CTS Daily Inspirations

Daily Inspiration 6-2-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"Celebrate what you want

to see more of."

-- Tom Peters

It's so easy to get caught in the trap as Elvis used to sing so well. It somehow seems natural, and yet it doesn't feel good or right even. The trap is in finding fault, and there are so many ways to do it, as well different venues such as at work, at home, at parties, at social events, in restaurants, in meetings, and pretty much where ever there are more than one person.

Somehow we think it is going to have a reward like finding an answer to the problem we find fault and complain about, or that we will find the solution to how someone else is acting or behaving and how to get them to do it the right way, which of course, is our way. But the only true reward is frustration and disappointment. Neither is very valuable.

So, as positive as people think I am, I've been in the trap recently in our business focusing on what's in need of repair, or what's wrong, while only occasionally talking about what is right in comparison. To be fair, I am paying attention to where my attitude is and what is coming out of my mouth, and it isn't the majority of the time, but a minority. Still, it sucks. Today, I realized just how much it sucks and the fact that restating the problems is a never-ending circle going nowhere.

So, I've decided something to change: My focus. I am not going to pay hardly any attention to what is wrong, or not working, etc., and instead of that time spent, will spend it in praise and admiration of what is right and what is working. This includes celebrating people in our business as well as my personal life.

Now, I've been sort of heading this direction and practicing for some time; however, this is going to be different. I'm going to pretty much ignore the other side and deal only in facts and zero drama. As an example, I'm going to celebrate our clients who pay us in a timely manner; those who participate with us helping them, and much more. Rather than instituting the typical collection policy, we will develop our unique collection policy by seeking those who match these simple, yet awesome standards and by our celebration, praise and focus, thereby attract more of them to us, while the other types will fall by the wayside.

I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but I am happy to have done so and eagerly and enthusiastically look forward to practicing and implementing this far better strategy.

I'm So Done With The Old And So Into The New.

Spread Some Joy Today--That's right! Spread some joy today! Have some fun.

Daily Inspiration 6-1-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"A man cannot be comfortable

without his own approval."

-- Mark Twain

The above quote is wonderful. It is, in my opinion, something that each of us needs to focus more attention to. So many people are seeking approval from outside of themselves, and I have done so as well. It is a frustrating experience because we expect and often do not receive even though we may have performed admirably. As well, it is fleeting and changing so much as to confound many.

No. The best way is to approve of one's self and not expect others to approve us. This way we are in constant control and success is assured.

The mirror is a wonderful place to begin. Start by deciding to like what you see when you look in a mirror. It is more common to look for flaws or problems, so we begin by not looking too closely, but approve what you see even if you would like to look different.

If you don't like your hair or something so easy to change, then change it. Pretend that it doesn't matter in the least what others will say or think about how you look. It only matters if you like it and only you can change it.

This is something to practice and have fun with. For so many years, I didn't like what I saw in the mirror, and now I like myself a lot. There are still some things that I want to change, but I am accepting and loving myself the way I am now. This one thing has made a big change in my attitude about myself. I highly recommend the practice.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Lighten Up! Love Yourself!

Daily Inspiration 5-31-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance.

Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations.

Expect the best of yourself,

and then do what is necessary to make it a reality."

-- Ralph Marston

I'm always challenging myself to improve; to do well; better; the best I can given the parameters, and I feel that way about everything that I do. However, I am certainly not a perfectionist, as I do have a tendency to say, "okay, that's good for now."

I've known many who beat it to death trying to excel. I don't think it need be that hard. I love Teddy Roosevelt's famous phrase to "do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Tomorrow is another day and I'll go and do what I can with what I have, where I am then too. And that will be good enough. . . for now.

What's interesting is how everything constantly gets improvement with that attitude.

I was talking yesterday to some people and considering how we operated and what we did four short years ago compared to today. It is an amazing transformation. It will also be the same kind of comparison four years from now because there is constant growth.

One of my favorite sayings comes from one of my mentors, Tony Robbins. He calls it CANi, which stands for Constant and Never-Ending Improvement. There are so many ways to improve, to see what can be done, to explore creativity and innovation on a regular basis.

I hear some business people talk about when the times get better, they will be better. When times are good, they will be happy. When business improves, life will be good again. I have a hard time with that. I think that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. More business doesn't create happiness.

The other thing I hear a lot is that when times get better, they will grow their business again. There are so many ways to grow a business that don't have anything to do with more business. It comes back to CANi and doing what you can with what you have, where you are NOW.

Let go of all the "if come maybe" stuff. There is so much to do right now. There is no future in reality. Everything is right now.

Happiness Is Not Pursued. It Is Allowed.

Spread Some Joy Today--Allow yourself. Grant yourself permission to be happy today. It's always been as simple as your choice. Choose it now.

Daily Inspiration 5-30-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Wed, 30 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill."

-- Edward Appleton

Enthusiasm is a interesting word--no, not just interesting, but fascinating! I used to think it was like jumping up and down with energy, sort of like when you've rested your body really well and had something you wanted to do and you bound out of bed and bound down the road and exude joy in your movement. It can be that, and I've felt that, but it isn't very reliable. In fact, it is hard to come by.

Looking enthusiasm up in the dictionary provides some of the fascination to the word. It's origin is approximately 1570-80 according to Dictionary.com and means essentially equivalent to God within or inspired by God. It also means absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit; lively interest. And, to be enthusiastic is to be full of or characterized by enthusiasm.

