I’ve been tagged again!  As my regular readers know, I only participate in these games if they are worthwhile and fun, and this is something I’ve written about before so it should be easy.   My most compelling reason to participate, is that it’s been started by one of my favorite bloggers, Cardin.

In 20 Ways to Raise Your Vibration, I gave you a list of things to do to get connected to your source energy.  For this High Vibes game, I’m going to list my favorite five.  Here goes.

1. Reading. First, I read last year’s post from my own career journal.  It is, after all, The Motivational Trick that Works Every Time! I read for as long as necessary.  If that doesn’t do it, I’ll pull out something from my resource library.  This post would be very long if I listed everything, but my top three faves are Abraham-Hicks, Steve Chandler, and Brian Tracy.
2. Writing. If something is bothering me, thinking about it just lowers my vibration.  So I put all those thoughts down on paper.  What usually happens is that I trigger a solution to the problem.  At the very least, I get it off my mind.  Several years ago when I was having trouble with insomnia, I learned that I simply could not go to sleep at night until I’d written in my journal.  Now I journal the instant something starts bothering me and get over it rather quickly.  I no longer lay awake at night worrying or replaying conversations in my mind.
3. Appreciating. This can be written or just mentally composed, but finding things to appreciate really does work.  In my post, On a Rampage, I discuss this process in detail, but the bottom line is find something to appreciate right now.  It doesn’t have to be something related to what’s bothering you, although if you can, that will help.  Appreciation of anything, though, will raise your vibes.
4. De-cluttering. I know I write about this a lot, but there have been so many times when clearing my head required nothing more than clearing my desk.  Even just putting all paper items in a stack and taking them one by one puts my emotions higher up on the scale.  But getting up in the morning to a clean house, coming home to a clean house, going to bed in a clean house, ahhhhhhhhh, high vibes!
5. Chilling. When it seems like I have too much to do and too little time to get it all done, I stop doing everything.  It’s very counter-intuitive for my Type A personality, which just might be exactly why it works!  After one hour of solitude, I am clear about what is important, and ready to move at a much faster pace.  Focus and speed work well together, especially when your vibes are soaring.

Now, for my five favorite up-lifting posts (the authors of which I am now tagging):

Creating Your Life: Part I – Making Choices is my favorite post to date at Three Sticks – MosesEdwardMilesIII.com Moses writes about similar topics that I do, but brings a different perspective to the topic, which is what we all need when we’re stuck by doing it our own way.  Read his blog long enough and I know you’ll find something that inspires you and gets you going again.

My latest favorite article by Karen Lynch at LiveThePower.com is What Do You See? About every other day, though, she writes my favorite article.  If you’re an Abraham-Hicks fan, you’ll love her blog.

I can’t say that I have a favorite article at Today is that Day, I just flip over there when I want something new, or want to find out more about a book or system on motivation – it’s a great resource.  Aaron Potts is proof that you can build your dream, one day, one post at a time.

I love Christine Kane’s writing style, both for her blog and her music!  I’m constantly teasing my husband with, “Four legs good; two legs bad.”  (He doesn’t find it as funny as I do for some reason.)  But if her blog doesn’t improve your vibrational level, her music definitely will – so you get a double-whammy with Christine.  As for my favorite post, I think her writing just keeps getting better and better, so I’m linking you to today’s post (as of this writing), which is Immunity from Gas Prices:  One Girl’s Ultimate Guide.

I love Kammie Kobyleski’s “Passionate Theme for the Day.”  My favorite post: Gorgeous is an Inside Job. To which I said, “Amen, sista!”  This is a new blog for me and I must admit that Kammie has the best site design of all of us.  Absolutely beautiful – and great content.   (That applies to the blog and the woman!)

I’ve mentioned before that Optimist Lab is one of my favorite blogs and resources, but since it wouldn’t be productive to tag the person who tagged you, I’ll just mention here that Cardin regularly hosts the Carnival of Deliberate Creation, which is how I became exposed to her writing, and which I find amazingly inspiring.

Just in writing this article and putting all these links together I feel like I’m soaring with the wind.  That’s what I love most about these games – they are so much fun and if you take just a few minutes to read through these posts I feel certain you’ll start to feel the same way.

We are so fortunate to live during a time when there is so much uplifting material readily available, when many wonderful people are willing to share their expertise, and at no charge.  This is an event that causes me to start my journal with, “I am the luckiest person alive!”  And so are you.

Have a joyful day!

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Posted under Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Motivation, Success

One of the biggest obstacles most of us face in accomplishing our goals is fear.  Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of success, fear of making the wrong choice, fear of the opportunity lost in making the wrong choice, fear of “losing face,” fear of making others upset with us, fear of looking too good, fear of letting others into our lives, well, I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  In fact, most of you, if not all of you, know all too well exactly what I’m talking about.

General George Patton said, “Fear kills more people than death.”  I am certain that from his military perspective, he had his own unique take on that concept, but what his statement means to me in this day and age is that, when we allow our fears to prevent us from living our lives to the fullest, we die on the inside.  I’ve known several people who died emotionally long before their physical deaths because they succumbed to fear.

