Home Grown Seeds of Success

Home
Grown
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SEEDS of SUCCESS
Robert A. Prentice
Home Grown Seeds of Success By Robert A. Prentice Cover design by Vicki L. Prentice Published in the United States of America by: Professional Development Systems 410 Wessington Street South Wessington SD 57381 http:/ /www.mrattitudespeaks.com http:/ /www.prairiebeacon.com http:/ /www.prairiebeaconradio.com 1.605.458.2563 1.800.437 .9715 Copyright 2008 by Robert A. Prentice All Rights Reser ved. Published 2008, May 2008 printing.
No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or other wise, without expressed written permission of the publisher. Permission is granted for copies of pages to be made for use within your own family.
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Robert A. (Bob) Prentice
Professional Development Systems

Robert A. (Bob) Prentice is an entrepreneur, a motivational speaker, a corporate trainer, a business and marketing consultant, an author, and publisher, who began his professional career 25 years ago. On December 26, 1989, Professional Development Systems was established in Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1998, Bob moved the business to Wessington, South Dakota, so his family could experience the benefits of living in a rural community. Since the birth of PDS, Bob has worked with hundreds of companies and organizations nationwide, delivering highly motivational training sessions in Customer Service, Leadership, Sales, Team Building and more. Literally thousands of people participate in Bobs training seminars each year. A family man, Bob and Vicki, his wife of 29 years, have enjoyed the privilege of raising three childrentwo sons and a daughterto adulthood. They also have an 14 year old daughter.
Owner & Founder of
My friends call me Mr. Attitude

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Table of Contents
Attitude is Everything .............................. 2 Life is Full of Choices ................................. 4 Got Your BAG? ............................................. 6 These People ................................................ 8 An Attitude of Gratitude ....................... 10 E Words for Life .................................. 12 Take Action Now .................................... 14 Invest and Youll Be Rich ........................ 16 Success Comes from Failure .................. 18 Stress Management Solutions ............ 20 Work Builds Character .......................... 22 Maximize Your Mondays ...................... 24 Think and Thank ..................................... 26 Passion of a Vision .................................. 28 Learn Something Every Day .................. 30 Opportunity Knocking ........................... 32 Opportunity in Disguise .......................... 34 Are You Ready? ........................................ 36 Spirit of Tenacity .................................... 38 Live with Enthusiasm ............................. 40 Its Never Too Late ................................ 42 Attitudes of Excellence .......................... 44 Four Phases of Attitude ......................... 46 Mastering Change .................................. 48 Face Your Fears ........................................ 50
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Sharpening Your Axe .............................. 52 Dare to Dream Big Dreams ...................... 54 Focused Discipline .................................... 56 Check Up from the Neck Up ................... 58 Listening with Both Ears On ................. 60 A Time Management Tool that Works .. 62 A Goal Achieving Formula ........................ 64 Life Strategies ........................................... 66 5 Steps to Thinking Creatively ............... 68 Make Someones Day ................................ 70 What Goes Around Comes Around ........ 72 Shift Your Paradigm ................................ 74 Live in Day-Tight Compartments ........... 76 Expect the Best of Others ...................... 78 When Youre Green Youre Growing ........ 80 Mastering Priorities ................................ 82 Laughter is Like Sunshine ........................ 84 Taking a Risk .............................................. 86 Problems vs. Challenges ............................ 88 Cherish the Simple .................................... 90 Joy in the Little Things ............................ 92 Surere Ways to Beat Discouragement .. 94 Empowered Decision Making .................. 96 Be a People Builder ..................................... 98 Hope is ContagiousPass it On! ............. 100
For ward
So, are you ready to be inspired? I wasnt. I can recall the first day that I encountered him. On a day like any other, my fellow employees and I were summoned from our collective work areas and asked to cram ourselves into a meager, congested auditorium. There we would be forced to listen to some guy our managers hired to come and speak to us. Oh yeah, cant wait, this is going to be awesome. So what youre telling me is that I gotta kick back, waste an hour and a half of my day and watch some crackpot chastise us for not having that Go get em spirit. Right, I cant wait to see what this palooka looks like. The last thing I need is for some pumped up, mindless guru egotist, jumpin for Jehoshaphat thinking hes a male cheerleader wannabe and come tell me how to improve myself. Cant think of a better way to spend an afternoon. So here we are, slaves to whatever this nincompoop gushes, trying to put plastic smiles on our faces while this guy tries to cram his little rays of sunshine into our heads. How lucky are we, us poor little town folk, to have this guy come share his wisdom with us? I was ready to let the Human Sedative do the proper thing which was put me to sleep for the next 90 minutes. As we all shuffled our way into the auditorium, I began peering around the room to try and spot the unfamiliar face in the bunch, for I knew that would be our speaker. As I looked around the room, all that I could see were mostly familiar faces. However, one did look different, but he wasnt exotic. He was way too modest looking to be our speaker. He couldnt be our speaker. He must be a new hire. As we all got situated in our chairs and anxiously awaited the seminar to get over, I started to realize that the new hire guy was slowly meandering towards the front of the room. That cant be!, I thought, Thats the speaker? For one, the guy was far too modest, almost to the point of ordinary. Second, speakers in his field are supposed to be six foot, eight inch superhero look-a-likes with supernatural powers and a kung fu grip. He was not that, either. Lastly, every motivational speaker I could ever recall had a bright, shiny, ultra-sonic permagrin surgically impressed on their face - a grin so bright that a mere straight on glimpse of them smiling would pulverize your retinas and place you in a zombielike trance. This guy showed no signs of that. What on Earth was going on here?
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What could this guy be selling? One word: Attitude. It came in the form of Bob Prentice. Bob walked out onto the forefront and began to take hold of the crowd immediately. He was ordinary, but then again, he wasnt. He invited the crowd into a glimpse of what life used to be like for him, a life eerily familiar to most of us. He spoke of what it used to be like for him to go to work. No joy was in his workday. No passion. He was amongst the vast majority of us who walk into our jobs everyday and either despise it or dismiss it as something we have to do. He gave the accounts of his co-workers and their response to what it was like to have to work with a malcontent, such as Bob. Bitter. Angry. Unmotivated. At this time, he was no different than the rest of us. He was simply doing his job and going to work. Life had gotten so bad for Bob, one day he finally erupted. I use the term erupted because no other word could express a complete lack of containment of a combustible source. (Erupted, now there is a good E word.) In an area rarely found but residing in each of us, Bob made a decision one day that would change his life forever. He decided not to go to work the very next day, instead, Bob opted to go to FUN. He told us how he went to work with a completely overhauled mentality. He became a man unfazed, undaunted, and best of all, unhinged. His attitude was going to dictate how his life was going to be. Life would be positive from that point on. As Bob conveyed his revelation to my co-workers and myself, his expression of joy from his decision was so intense, it was as though he was shot out of a cannon. Immediately the raucous crowd became a bubbling cauldron of jubilance about to boil over. Bob had taken the once dormant crowd and now had it in a complete frenzy. He began to call upon the crowd for assistance and within seconds an enormous cascade of E words were going off around the room like firecrackers. E words like Excitement,Energetic, and Enthusiastic were being shouted out by my fellow employees. The voices in the crowd were yelling out these E words as though they had been stifled for ages. I had worked with most these people for roughly four years and had never seen most of them behaving in such a fashion. I had gone to work that day, and the fun was what ensued. Bob expressed the importance of our dreams and how each
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of us need people who are important to us holding us accountable for those dreams. He expressed the need for each of us to set goals and deadlines and the necessity of being positive and diligent towards those goals. He showed each of us has the capability within ourselves, provided we keep our nose to the grindstone, to plow through obstacles standing in our way and to not succumb to negative thought patterns. He showed us something real that day. He showed us all that day what happens when Mr. Attitude speaks. About a year ago, my wife and I moved and she took a job in retail. It was her first job in sales and her first where she would receive commission for her efforts. In the beginning, she loved it. The job was fun. Her co-workers were supportive. She had a wonderful rapport with the customers and thoroughly enjoyed what she did and for whom she worked. Then the Holiday season hit. Suddenly, the demeanor of my wife began to change. She would come home, some days crying, and explaining how many of her co-workers had changed because they knew just how big their commission checks would be through the holidays. Customers were being swarmed to and greed was getting in the way of teamwork. I remember all my wife would repeat over and over is she wanted to go to fun. After the holidays ended, my wife decided to resign her position and begin to work for herself, designing artwork and shooting photography. The only name that either one of us ever considered for assistance was Bob Prentice. It has been two years since my wife and I first met Bob. He has since become our mentor, both in business and in life. He has taken my wifes business and is helping to create a vision for her work. He has devoted his time, spirit and knowledge to try and better our approach towards people and life. Bob has shown us the importance of selfless giving and how in doing so, it pays back in measures one cant even imagine. Through early struggles and overwhelming obstacles, Bob has been there teaching us ways to get past ourselves and the self deprecating mindsets most of us have. His vision is tremendous. His spirit is undeniable. His value to us is unmeasurable. Take the wisdom he has and make it your own. At the very least, youll walk away feeling better about yourself, your dreams and your potential. One thing is for certain, you do not have to be quiet to hear Mr. Attitude speak. Paul & Gerri Register Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Dedication & Thanks

I wish, first of all, to dedicate Home Grown to my parents, Robert and Ramona Prentice, who planted the seeds of working hard and persevering until the job was done in me. Thank you Mom and Dad for the great legacy you have given me. Secondly, I dedicate this book to my wife and helpmeet, Vicki, who has for thirty years traveled this journey with me, and every step of the way has been a tremendous support to me in whatever I have set out to do, personally and professionally. Thanks for all you do, Vicki. I know that I could never have asked for a better support system than the one I have in you. Finally, I dedicate this book to my children and grandchildren and all the future generations that come from my life. I have always hoped to live a life as an encourager to others. I pray that I have modeled healthy positive attitudes with a strong commitment to a proper mental attitude on a daily basis. You have been my motivation and inspiration. I want to be a leader first at home, then in business.
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Introduction
I was very fortunate to have been raised on a farm where Mom and Dad taught us kids some awesome lifelong principles. Even though I did not realize at the time just how fortunate I was, now I am able to look back in appreciation of all that I learned growing up on the farmthings like Nothing in life is free or easy Get up and out of bed early every morning Work and work hard To harvest a crop, you must first plant Pick weeds and pick the rocks Keep the barn clean
The list could go on and on. In those days, I always had lots of chores to do on the farm, but planting seeds is still my favorite thing to do. Since I moved away from the farm many years ago, I discovered a way to continue planting seeds. Instead of planting wheat and corn seeds into the rich, fertile soil of the earth, I now plant what I call positive seeds into the lives of others. I plant seeds of hope, seeds of love, seeds of encouragement, seeds of wisdom, seeds of ideas, and of course, seeds of success. Sometimes, just like on the farm, the seeds have fallen on rocky ground, and the result is little or no harvest. But many, many times the seeds have fallen on the lives of people who were hungry for growth, for change, for a richer, fuller, happier, and more productive life. Today I am humbled by the thousands of clients, friends, and associates from all over the nation, who have become an intimate part of my life just because I chose to plant seeds of goodness into the lives of the people I meet. Let me encourage you to do the same. The harvest is great. I see no signs of a drought in healthy friendships and relationships for you if you choose to plant the positive seeds, advocated in this book, into the lives of those that you touch today.
To Your Success! Bob Mr. Attitude Prentice

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Attitude is Everything
99.9% of everything in life boils down to having the right kind of attitude. This attitude I am referring to is what I call proper mental attitude. A proper mental attitude is when you find some creative and innovative way to take a negative, and with the right attitude, turn this challenge into a positive. What is so wonderful about this is that anyone can learn the skills to do it! You only need to have a want to. One of the road blocks to having a proper mental attitude is negative thinking. It is very difficult to change any negative situation into a positive if we are constantly thinking negative thoughts. We must learn to think the proper thoughts if we want to cultivate a proper attitude. After all, often we can do nothing to change or control a situation. But we can change and control our thoughts! Choose today to have a proper mental attitude. Here are some of my favorite affirmations that get me thinking in the right way: Success is an attitude, and I have an attitude for success! Every day, in every way, I get a little better! Plan your work and work your plan! Proper planning prevents poor performance! Lets get to the good news!
Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it every day, until at last it becomes so strong we cannot break it.
~Horace Greeley~
The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.
~William James~
A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change.
~Earl Nightingale~
Home Grown Attitudes

Just remember that what you are going to be tomorrow you are already becoming today. If we kept a record of everything that has made us happy we would have a pleasure chest that would be our treasure chest. Optimism is a cheerful frame of mind that enables a tea kettle to sing though in hot water up to its nose. As owers in the elds reach for the dew and sunshine, may we always reach for an opportunity to grow. Eagles come in all shapes and sizes, but you will recognize them chiey by their attitudes.
Afrmations I Will Use To Get Me Thinking Right

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Life is Full of Choices

It has been said that there are a thousand little choices in a day and all of them count. In fact, each of us makes tens of thousands of choices in our lifetime choices like: Who you spend your time with How you comb your hair and how you dress What you feed your body and your mind How much or how little you smile How well you listen to others and how much you talk How fast you drive The amount of time you spend with your kids Whether or not you go to church Where you do your shopping How you react to circumstances beyond your control If you will be on time What you choose to think about How much patience you have in a given situation The list could go on and on. How we handle these and other choices in our day plays an unbelievably important role in how well we get through each day. They affect how we treat others and how others treat us. They affect our productivity and how we feel about ourselves. They determine our success in life. We all have a far greater control over our destinies than we may have ever imagined. As we make conscious, active choices whenever the opportunity comes, remembering that there is no life as complete as the life that is lived by choice, we can be sure that our choices will create an important part of what happens next.
As simple as it sounds, we all must try to be the best person we can, by making the best choices, by making the most of the talents weve been given.
~Mary Lou Retton~
Ones philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes ... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.
~Eleanor Roosevelt~

If youd like to know what your choices have been, look at yourself and the life you have lived. What you see is the choices you have made. Each day that passes, your choices will come and go. They are like diamonds in a chest of jewels each waiting to be discovered. No one else can ever make your choices for you. Your choices are yours alone. They are as much a part of you as every breath you will take, every moment of your life. You may think that in life a lot of THINGS happen to you along the way. The truth is, in life, YOU happen to a lot of things along the way.
My Plan to Make Better Choices

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Got Your BAG?

