| The Strangest Secret: How to Live the Life You Desire by Earl Nightingale |
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George Bernard Shaw said, “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.”
Well, it’s pretty apparent, isn’t it? And every person who discovered this believed (for a while) that he was the first one to work it out. We become what we think about.
Now, it stands to reason that a person who is thinking about a concrete and worthwhile goal is going to reach it, because that’s what he’s thinking about. And we become what we think about.
Conversely, the person who has no goal, who doesn’t know where he’s going, and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion, anxiety, fear and worry — his life becomes one of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry. And if he thinks about nothing … he becomes nothing.
How does it work? Why do we become what we think about? Well, I’ll tell you how it works, as far as we know. To do this, I want to tell you about a situation that parallels the human mind.
Suppose a farmer has some land, and it’s good, fertile land. The land gives the farmer a choice; he may plant in that land whatever he chooses. The land doesn’t care. It’s up to the farmer to make a decision.
We’re comparing the human mind with the land because the mind, like the land, doesn’t care what you plant in it. It will return what you plant, but it doesn’t care what you plant.
Now, let’s say that the farmer has two seeds in his hand — one is a seed of corn, the other is nightshade, a deadly poison. He digs two little holes in the earth and he plants both seeds — one corn, the other nightshade. He covers up the holes, waters and takes care of the land … and what will happen? Invariably, the land will return what was planted. As it’s written in the Bible,
“As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”
Remember, the land doesn’t care. It will return poison in just as wonderful abundance as it will corn. So up come the plants — one corn, one poison. The human mind is far more fertile, far more incredible and mysterious than the land, but it works the same way. It doesn’t care what we plant … success … or failure. A concrete, worthwhile goal … or confusion, misunderstanding, fear, anxiety, and so on. But what we plant it must return to us.
You see, the human mind is the last great, unexplored continent on earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return anything we want to plant.
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Get Motivated !!
| Excerpted from Motivational Quotes Compiled by Mac Anderson |
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In 1985, my love of quotes inspired me to publish a small, 80-page quotation book that I called Motivational Quotes. At first, the book was offered as a corporate gift, but then we decided to sell it on a plastic easel next to the register, in hotel and airport gift shops. Little did I know what was about to happen. Sales exploded! We couldn’t print them fast enough and over the next 18 months, we sold 800,000 copies of the little book.
The light bulb went off when I discovered that many people love quotes as much as I do. I began to wonder … would they want to put quotes on their walls? With this thought, the “big idea” for Successories was born. Our theme, in the beginning, was “Decorate your walls with great ideas.” And I’m pleased to say that millions of customers did just that!
Twenty three years have passed. This book is the new, improved, updated version of Motivational Quotes. It still has my 80 favorite quotes that I introduced in 1985, but I’ve added 80 more that, since then, have helped to motivate me in good times and bad.
So enjoy this little “treasure of motivation.” But here’s the key … keep it close and read it often. Zig Ziglar said it best. He said, “People often say, ‘Zig, motivation doesn’t last.’ And I say to them, ‘Bathing doesn’t either. That’s why I recommend it daily.’”
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A HAPPY LIFE ?
| Excerpted from Finding Joy: Simple Secrets to a Happy Life by Mac Anderson |
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Introduction
Life can be complicated, but happiness…is simple. Of course, we try our best to make it complicated, but if we look closely, it’s really very simple. And that’s what this little book is all about…Simple Secrets to a Happy Life!
My goal is to have you sit down in a quiet place, and to slowly soak up every single page. Don’t hurry, just take a deep breath, read each thought, and reflect on how it might apply to your life. Think about what is…and what could be, if your mind and heart is open to change.
But here is the real key to making this book all it can be…keep it close, and read it often. Because in a perfect world we read something once, record it in our brain, and never need to read it again.
Well, I don’t know about you, but my world is far from perfect. I have doubts, fears and disappointments in my life, and I need doses of inspiration to bring me back to where I should be…to re-direct me to what’s really important in life.
And this little book, if you’ll let it, can be that source of inspiration! In just a few minutes it can put a smile on your face and in your heart when you need it most.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Habits Die Hard !!
| Excerpted from Habits Die Hard: 10 Steps to Building Successful Habits by Mac Anderson and John J. Murphy |
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Introduction
We are all creatures of habit and if you make good habits, good habits will make you. This wisdom has been around since ancient times. Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
The subconscious mind — the habitual mind — is over one million times more powerful than the conscious mind. This means that we spend a substantial amount of our lifetime on “autopilot,” playing out the mental programs that govern our behavior.