Today I’d like to look at why we experience fear, what we can do to prevent it from destroying us, and even better, how we can learn to use fear to our advantage.

First of all, why do we have this bothersome emotion in the first place?  Many psychologists agree that fear is innate in all human beings just as the emotions of joy and anger because we need it to survive.  That makes sense especially if you think of our ancestors who had to hunt for food in order to survive.  Their instincts kicking in were necessary to prevent them from great danger and loss of life.  Even today, the fear of spiders, snakes, fast-moving vehicles, hot stoves, etc. prevent many attempts on our lives.  So we need our fear – it’s ultimately very healthy for us.

However, (and you knew that was coming, didn’t you?), when our imagination takes over in a way that causes us to think of “the worst case scenario” from a perspective of preventing us from action in business, or in our careers, how do we discern whether the threat is our intuition talking, warning us against making a huge mistake, or our ego trying to prevent itself from looking foolish in others’ eyes?  Here’s what I do.

When that twinge of fear makes itself noticeable, I literally stop to consider the worst case scenario.  What is the very worst thing that could happen?  Let’s look at some examples.

I’m not sure that fear of public speaking is number one any more, but it is still a fear for a large number of people.  So let’s say you have to give a very important presentation or speak in front of a large audience, and you’re thinking about bailing at the last minute.  What’s the worst case scenario?  You stand up in front of the audience, forget your first line, forget your entire speech, say nothing from stage fright, and/or make a complete fool of yourself in front of all your friends?  Okay, let’s say that happens.  Imagine how you’ll handle it.  Imagine what you will say when you forget that first line.  Would you say, “Wow, I can’t believe I forgot my first line?”  Or “Wow, I can’t believe Rachel and Joey are getting married?”  Basically, what I’m having you do here is visualize that first line.  Because what you’re going to realize, is that if you can memorize the backup line, you can memorize the actual first line.  Get it?  Once you get started, you’ll be fine.  What’s more, people forget bad speakers.  For that matter, they forget good speakers!

Besides, the truly worst case scenario is that you back out at the last minute, leaving someone with no speaker, making yourself look worse than if you’d delivered a nervous, awkwardly conveyed message that no one understood.  Deliver a good first line, deliver a good last line, and everything in middle will take care of itself.

Okay let’s say that your fear is starting your own business.  Common fears in this situation are, “What if I give up a good job, then fail?”  “What if I can’t support my family?”  “What if no one wants my product or service and the business never gets off the ground?”

Again, develop a backup plan.  In the 1980’s and 90’s, a lot of motivational gurus were touting that having a backup plan was like planning to fail.  I disagree.  I’ve always had a backup plan, and it drove me to work even harder at my dream because I did not want to have to fall back on that plan.  Let me give you some examples.

“What if I give up a good job, then fail?”  If that’s what’s holding you back consider this:  Leave on good terms with your current employer so that you can come back.  Many times, even if you don’t leave on good terms, in two years, everything’s forgotten and they’d love to have you back because you were a good employee.  Keep your doors open, but then work hard at making your business a success so that you never have to use those doors.  What will likely happen, is that by staying on good terms with your boss and co-workers, those people will end up in different jobs or with businesses of their own and end up as your allies in future business ventures.  Be the kind of person everyone wants to be around, and you won’t have to worry about getting a job.

“What if I can’t support my family?”  This is where a good business plan comes into play.  How much do you have in savings?  What is your monthly budget?  Which items could be cut if necessary?  A good strategic plan will overcome these types of fears in a hurry.  In fact, a good strategic plan will motivate you way beyond any fear can hold you down.

“What if no one wants my product or service and the business never gets off the ground?”  A strong resolve and good research will overcome this fear.  More than likely, if it’s a product or service that you want, someone else would like it, too.  You just have to find the right location, the right market, market the heck out of it, and be patient.  Again, a good business plan will squelch your fears in this department.  Utilize free services such as SCORE to help with planning and development.

With all that being said, are there times when you’re thinking of doing something, but it’s not right, and your fear is trying to prevent you from making the wrong move?

Yes.  Let’s talk about that next.

When you have a strong feeling that now is not the right time, the market isn’t right, you’re not ready, your family can’t handle a crunch on finances right now, or anything that you have a strong guiding feeling about, hold back.  Just wait a day or two.  Look at your strategic and business plans.  I’ve known plenty of people who looked at good business plans, but turned them down because it just didn’t “feel right,” only to find out a few weeks later that their hunch was accurate.

My point is this: whether it’s right for you, or wrong for you, you will know.  Your fear is telling you something, but you have to figure it out.  Get quiet, take an hour of solitude, meditate, pray, talk to your subconscious, do what inspires you in this moment, but ask:  Is the fear telling you that you need to be more prepared?  Or is it telling you that even though things look perfect, something else is in the works?  Is your fear trying to prevent you from “burning bridges” so that you will feel better about your business relationships in the months and years ahead?  What does this fear want you to know or do?

