Message Motivator

What is the Hedgehog Concept?

2010-01-28T10:50:00.000-08:00

The hedgehog concept is explained in the book entitled, "Good to Great" written by Jim Collins. As you can see from the image, the hedgehog concept is found within the three circles. I'll briefly describe in more detail what these three circles represent.

What you can be the best in the world at. Just because you are good at something doesn't necessarily mean you can be the best in the world at it. Focus on that one thing that you can be the best in the world at!

What drives your economic engine. What brings you the most success? What brings in more profit for your business? Find that thing, and exploit it!

What are you deeply passionate about? Focus on what you are passionate about. The idea is not to stimulate passion, but figure out what makes you passionate!

Conclusion: The Hedgehog Concept is finding the intersection of these three circles. If you would like to view a video version of the hedgehog Concept - watch Jim Collins teach it!

Level 5 Leadership

2009-09-20T10:06:00.000-07:00

Many of you have read the book entitled Good to Great written by Jim Collins. If you have, then you should be familiar with the term "Level 5 Leader". Jim Collins focuses on 12 companies that he refers to as "great" companies and picks apart how each one of them achieved this status. The first area that he discusses is leadership of the company.

What is a Level 5 Leader?

A level 5 leader never in a million years will stop trying to become qualified for the job
Channel their ego needs away from themselves and towards the success of the company
Modest and willful, humble yet fearless
Dedication and desire to make anything they touch the best it could possibly be
Ambition and concern first and foremost for the company, not for one's own riches
Sets up their successor for success
Don't talk about themselves
Fanatically driven to PRODUCE results

Look out the window to give credit when things are going well, and look in the mirror when things aren't going so well, never blaming bad luck when things go poorly

Now look at the Level 5 Leadership image above. Where do YOU fit in on the pyramid?

Level 5 Executive: Builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humiity and professional blend of personal humility and professional will.

Effective Leader: Catalyzes commitment to and vigorous pursuit of a clear and compelling vision, stimulating higher performance standards.

Competent Manager: Organizes people and resources toward the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives.

Contributing Team Member: Contributes individual capabilities to the achievement of group objectives and works effectively with others in a group meeting.

Highly Capable Individual: Makes productive contributions through talent, knowledge, skills and good work habits.

No matter where you are on the pyramid, if you apply these characteristics of a Level 5 Leader you will progress upwards towards the end goal of becoming a Level 5 Leader.

Be Motivated to Be Credit Worthy

2009-09-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today we would like to provide some information to help you towards a debt-free world. Below is a tip on what a credit inquiry is, and how to avoid negative effects that are associated with them.

What is the definition of an inquiry and what does it matter to the credit conscious consumer?

CREDIT INQUIRY - "An attempt to seek information concerning interest rates and the availability of funds without disclosing your identity, or specifying the need or purpose of the proposed borrowing, or the specifics concerning your creditworthiness."(www.lectlaw.com)

When you take into effect that a credit inquiry can effect up to 10% of your overall credit score you may want to start paying attention. A rule of thumb is to be careful with these inquiries not to accrue more than 4 every two years. If you need to shop for loans, as for a mortgage or some other large sum then try and have these inquiries occur within a 10-14 day period. After seeing thousands of credit reports our friends at Credit2Buy can tell you that usually those who take care of their inquiries usually take care of the other aspects of their credit report.

To make it as simple as possible let's illustrate it like this. Imagine you are playing a game similar to 20 Questions. In this game however it is more like 4 Questions or 4 Inquiries. Use them wisely which means probably avoid giving your full name to used car dealers. They seem to have an affection of running your credit to see what mid sized sedan they can squeeze you into.
Remember:
A credit inquiry can effect up to 10% of your overall credit score.
Never accrue more than 4 inquiries over a 2 year span.
Don't give out your full name to used car dealerships.

For more information on the matter check out credit2buy's blog or email credit2buy@gmail.com

Making Progress Toward Your Goals

2009-09-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

If you are tired of feeling like a little boy walking around a corn maze, lost, frustrated, no idea where to go next, then take heed to these principles and apply them as soon as possible.

TAKE ACTION: Joe Vitale says, “Do anything to keep the momentum going forward”. Don’t focus soley on ALL of the challenges that are ahead. By doing so only brings your forward momentum to a hault because you are stuck in the thought of how in the world am I going to accomplish all of this.

JUST TAKE THE NEXT STEP: You don’t have to be able to see your destination in order to reach it. When driving from California to New York, you can’t see your final destination, but by increments you eventually arrive.

IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE RESULTS, CHANGE WHAT YOU’RE DOING:
Ask yourself, “What can I do today so the next five years are not the same as the last five?”

EVALUATE HOW YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR TIME:
More often than not we spend our time on the little things. Take a second and figure out if this is a major thing or minor. If it’s major, then spend major time on major things. Don’t let the little minors interfere with you getting done what needs to be done! Once you see the major things getting checked off your to-do list, it will fuel more results.

MAKE SURE YOUR HEART IS IN IT:
George Lucas says, “You have to find something you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles, and break through the brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you. If you don’t have that kind of feeling for what it is you are doing, you’ll stop at the first giant hurdle.”

PUSH YOURSELF TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL:
Here’s what Cynthia Kersey suggests: Make a realistic assessment of your current abilities. Now imagine your abilities have increased by 10 percent. What could yo be doing if you immediately possessed 10 percent more abilities, skills and talents? You could be doing those things today if you believed you could nad pushed yourself – even a little bit- outside your comfort zone.

Our Message Motivator Update

2009-08-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

We would like to apologize for not posting as regularly as we should. It's been a crazy few months here at Message Motivator. We currently have over 400 subscribers to our motivational text service, and are so excited to start adding more! We have received lots of positive feedback and will be adding in new features in the near future.