For example, while driving a car and carrying on a conversation with someone, the conscious mind is attending to what is being said in the moment while the subconscious mind is turning on the turn signal, hitting the brakes, attending to oncoming traffic, monitoring our blood sugar, regulating our breathing, planning our next move and on and on. The subconscious mind is so vast and so powerful that we do not even know what it is thinking or capable of. It truly runs our lives — whether we know it or not!
Habits begin and manifest deep in the mind and they can be friends or foes. Good habits can make our lives easier, helping us to do the more mundane things of life without thinking about them, like automatically depositing your paycheck.
But, as all of us know all too well, habits can also be destructive … to our health, to our finances, to our relationships. It’s why we struggle with losing weight, paying off our credit cards or quitting smoking … to name a few “bad habits.”
Whether they are a positive force in our lives or obstacles to the goals we want to achieve, habits become ingrained through repeated actions.
Here is a little test to display the power of our habits. Cross your arms as you normally would, and look down to see which one is on top. About half of you will have your right arm on top and the other half will have their left on top. When you crossed your arms for the very first time, you might have been still in your playpen, and you have been crossing your arms the same way ever since. Now, cross your arms again, but this time put the opposite arm on top. It feels extremely weird! If you were to challenge yourself to cross your arms the “wrong” way for the rest of your life, could you do it? Probably. Would it be difficult? You bet it would!
Here’s the point: Habits — good, bad, or neutral — are difficult to break … they Die Hard!
The real key to success is replacing destructive habits with successful habits.
To win — to break self-defeating attitudes and behaviors — we must understand that we have the power to choose and the power to change. We have the power to let go of old thinking and adopt the mindset of a champion.
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Choices for Success !!
In Seven Choices for Success and Significance, Nido Qubein says:
“Regardless of where you were born or what your financial position in life, the power to affect your own future lies within your own hands. Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.”
Do you have dreams? Do you have goals? Are you happy? Do you have a plan to make a difference?
That’s what this life-changing book is all about!
Who is Nido Qubein? He is the author of many best-selling books. He is one of the most sought after speakers in America. He is the Chairman of Great Harvest Bread and the President of High Point University in High Point, North Carolina. But how he got to where he is today will inspire you.
You see, Nido came to America from the Middle East at age 17, with little knowledge of English and 50 dollars in his pocket. Through the choices he made, he became the amazing person he is today.
So today is the day to start living the life of yourdreams. It all starts with the right choices, because the choices you make define the person you become.
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Road to Happiness !!
Excerpted from The Road To Happiness by Mac Anderson and BJ Gallagher A thankful spirit is a healthy spirit. As the twists and turns of life lead to feelings of being out of control, sometimes our attitude is all that we have control over…the following reflection may help you develop a thankful attitude. Sometimes life is all about how we look at it! I am thankful for… the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends. the taxes I pay because it means that I am employed. a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home. my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine. the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking. all of the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech. my huge heating bill because it means I am warm. the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear. the alarm that goes off early in the morning hours because it means that I am alive. the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby. weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.
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You Can’t Send a Duck to Eagle School !!
Here is an excerpt from You Can’t Send a Duck to Eagle School by Mac Anderson:
When hiring someone, start with the premise that attitudes are contagious. Then ask yourself one question … is theirs worth catching?
I’ve been in business for over 30 years and I’ve come to realize the difference in success and failure is not how you look, not how you dress, not how much you’re educated, but… HOW YOU THINK!
In my business life, I’ve watched many very intelligent people fail miserably because they have a negative attitude; and, I’ve also observed just as many people with average intelligence soar to success because of positive attitudes.
Southwest Airlines’ VP of People is often asked the question: How do you get your people to be so nice? Her answer is always the same… “WE HIRE NICE PEOPLE.”
It sounds almost too simple to feel important, but “hiring nice people” has been the cornerstone of their amazing success in a highly competitive industry. They understand their competitors may be able to match their price and copy their business model, however, they feel that the spirit and the attitude of their employees will be extremely difficult to replicate.
