Foundations of Motivation

Motivated by Resolution

2010-09-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." A Lincoln

Getting Motivated by Pain

2010-05-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

Getting on My Last Nerve
Business Lessons Learned from My Nervous System

I am in pain. Massive pain. I have a pinched nerve in my neck and it radiates pain across my collar bone, to the top of my arm and all the way down in a special electric current to my wrist and finally a ball of fire to my hand. It started two weeks ago for no apparent reason except for the fact I slept wrong in a funny position one night and then it got progressively worse. Each day it hurt more and I started to take steps to solve it at first on my own, and then later with medical professionals.
As I have gone through this experience- I realize there are many parallels to running or working for a successful business.
Below are the mistakes that I made and the business mistakes I see many making every day. Maybe it is time to check on the nervous system of your business and get a checkup.

Mistake #1- Redeye flight from LA. About three days after my neck and shoulder started hurting I took a redeye flight overnight from L.A to Philly. I was crammed into a window seat for my direct flight which was crowded hot, and I didn’t sleep much. I feel asleep against the window and tossed and wiggled in the small space I had as mine. At 6:00 am on a weekend morning I landed stiff and sore. Why do I think I am Teflon? That I can abuse my body and not have consequences? That I can do it all? (By the way I work for myself so the pressure is self imposed.)
Business Lesson- Why do we push our team so hard they start to break down physically? I have conducted many training classes lately were someone (an employee) arrived for class sick as a dog. Is that expected of them? Can you learn anything when you are sniffing and sneezing? I know many companies where people are expected to call in to conference calls when they are on vacation and answer emails the whole time they are gone. Why? Don’t we know people do need to take breaks?
Do you see yourself in this mirror? I just think we need to start drawing some lines somewhere. When people are driven to burn out- productivity doesn’t go up it goes down.

Mistake #2- Treat it with heat. I started laying on the heating pads for my pain, using both heating pads and those patches you buy and attach to the spot like a personal remora to cure the pain. My pain shark wasn’t having it. Nope- it made it worse. Once I talked to my Chiropractor and my family Doctor both of them said I did the opposite of what I needed to do (I should have been icing it.) Whoops. I now wish I would have done the research first before jumping in trying to solve it.
Business Lesson- how many times do we address the wrong area, applying massive effort (sales are down- it must be our sales people) only to find it is not the problem? A recent client wanted to address the “morale problem” of the team but not the lack of communication skills of several of the team leaders. Take the time to talk to everyone involved and do the research before jumping in too fast.

Mistake #3- Massage from heck. On Sunday I was in agony. Pain. Full.
I decide to get a massage to “work out” the muscles that were causing me so much pain. They worked me over like I was a ‘57 Chevy on the TV Show Overhalin’. As they say in the south “they tore me up.” It was the most painful 20 minutes of my life. I just kept thinking it was going to get better- but just kept hurting worse. My lizard brain was screaming “make them stop!” and my logical brain was saying “this is good for you.” I should have stopped after five minutes and left. Come to find out they were pushing and griding on my nerve in my neck and making it worse.
Business Lesson- Sometimes our instinct in the world of business is saying “ this doesn’t feel right.” Yet if the numbers, the P&L, the money, the resumes of the parties involved and their backgrounds and pedigrees all look great then we choose to ignore our own voice. We do this at our own peril. Years after you dissolve a business partnership people still say “I never knew what you saw in your partner.” Oops. After you drop a vendor hundreds of customers tell you how shabbily they were treated. Ouch. We need to listen to the voice in the back of our head- that is why we have it to begin with.

Mistake #4- Not resting. Right now instead of writing this article, I guess I should be resting. Instead of working. Maybe. Yes. No.I don’t know. The central point is when you own your own business it’s just you and the reason you are successful is the drive that is there. If you work for an organization you are successful because you have a work ethic and an innate sense or responsibility. As the old saying goes, you are only as good as your last month.
Business Lesson- I think we need to figure out when to rest and when not to. In today’s shaky economic world maybe we feel like we can’t. So when do we rest?

So we need take some time to think through what we are doing and how we are doing it. But not at a shallow level a more in depth level- really look at the nervous system of our organization. I have to go fill up my ice pack.

2010-04-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

The Gnashing of Teeth
Why everyone wishes you would stop complaining
By Shawn Doyle

“Boy it’s too cold.”
“This economy is awful and so is my business.”
“My flight was delayed- I hate this airline.”
“My taxes are outrageous.”
“The boss is driving me crazy.”
“I can’t believe how many hours I work per week.”

I travel on the road almost every week- and every week hear the wicked litany of complaining, whining, grousing and gnashing of teeth. I have to tell you I am sick of it. Sick. Of. It. Right now I wish every one of the complainers in the world would be forced to attend a positive thinking seminar, read an Anthony Robbins book or get a massive attitude transplant (which I would gladly pay for). These people don’t realize the massive toxic energy sucking impact they are having on everyone around them. These smile killing, enthusiasm draining, optimism dissolving, mood downing people are ruining it for everyone else. Yep that is right; you are sucking the life out of the meeting room.

If you know someone like this, work with someone like this,or god forbid (and I am sorry if you are) are married to someone like this- please tear out this article and give it to them.Today.

Dear complaining person: This article was given to you by someone who cares about you. Below are the reasons why everyone wishes you would just stop complaining. Please read carefully and apply immediately.

1. Complaining has no inherent value. What does complaining do? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zippo. It doesn’t drive sales, increase revenue, increase profits or efficiency. Instead of complaining why don’t you (here is an idea) DO something about it? Find a problem opportunity or challenge and solve it? As Robert Cook once said “Say and do something positive that will help the situation; it doesn't take any brains to complain.”

2. No one will want to be around you. I was on a plane and a guy got on board and sat next to me in the window seat in coach. “Hello- how are you?” I asked cheerfully. He had an angry expression on his face and said “I am supposed to be in first class and on this flight I am not. I am always in first class and this is an outrage! I am chairman /platinum/president/VIP preferred status.” He then proceeded to complain about it for the first thirty minutes of the flight about being in coach. When it was time for drinks and he had to pay for them (the audacity of this airline!)- he started again. O.K.- it was time for me to grab my noise cancelling headphones. I would rather have bamboo driven under my finger nails than be around people like this man. When you are a complainer- after a while no one wants to listen to you and they don’t want to be around your poison spewing yapper. Seriously.

3. You are raising a pack of pessimists. If you are a pessimist/complainer parent - then you will have a huge impact on your kids. Your kids will become like you a complainer, and negative energy sucking vampire. Is this the future you want for them? No don’t tell me “that won’t happen”- children learn by who you are not by what you say. This is who you are raising them to become.

4. You have a dim future at work. Yep that is right- no one who is a specialist at complaining gets promoted. Companies and organizations want positive upbeat energetic team members who will do what needs to be done and not complain about it.

5. We have enough negative in the world with out you piling on. Let’s face it, the world itself is negative enough with things like wars, murder mayhem and oh lets say the economy, without you adding to it. We don’t need you to help the dark side win. Ever watch the evening news? We need someone who brings light and optimism and inspiration to our lives. Not darkness and depression.

6. This is not good for your health. Being the Oscar the grouch of your entire row of the plane is not good for your health. Your blood pressure is going up. You are giving yourself any number of diseases and disorders with your sad sack approach, including heart disease and maybe even cancer. So lighten up and live longer. Besides most of the stuff you are all worked up about is minor and doesn’t even matter that much. (so your boss got on to you about your expense report – who cares? You didn’t get fired did you?)

7. I know you weren’t always like this. I am going to guess that at one point in your life (as a child) you were bright cheerful and optimistic. At some point in life – life’s bumps and bruises caused you to change your perspective. News flash- its time to get over it and move on. Every day you have a decision to make; be optimistic and cheerful or a pain in everyone backside; your choice. Here is a compelling question I would like you to consider; at the end of your life how do you want to be remembered? As a lonely miserable person or as an inspiration?

8. As a leader you are letting your team down. People want leaders who are problem solvers not problem makers. The most miserable moments in my career have been when I had a manager who was a complainer. The days become long and the nights longer.

So Mister or Ms. Complainer you have a choice to embrace this content or ignore it. I will see you in row nine on my next flight.

Get Motivated by Letting Your Light Shine

2010-03-10T17:16:00.000-08:00

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Nelson Mandela

Be a Motivated Master

2010-03-08T16:23:00.000-08:00

Mastery in the Age of the Overnight Success
By Shawn Doyle

I was recently asked by a young bright college senior a compelling question. The question was “Once I graduate, how do I become an expert and thought leader in my field?”
My answer: “Seek total and complete mastery.” That led to a dialogue about what true mastery means. I realize I am starting to sound like some sort of mystical guru- which I promise you I am not. ( I don’t even own a white flowing robe) However, this fascinating discussion did get me to think about a key question- why don’t many of us seek mastery in our respective fields?

Webster’s defines mastery as : command or grasp, as of a subject: a mastery of Italian. 2. superiority or victory: mastery over one's enemies. 3. the act of mastering. 4. expert skill or knowledge. 5. the state of being master; power of command or control.

Unfortunately we live in a fast food age where the media is constantly crowning the latest entrepreneur wunderkind who is the overnight success. It might be the creator of some new technology, internet application, or a new musical artist who hits it big. Infomercials promise dramatic overnight results. Contestants on The Biggest Loser T.V. show lose 15 pounds in one week. This gives the distinct impression that this is how success really happens. As most people know this is the exception not the rule. A career is a marathon not a sprint- a very long run down a dusty road.

The only way to truly be successful is to seek mastery. The people that are masters in their field make the most money, are the most successful and have stability and longevity. As Alan Pease once said, “Brain surgeons earn 10 times that of a general practitioner... it pays to be an expert.”

We all know masters when we see them. Think Warren Buffet, Jack Welch, Andrew Wyeth, Willie Nelson, Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, and Maya Angelou.

So how do you achieve mastery in your field? Based on my experience executive coaching and working with thousands of people across the country in the last twenty years-here is what I have learned:

They have been doing their work for many many years- In the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell he asserts that most people who are extraordinarily successful ( masters) have been practicing their craft for at least 10,000 hours to achieve that level of competence. The idea is if you do one thing for 10,000 hours you generally get pretty good at it. Many people I meet don’t have the patience or aren’t willing to invest that kind of time and effort.
Question: How many hours have you invested in mastery of your field?

They constantly hone their craft- My wife is a bead artist and has been one for about seven years. She takes glass rods and melts them in a torch bending and molding them around a steel mandrel into beautiful delicate decorative beads. They are called “ Lamp workers.” She has taken lessons from other master bead artists, reads the bead magazines and has watched endless amount of lampworking instruction videos. I look at other bead artists and I think right now she is in the top 10% in her field. She does not find that acceptable. When asked she says “I want to be in the top 1%.” So she keeps experimenting and practicing her art- and wants to take more lessons from other masters who are already in the top 1%.She has not achieved mastery- yet.
Question: What will you do this year to hone your craft?

They keep up with the latest developments in their field- Many people discount the idea of attending trade shows, symposiums and special training events because they are expensive and time consuming. They don’t belong to or participate in their industry associations. They have piles of dusty trade journals on the back of their desk they never read. But they are missing the point- this is where the new ideas emerge and massive connections with other experts can be made. How can you be a master if you don’t know what other masters are doing? I recently attended a National Speakers Association Meeting. There were 400 professional speakers who gathered for three days on a weekend and on their own dime.
Question: How do you keep up with the latest developments in your field?