Fear serves you.  You are its master.  Fear is a part of you, put there by your Creator for a very distinct purpose.  Learn to interpret it correctly, and the world is your oyster.

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Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Leadership, Motivation, Success

Wouldn’t it be nice to learn how to control your thinking in very specific ways so that you feel terrific about yourself and your situation, no matter what happens?  Well you can.  Here’s how.

Control your reactions and responses. All situations are temporary.  Instead of viewing negative events as a permanent part of your life and destiny, develop the habit of saying to yourself, “this, too, shall pass.”  And it will.  Ask me how I know!

Isolate the incident. Stop saying to yourself, “This sort of thing always happens to me.”  You know what, every successful person experiences problems.  Deal with them, one at a time, seeing each episode for what it really is - an opportunity to learn and grow.

Don’t take failure personally. One of the biggest differences between successful people and failures is that successful individuals view setbacks as things that happened in the course of business that were beyond their personal control.  Failures tend to internalize everything, blame themselves when things go wrong, and believe the world is out to get them.

For example, if the optimist is cut off in traffic, instead of getting angry or upset, she will simply downgrade the importance of the event by saying something like, “Oh, well, I guess that person is just having a bad day.”

The pessimist on the other hand, has a tendency to take everything personally. If the pessimist is cut off in traffic, she will react as though the other driver has deliberately acted to upset and frustrate her.

Remain calm and objective. The hallmark of the fully mature, fully functioning, self-sufficient personality is the ability to be objective and unemotional when caught up in the storms of daily life. This can best be achieved through regular meditation and solitude.  The superior person has the ability to continue talking to herself in a positive and optimistic way, keeping her mind calm, clear and completely under control. The winning personality is relaxed, aware and capable of interpreting events realistically instead of emotionally.  As a result, the winner’s mind exerts a far greater sense of control and influence over her environment, and is far less likely to be angry, upset, or distracted.

Focus on how you want things to be. Instead of becoming fixated on what is happening right now, take a moment, go to a private area if necessary, and think about how you want the situation to play out.  Then ask yourself, “How?”  How can I get my desired outcome from this?  Sometimes, your exact outcome is not possible, but that’s okay – it’s good to think big.  So instead, ask, “How can I just make this better?”

Resolve to think like an optimist, no matter what happens. You may not be able to control events that others have manifested into your co-creative experience, but you can control the way you react to them.  Take the reigns, create what you want.  That’s how winners think.

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GET THE BOOK If you’d like to read all my latest success tips and how I’ve applied 20 years of solid business principles and the law of attraction to acquiring the life of my dreams, and am helping others do the same, you’ll want your own copy of Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Self-Empowerment Guide. It comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”  Both are downloadable, so you get them immediately.

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Leadership, Motivation, Success

When my grandmother passed away in December of 2000, her gardening bug apparently decided to bite me that following spring.  I had long since been out-doing my neighbors when it came to landscaping and flower pots, but that year, 2001, I purchased 6 “Earth boxes” and set about becoming a “city gardener.”  That was all it took.  The bug’s venom made it into my bloodstream and I was officially, a gardener.  At that point, containers would no longer do; it was time to “get real.”

The next year I tilled up a 10 by 30-foot plot in our back yard and planted corn, green beans, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, herbs, and a few others things I can’t remember.  Since then, I’ve paired down my plantings based on what works best with my schedule and what grows best in our soil and climate.

I’ve found gardening to be as good as meditation, but more delicious!  I’ve also learned a few things along the way that apply to gardening, as well as to life.  Such as:

