Daily Inspiration 3-6-12

"There's a difference between solitude and lonliness.

I can understand the concept of being a monk for a while."

-- Tom Hanks

One of the things I love about quotes is that the really good ones are understated in such a way as to be a powerful tool to opening one's mind just a little bit more.

I understood this one immediately. Solitude is a choice of releasing self to enjoy that part of us that we seldom pay much attention to. In this we often see things and other people as part of us.

But, loneliness is a very different thing. It is fear, lack of self-love and self-confidence. It is more like despair. It is seeing people as very separated from us.

The fastest and most effective way out of loneliness that I am aware of is to begin at once to find things to appreciate, regardless of how small or insignificant they may at first seem. Then, move up the ladder of appreciation until the loneliness is gone. We first need to rely on ourselves by loving ourselves, and then expand outward.

It Is Difficult To Love Others Until We Love Ourselves.

Spread Some Joy Today--Treat yourself to some personal fun. It usually brings some joy, and maybe enough left over to share.

Daily Inspiration 3-5-12

"The difference between Socrates and Jesus?

The great conscious and the immeasurably great unconscious."

-- Thomas Carlyle

Now that I have run across this wonderful quote, I've never heard that idea expressed so well. Bravo!

The Difference Between The Brain And The Mind

Spread Some Joy Today--Call someone you haven't talked to in a long time and share uplifting thoughts with them.

Daily Inspiration 3-4-12

"Love and kindness are never wasted.

They always make a difference.

They bless the one who receives them,

and they bless you, the giver."

-- Barbara de Angelis

Practicing loving people is so much fun and so rewarding as well, though I seek no reward. It is built from the simplest compliment to flat out telling someone that you love them. And, what is also interesting is that it gets easier and more fun with the practice.

Every time I speak a compliment or any other loving thought to someone it is always 100% sincere and in that it has much power. When I first began this, I had to look harder for something to compliment and now, it is very easy.

Some are more fun than others. I love to see someone, especially a female who looks like some famous person. Many people might say, 'you look just like so and so,' and I have more fun doing it the other way by saying, 'you might not know this, but so and so looks an awful lot like you.'

Another thing I decided to get out of my self-imposed comfort zone on was saying 'I love you' especially to other men. Men are generally way too macho to say such things so blatantly, but I find it very fulfilling and releasing.

Love and kindness in all forms are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who received them, and they bless you, the giver.

Practicing Every Day Now And Loving It

Spread Some Joy Today--Truly, love and kindness top the list of creating joy in others and in yourself.

Daily Inspiration 3-3-12

"You do not have to get something for nothing,

but can give to every man more than you take from him."

-- Wallace D Wattles

Some time ago, I read the book, The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D Wattles. I bought the audiobook and listened over and over again. I loved the simplicity of it and the depth of it at the same time. It is so short and yet profound that it really does require repetitive study to understand it better. It is in my opinion a powerful book. You can get a free pdf copy on the Internet or on a Kindle.

Since that time, there have been some ideas from this book that really stuck with me and one of them is about the value that we give in return for what we take or receive. In the competitive world, the only reason for competition at all is the assumption of lack of enough for everyone. When we believe that there is plenty or abundance, the whole idea of competition is ridiculous. In his book, Wattles refers to moving from the competitive plane to the creative plane, or from scarcity to abundance.

Here is a section that stood out for me and is the foundation for the businesses that I am involved in:

"When you rise from the competitive to the creative plane, you can scan your business transactions very strictly, and if you are selling any man anything which does not add more to his life than the thing he gives you in exchange, you can afford to stop it. You do not have to beat anybody in business. And if you are in a business which does beat people, get out of it at once. Give every man more in use value than you take from him in cash value; then you are adding to the life of the world by every business transaction."

This is also the foundation of many of my other mentors like Jim Rohn, and Brian Tracy who say to always do more than required.

No More Need To Look Over Our Shoulders

Spread Some Joy Today--"Since you get more joy out of giving to others, you should put a good deal of though into the happiness that you are able to give." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

Daily Inspiration 3-2-12

"Argue for your limitations,

and sure enough they're yours."

-- Richard Bach

I love this line by Richard Bach. I loved his early work, particularly Illusions, which was enlightening to me.

It is easy and true to think about how we set our own limitations in what we are willing to do, how far we are willing to go, how high we are willing to rise, and so on. I'll call those the bigger things of life, such as career objectives, deciding to go into business and to potentially succeed at it, etc.

Yet, I think it applies more so to those little things of life that we allow to legitimize our limitations based on ordinarily accepted circumstances. For example:

•I'm so busy.

•I have no time.

•I have to do this.

•How about next week?

•I'm booked all week.

•There aren't enough hours in the day.

•Send me an email and I'll look at it.

•I have so much to do.

