When Reality Sets In
It was thirty-some years ago but I remember it like yesterday. We were living in a small fishing village in the province of Newfoundland. It was getting close to Christmas and I was taking a trip with my family into the city to do some last minute shopping.
Being a kid I could not wait to check out the toy department. So we get to the mall and I am not quite sure how it happened but somehow there was miscommunication and Mom thought I was with Dad and vice versa. All I knew is that I was surrounded by toys and was caught up in an imaginary world of Hot Wheels, GI Joe and Star Wars. I was having a blast until I realized that my parents were not there and I was alone. Truth be told I was scared. As a kid this mall seemed huge, and it was packed. How would I ever find my parents? That’s when reality set in.
Now, I can’t imagine the feelings my parents experienced when they ran into each other in the corridor of the mall and I was nowhere to be found. I am sure they were scared, angry, possibly they blamed the other. The good news is I was reunited with my parents after about 30 minutes and I’ll share that story in an upcoming video here on the site. I wanted to share this story as an illustration of what happens when reality sets in. Read More…
Your Best You
Hello friends,
This is something very short today. I’ve been sick and the doc says it’s a bronchial infection. I had bronchitis at Christmas and never quite shook it and it hit me like a brick starting on Saturday evening. My head is spinning, and my body aches but I still wanted to take a quick moment to encourage you.
Click the link below and enjoy a video that summarizes what I’ve been teaching.
Talk soon!
Expressing Thanks
“A weird time in which we are alive. We can travel anywhere we want, even to other planets. And for what? To sit day after day, declining in morale and hope.” –Philip Dick, The Man in the High Castle
I dream of standing in front of a crowd and asking the audience, “Would the pessimist in the room please stand up?” (I use the singular in the hopes that the majority of people in attendance are optimists. Is that too much to ask?) As people begin to stand I would proceed to point out in dramatic fashion how amazing it is that those standing were actually able to get up out of their chair on their own accord. I would point out that they were able to get out of bed, get dressed, get in a vehicle, drive, park, walk, sit, stand, etc… I hope you get my point.
There is a drastic shortage of optimism in our world. I would love to simply blame it on the media, the government, the economy, but that falls short of identifying the target. It’s lets ‘you’ and ‘I’ off the hook far too easily.
I have met with a handful of people in the past month who have commented with great anxiety that they’re in a rut and will never get out. I usually respond with tremendous compassion and balance it with advice and hope. However, I sat with guy and it’s been the same song and dance for two years. He’s given up and the sad thing is that he has not even tried to fight. During our last go round in a moment of extreme frustration I looked him in the eye and I finally said, “Stop! You’re whining. You can walk, eat, move, jump, run, dance, shout, and you choose to mope. Helen Keller could not see, hear, or talk and she made a difference. Rick Hansen was in a wheelchair and he took that chair across the country with the strength of his own hands. What’s your excuse?” It was not my most empathetic moment but it addresses a crucial issue – Choice!
You have a choice to be optimistic or not. You have a choice to be happy or not. You have a choice to change or not. Now I do not want to diminish those who are legitimately battling depression. There are those who have chemical imbalances, or who are facing tremendous loss. It is understandable that all of us may go through times of incredible pain. Even the ancients in their wisdom recognized that “there is a time to laugh and a time to cry.”
I have begun battling the potential of negativity by starting each day with a ‘thankful list’ – It is my way of keeping my focus on the things that I am grateful for. I should mention that I am battling a cold and sinus funk today and have not felt like doing a whole lot but sleep and sleep some more. A few weeks ago I would have excused myself from writing and I’m sure everyone would have understood. So here I am underneath the blankets with my eyes closed typing this blog post. So today even though I feel awful, I am thankful. Even though, I have gone from the bed to the couch to the bed and back to the couch again, I am thankful. Here are the things I wrote that I was thankful for this morning:
- Juju’s hugs (my daughter)
- Ability to read and gain new insights
- The laughter of my two boy’s in the next room playing legos and creating imaginary worlds.
- Sweet Jenny who is incredibly patient with me.
- Kind words from friends
Those were just the first five. Even if you are the most positive person you know – I would challenge you to make a gratitude list daily and keep it in a journal. I assure you that once you begin to take account of all that you have surrounding you that is good, it will be hard to stay blue. It starts with you – Make the change.
Business mindset – Top 5 Books
I have had a blast this past week sharing encouragement and a healthy dose of optimism daily. Quite honestly, it has been a huge encouragement to me as well. I have gotten such great feedback from friends, and colleagues proving there is a hunger and desire for positive, and uplifting content.