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Be a Cheerleader for Positive Contributions !!
One of the many things that top-notch workers seem to have in common is a true appreciation for achievement – theirs and others. They get that when one member of the team is successful, everybody wins. They understand that recognizing accomplishments is one of the best ways to motivate themselves, and their coworkers, to keep pursuing them. They know that – in tough times like these – success is something to be enjoyed, celebrated, and encouraged. They are cheerleaders for positive contributions. And, with the exception of those who don’t make the squad, most everyone likes cheerleaders.
Self-reflection time, again …
Think of the last time you accomplished something good at work. How did you react? Did you pat yourself on the back, enjoy the moment, and share your happiness with others (without overly bragging)? If you did, GREAT! You deserved those good feelings. If you didn’t, I’ve got just four words for you: WHY NOT? Now, think about the last time a coworker did something fantastic. Did you pat that person on the back, encourage him or her to enjoy the moment, and share in their happiness? Depending on your answer, my responses are the same as those above: GREAT … or WHY NOT?
Looking to be known as an indispensable team member who works right? Be happy when you and your teammates succeed … and show it!
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The Secret of Great Relationships !!
| Excerpted from The 100/0 Principle: The Secret of Great Relationships | |
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How The 100/0 Principle Works
What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It’s The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return. Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent. The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
STEP 1: Determine what you can do to make the relationship work…then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not. STEP 2: Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada. STEP 3: Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don’t take the bait. STEP 4: Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don’t respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.
Principle Paradox
This may strike you as strange, but here’s the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.
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10 Ways to be The Leader that Others Want to Follow ..
Love this ……Excerpted From Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow
10 Ways to Be the Kind of Leader That Others
– Including Former Peers –
Will Want to Follow:
– Including Former Peers –
Will Want to Follow:
1. TREAT EVERYONE WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND COURTESY. Value the inherent worth of each person you have contact with. Appreciate the fact that others’ dreams, goals, and feelings of self worth are as important to them as yours are to you. Adopt the mindset that being “a superior” does not mean that you are superior … and behave accordingly!
2. LEAD BY EXAMPLE. Model the work performance, attendance, and conduct that you expect from others. Show people, through your daily behaviors, what it means to have integrity, a strong work ethic, and an unyielding commitment to your organization’s mission and values. WALK THE TALK!
3. BE FIRM, FAIR, AND CONSISTENT. Avoid playing favorites. Hold everyone – including yourself – equally accountable for following ALL rules and regulations, exhibiting appropriate behavior, meeting ALL job responsibilities, and achieving desired results.
4. “OWN UP” TO YOUR SHORTCOMINGS. Avoid cover ups. If you make a mistake, admit it … and then fix it! If you don’t know something, admit it … and then find out about it! And, if you’re holding an employee accountable for a wrong doing that you, yourself, committed in the past – and he or she calls you on it – respond with: “That’s true. I did do that. And I was wrong, back then … just like you’re wrong, now.”
5. FOCUS ON THEIR SUCCESS. Provide everyone on your team with the information, direction, resources, feedback, and support they need to be successful. Create/seize opportunities for team members to learn, grow and develop. Be a teacher … be a coach.
6. GET THEM INVOLVED. Whenever practical and appropriate, involve direct reports in decision making, plan development, and problem solving. Solicit their suggestions, ideas, and options. Delegate tasks and responsibilities – along with the commensurate authority.
7. LISTEN. Hone your listening skills. Focus on understanding the messages your team members (and others) send to you. Demonstrate, by your listening behaviors, that you care what others think, feel, and have to say.
8. SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION. Acknowledge and thank employees for their efforts and contributions. Let team members know that good work is truly important – and that good workers are valued and appreciated. Celebrate achievement!
9. RESPECT THEIR TIME. Remember that your team members have important (often difficult) jobs to do and priorities to manage. Don’t expect them to drop whatever they’re doing every time you want something or whenever you feel the need for a meeting. Be a help, rather than a hindrance, when it comes to employee time management.
10. DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. When you see or hear of something that requires attention, jump in and deal with it. Don’t procrastinate or offer excuses for not dealing with issues – especially those that are difficult or distasteful. No one wants to follow a leader who shies away from the tough stuff and fails to take care of business.
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