Our latest addition has been Pinnacle Security out of Orem, Utah. Those are some great guys, and if you are interested in an incredible experience in sales, be sure to check them out here.

We would like to thank all of our other followers/subscribers and are open to any ideas on how we can better serve your motivational needs!

Get Fit with These Great Resources

2009-06-07T22:15:00.000-07:00

We are going to do things a little different today. Normally, we try and touch on topics that are perfect for getting you more motivated for the day. Today, we are going to share with all of you some really cool resources that are easily accessible. We recently came across these websites that are awesome in getting you fit, outside more, and meeting new motivated people. So check them out!

Active.com - This is an online community for people interested in running races, team sports and recreational activities. You can search by city to see schedules of race events, or even start online training programs.

Yougodo.com - This one is pretty cool. You type in basically what you want to do for example "learn something new" and leave the location blank. The results will include learning vacations all over the world!

Mapmyfitness.com - If you run, hike, bike, walk or participate in triathlons, here is a social networking site just for you. You can exchange routes with other people.

Trails.com - If you dig the outdoors - you'll dig this site. With 40,000 routes throughout the United States, you're destined to find a few new ones you haven't been on!

Meetup.com - Meant to get you off the internet and find groups that interest you.

Zootoo.com - If you are a pet owner and lover you'll definitely want to check this one out. Connect with other pet lovers and find out about events regarding your pets.

i-neighbors.org - Provide your zip code and this site gives you info about your community.

Reserveamerica.com - Search for a place to camp based on your preference of tent, cabin or RV. Narrow search results down to get the exact location you want to go to.

We hope you enjoy these cool resources. The internet is a great way to learn of fun events within your community. Have fun - and get fit!

The Secret Weapon

2009-06-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

There's an excellent article in this month's issue of Success Magazine. It's called The Secret Weapon to a Sharper Mind and Better Business. Let us sum it up for all of you in case you haven't had the chance to check out the article.

A doctor named Dr. John Ratey just released a book called Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. In this book the Dr. talks about a high school in Naperville, Ill., where they approach physical education a little differently. In my high school, P.E. was all about pick up games in basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, and pretending to act tough in the weight room. Well, this high school does things a little different, the students wear heart monitors and are graded on the amount of time they are able to keep their heart rate in the optimal aerobic range for their body type. What?!!! I think in my high school, P.E. would have gone from most guy's favorite class to don't ever take that dumb P.E. class...

Due to this intense P.E. class, the standardized test scores of the entire student body have jumped. In math, the school placed sixth in the world. On the science section, they placed first in the entire world!

Dr. Ratey has proven that when you exercise, it changes the physical structure of your brain. It increases your speed of processing, your memory. Basically, science has proven that exercise primes your brain for success and makes you smarter. That's not all however, Dr. Ratey also says that if you want to think clearer, beat stress, put the damper on your depression and boost your confidence, you only have to do one thing, and that's exercise!

As a Man Thinketh

2009-05-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

"All that a man achieves and that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...His condition is his own, and not another man's. His suffering and his happiness are evolved from within. As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains."

- This is an excerpt from one of the best all-time classic inspirational books As a Man Thinketh.
James Allen deeply stresses the importance of positive thinking, and how it has an effect on one's character. Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results. Think about that. If one can stay true to that principle, negative thoughts could never take over his mental frame of mind, for his positiveness would have already repelled the negativity away, long before it had a chance to damage his character.

We as humans understand this law in the natural world. Nothing can come from corn, but corn. When a cow gives birth, another cow comes out. Yet we struggle with it in the mental and moral world. When we are negative, we generate negativity all around us. This effects not only ourselves, but others. It has a ripple effect. This results in one way or another to us suffering. Flip this entirely around and you have a recipe for joy and happiness. Choose today to let your positivity repel all thoughts and temptations of negativity.

Life is 10 Percent What You Make it and 90 Percent How You Take it

2009-04-28T22:02:00.000-07:00

"Life is 10 Percent What You Make it and 90 Percent How You Take it" - Irving Berlin

Adversity is not something we can avoid. If it is coming our way, we can't say - "ahh, I don't feel like having to push myself, life is good - just go away okay." We WILL face it. It WILL hit us. How are we going to respond? How will YOU take it?

We came across an awesome video clip that Mac Anderson put together. Check it out. It's very powerful. Here it is: Finish Strong.

The Daily Dozen

2009-04-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

John C. Maxwell is one of the greatest writers/motivators in our day. We encourage all to take a look at his books, he has written a handful of helpful guides on encouraging success and reaching ones full potential. His website is here John Maxwell.

One of our favorites is Today Matters: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrows Success.

In it, he gives us 12 daily practices to guide us in the right direction of achieving success. Here is The Daily Dozen:

Attitude: Choose and display the right attitude daily.
Priorities: Determine and act on important priorities daily.
Health: Know and follow healthy guidelines daily.
Family: Communicate with and care for family daily.
Thinking: Practice and develop thinking skills daily.
Commitment: Make and keep proper commitments daily.
Finances: Earn and properly manage finances daily.
Faith: Deepen and live out faith daily.
Relationships: Initiate and invest in solid relationships daily.
Generosity: Plan for and model generosity daily.
Values: Embrace and practice good values daily.
Growth: Desire and experience improvements daily.

Doing all 12 of these on a daily basis can be overwhelming at first. We suggest you pick 3-4 practices that you find to be the most difficult for you to do. Once you have mastered those, pick another 3-4 and so on until you naturally are integrating all 12 into your daily regime. Can you imagine how much more motivated and driven you would be if you did all 12 of these on a daily basis? We encourage all to start now. Remember, if you don't start today, you'll never start tomorrow!

