What is your most convincing characteristic?

In my last blog I spoke about two words we need to do every day in our lives: Think and Act. Today I am going to unveil to you the most convincing characteristic you can have as a person. SELF BELIEF! One of the first things we must do is believe in ourselves before we can become a success. We must find the belief that I can and will accomplish anything I set out to achieve. Success in anything is up to each one of us individually.

Self-belief is the thinking and acting on what we want to accomplish. It’s the conduit between your attitude and willpower to succeed. As you create what you want to accomplish you must feed that thought with positive reinforcement that you can accomplish, what you set out to achieve. Let me give you an example: I set a goal this year to run a full marathon. (Yes, that is 26.2 miles!) The last several months I have been thinking about how I was going to accomplish this goal. I will admit I just decided to register for the full marathon and now need to take action and register for the marathon. I need to complete my action on what I want to accomplish, I will then need to feed my attitude every day to create the willpower to succeed in my self-belief. Why? I have never run a full marathon so I need to have the self-belief in myself I can and will accomplish what I set out to achieve. I will admit by putting this in my blog it creates an accountability measure to myself by asking each of you to help me become accountable to my goal. So, anytime you see me, ask me how my training is progressing for my marathon. You noticed the words I used to stay positive? Ask me how my training is going? Not, are you still training for your marathon? Also, I have now claimed this marathon as MY marathon because it is MY goal.

Remember as you create your self-belief; make sure you do a complete self–evaluation. The key is you must believe in what you want to accomplish. Like any other goal it is vital you know you’re WHY you want to achieve the goal. Next time you see me ask me my WHY?
Quote:

“Self-belief is the most convincing characteristic to others, and THE most convincing characteristic to yourself.”

-Jeffrey Gitomer

Have a GREAT day!

Gary

What are you thinking about?

“Think and act---two words of progress”   John Patterson

Today let’s talk about these two words from John Patterson:

THINK and ACT!

In today’s fast paced society do we take time just to think? With all the messages we hear every day do we think about what they are telling us? Do we slow down enough to think how does it impact my life? If you are like most living human beings in the world today, thinking is not something we do. I want to give you some simple tips to bring thinking back into your daily life. These 10 practical steps will help you get more out of your life.

1. How do I want my day to go today?
2. What are my plans to make today successful?
3. What are my 3 positive focuses from yesterday?
4. What am I most grateful for today?
5. What are my 3 most important actions I must do today?
6. What did I read today to get my attitude in shape?
7. Did I feed my brain with a positive message today?
8. Did I exercise my body so it was in shape to think today?
9. What will I learn today to keep me current in my life?
10. Did I make someone else feel appreciated?

The second part of the quote was to ACT to create progress. The simple part is saying I am going to think about these questions every day. The hard part is actually ACTING on the questions. I would suggest every morning find a quiet place to read some spiritual message to get your mind in the calmness of time so you think about the following questions before you start your day. Then I would write down your answers to each question so your brain triggers you to act on each item throughout the day. At the end of the day review your list and see how many you acted on throughout the day. Thinking, like any other action, is a discipline. You decide your own outcome based on your desire and self-determination.

“THINK! Do it for a week.

The results will be so amazing; you’ll do it for a lifetime.”

Jeffrey Gitomer

Have a GREAT day!

P.S. If you would like a document you can print off with the 10 daily thinking questions send me an email back requesting: Ten Daily Thinking Questions.

Why do we celebrate July 4th?

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country. I hope as you get ready to celebrate this special holiday you will reflect back on what makes our country so great! We are free to choose in this country. Don’t let our freedoms become a thing of the past.