They are driven by their passion- They have a passion for their work and the field they have chosen. When asked they will tell you- “even if they didn’t pay me- I would do it for free.” This kind of energy and enthusiasm drives the work and energy required to achieve mastery. They want to be a master in their field because they love it.
Question: Do you have a passion for what you do? If not with all do respect- get out and go do something else.

One last thought- if you were seeking out a medical specialist, and I asked you what you were looking for I know what you would say: “I want the best in the region- or maybe the best in the world.” It almost goes without saying.

But it needs to be said. Isn’t it what you would want people to say I you?

Don’t you want to be that person?

Get Motivated by Using the Power of Encouragement

2010-03-01T07:14:00.000-08:00

My wife bought me a card a few weeks ago and put it on my desk. It reads:

" This is your life- your journey.It's up to you to dream it, build it, imagine it, go after it. I am so proud you are doing just that. Even if no one else knows your dream or how you'll make it come true, no one else needs to, because it is yours.So go ahead. Make it happen."

Sometimes a simple act of encouragement can mean the most. So two questions:

1) Who encourages you?
2) Who can you encourage?

(c) copy on card copyright of Hallmark Cards

Get Motivated by Having Laser Focus

2010-02-26T12:46:00.000-08:00

Right now there are wars. There are political battles being fought over health care. Trainers at Sea World are killed by Shamu. Famous actors in rehab. Banks have reduced credit lines for legitimate businesses. All the awful news, murder and mayhem. What do you do to stay motivated? Don't let them get to you. They want to get to you. How dare you think you can succeed didn't you hear the news?
No matter what happens stay sharp and focused on YOUR plan. You are the architect of you own life. Say to yourself- " yes I see all this stuff but despite it I am going to be successful." I have a plan and passion and talent and the rest of this stuff is just noise. The rest of the world can be tempted by this tender trap but no not me!" Eyes forward- GO!

Get Motivated by Knowing Your Passion Now!

2010-02-23T14:29:00.000-08:00

What to be more Passionate? Check out this video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9ceLLixh3E

Get Motivated by Being Amazing

2010-02-22T14:41:00.001-08:00

"Success is something you attract by the person you become." Jim Rohn

Get Motivated by Motivating Yourself

2010-02-12T07:01:00.000-08:00

Great article from Life Optimizer
http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2008/10/22/self-motivation-how-to-motivate-yourself/

Get Motivated by Understanding Ambition

2010-02-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article by Jim Rohn about ambition. Enjoy!
http://www.woopidoo.com/articles/jimrohn/ambition-article.htm

Get Motivated by Choosing How You Respond

2010-02-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

There is a blizzard here. It's is going to snow 15- 21 inches.I am professional speaker and trainer. This week I have had one keynote, and three days of training cancelled. I don't get paid unless I speak. Am I worried about it? Nope. Why would I worry about something I cant control? I think Leo said it best:
"There are two big forces at work, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, disasters, illness and pain. What really matters is the internal force. How do I respond to those disasters? Over that I have complete control."
- Leo Buscalia

Get Motivtaed by Learning

2010-02-09T06:13:00.000-08:00

Secret Weapon in the New Economy- Learning!

Here is a typical call I get about twice a month.
“Hello Mr. Doyle, you don’t know me, but I am “so and so” I know you are a professional speaker. I want to become a professional speaker and was wondering if I might have thirty minutes of your time.”
I think I am (at least I hope I am) a nice person. I like to give back to the profession I dearly love, and I like to reward people who have initiative, hustle, drive, chutzpah, boldness or whatever name you may have for it. A few weeks later we have a call together. They want me to tell them how to become a professional speaker. I give them some ideas tips and techniques. The next question I have is “what have read or studied about speaking as a profession?” The answer is of course they haven’t. They just called me. They then say “I wouldn’t really know how to find information on that.” Huh? This is the problem. We have people in the world who want to have information and knowledge handed to them and it doesn’t work that way. Yet ironically we live in an information rich society where information and data is abundant and almost free.
There are people who build cars that have only built cars for twenty years. That is all they know. There are people who work for banks that have only done banking for twenty years. That is all they know. There are people who have built microchips for twenty and that is all they know. Then they get laid off. They are in desperate trouble because they know nothing else. So what do we do? Each one of us have an obligation to be ready for change and each one of us has to learn and develop new skills so we won’t be at the mercy of an economy a company or an industry. We need to all be ready to be free agents. The secret weapon for surviving and thriving in the new economy is learning. Because most people don’t or wont - you immediate separate your self from the competition. How? There are some myths you have to get over, some paradigm shifts you need to make now.

Myth #1: My Company doesn’t provide the training or learning I need. Maybe they do maybe they won’t. Find out. Many people I meet don’t tap into resources that are available to them because they don’t bother to find out. My brother in law worked for a city in Georgia as a gas man and hated his job. He met with the City Manager and said he wanted to be a police officer. The city paid to send him to the Police Academy and they paid him while he was going. Ask. Many companies have educational reimbursement programs other learning benefits that are buried in the back of an employee handbook. There are also many great internal training programs that are offered and don’t have to always be job related.

Myth #2: My company doesn’t provide it and I can’t afford it. Can’t afford to learn? Well I don’t think you can afford not to learn. Besides how much does a library card cost? How many books, videos and CD’s can you get form the library? How much is the internet once you pay your monthly fee? How much is a mentor’s advice? How much does it cost to borrow materials from friends and colleagues? Most people think of learning as some expensive conference or training seminar. It is often cheap or free you just have to have initiative and imagination.

Myth #3: It too late to change what I do now. It’s never too late to change. In my career, I have been a Lifeguard, Veterinary Technician, Retail Store Manage, Salesperson, Sales Manager, Trainer, Director or Training, Vice President of Training and now an Entrepreneur. I believe that everyone will have multiple careers in their lifetime. But be ready for it by learning the necessary skills that will prepare you for that change.
Myth #4: I can’t control what happens to me. True. But you can be ready for change, instead of sitting and waiting for it too happen. As Andy Warhol once said “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” So it is the remarkable difference between being proactive and reactive. So have a plan. What do you want to be and do and have in the future? Make it happen by creating a learning strategy. I recently me a young man at a meeting who told me he worked for the company but he had his own “long term play” as he put it. He had started 5 internet radio stations and was building up the number of listeners, which was at 900,000. When he reaches 3 million listeners he said “I can then generate serious advertising revenue.” I asked why he was doing that he said “because I am in control of me and if the economy goes south and I get laid off I have will have revenue.”
So here is the deal. It’s your bus- you’re the one driving so take the wheel! If you do not have a plan one will be provided for you and it won’t be your own.

Myth #5: All this networking stuff is time consuming and pointless- You get tons of get invitations for LinkedIn, Facebook, My Space and many other networking kinds of sites. You think it is a waste of time. You could be wrong. I am not saying be on all of them. I am saying that being connected to someone on LinkedIn might help you find resources you need to learn something. Someone out there knows a resource, a connection, a source, which other wise you would have never know or even considered. Live networking at chamber functions or other business related networking can have the same impact. So go ahead and build your resources now.

So the way to make your self less “fire-able”, less “downsize-able” less disposable, is to be smarter. This makes you more hirable, valuable and indispensible and invaluable to the people you work for.
So learn. Invest in yourself and invest in a brighter future.

Get Motivated by Reading Positive News

2010-02-08T05:27:00.000-08:00

Finally a site that puts out good positive inspiring news!
Daryn Kagen was a news anchor who left the rat race to do something positive.
http://darynkagan.ning.com/

Get Motivated by Eliminating Negative Thinking

2010-02-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

"Once our minds are 'tattooed' with negative thinking, our chances for long-term success diminish."
- John Maxwell

Get Motivated by Being Amazing

2010-02-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

Here us a great blog posting by Seth Godin...http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/02/whats-expected-vs-whats-amazing.html
Want to get more motivated? Be amazing!

Get Motivated by Not Being in a Hurry

2010-02-05T06:32:00.000-08:00

Great posting on the Zen Habits Site- this will make you think!
http://zenhabits.net/2010/01/no-hurry/

Live for Today

2010-02-04T10:50:00.000-08:00

"Dream as if you have forever. Live as if you only have today".
- James Dean

Get Motivated by Remembering

2010-02-03T18:00:00.000-08:00

Remembering What We are Forgetting: A Real Life Lesson

The following story is real. It’s not a network TV show, not a Nicolas Sparks novel, not a Julia Roberts movie. It is real and crushing and can hold within it some very heartfelt lessons if you are willing to read it and remember.

It started last September. I got an email from a business acquaintance.
“I guess you heard about him- I hope it call works out o.k. – kind of a bummer.”
I wrote back:
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He wrote back within a few minutes:
“Call me.”
When he answered the phone he didn’t sound like himself- he sounded tentative and tight. His voice had less power than normal, a little hollow.
“Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but he has a brain tumor.”
It’s one of those moments when you are struck silent for a few seconds so caught off guard your mind does a back flip and short circuits.
“What kind?”
“The really bad kind. Malignant.”
“Oh no.”
I hung up consumed in thought. My very good friend, someone I had worked with really closely the last three years was lying in a hospital and was going to have surgery to remove a large brain tumor the next day. He had a wife and two kids, owned a business, and was a member of a church. The nicest guy I have ever known was… dying.
I steeled myself for the visit to ICU three days later, preparing for the tubes, beeps and the odds smells. The distinct feeling I get (that every one is being cheerful but they are hiding their despair.) I hate hospitals and hate going to them but this wasn’t about me. It was about my friend and his family.
I approached his room and tentatively walked in the door, not wanted to intrude if he was asleep or involved with some medical procedure.
“Well! It’s a great day when Shawn Doyle walks in to your room to visit!” He said brightly.
He was sitting up in a chair- with a big smile on his face. Half of his head was shaved and a Frankenstein incision with staples ran from his forehead all the way back and curled to under his ear. He was grinning at me like a Cheshire cat.
“ How are you?”
“ Like my haircut?”
“ It’s very rock and roll- maybe a new look for ya buddy. Maybe get some leather pants”
He smiled and sat there with the most contended look on this face. “You know Shawn I am a very blessed man. I have the best family in the world, and look at the amazing technology we have now I mean what they can do… it’s a miracle really.”
“Yeah I can’t believe you are sitting up already.”
“ Oh I had a great breakfast this morning I got up and walked around my room a little and I have to tell you – I am going to beat this thing. I just know it.”
We had a great conversation for about an hour. As I left the hospital I was thinking to myself “what an amazing turn of events it was; I went to cheer him up and I’ll be darned if he didn’t inspire me instead.”
I called him at home in October and November and he was always positive upbeat and full of energy. He never had anything negative to say. Ever.

December 29th I got a call from his wife. “Oh Hi how are you? How is he? ” I said. She sighed and paused and said “Well I have some bad news – he uh, passed way the day after Christmas.”

We had a short conversation about funeral details and I offered my lame condolences and told her I would help in any way I could. The kind of empty things you say to someone who is inconsolable. Words are so inadequate at times.

So why am I writing about this in a business magazine? Why? because we need to start remembering in the business world and stop forgetting. Forgetting what? The lessons I learned from his legacy. We need to remember:

We are in the people business- Yes we are about revenue and profits but we need to remember that business is really about people. It’s about kindness and decency and humanity. My friend always treated everyone with respect and value. Do we?

We need to spend more time with those we appreciate- My one regret is I didn’t spend more time with him in the last days. I was busy. I was traveling. He is gone. Time is like a fleeting sunset- one minute here the next gone and you never get it back. What have you missed? Do we spend time with those we should?

