The person you become

"Before a person can achieve the kind of life he wants, he must think, act, walk, talk and conduct himself in all of his affairs as would the person he wishes to become."

-- Zig Ziglar, Author

Successful people

“All successful people are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work everyday toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose.”

-Brian Tracy

Success

"Success is waking up in the morning and bounding out of bed because there's something out there that you love to do, that you believe in, that you're good at - something that's bigger than you are, and you can hardly wait to get at it again."

-- Whit Hobbs

Seven Basic Principles

Seven Basic Principles

Relationships can be extremely complicated, but to build and maintain quality relationships requires only a few basic principles. Let me give you seven.

Trust

The first is the principle of trust. All relationships are ultimately based on trust. To build trust, you always keep your word. You remain consistent and dependable in everything you say and do. You become the kind of person who is utterly reliable in every situation. You never do or say anything that can shake this fundamental foundation of trust upon which your relationships are built.

Respect

The second principle is respect. Taking time to deliberately express your respect for the uniqueness of an individual makes him or her feel very valuable and important. By demonstrating that kind of respect, you build and enhance the quality of your relationship.

Communication

The third principle for success in relationships is communication. In communicating well with another person, time is the critical factor. The value of a relationship can increase for both you and the other person depending on the amount of time that you invest. When you take the time to focus on the important issues of a relationship, you open the channels of communication. And when you listen attentively, calmly, quietly, and with total attention, you demonstrate the respect you have for the other person, and you deepen the level of trust between you.

Courtesy

The fourth principle is courtesy. When you say “please” and “thank you” on a regular basis to the people in your life, you make them feel better about themselves and about what they are doing. You raise their self-esteem. And alas, it is often with the people we care about most that we are the least courteous and polite. Emmet Fox once wrote, “If you must be rude, be rude to strangers. But save your company manners for your family.”

Caring

The fifth principle is caring. The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance. The kindest thing you can do is to refrain from criticizing, condemning or complaining to them or about them. Think of yourself as a people-builder rather than a people-basher. Catch them doing something right. Always look for ways to make people feel more valuable, more respected, and more loved. The three most powerful words in any relationship are the words, “I love you.” Repeat them as often as possible and in as many different ways as possible to the most important people in your life.

Praise and Appreciation

The sixth principle is a combination of praise and appreciation for everything that others do for you, both large and small. When you express your appreciation to another person for something they do for you, they feel better about themselves, and they want to do more of it. And there is a kickback effect that causes your own self-esteem to go up, exactly as if you yourself had been praised.

Helpfulness

The seventh principle for success in relationships is simply helpfulness, especially with those people with whom you live. Your constant willingness to step in and do little things to alleviate the burdens felt by your spouse and children is always appreciated and respected. This willingness to share, to contribute, to help each other is an important facet of lasting relationships.

Perhaps the most important thing you ever do in life is build and maintain long-term, happy, healthy, fulfilling relationships with other people you love and who love you. When you make everything else secondary to this central purpose, you will find yourself enjoying happiness and rewards in exponential proportion to the efforts you put in.

Leadershipm

Leaders get out front and stay there by raising the standards by which they judge themselves - and by which they are willing to be judged."

-- Frederick Smith, Federal Express founder

Advertising

"The more informative your advertising, the more persuasive it will be."

-- David Ogilvy, Advertising Executive

Master yourself

“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still”~ Lao Tzu

Creativity

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties. -Erich Fromm

Early to bed

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. - Benjamin Franklin

Building and Maintaining Relationships

“Life is about relationships rather than products, places or things.

When it comes to relationships it is communication, communication and communication.

The quality of your communications will have a direct affect on the quality of your relationships whether it be spoken, written or unspoken such as body language or silence. No communication at all will eventually result in no relationship of any value or benefit at all. Relationships are given birth to by communication, are built on communication and most importantly maintained with communication” - Brad Hager

Hard and Easy

All good is hard. All evil is easy.
Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity is easy.
Stay away from easy.
-Scott Alexander

Failure and Success

"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." - Theodore Roosevelt

Character

Character is like a tree & reputation like a shadow.
The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
- Lincoln