Monday, November 29, 2010

There is something about you......

...

Hello from Los Angeles!

There really is something about you.......but I can't quite put my finger on it.

I had a comment recently from a new business contact.  He told me that there was something about me, when he first met me......a certain aura.  I was flattered by the comment.  But what was it exactly?

With all the people that I interact with on a daily and weekly basis, I am more aware of how people show up.  Are they happy?  Full of energy?  Do they make eye contact?  Speak boldly, or softly?

How do you want to show up and be remembered?

Do you smile for no particular reason?
Why do you help others without being asked or expecting anything in return?
Can you just be you 24/7?
Are you a true friend who reaches for someones hand and touches their heart.  (I thank my sister Sharon for this line)
How do you show up every day?

Well, the exciting news is that we can show others what we are about every day......but how?

The biblical saying, "do unto others as you would have others do unto you" is so relevant here.

When I meet someone without a smile and they appear withdrawn and sad, I try very hard to make a conscience choice to continue to be ME.....usually in a positive, energized frame of mind.  I can only hope that the other person draws from my energy and changes their state.   Perhaps in some small way, I made a difference in their day.

We have a choice to present ourselves in a certain way every time we show up.  In some cases, we need to show up 50 times per day.  Are you up for it? 

I was speaking with a Coaching client recently and we made reference to a mutual business contact.  I mentioned that we both knew this lady, who is a Business Professional.  His response was, "she is a great lady, with real presence and energy".  I would suggest that every person that comes in contact with her would have a very similar comment. There is indeed something about her!    Regardless of our profession, we have an opportunity to impact people in a positive way.

I am grateful that I have contacts in many professions and backgrounds.  The key part for me, it is all about who they are, not what they do.

They differentiate themselves by the way in which they show up, and for the most part it is very consistent.

I tend to gravitate to this type of person, because their  (PVP) " personal value proposition" is of interest to me and I draw from their energy and attitude.  It is less about the product or service they offer or what street they live on.

There IS something about you, but what do you want that to look like?  Put your best foot forward and show your good side everyday!

“Learn and grow all you can; serve and befriend all you can; enrich and inspire all you can.” -William Arthur Ward

Have a great week.

As always, I welcome your comments on this weeks Blog, in the comment section below.

"Helping you to the next level"

Monday, November 22, 2010

Do you believe?

...

This is a very broad topic for me, as I keep coming across people that have a lack of belief.....about many things.  One of the most crucial things that I observe is that they have a general lack of belief in themselves.

Did they have a belief in themselves at one time?

I believe in many things...

Making a difference.
Loving others.
Working hard.
Trusting people.
That the Oilers will one day.................win more than they lose!
That being positive is better than being negative.
Myself.

So what actually drives our beliefs?

Is it because someone else has been there, done that?.....than we believe?
Do we have to see it to believe it?

What about the Law of Attraction?   Many people believe in this.....and many people don`t.
Do you believe that our ACTIONS will attract things in our life?  Both good and bad!

If we don`t understand something, we generally don`t believe in it.  Too bad, really!

Sometimes you just have to believe.......things will get better.

The classic tune "Don`t Stop Believin, by the band Journey, really speaks to this message.
.....mid way through the song it says...

"Some will win, Some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'"

Here's my interpretation of the song. 

Sometimes you will succeed and sometimes you will fail.   We all experience this in our life.
However, some people will complain about  the failures and forget to acknowledge the successes in life. (the small wins)
As for the movie never ending, it is life's journey.  It ain't over, til it's over, so enjoy the ride.
Regardless of what happens don't stop believing that you will win more times than you will fail.  Hold onto that thought and never give up!

On a final note, I want to leave you with an inspiring message when you feel that you lack opportunity or hope.   Don`t Stop Believing!

"Drop a pebble and chase the ripples" -Arnold McLaughlin (mentor and dear friend)

I welcome your comments in the comment section below.



"Helping you to the next level"

Monday, November 15, 2010

How's your glass?

...

Good morning from beautiful Victoria, BC.


Is your glass half full, or half empty???

Do you have people in your life that wake up every day with hope and optimism and they see the good in every single thing?....................Pretty awesome if you do!

When you are having a bad day, they are the people that you need to call when you are looking for a "raise the attitude adjustment."

There are of course the other people in our life that have the natural ability to suck the fun out of the day.
Tip......don't call them when you are having a good day..  I am just kidding actually!!
If you are full of mojo, you can possibly break their negative state....but don't coach them to do it....it has to come on its own accord.  Just be there and don't get sucked in to the deep dark hole of gloom and doom.