6 Ways To Make People Like You

2009-04-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

#6 - Make The Other Person Feel Important And Do It Sincerely

Dale Carnegie was waiting in line one day at the post office. He noticed the clerk looking mighty bored and unhappy. He wanted the clerk to feel the same way as himself. Dale immediately scaled the man and asked himself, "Okay, what can I HONESTLY say about the man that I admire." He found it. When it was his turn in line, Dale told the bored man, that he certainly wished he had his head of hair. The clerk perked up, smiled and said, "well it isn't as good as it used to be." The two of them then had a pleasant conversation. That man probably went home that day and told his wife what had happened. He probably looked in the mirror at himself and said you know what - you are looking good my man!

While Dale was relating this story in public once, he had a man ask him, "What did you want to get out of him?" - What! What did I want to get out of him! - You see that is how society is. In order to do something for someone else, there needs to be a reward for it. What ever happened to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you! Can't we radiate a little happiness for others without having to receive something in return from them?

There is one all important law of human conduct. If we obey that law, we shall almost never get into trouble. In fact, that law, if obeyed, will bring us countless friends and constant happiness. But the very instant we break the law, we shall get into endless trouble. The law is this: ALWAYS MAKE THE OTHER PERSON FEEL IMPORTANT. John Dewey said that the desire to be important is the deepest urge in human nature.

Be careful however. It is very easy to notice an insincere compliment. Once you get that label over you it is hard to shake it. Don't compliment for your own benefit. Always remember the Golden Rule, and To Make The Other Person Feel Important, and Do It Sincerely!

This is principle 6 - The Last.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

2009-04-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

#5 – Talk In Terms Of The Other Person’s Interests

Everyone who was ever a guest of Theodore Roosevelt was astonished at the range and diversity of his knowledge. Whether his visitor was a cowboy, rough rider, businessman, politician, or diplomat, Roosevelt knew what to say. Was it because he was born with complete knowledge of every topic ever invented? No, he was able to cater to his guest’s interests by reading up on what they were interested in the night before. For he knew that the royal road to a person’s heart is to talk about the things he or she treasures most.

Try it out for a day. Maybe even a week. If you are going out to dinner with relatives, acquaintances, or a business meeting over lunch, study out your guest. Go online, find some articles or interesting facts, or even intelligent questions that you could ask. See how quickly you can make this a habit.

This is principle 5.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

2009-04-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

#4 - Be a good listener, encourage others to talk about themselves.

Some time ago, Dale Carnegie attended a bridge party. While there he met a woman that knew a man Dale had actually traveled around with in Europe. She wanted Dale to tell her all about his travels throughout Europe. As they sat down on the sofa, right before Dale was going to start into his travels, she mentioned she and her husband had recently returned home from Africa. Immediately Dale showed interest in her trip and told her he had never been but always wanted to visit. For the next forty-five minutes she talked about that Africa trip. She never again asked him about his travels in Europe. All she wanted was an interested listener, so she could expand her ego and tell about where she had been.

Naturally, we are all like this woman. We like to share with people things we have accomplished, seen, and participated in. We need LISTENERS! However, if we are the ones doing all the talking, who is going to do the listening?

If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is the recipe: Never listen to anyone for long. Talk incessantly about yourself. If you have an idea while the other person is talking, don’t wait for him or her to finish: bust right in and interrupt in the middle of a sentence. I’m sure we know a few people like this. They are bores, intoxicated with their own egos, drunk with a sense of their own importance.

Now if you aspire to be a good conversationalist, be an attentive listener. TO BE INTERESTING, BE INTERESTED. Ask questions that other persons will enjoy answering. Encourage them to talk about themselves and their accomplishments.

Remember – people that you talk to are 100 times more interested in themselves and their wants and problems than they are in you and your problems. In other words – make it a habit to be a good listener.

This is principle 4.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

2009-04-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

#3 - Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

There once was a man named Jim Farley. When he was 10, his father died in a tragic accident, leaving little Jim as the man of the house. Jim went to work at a brickyard, and never had a chance for education. Naturally Jim, was a likable person, and made his way into politics. As the years went by he developed an uncanny ability for remembering people's names. He never saw the inside of a high school, but by the age of 46, four colleges had honored him with degrees, and he became chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Postmaster General for the United States. Jim said he could remember 50,000 individuals by their first name. This ability is what helped put Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House (he managed Roosevelt's campaign).

Jim's system for remembering names was actually pretty simple. What made it work however, was that he actually DID it. His system was that whenever he met a new acquaintance, he found out his or her complete name, and some facts about his or her family, business and political opinions. All of this created a "picture" in his brain, and the next time he came across them again, he was able to ask about the family and how the garden was keeping up this year. No wonder he developed a following!

Sometimes it is hard to remember someone's name especially if it is a rather difficult one. So what do we do? We don't remember it, and that makes for a rather awkward situation for the next time we have to address that person. Here are just a few experiences of how important remembering names can be.

Andrew Carnegie, a very successful gentleman in the steel industry had a great idea while just a mere boy. He came across a momma rabbit, and in no time he had a whole nest of baby rabbits, but had nothing to feed them. He told all the neighbor kids that if they would go out and pull enough clover and dandelions to feed them, that he would name the rabbits in their honor. The idea worked brilliantly!

Another experience, later on in life, came when Andrew and a fellow businessman George Pullman were battling each other in the railroad sleeping-car business. They met up one day and had a conversation. Pullman asked Andrew what was on his mind, and Andrew told him he thought they should merge their companies together. He thought it would be much more efficient if they worked together rather than against each other. Well, Pullman wasn't buying it. He asked Andrew what he would name the company, and Andrew replied, " Why, the Pullman Palace Car Company, of course." Pullman's face brightened. He told Andrew to step into his office to talk it over. That talk made industrial history.