1. Prepare the garden site with a good tilling. Everything grows better in loose soil, so shake things up a bit.  Every once in a while, “till” your mind, body, and spirit.  Just like a garden that has lain dormant all winter, we become compacted to the point that we let nothing new in.  Dig deep and cultivate a good foundation for yourself – you will be pleased at the results.
2. Develop a good plan. It’s no fun when the beans come ready during your two-week vacation while you are out of town!  Someone else gets to pick the first fruit.  It’s also no fun when all the corn is ready at once.  Even though you can freeze it, it’s better fresh and by planting in batches, you can enjoy a lot more of that fresh taste.  Plan ahead, and plan strategically.
3. Get control of weeds quickly, or they will take over everything. Just like negative thoughts grow faster and without any “fertilizer,” getting control of them as soon as they crop up will keep your garden - and your mind - in good shape.
4. It can take years to develop a good system. You will learn what works best for you by your successes and your failures.  Keep good notes – they will pay off.
5. Be careful who you take advice from. Not everyone who claims to be an expert knows what they’re talking about.  I read an article written by a “master gardener” last year that stated that once cucumbers become bitter, you will have to remove the entire plant.  Not true.  Having a very small garden, I decided to test his theory for myself.  I found that simply supplying enough water to the plant turned the fruits around and back into a delicious crop.  Which brings me to my next point . . .
6. Watering saves a world of hurt. Everything needs water to survive, and some need more than others.  Some plants wilt immediately, some just look a little tired, while others look fine, but produce lack-luster fruit.  Sometimes by the time you find out a plant is dehydrated it’s too late.  Your body needs water as well.  Most of us don’t realize it until we’re thirsty, which most physicians agree, is usually at our dehydration point.  So give yourself and your garden a good watering every day.
7. Treat each plant the way it wants to be treated. Some plants crave nitrogen, some magnesium, some potassium, some a mixture, and some prefer neutrality.  While you can make generalities, treat every plant the same, and have an average garden, you can treat each plant the way it wants to be treated and have a fabulous garden.  Which would you prefer?
8. Ask for help when you need it. Most of us need a little support every once in a while.  The heavier our load, the more support we need.  Tomato plants will fall over, leaving their fruits on the ground to rot if not staked properly.  How’s your fruit doing?
9. Keep your garden clean and organized. Ancient civilizations believed that the garden was a reflection of the gardener’s soul.  The Quakers believed that the garden was a reflection of the gardener’s mind.  What’s in your garden?
10. Sometimes, you just have to scrap the whole thing and start over. Gardening, as well as life, is a work in progress.  Last year, I fought cucumber wilt and cucumber beetles until I was mad!  It’s okay to take out that entire row of cucumbers and plant new.  On occasion, starting over is the only answer.
11. Look at things from all angles. Last year, while picking beans, I got to a point where I thought I was finished.  Then as I turned, I noticed almost another bushel that was on the underside I had completely missed!  It’s easy to overlook valuable gems, so be sure you are always looking at your crop from various vantage points.
12. No matter how much you feed them, birds will never become your friends. They are instinctual beings that are completely unaware that you don’t want them in your corn, blackberries, eating all your earthworms, etc.  So make sure you grow enough of their favorites to share.
13. Death always gives way to life. As the leaves fall off the trees, I have them spread onto the fall garden.  In the spring, the leaves make the tilling a lot easier, the soil richer, and the plants healthier.  It’s all just one gigantic circle of life.
14. The best part is the harvest. Make sure, no matter what, that you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Savor the flavors, the smells, the sights, the sounds, and the joyous feeling of freedom and success.  There is nothing like that first bite of buttery, salted, corn on the cob that was plucked off the stalk just 15 minutes before going into your mouth.  As the butter runs down your chin and the aroma fills the air, take a deep breath in, and ENJOY!

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Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Leadership, Motivation

One of the most popular reasons people get hooked on the law of attraction is the desire to attract more money into their life experience.  I’ve written about this several times, but I continue to learn more as I read about others’ experiences and have experiences of my own.  Today, I want to share with you a concept I’ve only recently tried, and that is the “get your mind off of it,” idea.

Most of us learn that “what you think about you bring about.”  Do you also know that you can set your intention, then forget about it, and still manifest your desires?

For some reason, when we first learn the law of attraction principle, we think that we must hold our attention doggedly to our desires.  We create vision boards and affirmations in an attempt to focus on what we truly want.

I wrote a post recently about why affirmations sometimes fail.  There’s another reason as well and this one also applies to those wonderful vision boards.

Sometimes, vision boards, affirmations and anything else you use to focus your mind, while well-meaning and created with positive intent, only cause us to focus on where we are and the fact that our desires have not yet manifested.  Problem?  Huge problem.

As long as you continue to think about “reality,” and focus on the here and now from a perspective of “I don’t have it yet,” you’re, well, sort of, stuck.  Abraham would say that you are not a vibrational match to what you want because you continue to vibrate where you are.

So what’s an up-and-comer to do?

Forget about it!

Yes, I’m serious.  Do whatever you like to do, but forget about your current situation and your desires and just feel good for a while.  If you believe that action (like work) is required for your fortune to come, then work, but forget about the money. (This has happened for me several times on making money from my website.)

If you’re feeling depressed and can’t get your mind off your money woes and just don’t have the energy to work, go to a movie.  Or rent a movie.  Play golf, or tennis, or ride horses, or make music, or garden, or whatever you like to do – just make sure it’s something that will require your complete concentration, and make sure it’s something you truly enjoy.

One day, I gave up completely, went outside, and planted some flowers.  When I came back in and checked my e-mail, I had sold three books.  But don’t take my word for it – prove it to yourself!

My favorite passage from The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent: Living the Art of Allowing is:

If you could . . .find things that please you and focus upon them . . .read the books that make you feel best and go to the movies that make you feel best and . . . wear the clothing that makes you feel best . . .

Life would then begin treating you in the way that you deserve.

You deserve to have all the money you want.  Forget about it, and it will come.

You can subscribe to this blog here.

GET THE BOOK If you’d like to read all my latest success tips and how I’ve applied 20 years of solid business principles and the law of attraction to acquiring the life of my dreams, and am helping others do the same, you’ll want your own copy of Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Self-Empowerment Guide. It comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Motivation

Have you ever put off a task or project for a long period of time in anticipation of the difficulty required in completing it?  I have.  One project that I dread every year is putting away the Christmas decorations.  My husband often teases me that I put if off so long it’s almost time to get them out again!

