Author : Willie Krut
The simplest answer to the question "Time Management – Why Should I Care?" probable consists of the fact that your time is one of the major necessary components of your life. What does "necessary" mean? Let's say that without chocolate you can survive but without water and air it is impossible. So consider time as air. When there is a lot of it you are spending it and you don't notice and do not appreciate it. But when there starts to not be enough then you begin to be painfully concerned that sometime ago you wasted it.Let's begin to think as a businessman. How much do you estimate one hour of your time is worth? (in dollars). What percent of your time is spent, in your opinion, wisely and how much – so-so? And how much is, in general, all for nothing?Those questions are not just simple curiosity. Try to calculate the damage in dollars in such situations. Calculate first: A busboy in a restaurant wasted one hour of his work time because of some personal problems. Let's calculate now how much the restaurant will lose if the power will go off. Compare the amount lost in the first and second situations. I am sure you will agree that the restaurant owner will lose much more in the second situation than in first.Now try to calculate the cost of your hour. Consider your education and experience because these are assets that you have. The more you have – the higher your hour cost. Also add the things that you can do for yourself, family, and friends. The more of these opportunities you have the sorrier you feel about each hour spent all for nothing.Meanwhile, there are not a lot of these hours in our life and the saddest part is unlike monetary losses the loss of time cannot be renewed.Everything that we discussed so far is mainly for those who haven't started concerning themselves about their time. I hope that our discussion convinced them that time management is a very important part of our life. But there is another problem that we didn't discuss yet: deficit of time.The phone constantly rings, the dozens e-mails still unopened in your mailbox, and the deadlines that tie you. Why are there only the 24 hours in a day? This is a big problem which a lot of people think is impossible to change. I can assure them that this is a mistake. There is no such process which could not be improved! There are many ways of time management and I am sure you tried some but you probably didn't find the right one yet that fits your character, your style of life, and your methods of working. It is important to mention that most time management techniques are oriented on a particular type of person: prepared, analytical, etc. Such a situation is far from normal and creates a very harmful bias: that there are people predisposed to the management of their own time, and those not predisposed.I don't understand why chaotic, spontaneous people are worse than others. Why should they appreciate their time less than others and why they should not put efforts to learn the management of their own time. There must be time management methods for those types of people and they exist. The time management niche for such people is an extremely interesting area of research.The first and main step in the process of managing your time is to learn how to create a To Do list and how to plan your time properly. I hope the time that you spent by learning the materials offered on the http://www.welcome-to-self-improvement.com/blog/ won't be spent all for nothing, furthermore it will be your first step on the way to becoming a person that can control and manage your own time.
Willie Krut is the core provider of a selection of self help products that truly help people to improve their life, health and career. Subscribe to the free Willie's Newsletter, visit the
http://www.welcome-to-self-improvement.com site.
Keyword : Self improvement,Self development,time-management,to-do list
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 17 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2551
How To Be More Successful By Using Effective Time Management Tools
Author : Gregg Hall
Do you feel irritated and annoyed during the day because you just feel like you can't get anything done? Do you feel overwhelmed or disorganized? People who are very successful in their given fields have learned to use effective time management tools and therefore are able to get more done in less time and with less stress. Here are a few ideas to help you manage your time better.The first thing you have to do is get rid of the clutter and get organized. This is the toughest thing for many people; I know it is for me! If you are one of those whose filing system is the top of their desk and you have papers, notes, and books all over the place then this is where you need to start. Take everything off of your desktop that you don't use everyday and put the rest in drawers. After you have cleared your mess we can move on to the next step.The next thing that must be done in order to be successful is to learn to prioritize. Everything is not life or death; you have to learn to distinguish what must be done and what can be delayed. At the beginning of every day tale a few minutes to make a list of tasks that need to be accomplished and then prioritize them in order of importance. One trick that works well is to group the items that must be done that day, then items that should be worked on, and finally those things that can wait. Keep your list with you all the time so that you can get some of the things done like phone calls in down time like waiting in lines of traffic or waiting to pick up the kids at school.Use time management tools you are comfortable with. If using a regular calendar works for you then by all means use it and don't feel like you have to learn to use the latest PDA. On the other hand, if are the techie type keep yours with you at all times along with a planner so that you can also write down notes and appointments that may require more than your PDA allows.Make time to work ahead so that you don't get behind on projects that are coming up soon. If you get the jump on them it will keep you from getting stressed. Just try to fit in a few hours at night during the week instead of lying around watching TV. Once you get used to it you will be amazed at how much stress it takes away and how much more time it gives you.Schedule your appointments and other errands in an efficient manner. It just makes sense to take out a map and be sure that you aren't running back and forth. Plan your destinations in logical order so that you save time and gas by not running all over the city.Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more information on time management tools at http://www.dovico.com
Keyword : time management
