientele sounded apologetic about how she’s not doing the “Facebook thing” like those Internet marketers. I asked her, what if she doesn’t have to do everything those Facebook gurus are telling you to do?r

Published · 1,129 views

I have bones with the gurus talking about “success habits” and such. It’s a personal thing, and here is why. I am never a morning person, and I have two kids 2.5 and 5.5. Whenever the gurus say – for the first 90 minutes in the morning, keep everyone out so you can meditate, exercise, make green juice, journal till you turn blue and set intention for your day – I laugh. Reality is, my kids wake up at some ungodly hour like 5.30am and no, I don’t have it in me to drag my ass up at 4am to meditate. If they find me anywhere other than my pillow, I would not have a moment of peace.

Published · 1,218 views

Many trainings on email marketing, copywriting or persuasion promise to teach you how to write emails, copy or marketing materials that “pop, sizzle and whistle.” Sounds good on paper – who doesn’t want some attention? But wait… Those trainings try to convince you that your copy needs to perform some stunt in order to stand out; that your copy needs to scream for attention in order to be effective. Who says so? Who’s preconception is that? Attention can be good, or it can be bad.

Published · 1,371 views

You've probably heard the marketing analogy of "Pain Island, Pleasure Island and the Boat" - or some versions of it, if you've been around the programs & trainings block a few times. I've had quite a few conversations with folks about this, and they got really confused about how to tell potential clients what they do without "talking about the boat." They felt they had to bottle up about what they love doing most, and instead of sharing their passion, they're forced to regurgitate canned "benefits and results" marketing copy. What you (and those biz coaches) haven’t heard is…r

Published · 1,332 views

I had started to lose weight in January of 2013. Going to the gym, watching what I eat, but not counting my calories. I went to Japan and when I came back I was in full swing once again. Hitting the gym 5 days a week. Exactly one year ago tomorrow, I joined MyFitnessPal. I was counting my calories and measuring my food. Making sure that every ounce was counted and logged.

Published · 974 views

So, you’re thinkin’ about taking the plunge, eh? Thinkin’ about buyin’ a FitBit, eh? Well, you should probably stop right here, partner! Let me give you the lowdown! I get a lot of people asking me about the FitBit and if I actually enjoy it. So, I figured, why not write a little bloggy about it! No harm, no foul! The Pros: 1. It is a great motivation: No, seriously. It’s a great motivator to keep moving. I find myself walking in circles while I’m brushing my teeth in order to get to reach my 10k goal.

Published · 933 views

At a recent event, someone I hadn’t met before came up to me and asked me for advice on how to network. I was flattered that the person asked me and puzzled at the same time. I asked him why he wanted my advice. He told me that he was observing me and noticed how easy it seemed for me to meet people and start a conversation with them. He also mentioned that I looked calm, relaxed and sincerely interested in the person I was speaking with. That last comment caught my attention and is something I hear a lot.<!--more-->

Published · 1,595 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

I had the pleasure of spending last weekend with my 14-year old niece, Morgan, who competed in the National American Miss Pageant. You can imagine my excitement as her name was called and won the title of National American Miss, Miss Massachusetts Jr. Teen 2013!

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There are those days when you wake up, you open your eyes and you feel like you don't have a clue of what you are doing. Anyone knows what I'm talking about? You lie in bed, staring at nothing, not knowing why on earth you woke up in the first place. It's called being human. No matter how successful you are, how great you are at mindset, anyone who says they have never had a day like that is simply lying!

Published · 1,718 views

Now that I’m in my 50’s, I realize more and more that aging is an unconscious process and creeps up on you when you least expect it. Even though I feel healthy and take care of myself physically, there is always something showing up to remind me of my age. As I began my 50’s, my eyesight began to fade, and required I purchase my first pair of bifocals. Then my short-term memory loss tagged right along with my fading eyesight, reminding me of the unavoidable evolution of getting older.

Published · 1,352 views

A woman that I met at a networking group called me one day for my opinion on something. Usually, I am more than happy to share my thoughts when asked. But this person kept me on the phone over an hour-and-a-half. I soon realized the conversation was one-sided, and I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Sound familiar?

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When we look at people around us: people at work or at home, and sometimes at places where we go shop, we are looking at an amalgamation of attitudes and outlooks. Often we encounter good moods, pleasant demeanor and bright smiles. Sometimes, it’s the opposite: exasperation, annoyance and irritation. Ever wonder what makes our moods? What is it that causes us to act in a particular way or react? Let’s ponder it over together.

Published · 1,721 views · Rated 5/5 from 2 votes

As a parent, we always want to teach and guide our children to do the right thing. We use our own life experiences, the challenges we’ve faced, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way to influence our son or daughter’s growth. This guidance helps form our child’s values, and will help build a life of integrity, happiness and success.

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If you knew how much time you have left to live, would you choose to live your life differently? I started to think about this question when my son came home one day and told me about his friend’s mom who just passed away at 48 years old. She suffered a brain tumor that was discovered just a few months earlier. This made me think about another question: Why do most of us put off our happiness or those things we truly desire, for the future? When you’re on your death bed, will you look back and wish you spent more time working harder? You’ll probably be thinking…

Published · 1,313 views · Rated 2/5 from 1 votes

My brother Bobby recently celebrated his 55th birthday. And while I wasn't able to be with him, I know he was in the company of friends who love and accept him unconditionally.

