Practice Extravagant Dreaming! by Lisa Jimenez

Allowing your mind to think extravagantly will lead you to extravagant dreaming! You know, the kind of dreaming you did when you were a kid, when opportunities were abundant. Your dreams were so big, you knew you had to grow into them.

 It takes courage to dream big. But the reality is, the only difference between a dream and reality is ACTION! Unfulfilled dreams are just dreams that were never followed through with action. The danger in these unfulfilled dreams is that they begin to affect your success in other areas of life. They begin to produce a scarcity pattern – a limiting consciousness. This was never supposed to be. We are the only creatures in all of creation with the ability to dream! Dreams lead to action. Action leads to reality.

 Do you believe that dreams really do come true?

 You used to believe this. Could it be that a collection of unfulfilled dreams has caused you to lose this precious gift? You can rekindle your innate ability to dream extravagantly by recalling some of the goals and dreams that you put off and decide what small act you’ll do today to rekindle them. Did you always want to learn how to play the piano? Call a piano teacher and get their fee schedule. Did you always want to play baseball? Go online to research your city leagues – even if it’s the over 40 league! Did you dream of traveling to faraway places? Stop in a travel agency and pick up some brochures of these exotic places.
   
What small step toward your forgotten dream could you take right now? I can’t tell you enough how strongly this small step could affect your success mindset.

Practice extravagant dreaming again! Happy 2013 !!

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Quotes from The Experts: Change/Choice

"In a time of rapid change, standing still is the most dangerous course of action." -- Brian Tracy

 "Lasting change is possible only when the need for change is both understood and internalized." -- Denis Waitley

"We generally change ourselves for one of two reasons: inspiration or desperation." -- Jim Rohn

"The time is always right to do what is right."-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Whatever your present situation, I assure you that you are not your habits. You can replace old patterns of self-defeating behavior with new patterns, new habits of the effectiveness, happiness, and trust-based relationships." -- Stephen Covey

 "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction." -- Winston Churchill

 "What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly." -- Lao Tsu

Dedicate Yourself to Idea Tithing by Mark Victor Hansen

Just think what could happen if we all tithed ten percent of our ideas back to the world in ways that would help to create wealth and prosperity for everyone and everything. The possibilities would be extraordinary!

 Because we are all unique thinking minds and spirits, each of us has unique capabilities that no one else has or can ever have. If we each decided to create ideas, concepts, plans and solutions, every person and every creature on this planet would benefit.        

 Because we are all unique thinking minds and spirits, each of us has unique capabilities that no one else has or can ever have. If we each decided to create ideas, concepts, plans and solutions, every person and every creature on this planet would benefit.

 The great thing about idea tithing is that it’s free. It costs us nothing. Once we begin to think of just one idea that would benefit the universe, more ideas will follow. Pretty soon each of us will have hundreds of ideas. And our individual ideas, when told to other individuals, will act as a springboard for their ideas. We will inspire each other.

 Begin idea tithing today. An idea can take nothing and turn it into something.

Planning: Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn

I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.

If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much.

The reason why most people face the future with apprehension instead of anticipation is because they don't have it well designed.

The guy says, "When you work where I work, by the time you get home, it's late. You've got to have a bite to eat, watch a little TV, relax and get to bed. You can't sit up half the night planning, planning, planning." And he's the same guy who is behind on his car payment!

"The only thing worse than not reading a book in the last ninety days is not reading a book in the last ninety days and thinking that it doesn't matter.”—Jim Rohn

"Don't borrow someone else's plan. Develop your own philosophy and it will lead you to unique places.”—Jim Rohn

Living a Life of Meaning and Unstoppability by Cynthia Kersey

Living a life of meaning and unstoppability always involves giving. Many of the classic religious and secular texts throughout history contain some variation on "Give, and it will be given to you." Think about that for a moment. Isn't it true that the people with the most love in their lives give the most love? The people with the most friends are the most friendly?

A recent study by Stephanie L. Brown, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, even showed that seniors who give aid and support to friends and neighbors actually live longer than those who simply receive it.

 What you give doesn't have to be big. It might be a smile to a stranger, an offer of business advice, a financial donation to a cause you've wanted to help, or a few volunteer hours at a community shelter. By sharing your talents, time or money, you will become invigorated about your goal and your life because you will be making a difference in the lives of others.

TV host Larry King asked Dana Reeve, wife of the late paralyzed actor Christopher Reeve, if she ever got depressed about her husband being confined to a wheelchair. "Yes, of course, " she said. "And when that happens, I immediately reach out to someone else who's hurting. Chris does the same thing when he gets down. In fact, we usually do it together. Helping others is a surefire way to help yourself."

Consider making a daily habit of giving to others. It doesn't have to take a lot of time and energy. By opening your eyes and heart, you will notice countless ways you can simply reach out to others. There is nothing more fulfilling in life than expressing your love for others. When you create a habit of giving, you are the greatest recipient.

Zig Ziglar's Dose of Inspiration

Zig Ziglar counsels that saying “Yes” to our children on many occasions is very effective because it also teaches valuable lessons. “This approach changes you in the child’s eyes from being a person who wants to deny him or her a pleasure to a parent who is interested in helping the child perform in a better, more mature way. Your teenager might ask to use the car to run a few errands. You can say, ‘Yes, as soon as you wash it and if you will stop by the service station and fill it with gas on your way home.’ This way you’re teaching your child responsibility.”

What You Think ?? Comments are Appreciated. Thank You !

Basics of Healthy Relationships by Jim Rohn

Nothing can bring more joy to life than beautifully fulfilling relationships. The depth of meaning, understanding and appreciation that these kinds of relationships bring is almost unfathomable. And, of course, as many people find out, nothing can bring so much pain as a broken relationship with someone dear to you.

Yes, relationships make the world go ‘round. For better or for worse. But the exciting thing is that we can do much to increase our chances of having terrific relationships—relationships that are fulfilling and exciting, rich with meaning, joy and love. There are basics that govern most human relationships, and these basics are what I want to cover below. So here is my list of the eight essentials that I believe make up the basics of healthy relationships.

Love. Now, this all depends on your definition of love. Most people think that love is a feeling, but I would strongly debate that point. Actually, the concept of “like” is really about feelings.

When you say you like someone, you are talking about how you feel. But when you say that you love someone, you are not necessarily talking about how you feel about them. Love is much deeper than a feeling. Love is a commitment we make to people to always treat that person right and honorably. Yes, for those we become especially close to, we will have feelings of love, but I believe it is time for us to re-examine what we mean by love. We must expand our definition of what love means by including the commitment aspect of love. For healthy relationships, we must love everyone. We may not like them based on how we feel about them, but we should love them based on our definition of love above, which, in turn, determines how we should act toward them—that is, treat them right and honorably. This is the basis of all healthy relationships.

Serving Heart. My good friend Zig Ziglar says frequently that “you can have everything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want out of life.” The concept he is talking about is having a heart and life that is focused on serving other people. The Bible puts it this way: Consider others’ interests as more important than your own. This is also fundamental to healthy relationships.