We have all encountered rejection in life at one time or another, when sharing our ideas, thoughts, or suggestions with others. This can be painful for us. In order to deal with this type of pain, I have discovered it is necessary to carry with me, everywhere I go, a special imaginary BAG. In this BAG which is really in my mind, are three things. First and foremost, my BAG contains a list of the Blessings in my personal and professional life. These are the things for which I am most thankful. Also in my BAG are my Accomplishments. This is a list of the things that I have set out to achieve and have accomplished that make me feel good about who I am as a person. Thirdly, in my BAG, are my Goals. These are the dreams and the desires of my heart and my mindwhat you might call my passions. Simply reminding myself of my Blessings, Accomplishments, and Goals shifts any negative thinking I may have, into a more positive mind-set almost immediately. Let me encourage you to begin today to make you own lists of Blessings, Accomplishments, and Goals. Then you can carry your BAG with you wherever you go and youll be able to use it whenever you feel rejected.
Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will nally be able to move for ward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and condence.
~Og Mandino~
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.

~Franklin D. Roosevelt~
Energy multiplies when you set a desired goal and resolve to work toward that goal.
~David Joseph Schwartz~ 5
My Blessings
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My Goals
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My Achievements
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These People
These people Are performance orientated; They work without grumbling and complaint, Take risks, Think for themselves, Can solve challenges, And love to sell and serve. These people Are creative and innovative; They offer ideas for improvement, Come to work in a timely manner, Are accountable for doing their best; Do what they are asked, encouraged or directed to do While trusting in their leaders. These people Are assets to our families, business, and communities. . . . . . And the remaining are liabilities. Which of these people are you?
There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative. ~Clement Stone~ Be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. Think well of yourself and proclaim this fact to the worldnot in loud words, but in great deeds. ~Optimists Creed~

Your attitude tells the world what you expect from life and whether you will achieve it or not. The pleasure you get from life is equal to the attitude you put into it. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalysta spark that creates extraordinary results.
My Plan to Be an Asset
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An Attitude of Gratitude
The other day, my wife announced that she wanted to go hunting with me. It was a beautiful autumn day and she wanted to get out of the house to enjoy it. Of course, I was more than thrilled, figuring I could really show her why I love hunting pheasants so much. Whats more, I thought, what an incredible way to take her on a date! After walking through fields and sloughs, she informed me that she thought this was really a great way to clear your head and get some exercise, too. Instead of being tired, she felt totally invigorated. I knew what she meant. Yes, the birds are tougher to find this year, but I tell you this... I had the most incredible day that day and I was filled with an attitude of gratitude! It was truly a beautiful day in every wayspending precious time with my wife, exercise, fresh air, and to top it off, I got my limit, which was really like the frosting on the cake. You know, it really is taking time to notice and enjoy the simple things in life that make all the difference in living. Listening to the geese honking their way south, as the wind blows through the tall grasses, seeing that huge buck running from the slough, the sight of a pheasant rooster rising off the prairie, or breathing in the fragrant scent of autumn, causes me to have an attitude of gratitude. How about you? Let me encourage you to slow down and stop for just a minuteor maybe you need to take a half a day or moreto take in the beauty of nature. What an awesome gift we have been given. Lets also thank the One who has given us this gift. That too, only takes a minute or so. Be refreshed and be challenged to live life to the fullest for none of us ever knows when our last breath will occur. I choose to live everyday with an Attitude of Gratitude. How about you?
By talking to yourself every hour of the day, you can direct yourself to think thoughts of courage and happiness, thoughts of power and peace. By talking to yourself about the things that you have to be grateful for, you can ll your mind with thoughts that soar and sing.
~Dale Carnegie~
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
~John F. Kennedy~

If we ll our hours with regrets over failures of yesterday, and with worries over the problems of tomorrow, we have no today in which to be thankful. If you would know the greatest sum in addition, count your blessings. We are so often caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey, especially the goodness of the people we meet on the way. Appreciation is a wonderful feeling. Dont overlook it. Silent gratitude isnt very much good to anyone.
I Show an Attitude of Gratitude When I...

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E Words for Life

E Words are words that begin with the letter E that a person, a family, a community should strive for in successful daily living. The following are some of my favorite E words: EncourageOffer others a word of encouragement and it will brighten their day and sometime, when you least expect it and need it most, someone may give you a word of encouragement. EveryoneFew of us can ever attain any measure of greatness all by ourselves, but with teamwork everyone achieves more. EmpowerGiving a person knowledge, skill and attitude, and at the same time lifting them up and instilling confidence and self worth in them, is what empowers them to make right choices and decisions in life. EnthusiasmLive life with that special spark of enthusiasm, and always remember what Conrad Hilton of the Hilton Hotels once said: Enthusiasm is the little recognized secret of success. EnergyWhenever youre feeling tired, worn out, and physically or mentally drained, try to do one extra thing. This will often result in a burst of energy and a second wind. ExcellenceThis is not an act but a habit. Being excellent once will not be sufficient; it must occur multiple times. A person should adopt excellence as a way of life, viewing everything with an Attitude of Excellence! ExcitedHow do you usually react when someone shares a personal dream or accomplishment with you? Often the tendency is to pull people down, to be a nay-sayer, or to criticize. Instead, GET EXCITED about the successes, accomplishments, dreams, goals, and aspirations of others! Apply these E words in your life and reap rich results, and keep thinking of more to add to the list.
Flatter me and I may not believe you. Criticize me and I may not like you. Ignore me and I may not forgive you. Encourage me and I will not forget you.
~William Arthur Ward~
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Ideas are worthless unless followed by action. The written word can be erased; not so with the spoken word. Success comes to those who have proceeded to do what the rest of us have always intended to do.
More E Words
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Take Action Now

Several years ago, I remember quite clearly that there was this little thing left undone in my life. Since it was such a little thing I basically let it go, and time passed. Suddenly this issue surfaced again, this time just a tad bit bigger of a problem, and as before, I put it off. Time passed. A couple of months later, by the time it reared its ugly head again, it was a monster, and it ended up costing me huge amounts of money and an incredible amount of time. It caused embarrassment and was a very painful experience for me. It also taught me somethinga lesson that has lasted me many years now. (Sometimes I just have to learn lessons the hard way, I guess.) This one I have learned well. Do not put things off! Today, my battle cry is TAKE ACTION NOW! Putting things off to the next day is a bad habit that most of us have fallen into at one time or another. How about you? Are you a procrastinator, putting off until tomorrow, things you should be doing today? Heed these words and take action on something in your life that you have been putting off and begin to cultivate a new habit in your life. I encourage you to make a list of all the projects that you have started but not finishedall the to dos that have been hanging over your head, all those little things that have become hugeand prioritize them. Face up to those things youve been putting off and admit that you have been procrastinating, and then, TAKE ACTION NOW! Youll see that the battle is already half won! And what benefits youll reapless negative stress, a feeling of being productive, a sense of pride, savings of money, time, energy, and hassles, and probably an overwhelming desire to tackle the next item on your list. Remember the Battle CryTAKE ACTION NOW!
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.
~Theodore Roosevelt~
Even if youre on the right track, youll get run over if you just sit there.
~Will Rogers~
You cant build a reputation on what you are going to do. ~Henry Ford~
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Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs. Courage is daring to take that rst step, or a different path. It is the decision to place your dreams above your fears. What makes men great is their ability to decide what is important and then to focus their attention on it. Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to. Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.
My Plan to Take Action Now

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Invest and Youll Be Rich

We can choose to invest in a variety of things. For instance, we may invest our money in the stock market, or we might buy gold, silver, real estate, mutual funds, and the like, as an investment. Though investing usually makes us think of money, I definitely believe that the principle of investing applies to more in life than just the financial realm. In addition to money, we can also invest such things as our time, energy, skills, talents, and creative effort. Most of us invest the resources we already have with the hope of getting a greater return on our investment sometime in the future. Again, I am not only speaking about money, here. I have found that the process of investing my time, energy, money in people has profited me far more than mere money ever could. It has made me rich in relationship. When you invest in the stock market, you might win. And then again, you might lose. When you invest in a business, it may be profitable, but it may not be. However, whenever you invest in people, you cant lose. You can always be assured you have made a wise and sound investment. It is my purpose and mission in life and business to contribute to the society in which I live by investing in people and building them in all key areas of personal and professional sales and leadership development, always doing my best to put people before money. Each of us has a daily choice to make, whether we will invest more in people or things. I hope that today, you will decide in favor of investing in people and relationships. Yes, I know that it will probably be quite challenging at times, but your investment promises to bring about awesome rewards. As you invest more and more into the lives of others, you will become rich in relationship.
The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself that we truly live.
~Ethel Percy Andrus~
When t wo sparks meet, they shine brighter together. Similarly, investing in the lives of others will brighten your life, letting all those around light up in its low. I really urge you to pass on that spark and build into the lives of others.
~Koh En Ting~ 15

Warriors and statesmen try to improve the world by striving for noble causes; but we can make our own corner of it a better place simply by being kind to one another. The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch, swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you ever had. To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart. The way to be happy is to make others happy. Helping others is the secret of success in business, in the arts, and in the home.
Ways I Plan to Invest in Relationships

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Success Comes from Failure

Though I hate to admit it, I failed the computer class I took in college. It would seem the only thing I gained from that particular class was a major hatred for computers, and yet, today I would say I have successfully learned to use a computer. In fact, I actually love computers so much that I could not imagine my life without one. It is also a fact that I have experienced failure in business, having once started a business that did not go at all as I had anticipated. Today I own and manage three businesses and would consider myself a successful business man. I know I have failed many times to be the husband and father I have wanted to be. In spite of letting myself and my family down at times, I am still able to say that I have successfully navigated through almost 30 years of marriage and more than 27 years of parenting. How can it be that I have failed in so many ways, and yet dare to call myself a success? I believe the answer, at least in part, is that wherever I have failed, I have made the choice to change my attitude rather than stay stuck in the muck of my failure. I know that wallowing in failure will never bring me success. Furthermore, I believe that Success is failure, turned inside out; in other words, success comes from failure. Only one thing can start us on the road to changing failure into success, and that is a major shift in ATTITUDE! This is not always a simple process and can be painful, but what have you got to lose? Stop for a moment and do a check up from the neck up. Jot down your answers to these questions: What is my attitude?
Do I have an attitude for success?
What kind of attitude changes do I need to make now so I can achieve success?
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Am I willing to make the changes in attitude that success requires?
What will I do to make sure I keep the right attitude?
Make the decision to not live in the muck of failure. Choose, instead to have an attitude of success! Then tell yourself often, Success is an Attitude, and I have an Attitude for Success!

Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.
~John Maxwell~
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
~Colin Powell~
The setbacks and hardships you endure actually help you in your march for ward to success. The world was built to develop your character.
~Nikita Koloff~
Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against over whelming odds.
~Charles Lindbergh~
A successful man is one who can lay a rm foundation with the bricks others throw at him.
~Sidney Greenberg~ 18
Stress Management Solutions

I know I am not alone. I hear it everywhere I go these days. It seems like everybody is telling me, I am so stressed out. I just cant take it anymore! We live in such a hurried age. All our time-saving gadgets have simply allowed us to cram more into our days and this is creating an intense pressure in our lives. We must take control of the negative stresses in our daily living. When the pressure is on, we can win the battle. The principles that I have lived by for many years have saved my life many times. Here are some of those principles: + + + + + + + + + + + + Live in the moment. Remind yourself that this too shall pass. You do not have to buy the cow to get a glass of milk. Encourage others. Get out of yourself and do something to help others. Take some time to pray about the situation. Ask yourself What is the worst that can possibly happen? Then prepare to accept it. Take action on what you are putting off. Plan, think, and plan some more. Take a walk. Read a good book. Eat a chocolate chip cookie (an awesome stress reliever!)
These principles are pretty simple to implement. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of them. Go ahead and try them on for awhile, and youll be amazed at the results that will come your way when you practice them. I recently spent three days taking time to regroup my thoughts, fine-tune my plans, set some new goals, and make some tough decisions. The principles, listed above, literally saved my life again. Yes, I am just as human as all of you who are reading this. I, too, can get pretty stressed out at times. I have found the key is to plan how I will respond in the midst of a stressful situation. So why let lifes inevitable challenges stress you out when they dont have to? Take control; put these stress management principles to work in your life today!
Even too much sunshine can be devastating, while only with rain can growth occur. Accept both as part of the growing process in the garden of life.
~David S. Neviaser~
19
The harder the conict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; tis dearness only that gives everything its value.
~Thomas Paine~

The happiest people dont necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes along the way. The cost of a thing is the amount of life that must be exchanged for it.
Life is like a mirror. We get the best results when we smile at it.
Stress Principles I Plan to Implement

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20
Work Builds Character

The summer sun and winds burned my arms, face and back as I bent down to pick yet another rock from its earthen home where it most likely had rested for many generations. To this day, I can remember how hot, sweaty, and backbreaking that job of picking multitudes of rocks from the fields of our north central Minnesota farm was for me as a teenager. It wasnt a job I necessarily wanted to do. I simply did it because my dad said to. I guess he thought it would build my character. At the time, I couldnt see how that could be, and yet, because I knew my dad, I continued to do what he had instructed me to do. Years later I can fondly reflect on those days as being an incredible opportunity for character building. Learning to obey, and honor my fathers requests, directions and rules with a right attitude, were life changing for me. Teaching me to work hard with a good attitude was the best thing my dad could have ever have done for me. I have taken the concept of hard work and shared it with my children, and they, too, have come to understand the character building benefits of working hard. Our children are all very hard workers who contribute to society in a positive manner. I am so glad I succeeded in passing this on and now I hope to see it passed on to yet another generation, as I influence my grandchildren. Whatever work you do, it is absolutely vital to possess a strong work ethic. Being productive and able to produce positive results through your work, is a key element of success and satisfaction in this life. I have heard it said, you build a backbone two ways when you work hardand its true. Theres not many things more satisfying and character building than knowing you have put in a good days work. And when its done with the right attitude, you know youve become a better person.
The best preparation for tomorrow is to do todays work superbly well.

~Sir William Osler~
I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.
~Frank Lloyd Wright~
21

Einsteins Three Rules of Work: Out of Clutter nd simplicity; From discord nd harmony; In the middle of difculty lies opportunity. The difference bet ween try and triumph is a little umph! You cannot plough a eld by turning it over in your mind. The best way to appreciate you job is to imagine yourself without one. All the so-called secrets of success will not work unless you do.
My Plan to Allow Work to Build My Character

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22
Maximize Your Mondays

Some people tend to slide into their week slowly and dont pick up their productivity until about Tuesday or Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon they are winding down for the coming weekend, and Friday, for all practical purposes, is not much different than Monday was unproductive. How do I know this? Well, to be honest, thats how I used be. I dreaded Mondays and looked forward to Fridays, and did as little as I could get by with in between. Obviously, thats not the most effective way to get things done, nor is it the way to capture what good living is all about, and fortunately it didnt take me to long to figure that out. I now look forward to each new week and try to make each day in it count. The best way Ive found to make that happen is to maximize my Mondays. What do I mean by this? Well, since you wont be very effective when Monday shows up if the only plan you have is just to get through the day, you need to think about Monday before Monday gets here. On Thursdays, I look ahead to the next Monday and take time to plan and schedule, thus building a solid foundation of effectiveness and productivity for the week ahead. I make a list of projects and activities to engage in, the people Ill talk to and appointments to keep, and in hardly any time at all, I have pre-arranged a Monday that has laid a solid foundation for my week. Maybe youre one who hasnt looked forward to going to work on Mondays, and realize you could benefit from my simple strategy. Go for it! Dont let anything hold you back. Start planning for next Monday by Thursday of this week. And remember that Monday (and every other day, too) is a day of fresh starts and new beginnings, so its never too late to start maximizing your Mondays.
Once you have a clear picture of your prioritiesthat is, your values, goals and high leverage activitiesorganize around them.
~Stephen Covey~
It is not enough to be busyso are the ants. The question is this: What are we busy about?
~Henry David Thoreau~
23

Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future. For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned. Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up! The less one has to do, the less time one nds to do it in.
~Lord Chesterfield~
Keeping Organized Rule #1: A place for everything and every thing in its place.
My Plan to Maximize My Mondays

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Think and Thank

Maybe youve heard the old saying When you heat with wood you get warmed twiceonce in the chopping of the wood and secondly in the burning of the same. I know first hand, that there is a lot of truth in that statement because in the fall of each year, I spend a fair amount of time gathering wood for our wood burning stoves in preparation for the coming winter. I find that I truly enjoy the process of hauling, cutting, and chopping of the wood, which provides me with plenty of healthy physical activity in the crisp, clean autumn air. I am motivated by the fact that theres nothing quite like the feeling that emanates from a wood stove on a day when the temperature drops to freezing or below. It warms you to the core! Yes, the wood process surely does warm me twice. In fact, I would say it even warms me more than twice! That is because while I am doing this kind of laborthe kind of task that in and of itself takes very little thought on my part to accomplishI am always thinking. I think about challenges I need to resolve and client projects I am working on, and I am warmed to find the needed solutions and answers to those challenges. I think about revenue generating and profit making strategies for business, and am warmed when I come up with a really great money-making idea. I think about my blessings and I am warmed to count how many of them there are: family, friends, health, wisdom and strength to do my work. The list goes on and on. Many would call this multi-tasking. I call it just plain working smarter, and I love it! Even if you dont have wood to chop, you can do what I do, and think and thank, and be warmed, while accomplishing your simple labors. Well, Ive got to go because I still have plenty of wood to chop. Oh good! Just what I needmore opportunity to think and thank.
By talking to yourself about the things that you have to be grateful for, you can ll your mind with thoughts that soar and sing.
~Dale Carnegie~
None is more impoverished than the one who has not gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.
~Fred De Witt Van Amburgh~ 25

He who thanks but with the lips thanks in part; The full, the true thanksgiving comes from the heart. Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character. Nothings so hard that you cant make it easier by the way you take it. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.
I Can Think and Thank When I Am ...

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26
Passion of a Vision
I remember a day a couple of years ago when there was a knock at our front door. Standing there was an older gentleman, who right away announced, I am not selling anything, running for any political office, or anything of the sort. This had my attention. He said he needed just twenty minutes. We invited this man, who introduced himself as Mel into our home and he began to tell us a story about the incredible history of South Dakota, and of the people who settled here, and some of their awesome inventions. My wife and I were mildly intrigued and even amused with all Mels stories, so we politely heard him out as he enthusiastically told us of how he has been going from town to town, all across the state, to share his vision for building a Living History Museum in Ft. Pierre. The thing that most caught my attention was Mels passion for his dreamso much so, that in fact to this day, every time I think of this mans vision it inspires me. I admire the gentleman for the risk he is taking and the energy he is expending, all for a cause that he, himself, may never live to see become a reality. I caught his spirit of enthusiasm, and by the time he was done an hour later, I was volunteering my support. I share this story for a couple of reasonsfirst, I tend to agree that Mels vision, if carried out, would have a huge economic impact on our state. Secondly, I find myself hoping and praying that when I am Mels age I will have as strong a passion for something as he has. The fact that Mel has such vision at his age is truly amazing to me! No matter what our age, we all need a visionsomething we can really get excited about working forthat will propel us forward. We need a vision for our family, our community, our state, and our nation. After all, the Bible does say. Without a vision the people will perish! (Proverbs 29:18)
Every age needs people who will redeem the time by living with a vision of the things that are to be.
~Adlai E. Stevenson~
Some men see things the way they are and ask, Why? I dream things that never were and ask, Why not?.
~George Bernard Shaw~
27

Dream what you want to dream; Go where you want to go; Be what you want to be; Because you have only one life and only one chance To do all the things you want in life. Go condently in the direction of your dreams. Nothing is unrealistic if you believe you can do it. No dream is ever too small. No dream is ever too big.
I Have a Vision for . . .

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Learn Something Every Day

A big red F appeared on my report card for my 9th grade English class, and my parents and teacher were not happy with me. Actually, I was quite frustrated myself. You see, I really detested English and Grammar. Whats more, I could not see any value in learning that boring stuff and therefore didnt think I needed to apply myself. (Boy was I ever naive!) Fortunately success often comes through failure, and today with all the writing and speaking that I do, there is no question in my mind that there is incredible value in the power of possessing an attitude of life-long learning. Even though I wasnt the best student in school, I was blessed to have teachers who influenced me profoundly and helped me to develop a real love for learning that has become a life-long habit. In pursuing my goals or dreams, I have found there are usually certain requirements that must be met, and therefore I need to sharpen my axe along the way by improving and increasing my level of knowledge. My education, over the years, has continued and learning has increased as I have researched hundreds of subjects (including grammar) of interest to me. Whenever I want to know something, I set out to find a way to learn it. I absolutely love increasing my knowledge and learning new skills and never see myself stopping! Let me encourage you to adopt this same attitude toward learning and set out to learn something you have always wanted to learn. It may not be easy, but it will be well worth it. Never allow past educational experiences, age or anything else, keep you from discovering the joy of learning something new every day of your life, and remember this quote by B. B. King: The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.
Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.
~Abigail Adams~
Education is not lling a pail, but lighting a re.

~William Butler Yeats~
29

The only real mistake is one from which we learn nothing. So dont make any real mistakes. Wonder, rather than doubt, is the root of knowledge. Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. Books are the shoes with which we tread the footsteps of great minds.
My Plan to Make Life-Long Learning a Habit

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Opportunity Knocking
Recently, I was remembering some of the great road trips my daughter, Tasha and I have taken over the years, and I was reminded of a particular time when we were traveling to Rapid City together. As we were getting caught up on each others lives we were discussing the reasons she was going to Rapid City in the first place. She was seizing an opportunity to help a family with some serious child care needs for the next three months or more. Tasha, a very skilled and talented child care provider, reminded me that I had been the one who originally taught her to not let opportunities pass her by in life. It is a fact that I have always encouraged our children to answer the door whenever opportunity knocks-to gather all the facts, think through the process and develop a plan, to take action on these ideas and opportunities. In order to more effectively seize opportunities in life, one must learn to watch, observe, be prepared, and plan to seize them. It is important to recognize the opportunities when they come-the phone call asking you for help is an opportunity to serve others; a free evening becomes an opportunity to meet with friends or catch up on your reading or have a family game night; a challenge at work can be an opportunity to learn something new about yourself or others. Be willing to take risks in life, though only after you have gathered all the facts available from all sources possible. In addition, I highly recommend that you talk over opportunities with someone you trust and respect, gathering their thoughts, ideas, and suggestions on the matter before making a final decision. It also helps to get it down in black and white in front of you. Its amazing how you look at things differently when you get them out of your head and down on paper. In conclusion, let me challenge you to take the risk-dont hesitateand seize the opportunity. It just might make your day and someone elses also! And remember thisBehold the turtle, he makes progress only when he sticks his neck out!
Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.
~Alexander Graham Bell~
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
~Thomas A. Edison~
31

Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises. Dont wait for your ship to come in. Swim out to it. Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending. Many an opportunity is lost because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers.
My Plan to Seize Opportunities

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Opportunity in Disguise
It was a hot summer day several years ago when my car broke down in the middle of nowhere. This, as you well know, is never a very pleasant experience. After hitching a ride into Wall, SD, I secured a tow truck. Now, as inconvenient as this was at the time, I knew I had a decision-making opportunity in front of me. Either I could grumble and complain all the way into Rapid City or I could shift my attitude and get to know the fellow driving the tow truck. Keep in mind, I am very capable of grumbling and complaining. My son just reminded me of this yesterday. (Thank you, Micah.) I believe I made the right decision that day. I chose to get to know this person driving the tow truck and my life was enhanced greatly. Ultimately, Tim, the tow truck driver, became not only a customer, but also a friend of mine. This almost certainly would never have occurred if I had chosen to grumble and complain about my car breaking down. My telling you this story is to illustrate a point. Life is full of inconveniences, adversities, worries, and breakdowns (not just of cars, but of relationships as well), and even though negative circumstances are often simply unavoidable, we do have a choice how we will deal with those situations. In the future, whenever negative and challenging things confront you, try to see each situation as an opportunity in disguise. May I also suggest that you make a commitment to take the word problem out of your vocabulary, and in its place substitute the word challenge. From here on out remind yourself I have no problems, only challenges and look for, and seize the opportunity you find there. When facing a challenge, be encouraged by this quote:
The worst thing that happens to you may be the best thing for you if you dont let it get the best of you.
~Will Rogers~
Lifes challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; theyre supposed to help you discover who you are.
~Bernice Johnson Reagon~
33

Two frogs fell into a bowl of cream. One didnt panic; he relaxed and drowned. The other kicked and struggled so much that the cream turned to butter and he walked out. When one door of happiness closes, another opens; But often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us. Success can be measured more by obstacles overcome when trying to reach success, than plateaus reached. A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.
Challenges in My Life that may be Opportunities

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Are You Ready?