That's a bit complicated, but I get the concept. To make it easier, I think it means to be in love with what you do, regardless of what that is; to live alive and on purpose; and to feel the presence of God or the God force or whatever you may choose to call that connection that we all know is within us. Esther Hicks would call it an alignment with all that we have become and who we really are. Eckhart Tolle would call it the power of NOW, or being present now. The great management master, John C Maxwell might call it being injoy. And they would all be right. That wasn't really making it easier, was it?

Okay, here's easy: Loving Life This Moment and Loving Your Life This Moment. I like to string moments together and so it can last for days. It has lasted all day today, and yesterday. I might as well keep going. Yet, it's not about making it last longer, it is just enjoying, or rather, injoying it this moment. Injoying the moment. In the moment.

So, how is that done reliably? By being willing to let go and let God within, by letting go of what was and what may be and only considering what is. Where ever you find yourself, be there. In every single instance that I do this, I am enthusiastic.

Enthusiasm Is An Outward Expression Of InJoy.

Spread Some Joy Today--Injoy your day. You'll know it when it happens.

Daily Inspiration 5-29-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"Intuition is a spiritual faculty

and does not explain,

but simply points the way."

-- Florence Scovel Shinn

Yesterday my post touched a chord with several people who responded to it. Thank you for your comments. Today, I am going to talk a bit about my Memorial Day as a follow through.

First, I will begin with the fact that I have been an avid student of the Law of Attraction and other natural laws for several years and I am constantly learning to let go and let God, so to speak in my travels. As I let go, I receive intuition, and that has always been the case, but in the past I rarely acted on it. For the last several years, I've truly challenged myself to go with it and see what comes.

I worked as a sales manager at a car dealership for several years and one of my previous salesmen has been on my mind several times in the last couple of weeks. I don't know why, and I'm learning to not be concerned about that anymore. I stopped being an employee of that car dealership in 1997, and I know this salesman died right around 2008.

Back to the present, I had this desire to go to the closest National Cemetery for Memorial Day, as I saw a blurb about it and thought it would be good to go since I have never done that. So, I went with it. It was a great event, a beautiful cemetery that first began in 2007. After the event, I decided to walk part of the grounds. Even though it is a relatively new National cemetery, there are well over 10,000 soldiers buried there. So, you know it's coming, right? I walked three or four rows reading their names in my head acknowledging them, and I found this:

I wasn't expecting it and I didn't know where he was buried or even if he was. So, I was thinking about his guy I hadn't seen in years and has been dead since 2008 and I am led to his tombstone. Out of over 10,000, I went right over to his. Wow. That's incredible.

Jerry Block was a very special guy. I met him long before I hired him at the car dealership. He used to own two men's stores, one in Fairfield and the other in Napa. He was what they now call morbid obese back then, When I hired him at the dealership, he was about one third his previous size. He found that he had diabetes and he became an advocate of a healthy lifestyle. He walked everywhere. He was kind and generous and fun to be around. He took what he did seriously and was most serious about giving excellent service. He lost toes and other portions of his feet to the disease, but he just bought special shoes and kept walking.

He mentored others about diabetes and gave talks and was especially focused on youth and obesity and what that can lead to since he knew from experience. He was selfless in desire to serve others and help them avoid his pain and suffering. I loved Jerry Block. He had such a large heart, and besides that, he was a great employee.

So, I saw Jerry today, and I thought, this was why I came here today even though I enjoyed myself and was touched by the moving ceremony, much as the man whose back I thought said it well surrounded by many hundreds of people:

After a couple of hours at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, I drove on to the State Capitol at Sacramento. Right across the street from the front of the Capitol is the Fallen Peace Officer Memorial under a huge oak tree. Here are a couple shots of it and my dad's name on one of the plates.

Ralph Minion was my dad and he worked with another officer above his name, William D Huckaby. A few years ago, I arranged to go to the Highway Patrol Academy in West Sacramento, CA and got to see where my dad trained. They have a big quad area with a fountain in the middle and fallen CHP officers names are on small brass plates around the top of the fountain and recruits are supposed to polish those names periodically to remember that what they do is a dangerous job. I also got to see the graduation plaques for my dad and my uncle Durward in the CHP dayroom.

Last, we went to Mare Island which used to be a major shipyard building submarines and many other types of ships. They have a very old cemetery there though it is very small in comparison. All in all, a wonderful day of rememberence and enjoyment at the same time.

Let Your Intuition Be The Guide It Is Meant To Be.

Spread Some Joy Today--Have a good time today. There just is not much more important that feeling good. Enjoy yourself and those around you, including traffic!

Daily Inspiration 5-28-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Mon, 28 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"Spirit, that made those heroes dare

To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

The shaft we raise to them and thee."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today is a day of remembrance of those fallen while serving the United States Armed Forces. There are so many. It helps to remember someone or a few that we may have known, and I am thinking of them today while I do something I've never done before: attending a Memorial Day event at a National Cemetery.

This holiday began as Decoration Day right after the Civil War. For all of my life it has meant very little. I almost always worked during it because of the Memorial Day Saleobrations. Now I choose to celebrate what I will and when.

I've served in the military too and my father, Ralph Minion, is a fallen hero to me. He served in the US Army Air Corps before it was called the Air Force during the end of World War II. He survived the war, and got married and had a family with three children. I was the eldest, a baby-boomer born in 1949.

He joined another uniformed service organization in 1955 called the California Highway Patrol, following his brother who joined in 1948. He rode Harley-Davidson's in places like East Los Angeles. In January of 1964, he was killed on that motorcycle while on duty.

