Motivation Confidence Success Inspirationonal Speaker

Why Get Rich When You Can Be Wealthy

2005-12-02T14:32:00.000-08:00

Why Get Rich When You Can Be Wealthy?
by Chris Widener

"Any fool can get rich; the wise get wealthy." -- Chris Widener

Getting rich is the main goal for a lot of people. That is unfortunate however, because there is something so much greater than simply the accumulation of money. Now don't get me wrong - I am not saying people shouldn't have large sums of money.

In fact, I believe greatly in the power of money for good when in the hands of the right people. I think money is simply a tool that people can use to do great things - or bad things.

What is unfortunate is that so many people give up so much else in life in order to get those large sums of money.

First of all, let me explain my quote about rich fools. Just turn on the TV or read a popular magazine and you will find lots of rich fools. You will see people with tons of money but who have no happiness, have drug problems and who leave behind them a string of broken relationships.

These people are rich, not wealthy. Rich people are people with lots of money. Wealthy people are people who are rich in life. This would include financial stability and freedom, but goes deeper into spiritual health, emotional and relational health, and of course physical health.

I think getting rich is easy. It is simply a discipline that anyone can do if they so choose. There are many examples of people who have made very little money who have left vast fortunes. Spend less than you earn, save more than you spend. Put what you spend into an interest bearing investment. Do this over a long period of time and you will get rich.

Wealthy? That is something altogether different. I have found that in most cases you must give up some wealth to get the riches. I know many rich people and very few of them are people who I would call wealthy. Most of them sacrificed their families, their health or their relationships as they pursued the accumulation of riches.

The fact is that it takes time to make money. And every moment of time you spend in the pursuit of money is a moment of time taken from something else that would make you wealthy in life.

So let me ask you: Are you on the fast track toward riches? Or are you on the long-track toward true wealth?

Are you being wise with your finances so as to secure long-term financial stability and independence? I hope so, because that is certainly a part of being wealthy.

Are you investing in those closest to you? I hope so! The fact is that when you lay on your deathbed, it won't matter how much money you have. The grim reaper doesn't need any more money and so he can't be bought with yours! The only things that will matter are those faces that surround you, the looks of love they give you, and the memories you have of good times spent with them.

Are you taking good care of yourself physically? I hope so because if you don't, you won't get the mileage out of it that you were intended too! Physical health is part of being wealthy!

Are you taking care of your spiritual life? I hope so because I don't think there are any more important questions we can answer than those whose answers will play themselves out for eternity. In my mind, spiritual questions make all the others seem like child's play.

Are you taking good care of yourself emotionally? I hope so because it is your internal state that will give you the energy you are looking for to live long and the peace to enjoy that life of yours.

All in all, I have decided that I don't want to stoop to being rich. That is too low of a goal for me. I want to be wealthy - financially yes, but not to the exclusion of my body, soul and spirit. Not to the exclusion of deep and meaningful relationships with my friends and family.

How about you? Will you be rich or wealthy?

Top Six Ways To Stay motivated

2005-12-02T14:29:00.000-08:00

The Top Six Ways to Stay Motivated by Chris Widener
I receive many emails from people that basically ask the same question: How can I keep myself motivated long term? This seems to be quite a common dilemma for many people so I want to address it because it can be done! Here are my tips for staying motivated: 1. Get Motivated Every Day. Zig Ziglar was once confronted about being a "motivational speaker." The guy said to him, "You guys come and get people hyped up and then you leave and the motivation goes away. It doesn't last, and then you have to get motivated again." Zig reminded the gentleman that baths are the same way but we think it is a good idea to take a bath every day! It is true that motivation doesn't last. We have to renew it each and every day. That is okay. It doesn't make motivation a bad thing. We simply have to realize that if we want to stay motivated over the long term, it is something we will have to apply to ourselves each and every day. 2. Have a Vision for Your Life.The root word of motivation is "motive." The definition of motive is, "A reason to act." This is the cognitive or rational side of motivation. It is your vision. You have to have a vision that is big enough to motivate you. If you are making $50,000 a year, it isn't going to motivate you to set your goal at $52,000 a year. You just won't get motivated for that because the reward isn't enough. Maybe $70,000 a year would work for you. Set out a vision and a strategy for getting there. Have a plan and work the plan. 3. Fuel Your Passion.Much of motivation is emotional. I don't know quite how it works but I do know THAT it works. Emotion is a powerful force in getting us going. Passion is an emotion, so fuel your passion. "Well, I like to work on logic," you may say. Great, now work on your passion. Set yourself on a course to have a consuming desire for your goal, whatever it is. Do whatever you can to feel the emotion and use it to your advantage! 4. Work Hard Enough to Get Results.You can build on your motivation by getting results. The harder you work, the more results you will get and the more results you get, the more you will be motivated to get more. These things all build on one another. If you want to lose weight, then lose the first few pounds. When the belt moves to the next notch you will get fired up to get it to the notch beyond that! 5. Put Good Materials into Your Mind.I can't say this enough - listen to audios. I still listen to audios regularly. I buy audio clubs from other speakers and I learn and grow. Their successes motivate me to get my own successes! Read good books. Read books that teach you new ideas and skills. Read books that tell the stories of successful people. Buy them, read them, and get motivated! Buy great music and listen to it. I just did a spinning class at the club today. Whenever a good song came on I was actually able to get motivated to ride faster! It gets you going and motivates you! 6. Ride the Momentum when It Comes.Sometimes you will just be clicking and sometimes you won't. That is okay. It is the cycle of life. When you aren't clicking, plug away. When you are clicking, pour it on because momentum will help you get larger gains in a shorter period of time with less energy. That is the momentum Equation! When you are feeling good about how your work is going, ride the momentum and get as much out of it as you can! These are the top six ways to stay motivated: Get motivated every day. Have a vision for your life. Fuel your passion. Work hard enough to get results. Put good materials into your mind. Ride the momentum when it comes. These are simple principles, that when you put them to work regularly, will change your life by keeping you motivated all the time! So don't wait -- Get going! Chris Widener