Do you feel irritated and annoyed during the day because you just feel like you can't get anything done? Do you feel overwhelmed or disorganized? People who are very successful in their given fields have learned to use effective time management tools and therefore are able to get more done in less time and with less stress. Here are a few ideas to help you manage your time better.The first thing you have to do is get rid of the clutter and get organized. This is the toughest thing for many people; I know it is for me! If you are one of those whose filing system is the top of their desk and you have papers, notes, and books all over the place then this is where you need to start. Take everything off of your desktop that you don't use everyday and put the rest in drawers. After you have cleared your mess we can move on to the next step.The next thing that must be done in order to be successful is to learn to prioritize. Everything is not life or death; you have to learn to distinguish what must be done and what can be delayed. At the beginning of every day tale a few minutes to make a list of tasks that need to be accomplished and then prioritize them in order of importance. One trick that works well is to group the items that must be done that day, then items that should be worked on, and finally those things that can wait. Keep your list with you all the time so that you can get some of the things done like phone calls in down time like waiting in lines of traffic or waiting to pick up the kids at school.Use time management tools you are comfortable with. If using a regular calendar works for you then by all means use it and don't feel like you have to learn to use the latest PDA. On the other hand, if are the techie type keep yours with you at all times along with a planner so that you can also write down notes and appointments that may require more than your PDA allows.Make time to work ahead so that you don't get behind on projects that are coming up soon. If you get the jump on them it will keep you from getting stressed. Just try to fit in a few hours at night during the week instead of lying around watching TV. Once you get used to it you will be amazed at how much stress it takes away and how much more time it gives you.Schedule your appointments and other errands in an efficient manner. It just makes sense to take out a map and be sure that you aren't running back and forth. Plan your destinations in logical order so that you save time and gas by not running all over the city.Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more information on time management tools at http://www.dovico.com
Keyword : time management
The One-Two Punch for Success: Authenticity and Alignment
Author : Rebecca Le Vine
Have you ever felt as if you are beating your head against a wall? You repeatedly try to reach a goal but you never seem to achieve it. Instead you are struggling rather than moving forward and achieving your goals with grace and ease. You are not alone. The struggle to move from what we don't want to what we do want is, unfortunately, a fundamental struggle for many individuals. Believe it or not, it is very common for people to struggle against what they want and to actively limit their good. In order to have what you want, you must be willing to end the struggle and move into action. Your success is dependent on your ability to reach your goals and achieve. The easiest way to move from "stuck" into action without struggle is to be authentic and to be in alignment with your authenticity. Authenticity means that you are connected to your core and that your desires are a true reflection of your inner self and soul. Alignment means that your entire being is in agreement with the goal you want to achieve. For example, you come home from work one evening and you are very tired. But this evening is your work-out night. You sit on the couch and actually have to talk yourself into getting into your gym clothes and heading off to the gym. What you did in convincing part of yourself to go to the gym when it really wanted to rest on the couch is called alignment. You got yourself into alignment with the idea and intention of going to the gym no matter how tired a part of you felt. To end struggle and successfully achieve goals, all parts of you must work together for manifestation. That means all bodies, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual, must be in agreement concerning a goal. There can be no doubts, limiting beliefs or attachments. The following describes a process you can use to do an authenticity check concerning your goals and bring yourself into alignment with your goals. Step One: Sit quietly – create a peaceful, serene and nurturing space for yourself. It must be a space where you feel comfortable and secure. Spend several minutes in quiet and inner reflection upon your goal. Have paper and pen handy. Step Two: The Authenticity Check: Ask within if this goal is the appropriate goal for you to achieve at this time. If the answer is yes, skip to the next step. If the answer is no, ask what a more appropriate goal would be for you right now. By asking this question, you move from being ruled by the needs of the mind (survival issues) and begin to access the soul within. You leave behind the petty desires of the ego and move into realizing the desires of the soul. As a result, your goals become truer and more authentic. Write down the response you receive. If you need additional clarity concerning the response, ask for it. Keep asking within until you feel complete. Step Three: Alignment. Once you have a defined and authentic goal, it is time to create alignment. Remain in your space of quiet and comfort; ask to speak to your mental body. (You will repeat step Three with each of the bodies) Ask your mental body if it is willing to be in alignment with you goal. The purpose of this question is to uncover any blocks or limitations that reside in the mental body concerning the goal. If the answer is yes, proceed to the next body: physical, spiritual and emotional. If the answer is no, simply begin a conversation with this part of you. Some questions to begin with are: Why are you not willing to be in alignment with this goal? What would it take for you to be in alignment with this goal? When a part is not willing to be in alignment with an authentic goal, the cause may be fear or insecurity. Usually the situation is remedied by helping the part understand that it is taken care of, that it is safe and that it has nothing to fear. Simply, have a conversation with the part and inform it of the truth. Once you receive the willingness of all the bodies, remember to thank them for supporting the manifestation of this authentic goal. Affirm your alignment with this goal and your intention to manifest it. By completing this process, you have created an authentic goal and brought yourself into full alignment with this goal. You can now move forward without struggle because all blocks have been removed. Success shall be yours.Rebecca Le Vine is a Life Coach helping clients to achieve quick results through her customized coaching plans. For further information, go to www.mysticcenter.com.