Though this day is traditionally for fallen service people, after visiting the National Cemetery Ceremony and paying respects to the hundreds of thousands, I am remembering my personal fallen hero today by visiting a memorial at the State Capitol in Sacramento with his name and a lot of other fallen heroes all around the state.

Honor Your Fallen Heroes Today--Better Yet, Honor Your LIVE Heroes Today!

Spread Some Joy Today--Pay attention to people who matter in your life.

Daily Inspiration 5-27-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Sun, 27 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"For everything you want to sell,

there is someone out there

who wants to buy it.

For everything you want to buy,

there is someone

who needs to sell it.

The universe functions

in perfect balance and timing."

-- Alan Cohen

I've seen many things that I thought might just be unsalable. And, I was wrong. Everything is saleable, and you may not know where the buyer will come from, but there is a buyer out there who will pay the price and be happy with the purchase.

Battleships are really pricey, but you couldn't sell me one for ten cents. I could care less, and even though the scrap would be worth major dollars, I would have no interest in even dealing with it. Yet, put a battleship up for sale and there will be plenty of buyers.

I have an eBay store and had a very rare item--so rare in fact that I couldn't find anything quite like it online anywhere in the world. It was two small binders with individual data sheets on tanks around the world. I paid $2 for it, had it listed for about two and a half years and it finally sold to someone in Spain for $750 plus shipping which was my asking price. I had several offers, but I knew someone was out there somewhere who would understand that $750 was a bargain deal.

Having been in the auto business for a long time, I heard all kinds of people, including many in the auto business tell me that certain things were sale proof. There is no such thing. I even challenged a dealer one time on a dealer trade where they wanted something I had to give me the morphodite vehicle on their lot--that unit that was sale proof and that they couldn't get rid of. He took me up on it. He was right, it was odd; however, I challenged my staff and it was sold in two weeks at a nice profit. And, I had a lot of fun doing that.

I've also seen things that I thought would never sell and I found myself very wrong. Now, I try to remember that beauty, value and worth are all in the eyes, mind and heart of each individual, and for every thing there is someone who wants to sell and someone who wants to buy.

Just Realize How Many Hundreds Of Millions Of Things Are Bought And Sold Daily In This World.

Spread Some Joy Today--When you support another's cause, you support them.

Daily Inspiration 5-26-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"Why struggle to convince someone

of something they're not ready to hear?"

-- Alan Cohen

After starting in sales in 1972 and becoming a sales manager in 1975 and working in those capacities in one way or another all this time, I've learned that salespeople in general are always looking for ways to close sales. That's what they always seem to want to know more about--at least on the surface.

I learned a lot of different sales closes, such as the Ben Franklin close, the feel, felt, found method, when you ask a closing question, SHUT UP!, and many more. I even tried most of them on one or more occasions. The best one is when you ask a closing question, shut up, but that leads me away from the point.

What's the point? None of them work when someone is not ready to hear it, or buy it. They aren't magic and they just don't do what the promoters say they will. If you find the rare prospect that is just trying to blow you off because they have a hard time making decisions, some of these might work, but still a relatively small percentage of the time.

I'm also a consumer and so I know that none of these closes would work on me either if I wasn't ready to hear it, or buy it.

Now, questions is a whole different animal. Questions are good. If a prospect is asking questions, they are interested to some degree and closes are not necessary, just answer their questions or concerns. This really isn't rocket science. Take the time to understand their concerns. Try to put yourself in their position. Some people are just afraid. They're afraid to make a mistake, to make a bad choice, or that they don't know what they're doing and have little confidence in themselves. Those are all things we as salespeople can do something with.

But, someone who isn't ready to hear? Until they are ready to hear, there isn't much point.

We close a pretty high percentage of the people we do a presentation to in our business; however, it is pretty easy to see which ones aren't ready to hear. We can tell by the statements they make, and the LACK of questions they ask. It comes out in how they compare us to other vendors. We might swim a stroke or two with them, but we've learned to stop swimming very quickly and excuse ourselves for another day.

One thing every one in sales needs to learn is to ALWAYS keep moving. There are plenty who ARE interested. There are PLENTY who will. Accept the ones that aren't ready to hear and keep your sanity and confidence in tact.

Focus On The Plenty Who Will Rather Than The Few Who Won't.

Spread Some Joy Today--How often do you thank people for anything? Good question.

Daily Inspiration 5-25-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"The moment you have in your heart

this extraordinary thing called love

and feel the depth, the delight,

the ecstacy of it, you will discover

that for you the world is transformed."

-- J Krishnamurti

I have come to just love people. Customers, strangers, pretty much every one that I see. I don't even have to talk with them, actually meet them even. Those that I have some kind of relationship, whether it is a client, associate or friend, I love even more because I can interact with them, share thoughts, ideas, feelings.

Some people are harder to love if there is such a thing as it being harder to love. I think the only reason is that they resist, don't know how to relax and let others in. They have walls up and it is only a small circle that may get through the walls.

Those that are open to returning the love that I put out, is a spectacular thing, and such a pleasure to experience that my eyes well up and I have a joyous outpouring of energy and love. And, it goes both ways and that is the value of letting go of resistance and having doorways through the walls.

I also find it better to let them talk about two to one to me. So, to help that along, I ask questions, and then let them answer.

I experienced a lot of that today and it was glorious. Had such a great time!

Relax And Let Yourself Out Of The Cage!

