tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68747878843154506462024-03-18T20:44:31.763-07:00Joel Weldon - Success Comes In CANS!Tap your unlimited potential by accepting responsibility for your life, seeing the opportunities all around you, setting and achieving realistic goals, and being unstoppable!Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-1902463563671805362014-06-17T12:50:00.002-07:002014-06-17T13:03:42.104-07:00My Best Friend Died Today
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The messages you’ve usually received
from me have mainly focused on Sales, Speaking, Presentation Skills, Customer
Service and Leadership. Very rarely do you get something very personal. But today
is different. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today my best friend died. He had
gifts not many others have. He was brilliant, insightful, joyful, and had an
almost photographic memory. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To say we were close is an
understatement. All of my favorite activities were his favorite activities. For
12 wonderful years the outdoors was where we both wanted to be. Didn’t matter
if we were fishing for striped bass at Lake Powell, or jet skiing into the
canyons, or going bike riding in the desert, as long as we were together. He
loved to hunt but was rarely successful. I just loved watching him and cheering
him on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His end wasn’t sudden… rather it was
a gradual loss of his physical powers. He began to get tired easily. His
eyesight dimmed and his hearing diminished. Yet we stuck together like
brothers. That’s what best friends do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The night before he died I slept
next to him, gave him a drink of water when he needed it, and held his head in
my hands, telling him how much he meant to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By now you may have guessed… my best
friend was Spencer, my beloved Golden Retriever. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss him so much already and I’ll never
forget the thousands of days we spent together, having so much fun and being
each other’s Best Friend!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who is your best friend? Who’s
always there for you? Who listens and doesn’t judge and somehow makes
everything right? Who sees you not with their eyes, but through their heart,
and would do anything for you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whether it’s your dog or a human
being that’s your best friend, go give them a hug right now. Tomorrow might be
too late! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There’s nothing better than a best
friend… unless it’s a best friend with chocolate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MAKE it a great day! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JOEL</span></div>
<br />
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Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-36582479591521774302014-03-22T09:30:00.000-07:002014-03-22T13:55:16.833-07:00"The 24-Hour Rule"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoF45fNtj2y498g53004bya8lw2I0wN2LT2iCGo77tC5rqMPo-rtzZ7V6fwcjSNGUgPyoA1O04aImfQ0f84RkcytyoLMOy-G99uUQA8nF-ebuFpNbauXrYwXuWcPfuYUaikMZLkgQt81B/s1600/CLOCK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoF45fNtj2y498g53004bya8lw2I0wN2LT2iCGo77tC5rqMPo-rtzZ7V6fwcjSNGUgPyoA1O04aImfQ0f84RkcytyoLMOy-G99uUQA8nF-ebuFpNbauXrYwXuWcPfuYUaikMZLkgQt81B/s1600/CLOCK.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How many times has this happened? You call an associate, they're not in. So you leave this brief but urgent message on their voicemail: "Hi, sorry I missed you. Need your input on LMNOP. Please call, email or text me on how you think we should proceed. Time sensitive. Thanks and make it a great day!"</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #005ac1;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sounds pretty common...</span></strong></span> You leave someone a voicemail or you <span style="font-size: 10pt;">send them an email or</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">text them and you expect a reply. But nothing happens! You wait and you wait and still nothing. So you repeat the process, and two possible things happen. Either you miraculously get your associate on the phone, <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">and</span> they make excuses, <em>"Oh, I was so busy."</em> Or, you try leaving another more urgent message. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The side effects of living and working in our fast paced world is that people are so busy they let things slide. They may be well-meaning people, they may like and respect you, yet they don't feel the need to respond as quickly as they should, for whatever reason.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #005ac1; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Here's where "The 24 Hour Rule" can help you...</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You might have heard Tom Izzo, Basketball Coach at Michigan State, give his team his 24-Hour Rule. <em>"You have 24 hours to wallow in pain and frustration over a loss, not one second more. Then you flip the switch and move on in positive action!"</em> That's good advice. Yet it's not the 24-Hour Rule we're discussing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then there's that old saying: <em>"When you're upset or angry, wait 24 hours before you react. It's like counting to ten except it's just longer, 24 hours."</em> That's a good rule, but no, that's not it either.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is <span style="color: #005ac1;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"The 24 Hour Rule"</span></strong></span> that can increase your effectiveness immeasurably: </div>
<div style="margin-left: 30px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #005ac1; font-size: 11pt;"><strong>"Respond to your customers, associates or loved ones within 24 hours, even if you don't have an answer to what they need."</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes! Get back to EVERYONE who contacts you for ANYTHING ... in 24 hours! That response can be by phone, by text message or by email. It can be as short & snappy as this:<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<ul align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>"Got your message -- buried now, will call you by Friday."</em></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>"Got your message -- impossible to respond till next week, advise!"</em></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>"Thanks for the update on LMNOP. Have no new ideas. Use your judgment -- trust you!"</em></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Think how YOU feel when your messages just plain go unanswered. Your opinion of the person you've contacted goes down and your frustration level goes up!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #005ac1;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Decide now to be a 24-hour responder!</span></strong></span> Get back to employees, customers, associates and friends in 24 hours, no matter what! No answer is better than no response. At least it shows that you can be counted on and that you're on top of things! And it shows you care!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One "little" company decided to use <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #005ac1;">"The 24 Hour Rule"</span></strong></span> and it increased their sales 21% in the first year, plus it earned them their highest JD Power rating in the company's history. That was Ford Motor Company and their CEO, Alan Mulally, was the driver of <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #005ac1;">"The 24 Hour Rule."</span></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now it's your turn. Look at all your emails and text messages, listen to your voice mails, and respond to them in 24 hours. If you have too many, send a blanket response saying: "Got your message. Will get back to you as soon as I return to the office on the 15th."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Think how frustrating it is for YOU not to hear back from people. At least now THEY will hear back from YOU! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Implement this powerful idea... and I'll look forward to hearing from you in <strong><span style="color: #005ac1; font-size: 12pt;">24 hours </span></strong>with your good results!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
MAKE it a great day!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img alt="JOEL" border="0" height="61" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.38" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs072/1102652988446/img/38.jpg" vspace="5" width="93" /> </div>
</div>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-23529813480114293842014-01-16T21:12:00.000-08:002014-01-16T21:12:26.481-08:00The Greatest Speech of the 20th Century<div style="color: #00339a;">
<span style="font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;">You probably know that even after 50 years, most
Americans still rank the speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from the
steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 as the greatest speech of the
20th Century. And you probably know that the speech is commonly called the "I
Have a Dream" speech. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;">But you probably don't know what Dr. King did during his
speech when he got to the bottom of page 4, and that the technique he used can
help you give your greatest speech or presentation! </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;">Before you find out more about this technique, let's set
the stage, since you probably weren't one of the quarter of a million people
there when Dr. King spoke live at "The March on Washington" during the Civil
Rights Movement.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;">Dr. King had a 5½-page prepared script that he planned to
deliver that day, and he did deliver it. Except that he stopped at the bottom of
page 4 and used one of the most important techniques you can possibly use when
you're speaking to almost any group on almost any subject! It's to "Trust your
gut!" That's it! </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;">Put another way, "Listen to that voice within you." Or
"Trust your instincts and what's in your heart." Your head says, "Stay with your
prepared message," but your gut, your heart, and that still, small voice within
you says, "No! Go in this new direction!" </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;">And that's exactly what happened on August 28, 1963 on
the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. </span><span style="color: #0040a7;">Here's
what Dr. King said later that year to Donald Smith, author of the book, <em>"The
Dream." </em></span></div>
<div style="color: #012db0; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<em>"I
started out reading the speech, and I read it down to a point, and just all of a
sudden I decided (the audience response was wonderful that day, you know) and
all of a sudden this thing came to me, <b>I HAVE A DREAM! </b> I just felt I
wanted to use it. I don't know why. I hadn't thought about it before that
speech."</em></div>
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00339a;">Dr. King used those four words, <strong><em>"I HAVE A
DREAM,"</em></strong> eight times in three paragraphs. That's what made his
speech so amazing, and now, over 50 years later, it's still called "The Greatest
Speech!" </span><span style="color: #00339a;">Wow! What if every time you spoke
you listened to that voice within you, and trusted it! </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00339a;">As a professional speaker for 40 years, I have used Dr.
King's technique, trusting my instincts. It has served me well and it will serve
you well too. Why? Because your audience will sense your conviction, your
sincerity and your passion! </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00339a;"><em>The next time you speak, think of Dr. King. Trust
your instincts, your feelings and that voice within that can help you give the
greatest speech or presentation of your life!</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00339a;">I too "have a dream" ... that you'll be calling or
writing me, and sharing how this idea has helped you!</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #00339a;">MAKE it a great day!</span></div>
</span><img alt="JOEL" border="0" height="55" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.54" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs145/1102652988446/img/54.jpg" vspace="5" width="84" /><span style="font-family: Constantia;"> </span></div>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-79188267630061261552014-01-04T12:30:00.000-08:002014-01-04T12:30:06.531-08:00It's Like Having a Crystal Ball for 2014....<h4 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;">When You Answer These 7 Questions....</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Here's something you can do right now to look into the future and make 2014 an AMAZING year! You're already busy, of course -- but before time gets away from you, why not take stock of your priorities for the year ahead? </span><span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><em><strong>We're not talking about New Year's Resolutions here!</strong> </em>They don't work! In fact, based on Gallup Poll findings, 24% of New Year's Resolutions are broken in the very first week! 53% are broken within six months! And get this, 92% are broken by year end! </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">As an alternative, as you visualize your plans for the year ahead, here's an exercise you can do, and I think you'll find it very helpful. The exercise consists of asking yourself these six questions about last year:</span></div>
<div style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">1. <em><strong>What was your biggest success in 2013?</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">2. <em><strong>What was the best decision you made?</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">3. <em><strong>What was the most important lesson you learned?</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">4. <em><strong>What made you the happiest?</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">5. <em><strong>Who had the greatest positive impact on you?</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">6. <em><strong>What were you most grateful for?</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Now I've got one more important question for you ... and t<span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">he answer to this question will help you see things even more clearly in 2014. <em><strong>Here's the question:</strong></em></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">7. <em><strong>If you could re-live 2013</strong></em>, <span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">knowing now everything that happened, and everything you did to make things happen the way they did, </span><strong><em>what would you do differently? </em></strong></span></div>
<div style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Answering all seven questions is like having a crystal ball! </span><span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Save these questions, and your answers to them, in a safe place. At the end of each year, answer them again. You'll find <span style="font-size: 11pt;">clarity and conviction to carry you through the year, as you accomplish whatever <em><strong>you decide</strong></em> is really important to you! </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">And forget New Year's Resolutions! Instead, make a commitment to yourself that you will <em><strong>MAKE 2014 a wonderful year</strong></em>, in spite of change, in spite of conditions, in spite of circumstances! </span></div>
<div align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Your life is your choice! What 2014 brings you is up to <strong>YOU! </strong></span><span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><strong></strong></span></div>
<div align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><strong>MAKE it a great day...every day! </strong></span></div>
<div align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<span size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><strong>JOEL</strong></span></div>
<div align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
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Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-76730264690527592102013-10-01T08:30:00.000-07:002013-10-01T09:42:38.367-07:00"DID YOU CROSS THE LINE?"<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Knowing What To Say &
Where To Say It<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Crossing the
line” is a common expression in society today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It’s heard in politics. “He
crossed the line saying we should do away with Social Security.” It’s heard on
sportscasts. “The coach crossed the line on what he just did to his players!”
And in stand-up comedy , “Oh my gosh, I’m afraid she crossed the line on that
one, about a pig, a rolling pin and her mother-in-law!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What about you?
