HeyBuddyCanU?

The other day Lance and I were on our way to speak at a function. We had to stop by a gas station to fill up and while Lance was doing just that, I went across the street to buy sandwiches for the long drive we had ahead.
I came out of the sandwich shop, crossed into the gas station to find my husband washing a windshield of another car. I shrugged my shoulders and quickly forgot about it as we started our drive.
Lance and I began to talk and a hour went by before he went quiet and then told me (reminded me) about the gas station, here is what he said...

"When you went to get sandwiches and I was filling up gas, the strangest thing happened. A middle aged man pulled up, rolled down his window and said, "Hey, Buddy can you wash my windshield?" Lance said "I thought it was strange, but said "sure."
Lance went quiet then.
 I said "are you kidding me? ""A guy our age just pulls up and says "Hey buddy wash my windshield"????"
He let me "vent" and he calmly said, I didn't finish telling you wgat happened.

I washed his drivers side windshield and then went to the other side and the guy said "no no thank you, I can see fine now, thanks buddy"
He drove off. That is when Lance saw that he had a handicapped licence plate.

I feel ashamed even thinking about my first response, what should it matter if someone needs help if they are handicapped or not.
I learned another great lesson from my husband,
"When someone ask's for help, maybe they need it."
Thank you Jesus Christ for your help in every hour of my life.    

The Million Pound Note is a short story by Mark Twain. Henry Adams a penniless American living by his wits in London. Henry becomes the object of a wager between millionaire brothers Oliver and Roderick Montpelier, who want to find out if a man with a million pound note in his bank account could live comfortably for one month on the strength of that note--without ever spending a penny of it. When Henry is given the note and lets it be known that he has it, every courtesy imaginable is extended to him by hotels, restaurants, etc. FYI, Henry keeps his values, integrity and morals while he has the note!
I loved listening to this audio book, because it confirmed that influence is priceless and that a lack of money is never final for a “thinking man/woman…”

Quotes:

Anyone who thinks my story is anywhere near over is sadly mistaken.
Donald Trump

I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.
Donald Trump

ChangeItUp

Has anyone ever told you to “Embrace Change?” Didn’t it seem like a useless platitude said by a boss or from a motivational speaker? It’s funny when I think about it, because I’ve said it myself and never thought about the statements full implications, or thinking: What are people going through? Are people suffering? When I’ve said statements like this, it is my undying optimistic belief speaking. I believe that change brings new opportunities or it propels us forward from a place that we shouldn’t have remained. But many changes look quite negative and are tough to live through- if not impossible- to welcome. This list might include loss of a relationship, a loved one, health, job, money and such.

I do want to suggest to you though that, we often don’t choose the difficulties or negative changes that spring upon us, but we always choose how we respond to them.
Let’s think about 3 choices we choose when we experience change:


1. The Navigator- “How can I capitalize on the change”
Proactive, navigators can navigate they are proactive thinkers and act on it.
Navigators will capitalize on a problem or change. They will make best of a bad situation.
Think of it this way:
A seasoned sea captain who knows he cannot control the wind or currents, but can adjust the sails and steer the ship to make best use of the winds and currents and move to a desired destination.


2. The Survivor- “Let’s wait and see what happens”
Fence Sitter, (ouch!) but at times it is a wise decision to start to research, to get more information about the change, to find if the change is going to become a trend, and to know the direction a new boss or customer is going to take. The problem is that when you aren’t “in motion” sometimes it is either hard to catch up to the navigator and/or miss the extreme opportunity.


3. The Victim- “They are doing this to us again”
Reactive, we start to get bitter, helpless and feel like others are out to get us or deliberately wanting to hurt us. The “Blame Game” starts naturally as we start pointing fingers. We learn how to do this and it leads to lower performance, poorer health and depression. We want somebody else to fix the problem, it’s unfair and we were undeserving.

How do we change our thinking from Victim to Navigator?
It can be as simple as “Recognizing that the best thing to do when it’s raining , is to ….let it rain.”
Sometimes it is helpful /healthful to change your self- talk. Catch yourself when you say things like “I am too old to change” or “He makes me so mad” to “I choose not to change or “I make myself mad when he says/does…” This will make you part of the solution instead of being part of the problem. When your part of the solution you put yourself in a “thinking spot” when you think you can solve and when you can solve…..You can change!

Summary:
Change is imminent. Life isn’t fair. Lots of unfair and unjust stuff happens to undeserving people. Whatever hits the fan is usually not evenly distributed. But it’s our choice whether to stand in it or not!!!
Taking a navigator response to difficult issues means facing problems head-on by focusing on what’s within our direct control or what we can try to influence. We need to then figure out how to let go of, or at least not make things more awful and give more power to problems or issues that can’t be controlled or changed.