In July we mark the halfway point for 2012! Last week we talked about the goals that you set out to achieve in 2012. This week I want to talk about your FREEDOM to choose what you want to accomplish. Early in my life, my teachers spoke about free will. We all have free will and when we use it to create positive habits we can accomplish whatever we set out to achieve. So, what does this have to do with freedom? Well, freedom is defined as:

The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

When we have the right to act, speak or think as we want without hindrance or restraint, then what will give us the freedom to accomplish what we want in life? I think it is in our habits and the daily actions we live by every day. As you journey through this week, check to see if your actions are aligned with your habits. I believe people who discipline themselves in their FREEDOM to act, speak and think are more apt to create what they set out to achieve.

Let’s look at an example: As many of you know Dave Ramsey speaks on financial freedom. He believes a credit card destroys our freedom from being debt free. As we see in commercials if you own a credit card it gives you all kinds of pleasures you can charge on the card like a vacation, clothes, and anything to make your life better. I know that it’s not things that make us happy, but rather the people and experiences we create. If I have a goal to become debt free, I have the freedom to make this a choice in my life. I must act, speak and think to make this goal a reality. This will take a disciplined effort but, as Dave says: "Live like no one else, so that later you can live like no one else!"

I leave you with this thought. “If you want to accomplish great things, your FREEDOM, will make your daily actions your habits and you will achieve any goal you set for yourself.”

Enjoy the Journey!

Where is 2012 going?

Who made goals at the beginning of 2012? Did you write them down? Are you reviewing the progress you are making on a daily, weekly or monthly basis? Goals can be achieved when we believe and take action to achieve them. I hear all the time people say I have goals but then when you ask, are you achieving them? Most people say, NO! Why do only a small percentage of people achieve their goals?

Let’s start from the beginning on goals by defining what a goal is? Goals, defined by the Webster dictionary is: object to be reached or attained. So if you want to reach or attain a goal you must first know what the goal is. All studies on goals show a direct correlation between writing your goals down, it increases your chances of achieving them. Why do you think if you write it down and make it SMART (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Timebound) you are more likely to succeed? One reason is because now your brain is on the same page with what you want to accomplish. I also think writing your goal down makes it real in your own mind. Most people say they have a goal but achievers take the next step and they commit themselves to making it a reality.

The next step in goal setting is breaking down your goal into Action steps. You have heard the story on how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! In goal setting most goals are accomplished by having a method on how you will achieve the goal. I am a firm believer if you break these down into doable action steps it makes achieving the goal, happen. Let’s look at an example: I will lose 25lbs by 12/31/12. Is this goal SMART? Yes, so what would be some steps to accomplish the goal? 1. Weigh yourself and track your progress every Monday on a chart. 2. Exercise 4 times a week a minimum of 30 minutes each time. 3. Track my eating everyday on paper which will allow me to eat healthy. 4. Always take stairs instead of the elevator. 5. Find an accountability partner to exercise with. See how these small steps can make the goal of losing 25lbs become a reality.

The last step is committing to yourself that you can and will achieve the goal you have set for yourself. The old saying: “Your mind can achieve what you believe.” I am a firm believer you must put your goal in a visible place so you can review it daily. I have posted mine behind my mirror so every time I brush my teeth what do I see? Committing to yourself is a commitment that your willpower is stronger than taking the easy road. A goal will be a challenge to achieve but you must know the dedication to achieving the goal is part of the journey to make it worthwhile.

I thought a review of goals may be worthwhile for everyone knowing that we are heading to the middle of 2012! Remember if you made goals for 2012 you can still make them a reality. I am not going to wish you luck in achieving your goals; instead I am going to ask you to take ACTION on achieving your goals.

My favorite quote on achieving goals:

“Goals are like having your headlights on, because you know where you are going”

I authored this quote.

Have a GREAT day!

You are Special

As I reflect back on my time this week, spent volunteering for the Missouri Special Olympic Summer games in Columbia, Missouri it brought back a special feeling in my heart. The summer games were in an expanded format this year and started on Tuesday and will finish up today. Special Olympics always bring the heart of competition to its events and this year was no exception.