Honest Communication. In any good relationship, you will find open and honest communication. Communication is so important because it is the vehicle that allows us to verbalize what is inside us and enables it to connect with another person. Isn’t communication amazing? One person is feeling one thing, and through communication, another person can find that out and feel it, too—amazing. And this is a vital goal in good relationships—to communicate, to tell each other what we are thinking and what we are feeling. It enables us to make a connection. Sometimes we are the one speaking, and other times we are listening. Either way, the central tenet is communication for the sake of building the relationship and making it stronger. And here’s what’s exciting: If we just communicate, we can get by. But if we communicate skillfully, we can work miracles!

Friendliness. Put simply, relationships just work better when we are friendly with others. Being friendly can cushion the bumpy ride we sometimes experience in our relationships. Cheerfulness goes a long way toward building lasting relationships. I mean, nobody wants to be around a grump, do they? The fact is that the friendlier you are, the more you are going to have people who want to pursue longer-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with you. So cheer up, put on a smile, have kind words to say to others, treat people with a great deal of friendliness, and you will see your relationships improve.

Patience. People being people, we have an awful lot of time for practice in the area of patience. People are not perfect and will constantly fail us. And, conversely, we will fail other people. So while we try to have more patience for others, we need their patience as well. So often, I think relationships break down because people give up and lose patience. I am talking about all kinds of friendships, marriages, business relationships, etc. Recent research has shown that those marriages that go through major turmoil and then make it through are very strong after doing so. Patience wins out. Those who give up on relationships too early or because the other person isn’t perfect often forget that their next friend, their next spouse or business partner will not be perfect either! So, we would do well to cultivate this skill and learn to have more patience.

Loyalty. Loyalty is a commitment to another person. Sadly, loyalty is often a missing element in many relationships today. We have forgotten what it means to be loyal. Our consumer mentality has affected this to some degree. People are no longer loyal to a product. And, unfortunately, many companies are not loyal to their clients or patrons. Regrettably, this has spilled over into our relationships. It is one thing to switch brands of dishwashing detergent. It is another thing altogether to switch friends. Sometimes we just need to commit to being loyal and let the relationship move forward. We need a higher level of stick-to-it-iveness! This kind of loyalty will take our relationships to a much deeper level. What a powerful and secure feeling of knowing that you have a relationship with someone who is loyal to you and you to them—that neither of you is going anywhere even when things get tough. Wow—how powerful!

A Common Purpose. One of the basics of healthy relationships is to have a common purpose, and oftentimes this is a component that is initially overlooked, but for a long-term, long-lasting relationship it is vital. Think about how many friends you have met through the years while working on a common purpose. Maybe it was someone you met while participating in sports, while working on a political campaign, attending church, at your office, or anything that brought you together to work on a common purpose. You had that strong common bond of purpose that brought you together and held you together. Working together, building together, failing and succeeding together—all while pursuing a common purpose—that is what relationships are made of. Find people with whom you have common purposes and sow the seeds of great relationships, and then reap the long-lasting benefits.

Fun. All good relationships have some element of fun. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean loud, raucous fun, though that is appropriate for some relationships. But even in business relationships there should be some fun. It should be fun to do business with those who you are going to have a long-term business relationship with. Fun brings enjoyment to the relationship, and that is important. I think that oftentimes this key element can be easily forgotten or neglected in our family and spousal relationships. The fun things we did initially in a new relationship after a while can be taken for granted or simply fall by the wayside and we stop creating the fun and joy. So remember to consciously craft fun situations and moments, for these are the glue that hold our memories together and make our lives sweet.

 There are so many key ingredients to making and maintaining great, long-lasting relationships. Each of the eight components we discussed brings unique dynamics and rewards to your relationships. Let’s begin to focus on improving our relationships in these areas and see what miracles occur!

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Earl Nightingale’s Secret to Success

The legendary Earl Nightingale spent 17 years on a quest to answer one question: What makes the difference? He wanted to discover why some people are financially well off while others are poor.

 His mother, Gladys Nightingale, encouraged him to read. “Knowledge is everything; everything you want to know has been written down by someone,” she told him. In 1950, at the age of 29, he found the answer he was seeking in Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. It was six simple words: We become what we think about.

 To become what you think about, take Nightingale’s 30-day test. It could change your life:
Write on a card what you want more than anything. Make sure it is a single goal and it is clearly defined.
Don’t show it to anyone, but carry it with you so you can look at it several times a day.
Think about it in a cheerful, relaxed and positive way each morning when you wake up.
Look at it before you go to bed at night. As you look at it, remember you must become what you think about.
Now comes the difficult part: Stop thinking about what you fear. Each time a fearful or negative thought comes into your consciousness, replace it with a mental picture of your positive and worthwhile goal.
Each day of this 30-day test, do more than you have to do.
Take control of your mind, knowing your returns will be in direct proportion to what you give.

Resource for this post: Success Official Newsletter

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Daily Dose of Inspiration

Respected author and productivity consultant Denis Waitley says that when it comes to turning stress into success, you can change your reaction to what others say and do. “You can control your own thoughts and actions by dwelling on desired results instead of the penalties of failure. The only real control you have in life is that of your immediate thought and action. Since most of what we do is a reflex, subconscious habit, it is wise not to act on emotional impulse. In personal relations, it is better to wait a moment until reason has the opportunity to compete with your emotions.”

Inspired comments appreciated.. Thank You :)

Finding Your Target by Joseph McClendon

It is your birthright to walk around feeling
 healthy, happy, strong and great about yourself.

 A child is born with all the flair and confidence that he will ever need in this life. It’s not until others step in and tamper with that greatness that the child begins to doubt himself and his worth.

It’s your birthright to be happy, full of confidence and pride. You already have a great amount of confidence and esteem. It came with the package. In order for you to have survived as an infant, you had to have thought enough about yourself to cry out and request food, connection and security.

 Also, the people who were around you thought enough about you to provide those things and much, much more. The proof of this is that you are here today… you made it! It is important to know that you still have a considerable amount of that confidence, drive and esteem inside of you right this very minute. Every cell in your body displays it every second that you are alive.

The trick is to start with what is already inside of you, use it as a foundation to build from, then find others who are getting the results that you desire and model their actions, beliefs and methods. By doing this, you will build a powerful and automatic confidence demeanor within your own nervous system. This will in turn result in better actions and more effective behaviors. Tap into that wealth of power that you already own and model what you have already done.

 As with so many other things that we’ve learned in our lives, most of us have all but forgotten the lessons and experiences in life that served us, and replaced them with the ones that cost us our drive.

Who taught you to be great?
 Who taught you to be confident?

Stay Focused on the Big Picture by Harvey Mackay

A reader once sent me an email thanking me for a column I had written on getting outside the box. She told me how she had lost focus for a while, but had turned things around. She encouraged me to write a column on staying focused.

 I immediately thought of my varsity golfing days at the University of Minnesota many years ago. Back then The Saint Paul Open was one of the top tournaments on the men’s professional golf circuit. Prior to the tournament, I had a chance to meet Gary Player when he was taking a lesson from our team coach, Les Bolstad. Later that evening I went to dinner with the world’s future No. 1 player when he was still an unknown.        
   