Keyword : Success, Spiritual, Coaching, Life Coaching, Self-improvement, process, authenticity, alignment, stu
Have you ever felt as if you are beating your head against a wall? You repeatedly try to reach a goal but you never seem to achieve it. Instead you are struggling rather than moving forward and achieving your goals with grace and ease. You are not alone. The struggle to move from what we don't want to what we do want is, unfortunately, a fundamental struggle for many individuals. Believe it or not, it is very common for people to struggle against what they want and to actively limit their good. In order to have what you want, you must be willing to end the struggle and move into action. Your success is dependent on your ability to reach your goals and achieve. The easiest way to move from "stuck" into action without struggle is to be authentic and to be in alignment with your authenticity. Authenticity means that you are connected to your core and that your desires are a true reflection of your inner self and soul. Alignment means that your entire being is in agreement with the goal you want to achieve. For example, you come home from work one evening and you are very tired. But this evening is your work-out night. You sit on the couch and actually have to talk yourself into getting into your gym clothes and heading off to the gym. What you did in convincing part of yourself to go to the gym when it really wanted to rest on the couch is called alignment. You got yourself into alignment with the idea and intention of going to the gym no matter how tired a part of you felt. To end struggle and successfully achieve goals, all parts of you must work together for manifestation. That means all bodies, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual, must be in agreement concerning a goal. There can be no doubts, limiting beliefs or attachments. The following describes a process you can use to do an authenticity check concerning your goals and bring yourself into alignment with your goals. Step One: Sit quietly – create a peaceful, serene and nurturing space for yourself. It must be a space where you feel comfortable and secure. Spend several minutes in quiet and inner reflection upon your goal. Have paper and pen handy. Step Two: The Authenticity Check: Ask within if this goal is the appropriate goal for you to achieve at this time. If the answer is yes, skip to the next step. If the answer is no, ask what a more appropriate goal would be for you right now. By asking this question, you move from being ruled by the needs of the mind (survival issues) and begin to access the soul within. You leave behind the petty desires of the ego and move into realizing the desires of the soul. As a result, your goals become truer and more authentic. Write down the response you receive. If you need additional clarity concerning the response, ask for it. Keep asking within until you feel complete. Step Three: Alignment. Once you have a defined and authentic goal, it is time to create alignment. Remain in your space of quiet and comfort; ask to speak to your mental body. (You will repeat step Three with each of the bodies) Ask your mental body if it is willing to be in alignment with you goal. The purpose of this question is to uncover any blocks or limitations that reside in the mental body concerning the goal. If the answer is yes, proceed to the next body: physical, spiritual and emotional. If the answer is no, simply begin a conversation with this part of you. Some questions to begin with are: Why are you not willing to be in alignment with this goal? What would it take for you to be in alignment with this goal? When a part is not willing to be in alignment with an authentic goal, the cause may be fear or insecurity. Usually the situation is remedied by helping the part understand that it is taken care of, that it is safe and that it has nothing to fear. Simply, have a conversation with the part and inform it of the truth. Once you receive the willingness of all the bodies, remember to thank them for supporting the manifestation of this authentic goal. Affirm your alignment with this goal and your intention to manifest it. By completing this process, you have created an authentic goal and brought yourself into full alignment with this goal. You can now move forward without struggle because all blocks have been removed. Success shall be yours.Rebecca Le Vine is a Life Coach helping clients to achieve quick results through her customized coaching plans. For further information, go to www.mysticcenter.com.
Keyword : Success, Spiritual, Coaching, Life Coaching, Self-improvement, process, authenticity, alignment, stu
Reach Your Goals - Create A Soundtrack
Author : Soni Pitts
Choose a personal theme song and soundtrack that stirs you and refocuses you on your goal
Choose a personal theme song and soundtrack that stirs you and refocuses you on your goal
What would a superhero be without theme music? And what about those soundtracks used in the movies to make sure that those of us in the audience are either gripping our seats or bawling our eyes out on cue? Why not do the same for your life? Choose a song that seems to "say it all" about how you feel about your goal, or that just plain inspires you to do your best, then pick a "soundtrack" of other supporting songs to go along with it.
Make a tape, burn a CD, or download clips onto your computer - whatever works for you. Play the music when energy is flagging, when you need a boost, or when you feel the need to soar even higher than you already are. You can create a theme song/soundtrack pack for each goal you have, and even create a "master set" for your life in general. Keep your recordings handy - in the car, at home, at work - wherever you're likely to need them.(c) Soni PittsABOUT THE AUTHORSoni Pitts is the Chief Visionary Butt-Kicker of SoniPitts.Com. She specializes in helping others reclaim "soul proprietorship" in their lives and to begin living the life their Creator always intended for them.She is the author of the free e-book "50 Ways To Reach Your Goals" and over 100 self-help and inspirational articles, as well as other products and resources designed to facilitate this process of personal growth and spiritual development.
Keyword : goal, success, dream, inspiration, plan, planning
Can Anyone Become A Successful Business Person?
Author : Patrick Silva
Can anyone become a successful businessperson? I am asked this question many times after I have given a speech on business procedures and strategies. The answer is not that simple.Before we get to the answer, let me ask you a question. Can anyone become a successful medical doctor? To become a doctor, there are several very important factors that have to be given a lot of careful thought and consideration.First, you have to be interested in the field of medicine. Then develop a passion for this profession - find out all you can, do plenty of research and get professional advice.Once you have made your firm decision, you have to go to medical school and learn from the work of those who have researched, developed and established the field of medicine through trial and error.When you graduate from medical school, you have another very important decision to make. Are you going to specialize in any particular field of medicine like cardiology, gynecology, anesthesiology or any other particular area of medicine.If you decide to specialize, you will have to go back to school and qualify in your chosen field.After you graduate, you will have to serve an internship either at a hospital or with a specialist in your field who might decide to take you under his or her wing and give you some hands on practical experience under supervision.Then you will be ready to venture out on your own. You can set up your own office or join a group of doctors who work from one office.Some doctors, after graduating from medical college and having served an internship, decide to go into general practise. General practitioners, who usually act as "Family Doctors" examine patients and refer them to specialists to deal with a particular medical problem.For example, a person with a heart problem will be refered to a cardiologist; a person with a skin problem to a dermatologist and so on.Becoming a medical doctor is not easy. You have to be interested in the field of medicine, develop a passion, be dedicated, educate yourself, get the proper training and work at it passionately on a consistant basis.Since new discoveries are being made in the field of medicine constantly by researchers and other scientists, everyone in the medical profession has to keep up with all the new developments.I have never heard of any doctor who has gone through all the education, training, internship etc. failing in this profession. There are those who might change course. For example, a general practitioner might decide to go into research.But doctors never fail to be doctors unless they give up or retire. Doctors take their profession very seriously and succeed always. There is no such thing as failure in the medical profession.Now to get to the question, "Can anyone become a successful medical doctor?" The answer is "Yes! Anyone who really wants to can become a successful medical doctor."The key words here are, "Anyone who really wants to."Let us get back to our original question. "Can anyone become a successful business person?" The answer is, "Yes! Anyone who really wants to, can become a successful business person."To become a successful business person, you will have to make several important choices. choices like,1) What type of business do you want to get into? 2) Are you passionate about the field you have chosen? 3) Are you willing to devote enough time and energy to your business? 4) Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed? 5) Are you willing to stick to it till you succeed?Then you have to research your field of interest, educate yourself, get the proper training, lay the foundation and work at it consistantly. If you do everything properly, success is inevitable. Ask any successful business person and he or she will tell you what they had to go through to achieve success.A business should be taken seriously and treated like a profession, not as a hobby. Then with the correct, persistant action taken on a daily basis, you are sure to succeed. There is no doubt about it.Those who do not succeed in business are the ones who are looking for "An easy way to make money." These are the same people who buy lottery tickets and hope to strike it rich overnight. According to statistics, the chances of a person winning a lottery is one in 168 million.But the chances of succeeding in a business, if done in the proper way is 100%. There is no "Easy way" to make money in any business. Passion, dedication, knowledge, education, hard work are all necessary ingredients. Once you get started and get some experience under your belt, things will become easier and easier.Yes! Anyone who really wants to, can become a successful business person and make a living or even become very rich. Lots of people who have followed the correct path have succeeded in business and are continuing to do so. "Everyone wants to succeed but few are willing to pay the price."You can become a successful business person "If You Really Want To."----------------------
You may publish this article, free of charge in your ezine or any other publication. The article must be published in its entirety, unedited, without any changes to its contents. You may format the article to fit your requirements. The resource box at the end of this article must be included with the article. A courtsey copy of your ezine or publication in which the article appears will be appreciated.****************************************************************
Patrick Silva is a Seminar Instructor, a Researcher and a Public Speaker. He is the editor of "A Learners Lounge," a free ezine dedicated to inspire and motivate you to achieve success. To subscribe to A Learners Lounge, please click on the URL below.http://www.business-development-strategies.com/e-zine.htmlIf the above URL is not an active link, please copy and paste it in your browser.