If you like this information, you may want to read these books:
Firing on all cylinders, Pathways to Performance, Growing the Distance and The Leader’s Digest.

8 Organizing tips for realistic women!

A fun article that I found:
8 Organizing Tips to Throw Away
Give up on the perfect home by avoiding tips you shouldn’t waste your time on
By Diane Oatis Posted November 03, 2009 from WomansDay.com

I used to be a hyperorganizer. I was famous for it: friends would ask me to help them weed through their closets, and there are still people who walk into my office and say, “It’s so…clean in here.” But sooner or later, life intervenes. Not long ago, at the end of a ridiculously stressful day, I was putting away laundry—I looked at the color-coded-by-season hangers in my closet and it hit me: Why? A long commute, a teenage son, a parent living alone and suddenly being a neatnik seemed less important. So I’ve let go of some things, and guess what? They were never worth the time anyway.
Here are eight things I’ve decided I don’t need to do to keep my life in order.
1. Don’t…alphabetize your spices. They come that way in those prestocked spice racks, but how long can that last? Come on. If you don’t already have one, get your hands on a lazy Susan—a quick spin and you’ll find what you need. (See where they got the name from?) Beats spending 20 minutes making sure the coriander is after the cinnamon but before the cumin.
2. Don’t…file papers as soon as you get them. Yes, I know every organizing expert in the world will tell you to sort your papers pronto. But you know what’s easier? Tossing all the non-urgent stuff into a shopping bag—it keeps your desk clean, and you only need to go back and file the stuff every few months. The real beauty of the system is that if it’s less than a few months old, you know where it is. Even better is realizing how infrequently you actually have to dig through it.
3. Don’t…use your computer to make labels. Can you say “waste of time”? A Sharpie and some masking tape and you’re done. And in less time than it takes to boot up.
4. Don’t…buy the perfect container for just about anything. Ever notice how many plastic containers you end up rinsing out and recycling? Those random take-out containers or butter tubs are perfect for paper clips, rubber bands, loose change or any other things that don’t have a perfect home.
5. Don’t…divide your drawers. Do you find yourself making micro-compartments for each individual item? Love those crazy sock dividers? You’re working way too hard. Just keep things in the same general area of the drawer and you’ll be fine.
6. Don’t…toss it if you haven’t used it in a year. This ranks right up there with the one about the filing. I know I’m supposed to get rid of clutter, but just because I haven’t been invited to a wedding in two years, does that mean I’m getting rid of the black silk pants? Black silk pants are forever—and so is some of the other stuff in the back of your closet. Think about it.
7. Don’t…use cozies to cover everything. OK, they’re cute, but when they start to get grungy, they look pretty uncozy. (Please don’t tell me you wash them.) What’s so hard about giving a toaster a quick swipe with a sponge?
8. Don’t…tie up sets of sheets with pretty ribbon before storing. Oh, ladies.

Spontaneity & Flexibility

Here are four keys to be Spontaneous:
1. Preparation
2. Observation
3. Courage
4. Practice

1. Preparation:
What?
Prepare to be Spontaneous? Not fly by the seat of your pants?
Have you ever visited a comedy club and observed how the stand-up comic has an “off-the-cuff” ad lib for nearly anything that comes up?
The comic seems to be very spontaneous. But in reality, the comic is often making the “spontaneous” remark for the 50th or 100th time! He / She is “seasoned”.
? Are you a seasoned networker? What do you say “off-the-cuff” when asked about your business?
Do you have a prepared reaction when a unexpected conversation occurs.


Here is the point:
If you are armed with answers, the audience / contact will be won over when they see the problem hasn’t “gotten the best of you”.

Quote to think about:
“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech”. – Mark Twain

2. Preparation should also include studying your audience / prospects.
Who, What, Why and How do they need to receive information from you?
When Lance and I are sharing a concept together, I usually sit back and take notes while Lance shows the presentation. I will note, when people are attentive and like the info, when they sit back and feel comfortable and when or if they cross their arms and scowl. When Lance is finished and I have a chance to make comments, I will try to go over the good and then address where I think they lost it.

3. Here is another tip:
Any off-the-cuff remarks that are inappropriate (even if you get a laugh) will never get you to your hopeful end result! Never degrade a person, de-edification can never be restored.

