One of the most foolish things we can do on our respective journey through this “life” thing is to fool ourselves into thinking that we can please all of the people all of the time.  I even believe it’s foolish to think we can please all of the people even some of the time.

As a public speaker I’ve been privileged to witness and experience this phenomenon first hand.  When I first started speaking I used to request my audiences to fill out a short, one page survey after each event to let me know their opinions on what worked and what didn’t work. 

After collecting and reviewing hundreds and hundreds of these surveys, one day I came across my “Dream Survey” which reflected what I wanted people to say about my content and delivery.  It was from a student who was soooo impressed with the content and delivery of the presentation that she took the liberty to right even more uplifting and encouraging comments on the backside of the page. 

After reviewing several more surveys that were collected from previous events I also ran across one that was the complete opposite of my “Dream Survey.”  It was from a teacher who was soooo disappointed with my presentation that he took the liberty to right even more attacking comments on the backside of the page.  Out of all the surveys I’ve ever collected to date 98% of them are all positive and .5% or negative and 1.5% are indifferent.

The most surprising thing I noticed about these two surveys was not that they were sooooo drastically different, but the fact that they were both from the exact same event.  So, I had to ask myself the question, “were these two people at the same event?”   Hmmmm…   I must admit that I was a little quietly concerned about this finding but I quickly realized the lucrative lesson in it all.  So as a result, I decided to frame them both and mount them on my shelf in my office.  Today they now both serve as a constant reminder that “no matter what I do, I can’t please them all.”

So it’s for this reason that I remind you today that in your day-to-day pursuit of happiness, no matter what you do or say, or how good you are and try to be, you can never, ever, ever, ever please them all and to think you can is two kinds of crazy and three kinds of foolish.  This is just another one of life’s little guarantees. 

Don’t be discouraged but be encouraged today on your journey in spite of the would-be dream crushers around you and make it GREAT!

The Book:    “Make it GREAT”
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

It never ceases to amaze me to see how many people stumble through life neglecting or completely ignoring the development of the number one most important skill this side of the universe.

This skill is without a doubt the key ingredient to any recipe for success.  It’s the salsa that makes the chips of life taste so much better and it’s the single most important factor in the formula for accomplishing your biggest goals and dreams.

The most influential leaders of all time have mastered this skill and leveraged it for good and not-so-good means down through the years.  Philosophers and intellectuals the world over have hailed this skill as being the undisputed difference-maker that separates and distinguishes humans from any other species on the planet.

So what exactly is this overlooked, underused, juggernaut skill-set you ask?  Well it’s quite simply the skill and the ability to Communicate.  Yes my friends communication is the fuel that makes the world go round.  Growing this skill to its full potential is definitely worthy of our best of efforts but “most people” have resigned themselves to give it no effort at all.  Mastering this skill is not an overnight process but the ongoing process of mastering it can yield HUGE dividends in more ways than one. 

So I say to you on this Magnificent Monday, master this skill and watch all of your biggest goals and dreams come true.  Let’s all go out there and communicate our way to GREATNESS and make it GREAT!

Pre-Order the book TODAY: 
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

Ever feel like you’re one unexpected bad incident away from going “postal” or one idiot away from embracing the infamous act of homicide?  Well when the fire of these moments breech the doorway of your life, I invite you to stop, drop and roll into the following technique.  Just close your eye’s, take a deep breath and let it out slowly as you remind yourself that these moments happen to all of us.   And, the moment that you believe these moments can’t happen to you is the time that you are most vulnerable.   It’s in times like these that our ability to maintain our cool-head under fire is most important. 

Self-sacrifice to keep the peace should be commonplace in our lives and one of the easiest ways to demonstrate it is by regularly biting our tongue.  Sure it may be a bit uncomfortable or even hurt a bit at times, but I’ve found that the temporary pain can result in a HUGE gain later on down the road.

Simply put, we should make a point to “be nice” to people who’re rude, obnoxious or plain’ole idiots because we may end up being the first and only positive role model and example they’ve ever seen in person.  We should refuse to give them a reason and opportunity to pour out more negativity into the world around them.  So let’s continue to be the exception in this world as we again attempt to subdue the day and make it GREAT!

Pre-Order the book TODAY:
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

An idiot is soon to part with his front teeth and a fool is quick to part with his money, but a wise man gives freely of his knowledge and wisdom to those who would lend an ear.

For those of you who may be in need of a quick bite to eat, I invite you to consume my little food-for-thought on this Magnificent Monday. 

It behooves us not to be so quick to let our “rage” rule the intense moments of our lives.  Don’t be so easily tricked into letting your big green hulk make your decisions and choices in those extreme moments of frustration and anger.  Don’t allow yourself to be fooled and duped into thinking and believing that just because you can yell louder means your position and opinion is the right one. 

Life holds few guarantees and one of them is, if you allow “rage” to lead and rule your life it will ruin your life and eventually everything in it.  Second hand observation has shown me that uncontrolled, chronic rage will ultimately land you in a 6-by-9 cell or 6 feet under in hell. 

So I say to you today that it’s in our own best interest to make an agreement with our inner hulk in advance that in those intense moments where we see and feel rage and anger trying to subtly creep into our lives we will pull the ripcord and employ our prearranged exit or diffusion strategy to prevent saying or doing something we may later regret.  After all, the greatest generals aren’t the ones who have won battles and wars, they’re the ones who have been able to avoid the battles and wars. 

Know anyone in need of this message today?  Hmmmm…
Just a little food-for-thought.  Eat up and enjoy. 
Let’s all make it GREAT!!!

Pre-Order the Book TODAY:  “Make it GREAT”
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

Motivation – Inspiration – Education -Transformation