Leadership Quotes & World Of Inspiration

2005-12-02T14:28:00.000-08:00

Leadership
“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
Warren G. Bennis

“The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”
James Crook

“If you command wisely, you'll be obeyed cheerfully.”
Thomas Fuller

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”
Rosalynn Carter

“A leader's role is to raise people's aspirations for what they can become and to release their energies so they will try to get there.”
David Gergen

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish.”
Sam Walton

“The real leader has no need to lead--he is content to point the way.”
Henry Miller

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
Unknown

As You Travel Through Life

2005-12-02T14:09:00.000-08:00

As You Travel Through Life…. By Author Unknown
As you travel through life there are always those times When decisions just have to be made, When the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce, And the rain seems to soak your parade.
There are some situations where all you can do Is simply let go and move on, Gather your courage and choose a direction That carries you toward a new dawn.
So pack up your troubles and take a step forward - The process of change can be tough, But think about all the excitement ahead
There might be adventures you never imagined Just waiting around the next bend, And wishes and dreams just about to come true In ways you can't yet comprehend!
Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new things As you challenge your status quo, And learn there are so many options in life,
Perhaps you'll go places you never expected And see things that you've never seen, Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds And wonderful spots in between!
Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring And somebody special who's there To help you stay cantered and listen with interest To stories and feelings you share.
Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends Are supportive of all that you do, And believe that whatever decisions you make, They'll be the right choices for you.
So keep putting one foot in front of the other, And taking your life day by day... There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road - Don't look back! You're not going that way!

Truths for Living & Being Successful

2005-12-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

Truths For Living By William Arthur Ward
The more generous we are, the more joyous we become.
The more cooperative we are, the more valuable we become.
The more enthusiastic we are, the more productive we become.
The more serving we are, the more prosperous we become.
The more outgoing we are, the more helpful we become.
The more curious we are, the more creative we become.
The more patient we are, the more understanding we become.
The more persistent we are, the more successful we become.