We leave a legacy- We will all tell stories about his legacy which I wrote in a letter that I enclosed in the sympathy card to his wife. He was a fine man whose greatest legacy is I don’t think anyone will ever say anything bad about him. Yeah he was that good that generous that kind. What legacy do we want to leave? When we are gone what do we want people to say about us? Not about our business or our title but about us.

We need to have more fun- I worked a trade show with him and we laughed for three days. Tradeshows are brutal and tiring- standing on your feet. He and I knew we could work hard and have fun. We had amazing results and a great show. Business is serious yes but it doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. Do we have enough fun or are we too caught up in the seriousness of our business?

It is late at night as I write this. In the last four weeks I have thought about him everyday. Eventually I won’t. Cruel but true. His memory will fade, but his legacy doesn’t have to. It can live on. His legacy can live on in someone like you who didn’t have the privilege of knowing him. What do you choose to remember?

Get Motivatyed by Playing

2009-12-04T05:52:00.000-08:00

"We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing."- Oliver Wendall Holmes

Get Motivated by Being World Class

2009-12-01T12:24:00.001-08:00

What would happen if instead of being good you decided to be world class? Think how amazingly successful you could be.

Get Motivated by The Thought Diet

2009-10-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

The Thought Diet
A prescription for our times

If you were overweight and felt bad about yourself you would reach a point where you would say “I am tired of this- I am tired of my low energy and being like this. I am going to workout and go on a diet.”
You would change your thinking which would change your behavior, which would change your life.

As a professional speaker, I travel almost every week. Lately on planes, everyone, I mean everyone I talk to is commiserating about the 1) The recession 2) The low sales 3) The layoffs 4) Uncertainty.
5) Blah blah blah.
The T.V. nightly “bluescast” is full of bad news, and over the top hype about the “worst economy since the depression.” They only show the bad news not the good.
The daily newspaper is filled with doom and gloom.
I am so tired of hearing it! Don’t get me wrong I am not unsympathetic. I am. I know some industries are hurting.

O.K. – so what is the point? If you want to stay positive in this rough and tumble economy, you need to do something, we need to do something. What can you do? Seize control. Take the horns. Get proactive. Be in charge. Take action. How?
I know you are an executive, and smart, but have you every thought about how you are thinking these days? Seriously how is your thinking? Are you feeling beat up?
Time to put yourself on a thought diet for 30 days. What the heck is a thought diet? Never heard of it? That is because it is a new revolutionary concept I created and I am offering to you as my gift.
A thought diet is like a diet with food except I want you to control your mental food/input. So here are the key rules and components of your thought diet for the next 30 days:

Rule #1: Make the commitment- for the next 30 days, I want you to commit to your Thought Diet, because I believe you can change your way of thinking. When you change your way of thinking you change your life and those around you because you change your actions. People will actually wonder what you are up to. Besides what do you have to lose? Maybe I am crazy, maybe I am punchy, maybe I am right- who knows? If I am right -there is no real risk. Just make a commitment.

Rule #2: No negative T.V and limit T.V. to one hour.- I am asking you to put in place a 30 day ban on any negative T.V Show. That includes the news shows, reality T.V shows (where they scream at one another) and shows that are violent. This input has a very deleterious affect on you mentally, more than you know. Part II of the rule; only one hour of television each night. According to research, the average American watches 38.5 hours of T.V. each week, and believe it or not, ten years of T.V. in their lifetime. Way to much (and we wonder why we are negative.)

Rule #3: Limit exposure to negative people- During the Thought Diet, limit your contact to negative people for 30 days. There are friends and relatives and acquaintances who you know that always have something negative to say. You do not need your negative grinding toxicity. Stay away from them or limit contact. Caution: you may love this so much, you may make it permanent. Conversely, spend more time being around the people in your life who are positive upbeat and energetic. You know what happens- it’s contagious. One evening around a positive person can be a real rocket boost!

Rule #4: Reconnect to the joy- In negative times people tend to limit or cut back on activities that bring them joy. What is your joy? Think about things that bring you joy that you have given up or haven’t done for a long time. I play the drums. Due to many circumstances I didn’t play for twenty years. Then on a whim I walked into a music store and tried out a set of electronic drums. I reconnected to a sense of pure joy. I now have a new drum set at home at home.

Rule #5: Exercise- You may already know this, but when you work out, a whole bunch of natural chemicals are released into your body. Endorphins, adrenalin and many others are pumped into your system and they are all uppers, and all legal and free. Talk a walk, lift some weight, move.

Rule #6: Expose yourself to positive materials- read books (you now have time now remember-you cut out the T.V. time). Pick out positive non fiction, inspiring biographies or any kind of reading that is positive. Listen to positive audio CD’s, or high energy music. Watch inspirational movies. You will get a lift.

Rule #7: Don’t allow anyone to talk to you in negative ways- When a team member wants to complain, whine or bellyache, don’t be part of it. Stop them in their tracks by asking a key question “So I understand the situation what are you going to do about it?” You see complaining has no inherent value. It is destructive and meaningless.
Don’t be part of it.

So that is the Thought Diet. Start it tomorrow. Post this page where you can see it daily for the next 30 days.

After all you can’t control the economy or the banks, or home sales. In fact you can’t control the world, only your reaction to it, and all that happens between your ears.

Motivational quote

2009-10-14T18:22:00.001-07:00

"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching."
- Unknown

Get Motivated by Provinding Encouragement

2009-09-13T09:08:00.001-07:00

The finest gift you can give anyone is encouragement.
"Yet, almost no one gets the encouragement they need to grow to their full potential. If everyone received the encouragement they need to grow, the genius in most everyone would blossom and the world would produce abundance beyond the wildest dreams. We would have more than one Einstein, Edison, Schweitzer, Mother Theresa, Dr. Salk and other great minds in a century." - Sidney Madwed

Get Motivated with This Book

2009-08-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

BOOK ALERT: The Abs Diet by David Zinczenko and In Defense of Food by Micheal Pollan They say when you are ready a teacher will appear....
In the last two weeks 1) I had a great conversation with my great incredibly fit friend Joe about diet 2) I went to the bookstore and found a book that described exactly what he advised ( The Abs Diet) and strangely at an airport waiting on a flight I found the book In Defense of Food. O.K. maybe not strange I was focussed. Guess what ? They all have the same, sane amazing advice . Even though they arent about motivation they are about how to eat the right way. Result: 1) My allergy systoms have all but gone away 2) I have more energy than I know what to do with 3) I have lost 5 pounds in seven days. The coolest thing of all is the Abs Diet is not really a diet but a way of eating you can stick to your whole life. I wont get into details except to say this; if you want to get healthy and eat well, ( not a fad diet) get these 2 books! One will tell you how to eat and the other will tell you why. It will change your life!!!! No- I have no financial interest or stand to gain from you buying them- I am just exicited and fired up about finally finding the right approach for me, and I have been looking for a long time. Thanks for inspiring me Joe!

Get Motivated by Being More Positive

2009-07-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

"We have been taught to believe that negative equals realistic and positive equals unrealistic" Susan Jeffers

Get Motivated by Being in a Good Mood

2009-07-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

Scientist at The University of Toronto have discovered that you actually see things better when you are in a good mood!

http://www.news.utoronto.ca/lead-stories/people-who-wear-rosecoloured-glasses-see-more-university-of-toronto-study-s.html

So this whole complaint of positive thinking being " silly" and having "no useful purpose" is not true! In improves your ability to perceive things that people in a bad mood miss!!

Get Motivated by Learning

2009-07-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Webster’s defines learning as “To gain knowledge comprehension or mastery through experience or study.”

I have a question that I would like you to consider. The answer has to be very honest. How many books have you read in the last month? The last three months? The last year? To show you that I practice what I preach - I can tell you that I read four books per month, twelve books a quarter and about 48 to 50 books a year. It may not seem like much but in a twenty-year period that is over 800 books! Here is the point- some of that knowledge has to sink into my brain.

Unfortunately, many people in our society once they have graduated from high school or college just quit learning. They say to themselves “no more homework” and “I never have to read another book again!” They are done. Interestingly, commencement doesn’t mean “finished” it means “to start.” At some point these people get stagnant and eventually may lose motivation. Why? They aren’t staying fresh and giving the brain of theirs the old workout.

What is a Learner?

What is a learner? To me a learner is someone who has an incredible thirst for knowledge. I think that learners can be identified by the following activities and characteristics:

They read books As a continuous learner, you must read constantly. I have a rule that I have made for myself. During the year I only read books which are non-fiction, mainly “how to” books and books on motivation and success. When I am on vacation or during time off and holidays, I read fictional novels and enjoy the “mind candy” they provide. As a suggestion, you may want to set up a plan for your reading. Decide on how many books you are going to read every month and mark them in your planner. At the end of each month take out the planner (or P.D.A.) and check your progress. Part of your plan should also be to decide on a reading strategy. Decide what areas you need to improve in and then create a list of books that could possibly help in those areas. If you don’t know of any books on that topic, go to Amazon.com and do a search, or search the computer at your local library by topic.

They ask others Ask other people that you know and respect about what books they are reading or have read that have had an impact on them. Write down their suggestion and head to your nearest local bookstore.

We have determined that learners read, but there are other activities that learners embrace on a regular basis:

They Search the Net You can use the Internet as a source of information and research. By using many of the search engines and meta-search engines, you can locate tons of valuable information on the net. The Net is an amazing mix of websites, research, magazine articles, and commercial services that you can subscribe to for a fee. The only frustration that I have found with the Net, is knowing exactly where to find the information. Because of the overwhelming amount of information, it makes sense to learn how to search the web as efficiently as possible. There are many great books on the market, which teach you Internet search strategies. For example the way a topic is entered on a search engine can change the results. The topic with quotation marks around it can change the results from the search, with no quotation marks. The rules are different with each search engine. Crazy isn’t it?

They Ask Questions I want you to think of A.S.K. Ask So you will Know. When a subject comes up and you don’t understand something, ask! I have worked with many people in the world who will not ask a question and will pretend that they know. The only way that you can get smarter is by seeking out information, which you do not understand. Seek out S.M.E.’s (subject matter experts) and tap into their expertise. My uncle, Scott Camp is the consummate “asker.” He is always asking questions. We don’t see each other often, but when we do he wants to know what is going on in my life and work. When I tell him about my work and life, he then asks tons of questions. He is a human sponge who soaks up information at a rapid rate, and he is very smart. Why? Because he is a non-stop continuous learning machine. He understands that the more questions he asks, the more he will learn.

So start learning today.