Remember - the name sets the individual apart, it makes him or her unique among all others. From the waitress to the senior executive, the name will work magic as we deal with others.

This is principle 3.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

2009-04-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

#2 - Smile!

Actions speak louder than words, and a smile says " I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you." Like a baby's smile, it can make us happy when we are at our lowest points.

Professor James V. McConnel, a psychologist at the University of Michigan, expressed his feelings about a smile. "People who smile," he said, "tend to manage, teach and sell more effectively, and to raise happier children. There's far more information in a smile than a frown. That's why encouragement is a much more effective teaching device than punishment."

So, what if you don't feel like smiling? Force yourself to smile. If you are alone, whistle or a hum a tune. Pretend as if you were already happy, and this will tend to make you happy.

Everyone in the world is seeking happiness - and there is one sure way to find it. That is by controlling your thoughts. Happiness does not depend on outward conditions. It depends on inner conditions. Abe Lincoln said, "most folks are about as happy as the make up their minds to be."

Your smile is a messenger of your good will. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it.

This is principle 2.

6 Ways To Make People Like You

2009-04-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

How To Win Friends & Influence People is one of the greatest books ever written. With some of the most basic concepts Dale Carnegie is able to deliver the messages in a way that makes you yearning to apply the techniques instantly in your own life. With that in mind, we have decided to dissect a section of his book. Each post will take one of the 6 ways to make people like you, explain it, and light the fire within yourself to strive to be a better person. Let us begin.

#1 - Become Genuinely Interested In Other People:

Have you ever stopped to think that a dog is the only animal that doesn't have to work for a living. The hen has to lay eggs, a cow has to milk, the canary has to sing, and the dog makes his living by giving you nothing but love. Where are we going with this - you'll want to write this down and ponder it quite regularly -

YOU CAN MAKE MORE FRIENDS IN 2 MONTHS BY BECOMING INTERESTED IN OTHER PEOPLE, THAN YOU CAN IN 2 YEARS BY TRYING TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN YOU.

This is very hard to do. For example, when you are shown a picture that includes yourself in it, what do you do first? Look for yourself. The world today is falling more into the realm of how can I get the edge over my peers, that being interested in others gets thrown out the window. Zig Ziglar say's it best -

"You Can Only Get What You Want, If You Help Enough Other People Get What They Want"

Take for example President Theodore Roosevelt, who even his servants loved him! His Valet James E. Amos wrote a book about him entitled, Theodore Roosevelt, Hero To His Valet. In this book James writes of this experience:

My wife one time asked the President about a bobwhite. She had never seen one and he described it to her fully. Sometime later, the telephone at our cottage rang. [ Amos and his wife lived in a little cottage on the Roosevelt estate at Oyster Bay.] My wife answered it and it was Mr. Roosevelt himself. He had called her, he said, to tell her that there was a bobwhite outside her window and that if she would look out she might see it. Little things like that were so characteristic of him. Whenever he went by our cottage, even though we were out of sight, we would hear him call out: "Oo-oo-oo, Annie?" or Oo-oo-oo James!" It was just a friendly greeting as he went by.

This is not something that the President had to do because it came with the title. He chose to be interested in others' lives - even his servants. REMEMBER:

YOU CAN MAKE MORE FRIENDS IN 2 MONTHS BY BECOMING INTERESTED IN OTHER PEOPLE, THAN YOU CAN IN 2 YEARS BY TRYING TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN YOU.

This is principle 1.

What Motivates You

2009-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

What Motivates You - By Suzette Walker

For some, the question of what motivates you can be difficult to answer. However, your main motivation lies in your own background and experiences. You must look back on your past events, whether it be in the work place or at home, to find where your motivation to succeed comes from. For most people, the answer is simply ‘money’, but the truth is really something much more substantial and this is your true motivation. Simply put, money would not be the answer but what money can permit you to do can be. Donald Trump once said, “Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.” In other words, money is too general of a motivator -- what is it that money enables you to do that you would want it so much? Is it that you need the money to become independent from an employer or debt free. Money would also give you the ability to enjoy your leisure time without feeling unproductive. In this instance, the enjoyment of leisure time would be your true motivation.

To find your true motivator, make a list of your most exciting accomplishments. Think about the times when you felt energized at work or when you looked forward to going to work. Scan your resume and look for key words or phrases that made that job enjoyable. Was it the ability to lead a group of people into accomplishing a difficult task? Were you enlivened by the accomplishments that you created or the skills that enabled you to manage a large group? Maybe it was not the attainment of reaching the goal that exhilarated you as much as the recognition you received from your boss or others that was your true motivator. Also include tasks that you have achieved since working from home in your list. Think about projects that you have completed that excited you or that you tackled with exuberance.

Once you have a list of your most motivating experiences, take a look at it and circle key words or phrases that appear more than once. This will help you identify a clear pattern of what motivated you. Sometimes it can be as simple as having accomplished a goal accurately and in a timely manner. Other times it can be as complex as the prestige that you were awarded by others once the task was completed. Either way, it will give you a stronger sense of what motivates you right now.

8 Qualities of a Successful Salesman

2009-04-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

With a little help from Brian Tracy we've created an awesome checklist of a high class salesman. Follow these principles and you'll be amazed at how you go about things differently!

Honesty- Keep your word (it builds credibility)
LOVE WHAT YOU SELL (think about it all the time)
Believe in yourself and in your product
Will power and determination
Ask good questions and LISTEN
Empathy for customers (quickly learn to care about them)
Make the extra effort
DON’T WASTE TIME!!!

Inch by Inch Lifes a Cinch

2009-03-31T22:27:00.000-07:00

"Any time a thought, a sentence, or paragraph inspires you or opens up your thinking, you need to capture it, like a butterfly in a net, and later release it into your own field of consciousness."