Every day, you and I each have the opportunity to make numerous choices and decisions. I have discovered that being ready for the opportunities that come my way makes it easier for me to make wise choices and decisions. One of the many benefits of being ready for opportunities is an increased sense of confidence. Feeling confident makes me more willing to step out and take a risk than I would be if I wasnt ready. Of course it goes without saying, success is much more likely when I am well prepared. So, how can one be ready for opportunities when they come? I believe the answer to that question is simply this: You must have a plan. Weve all heard it said, Fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is so true. I would venture to say that having a plan in your headwhile it is better than no plan at allis not enough. By writing down and thinking out on paper your strategies and plans for the future, you can see things from a whole different perspective. Planning helps you to see where you are and visualize where you are going. Through planning you will begin to enjoy the success you desire in life because you will be ready to make wise decisions when the opportunities come. Are you ready for the future, for opportunities, for problems or challenges, or for a major change in your life? The time to get ready is now! So as you grab that pen and paper, keep this thought in mind: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
Great minds must be ready not only to take opportunities, but to make them.
~Charles Caleb Colton~
Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~
It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.
~Whitney Young, Jr.~
35

The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare. When we have nothing as our target we usually hit it with amazing accuracy. A man surprised is half beaten. Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.
My Plan to Get Ready Now

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36
Spirit of Tenacity
Stick to it! . . . Never, never quit! . . .When the goin gets tough, the tough get goin! . . . Persistence pays! . . . These are phrases I have heard my entire life. Over the years, I have often reflected back on the first couple of year after we started our training business. Those were the days when the power and light company shut off our lights because I couldnt afford to pay the bill, that our family now so fondly refers to as the Dark Ages. I remember back then it was challenging enough just to put food on the table, and it was during those difficult days, when I felt most like giving up, and going out to get a real job that I made a decision. I decided that no matter what, I was not going to let the tough times beat me. Somehow I would succeed! I was a hard worker, but I learned that I needed to work smarter, too. I had my plans, but found that if I was to succeed, I needed a written plan so I would be ready to make the most of opportunities that come my way. I also learned a having a written plan also served to make me more determined than ever to succeed. Its what I call a Spirit of Tenacitythat quality of holding fast to your dreams, goals and desires, being unwilling to quit or let go or give up, no matter what. My plans were the catalyst I needed to achieve my dreams, and as I began to visualize success in my minds eye, it became a reality. I know it has been my written plans that have helped me to hang in there, reminding me why I was doing what I was doing, and keeping me from giving in to the temptation to quit during the difficult times. I encourage you to let your dreams take you far, and when the going gets rough, roll up your sleeves, grab a pencil, and start planning. This is a powerful tool to help you to be tenacious in life, whatever you set out to do. And remember: If you are to succeed, you must press on. You must possess a Spirit of Tenacity.
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
~Harriet Tubman~
37

Postage stamps are getting more expensive, but at least they have one attribute that most of us could emulate: they stick to one thing until they get there. Life is like riding a bicycle. You dont fall off unless you stop pedaling. The race is not always to the swiftbut to those who keep running. Nothing is impossible; there are ways to everything, and if we had sufcient will, we should always have sufcient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible. The difference bet ween a successful person and other is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of tenacity.
My Plan to Develop a Spirit of Tenacity

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38
Live with Enthusiasm

Approaching life with a spark of enthusiasm is one of the most natural things I do. Please, allow me to explain. A lot of people I know get out of bed in the morning and exclaim, with a grumble, Oh, I have to go to work today! You wont catch me saying that, though, because years ago I decided that I was going to treat each new day as a blessing. From that point on, I have approached every day as if I was going to FUN and have purposed to really enjoy the work I have to do with a spark of enthusiasm and a belief that I have the power to overcome each challenge and obstacle I face with a positive attitude. Armed with enthusiasm, I am confident that I will be able to find creative ways to take the negatives and turn them into positives. Whenever I have something I must do, that I really dont want to do, I simply choose to take action instead of putting it off. You see, taking action builds enthusiasm, and in the process, you find that you can accomplish the task at hand much easier then when you are dragging your feet. Living life with an enthusiastic smile, and sharing this joy and happiness with others is like giving a gift to everyone you meet, and it makes you feel really good. Positive people attract more positive experiences to their lives, and of course this is the real benefit of making the decision to live life with enthusiasm. You can change yourself; you can even change others; you can have a positive impact on your family, your community, and your workoops, I meanFUN place! The rewards of living enthusiastically are incredible!
Enthusiasm is the little recognized secret of success.

~Conrad Hilton~
A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.
~Charles Schwab~
Enthusiasm is self-condence in action.

~Franklin Field~
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~ 39

The pleasure you get from your life is equal to the attitude you put into it. The worst bankrupt in the world is the man who has lost his enthusiasm. Let him lose everything but enthusiasm and he will come through again to success. Keep your enthusiasms, and forget your birthdays! This is the next best thing to discovering the fountain of youth. Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic! Enthusiasm is contagious! So is any other attitude you may have.
My Plan to Live With Enthusiasm

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40
Its Never Too Late

I am reminded that achieving a short-term goal is like winning a game, but achieving a long-term goal is like winning the tournament. Are you setting your goals down in black and white? We should be establishing a daily habit of getting our goals out of our heads and down on paper, because it will help us see things from a different perspective. I am constantly looking for ways to reach a higher goal-achieving ratio. This is such a simple solution to greater success. It is never too late to get into the habit of putting your goals down on paper. Establishing specific timetables, and deadlines really causes us to have some serious motivation. A little self-imposed pressuremotivations that will propel us towards our dreams and desires each day we are aliveis good for us. Take the time today to get your goals down. Share them with some who can really hold you accountable to the result. Go to someone who will be tough on yousomeone who will really hold your feet to the fire. Please do not put this off. There is no reason to live in the shouldve or couldve. Grasp life with a gusto today and do not let go. Jump up and down and shake it all about if you have to. I am serious. It is never too late to live the life you dream about. Make it a reality. True joy comes from living life with a passion. Caution: Do not let anyone steal your dreams. There are people on this planet who are DREAM THIEVES. They want to pull you back into their bucket of muck. Strive to achieve your hearts desire. It truly is never too late to live the life that you are dreaming about. How about starting today?
The reason most people never reach their goals is that they dont dene them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.
~Denis Waitley ~
Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.
~Seneca~
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In life, as in football, you wont get very far unless you know where the goalposts are. Create mental pictures of your goals, then work to make those pictures become realities. Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
One Long-Term Goal I Have Is . . .

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A Short-Term Goal To Reaching My Goal Is . . .

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Attitudes of Excellence
As I was growing up, my Dad would often times remind me that any job worth doing was worth doing to the very best of my ability. I believe this basic, yet very sound principle has been the foundation of a very productive lifeone of the many Attitudes of Excellence that has been woven into the very fiber of my being over the years. Let me share a few more Attitudes of Excellence with you. Excellence is working hard, even when you really dont feel like it. Excellence is overcoming difficult obstacles, challenges, and roadblocks, with enthusiasm. Excellence is picking yourself up by the bootstraps, one more time than you have been knocked down. Excellence is taking responsibility whenever you make a mistake or error in judgment. Excellence is having an incredible reputation of integrity and honesty. Excellence is doing what you tell people you will do, always following through on your commitments. Excellence is loving your neighbor and being more caring toward others and not just thinking about yourself. Excellence is not something you can achieve all at once. As with so many other things in life, it is a process that goes on for the rest of our lives. But having an Attitude of Excellencethat is, making a conscientious decision to be excellent in all you think, do, and sayis where it starts. Make a commitment today to having an Attitude of Excellence in everything, because excellence only happens when you care enough to do and be your very best!
The secret of joy in work is contained in one wordexcellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.
~Pearl Buck~
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
~Aristotle~
Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

~John W. Gardner~ 43

Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence. The difference bet ween ordinary and extraordinary is the little extra. Attitude is a little thing that makes a BIG difference. The happy man is the one who can enjoy the scenery when he has to take a detour. Things seem to work out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out. Excellence is not an act; it is a habit.
My Plan to Be More Excellent

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Four Phases of Attitude

Every time I make a commitment to do something, I go through four phases of attitude. At first, I am really EXCITED about the commitment I have made, but the excitement often lasts for only a short while. It may take three minutes, three hours, three weeks, three months, or maybe even three years, but at some point I move into the second phase of attitude, which is FRUSTRATION. While in the frustration phase, I go through a whole range of emotionsshock (Wow, this is tough; I didnt know it would be like this); denial (This cant be happening to me or Its not my fault things arent going well); fear (What will people think? or What if I fail?); anger (How could you do this to me!!); justification (I need to find something or someone else to get excited about). Its at this point that I move into the third phase of attitude and start LOOKING around for something new to which I can commit. Why? Because I dont like to blame myself for failure; I need to feel good about myself. Some people I know never get to the fourth phase of attitude; they keep looking until they find something new to get excited about, thus starting the cycle all over again and ending up right back in frustration and pretty soon theyre looking again. Ive found that moving on to the fourth phase of attitude RECOMMITMENT, is the key to success. I ask myself these two questions: What do I want from this commitment? and Why is this important to me? A new and stronger attitude emerges out of the frustration and actually becomes a more positive commitment than before. The next time you find yourself grappling with your attitude, ask yourself these two questions and see what happens.
Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.
~Willis Whitney~
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
~Epicurus~
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.
~Abraham Lincoln~ 45

Commitment in the face of conict produces character. Theres a difference bet ween interest and commitment. When youre interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When youre committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results. Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. Anyone can give up; its the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apartthats true strength.
My Plan to Recommit
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Mastering Change
One thing that we can absolutely count on in this life is change. Our planet is changing, our nation is changing, our town is changing. Change is everywhere. Change is a constant. Change is inevitable. And, believe it or not, change is necessary. To quote Bruce Barton, Keep changing; when you are through changing, you are through. This powerful statement has impacted me for many years and challenged me to live life with an attitude of embracing, accepting, and welcoming change. We humans tend to resist change for a variety of reasons, mostly involving fear fear of the unknown, fear of moving out of our comfort zones, fear of failure, fear of what others may think, fear of experiencing hurt and pain, etc. When facing change in life we need to be of courage. We need to prepare ourselves mentally and physically for change. We need to face our fears in regard to change and hit change head on. We need to put our energies, not in resisting change, but in mastering a new result. Whenever change occurs it sets up a whole new set of rules, standards and processes that can present great opportunities for those who are prepared for change. Opportunities for healthier relationships, greater economic benefits, ease and comfort, increased security, peace, joy and success, can occur when we master the change taking place in our lives.
You must welcome change as the rule but not as your ruler.
~Denis Waitley~
To stand still is to lose. To move is to gain. To change is to grow.

~Gene E. Megiveron~
Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.

~Karen Kaiser Clark~
There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.