 The following day at The Saint Paul Open, I saw Gary after he teed off the first hole and ran up to him to say hi. I wanted to tell him what a great time I had the night before. His steely eyes remained focused on the fairway ahead and he never broke stride. “Harvey, please don’t talk to me. I must concentrate. I will see you when I’m finished.”

 I remember how devastated I felt, but I learned a valuable lesson on focus. Many years later, when he was world famous, my wife, Carol Ann, and I ran into Gary and his wife in South Africa. I reintroduced myself and reminded him of what happened on the golf course. Gary’s wife told me, “Don’t feel bad. He doesn’t even talk to me on the golf course.”

That’s the focus that it takes to do your best. If you have the ability to focus fully on the task at hand, and shut out everything else, you can accomplish amazing things.

Arnold Palmer, another golfing legend, recalled a tough lesson he learned about focus in Carol Mann’s book The 19th Hole:

It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus. On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters. You don’t forget a mistake like that; you just learn from it and become determined that you will never do that again. Trust me, your friends will understand!

A response Babe Ruth once gave to a reporter sticks in my mind: “How is it,” the Babe was asked, “that you always come through in the clutch? How is it you can come up to bat in the bottom of the 9th, in a key game with the score tied, with thousands of fans screaming in the stadium, with millions listening on the radio, the entire game on the line and deliver the game winning hit?” His answer, “I don’t know. I just keep my eye on the ball.”

In other words: Focus.

How many times have you heard an athlete talk about focus? It’s a topic I also hear about frequently in business. The most common complaints?

Too many irons in the fire. Too many projects spinning at one time. Too many interruptions. Too many phone calls. Too many emails. Too many things to do. Too little time.

The late Peter Drucker, management consultant and author, observed, “When you have 186 objectives nothing gets done. I always ask, ‘What’s the one thing you want to do?’ In Mexico they call me Senor Una Cosa.” (Translation: Mister One Thing)

Decide what’s most important. Make a list every day or every week and prioritize your activities. Scale back the amount of time you spend on meetings; they can be the biggest time-wasters of all. Learn to delegate, and make sure all members of your team follow through on assigned tasks.

Set aside a specific time of day to return phone calls and emails, and keep distractions to a minimum. In other words, set rules about how others use your time. And if you’re not the boss, work with your supervisor to make sure you agree on priorities.

Stay focused as best you can, and don’t let things happen to you—not when you can make things happen.

Mackay’s Moral: The person who is everywhere is nowhere.

Lifestyle: Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn

Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you.

Lifestyle is the art of discovering ways to live uniquely.

Some people have learned to earn well, but they haven't learned to live well.

Earn as much money as you possibly can and as quickly as you can. The sooner you get money out of the way, the sooner you will be able to get to the rest of your problems in style.

 Here's the major problem with going on strike for more money: You cannot get rich by demand.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Don’t Be Afraid to Ask the Question by Roger Dawson

I used to be afraid to ask questions for fear that the question would upset the other person. I was one of those people who say, “Would you mind if I asked you?” or “Would it embarrass you to tell me?” I don’t do that anymore. I ask them, “How much money did you make last year?” If they don’t want to tell you, they won’t. Even if they don’t answer the question, you’ll still be gathering information.

Just before General Schwarzkopf sent our troops into Kuwait, Sam Donaldson asked him, “General, when are you going to start the land war?” Did he really think that the general was going to say, “Sam, I promised the president that I wouldn’t tell any of the 500 reporters that keep asking me that question, but since you asked I’ll tell you. At 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday we’re going in”? Of course, Schwarzkopf wasn’t going to answer that question, but a good reporter asks anyway. It might put pressure on the other person or annoy him so that he blurts out something he didn’t intend to. Just judging the other person’s reaction to the question might tell you a great deal.

 If you want to learn about another person, nothing will work better than the direct question. In my own experience—now that I’m no longer afraid to ask—I’ve met only a few people who were seriously averse to answering even the most personal questions. For example, how many people get offended when you ask them, “Why were you in hospital?” Not very many.

 It’s a strange fact of human nature that we’re very willing to talk about ourselves, yet we’re reticent when it comes to asking others about themselves. We fear the nasty look and the rebuff to a personal question. We refrain from asking because we expect the response, “That’s none of your business.” Yet how often do we respond that way to others?

 When you get over your inhibitions about asking people, the number of people willing to help you will surprise you. When I wanted to become a professional speaker, I called up a speaker I admired, Danny Cox, and asked him if I could buy him lunch. Over lunch, he willingly gave me a $5,000 seminar on how to be successful as a speaker. Whenever I see him today, I remind him of how easy it would have been for him to talk me out of the idea. Instead, though, he was very encouraging. It still astounds me how people who have spent a lifetime accumulating knowledge in a particular area are more than willing to share that information with me without any thought of compensation.

It seems even more incredible that these experts are very rarely asked to share their expertise. Most people find experts intimidating, so the deep knowledge that they have to offer is never fully used. What a senseless waste of a valuable resource—all because of an irrational fear.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Who Is Really In Charge? by Jim Rohn

Finally, the elections are over. Some of you are certainly very happy and some are probably unhappy with the outcome and that is to be expected. Every four years we Americans participate in this grand experiment called America and we elect a President to lead us. That of course spurs lots of different opinions and positions and people can become emotionally involved with the outcome.

One thing that I always find fascinating in all elections, but especially the presidential elections, are the many promises that candidates make to the electorate. They promise to make the economy better and to make health care more affordable for the masses. They promise to make the taxes better and to create jobs.

 As I think about this, I want to challenge you to consider that while a President may have a general effect on your circumstances, they do not have a specific effect on your circumstances. Let me explain: While they may play a role in what direction the stock market goes, they do not have an effect in how an individual stock goes, or in whether or not you can make money in the stock market. So, while we certainly should vote and participate in the process, we must understand that no single person –other than you – will have an effect on what your individual life outcome is.

Let me give you some more examples:

A President may promise a better economy but you determine your economy. They may affect whether the dollar gains strength or loses it, but you determine what your financial position is going to be. The fact is that even in the worst economies, including recessions and depressions, there are those who will continue to thrive and even become extremely wealthy. In the great depression, there were countless people who, because of their individual efforts, became millionaires. So, no matter what the economy is nationally, you can become wealthy in the next four years. You don’t have to wait for anyone.

 A President may promise to create jobs, but the only person who is going to create YOUR job is you! You determine whether or not you have a job. The President doesn’t, the economy doesn’t, and the industry doesn’t. No matter how bad things get, there are always those who have good paying jobs. You choose what kind of person you will be, and how valuable you will make yourself to the marketplace and thus, what kind of job you will have. So, no matter what the job situation is nationally, you can have any job you want in the next four years. You don’t have to wait for anyone.

