May/090
Your Secret Power… May Even Be Secret To You
Is it possible…
…that no matter how hard you work…
…no matter how many years go by…
… that your parents still never tell you that they’re proud of you?
How are you feeling now? Happy? Sad? Tired? Unappreciated? Unfulfilled?
The truth is, we all like to feel recognized and fulfilled for what we do.
Don’t you?
Your employees, your work-related children, need the same “good job” and “thank you” from you…
…even if they won’t admit it.
From a young age, we have a need in our hearts to feel appreciated, to contribute, and to feel a sense of accomplishment.
You possess the power to fulfill this need in your team members. You possess a power, that if used and practiced properly, can lead you to becoming the best leader they have ever known.
To illustrate this power to you, I’ve created a concept.
This concept is called “The Moment of Impact”.
Let me explain…
Imagine you’re in line at the gas station… the person in front of you turns to speak to you…
They either compliment you… or they tell you you’re being obnoxious and to get the heck out of their personal space…
…in one single moment… that person has the power to change your whole day… for better… or for worse.
That one single moment… that one second of instance… is the moment of impact.
Have you ever been cut off in traffic? What did that do to your mood the rest of the day?
It’s like a small pebble that can ripple out into an eternal lifetime… for better… or for worse.
Imagine you were cut off in traffic. You get home, obviously ticked off, your little girl then comes up to you, with a drink in her hand, begging to sit on your lap.
As she’s trying to get up, the glass tips, sending Kool Aid all over you. You’re are already mad from the moron that cut you off, so you blow up at your daughter. Your wife (or husband) then comes in and decides that they have had enough of your attitude and the way you yell at your daughter. Next thing you know, you are in a two week argument.
The driver that cut you off threw a pebble in your pond that rippled through the rest of your life.
Extreme I know…but…
Know that one small moment of impact, over the lifetime of a person… could be the difference between a happy and successful life… or a dark, dismal existence.
Now think back on your own life… were there not moments you remember in your childhood, high school, or career?
Did you not have your own “Moments of Impact”?
Think about the effects. Think about the power those moments have over your life.
Imagine that power…
Now realize, understand, that you create those moments of impact in the lives of your employees.
You harness the power to impact thousands of moments in the life of your team members… after all… who sees them more than you? Not their family, not their children, not their spouse… you!
You harness power that will ripple through lifetimes… for better… or for worse.
Imagine you recognize someone…
They are positively effected… they’re happy… they positively effect everyone they come in contact with… they’re happier at home… their children grow up to be great… their children’s children grow up to be great.
Now imagine you don’t recognize them…
They leave work unappreciated, unfulfilled, dismal… they pull out a negative pebble that tears and ripples through everyone they come in contact with…
Your team members need you to positively impact them in their moments of impact… they need someone that will recognize them… recognize them for who they are and who they hope to become… openly… honestly… proudly.
Make a positive difference,
Josh Long
Dec/080
How to set New Year’s resolutions that will stick
This is just a little side note as we go into the new year.
Every year, people that I love set out to make the next year better than the last, but few of those resolutions ever come to fruition.
Crash diets, new financial goals, relationship changes and image changes are just a few of the things we will try to accomplish this year.
But why do some people achieve these feats while the majority of us fall by the wayside within weeks?
Here are a few ideas
1. It takes 30 days to make something a habit.
According to Tony Schwartz, author of “The Power of Full Engagement”, the best way to form a habit is to develop a ritual.
Once you have practiced the ritual for 30 days it will become a habit and have a greater chance of becoming a subconscious action (or one you won’t have to think about).
2. Make resolutions with your subconscious mind.
Breathing and walking are something we do naturally and without thinking about it.
They have become functions of our subconscious mind over the years.
Doctors now say that our conscious mind is only about 5% of the full power of our brain and it is not reliable for “in the moment” decisions.
On the other hand, our subconscious mind is 95% of the power of our brain and it has an uncanny power to put us on autopilot.
Deciding whether or not to eat a cupcake, in your conscious mind, is a sure-fire way to lose.
But if you decide that you want to change your lifestyle for good, and you build rituals that will change your life, your subconscious will prevail.
3. My personal experience of having a new ritual.
Back in May I married the woman of my dreams. I mean it, my wife is an angel.
With happiness came a few friends called, “L-B’s” or pounds.
After reading Tony’s book, I decided to try out this whole ritual thing.
At 6am, I woke up and started studying for an hour and a half (one of my goals was to practice getting wealthy).
I then did a short workout, had a healthy meal, and then jumped in the shower. (If you eat well in the first meal of the day, it sets the tone. I know it’s weird, but it works)
While at work I focused my attention in hour and a half blocks of time and ate small meals in between.
To make a long story short, I promised myself I would try this for 30 days.
In 6 weeks, I lost 18 lbs and I am getting triple the work done.
I say that to say this, get Tony’s book and start your own personal rituals!
I want the best for you and I would hate to see more of my friends fall victim to the dreaded resolution:)
I hope this year will be your best yet.
With Some New Year’s Love…
... your program boosts morale, not only for the person getting the actual recognition, but also for the rest of the employees because they see that the company values their contribution."
- Louie Muniz
FedEx Home Delivery #3327
...this incentive program is the most efficient and user friendly I have ever used and for the first time in 30 years I have kept our employee of the month recognition up to date, every month without fail for the last year. Keep sending the fax as a reminder this has truly been helpful."
-Steve Wessman
Chevys Fresh Mex
-Scott Stegall
Chili's Grill & Bar
-Virginia Trentacosta
Century 21 Properties Plus
-Norman Spiesky
Corner Bakery Cafe
-Becky Ketelaar Olive Garden
