|
 Free Articles |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
LIFE IS A BEACH
Every year, some time in the dead of winter, four of my best friends and I go some place warm for a few days, and take in the tropical sun at an all inclusive
Caribbean resort. I have noticed that, at many of these hotels, there are people on staff whose singular job is to make sure that the guests participate in fun activities. These staff members walk about the grounds with big smiles, coaxing guests to take part in beach volleyball, step aerobics, dance contests-- you name it. Quite
often, the guests resist.
>> Read More |
|
TIPS FOR A SMALL BUSINESS:
Software Solutions for Keeping Track of Your Contacts
Most speakers' organizations are one- or two-person operations. This means that, while you call yourself a speaker, you are also an accountant, a marketer, a promoter, and a business manager. You also have to contend with developing a web site, staying current with what is going on in your field of expertise, and,
of course, creating and maintaining that important database. With all of these extra tasks, speaking is more than a full-time job. Sometimes it feels like two or three jobs! Of course, new technologies are a big help...
>> Read More
|
| |
|
|
THE MYTH OF SUPERMAN
Seeing true “personal power” within yourself
I have a nephew who loves comics. He reads and collects them avidly. Batman, Superman, Spiderman, the X-Men; he reads them all. And he's not the only one. Nowadays
comics are big business, with complex story lines and beautiful artwork, far more integrate then when
I was a boy, and spinning off into popular movies and TV shows. It's all a lot of fun...
>> Read More
|
|
THE HEALING POWER OF LISTENING
Most people will tell you that being articulate is the key to being a great communicator. As a professional life coach, I stress to my clients that being a good listener is equally important. Still, even a coach like myself can forget, from time to time, just how powerful it is to simply listen. I received a rather pointed wake-up call on the subject not too long ago. It was during what might have otherwise been an ugly incident, but which turned out to be a great moment between two old friends.
In that conversation, I learned more about the power of listening then I have from any book...
>> Read More |
| |
|
|
YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE
Do ever get inspirational messages from friends in your e-mail? They are usually quotes from famous people saying positive things about love and life. I have a network of friends and clients who send me this stuff by the truckload every day. Cyber-space if full of clever sayings and sage advice. The problem is that we get so many of these good-will messages in our mailbox each morning that we often gloss over them and move on to the business of the day. It's a classic case of too much information. But there is one message that you should not ignore. It has been circulating the globe for a few years now, so you might have received it several times from a few different sources. It is one of the best and most important aphorisms of our time. Even if you delete every other clever quip you receive this year, save this one. And remember it well. It is from a speech given by Nelson Mandela, and it reads like this:
>> Read More
|
|
SETTING THE ROOM: The Speaker’s Toolbox
Recently I gave a workshop at the district 60 Spring Conference on “Setting the Room to Win.” The gist of my message was that knowledgeable and skilled preparation makes the difference between an adequate presentation and a truly excellent one. Every speaker needs to take the time to do serious prep-work on the space where they will be presenting, to ensure that
they and their room are working together to drive the message home. Is the right microphone available? Are you aware of the seating layout? What about staging?
Is there a riser? Is there a lectern? And, perhaps most importantly, are you prepared enough to make modifications to your presentation if necessary? What follows are a few tips to help you to be better prepared for setting up your room...
>> Read More |
| |
|
|
THE “WHY” MUST BE BG ENOUGH
Have you ever set a goal and not achieved it? What happened? Did you quit? Did you lose the passion or the drive to complete it? Did you even Try ?
I have a philosophy about setting goals. You can set any goal, big or small, short or tall, and get them all if you know why you want it
-- but, the “why” has to be big enough.
>> Read More |
|
THE STRUGGLE
people love to whine. Even in their every-day conversations, people complain a great deal. They grumble about life and other people, how they can be tedious and boring, or unpleasant and painful, and how it all is so utterly unfair. Some people will gripe every day of their lives until something happens to shake them out of this dreary state of mind. Alas, that thing is often a life-shattering tragedy. I can tell you the exact day I took
>> Read More |
| |
|
|
LIFE IS DIFFICULT;
IT DOESN'T MEAN
You Can't Enjoy The Ride!
Attitude is key to handling any challenge in life. I encourage you to read the following article written by my client and friend, whose attitude has helped him endure and overcome some insurmountable challenges.
Michael McGauley
>> Read More |
|
POWER OF PERSISTENCE
From my own personal experience, I can tell you that persistence is powerful. Following a near-fatal accident in 1989, I was told that I would not walk, so I learned to run. Today I stand before audiences to share my lessons, in the hope, that I might help others to overcome the challenges, obstacles, and adversities that they face, in both their personal and professional lives. I truly believe, that we can all achieve the goals we set, if we persist.
>> Read More |
| |
|
|
DEFINING SUCCESS FOR YOURSELF
Last week, I had a long heart-to-heart chat with a friend of mine who telephoned from New York. I’ll call her Carol, although that’s not her real name. She was not feeling altogether well about herself and was looking for someone to help her mull things over.
>> Read More
|
|
EVERYDAY HEROES
I must have seen it a dozen times over the last few years on TV commercials and during interviews. Some wealthy sports celebrity or pop music star crosses their arms and responds to their critics with that latest of media cliches: “I am not a role model.” Every time I hear it, I have to shake my head. Are you telling me that you don’t want to be a hero to all of those people who look up to you? Are you saying you don’t want to use your influence to make the world a better place for our children and us? I look at these angry, pouting media darlings who have been given so much, and who have so much to give, and I have to think, “You, my sad friend, don’t know what you are missing.”