But this year I was able to remember last year’s experience, put it in perspective, and got the decorations stowed away neatly in the basement by, well, at least March.  Here’s what happened.

Last year, I had no trouble getting out all the storage tubs and getting the decorations out of the main part of the house and into the basement soon after the holiday was over – like January.  After that, however, they sat in the way, where we had to walk around them for several months, I think it was July.  (Hence, the teasing.)  When I finally got around to organizing the tubs and getting them back into their corner, I noticed that it only took 15 minutes.  Fifteen minutes!  I had been putting off this project that, apparently only in my head, was going to be long, laborious, and dreadful, when in fact, it was a fifteen-minute job.  I wasted more time walking around the boxes in those six or seven months than it took to put them away!

So this year, I remembered that amazing discovery and got to it a lot sooner.  I took a little more time and got things more organized – I probably spent 30 minutes.

We’ve all heard the paradigm of “if you have a big project to complete, break it down into smaller pieces.”  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Been there, done that – we get it already.  But this was a project that had already been broken down as much as possible.  I mean, the storage boxes were sitting about 5 feet from where they would eventually be stored, and rest of the house showed no signs of Christmas – just the basement.  The project was broken down, but so was my system, and my spirit for getting the job completely done.

So how do we motivate ourselves to do that last step, or lose those last five pounds, or take on that “big” project in the first place?  How can we combat that feeling of being overwhelmed in every day?

Steve Chandler is one of my favorite motivational authors.  I’ve read so much of his work I cannot remember which book this quote comes from, but I remind myself of this phrase almost every day now; “think of anything you have to do today as easy, and it will be.”

It’s so simple, and yet so powerful.  I often recall that little gem when I feel overwhelmed or feel like the task before me is so huge I’m tempted to put it off.  “Got to put away the Christmas decorations?  Oh, that’s easy – it’ll only take 15 minutes.”  Need to write a blog post?  Easy – I’ll have that done in 90 minutes from start to finish.  Need to write a section of my next book – easy!  I’ll just spend an hour.  Got to prepare a speech for my next conference?  Easy! I’ll create an outline first and everything will flow from there.

You don’t have to put a “because” statement behind it, but I sometimes find it helpful.  For example:

• Oh, that’ll be easy because I’ve already got it started.
• That’ll be easy because it just takes an hour or so.
• That’s easy because I did it last week and know more about what to do now.
• That’ll be easy.  Even though it’s been a while since I’ve done that, the steps will come right back to me.
• That’ll be easy because Susan is coming over to help and she’s really good at that.

The reason it works, is that once you establish this attitude of “easiness” in your subconscious mind, your subconscious becomes determined to make it happen for you.  And we all know how powerful and positive your subconscious mind is!  But prove it to yourself.

Today I challenge you to apply this attitude to any situation in your life that you’re struggling with.  Make a list of all the steps involved, think of the task ahead, and say, “Easy!”  Try it; you’ll be amazed.

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GET THE BOOK If you’d like to read all my latest success tips and how I’ve applied 20 years of solid business principles and the law of attraction to acquiring the life of my dreams, and am helping others do the same, you’ll want your own copy of Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Self-Empowerment Guide. It comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”  Both are downloadable, so you get them immediately.

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Leadership, Motivation, Weight Loss

The law of attraction simply stated is “like attracts like.”  This often doesn’t sit well with us when we’re attracting things we don’t want into our experience.  The key concept to remember is that we always have a choice, day after day, hour after hour, minute upon minute, to make the better choice.

“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”
–Eleanor Roosevelt

What a brilliant woman Mrs. Roosevelt was!  Obviously, she knew “The Secret.”

To me, making those correct choices in every moment, the choices that truly reflect our values, can best be described as being a “class act.”  I’m sure you know someone who has the characteristics that I’m talking about, but have you ever stopped to evaluate those individual qualities, or try to acquire them?  Here are the traits that I’ve noticed make someone “a class act.”