 A President may promise to do something about taxes, but no matter what the tax rate is, you can still build your personal wealth. Much of my wealth came to me when we still had extremely exorbitant tax rates. I have often said that if you want to be a millionaire and the tax rate is 50%, then just make two million. You determine how much you will have left after taxes, not the government. If you don’t like what you have left, make more. Now, am I saying we shouldn’t work to lower tax rates? No, but I am saying that we can be in control of our own lives regardless of the tax rate. So, no matter what the tax rate is, you can earn more money in the next four years. You don’t have to wait for anyone.

 A President may promise to make your health care available to you but you can make health care available to yourself! It isn’t that people can’t afford it; it is that you can’t afford it. What is the answer to that? The empowering answer is to do what it takes to put yourself in a financial and career situation wherein it doesn’t matter what the cost is, because you can afford it. Again, I am not saying that we shouldn’t work to make health care affordable for people, but when you leave it in the hands of someone else, then you make yourself dependent upon them, rather than becoming independent.

 The fact is that you control your life. You control your destiny. You chart your course. Those we elect are not the givers of our financial lives. I sometimes think that many people think that if we can just get the “right” person elected, then their lives will suddenly take a turn for the better. Not true. You determine the outcome of your life.

 Fortunes will be made in the next four years, no matter what. Some people will join the ranks of millionaires. That is amazing. The only question you have to ask is whether or not you will be one of them. People with high skills will always be in demand for high paying jobs. People who have a superb product or service to offer will always be in demand.

Did you vote? That’s great – we should as our civic duty. But the most important thing is not whether your candidate won or lost, but what kind of decision you will make about your own life, your own career, and your own financial situation, no matter who is in office.

Do that, and the world is yours for the taking.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Truth: Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn

Very few of us are authorities on the truth. About the closest that any of us can get is what we hope is the truth or what we think is the truth. That's why the best approach to truth is probably to say, "It seems to me..."

There is nothing wrong with affirmations, provided what you are affirming is the truth. If you are broke, for example, the best thing to affirm is, "I'm broke!"

Sincerity is not a test of truth. We must not make this mistake: He must be right; he's so sincere. Because, it is possible to be sincerely wrong. We can only judge truth by truth and sincerity by sincerity.

Find someone who is willing to share the truth with you.

 Here's the major problem with going on strike for more money: You cannot get rich by demand.

A Thankful Thanksgiving by Jim Rohn

Editor’s Note: In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November as a day for its citizens to give thanks for all that they have in their lives.

You may be wondering why I would call this article a Thankful Thanksgiving. Aren't all Thanksgivings thankful? Unfortunately, no. Since I had experienced more than 75 Thanksgivings, I recognize that being thankful is something that we have to work at, even on Thanksgiving.

 If your home is like most, your Thanksgiving Day will be very busy, with either traveling to where you want to go or preparing your home to have others over for the day. Either way, that can be very hectic and emotionally trying, which doesn't lend itself to preparing your heart to be reflective and thankful. In fact, Thanksgiving weekend is the most traveled weekend in America. Airports are full, and don’t always provide much room for contemplation of your good fortune.

This means all the more that if we want to be the kind of people who are characterized by thankfulness, then we must make sure that we focus on it, and not just on Thanksgiving Day, but at all times during the year.

 Here are a few key words as well as some thoughts that are simple and practical to apply; something you can use right away in your quest to become more thankful:

Time. Set aside time regularly to be quiet, to reflect. We live in the fastest-paced time ever. From the moment we awake to the moment we collapse into bed, we have the opportunity to go at full speed and never slow down. If we schedule time every day in which we can be quiet and reflect, we will free our hearts and minds from the tyranny of the urgent and rushed.

Thought. Give thought to the many blessings that you have. Living in a consumer culture, most of us are fully aware of what we do not have and how we absolutely must have "it." But how often do we reflect upon that which we already have? Take some time each day and think of one or two things you have that you may typically take for granted, and then take a moment and give thanks for those. In fact, I make it a part of my reflection time to review a list of things that I'm thankful for.

Generosity. Be generous toward those with less and not envious of those with more. We tend to look at others who may be wealthier than ourselves and think, "I sure wish I had what he does." That kind of thinking breeds envy and jealousy rather than contentment. What can we do to break that cycle? I would suggest being generous to those who are less fortunate than yourself. Go to work at a food bank, and not just during the holidays—everybody works there then—but on a regular basis during the year. That will remind you of how good you really have it.

Ask. Ask a friend what they are thankful for. You will be amazed at the answers you receive and you will create a meaningful bond with your friends as you focus on this powerful question.

Acknowledge. Lastly, tell those you love how thankful you are for having them in your life. So many times we neglect to take the time to craft the words to express to those closest to us what their presence in our lives means to us. Take the opportunity of Thanksgiving Day to write them a note, or sometime during the day put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eyes and tell them. Let them know what they mean to you, and in return you'll begin to create the possibility of deeper, richer, more fulfilling relationships with those you love.

Of course, we should do what we can to make the most of the day we call Thanksgiving, but wouldn't it be a shame if the only time we reflected on our blessings was that one Thursday in November? And the answer is, of course! So let's do our best to be aware of the many great gifts that we have each and every day of the year. As we do so we will see our hearts soar and our minds more and more at peace as we regularly remember and remain aware of our good fortune.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Daily Dose of Inspiration

One of the easiest ways to partake in this season of thanksgiving is to affirm others. As the author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Mark Victor Hansen advises to kick off the season of giving with the gift of affirmation: “Affirmations don't have to be fancy, long or drawn-out. Simplicity is the key. And they should be in the present, not the future tense. Remember, the subconscious doesn't operate in the future, it only understands now. Your affirmation should be spoken with as much conviction as you can give it. If you find yourself stumbling over the words, start over. A hint here is that if you just can't make yourself say it, shout it.”

Your Inspired comments are appreciated.

Thank You :)

The Positive Side of Change by Connie Podesta

If you routinely describe your current job as boring, mundane or menial, then perhaps a change is good for you. One of the most positive aspects of change is that it is never boring. On the contrary, it can create passion. And passion—and the excitement, creativity and energy that accompany it—is the spark that keeps us going.

Passion could be called the charge for our life’s batteries. Without that charge, it’s hard to get our engines revved up. That igniting charge is sparked by the challenge of change—learning new things, meeting new people, growing as professionals, and taking risks that push us to reach our potential. None of that can happen unless and until we are willing to experience the fear that inevitably arises when we move out of our comfort zones. No risk, no fear; no fear, no passion; no passion, no fun.

If we want passion back in our lives, we must be willing to meet the challenge of change. What might that mean for you? Perhaps it might involve going back to school, learning how to work with a computer, working with a team, taking on new responsibilities, or redefining a career path. If you want to remain employable, you may have to change more than just your attitude and your reaction to change. You may have to change some of your ideas and goals to create a better future for yourself.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Understanding ‘Thanks’ So You Can Say It in a Better Way by Jeffrey Gitomer

Well, it’s that time of the year again. Gobble gobble. Everyone will eat more food and more leftovers than last year. Families will gather and—some thankfully—depart.