Did you ever cross the line at a business meeting, a religious gathering or a
family event? Most of us have at some point in our lives. It taught us a lesson,
and hopefully, it didn’t do too much damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So how do you
know were the line is? No one draws it on the ground for you. You’re just
expected to know, if you’re an adult, what you can and can’t say and do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the past
there were guidelines such as: “Don’t talk about politics, religion or sex.”
What? Are you kidding? Turn on the TV or radio. Check out radio talk shows.
Surf the internet and blogs and they overflow with religion, politics and sex.
Religious groups discuss cross-gender and homosexuality. Kids in school discuss
politics. Politicians debate and discuss religion, everything from the Muslims in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>, to the Jews in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and the Christians in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region>. (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region> has
the largest Christian church in the world!) Do we not discuss these things?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What’s the
penalty for “crossing the line?” Oh, that’s simple—you offend someone! That’s
it! Someone hears what you said or sees what you did and they are offended. Big
deal! Oh, it is a big deal if you “offend” your biggest client, or your
mother-in-law. It can be a huge issue in international relations and diplomacy
if the people of one country offend another country. Wars have resulted when
people were offended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now chances are,
your crossing the line antics won’t cause a war—but it could cost you and cost
you dearly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If in reading
this you expected to find a simple answer, I say to you, “Nay-Nay.” There isn’t
a simple answer, mainly because what could be offensive to one person isn’t
offensive to another, or ironically that very same “offended” person wouldn’t
be offended in a different situation. Foul language used by a Sunday School
teacher in a religious setting could offend a 17-year-old boy. That same foul
language used by his high school football coach during practice wouldn’t raise
his eyebrow a millimeter! Oh, did I offend you with millimeter instead of a
fraction of an inch? See how vague that line location is?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now let's look at
suggestions. As a professional speaker who’s been in front of over half a
million people, the guidelines have always been that I wouldn’t do or say anything I
wouldn’t do or say if my two wonderful daughters were sitting in the front row. Nowadays, I
add to that, imagining my four grandchildren sitting there with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">That’s a very
clear line and fairly easy not to cross. You need your own line markers in the
important areas of your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Another
example—Blue Comedy. Raw and raunchy funny stuff peppered with every sexual
example imaginable and every dirty word you’ve ever heard and some you haven’t.
But it’s OK—the line is clear. That comedian has a reputation for that kind of
stuff. There is no line. Most of their audience isn’t offended. They prepared
themselves for raw and they got it. Yet, the biggest paychecks in comedy go to
“clean” comedy. Yes the “G” and “PG” rated comedians like Brian Regan, Jerry
Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>don’t get
close to that line! If they did they would “offend” with even a
tippy toe over the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What you can
also do is lighten up a bit, lower your “I’m offended” monitor. Work at being
even more tolerant. As a society we’ve gotten so uptight and so protective of
our lines. Remember it’s a land of free speech. Each one can legally say almost
anything. It’s not always easy, but think of the alternative—restrictive speech,
banned words, sensored writing and burned books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Let's just agree,
yes, there are lines not to cross. They vary in location based on time and place,
and yes, you can lower your “I’m offended” monitor just a little bit and, most
of all, work at thinking more correctly who you’re speaking with and where
their line might be. In the days when 70% of adults smoked, the thoughtful ones
would say: “Would you mind if I smoke?” They were looking for the line! When in
doubt ask! If you don’t, then you’re a stupid, self-centered, egotistical jerk! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Oops, guess I crossed the line there, because you were expecting me to
close with… </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">MAKE it a great day!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-62328733633350477972013-08-05T13:13:00.000-07:002013-08-05T13:13:25.739-07:00UNIVERSITY OF THE IMAGINATION
<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><span style="font-family: SouvenirSSK;"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><strong><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The perfect way to tap your unlimited potential</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></v:path></v:stroke></span></v:shapetype><span style="font-family: SouvenirSSK;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: SouvenirSSK;"><div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">They
learned foreign languages, designed buildings, and invented products.</span></div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">They played their favorite
sports—repeatedly hitting homeruns and scoring touchdowns.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Had they not been locked in tiny,
filthy cells, fed like animals and frequently tortured, they could have passed
for students in a special university. </span></div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And, in a way, that’s exactly what they
were: students at the “University of the Imagination”—American POW’s who used
their imaginations to transcend the horrors of North Vietnamese prisons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Remarkably, after years of incarceration, many of them came
home speaking three languages fluently. Some earned millions of dollars on
their inventions. Others, having learned to play the piano on imaginary
keyboards scratched in the dirt, or having learned to play the guitar using
crude wood slats with no strings, were accomplished musicians when they
returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Col. George Hall is representative
of these “University of the Imagination” students.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Before he was captured by the Viet
Cong, Hall was an outstanding golfer. But his imprisonment lasted seven years,
during which the closest he came to stepping on a golf course was when his bare
feet touched the mold growing on the floor of his cell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Still, he played eighteen holes of
golf every day—in his imagination!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">With his eyes closed, his
concentration focused on the courses he’d played back home, he experienced
every detail as if it were real. He could smell the freshly cut grass, feel his
hands caressing the grip of his driver as he teed off, see the ball’s soaring
trajectory against a vividly blue sky, and, later, see the ball falling gently
into the cup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Not once did he envision himself
hitting wild shots, missing easy putts, or landing in the water. His imaginary
practice was <i>perfect </i>practice. And, upon returning to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>, he
continued playing near-perfect golf. In fact, his first time on a course—just a
few weeks after his release—he entered a tournament and shot a brilliant 76,
holding to the four handicap he had established seven years earlier!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When wide-eyed spectators asked
him how he did it, Hall said, “What’s the surprise? I’ve been practicing every
day for over seven years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Practicing indeed. He had
graduated <i>summa cum laude</i> from the University of the Imagination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="Hereswhat" style="margin: 4.3pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><strong>Here’s what you can do:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="numberpara" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>Discipline yourself to habitually imagine the </i></span><i><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">best possible results. See the sales agreement being signed.
Feel the thrill of achievement as you reach your business goal and receive
recognition for a job well done. Hear the praise your loved ones will lavish on
you as they share your victory.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="numberpara" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Write your own script, just as Col. Hall did
when he played his imaginary, perfect golf games. Decide what result you want,
then imagine yourself accomplishing each step necessary to attain that result.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="numberpara" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 27pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t waste time. Use your
free moments—stuck in a traffic jam, waiting for an appointment, or just before
going to sleep—to exercise your imagination and tap more of your unlimited
potential.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
</span><div class="Subhead1" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<br /></div>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-66158617430396570432013-06-13T08:29:00.001-07:002013-06-13T08:29:25.933-07:00<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK5" style="margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" style="color: #0040a7; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">
<div align="center" style="font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">
<span color="#0067ce">
<strong>"ALLIGATOR ARMS"</strong></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span color="#0067ce"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span color="#0067ce"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>STRETCH THEM OUT, IT'S ONLY MONEY!</strong></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK16" style="margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" style="color: black; font-family: constantia, garamond, times new roman, times, serif;">
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">You're out for dinner with friends, great restaurant,
terrific food and an interesting and stimulating discussion. Your server comes
over, leaves the check and thanks you for coming in. Suddenly the mood changes.
In all the years you've been friends, they very rarely pick up the check. But
you've decided that tonight it's going to be different! It's their turn to pay
the bill and you won't pick up that check, no matter what! </span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="color: #0040a7; font-size: 11pt;">No doubt you've experienced people with
Alligator Arms. Yes, Alligator Arms! Their arms are so short they can't reach
the check or their wallet! They not only have Alligator Arms when it comes to
paying for dinner, they're just plain CHEAP about everything! Stingy and
miserly people who go to great lengths to avoid spending their own money on
almost anything! This is not a good trait. </span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="color: #0040a7; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="color: #0040a7; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="color: #0040a7; font-size: 11pt;">Now keep in mind, we're not talking
about being "financially conservative", "a wise shopper" or "thrifty." Those are
positive qualities! CHEAP is taking those positives to the extreme, and it
becomes a serious weakness that can alienate your friends, turn off your
associates and estrange you from loved ones.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="color: #0040a7; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="color: #0040a7; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Using a scale of 1 (really cheap) to 10 (really
generous), how would you rate yourself? A passing grade might be a 6 or higher.
Those friends with the Alligator Arms would be a 1, 2 or 3. And the person who
always picks up the check, puts on the parties, funds scholarships for needy
kids, pays for a neighbor's kid to go to summer camp, and slips the homeless guy
20 bucks, is a 10!</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Most people, it seems, fall between a 4 and an 8. How
about you? </span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span> </div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><i>If you're cheap in other people's eyes, you might
not even be aware of it. But trust me, those that know you, know you. </i></b></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><i></i></b></span></span> </div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0040a7;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><i>To help you improve your generosity, here are a
few suggestions to consider... </i></b></span></i></b></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<ol style="margin-top: 0in;">
<li style="color: #0040a7; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">You decide to split the check. Two couples, 4 meals, $80
bill, 50/50 split, $40 each. Don't say, "but you guys had salads and we didn't
so it should be $30 us and $50 you." For ten bucks be a sport! Next time maybe
you'll be the salad people and they won't.</span>
</span>
<li style="color: #0040a7; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The tip you leave is seen too. As you know, if things
are even just "OK" in a restaurant, 15% is the minimum, 20% is good and 25%+ is
generous. Be generous if you've gotten great service and write a thank you on
the check to your server.</span>
</span>
<li style="color: #0040a7; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Someone invites you out as their guest to play golf or
tennis at "their club." Offer to buy the balls, pay for drinks and food, or
follow up with an invite to "your club."</span>
</span>
<li style="color: #0040a7; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do you get to go boating, fishing or waterskiing on
someone else's boat? Always offer, no, insist on paying for the gas! Our family
is really into boating. We own a houseboat, fishing boat, ski boat and jet skis
and they all use gas. For 25 years we've invited friends out to be with us. Most
offer to at least pay for gas. One good friend brought me a T-shirt that said,
"Saying Thank You doesn't pay for gas!" I loved it, but probably won't wear it
because if you have to ask someone to pay, it's just not the same, is
it?</span></span></li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">OK, you get the point. Alligator Arms do not go
unnoticed! And you know the kind of people I'm talking about... </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="color: #00339a; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"He's so tight he squeaks when he walks."</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> "He's so cheap he named himself as the beneficiary of
his life insurance."<br /> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">"He's so cheap he married a skinny gal so he could buy
her a smaller ring."<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">"He's so cheap
when he got run over by a liquor truck it was the first time the drinks were on
him!"</span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="color: #00339a; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hopefully now you're laughing. But the next time you're
given a choice between being cheap or being generous, choose generous! Why?
Because it's only money! And you can always earn more money... but it's hard to
mend a relationship when you have... <strong>Alligator Arms!</strong></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="color: #00339a; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></strong></span> </div>
<div style="color: #00339a; font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">MAKE
it a great day!</span></strong></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="color: #00339a;">
<span style="font-family: calibri, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> <img alt="JOEL" border="0" height="61" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.38" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs072/1102652988446/img/38.jpg" vspace="5" width="93" /> </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-27033423230981586052013-04-02T22:35:00.000-07:002013-04-02T22:35:48.001-07:00"THIS IS AMERICA, BY GOD!"<div _mce_style="text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Pete Adkins,
President of Transamerica Agency Network, is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He
loves to use that 5-word expression, <em><strong>"This is America, by
God!"</strong> </em></span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">You too can
use that powerful, uplifting 5-word statement as a tool to help you make 2013
the best year you've ever had!</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">By "Your Best
Year" it means best in every way... physically, emotionally, financially,
spiritually, with your loved ones and in your career, that whole ball of wax
that you call your life. This should be your best year!</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Pete Adkins leads
thousands of insurance salespeople and managers, yet his job is a lot like
yours... that of "problem solver." Yes, almost every working person's job is to
solve problems, overcome obstacles, and be <em><strong>unstoppable.</strong>
</em></span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Business owners
have to figure out ways to grow their business, increase their customer service,
compete with lower priced competitors, and hire, train and retain great team
members. </span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The office support
person has to figure out ways to get the work done correctly and on time.