~Winston Churchill~
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Any dead sh can oat downstream. It takes a live one to swim against it. Blessed are the exible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. In times of change, there is no incentive so great, and no medicine so powerful as hope for a better tomorrow. People who wait for change to occur on the outside before they commit to making changes on the inside will never make any changes at all. New information causes change.
My Plan to Master Change

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Face Your Fears

Do you struggle with fear in your life? Do you want to be free from the fears that plague you? If you are like most people, the answer to these questions is a resounding YES! But beyond that, most people dont really know how to get rid of fear in their lives. In order to ever be able to overcome fearto really face your fears and deal with themyou must understand what fear is. Fear is a negative emotion having tremendous control over us, that can range from experiencing apprehension, to being overly anxious, to feeling down-right terrified of someone or something. The truth about a lot of our fears is that they very rarely come true. Simply put, fear is very often: False Evidence Appearing Real In order to truly face your fear, you must get intimate with itreally get to know it. Identify the basis of your fear; is it based on the truth, a lie, a feeling, or a past experience? Then remind yourself that fear is causing your mind to work in reverse, so the sooner you can get your mind moving in a more forward (that is positive) direction, the better. Be willing to take a risk and face your fear by hitting it head-on. For instance, if you are afraid to speak in front of people, then look for opportunities to get up in front of others. The next time someone asks you to address a group, say you will, instead of just making excuses. Sure, it will be tough, but remember that the benefit to you will be greater confidence and personal growth. Every time you face your fear, your fear level decreases, until it is no longer a thing that you fear. Its true When you face your fear, the death of fear is certain!
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds condence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
~Dale Carnegie~
Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.

~Dorothy Thompson~
He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.

You gain strength, courage, and condence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and condence in the doing. If you think too much and fail to take action, fear makes its home within you. Do the thing you fear, then the death of fear is certain. Never fear shadowsthey simply mean theres a light shining somewhere nearby. Every tomorrow has t wo handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety or by the handle of faith.
What Fears Do I Need To Face?

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Sharpening Your Axe

Making the time and finding the energy to improve ones self is, in my opinion, a very wise investment, and yet I am amazed at how many people I meet who do not fully understand the importance of personal and professional development and training for themselves. Investing ones time and money in learning is a powerful thing. We each have so much potential that could and should be tapped. I have found that investing in my own continuing education is far more profitable to me than investing in the stock market. Gaining knowledge is one thing, however learning the skills to think, plan, and make dreams turn into realities, is entirely another matter. This can be accomplished by taking the time to sharpen our axe. I personally choose not to be dull. I want to be sharp. I want to be ready at all times to cut woodthat is, to make things happen in life. I encourage everyone I meet to become a person who craves more education and hungers for learning. Taking seminars and classes, reading books and listening to CDs, talking to others and asking a ton of questions are all ways one can sharpen their axe. You may benefit from this four-step process I use quite often to sharpen my own axe. Keep in mind that the primary reason for improving oneself is so to be more effective in getting along, uplifting and contributing to others lives in a positive manner. Step One. I CAN! Make a list of all your skills and abilities. Step Two. I AM! Make a list of all your roles and responsibilities. Step Three. I HAVE! Make a list of all your assets. Step Four. I WILL! Make a list of all you goals, dreams and desires. Apply this process in your everyday life and you will be amazed at the results. Indeed, you will discover a definite sharpening of your axe!
The unexamined life is not worth living.

~Socrates~
There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and thats your own self. ~Aldous Huxley~
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When youre through improving, you are through!
My Plan to Sharpen My Axe

Step One:
I Can!
Step Two:
I Am!
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I Have!
I Will!
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Dare to Dream Big Dreams

Never be afraid to dream big dreams. Be bold and allow your thinking to get way out there. Take a step outside of the norm, where most people fear to tread. I should caution you though, that this time of dreaming big is not yet the time to share with others. There are people who have a tendency to be dream stealersthieves who shoot down and attack other peoples goals, passions, and possibilities. You certainly dont need that kind of interference in the beginning. When you are dreaming, allow your mind to take that leap into the realm of the impossible. Believe you are capable of anything your heart and mind can agree upon. Do not second-guess yourself. Have no doubt in your personal potential and remember that each and every one of us has a great wealth of potential that is often lying dormant and just waiting to be tapped. Once you have done some dreaming, take time to clarify your dream, by writing or typing three or four paragraphs, so you can hold it out in front of you and see it in black and white. Read what you have written, and look at it from as many perspectives as possible. When you believe your dream is sound, and you are clear in your mind about what you really want and what it will take to get what you want, and you know you have a real passion for achieving this dream of yours, then go ahead and share your it with someone that you trust, respect and/or love. Give them a copy of your specific dream and enlist their cooperation in holding you accountable for the fulfillment of your big dream. Of course, you could always opt not to dream big dreams. Or you could dream big dreams and just never act on them. After all, status quo is pretty easy, isnt it? No harm may be done at all if you fail to dream. But then again, you really never know what you, or the world might miss if you dont.
If one advances condently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
~Henry David Thoreau~
Make no little plans, they have no magic to stir mens blood and will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble and logical plan never dies, but long after we are gone will be a living thing.
~Lita Bane~ 53

Your dreams come true when you act to turn them into realities. The key to happiness is having dreams. The key to success is making your dreams come true. Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long as theres a dream, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living. Dreams are like stars; you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny. Dont be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.
I Have a Dream!
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Focused Discipline
Staying on task and completing an assignment to the end is a great habit to have in a persons life skills toolbox. However, it is often easy to get side-tracked by such things as tiredness, aches and pains, breakdowns, discouragement, procrastination, and interruptions from other people. At times it is something more fun and enjoyable that pulls us away from the task at hand. Obviously, the ability to overcome whatever obstacles and challenges tend to get in the way of our completing a specific task or project can be a key factor in achieving the results we desire. The trouble is, most of us often make our decisions based on how we feel. What we need at this point is simple, yet very focused discipline. Put another way, we must set our mind and our will on sticking to the task at hand (or getting back on task when we have been deterred). When we are focused, we refuse to give in to those feelings that threaten to derail us from our tasks. This is something we all have the capability for, if we will require it of ourselves. My encouragement to you today is this: Confidently and tenaciously determine to stay your course no matter who or what tries to throw you off your path. Make it your goal to cultivate and maintain a focused discipline that will guarantee your success. There are already undoubtedly at least one or more areas of your life where you are very focused. You may want to consider making a list of those areas, as well as a list of areas where you struggle with maintaining a disciplined focus. Then, work to transfer the skill you already possess from one area to another.
Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it is a kind of order that sets me free to y.
~Julie Andrews~
If youre running a 26-mile marathon, remember that every mile is run one step at a time. If you are writing a book, do it one page at a time. If youre trying to master a new language, try it one word at a time. There are 365 days in the average year. Divide any project by 365 and youll nd that no job is all that intimidating. All it takes is disciplinedaily discipline, not annual discipline.
~Chuck Swindoll~ 55

If you chase t wo rabbits, both will escape. Often he who does too much does too little. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated and disciplined. The successful man is the average man, focused. Only when your consciousness is totally focused on the moment you are in can you receive whatever gift, lesson, or delight that moment has to offer.
My Plan to Be More Focused

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Check Up from the Neck Up

I am firmly convinced that 99.9% of everything in life boils down to our attitude. Thats why I believe that every day we should do what I call a check up from the neck up to discern what our attitude is communicating to others around us. If what we discover is a negative attitude, then of course, an adjustment is obviously necessary. Sometimes other peopleoften those closest to usmay bring to our attention exactly what our attitude is speaking. I know for a fact that if someone is spewing out a bunch of negativity, chances are pretty good they have a negative thought life. And the reverse is also true: If a person goes around espousing positive bits of information, chances are pretty good they have a positive thought life. Whatever one thinks and believes will come out in their words, thoughts, and actions. We human beings have been so wonderfully created, and have been given such a marvelous capability to change our attitudes, as an act of our will. We all have the power to determine what our own attitudes will be in any given situation. Even when surrounded by people with bad attitudes, we can choose not to let their negativity affect us. We can determine to respond in a positive way, even in the most negative of circumstances. It takes only an instant to shift an attitude, and we can if we have the want-to. Why would we ever choose to live in the muck, when we have such an incredible gift at our disposal? My encouragement for you today is to stop for a moment and do a quick assessmenta check up from the neck up. Listen to the way you speak to others, and notice the way they respond to you. How is that attitude of yours? Are you an encourager, or a person who tends to tears others down every chance you get? Do you speak positive things about life and other people or just grumble and complain all the time? Are you generally enthusiastic and filled with joy, or gloomy and pessimistic? If you dont like the answers you come up with, youd better get that attitude of yours adjusted right away. Dont delay! But dont stop there! Do a check up from the neck up every day. In fact, do it as many times a day as is necessary, because, when its all said and done, it all really does boil down to attitude!
A positive attitude may not solve every problem but it makes solving any problem a more pleasant experience.
~Grant Fairley~ 57
We have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you we are in charge of our attitudes.
~Chuck Swindoll~

Take charge of your attitude. Dont let someone else choose it for you. A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change. We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.
My Plan to Change My Attitude

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Listening with Both Ears On

Listening is paying attention. It is the sound of an open mind, the sound of the music of language, the sound of communication. Listening is patience. It is the asking of questions, and the hearing of sighs. Should you find yourself not listening, the solution is a simple one. Listen to yourself! It is so easy to talk. Open your mouth and magically words appear. Sometimes we do not even have to turn on the brain. For many of us, the toughest part of the communication process is to simply be quiet and LISTEN, actively focusing on, paying attention to, and truly hearing what the other person is trying to say. For those of us who really like to talk, this can be a very difficult thing to do. Most often I must remind myself when it is time to listen. Instead of being concerned about what I will say next in a conversation, I tell myself to stop worrying about myself and be patient enough to really listen. When I really need to listen to the person speaking I pretend that I am a dried up sponge in the bottom of the kitchen sink, and each word is like a drip from the faucet that I absorb into my being. This helps me process the information. Then I play it back to the person speaking and this confirms to them that I have heard them. Generally, the result of this is harmony and good will. Let me encourage you to talk less, and listen more. Determine that you will really listen with both ears whenever engaged in a conversation. A great number of benefits will come from this kind of commitmentyoull probably learn something you didnt know, youll save time, and youll make others feel good about themselves. What a wonderful way to let others know you truly care about what they have to say!
A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he knows something, too. ~Wilson Mizner~ Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when youd have preferred to talk. ~Doug Larson~ One of the best ways to persuade others is with your earsby listening to them.
~Dean Rusk~ 59

If you spend more time asking appropriate questions rather than giving answers or opinion, your listening skills, as well as you knowledge will increase. A good listener is a silent atter. The best gift you can give a troubled friend is a patient willingness to listen. Cultivating friendship includes courtesy, kindness, and a genuine interest in others. A wise old owl sat on an oak. The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why arent we like that wise old bird?
My Plan to Be a Better Listener

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A Time Management Tool that Works

I challenge myself to manage my time more effectively by applying a formula I call the Quick Start Concept. By thinking in terms of the firstsfirst hour of the day, first day of the week, first week of the month, and so onand focusing on planning in those areas, I am able to achieve the success I desire in my life. Other time frames vital to this concept are the first month of the year, and the first day of the month, the first day of the year, and the first week of the year. I am sure that you can think of many more firsts. Heres an example of how it works: In the first hour of the day, plan to do something that will produce a desired result. Dont waste that precious hour. Make that hour even more productive by telling someone you love themor better yet, show your love to themwithin the very first minutes of the day. What a great way to start the day for you and your loved one! Think of ways you can make every first in your life more productive. Thomas Edison once said, I never allow myself to become discouraged under any circumstances . . . The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense. When you consistently apply the Quick Start Concept, planning for success in these areas, for at least one month, you will begin to see results.
What is not started today is never nished tomorrow.

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~
The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in businessor almost anywhere else for that matter.
~Lee Iacocca~
We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.