 Many people are now practicing the, “Send a Thanksgiving card to beat those who send Christmas cards.” Yeah, that’s a good idea. Instead of sending an insincere Christmas card, you can send an insincere Thanksgiving card. Now of course not everyone sends an insincere holiday card. But many have a “list,” and they send a card to everyone on it no matter what.

 What Thanksgiving is really all about is giving thanks, or better yet, saying thanks.

 How do you say thanks?

 Go into any retail store and most of the time (not all the time) some clerk will say, “Thanks and have a nice day.” Do they only mean that day? If I didn’t buy anything, would they still want me to have a nice day? After they say the same thing 1,000 times, do they really mean it, or are they just repeating it out of habit?

Back to Thanksgiving. For many, there is genuineness about Thanksgiving. For me, personally, it’s my favorite holiday. Friends and family gather around and give thanks for the meal, but I’ve always used it for a time of reflection. Who can I call to say hello to? Who do I wish was at the dinner that has passed away? What do I really need to be thankful for? And what actions will I take to show my thankfulness? That’s thanksgiving to me.

 Oh sure, I love the turkey, I love the stuffing, I love the cranberry sauce, I love the pumpkin pie, but way more than that, I love the feeling.
After Thanksgiving comes the panic before Christmas: the list, the shopping, the 6 am sales, the traffic, the hustle bustle. In all of that, you may be forgetting that “saying thanks” thing that you resolved to do at Thanksgiving.

 So please permit me to awaken you as to the reality of Thanksgiving and the promise of Christmas. The simple answer is: saying thanks.

 Most businesses spend a bunch of time and money going after new customers. Most businesses also have a turnover or attrition or churn or loss of old customers, some as much as 50%. Upper management will say “this is normal” because they wouldn’t want anyone to think it was abnormal, when in fact, 50% or more of customer loss is preventable.

 Most businesses fail to realize that their present customers constitute 100% of all their sales, and 100% of all their profit. Yet by comparison of marketing dollars spent, they’re frightfully less to keep their existing business than they do to gain new business, a fact that has always perplexed me.
Call as many customers as you can personally. No email, no letter, no card, just call. Leave a message telling them how much you appreciate their business this year, and how you look forward to earning their business next year.

If you are going to send a card, sign it personally with a note thanking them in addition to whatever your printed message says.

Resolve to help them over the course of the next year, so that you can be seen as more than a vendor or a product provider, and be looked at more as a partner.

 Here are a few value ideas to get you thinking:
If you sold them a house, show them how to build equity.
If you sold them a copier, show them how to be more efficient in the office.
 If you are an accountant or lawyer and they are your client, show them how to protect their assets or their family.
 Everyone has a value that they can share, and most don’t take advantage of it. I’m not saying gift giving is wrong. I am saying that you can add to any of your gifts in a personalized way that will make your customers appreciate you, and think twice before they stop doing business with you, and not have to think twice if they are going to refer someone to you.

 There’s a big difference between giving thanks and saying thanks. My recommendation is that this holiday season you overdose on both.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Dream Torture by Denis Waitley

Perhaps the greatest torture that could be devised would be for us to be forced, in our later years, to watch a continuously repeating movie of the lives we could have led had we dared to believe in and pursue the dreams and goals that were available and attainable in our lifetimes.

Don’t Be a Spectator

While we all say we don’t have enough time to do justice to our goals and dreams, each of us has all the time there is. None of us really has a time-management problem. We really have a dream- and goal-focus problem. We spend too much energy worrying about the things we want to do but can’t, instead of concentrating on doing the things we can do but don’t. It is the regret for something we did or didn’t do yesterday and the apprehension of what we can’t do tomorrow that is the biggest energy drain on our lives.

A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. It is what you would like your life to become. A goal is what, specifically, you intend to make happen. However, many individuals become spectators, resigned to experience success vicariously through others’ accomplishments. They can see success for others, but they can’t imagine it for themselves. Dreams and goals are previews of coming attractions in your life. You can be the script writer, the star, and the producer of an Oscar-winning epic life or an extra in a “B” movie that someone else wrote and directed for you. Which is it to be?

Stay Focused on You

Make certain that your goals are not measured in comparison with others. Avoid the tendency to measure your own progress by looking over the fence at greener pastures. There are many others who have started a little earlier than you, and you may become discouraged if you see them harvesting success when some of your seeds are barely in the ground. Comparison rarely benefits anyone. You’ll always be able to find someone smarter, younger, older, wiser, richer, more clever, better looking, or working harder or more effectively than you are.

When you make comparisons in which you place yourself beneath others, you’re in for a discouragement that will keep you procrastinating and perhaps even from seriously pursuing your life goals. You can also find others who don’t measure up to what you have become or are aspiring to be. Avoid the tendency to compare yourself with them as well. You will lower your goals and settle for average when you could have excellence. You may come to think that you deserve more success than others or that success lies ahead for you no matter what you do. Both are false assumptions.

Success isn’t a pie with a limited number of pieces. The success of others has very little bearing on your own success. You and everyone you know can become successful without anyone suffering setbacks, harm, or downturns. Neither is your success measured by what others say or accomplish. Only you can truly define your success, and only you can measure it.

Denis Waitley's new 2-CD program, Becoming an Authentic MVP, brings together his most celebrated and timeless success principles in a concise, engaging and simple-to-absorb format. Click here now to listen to a FREE sample track!

Daily Dose

Two-time U.S. Memory Champion and sales trainer Ron White says that to be a top producer, you must be prepared. “Decide what questions are thought-provoking questions, memorize those questions and ask them to your prospect. When they are engaged and thinking, then you win. When you are winging it and just spouting information, the odds of them being engaged decrease significantly.”

Comments appreciated..

Thank You :)

Six Behaviors That Increase Self-Esteem by Denis Waitley

Following are six behaviors that increase self-esteem, enhance your self-confidence, and spur your motivation. You may recognize some of them as things you naturally do in your interactions with other people. But if you don’t, I suggest you motivate yourself to take some of these important steps immediately.

First, greet others with a smile and look them directly in the eye. A smile and direct eye contact convey confidence born of self-respect. In the same way, answer the phone pleasantly whether at work or at home, and when placing a call, give your name before asking to speak to the party you want to reach. Leading with your name underscores that a person with self-respect is making the call.

Second, always show real appreciation for a gift or compliment. Don’t downplay or sidestep expressions of affection or honor from others. The ability to accept or receive is a universal mark of an individual with solid self-esteem.

Third, don’t brag. It’s almost a paradox that genuine modesty is actually part of the capacity to gracefully receive compliments. People who brag about their own exploits or demand special attention are simply trying to build themselves up in the eyes of others—and that’s because they don’t perceive themselves as already worthy of respect.

Fourth, don’t make your problems the centerpiece of your conversation. Talk positively about your life and the progress you’re trying to make. Be aware of any negative thinking, and take notice of how often you complain. When you hear yourself criticize someone—and this includes self-criticism—find a way to be helpful instead of critical.

