I was hanging some Christmas lights on Saturday when a friend came by and hopped out of his truck. He hustled over to where I was standing on the ladder and rather urgently said, “Paul, we need your help – you and your boys – can you come help us?” Well, I’m generally willing to drop whatever when someone needs some help, so I said, “Sure Markus, let me get the boys – what do you need?” He responded that they were trying to play a game of flag football and only had six guys! I got a chuckle out of this, then started thinking – if I am so willing to help somebody work, shouldn’t I also be willing to help somebody play? Play is the work of children, some of the most important work in the world. http://www.growportland.org/migration/ Take time to help somebody play today!
Read More
Whatever is on your mind right now is kind of like the channels on your TV. How did you happen to choose the channel you are watching anyway? Have you wondered recently what might be playing on the other channels that you are not watching currently? I have known for a long time now that there is power – power that can literally change your life – to be found on the gratitude channel. See what’s playing on your gratitude channel, and a switch will flip in your mind which will enable you to move beyond some of the snags that have kept you bound up. Here are a few suggestions for changing the channel:bad creditpersonal loansOnline Payday Loans In Kentucky · Walk into a grocery store and contemplate how thankful you are for the abundance of food that is available to you.really need a loan · Notice a piece…
Read More
Earl Nightingale was perhaps one of the most influential and earliest of inspirational speakers. In his recording, The Strangest Secret, Mr. Nightingale summarizes what has been taught and emphasized by teachers, philosophers, prophets, and sages throughout time, and that is: “You become what you think about…” This is the mental equivalent of the law of the harvest. In a fertile piece of ground you can just as well plant corn or nightshade (a deadly poison) – the land doesn’t care. In your mind you can plant seeds of optimism or pessimism – your mind doesn’t care. Your mind, like the land, will return in great abundance whatever is planted. Observe the harvest you are gathering, and consider very carefully what you plant!
Read More
Viktor Frankl, in his book Man’s Search For Meaning, identified what he called the “last of human freedoms” which is the freedom to choose your attitude in any given set of circumstances. Successful people everywhere understand this as they see the challenges in their life as opportunities – not as bringing opportunities, but as opportunities in and of themselves. One of my coaches, Dan Sullivan, has applied this in an extraordinary way by saying that other people’s problems are our opportunities. Finding ways to create value for others by helping them through their own hard times is a key to prosperity. I’ve included today a copy of an article that Dan wrote about this – hope you find it helpful. Don’t just survive, Thrive! scarytimesmanual P.S. I’m really excited about Live On Purpose Radio this week – I will be interviewing Frank W. Abagnale. Some of you…
Read More
A lot of people are really concerned about our economic condition lately. Some think that the solutions lie in "bail-out" offers from the government, or some kind of "adjustments" that can be made by those who are in power. I'm convinced that the answers lie in the human life value of you and those around you. Each person has some unique way to create value for others. Find ways to resolve the unresolved problems of others. I appreciate what Phil Myers told me about this in a recent interview. In his book Tuned In, Phil and his co-authors point out that you can't just figure out in your own head or in a board room what those unresolved problems are. You have to actually ask people and then listen to their answers. Get out of the office and into the minds and hearts of those you could serve if you…
Read More
As most of you know, I have spent a lot of my career figuring out what makes people tick. One thing that seems to be very consistent in terms of human motivation is the desire to feel important. Dr. John Dewey said, “The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important". Dale Carnegie in his epic book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, dedicated an entire chapter to the subject. When you understand what it is that helps you to feel important, you gain insight into why you do what you do. When people feel important, they can beat unbeatable odds, accomplish incredible things, and pull off the impossible. Discover what makes you feel important. I'm thinking more about this now because my friend Woody has just finished making an inspiring film about how people overcome enormous challenges, how they live their lives without fear,…
Read More
I just finished a book by Jon Gordon called The No Complaining Rule. This simple concept can be a tough application when we let our natural fight or flight instincts overrule the rational and compassionate core. Jon suggests that there are other things we could CHOOSE to do rather than complain including: 1. Practice Gratitude 2. Praise Others 3. Focus on Success 4. Let Go 5. Pray and Meditate “No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won’t make it worse.” Jeffrey R. Holland
Read More
I’m co-hosting an event this coming Saturday in Salt Lake City that I would like to personally invite you to attend – visit www.thrivesummit.com to see what I’m so excited about and register. Now for the main message…www.rennamobile.com/custom/timer/ The way people feel about you is most closely associated with the way they feel about themselves when they are with you. Dr. Ann Demarais explains in her book, First Impressions that we can have a powerful impact on others through giving them any of four powerful social gifts: 1. Appreciation – showing and expressing gratitude for whatever that person brings to our life. 2. Connection – finding ways that you connect or intersect with that other person in your interests or experience. 3. Elevation – everyone likes to feel good; your cheerfulness, smile, or positivity will be well received by others. 4. Enlightenment – find a way to share new…
Read More
Bruce Wilkinson, in his book The Dream Giver, defines a giant as “a very real and completely overwhelming obstacle you encounter on the road to your dream.” This giant then stands in your way, trying to bully and intimidate you from moving forward. Has it occurred to you that your giant can’t be IN YOUR WAY unless you are already ON YOUR WAY to something? Revive your vision of where you were headed in the first place. There are at least two great reasons to achieve your dreams, and only one of them is that you will accomplish your goal – the other is that conquering your giant frees others to do the same.
Read More
When I take the family on road trips to Seattle to visit family, we have to cross the beautiful Cascade mountains. When weather is such that there is a likelihood of snow over the pass, a big sign over the freeway reads “CHAINS REQUIRED”. Life gives us many crossroads and unanticipated challenges. Life’s warning sign may read, “ROUGH ROAD AHEAD, CHANGE REQUIRED.” The other direction is the more comfortable and easy route where no change is required, but it leads to stuckness. Robert Frost wrote some timeless lines about this choice… Two roads diverged in a wood and I— I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference. Choose well!
Read More