</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Teachers and
parents have the challenge of educating children, providing proper nutrition,
keeping them safe and instilling wholesome core values. </span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Yes, almost
everyone has to be a problem solver, and if you agree, here are two tools to
assist you in solving some of those problems.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The first one
you've seen and heard before. It's that Can of Success with the label that says:
<em><strong>"Success Comes In Cans, Not In Cannots."</strong> </em></span></div>
<div style="color: #0067ce; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0040a7;">Since 1974 people who have attended my seminars or
invested in my audio and video programs have gotten </span><span style="color: #0040a7;">one of those cans. As of today, well over half a million
of those cans sit on people's desks all across America and around the world.
</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #0067ce; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #0040a7; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">If
yours is in sight now, here's how to use it as the first step in problem
solving.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">When you're faced
with the day-to-day challenges in your life, begin by looking at that can and
asking yourself, "OK, self, based on this challenge I'm now facing, what
CAN I do?" </span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><i>"Oh, come on
Joel,"</i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> you say,
<i>"that's way too corny and simplistic in this high tech, nanosecond,
mind-numbing world we live in." </i></span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">No, it's not!
Thinking in "cans" is exactly the mind-set direction you need in order to begin
generating those brilliant solution-producing ideas.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The ordinary,
frustrated, stressed-out person sees a challenge as a difficulty, an obstacle,
and thinks, <i>"Why me? This isn't fair!"</i> Or <i>"Come on, give me a
break."</i> That's quickly followed by, <i>"I just can't do this stuff
anymore."</i> </span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Hey, stop! Stop
thinking of what you <i>can't</i> do and start focusing on what you
CAN do! Why? Because... <i><strong>"This is America, by God!"</strong></i>
</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span>And that's
Step Two... use Pete Adkins'</span> words to remind yourself that you're an
American, and that America is special, unique, a nation founded in 1776 that has
overcome problems from day one. Against all odds we gained our freedom from, at
that time, the world's most powerful country, and for over 200 years we've been
beating the odds because of people who think in CANS. </span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">As you probably
learned in grade school, the last four letters of "AMERICAN"
spell out "I CAN" ... and yes, you
CAN!</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Some people say,
"Oh come on, Joel, life's way too difficult today to be aided by corny,
simplistic statements like <em>I CAN</em> and <em>Success Comes In Cans</em>."
</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Too tough? Too
difficult? Hey, naysayers... at this very minute as I'm writing these words, I'm
sitting at my desk in the middle of a barren wasteland called a desert, miles
from water, surrounded by rugged mountains on ground that's too hard to plant
anything in! </span></div>
</span><div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Oh, wait! That was
what Scottsdale, Arizona <i>used to be like</i> before an American, Jack
Swilling, with an "I CAN" attitude, decided to create a new
agriculture area by bringing water to the desert. </span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Once he did that,
Winfield Scott bought 620 acres for $2.50 per acre and began building a town
that soon became a city... a city that now sells an acre of land for a million
dollars! How did that happen? By saying <i>"It can't be done? It won't work?
It's impossible? It's too hard?" </i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">No! <i><strong>This is
America, by God!</strong> </i>And in America you can do amazing things! </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">As an American,
you know exactly what makes us special. Our creativity, ingenuity and
productivity. Our generosity, freedom of religion, entrepreneurial spirit, the
melting pot of races and cultures, and the sheer beauty of our land. </span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Yes, you can go on
and on about why America is great... but is it great for you, right now? If it's
not and those challenges, obstacles and problems have got you down, <i>decide
now to think in CANS</i> and then take action, because... <i><strong>This is
America, by God!</strong></i></span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">How about that
last word of Pete's statement... God! Do you believe in God... a supreme
being, more powerful and intelligent than man? Not everyone does. The American
Atheistic Organization has 2200 members and thousands more who call themselves
atheists. That's OK because... <i><strong>This is America, by God!</strong>
</i></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And by most
accounts, the vast majority of Americans do believe in God. </span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">So if you do, add
a powerful addition to "I CAN" and "This is
America" ... because now you have God helping you solve your problems!
Oh, what a powerful addition that can be in these challenging times!</span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Decide right now,
this minute, to begin each battle you face with an "I CAN"
attitude ... followed by "This is America" ... and then
<em>bring God with you! </em></span></div>
<div style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">You CAN make 2013
your best year ever! </span></div>
</span>
<div _mce_style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; color: #0040a7;" style="color: #0040a7; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;">
<span _mce_style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;" style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><em><img _mce_src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs072/1102652988446/img/38.jpg" alt="JOEL" border="0" height="61" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.38" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs072/1102652988446/img/38.jpg" vspace="5" width="93" /></em> </span></div>
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-77478508106929644692013-03-21T16:50:00.000-07:002013-04-02T13:31:54.479-07:00<div align="center" style="color: #004db4; font-family: arial; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<strong>Your ability to communicate with IMPACT<br />is no longer
just an option. <br />It's a necessity!</strong></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #004db4; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", " helvetica", " sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><em>In
today's fast moving and competitive environment, effective communication skills
are necessary in almost every field of endeavor. </em></strong></span></div>
<div style="color: #004db4; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
Studies
have found that highly effective communicators <em><strong>earn 73%
more</strong></em> than average communicators, and they advance 3.6 times
faster in their organization! </div>
<div style="color: #004db4; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
You
CAN be an even more effective communicator! Your ideas CAN be organized and
impacting! Your listeners CAN be responsive! You CAN speak with calmness and
confidence! How do I know that? Because speaking
before a group is a <em><strong>learned skill</strong></em>, and my
career of over three decades as an award-winning professional speaker is proof
of that! </div>
<div style="color: #004db4; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
Join
me in Scottsdale AZ at m<span style="font-weight: normal;">y upcoming
...</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 18pt;"><strong>"Speak With
Impact"</strong></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "arial", " helvetica", " sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>FULL
DAY Boot Camp</strong>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial", " helvetica", " sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial", " helvetica", " sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><div>
<span style="font-family: "arial", " helvetica", " sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Wednesday,
April 10, 2013<sup> </sup></strong></span>
</div>
</span><br /></div>
<div align="center">
<div align="center" style="color: #004db4; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", " helvetica", " sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"><strong>7:30am
- 5:00pm </strong></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div align="justify" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-size: 11pt;">
<div>
I'm going to share with you the secrets of my proven approach to successful
speaking... all the insights and techniques I've gleaned from over 38 years on
the platform! <span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";">Brilliant ways to organize your ideas
for maximum impact. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The key to
establishing rapport with your audience. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Confidence-building
ways to prepare for your presentation. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">How to create a
powerful introduction that sets up your message. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Inside secrets for
controlling your time as you speak.</span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Amazing ways to
develop checklists so you forget nothing. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The keys to getting
audience participation. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Creative ways to
bring facts and statistics to life. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">A little known way
to use notes, and not memorize your speech. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">How to incorporate
humor, even if you're not a funny person. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Exciting ways to use
visual aids effectively. </span>
<li align="left" style="color: #004db4; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Unique ways to close
with impact, so your audience won't forget
you! </span> <em></em><em> </em></li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
You're
going to leave my FULL-DAY Session with a 3-ring binder FILLED with over 120
pages of
<strong><em>priceless</em></strong> material! </div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<br />
<div style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b><i>Here's what
other students have said ...</i></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 12pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";">"With over 50 branches in eight
states, I attend over 100 of our company meetings a year and I personally speak
at about 30 of them. Not a meeting goes by that I don't think of and use some
technique Joel Weldon has taught me! </span></div>
<div align="right" style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Larry Cox,
Director of Sales<br />SUNSTATE EQUIPMENT CO.</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";">"I just recently spoke to 500 people
for one hour and I have never been more comfortable! Not only did I hit a home
run, I hit it out of the ball park! I had humor, was right on time and followed
Joel's model of the Ten Building Blocks to the letter. I was so well prepared,
it was all planned and then I executed it perfectly. I was
thrilled!"</span><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";"> </span></div>
<div align="right" style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Gary Bushkin,
CEO<br />National Curriculum & Training Institute, Inc.</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";">"Joel has built a system for
organizing your ideas, and then delivering them, that's fool proof! It's
guaranteed to work. I was a pretty good speaker to begin with - and I'm using
every one of his ideas to get even better!"</span></div>
<div align="right" style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Brandon Ames,
President/CEO<br />Able Info Technologies</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";">"I always thought I was good in front
of a group. Now I know the difference and now I'm so much more prepared, focused
on the audience and connected to my listeners, thanks to Joel's "Speak With
Impact" course. If you want to get even better as a company leader, Joel Weldon
is the one who can help you build your skills!"</span></div>
<div align="right" style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Noel Jordan,
President & CEO</i></span></div>
<div align="right" style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><i>SkipperLiner
Industries</i></span>
<br />
<div align="center" style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #004db4; font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: small; font-style: normal;"> </span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #004db4; font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><strong><strong> </strong></strong></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #004db4; font-family: "arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><strong><strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; margin: 0px;"><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;">EARLY BIRD <em>Special</em> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal;">(before MARCH 30th)</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><em> = <br />$1100 per
person </em></span></strong></em></strong></strong></span></strong></strong></span></div>
<div align="center" style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
<span bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">
</span><br />
<span bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><div>
<div align="center" style="color: #d52c2a; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>(After MARCH 30th =
$1500 per person) </strong></span></div>
<div align="center" style="color: #d52c2a; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #004db4; font-style: normal;"><strong> </strong></span></div>
<div align="center" style="color: #d52c2a; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">
<div align="center" style="color: #004db4; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #004db4; font-style: normal;"><strong>Space is
limited to 10 participants</strong></span> </div>
</div>
<div align="center" style="color: #d52c2a; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #004db4; font-style: normal;"><strong> </strong></span></div>
<div align="center" style="color: #d52c2a; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #004db4; font-style: normal;"><strong>CALL NOW
TO REGISTER</strong></span><span style="color: #004db4;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" style="color: #d52c2a; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #d52c2a;"><strong>1-800-852-8572</strong></span></div>
</div>
</span><br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<br /></div>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-43656879712905426132013-01-30T15:15:00.000-08:002013-01-30T15:15:02.489-08:00Change Comes Bearing You Gifts!<br /><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK16" style="margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left"><div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
Birthdays,
anniversaries and holiday times all bring you gifts... an I-pad, a watch, a
ring, or a bracelet. Whatever gift you receive, it will pale in comparison to
the gift you can give yourself... when you seek personal improvement!</div>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
</div>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
Your
ability to speak with even more impact and effectiveness will be a priceless
gift to yourself. How do you get this gift?? Decide to step out of your comfort
zone in order to improve some of the things you're now doing. </div>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
</div>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
Think
of this...</div>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<em style="color: #af2101; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><strong><br /></strong></em></div>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<em style="color: #af2101; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><strong>"To get what you've never had, you must do what you've
never done!"</strong></em></div>
<div style="color: #0067ce; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
</div>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
So
what do you want to happen when you speak?</div>
<ul>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To
be even more relaxed and confident?
</li>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To
be even more prepared?
</li>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To
be even more humorous?
</li>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To
be even more memorable?</li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
Improvement
begins by first identifying exactly what it is you want to do better. Let's just
say you want to be even more humorous when you speak. Where do you begin?</div>
<ul>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Watch
funny T.V. shows and study their humor.
</li>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Watch
funny movies... there are thousands.
</li>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Go
to comedy clubs.
</li>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Buy
comedy CDs and books.
</li>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Write
down everything that makes you laugh.
</li>
<li style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Start
practicing on your family, friends, associates and even strangers. Tell
something funny you've heard or read at least 7 to 21 times before you make it
part of your presentation! </li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #000d74;">
<div style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hey, is this sounding like a lot of
work? Yes, of course it is! The prize is in direct proportion to the price! Your
rewards (being more humorous) will be in direct proportion to your
effort. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think funny!