•It's the last two days of the month.

•I've got no one to help me.

•I have to do everything myself.

•They just don't appreciate what I do for them.

•I know it's important, but I just don't have the time or energy.

•etcetera

All of these common and accepted statements are indeed arguments for our limitations, aren't they? We think they sound good, but when you look at them on this page, they look like they are: excuses and self-limitations. How can we deal with any of the big issues when we allow the little ones to clog up our life?

Try letting go of excuses. Keep your schedule flexible enough to accommodate minor changes. Remember some of the more important things and save some time and energy for them because they are important and will help you to move forward. We are much of the time like a car revving its engine but not engaging the transmission, so we just sit there with no forward movement, yet burning lots of fuel and energy.

Choose To Live In A Room With A View

Spread Some Joy Today--"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intent." -- Kahlil Gibran

Daily Inspiration 3-1-12

"This is a do-it-yourself test for paranoia: you know you've

got it when you can't think of anything that's your fault."

-- Robert M Hutchins

 

When I was a young boy, I had my tonsils out and they also took out my adenoids. It took nearly 50 years longer to lose my paranoids. . .

. . . I went from never being at fault to being totally at fault, or a better way to say that is totally responsible.

It doesn't have to take that long. I was just a stubborn one. . .

 

I Highly Recommend The Operation Regardless Of Age.

Spread Some Joy Today--"There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward." -- Khalil Gibran

Daily Inspiration 2-29-12

"A Yale University management professor in response

to student Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight

delivery service: The concept is interesting and well-formed,

but in order to earn better than a 'C', the idea must be feasible."

-- Frederick W Smith

It's really easy to laugh at this quote now because everyone know about FedEx. In 1971 Fred Smith began Federal Express and in 1973 began overnight service on April 17th. That first night only 18 packages were carried, and the rest is history as they say. Ten years later in 1983 they passed one billion dollars in sales revenue. That was over 29 years ago. Last year it was almost 40 billion.

The best way I've ever heard to think of a billion dollars is that if you had a billion dollars and you spent $10,000 per day, every day, seven days a week, it would take you 274 years to spend it all assuming it was gaining zero interest the entire time! To spend it all in a lifetime, you would have to spend around $50,000 a day. At that rate, it would still take you 54 years to spend it.

J K Rowling wrote a book called Harry Potter and was turned down by the first 12 publishers that it was sent to by a literary agent. A year later, one publisher took it and the rest is history as they say. J K Rowling went from a single mother on social security at the poverty level to now a billionaire.

How many people do you think can recognize a billion dollar enterprise in its seed form? Do you know anyone who might have a billion dollar idea? How about you? How about a million dollar idea?

Have you ever saw an invention, product or service and then said that you had that idea some years ago?

There are seeds in all of us to excel in certain areas when we allow them to be; when we decide to do it; when we are willing to risk. You might even be the next billionaire in the seed.

 

"Throw Your Dreams Into Space Like A Kite, And You Do Not Know What It Will Bring Back, A New Life, A New Friend, A New Love, A New Country." -- Anais Nin

Spread Some Joy Today--"Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing." -- William Shakespeare

Daily Inspiration 2-28-12

"The primary cause of unhappiness is never the

situation but thought about it. Be aware of the

thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the

situation, which is always neutral. It is as it is."

-- Eckart Tolle

How something is said is so important to the understanding of it. That is why repetition of a subject is important for better understanding in anything.

I've talked about the idea that there truly is no right or wrong unless you choose those thoughts about the subject. Many would choose differently about the very same circumstance or situation. What Eckart Tolle says above is the same, yet the he adds the nuance of the word 'neutral.'

He says an event, situation, circumstance is just what it is. It is neutral. It is not good or bad. There is no judgement in neutrality. It is when we enter the equation with our own thoughts that judgement comes in and we judge based on our own past training and experiences and beliefs and customs. In other words, WE CHOOSE how to judge this, and we normally judge it off center to the right or left, toward good or bad to varying degrees. We see a hurricane's effects and call it bad, a humanitarian's efforts and call it good, and so on.

Yet, you will find so few thinking about it as neutral. And, this is one of the choices available to all. What if you could see things neutrally? The event would certainly have a different response in us if we thought about the event in a neutral way compared to judging it good or bad.

There is a popular phrase, 'good, bad, or indifferent.' In this, one might think that being neutral is being indifferent. I know a lot of people think that when they encounter someone who is just observing the event with neutrality, but looking at a situation as it is and not reacting as so many do, is not at all being indifferent. Being indifferent is more a judgement, as if to say that one does not care, whereas neutrality is like being above it enough to see the whole picture and to just see it as it truly is rather than what we make it out to be.

In Another Sense, It Is Like The Difference Between Responding And Reacting.