Published · 2,723 views

Call it Spiritual Aerobics, call it Soul Toning, call it a Consciousness Workout or Waking to Oneness; this simple 2-minute exercise will clear away the cobwebs and leave you feeling good. You don’t need candles or incense. You don’t need chanting monks or gongs or bells. You can do it at your desk at work, on your way to work, or sitting on the edge of your bed when you wake up in the morning. You can do it with your eyes closed or (useful if you’re reading or driving) open. But, before you start, let’s take a quick look at the meaning of FeelGood.

Published · 1,300 views

Whether we love a good argument or we don’t like arguing at all, this type of low-level conflict is a very important part of our day-to-day learning. When next you find yourself in an argument, take a step back and take a look at what’s in play for you. 1. There may be an emotional trigger that causes us to jump to our own defence. If so, take a look at the trigger. You’ll often find it has nothing to do with the subject but rather the presentation. ‘You always take my cup’ may have less to do with taking a cup than the sting of ‘you always’!

Published · 1,948 views

As the population of our planet nears 7 billion, we need to take stock of how we got here, and assess the options for reversing a rather alarming trend. Beyond the obvious – that more people are coming into the world than are leaving it – it seems we are proliferating out of control for two rather more fundamental reasons.

Published · 1,050 views

How do you handle criticism? Does it stab you in the heart and make you crazy or do you just let it roll off your back without giving it a second thought? The most valuable approach might be to do a bit of both; to learn as much from it as we can and then, like water off a duck’s back, to let it go. Firstly, we must understand that criticism is usually as much about the other person as it is about us, and that criticism is a valuable way of pinpointing the lessons we need to learn about ourselves and others.

Published · 1,318 views

‘Follow your bliss. Or you may get to the top of the ladder, only to find that it’s against the wrong wall.’ – Joseph Campbell There is at least one thing that you have spent your whole life getting ready to do. Sometimes it’s something no one else could do. But usually it’s something millions of people do every day, but you love doing it anyway. Sometimes you know what it is but you don’t know how to make it happen, you don’t know how to turn a passion into a job, or you’d just feel guilty doing something that makes you feel that good and calling it a ‘job’.

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The topic may not be new, but it still does not lose its relevance especially in the midst of global recession. You may have searched some topics related to this, and you might have read the findings from studies or surveys about how to make money at zero costs. Yet, the question is: do they work? It would be better then to get to the root of the subject matter. You might as well think about specific proposals and ideas of how to start a business without spending even a penny.

Published · 1,236 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

The Oneness Temple of Amma-Bhagwan in India rises majestically above the dusty plains and poverty that surround it. Twenty times the size of the Taj Mahal, this controversial three-floor marble icon of oneness makes quite a statement in itself. And while the mantra of ‘all is one and one is all’ sounds like something from The Three Musketeers, where’s the heart behind all the oneness hype?

Published · 1,073 views

Those times in biz life when you want to scream and give up.. Just had one of those!! You know what I mean…Heart racing, eyes popping out… ohhh what is like to be an Entrepreneur! So let me tell you about this moment…

Published · 1,530 views · Rated 3/5 from 4 votes

I believe passionately that we are all born with our own natural gifts and talents, and that these gifts and talents not only shape who we are, but help us create a much happier human experience. The lens in which we see the world is viewed differently when we follow our bliss. When our heart is open, people, places and things begin to show up in miraculous ways to support our calling. For many, as life unfolds, we lose touch of who we are, and learn to adhere to what society dictates is best for us. The question to ask is, “What is the price to pay for not pursuing our happiness?”

Published · 2,405 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

Self Responsibility “It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.” Sir Josiah Stamp Self-responsibility, — a concept by which individuals assume responsibility for their own choosing.

Published · 1,991 views

Self Discipline Self-discipline - the act of disciplining or power to discipline one's own feelings, desires, impulses, etc., esp with the intention of improving oneself self-disciplined. Self-discipline begins with selective training and development of one’s self by creating new habits, thoughts, actions, and speech toward improving yourself and reaching goals. I have heard it said, “The price of discipline is always less than the pain of regret.” How you choose to improve yourself is up to you, but you will need discipline to do it.r

Published · 1,246 views

Self-Control Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. Self-control —-the ability to exercise restraint or control over one's feelings, emotions, reactions and your impulses.r

Published · 1,058 views

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Self-respect a proper sense of one's own dignity and integrity

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Considering the recent unfortunate trends that had happened in India and Manipur in particular, it is a must for every citizen who wants to get the fruit of network marketing to know the trends and development of Network Marketing in India as well as other countries of the world. Many MLM Network companies have looted crores of rupees from the innocent publics of Manipur. Visarev, Forex Achievements, Speakout Asia, Global Finance, Jagran, etc are the top looters who defamed the nice principle of Network Marketing companies.

Published · 5,840 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

This is probably a topic that has been beaten down so much that I’m almost embarrassed to write about it. But I can’t help it. You can tell a lot about a person from the way they shake hands with you. Whether they intend to let you know or not. How can that be? How do you know if the person doesn't have a weak hand or some other medical condition preventing them from doing any other type of handshake other than as though you are shaking hands with a piece of tissue paper?

Published · 9,359 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

Am - bi - tion (noun) :a) An eager or strong DESIRE to achieve something such as fame or power: Aspiration, ambitiousness. b) The object, objective or GOAL desired: Her ambition is the presidency. c) The wish, power, and ability to begin and follow through with a PLAN or task: Drive, enterprise, initiative.