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Keyword : Patrick Silva, Article, business, success, inspire, motivate, take action.
Can anyone become a successful businessperson? I am asked this question many times after I have given a speech on business procedures and strategies. The answer is not that simple.Before we get to the answer, let me ask you a question. Can anyone become a successful medical doctor? To become a doctor, there are several very important factors that have to be given a lot of careful thought and consideration.First, you have to be interested in the field of medicine. Then develop a passion for this profession - find out all you can, do plenty of research and get professional advice.Once you have made your firm decision, you have to go to medical school and learn from the work of those who have researched, developed and established the field of medicine through trial and error.When you graduate from medical school, you have another very important decision to make. Are you going to specialize in any particular field of medicine like cardiology, gynecology, anesthesiology or any other particular area of medicine.If you decide to specialize, you will have to go back to school and qualify in your chosen field.After you graduate, you will have to serve an internship either at a hospital or with a specialist in your field who might decide to take you under his or her wing and give you some hands on practical experience under supervision.Then you will be ready to venture out on your own. You can set up your own office or join a group of doctors who work from one office.Some doctors, after graduating from medical college and having served an internship, decide to go into general practise. General practitioners, who usually act as "Family Doctors" examine patients and refer them to specialists to deal with a particular medical problem.For example, a person with a heart problem will be refered to a cardiologist; a person with a skin problem to a dermatologist and so on.Becoming a medical doctor is not easy. You have to be interested in the field of medicine, develop a passion, be dedicated, educate yourself, get the proper training and work at it passionately on a consistant basis.Since new discoveries are being made in the field of medicine constantly by researchers and other scientists, everyone in the medical profession has to keep up with all the new developments.I have never heard of any doctor who has gone through all the education, training, internship etc. failing in this profession. There are those who might change course. For example, a general practitioner might decide to go into research.But doctors never fail to be doctors unless they give up or retire. Doctors take their profession very seriously and succeed always. There is no such thing as failure in the medical profession.Now to get to the question, "Can anyone become a successful medical doctor?" The answer is "Yes! Anyone who really wants to can become a successful medical doctor."The key words here are, "Anyone who really wants to."Let us get back to our original question. "Can anyone become a successful business person?" The answer is, "Yes! Anyone who really wants to, can become a successful business person."To become a successful business person, you will have to make several important choices. choices like,1) What type of business do you want to get into? 2) Are you passionate about the field you have chosen? 3) Are you willing to devote enough time and energy to your business? 4) Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed? 5) Are you willing to stick to it till you succeed?Then you have to research your field of interest, educate yourself, get the proper training, lay the foundation and work at it consistantly. If you do everything properly, success is inevitable. Ask any successful business person and he or she will tell you what they had to go through to achieve success.A business should be taken seriously and treated like a profession, not as a hobby. Then with the correct, persistant action taken on a daily basis, you are sure to succeed. There is no doubt about it.Those who do not succeed in business are the ones who are looking for "An easy way to make money." These are the same people who buy lottery tickets and hope to strike it rich overnight. According to statistics, the chances of a person winning a lottery is one in 168 million.But the chances of succeeding in a business, if done in the proper way is 100%. There is no "Easy way" to make money in any business. Passion, dedication, knowledge, education, hard work are all necessary ingredients. Once you get started and get some experience under your belt, things will become easier and easier.Yes! Anyone who really wants to, can become a successful business person and make a living or even become very rich. Lots of people who have followed the correct path have succeeded in business and are continuing to do so. "Everyone wants to succeed but few are willing to pay the price."You can become a successful business person "If You Really Want To."----------------------
You may publish this article, free of charge in your ezine or any other publication. The article must be published in its entirety, unedited, without any changes to its contents. You may format the article to fit your requirements. The resource box at the end of this article must be included with the article. A courtsey copy of your ezine or publication in which the article appears will be appreciated.****************************************************************
Patrick Silva is a Seminar Instructor, a Researcher and a Public Speaker. He is the editor of "A Learners Lounge," a free ezine dedicated to inspire and motivate you to achieve success. To subscribe to A Learners Lounge, please click on the URL below.http://www.business-development-strategies.com/e-zine.htmlIf the above URL is not an active link, please copy and paste it in your browser.
