Posted 8/30/2002 by Josh Hinds

FOUR TRAITS OF EFFECTIVE LEADERS
by Steve Goodier

A young officer in the Army discovered that he had no change when he tried to buy a soft drink from a vending machine. He flagged down a passing private and asked him, "Do you have change for a dollar?"

The private said cheerfully, "I think so, let me take a look."

The officer drew himself up stiffly and said, "Soldier, that is no way to address a superior. We'll start all over again. Do you have change for a dollar?"

The private came to attention, saluted smartly, and said, "No, sir!"

Each of us commands some authority. There are or will be those we guide, supervise, rear, mentor or lead. Some of us will be effective and others will feel like they're running a cemetery: they've got a lot of people under them and nobody's listening.

Much has been written and taught about leadership, but I find that at least four traits are common in all people of authority who effectively elicit cooperation and respect from those who look up to them. Whether you are a parent, whether you find yourself in the workplace, sitting on a volunteer committee or teaching someone a new skill, these traits will help you effectively guide those who would seek to follow.

These good leaders are...

L isteners. They take time to listen to the suggestions and concerns of those they endeavor to lead.

E ncouragers. They don't try to do it all themselves. Neither do they motivate by force or guilt. They encourage others and help bring out their best.

A ssertive. They say what needs to be said without being unkind. They tell the truth as they see it, openly and frankly.

D ecisive. They know what needs to be done and they make timely, even difficult, decisions when necessary. But they can also take charge without running over the people in their lives.

It's said that the trouble with being a leader today is that you can't be sure whether people are following you or chasing you. But if you develop these four traits, your authority will by valued and respected.
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Written by Steve Goodier - You may purchase Steve Goodier's books here: http://store.yahoo.com/lifesupportsystem/books.html Enter the coupon code "johi" (without quotes) in the coupon code box at checkout for a 5% discount!

Posted 8/25/2002 by Josh Hinds

Be brief
by Tony Alessandra

The best way to impress an audience is to finish early. "My father gave me this advice on speech making," said James Roosevelt, son of FDR: "Be sincere... be brief... be seated." Remember, in the electronic age, many people have the attention span of a flashcube.

So be sure you know your Big Idea, hit it hard, hit it well, finish strong, and, for maximum impression, keep it short. The less opportunity you give your audience's minds to wander, the more they'll appreciate you and remember what you had to say.

_________________
Tony Alessandra Member: Speakers Roundtable
Email: office@SpeakersRoundtable.com
FREE Ebook - Success Secret available at http://www.speakersroundtable.com

Posted 8/20/2002 by Josh Hinds

Success leaves clues -- I've just added the Focus On Success Interview with entrepreneur & author Rick Beneteau. To read the complete interview click here!

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The Lost Art of Thinking
by Michael E. Angier

Auguste Rodin’s classic statue "The Thinker" is one of my favorites. It’s hard to look at it (or one of its many replicas) without being moved by it. The innocent display of someone deeply in thought causes most of us to ponder a bit ourselves. Why is this image so captivating? What’s he thinking about?

Perhaps we have such reverence for this kind of deep thinking because it’s so uncommon. Having thoughts does not constitute thinking. We all have thoughts. We all have opinions and beliefs--usually lots of them.

William James once wrote, "A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices." Just because there’s mental activity going on in our minds doesn’t mean we’re thinking.

Bob Proctor, in his book You Were Born Rich, writes, "Thinking is the highest function of which a human being is capable." He goes on to say that what passes for thinking for most people is really just the faculty of memory--playing old movies and rehashing past events. Clearly, this is not what Rodin’s great work of art depicts.

Thinking is hard work. Maybe that’s why so few people do it. Edison went even further: "There is no expedient to which a man will go to avoid the real labor of thinking," and Emerson, "What is the hardest task in the world? To think."

Why don’t we think more? I believe one reason is that we’re so busy doing that we don’t have time to conceive, cogitate and consider. We’re used to being entertained. We’re bombarded with information. It comes at us so fast that we have little time to reflect on much of it, if any at all.

From TV commentators to politicians, we’re told what to think when what we really need to know is how to think. We’ve become accustomed to quick answers and easy solutions. But the problems and challenges of our lives are not easy and they’re not simple. They require thoughtful consideration.

I love to read. But I’m convinced that the greatest value in reading is not the information, but rather what we think about while we read (that’s why what we choose to read is so important).

The objective is not to fill our minds with information, but to stimulate our mind to think and to ponder. The value of the book is increased a thousand fold if we lay it down occasionally and contemplate what we’ve read and think about what it means and how and why it might apply to us.

