How To Be More.

"Are you really sure that a floor can't also be a ceiling?" ~ MC Escher.

Have you ever noticed how much we use mutually exclusive thinking?

How we convince ourselves it has to be either - Quality or Quantity. - This or That - Business or Pleasure? ~ What a load of codswallop. When we think we are reasoning we are often rationalizing.

Life isn't Yin OR Yang. It's Yin AND Yang. Polar opposites are not mutually exclusive. We simply choose to make them so - because it's easier and we are lazy.  We can do more and be better. We can have Quantity and Quality. Work and Play. Focus and Feelings. We can be Fire and Ice. Disciplined and Creative. ~ Warriors in love with peace.

There are no right and wrong ways to do, and see, things - just ways.

Isn't it all perspective?

Once we choose not to rationalize away one thing for another and think of solutions and inclusions rather than separations and exclusions...

We Can ~ Do More And Be More.

Circle of Inspiration.

"Then let us all do what is right, strive with all our might toward the unattainable, develop as fully as we can the gifts God has given us, and never stop learning." ~ Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Who inspires you? What is it about them that prompts you to reach deeper, do more, and be more? I humbly submit they show us with their will, works, and words what can be done. They challenge us.

Think about this for a moment. You're going to die ~ Before that happens... Go ahead and challenge yourself like those who have inspired you challenged themselves. Complete the circle of inspiration.

Inspire Someone.

Chi Mai.

"Who ever."

A famous samurai asked Master Hakuin: ~ What happens to the enlightened man at death and... What happens to the unenlightened man? - The Zen master replied to the young man:  - "Why ask me?"

Because you are a Zen master!

Yes said Hakuin ~  "But not a dead one."

Shadows.

"Past accomplishments are the refuge of the weak." 
~ Winston Churchill.

All of our lives are filled with shadows.  Memories of what we've done. Memories are like silhouettes cast upon the wall of our past. I look back at my silhouette, as it changes, and need to remember that...

Past accomplishments are the refuge of the weak.

Remember ~ Cast A New Shadow TODAY

Your Image.

The person you're destined to become is the person you decide to be." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.

You see ~ You're really an enigma. A mystery behind an image. Others may have a view, an opinion, of who we are, and what we are capable of ~ But no one really knows what's beneath the image.

You alone know what's below the surface.

A Simple Tip.

Remember ~ Life Is Short.

Are You Impressive?

'If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.' ~ Albert Einstein.

What's really impressive to us? ~ Character ~ Intellect ~ Talent ~ Tenacity ~ Ability ~ Or something else? Have you ever noticed how many people seem to believe that the more convoluted, complex, and mysterious they make something appear the more impressive they are because they understand it? How the inference is that the more moving parts, or interests, a problem has the more difficult it is to explain?

In sales, and business, the rush to impress is overwhelming and the urge to gussy up credentials, experience, insight and knowledge with complication that only the 'smart' get ~ makes us look smart right?

Wrong!

A great presentation, value proposition, or any explanation of our views, and beliefs, should be able to pass a very simple litmus test ~ If you can't explain it to a six year old you don't understand it yourself.

If you can explain it to a six year old ~ Now that's impressive.

Soliloquy & Symphony.

"Life is but thought."  ~ Sara Teasdale.

Our lives dance between self serving soliloquies and shining shared symphonies. Between introspection and action. Anger and Love. Cynicism and Courage. Yin and Yang. So what's the bottom line?

Is life merely ~ "A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" ~ Or is it really a wonderful symphony ~ An "Ode To Joy?"

Maybe It's Both.

'A' Players.

"I recognized the responsibility that, whether I liked it or not, I had to accept whatever the obligation was. That was to behave in a manner, to carry myself in such a professional way, as if there ever is a reflection, it's a positive one." ~ Sidney Poitier.

There's always a lot of talk in business about "A" players. Who are they? What do they do that makes them different or better. Is the 'A' type personality, the alpha, driven, assertive, achiever, their profile? Can't  'A' players also be introverts? ~ Of course, and many are.

  











So what's the real difference between an A and a B player?

A players are Accountable ~ B players Blame.

Advice.

"Wear Sunscreen." ~ Baz Luhrman.

Life.

"Life is a state of mind". ~ Being There.

There are so many experts, gurus, advisers and consultants in this world. So many well meaning men and women, with the best intentions, convinced that their insights will help wayward souls find answers. In business, life, religion and relationships, throughout history and to this day, they sell opinion and advice. What do they all say?

What have they always said?

Life Is A State Of Mind.

No Limits.

"The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win." ~ Roger Bannister.

On May 6th 1954 a man made the world recognize that the only limits we have are those we place on ourselves. Roger Bannister broke the four minute mile. Scientists said it couldn't be done - the body could not withstand, or accomplish, such a feat. It was both physically and mentally impossible they said. He proved them all wrong. Two months later Roger pushed John Landy to do it with him in the same race.

Soon hundreds of runners accomplished the feat and now high school children are surpassing the number that throughout the course of human history - for hundreds of years - was thought impossible.

Sir Roger Bannister - No Limits.



Then... If you want to see a shining example of great competition, respect, and pure class watch the 'Miracle Mile' race between Roger and John Landy below and pay particular attention to the comments the two men made after the race was won. ~ It's simply perfect.

The Right Path.

"Adversity is the first path to truth." ~ Lord Byron.

There are so many books written about it ~ "The Right Path."  You could fill stadiums with all the volumes, words and insights. Everyone has an opinion and advice on the best and right way to... The path to success, money, happiness and... whatever. You know what I think?

We already know what to do ~ We've just got to do it.  When it's wrong. ~ We know. ~ When we do less than we can ~ We know.

When we get off the path ~ we know.

So let's not kid ourselves ~ We Know What The Right Path Is.

Make 'em Smile.

Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it. 

The young salesman walked into his mentors office and asked 
"Can you give me one really good sales rule?"

The old man thought for a moment and then said to his protege.  

"Just make 'em smile".

And if you really want to have fun...

Make Them Applaud.

Take Action.

"Action cures fear." ~ Douglas Horton.

We do it all the time. Convince ourselves ... In the windmills of our mind we believe we are reasoning when in fact we are rationalizing.

Rationalizing why we should wait. We say to ourselves ~ "I just need more information. It's not the right time. I need to be more prepared and more informed." When the reality is - We just need to Take Action.

In Life and Business ~ There are only Results and Reasons.

Don't Give Reasons ~ Get Results ~ Take Action.

Overcoming Fear.

"You can act like a man." ~ The Godfather.

Many years ago, while in the military, I took a battery of pyschological tests designed to uncover fears.  The premise being - find out what you fear the most - face up to it - Overcome it. I'm not sure the overcome it part worked but the find out part was enlightening. ~ In order to grow we need to decide what we are going to do about our fears ~ Period.

So what are the most common fears? 
According to a Google search they are:

1. Flying
2. Public Speaking
3. Heights
4. The Dark
5. Intimacy
6. Death
7. Failure
8. Rejection
9. Spiders
10. Commitment

Look at the list and think about it a little bit. How many on the list are necessary to overcome in your chosen field in order to be successful?

I imagine more than a few. ~ Life, Business and Relationships all seem to say to each of us ~ Identify, Face, and Overcome our fears or...