Two days ago, a deadly tornado ripped through the state of Mississippi, leaving massive damage and killing 10 people. The conditions are so bad, the governor of the state declared a state of emergency. Our thoughts and prayers should be those who have suffered because of this awful event.
Why am I mentioning the Mississippi in my blog, especially since most of you already heard about it on the news? I'm writing about it because when we sit down and really think about, most of our troubles pale in comparison to the woes of others. Does this mean we should never complain? Of course not, but what it does mean is that we should put the issues that we gripe about in perspective. No matter what you or I are going through, there are millions, and I do mean millions, of people elsewhere who would love to trade places with us.
One tornado victim I saw interviewed said, "I lost everything. Everything I had. It's all gone." Think about that the next time you feel your situation or your life is so bad.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
What Are You Giving?
Any great relationship, whether romantic, friends, or associates, should be about giving as much as it is about taking. Too often,we forget that other people close to us have just as many needs, desires, and troubles as we do. Yet we can chew their ears off with talk about ourselves without so much as asking them about things that are truly important to them. And then, actually listening to what they have to say and responding with genuine interest and concern.
Next time you make call, send a message, or extend an invitation to someone special in your life, ask yourself this question: What benefit is he or she going to get out of this?
Next time you make call, send a message, or extend an invitation to someone special in your life, ask yourself this question: What benefit is he or she going to get out of this?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
NO EXCUSES
As much as I can't believe it's been nearly three months since I last posted on my blog, it has been. So I won't attempt to offer any excuses. Sure, I've been busy with a lot of stuff and putting out the little fires that will flare up in life, but so have most other people. The bottom line is, I didn't post.
Though I will not make any excuses for myself, I will apologize to my readers for not having regular entries for them to read. I don't ever want to let you down, again.
I can tell you that my writing is going in a different direction as it generates a direct impact on my career goals. With that said, my Forward Thinking blog will remain but the entries will be much shorter and focus more on inspirational and motivational thoughts, quotes, and ideas. My hope is that you enjoy what you read and the words move you to think more, do more, and be more.
Though I will not make any excuses for myself, I will apologize to my readers for not having regular entries for them to read. I don't ever want to let you down, again.
I can tell you that my writing is going in a different direction as it generates a direct impact on my career goals. With that said, my Forward Thinking blog will remain but the entries will be much shorter and focus more on inspirational and motivational thoughts, quotes, and ideas. My hope is that you enjoy what you read and the words move you to think more, do more, and be more.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING?
Be it your profession, your aspiration, or your obligation, think about what you are offering to others. What we can give to others isn't always something tangible. It can be support, love, encourgement, advice, and more.
I love quotes and often I read a quote from the signature of someone's email or something they post on Twitter. No matter from whom I get it, no matter who originated it, that quote can make the difference in how I set the tone for the day or go about taking care of an important issue. Or, the quote may just simply put a smile on my face. But all those reactions are good things.
Yes, we all have hardships to bear. Yes, we get bombarded with bad news. Yes, times are hard. Yet, there is so much to be thankful for, especially in a country that offers so much opportunity. With that in mind, make the effort to share something good with people you know and even people you don't know. Even if you never get a thank you. Take joy in sharing what you have to offer.. Don't just think about what you don't have or what you didn't get. The true gift is in the giving.
Though you may not even seek it, the more you give to others, the more the universe will give you.
I love quotes and often I read a quote from the signature of someone's email or something they post on Twitter. No matter from whom I get it, no matter who originated it, that quote can make the difference in how I set the tone for the day or go about taking care of an important issue. Or, the quote may just simply put a smile on my face. But all those reactions are good things.
Yes, we all have hardships to bear. Yes, we get bombarded with bad news. Yes, times are hard. Yet, there is so much to be thankful for, especially in a country that offers so much opportunity. With that in mind, make the effort to share something good with people you know and even people you don't know. Even if you never get a thank you. Take joy in sharing what you have to offer.. Don't just think about what you don't have or what you didn't get. The true gift is in the giving.
Though you may not even seek it, the more you give to others, the more the universe will give you.
WISHING DOESN'T MAKE IT SO
No matter how good your intentions, how much you study and focus, and not matter how much you visualize a goal and/or a promise to yourself, it will never come to be without you taking appropriate action. Did you notice how I didn't just say to take action. I wrote that you must take appropriate action to reach your desired destination.
Since I was a little boy, I always wanted to play the guitar, and I still do. I even had lessons when I was about 10 -- the guitar case was bigger than I was. I talked my mother into letting me stop my guitar lessons and it was right when I was learning chords. I can't remember what reasons I gave her, but the truth was that I was just tired of going. I think my teacher may have also told her I needed to come twice a week instead of once a week.
I'm all grown up, now, and I have a folk guitar and an electric one -- I gave the one I took lessons with to my younger brother, who, by the way, is a professional musician -- and their safely stored away in their cases waiting for me to pull them out and pluck out some of the simple, single-note songs I learned to play as a child. And that will be all I'll ever be able to play ... unless I take the appropriate action to learn more.