The Road To Success is Always Under Construction

2005-12-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

The Road To Success is Always Under Construction
by Author Unknown
Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else get your way.
Life is not no much a matter of position as of disposition.
The best vitamin for making friends, B-1.
If you don't care where you're going any road will get you there.
A pint of example is worth a gallon of advice.
He who throws mud loses ground.
Nobody raises his own reputation by lowering others.
Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
Ideas won't work unless you do.
The future is purchased by the present.
One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.
Lost time is never found again.
A hard thing about business is minding your own.
Triumph is just "umph" added to try.
Caution is not cowardly, Carelessness is not courage.
He who forgives ends the quarrel.
Children need more models than critics.
Frogs have it easy, They can eat what bugs them.
The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime.
If the going gets easy you may be going downhill.
Dieters - People that are thick and tired of it.
Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.
The best labor saving device is doing it tomorrow.
A turtle makes progress when it sticks its neck out.
Failure is the path of least persistence.
Hard work is the yeast that raises the dough.
Patience is counting down without blasting off.
Have a backbone not a wishbone.
Some folks won't look up until they are flat on their backs.
If you want your dreams to come true, don't oversleep.
Friend - One who knows all about you and likes you just the same.
Money talks and often just says, "Good-bye".
Birds have bills too and they keep on singing.
Forbidden fruit is responsible for many a bad jam.
God's retirement plan is out of this world.
A good example is the best sermon.
The Ten Commandments are not multiple choice.
Well done! is better than, Well said!
Minds are like parachutes - they function only when open.
Live as you wish your kids would.
Swallowing your pride seldom leads to indigestion.
If you can laugh at it then you can live with it.
People don't fail, they give up.
When looking for faults use a mirror, not a telescope.
Smile, it takes only 13 muscles; A frown takes 64.
Kindness, a language deaf people can hear and blind can see.
Heaviest thing to carry - a grudge. A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.
A small leak can sink a great ship.
You can't direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails.
We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.
Tact is the ability to see others as they wish to be seen.
A bad conscience has a very good memory.
Hug your kids at home - Belt them in the car. One thing you can give and still keep - is your word.
A friend walks in when everyone else walks out.
If you must cry over spilled milk then please try to condense it.
Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.
Make friends before you need them.
It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.
The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.
Success is … more attitude than aptitude.
Our favorite attitude should be gratitude.
The greatest of all faults is to imagine you have none.
Too many of us speak twice before we think.
Some people develop eye strain looking for trouble.
Everyone has 20/20 hindsight.
The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.
It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.
Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death.
It is no crime not to be perfect.
If others have sinned you need not mention it.
No man knows less than the man who knows it all.
Patience carries a lot of wait.
One who lacks courage to start has already finished.
A quitter never wins, A winner never quits.
Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.
Break a bad habit - Drop it.
Don't learn safety rules simply by accident.
Failing to prepare We prepare to fail.
Past failures are guideposts for future success.
There is no right way to do a wrong thing.
There can be no rainbow without a cloud and a storm.
If your dreams turn to dust…vacuum.
Money is a good servant but is a cruel master.
Seek joy in what you give not in what you get.
Procrastination is the thief of time.
Success comes in cans Failure comes in can'ts.
Anger is one letter short of danger Greatest remedy for anger is delay.
2/3 of promotion is motion.
Having a sharp tongue can cut your own throat.
Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

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5 keys to Interpersonal skills Success

2005-12-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

The 5 Keys to Interpersonal Success By Joseph Sommerville, PhD
In survey after survey, interpersonal communication skills are consistently ranked at or near the top of a list of skills necessary for career success. People who possess these skills enjoy a richer personal life, better relationships at work and more productive interactions with those around them. Teams with members who excel at these skills are more productive and more cohesive. No one is born with these *people skills.* They are the result of attention and practice. Here are five guaranteed ways to hone your people skills.
1. Recognize differences in people and be ready to adapt. Because we think of ourselves at operating within a norm, we tend to see people who act and communicate differently from us as deviating from the norm. As a result, we believe that one communication style (ours) should fit all. Overcome this limiting mindset by recognizing differences in preferences and motivations among people.
If it's all about communicating you say, why do we need all the distinctions? You don't use a rolling pin to chop vegetables and you don't use a chef's knife to roll out bread dough, even though it's all cooking. You have to choose the right tool for the right job.
For example, a fundamental principle of adult learning theory is that we have different preferences for acquiring knowledge. Depending on those preferences, we'll be more effective in communicating our message when we learn whether to emphasize visual, verbal or tactile approaches.
People also have different motivations. Anne may be motivated by the promise of a salary increase while David strives for peer recognition. Discovering and applying the right motivation will help you get the cooperation you need from others.
2. Learn to listen well. When people compliment someone on being a great communicator, they often mean that the person is a good listener. Although most of us will have had at least one, if not several courses on reading, writing and speaking during our years of formal education, have you ever taken a listening course? We spend more time listening than in any other communication activity. In fact, given how much time we spend listening, it's neglect is surprising.
A major problem with listening occurs when we approach an interaction with different goals. I may be listening to gather information and solve a problem while my partner wants me to listen so that I empathize with his or her feelings. If I'm focused on generating solutions when my partner is looking for support, I'll be perceived to be *not listening* or unsympathetic to my partner's point of view.
Sometimes, what you see as a simple yes or no question designed to elicit information will be interpreted as a criticism of the other person. Don't become frustrated when your question is met with more information than you expected. It's probably designed to establish a context for the answer and explain the behavior that your partner thought you criticized.
To improve your listening skills, you'll need to develop genuine interest in your partner. Demonstrate your interest by seizing opportunities to ask questions. Search for common ground and be open to the possibility that you'll learn something new. There is a wise old saying that we were born with two ears but only one mouth so we could listen twice as much as we talk.
3. Realize that communication is more than just the words we use. We take communication for granted because we do it so frequently, but it's actually a complex process. While we are all wired with the same hardware (brain), the software (interpretive framework) varies tremendously among individuals. This means that given the same input (behaviors or words), we will reach different conclusions based on how we process that data. There are three aspects involved: 1) What you mean to say, 2) How you code this thought into language that gets verbalized and 3) How people interpret what you say. Consequently, there is often a tremendous difference between what you say and what someone hears.
Meant: *I know this is a big project, so I should chip in and pull my weight.* Said: *I'd like to offer my help on the project.* Heard: *You're not doing this right, so I'd better become involved.*
Meant: *I'm very busy with all the projects I've been assigned.* Said: *I'll get to your task as soon as I can.* Heard: *Your task isn't as important to me as the other things I'm doing.*
Be sensitive to the non-verbal clues of your partner and explain statements that seem puzzling or critical.
4. Learn to manage conflict rather than avoid it. We often think of conflict as something to be avoided at all costs. However, conflict is a natural part of human interaction. Sometimes, in an effort to avoid conflict, important information isn't communicated. Avoidance is only one strategy among many. When an issue is very important to someone else, but of little consequence to you, consider accommodating the person.
Managed properly, conflict can actually be beneficial. For example, conflict provides a method to weed out faulty assumptions and premises. Make a clear distinction between a conflict with a person and that person's ideas. Show respect for the person even when you disagree with the ideas. Learn to manage conflict with the appropriate strategy rather than simply to avoid it.
5. Be known for positive rather than negative interactions. This doesn't mean you have to be an optimist on steroids. An over-the-top optimist never recognizes a problem exists. A pessimist never realizes a solution exists. When you consistently maintain a positive frame of mind, you'll become known as a problem-solver rather than a complainer. People avoid complainers. They seek out problem-solvers.
A great way to demonstrate a positive outlook is in your language. When someone thanks you, do you ever respond with the phrase *No problem* or *Not a problem* ? If so, you are marking the interaction by two negative words. Turn those negatives into positives by responding *I'm glad to help* or *It was my pleasure.*
Developing excellent interpersonal skills requires recognition of differences, listening, an awareness of the different aspects of communication, strategies for managing conflict and an optimistic outlook. People who choose to improve their interpersonal skills can do so. Remember, an individual's interpersonal style is not just *who he or she is.* It is who he or she chooses to be.