Get Motivated By Knowing Your Purpose

2009-07-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

Let’s talk about the definition of purpose. The way I define purpose is the reason you are on the planet (Now you understand why the making money definition above doesn’t make sense.) Let me give you an example. Let’s take two people who are both attorneys. Attorney #1 (we will call her Susan) goes to law school because she wants to make the BIG BUCKS. She graduates at the top of her class, and is a very successful lawyer. Attorney #2 (we will call her Jill) is a lawyer who decided in law school that her purpose in life was to help other people. She graduated at the top of her class, and is with a large law firm. What is the difference between Susan and Jill? Jill feels like she is doing what she was “meant to do.” Susan has a restless, gnawing feeling that something isn’t right and she just works too many hours, but boy the money is fabulous so…she stays. The difference is that Jill knew and defined her purpose early in her career and Susan didn’t and still doesn’t.
What right do I have to talk about this concept of purpose? I was a person who for the first 30 years of my life struggled to find my path.
Let’s first go back to my childhood. When I was 10 years old I was lying in bed one night and I was crying. My mom came into the room and asked me what was wrong I said, “I am ten years old and I haven’t achieved anything!” I seemed to somehow understand that I was meant to do something and I had the audacity at 10 years old to think I should already have begun doing something significant. (boy what a weird little kid!) It was about purpose.
I attended college, declared a major in Theater Performance because I was convinced my purpose was to entertain people and to act. The last acting class in my senior year I came to a stunning conclusion, I didn’t want to act. I realized that one of my professors (who was a British Academy Award winner) couldn’t make a living acting and he had to teach in order to make a living. I realized if this acting genius couldn’t make a living then I would struggle, and I wasn’t willing to starve for my art. So I graduated with a B.A. in theater performance never to perform in the theater again. I exited school with my compass out searching for a direction and a purpose.
One fateful night a light shined into my window and viola I had a vision of what I was meant to do!( Just kidding.. it didn’t happen that way and it almost never happens that way except in the movies.) Searching for and finding your purpose is hard work and is a process, not an overnight decision or a sudden revelation.

I decided that I would give retail management a shot. It seems like a completely foolish idea now, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. I spent two incredibly long horrible years in retail management, knew that it was not the work I was meant to do. I was doing work I couldn’t stand without meaning or purpose. I would get up in the morning dreading work and go home at night dreading the next day.
I went into sales and I spent six years in sales and I was good at selling because I was a “people person” and could communicate with people in a way that was convincing. I liked sales but didn’t love it. One morning the fickle finger of fate stepped in and my phone rang. It was a call from the company I worked for wanting to know if I was interested in becoming a trainer. I took the job, after some research, and it changed my life in ways I am only just now beginning to understand.
I have been a training professional for some time now, and it is my life’s work. I believe my purpose is to have a positive impact on other people’s lives. I get up in the morning knowing why I do what I do. The pay is nice, and the people are very very, nice, but the payoff for me is knowing that I have had an impact on someone’s life. Once you know your purpose, the work flows, the motivation rises and productivity is at an all time high.

Get Motivated with Tavis Smiley

2009-07-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

"The tragedy in life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It is not a calamity do die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to not be able to capture your ideals, but it is a disaster to have no ideals to capture.It is not a disgrace to not be able to reach for the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. "
Tavis Smiley- Radio and TV Host

Get Motivated by Learning

2009-07-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

To quote Bob Perlman,
“Learning is what most adults will do for a living in the 21st century.”
Many people graduate from high school and college and they seem to say,
“Okay, I’m done.” Wrong!
They feel like they are finished and they stop reading, stop studying, and, in essence, they stop growing. I know many people who haven’t read a book since school! Every year you must be willing to reinvent yourself.

Because the shelf life of knowledge is so short in our society, the knowledge you graduate with doesn’t last very long. Reading and continuous learning will separate you from most of the rest of society. You will perform better and grow in your professional and personal life - and that is very motivating.

Get Motivated by Understanding Your Thinking

2009-07-08T05:12:00.000-07:00

Great blog post by Seth Godin- in my opinion one of the great thinkers of our age...

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/07/the-confusion.html

Get Motivated by Knowing Your Purpose

2009-07-07T09:51:00.000-07:00

Kenneth Hilderbrandt said,
“Strong lives are motivated by dynamic purposes.” Do you know your purpose? I am sure at this point you are saying,
“That’s easy- I go to work because I get paid, and my purpose is to get paid.” Well in my opinion that is a reason not a purpose. I would venture to say that most people don’t have a purpose and have no idea why they are doing what they are doing!
I want you to start to thinking about your life and career and define your true purpose. This is your life after all, and you don’t just want to go through the motions! Another way to evaluate your purpose is to consider questions, such as:
“Why are you where you are?” and
“What were you truly meant to do?” Having a true purpose and knowing what it is will be the rocket fuel to get motivated and help you stay motivated!

Get Motivated by Providing the Right Fuel

2009-07-06T22:09:00.000-07:00

I want you to think of yourself as a high performance engine. Food is your biological fuel, but what fuels the rest of you? What keeps you going inside your brain and your heart? Motivation is your mental fuel, and if you want to be the very best, staying motivated will drive your success. Because you are a high performance engine, you also need to be very careful about what you put into your “tank.” Your brain is a highly sophisticated mechanism that responds to the stimulus that is provided whether it is positive or very negative.
Many studies have shown that watching a grisly murder scene in a horror movie or in real life is no different to your subconscious mind. So you must be very careful as to how you are “fueling” your high performance engine. It will only perform to the quality of the level of the fuel that is provided.

Get Motivated by Finding Yourself

2009-07-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

"Some people say they haven't yet found themselves. But the self is not something one finds; it is something one creates."
- Thomas Szasz

Get Motivated by Playing the game

2009-06-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

"Do business as if you were playing a game. Have fun know the rules & when its time- make up your own. " Founder - Circue Du Soliel

Get Motivated by Thinking Like Walt

2009-05-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

"Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C s. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable."

- Walt Disney

Get Motivated with the The Optimist Creed

2009-04-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself -To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
( written by Christian D Larson in 1922- later adopted as The Creed of Optimist International)

Get Motivated By Dreaming Big

2009-03-24T04:37:00.000-07:00

" I want to put a ding in the universe." - Steve Jobs

So what is your crazy audacious impossible big dream of a goal? Make it happen!

Get Motivated by Being Lucky

2009-03-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

Just read a great new article on Oprah.com- a MUST READ!!!!

http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200902_omag_making_your_own_luck

Get Motivated by Having Integrity

2009-03-04T04:45:00.000-08:00

I recently had an ugly experince with someone who lacked integrity. When you lack integrity it affects so many people you cant imagine.
So one way to help you and the world is simple. Act at all times with pure integrity. You will feel great and so will everyone else. You will sleep better at night and so will they.

Get Motivated by Controlling Your Thinking

2009-02-17T07:37:00.000-08:00

Wow. I get it from someone everyday.
" How is business?"
" Great!"
"Really?"
" Yes."
" Haven't you heard about the economy? "
" Yes, but refuse to buy into it "
" well you have tooo....."
STOP!
Look I know that some industries are hurting, but as soon as you become the sad sack, woe is me, complaining, negative spreading, whining *@*&@##!!! then you are ....done.
Want to change your life right now? Change your thinking. Now.

Get Motivated by Having a Definite Chief Aim

2009-02-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Your Definite Chief Aim:
How to set goals using new scientific principles

I found this note on a wall in the Planet Hollywood restaurant located in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The hand-written note read:
My Definite Chief Aim

“I, Bruce Lee, will be the highest paid Oriental superstar in the United States. In return I will give the most exciting performances and render the best of quality in the capacity of an actor. Starting 1970 I will achieve world fame and from then onward till the end of 1980 I will have in my possession $10,000,000. I will live the way I please and achieve inner harmony and happiness.” - Bruce Lee Jan. 1969

I was awed by this simple paper on the wall. Obviously Bruce Lee was very successful as an actor, martial artist producer and entrepreneur. Many claim that he is responsible for starting the entire martial arts movement in the USA. He achieved all the goals.

So what is your definite chief aim? I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I am frustrated because I just see so many people in my training seminars who tell me they don’t have goals, and seem to just be drifting through their daily life.(Not a sure fire formula for success)

You have been told all your life about the importance of setting goals; its important right? But we don’t do it. Shockingly, all the research shows that only about 3% of our population set goals. Hmm. That is a disturbing number. So I would like to get you interested in setting your goals but not by talking about the same old stuff. I want to give you the new stuff, the cutting edge science about goal setting and how it can be more effective. We are now learning that goal setting isn’t enough. There are specific scientifically proven techniques that if employed will make your goals setting significantly more effective. So here are three brand spanking ways to look at goal setting that may convince you to actually try it.

1. Write down your goals- Yes I know, you are tired of hearing this one. But there is finally research, a reason that explains why it works. Scientists are saying its your R.A.S.- its your Reticular Activating System. It is the part of your brain that tells you what to focus on. Let me give you an example. You are talking to your spouse (who is in the kitchen you are in the other room- so you can’t see them only hear them) and a news story is on T.V. What do you focus on? The T.V. why? It’s simple, because the visual is too powerful to ignore. When you write down your goals you are creating a powerful visual for your brain to focus on. You have activated that portion of your very sophisticated brain (the R.A.S.) to work on it. But is there proof that this works? Yes, according to an interesting study that was done a few years ago by USA Today. First researchers selected people who made New Year's resolutions. Then they divided these people into two categories: those who made New Year's resolutions and wrote them down, and those who made New Year's resolutions, but neglected to write them down. Twelve months later, they followed up on the respondents in this study. What they found was astonishing! Of the people who made New Year's resolutions but neglected to write them down, only 4% actually followed through on their resolutions. However, among the group that took a few minutes to record their New Year's resolutions, 44% followed through on them. This difference of more than 1100% proves the simple act of crystallizing resolutions or goals on paper increases likelihood of success. So would you like to be 1100% more effective?

2. Print them out - Post them on the wall of your office, on your PDA, everywhere where you can see them. Some people write them down in a book and never review them. You should see them and review them frequently. Frequency increases retention and increases focus. It now becomes your map or blueprint for success. Bruce Lee’s “True Chief Aim” as mentioned above was hand written and displayed on his wall. He looked at it daily.

3. Create a “vision board”- Yeah I know this sounds a little “ whoo whoo” or a bit too new age. Don’t be so cynical. A vision board is simply a bulletin board where you place pictures of your goals. A certain car make and model, a dream home at the lake, an exotic vacation, etc. This concept has been mentioned in many bestselling books the last few years (The Secret, The Answer to name a few) author Louise Hay says very succinctly “it just forces your mind to concentrate on certain things” Scientifically it is actually using two parts of your brain the R.A.S. as mentioned above and also “programming” your subconscious mind ( through visualization) to work on the goals even when you consciously aren’t. Feel like this sounds a little weird? That’s OK. Here is my simple question; if it has worked for thousands of people, why not try it? There is very little expense and really nothing to lose. So try it. Be new. Be edgy. Be cutting edge. You do it with everything else in your life (don’t you have the newest phone, software and computer?) Why not use the newest thinking and technology on goal achievement and results?

As motivational speaker Charlie “Tremendous” Jones once said “Everyone has a success mechanism and a failure mechanism. The failure mechanism goes off by itself. The success mechanism only goes off with a goal. Every time we write down and talk about a goal we push the button to start the success mechanism.”

So do you want to be successful? I am daring you to step forward in your life and career and set goals- press the button!

Shawn Doyle is the President and Founder of New Light Learning and Development Inc. (www.newlightlearning.com) a company specializing in Leadership Development. He has also authored seven books on leadership sales and motivation. His latest book The 10 Foundations of Leadership will be published this winter. sldoyle1@aol.com

Get Motivated by Having Written Goals

2009-01-03T05:56:00.000-08:00

I feel GREAT! Why do I feel great?
Today I took the time to go into a quiet room and write out my goals for the year. I wrote goals for the following areas of my life: ( in no order or priority- they are all important)

Spiritual
Business
Product Development
Physical /Health
Social/Family
Education

Each of these categories has specific action items under each.

I then printed out 2 copies, one went up on my wall in my office. The other copy went into the back of my calendar I carry with me when I travel. This works because it gives you a track to run on for the year. Last year I acheived 95% of my goals and the ones that were accomplished where well above even what they were projected on paper.