Spread Some Joy Today--Try not reacting to some situation or event this week and instead just observe. Pretend it is a dream and you're watching your dream from on high and just seeing it play out without any judgement at all. Then just enjoy your moments. That is one way to joy. You can choose joy at any time you want.

Daily Inspiration 2-27-12

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.

It is already tomorrow in Australia."

-- Charles M Schulz

A friend sent me a forwarded email titled, The Charles Schulz Philosophy and it contained the quiz below. For what it is worth, according to snopes.com, this cannot be attributed to Charles Schulz, however, that doesn't change its validity as far as I'm concerned. I hope you enjoy it:

 

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.

Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.

 

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

 

Easier?

 

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the

most credentials, the most money...or the most awards.

They simply are the ones who care the most

"A Whole Stack Of Memories Never Equal One Little Hope." -- Charles M Schulz

Spread Some Joy Today--Share hope with someone.

Daily Inspiration 2-26-12

"Worry pretends to be necessary

but serves no useful purpose."

-- Eckhart Tolle

I cannot recall any instance in my life where worry helped in any way whatever. I find that though I had been trained since childhood in the art of worry, it is now nothing but fear about something in the future run amuck effectively using up many present moments.

Somehow it was taught as good to worry about things as if we were "paying attention" to them, so as to not ignore them. The milder form of worry is called "concern." It's just more fear and more commonly used, though still unnecessary and counterproductive.

Here's what is better. If something doesn't feel right, decide then and there to do what you can and then let it go. This way we at least spring to action as opposed to projecting limitless possibilities of a yet to occur event.

Most Of The Things I Worried About Never Happened.

Spread Some Joy Today--When you're joyous, you attract more joyous people. Good enough reason to me. . .

Daily Inspiration 2-25-12

"Building attitude insight and awareness are the

first steps in building a positive attitude. But most

people take the words "positive attitude" for granted."

-- Jeffrey Gitomer

 

If you've never read a Jeffrey Gitomer book, I strongly recommend getting one today and that should automatically lead to two and so on and so on. He has quite a wonderful collection and they are among my favorite books in my library. His books are small in size and large in character. The quote above comes from one of his leading books, The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude.

In Chapter One, page 38, he has a questionnaire that is fun to do and very telling. If fact, you don't have to wait to the end to see how you're doing because it becomes obvious as you go. One of the questions really stood out for me. He asks, "How many hours of positive attitude training did you get. . . in grade school. . . in high school. . . In college. . . at work?" Next to each, Jeffrey has a blank so you can fill in the hours and next to the blank is a circle that says "none."

I know from my experience that when it came to personal attitude training in grade school, it amounted to how to fit in or conform to normal behavior, and simple courtesy, but that was about it. In high school, it would be none, in college, none, and at work it would have been none at many places I worked, but when I got into sales, having a positive attitude was in the training, but even then it was minor on the list of sales skills.

At the very beginning of the book, Jeffrey says that, "Positive attitude is defined as the way you dedicate yourself to the way you think. The definition for a negative attitude is exactly the same. This book is dedicated to the way you think."

 

"A YES! Attitude is the difference between saying "I'm Sorry," And Saying "Thank You!" -- Jeffrey Gitomer

Spread Some Joy Today--"Your smile is one of the greatest attributes and assets you can possess--and its' free. All you have to do is use it every minute of every day." -- Jeffrey Gitomer

Daily Inspiration 2-24-12

"A genuine leader is not a searcher

for consensus but a molder of consensus."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr

 

This I know from long experience: Line 10 people up and ask them what should be done, and the variety of answers will be astounding. This phenomenon is what caused the use of committees so that small groups could meet for extended periods to try to agree on what to do, then report to the decision maker their findings. This frustration led to Blue Ribbon Committees because the standard committees weren't getting the job done. Now, of course, there is facebook.

Our company is growing very rapidly of late and no matter how large it gets and I am involved, it will never be run on the idea of seeking consensus. I may seek and opinion to help clarify my thinking, but make a decision and move on.

I've worked for people who seemed to take forever to make decisions. They wanted to study the issue, analyze the information, test the theories, adjust the assumptions, rationalize the data, whittle the time, create the charts and assign the blame. I would think, 'come on, let's just DO IT!' The response was always that of a seasoned politician.

How do you get a committee to make a decision? By giving someone on the committee the power to decide. Procrastination and lack of decision is effectively a decision of inaction.

We often do this with personal decisions. Now, of course, there is facebook.

Part Of My Power Is That Of Decision.

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of what others think or say, and being joyous by your own decision.

Daily Inspiration 2-23-12

"Between stimulus and response there is a space.

In that space is our power to choose our response.