****************************************************************
Keyword : Patrick Silva, Article, business, success, inspire, motivate, take action.
The Ungiven Gift
Author : Rick Beneteau
He was pencil thin and walked with a limp. A thirteen year-old boy
with huge yearning eyes who was always an unlucky patient on the
children's floor of the hospital where my youngest daughter was all
too often incarcerated.Curtis had sickle cell anemia, an incurable, painful and terminal
disease that plagues young people of African descent.I would meander into his room to spend a little time with the
rebellious loner and would often end up refereeing a screaming
match between him and one of the nurses. The street-wise Curtis
would usually win.Over the course of a few years (the hospital was always my home-
away-from-home), I eventually learned of the horror of his
upbringing, the sad reality of his current life and the apparent
dimness of his future.My experience as a volunteer in the Big Brother-like program in our
local Children's Aid Society was that a small dose of interest and
some one-on-one attention could go a long way to helping a kid
who was in trouble with the law, failing school and in Curtis' case, a
social outcast.So, when my time was over with the last boy I was involved with, I
asked the CAS if I could hook up with Curtis, albeit 'unofficially' this
time. Problem was, I was in the process of selling my drycleaning
business while building a music production studio (for my next
career) and my time was too much at a premium to commit to a
structured arrangement. They agreed, and I began to hang with
Curtis.I learned in very short order that among his survival skills was the
tendency to cajole, cleverly manipulate and even outright steal.
Although always kind, I had to have a second set of eyes when in
his presence and was forced at times to be, well, curt with Curt.Also during this time, I was involved in a major lawsuit after having
had a song of mine "lifted" by a one-time friend and co-writing
partner in Los Angeles, who had become a 'hot' producer of major
recording acts. On one of his multi-million selling records was the
core of a song of mine he had heard and we discussed in my
presence during one of my frequent music trips in the 1980's. I was
a little more than hurt and felt I deserved not only the royalties for
my creation, but also the credibility that went along with a "cut" of
that magnitude by a name recording artist.I retained a highly regarded entertainment attorney in Detroit (he
represented many of the athletes on the professional sports teams
in Detroit as well as one of the all time greatest boxers and even
some famous civil rights icons) who just happened to also be a
truly wonderful and giving human being.It was in a meeting with this man that I casually mentioned Curtis
and my desire to do something very special for him. See, in my
heart, I had a feeling Curtis would not live for too many more years.
Sickle cell sufferers often died in their early twenties, or even
before, a decade ago. I wasn't expecting anything from my lawyer
in this regard, but the next day the phone rang and I was instructed
to have Curtis "dressed up" and at the Palace of Auburn Hills at a
specific gate number one hour prior to a Detroit Pistons game later
that week.He was a huge basketball fan. His hero of heroes was Isaiah
Thomas, captain of the Motor City NBA Champs the prior two
years. But I didn't let on to Curtis where we were going that night.
Just that we were hanging out. I just asked his foster mother (and I
use the term "mother" very lightly) to have him dressed nicely with
his birth certificate in hand by a certain time.Curtis was on time, eagerly waiting on his rickety porch when I
pulled up. But to my utter dismay, he looked as disheveled as he
always did in his overbaggy, tattered clothes. And of course, good
ol' foster mom couldn't find his birth certificate. Now, can you
imagine the fancy dancin' I had to do at U.S. Customs having this
'gang looking' teenager with no identification trying to cross the
border in my new BMW? Well, fate and some silver tongued talkin'
prevailed and we were soon racing up I-75 to The Game.I tried to make idle conversation with the excited but slouching
teenager. All Curtis could do was hound me. "Is it a ballgame? Is it
a concert?" "Rick, where are we going?" I love to tease. Finally, he
glimpsed the landmark dome of the arena from the freeway and
knew he was going to get to see his favorite team play.We found the specified gate, parked and walked to the entrance.
Walking with Curtis was always a little frustrating for me (he would
do the 'slow, cool stroll' and I am a brisk walker) but this time I
knew there was something special awaiting that we should almost
race to.We were met by a well-dressed, executive-looking middle-aged
man, who just happened to be the Vice-President of Public
Relations for the Detroit Pistons. Talk about first class! He escorted
Curtis not to his seat, but directly to the Pistons bench, where
Curtis' eyes grew almost as big as the basketballs the giant
athletes had just started tossing around in their pre-game warm-up.I was led to our primest of seats directly behind the bench. A
waitress visited only seconds after that, taking my order for
refreshments. Everything was "on the house". I saw one of the
assistant coaches introduce himself to Curtis, and next thing I
know, well, guess who's center court tossing the ball around with
his hero, Isaiah? Soon, he was running the court and shooting
hoops with Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars and the
rest of the elite players!At this point, I couldn't even imagine the exhilaration that this young
man who life never seemed to smile upon was experiencing at this
very moment! I mean, how could anyone's wildest imagination even
envision this ravaged spirit and body trying to "deek the Bad Boys
of basketball?" I just sat quietly in utter amazement, misty eyed
and SO grateful to my legal friend and the 'human' management of
this professional sports team who arranged all of this for one
person. A Canadian kid who was close to my heartWhen the warm-up was done, Curtis climbed up with me. The first
half of the game was great. The Pistons were pounding their
opponents. A few of the players even glanced back and motioned at
their new teammate! By the time the half-time buzzer sounded I