~Steve Chandler

With so much going on in our lives - it's so easy to get caught up in everyday things. It can lead us away from goals we've set, or the lifestyle we desire. That is why it is so important to have something that can remind you regularly of the important things in your life. A good man Mac Anderson say's, "Inch by inch, life's a cinch; and yard by yard, life is hard."

Stop for a moment, and figure out what it is that inspires and motivates you. Cling onto that, do it daily, make it a habit!

Stress-Reduction Strategies

2009-03-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some nice stress reducing techniques we can all apply, while trying to make it in this crazy world!

Body-rythm basics - Do what's best for you by honoring your body rythmns. For example, if you're a morning person, don't waste your best productive time in coffee klatches.

Do the tough work first - If you tend to procrastinate you'll find more anguish is produced from guilt than if you had just tackled the project immediately.

Energy-gaining activities - Develop a routine of activities that give you energy rather than drain you, such as deleting, delegating or organizing.

Get up out of the chair - Energy sags quickly when sitting. Make sure you get up to move around every hour or so.

Go outside - A quick five or 10 minute rest or stroll outside does wonders to clear the mind. Breathe and be present.

Rest your eyes on the great outdoors - Being in nature reduces stress. If possible, position your desk or office so you're looking out the window. Stare out the window and visualize your favorite vacation spot.

Who ate my free lunch?

2009-03-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

"A free lunch is only found in mousetraps."
John Capuzzi

If there is one thing just about everybody loves, it's getting something for free. Something they didn't have to work for, something they didn't have to pay for, something that's just given to them. There is just nothing like getting a freebie.

At least that's what some people think.

People will eagerly stand in line for hours to get whatever gizmo, doodad or thingamajig someone else is giving away. If it's free, gratis or on the house, they want it. And it doesn't matter how cheesy the giveaway may be. When they stumble across a free just about anything, they jump all over it. Grab it with both hands. And feel like they have really scored.

Even though they could just go out and get the item on their own, the allure of getting something for nothing is just too much for them to resist. And while they have the ability to do so much better on their own, they just have to have the freebie... because it's free.

Good grief. I'm getting a headache.

"There is no free lunch."
Milton Friedman

Why do so many people openly embrace this free lunch mentality? What drives these freebie seekers? It's got to have something to do with the feeling of getting something for nothing. Something that was handed to them, something they didn't have earn.

These individuals are so busy scrounging for free stuff they fail to uncover the magic they hold within. Consumed with getting a free ride, they never realize they can have anything they want out of life if they would just go get it themselves. Not surprisingly, they miss out on the best life has to offer.

You cannot make this same mistake.

"When I discover who I am, I'll be free."
Ralph Ellison

If you're going to live your dreams, forget about the so-called free stuff. Let it go. Don't depend on others to shower you with gifts. And don't wait for good fortune to come your way. You need to seize control of your life right now and make something happen.

That means pushing yourself to do better, be better and see better every single day.

As corny as it may sound, you have been blessed with everything you'll ever need. More than enough strength to overcome the biggest obstacles you'll ever encounter. More than enough mental tenacity and toughness to overpower the fiercest foes you'll ever face. More than enough determination to overwhelm any feelings of doubt or insecurity that come creeping in.

It's right there, ready to turn your life around; ready to bring your dreams to life.

"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time."
Thomas Jefferson

The best things in life are not freebies, but the freedoms that are frequently take for granted and oftentimes overlooked. Like your health, family, faith and beliefs. As well as the freedom to be, the freedom to see and the freedom to choose the paths you pursue in life. These are priceless possessions you need to hold close. And never let go.

The fastest way to get something is to go get it. If there's something you have always wanted to accomplish, you need to go get it. If there's something waiting for you out in the distance, you need to go and find it. You need to squeeze life with every ounce of energy you can muster, make the most of the moment at hand. And please never forget that God has blessed you with everything you'll ever need. It's right there inside of you. It's ready to make your dreams come true.

And here's the very best part of the whole deal. It's completely, totally 100% free.

The Bottom Line: Instead of looking for a hand-out, why don't you get busy getting what you want?

(article found at www.motivational-inspirational-corner.com)

Ambition by Colin Powell

2009-03-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

This is a great short little story Retired Gen. Colin Powell mentioned in Success Magazine. We all can apply this someway or another in our lives.

At one army base where he was stationed, "there was a second lieutenant who wanted to be a general. He bugged everyone, asking, 'How do I become a general?' He saw a general at the officers club and asked him, 'How do I become a general?'"

Powell says the general told the young officer he should study all the time, show courage and take care of his troops. "And the young officer said, 'And that's how I become a general?'

"And the general said, 'No, that's how you become a first lieutenant.'"

The takeaway message: Don't get ahead of yourself. Put in the necessary hard work every step of the way.

A Good Leader...

2009-03-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Below are some guidelines of being a good Leader. Very powerful, You will want to remember these. Print them off, write them down, hang them up. Enjoy!!!

Accepts responsibility and takes it seriously.
Seeks out and listens to others, but makes up his or her own mind.
Wants to leave the world better than he or she finds it.
Has a genuine interest in others: their joys, sorrows, hopes, hurts, needs and fears.
Learns from the past, but focuses on the future.
Aims to be of service to others.
Expects the best from others, as from him or herself.
Learns from role models, but knows who he or she is.
Knows the power of yes and no and when to say so.
Knows how to set goals and pursue them.
Is dedicated to his or her work and achieving goals.
Is not deterred by detractors or naysayers.

(By Robert Stuberg- entrepreneur, speaker, consultant and best-selling author of many books, including The 12 Life Secrets)

2009-03-11T07:00:00.001-07:00

How did Arnold Palmer become the richest athlete in the world? Take heed to his "strokes of genius", he is clothed with success.