Published · 1,376 views

MonaVie is a 5 STAR Business Opportunity. It is the fastest growing company with billions of sales in the 1st 2 years. It is a record breaking experience in the 100 years MLN history of direct sales industry. MonaVie Fruit Juice is unique and has a Universal Appeal. It is a scientifically tested and proven product after a prolong intensive research by the world acclaimed USA scientist.

Published · 2,671 views · Rated 1/5 from 1 votes

Published · 1,815 views · Rated 3.5/5 from 4 votes

Empathy enables a person to establish a connection with others and is necessary for mutual interaction and full comprehension of the experience. It is probably one of the most important aspects of being a leader in every situation. Without it, a person is virtually guaranteed to become out of touch with the environment, he or she is in. Without empathy, a leader cannot lead. Without empathy, a person cannot be in any type of mutually beneficial relationship. Without empathy, a person is basically asking to be completely alone in life.

Published · 3,289 views · Rated 1.7/5 from 6 votes

This article is not about kidnapping or car-jacking or burglars. It is about emotional and intellectual safety or personal boundaries - invisible lines you set around yourself that people are not allowed to cross. They define us as individuals and are important for healthy relationships. Many people are not consciously aware of their boundaries and sometimes need coaching to help them identify boundary issues. When boundaries are strong, events, situations, your environment, time, and other people’s desires lose their impact and their power over you.

Published · 625 views

Exercise. Some of us dread it, others can't wait to get to it. It's true that exercise can become additive and almost an obsession at times to some people (I myself have been bitten by the exercise workout bug).

Published · 1,707 views · Rated 2.2/5 from 5 votes

During a recent trip to San Diego, I was reminded of the importance of deliberately chasing your dream life. On an early morning stroll on the beach, I walked past a surfer and said, “Gosh, it’s early to be out here.” He replied, “I have to get it in early because I have to be at work by 8.” I asked what he meant, and he replied, “I’m a CPA. I’ve built my whole life around being able to do the things I love, and one of the things I love most is surfing. On weekdays, I wake up at 5, I’m on the water by 6, and then I head home, shower, and leave for work.”

Published · 2,043 views

Hey there y'all. Have you ever wondered why so many people never follow their dreams? Have you ever looked around you when you are on the bus, waiting in line at the bank or grocery store or even just around in the street? When you were a kid... You had dreams... you wanted to be a Fire fighter... an actor... a pilot... a billionaire… Spiderman!!! There were no limits to what you wanted to become. Who remembers that jar of cookies on top of the refrigerator... the jar that you could not reach? And do you remember doing everything you could to reach that jar?

Published · 2,318 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

It was January in 1962, still summer in 32 Motor Street, Westdene Johannesburg.. Marie gets the news that she is pregnant again. This is the seventh baby on it way, after the loss of triplets before her last child. She feels very despondent and does not know what to do. Her husband is very confused about life at this stage of her life, he does not contribute to the household, and is drunk most of the time, a very arrogant and stingy man, and yet she loves him. He is after all the father of her children. He plays the accordion the way he walks, completely natural.

Published · 1,236 views · Rated 4/5 from 2 votes

Do you care about what other people think? To some extent, most of us do. Throughout life – first from parents, then from teachers, workplaces, media and our institutions – we learn that it’s important to be liked, not rock the boat, be seen as a nice person, etc. Yet have you ever stopped and examined your own sense of worry, as well as the thinking, beliefs and assumptions that reside unde eath? The results of that self-reflection may surprise you.

Published · 925 views

Let me just start off by saying, I never know "how" I am going to do things... it just sort of happens for me. I am the type of person for all of those who know me, who will try and try again and again. If I have something in my mind, or feel as if I have to do it, the "it" usually gets acomplished all by faith. I never knew what the "Law Of Attraction" was until I was introduced to The Secret. I did know that alot of the things in my life were all an intention, a deep desire or maybe I am just strong willed.

Published · 1,325 views · Rated 2.5/5 from 2 votes

As I have my own child who is attending school now at the small age of four, I tend to drift back to childhood days of my own and seem to have had to develope a sense of trust and faith into the public schools and reassure myself that things will be just fine. It may be a natural thing as a parent to worry about their child as you send them off with a full backpack,a pair of clothes incase of an accident, and a big kiss to say "I love you". Then as a parent, we come home with a few tears and back to everyday work load.r

Published · 1,511 views · Rated 3/5 from 1 votes

Being a stay at home mother has been quite a challenge as doing the back to school shopping. Let's face it, one income in this economy is a struggle. For our family this is some of the things I have done to attempt to save a bit during the economic crunch. First of all, having a good sense of humor is always handy as you shop. I have been a "thrifty" person pretty much all my childhood into adult life.

Published · 1,374 views · Rated 3.7/5 from 3 votes

As a child we were born to our parents. Some poverty stricken, some wealthy,some who were fearful, some who had no fear. As we get older and mold into our parents ( for some of us) as some follow in their footsteps and become carpenters,woodworkers,factory workers,office workers,and so on,or for the lucky few we adventure off and become one of our own, entrepreneurs. But, there comes a time in our life where we ask ourselves why am I here?

Published · 1,514 views · Rated 3/5 from 4 votes

As a society, we’re obsessed with being productive, running a determined race to “get it all done.” Our love affair with productivity goes something like this: we’re driven to know it all, work more and try harder, so we can make more money, so we can buy more stuff, so we can then be happy. We even have a name for this obsession, so we can feel good about ourselves for being trapped in it; it’s called the American Dream. Unconsciously, we have built our lives around the energy of “wanting,” in such a way that we’ll never be satisfied.