Clarity is power. And clarity comes from thinking.

We need to think, and think carefully about the choices and direction of our lives. The most precious resource we have is our time. Our lives are the sum total of what we do with that time. Isn’t it worth spending more of it thinking?

Think about it.
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(c) Copyright 1995-2002 Success Networks International. Success Net is a worldwide association committed to helping people become more knowledgeable, productive and effective. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best-personally and professionally. Free subscriptions, memberships, books and SuccessMark Cards. Visit the web site here!

Posted 8/14/2002 by Josh Hinds

Being Fruitful
by Jim Rohn
(excerpted from the New Jim Rohn Weekend Event DVD/CD series)

Over the years I've learned to challenge my audiences to turn their response to the ideas and information they receive into results. According to the Christian story, the first couple, Adam and Eve, were instructed to be fruitful - produce some results. Fruitful is kind of an interesting word; it denotes abundance.

Here's what I think fruitful, abundance and productivity mean - to go to work on producing more than you need for yourself. I think we fulfill that command given to us so long ago to be productive, to produce far more than we need for ourselves, by blessing others, blessing our nation and blessing our enterprise.

Challenge yourself to produce more ideas than you need for yourself so you can share and give your ideas away. Produce more in terms of substance and money and treasure and all things valuable to human beings, far more than you need for yourself. I am reminded of R.G. LeTourneau's story, the man who built the big earth moving machines; it was his goal to someday give away 90% of his income.

Giving away far more than anyone could possibly imagine. 90% is an awful lot to give away, but you should have seen the 10% that was left.
Once abundance starts to come, once someone becomes incredibly productive, it's amazing what the numbers turn out to be. It's amazing what it finally totals. So make sure when you are given the opportunity, that you turn your response into results, thus the chance to be more fruitful and more giving.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
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This article was excerpted from The Jim Rohn Weekend Event - Excelling in the New Millennium. The incredible two-day event included such success power houses as Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, Bob Burg, Jeffrey Gitomer and more. This life-changing event is being offered to you now! It includes: 21 hours on DVD for home viewing - 20 CD's for audio listening - A 250-page comprehensive Workbook and Study Guide - PLUS 2 Special Bonuses! For full details click here!

Posted 8/13/2002 by Josh Hinds

Make the Most of Your Opportunities
by Jeff Keller

Like many other youngsters, I played Little League baseball. I was a pretty good fielder, but when it came to hitting, I was -- to put it bluntly -- pathetic. That's because I was afraid of getting hit by the ball. So, when the pitcher reared back to throw, I'd tend to back away from the plate.

One day in my little league "career" stands out in my memory. It was my turn to bat, and I stepped up to the plate to face one of the best pitchers in the league. This kid threw hard. Well, he fired a fastball and I swung. CRACK! By some miracle, I hit the ball and sent a long line drive between the center fielder and right fielder.

Let me tell you, I was stunned, never having heard that sound come from MY bat before. So, I began to race around the bases frantically, chugging as fast as I could. The ball rolled so far that there was no way the outfielder could retrieve it in time. I could have crawled around the bases and made it home safely.

Well, after I crossed home plate my teammates jumped all over me. They, too, were amazed by my slugging prowess. I was elated ... until, out of the corner of me eye, I saw the catcher from the opposing team walking toward our dugout. He had the ball in his hand ... and he tagged me.

The home plate umpire yelled, "You're out! You missed home plate." Talk about the agony of defeat -- not to mention the embarrassment! My home run was snatched away from me. Then, adding insult to injury, the first base umpire said, "He missed first base also." Oh, well. At least, I touched two of the four bases.

How did it happen? Why did I have so much trouble running the bases and completing the home run? My problem was, I didn't expect to hit the ball. So, when I did, I wasn't prepared.

You see, when your expectations are low, it's hard to take advantage of "the breaks" that come your way. With that in mind, here are two specific suggestions to help you make the most of your opportunities.

Adjust Your Attitude

When I stepped up to the plate in those Little League games, I had a lousy attitude. I kept telling myself, "I'm not a good hitter," and "I'll never hit the ball very far." This became a self-fulfilling prophecy and, as a result, I rarely hit the ball. When I did hit the ball into the outfield that day, I was stunned and ran around the bases like a chicken without a head. Remember, low expectations lead to disappointing results.

Are there any areas of your life where you're giving yourself negative messages right now? If so, it's important to change your attitude immediately. Otherwise, your
performance will remain at a low level.

Be Prepared

A positive attitude, by itself, won't guarantee that you make the most of your opportunities. The next crucial step is preparation.