Live your life with integrity. People should respect what you do and what you say.
It is more important to build a brand than to build a course. And police your brand daily.
"I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win."
Learn something from every course you play.
Welcome competition from people you admire.
"success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character."
Focus on: "concentration, confidence, competitive urge, capacity for enjoyment."
"It's a funny thing, the more I practice the luckier I get."
"The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done."

Power and Influence - Colin Powell

2009-03-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

The following is a list of rules from Colin Powell to achieve power and influence:

It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
Get mad; then get over it.
Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
It CAN be DONE!
Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.
Check small things.
Share credit.
Remain Calm. Be kind.
Have a vision. Be demanding.
Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Colin Powell forged a reputation of integrity to become one of the nation's most respected leaders.

(source: My American Journey, autobiography written with Joseph E. Persico)

Me2everyone - Could be the best Business Venture of 2009

2009-03-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

Wow! Could this really be true? A new social network that will give you free shares for becoming a member and spreading the word? Our extensive research points to yes. After just a half a day since signing up, we have thousands of shares already credited to our account.

So what is it? The website is me2everyone.com, here is some information of what exactly it will do - me2everyone is going to be a cool new virtual world where you can meet friends, chat, shop, play, watch videos, create an art gallery, open a virtual newspaper, play the free inworld lottery and make money from your own online store! You and everyone you know make the decisions, shape the world, create real incomes and share in the profits. It’s a new place where you meet new people or invite your friends. Learn new skills or expand your business. Find the love of your life or help the planet.

Their goal is to be the number one most visited site within a few years. The best part about it is we are at the groundbreaking level right now. It's not going live for another few weeks, which gives you plenty of time to gain the edge. Also, it's completely 100% free, and it takes a total of 3 minutes max to sign up.

The interface is very clean, and very organized. Once you sign up, you will have your own "account page" where you can view news feeds of what is going on with the groundbreaking, see all of your referrals and how many shares you have accumulated. Plus they give you an email message you can paste and copy to send to all of your friends and family.

Our recommendation is to look into this right now. This could very well be the best business decision of 2009. So what are you waiting for?! Get started now! Click the link to get going http://www.me2everyone.com

Good Luck with getting your shares rocking!

THE BRICK

2009-03-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared.
Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic.

"Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He
pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his
wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very
noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Turning Knowledge into Power

2009-03-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

10 Actions You Can Take Right Now

Get Fresh: if you find yourself following procedures because you've "always done it that way," it's time for a change. List three practices that ned revamping and write down the goals you intend to achieve by doing so, as well as action steps to make them happen.
Who Do You Know?: list 100 of your acquaintances and sincerely deepen your relationship with them.
Scale Down: treat your weight like your business, hard work equals results. Step off the bandwagon of the "miracle" cure.
Figure This: circle back to a setback in your life and write down three things you learned by overcoming it.
e=mc2: Albert Einstein's curiosity made him one of the greatest physicists of all time. List four things you've always wondered about; now feed your brain by researching answers online.
Never Too Late: do you have a dream that's lived only in your head? Write down six specific steps to move your dream closer to reality
Be a Standout: think about your brand/business/service and jot down five ways to make it more compelling to your customers.
Making Connections: find five friends or colleagues who can introduce you to a potential new client. Every new person you meet can turn into a new opportunity.
Listen Up: list your top three customers, as well as three pieces of information about each of them.(do you need to hone your listening skills?)
Staying Bullish When It's a Bear: list five ways you can reap opportunities during these times of change.

Be the one who acts! These actions can turn your life/career/business around.
(taken from the March edition of Success magazine.)

Six Things to Avoid: A Diet Plan For Real People Living in the Real World

2009-03-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a great plan for helping your body feel awesome. Message Motivator is not just about mental motivational boosts, but also living a healthy lifestyle that in return boosts your self-confidence. Follow these "not to do" things, to eliminate foods/beverages that can destroy one's self-confidence. Enjoy!

In the book The Best Life Diet Cookbook, Bob Greene gives us "real" people a "real" lifestyle plan of things to avoid:

Alcohol. (it slows up your metabolism)
Full-calorie soda. (these are best left out of the diet entirely. Once you can find a better alternative, you'll never go back to drinking soda)
Anything with trans fat. (the good news about this one is that food processors and manufacturers get the message that trans fat is bad, and many have eliminated it from products on grocery store shelves)
Fried foods. (these have to come off the table-whether you're on the road or eating at home...)
White Bread. (people who give up white bread miss it at first but then gravitate to the whole-grain and whole-wheat breads eventually liking those better.)
High-fat milk and yogurt. (these are easy to replace with low-fat yogurts and 1 percent, skim milk or soy milks.)

Follow these six things of what not to do, and watch how fast you will start seeing results!

10 Steps to Sales Success

2009-03-01T11:56:00.000-08:00

In the Book The Greatest Salesman in the World - Og Mandino lays out 10 steps (leather scrolls containing secrets to the art of selling) that will drastically improve sales' skills through a young lad from Biblical times.

1- I will form good habits and become their slave. (Shed the old skin and start anew)

2-I will greet this day with love in my heart. (Love is the single most important quality for success, Mandino writes.)

3- I will persist until I succeed. (the prizes of life are awarded at the end of the trek.)

4- I am nature's greatest miracle. (I am here for a purpose, and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not shrink to a grain of sand.)

5- I will live this day as if it is my last. (Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has yet to come - make today your best day!)

6- Today I will be master of my emotions. (Moods come and go, but if your mood is negative, the day may be a failure. Bring joy and enthusiasm to every room)

7- I will laugh at the world. (Remember in hard times you have the unique ability to laugh. Don't take yourself too seriously.)

8- Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold. (setting goals will multiply your value exponentially. Never will I be of concern that my goals are too high, for is it not better to aim my spear at the moon and strike only an eagle than to aim my spear at the eagle and strike only a rock?)