A friend of mine Peggy Ashby talked about sailing. Most people think that sailing is a very spontaneous sport, not so… It seams to be such a leisure sport, yet preperation is key: winds, currents, time of year, food, time allotment all have to be planned and prepared for before you "Sail Away."

2. Observation:
Always have your eyes open to who surrounds you and what their needs are. When you walk into a home, look around. People’s homes have many clues on “Why, they should get involved in your business”.
Point:
At a food or wine tasting, it is a good idea to listen and observe as people taste the product your introducing, that way you can address it, or remind them of their liking before they leave you.
Point:
“You will only get your own answers by having your own experiences”

3. Courage:
There is no doubt about it, stepping out of your comfort zone takes guts! But the more you do it, the more comfortable you will become. It is worth the risk!!!
My friend Johana Matthews and I talked about her competitive ice skating experiences and how her impromptu skating seccions not only made her feel free, they gave her confidence in her choreographed routines.

4. Practice:
A great way to practice your spontaneity is to talk with your friends and family, cold contact, put a business sticker on your car, wear a business shirt, hand out a business card, send a e-mail, add a testimony during a conversation, put up a product table at a local bazaar or school function and perform presentations.
Point:
You can’t fail, you can only fall forward! You will learn to come up with the answers yourself. This is your business, don’t build it in fear, just “fail, then learn what you need to know, so that you can confidently build your future”.
By using keys of preparation, observation, courage and practice you’ll become more spontaneous. You will add a freshness to your tastings and you WILL add people to your business 

Flexibility

Quote:
“If it has to be your way every time, eventually you won’t have anyone to argue about it with”.
We talked about the book “Cinderella Syndrome”- How everything is “supposed” to be, ha ha!
I have a friend that turned 40 and decided she was done serving her husband, kids, friends and family. She decided that everything was going to be her way, that this is now alot about 'Me, or My needs." Today she is alone and gets her way every time!

What in your life has to be your way?
1. Husband / Wife stuff?
2. Business?
3. Friends?
4. Kids?
5. Activities, Fitness, Work?
6. Etc….

“Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.”
- Khalil Gibran

Benefits of Selflessness:
1. Conquers Pride
2. Expands our Mind
3. Promotes True Friendships
4. Selflessness is Attractive

Promotion

Promotion

If you can get your listeners and prospects to “agree and feel the way you do” . . . well, then you’re a great promoter. Want an example? Most people would say:

"You are what you eat. Good nutrition will make you feel better."
*The listeners will simply think that the information is nice, but they won't change their thinking or their lives based upon this information.

Why not say something like this? "How you feel depends on what you eat. I can prove it.”
Good Food = Good Feeling
1."If you eat a large two-pound steak, how do you feel a few hours later? Lazy. Tired. Lethargic.
2. "If you eat six donuts, how do you feel 30 minutes later? Wired. Full of nervous energy. And how do you feel one hour later? Lazy. Tired. Lethargic.
3. "If you eat Chinese food, how do you feel one hour later? Hungry.
4. "If you drink a six-pack of beer, how do you feel one hour later? Lazy. Tired. Lethargic. Sleepy. Mellow.
5. "If you drink six cups of coffee, how do you feel one hour later? Edgy. Nervous. Irritable.

Other examples that we can talk about PUSH PULL:
Mexican food, Perfume (1 spray, 2 spray, 3 spray), Krispy Crème dounuts (1=Great 2= Good 3= Very Very Bad)

"So as you see, how you feel depends on what you eat."
Now, your prospect is convinced that what he eats will determine how he feels. It's not just you giving some sales pitch. Your prospect relates to your examples and sees the truth in their lives. The difference is huge.


“So, now that you know that I know how we feel when we eat wrong let me tell you why we need to supplement!
Free Radicals, Anti-oxidant’s and Inflamation!”

Let’s take promoting to a personal level:

1. A personal story: My Dad died at 62, his mom 52 and I’m 44. I want to live longer… My reason to supplement.
2. Grocery Store, I got involved because I didn’t want to calculate to decide what I could buy and what I couldn’t. Economic Opportunity.
3. Taste, taking supplements, burp omega (fish) or alph alpha (cow), My product, "tastes good."
4. Feeling, my product makes me "feel good."
5. Opportunity, I feel good about the business I'm involved with.
6. I have a great product, but it is so much more than that, It’s a way that I can *travel, stay home and raise kids, pay my house payment, strike it rich, replace my job, etc….
A simple sentence to get your prospect's instant attention.Before starting your presentation, say:
"In the next few minutes, I'd like to tell you how my friend quit her job and still makes more money.""In the next few minutes, I'd like to tell you how I got a full-time income by working a few nights a week."