So you want to feel GREAT? Pick your categories and start writing. Take the time to do this now. Now. Today. It can change your life.

Get Motivated by Being with Positive People

2008-12-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

This came across the newsire earlier this month.....
In a study published online today in the BMJ, scientists from Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego, showed that happiness spreads readily through social networks of family members, friends and neighbors. Knowing someone who is happy makes you 15.3 percent more likely to be happy yourself, the study found. A happy friend of a friend increases your odds of happiness by 9.8 percent, and even your neighbor's sister's friend can give you a 5.6 percent boost. "Your emotional state depends not just on actions and choices that you make, but also on actions and choices of other people, many of which you don't even know," said Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a physician and medical sociologist at Harvard who co-wrote the study. The research is part of a trend to measure well-being as a component of public health. Scientists have documented that people who describe themselves as happy are likely to live longer, even if they have a chronic illness.
So as I have often said in my books and keynote speeches- be careful who you associate with it can affect your life. Now we have scientific proof!

Get Motivated by Being 3%

2008-12-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

In almost every training class I teach- the conversation turns to goal setting. I tell them only 3% of the population has goals. They argue and scoff and say "that cant be possible. " But when I poll the group as to who has goals for that year, and who can tell me what they are specifically, only 3% of the class or less raise their hand.
As we approach a new year- make the time to create your specific goals for 2009. Write them down. Print them out. Look at them often. Track them. It is the one thing that in 2009 could transform your life in ways you cannot imagine. If you do not have a plan one will be provided for you and it wont be your own.

Get Motivated by Not Underestimating Yourself

2008-12-10T04:30:00.000-08:00

I hear it all the time:
"I am too small"
"I am not smart"
"I dont have a degree"
"I dont have the money"
"I am too fat"
"I too skinny"
"No one of my type has never done this"
"I dont have the time"
"I dont have the knowldege"
"Its too late"

The biggest mistake you can make is underestimating yourself because before you start you have failed.
Warrick Dunn is the running back for the NFL's Tampa Bay Bucs. He is 5'9" and weighs 183. I was watching a game and heard this- I was shocked. I looked it up. He is small.He gets tackled ( and often fallen on) by guys who weigh 333- 380 and are 6'5- 6'8" on average. By any definition he is too small . But he has been a superstar running back for over 10 years for two different teams.He has no fear.
So what are your self limiting beliefs?Look into your head and see if maybe you are the one person who is holding you up.Because there are no rules and every rule has a notable exception.

Get Motivated by Knowing Your Purpose and Being Persistent

2008-12-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

"We hear a great deal of talk about genius, talent, luck, chance, cleverness, and fine manners playing a large part in one's success. Leaving out luck and chance, all these elements are important factors. Yet the possession of any or all of them, unaccompanied by a definite aim, a determined purpose, will not insure success. Men drift into business. They drift into society. They drift into politics. They drift into what they fondly and but vainly imagine is religion. If winds and tides are favorable, all is well; if not, all is wrong. Stalker says: "Most men merely drift through life, and the work they do is determined by a hundred different circumstances; they might as well be doing anything else, or they would prefer to be doing nothing at all." Yet whatever else may have been lacking in the giants of the race, the men who have been conspicuously successful have all had one characteristic in common--doggedness and persistence of purpose.
It does not matter how clever a youth may be, whether he leads his class in college or outshines all the other boys in his community, he will never succeed if he lacks this essential of determined persistence. Many men who might have made brilliant musicians, artists, teachers, lawyers, able physicians or surgeons, in spite of predictions to the contrary, have fallen short of success because deficient in this quality.
Persistency of purpose is a power. It creates confidence in others. Everybody believes in the determined man. When he undertakes anything his battle is half won, because not only he himself, but every one who knows him, believes that he will accomplish whatever he sets out to do. People know that it is useless to oppose a man who uses his stumbling-blocks as stepping-stones; who is not afraid of defeat; who never, in spite of calumny or criticism, shrinks from his task; who never shirks responsibility; who always keeps his compass pointed to the north star of his purpose, no matter what storms may rage about him.
The persistent man never stops to consider whether he is succeeding or not. The only question with him is how to push ahead, to get a little farther along, a little nearer his goal. Whether it lead over mountains, rivers, or morasses, he must reach it. Every other consideration is sacrificed to this one dominant purpose.
The success of a dull or average youth and the failure of a brilliant one is a constant surprise in American history. But if the different cases are closely analyzed we shall find that the explanation lies in the staying power of the seemingly dull boy, the ability to stand firm as a rock under all circumstances, to allow nothing to divert him from his purpose."

This was written by Orison Swet Marden in 1901 ( the founder of Success Magazine)

Get Motivted by Going Big!!

2008-11-29T12:36:00.000-08:00

Get Motivtaed by Being Thankful

2008-11-26T13:39:00.000-08:00

I am sitting in my office one day before Thanksgiving - it is a cold grey winter day. White grey feather clouds sweep the sky. Even if you don't follow Thanksgiving- there is a lot to be thankful for. Here is what I am thankful for big and small:

My Wife- I have the best wife in the world- been married to her for 29 years and love her more every year. I am lucky and she inspires me in many ways.
My Daughter and her husband- My daughter and her husband were married last July and I am so glad they are happy and healthy. I am glad she found him and he found her.
My Health- I just turned 50 and I am on no medication of any kind.
My Passion/Business- I have a great business doing what I love as a speaker, consultant and trainer. What could be better? I love it.
My cats- I have 5 insane cats who make me laugh every day being who they are.
My parents - I was raised by loving parent who taught me the beauty of optimism and humor.

What are you thankful for?

Get Motivated by Creating the Future

2008-11-23T09:16:00.000-08:00

"The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created--created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination."
- John Schaar

Get Motivaed by Wanting It- How Bad Do you Want It?

2008-11-21T06:48:00.000-08:00

Here are some lyrics to Tim McGraw's song- How Bad Do you Want It? So... how bad do you want it?

When I'm here on this highway
Breathing diesel smoke
Driving hard for hours
Trying to make that Memphis show
People always ask me"Son what does it take
To reach out and touch your dreams?"
To them I always say
Are you hungry?
Are you thirsty?
Is it a fire that burns you up inside?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming
With that one thing on your mind?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Cause if you want it all
You've got to lay it all out on the line
I get to make my living
Doing what I love
Every night I give my heart and soul
Sometimes that ain't enough
But brother, if you're like me
Looking down that road
Be careful of that wild wind, son
Sometimes it don't let go
Can you feel it?
Can you taste it?
Can you hear it knocking at your door?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming
With that one thing on your mind?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Cause if you want it all
You've got to lay it all out on the line
There's always a price you pay no matter what you do
If you're gonna climb that mountain to the top
It always comes down to
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming
With that one thing on your mind?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Cause if you want it all
You've got to lay it all out on the line

Get Motivated by Growing Your Business

2008-11-20T17:58:00.000-08:00

5 Years: Lessons Learned in Starting a Business

Last month my business hurdled across an important landmark; the magic five year mark. Business is amazing. Revenue and profit are at record levels. As a professional speaker and trainer I have engagements already booked through March of 2009. Lately other people have begun noticing my prosperous little business and have started asking questions: “What is your secret?” and “How have you built a business from nothing to something in five years?” This gave me pause to think and to articulate the six key principles I have used to build my business:

Listen to your customers. It’s not what you want to sell; it’s what your customers want to buy. The best ideas (if you are listening carefully) come from your best customers. I have a Leadership Development program that I conduct for my clients across the country. One day I got a call from a training Director and he said “This may sound crazy, but would you be willing to license your program to us so we can conduct it on our own?” Fast forward to eighteen months later, I have 2 large clients on multi- year licensing agreements for my products and I have several more in discussion. Translation: generate additional revenue without having to actually be present. I don’t know if I ever would have thought of this on my own.
Question: What are your customers telling you that you are not hearing?

Do your homework. When I work with a client, I do my homework in advance on their industry, company, issues and challenges. In the internet age information is all available at your fingertips. During a recent training session in Charlotte, a participant said to me on a break “thanks for today- you really seem to know our business”. They now have asked me to do an additional 15 days of training for them this fall. Preparation is the mark of a professional. Apparently some people don’t prepare and this can be one of your distinctions.
Question: What should you and your people know about a client before you engage them?

Deliver no matter what- no excuses. A few months ago I flew from Philly to Portland to facilitate full day training for a client. Every connecting flight was delayed and delayed and delayed. I finally landed at 3:30 am, got to the hotel at 4:30 am and was in bed by 5:00 am. I was back up at 6:30 and started training at 8:00. I did a full day training session for 40 people on 90 minutes of sleep. Did they know it? Nope. I only told them at the end of the day. The point is this- perform no matter what. No excuses. No whining. When you perform despite the challenges and difficulties, it is also a chance reinforce and enhance your reputation.
Question: What excuses do you allow you and your organization make for not delivering?

Control overhead. As Sheryl Crow once said “This aint no country club this is L.A.” Well here is my version “this ain’t no social club this is a business.” I don’t have a fancy office or tons of overhead. I run lean. I think if you can’t be disciplined with expenses and overhead, then maybe, just maybe you shouldn’t be in business.
Question: Are you controlling overhead where it makes sense?

Stay sharp. I belong to and participate in three industry groups and I invest in attending 2-3 conferences each year. These kind of activities keep you sharp and in the loop on what is going on in your industry. In the last three years, some of the ideas I have gained at these conferences have had a huge influence on how I operate my business. If you go and keep an open mind, a new idea or two will jump start your thinking. The investment in staying sharp can pay off ten fold. It has for me.
Question: What could you join or be part of to keep business and industry knowledge sharp?

Pick a niche. Ok, let’s face it you can’t be all things all people. Your marketing budget isn’t big enough, and it’s too difficult. I decided a few years ago to specialize in training and speaking for the cable industry. ( an industry I came from) I have literature that states “There are 6700 languages in the world and your meeting speaker or trainer may speak any of them. Still the big question is: do they speak cable? My name is Shawn Doyle and I speak cable.” The response to this approach has been amazing and I now have seven cable clients and they contribute a significant amount of my annual revenue. Most people would rather hire a specialist than a generalist. My goal is to become the training resource for cable companies and cable networks. I am currently developing a website and several products just for people in cable. Pick a niche small enough to own but large enough to be profitable.
Question: What niche could you select and own?

So those are a few thoughts at the five year point. I am sure I will learn much more in the next five. It is an exciting place to be , owning a growing and dynamic business. Some nights I am so fired up I can’t sleep. (in a good way) As Oprah Winfrey once said “When I think about the future, the future is so bright it burns my eyes.” It’s how I feel right now. I hope the same for your future.

Now go make something happen.

Be Motivated by not allowing THEM in your heart

2008-10-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

I did a full day training a few weeks ago- I was the facilitator. Normally I get great responses from students who like my fun interactive style. Then I met "her" . When I asked each person what they would like to get out of the day ( I always do this) she said "Nothing" in front of the entire class.On the first exercise when I asked her group for answers they said " we dont have any."
It was not what she said that bothered me it was the vocal tone, hostility and cold dead eyes that were well, (I don't know how to say it) ,creepy and disturbing. She complained all day about everything.
Why do I bring this up?I made a conscious effort not to let her bother me and more importantly the rest of the class. People like this can get to you and destroy your energy and spirit. Don't let them! They are not worth your time and energy.Click ignore. Concentrate on the positive people. Don't let their " heart condition" affect yours. After all they don't deserve it. Today she is somewhere trying to ruin someones day but she didn't "win" with me I still had a great successful training class- with grateful students who told me they admired my spirit.