Top 10 Tips to Attract & Motivate employees

2005-12-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

1. Pay employees fairly and well, then get them to forget about money.
2. Treat each and every employee with respect. Show them that you care about them as persons, not just as workers.
3. Praise accomplishments and attempts:
Both large and small
Verbally and in writing
At least 4 times more than you criticize
Promptly (as soon as observed)
Publicly … and in private
Sincerely
4. Clearly communicate goals, responsibilities and expectations. NEVER criticize in public — redirect in private.
5. Recognize performance appropriately and consistently:
Reward outstanding performance (e.g., with promotions and opportunities)
Do not tolerate sustained poor performance — coach & train or remove!
6. Involve employees in plans and decisions, especially those that affect them. Solicit their ideas and opinions. Encourage initiative.
7. Create opportunities for employees to learn & grow. Link the goals of the organization with the goals of each individual in it.
8. Actively listen to employees concerns — both work related and personal.
9. Share information promptly, openly and clearly. Tell the truth … with compassion.
10. Celebrate successes and milestones reached — organizational and personal. Create an organizational culture that is open, trusting and fun.*GHR Training Solutions acknowledges Bob Nelson, author of 1,001 Ways to Reward Employees for his initial formulation of "Top 10 Ways to Motivate Today's Employees".

Global Competition Attract & Retaning Employees

2005-12-02T13:50:00.000-08:00

There indeed is a dangerous crisis in America today. It has nothing to do with global warming or even the Y2K computer glitch. Rather, we're referring to the alarmingly diminishing ability of organizations — in every sector of our society — to survive.
At a time of intense global competition, most corporations, government agencies and non profit associations alike have exhausted whatever efficiency and cost cutting improvements there were to be extracted from reengineering and downsizing. And, many have found that they have cut, not only the fat, but also much of their muscle (or even lifeblood), that is — their best employees.
However, as they now look to replenish, preserve & nourish this blood & muscle, they are faced with a Generation X work force 40% smaller (and much more demanding) than the Baby Boomers — and the lowest unemployment rate in 24 years!
Also, employee loyalty is down, way down. According to a 1998 survey conducted by Sibson & Company, 55% of employees plan to quit or think often of quitting. In fact, the most frequently asked question put to the Society of Human Resource Management is: "How can we keep talent from jumping to our competitors?"
Fortunately, every crisis contains in it, not only danger, but also opportunity. This article shares with you the secret to transforming this dangerous crisis into an opportunity for your organization to flourish!
Based on our research and work with employers across the country, we have identified the distinguishing traits of organizations that attract, retain and motivate the best employees. In a nutshell:
The pay ain't bad
And they treat employees GREAT!
Recent landmark studies confirm what theoreticians and management gurus such as Abraham Maslow, Frederick Hertzberg and Peter Drucker — have maintained for decades:
Money is a necessary, but not sufficient condition to attract, retain and motivate good employees. You and I will go to work for a paycheck and benefits plan. But we won't really do work (at least our best work), unless something else is present.
It is the quality of the work itself and of our relationships with others at work — that draws us to the best organizations and keeps us there, performing at peak effectiveness.
Recently, the Families and Work Institute published the National Study of the Changing Work force — the most comprehensive research ever conducted in this area. They found that, while Earnings & Benefits have only a 2% impact on job Satisfaction, Job Quality and Workplace Support have a combined 70% impact: That's a 35 times greater bang for the buck! (Though, in the case of Job Quality and Workplace Support, it's an intangible, symbolic "buck".)
Factors Impacting Job Satisfaction
And, the findings were similar for factors impacting Employee Loyalty, Retention and Performance. For Performance, however, Job Demands (that is stress factors such as overtime and deadlines) have a negative impact comparable to the positive impact of either Job Quality or Workplace Support.
But let's suppose that employee retention is not a problem for your organization ... and you're not convinced that employee satisfaction has much impact on the bottom line. Then consider this. A recent survey conducted by the Gallup organization researched the Impact of Employee Attitudes on Business Outcomes. They found that organizations, where employees have above average attitudes toward their work (that is, high employee satisfaction), have:
38% higher customer satisfaction scores
22% higher productivity, and
27% higher profits!
Satisfying employees, by ensuring that they have meaningful work and are treated well, is not only a nice thing to do; it makes good business sense.
So, if you want to transform the danger into an opportunity for your organization to flourish — and make money — pay your employees with more than just money!