~Calvin Coolidge~
Time is free, but its priceless. You cant own it, but you can use it. You cant keep it, but you can spend it. Once youve lost it you can never get it back.
~Harvey MacKay~ 61

NOW is all life can hold at any moment, for time cant be banked, invested or savedonly spent. You become successful the moment you start moving toward a worthwhile goal. You can always look back on your day with quiet joy when youve lled every minute of it with something good youve seen, or heard, or accomplished. Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. Productivity is the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.
My Plan to Implement the Quick Start Concept

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A Goal Achieving Formula

Setting goals is one thing, but accomplishing them is entirely another matter. Id like to tell you about a formula that I have shared with thousands of people over the years. It is truly powerful, because it can help anyone to accomplish their goals and dreams. First of all, become a thinker of big goals, dreams, and desires. Do not let anyone come and steal your goals or put you and your goals down. You will achieve about 5% of the goals that you think about. While dreaming is good, unfortunately, it is about as far as most people get. A few people will actually put their goals in writing. You will achieve about 35% of your goals by simply writing them down on paper. The key is getting the thoughts out of your mind and onto paper. Be specific. Increase your success rate to 65% by simply putting a deadline or a timetable on each specific goal you have written down. Next, go to someone you trust, respect or love, and ask them if they will hold you accountable to your goal(s). When you do this, you will be amazed to discover that you achieve your goals, dreams and the desires of your heart and mind 95% of the time! Imagine achieving 95% of the ideas you come up with. Just follow this simple formula and you will enjoy success. Our whole family applies this goal achieving formula to every area of our livesfamily, work, finances, spiritual, health, educational and basic life strategies. In fact, you are now reading the product of one of our family goals. It really works if you work the formula.
You are successful the moment you start moving toward a worthwhile goal.
~Chuck Carlson~
A goal properly set is half way reached. ~Abraham Lincoln~ A goal without a plan is just a wish. ~Larry Elder~
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If a man does not know what harbor he is seeking, no light will be enough to guide him. Write it down. Written goals have a way of transforming wishes into wants; cants into cans; dreams into plans; and plans into reality. Dont just think it ink it! Goals that are not written down are just wishes. Setting an exciting goal is like setting a needle in your compass. From then on, the compass knows only one point-its ideal. And it will faithfully guide you there through the darkest nights and ercest storms, Goals should be SMART: SpecicMeasurableAgreed UponRealisticTime-Sensitive
My Plan to Be a Goal Achiever

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Life Strategies
There have been times in my life when it felt like my life was a train wreck waiting to happen. (Yes, I can admit this, though it is hard to do so!) I found through the process of hitting the brick walls, and getting slammed around, that in the darkest of moments, there is always a reason for everything that happens and that lifes challenges will either make us or break us. I have also learned, through the difficulties of life, that it is vital to have a life plan or a life strategy. This is especially true when we get knocked off track or have hit that socalled brick wall. We need to have a tool for getting us back on the right path, and a life strategy is just the key. At this point you may be wondering how to go about creating a life strategy. I will walk you through the process, which is really quite simple. First, make a list of the top areas of priority in your life. Key areas to consider might be relationship with God, Spouse, and Children, Home/Family, Career/Professional, Financial, Hobbies, Social, Political, Education and Self Improvement. Next, develop a mission statement for each of these areas. State what you want in each priority and why you want it. Then, write a plan of action for each of these priorities. In each plan, list some specific strategies you would like to see implemented. For instance, on the Spouse page, I may include: Take Vicki out on a date at least once a month for Just Because I Love You Day . . . Spend time debriefing at the end of each day . . . and so on. The Children page may include: Implement a family game night every Friday . . . Be home for all birthdays even if it means turning down work . . . I am sure you get the idea. Compile your plans into a three-ring binder, arranging them in the order of priority to you. This will allow you to add to, and be reminded of, your life strategies anytime you want. I love working on life strategies, so contact me if I can help you work on your life strategy.
In the long run, we only hit what we aim at. ~Henry David Thoreau~ Make life a success of living by seeing the goal and aiming at it unswervingly.
~Winston~ 65

If you want to succeed and you prepare to do so, you will achieve your dreams. Grasp the opportunity to manage change, not avoid it. The best way to predict the future is to create it.
One Key Area of Priority in my Life is . . .

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My Mission Statement for this Key Area . . .

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My Plan of Action for this Key Area . . .

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5 Steps to Thinking Creatively

Where would we be in this world if people did not take time to think, to dream, to invent, to create? Fax machines, cellular phones, electricity, television, the VCR, the internal combustion engine and jet engine, computers, duct tape (my personal favorite), little yellow sticky note pads, and pocket calculators are just a few of the millions of great products that have come to us as a result of someones creative effort. Most of us tend to think it takes a very special type of person to be creative, while thinking of ourselves as not very creative or lacking in any creative genius at all. In reality, we all have the potential to be creative, that is to think creatively. Next time you feel less than creative, take these simple steps and you will see that you are indeed a creative person. Step 1 Gather all the factsdont leave anything out. Step 2 Become constructively discontent. Allow whatever is leaving you feeling dissatisfied to help you identify the challenge. Step 3 Do some green light thinking. Think of ALL the possibilities and at this point, dont rule anything out. Step 4 Make a decision, choosing the best idea from your list of possibilities. Step 5 Write a plan of action and then act on it. As long as you keep trying new things, new ways, new strategies, and follow these simple steps, your mind will be sharp and alert and you will never be lacking in creativity!
Imagination is more important than knowledge. ~Albert Einstein~ Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm. ~Earl Nightingale~ The principal mark of genius is not perfection but originality the opening of new frontiers.
~Arthur Koestler~ 67

A mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions. The freedom to make mistakes provides the best environment for creativity. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Always keep a window open in your mind for new ideas.
I will apply the 5 Steps to Thinking Creatively!

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Make Someones Day

When someone compliments me, it can make my day! I bet its that way for you, too. Think back to a time when someone gave you a genuine compliment. Can you feel those warm fuzzies? But wait. Maybe you cant remember the last time you actually received a compliment. Ive found there are people all around us who seem to have forgotten how to give compliments. Then again, maybe they never knew how in the first place. Sad, isnt it. Knowing how good a compliment makes me feel makes me eager to do the same for others. Its my goal to give a compliment to every person I meet, and in fact, I work very hard at this. Im not telling you this to brag on myself, and I dont want you to think Im some brown-noser who uses compliments to manipulate people into doing whatever I want. No way! That is not what giving a compliment is about. Compliments must be given sincerely, in a spirit of thoughtfulness and caring, from a true desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others. This doesnt come naturally, but with a little effort you can learn how. Start by observing others closely, waiting to catch them doing somethingor being someoneyou sincerely admire. Then, be willing to expose your observations to that person. The best way to give a compliment is to be sure you always back it up with evidence. Heres an example: You are so great with kids! (Now most people would stop there, but you need to give some evidence.) They are so well behaved whenever you are in charge. I think its because they can tell how much you care about themand I loved the game you taught them to help them wait patiently in line. You are so creative and fun. No wonder kids love you. Youll be amazed at the results, when you make giving compliments a part of your daily life. So go aheadmake someones day! Oh, and by the way, the best way to receive a compliment it to simply say, Thank You!
I can live for t wo months on a good compliment.

~Mark Twain~
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
~Leo F. Buscaglia~
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A compliment is verbal sunshine. ~Robert Orben~ Everybody likes a compliment. ~Abraham Lincoln~ Insults should be written in sand, compliments should be carved in stone. Nothing improves the hearing more than praise. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
My Plan to Make Someones Day

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What Goes Around Comes Around

Years ago I had a grumpy boss who never seemed to have a kind word for anyone, nor did he offer any appreciation for a good job or hard work. One day, I decided to make a sincere effort to let him know how much I enjoyed my job and appreciated the opportunity to learn from him. One day not long after I had made this decision to heap piles of kindness on my boss, he called me into his office and told me he was going to be gone out of the country for two and half weeks and that I was going to be in charge while he was away. Well to make a long story short, my strategy paid off. My boss came back from his vacation, a new mankinder and more appreciative of the work I was doing. Not only that, but I was much wiser, having discovered the principle of sowing and reaping really works! If you plant seeds of kindness and appreciation into someone elses life it will bring forth a healthy crop of kindness and appreciation. This principle of honestly sharing with others something you see in their lives and exposing it to them is very powerful. People love to know what others are thinking about them! I try to practice this concept everywhere I travel and love the reactions I get, especially since people dont know me. First I observe a persons actions and behaviors, watching for something gooda smile, a courtesy, or their being extra helpful. Then I let the person know about the good that Ive noticed or heard about them. Often they will blush or poohpooh their action. But I sincerely tell them again how refreshing it is to observe such a great attitude in serving others. They respond with a sincere thank you and we go our separate ways. Giving someone honest and sincere appreciation is one of the wisest things that you can do to promote good human relations. Notice, theres a side benefit to sowing seeds of appreciation: You will reap a harvest of appreciation from others, and very often it comes when you need it the most. What goes around, comes around!
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the ame within us.
~Albert Schweitzer~
71
Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~
Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the gratefully and appreciating heart.
~Henry Clay~

There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread. No one is too big to be courteous, but some are too little. We are so often caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey, especially the goodness of the people we meet on the way. Appreciation is a wonderful feeling. Dont overlook it.
My Plan to Give Others Appreciation

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72
Shift Your Paradigm

The dictionary defines a paradigm (pronounced para-dime) as a mind set, a habit, a belief or a conviction about something. We all have paradigms, and having a paradigm in itself, is neither good nor bad. In fact, it is perfectly normal to have paradigms, so whats the big deal? Well the fact is, not all paradigms are positive, and thats why we sometimes need to shift our paradigms. Several years ago, I sat down and made a list of my positive mind sets. Then I listed my bad habits and negative mind sets. It sure was eye-opening! I knew it would take courage to shift my negative paradigms, but I was determined. To be honest, shifting a paradigm is sometimes a pretty long process, and you have to be persistent. Daily, I have to take small, manageable steps toward change. Let me give you an example. I had a bad habit I knew I had to breakgrumbling and complaining. I decided that whenever a complaining thought came to my mind, Id make a genuine effort to shift my thinking from the negative to the good and positive in the situation. Ill admit, I still grumble and complain on occasion, but not at all to the degree that I used to. Another example: I never used to plan, I had no goals; I was in the habit of winging it. This strategy was not bearing much fruit, so I shifted my paradigm. At first, when I was tempted to wing it again, I literally had to make myself sit down to write a plan, but each time it got a little easier, and now I love to write my plans, ideas, goals, and strategies down on paper! Let me encourage you to do what I have donebe honest with yourself, identify your paradigms, decide on the mind sets you can tackle, and shift them. I know you can do it!
Your paradigm is so intrinsic to your mental process that you are hardly aware of its existence, until you try to communicate with someone with a different paradigm.
~Donella Meadows~
Change is inevitable; growth is intentional. ~Glenda Cloud~ When youre nished changing, youre nished. ~Benjamin Franklin~
73

We all see things differentlysimilar to putting on someone elses glasses. What looks distorted to us seems right to the other. Some people who think that everything is a nail, are down on themselves because they are not a hammer. They tend to depreciate their own unique talents and capacities to use a chisel or a pair of pliers. Whatever you resist, persists.
My Plan to Change My Paradigms

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74
Live in Day-Tight Compartments

There are times when life seems, to me, to be one gigantic pressure cooker. The regrets of the past over all the shouldves, wouldves, couldves, together with the fear and dread of the future with all its obstacles and challenges looming ahead, cause me to feel the mounting pressure. It is at this point that I remind myself that the most effective thing I can do is to live in day-tight compartments. Let me explain it like this. Say you have a Kerr Jar, fresh-filled with summers harvest which you plan to consume at a later date. In order for the freshness and goodness of the food to be preserved for any length of time, the jar must be sealed tight or its contents will spoil. Its like that with life, too. When I feel like I am starting to lose control in my dayto-day activities, if I am going to preserve the goodness, I must seal today into its very own compartmentseparate from both the yesterdays which are gone, and the tomorrows which arent here yet. I recognize that I cannot do anything about the past except learn from it. I know I can do nothing for the future but plan and prepare for it, and the best way to do that is to focus all my intelligence, all my enthusiasm, all my energy, and all my efforts on today. I need to live in the nowthis present moment of timeand do my best to turn the negatives into positives. Instead of allowing the circumstances of life to spoil my day, I choose to control the circumstances. I focus on what I can do, not on what I cannot do. It is amazing what happens when I choose to live one day at a time. Go ahead and take ownership of this principle and begin applying it in your life today.
I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside.
~Wayne Dyer~
We can easily manage if we will take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterdays burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.
~John Newton~
Forever is composed of nows. ~Emily Dickinson~
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Sorrow is looking backward; worry is looking around; faith is looking for ward. If you let the past hold you back, youre missing the good stuff. Life is now! Now is the future you were looking for ward to yesterday. This moment in time is when the innite future and the eternal past meet. Today, this hour, this minute is the day, the hour, the minute for each of us to sense the fact that life is good with all its trials and troubles, and even perhaps more interesting because of them. Anyone can carry his burden, however heavy, until nightfall; anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day.
My Plan to Live In Day-Tight Compartments

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76
Expect the Best of Others