Published · 900 views · Rated 3/5 from 1 votes

What is addiction? Addiction is only the result of abuse. Abuse is the imbalance of how you live. Too much of something, is imbalance. We are all addicts of some sort, some sociably acceptable and others sociably unacceptable. Part of the problem lies within the derogatory attitude people have towards the sociably unacceptable addicts. They are labelled and are pushed aside, or shoved into rehab centres that do not even have the right approach to help them. The actual success rates of rehabs are very low.

Published · 1,185 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

Creativity is an inbo characteristic of all human beings. Being creative is our birthright and manifesting our creativity is the ultimate expression of our divine nature. Debunking Creativity Myths Before we dig into creativity, there are some myths which need to be debunked first. I have heard many people misinterpret this concept and characterize themselves as not being creative, so I feel the need to clarify things.

Published · 2,063 views · Rated 4.5/5 from 2 votes

The year 2012 in almost ending, as the holiday season knocks on our door. It’s time to be around the family and enjoy some quality time together. But it’s also a great time to review the main events of the passing year and think about what’s coming up for 2013. Out with the Old and in with the New A new year means a new chance. It marks the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one in our lives. If the last year was not as good as expected, than the new one will break the bad luck. It’s out with the old and in with the new!

Published · 1,560 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

"The only constant thing is change" ~ Heraclitus I like change. It revitalizes and motivates me, it offers me a fresh outlook on life and it forces me to expand my comfort zone. Change stimulates the growth of the brain, because it creates new connections between the neurons. This happens every time you learn or do something new. To put it simple - change makes you smarter and the more changes you adopt, the smarter you become on the long run.

Published · 1,441 views · Rated 4/5 from 2 votes

When was the last time you took a serious objective look at your life situation? Are you really satisfied with the way things are going? Well, if you are an optimist or find yourself in a good mood, you may be tempted to say that things are all right in your life right now. And even if they are not all right now, they will get better soon. What are you relying your assumption upon? Are there noticeable facts that point to the idea of improvement? Have you done anything lately in order to make the situation better? Things are not always what they seem to be

Published · 1,205 views · Rated 4.5/5 from 2 votes

This article comes from the experiences I had myself and workshops I have written to assist others in there "struggle with addiction". First and foremost, what is addiction? It is only the result of abuse. To clarify this, I will break it down step by step. Before any person gets to a stage of ...

Published · 1,437 views

I spend a great deal of time researching and connecting with others in the field of self-improvement. In this field there is a constant search to uncover what happiness and success looks like, and how to help others achieve it. Everyone at some point has heard something to the tune of success and happiness is an individual perspective. That everyone’s version of happiness and success are different. Well, I am not here to tell you that this is false, or to give you a different opinion.

Published · 789 views

We love shopping, there's something about it that when we start we can't stop! But how do we know what to buy and if it's gonna fit to our style, wardrobe and where to find it out? Here we fixed some short questionarre to check up when buying new Hoody / Tshirt or Skinny Jeans! 1. Will you ...

Published · 1,325 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

We know, there's no time to panic yet, Christmas is just in 3 months time. Or is it 'Oh my God, it's only 3 months!' Nevermind, there's still plenty of time to look for the Ultimate Gift. And with this time ahead, we can be spoilt with choice. These short Guides will help you decide what to ...

Published · 1,308 views

We all love dressing up, trying new things, creating new outfits. But how to choose something truly unique, something you can create and wear it in your own style? First you need to know what kind of tops / jeans / shoes suits you best. There's no point in following strict trends, if the style ...

Published · 2,038 views

We all love dressing up, trying new things, creating new outfits. But how to choose something truly unique, something you can create and wear it in your own style? First you need to know what kind of tops / jeans / shoes suits you best. There's no point in following strict trends, if the style ...

Published · 1,318 views

I want you to stop what you're doing right now and relax with me for just a moment. For just a moment stop worrying about all the pressure you're under, the current economic crisis, the bills you have to pay, the family drama you have to endure... And for just a moment, imagine your perfect ...

Published · 2,957 views

Do you feel that you harbor beliefs about yourself that are sabotaging your success? What if there was a way to get past the Belief Detective that is guarding those old beliefs and not allowing you to become the person you want to? When we are first born, we are an open book so to speak, we ...

Published · 1,778 views

I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." Robert McCloskey With conscious communication we can attract the life we want in our personal relationships and in our businesses. Spend time today being conscious of what you say to others and how others react to your words. ...

Published · 1,220 views

Merriam Webster's dictionary gives the following for a definition: - : impudent - vigorous, lively - distinctively smart and stylish

Published · 1,535 views · Rated 3.5/5 from 2 votes

I am sure that there will be days that you feel anything, but fabulous. It happens to me all that time, but the thing that I have to remember is that even if I don't feel like it doesn't mean that I am not still fabulous! It is so easy to get caught up in the ups and downs of life and forget. When God created me, you and everyone else He wanted, and still does, for us to be fabulous and so much more!

Published · 1,279 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

There is a song by Britney Spears that talks about not being a woman or a girl, but being somewhere in between. This song has always resonated with me and while I am 38 years young, I am still learning to become the woman that I know that I want to be.