1. High standards set for themselves and others. Sam Walton said, “High expectations are the key to everything.”  I don’t know the exact context in which Mr. Walton expressed that idea, but from what I have read, he was definitely a class act.  High standards are set and met by only the elite, making you a class act by default.  So determine your values, set high standards, and have great expectations.
2. Never react “in kind.” When someone speaks negatively about you or even tells lies about you, refuse to get dragged down into the muck with them.  Yes, that means you don’t respond and you don’t get a chance to take up for yourself.  But what I’ve found is that how you react in a situation reflects on you, not the person or situation you’re reacting to.  I know this is easier said that done, so if it helps any, resolve that you will at least give yourself 24 hours to think about the situation before responding to anything negative.  I had this situation recently and that 24 hours helped me to decide to give it another 24 hours, and after that, I had my answer.  My response would have been much different if I hadn’t at first decided to just give it a day.
3. Always cool. “Never let them see you sweat,” is an old adage that has served me well through the years.  One of the reasons I was often chosen for “choice,” high-level training projects for my previous employer was because of my ability to look calm in any situation.  Now, on the inside, I might have been freaking out, but my exterior displayed an attitude of, “no big deal, I can handle this.”
4. Treat yourself well. We really do teach others how to treat us.  Jack Canfield relates a story on page 368 of his book, The Success Principles, of how his friend, Martin Rutte has taught Jack how to treat him by first treating himself well.  Mr. Rutte “dresses well, eats well, and conducts himself at all times with refinement and style.”   Jack goes on to state, “If you’re sloppy, always late, and don’t care how you conduct yourself, you’re going to be met with people who treat you in a sloppy, always-late, don’t-care manner.”  Like attracts like.  Enough said.
5. Stand up, (or remain seated), for what is right. While a class act does not respond in kind, one doesn’t back down, either, even in the face of adversity.  I’m reminded here of Rosa Parks.  Cool and calm, but steadfast.  Definitely a class act.
6. Be happy with yourself. I used to suffer from approval addiction.  I used to want everyone to like me no matter what.  If someone challenged me, I’d back down in a heartbeat.  Then I’d beat myself up for not having the nerve to stand up for what I believed in, which meant I didn’t think much of my own values and, well, you can see the pattern here, can’t you?  Finally, I learned that by being good to  myself, writing what I feel inspired to write, saying what I feel inspired to say, and doing what I feel inspired to do, is being true to myself and that’s the best way I can help others.  It is not important that everyone always agree with me, but it is important that I agree with my inner being, my true self.

How do you know whether or not you are a class act?  Take a look at your environment.  Is it a class act?  Does it reflect your values?  Does your workspace say, “class act?”

Also take notice of your emotions.  When do you feel happy, joyous, and inspired?  What are you doing when you feel that way?  What surrounds you?  Increase those actions and surroundings so you can feel that way more often.  This will not be difficult once you focus upon it because, after all, like attracts like.

Lastly, take a close look at your friends, colleagues, partners, clients, contacts, etc.  Are they class acts?  Your entire environment is a mirror reflecting your current status back to you.  The good news is, you can re-create yourself starting this very moment by improving the quality of your attitude, and changing your behaviors for the better.   Remember, “The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”

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GET THE BOOK If you’d like to read all my latest success tips and how I’ve applied 20 years of solid business principles and the law of attraction to acquiring the life of my dreams, and am helping others do the same, you’ll want your own copy of Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Self-Empowerment Guide. It comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”  Both are downloadable, so you get them immediately.

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Leadership, Motivation

It has been a weekend of controversy for me. Between my strongly opinionated posts, high standards, and speaking at the Kentucky Dental Association annual meeting Friday and Saturday on ways to provide excellent customer service in a dental practice, I have definitely added a few millimeters to my bodily exterior.

Upon reflection, I’ve concluded that in addition to developing a thick skin, the best thing one can do in a situation where people disagree with you, and there’s nothing you can do about it except hope that they will eventually take their blinders off, is appreciate the situation in general.

Everyone faces disagreement in their lives, so I decided to share my list with you.  In no particular order, here is what I appreciate about disagreement:

1. It takes all of us to make the world go ‘round.
2. It gives me an opportunity to learn others’ points of view.
3. It shows me how incredibly blessed I am to think the way I do.
4. It shows me that I am unique.
5. It shows that I don’t always have to agree with everyone – I can stand up for what I believe in.
6. It builds my strength.
7. It prepares me for the next time – toughens my “skin.”
8. It puts me in a unique group of thinkers – the leading edge.
9. It challenges my ability to stay connected to who I truly am – which strengthens my resolve to do so.
10. It makes me connect to source – which is always a good thing.
11. It makes me think about what I’ve written and how I’ve communicated my ideas.
12. It makes me a better communicator as a result.
13. It makes me more compassionate to other’s unfortunate circumstances.
14. It causes me to appreciate my strict up-bringing.
15. It accentuates my high standards and makes me proud – in a good way.
16. It proves that there is a need for my teaching.

Go ahead – add your own.

I want to leave you with a Chinese proverb my husband shared with me:

A man who thinks “It can’t be done,” should not interrupt someone who is doing it.

You can subscribe to this blog here.

GET THE BOOK If you’d like to read all my latest success tips and how I’ve applied 20 years of solid business principles and the law of attraction to acquiring the life of my dreams, and am helping others do the same, you’ll want your own copy of Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Self-Empowerment Guide. It comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”  Both are downloadable, so you get them immediately.

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Leadership, Motivation

Many businesses today are operating their customer service from the old Golden Rule:  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  Progressive businesses, however, have learned that the Platinum rule works better:  “Do unto others as they wish to have done unto them.”  In other words, satisfy each and every customer, individually.

While that might seem like a tall order since people these days are so varied in their desires, (which is a good thing), it is actually more easily achieved than you think.