Practice funny! And you'll BE funny! You CAN step out of your comfort zone and
receive the gifts that await you!!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #000d74;">
<strong style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"> </strong></div>
<div style="color: #002a6b;">
<strong style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">MAKE
it a great day!</strong></div>
<div style="color: #002a6b; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<strong>JOEL</strong> </div>
<div style="color: #0067ce; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #236bac; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva;">P.S.
Being an AMAZING communicator is not a natural gift you're born with! I know,
from my decades of experience coaching hundreds of executives, managers and
super salespeople, that it's a</span> <span style="color: #af2101;"><strong>LEARNED SKILL! </strong></span><span style="color: #000d74; font-size: 10pt;">And no matter how good you are now, with
my one-on-one </span><span style="color: #000d74; font-size: 10pt;">speech </span><span style="color: #000d74; font-size: 10pt;">coaching (whether in person or by
phone), you'll have an eye-opening experience that will almost instantly take
your speaking skills and presentation effectiveness to a whole new, more
powerful level!</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000d74; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333;">
</div>
<div style="color: #af2101;">
<em><strong><em><strong>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">You're goi</span>ng to reap tremendous
benefits!</div>
</strong></em></strong></em>
<div style="color: #0067ce;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="color: #000d74; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" style="color: #000d74; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">
I'm going to share with you dozens of little known strategies, all
the wisdom I've gleaned from over 37 years as an award winning professional
speaker. <span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let
me help you craft an impacting message specifically for your audience, and to
deliver it with calmness and confidence!</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="color: #000d74; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="color: #000d74; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #236bac; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #a50c00; font-size: 11pt;">
<em><strong>You'll be amazed and
delighted to discover how much </strong></em><em><strong>
<div>
immediate impr<span style="color: #a52418;">ove</span>ment there will be in
your </div>
<div>
<em>very next presentation! </em></div>
</strong></em></div>
<div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
</span></div>
<div style="color: #000d74; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sound good? Call today... </div>
<div>
<span style="color: #af2101; font-size: 12pt;"><strong style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">1-800-852-8572 </strong></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">f</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">or
more information. </span></div>
</div>
</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-68702204995013536832012-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:002012-11-28T06:25:09.080-08:00Gratitude Isn't Just for Thanksgiving Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Hurricane Sandy totally destroyed her Breezy Point, New
York home and she lost everything she owned. A roadside bomb in Iraq blew off both his
legs and he lost his mobility. The lingering recession took the middle aged couple’s
jobs, their home, their savings, and forced them to go bankrupt.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">No doubt you’ve seen similar stories on TV, read
about them in newspapers and magazines, and most likely you know people who in
the past year have experienced devastating loss. You too may have lost
something this past year. It might have been a major loss, or something as
minor as your car keys, a few golf balls or a tooth or two. But whatever it is you’d
classify as a loss, you can still be grateful.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>Gratitude is the ability to focus on what you have, </em></strong></span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>not on what you’ve lost!</em></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The woman on national TV, standing in front of her
devastated Breezy Point home, was so filled with gratitude! She stood strong
and smiled while expressing to the interviewer how grateful she was. Her family
members were all alive, she said. Her neighbors had rescued them from the
rising flood waters and got them to safety. Others were taking care of her now.
“Oh,” she said over and over again, “I have so much to be grateful for!” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>Yes, gratitude is your ability to focus on what you
have, </em></strong></span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>not on what you’ve lost!</em></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The soldier with no legs was shown in his
wheelchair throwing a football to his young sons. He too looked into the TV
camera, smiled broadly and expressed sincere gratitude to his fellow Marines
who pulled him out of his blown up hum-vee, to the medics who stopped the
bleeding, and to the doctor who saved his life. He said he was so grateful to
be able to see his wife and kids again and to be there as his boys were growing
up. “I lost my legs, but I still have my throwing arm. I can still be a Dad!” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>Yes, gratitude is your ability to focus on what you
have, <br />not on what you’ve lost!</em></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">And finally, that middle aged couple talking to a
CNN reporter, spoke of their gratitude for the tiny apartment they now called
home, for the used car a friend loaned them and for the part-time jobs they were
able to find. Although it wasn’t even close to what they used to have, they
both were so grateful. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>So how about you?<br />What do you now have that fills
you with gratitude?</em></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Cicero, the wise Roman philosopher, said in 40
B.C., “Gratitude is not only the greatest of all virtues, but the parent of all
others!”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>How wise he was, and his words are still
so applicable today.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 40.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here’s what you can do.</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 22.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt left 40.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Just for the next 30
days, as you’re brushing your teeth (or tooth) in the morning, begin the day by
looking in the mirror and thinking of what you can be grateful for.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 22.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt left 40.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Then say out loud … so only
you can hear it, “Today I’m grateful for …” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 22.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 22.5pt left 40.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">At the end of 30 days
see how this simple little exercise has made you feel. If it has helped you in
a positive way, keep doing it! If not, then stop the gratitude expressions and
start focusing instead on all the things you’ve lost … and see how that makes
you feel!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Someone I know writes something in her
journal every day that she’s grateful for. Her life is filled with wonderful
things, amazing people and extraordinary experiences. She’s proved to herself
that gratitude isn’t just for Thanksgiving Day. It’s for every day!</span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>You CAN Make it a </em>GRATEFUL <em>day!</em></strong></span></span></div>
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Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-81314862067979241782012-11-13T05:52:00.000-08:002012-11-20T13:09:17.481-08:00It's Never Too Late & You're Never Too Old<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“It’s never too late,
and you’re never too old,”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> claimed world-famous physical fitness legend Jack
LaLanne, and before anyone could say “Prove it, Jack!” he did. He was still
doing strenuous daily workouts well into his nineties.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">On his 65th
birthday—the age at which many people retire and begin taking life even easier
than before—Jack performed a feat that you might have thought only a young
Olympian would attempt: he swam across <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Ashhinoko</st1:placename> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></st1:place> while towing 65 boats
containing a total of 6,500 pounds of wood pulp!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sound pretty amazing? Well, what do you think
of this? To celebrate his 70th birthday, Jack dove into 60º water off <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Long Beach</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>
and swam one mile while towing 70 boats containing a total of 70 people. It
took him 2½ hours to complete the task, and—believe it or not—his hands and
feet were bound together!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">At the age of 81 as
he released a new fitness video, <i>Forever Young,</i> he said, <i>“I feel no
different now than when I was 21. I’m in as good shape now as I was back then!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Amazing? Yes,
especially when you consider how feeble many people are by then. But perhaps it
really isn’t amazing if you believe, as Jack LaLanne does, that this is what <b><i>all</i></b><i> </i>people are capable
of. <b><i>You
included!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Here’s what you can do:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> 1. <i>Set goals for yourself, so you don’t get
old! Goals keep you looking ahead, rather than back.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> 2. <i>Tighten your stomach muscles at red lights.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> 3. <i>Run in place as you talk on the phone.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">4.<i> Eat less and less, not more and more. Choose
healthier foods and snacks.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> 5.<i> Buy clothes one size too small. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> 6.<i> Collect pictures of super-fit people.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> 7.<i> Do some physical activity every day. Walk up
five flights of stairs. Bike ride to work or shopping. Jog home from work. Swim for twenty minutes. Take up a new sport.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> 8.<i> Don’t grow old! Age is a state of mind, and
you’re only as old as you think you are. <br />
Ask yourself, “How old would I be if I didn’t know how old I was?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> 9.</span><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"> Make a commitment today, right now, to attain,
and then maintain, a high level of physical fitness. <b>It’s never too late, and you’re never too old!</b></span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br /></div>
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<br />Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-61759980813497193502012-10-23T19:52:00.003-07:002012-10-23T19:52:41.815-07:00The Secret of "Pandora's Hope"<br />
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">You've probably heard the term "Pandora's Box" used as an expression. "Oh, it was as if he had opened Pandora's Box!" meaning to unwittingly unleash chaos or misery upon yourself or others.</span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">Maybe you've actually done that very thing. You think something could be good, and then discover it's the exact opposite. Like the family that gets their young kids their first pet -- a six-month-old mutt from the pound that looks so cute and lovable -- only to find three months later, they've opened "Pandora's Box" and now have a nine-month-old 90-pound monster destroying their furniture, shoes and even chewing on the walls.</span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">Chaos is a word often used to describe many people's lives today. Here's where Pandora's Box can help you. Yes, help you through the toughest of times, the biggest of challenges and the mind-numbing effects of change! How?</span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">First you need to go back to the Greek mythology that created the story of Pandora's Box.</span> </span><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">Here's the short version: </span><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">The Greeks considered Pandora to be the first woman on earth. Zeus had her created and he told Pandora not to open a special "jar" she was given. Overcome by curiosity, she opened it. Upon doing so, she released all the evils it contained into the world. This myth is supposed to explain why evil exists in the world, and probably to blame woman for it!</span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">When Pandora opened that jar and released all the evils into the world, she managed to save one thing inside -- <span style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt;">HOPE</span>. Oh, those wise Greeks knew that what the world needed to cope with and overcome evil was hope! </span><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">HOPE is defined as "a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life."</span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">You need hope in your life right now, today, this very minute! Whoever you are, whatever your age, your career or your circumstances, there is always HOPE. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt;">When the world says to you, "Give up, you can't win," HOPE whispers in your ear, <em>"You can do it! Give it one more try, and if that's not enough, give it one more again."</em></span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">My next door neighbor for many years was an F-105 pilot in the Viet Nam war. Tom Browning's plane was shot down, he was captured by the Viet Cong and held as a prisoner of war for over six years. He was held at the same time as Sen. John McCain and James Stockdale (who ran for Vice President in 1992). All three of these men, along with so many others, endured unimaginable torture, deprivation and hardship.</span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">Tom, who is now a Retired Brigadier General, explained that one of the main reasons they were able to survive their ordeal was that they never gave up the HOPE that they would be freed. The survivors had proved that h</span><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">ope is what will keep you going in the times of your life when you feel lost, helpless and discouraged.</span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">Shakespeare wrote, "The miserable have no other medicine, but only hope." Hopefully you're not miserable! But you may at times become discouraged and pessimistic, and feel, "What's the use?" This is the time to think of Pandora's Box. In spite of all the evils she released into the world, <span style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt;">HOPE</span> remained safe inside the box, so it could help you in these challenging times.</span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">I hope this gives YOU hope!</span></div>
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<span color="#000000" style="color: black;">MAKE it a great day!</span></div>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-89046174532201120262012-08-22T10:10:00.004-07:002012-08-22T10:13:03.527-07:00Being Responsible "To" Not "For"<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Once You’ve Done Your Part, You’ll Rest Easy</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #666666;">You care about
others! You want to help and serve others! You know that if you help others
achieve what they want to achieve then you in turn will be rewarded—both in
tangible and intangible ways. If that’s you, then your desire to help others
might sometimes cause you to feel stressed out, worried and frustrated because
those you’re attempting to help don’t always follow your advice. They often resist
doing the things you know they should be doing for their own good. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #666666;">The solution is to adopt
the attitude and mindset of being <b>“responsible
to”</b> not <b>“for.”</b> There’s a huge
difference between those two responsibilities! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #666666;">Here’s an example: If
you’re the parent of a young child, you’re responsible both <b>“to”</b> and <b>“for.”</b> That’s right. You’re responsible <b>“to”</b> provide your little one with food, clothing, shelter, love and
a safe environment. You’re also responsible <b>“for”</b> their actions and behaviors until they grow up. But once they’ve
grown up, the <b>“for”</b> goes away and
only the <b>“to”</b> remains. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #666666;">My wife Judy and I
are the parents of two wonderful daughters. They’re married women with children
of their own. We’re not responsible <b>“for”</b>
them anymore! However, the responsible <b>“to”</b>
them is still there and will always be there! We are responsible <b>“to”</b> give them love and encouragement, and
our advice and honest input when asked for it. But what they do with that input
is <b><i>their</i></b>
responsibility, not ours. That way we feel comfortable, knowing we did our
part—the responsible <b>“to”</b> part. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #666666;">You can too, both
in your personal and professional life. For example, in your business career,
here are some things you’d be <b><i>responsible to be doing:<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #666666;">Being prepared<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #666666;">Telling the truth<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #666666;">Putting your customer first<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #666666;">Following through<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #666666;">Being on time<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #666666;">Being a team player<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #666666;">Bringing passion & enthusiasm<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #666666;">Expressing gratitude<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">OK, you get the
point. There are lots more we can name: </span><span style="color: #7f7f7f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">In Selling</span></i></b><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">as the sales
professional, you’re responsible <b>“to”</b>
your customer—to sell what your prospect/customer needs or wants at a fair
price and <b>“to” </b>provide follow-up
service after the sale. Yes, you show value, you close and you ask for the
decision…but you’re not responsible <b>“for”</b>
that decision—they are!</span><span style="color: #7f7f7f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">In Leadership</span></i></b><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 128;">, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">as the leader,
you’re responsible <b>“to”</b> your team—to
provide the tools, equipment and training they need to get their job done
safely and efficiently. You’re responsible <b>“to”</b>
reward them, praise them and encourage them. But you’re not responsible <b>“for”</b> their happiness, their sense of
accomplishment or their job satisfaction—<b><i>they are!</i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">In Speaking</span></i></b><span style="color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">as the presenter,
you’re responsible <b>“to”</b> your
audience—responsible <b>“to</b>” be
prepared, energized, focused on their needs, with a message that can help them.