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It is so easy to get tied up in the things that are going wrong in your life. There are things that are in desperate need of a miracle, people living in sickness, poverty and wondering what they are going to do in the days to come. You may feel that you are all alone, but I want to remind you that you are not alone. Jesus loves you and even if you do not believe in him, he believes in you! He is there for you every step of the way and on those days that you may feel that you cannot go on; stop focusing on the things that are going wrong look at the things that are going right!

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Just got my copy of the new Disney movie Tangled. It was really a cute take on the Rapunzel story. There is a part in the movie that really touched me. After all of her life Rapunzel is finally getting the opportunity to have the thing that she had dreamt of for so long and she says I have been waiting so long for this, what if it's not anything like I imagined? What if it is?

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The other night I watched the Smallville series finale and I must admit it was pretty good. Certainly took it in a direction that was surprising. The thing that really got my attention though was at the heart of the show. Clark Kent, AKA Superman, is always questioning himself, doubting who he really is, uncertain as to where he fits in “This World”. Allowing fear to control his every move because of the failures from the past; the people that he has lost either through death or just relationships gone bad. This fear has caused him to be afraid to step up and claim his destiny…..

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STEP 1: A critical step to attracting money into your life is to make a decision to shift your perception about money in general and other people’s money. Start treating ALL sources of money with respect. If you don’t approve of how some people are generating their income, then look inwards to transform yourself first. STEP 2: Change your focus. Redirect most of your mental and emotional energies towards your financial goals. It is that simple.

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CLASSIC PROSPERITY TIP #1: THE RIGHT TO BE RICH

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WHAT IS GRATITUDE? GRATITUDE is a quality of being "thankful" where one is ready to show deep appreciation and return genuine kindness.r

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THE LACK OF understanding the inner workings of your mind will cost you unnecessary frustration and disappointment. Your financial success or failure in your dealings does not depend on the amount of formal education received or hard work invested in your business. For example, if you tackle your money challenges by believing “I just need to find more ways to bring in additional income,” it won’t necessarily work. That approach is treating the symptom, not the cause. The cause is the script playing in your head.

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Be inspired by alte ative perspectives on life to lift you out of any mental funk during your workday. Apply them wisely and use them often as necessary. INSPIRATIONAL BOOST #1: “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”rn~ by Maya Angelou INSPIRATIONAL BOOST #2: “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”rn~ by Aristotle Onassis INSPIRATIONAL BOOST #3: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”rn ~ by Confucius INSPIRATIONAL BOOST #4:r

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Sometimes we get lost in our day to day grind and we forget to stop and recognize what we take for granted. When is the last time you appreciated the mail man/woman delivering your mail Monday through Saturday? What about the fact that you have at least ten restaurants to choice from for dinner? And are you glad that you have running water in the bathroom? Usually we don’t until we lose those amenities, right? Absorb and reflect upon the wisdom presented in the following paragraphs. It will help you change your perspective and mental state for more abundance in your life.

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AN AFFIRMATION is a statement someone believes as true or factual. Utilizing affirming statements becomes an empowering jou ey where one converts their creative thoughts into a different and more pleasing reality. Affirmations serve two primary purposes for the ambitious business owner or self-employed professional. First of all, affirmations are constant reminders to the conscious mind about the current goals. This helps the business person stay focused and on course with tasks towards their desired outcome. Second, affirmations serve as internal commands for the subconscious mind.

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TODAY’S article will reveal some practical tips on how to maintain one’s morale and keep marching towards your financial prosperity in business. First, let’s explore here what we actually mean by “faith.” Faith is neither hoping for something to happen nor is it referring to the idea of trusting in something or someone outside of yourself. On the contrary, it is a knowing from within. A knowing you are something bigger than your physical body. The advantage of accepting this type of faith is that one is not alone.

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What is balance? What is balance in life? We often hear people talk about being out of balance in life or complaining about their life being lopsided. Usually, these complaints involve work and the fact that it can sometimes seem to consume your waking periods. One of the first things that I need to make clear to you is that work is part of your life. It pays the bills, and it gives one a sense of purpose. It also helps if you like what you do!

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Do you practice continuous improvement? If you are Peak Performer, you do! Peak Performers know that part of being on top of their game is working on always getting better. In fact, anyone who is a Peak Performer in their profession, sales or something else, knows that working to improve your knowledge or skills is the key to "continued" success.

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So how do Peak Performers accomplish extraordinary things? The answer is simple. The process is simple. But you have to be dedicated to commit to it. Peak Performers practice self-development techniques or activities EVERYDAY. That’s right. They do it every day. Everyday might seem like a lot. But, if you know how to break things down into manageable tasks it really is easy.

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Sow? What the heck does that mean? The definition of sow means to scatter seed over (land, earth, etc.) for the purpose of growth. The Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, and political theorist, Marcus T. Cicero, said, “As you have sown so shall you reap.” And in the New Testament we find, “…whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) This phrase has been used to describe good farming practices, but also your own personal productivity. Probably a more modern version of this saying is “what goes around comes around.” It all means the same thing.

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What does it mean to stand out in a crowd? Is it just a matter of looking or acting different? That could be one way to stand out but you’ll never be a seven-figure earner if you look or act like a buffoon. Standing out in a crowd will get you noticed but standing apart in a crowd will make you a success. Being noticeable different than all those around you is not just about acting differently, but delivering something of value that is different than anyone else. This “something” must contain something that is meaningful to the recipient.

