So easy to beat yourself up over mistakes you've made. So many amongst us live in the past rather than loving the present and building a brilliant future. Some people stay stuck for years over something they did or a failure they've experienced. Sad. A life is a terrible thing to waste.
But let me ask you a question: "is there really such a thing as a mistake?" First of all, no one tries to fail or mess things up. Every one of us wakes up in the morning, walks out into the world and does the best we can do based on what we know and the skills we have. But even more importantly, every so-called "mistake' is actually a rich source of learning. An opportunity to build more awareness and understanding and gain precious experience. Experience that will help us do, feel and be even better. So, just maybe, there are no mistakes. Just maybe what we could call failures are actually growth lessons in wolf's clothing. And just maybe the person who experiences the most wins
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
It Only Takes A Minute!
It only takes a minute to tell a loved one you adore them
It only takes a minute to run towards a fear
It only takes a minute to set a big goal
It only takes a minute to drink a glass of water
It only takes a minute to read a great idea (that just might rock your world)
It only takes a minute to write the most beautiful thank you note you have ever sent your parents (or a teammate or a customer or a high school teacher who blessed your life)
It only takes a minute to smile
It only takes a minute to connect to a friend or a co-worker
It only takes a minute to help a human being in need
It only takes a minute to raise your standards to world- class
It only takes a minute to go the extra mile at work and wow a customer
It only takes a minute to reflect on what you can do today to be better than you were yesterday
It only takes a minute to embrace change
It only takes a minute to make a new choice that will lead to your best life.
Make the best of your minutes. Each one of them makes up your life.
It only takes a minute to run towards a fear
It only takes a minute to set a big goal
It only takes a minute to drink a glass of water
It only takes a minute to read a great idea (that just might rock your world)
It only takes a minute to write the most beautiful thank you note you have ever sent your parents (or a teammate or a customer or a high school teacher who blessed your life)
It only takes a minute to smile
It only takes a minute to connect to a friend or a co-worker
It only takes a minute to help a human being in need
It only takes a minute to raise your standards to world- class
It only takes a minute to go the extra mile at work and wow a customer
It only takes a minute to reflect on what you can do today to be better than you were yesterday
It only takes a minute to embrace change
It only takes a minute to make a new choice that will lead to your best life.
Make the best of your minutes. Each one of them makes up your life.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
First Principles for Great Relationships
The quality of your life comes down to the quality of your relationships. With your Customers, with your suppliers, with your loved ones, with your self (big idea there). Commit to insanely great relationships (Steve Jobs coined the “insanely great” standard BTW- I adore it) and you''ll have an insanely great life. And being a great human connector is pretty easy stuff. Remember, success is all about a precise consistency around fundamentals.
The following First Principles are profoundly simple and yet simply profound (and isn''t that the case for all great truths?):
-be the first one to say hello (or namaste/Shalom/Hola etc) when you encounter another human. In other words, be kind first (takes courage because we''re all scared of rejection, not being liked etc).
-smile a lot. One of the best ways to have someone open up to you. Remember, we make lasting impressions of people within the first few minutes of meeting them. Start with a smile.
-get devoted to using people''s names. Really important. Shows that you care. A mark of respect.
-look people in the eye when you speak to them. A mark of respect.
-become a world-class listener. Get this one right and you''ll own the title of “Relationship Superstar”. Most people don''t listen. Most people are so self-focused they fail to ask good questions when they meet another person. Listening and asking questions shows humility. It shows you are interested. Demonstrates that you are engaged - and not in love with yourself. Most people''s idea of listening is waiting until the other person has finished speaking.
-offer sincere compliments. Praise is free. Never miss an opportunity to celebrate and elevate another person, whether at work or at home. You''ll connect with the best within them. And then they''ll give you their best. Leave people better than you found them.
-treat everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE; it scares me when someone''s really nice to me but rude to a waiter - no consistency there) like royalty. Behave as if you''ll never see them again. When I get home from work each day, my kids come flying around the corner and hug me. Every day. Makes me feel like a king. If I could be half as great as my kids (and children), I''d be a happy man.
Sure the above 7 ideas are simple. Master these First Principles and you''ll get to your mountaintop quicker than you can imagine. The best practice mastery around the fundamentals. Keep it simple. You''ll win. And have fun.
The following First Principles are profoundly simple and yet simply profound (and isn''t that the case for all great truths?):
-be the first one to say hello (or namaste/Shalom/Hola etc) when you encounter another human. In other words, be kind first (takes courage because we''re all scared of rejection, not being liked etc).
-smile a lot. One of the best ways to have someone open up to you. Remember, we make lasting impressions of people within the first few minutes of meeting them. Start with a smile.
-get devoted to using people''s names. Really important. Shows that you care. A mark of respect.
-look people in the eye when you speak to them. A mark of respect.
-become a world-class listener. Get this one right and you''ll own the title of “Relationship Superstar”. Most people don''t listen. Most people are so self-focused they fail to ask good questions when they meet another person. Listening and asking questions shows humility. It shows you are interested. Demonstrates that you are engaged - and not in love with yourself. Most people''s idea of listening is waiting until the other person has finished speaking.
-offer sincere compliments. Praise is free. Never miss an opportunity to celebrate and elevate another person, whether at work or at home. You''ll connect with the best within them. And then they''ll give you their best. Leave people better than you found them.
-treat everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE; it scares me when someone''s really nice to me but rude to a waiter - no consistency there) like royalty. Behave as if you''ll never see them again. When I get home from work each day, my kids come flying around the corner and hug me. Every day. Makes me feel like a king. If I could be half as great as my kids (and children), I''d be a happy man.
Sure the above 7 ideas are simple. Master these First Principles and you''ll get to your mountaintop quicker than you can imagine. The best practice mastery around the fundamentals. Keep it simple. You''ll win. And have fun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