I have had several emails on Facebook wanting to know where I look for inspiration. I decided to put together a short list of 5 books that have had a profound influence on my thinking from a business and mindset perspective. Enjoy!
Note: In the spirit of full disclosure – If you click on the link and buy one of these books, I may get an affiliate commission.
5. Today We Are Rich: Harnessing the Power of Total Confidence
This book taught me the value and the power of gratitude. More importantly it taught me the value of practicing or exercising gratitude consistently. Tim is a compelling writer and this great work gave me the benefit of perspective that I have much to be thankful for.
4. How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life
Research shows that people tend to leave their job if the do not feel recognized, or if they don’t have a ‘friend’ at work. This book showed me the value of really investing in others to create a sense of belonging. You can never give too much legitimate praise.
3. Success Is Not an Accident: Change Your Choices; Change Your Life
This book started a revolution in my thinking. It taught me that success can be duplicated and can be taught. It showed me the value of balanced living and setting goals. Most of all it taught that success is the result of specific and intentional action.
2. Huge Profits With A Tiny List: 50 Ways To Use Relationship Marketing To Increase Your Bottom Line
Connie Ragen Green is one of the most authentic marketers I have ever encountered. She has the heart of a teacher and is living evidence that greatness and success is meant to be shared. She has taught me about building a relationship with my market. An incredible author, an incredible person.
1. Now, Discover Your Strengths
This book is a must read for anyone trying to figure out where they fit in. I fully believe that a lot of people are miserable because they are working in an area that does not allow them to make full use of their strengths. This book affirmed me in ways that I cannot fully explain. This is a must read book and be sure to take the StrengthsFinder Survey.
These are just five books that have influenced me in the past few years. I challenge you to make reading a crucial part of your daily lifestyle. It will change your perspective.
Drop me a line and let me know what books are influencing you.
Make the Call
In 1997 I was 22 years old and I decided to pack up one suitcase and go from Fredericton, NB Canada and move to Louisville, Kentucky to go to school. I never visited the school or Louisville prior to the move. I packed up and moved in faith. I remember that tiny dorm room that was so incredibly empty on the first night. I was 1400 miles from everything that was familiar but I felt alive.
I was nervous, but I felt alive. I was scared, but I felt alive. I was poor, but I felt alive. I knew no one, but I felt alive.
It was 3 amazing years of learning and discovery that I would not trade in a million years. I made lots of friends and made a lifetime worth of memories. That alone made it worth it. BUT – (I know I should not start a sentence with but) BUT – it took a struggle to get there. I made a decision and my resolve was stronger than my doubts.
So six years ago one of my friends who I went to school with sent an email out that she was moving to California to do her PhD and left her cell phone number for friends to call. It’s a long drive from Kentucky to California. Remembering how I felt moving from Canada to Kentucky, I picked up the phone and dialed the number. Quite honestly I have no recollection of anything that was said. It was a short call but my intention was to cheer her on and encourage her in her new pursuit.
Today I got a short message on Facebook from her. It was a simple message of gratitude for a short phone call six and a half years ago. The message was thanking me for encouraging her. I had no idea about the impact of that short interaction. I came away encouraged.
So my challenge to you today is simple and will only take a few minutes of your time. Pick up the phone and call someone that maybe you have not talked to in a while. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and jot a short message to a friend. Let your words be full of encouragement and flavor.
You were meant for greatness, and greatness is meant to be shared! MAKE THE CALL.
I’d love to know if you accepted the challenge. Leave me a comment below.
Count the Cost
I recently read a story about the United States Lifesaving Service. This organization was started back in 1871 to rescue ships in distress at sea. One of their mottos was compelling to me:
“You have to go out. You don’t have to come back.”
These brave souls went out on treacherous rescue missions knowing that the lives of others were hanging in the balance. They went out knowing that their own lives were at risk. Yet they went!
That is a rather extreme example of what I want to quickly share today. The U.S. Lifesaving Service trained hard for emergencies. I’m sure though there were times that they wondered if the training was enough. They had to count the cost and for many the cost was high! Every day I share that the world needs you! And with change comes the requirement that you count the cost.
The news is filled with examples of people who make choices without counting the cost. I think about the captain of the cruise ship that recently sank of the coast of Italy. Apparently, the captain abandoned ship leaving people to die. He apparently failed to count the cost when he accepted the responsibility to lead the crew of that ship.
Everything has a cost.