was certain Curtis' dream day was complete.But hold on, this was only half time! The same assistant coach who
invited Curtis onto the hardwood floor pre-game, called for him to
hang with the team in the sanctuary of the dressing room during
their much-needed break. Give ME a break!I'll never forget what I think was the widest smile I have ever seen as
the team emerged onto the floor afterwards and my little guy 'cool
strolling' as proudly as I've ever seen anyone. And much quicker
than I ever recalled. What a night!!The ride home was quiet. Opposite of the ride there. Curtis slept
most of long way home. I could only imagine his dreams. Canada
Customs was kind and allowed him to sleep through their few brief
questions for me. It was sad to see him sleepily stagger up the
sidewalk to his stark reality, after having just left a world where I'd
bet no one would believe he had been.Somehow I thought I would receive a phonecall from Curtis the next
day. But it never came. Two days later I had a very good reason to
call him. My attorney and the team had arranged to have every
player on the NBA Champion Detroit Pistons sign the game ball
from that night, and Federal Express it to my home address, to give
to Curtis. An autographed yearbook was included too.I couldn't wait to tell him. I mean, I was flabbergasted at this
unexpected and over-the-top gesture! I recall excitedly dialing his
number and the deflation after hearing that "Curtis took off to
Toronto yesterday." She went on to explain that she didn't know
where he was or how to contact him. And neither did the Children's
Aid Society.Little did I know that evening would be the last time I would ever see
Curtis. My instincts tell me that he is not with us anymore. But if
he is, he has one great gift still waiting for him - The Ungiven Gift.© Rick BeneteauRick is co-creator of the breakthrough Make Every Day A Great
Day Program. Read the powerful, life-changing testimonials
and discover how this revolutionary product can dramatically
change Your Life too!:
http://www.MakeEveryDayAGreatDay.com/yes
Keyword : inspiration,motivation,self-help
He was pencil thin and walked with a limp. A thirteen year-old boy
with huge yearning eyes who was always an unlucky patient on the
children's floor of the hospital where my youngest daughter was all
too often incarcerated.Curtis had sickle cell anemia, an incurable, painful and terminal
disease that plagues young people of African descent.I would meander into his room to spend a little time with the
rebellious loner and would often end up refereeing a screaming
match between him and one of the nurses. The street-wise Curtis
would usually win.Over the course of a few years (the hospital was always my home-
away-from-home), I eventually learned of the horror of his
upbringing, the sad reality of his current life and the apparent
dimness of his future.My experience as a volunteer in the Big Brother-like program in our
local Children's Aid Society was that a small dose of interest and
some one-on-one attention could go a long way to helping a kid
who was in trouble with the law, failing school and in Curtis' case, a
social outcast.So, when my time was over with the last boy I was involved with, I
asked the CAS if I could hook up with Curtis, albeit 'unofficially' this
time. Problem was, I was in the process of selling my drycleaning
business while building a music production studio (for my next
career) and my time was too much at a premium to commit to a
structured arrangement. They agreed, and I began to hang with
Curtis.I learned in very short order that among his survival skills was the
tendency to cajole, cleverly manipulate and even outright steal.
Although always kind, I had to have a second set of eyes when in
his presence and was forced at times to be, well, curt with Curt.Also during this time, I was involved in a major lawsuit after having
had a song of mine "lifted" by a one-time friend and co-writing
partner in Los Angeles, who had become a 'hot' producer of major
recording acts. On one of his multi-million selling records was the
core of a song of mine he had heard and we discussed in my
presence during one of my frequent music trips in the 1980's. I was
a little more than hurt and felt I deserved not only the royalties for
my creation, but also the credibility that went along with a "cut" of
that magnitude by a name recording artist.I retained a highly regarded entertainment attorney in Detroit (he
represented many of the athletes on the professional sports teams
in Detroit as well as one of the all time greatest boxers and even
some famous civil rights icons) who just happened to also be a
truly wonderful and giving human being.It was in a meeting with this man that I casually mentioned Curtis
and my desire to do something very special for him. See, in my
heart, I had a feeling Curtis would not live for too many more years.
Sickle cell sufferers often died in their early twenties, or even
before, a decade ago. I wasn't expecting anything from my lawyer
in this regard, but the next day the phone rang and I was instructed
to have Curtis "dressed up" and at the Palace of Auburn Hills at a
specific gate number one hour prior to a Detroit Pistons game later
that week.He was a huge basketball fan. His hero of heroes was Isaiah
Thomas, captain of the Motor City NBA Champs the prior two
years. But I didn't let on to Curtis where we were going that night.
Just that we were hanging out. I just asked his foster mother (and I
use the term "mother" very lightly) to have him dressed nicely with
his birth certificate in hand by a certain time.Curtis was on time, eagerly waiting on his rickety porch when I
pulled up. But to my utter dismay, he looked as disheveled as he
always did in his overbaggy, tattered clothes. And of course, good
ol' foster mom couldn't find his birth certificate. Now, can you
imagine the fancy dancin' I had to do at U.S. Customs having this
'gang looking' teenager with no identification trying to cross the
border in my new BMW? Well, fate and some silver tongued talkin'
prevailed and we were soon racing up I-75 to The Game.I tried to make idle conversation with the excited but slouching
teenager. All Curtis could do was hound me. "Is it a ballgame? Is it
a concert?" "Rick, where are we going?" I love to tease. Finally, he
glimpsed the landmark dome of the arena from the freeway and
knew he was going to get to see his favorite team play.We found the specified gate, parked and walked to the entrance.