Spread Some Joy Today--Fear says: They more they know about me, the more fear I have because I am an open target. Love says: They more they know about me, the more opportunity they have to love me, and visa versa.

Daily Inspiration 5-24-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"EVERYTHING is always and completely

subject to personal interpretation."

-- Albert K Strong

I was looking at some quotes under the heading of Achievement. At the beginning, it states this: "We achieve to the degree that we overcome the negative. Achievers are willing to pay the price of achievement. They sacrifice, struggle, work on, perhaps alone, weary, and discouraged, and yet at each step overcome the negative. Overcoming the negative is the price of achievement--the price of greatness."

So here are a few of the quotes on the next couple of pages:

"There are no gains without pains." -- Benjamin Franklin

"There is no success without hardship." -- Sophocles

"No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown."

-- William Penn

"The world is so constructed, that if you wish to enjoy its pleasures, you must also endure its pains. Whether you like it or not, you cannot have one without the other."

-- Swami Brahmananda

"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." -- Jean Baptiste Moliere

"The battle of life is, in most cases, fought uphill; and to win it without a struggle were perhaps to win it without honour. If there were no difficulties there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved."

-- Samuel Smiles

Heck, even the Bible has it going on:

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. -- Revelation 3:21

Now, here's my quote:

"As you believe, so it will be unto you." I'm sure I robbed that from someone smart and sophisticated. Heck, that's in the Bible too. And all these quotes and hundreds more like them I've heard all my life, and it's no dang wonder that people are timid about going for it, as they have so much pain, anxiety, struggle, endurance, and more. It's all uphill to get to the downhill. Based on that, the downhill better be pretty darn good!

BUT! I stopped believing that stuff and guess what? It isn't a struggle except in your own mind. It isn't uphill except in your own mind. There are no thorns except in your own mind. No gall or cross either. There is no honor in the struggle or the overcomement except in your own mind. There is no pain or hardship except in your own mind.

All of these things are subject to your own interpretation just as all of these quotes were their interpretation (or maybe they didn't want you to know how easy it was so they didn't have to share. . .).

Ever heard one of those really famous songwriters say, "hey, I wrote that song in 5 minutes and it was the easiest song I ever wrote and look at it now!" There are millions of quotes just like that because they believe it is easy. They are having fun with it instead of taking it SO DAMN SERIOUS!

You know what else?

You get to choose. . .

Where Did I Put That Easy Button. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Give someone some encouragement. In fact, give them a bunch of it. Lavish it on them, like hot maple syrup on a stack of fresh buttermilk pancakes. Let it drizzle over the sides. Lift up the cakes and pour some in there too. Who's counting calories?

Daily Inspiration 5-23-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"I just do not hang around anybody that

I don't want to be with. Period. For me, that's

been a blessing, and I can stay positive.

I hang around people who are happy,

who are growing, who want to learn,

who don't mind saying sorry or thank you. . .

and having a fun time."

-- John Assaraf

We all probably know some of those people who complain about almost everything in their lives, along with the news about what is going on with others and so on. They are in that wicked game of playing victim, persecutor and rescuer, switching roles at will and depending on who they are talking with and whether or not they will participate by playing along with them.

Maybe one or more of those people are relatives, co-workers, even a boss or supervisor. Some may not be easy to escape from depending on who they are in your life; however, the key for our own survival, growth and well-being is to spend zero or as little time with these toxic folks as possible.

Jack Canfield says it well in this way: "Think about it. I'm sure you know people who only have to walk into the room to totally drain you of energy. I refer to these people as psychic vampires. They literally suck the life energy right out of you. Stop spending time with them." He says, "make a conscious effort to surround yourself with positive, nourishing, and uplifting people--people who believe in you, encourage you to go after your dreams, and applaud you victories. Surround yourself with possibility thinkers, idealists, and visionaries."

You know, it's funny. I have very few of these negative people in my life lately. If I meet one and they start their routine, I'm excusing myself and moving away quickly, even mid-sentence. It works. They find people who are willing to help them with their game, and I am on to more positive, uplifting people.

We Always Get To Choose What Influences Us.

Spread Some Joy Today--Think of someone and how special they are until you are feeling such a feeling of love, then let it go. They will know it, even at a great distance.

Daily Inspiration 5-22-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"For things to change,

you've got to change."

-- Jim Rohn

I was talking with a friend a day or two ago. He used to suffer with severe back problems and he was overweight which only added to that issue. He tried so many external things and even surgery, then rather than seeking any more change from without, he made a firm decision to change within, and that changed everything for him.

He lost a lot of weight, worked out regularly and strengthened his core stomach and lower back. He stands differently now. He is fit. He is in shape. He has a flat stomach. He looks 10 years younger though he is 10 years older. It is an amazing transformation. He exudes confidence and strength and he is an inspiration for those who would like to consider taking charge of their bodies.

It has been over a year, maybe two since his change, and it is common for people to lose a lot of weight and then to gradually gain it back. I've done it, I've seen many do it. So, I asked him how he has continued to do it when so many others have gone back. His answer was telling. He said, "I remember what it was like before. I don't ever want to forget it." He went on to say that "I am only one Big Mac away from going back to the way it was." I told him that I totally related to that because I quit smoking 10 years ago in April and I'm still only one cigarette away from going back there. I also told him that I totally related to his first answer about remembering what it was like. I remember the coughing so it keeps me on the path.