If you want to lose weight, you need to exercise, and eat healthy.
If you want to get out of debt, you have to learn to control spending, and avoid impulse purchases.
If you want to start your own business, you may have to sacrifice time at the beginning. You may have to skip some time with family, time with television, time with sports, time with (——-Insert your thing here——)
The world needs your greatness but it will require something of you. You have to count the cost.
I talked with a friend that attended college with back in the 90’s and he commented that his life had not turned out according to plan. He hated his job. His marriage was miserable. He had no friends. He had gained 25 pounds. As he paused to catch his breath I made a statement and posed a question that a mentor shared with me a few months ago:
“Wherever you are, be there – If you don’t like where you are – what will it take to move you?”
I see people every day complaining about their life, their weight, their job, their finances, the government and everything under the sun. What if they put their energy into creating a plan to break free? Maybe you’re feeling trapped by life’s circumstances. You don’t have to be owned by your circumstances. Today you can make a choice. Today you can step into a legacy of greatness. Step out in faith. It will be worth it!
On Purpose?
Two colleagues of mine were in car accidents today. One in Michigan, and one in Ohio. Fortunately, neither of them were hurt. Their cars – not so lucky! I am thankful that it wasn’t more serious. Cars can be replaced – people are slightly more difficult.
As I looked at a photo of my friend’s smashed up Honda, it got me thinking. Neither of my friends got up today and planned to have an accident. No sane person does that. Yet I wonder how many of us live our lives by accident?
How many times do we simply go through the motions and surrender to the demands of the day? How many of us are held captive instead of taking ownership of our time? How many of us live life accidentally on purpose?
One of my favorite quotes is from Harold Whitman who writes,
Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And than go do that, because the world needs people who have come ALIVE.
Whitman refers to a theme that I keep coming back to again and again. That is – The world needs you to live, REALLY LIVE!!!
How do you make that happen?
It starts with dreaming big dreams. What would you do if you knew you would not fail? It is devastating that so many people have stopped dreaming and have resolved to living in the mundane. You were made for greatness. If you are discouraged, let me remind you – the world needs you!
Once you have a dream that fires you up, you need to work to make that dream happen. You need to put flesh on those dreams. Create a plan and take massive action. I have been planning this blog for about a year. I had ideas and dreams but always allowed life to get in the way. Kids, work, reading, music, movies, were all excuses that kept me from starting. Last week I was in a meeting and was challenged to make this happen. I kicked excuses to the curb, and here I am. It’s not perfect. There may be typos, and poor sentence structure (which I’ll try to minimize) but I’m writing every single day. Practice makes perfect! What have you been putting off?
I hope that today you’ll discover your dream! Go – make it happen! The world needs you to move on purpose.
Tomorrow versus Just One More
The mind is a funny thing. I’ve spent the past few months reading a lot about mindset. Upon reflection I’ve been thinking that it can be boiled down to those who keep saying ‘Tomorrow’ and those who say ‘just one more.’
I had a conversation with a friend a few years ago and was amazed at how toxic his thinking had become. It was more than someone having a bad day. He had grown bitter, pessimistic and a shell of his former self. He hid it fairly well from those around him, but it crept out from time to time in conversation. I casually commented that if you say “’I can’t’ – you won’t.” To say he was a little put off by my comment is an understatement. Now in retrospect, I’m not sure that any of us set out to be negative. It’s not exactly a character trait that people aspire to. Left unchecked, it simply creeps up on you. We are all faced with ‘tomorrow’ or ‘just one more’. Read More…
Customer Service Counts – Recognizing Customer Loyalty
Do you value your customers? Do you have an active method of recognizing and rewarding your most loyal customers? More importantly, does your customer know you care?
A few months ago I placed a sizeable order of books from a company. It was a special offer they were advertising where I got close to 40% off the retail cost for my order. Imagine my surprise when I opened up the box to find several freebies thrown in as a token of their appreciation for my purchase. That caught my attention. Read More…
They Said What?? – Ensuring a Message to Market Match
A few years back I ran into a couple who were starting a church on the east coast. I cannot remember the name of the church but I do remember the tagline – “Find New Life at ABC Church”. I distinctly remember the tagline because of its irony. The new church was meeting in a funeral home! If you’re snickering at the obvious message to market mismatch of the above example – be careful. Let me ask a poignant question: Is your message hitting its intended market? More to the point – do you even have an intended audience?
Assuming that you do in fact know and understand your target market I’d like to share three specific benefits of crafting a relevant message to your market. Read More…