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A Difference of Energies Happiness is an ecstatic state of mind, and natural byproduct of positive experiences and attitudes, with the effects on your mind, body and life varying in impact and duration. Positive experiences are enjoyable on their own accord and are further enhanced by the release of endorphins and other feel-good chemicals. Afterwards, you can still enjoy positive memories and take heart in good experiences, but the effects of any positive physiological contributions are relatively short lived.

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We all need an emotional harbor; a place where we can relax our sails of tension, frustration and worry. Needs and definitions vary, and many find sufficient peace and release in the presence of family, friends or others therapeutically. This is a good way to stroke the heart, distract the mind and quell the beast, at least for a while. However, many of us don’t have the option or access to such healing distractions. And for those who do, such interactions may not always be accessible when needed or capable of producing the desired results.

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The human mind is a creative force of nature, and throughout history our propensity for imagining new perspectives and concepts allowed humankind to come a long way in a relatively short period of time. By being able to think outside of the box and devise better and more efficient ways of utilizing resources, coupled with a concept of future existence, we gained the foresight and ability to improve the quality and longevity of life by planning ahead; giving us all the more free time to conceptualize and explore our environment.

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While sitting on a sandy beach one bright and warm fall dayr I listen to the ancient sounds that emanate my way. A myriad of seabirds cry while searching for a feast, A wind blows soft across my ears while heading straight due east. Before me countless sun drops dance upon a watery stage, Like spirits moving out of time, a vision without age. I dig my toes into the sand, this substrate of the sear A gift of water, life and time as far as eye can see. Some clouds hang heavy in the south, their bellies full of rain, They lumber slow across the sky and move as if in pain.r

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One of the best ways to begin the process of being truer to yourself is to stop acting or “per-forming” with a primary impetus being to appease others. Granted, there are times and places when it is necessary to act within certain parameters, such as in a work environment.

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Before walking your truest path to inner peace and happiness you must first discover and be true to yourself. The efforts of seeking approval and connections with others through submission and imitation, though flattering, will neither connect you very deeply with them nor allow you to understand, trust and grow confident in yourself.r

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Everyone has a different opinion about what type of person you are, or what you should accomplish in life. Some people are going to fear or even hate you even though you’ve given them no reason. It may be difficult to accept at times, but you cannot control the thoughts and actions of others.r

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Creative Destinyr

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Practicing forgiveness is a two tiered path to inner peace that can diminish or eliminate emotional drains that no longer have a place in your life. One level lies in the ability to completely forgive others, which allows you to move beyond lingering negative emotions that may still be clouding your vision of them or of your relationship with them. Granted, many transgressions are simply unforgivable, but I am referring to those frustrating wrongs and lesser injustices that you may still carry with you without closure, and as such may still be unnecessarily taxing you emotionally.

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No heart is so carved in stone it is forever inflex-ible, so lost in darkness it is incapable of seeing light, or so damaged it will never again flourish, but a heart cannot change or improve independent of the mind. One must be consciously open to new and different perspectives, ideas and approaches, and be willing to accept them as worthwhile.r

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The Gift Why wait until you are at death's door before realizing what a precious and wonderful gift life really is? Why not learn to appreciate life more now, while you still have the chance, rather than waiting until it is too late to be able to do anything about it? The ability to enjoy life is a product of the mind and a gift of the heart; think of ways to put life into perspective and your heart will reward you with greater inner enrichment and a more gratifying life.r

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The Mindset Train There are times when our thoughts and actions do not necessarily fall in line with what would be to our greatest advantage in life. Instead of being proactive toward living a better, more fulfilling life, many of us go through times when we inadvertently limit our actions, growth and successes. There are likely many reasons why any of us might carry unproductive mindsets and, knowingly or not, sabotage our own ends, including simply a lack of motivation or uncertainty of direction.r

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"Some things simply are. There are no explanations, no logic, simply a reality that is many times beyond control. Sometimes, we must find our own inner strength, our own place from which to draw the courage and fortitude necessary to allow us to live and move beyond that which is painful. Other times, we simply need to find another vantage point from which to see hidden beauty, potential opportunities or perhaps a chance to reach outside of ourselves and help someone less fortunate, thus feeding your heart and distracting bad energy."

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When we are afraid of failing at something, we tend to think or obsess about it, which is normal, particularly just in advance of whatever it is we may be attempting to do. Unfortunately, this latent fear many times causes us to imagine various scenarios of failure, and not without repercussions.

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The origin of anger is part of an ancient emotional response to threatening input from the environment. We have always needed anger, mired in fear, as a mechanism for increasing adrenaline in order to solicit a “fight or flight” response when appropriate.

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The human mind is a very creative force and throughout history, this ability to conceive new perspectives and concepts allowed us to come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Learning to devise better and more efficient ways of utilizing resources, along with a concept of future existence, gave us the ability to improve the quality and longevity of life by planning ahead; which gave us even more time to conceptualize and explore our environment.

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What would you do differently today if you knew you were going to die tomorrow? Would you make sure your family and friends knew you loved them? Would you forgive and forget a past transgression that time has made insignificant? Would you call an old friend you haven't seen or talked to for far too long? Would you spend some quality time with your children or parents and share, without judgment, the true essence of your hearts? Would you laugh more and revel in the joy of feeling happy? Would you allow yourself to see life without the qualifiers of stress and worry?

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We all pick up emotional burdens of varying weights and sizes while growing through life. Many eventually fall by the wayside, some we learn to live with, while others are more like a thorn in one’s heart, or worse, causing enough pain and anguish to impact the quality of life. It is always worthwhile to attempt minimizing or eliminating such emotional impediments to living a happier life, though for many people the need to do so is vital to being able to comfortably move forward in life at all.