Fifth, respond to difficult times or depressing moments by increasing your level of productive activity. When your self-esteem is being challenged, don’t sit around and fall victim to “paralysis by analysis.” The late Malcolm Forbes said, “Vehicles in motion use their generators to charge their own batteries. Unless you happen to be a golf cart, you can’t recharge your battery when you’re parked in the garage!”

Sixth, choose to see mistakes and rejections as opportunities to learn. View a failure as the conclusion of one performance, not the end of your entire career. Own up to your shortcomings, but refuse to see yourself as a failure. A failure may be something you have done—and it may even be something you’ll have to do again on the way to success—but a failure is definitely not something you are. .

 Even if you’re at a point where you’re feeling very negatively about yourself, be aware that you’re now ideally positioned to make rapid and dramatic improvement. A negative self-evaluation, if it’s honest and insightful, takes much more courage and character than the self-delusions that underlie arrogance and conceit. I’ve seen the truth of this proven many times in my work with athletes. After an extremely poor performance, a team or an individual athlete often does much better the next time out, especially when the poor performance was so bad that there was simply no way to shirk responsibility for it. Disappointment, defeat, and even apparent failure are in no way permanent conditions unless we choose to make them so. On the contrary, these undeniably painful experiences can be the solid foundation on which to build future success.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Being a Difference Maker by Zig Ziglar

Most people are familiar with the fact that on October 8, 1871, a fire broke out in Chicago and claimed more than 200 lives and destroyed more than 7,000 buildings. But many people do not realize that on the same day, fire also broke out in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. That blaze claimed an estimated 1,500 lives and scorched 1.28 million acres of timberland. The news media of the day were centered in and around Chicago, whereas Peshtigo was small and off the beaten path. Consequently, the attention was minimal. But I think all of us would agree that the Peshtigo fire was significant. Because it didn't get the publicity, however, very few people are aware of it today.

That's the way it frequently is in life. Literally thousands of people are doing significant things every day to help a neighbor, a homeless individual, or those who do not have fuel to heat their homes or food for their tables. These silent angels of mercy do these things because they want to do them and because they believe they are their brothers' keepers. The joy and satisfaction of doing something with no thought of recognition, reward, or return are all the pay these unsung heroes want. They do their good deeds for unselfish reasons. Without them, who knows what state of affairs our world would be in? I certainly don't, but I can guarantee you one thing--it would be much worse than it is today. Be a difference maker for others and it will make a difference in your life.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Simple Communications by Zig Ziglar

Jim Rohn’s dear friend, personal development legend Zig Ziglar, joined him in heaven on November 28, 2012. Like Jim, Zig Ziglar touched millions of lives with his words of wisdom. Since Zig was known as a master communicator and sales guru, here is a classic Ziglar article that we’d like to share with you in his honor.



When I entered the sales world, one of the first things my manager taught me was to keep my presentation so clear and uncluttered that a child could understand what I was saying. This advice has had a lasting impact on my life. I frequently remind my audiences that I speak and write at the seventh grade, ninth month level. I do this because I've discovered that at that level virtually everyone can clearly understand the message--even college professors! I include college professors because they're real people, and they, too, deserve to understand.

As my friend, Dr. Steve Franklin, a college professor from Emory University who taught me this, said, "The great truths in life are the simple ones. You do not need three moving parts and four syllables for it to be significant." He then pointed out that "there are only three pure colors--but look what Michelangelo did with them. There are only seven notes, but look at what Chopin, Beethoven and Vivaldi did with them. For that matter, look at what Elvis did with two!"

 Most of us prefer things we can understand. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is short and clear with nearly 80 percent of the words only one syllable. "God is love"--three words, all of them one syllable.

 Seriously, now, when you ask someone what they had for breakfast, would you really appreciate it if they responded that they had the "upper part of a hog's hind leg, with two oval bodies encased in a shell laid by a female bird?" Or would you prefer to have the person answer, "We had ham and eggs for breakfast"?

 And remember, language changes. At one time we referred to a person who spread rumors around the office as a "gossip." Now that person is called an "information specialist." Personally, I prefer simple, clear, direct communications. I'm convinced that most people do. Keep your communications "simple," and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Activity

When it comes to motivating yourself to get something done, nobody says it better than America’s foremost business philosopher, Jim Rohn, who says the following: “Every time we choose action over ease or labor over rest, we develop an increasing level of self-worth, self-respect and self-confidence. In the final analysis… it is not what we get that makes us valuable, it is what we become in the process of doing that brings value into our lives. It is activity that converts human dreams into human reality, and that conversion from idea into actuality gives us a personal value that can come from no other source.”

Yours comments are appreciated :)

Thriving Through the Holidays by Jim Rohn

The holidays are upon us; a time of celebration and joy. I love the last days of November through the beginning of the New Year. The pure magic of the holidays is something that I anticipate and enjoy each and every year.

For some though, the holidays have lost the joy and excitement they at other times have had. The pace of life has grown so fast—much faster than those first holidays I remember in my life—that some people don’t enjoy the times they get to spend with their family and friends during what is supposed to be days filled with joy and peace.

Why is that? Probably a lot can be laid at the feet of how fast-paced our times are, but that isn’t all.

I believe our holiday times should be wonderful and filled with lasting and enjoyable moments and memories. So how can we ensure that we come out of the holidays in January with great memories of the past month? Here are six thoughts that will help you experience the holidays the way they were intended to be experienced:

Be Temperate

Holidays can be days of excess for many—too much food, too many cookies and treats. Too much chocolate, schedules that are too busy. One thing that will help you enjoy the holidays is to be temperate. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the treats. Enjoy the busy schedule of activities and parties. But also be disciplined enough to know when to hold back, when to say, “No.” When we go overboard we regret it and lose the opportunity to fully experience that moment. But when we enjoy a little and refrain from going too far, then we can enjoy all that little piece of time has to offer.

Lower Your Expectations

Much of the frustration people experience from the holidays is from setting their expectations too high. They expect too much from friends or family, and when they don’t get what they want, they get frustrated. They expect presents to be perfect and when they aren’t, they get frustrated or disappointed. Instead of having huge expectations this holiday season, just take it as it comes and enjoy what you can. And this brings me to my next point.

Enjoy What You Can and Ignore the Rest

This holiday season, go with an attitude of knowing that things will be what they will be. You can’t control other people or their actions. If a family member pushes the limits of your patience, ignore that and instead focus on how much you can enjoy the time you have with other family members. If things don’t go perfectly—which they won’t—then enjoy what you can and let the rest slide. You will feel a lot better about life if you can take all things a little easier.

Stay Out of Debt

Debt is a killer. It will steal your enjoyment of life. Be sure to stay within your financial boundaries this holiday season. The last thing you want is to start the New Year with a deeper burden financially. Know where you are financially and stay within those limits. You don’t have to impress anyone, just buy gifts that you can afford and express your feelings in the giving of the gift.

Take Time for Yourself

 Be sure that, no matter how busy you get, you take time for yourself. Take time to read. Take a long bath if that relaxes you. Take a walk. Spend some time of quiet in front of a fire. Don’t rush through the holidays and sap all of your energy. Your mind and body need to be re-energized, so be sure to take time to do so.