I was at a large fundraising event with a friend of mine a month or so ago.  There were many great and supportive people there.  We were visiting with a few new contacts and one guy was commenting about his wine glass.  I asked him, "is your glass half empty or half full?"  Without hesitation he replied, "my glass is definitely half full."  It was evident that he meant it and that his approach to life was consistent with this message based on other things that he said.   He made me smile and it felt great to be in the presence of someone that had that positive vibe.  It made me want to be better!

Sometimes we ask people how they are doing and we may regret asking.  They tell us about how crappy life is and how everyone in the world is screwing up their life.   Wow...............I am really glad I asked.....Not!

A long-time friend and mentor of mine, Peter Kossowan, shared his classic line with me many years ago.
Rather than saying, "have a good day," Peter always says, "make it a good day"  Simple, yet really effective. If you think about it, you have more control over making it a good day than the other way around.

This was profound for me and one of many treasured words of wisdom that Peter has offered me over the years.  Thank you Peter!   By the way.....he is indeed a "glass half full kind of guy."

Here is some food for thought.  If you try to wake up each day and go about your routine with a "my glass is half full" kind of attitude, you may actually surprise yourself. 


Examples.....

See the good in other people.
Observe the opportunity in a new business challenge.
How can you make today awesome?
Be grateful for what you have and not be envious of what you do not have.
Make every moment count, rather than waste it on negative thoughts.
What can you do to make a difference in someone else's life?

Half full, or half empty?
Click here for pic


As always, I welcome your feedback on my Blog!

"Helping you to the next level"

Monday, November 8, 2010

Decisions Decisions Decisions

...

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure , the process is its own reward.” - Amelia Earhart

In life, we are faced with many decisions on a daily basis.

What shall I wear today?
Should I take the freeway or another route?
Will I be better off without that relationship?
What is my purpose in life?
Can I afford the next vacation?
Should I accept that new job?

While in most cases, making a decision can be easy for some, it can be extremely difficult for others!

What's even worse, many people fail to make a decision in the first place.   In effect, they decide to NOT decide...

It has been said that in life, we have more regret for the things that we do not decide/act upon.

Here is some perspective to give you peace of mind when making critical decisions in your life.

Will it create a Win-Win situation, even though it may not seem like it now?
Will you be better off in the long run making the decision?
Can you avoid not making the decision?
Will you feel better after making the decision?

I am a fan of Andy Andrews and his "7 Decisions for Success"

His first Decision, "The Responsible Decision" (The Buck stops here) states that, "when faced with the opportunity to make a decision, I will make one.  We have the ability to make a decision, and then make it right."

For Andy Andrew's full commentary, Click here:

Ultimately making a decision supersedes standing still and not making one.

I will end with a quote from one of my favorite books.

"Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision."
-Paulo Coelho, author, "The Alchemist"

I hope that you decide to have a terrific week!

As always, I welcome your feedback in the comment section below.


"Helping you to the Next Level"

Monday, November 1, 2010

Priceless!

...

Defined as invaluable; having incalculable monetary, intellectual, or spiritual worth.

When I was younger I must admit that I did not get this definition right.     
Of course, I was thinking that when something was priceless, it was worthless.  Wow, was I wrong.

So, what are you worth?

What am I worth to you?....and what are you worth to me?

I was out at a hockey game (ok, the Oilers lost) recently with a friend (Greg) and he made a kind gesture to offer and pay for the ticket I gave him.  I responded......how can you put a price on our friendship?  He was quick to respond, "you can't, but there is a price on the ticket.....LOL.

My point here is that we all think about money, cost, revenue/income, or the value of something or someone everyday, but what about the things in our life that are truly priceless?

Michael Douglas is reportedly worth $200mil, but would he give all of that wealth back to be healthy and free from cancer?  Absolutely!

Health is indeed a priceless commodity, just ask someone with poor or failing health!
Relationships are priceless, just ask someone who does not feel connected to someone.

Here's an action item for you.

Create a list of items in your life that you would define as priceless.

-Health
-Family
-Friends
-Time with someone you really care about
-Time by yourself
-Relationships
-My friendship.. (ok, that may retail for $89.99....but still good value...LOL)
-Other????

To end on an uplifting note, I always enjoy some humour to get a point across.
I love the MasterCard commercials, as they do a terrific job of articulating the Priceless message.

Here is a cute clip to get you started on your week.
Click here:

As always, I welcome your feedback on this week's Blog in the comment section below.

"Helping you to the next level"