But you’re not responsible <b>“for”</b> how
your audience members put those ideas into action!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">Decide now to put more
of your effort and energy into the responsible <b>“to”</b> portion and less into the <b>“for.”</b>
You’ll sleep better at night and enjoy
life so much more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #444444;">I was responsible <b>“to”</b> share this timeless truth with you,
and now that I’ve done my part, you’re responsible <b>“for”</b> its implementation in your life and your career!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>MAKE it a great day!</b></span><span style="color: #7f7f7f;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</xml><![endif]--></span>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-18205822359376312622012-03-22T20:07:00.000-07:002013-01-18T10:20:01.431-08:00A True Story of "Hippies" to "Helping Heroes"<div _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;" align="left" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span _mce_style="font-size: 12pt; color: #0067ce;" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><em><strong>Selling is helping! </strong></em></span><span _mce_style="text-align: justify; color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">It really is for some people. They have a sincere desire to use their products and services to help their customers improve something in their life, whatever that something may be. Here's a true story that shows how you can be as successful as you decide to be... especially if you embrace the <strong>"Selling is helping"</strong>philosophy. </span><span _mce_style="text-align: justify; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div _mce_style="text-align: left;" align="left" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">A chance look at a Facebook page recently triggered a memory in my mind going back to 1976.</span></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Imagine it's 1976 and you're my invisible partner. We drive to a tiny store in what's called "the river bottom" a dumpy area between south Scottsdale and north Tempe, AZ. Two hippie looking young men in sandals greet us at the door under their sign "The Byte Shop." </span><span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">One of their products is a computer hobby kit. Yes, computers were being built by hobbyists in those days. They were not yet going out to the general public...it was mostly just the "geeks." </span><span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">The owners of "The Byte Shop", Alan Hald and Jeff McKeever, were both visionaries. Oh, back then they weren't called that-they were most likely called "Hippie Geeks" or "Nerds." </span></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">As you observe this first meeting of Alan, Jeff and myself, you too notice what was catching my attention-their passion and their commitment to succeed. What they wanted was to learn to sell even better. They wanted me to come in and do sales meetings for them and their handful of employees. They told me that if they could sell better they could help more people see the benefits of computers.</span></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Since my approach has always been "selling is helping" we clicked. We agreed on a fee and a plan, and I immediately began to help them help their customers. We did lots of little meetings in that tiny river bottom store-and Alan and Jeff's little business began to experience amazing growth. Four years later they opened their first real store in Paradise Valley Mall. </span></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">They renamed "The Byte Shop" to "MicroAge", took the company public in 1995, and had 6,000 employees doing over $6 billion in annual sales as a Fortune 500 company! </span><span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">Because of their passion for helping their customers understand the computer and its potential impact on their customers' lives, they were driven to succeed.</span></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">Now how about you? How much "helping" do you have built in to your business? Are you a believer that when you sell your products and services you're helping the customer? </span></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">It's true, because when your prospects have a need or want that your products and services fill, you're helping them when you help them buy it.</span></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">How big do you want to grow? How much money do you want to earn? And more importantly... </span><span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><em _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><strong>How many people do you want to help?</strong></em></span></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div _mce_style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span _mce_style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Here's what you can do... </strong></span><span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">See selling as helping, even if it's a hassle sometimes. </span><span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">Be passionate about your </span><span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">commitment to help your customers solve their needs and wants with your products and services, and you'll be </span><span _mce_style="color: #000000; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left;">a <em><strong>helping hero</strong></em> in your customer's eyes! </span></div>
</div>
Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-27255125127436018542012-03-15T05:46:00.000-07:002012-03-15T05:46:15.511-07:003 Steps to Better Sales Meetings<span _mce_style="font-size: 12pt;" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><em><strong>"Oh, No! Not Another Meeting!"</strong></em></span><span color="#0067ce" size="5" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><br />
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">Think back to the last sales meeting you attended as a sales professional. It could have been as recent as today. Or, if you're now a sales manager or executive, it could have been decades ago that you sat in a sales meeting as a participant. <span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">In either case, you're probably very familiar with what happens. Either the meeting is terrible, or it's amazing! </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">A recent survey by BusinessMeetings.com reported these statistics:</span></div><ul style="font-size: 13px;"><li>Only 3.8% of respondents rated their sales meetings as "excellent."</li>
<li>Over 79% said their meetings were not even worth attending!</li>
</ul><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 12pt;" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>How would your sales meetings rate?</strong></em></span></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">In my professional speaking career and work as an executive speech coach and meeting consultant, I've attended over 2800 sales meetings. Sadly my experience mirrors the survey results above. Why are so many sales meetings generating the cry, <em>"Oh no, not another sales meeting!?"</em> <span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">If you're a sales manager or an executive in charge of putting on meetings of any kind - sales meetings, employee meetings or management meetings - I can help you make them amazing! I've been doing it successfully for many years and now it's become one of my specialties. For example, here are three things you can do immediately. </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">And if you're a Sales Professional, you can pass these ideas on to your Sales Manager. Here they are:</span></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><i>First idea, TLA ... </i></b></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">That's an acronym for <strong>Think Like the Audience!</strong> Don't think like a sales manager. Think like the people in the seats. Management sees the big picture and thinks long term. Salespeople think, <em>"What can I do today to make a sale?" </em></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">One client had me attend their sales meeting prior to helping them improve. It was shocking to watch their CEO spend 27 minutes explaining the challenges of a pending IPO scheduled for five months down the road, and then the intricacies of the stock price, and then close with his passionate plea to cut back on their expense accounts. <span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">It was shocking because the 287 salespeople in this company didn't have stock options! An IPO was about as important to them as the weather forecast for five months down the road. And "expense account cutting" is the euphemism salespeople interpret as "cut back on spending to build relationships with your best customers and prospects."</span></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">Now do the math. Twenty seven minutes on the 4-hour agenda. Not that much, right? Hold on. You have to look at those 27 minutes times 287 salespeople! Now you have 7,749 minutes or 129 hours of potential selling time. Wow, that's a lot of wasted time! <span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Next time you put an item on your agenda, multiply it by the number of people in the seats, and ask yourself this one simple question: </span><em _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Will this help these people increase their sales?"</em></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 12pt;" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>Here's your second idea... Increase/Decrease</strong></em></span></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">What can you do that will decrease or increase something now being done, that in the mind of your sales team, they will see as helping them sell even more? Can y<span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">ou decrease paperwork, reports, inventory shortages, the number of emails you send? You know this, but it's often forgotten that the only real selling time a sales pro has that counts is when they are face-to-face or voice-to-voice with a qualified prospect. Anything you can do to decrease activities that don't support that, you'll be a hero in their eyes. </span></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"> </div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">Once you've decreased stuff, switch mental gears and think "increase." What can you bring to your next sales meeting that increases field training, building of sales skills, prospecting skills, product knowledge, awareness of marketing shifts, self-motivation ideas, presentation skills, follow-up effectiveness, customer service, etc! If it doesn't help them sell more, forget it!</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 12pt;" style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>And your third idea... Seek feedback</strong></em></span> </div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">Why? Because <span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">without getting feedback, </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">even if you use TLA, and give them tools and ideas to increase sales, you'll never know how effective you really were. </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Oh, I know you're thinking, </span><em _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">"We do send out an email after the meeting."</em><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;"> Right, and if you're fortunate you'll get 35% back. You need 100% feedback and you can get it! </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Here's how you do it. </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Let's start with simplest first and move to ideal last. </span></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">The simplest way is to provide a blank index card and prior to closing your sales meeting just say this: </span><em _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">"This meeting was designed to (state your objective). Your feedback is vital to helping make our next meeting even better. Please take that blank 3x5 card and write at the top your job title: Sales - Marketing - Support - Management, etc. No names. Below your title just write a number from 1 Low to 10 High, on how helpful this meeting was to you to increase your sales. Be totally honest. I really want to know! Now please pass the cards to the center aisle and my helpers will pick them up."</em></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">If you will do this you will have a baseline for your next sales meeting. It's so simple isn't it? OK, if you just agreed, how about doing the next step... adding two more questions for the 3x5 index card. </div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><em>"Everyone please take that blank index card you have and write four things on it. </em></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">#1<em> - Your job title. </em></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">#2<em> - 1-Low to 10-High on the overall meeting."</em> <br />
<span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Just like we said earlier, but now you add these two questions: </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">#3 -<em> "In just a very few words, what's one thing we could have done to make this sales meeting even better for you? Please skip requests for free beer or go to Maui. </em></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">#4<em> - What was the best part of this sales meeting? Your best take-away? Again, in just a few words. I'll know what you mean!"</em></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">If you did this you would have such valuable information to help you improve, wouldn't you? </div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"> </div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><em><strong><span _mce_style="font-size: 12pt;" style="font-size: 12pt;">OK, if you just agreed, here's the ideal way to get feedback.</span></strong></em> Have a pre-printed card with those four questions on the card: Job Title, 1 to 10 Overall Meeting, What to Improve and What was the Best? Take all those responses and summarize them by category. The numerical responses make it easy to average out. Get a final average score, let's say 7.16. OK, that's your beginning number. Your goal for the next meeting? 8.0+. <span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Use the responses to the last two questions to structure the content of your next meeting. And w</span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">hat if your attendees think the meeting stunk? At least you'll know what the stinking parts are, and you can fix them! Don't fear negative feedback! Use it to keep improving! </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Since 1974 almost every audience I've been paid to speak for (and that's over 2800 of them) I've used a similar feedback card. It's the best idea I've ever implemented in my own business.</span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: justify;" align="justify" style="font-size: 13px;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">So, is that all there is? No, it's really just the beginning! If this has made sense to you, let me give you a list of many other specific ways I can help you make your Sales Meetings AMAZING! </span><span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">For example, I'll help you...</span></div><ul style="font-size: 13px;"><li>Create powerful meeting themes.</li>
<li _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Add energy-boosting humor.</li>
<li _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Generate audience participation.</li>
<li _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Use a pre-assignment to build involvement & positive anticipation.</li>
<li _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Make your awards & recognitions more meaningful.</li>
<li _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Create exciting PowerPoint visuals using a little known technique I've developed.</li>
<li _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Use stories to drive home your message.</li>
<li _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Stay on time and end early.</li>
<li _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;">Follow-up after the meeting is over.</li>
</ul><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">PLUS, you'll learn...</div><ul style="font-size: 13px;"><li>A way to use your notes that's totally unique. (It's my invention.)</li>
<li>Five keys for using the room set-up to give you dynamic results.</li>
<li>Two things you MUST know to read your audience's receptivity.</li>
<li>How Bill Murray's movie "Groundhog Day" can change your career forever.</li>