Focus on Your Spiritual Life

Ultimately, no matter what tradition you come from, the holidays are historically days in which we focus on the spiritual. Men and women are created with a natural draw toward spiritual life. However, our culture today tends to stay away from a focus on the spiritual, and that has even crept into our holidays. Be sure to place an emphasis on building your spiritual life and growing in that area. This will help keep you grounded and able to deal with anything that may come your way.

Friends, this time of year is another chance to remember the important truths of life and to enjoy time with dear friends and family.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Thriving Through the Holidays by Jim Rohn

The holidays are upon us; a time of celebration and joy. I love the last days of November through the beginning of the New Year. The pure magic of the holidays is something that I anticipate and enjoy each and every year.

For some though, the holidays have lost the joy and excitement they at other times have had. The pace of life has grown so fast—much faster than those first holidays I remember in my life—that some people don’t enjoy the times they get to spend with their family and friends during what is supposed to be days filled with joy and peace.

Why is that? Probably a lot can be laid at the feet of how fast-paced our times are, but that isn’t all.

I believe our holiday times should be wonderful and filled with lasting and enjoyable moments and memories. So how can we ensure that we come out of the holidays in January with great memories of the past month? Here are six thoughts that will help you experience the holidays the way they were intended to be experienced:

Be Temperate

Holidays can be days of excess for many—too much food, too many cookies and treats. Too much chocolate, schedules that are too busy. One thing that will help you enjoy the holidays is to be temperate. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the treats. Enjoy the busy schedule of activities and parties. But also be disciplined enough to know when to hold back, when to say, “No.” When we go overboard we regret it and lose the opportunity to fully experience that moment. But when we enjoy a little and refrain from going too far, then we can enjoy all that little piece of time has to offer.

Lower Your Expectations

Much of the frustration people experience from the holidays is from setting their expectations too high. They expect too much from friends or family, and when they don’t get what they want, they get frustrated. They expect presents to be perfect and when they aren’t, they get frustrated or disappointed. Instead of having huge expectations this holiday season, just take it as it comes and enjoy what you can. And this brings me to my next point.

Enjoy What You Can and Ignore the Rest

This holiday season, go with an attitude of knowing that things will be what they will be. You can’t control other people or their actions. If a family member pushes the limits of your patience, ignore that and instead focus on how much you can enjoy the time you have with other family members. If things don’t go perfectly—which they won’t—then enjoy what you can and let the rest slide. You will feel a lot better about life if you can take all things a little easier.

Stay Out of Debt

Debt is a killer. It will steal your enjoyment of life. Be sure to stay within your financial boundaries this holiday season. The last thing you want is to start the New Year with a deeper burden financially. Know where you are financially and stay within those limits. You don’t have to impress anyone, just buy gifts that you can afford and express your feelings in the giving of the gift.

Take Time for Yourself

 Be sure that, no matter how busy you get, you take time for yourself. Take time to read. Take a long bath if that relaxes you. Take a walk. Spend some time of quiet in front of a fire. Don’t rush through the holidays and sap all of your energy. Your mind and body need to be re-energized, so be sure to take time to do so.

Focus on Your Spiritual Life

Ultimately, no matter what tradition you come from, the holidays are historically days in which we focus on the spiritual. Men and women are created with a natural draw toward spiritual life. However, our culture today tends to stay away from a focus on the spiritual, and that has even crept into our holidays. Be sure to place an emphasis on building your spiritual life and growing in that area. This will help keep you grounded and able to deal with anything that may come your way.

Friends, this time of year is another chance to remember the important truths of life and to enjoy time with dear friends and family.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Robert Frost and Bobby Thigpen by Ron White

Bobby Thigpen spent most of his career with the Chicago White Sox and had a good baseball career. However, I am sure that it's a little known fact that he also fancied himself as somewhat of a poet. That's right... a poet. The man to whom the White Sox turned in the ninth to mow down batters could have been the next Robert Frost.

Actually, that may be an exaggeration. His poetry most likely would not have received an “A” in any junior high English class. Thigpen, after his first full year in the Major Leagues, posted a 7 and 5 record with 16 saves and an ERA of 2.70. But, he did sense that the possibility of not being signed was real. He sent this short poem to White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf:

As I sit at home this off-season,
I wonder what the hell is the reason,
Why the club wants to be unfair,
Underpaying a player who can produce and care.

Reinsdorf could roll with the punches and promptly responded with some rhymes of his own.

I hope you are a really good pitcher,
Because as a poet you will never get richer;
If you are not pitching this year,
I will be sad but won’t fear;
Though you may be one of the best,
There’s always someone among the rest.

At this point it was getting fun. And Thigpen couldn’t resist but to respond with more poetry of his own. Thigpen sent this gem to his fellow poet:

It is true that my potential as a poet is very small,
But, in the ninth, who do you want to have the ball?
You say there will always be someone among the rest,
But, who do you want, them or the best?

Thigpen didn’t get his salary doubled like he wanted. But, he did get signed and had a nice career. Someone once said that, “Life is too serious to be taken seriously.” Thigpen is a man who had an unconventional and fun approach to a very serious issue, such as his salary. How often in business and life do you make a serious situation only more serious by being unnecessarily stoic. If we can learn any lesson from Thigpen, it would be to lighten up and have some fun.

Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn: Concentration

The best advice I ever came across on the subject of concentration is: Wherever you are, be there.

When you work, work. When you play, play. Don't mix the two.

Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of attention.

On the way to work, concentrate on the way - not the work.

Pay attention. Don't just stagger through the day.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Let’s Go Do It. by Jim Rohn

To really help people in extraordinary ways, learn to deal in challenges. That is what sports is all about: challenges. That is what music is all about. The challenge to play so well, someone is inspired. The challenge to say it so well, someone gets it. The challenge to be so gifted in language that someone sees it. Insight is unbelievable; only human beings can do this.

The man closes his eyes and puts his hands over his eyes and says, “I see it.” You say, “No, you don’t; you’ve got your eyes closed.” No. There is more than one way to see. And all someone has to do is to see an answer that they can start on immediately, and within six months, their life could start to multiply and change. Within one year, the difference will be extraordinary, and a person who was lost now becomes a person of influence—just because someone helped them to see for the moment what was wrong and the possibility to change it. And then the challenge to go do it and do it well.

Now, here is the best challenge of all: “Let’s go do it.” Don’t always say, “You go do it. You change.” But rather, “Let’s get healthy. Let’s go change the world. Let’s build an enterprise. Let’s work on this together.” See, I always respond better to “let’s.” Sometimes it is hard to lift yourself out. It’s hard to be self-inspired at first. And if someone says, “Come on, let’s start a new program.” “Come on, let’s do exercises.” “Come on, let’s get healthy.” “Come on, let’s start something. I’ll be there, you be there, and you bring a guest and I’ll bring a guest—let’s start something.” That is so inspiring to have somebody say “let’s.” “Let’s do it.” “Let’s build a team.” “Let’s win the championship.” “Let’s walk off with the trophy.”