Corporations spend millions of dollars every year researching what their customers want.  What they find is that all of their customers typically want a few of the same things, then, from there, their desires are all over the place.

However, those desires can be categorized into about four different styles.  Interestingly, those four styles match up, almost identically, to the four basic personality types as described in the DiSC Personal Profile System.

According to DiSC, people fall into one of four primary personality dimensions:

D – Dominance. These people are impulsive, make quick decisions, and therefore require that you have your answers up front so that they can make their buying decisions quickly.  They are very direct, and often intimidating to new or insecure salespeople.  D’s are “natural born” leaders, so if they like you and your product or service, they will freely refer others to you.

I – Influence. These people are also impulsive, but very well-liked.  Salespeople often fall into this category themselves.  They are upbeat and positive, with excellent communication skills.  They do not require a lot of details, but often have trouble making a decision and frequently have “buyer’s remorse.”  They are good at generating enthusiasm for a particular product, but are not necessarily loyal to a particular brand or business.

S – Steadiness. These people are very cooperative and have an extreme amount of patience, so they are good for new and insecure salespeople to “try their wings” on.  They like predictable, stable results and products.  They desire to keep their routines without much change, and are not impressed by “bells and whistles.”  While they are not extremely outspoken when it comes to referring new customers, they are very loyal once they find a product, service, or business they like.  With a low tolerance for conflict, S’s rarely return anything, no matter what.

C – Conscientiousness. These people are diligent workers who set high standards for themselves and others.  Quality and accuracy are extremely important in every aspect of doing business with them.   They like to “think things through” and will not make a purchase at all rather than being pushed into a decision too quickly.  They are very reserved, both personally and professionally, and as a result, are often viewed as standoffish, or prudish.  They keep receipts forever and will return anything up to the very last day if necessary.  While you can expect loyalty if you have a superior product, loyalty is not as important to a C as getting the best deal, or making the right decision.

So, how can you identify each personality quickly, and what are some action steps you can take to appease each one of them individually?  Let’s take a look.

D’s. Dominant types walk and talk very quickly.  They are quick to seek out service and ask questions.  They will identify what they want immediately, but not necessary give you a lot of details.  They want the “best” of whatever it is, or the “cheapest” and they will tell you that up front.  So, for example, a D might walk in to a computer store and say, “I need a new computer.  What’s the best one you’ve got?”

The smart salesperson will immediately go to “the best,” identify its features, quote the price, and ask, “Can I walk this up front for you?”  It is only at this point that the D will start asking questions in order to “hone in” the purchase.  Answer his questions directly and honestly.  If you are a new or not-so-confident salesperson, call a manager over to help you as soon as possible.  If you have to “go find out the answer” too many times, the D will walk out and take his business elsewhere.

I’s. Influencers are, ironically, easily influenced.  They are often soft-hearted because they have been “in your shoes” and know how hard it is to put yourself out there and go for the sale.  They will walk in with a huge smile on their face, shake hands, and almost immediately become your best friend.  I’s have learned that this works for them, since they frequently receive “unpublished” discounts!

Making purchases on a whim, and being natural salespeople themselves, they have often already sold themselves on the product or service to begin with.  However, if you make the purchase too complicated or “not fun,” you will lose them.  I’s want to look good and feel good, at all times, no matter what.

S’s. Steadiness types are also often sold before they walk through the door, but are not as impulsive as I’s.  Therefore, you may need to do a little convincing that they need the product or service.  Often shy and hesitate to ask questions, they sometimes need a little prodding in order to help them.  S’s are perfect for new and hesitant salespeople because they have all the patience in the world.  They don’t really have questions, but they haven’t made up their mind either.  This is often frustrating for a seasoned salesperson, but if you show your frustration, you will lose them.

Once convinced, the details come down to “Whatever you say, Doc.”  Mostly, they worry about how spending the money will affect them and their family “down the road.”  So the smart salesperson will focus on stability, longevity, and offer a generous return policy.

C’s. Conscientious types walk in with a scowl on their face because they’ve already been thinking long and hard about this purchase and have still not made up their mind!  They will be patient with getting answers, as long as the information they are getting makes sense to them and can be reconciled with their previous research.  They will have a million questions about everything and act completely unimpressed with each answer.

The smart salesperson will never discount the C’s question or tell them they will find out later.  A laid back approach works best and don’t become offended if the C walks out without purchasing stating that she needs to think about it.  If you make a follow-up call, make sure that you have more information to offer about the product or service, and do not push.

Listed below are the qualities that all of the personality types look for in a business relationship.