</ul><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">Contact me to find out EVEN MORE about tools, techniques and tactics that can help you... and let's get started!</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="font-size: 13px;">MAKE it a great day!</div>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-67166422195705889272012-01-22T09:51:00.000-08:002012-01-24T10:57:31.743-08:00NOW... it's an unrepeatable miracle<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>NOW is a miracle.</strong> It’s also unrepeatable. But most people spend 58 minutes of every hour living somewhere other than right here, right now. They look backwards and live in the past, regretting lost joys and feeling guilt for things done badly—both of which are useless and debilitating activities. Or, they live in the future, which they either long for or dread. In doing so, they miss the miracle of NOW—this minute!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em>How about you? Missed any miracles lately?</em></strong></span></span></span></div><ul><li><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you decide not to go swimming, even though you were at the beach, because you just had your hair done?</span></span></span></div></li>
<li><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you buy the conservative navy-blue tie rather than the more debonair salmon-colored one because the navy wouldn’t show stains?</span></span></span></div></li>
<li><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you stay off the dance floor even when the band played your favorite song just because no other couples were dancing?</span></span></span></div></li>
<li><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you pout and make it a miserable day for yourself because your presentation at the staff meeting didn’t go as well as you hoped?</span></span></span></div></li>
<li><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.3pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you tell your kids, “Later, I’m busy,” and continue brooding about that huge repair bill when they asked you to play with them?</span></span></span></div></li>
</ul><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We’ve all made mistakes like these and failed to live fully when we had the chance. But berating ourselves for it is also a waste of time. Far better to just grab the next moment before we miss that too! And when you grab it, hang on. Exhaust it. Drain it of its juices. Don’t give it back until there’s nothing left. Otherwise you might create your own version of a very sad story about a young man who was about to be executed for a crime.</span></span></span></div><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At dawn on the day of his execution he stood on the bench in his prison cell, reached for the iron bars across the window and pulled himself up so he could see the countryside. It was spring, and as the sun edged above the horizon he saw his world as if for the first time. He was startled by the brilliant colors of the flowers as they were illuminated by the sunlight. He noticed the lushness of the fields, the rich smell of the freshly tilled soil, and the pleasant sounds of the town stirring to life.</span></span></span></div><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCptQde-MaDisu3yynk0RHcKXTODZPTvnzZzyC05FmBRUqby6tYbxC2Yv2aIht1yDWjjrfjv5ub_sIVkbtQvBzJ78bFdr0JEMnwYWTtUiNMSiGOR68OAIPgNAbJIEtQqz2QLXv3hVMFbm/s1600/5c4.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCptQde-MaDisu3yynk0RHcKXTODZPTvnzZzyC05FmBRUqby6tYbxC2Yv2aIht1yDWjjrfjv5ub_sIVkbtQvBzJ78bFdr0JEMnwYWTtUiNMSiGOR68OAIPgNAbJIEtQqz2QLXv3hVMFbm/s200/5c4.tif" width="135" /></a></div><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Straining to hold himself up to the window, he continued to stare wide-eyed. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He knew he had missed this miracle countless times before and would no longer be alive to appreciate it. When the jailers came to lead him to the gallows, he was still clinging to the window with all his might, in awe of the sunrise on this spring day. They had to pull him down and drag him away.</span></span></span></div><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="Bodytext" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wonder of life had always been there, but he had been preoccupied with regret for the past and dread of the future. </span></span></span></div><div class="Hereswhat" style="margin: 4.35pt 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="Hereswhat" style="margin: 4.35pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s what you can do: </span></span></strong></span></div><div class="Hereswhat" style="margin: 4.35pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spend a few more minutes of every hour fully living the unrepeatable miracle that is NOW. </span></span></span></div><div class="Hereswhat" style="margin: 4.35pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work at your work, play at your play, shed your tears, enjoy your laughter. <em>NOW</em> is the only time of your life! </span></span></span></div><div class="Hereswhat" style="margin: 4.35pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See things in perspective…</span></span></span></div><div class="paranumber" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; tab-stops: decimal .25in left 29.25pt 40.5pt 82.55pt 1.3in 121.2pt 148.8pt 2.45in 204.0pt 231.6pt; text-indent: -11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>dive into that ocean and forget your hair</span></span></span></div><div class="paranumber" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; tab-stops: decimal .25in left 29.25pt 40.5pt 82.55pt 1.3in 121.2pt 148.8pt 2.45in 204.0pt 231.6pt; text-indent: -11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>buy that special tie, dress or outfit</span></span></span></div><div class="paranumber" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; tab-stops: decimal .25in left 29.25pt 40.5pt 82.55pt 1.3in 121.2pt 148.8pt 2.45in 204.0pt 231.6pt; text-indent: -11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>dance to your song and ignore others</span></span></span></div><div class="paranumber" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; tab-stops: decimal .25in left 29.25pt 40.5pt 82.55pt 1.3in 121.2pt 148.8pt 2.45in 204.0pt 231.6pt; text-indent: -11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>forget the disappointing presentation you made … just improve the next one</span></span></span></div><div class="paranumber" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 40.5pt; tab-stops: decimal .25in left 29.25pt 40.5pt 82.55pt 1.3in 121.2pt 148.8pt 2.45in 204.0pt 231.6pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>take time with each of your children if you have them. From the day they are born, you have only 18 summers before they’re grown and gone. Think of it! Spend time with them NOW and see the miracle daily!</span></span></span></div>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-47667703443061926892012-01-02T05:31:00.000-08:002012-01-02T05:31:39.977-08:00When You Answer These 7 Questions It's Like Having a Crystal Ball<div class="_mcePaste" id="_mcePaste" style="display: inline;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 11pt;" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Here's something you can do right now to make 2012 an AMAZING year! You're already busy, of course -- but before time gets away from you, why not take stock of your priorities for the year ahead? </span><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><em><strong>We're not talking about New Year's Resolutions here!</strong> </em>They don't work! In fact, based on Gallup Poll findings, 24% of New Year's Resolutions are broken in the very first week! 53% are broken within six months! And get this, 92% are broken by year end! </span></span><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;" align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">As an alternative, as you visualize your priorities for the year ahead, here's an exercise you can do, and I think you'll find it very helpful. The exercise consists of asking yourself these six questions about last year:</span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; color: navy; tab-stops: list .5in;" align="left" style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">1. <em><strong>What was your biggest success in 2011?</strong></em></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; color: navy; tab-stops: list .5in;" align="left" style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">2. <em><strong>What was the best decision you made?</strong></em></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; color: navy; tab-stops: list .5in;" align="left" style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">3. <em><strong>What was the most important lesson you learned?</strong></em></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; color: navy; tab-stops: list .5in;" align="left" style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">4. <em><strong>What made you the happiest?</strong></em></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; color: navy; tab-stops: list .5in;" align="left" style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">5. <em><strong>Who had the greatest positive impact on you?</strong></em></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; color: navy; tab-stops: list .5in;" align="left" style="color: navy; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">6. <em><strong>What were you most grateful for?</strong></em></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;" align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Now I've got one more important question for you ... and t<span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">he answer to this question will help you see things even more clearly in 2012. <em><strong>Here's the question:</strong></em></span></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;" align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">7. <em><strong>If you could re-live 2011,</strong></em> <span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">knowing now everything that happened, and everything you did to make things happen the way they did, </span><strong><em>what would you do differently? </em></strong></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;" align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 11pt;" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Answering all seven questions is like having a crystal ball! </span><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Save these, and your answers to them, in a safe place. At the end of each year, answer them again. You'll find <span _mce_style="font-size: 11pt;" style="font-size: 11pt;">clarity and conviction to carry you through the year, as you accomplish whatever <em><strong>you decide</strong></em> is really important to you! </span></span></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;" align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 11pt;" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 11pt;" style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></span><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">And forget New Year's Resolutions! Instead, make a commitment to yourself that you <em>WILL</em> <strong>MAKE 2012 a wonderful year</strong>, in spite of change, in spite of conditions, in spite of circumstances! </span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;" align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-family: Arial; color: navy; font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Your life is your choice! What the New Year brings you is up to <strong>YOU!</strong></span></div><div _mce_style="text-align: left; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;" align="left" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span _mce_style="font-size: 11pt;" size="3" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: navy;"><strong>MAKE</strong> it a great day...every day! <strong><em>JOEL</em></strong></span></span></span></div></div>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-14373981977356124522011-12-09T09:47:00.000-08:002011-12-09T09:47:41.589-08:00Comment on "The Magic of Truthfulness"<div>Joel,</div><div><br />
</div><div>I always love your messages. Point 3 especially touched me, "don't underestimate the goodness of people." I learned that is true even in prison. I saw women with literally NOTHING find ways to share with others and help those suffering in a dark and dismal place. I learned a great deal there about truth and goodness.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Congratulations on keeping the magic alive.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Warmly,</div><div></div><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font: small Helvetica; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Sue EllenAllen</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">Author</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px;"><i>"Education, not incarceration, is the cheapest form of crime prevention."</i></span> -<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> Sue Ellen</span></div></div></div>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-87501831416581251562011-08-30T17:09:00.000-07:002011-08-30T17:09:48.691-07:00The Magic of Truthfulness<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Imagine you work for a company that's about to terminate you. Not such a hard thing to imagine these days. It's an odd scenario in this case, though, because you're told that your job will be over in three months. Yes, you'll be fired then, but in the meantime they ask you to keep working for the three months, attend the upcoming National Sales Meeting, and not leave until the end of the year. And oh, by the way, keep growing the business in those last three months! </span> <div style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I was the speaker hired by my client, Manny Gerolamo, Nat'l Sales Manager, to address his pharmaceutical sales and leadership team at their final Nat'l Sales Meeting.</span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0067ce; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 150%;"><strong>In over three decades of corporate seminar speaking, this was one of the most unusual requests I'd ever received.</strong></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">My first question to Manny was: "Will anyone even be there?" But I didn't know then about "Manny's Magic." Here's what he did, and here's what happened.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">First, Manny informed everyone of the facts -- the cold, hard, disappointing facts. The conditions people signed up for the year before had dramatically changed. The parent company had chosen a different direction and the promises they had made to the sales team couldn't be kept. Yes, the team had achieved every sales objective required of them. Yes, their mission had been very successful. But tough luck, they would be turning the sales effort over to the parent company. Game over. <span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Second, Manny informed his team that if they stayed on for the three months till year's end, and got good results, they could earn a big bonus. During that time he would help them, wherever possible, to find new employment. He'd provide support, counseling and even some special training materials (my "Build a Better You" CD series for example) to help them cope and stay positive during the transition.</span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Third, Manny asked them to leave their loved ones for three days and attend the upcoming National Sales Meeting in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">San Antonio</city>, <state w:st="on">Texas</state></place>. There they would be recognized for their past successes and trained in the new programs for the "final quarter." They would join their fellow team members for one last group hug, a few laughs and a lot of tears. </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Now what would you have done if you had been one of those team members? Would you have gone to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">San Antonio</place></city> just to vent your anger, frustration and bitterness? Would you have contacted your customers and bad-mouthed the company? Or would you have quit and begun job hunting immediately? </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0067ce; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 150%;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">As I stood on the stage at the Hyatt Regency in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">San Antonio</place></city> that September morning, it was magical.