Walking with Curtis was always a little frustrating for me (he would
do the 'slow, cool stroll' and I am a brisk walker) but this time I
knew there was something special awaiting that we should almost
race to.We were met by a well-dressed, executive-looking middle-aged
man, who just happened to be the Vice-President of Public
Relations for the Detroit Pistons. Talk about first class! He escorted
Curtis not to his seat, but directly to the Pistons bench, where
Curtis' eyes grew almost as big as the basketballs the giant
athletes had just started tossing around in their pre-game warm-up.I was led to our primest of seats directly behind the bench. A
waitress visited only seconds after that, taking my order for
refreshments. Everything was "on the house". I saw one of the
assistant coaches introduce himself to Curtis, and next thing I
know, well, guess who's center court tossing the ball around with
his hero, Isaiah? Soon, he was running the court and shooting
hoops with Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars and the
rest of the elite players!At this point, I couldn't even imagine the exhilaration that this young
man who life never seemed to smile upon was experiencing at this
very moment! I mean, how could anyone's wildest imagination even
envision this ravaged spirit and body trying to "deek the Bad Boys
of basketball?" I just sat quietly in utter amazement, misty eyed
and SO grateful to my legal friend and the 'human' management of
this professional sports team who arranged all of this for one
person. A Canadian kid who was close to my heartWhen the warm-up was done, Curtis climbed up with me. The first
half of the game was great. The Pistons were pounding their
opponents. A few of the players even glanced back and motioned at
their new teammate! By the time the half-time buzzer sounded I
was certain Curtis' dream day was complete.But hold on, this was only half time! The same assistant coach who
invited Curtis onto the hardwood floor pre-game, called for him to
hang with the team in the sanctuary of the dressing room during
their much-needed break. Give ME a break!I'll never forget what I think was the widest smile I have ever seen as
the team emerged onto the floor afterwards and my little guy 'cool
strolling' as proudly as I've ever seen anyone. And much quicker
than I ever recalled. What a night!!The ride home was quiet. Opposite of the ride there. Curtis slept
most of long way home. I could only imagine his dreams. Canada
Customs was kind and allowed him to sleep through their few brief
questions for me. It was sad to see him sleepily stagger up the
sidewalk to his stark reality, after having just left a world where I'd
bet no one would believe he had been.Somehow I thought I would receive a phonecall from Curtis the next
day. But it never came. Two days later I had a very good reason to
call him. My attorney and the team had arranged to have every
player on the NBA Champion Detroit Pistons sign the game ball
from that night, and Federal Express it to my home address, to give
to Curtis. An autographed yearbook was included too.I couldn't wait to tell him. I mean, I was flabbergasted at this
unexpected and over-the-top gesture! I recall excitedly dialing his
number and the deflation after hearing that "Curtis took off to
Toronto yesterday." She went on to explain that she didn't know
where he was or how to contact him. And neither did the Children's
Aid Society.Little did I know that evening would be the last time I would ever see
Curtis. My instincts tell me that he is not with us anymore. But if
he is, he has one great gift still waiting for him - The Ungiven Gift.© Rick BeneteauRick is co-creator of the breakthrough Make Every Day A Great
Day Program. Read the powerful, life-changing testimonials
and discover how this revolutionary product can dramatically
change Your Life too!:
http://www.MakeEveryDayAGreatDay.com/yes
Keyword : inspiration,motivation,self-help
Top 5 Sources of Energy Drain
Author : Helaine Iris
Along with time and money, energy is one of your most valuable resources. And if you're a professional woman, it's a resource that's most likely in short supply. With the myriad number of professional and personal tasks you need to accomplish, while taking care of your family, you have very little - if any - energy left over for you. It's easy to understand your dilemma.Energy is defined as "having the internal or inherent power or capacity to act, operate or produce an effect." Mental, physical and emotional energy is the fuel that drives your creativity, your thinking and your ability to take action. Energy drains limit your capacity to act and create. They also deplete the inspiration and motivation that is such a crucial part of a complete and balanced life.Here are the top 5 sources of energy drain I see most often in my clients' lives, as well as some suggestions for how to eliminate them.Energy Drain #1: Keeping Details In Your Head, Instead Of In A SystemYour brain, like a computer, only has so much RAM (random access memory). And RAM is mental energy. When you rely on yourself to remember your shopping list, your to-do list and your dentist appointment, it eats away at mental energy you could be using elsewhere to create a greater impact in your life.It's not that all those tasks aren't important, but what if you had the mental energy to complete that major report, write your book or create a more powerful business strategy?Think of each item you need to remember as an energy unit. How many energy units do you spend keeping details in your head? Find (or create) and begin using a system to track and remember things for you. Use it daily, and you'll free up more mental energy to accomplish higher leverage projects and tasks.Energy Drain #2: Making Assumptions and Taking Things PersonallyHumans are exceptionally good at creating meaning. With every occurrence in our lives or every statement someone makes, we're constantly asking: "what does that mean?" Sometimes meaning helps us to know where we stand, but much of the time the meaning we create is, frankly, an incorrect assumption. How many energy units go down the drain each time you second-guess the meaning of someone's words, actions or inactions?Think of the last time you spent an hour, a month, a year (or longer) having made the wrong assumption about an interaction with someone. How much energy did it cost you? The next time you find yourself making things up about someone's words or actions, ask them for clarity so you can deal with the truth, and move on.Energy Drain #3: Tolerating Friction In Your Environment and RelationshipsThe squeaky door. The leaky faucet. The tired paint color on your bedroom walls. By themselves, the energy drain is minor. Add them all up, however, and you have a gaping hole in your energy system. It's time to clean it all up. Make a list of all the things in your home, office or car that you continually notice needing attention. Set aside some time and tick them off your list once and for all.Likewise, when you tolerate a dysfunctional relationship or have unfinished business with anyone, you're losing energy. Confront the relationship issues you have. Clean up unfinished business. If necessary, get support from someone who can help you negotiate such confrontations skillfully and responsibly. Think of the energy it takes to avoid someone versus the energy you'd gain in the long run having the issue cleared up.Energy Drain #4: DisorganizationAccording to a USA Today report, Americans waste 9 million hours every day looking for misplaced items. Every time you can't find your keys, you waste energy. Each time you have to shuffle through a stack of papers to find an important document you waste energy. Each time you feel like you'd be embarrassed to have a friend drop by, you are depleting your energy account.The solution is simple. Get organized. Although it may seem a daunting task, what you'll gain in energy and satisfaction is well worth the initial investment. Julie Morgenstern, the organizational goddess, recommends handling it in small chunks. Start with one room at a time. You've got to start somewhere. It's well worth the effort for the feeling of peace and tranquility that an organized space offers.Energy Drain #5: Taking Care Of Yourself LastIt's been drilled into us. Meet everyone's needs before your own. While taking care of our loved ones provides a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, it also requires precious energy. In worse cases, it can even breed resentment - another huge source of energy drain.A famous person once said, "Only give from an overflowing cup." Try this on. What if your criteria for giving were based on how full your own cup was? In other words, you can only afford to give when you have an ample supply yourself.What does it take to ensure a full cup? A good place to start is to follow the suggestions from the above four examples. You'll begin accumulating a reserve of energy until you have plenty for yourself, as well as enough to give to others.It's YOUR life . . . live it completely!Helaine is a professional coach and writer, who has been featured in numerous publications, including "O" The Oprah Magazine. She helps entrepreneurs and professional women accelerate their professional success, while achieving a more complete and fulfilling personal life. She combines a broad range of professional experience in her work, including management positions in the education, training, retail and international non-profit sectors. For a free consultation, contact her at 603-357-8546 to discuss how she can help you accelerate your own success. You may also visit her website, http://www.pathofpurpose.com, for additional information, or email your questions to helaine@pathofpurpose.com.