I still fantasize about playing the strings like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Prince, and Glen Campbell, and that will always be just a fantasy. However, I can learn to play chords. I can learn to play songs. I can learn to play well enough to say I am a guitar player. But that won't happen if I don't take the proper action with guitar in hand and keep working at it until I make it happen.
Whatever it is you want to do or be, always be mindful that you will need to do something to make it so.
Since I was a little boy, I always wanted to play the guitar, and I still do. I even had lessons when I was about 10 -- the guitar case was bigger than I was. I talked my mother into letting me stop my guitar lessons and it was right when I was learning chords. I can't remember what reasons I gave her, but the truth was that I was just tired of going. I think my teacher may have also told her I needed to come twice a week instead of once a week.
I'm all grown up, now, and I have a folk guitar and an electric one -- I gave the one I took lessons with to my younger brother, who, by the way, is a professional musician -- and their safely stored away in their cases waiting for me to pull them out and pluck out some of the simple, single-note songs I learned to play as a child. And that will be all I'll ever be able to play ... unless I take the appropriate action to learn more.
I still fantasize about playing the strings like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Prince, and Glen Campbell, and that will always be just a fantasy. However, I can learn to play chords. I can learn to play songs. I can learn to play well enough to say I am a guitar player. But that won't happen if I don't take the proper action with guitar in hand and keep working at it until I make it happen.
Whatever it is you want to do or be, always be mindful that you will need to do something to make it so.
Monday, January 11, 2010
30 SECONDS
When you introduce yourself to someone, what do you typically say? I'm sure you might give your first and last name, tell what company you work for, and what your job title is. That's fine for a perfunctory intro, but what will that leave the person you're metting with? Not much. At least not much to remember.
Now, consider telling someone you're meeting for the first time who you are and what you are about. Consider telling this person what your purpose for being on this earth is. You can do it, and I suggest you learn to do it in 30 seconds. That's only one half of a single minute, good people, but that's all the time you need to make a lasting impression.
I got this idea from an iLearning Global speaker and will practice it. Check out the difference between these introductions:
1. My name is Michael Howard and I am an English professor who teaches online, as well as in the classroom. I enjoy teaching, learning, and communicating. Sharing what I know give me a good feeling.
2. My name is Michael Howard and I am a communications expert. My mission is to help others discover and use the best resources and methods to enable them to have their messages fully understood and acted upon.
From the very start of introduction No. 2, you get a sense that the speaker is a person of power and confidence. When you add the fact that the person is on a mission, you create even more of a presence.
If you want to be overlooked or forgotten, be passive. If you want to stand out (in a positive way) be powerful ... and learn to tell what you're all about in 30 seconds or less.
Now, consider telling someone you're meeting for the first time who you are and what you are about. Consider telling this person what your purpose for being on this earth is. You can do it, and I suggest you learn to do it in 30 seconds. That's only one half of a single minute, good people, but that's all the time you need to make a lasting impression.
I got this idea from an iLearning Global speaker and will practice it. Check out the difference between these introductions:
1. My name is Michael Howard and I am an English professor who teaches online, as well as in the classroom. I enjoy teaching, learning, and communicating. Sharing what I know give me a good feeling.
2. My name is Michael Howard and I am a communications expert. My mission is to help others discover and use the best resources and methods to enable them to have their messages fully understood and acted upon.
From the very start of introduction No. 2, you get a sense that the speaker is a person of power and confidence. When you add the fact that the person is on a mission, you create even more of a presence.
If you want to be overlooked or forgotten, be passive. If you want to stand out (in a positive way) be powerful ... and learn to tell what you're all about in 30 seconds or less.
HOW IS YOU NEW YEAR GOING?
This is one of the few New Years where I can't remember one of my friends or family members talk about resolutions they want accomplish before 2011. I have no problem with that because I didn't make any resolutions, either. However, I did make several promises to myself, as I try to do on a daily basis.
In an iLG program, I heard billionaire Bill Bartman say something that I wholeheartedly agree with. When we set "goals" and come up with things like resolutions, we tend to put undo pressure on ourselves, thus, setting ourselves up for failure. He suggested, instead, that we make "promises" to ourselves. A promise to yourself is taken much more seriously because even the word promise holds a very personal meaning to us and our commitment to do something.
Make some promises to yourself for this year. Write them down and read them out loud, daily. Feed your subconscious with these thoughts and visualize your promises already coming about. Do this, and take action toward these promises and you will be amazed at the results.
In an iLG program, I heard billionaire Bill Bartman say something that I wholeheartedly agree with. When we set "goals" and come up with things like resolutions, we tend to put undo pressure on ourselves, thus, setting ourselves up for failure. He suggested, instead, that we make "promises" to ourselves. A promise to yourself is taken much more seriously because even the word promise holds a very personal meaning to us and our commitment to do something.
Make some promises to yourself for this year. Write them down and read them out loud, daily. Feed your subconscious with these thoughts and visualize your promises already coming about. Do this, and take action toward these promises and you will be amazed at the results.
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