I asked him how often he goes to the gym and he said that he went every day for a time, and now averages about 4 days a week. His routine of going to the gym is so much a part of his life now that it is his new life. Whereas before, maybe he was on the couch with the remote, and now he is at the gym.

He is the embodiment of Jim Rohn's message. For things to change, you are the one that needs to change. It isn't the thing or the circumstance or the environment or the situation. Those are all external indications of an inward thought pattern. The real change must be us. Once we change, all the rest will change along with it. He has a whole new lifestyle now, and it is a healthy style that radiates from him for all to see.

"As Above, So Below. As Within, So Without."
-- The Emerald Tablet, circa 3000 BC

Spread Some Joy Today--Send someone a thank you just because.

Daily Inspiration 5-21-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"Man was created as a being who should

constantly keep improving, a being who on

reaching one goal sets a higher one."

-- Ralph Ransom

Since I used to teach goal setting in business, I had one understanding of the quote like this one of Ralph Ransom's, and now I have a different view. Today, I don't think I would use the word 'higher,' but substitute the word 'different' instead. Today, I would also change one other word. I would change the word 'improving' to 'changing.' Then, one last little change. take our 'was created as a being who should,' and substitute 'is a powerful creator who will.' So here's how my version of the quote would go the way I understand it now:

Man is a powerful creator who will constantly keep changing, who on reaching one goal and enjoying it fully, delightfully sets different one--just because he is a creator, and creators create!

After teaching it for so long, I began to think something was wrong with constantly striving for the higher and greater and more. I thought, at what point is there satisfaction or contentment? I thought, how can the bar keep going up and up? Doesn't it have to adjust differently sometimes? If you are forecasting sales for your boss, you never want to turn in a downward estimate. It's unheard of. Or, at least that's the way it seemed so often. More, more more. When is enough enough?

In my new understanding I see us as creators that are constantly changing, trying, doing, seeking. Now, if that's all we did, I would have a problem with it, but I do believe that we can be accepting and loving of where we are as we move to another place. And, if it is done in such a way that we are not chasing happiness or expecting those kind of results when we get there, it all works perfectly.

In the past, I never really accepted where I was. It was always where I happened to be that I wasn't very pleased with in pursuit of what would create more happiness, fulfillment and comfort. Now, I'm coming to terms with how important it really is to be present and grateful and appreciative of where ever I may be in pursuit of whatever I think I might like next, realizing that my happiness, comfort and joy are in the moment with me where I am NOW.

At first it seemed like such a subtle difference in the way of looking at goals, but I know it to be a very great difference today.

Creators Create! It's A Wonderful Thing. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Create some love and spread it around.

Daily Inspiration 5-20-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Sun, 20 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"We can gradually grow into any conditions

we desire, provided we first make ourselves

in habitual mental attitude the person

who corresponds to those conditions. . . ."

-- Thomas Troward

I'm beginning to see change differently and it is related to considering the now versus the future. This means that any change we want in the future, which is really only an illusion, the change must take place right now this second, this minute, this hour, this day and not another time.

This also means that it is not about thinking it into being, but being it into being. One way to look at it would be to act as if, but the acting must be with belief.

If you've been around young children, you can see them pretend to be someone else so easily. They can change their circumstances by changing the way they act, see themselves, see others in an instant. We adults, gave that up a long time ago, and yet, it is in this childlike state that a certain power lies that we may retake at will.

I don't mean dress up in costume and thereby be an attention-getter, distracting others and such. Yet, to become that person inside as if you already are that person; to feel those feelings and to enjoy the experience. To be in that place that you intend to be.

The mind is a powerful tool to focus when we choose to use it in this way and the power of Intention is a tool as well.

A key to this is also being fully appreciative of where you are now, what you have, and what you are currently doing.

Childlike Desire AND Belief Is Powerful Stuff.

Spread Some Joy Today--When was the last time you enjoyed yourself like a child at play? Maybe it's time to have recess. . .

Daily Inspiration 5-19-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:41:00 +0000

"Have a dialogue between two opposing parts

and you will find. . .that they always start out

fighting each other. . .until we come to an. . .

appreciation of differences. . .a oneness and

integration of the two opposing forces. Then

the civil war is finished, and your energies

are ready for your struggle with the world."

-- Frederick Perls

The quote above I pondered for a time and the key phrase is appreciation of differences. It seems that we notice the differences between each other, and we often take and immediate like or dislike to others quickly based on their visible attributes and/or location, and/or association with others, such as people in groups.

It's interesting to consider why we feel the way we do in those instances. Our judgement takes over and makes decisions quickly; this is good, this is not good, and more. When if we lingered just a bit longer than normal, temporarily shut down our judicial system, we might be able to see something in the other that we can appreciate--and here's a key--even if that something is something we would not normally appreciate.

Anthony Robbins loves to ask questions, and so he might say, "what do you like about this person?" and you might say, "well, I can't see anything that I like." And, immediately he would say, "well, if you could like something about them, what might that be?" Then people always find something, then another and so on. It's really funny to me how that seemingly insignificant twist in words makes such a difference in getting to a better answer.

To me, the only benefit to opposition is bringing to my awareness that I am not appreciating or allowing differences to coexist. This awareness then gives me the opportunity once again to make a better, more loving choice.

"When We Seek To Discover The Best In Others, We Somehow Bring Out The Best In Ourselves."
-- William Arthur Ward

Spread Some Joy Today--You can never go wrong with a choice made in love.

Daily Inspiration 5-18-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"There are at least three states that any human

being can be in. We can put ourselves down, beat

ourselves up, minimize ourselves, and self-

depreciate. On the other hand, we can build

ourselves up with pride and think that we

are greater and better than others.