From time to time, I catch myself having a cynical or critical attitude towards people in general, because of the negative words or actions of only one, or possibly, a few people. Someone fails to meet my expectations, or puts me down, or ignores me, or inconveniences me, or lies to me, and before I know it, I am thinking everybody is like that. But I have discovered that its probably only about one percent of the people that I have ever had contact with, that has done me wrong in one way or another. That means that 99% of the people I meet are pleasant, honest, sincere, and very friendly towards me. So why not go through life expecting the best of others? If I want to expect the best of others, I must remind myself that people come from all kinds of backgrounds, cultures, viewpoints, and religions. Each of us is a unique individual, and like snowflakes, there are no two exactly the same. I must remind myself not to judge anyone by his skin color, race, beliefs, convictions, or type of work they do. I must remind myself to give people a chance to be who they are, allowing them the freedom to make mistakes and have opinions that differ from mine. I must remind myself that I will be judged as I have judged others. As it has been said, Never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins. Whenever I find myself becoming cynical and critical toward others, I know that I have been judging them, and I remind myself that I do not have all the facts, I cannot see that persons heart, and I am not walking in their shoes. I must remind myself not to assume the worst about others, but to expect the best. Let me encourage you to examine your life and the relationships youve had over the years. Then think about how youll will treat the people who come into your life today, or your town tomorrow, or your organization next week, or your business next month. Will you pass judgment on them based on a feeling, or the way that they look or speak? Or will you expect only good things from them and take time to really get to know them as individuals? Dont let judging others turn you into a cynic. Catch yourself at the first sign of negativism toward others, and choose to expect the best! Your life will be richer, fuller and happieryoull see!
Things are not always as they seem; the rst appearance deceives many.
~Phaedrus~ 77
When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand.
~Sue Patton Thoele~
I have believed the best of every man and nd that to believe is enough to make a bad man show himself at his best; even a good man swings his lantern higher.
~William Butler Yeats~

Even God doesnt plan to judge a man until the end of his days. Why, then, should you and I? Do not make a business of the trivialto convert petty annoyances into matters of importance is to become seriously involved over nothing. Acceptance of others, their looks, their behaviors, their beliefs, bring you an inner peace and tranquility.
My Plan to Expect the Best of Others

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78
When Youre Green Youre Growing

Whether you tend a garden or not, you are the gardener of your own being, the seed of your destiny. ~The Findhorn Community This is a true statement, and being an avid gardener that I am, and recently having harvested all the wonderful things my gardens produced this year, I am able to reflect on the great pleasure I have experienced in the gardening process, along with enjoying the benefits of what I consider to be an incredible form of therapy for me. As I munch on some cherry tomatoes, I cannot help but think about how much gardening parallels the human life. As we all know, just as there are cycles in the growing life in plants, there are also cycles in the growing life of a human being. For instance, when we humans quit growing (i.e. quit learning and improving) we begin the downward spiral of the life cycle, just as a plant, once it has stopped growing begins to decline in quality; in essence it begins to rot. That is why every day we human beings must find something that will cause us to keep growing. There is LIFE when we are GROWING, and if we stop growing, well, we start to rot! Our quality of life suffers and we are not so pleasant to be around, anymore. Sometimes we dont even like our own company. So go ahead, and take a class, read a book, stretch out of your comfort zones in life and take a risk. Here is a short list of things a person can do to keep growing. + Dig up a new hobby. + Sow some new habits. + Absorb positive life affirming information. + Plant seeds of success into peoples lives. + Weed and cultivate out the garbage. I think you get the picture. You will harvest a crop of good friends and a life full of richness and blessings when you keep growing. Oh, by the way, I must caution you to be sparing with any fertilizer you may spread around.
Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.

~Albert Einstein~
Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning. ~Benjamin Franklin~
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The greatest waste in the world is the difference bet ween what we are and what we could become.
~Ben Herbster~

Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene. There are many things in your life that will catch our eye, but only a few will catch your heartpursue those. By changing your thinking you change your beliefs; when you change your belief you change your expectations; when you change your expectations you change your attitude; when you change your attitude you change your behavior; when you change your behavior, you change your performance; when you change your performance you change your life.
My Plan to Keep Growing

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80
Mastering Priorities
Do you ever feel as if your life is spinning out of control? Maybe things havent gotten quite that bad yet, but you do know that things are definitely out of whack and you feel confused, dazed and wondering why you havent been experiencing the success you had hoped for. Believe me when I say that there have been many times over the years that I have felt this way. Whenever I have analyzed things to try to discover the who, what, when, where, why and how of the situation, I have nearly always come to the realization that my priorities were out of kilter. I need to be honest here and say this has always been one of the toughest areas of my life to get a hold of and to master. I share with you, not because I think I have arrived in this area, but because I understand the importance of setting my priorities and keeping them right and know that it is something I must work at diligently and consistently. Thinking about and working on priorities is not something you do only once a year; once a week isnt even often enough. The key to maintaining the right priorities in life is to keep them forefront in your mind everyday. Its a daily responsibility only you can attend to and no one else can do it for you. If, after setting your priorities, things still do not appear to be working in your life, take another look at your priorities. Quite possibly, they may not be in the proper order, or maybe you are leaving something out, or trying to include something that really should not be a priority at all. At this point you will need to get tougher on yourself. You will need to be honest with yourself as you seek to discover what works and what doesnt work. Right now, take out a sheet of paper and write down your top ten life priorities. Post them in a place where you can look at them everyday for one week. Ask yourself questions, such as these: Am I happy? Am I balanced? Is what I am doing working for me? Whats my next step? Once you have established your priorities, take time to update them on a regular basis. Type them up and share them with your family, and ask someone whom you respect and trust - a family member, close friend or a colleague- to hold you accountable to consistently living out your priorities. Remember the goal is to keep your life balanced in each of your priorities. If you will do this, it wont be long and you will see that you are truly learning to master your priorities.
81

Success is only another form of failure if we forget what our priorities should be.
~Harry Lloyd~
Even when the urgent is good, the good can keep you from your best.
~Helen Keller~
The key is not to prioritize whats on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.
~Stephen R. Covey~
Set priorities for your goals. A major part of successful living lies in the ability to put rst things rst. Indeed, the reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things rst.
My Top Ten Priorities

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82
Laughter is Like Sunshine

When I am teaching and training in my seminars I always like to sprinkle in a little humor. To me, there is nothing in the world like hearing a room full of people enjoying a good old-fashioned belly laugh. Of course, you know I always keep my humor very clean and wholesome. Generally, I play myself down a little bit or bring humor out in the story via a punch line or little quip. I must admit that for many years now, I have been addicted to hearing the laughter of others. When I am able to make people laugh, its even better than the paycheck, though it is pretty hard to pay my electric bill with a good joke. Seems they always want cash, and if they dont get itwell you know what can happen then. And thats no joke! Seriously now, laughter has many benefits. Laughter reduces stress, makes us healthier, and invigorates the oxygen going through our system, and I think it even makes us a little smarter. I believe every one should try to have at least one good laugh each day. Whenever I begin to experience negative stress in my life I turn on the laugh-o-meter, and look for ways to find humor in the littlest of things. I might read a humorous story or talk with a funny friend. Reading a joke book is sure to get you laughing in no time at all. Gosh, Ive even tried looking in the mirror and making funny faces. Some of us do not have to work very hard at that. Whatever you do, just find the humor. Its out there. When I hear laughter I am drawn to it like a pool of cool, clean water in the desert. Laughter is like the sun shining on your face on a warm, spring day. There is also a special joy in bringing laughter to others. Even as I write this, I cannot help but think of a couple of people I know, who can be real sour pusses, because they have allowed silly, minor and trivial garbage steal their joy. I certainly hope you do not allow yourself to ever be a sour puss. Let nothing in life steal your joy. And if you feel like you or someone around you is becoming a bit of a sour puss, stop to think how you might break the tension, by bringing a little humor into the situation. Go ahead and have a good belly laugh! Its like sunshine to your soul!
Laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of your heart.
~Mort Walker~
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

~E.E. Cummings~ 83

You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can nd humor in anythingeven povertyyou can survive it.
~Bill Cosby~
What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.

~Yiddish Proverb~
A smile starts on the lips, A grin spreads to the eyes, A chuckle comes from the belly; But a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, Overows, and bubbles all around.
~Carolyn Birmingham~
A laugh, to be joyous, must ow from a joyous heart, for without kindness, there can be no true joy.
~Thomas Carlyle~
My Plan to Bring More Laughter To My Life

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84
Taking a Risk
I am a risk taker. I am one who, for some reason, has always had the courage to stick my neck out just a little bit. Of course, there are times when I have nearly gotten it chopped off. No doubt, sometimes I have failed because of my risk taking. Yet, overall, I can see that success is becoming more and more commonplace for me, and I believe it is due, in part, to my willingness to take a risk every now and then. I know for a fact that my risk taking has become a real confidence builder for me in every area of my life. How about you? Maybe youre a risk taker, like me, or perhaps youre one who shies away from taking risks out of fear. The fact is, if you desire more selfconfidence in your daily living, youve got to be willing to take some risks. Think of all the benefits that can come from having greater self-confidence. With greater confidence you might build a business, or write a song, or write a book, speak in front of a group, raise a family, or even walk on the moon. We are able to reach farther and accomplish more in life when we possess a greater confidence that comes with the willingness and ability to take risks. You dont have to start big. I recommend you start by taking small, well thought out, and calculated risks over time. Be willing to jump out of your comfort zones into a new realm of possibility whenever opportunity comes. Like an Olympic pole-vaulter, you need to jump like everything depends on that single moment. Of course, to make a successful jump requires proper planning, training and coaching. Find a mentor to come along beside you to coach and train you and be there to correct, shift you, and cheer you on when you most need it. When you are actively taking risks you probably will fall down and skin your knees some. You will experience pain, and maybe embarrassment and humiliation. This is a vital part of the learning process. Your coach and mentor will be there to pick you up and dust you off and get you pointed in the right direction again. Be of good courage! You will heal and you will soon discover the joy of overcoming the fear and pain as you soar to new heights. Be looking for opportunities this week that have the potential to build your confidence level. Be willing to take some risks and jump out of your comfort zone. I dare you!
Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.

~George S. Patton~ 85
Progress always involves risks. You cant steal second base and keep your foot on rst.
~Frederick B. Wilcox~
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.
~Leo F. Buscaglia~

Many great ideas have been lost because the people who had them could not stand being laughed at. Take risks; if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise. The more chance there is of stubbing your toe, the more chance you have of stepping into success.
My Plan to Take a Calculated Risk

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86
Problems vs. Challenges

What if, from this minute forward, you began to see every difficulty in life as a challenge to be overcome rather than a problem, interruption, irritation, or a hassle to be gotten rid of? Its never hard to spot the problems in life and its pretty easy to go around exposing them for the world to see. It doesnt take much effort to complain and fret about how difficult a particular problem is making your life. However, true greatness requires an entirely different kind of person, one who is able to recognize the challenges within the difficulties and immediately starts looking for a creative and innovative solution to the issues at hand. When you are able to see the negatives of life as a challenge, you will be more tenacious in looking and uncovering all kinds of possible solutions because you will be able to see the possibilities and opportunities at hand. As you approach the situation more as a puzzle to be solved or something to be conquered, you are much more apt to find the answers you are looking for because you are thinking in a more positive direction. (Dont we all know that negativity can be a real blocker to creativity!) Sharing possible solutions with others to capture their opinions, thoughts, perspectives and attitudes is vital, and will be helpful when it comes time to implement change. Opportunities will abound for you in your work when you see things differently than your co-workers. When they see the problem, you will see the opportunity within the challenge. You will enthusiastically seize the opportunity, because you have determined to think challenge instead of problem while your co-workers will often continue to stick their head in the sand, hoping the problems will solve themselves. So what have you got to lose, if you decide to rip the word problem right out of your vocabulary, today, and replace it with the word challenge? Choose now to take action, and keep on taking action on the challenges in your life, and you will see all the problems disappear.
Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.
~Joshua J. Marine~
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Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes.