1. Cleanliness. Make sure your place of business is as spotless as possible.  Personally, I like for things to sparkle.  Many times, the only way a customer can judge your work is by the appearance of your establishment.  Clean and sparkly makes a significantly better impression about your abilities than dusty and grimy.  Most of the time, it pays to have a cleaning service come in after hours and get the place looking nice, about once a week.
2. Organization. Again, this is about the impression you make on your customer.  Being organized and having your surroundings look organized makes a better impression than if you have to search for things when you need them or have to walk 50 yards every 2 seconds to retrieve what you need to do the job.
3. Confidence. Your customer wants to know that you know what you’re doing and/or that you would use this product or service yourself.  If you don’t have confidence in your business, how is your client supposed to?  Your confidence shows in very subtle ways, so be sure to know everything about your business, inside and out, backwards and forwards, the good, the bad, and even the ugly.  It’s okay to be new – we were all “new” at some point - but spend as much of your available time off as possible learning about the industry you’re in.  Your efforts will be rewarded.

Just as we are all managers, we are also all customer service representatives.  And while we are not all “people-people,” or I’s, I hope this article will help you, no matter what your personality type, to better relate to your customer.

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GET THE BOOK If you’d like to read all my latest success tips and how I’ve applied 20 years of solid business principles and the law of attraction to acquiring the life of my dreams, and am helping others do the same, you’ll want your own copy of Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Self-Empowerment Guide.  It comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”  Both are downloadable, so you get them immediately.

Posted under Education, Leadership, Motivation

Most people define success, ultimately, as the feeling of happiness and fulfillment in every moment.  Sure, we want cars, houses, a luxurious lifestyle, as well as many, many other things, and we can have all of that, but we also want to be happy.

The law of attraction on which this universe is based, tells us that in order to achieve happiness and fulfillment, we must feel, vibrate, happiness and fulfillment.

With that in mind, I’ve listed seven ways for you to appreciate more of what you have in order to get more of what you want.

1. Celebrate Your Uniqueness. While it’s great when we “stand out from the crowd” in good ways, sometimes being different leaves us feeling alienated and out of synch with our desired world.  Recognize that your distinctive personality is an asset to this universe, and serves a purpose, whether you know what that is right now or not.  You are loved for who you are, as uncommon as that may be; celebrate that.
2. Listen to Your Intuition. Each of us has a guardian angel, among other spirits, trying to communicate with us to tell us all sort of things.  What to watch out for, things to expect in the future, lessons we need to learn from our past, and all come from a place of love and divine guidance.  When you’re feeling overwhelmed, stop and listen.
3. Be True to Yourself. You’re being the very best person you can be when you have the courage to allow your definition of happiness, whatever it may be, to be the deciding factor of every part of your life.  Remember your values, what matters most to you, and your top 20.
4. Set No Limits. You cannot possibly ask for too much.  The universe is full of blessings for everyone and it can fulfill every desire.  The only point of contention on this topic is whether or not you feel that you “deserve” to be happy.  Accept the notion that you deserve all the happiness you can honestly attain. You’ve been given talents and abilities beyond your wildest imagination that, if put to use, will yield amazing results for you. The more you like and respect yourself, the more deserving you will feel of the good things in life. And the more deserving you feel, the more likely you will attain and hold on to the happiness you are working toward.  It’s really all just a state of mind, and it’s achievable right now.
5. Make Joyfulness Your Key Measure. You should make joyfulness the “organizing principle” of your life. Compare every possible action and decision you make against your standard of joyfulness to see whether that action would make you more or less joyful. Soon, you will discover that almost all of the problems in your life come from choices that you have made - or are currently making - that do not contribute to your joy.  Change or reverse those decisions for immediate bliss.
6. Do the Action Steps. Most of the time, achieving happiness requires action of some sort.  And sometimes, it seems counterintuitive, but we know that if we do this one particular thing, it will bring us joy.  For me, this often means little things like, cleaning up the kitchen, getting caught up on the ironing, writing blog posts and articles for books, preparing for an up-coming speech – all sorts of “little things.”  I’ve learned that if I approach these action items from the perspective of knowing that once I’ve accomplished them, I’ll feel so good, it motivates me into action in a way that makes me “happy while I work.”  For me, that’s happiness in every moment, which definitely leads to that satisfied feeling of fulfillment.
7. Accentuate the Positive. Go on a rampage of appreciation.  Even if you feel stuck in a job you dislike, there is something you can appreciate about it, and the sooner you acknowledge it, the sooner you will be on your way to your dream job.  The same is true of relationships, both personal and business, and every aspect of your life, really.  When I find myself frustrated with someone or a situation, I sit down and make a list of things I appreciate about that person or situation.  I literally write at the top of my page; “20 things I appreciate about . . .”  The more upset I am, the more list items I make myself come up with.  If I’m feeling joyous before I get to list item #20, it’s usually not that difficult to complete the list – so that’s kind of a measure for me.  If I’m having trouble coming up with things, it means I’m still harboring resentment and I have more work to do.

I challenge you this week to practice being happier and more fulfilled in everything you do – and I mean everything.

You can subscribe to this blog here.

GET THE BOOK If you’d like to read all my latest success tips and how I’ve applied 20 years of solid business principles and the law of attraction to acquiring the life of my dreams, and am helping others do the same, you’ll want your own copy of Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Self-Empowerment Guide. It comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Leadership, Motivation, Weight Loss