I love the third state. We can be balanced

and see that everyone is a reflection of us.

Then we don't put ourselves

above or below others."

-- Dr. John Demartini

It seems that I think about gratitude so much anymore that it has become such a huge part of my thinking. I find so many uses for it and all of them feel good. One of my guru's of appreciation and gratitude is Dr. John Demartini. I've read 5 or 6 of his wonderful books and every one of them is loaded with thoughts on gratitude and how it changed his life and how it changes millions of lives as he travels the globe.

The thing that I find the most interesting about gratitude, being thankful, or appreciating is that it is the practice of focusing that energy on the things in my life that I would have in the past said were not so good, that makes the most difference to me now. I find that as I practice and learn to be grateful for something that I'm not pleased with, I find peace and see it so differently than before.

No matter how negative it might seem on the surface, applying gratitude will change that to a positive. Part of that is accepting it as it is. Part is accepting or being willing to accept the fact that I created it myself. And, the biggest part is seeing how it is a true benefit in my life right now.

Maybe I don't want to keep it forever. Maybe I'm just passing through this place that I am right now, but being grateful for what is right now is so empowering. It also creates a certain peace with things.

You know, everything is relative. Let's just say you're having some financial issues and feeling a bit low on the totem pole of income. Heck, just think how Donald Trump feels next to Bill Gates, or compare yourself to someone in rural India or Africa. There's a lot of variation there. What's really important whatever scale we find ourselves on is to be grateful for what we have right now. That releases our energy to go with us where we may choose to be tomorrow.

When You Develop The Attitude Of Gratitude, Every Single Day Regardless Of The Weather Is A Wonderful Day!

Spread Some Joy Today--Whatever is bothering you in your life or that you're concerned about, allow yourself to appreciate it in you life. There is joy in the most interesting places.

Daily Inspiration 5-17-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"In the final analysis, the questions of why

bad things happen to good people transmutes

itself into some very different questions,

no longer asking why something happened,

but asking how we will respond,

what we intend to do now that it has happened."

-- Harold S Kushner

In my twenties, I became enlightened enough to say, "shit happens," as a way of explaining how or why things happened. It was part resignation and part acceptance of the reality, yet there was still, even with that enlightened attitude, too much attention given to the event.

Since then, with thousands of hours of study, hundreds of books from a wide variety of teachers, I've come to a far more enlightened position when things happen. I accept full responsibility even as if I created them on purpose. This is something I never would have done in the past, but I have crossed that line into new territory.

I'll tell you why. By accepting responsibility for whatever happens in my life, and even looking at it as if I created it that way on purpose, it takes all of the excitement of focusing on the problem away. Yes, excitement.

I used to get so jacked up about the problems and look at them from every angle and figure out who I could blame and seek justice and feel victimized, share it with whomever may choose to listen, and hash theirs over with them as well. And, yes, there was a certain excitement in that because it wasn't me that created it, but I was an innocent victim of some bad luck.

Then I read things such as the quote above and much more that got me trying to see things differently. I began practicing accepting whatever happened as my own responsibility, rather than that of others. I tell you, this was so empowering! You might think the opposite would be true, but that isn't the case. By accepting responsibility I found it a total waste of time to look at the problem, and instead began seeing solutions, or making better decisions in my NOW so that these things would stop reoccurring in my life.

It is working and it is working so well that I am thrilled by it. When I stop focusing on what's wrong, I can then focus on what is right, how I can improve, what I can do about it right now and so on. It's a whole different feeling entirely. I highly recommend trying it and practicing it. I predict you would have the same result: a new found joy!

On My Wall Is A Sign That Says: "I Am Responsible For My Life, For My Feelings, And For Every Result I Get." I Got That Courtesy Of Bob Proctor Several Years Ago, And Now I See It Every Day.

Spread Some Joy Today--Joy comes from choosing it, and it also comes from making choices that feel good.

Daily Inspiration 5-16-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"You may never know

what results come of your action,

but if you do nothing

there will be no result."

-- Mahatma Gandhi

Yesterday I talked about deciding to change the world, or rather the only thing I can change: My world. So, I acted on it, and that action over time produced near and far reaching results.

I remember working with a salesman in the retail department when I was doing commercial trucks. I liked him and thought I might be of service, so I mentored him for a short time.

Many years later, he contacted me and told me what a difference I made in his life and how things I said encouraged him to move up in life and he took advantage and was doing extremely well. I was blown away just to hear from him and even more excited that he was prospering as he should.

It was then that it struck me how we can be an influence with each other not even really knowing it was happening. In this case, he called me once, but there may be many cases where they don't call, but are enjoying life better because we somehow touched them and awoke their own power within themselves.

It is such with these Daily Inspirations. Every once in a while, I hear from someone how that message was just for them on that particular day and how it moved them to make a change and effect a difference in their lives. That's powerful to me and I am honored to be whatever part in that.

he opposite is true as well. There are many people that have touched me in various ways. Some I have called, some not. Some have even been deceased for a lot of years, yet their works they left behind carry on influencing those who choose to attract it.

Today on a walk I was thinking about my first boss in the car business who died a couple years ago and how some things he shared with me have made a difference in my life even today. Or maybe it was a teacher in second or third grade, or high school. I can think of a number of them that bring fond thoughts forth.

You never know what results come from your actions, and thank God for those actions is all I have to say! Thank you one and all!