</span></strong></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"> There were 200 people, over 97% of Manny's team members, all sitting in that audience -- smiling, laughing and so excited about their last few months together. </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">What made that happen? Manny Gerolamo was the single most important factor in their decision to stay. He had earned not just his team's respect, he had earned their TRUST. He told the unvarnished truth from day one. And he offered them the opportunity to be paid a bonus if they fulfilled their commitment to the company, a company that was going to terminate them. It was "Manny's Magic!" </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #0067ce; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 150%;">Here's what you can do to use Manny's Magic in your career:</span></strong><span style="color: #0067ce; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 150%;"></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">1. Tell the truth -- even if it's not good news. Tell it like you see it. Be known as a truth teller. Be known as a person who can always be believed! </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">2. Offer people an incentive if they are willing to go above and beyond. Reward the high achievers! </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">3. Don't underestimate the goodness of most people, who deep down want to do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do! In a business world that is often drowning in greed, dishonesty and self-interest, it's thrilling to know there are still great people out there, willing to do difficult things, and do them with courage and grace! </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Remember: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><i><span style="color: #d52c2a; font-family: Verdana;">Success Comes in CANS, Not in Cannots! </span></i></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 6pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="Can Gold with R" id="_x0000_s1027" o:allowoverlap="f" style="height: 51.75pt; margin-left: 426.6pt; margin-top: 15.3pt; mso-position-vertical-relative: line; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 3.75pt; position: absolute; width: 42.75pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-size: small;"><imagedata o:title="1" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\JudyW\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="square"></wrap></span></shape><shape alt="JOEL" id="_x0000_s1026" o:allowoverlap="f" style="height: 38.25pt; margin-left: 3.6pt; margin-top: 33.3pt; mso-position-vertical-relative: line; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 3.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 3.75pt; position: absolute; width: 59.25pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-size: small;"><imagedata o:title="38" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\JudyW\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="square"></wrap></span></shape><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">MAKE it a great day! </span></div></span>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-53419945822076990812011-07-12T16:43:00.000-07:002011-07-12T16:43:28.785-07:00"Pandora's Hope" Whispers in Your Ear<div style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt;"><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">You've probably heard the term "Pandora's Box" used as an expression. "Oh, it was as if he had opened Pandora's Box!" meaning to unwittingly unleash chaos or misery upon yourself or others. </span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">Maybe you've actually done that very thing. You think something could be good, and then discover it's the exact opposite. Like the family that gets their young kids their first pet -- a six-month-old mutt from the pound that looks so cute and lovable -- only to find three months later, they've opened "Pandora's Box" and now have a nine-month-old 90-pound monster destroying their furniture, shoes and even chewing on the walls. </span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;"><span>Chaos is a word often used to describe many people's lives</span> today. Here's where Pandora's Box can help you. Yes, help you through the toughest of times, the biggest of challenges and the mind-numbing effects of change! How? </span></div><div style="color: #0067ce; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">First you need to go back to the Greek mythology that created the story of Pandora's Box.</span> </span><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">Here's the short version: </span><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">The Greeks considered Pandora to be the first woman on earth. Zeus had her created and he told Pandora not to open a special "jar" she was given. Overcome by curiosity, she opened it. Upon doing so, she released all the evils it contained into the world. This myth is supposed to explain why evil exists in the world, and probably to blame woman for it!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">When Pandora opened that jar and released all the evils into the world, she managed to save one thing inside -- <span style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt;">HOPE</span>. Oh, those wise Greeks knew that what the world needed to cope with and overcome evil was hope! </span><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">HOPE is defined as "a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life." </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">You need hope in your life right now, today, this very minute!</span> Whoever you are, whatever your age, your career or your circumstances, there is always HOPE. <span> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt;">When the world says to you, "Give up, you can't win," HOPE whispers in your ear, <em>"You can do it! Give it one more try, and if that's not enough, give it one more again."</em></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">My next door neighbor for many years was an F-105 pilot in the Viet Nam war. Tom Browning's plane was shot down, he was captured by the Viet Cong and held as a prisoner of war for over six years. He was held at the same time as Sen. John McCain and James Stockdale (who ran for Vice President in 1992). All three of these men, along with so many others, endured unimaginable torture and hardship. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">Tom, who is now a retired Brigadier General, explained that one of the main reasons they were able to survive their ordeal was that they never gave up the HOPE that they would be freed. The survivors had proved that h</span><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">ope is what will keep you going in the times of your life when you feel lost, imprisoned, helpless and discouraged. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">Shakespeare wrote, "The miserable have no other medicine, but only hope." Hopefully you're not miserable! But you may at times become discouraged and pessimistic, and feel, "What's the use?" This is the time to think of Pandora's Box. In spite of all the evils she released into the world, <span style="color: #0067ce; font-size: 14pt;">HOPE</span> remained safe inside the box, so it could help you in these challenging times. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">I hope this gives YOU hope!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;">MAKE it a great day!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="#000000" style="color: black;"><img alt="JOEL" border="0" height="48" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.38" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs072/1102652988446/img/38.jpg" vspace="5" width="74" /></span></div></span></div>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-66800273395901638612011-05-19T04:58:00.000-07:002011-06-18T08:57:14.410-07:00"Who's Got The Mustard & the Kidney?"<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaVUqa97lJXp4YtrOeuidtpFdq-Ia9fhbzAhLc-g-mfb2b34M9Av90SCfoapgxiW1_U_Eo85oE0nCYWyDQEOpCuVEctcD3yGORsKBu_3dDlXgn3F0ZZC8ZxsTt_ZbZJqL6ZNGYHmjshX0/s1600/22c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaVUqa97lJXp4YtrOeuidtpFdq-Ia9fhbzAhLc-g-mfb2b34M9Av90SCfoapgxiW1_U_Eo85oE0nCYWyDQEOpCuVEctcD3yGORsKBu_3dDlXgn3F0ZZC8ZxsTt_ZbZJqL6ZNGYHmjshX0/s200/22c6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Ever been camping, about to have some hot dogs around the campfire, and someone asks, “Who's got the mustard?” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">“Oh,” the cook says, “I forgot it.” OK, so hot dogs without mustard won’t kill you. It could annoy you and take away some of the enjoyment of your cookout, but it’s not that bad. It’s just a minor inconvenience. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">The simple solution would have been to have, well in advance of your trip, a “Camping Checklist” with everything you need on it, and then as you gather your supplies, you just check off each item, mustard being just one of them.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Ever have a kidney taken out of your body and replaced with a newer, healthier one? Most likely not—and neither have I. But in an unnamed <place w:st="on">Midwest</place> hospital’s operating room, a doctor was about to remove his patient’s damaged kidney and replace it with a donor’s kidney, when he suddenly realized the donor’s kidney wasn’t in the room! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Where was it? No one knew. One surgical nurse thought the other surgical nurse had gotten it. The surgeon stopped the procedure. Finally the kidney was located and fortunately no harm was done. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Crazy, you say? Impossible, you think? Amazingly enough it happens way too often in medical procedures and sometimes the results are devastating.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">I became aware of this situation when a long time client, Donley Service, hired me to speak at their company meeting. Their objective was to get their HVAC service technicians to use checklists on every job. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">As good as Donley Service already was, top management wanted them to be even better, and they knew that checklists could be part of the answer. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">During my research for their meeting I found “The Checklist Manifesto,” a best selling book by Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon and Associate Professor at <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Harvard</placename> <placename w:st="on">Medical</placename> <placetype w:st="on">School</placetype></place>. Along with this book and lots of other information, I became even more committed to checklists.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">People close to me would roll their eyes if they heard me say “even more committed to checklists!” Heck, I use a checklist for almost everything in my life!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Are you a checklist person? If you are you know the joy of embarking on a project and having everything you need with you. If you’re not a written checklist person, you might need to become one. It can help make your life’s experiences so much better. Oh, and if you do use checklists, there’s a lot more you can do to make them even better.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">As a professional speaker I have a Travel Checklist—what I need when I leave home to speak in some distant city. There’s a Room Set-Up Checklist, a Client Checklist, a Post Presentation Checklist where I check off every story, humorous example, prop or activity I used in that presentation. Why? So that when I go back to that same group next time, I’ll know exactly what I’ve already used and not repeat anything. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">I use a checklist for our recreation as well. Judy and I have owned our own 72 ft houseboat at <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Lake</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Powell</placename></place> since 1989. We have spent over 1250 nights on our boat … with my checklists! We have a Packing Checklist, Arrival Day on the Boat Checklist, an Anchoring Checklist, a Guest Info Checklist and a Departure Day Checklist. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Each checklist has lots of items. On our Departure Day Checklist there are over 70 items we physically check off on the last day of our trip. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Why do we do that? So the next trip will be even better! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Yes, I’m a checklist nut! Unfortunately not too many people are, but maybe more people should be—and if you’re not convinced, keep reading.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">It’s shocking to learn that the use of medical checklists has only become a recent practice. It wasn’t until 2003 that medical checklists were used in surgical operating rooms in the state of <place w:st="on"><state w:st="on">Michigan</state></place>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">According to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New England Journal of Medicine</i>, when surgical teams used a simple checklist, patient deaths were cut in half and complications due to infections were reduced by 66%. In <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Michigan</place></state> alone it’s estimated that over 1500 patients’ lives were saved, just by using a Surgical Checklist.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">One more example, Peter Pronovost, a critical care specialist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, devised a five-step checklist just for reducing infections from special intravenous lines, from such simple items as “wash hands with soap” to “wear a sterile gown and mask.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Now you may be thinking, “Oh, come on, how basic can you get? Anyone would know that!” Right? Not so in that facility. When Dr. Pronovost checked the results over a two-year period compared to previous two-year periods, he found that his five-step cChecklist prevented 43 infections and eight deaths, and saved over $2 million in costs. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Based on those startling statistics, the World Health Organization tested the checklist concept in eight hospitals worldwide. They created a 19-Point Checklist including “count sponges.” You’ve heard of sponges being left inside a patient after an operation, right? Not when they use the checklist! Now if they have 17 sponges to start, they have to have 17 when done. Their results showed that as a result…</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .45in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">Surgical complications fell 36%.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .45in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">Extra trips to the operating room fell by 25%.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .45in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">Deaths fell 47%!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">And those results changed medical procedures worldwide. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Decide now to become a Checklist Creator for the important things in your life! Here are a few suggestions: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .45in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"> A Vacation to the Beach Checklist</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .45in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"> A Ski Trip Checklist</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .45in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"> A Fishing Trip Checklist</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .45in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"> A Gardening Checklist (What to do and when to do it.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .45in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 150%;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"> Giving a Speech Checklist (I can help you with this one.) </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .45in; text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"> An Emergency Evacuation Checklist - If you had to exit your home in<br />