Is Money A Motivator?

2005-12-02T05:08:00.000-08:00

Is Money a Motivator?
Yes, at lower levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, such as Physiological needs, money is a motivator, however it tends to have a motivating effect on staff that lasts only for a short period. At higher levels of the hierarchy, praise, respect, recognition, empowerment and a sense of belonging are far more powerful motivators than money, as both Abraham Maslow and Douglas McGregor's Theory X and theory Y have demonstrated vividly.
Maslow has money at the lowest level of the hierarchy and shows other needs are better motivators to staff. McGregor places money in his Theory X category and feels it is a poor motivator. Praise and recognition are placed in the Theory Y category and are considered stronger motivators than money. Yes Money is the Great Motivator Now A Days as Most Peopla Want to fulfill their material desires...............MORE ON KAALCHAKRA

Perseverance is the key to success

2005-11-30T17:18:00.000-08:00

Remember that making mistakes is part of learning.
Helga’s first try at establishing her jewelry store failed. After re-evaluating her experience, she opened another jewelry store. Helga is now the proud owner of three successful stores.
Helga didn’t fail in her first attempt. Failure occurs when we quit or stop trying. Helga has perseverance - “stick-to-itiveness.”
Perseverance is the key to success. After thousands of efforts to make the electric light bulb, Thomas Edison said, “I haven’t failed, I’ve identified 10,000 ways that it doesn’t work.” Mario Lemieux, Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, Marie Curie and an endless list of other great achievers found that success inevitably arrives for everyone who perseveres.
Acquiring a desired job or promotion, or succeeding at business may present difficulties. But this is part of the learning process. Ultimately, people who persevere become successful. They learn from mistakes.
Do you persevere? Or, after meeting rejection or difficulties, do you quit?
Test Your Perseverance QuotientRate yourself – on a scale of one to three, one being low and three being high – on each of the following:
I believe in myself.
I have clear career goals.
I address my limitations.
I bounce back from disappointment.
I have the stamina to persist.
My family and friends support me in my pursuit of goals.
I can adapt to change.
I focus and complete projects.
My goals are consistent with my purpose and values.
I can take unpopular actions when I believe I’m right.
Add your scores. The higher your score, the more perseverant you are.
Tips for Persevering
Clarify your goal. Base it on your mission/passion, needs and abilities. Know why you want your goal and how you and others will benefit.State your goal in the present. Write desired outcomes, what you want to accomplish. Be detailed, specific, positive.
Intend to achieve you goal. Outline goal, strategies and timeline. Know resources that can help you attain your goal, such as people, associations and the Internet. Break the goal into small steps, working backward form your desired outcome and achievement date.
Develop support systems. Meet regularly with positive, encouraging people who support your goals and celebrate your achievements. Select other sources of positive reinforcement such as books or tapes with uplifting themes.
Choose productive attitudes and behaviors. Don’t dwell in the past, worry about what might happen or view yourself as a victim.Maintain optimism. Reinforce the positive in yourself and others. Expect good things. Watch self-talk. Replace negative thoughts or statements with positive ones. Keep a diary of each day’s good experiences.Focus on what you can do. Acknowledge your accomplishments. Judge your accomplishments against personal standards of self-improvements.Have the courage of your convictions. Don’t change for others or compare yourself with others.
Develop the will to risk. Don’t fear mistakes. Ask: ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ Decide whether you could live with the worst or take steps to reduce the chance of it happening.Research your goal to reduce negative outcomes. For example, interview successful people who have achieved similar goals. Learn from their mistakes.Live in the present. Don’t worry about what might happen. View mistakes as opportunities to grow.Let go of attachments. The more attached you are to something, the greater the fear of losing it.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Care for you mind, body, emotions and spirit. Schedule quiet times to think and reassess. Practice stress relievers such as deep breathing, exercise, meditation. Get sufficient sleep, eat healthy. Take time for fun and friends.
Practice imagery. Imagine yourself living your goal today. Hold your desired outcome firmly in your mind. See, smell, touch and hear aspects of your goal. Each morning upon rising, review your goal. Repeat the process at night.
Persist. Focus on goals daily. With every “no” of defeat you’re closer to a “yes” of success. If you learn from set-backs and stay on course, success will follow. Every day, at regular intervals, ask yourself whether your activities are helping you attain your goal.Believe you’ll attain your goal. Persevere. When your mind, emotions and activities focus on your goal, you can achieve the extraordinary. http://motivation-confidence.blogspot.com/