Get Motivated by Complimenting Someone

2008-10-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

"You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total
of this world's happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere
appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget
tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a
lifetime."
- Dale Carnegie

Walt Disney on Motivation

2008-09-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

Get Motivated by Having Goals - Bruce Lee did!

2008-09-14T23:12:00.000-07:00

I found this note on a wall in the Planet Hollywood restaurant located in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The hand-written note read:

My Definite Chief Aim

I, Bruce Lee, will be the highest paid Oriental superstar in the United States. In return I will give the most exciting performances and render the best of quality in the capacity of an actor. Starting 1970 I will achieve world fame and from then onward till the end of 1980 I will have in my possession $10,000,000. I will live the way I please and achieve inner harmony and happiness.

Bruce Lee
Jan. 1969

The Motivational Power of Goals

2008-09-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

"The most important thing you can do to achieve your goals is to make sure that as soon as you set them, you immediately begin to create momentum. The most important rules that I ever adopted to help me in achieving my goals were those I learned from a very successful man who taught me to first write down the goal, and then to never leave the site of setting a goal without first taking some form of positive action toward its attainment."- Anthony Robbins

Today is Monday- it is the first part of September - what are you DOING to make your dreams happen?

Get this new book to be Motivated!!!

2008-08-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

I just bought a new book The Answer by John Assaraf and Murray Smith. If you have read The Secret and wished there was a "Secret" for business this is the book! I read it until 3:00 am last night and couldn't put it down!
John bought the rights for RE/MAX Indiana and stated publicly he would take it to a billion in sales in 5 years and using vision and strategy did it!
It always amazes me still how a great book can really get your mind spinning.

Get Motivated by Taking Time for the Moon

2008-08-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

I just walked outside to put out the trash. First crunch up and put all the recyclables in the bins. Then take all the trash cans and bags up the hill to the top of my driveway.It is an August night ,hot and humid. I am sweaty.
Then I look up and see it ... a full moon lighting a cloudless ink gray sky.Walking back down my driveway I stop and just stand for a few moments looking at the beautiful light in the sky this amazing pale orb. Then I ask myself- do I ever notice? Do I take the time to notice? Sunsets? A beautiful landscape? I think if we can just stop ,even for three minutes and enjoy nature, it can be very calming and very motivating. People say there is lots of ugliness in the world but maybe, just maybe they are looking in the wrong places.

Motivation by Understanding

2008-08-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS."
- Gandi

Today, you may discouraged or down. It may be due to people in your life who cause you stress and anxiety, at work or elsewhere. It may be disturbing news on T.V. Don't be. As Gandhi talked about there have always been people who are bad or evil. Always. I also want you to think about this- don't let them win! If you allow them to affect you- control you, manipulate you, upset you THEY WIN.
Stay on course and know that you will prevail in the long run. Because " truth and love has always won". Always.

Have a Passion for What You do - Video

2008-08-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

Hello. Today a completely different approach- my a clip from my video The 10 Foundations of Motivation. Enjoy!

Motivation in Old Age

2008-08-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

Just came across a great article by Kirk Douglas in newsweek- vey thought provoking....
http://www.newsweek.com/id/150476

Get Motivated by Mixing it Up!!

2008-08-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

I just returned from The National Speakers Association meeting in NYC. It Rocked! Imagine sitting in a room with 2000 profesional speakers!
I attended seminars, saw famous and not so famous speakers, made new friends and reconnected with old ones. I learned a ton and it really gave me some new GREAT ideas for my business and my life.
If you want to get motivated and stay there or you need a boost- go to a conference in your industry! Company doesn't pay for it? Go on your own dime. Its not cheap but let me tell you it can transform your life. Follow these guidelines:
1) Go with a goal in mind ( what do you want to learn?)
2) Say Hello to everyone you meet in every room and try to figure out what you can learn from them.
3) If people you know attend- sit with other people- expand your world.
4) Be strategic and plan what sessions you are going to attend.
You are spending the time and the money and the effort make it count! It will pay you back in ways you cant imagine.

Get Motivated by Living in the World of both

2008-07-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

Some Thoughts from T Harv Eker- author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind:
"Rich people live in a wold of abundance. Poor people live in a world of limitations. Of course both live in the same physical world but the difference is their perspective.Poor and most middle class people come from scarcity.They live by mottos such as " there is only so much to go around,there never enough and you cant have everything." And although you may not be able to have everything as in all the things in the world, I do think you can have everything you really want.
Do you want a successful career or a close relationship with your family? Both! Do you want to focus on business or have fun and play? Both!Do you want money or meaning in your life? Both!Do you want to earn a fortune or do the work you love ? Both! Poor people always choose one, rich people choose both.

Get Motivated by Living Like You are Dying

2008-07-11T06:04:00.000-07:00

Came across these lyrics in a song by Tim Mcgraw. Need I say more?

He said I was in my early 40's,
With a lot of life before me,
And a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
I spent most of the next days, lookin' at the x-rays,
Talkin' 'bout the options and talkin' 'bout sweet time.Asked him when it sank in, and this might really be the real end.
How's it hit ya, when you get that kind of news.Man what ya do.
And he says,
[Chorus]I went sky divin',
I went rocky mountain climbin',
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fu Manchu.
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter,
And I gave forgiveness I've been denying,
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,To live like you were dyin'.
He said I was finally the husband,
But most the time I wasn't.
And I became a friend a friend would like to have.
And all the sudden goin' fishing,
Wasn't such an imposition.
And I went three times that year I lost my dad.
Well I finally read the good book,
And I took a good long hard look at what I'd doIf I could do it all again.
And then.[Chorus]
Like tomorrow was a gift and you've got eternity
To think about what you do with it,
What could you do with it,
what canI do with with it,
what would I do with it.
[Chorus]I went sky divin',
I went rocky mountain climbin',
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fu Manchu.
And I loved deeper, And I spoke sweeter,
And I watched an eagle as it was flyin'.
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,To live like you were dyin'.
To live like you were dyin'.
To live like you were dyin'.To live like you were dyin'.
To live like you were dyin'.

Tiles of Motivation

2008-07-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

I just spent 5 days laying tile. It was hard back breaking work. I had to strip off two layers of old vinyl and then lay about 40 square feet of ceramic tile in our downstairs bathroom. I was thinking that laying tile is a lot like deciding and staying motivated. How?
First you have to have the right tools. Without my wet tile saw I would still be cutting tiles by hand. What tools do you need to get and stay motivated? 1) the right people 2) the right information ( books, blogs, pod casts, CD's etc) 3) the decision to be a motivated person.
Second there were lots of challenges ; blades went dull, grout didn't mix the way it was described on the box. In life you will always have challenges and you can let them demotivate you or rise to the occasion.
Third it takes a lot of persistence. It took 2 days longer than I thought it would and I am 10 times more sore than I expected to be. In life you have to be persistent and keep at it.
Today the floor look gorgeous. I have pride that I did it with my own hands ( bruised and cut as they may be) is your life gorgeous? Could it be? Start laying out your life one tile at a time and watch it happen.

Action=Reaction=Motivation and Momentum

2008-05-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

Last year I competed in a Toastmasters speech competition. I made it to within one step of the world championship.Failure? Nope. That led to being asked to speak at the District 38 Conference- where I received a standing ovation. That led to speaking at District 36. Now I call the editor of TM magazine and say "I would like to speak at the Toastmasters International Conference." She says " I have heard about you." They want me to do a keynote. "By the way" she says "could you write a feature article to go with your keynote?" O.K. sure.
I get a call from the producers of Talking Toastmasters Podcast. " We read your article- can you do an interview with us? Sure.
Here is the very obvious point do something and it generates more and more and more and MORE.....which makes you more motivated to do more.

Get Motivated by Getting it Boiling!

2008-02-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

" At 211degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. With boiling water comes steam. With steam you can power a train."- S.I. Parker

So this leads to a big question- is there something in your life that is at 211- and with just a little more work, effort and energy would push it to the boiling point? Many people are just on the edge of success and only one degree from going from hot to boilng. I meet people who are one class away from graduating and getting a degree, one sale away from making a big bonus, or one page away from finishing the next great Amercian novel. We stop at the point where we are almost reaching our goal. We are so madenningly close to making it happen.

Decide today -what are the actions you need to take to move from the edge of success right into having success. Make it boil!

Be Motivated by Being in a Great Relationship

2008-02-17T20:55:00.000-08:00

I have been married for 28 years. I am so "lucky in love", as the saying goes. I have the best wife in the world. She treats me like gold, and I treat her the same way. One of the ways of getting and staying motivated is to be in a relationship where your girlfriend, boyfriend husband or wife or significant other is the kind of person who makes you feel good about yourself. I describe it as the kind of person who makes you a better you.

So here are a few thoughts:
· If you are in a relationship take care of it and nurture it. Take tender care of it – it is the most important aspect of your life. If things aren’t right at home nothing will feel right in your life.
· If you are in a relationship that is negative and toxic- fix it or get out of it. I meet people all the time who tolerate being in abusive relationships and to be abused. You deserve better.
· If you are not in a relationship and are looking, make sure to be very selective about who you choose. What is their history and background? People always ask me the secret to long and successful marriage. I tell them the secret is “who you marry”. If you start with a great person, then you can’t go wrong.

I find that all the people I meet who are motivated and fired up have a great foundation at home. Their “secret” is a special someone at home that enriches their life.

Get Motivated by Fiding Your Inner Tiger

2008-01-29T10:59:00.002-08:00

Today is Tuesday- this weekend Tiger Woods ( in case you live in a cave somewhere he is a professional golfer) Here is an excerpt from the newspaper article in USA today:

Woods said his sustained brilliance the past year is the best stretch of his career, the fruits of hours of labor on the range tinkering with his swing.
"One of the reasons I made the changes I made is I knew I could attain another level," Woods said. "I'm hitting shots I never could hit before. I'm still getting better."

Here is the worlds best golfer- who has won every tournament you can name- and he is still " tinkering with his swing" and trying to figure out ways to "get better"!
If you have a gift or a talent that everyone says you possess- what if you took it to the next level? How great would that be? Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is your gift?
- How can you take it to the next level?
- What can you tinker with?
- What impact would the next level have for you and for others?
- How much further can you push to get it to the " wow" level?
- What would it do for your energy and motivation?

Answer these questions and find your Inner Tiger!

Be Motivated by Spending Time Alone

2008-01-27T20:52:00.000-08:00

"We need changes from the duties and the cares of our accustomed everyday life. They are necessary for healthy, normal living. We need occasionally to be away from our friends, our relatives, from the members of our immediate households. Such changes are good for us; they are good for them. We appreciate them better, they us, when we are away from them for a period, or they from us.
We need these changes to get the kinks out of our minds, our nerves, our muscles—the cobwebs off our faces. We need them to whet again the edge of appetite. We need them to invite the mind and the soul to new possibilities and powers. We need them in order to come back with new implements, or with implements redressed, sharpened, for the daily duties.
We need periods of being by ourselves—alone. Sometimes a fortnight or even a week will do wonders for one, unless he or she has drawn too heavily upon the account. The simple custom, moreover, of taking an hour, or even a half hour, alone in the quiet, in the midst of the daily routine of life, would be the source of inestimable gain for countless numbers."
Ralph Waldo Trine- from The book- Thoughts I Met on the Highway- 1919

I stumbled across this book and was completely taken aback by it because it is full of such wisdom and written in 1919!
The quote above is so powerful. We have such crazy lives and we are always on the go. I recently met a woman in one of my training classes who in an exercise said " she just loved being outside- it completed her." When I asked how often that happened she said "never." She was too busy.
There are two reasons why this concept is important: 1) The only way you can tell if you are on track in your life is to (on occasion) make some plans for alone time and space to be alone with your thoughts.2) If you don't get time for recuperation it leads to burn out. ( note: running around like a mad person on vacation isn't necessarily the best recuperation. I see people returning from Disney who look more exhausted than anything else. ) So make time for you. Make time for quiet reflection time. You may see something in the reflection you have never seen. You may discover "new possiblities and powers."