9- I will act now. (Action is the food and drink that will nourish my success.)

10- I will pray for guidance. (Every good salesman should seek the advice of a higher power. He suggests praying only for guidance and never for material things)

The buzzard, The bat, The bumblebee, and People

2009-02-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

THE BUZZARD

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6' x 8' and is entirely open
at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an
absolute prisoner.
The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the
ground with a run of 10-12'. Without space to run, as is its
habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner
for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble
creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is
placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about
helplessly and painfully until it reaches some slight elevation
from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it
takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until
it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape
at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through
the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists,
until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee.
We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never
realizing that all we have to do is look up. Sorrow looks back,
worry looks around, but faith looks up. Live simply, love
generously, care deeply and speak kindly.

The Two Wolves

2009-02-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

An elder Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me..., it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

"One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

"The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

"This fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."�

The children thought about it for a minute and then one child asked "Which wolf will win, grandfather?"�

The old Cherokee simply replied... "The one you feed."

Great Motivational Clip!

2009-02-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Check out this awesome video clip. It's called the "212 Degrees Movie" because at 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And steam can power a locomotive. Here is the link, once you click it, you will be redirected to the video located on youtube. Thanks!

212 Degrees Movie

The Young Lion By Orison S. Marden

2009-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

A young lion, as the fable runs, was one day playing alone in the forest while his mother slept.

As the different objects attracted his attention, he thought he would explore a bit and see what the great world beyond his home was like. Before he realized it, he had wandered so far that he could not find his way back.

He was lost.

Very much frightened, he ran frantically in every direction calling piteously for his mother, but no mother responded.

Weary with his wanderings, he did not know what to do, when a sheep, whose offspring had been taken from her, hearing his pitiful cries, made friends with the lost lion, and adopted him.

The sheep became very fond of her foundling, which in a short while grew so much larger than herself that at times she was almost afraid of it.

The foster mother and her adopted lived very happily together, until one day a magnificent lion appeared, sharply outlined against the sky, on the top of an opposite hill. He shook his tawny inane and uttered a terrific roar, which echoed through the hills.

The sheep mother stood trembling, paralyzed with fear. But the moment this strange sound reached his ears, the young lion listened as though spellbound, and a strange feeling which he had never before experienced surged through his being until be was all a-quiver.

The lion's roar had touched a chord in his nature that had never before been touched. It aroused a new force within him which he had never felt before.

New desires, a strange new consciousness of power possessed him. A new nature stirred in him, and instinctively, without a thought of what he was doing, he answered the lion's call with a corresponding roar.

Trembling with mingled fear, surprise and bewilderment at the new powers aroused within him, the awakened animal gave his foster mother a pathetic glance, and then, with a tremendous leap, started toward the lion on the hill.

The lost lion had found himself.

Up to this he had gamboled around his sheep mother just as though he were a lamb developing into a sheep, never dreaming he could do anything that his companions could not do, or that he had any more strength than the ordinary sheep.

He never imagined that there was within him a power which would strike terror to the beasts of the jungle. He simply thought he was a sheep, and would run at the sight of a dog and tremble at the howl of a wolf.

Now he was amazed to see the dogs, the wolves, and other animals which formerly had so terrified him, flee from him.

----------------

There is in every normal human being a Sleeping lion. It is just a question of arousing it, just a question of something happening that will awaken us, stir the depths of our being, and arouse the sleeping power within us.

Just as the young lion, after it had once discovered that it was a lion would never again be satisfied to live the life of a sheep, when we discover that we are more than mere clay, when we at last become Conscious that we are more than human, that we are gods in the making, we shall never again be satisfied to live the life of common clods of earth.

We shall feel a new sense of power welling up within us, a power which we never before dreamed we possessed, and never he quite the same again, never again he content with low-flying ideals, with a cheap success.

Ever after we will aspire. We will look up, struggle up and on to higher and ever higher planes.

"To get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done.”

2009-02-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

The following is an amazing excerpt from a book written by Brian Tracy called The Power Of Discipline:
Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority?

I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future.

And then I began asking, “Why are some people more successful than others?” This question changed my life.

Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, “Success is tons of discipline.”

Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four.

A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit.

With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.

It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once.

After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, “Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?”

He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, “The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, 'Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'”

He went on to say, “There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work.”

Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.

The Ten Cannots

2009-02-14T15:52:00.000-08:00

1) You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

2) You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

3) You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

4) You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

5) You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

6) You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

7) You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

8) You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

9) You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.

10) You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

Key Advice In Making A Great First Impression

2009-02-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

Get a good handshake. You'll never forget the handshake of a person if it's bad...I shook hands within the last six months with a presidential candidate, who will remain nameless, whose handshake was frightening...Shine your shoes. First things I notice when somebody comes in is the handshake, and are their shoes shined?....Be interesting, find things that make YOU an interesting person and don't be afraid to pass it on to people!

-Brian Lamb, Founder and CEO of C-SPAN

Eat That Frog!!!

2009-02-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

There's an old saying that goes,

"If the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is eat a live frog, then nothing worse can happen for the rest of the day!"

Brian Tracy who is the author of the book, Eat That Frog says that your "frog" should be the most difficult item on your things to do list, the one you're most likely to procrastinate; because, if you eat that first, it'll give you energy and momentum for the rest of the day. But, if you don't...and let him sit there on the plate and stare at you while you do a hundred unimportant things, it can drain your energy and you won't even know it.