Your Actions Will Affect Others. A Good Question To Ask Ourselves Is This: In What Way?

Spread Some Joy Today--To me the joy is in loving people, encouraging them whenever I can and enjoying myself all at the same time. It is wonderful.

Daily Inspiration 5-15-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:06:00 +0000

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

-- Mahatma Gandhi

I got into the car business in 1972 as a young man and it was an interesting business and experience. I saw things that I loved like cars and trucks and driving them and owning them and helping others do the same. I saw things that I hated like sneakiness, lying, cheating, and more. Heck, back then they had microphones in every office so the manager could listen. Those were torn out by law shortly after I started, thank goodness. So I was at a quandary. I loved it and hated it at the same time. What should I do?

I chose to stay and I made it a personal mission to change the business for the better. I was a salesman, so I became a manager within just two and a half years in order to try to effect more change. Fortunately the place I worked was one of the better from what I had seen and heard, and yet I was able to make some changes that I thought were very beneficial.

But the business didn't change with me. . . and for a long time, that was frustrating to me. I ended up working at several dealerships in my career of 25 years in that arena, and no matter what I tried, no matter how good I got, the business in general was ignoring me.

Of course, it would be something like going into Las Vegas as one person, working at a card table in a casino and then trying to get all of Las Vegas to stop gambling. It was a crazy goal.

I realized that all I can effect change in is my own world. I succeeded quite nicely at that. I had many accolades from people that worked for me that I was successful at doing it well and making a positive difference. I was the change I wanted to see in the world and that was all I could do. It was all I needed to do. And, it mattered a great deal to those close enough to be influenced by that change.

Sometimes, we just start thinking in areas we have no business in, when if we would just look at ourselves and what we can do in our own world, we could have a more satisfying and loving time of it. I let go of changing the world and concentrated on changing MY world.

"Love The One You're With. . ."

Spread Some Joy Today--We can only choose joy. It isn't found outside. It is a choice from within. Choose joy today!

Daily Inspiration 5-14-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"No person was ever honored

for what he received;

honor has been the reward

for what he gave."

-- Calvin Coolidge

This Calvin Coolidge quote sort of puts giving into perspective in my opinion. Voltaire says this sentiment similarly with, "I know of no great man except those who have rendered great services to the human race."

Some people think that successful people get there on the backs of others, but Mark Caine states the facts clearly with, The successful man doesn't use others, other people use the successful man, for above all the success is of service."

Next time I'm thinking about what I'm getting, should be getting, or not getting, these quotes will hopefully bring me to my senses!

"The Measure Of A Man Is. . . In The Number Of People Whom He Serves." -- Paul D Moody

Spread Some Joy Today--Serve someone! It creates amazing joy. . . for you!

Daily Inspiration 5-13-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Sun, 13 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"Not what we have,

But what we enjoy

Constitutes our abundance."

-- J Petit-Senn

Sometimes the shortest message has the most to say. Say it with love.

Happy Mother's Day!

Spread Some Joy Today--Enjoy your day! That was easy. . .

Daily Inspiration 5-12-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Sat, 12 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"As I grow older,

I pay less attention

to what men say.

I just watch what they do."

-- Andrew Carnegie

I love a good story. I've heard plenty of them. Some of the worst employees gave me the best interview I ever had, encouraging me to believe they were the ideal person. It was always a disappointment when that didn't pan out. I hear what people are gonna do. They're gonna do this; they're gonna do that; they're committed to the project, and all that stuff.

Like one of my favorite men in history, Andrew Carnegie, builder of men and steel empires, I pay much more attention to what people do, rather than what they say they're going to do.

To keep myself on track, I take that sentiment to heart myself. I don't want to be the all talk and no show person, so I try to keep this in mind.

My other mentor, Jim Rohn. told me on a tape that he would expect "reasonable results in a reasonable time." He said, "that's why the box is so small that it only fits a number and not an excuse." I've heard hundreds of the excuses and a few are even compelling, but they aren't doing, they're telling, aren't they?

So these two ideas make a lot of sense and can help us stay real with ourselves. 1. Paying attention to what we do, rather than what we say we will do. and 2. There must be reasonable results in reasonable time.

Do Or Do Not Do. There Is No Try.

Spread Some Joy Today--Buy a friend a latte, or their favorite. It's a great treat!

Daily Inspiration 5-11-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"To be identified with your mind

is to be trapped in time:

the compulsion to live almost exclusively

through memory and anticipation."

-- Eckhart Tolle

We have a certain amount of things in life that we follow regimens in, such as, going to work at a certain time for a specified number of hours, having a list of things to do and working through them and so on. We could call these things a routine. Often, these routines become so habitual that we may even feel trapped within them. I know some people who made themselves sick in order to periodically escape them. One of them was me at one time. This is because sickness is an accepted excuse for upsetting the routine for a temporary period of time.

I think it is healthy and full of personal wisdom to periodically escape the routine on purpose and on the spur of the moment if possible without needing the crutch of sickness as an excuse. I'm not advocating making a habit of it and lose your position in place (or is that place in position?), but often enough that the habit of the routine is not feeling obligatory.

Some call it playing hookey. It's an old game where you make up your own rules while you play. I've grown fond of it, and yet I forget to pull it out and play it often enough. I think I've found a new reason to pull it out more often.