In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

-- Viktor E. Frankl

Today was an interesting day. It began with a righteous opportunity to be pissed off, indignant, frustrated and disgusted, and these would have been justified in the life I used to live. Indeed, many people I know would have lost it and blurted out stuff they might have later too late reconsidered.

I am proud and pleased to report that I have successfully overcame another of those situations we all periodically face. I remained calm and though I took note of the stimulus from the other, I chose not to react to it, and to respond to it instead. It would have been easy to react, but not very positive in the potential outcome. I prefer the response of today.

To take that one step further--and this is the part I'm really proud and happy about--my internal response was so different and so much more compassionate than it would have been at any other time in my life. I thought, 'you're being rude and I don't understand it, but I'm sure you must be under pressure in some way. I want to turn this around and have a positive outcome as I'm sure you do too.'

As it turned out, the lack of reaction on my part (our part, as there were two of us), was perfect and it ended on a much more positive note than it appeared it might.

I am practicing my own preaching and it is most enjoyable. The thought always comes before the action; before the habit.

Inwardly, although I hardly knew this person at all, I was trying my best to love him and to be loving, caring, and understanding of THEIR perspective on things. In other words compassionate.

My recommendation is to practice this as often as you can for that is how I have been winning the battle in my mind of the misguided stimuli that I get from all those unintentional and careless providers.

I might also add this quote I recently read that helped me today from Father James Keller: "Three hundred years ago a prisoner condemned to the Tower of London carved on the wall of his cell this sentiment to keep up his spirits during his long imprisonment: 'It is not adversity that kills, but the impatience with which we bear adversity.'"

Rejoice In Our Ultimate Power Of Response!

Spread Some Joy Today--Give a co-worker a hug instead of a handshake. It will make all the difference.

Daily Inspiration 2-22-12

"The first principle of success is desire--knowing

what you want. Desire is the planting of your seed."

-- Robert Collier

"One of the secrets of success

is ideas mixed with inspiration."

-- Jim Rohn

Success is a very shiny, brilliant word that a lot of people have trouble grasping. To many it is this illusive goal, and to many more it is something they want but aren't sure they are capable or worthy or whatever. Some think you have to do something a very long time and become an expert at it to be called a success, maybe even a lifetime. The best that I can say about what I now know about the word is that it is something that each of us must define for ourselves.

I had a realization this evening at age 62: I am a success. I've always wanted to say that--and mean it, and now I just did. I used to think that success was always in front of me and some of it is, but I've succeeded all my life and never really recognized it as that until now. In fact, I've been a success all my life.

I'm not a fan of rules, so I try to break them whenever possible. When it comes to a fancy definition of success, I prefer it to be this simple: To have a desire and to act on it. Pretty simple and it is that easy to be a success.

Here are some of my successes (not in any particular order) that I now look on and celebrate:

When I was a teenager, I wanted to play the guitar, so I learned how to play the guitar and I've played it off and on all of my life. I wanted to play music and sing on stage and I've done that. I wanted to learn how to play bass guitar and did that. I wanted to play in a band as a musician and I've done that too. I didn't do all these when I was a teenager, but at different times in my life.

I wanted to become a writer and became one. I wanted to write a book and I've written two. I wanted to become a teacher and I've been one since 1975 in one way or another. I wanted to become a business manager and have done that most of my life.

I wanted to be a songwriter, so I learned how to write them and wrote almost 200. I wanted to record music and I learned how to do that and I owned a recording studio. I wanted to learn how to run sound for music groups and I did that. I wanted to do a songwriting class to teach songwriting and did that.

This is fun!

 

 

I wanted to own my own business. I've done that several times. I wanted to make a good deal of money and have done that. I wanted to get involved in the Internet and have done that. I wanted to inspire and encourage people and I am still doing that. I wanted a large personal library and I own thousands of books. I wanted to own a bookstore and did that too. I wanted to have an eBay business and did that. I wanted over 10,000 feedback score on eBay and I am at 11,300. I wanted to own lots of guitars and have done that. I wanted to own a musical instrument store and have done that. I wanted to get involved in commercial trucks and I do a lot of that. I wanted to be a leader and I am.

Well, I could go on! I am really enjoying the idea of being a success, and I suppose the best reason to do this is to share how much of a success each of you who might read this are. If you've had a desire for something--whatever it may be--and have expressed the courage to act on it and do it, you have succeeded in my eyes. And, better that this is the idea that you can succeed over and over and over and over again throughout your life. I know that I am not slowing down at all, and perhaps am more motivated than I've ever been in my entire life. So there is much to look forward to while we enjoy each experience and each success.

I am a success. Say it! I am a success! Louder! I AM A SUCCESS!

YES! YOU ARE A SUCCESS. MANY TIMES OVER.

Spread Some Joy Today--Life is experience. To enjoy and be in joy in your life experience is your own choice and your own legacy.