So, the key here is not to procrastinate. In the same book mentioned above, Brian Tracy gives 21 tips to stop procrastinating. Here they are:

Get crystal clear about your goals
Plan every day in advance
Ruthlessly follow the pareto principle (getting the most important stuff done first)
Make daily decisions based on your long term goals
Do high, medium, and low priority tasks in THAT order
Focus on your key weak points holding you back
Always be doing the most important thing
Have everything you need at hand before you begin
Never stop developing your key skills
Pursue work that rewards your special talents
Blast open the biggest bottleneck to your success
Tackle all goals, especially the biggest ones, one task at a time
Supervisor, manage, and lead yourself
Keep your mind and body in top condition
Use positive self talk to eliminate negative self talk
Practice selective procrastination (get rid of the tadpoles and focus on the frogs)
Do the most difficult task first (eat that frog!)
Eat the salami, one slice at a time (our bodies crave closure, as soon as we finish 1 big task, start the next)
Block out chunks of time for your goals daily
Be urgent
Single-task (concentrate on single biggest task only and you can increase the amount of time to finish it by 50% or more)

Just Be Happy

2009-02-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."
Proverbs 23:7

Just be happy. Sounds too simplistic, doesn't it? But, in actuality, we can have much more happiness if we choose to consider things from a positive perspective.

Everyone experiences the ups and downs of life, however, we can make a decision to dwell on the negative or practice what the old saying says to do: "When life give you lemons, make lemonade!"

It really boils down to your attitude and you have the ability to mold your attitude into any shape you like.

Here are some tips:

Ignore those who tell you that life is too difficult to be happy. What do they know?

When you awaken each morning, be thankful for another day, even if it's raining.

Smile at those you meet, even if they don't return the favor.

Don't borrow trouble. Each day has enough of it's own.

Don't allow trouble to bury you in its gray mire of sorrow.

Don't give in to negative thinking.

Be positive even when others are not.

Refuse to give up on anything worth having or doing.

Do something you enjoy each day, even if it's just a walk in your neighborhood.

Whistle as you go through the day.

Work at being happy because it's worth it.

You're human, like everyone else, and from time to time you need a little pick-me-up in your decision to be happy. When you reach that stage, find someone else who has decided to be happy. Join forces with him or her and march forward in your decision to be a happy person.

Simply speaking, a happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.

Choose today to just be happy - as much as it depends on you!

--- Aseem Kaistha

What It Takes To Be #1 - Vince Lombardi

2009-01-29T07:31:00.000-08:00

"Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.

"There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that's first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do, and to win, and to win, and to win.

"Every time a football player goes to play his trade he's got to play from the ground up - from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That's O.K. You've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.

"Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization - an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win - to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don't think it is.

"It is a reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That's why they are there - to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules - but to win.

"And in truth, I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat.

"I don't say these things because I believe in the 'brute' nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is that moment when he has to work his heart out in a good cause and he's exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

--Vince Lombardi

How To Recognize A Negative Attitude

2009-01-25T22:29:00.000-08:00

How To Recognize A Negative Attitude

How you feel and how you react is in direct relation to how you think. Some people let random circumstances predict their day.

For example, they go to make coffee and find there is none left. They start the day by sarcastically thinking, "Oh great, this going to be a good day". Then, for the remainder of the day, they allow minor inconveniences, unexplained challenges, or other less than ideal events to reinforce their original negative thought.

You can recognize their negative attitude just by listening to how they talk.

If you allow your mind to dwell on unhappy situations, you can expect your day to unfold in the same manner.

Look forward to your day and don't let negative thoughts control it. Change how you interpret or react to life's events, and you actually change your attitude from a negative one to a positive one.

If you run out of coffee, change your thought to: "if this is the worse thing that could happen to me today the rest of my day will be great."

If you continually think negative thoughts then you are setting yourself up to allow only negative events to be your companion for the rest of the day. When something good does occur, you won't even recognize it.

--- Written in 2008 by Catherine Pulsifer

Positive Thought- A Strong Tool Of Succcess

2009-01-18T11:02:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was bunch of tiny frogs that arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants.

The race began. Honestly, no one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of tower. You heard statements such as, "They will NEVER make it to the top. Or: Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing, one by one, except for those, who in fresh tempo were climbing higher and higher.

The crowd continued to yell, "Its too difficult!!! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up, but one continued higher and higher and higher. This one wouldn't give up!

At the end, everyone else had given up climbing the tower, except for one tiny frog. After a big effort, he was the only one who reached the top! THEN all the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal. It turned out.... that the winner was deaf!!!!

Never listen to other people tendencies to be negative or pessimistic.... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you- the ones you have in your heart!

--- Author Unknown ---Ravinder Singh --- India

A Million Dollar Lesson - By Petey Parker

2009-01-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost me a $12 taxi ride.

I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up.

The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.

Well! I looked around for a "Candid Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell."

"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be.

I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver.

One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer's expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average'"

Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's loss is the traveling folk's friend!

Hudson River Plane Crash

2009-01-18T00:49:00.000-08:00

What an inspiring story this was. A few minutes after take off, the captain calls in and says, "This is cactus 1549, hit birds, we lost thrust in both engines," he then goes on to say they are going to turn around and head back towards the airport. Quickly he realizes the plane doesn't have enough engine power to do so. The last words that were heard from the pilot were, "We're gonna be in the Hudson." With 155 passengers on board, Pilot C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger landed the plane perfectly on top of the water. Rescue crews arrived at the scene shortly and pulled everyone off the plane. Some of the passengers described what they thought were their last few seconds of life, as "complete silence, like a library." Can you imagine the feelings of gratitude that all 155 passengers must have felt as their plane came to a stop in the Hudson? What is remarkable is how well prepared this pilot must have been. He didn't panic, the years of experience and dedication to his job saved a lot of lives. What we can take from this miraculous story is that it doesn't matter where we are in life, what our status is, what type of job we have, as long as everyday we strive to be the best we can, wherever we are. The day may come when we need to land a plane in the Hudson.