Because I didn't expect to hit the ball, I didn't study the technique for running the bases. (There is a proper technique, you know!) Had I practiced navigating the
diamond, I would have been more successful when I actually hit the ball. The same is true in your career. Let's say John is a successful salesperson and has a chance to be promoted to district manager. What kinds of skills might be important for him to develop? First, he'll probably be required to do some public speaking at monthly meetings or sales conventions. If John isn't already an accomplished speaker, he'd do well to join a group like Toastmasters to improve his speaking skills.

John may also need help in motivating and managing a staff with diverse personalities. He can read books, attend seminars and obtain guidance from other successful managers to develop this skill. Regardless of his approach, however, if John fails to prepare, he probably won't make the most of his promotion when it comes; and he may not even land the promotion at all.

By the way, when should John start to prepare? As early as possible! The sad truth is, most people start to prepare when it's too late. If John aspires to be a district manager, he should start preparing well before he gets the promotion. That way, he'll demonstrate that he deserves to move up the ladder and, when he gets the new job, he'll be ready to show his stuff!

It all comes down to this: when you combine a great attitude with thorough preparation, you're sure to hit many home runs!

-- Jeff Keller
(c) Attitude is Everything, Inc.
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Jeff Keller is a motivational speaker and delivers his presentations and seminars to businesses, groups and trade associations throughout the United States and abroad. He is the author of the book, Attitude is Everything. For more information on Jeff's products and services, visit his web site: http://www.attitudeiseverything.com

Posted 8/09/2002 by Josh Hinds

Creating a New Positive Belief System
By Mark Victor Hansen

It is because of your belief system that you are where you are in life right now. You have created your success or failure with the beliefs that you have established within yourself.

Most people would be astounded to know how many of their beliefs are based on lack, limitation, and shortage - and that these thoughts reproduce themselves directly into their life experiences.

You owe it to yourself to think only of unlimited prosperity, because abundance IS reality. There is no lack, no shortage. There are no limits except for those we impose on ourselves. Prosperity doesn't start with someone or something outside of you.

Get the picture yet? Your success or failure begins and ends with you.

Wow! Think about that for a minute. What you think and what you believe determines your success or failure.

Your conscious mind is a powerful thing. What you concentrate on comes back to you -multiplied. Your mind is a source of unlimited, overflowing abundance - and its manifestation into the physical world depends on your thoughts and beliefs. Your belief in the possibility or impossibility of a situation determines the outcome. If you don't believe in the possibility of success, it's just not going to be possible.

So, how do you replace your old, self-defeating belief system with a new, prosperity-focused belief system? Start from within. Delete any "can't-do" beliefs you may have lurking deep inside, and start believing that you CAN.

But simply eliminating old beliefs is not enough. You have to replace them with new positive ones, because something must occupy that empty space. Remember, the Universe abhors a vacuum, so choose something positive to take its place.

The second step is to stay away from the "can't do" people in your life. If you can't avoid them totally, then don't get infected with their negativity. Give yourself a "prosperity booster shot" by remembering that the beliefs and opinions of other people do not have to become your reality. Someone is always going to try to tell you it's not possible. You have to train your mind to block out these negative words.

Every time you hear a "you can't - it's not possible" - say "NEXT!" to yourself and flip back to your new way of thinking. Tell them that you have moved forward, and that old, negative way of thinking has no place in your life. If they can't accept the new you simply stop discussing your goals with them. Stay focused in your new mindset and become a joyful example of what happens when you believe in yourself and what's possible.

Think big and prosperous and you'll get big, prosperous results. Think small and lacking and you'll achieve just that. The choice is yours.

"Our inner image of ourselves and what we want to accomplish in life makes us become what we were meant to be."

- Mark Victor Hansen
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Written by Mark Victor Hansen - Co-Author of the Chicken Soup For The Soul series of books. For over 26 years, Mark Victor Hansen has focused solely on helping people in all walks of life reshape their personal vision of what's possible for themselves. Visit http://www.markvictorhansen.com for resources, secure shopping and web-only product specials, speaking schedule and current projects of Mark Victor Hansen!

Posted 8/04/2002 by Josh Hinds

Joan Sotkin of Pro$perityPlace.com is offering a 17 minute long lesson in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Here's a short description in the event that you're not familiar with this technique: The basic theory of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is that all negative emotions are caused by a disturbance to your energy system. This is the same energy system that is used by acupuncture practitioners -- the meridian system. While it might sound a tad complex, I assure you it isn't. Click here if you'd like to learn more about it as well as listen in on a free lesson (requires the free realplayer or windows media player)... Oh, and while you're there let Joan know you heard about her through this site. I'd greatly appreciate it -- Josh Hinds :o)