Today was a day worthy of note and exceptionally pleasing. Easily one of the most enjoyable afternoons I've had in many years. I took the afternoon off. I decided to take my wife and dog to a park with a river and stop and get a sandwich and took some chairs and vegged by the water in the shade for a couple hours. It was 85 degrees, but in the shade it was perfect with a nice breeze. We read, enjoyed the birds, geese, and other scenery that we don't normally see every day. It was so peaceful, and since it was the middle of the week, there were very few people there. It was absolutely joyful.

Then we went to a farmers market and wandered through booths of vendors, listening to tropical music in the background, with food being cooked and giving off delicious aromas. It was soothing and interesting and fun.

I was practicing what Eckhart Tolle calls living in the NOW. In fact, his book, The Power of NOW was the inspiration for today's activities and being present in them. I will have more to say about this book and that concept, but I am pleased to share that today's inspiration from Eckhart acted upon spontaneously, was enlightening and absolutely wonderful.

Sometimes We Just Need A Love Break.

Spread Some Joy Today--by being present where ever you find yourself.

Daily Inspiration 5-10-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:02:00 +0000

"Shortly after I met my mentor he asked me,

"Mr Rohn, how much money have you saved

and invested over the last six years?"

And I said, "None." He then asked,

"Who sold you on that plan?."

-- Jim Rohn

I rarely talk about money because I've been such a bad example of its proper uses. The other day I was talking about knowing what to do and not doing it, and that is how I dealt with money most all my life. I know that I have lots of company in that, but it doesn't make it feel better. Heck, even our government is a bad example.

Jim Rohn is a great mentor in money and psychology. He simplifies it to the extreme as in this very short few sentences: "The philosophy of the rich versus the poor is this: The rich invest their money and spend what is left; the poor spend their money and invest what is left." There you have it.

Also, in that statement, rich and poor have little to do with dollars and everything to do with philosophy or attitude. There are many people that are poor that earn tens of thousands of dollars a month, and more.

Here is a telling one from Jim: "I remember saying to my mentor, "If I had more money, I would have a better plan." He quickly responded, "I would suggest that if you had a better plan, you would have more money." You see, it's not the amount that counts; it's the plan that counts."

About six years ago, I was doing some training at a dealership and we were listening to a Brian Tracy set of CD's. One thing that was said that really struck home with me. He said, "you can't be great if you don't learn how to save money." Of course, those of us who were great consumers and users couldn't be bothered with that until we had a better plan which never seemed to arrive.

To make all of that so much worse, it was the borrowing for that huge home we didn't really need, but was convinced was an investment, along with the credit cards, numbers of them to get those things we needed when we didn't have any money left. The easy payments began to grow into uneasy payments and then we were serving our lifestyle instead of enjoying our lives.

I know it all too well. For a long time I was ashamed about it inside, but I've let all that go. I'm just bent on making better decisions. The other thing is about the idea of living within our means. We need to live below our means if we want to save and invest.

I've learned that someone who has learned to save and invest can have the same downfalls and lose everything just like the rest of us can. The difference is that they come right back up because they have the philosophy down and where ever they start, they start with the better philosophy. Jim made it easy and we all know the philosophy and we know it is better as well. All we have to do now, is live it.

Happiness Is NOT More Money. It Is More Freedom.

Spread Some Joy Today--Consider a better plan to take the burden off the issue of money. Seek the joy of freedom in using it instead of it using you.

Daily Inspiration 5-9-12

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Minion) — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:05:00 +0000

"A constant struggle, a ceaseless battle

to bring success from inhospitable surroundings,

is the price of all great achievements."

-- Orison Swett Marden

I'm sorry, but I have to say bunk to this statement. I love Orsion, but struggle, ceaseless battle, inhospitable surroundings is too damn much work and it is so dang iffy a proposition. No wonder people are afraid to succeed. It's hard and sweaty work. Or not.

In thinking back on my life, I find the opposite to be true. It was the times when I worked the least, and enjoyed it the most that the most success came and it came without the struggle and battle. It just showed up. Not on its own, of course, it did require activity on my part, but more than this, it required focused energy.

This morning I went for a five-mile walk and had a couple significant thoughts that I had to record. One of them was about this struggle and battle issue, or a more common way to put it is to "make it happen." The thought was how interesting the difference is between making it happen and allowing it to be. It was one of those ah-ha experiences.

Making it happen is the old style, nose to the grindstone (yuck) mentality that you just go out and find a way and make it happen, pull that success from inhospitable surroundings, escaping the jaws of death; the "it's not personal, it's just business" idea. Scares the crap out of most people.

On the other hand, to begin with gratitude for what we already have, see the beauty that is all around us, have an idea to do something and act on our inspirations that naturally come, we don't have to struggle, but relax into our success by allowing it, or accepting it.

Think about those very different approaches to what we say we want, and consider how appropriate allowing it to be is in comparison to making it happen. And, here's a simple way to understand and appreciate the difference.

When I am getting in my car to go somewhere, I mentally state my intention to have "safe, efficient and pleasant travel to and from all destinations today." Even if I'm travelling several places, I need only state it once. Then I accept it and relax in it. If I feel my habit pattern create traditional tenseness, I remind myself to relax in it.

Tense is making it happen, worrying about getting there on time, who's in front, side and behind me, looking for cops, getting antsy behind the slow driver, etc. Relaxing is full expectation of success. It is confidence and gratitude as if it is already done. Then it comes to be exactly like that.

There Is A Flow To Allow Or Swim Against. The Choice Is Our Own To Make Moment By Moment.

Spread Some Joy Today--Next time you feel tense, practice your joy in relaxing. The people around you will thank you.