You are Special is my heading for today’s blog because I want to reflect on two individuals I was fortunate to spend time with this week at the games. My two new friends are Octavio and Tevin. These athletes participated in the Pentathlon, which consists of five events in track and field. The events are Shot Put, Running Long Jump, 100 Meter run, 400 Meter run and the High Jump. Our family was the Venue Coordinators for this event so we spent the time with these athletes during the day on Wednesday taking them to each of their events. As in past years, we were not disappointed in the competitive spirit each athlete showed. Tevin and Octavio both are athletes and love the thrill of competing. At each event they challenged each other to be the best. It never ceases to amaze me that each athlete that participates just enjoys the thrill of competition. Competition seems to be a common bond in the human spirit. As we know from previous blogs God gives us our talents and gifts and when we realize these gifts are God-given it makes us more thankful for what we have. This brings me to my title, “You are Special.” We are each SPECIAL in our way. Take some time and think right now, why are you Special? List out your uniqueness? What talents do you have? What gifts have you been given? I guarantee you if you write down the answers to these questions you will feel gratitude in your life for whom and what you are. God makes each of us Special. I hope, by you reflecting on why you are special today, you realize your blessings. I feel blessed that this week when I thought I had so many other things to do, I spent time with my two new friends that are Special Olympic athletes. Thanks Octavio and Tevin for helping me realize in my life what is special to me. (See enclosed photo of Octavio and Tevin with their respective Gold medals)

I have also enclosed a picture of my son Chris with Sarah and Beth both athletes from Columbia, Missouri as we were waiting to walk in the opening ceremonies. Please check out more information on the Special Olympics Missouri website at http://www.somo.org/ I hope you decide to join us for one of events so you can experience this SPECIAL feeling. I promise you won’t regret giving your time helping these athletes fulfill their dream of competing.

Have a GREAT day!

 

Ten Daily Actions to Live by

As we wrap up my discussions on the Ten Daily Actions to Live by I hope you have found some actions you currently live by and some that you would like to incorporate into your life. I must admit to live them daily is a challenge but I keep working on making them a habit. As I wrap up this series of blogs I thought it would be beneficial to share a poem I made using the Ten Daily Actions.

“My message makes me responsible to be a person of action. My life is about loving and helping people. I help them flourish by the amount of time I give to them. I choose to be a happy person and I will have a positive attitude toward others. I have chosen my path to follow daily and to greet each day with a forgiving spirit. I will live a great today because I am a person of faith and I know my gifts and talents come from my God.”

Please take time and share with me which Action you feel you use the most often and why? Which Action do you think is the most challenging for you and why? I hope you are enjoying the warmer weather and appreciating the gifts we are given each day.

Have a GREAT day!

Where do your talents and gifts come from?

As I reveal my final action to live by in this blog I hope you have found some worthwhile actions to make your life, the life you want it to be. We all have the capability to make our life the BEST if we choose to take ACTION. This week’s action is: “I am a person of great faith. I believe all my talents and gifts come from my God.”

I have to admit I used to have a hard time with the fact that God was the reason for my success and not ME! The main reason I had this challenge is because I believed my hard work and my abilities were the reason my success happened. This has changed over time as I have deepened my relationship with God and started searching for the purpose of my life. I have found over the years the blessings that God pours into my life, my career, my business, my finances, my family and my health, that they all come about because of my God! At this weekend’s mass our priest spoke to us about our decisions to use our talents and gifts (God-given) to become and do what we want. Thoughts that enter our mind are God speaking to us. We should listen to God to find where we can best use all of the gifts and talents he has given. Please look up Ephesians: 1:3-14 and in this passage you will read that in him we were chosen, and destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

“I am a person of Great faith. I believe all my talents and gifts come from my God.” Thank God daily for the gifts and talents he has given you. Spend time with God in prayer, mediation and scripture reading. Remind yourself daily God gives us all that we have and all that we offer.

We are five months into 2012; I hope you are reaching your goals and plans you set for yourself.