Changing her life because of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” I recommended Stephen Covey’s book a few months ago and my client just finished reading it. “I’m training for a triathlon that’s taking place in September,” she beamed! “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” has helped in many areas of my life,” she remarked. “Thanks for recommending it!”

My brother, Lance, got what he wanted simply by asking for it! The following advice came from his friend, Tem.

“Everything is clearer and faster when you just decide what you really want and go for it or go for broke.” And the follow-up lesson is: “Be willing to walk; don’t sweat the details.”

The above involved a business deal, but it’s equally great advice for personal relationships. There’s great clarity in knowing what you want as you hit the dating scene. Because, eventually, your date will request something that isn’t part of your plan – whether your plan is for the date or for the rest of your life. Clarity of knowing what you want, and the willingness to walk away and not sweating the details, means that you get to “enjoy” your life!

I watched “Akeelah and the Bee” last night and loved the message. Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) coaches Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and has her read a framed statement hanging on his office wall when she loses confidence:

“… Your ‘playing small’ doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

“… And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

There is a Zen approach to our inner War. A Zen War! Winning without harming, without fighting.

It is The Secret of Frustration™ – the secret that How You React IS Your Life™. Frustration holds truths about who you are, who you were, who you can be. How you react IS your life. How you react IS your happiness, your success, your health, your family, your marriage, your children, your job, your legacy.

Frustration simply reveals… “buried treasure” or “wrong path.” Frustration reveals that you’re either right on top of your treasure – so keep digging; or you’re way off base – so pick a new path.

Frustration, and how you react to it, is life-expandingly powerful.

“We’re desperate for their money,” my friend said of a meeting set for next week. I looked up the word desperate and found that it means “having lost all hope; nearly hopeless.” Of course, the goal of the meeting is to ask for financial support, not to “loose all hope.”

Let’s replace the word desperate with invested: “We’re invested for their money.” And the truth is my friend is invested with passion and purpose for money to be part of growing a dream.

There’s an investment in the dream!

Happiness is not a surprise, it’s a choice.

There are two types of happiness: one that we “stumble” upon; one that we “create.” One always elusive; the other always empowering.

“Lasting” happiness is a choice!

John & Elizabeth Howe’s 50th Wedding Anniversary was this evening, December 29, 2007.

I mentioned to Elizabeth that I figured their secret to being happily married for 50 years was due to them actually “liking” each other at least 51% of the time. “Oh no,” she corrected me, “it’s at least 75% of the time.” “How about 104% of the time,” I replied. We all laughed and she agreed that they really do like each other, 104% of the time.

Love will get you started, but liking lasts forever!

“Follow your bliss! If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” – Joseph Campbell

“You are NOT what others call you;
you are what YOU answer to.”

If you want to
SAVE THE WORLD
the weapon of choice
is not a weapon
IT’S A CHOICE