5 Tips For Exciting Speeches

2005-11-27T06:51:00.000-08:00

5 Tips for Exciting Speeches
1. Open Hot, Close Hotter. To grab audience attention and be remembered, start the presentation with a bang, not a limp, "Thanks, it's nice to be here." The first (and last) 30 seconds have the most impact on the audience. Save any greetings and gratitude until they've already grabbed the audience with a powerful opening. And don't end with a whimper. Remember that last words linger. Unfortunately, many speakers close with, "Are there any questions?" Wrong! Instead, say, "Before I close, are there any questions?" Answer them. Then close on a high note. 2. Get the Inside Scoop. Attendees at one of my seminars, "How to Be a Coach to Your Client," want to know how they can personalize and add excitement and color to the speeches they craft for others. How, they ask, can they get those invaluable inside stories? I suggested they do what I do--interview the speaker's client's colleagues and family members. These people are familiar with the "stories" the speaker often tells, stories that have already been honed to what I call the "Hollywood model" (characters, dialogue, dramatic lesson learned). What insights and amusing stories can they share? Advise your members to ask others for input that can provide color and energy to a presentation. 3. Try Inside-Out Speaking. Don't write speeches for people to read. Instead, sit down with them, in person or on the phone, and ask them questions. I do this, pulling out of them their ideas, stories, life experiences, philosophies, and examples through questions. Then my job is to help them organize, wordsmith, and deliver these comments with more drama. Although the client and I often end up with a script that can then be edited and tightened, the words grow out of our conversations. I call this "inside-out" speaking. My work represents a cleaned-up conversation; one the speaker is going to have with the audience. Of course, a script is not a conversation, but if it sounds conversational, it is far more appealing and much easier to deliver directly to the audience without reading it word for word. Emotional contact is impossible without eye contact. 4. Provide Five Magic Moments. How are great speeches like classic Hollywood movies? Movie promoters say that a successful film has to have five magic moments for each viewer, though not necessarily the same five. When it does, people will talk about it and add enough energy to a paid advertising campaign to make it a hit. Be sure each presentation has five great moments--dramatic, humorous, profound, or poignant--that the audience can relive in their minds later and repeat to their friends. 5. Avoid Borrowed Stories. I urge you to create vivid, personal stories for their presentations. Imagine how I once felt, sitting in an audience of 18,000 people, listening to Barbara Bush describe a great story she had read in Chicken Soup for the Soul--my own story which made the point, "What you do speaks louder than what you say." (Yes, I know Ralph Waldo Emerson said it first.) Did Barbara Bush mention it was my story? No. But even if she had mentioned my name, I think she missed a huge opportunity with her speech. Back then; I imagined her sitting in bed at the White House, going through stacks of books with a highlighter pen for things to talk about. Since then, I've realized that a speech writer did the research and wrote her words. My point? I'm not upset she didn't credit me. Just disappointed that someone with Barbara Bush's incredible life experiences did not share them. I am sure she had much more interesting recent topics and perceptions than reporting on something someone said to me many years ago. That's how audiences will feel if your members repeat things they've read instead of experienced.