15 minutes, what would you grab? Not sure? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><strong><em> Better make a checklist!</em></strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">And MAKE it a great day!</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5l_BdHkd9w-l53df6FipuKT84If900qv7OIr8ti49c2opP9Mw6hSvneYyzd21eGIewEallnD-Ol6YTn7O98Ih_O8XYalDZ9oa2TBEfMoEY1PKCEXE94g4Q4m3VhBgJx9ulIDDnBxENkl/s1600/JOEL+SIGNTR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5l_BdHkd9w-l53df6FipuKT84If900qv7OIr8ti49c2opP9Mw6hSvneYyzd21eGIewEallnD-Ol6YTn7O98Ih_O8XYalDZ9oa2TBEfMoEY1PKCEXE94g4Q4m3VhBgJx9ulIDDnBxENkl/s1600/JOEL+SIGNTR.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-15238734343411073072011-05-14T05:44:00.000-07:002011-05-19T07:32:49.789-07:00Leadership & the Paradox of Power<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpWSFF712p4t1axt0dkXWjNATyiPTCsDy-26pGTs2p2EDLNh34gejl34aDsCbLeNQi2UVRS955MnVNrmJMve-nX84LiTJWazPGILPq49-fPhHeBKZHe-omJuLYCUkYFdntkkgbCuOieqC/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpWSFF712p4t1axt0dkXWjNATyiPTCsDy-26pGTs2p2EDLNh34gejl34aDsCbLeNQi2UVRS955MnVNrmJMve-nX84LiTJWazPGILPq49-fPhHeBKZHe-omJuLYCUkYFdntkkgbCuOieqC/s200/50.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1513 Niccolo Machiavelli wrote these two bold statements: “It is much better to be feared than loved” and “One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.” These two quotes come from his well-known thesis on the art of politics, called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Prince</i>. His philosophy has given rise to the Machiavellian approach to leadership and the cliché, “Nice guys finish last!” Do you think so? From your experience and the leaders you have known, how do you rate them on the “nice person scale”?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think back to the people you have met who had power. Start with the bosses you’ve worked for, the political office holders you’ve personally met and the friends and acquaintances you’ve spent time with who were in a position of power. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK, now decide, does power create caring, considerate and charming people—or does it create insufferable, impulsive idiots you just can’t stand?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in 2010 an article in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wall Street Journal</i> titled “The Power Trip” by Jonah Lehrer began with this statement: “Contrary to the Machiavellian cliché, nice people are more likely to rise to power.”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Well, I guess that settles it. Machiavelli was wrong and nice people do rise to the top.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But wait! In the next sentence Jonah says, “Then something strange happens—authority atrophies the very talents that got them to their place of power.” Oh, was Machiavelli right after all?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’re smart and experienced, so you can decide for yourself. Here’s my read on this important question for you to answer as you progress in your career and your personal life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the past 3½ decades I’ve personally met hundreds of CEOs and presidents of the world’s leading businesses, as well as thousands of top level executives with lots of power. Plus dozens of famous people from politics, sports, entertainment and the sciences.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most of these encounters were at business events where I was a guest speaker. Many others occurred on airplanes sitting next to celebrities. Of course, I’m not a psychologist or a behaviorist, but I do know people, and without a doubt, my vote is cast with the anti-Machiavellian group. “Nice people do rise to the top!”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are there exceptions? Absolutely! There are many insufferable, impulsive, self-centered, arrogant and obnoxious individuals who hold positions of power. They once were only a small group—but—they seem to be growing, and that’s why you need to be aware of the power trip!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today in our world of electronic wonders where words and images can be captured and stored forever on hard drives, secrets are difficult to keep.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember Tiger Woods, Brett Favre and Wikileak’s release of government secrets? All involved emails, voice mails, cell phone photos and electronic data. So beware, because what you say and what you do can be seen and heard by a much bigger audience than you might intend or even imagine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A cliché from the past, “power corrupts,” comes into play here. Often the individual who rises to a position of power—whether it’s in a company, a homeowner’s association, a civic club, a religious organization, in politics or on a sports team—does so because of their positive qualities of being intelligent, honest, considerate, caring, and just overall a “nice person.” Then it gradually changes. The very traits that helped these people acquire control in the first place, all but disappear once they rise to a position of power.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The result is what we see, almost weekly, in the media. Celebrities and heroes go amuck! They think the rules don’t apply to them. They think they’re special and because they’re “special” others aren’t. They disregard feelings, traditions, standards of behavior and, in short, they act like jerks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A study at the <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">University</placetype> of <placename w:st="on">California</placename></place> by psychologist D. Keltner found that the students who were considered the “most powerful” also were considered the most considerate, outgoing, agreeable and, in short, “nice people.” His conclusion after similar studies in the corporate world was, “People give authority to people they genuinely like.”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s what you can do…</span></i></b></div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Decide for yourself, was Machiavelli right or wrong?</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Study those in your life that are in positions of power and authority, and identify the qualities you think got them there.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make sure that if your role is one of power and authority, you don’t lose your concern for and connection to those you’re leading.</span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, one last perception from my own experience. I’ve found that the higher you go in most organizations, the nicer the people become. What’s your perception?</span></div>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-49027911409332436292011-04-29T09:37:00.000-07:002011-05-14T07:35:40.056-07:00"The Fog of Worry"<div align="justify" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCAP2-sdJkBtdynBhEiLNXiRXduikYROTLFp2QIj9K7xIfd6J4o6YKASIy1UacDXosM-bkmVuM48HsNVP6P1ZiCkZIC179op9DTtF8P0DLEyxlxxm6Sd3e-sAFwBnEmb-zDv8zHmXMVpf/s1600/Foggy_Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCAP2-sdJkBtdynBhEiLNXiRXduikYROTLFp2QIj9K7xIfd6J4o6YKASIy1UacDXosM-bkmVuM48HsNVP6P1ZiCkZIC179op9DTtF8P0DLEyxlxxm6Sd3e-sAFwBnEmb-zDv8zHmXMVpf/s1600/Foggy_Day.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Think of the last time you saw fog. You might have been at home, away on a business trip or on vacation. You got up early in the morning and stepped outside to see the gorgeous mountain view you had been enjoying each day, only to see... but wait a minute! You couldn't see the mountain at all! It had completely disappeared! </span></em></span></span></div><div align="justify" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">Or had it? In the next instant you realized that of course, the mountain was still there, but it was completely fogged in! And unless you'd seen it before on a clear day, you'd have no way of knowing it even existed! When you're fogged in, what's really around you can't be seen. It's all there, but it's hidden from view, covered by the tiny droplets of moisture floating in the air, produced by a combination of temperature and humidity.</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">In the same way, <em>worry is the mental fog</em> that prevents you from seeing things clearly. Don't let it blind you to what's really out there! Like moisture fog, the mental fog of worry hides from view the opportunities and solutions that are all around you right now. <span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt;">It clouds your thinking with thoughts and images of a negative nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt;">Excessive worry turns to anguish and anxiety. Not a</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt;"> good thing!</span></span></span><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">Over 40 years ago I heard Earl Nightingale tell about the "fog of worry." On a visit to San Francisco he found himself one morning surrounded by fog, a common event in that city. But if you were to check with the U.S Bureau of Standards you'd find this surprising fact: that a dense fog 100 feet deep, covering seven city blocks, is composed of ... <b><i>less than one glass of water</i></b>...that's it! What seems to be so dense and so capable of blocking what's around us can be condensed down to just a tiny amount of liquid, not quite filling a glass. </span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">The same is true of what we worry about. It seems so dense, so all encompassing, yet, in reality almost all our worries are needless! That's right. Experts on the study of what worries people found these numbers. About 40% of what people worry about will never happen. Yes, 40% of what people worry about just won't ever happen! </span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;"> Next, the experts say, is the 30% of the things people worry about that can't be changed by all the worry in the world! Worrying about the weather will do nothing to stop the rain or to bring you sunshine. No, worry won't alter, in any way, 30% of what the uninformed fill their worry bucket with! Next is the 12% made up of needless health worries. Does wearing tennis shoes cause cancer? Is my heart beating enough? </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">Then those same worry experts calculate that about 10% of people's worries are just petty, miscellaneous things. Will I get a parking spot at the big game? Will the all-you-can-eat buffet run out of food? Needless worries! And finally that leaves you just 8% that are real, legitimate worries. </span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">That means 92% of things most people worry about have already happened, will never happen...or if they did happen, there's nothing you could have done about it anyway! It's like the fog over those seven city blocks that couldn't even fill a glass. Your job is to focus on the things that are worthy of your effort and energy! </span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">Dr. Edward Hallowell, a psychiatrist and the author of the book aptly titled <i>Worry</i>, describes "good worry" this way: "Good worry leads to constructive action, such as taking steps to resolve the issue that is causing you concern." </span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">What you can do is start a "Worry List." When you find yourself worrying, stop! Write down what it is that you're worrying about! When you have five to ten things on your list, do your own evaluation. Ask yourself: "Self, is this a good worry? Or is it a 92% worry...one that's already happened, will never happen or there's nothing I can do about it anyway?"</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">Your "good worries" will lead you to positive action. Fastening your seat belt when you're in a car or truck is a constructive action, based on your concern for safety. Buying insurance to protect yourself or your property is a constructive action, to solve your concern about loss. Worries about having enough money to retire some day should get you to act now to prepare for your financial future, to save more or to earn more. This is good! Worries about that extra weight you might be carrying around should get you back to the gym, walking more, eating better and getting fit and healthier. That's good!</span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">So, next time you find yourself in a fog, smile, reflect about the "fog of worry," and put that fog in its proper perspective...in a glass, not even full. </span></div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #073763;">Then you can MAKE it a great day!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva; font-size: 10pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img alt="JOEL" border="0" height="48" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.38" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs072/1102652988446/img/38.jpg" vspace="5" width="74" /> </div>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6874787884315450646.post-32278095360141469052011-03-15T15:08:00.000-07:002011-03-15T15:08:47.191-07:00Creative Ideas are Unlimited! There are 293 Ways to Make Change for a Dollar!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #073763;">How would you make change for a dollar bill? You could give someone two 50 cent pieces, four quarters, 10 dimes, 20 nickels, 100 pennies, right? Or you could give another 288 combinations of those five different coins. Yes, there are 293 ways to change that dollar bill. There are also hundreds and even thousands of possible ways for you to solve your problems and life’s challenges. There is an answer to every challenge—if you dig deep enough and make the effort to find it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #073763;">As the old Abraham Maslow quote goes, “If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.” In other words, you tend to see only one solution to a challenge you’re faced with. But realize that whatever challenge you’re faced with—money, time, health, career, relationships— <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there are an infinite number of possible solutions. Let me give you some suggestions on how you can find the best solution to what you need help with. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #073763;">Here are some starting points…</span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">Clearly define what the challenge is.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">That’s not a new idea, yet so often people faced with a challenge haven’t clearly identified exactly what result they are attempting to get.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #073763;">As an example, a friend called me and said he wasn’t happy in his job. Sound familiar? Millions of people feel that way—but what does it really mean? After a brief series of questions it became clear to him that he really loved his job. What he was unhappy about was his boss didn’t seem to appreciate his efforts and didn’t give him much positive feedback. That’s a lot different than “not liking his job.” So now my friend’s challenge is defined. “How do I get my boss to give me the recognition I feel I need and deserve?” If there are 293 ways to change a dollar, there’s many ways to solve that challenge!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #073763;">Make sure you know exactly what it is you’re attempting to solve.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">Ask for help<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"> Call in your cavalry! Use your contacts and ask those you respect for their help. They’re your friends for a reason. They like you and want the best for you. Put your pride on hold and just say, “I can use some help. Will you talk with me about a challenge I’m having?”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">Use the Internet<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"> The Web can provide you answers to almost any question. Google has over a million servers that process over a billion search requests a day! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What used to be information only experts possessed is now available to you instantly. Like, how many ways can you make change for a dollar? 293. Or that a dime has 118 ridges around the edge, and that all 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial shown on the back of the five dollar bill. OK, most likely that’s not the kind of help you’ll need! But it shows you how you can find information on almost any subject you want. So don’t guess! Search it out.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">Then take action<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"> Doing nothing is the cause of more difficulties than making the wrong decisions. A wise man taught me years ago that if you’re driving and you get lost without a GPS to guide you, and you’re not sure which way to turn (right or left?), always turn right, and go as fast as you can! If you’re wrong, you’ll find out soon enough and can double back. Action is the key! You don’t need to be right 100% of the time. 51% positive makes you still a winner.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #073763;">Yes, you’ll have challenges and, yes, they can be very difficult ones. Trust me on this—Ideas are unlimited. There is an answer, even to exactly how many ways you can make change for a dollar!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;">MAKE</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"> it a great day!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 150%;"><em><span style="color: #073763;">JOEL</span></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape id="_x0000_i1025" o:ole="" style="height: 45.75pt; width: 69.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\JudyW\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.png"></imagedata></shape></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Joel Weldonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16507725380588687784noreply@blogger.com0