Motivation is a Result of Thinking the Right Way

2008-01-26T19:50:00.000-08:00

"Thought is the original source of all wealth, all success, all material gain, all great discoveries and inventions, and of all achievement. "
- Claude Bristol

What do you think about every day? Every hour?
Do you think about positive things most of the day or negative?
Do you think about what you don't have or what you can have?
Do you think about the possibility of success or failure?
Do you think about the future or the past?

I have a business that is now exploding with growth, increasing dramatically in revenue and daily adding new clients and opportunities. Why? I think positively everyday and my actions are positive, my words and my energy are positive. The result is people are attracted to me and want to work with me. ( note: I am not an ego maniac- I swear this is the feedback I get from most people) So if your thought are the origin of all wealth, success, discovery, invention- then you must first control your thinking. It is the foundation of all success!

Get Motivated by Learning

2008-01-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of Orison Sweet Marsden? probably not. He wrote the book He Can Who Thinks He Can in 1908. His ideas and principles inspired a generation of future thinkers such as Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill and others. He was the grandfather of motivational thinking. Here is a quote from his book:

" The best educated people are those who are always learning, always absorbing knowledge from every possible source, and at every opportunity."

This week I was doing a training session on leadership for a group in Cocoa Beach Florida. They were so delightful- they all had a thirst for knowledge that was remarkable. They would take copious notes, they asked great questions about what we were discussing and even when we were taking breaks would ask questions. As a group they were fired up!

I you want to be really motivated- start learning! Here are a few suggestions:

Replace the radio time in your car with learning time by listening to audios.

Replace fiction books with non fiction books and learn while you read.

Replace random surfing on the net with specific searching to learn about a topic.

Replace one hour a day of TV time with some other developmental opportunity.

Replace visit to the mall with a visit to a museum.

Replace the money you spend on junk food and spend it on books.

When you start learning you will start to change and all things will now be possible to your energized new state of mind.

Get Motivated by Asking Questions

2008-01-20T21:25:00.000-08:00

I believe the way to a rich and successful life is asking yourself the right questions. I do executive coaching and I think the power of coaching is not me telling anyone anything, but me asking the questions that get people to look at their lives as they are, and determine how to change them. It is all a result of the questions.
Get motivated today by asking yourself these questions:

What do I really want? Why?
What am I willing to do and commit to doing in order to get it?
What could I do in the next 30 days that would make the most impact on my life?Why?
What do I need to do to make them start happening now?
Who do I want to be and why?
What do I need to start doing now to make it happen?
What are the barriers that are holding me back and how can I eliminate them?

Take the time to examine these questions and you may be surprised at the results. Its not your boss, the world or anyone holding you back. It is your thinking.

Get Motivated by Being Grateful

2008-01-07T18:12:00.000-08:00

"If I ever lose my eyes, all my colors all run dry,
If I ever lose my eyes oh if... I wont have to cry no more"
- Cat Stevens- Moonshadow

Are you grateful? One way to definitely increase your level of motivation is to be grateful. When you are grateful- truly grateful, you stop complaining and embrace the fact that you are fortunate.It's the polar opposite of complaining. What can you be grateful for?
Are you grateful for your health?I am 49 and take no medications. I have no health issues. I am so grateful for that.
Are you grateful for your loved ones? Your spouse and family?Do you tell them?
Are you grateful for where you live?There are countries that are not free.
Are you grateful you are able to make a living? Do you tell the company you work for?
Are you grateful you have a roof over your head and food to eat? Some people don't.
Are you grateful for the small things- a sunrise, trees, a laugh, a beach, a cat who makes you laugh?You may not notice them all, but they surround you.
Take out a piece of paper today and write down from your heart what you are grateful for. Find 20 things and write them down. Look at the list and reflect.You will never complain again, for you are very rich.

Get Motivated by Using Your Gifts

2008-01-06T17:26:00.000-08:00

"Stagnation is the death of excellence" Shawn Doyle

I meet many people who say to me " I would like to write a book" or " I really want to start a company some day" or " I want use my talents but this job doesn't allow me to." So here is the question- what are you waiting for? A sign? A nudge? An accident to wake you up to using your gifts? Do something today to start. 1) Write down all the things that need to happen to _________ ( fill in the blank) 2) Determine which one you can start working on this week. 3) Then pull out the calendar and start putting in step one, two and three, etc.
Each week you will feel more and more motivated as you move toward your goal. Suddenly you will own that plan and start to find unique and exciting ways to make it happen.

Be Motivated by Thinking About How You are Thinking

2008-01-04T18:11:00.000-08:00

"The mind is creative and conditions, environment and all experiences in life are the result of our habitual or predominant mental attitude"-
Charles Haanel The Master Key System- 1912

Charles Haanel wrote this is 1912, over 95 years ago! This was way before all the research into positive mental attitude.This was before Dale Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peale, Wayne Dyer and Anthony Robbins. But here is the Key point from so long ago- what is your habitual mental attitude? Positive? Negative? What percentage of the time? My transmission went out in my car this week for the fourth time. Frustrating . Yep. But here is what my wife and I both said out loud: " well it could have been worse" and "It could have broken down when I was in Virginia" ( 7 hours away) Think about how you process anything that happens to you and change it to positive. Why? Because when you do your life will change. You will attract great abundance. You will have more friends. You will get promoted. Your efforts will bring you different results. As the quote above says:
"all experiences in life are the result...of our mental attitude. "

6 Keys to a Motivated New Year

2008-01-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

So it’s now a new year. Everyone gets excited, making resolutions while saying to themselves and anyone who will listen, “It’s going to be a great year, the best year ever.” This will be true for some people since they will be extraordinarily successful. However, many people won’t be successful, and won’t have the best year ever. Their year will look a lot like the year before, and the year before that one. (I’m not being cynical here, just realistic.) Why won’t this year be any different for these people? They have missed some of the basic and fundamental keys to success both in business and in life.

There are some simple principles that they have been exposed to in their lives, but haven’t taken the time to think about them. There is, however, good news, and there is a solution: 6 basic key principles. Here is my iron clad guarantee: if you follow the 6 basic principles outlined here, you will have a year that will exceed even your own expectations, and maybe the expectations of those around you!

Set personal goals- You are saying to yourself, “Okay, thanks, boy genius! I never thought of that one. Wow!” Please take the time to hear me out here. We all know that we should have goals, and we say that we have them. Still, 99% of the people that I meet say, “I know I should set goals and write them down, but I haven’t made the time.” Take out a piece of paper, a notebook, a piece of bark, or a stone tablet. Write out specific goals for each area of your life (financial, social, career, etc.) Post them where you can see them daily. You can’t hit a target unless you are aiming for it, and you can’t achieve a goal without having it. You will be amazed how you will feel when you are done. You now have a track to run on.

Set business goals- I meet so many CEO’s, COO’s, executives, and entrepreneurs who do not have specific tangible goals for their businesses. No, I am not kidding, but I wish I were. For instance, I once was speaking with a CEO. When I asked him what his goals were for the next year, he looked down and replied, “That’s a good question.” I then said, “You do have them, don’t you?” He said, “sort of, but they aren’t in writing.” Anyone in a leadership role should have specific written goals for their business every year. There should be goals for revenue, cash flow, sales, technology, etc. If you can work with the team and develop them, that’s even better. There should be no more than 5-6 goals for the year, and everyone from the front desk to the loading dock should know what they are - every one.

Decide what you’re not going to do- Most people concentrate most of their time on what they are going to do. What about what you are not going to do? You may say “ This year, I am not going to feel guilty about…” or, “this year, I am not going to do things because I feel obligated to do them” or, “this year, I am not going to spend time on…” or, “this year I am not going to say yes when I mean no.” In identifying what you are not going to do, it frees up time to do things that you want to do or should do. It can be very liberating while also freeing up time for more important tasks.

Focus on your time “spending” - I don’t believe you can manage your time. Everyone gets 24 hours, so you can’t get more or less. What I believe you can do is prioritize how you spend your time. The first step is to identify time drains and try to eliminate them or change the approach. What takes up a ton of your time that shouldn’t? Fix it. The next step is to decide where this year you are going to spend your precious time. You may say “I want to spend more time on family,” or, “I want to spend more time on my health.” Then here is the next step, which is what some people miss: block it into your calendar, Outlook or PDA. I meet many people who say, “I would like to ________ but I just don’t have the time.” Here is the question: do you really not have the time, or is it just that you haven’t made the time? If you really truly want to accomplish something this year, spend the time.

Do something new- In the New Year, try to embrace something brand new. Join a club, sing karaoke, shave your head, learn a foreign language, take dance lessons, learn to surf, go to Paris, or stay at a monastery. Be bold! Step outside of anything you have ever done before and learn something entirely new and different. Ask yourself the question: “What can I do this year that I have never done before?” It creates momentum, breaks the cycle of boredom, gets you going, and gets the juices flowing. Besides, you might have an amazing experience you wouldn’t have otherwise.

Make a contribution- What can you give to your community? Your family? Your friends? How can you make a contribution? I am not talking about a check, which is pretty easy to write. What skills, talents, and abilities can you contribute to help change your part of the world in a small way? Giving makes you feel better about yourself, and the generosity you give comes back to you tenfold.

If you take the time to think through and address these principles, your life can change dramatically in one year. I know you are busy and don’t have time, but here is the big question: If you don’t ever take the time to identify and articulate your goals, how will you know that you are spending your time the way that you should? Research shows that the average American spends 10 years of their life watching TV. Take time out now to plan your year. You have 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours. Make them all count - that is what successful people do.

Get Motivated by tapping into your abilities- now

2007-12-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

"We all have more abilities and internal resources than we know. My advice is you don't have to break your neck to find out about them."- Christopher Reeve June 2004

You have goals and dreams you want to fulfill. So what are you waiting for? Christmas? The "right time?" A sign? I meet many people who want to do something but are waiting for something to happen before they can start or get going. Don't wait- DO. Now. Today. This hour, this minute. Now!!!!

I am sure Christopher Reeve would have loved more time on earth. He accomplished a great deal after his accident. You can do what ever you want, have what ever you want, and be whatever you want to be. You just have to start. Get going!

Motivation: Seeing it in Your Mind

2007-10-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

"Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built. "
-James Allan

I saw Jack Canfield on TV last night. He was talking about going to 144 publishers and getting rejected before getting the Chicken Soup for the Soul books published. When asked why he persisted- he said" I just knew we had something." They also told the publisher it would sell 1.5 million copies in the first year and of course they have now sold 100 Million books! Here is the point- the success was already in his head before it happened. The positive approach, the drive he had all made it possible. So here is the big question- when you approach a goal- what is in your mind? Can you see it? Do you KNOW it will happen? Make clear in your mind first and the rest will follow!