Maintaining Your Motivation

2005-11-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

Maintaining Your Motivation-By Kelley Robertson
I recently spoke to a group of sales professionals at the end of their training conference. The attendees had participated in many learning sessions over a two day period – most of which were product related. I was scheduled to speak after dinner and I was somewhat concerned how attentive they would be by this time.
Fortunately, in the days preceding, the company had structured the entire program to create energy, excitement and to foster a sense of team enthusiasm. They had a theme and encouraged their vendors to incorporate the theme into each of their individual presentations. They awarded prizes for the team with the most energy and highest level of participation, and by the time dinner was served, the group was pumped. They were excited. And they were highly motivated and charged up. When I left that evening, I knew that these individuals would bring a renewed energy and drive to their work place. I was also confident that the company would see a definite increase in their sales in the weeks to follow.
It reminded me how motivational a conference, training workshop or corporate gathering can be. It reinforced the importance of participating in sessions like these on a regular basis, if for no other reason, but to ignite our own personal motivation.
Running a business is tiring, stressful and challenging. Small business owners are required to wear many hats, often at the same time, while executives of large organizations often have more problems and politics to manage on a daily basis. It is not uncommon for the business to drain our energy and motivation, regardless of how much we enjoy the business. If you do not take time to recharge your batteries and refresh your perspective it is easy to find yourself frustrated with your business.
That is why it is imperative to have a personal motivation plan in place. This means taking advantage of opportunities that will help you maintain your motivation. Here are few suggestions to help get you started.
Attend a personal development workshop. Identify an area in your business or personal live that you would like to improve. At the beginning of each year, I determine what types of programs I want to attend and begin looking for them. I find that these sessions give me a short break from the daily grind of my business and help me see things from a different perspective. Training programs, night courses, or weekend seminars that focus on a specific topic can give you a much needed boost in your energy.
Join a Master Mind group. Meeting with other like-minded people can help you see your business from a different perspective. An effective group will have between six and eight members from a variety of industries and will usually meet several times a year. If you have the right chemistry between members, these meetings will not only help you improve your business, they will also motivate you to try new approaches and market your business differently.
Exercise. I am an avid runner and have completed two marathons and several half marathons. I occasionally find myself in a position when I cannot run for a period of time due to illness, injury, or the demands of work. Without fail, I notice a decrease in my personal motivation during these times. Regular exercise helps your body work more effectively and efficiently. Although I usually catch myself thinking about work related issues during my runs, I often notice that I develop more creative solutions when I am exercising.
Read or listen to motivational material. Instead of reading the daily newspaper with breakfast or coffee in the morning, try reading inspirational material instead. A well-written book that offers sound advice is more motivating than reading about the latest market declines. Listening to motivational tapes or CD’s in your car for one hour everyday can actually give you the equivalent of a university degree in a few years time.
Take time off. It is not a badge of honor to state, “I’m too busy to take time off.” In today’s fast-paced business world, it is critical to take time off for vacation and rest and relaxation. Even a long weekend away from your business can be restful. A true vacation also means completely avoiding email and voicemail. Yes, you will have hundreds of messages to deal with when you return, but you will have a renewed focus and energy to do this.
Lastly, associate with positive people. I have made it a point in the latter part of my career to distance myself from negative individuals. They drain your energy, will not support your goals and desires, and do little to motivate you. On the other hand, positive and optimistic people will uplift your spirits and help you through challenging times.

Employee Motivation

2005-11-27T06:38:00.000-08:00

Employee Motivation - The 8 BasicsBy Martin Haworth
Building a team of motivated people in your business is vital to get the very best results, but so many managers focus on the 'ra-ra-ra', rather than the important things - the things that make people feel comfortable in their working environment. Here are eight that you might want to have a think about:
The WeatherIs it too hot, or too cold. Your people need an environment which is, like Goldilocks said, 'Just right'. So is the office too stuffy in summer? Or too icy in winter? Is it draughty? Do people get wet when accepting deliveries, because the outside roof leaks? Literally make sure that external factors are as they wish.
The BreaksSometimes working in a day-to-day job can get boring and exhausting. So people need to know when their breaks are and that they wil be able to take them - it's not that complicated. Yet often, they just aren't able to have this basic courtesy in place. Planning and caring for your people's needs is vital. It's what you would want for yourself, isn't it?
HolidaysAnd vacations/holidays are important too - some would say it's the most important thing on the working year calendar. So enable this to happen, when they need to know, so that they can plan their invaluable time away from the business and refresh.
Being HeardYou people need you to listen to then and hear them - really hear what they are saying and respond with action and/or acknowledgement. Be out there creating good, open relationships with your people and take in what they say - what's important to them - and deliver solutions to make conditions great.
Achievable GoalsBy being really, really clear about what you expect from your employees, you will set the scene for committed staff. Through knowing exactly what their performance should look like to be judged excellent, by you, gets buy-in, big-time. So be clear, give them the resources to achieve success and they will be well onside.
Being ThankedAs they do a good job for you each day - tell them. It's easy - just say 'Thank You'! Appreciation for achieving success, especially when it's from the boss is so important. So recognising excellent performance, even for small tasks, cost nothing and takes but a moment - worth building into your day job activities - every day!
ChallengePeople like to do new things, to explore, to seek out and utilise their potential, Sometimes this means they will have to be 'stretched' in what they do. With a helping hand, to support, coach and grow the skills of your people, you are setting in place a keen, ambitious and ready-for-the-next-experience star in the making. So find new ways to develop them.
SecurityIn today's business climate, it isn't always easy to build the best future consistently - things change too much, too quickly. But you can go some way to ensure that it is a safe place to be. With this level of security, your people will loosen up and feel capable of being with you, rather than against. It is a measure of your own leadership as to how well this works.