Keyword : Helaine Iris, coaching, coach, life coach, life purpose, inspiration, motivation, motivational, bett
Along with time and money, energy is one of your most valuable resources. And if you're a professional woman, it's a resource that's most likely in short supply. With the myriad number of professional and personal tasks you need to accomplish, while taking care of your family, you have very little - if any - energy left over for you. It's easy to understand your dilemma.Energy is defined as "having the internal or inherent power or capacity to act, operate or produce an effect." Mental, physical and emotional energy is the fuel that drives your creativity, your thinking and your ability to take action. Energy drains limit your capacity to act and create. They also deplete the inspiration and motivation that is such a crucial part of a complete and balanced life.Here are the top 5 sources of energy drain I see most often in my clients' lives, as well as some suggestions for how to eliminate them.Energy Drain #1: Keeping Details In Your Head, Instead Of In A SystemYour brain, like a computer, only has so much RAM (random access memory). And RAM is mental energy. When you rely on yourself to remember your shopping list, your to-do list and your dentist appointment, it eats away at mental energy you could be using elsewhere to create a greater impact in your life.It's not that all those tasks aren't important, but what if you had the mental energy to complete that major report, write your book or create a more powerful business strategy?Think of each item you need to remember as an energy unit. How many energy units do you spend keeping details in your head? Find (or create) and begin using a system to track and remember things for you. Use it daily, and you'll free up more mental energy to accomplish higher leverage projects and tasks.Energy Drain #2: Making Assumptions and Taking Things PersonallyHumans are exceptionally good at creating meaning. With every occurrence in our lives or every statement someone makes, we're constantly asking: "what does that mean?" Sometimes meaning helps us to know where we stand, but much of the time the meaning we create is, frankly, an incorrect assumption. How many energy units go down the drain each time you second-guess the meaning of someone's words, actions or inactions?Think of the last time you spent an hour, a month, a year (or longer) having made the wrong assumption about an interaction with someone. How much energy did it cost you? The next time you find yourself making things up about someone's words or actions, ask them for clarity so you can deal with the truth, and move on.Energy Drain #3: Tolerating Friction In Your Environment and RelationshipsThe squeaky door. The leaky faucet. The tired paint color on your bedroom walls. By themselves, the energy drain is minor. Add them all up, however, and you have a gaping hole in your energy system. It's time to clean it all up. Make a list of all the things in your home, office or car that you continually notice needing attention. Set aside some time and tick them off your list once and for all.Likewise, when you tolerate a dysfunctional relationship or have unfinished business with anyone, you're losing energy. Confront the relationship issues you have. Clean up unfinished business. If necessary, get support from someone who can help you negotiate such confrontations skillfully and responsibly. Think of the energy it takes to avoid someone versus the energy you'd gain in the long run having the issue cleared up.Energy Drain #4: DisorganizationAccording to a USA Today report, Americans waste 9 million hours every day looking for misplaced items. Every time you can't find your keys, you waste energy. Each time you have to shuffle through a stack of papers to find an important document you waste energy. Each time you feel like you'd be embarrassed to have a friend drop by, you are depleting your energy account.The solution is simple. Get organized. Although it may seem a daunting task, what you'll gain in energy and satisfaction is well worth the initial investment. Julie Morgenstern, the organizational goddess, recommends handling it in small chunks. Start with one room at a time. You've got to start somewhere. It's well worth the effort for the feeling of peace and tranquility that an organized space offers.Energy Drain #5: Taking Care Of Yourself LastIt's been drilled into us. Meet everyone's needs before your own. While taking care of our loved ones provides a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, it also requires precious energy. In worse cases, it can even breed resentment - another huge source of energy drain.A famous person once said, "Only give from an overflowing cup." Try this on. What if your criteria for giving were based on how full your own cup was? In other words, you can only afford to give when you have an ample supply yourself.What does it take to ensure a full cup? A good place to start is to follow the suggestions from the above four examples. You'll begin accumulating a reserve of energy until you have plenty for yourself, as well as enough to give to others.It's YOUR life . . . live it completely!Helaine is a professional coach and writer, who has been featured in numerous publications, including "O" The Oprah Magazine. She helps entrepreneurs and professional women accelerate their professional success, while achieving a more complete and fulfilling personal life. She combines a broad range of professional experience in her work, including management positions in the education, training, retail and international non-profit sectors. For a free consultation, contact her at 603-357-8546 to discuss how she can help you accelerate your own success. You may also visit her website, http://www.pathofpurpose.com, for additional information, or email your questions to helaine@pathofpurpose.com.
Keyword : Helaine Iris, coaching, coach, life coach, life purpose, inspiration, motivation, motivational, bett
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