Staying Motivated When You Dont Feel Well

2007-10-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

I am sick. Sinus infection and and ear infection. I have a monster headache and my ear hurts. I have been taking antibiotics for 12 days. Still don't feel better. Frustrating as heck. I rested all weekend and didn't do any work. I have to do work this week. Am I saying poor me? Nope not a chance. So how do I stay motivated? It's all about MINDSET. Here are the things I say to myself: 1) "I am blessed to have a business where I am busy." 2) "I am not traveling this week so I can rest more." 3) "I don't have a fever." 4) "It could be worse" 5) "This is temporary." 6) "Focus on what you need to get done today, this hour." 7) " You are on medication"
So when you are not feeling well focus on the positives and stay out of the "poor me" pit. Besides no one likes a whiner/complainer/ list of ills person.

Motivation: Happiness?

2007-09-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Are you fascinated by happiness? I am. I see so many people in the world who are unhappy. So what is the solution to unhappiness? There is an answer- there is lots of research going on about happiness. The research shows that part of your tendency to be happy or unhappy is genetic. (thank your parents!) The better news is the rest can be changed. The research is showing that the secret is to focus on our strengths (what we are good at) and not on our flaws. Test subjects in research projects showed remarkable changes when they concentrated on three activities for as much as six months: 1) Be grateful to someone for what they have done for you. 2) Every evening write down three good things that happened to you. 3) Take a Signature Strengths Questionnaire and then use one of your signature strengths every day. (This is based on the work of Martin Seligman.) For more information and some fantastic assessments- go to www.authentichappiness.com. If you want to be happy you have to work at it!

Get Motivated by using Your Time Today

2007-09-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

"The supply of time is a daily miracle. You wake up in the morning and lo! Your purse is magnificently filled with 24 hours of the unmanufactured tissue of the universe of life. It is yours! The most precious of your possessions. "
- Arnold Bennet

In the morning when you are given this gift of time how will you use it?

Motivating Belief with Our Co- Pilot

2007-08-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

"Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives."
Sidney Madwed

What do you think about? Do you think about being overweight or think about starting a plan to get your health back? Do you think about not having enough money or about being a millionaire? Do you think about what you cant have or what you can have? Do you think about the negative aspects of your spouse or the positives. I do lots of executive coaching and here is the main service I perform: I get them to start to address what they are thinking about, what they should be thinking about and why they are doing what they are doing. The process gets them to change their thinking. When you think about what you think and how you think about it- you can make magnificent changes.Decide what you want and think about it every day in a positive proactive way. Your co- pilot (your subconscious mind) will help you get there. Hit auto pilot and press " play". It will happen and be manifested.

Motivate by Controlling Your Thoughts About You

2007-08-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

"The man who believes he can do something is probably right, and so is the man who believes he can t. Anonymous I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as someone who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good. "
- Oprah Winfrey

How do you view yourself? Do you think of yourself as smart? Talented? Do you feel like you have something to offer the world? I think your success in life is based on how you think about yourself on a daily basis. Why? First there is lots of non verbal communication in our daily interactions and if you don't believe in you- people can tell. This may make them feel like they don't want to help you or give you new opportunities. Second, when you lack confidence, you will not try things and will give up before you start. " I wont call because they they will just say no." It become in essence a self fulfilling prophecy. You think it wont work so it doesn't. So today think about all day long how you think about yourself. If most of your thoughts about you are negative- start to change the way you think and you will change. It's an inside out process.

Be Motivated by Being Realistic

2007-08-28T06:16:00.000-07:00

I put up crown molding in my dining room the last two weekends. I was getting frustrated because I was not getting the results I expected. ( perfection) Here is where my thinking was skewed though- three things to think about 1) I have never put up crown molding and in fact have done very little carpentry work in my life. 2) I dont have fancy tools like table saws and power miter boxes 3) I am good with my hands, but at drawing and art not drilling, nailing etc. I teach people to have high expectations and to aim high, but there are times when it is smart to be realistic.If I have never done something before should I expect to be great at it? No, not unless I am just naturally gifted. Should I expect to be a great golfer the first time I play? A great speaker the first time I speak? A great cook the first time I cook? So I need to learn to be patient and realize there is a learning curve to all new things. So can you learn from my experience? if you are brand new at something allow your self time to learn it and don't get frustrated. Frustration is a poison which can very quickly start to take its toll. Ask yourself: Have I ever done this before?If the answer is no- don't expect too much and keep learning. My crown molding will thank you.

Great Motivational Quote

2007-08-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

" Some people dream of great accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them."
- Constance Newman

So? Go do it- Today!

Motivate Yourself by Giving Motivation

2007-08-16T20:32:00.000-07:00

In the last two weeks I have spent time on the phone with four people who want to be professional speakers. ( Ok it is a pretty cool way to make a living!) They have identified me as someone who is successful as a speaker and they want my advice.
I have spent time with them by phone or in person. I must say it has been a real kick! To see them take an idea and get excited about it, get fired up and motivated is a tremendous feeling.
If you want to feel more motivated, more alive, more fulfilled- find someone who needs your help and inpire and motivate them. You will be giving, but the feeling and level of motivation you will get will be tenfold what they got from the transaction. So want more motivation? Give some!

Do It Now for Motivation

2007-08-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

Do it! Do it now! Not tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. Do it Now! When you get going, giddy up, get it done, get in gear, GO-you create momentum and that is a force multiplier. So take the step, make the call, fill out the form, send in the resume, step forward, take the plunge, send the e mail, ask the question, get going NOW, today - pronto!
When you do I guarantee one thing your motivation will soar to new levels.

Get Motivated by Thinking About a New Day

2007-04-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
- John Wayne

So what are you going to do with the new day as it arrives?

Get Motivated by Being Persistent

2007-04-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

It was beautiful this spring weekend and I decided to work on my house. It included 1) talking down all my shutters 2) cleaned and painted them 3) reinstalling them 4) pressure cleaning the house to get it ready for painting the stucco portion of the house. Did it go as smooth as silk? Nope. In fact it took me the entire weekend. Plastic screws broke off in masonry holes and refused to come out. Hardware employees were clueless and had no answers. I busted my knuckles and they bled. The stucco on part of my house had be be chipped out and replaced. Screws that were supposed to work didn't. Drill bits snapped in half. Very tiring , very frustrating and very hot work. So what is the lesson? Don't ever give up stay at it- eventually the shutters all got up and look great. The stucco came off and the surface is now ready for new stucco. When you persist- you win and the adversity loses- and your level of motivation goes up. So no matter what just keep on going and the dogged persistent will pay off. I sit here today sore with busted knuckles but... victorious.
So what if you were truly persistent could you really accomplish?

Get Motivated by Learning Something

2007-04-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

"You have available to you, right now, a powerful supercomputer. This powerful tool has been used through-out history to take people from rags to riches, from poverty and obscurity to success and fame, from unhappiness and frustration to joy and self-fulfillment, and it can do the same for you."
- Brian Tracy

So what have you leaned in the last week? What have you read? What have you studied? What audios have you listened to? What seminars have you signed up for? If the answer is "nothing", get started now- and see how it dramatically increases your level of motivation!

Get Motvated by Watching What You Watch

2007-04-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

The news the last few days have been very sad with the shooting at Virginia Tech University. 33 people died senselessly for no reason other than the hate of one twisted young man. I mourn them.
There is however a very important point in all this related to motivation.If you chose to- tonight you could have watched 5- 6 hours of media coverage- ( and for the next week or more) including the video clips the young man produced before he died. This would make anyone down and depressed. Don't dwell on, watch and soak up the hours and hours of video and mayhem these kind of events bring onto TV.Get the story and move on. Turn it off. Do something positive. Run from this kind of toxic stuff.
In the equation negative + negative + time exposed = more negative thought and behavior. Don't load your mind with this horror film. Yes you can dwell on it like every one else- but you arent like everyone else are you?
Now:
Go for a run. Take a bike ride. Hug your children.Kiss somebody. Create a positive energy and action that negates this form of evil. You will thank me and so will your level of motivation.

Get Motivated by Looking at the Future

2007-04-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

I hear it everyday in our society. "The world is falling apart" they say "It is getting worse and worse" they say. "Can't trust no one" they say. Everyone around them says "Yep" and "That sure is true". So here are negative people being reinforced by other negative people! I refuse to believe any of it.

I believe in the future and its unlimited possibilities.
I believe that all things are possible.
I believe that all people are good unless they show me other wise.
I believe that all people have unlimited potential once they decide they do and take action to make it happen.
I believe than one person can change the world.

I think Oprah Winfrey said it best when she said the following:

"When I look into the future, it is so bright it burns my eyes."

Does your future burn your eyes? Mine does. Some nights I am so excited about my business, my life and the future potential I cant wait for the sun to come up.

If you don't feel this way make it happen starting now.

Get Motivated by Controlling the Weather

2007-04-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

It is a cold chilly day today. One of those days you go outside and say " man what is with this? This is miserable stupid weather." STOP.
Today I hear people complaining and whining about the weather. Question : can you change the weather? So why complain?
What do we need to do to make sure we are not being negative? Simple- control the weather in our head. You might say " I kind of like rainy days" or " I will stay inside today and read." Negative thinking begets more and more negative thinking. It's contageous.
Let's be positive and focus on what we can control. The rest is a precious waste of energy. I love rain!

Get Motivated by Doing Something Today of Value

2007-04-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

"Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence -- neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish -- it is an imponderably valuable gift. Each of us has a few minutes a day or a few hours a week which we could donate to an old folks home or a children's hospital ward. The elderly whose pillows we plump or whose water pitchers we refill may or may not thank us for our gift, but the gift is upholding the foundation of the universe."
- Maya Angelou

After reading the quote above- I want you today to do something of value. Something nice. It might be a small thing like smiling at the person at the store behind the register. It might mean giving a compliment. ( you know those cost you nothing) Be kind to a stranger. Call your Mom. Give your spouse a kiss for no reason. E mail a friend and tell them you appreciate them. Play with your cat. Send a "just because" card to a friend. (not a birthday, or holiday- just because) Put coins in the donation box. Bring home a gift for your child for no reason. When you do something for someone else, something of value- your heart will be filled with the joy and the spirit of giving. Just to give. Decide today to just give.It will make you feel great about yourself. You will be " upholding the foundation of the universe."

Get Motivated by Being Well Rounded

2007-04-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a great thought about being well- rounded:

"In order to acheive true success, you've got to integrate your fitness, nutrition, health, relationships, and career.Most guys only want to focus on one of these,but you have to be strong in all five."
- Chris Carmichael- Lance Armstrong's cycling coach

Get Motivated by Finding Your Joy!

2007-03-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

Do you know what brings you joy?
I recently met a woman who told me "her true joy was being outdoors". She also told me she didnt do that any more. I asked her why, and she got a far away look in her eyes and said " I dont know". I then asked her "what would be the result if you did make time to be outside more?"
She said it would be huge for her.
I ask you- what is your joy? How much time do you spend doing joyful things? One simple way to be more motivated and to reingnite your motivation is too just do the things that bring you joy more. Much more.
Because we can all agree that the world needs more joy now.

Stay Motivated by Following Your Dreams

2007-03-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

(As quoted in Success Magazine Feb. 2007):

" There are a lot of people out there that complain about their lives, or that are just unhappy in their jobs. I was, too. And when I hit 30 I realized I just had to make it happen. Music was my passion. I knew it was what I wanted to do for a living.So I quit my job and dedicated myself to music 100% - 24 hours a day. I'm not saying everybody should do that, but we made it work. No matter what age you are, if you are unhappy, then do something about it. Never simply settle for what you have."
- Dave Donegan- Gitaurist- Disturbed