Are you A Motivator

2005-11-27T06:07:00.000-08:00

Are You the "Motivator"By Vera Haitayan
We're all aware of how important teamwork is and how an inspired team, working together toward a clearly defined goal, can accomplish tremendous results. But how do you get all co-workers to pull together and realize they are a vital link in a much bigger picture?
Remember that individuals make a team. Individual contributions add up to the greater whole. Ask for the team's ideas and suggestions and base specific goals on these. Be sure each team member understands his/her role in the overall plan.
Communicate clearly. Present information in an organized, easy-to-follow way. Make it clear; communication within the group is a two-way process. Acknowledge everyone's thoughts, ideas and fears equally. And above all, be honest.
Be a good example. Maintain firm, fair and clearly understood standards. Tackle unpleasant tasks as soon as possible. If criticism is necessary, make it constructive. Keep emotions in check.
Delegate. No one can do everything. Understand which jobs don't need your personal touch and trust them to someone else. Match jobs to skills and abilities, providing necessary training and encouragement. Provide goals and guidelines.
Accept change. Discuss changes - also suggested changes - with your team thoroughly. Reassure team players that the changes are positive, clearly pointing out the benefits. Encourage all members to express their feelings about what's happening and tend to wounded egos appropriately.
Praise with specifics. Focus on performance & behavior and not on the person. Do it regularly and in a timely fasion.

Importance Of Motivation

2005-11-27T05:58:00.000-08:00

Importance of motivation
Most motivation theorists assume that motivation is involved in the performance of all learned responses; that is, a learned behavior will not occur unless it is energized. The major question among psychologists, in general, is whether motivation is a primary or secondary influence on behavior. That is, are changes in behavior better explained by principles of environmental/ecological influences, perception, memory, cognitive development, emotion, explanatory style, or personality or are concepts unique to motivation more pertinent.
For example, we know that people respond to increasingly complex or novel events (or stimuli) in the environment up to a point and then responses decrease. This inverted-U-shaped curve of behavior is well-known and widely acknowledged (e.g., Yerkes & Dodson, 1908). However, the major issue is one of explaining this phenomenon. Is this a conditioning (is the individual behaving because of past classical or operant conditioning), a motivational process (from an internal state of arousal), or is there some better explanation?
The relationship of motivation and emotion
Emotion (an indefinite subjective sensation experienced as a state of arousal) is different from motivation in that there is not necessarily a goal orientation affiliated with it. Emotions occur as a result of an interaction between perception of environmental stimuli, neural/hormonal responses to these perceptions (often labeled feelings), and subjective cognitive labeling of these feelings (Kleinginna and Kleinginna, 1981b). Evidence suggests there is a small core of core emotions (perhaps 6 or 8) that are uniquely associated with a specific facial expression (Izard, 1990). This implies that there are a small number of unique biological responses that are genetically hard-wired to specific facial expressions. A further implication is that the process works in reverse: if you want to change your feelings (i.e., your physiological functioning), you can do so by changing your facial expression. That is, if you are motivated to change how you feel and your feeling is associated with a specific facial expression, you can change that feeling by purposively changing your facial expression. Since most of us would rather feel happy than otherwise, the most appropriate facial expression would be a smile.
Explanations of influences/causes of arousal and direction may be different from explanations of persistence
In general, explanations regarding the source(s) of motivation can be categorized as either extrinsic (outside the person) or intrinsic (internal to the person). Intrinsic sources and corresponding theories can be further subcategorized as either body/physical, mind/mental (i.e., cognitive, affective, conative) or transpersonal/spiritual.

motivation

2005-11-27T05:53:00.000-08:00

Motivation is the push of the mental forces to accomplish an action. Unsatisfied needs motivate. On the biological level basic human needs of food, shelter and survival are powerful motivators. On the psychological level people need to be understood, affirmed, validated and appreciated. On the business level motivation occurs when people perceive a clear business reason for pursuing a transfer of knowledge or practices.

In psychology, motivation is the driving force (desire) behind all actions of human beings, animals, and lower organisms.

Many textbooks define it as an internal state or condition that activates behavior and gives it direction, desire or want that energizes and directs goal-oriented behavior, or an influence of needs and desires on the intensity and direction of behavior.

Motivation is often based on emotions, specifically, on the search for positive emotional experiences and the avoidance of negative ones, where positive and negative are defined by the individual brain state, not by social norms: a person may be driven to self-injury or violence because their brain is conditioned to create a positive response to these actions. Motivation is important because it is involved in the performance of all learned responses.