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The human mind is a very creative force and throughout history we have used this propensity to perceive new ideas, concepts and perspectives, as a means for survival by enhancing the quality and longevity of life. This ability to make creative decisions in life is truly a great gift that has brought humanity a long way in a relatively short period of time.

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If during a variety of interactions the responses from others seem to be more negative than the messages you intended to convey, or if you sometimes feel others just don’t like you for some reason, perhaps it's time to consider the source. Is it possible your messages and actions are not being accurately received because of your delivery? Is there perhaps something in your emotional background adding a more debasing lean to your perceptions of how others see you, and if so, might you be reacting toward them in line with these false perceptions?

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It all started innocently enough as I was looking for casters. I had this idea for a piece of exercise equipment and decided to build a prototype but I needed casters - those swivel wheels that go under office chairs, carts, etc. I had to ask three sales clerks where to find them in the big box hardware store before the third clerk actually looked in the computer to figure out where they stocked them. Reluctantly, I purchased four casters from them. It turns out that it wasn't just the service that was lousy.

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If you've been watching TV recently, you will have seen the new commercials for GM. GM is now touting their quality - something the average consumer is certainly not used to seeing GM do. It first surprised me a little that GM decided it was time to start marketing quality over price. This is not something I'm used to from GM. In fact, not too long ago, there were commercials on television selling GM cars at one dollar over invoice. Quality wasn't an issue then. It was all about price. But now, it's all about quality. But is it?

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The sign in the front window of my local UPS Store reads. "#2 Store in Canada." I laugh every time I see it. It's too rare that you see a sign reading "#2" in anything. I get it though. Wayne and the staff at my UPS Store do a great job and give great service. They're always busy. Apparently they're busy enough to be #2 in Canada in volume. And if next year they're #3, I'm sure that's what the sign will read. But what about this #1 Salesman stuff or Salesman of the Year? Does it matter?

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Before you think teamwork is the answer and spend large sums of money on “team-building” exercises, maybe you should consider whether your place of business needs teams at all. Perhaps more would get done by leaving your people alone to do what they already excel at. Forcing people to join teams simply for the sake of “inclusion” is a bad idea. The 20-60-20 rule applies to all organizations, companies, committees and teams. The top twenty percent of the members will be go-getters – those who want to change the world before five o’clock.

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There are 350,000 opinions (books) on “leadership” on Amazon. Corporate America can’t seem to draw a consensus on what leadership is so it’s really no big surprise that Corporate America can’t figure out what soft-skills are and why they are important either. You know, for being such a dominating force in the world of business, we really don’t have a clue about the stuff that REALLY makes business run.

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How many times have you placed a call to a client, a business or a colleague or friend only to reach voice mail? Then within two or three minutes of leaving your message they call you right back. Sometimes they’re honest about it and sometimes they lie but they’ve really been using voice mail to screen their calls. This is just one of a long list of items of what is wrong with Corporate America. We don’t allow people talk to us anymore.

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The Global Leadership Forecast 2008/09 researched 12,208 business executives and 1493 Human Resource professionals across 76 countries. Seventy-five percent of executives surveyed identified improving their leadership talent as their #1 priority for organizational success. But the vast majority of those same respondents have no idea of exactly what leadership is. It is astounding that so many people, when asked to define leadership, can have so many varying answers. In fact, there are 350,000 books on Amazon with "Leadership" in the title. That's 350,000 opinions on what leadership is.

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Log into any business networking site, like LinkedIn or Ryze, and almost daily will you see someone asking a question attempting to determine the difference between Leadership and Management. What are really interesting are the people who are asking: people in management or leadership positions.

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Consequences are the guideposts of your moral compass. If there were no consequences, people would run roughshod over each other. Items in your garage would be stolen by your neighbors. Police forces would become irrelevant. You would leave the doors unlocked because, what’s the point? Business would hire Grade 6 dropouts into senior management positions. You get the idea.

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I met Wendy years ago when I took a job as a restaurant manager. For me, the management position was a job. It wasn’t my career as I hadn’t prepared myself to become a restaurant manager. Heck, I’d never even worked in a restaurant prior. But I had eaten in plenty of restaurants. I had a good ...

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The Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health conducted a survey to determine the Top Ten Stressors at work. Here they are:nn * 10. "The treadmill syndrome" - Employees who consistently have too much or too little to do create a lot of stress.n * 9. "Random ...

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What is a résumé? It’s nothing more than a collection of things you’ve done in your work life – a sort-of “eulogy” at work. Oh sure, it may also point out some skills that you were allowed to use while on the job but it really gives no indication of your aptitude, your natural talents nor your ...

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I’m getting fed up with the media hysteria of the state of our economy. Sensationalism and ratings-grabs are leading the news these days and it’s sickening. Companies and their “Chicken Little” CFO’s are buying into the hysteria while sitting on piles of reserve cash. The sky is NOT falling. In ...

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So what do you think would happen if you stood up in a public forum and announced, “Our Company is in trouble and we now need a big injection of cash to keep our company going. If we don’t get the cash injection, we will be forced to lay off a lot of our workers, we will have to consider closing ...

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Personally, I always thought perfectionism was another word for procrastination. Often, in the perfectionist mind, the perfectionist will say, “Since it’s unlikely this project will turn out perfectly anyway and since there is no perfect time to start, why bother?” That seems ...