>> Read More |
| |
|
|
FACE IT
My friend Jim has a sign over his desk that says FACE IT in bold type. I never really understood why it was there, or what it meant. When I finally asked him, he shot me one of his cagey smiles and said, “What do you think?”
I confessed that I had no idea.
He said, “You know: Face it. Look at it. Take a stab at it.
I asked, “But, what is ‘it,’ Jim?”
Again with the smile. “Fear,” he said. “Face your fear.”
>> Read More |
|
Empty Dreams Enlightened Dreams
Some years ago I was involved in a brutal car accident where a drunk driver crushed me nearly to death. It was probably the definitive moment of my life. Everything that I do now stems back from the lessons I learned during that ordeal and throughout my years in recovery. I often say to people that the accident nearly killed me, and then it saved my life.
>> Read More |
| |
|
|
GETTING THE EDGE Part 1
It is no secret that innovation is vital to ones success in the modern corporate environment. If you want to “Get the Edge,” you and your team need to take a fresh look at all aspects of your work environment and come up with new ways of looking at old ideas. This is the essence of lateral thinking, or, as it is often referred, “thinking outside of the box.”
When asked to speak on “Getting the Edge,” I often discuss new and fresh ways of looking at time and time management. These different ways of looking at time are designed to “shake up” your ideas about how you perceive your work day, and encourage you to start looking at the resources you have at your disposal in a new and invigorating way.
Here are a few commonly held myths that altogether too many people live by:
>> Read More
|
|
GETTING THE EDGE Part 2
In the first installment of this series, I discussed the need for innovative ways to conceptualize your time, and presented two myths that hold people back from making the most of their time each day. Continuing from where we left off, here is another pair of popular fallacies:
Myth#3 The longer you work, the more you get done
This is a dangerous assumption that leads to burnout, lost opportunities and, in some cases, staggering financial losses. I strongly suggest you dispose of this attitude immediately.
Hard working people don’t need to put in more hours on the job. They need to create a routine that works for them every day. It’s a bit like going to the gym, or going on a diet. Does this sound familiar to you? Someone you know wants to shed those extra pounds, so they join a gym and go nuts on the machines. They think the harder they work the better, but they have no plan. The result is their bodies are always sore and they are always tired. Soon the idea of going to the gym doesn’t interest them anymore, and finally, they quit, without ever having lost a pound. Then there are the “failed diet” people. They starve themselves, then they cheat, and then they starve themselves again, sometimes ending up in worse shape them when they started. Ask any personal trainer and they will tell you that physical fitness requires a plan. This is the same as your professional life. Get on a program and stick to it. It is the only way to best use your time.
>> Read More |
| |
|
|
MOST ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE
My friends, I have some “sobering” news. After years of personal research, I believe I have uncovered the most addictive substance in the world. This is, without a doubt, the cruelest drug of all, and you can find it almost anywhere in our culture. It’s in our schools, in our workplaces and in our homes. It ruins lives every day. It’s worse than cocaine and heroin, more pervasive than tobacco, and oddly enough, more socially tolerated than alcohol. Almost everyone has indulged in it, and many are hopelessly addicted to its insidious, menacing “buzz.” I know, because I am one of those people who struggle with this addiction, and I am taking steps to recover.
>> Read More |
|
NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE
Most people are familiar with the immortal words of Mark Twain, who said, “The only things certain in this life is death and taxes.” While some politicians might promise to do away with certain taxes, I know of no one who can guarantee that you can get out of this life alive. Those who believe in God and an Afterlife are even more likely to understand that this precious gift which is life on this earth has a time limit on it, and when its over, my friends, it is REALLY over.
>> Read More |
| |
|
|
PASSION AND COMMITMENT
There is nothing more inspiring then the true story of a man beating the odds. One of my favorites is the one about an over-the-hill short-order cook who became a multi-millionaire, and a living icon around the world. What makes this story important is that the success of this man has nothing to do with him “knowing the right people,” or being blessed with “dumb luck.” This is the story of a man who made good out of a bad situation, using passion and commitment to support one great idea.
>> Read More
|
|
THE SMALL DECISIONS COUNT !
These days, lots of experts want to give you advice on how to handle the big decisions in your life, like buying your first home, selecting a career, or deciding whether or not to have children. This is good, as we could all use a little advice about big decisions. But! What about the small decisions? How important are they? Do we need any guidance in how we handle them?
>> Read More |
| |
|
|
SOMEDAY PLAN FOR TEENS
Recently, I was asked to speak to a group of high school kids about starting your own business. I used to be intimidated at the prospect of lecturing teenagers, but I got over it after this one engagement. Anyone who thinks that our children are not ambitious or enthusiastic about life certainly hasn’t spoken to any kids lately! If anything, the youth of today are more dedicated to their own personal success than many adults. What’s more, they “get” stuff that goes over the heads of a lot of grown-ups.
>> Read More |
|
SOME DAY PLAN
Most of us use the “Someday Plan”….
“Someday I will be happy”
“Someday I will enjoy the work that I do”
“Someday I will have the money to retire, or travel…”
But does the “someday plan” really work?
If we could comb a graveyard and ask those that have gone before us whether they accomplished all that they set out to do in life, many would probably say they did not. Why? Likely because they bought into the “someday plan”.
>> Read More
|
| |
|
|
Giving Back: Life’s Greatest Opportunity
Over the Holidays you will probably hear a lot of talk about "giving on to others" and about "Peace on Earth." In fact, you may have already heard so much verbiage on these topics that you are becoming ambivalent towards them. For some of us, ideas like "Peace," "Goodwill," and "Charity' are holiday cliches that register as hollow in our hearts and minds. This is indeed a pity, but it does not come as much of a surprise.
>> Read More |
|
|
|
|
|
|
