Cavatina.

"A simple song."

The old man looked up and smiled. We don't need advice he said. What we really need are reminders. Reminders of value and values.

Nothing anyone tells us is actually new. It's just a different coat of paint on a theme that has been gussied up a bit to meet the temperament, time, and technology of today. We should listen to other peoples perspectives and insights but really it all comes down to one thing...

Life's a... Simple Song ~ A Cavatina.

How we play it is up to us.

The Olympic Spirit.

Never, Ever, Give Up. ~ Winston Churchill.

You have the courage of three great nations coursing through your veins I said to my young daughter. England, Japan and America.

These are three countries with an indomitable spirit. But we are not alone in having this spirit. Every four years we get to see this beautiful spirit displayed by great athletes from every country in the world.

It's not only the Olympic spirit. ~ It's the human spirit within us to..

Never, Ever, Give Up.

Survival.

"And I'll reveal my strength to the whole human race."
Muse ~ Survival.

Race, life's a race
And I am gonna win
Yes, I am gonna win

Are You Mad?

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” ~ Albert Einstein.

This is one of the most frequently used quotes on change, individual development and success in business, or indeed in life itself. So much so that the quote has become the mantra of virtually every teacher, coach and leader on the planet. But how do we execute on this?
How do we think differently? After all...Habits, and particularly thought patterns, are ingrained. They are familiar and a source of real comfort.

We have to get MAD.

Mad enough to change our Mindset, Actions and Decisions.

If you think the secret is quality - increase your quantity ~ and vice versa. If you think it's all about strong relationships, increase your transactions. If you believe it's all about thinking take more actions.
If you think it's all about doing more, do less. Whoa... That's mad.
Maybe I'm going off the deep end a bit there... But then again...

Take what you believe got you where you are today and ...

Get mad enough to change your... Mindset ~ Actions ~ Decisions.

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Subliminal Stimuli.

"Todays subliminal thought is:"

Does subliminal messaging work or is it all hocus pocus?
Well it depends on who you ask ~ and more importantly how attached they are to the answer.  As the words to a very popular song say...
"A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest."

The majority of current scientific research indicates that subliminal messaging simply reinforces actions or behaviors that were already present in the subjects mind. ~ It merely reminds us of stuff.

Now that is not to say this messaging isn't an effective prompt. Subliminal Stimuli (wikipedia) can be looked at much like product placement. But what does that mean? Think about this ~ Why do some people keep going through obstacles and adversity when others give up or take an easier path? What's happening in their mind?

Simple... Some say to themselves... "Strive" ~ Some Say... "Settle".

If there is any merit to subliminal messaging it is really about what we are putting into our own mind. ~ Not what others are putting in there.

"Strive or Settle?"

One Simple Idea.

To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic.  It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage and kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives.  If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something.  If we remember those times and places - and there are so many - where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction." ~ Howard Zinn.

So here's the thing. We watch, read, and hear the news. Both the good stuff and bad ~ (It seems like much of what they like to show us is bad and the good stuff comes in second.) So what are we supposed to do?

Our lives keep spinning like a top - We start fast, slow, and then stop.

Maybe we really just need ~ One Simple Idea.

Perhaps... We are supposed to make our life the good news...

Before the top stops.

Mind Heist.

"A players are Accountable ~ B players Blame."

Do you have control of your mind  ~ Can you keep it on track ~ Towards a result? Or does it slip off the rails and focus on reasons?

Are you the victim of a ... Mind Heist?

Keep staring at the black dot. After a while the gray haze around it will appear to shrink. The black dot is a result, the gray is our reasons.

A mind heist happens because we let it. We left the door open. It's all our fault. We start to blame and look outside of ourselves for reasons things don't turn out the way we want. ~ We get distracted and weak.
You want to know the difference between an A player and a B player?

A players are Accountable ~ B players Blame.  ~ Focus on your dot.

Don't be weak ~ Keep Your Mind On Track.




Birth Of An Idea.

Bad Day.

"So you've had a bad day" ~ Daniel Powter.

You've done what you could. They asked your opinion and you gave it - as honestly as you could.  You've given it your very best. Been loyal, conscientious and cared more than others think is wise. But those you have been loyal to haven't been loyal. Those you wanted to keep going ~ Well they gave up. Those you asked to do the hardest things ~ Took an easier path. ~ You're dissapointed, dejected, and downtrodden. 

You've had a bad day.

One day the people you've influenced will look back on it all ~ They will write to you and say " Thanks ~ I didn't understand it all then but I appreciate it now." Once they are away from the arena. But today they say something else. Something that's not so kind and understanding.

What can you do?  ~ Just think of your family and... smile.

The Worst Advice.

"Good advice is often annoying. Bad advice never is."

Work smarter not harder.
How about work smarter AND harder. 

Do what you love.
Why not love what you do?

Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Unless it's mean.

Sales is ALL about relationships.
Not all - some people just want to buy stuff.

Take it easy.
Perhaps that's what got you in trouble in the first place.

There's plenty of time for that later.
Maybe not.

The best things in life are free.
Smiles and sunsets yes - but not all the best things.

Take a look in the mirror.
Great advice - unless you're a narcissist.

You are unique and special.
Yes - and so is everyone else.

Listen.
Maybe... except to bad advice.

Be yourself.
For some people that's the very worst advice.


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Perfection.

"Do not pray for an easy life. Pray to be a strong person."  
Nadia Comaneci. 

They say that perfection is impossible. That perfectionism is an undesirable trait. Yes we should strive for excellence they say.
But perfection? - A Perfect 10 ? ~ There's no such thing ~ They say.

Then Nadia Comaneci proved them wrong.

In the 1976 Olympics Nadia scored the first perfect 10 in history.

No one had thought a perfect score of ten was possible. The scoreboards at the venue were not even able to display a perfect score of ten ~ so they used the number one instead. For a few moments the crowd was confused but soon they figured it out and the arena erupted.

The look on Nadia's teammates faces as she completes her routine says it all.  Respect, amazement and admiration - It's inspiring.
The world stood in awe and applauded. It was very much like when Roger Bannister broke the first 4 minute mile ~ Nadia Comaneci, and every other athlete who thirsts to achieve perfection, shows us that...

The spirit of striving is... Perfection.

The Test.

"Action cures fear." ~ Douglas Horton.

Have you ever taken a test? Of course you have. At school or work. For physical, mental, occupational, or just so others can find out what you're all about. People of all sorts love to view test results and make determinations of how good we are. What the chances are we will be successful at this or that. We like to say that if a person answers, thinks, scores, or responds in a certain way then we can predict...

Interesting.

But here's the thing. When they've studied notorious serial killers across the ages do you know what the common response was when they were asked ~ Why did you do it? ~ Most of them answered...

"Because I liked it."

Winston Churchill told the story of the time he took a Latin test, at the English college Harrow, and turned in a paper with his name, the number 1 (indicating the first question) and an inkblot smudge - nothing more. He didn't like Latin and didn't do it. From this the distinguished teacher concluded that Churchill would amount to absolutely nothing.

Tests are great fun for scholars and thinkers but...

The Results Of Our Actions.

That's The Real Test.

Be.

"I believe you can be..."

The little girl turned to her father and asked "What do you think Dad?"  He smiled and said ~ The most important thing isn't what I think...

It's what YOU think ~ What You Believe.

The only thing you need to know about what I think is...
I believe you can be  ~  Whatever You Want To Be.

Light A Candle.

"Better to light a candle than curse the darkness." ~ Chinese proverb.

There's an old saying ~ "If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's we would grab ours back". ~ Why not light a candle?