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I received a question this week asking, “Just wondering what your attitude would be toward a boss and subordinate starting a relationship at work and the effects on other staff?” Personally, my “attitude” when it comes to office romances is to run for the hills if ...

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Her name is Holly and she is what appears to be, a typical seventeen year-old. I first met Holly at a music recital. Children as young as six years-old each took the stage and played at least one solo piece. The audience was a gathering of family and friends of the children who had been taking ...

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I recently had a question to ask my bank about my business. I called the toll-free number on the web site and was connected with a gentleman who gave me the answer to my question. While we were on the phone, he also had a look at my business account and offered a couple of suggestions for new ...

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A few months ago I was sent an email link to a video by Mark Gungor, a pastor from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Mark, in addition to being a pastor, is a facilitator of relationships. I watched the video and laughed so hard. Mark is also a stand-up comedian combining humor, values and real relationship ...

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Safety has become a big issue these days with not only the manufacturing, construction and heavy industry sectors, but also with a growing number of office-bound organizations. Safety is an issue that I take seriously. After all, I believe that safety is an Attitude – in the same way ...

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Have you noticed the lack of eye-contact from a clerk while being served in a retail establishment? Have you noticed some of the people you work with who are reluctant to be forthright with customers and clients either on the phone or in-person? Have you noticed a propensity in your own ...

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It's not hard to imagine. You've probably done it yourself. You're on a cross-country car trip with the family. After ten hours or so, and just a couple of bathroom breaks in that time, you've decided that you can't drive anymore. You look over to the passenger seat where your spouse has been ...

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Michael and I have known each other for about fifteen years. Recently, he has been dabbling in the area of personal development. Not his. Yours. He is a personal coach and seminar leader who is getting ready to publish his first book. While he has been incredibly busy conducting his coaching ...

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So I always thought that it was just a joke. But then it happened to me. I was out on the four-lane highway driving to a speaking presentation at about 7:30 in the morning. I was following a red, late-model pick-up truck which was a safe distance in front of me. I was listening to the news on ...

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My friend Brian told me story a few months back. He had asked his early twenty-something receptionist to dig up a phone number for him. After ten or so minutes, the receptionist had not returned. Brian went to the front desk. "Have you found me that number yet?" he asked patiently. "The ...

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I received an email this week which asked for my opinion on high-performers. The email read, “It would be great to hear your ideas/tips for Bosses and Employees regarding working with “high performers”. I was specifically thinking about the high performance employee working ...

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Years ago, I sold copiers and faxes for a living. The company I worked for was a Canadian division of a worldwide copier company. Our sales training took place about every eighteen months and was facilitated by our US trainer. One two-day training session every eighteen months was far below the ...

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It’s one of the first things a road-weary traveler searches out when he or she arrives in their hotel room: the Guest Services Directory. That little book, packed full of information, gives the traveler the rules of the hotel. And don’t kid yourself, hotels all have rules and it is ...

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Employee disengagement and unhappiness can result in lower productivity, which affects the financial side. However, lack of employee retention also can result, with its many costs for replacement: recruiting fees, overtime pay to those covering job duties, ramp-up time for replacements, as well ...

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If I were to ask you for one good reason why any company wouldn't want you to get better at sales, better at customer service, improve your communication skills, study leadership, become more productive or just be a nicer person, could you answer that question? Do you think you could come up ...

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I got into a conversation recently (on a Human Resources Message Board) with a Management Consultant. His questions got me to thinking. He asked for a further clarification of my assertion that an employer's responsibility to improve its employees ends once they become competent at the job. The ...

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I spent a little time with Bill recently. He’s in his eighties now and lives alone. He spends most of his days in front of the TV as he needs a walker to get around. He has a boarder who lives downstairs and she is supposed to fix his meals and keep him company in exchange for a substantial ...

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I think I missed a memo recently. I must have. The memo I missed apparently stated that if you are a cashier, a salesperson or even a “sandwich artist,” feel free to have conversations with your co-workers, your friends and other complete strangers while “serving” your current customer. When ...

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Driving past the electronics store yesterday, a roadside billboard caught my eye. “Watch the recession in high-definition.” That was how the billboard read. My first thought was that the store manager obviously had a few leadership abilities himself. In an effort to stop his employees from ...

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I remember years ago attending a seminar on goal-setting. This was sort of a generic goal-setting workshop that had the participants write down things that they wanted to accomplish in life - a sort of "Bucket List" if you will. Then a bunch of magazines were distributed to the participants and ...

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A while ago, I responded to a comment on The Employee Engagement Network that asked the question about employees finding happiness in their jobs and developing a "happy" workplace. Now, if you've ever attended one of my keynote sessions, you already know that I don't subscribe to the concept of ...

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Two houses, both thirty years-old stand side by side on a neighborhood street. Both houses are for sale. Both houses have exactly the same design and were built at the same time. One house is valued thirty percent higher than the other because the real estate agent has determined that one is ...

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I have been noticing in my daily newspaper these past few weeks, the sheer volume of ads touting various car dealerships’ Salesman-of-the-Month awards. Now, as much as the next guy, I understand the value of recognizing employees and their contributions. And I also get that, especially as ...

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Perhaps it’s my age but I find the best part of American Idol are the qualifying rounds to see who gets to go to Hollywood. Out of the tens of thousands of hopefuls only a few hundred are chosen as “good enough” to advance to the next round. It amazes me how many of the ...

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