~Henry Kaiser~
Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.
~George S. Patton~

Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. Theyre what make the instrument stretchwhat makes you go beyond the norm. Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise. The more chance there is of stubbing your toe, the more chance you have of stepping into success.
My Plan to See Problems as Challenges

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88
Cherish the Simple

We have a plaque in our kitchen that says, Cherish the Simple. I love that thought, and every time I look at it I am reminded that I really do want to cherish the simple things in my life. But face it, simple is just not the way most people would describe their lives. Hectic, fast-paced, overwhelming, stressful is much more accurate for most who are chasing after the elusive American dream. (Sometimes I wonder if anyone even remembers what that dream is anymore.) As Americans we can so easily get caught up in trying to keep up with those who are traveling in the fast lanenever content with what we already have, but working long and hard to possess more and more of the latest gadgets, toys, appliances, vehicles, etc. Add to that the stress of endless activities that have us running here and there, and it seems that many have less and less time to really enjoy their friends, their families, their work, their lives. I sometimes like to think back to the days of the pioneers who settled these prairies where I live, and imagine their lives, as difficult as they must have been, as being in many ways much simpler than the lives we lead in the 21st century. Yes, the pioneers worked hard to make a living, but they also took time to enjoy each others company. They didnt come home from work and turn on the TV or surf the internet or rush off to some meeting or ball game every night of the week. Their homes were simple by todays standard, but at least they didnt have to work non-stop just to pay for them. They treasured the few possessions they had, but their possessions did not own them. I know its not possible to go back to living like the pioneers, and I am not even saying that we should. However maybe it would be good to periodically take a look at our lifestyle and do a little evaluating of what really matters in life. Take stock and see if there are some things you can do to simplify, so you can really enjoy your life. My best advice to you is this: Cherish the Simple!
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, thats creativity.
~Charles Mingus~
Simplicity, clarity, singleness: these are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy.
~Richard Halloway~ 89

How much we enjoy what we have is more important than how much we have. Life is full of people who have more than they know what to do with, but cannot be content. It is the capacity to enjoy life that brings contentment. Our inner happiness depends not on what we experience but on the degree of our gratitude to God whatever the experience. Slow down to the pace of a child instead of always making them hurry to catch up with you. Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
My Plan to Cherish the Simple

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90
Joy in the Little Things

Watching our children in their early years get so excited about recognizing a new color or shape, or finding a tiny bug or a colorful leaf, was always a pleasurable experience for me. The sights and sounds of their glee and absolute delight and squeals of utter joy and amazement, as they discovered something new about their world, are forever etched in my memory. Of course, with our young grandchildren, we are getting to experience this all over again. I am sure that is why Im reminded of these special simplicities again today, and the power of finding joy in the little things. So often we go through life, hoping and waiting for the big and mighty things to happen, but we end up missing so much, because we overlook the potential of the little things to bring us joy. While working in my back yard the other day, I heard the rat-tat-tat of a woodpecker. I looked up and realized there were many woodpeckers just having a hay day up in the branches above my head. What a joy just to pause and watch and listen to the glorious sounds of nature. I really do not want to miss out and that is why I am always seeking out and taking the time to experience special times while enjoying the little things of life. It has become my personal mind set and mission to take more time to look, to listen, to taste, to touch, to feel, to experience like never before. The benefits are many, including more memories, a better attitude, and of course new material for my articles. May I encourage you to do what I do, so you wont miss out either? Dont let the special opportunities pass you by. Pause often, and take time to notice the little things. Listen, touch and experience more of each and every moment, and you, too, will find plenty of joy in the little things.
Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy.

~Sarah Bam Breathuach~
Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

The habit of cheerfulness is like a rope that is woven day after day until it becomes nearly unbreakable. When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible. Happiness is not a matter of good fortune or worldly possessions. Its a mental attitude. It comes from appreciating what we have, instead of being miserable about what we dont have. Its so simpleyet so hard for the human mind to comprehend. The pleasure you get from your life is equal to the attitude you put in it.
My Plan to Find Joy in the Little Things

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92
Surere Ways to Beat Discouragement

Its a fact that we humans can easily become discouraged in our daily living. The race is often long and hard, and there are many things that can cause discouragement: Someone may say something negative about us to somebody else, or we may experience some type of failure. Health can be an issue that keeps dragging us down, or it may be finances that are creating major anxiety and stress. The possibility that discouragement is wreaking havoc in our lives is entirely possible, for any of us, at anytime, for any number of reasons. We must never allow discouragement to get a foothold into our lives, for if it does it will run rampant, pillaging and wrecking any good or positive that is standing. People talk about being in the pits. If life is handing you a bowl of cherries, clean out the pits, press the cherries for a refreshing juice, and try to make the best of things. In other words, when you feel discouraged, hold your head up and smile and tell yourself that things arent so bad and they could be a lot worse! Laugh a little. Find someone who is in a worse situation than you are and help them in some small way. Accomplish a goal or an objective. Look at things from another persons perspective. See the good in others. Or you might try my favorite way to send discouragement packingcount your blessings!
We must accept nite disappointment, but never lose innite hope.

~Martin Luther King~
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and condence.
~Helen Keller~
Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benet.
~Napoleon Hill~
Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.

~Roger Crawford~
*93

When you get to a tight place and everything goes against you, until it seems as though you cannot hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for thats just the place and time the tide will turn. Do not give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other. In life you can select whatever it is you want to focus on, whether it be lifes beauty or its harshness. The way you view it is your truth and your reality. Life, like roses, is a package dealthorns and blooms. Hope, added to petals, transforms them from seasonal leftovers into lasting keepsakes, and blends our days into a potpourri of enduring possibilities.
My Plan to Beat Discouragement

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Empowered Decision Making

It occurred to me several years ago that while eighty to ninety percent of my decisions had turned out to be quite positive, there was still the other ten to twenty percent that did not have such a great outcome. I could see there was room for improvement, and became quite motivated to learn how to make more effective decisions. I began to seriously study how other people make their decisions, looking for any tool or system that I could use to aid me in becoming a better decision maker. Over the years, I have adopted, adapted and applied a number of tools and systems that have resulted in making better decisions. I am eager to share a couple of my discoveries with you. First of all, I have learned never to jump into making a decision without first taking time to gather all the facts. I must do my due diligence to make sure there is nothing hiding under the rocks, if I am to make really good decisions. Secondly, I have realized the advantage of looking at the issue from a number of different perspectives. If a decision will affect othersand most of them doI make it a point to get their opinions, thoughts, and suggestions regarding the decision I have to make. The smartest thing I have learned to do is trust my wife and daughters intuition. I really do believe that females have been given a special gift of intuition, and it is my job as a husband and father to listen to their gut feeling about things. Honestly, trusting Vicki and Tashas intuition has never failed me yet. Making well thought out decisions and taking action on them is much easier, and the outcome more profitable, when I have the confidence and assurance that comes with taking all the facts into consideration and engaging others in the process. Being humble enough to hear and listen to what others share may be a bit difficult at times, and yet it is so vital to having success in the decision making process. Take time to apply these simple strategies to your decision making process and you too, will be empowered to make even better decisions than you did before.
We all possess something called intuition. Its an inner knowing which, when paid attention to, will help us make decisions and even prevent us from making mistakes.
~Anita Foley~ 95

Good decisions come from experience and experience comes from bad decisions. The inability to make a decision has often been passed off as patience. When one bases his life on principle, 99% of his decisions are already made. In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do. The worst thing you can do is nothing.
~Theodore Roosevelt~
Every great decision creates rippleslike a huge boulder dropped in a lake. The ripples merge, rebound off the banks in unforeseeable ways. The heavier the decision, the larger the waves, the more uncertain the consequences.
~Ben Aaronovitch~
My Plan to Make Better Decisions

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Be a People Builder
I hate to admit it, but sometimes I can easily slip into the habit of speaking negatively about people. I do not like this about myself, and I normally feel embarrassed once I realize what I have done, and I quickly take responsibility for my shortcoming and try to make things right. Everybody knows that tearing others down, being derogatory, and spreading nasty negative things are simply not the traits of a person of good character and moral ber. Still, it often seems so much easier for us to nd the negative in other people, but it doesnt have to be that way. We can learn to stop tearing others down and become people builders. I believe that whenever people invest their time thinking of healthy and positive ways to build people, it makes it a lot harder to be so critical of others. When we actively look for ways to say something positive to, or about someone else, and take time to recognize peoples strengths, we are ready to expose the good we know whenever the opportunity presents itself. And that is people building! When we have taken time to notice the good and positive about people, rather than the negative, it is much easier to steer negative conversations in the right direction. I often do this by saying something like, Lets get to the good news! and then proceed to say something uplifting about the person who was being bashed. Face it. All of us are a work in progress and none of us can say we dont need to improve in one area or another. And yet, dont we all want people to think and say the best about us anyway? Shouldnt that make us all the more willing to look for ways to be building others rather than tearing them down? I encourage you to recommit to being a person of high standards and qualityone who looks for and exposes the good in others. Determine right now that from now on you will be a people builder.
There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it hardly becomes any of us, to talk about the rest of us.
~Edward Wallis Hoch~
In our appetite for gossip, we tend to gobble down everything before us, only to nd, too late, that it is our ideals we have consumed, and we have not been enlarged by the feasts but only diminished.
~Pico Iyer~
97

Small minds discuss people; average minds discuss events; great minds discuss ideas. Be careful of the words you saykeep them short and sweet; You never know, from day to day which ones youll have to eat. Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. The language we use to communicate with one another is like a knife. In the hands of a careful and skill surgeon, a knife can work to do great good. But in the hands of a careless or ignorant person, a knife can cause great harm exactly as it is with our words.
My Plan to Be a People Builder

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Hope is ContagiousPass it On!

Hope is looking forward with great expectations. Hope is a belief of good things to come in a persons life circumstances, situations, and experiences. Hope is where the heart resides in love of family and fellowship with friends and wherever it is found, it is contagious. We hope for material things and nancial success; and we hope for the things that money cannot buy, such as a brighter future for our children and their children, love, peace, joy and good health. Sometimes were not even sure what it is we are hoping for; we just know we long for something better in the days, weeks and months ahead. I could not imagine a life without hope. The fact is, we all need to possess an attitude of hope, for hope is what pulls each of us forward through this journey we call life and keeps us going when the road gets long and painful. How sad and how dreary it would be to live having no hope, and yet we all probably know someone who is struggling right now and has little or no hope. When we meet someone like this, we need to make it our mission and purpose to bring hope into their situation, for hope is actually something we can easily give to others. Giving a simple smile, sharing our enthusiasm and optimism, or speaking a word of encouragement can go a long way towards helping another person to become more hopeful. Its so easy to let those around us know there is still hope when we take the time to share with them the beauty of nature or a humorous story or a time when we have triumphed over a difcult experience of our own. And as we share our hope with those around us, hope will spread like a wildre amed by the winds of persistence, condence and trust. I hope you have hope today. If you dont, I encourage you to nd someone you can talk to that does. If you do have hope, do not let the busyness of the season rob you of the joy of sharing the hope that is within you, for you know how contagious hope can be! So go ahead-pass it on!
What oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life.

~Emil Brunner~
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and condence.
~Helen Keller~
There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.
~O.S. Marden~ 99

Never deprive someone of hope; it may be all they have. Dont lose hope. When it gets darkest the stars come out. Dreams do not vanish, so long as people do not abandon them. Hope is a state of mind, not of the world. Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good.
My Plan to Pass on the Hope that is in Me

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To discuss how Professional Development Systems can assist you in your company or organization Call Bob Today! (605) 484-3263 (Cell Phone) (800) 437-9715 (Ofce Phone) (605) 458-2229 (Home) Send Bob an e-mail to: bob@mrattitudespeaks.com Send written request to: 410 Wessington Street South Wessington, South Dakota 57381
My friends call me Mr. Attitude

Home Grown Seeds of Success

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Home

Robert A. (Bob) Prentice

Professional Development Systems

Owner & Founder of

My friends call me Mr. Attitude

Dedication & Thanks

To Your Success! Bob Mr. Attitude Prentice

Home Grown Attitudes

Afrmations I Will Use To Get Me Thinking Right

Life is Full of Choices

Home Grown Attitudes

My Plan to Make Better Choices

Got Your BAG?

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.

Home Grown Attitudes

Home Grown Attitudes

I Show an Attitude of Gratitude When I...

E Words for Life

Home Grown Attitudes

Take Action Now

Home Grown Attitudes

My Plan to Take Action Now

Invest and Youll Be Rich

Home Grown Attitudes

Ways I Plan to Invest in Relationships

Success Comes from Failure

Do I have an attitude for success?

Am I willing to make the changes in attitude that success requires?

What will I do to make sure I keep the right attitude?

Home Grown Attitudes

Stress Management Solutions

Home Grown Attitudes

Stress Principles I Plan to Implement

Work Builds Character

The best preparation for tomorrow is to do todays work superbly well.

Home Grown Attitudes

My Plan to Allow Work to Build My Character

Maximize Your Mondays

Home Grown Attitudes

My Plan to Maximize My Mondays

Think and Thank

Home Grown Attitudes

I Can Think and Thank When I Am ...

Home Grown Attitudes

I Have a Vision for . . .

Learn Something Every Day

Education is not lling a pail, but lighting a re.

Home Grown Attitudes

My Plan to Make Life-Long Learning a Habit

Home Grown Attitudes

My Plan to Seize Opportunities

Home Grown Attitudes

Challenges in My Life that may be Opportunities

Are You Ready?

Home Grown Attitudes

My Plan to Get Ready Now

Home Grown Attitudes

My Plan to Develop a Spirit of Tenacity

Live with Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is the little recognized secret of success.

Enthusiasm is self-condence in action.

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Home Grown Attitudes

My Plan to Live With Enthusiasm

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