“Let’s.” Wow, there is something about that that can keep you awake at nights. There is something about that that turns on the juices. There is something about that that reaches deep in the soul. For a person could do extraordinary things when somebody says “Let’s.” “Let’s do it.” “I’ve got two with me already; if you’ll be the next one, we can conquer the world.” You say, “Whoa, together nobody is a match for us.” By yourself, you’re vulnerable; but with us, nobody is a match. You say, “Wow! I want to belong to that team.” So figure out ways to say “Let’s.”

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Taking the "Unknowns" to the "Knowns": Knowing Your Audience Can Make All the Difference in Presenting by Tony Jeary

From your audience’s viewpoint, your presentation must answer a simple question:

“What’s in it for me?” But in order to know what’s in it for your audience, you must first know who your audience is.

Begin by forming a mental image of your audience through the following checklist as soon as you schedule a presentation.

• Create a profile of the average audience member-include age, background, marital status, education, income, and job
• Create a list of people your audience would likely admire
• Talk with former attendees of the same types of presentations
• Talk with former presenters who’ve addressed similar groups
• Interview the client or event planner if available
• Request a list of likely audience members, then pre-poll them by calling in advance to see what they expect

Knowing your audience is crucial if you want to satisfy their needs. According to David Freeborn, an experienced speaker and presenter, there are four basic categories or mental states of those in the audience. They include:

The Prisoner—this is the person who would rather be anywhere other than indoors listening to another talk. Someone else sent him to your seminar. Prisoners are not responsible for being there…but they are responsible for what they take out of there!

The Vacationer—this is the person who volunteers to go to any seminar, figuring it’s better to be in a meeting than at work, home, or wherever else he’d normally be. He’s happy to be there, but for the wrong reasons, but count on vacationers to help you have a good time.

The Graduate—this is the person who thinks he doesn’t need to be there because he already knows this stuff. Create opportunities for them to share their knowledge and wisdom with others.

The Student—this is the attentive, hard-working, perfect audience member who wants to hear what you’ve come to say. He is eager to learn and share and, like a sponge, ready to absorb all he can to help him be more effective personally and professionally.

Once you’ve done this audience research, answer the following 5 questions:

1. What knowledge about my topic do they bring to the table?
2. Will they be for me or against me? Why?
3. Who are the people they most admire in their organizations and who are they most likely to admire outside their organizations?
4. What things have worked with similar audiences in the past, and what things haven’t?
5. Why was I asked to present?

This single audience reference page will do wonders for taking the “unknowns” to the “knowns”. After all, knowing your audience is one of the most crucial foundations to a powerful presentation.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn: Emotions

Emotions will either serve or master, depending on who is in charge.

Our emotions need to be as educated as our intellect. It is important to know how to feel, how to respond, and how to let life in so that it can touch you.

Civilization is the intelligent management of human emotions.

Measure your emotions. You don't need an atomic explosion for a minor point.

Women have an incredible ability to pick up on emotional signals. For example, there are some wolves that are so clever they have learned to dress up like sheep. Man says, "Looks like a sheep. Talks like a sheep." Woman says, "Ain't no sheep!"

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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Maintaining Honesty and Integrity by Jim Rohn

For a leader, honesty and integrity are absolutely essential to survival. A lot of businesspeople don’t realize how closely they’re being watched by their subordinates. Remember when you were a kid in grammar school, how you used to sit there staring at your teacher all day? By the end of the school year, you could do a perfect imitation of all your teacher’s mannerisms. You were aware of the slightest nuances in your teacher’s voice—all the little clues that distinguished levels of meaning that told you the difference between bluff and “now I mean business.”

And you were able to do that after eight or nine months of observation. Suppose you had five or 10 years. Do you think there would have been anything about your teacher you didn’t know?

Now fast-forward and use that analogy as a manager. Do you think there’s anything your people don’t know about you right this minute? If you haven’t been totally aboveboard and honest with them, do you really think you’ve gotten away with it? Not too likely. But if you’ve been led to believe that you’ve gotten away with it, there might be a good probability that people are afraid of you, and that’s a problem in its own right.

But there is another side of this coin. In any organization, people want to believe in their leaders. If you give them reason to trust you, they’re not going to go looking for reasons to think otherwise, and they’ll be just as perceptive about your positive qualities as they are about the negative ones.

A situation that happened some years ago at a company in the Midwest illustrates this perfectly. The wife of a new employee experienced complications in the delivery of a baby. There was a medical bill of more than $10,000, and the health insurance company didn’t want to cover it. The employee hadn’t been on the payroll long enough, the pregnancy was a preexisting condition, etc., etc.

In any case, the employee was desperate. He approached the company CEO and asked him to talk to the insurance people. The CEO agreed, and the next thing the employee knew, the bill was gone and the charges were rescinded.

When he told some colleagues about the way the CEO had so readily used his influence with the insurance company, they just shook their heads and smiled. The CEO had paid the bill out of his own pocket, and everybody knew it, no matter how quietly it had been done.

Now an act of dishonesty can’t be hidden either, and it will instantly undermine the authority of a leader. But an act of integrity and kindness like the example above is just as obvious to all concerned. When you’re in a leadership position, you have the choice of how you will be seen, but you will be seen one way or the other, make no mistake about it.

One of the most challenging areas of leadership is your family. Leadership of a family demands even higher standards of honesty and integrity, and the stakes are higher too. You can replace disgruntled employees and start over. You can even get a new job for yourself, if it comes to that. But your family can’t be shuffled like a deck of cards. If you haven’t noticed, kids are great moral philosophers, especially as they get into adolescence. They’re determined to discover and expose any kind of hypocrisy, phoniness, or lack of integrity on the part of authority figures, and if we’re parents, that means us. It’s frightening how unforgiving kids can be about this, but it really isn’t a conscious decision on their part; it’s just a necessary phase of growing up.

They’re testing everything, especially their parents.

As a person of integrity yourself, you’ll find it easy to teach integrity to your kids, and they in turn will find it easy to accept you as a teacher. This is a great opportunity and also a supreme responsibility, because kids simply must be taught to tell the truth: to mean what they say and to say what they mean.

Praise is one of the world’s most effective teaching and leadership tools. Criticism and blame, even if deserved, are counterproductive unless all other approaches have failed.

Now for the other side of the equation, we all know people who have gotten ahead as a result of dishonest or unethical behavior. When you’re a kid, you might naively think that never happens, but when you get older, you realize that it does. Then you think you’ve really wised up. But that’s not the real end of it. When you get older, you see the long-term consequences of dishonest gain, and you realize that in the end it doesn’t pay.

“Hope of dishonest gain is the beginning of loss.” I don’t think that old saying refers to loss of money. I think it actually means loss of self-respect. You can have all the material things in the world, but if you’ve lost respect for yourself, what do you really have? The only way to ever attain success and enjoy it is to achieve it honestly with pride in what you’ve done.

This isn’t just a sermon, it’s very practical advice. Not only can you take it to heart, you can take it to the bank.

Resource for this post: Jim Rohn's Official Newsletter

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