The Most Important Meeting..

...You’ll Ever Attend Are the Meetings You Have With Yourself by Denis Waitley

What matters most is how you see and think about of yourself!
Remember You are Awesome! 

( The key is awareness. I am still guilty of this from time to time. Before I know it, I found myself being too critical of myself. Taking too much time wallowing from my mistakes and shortcomings. I am sure this happens to you a lot too. Follow below advise by one of my virtual mentor Denis Waitley , and you will certainly be on your way to higher achievement and personal excellence. To a Happier YOU! Enjoy =) )

You are your most important critic. There is no opinion as vitally important to your well-being as the opinion you have of yourself. As you read this, you’re talking to yourself right now. “Let’s see if I understand what he means by that…. How does that compare with my experiences? I’ll make note of that—try that tomorrow…. I already knew that…. I already do that.” I believe this self-talk, this psycholinguistics, or language of the mind, can be controlled to work for us, especially in the building of self-confidence and creativity. We’re all talking to ourselves every moment of our lives, except during certain portions of our sleeping cycle. We’re seldom even aware that we’re doing it. We all have a running commentary in our heads on events and our reactions to them.

-           Be aware of the silent conversation you have with yourself. Are you a nurturing coach or a critic? Do you reinforce your own success or negate it? Are you comfortable saying to yourself, “That’s more like it”. “Now we’re in the groove.” “Things are working out well.” “I am reaching my financial goals.” “I’ll do it better next time.”

-           When winners fail, they view it as a temporary inconvenience, a learning experience, an isolated event, and a steppingstone instead of a stumbling block.

-           When winners succeed, they reinforce that success, by feeling rewarded rather than guilty about the achievement and the applause.

-           When winners are paid a compliment, they simply respond: “Thank you.” They accept value graciously when it is paid. They pay value in their conversations with themselves and with other people.

A mark of an individual with healthy self-esteem is the ability to spend time alone, without constantly needing other people around. Being comfortable and enjoying solitary time reveals inner peace and centering. People who constantly need stimulation or conversation with others are often a bit insecure and thus need to be propped up by the company of others.

Always greet the people you meet with a smile. When introducing yourself in any new association, take the initiative to volunteer your own name first, clearly; and always extend your hand first, looking the person in the eyes when you speak.

In your telephone communications at work or at home, answer the telephone pleasantly, immediately giving your own name to the caller, before you ask who is calling. Whenever you initiate a call, always give your own name up front, before you ask for the party you want and before you state your business. Leading with your own name underscores that a person of value is making the call.

Don’t brag. People who trumpet their exploits and shout for service are actually calling for help. The showoffs, braggarts and blowhards are desperate for attention.

Don’t tell your problems to people, unless they’re directly involved with the solutions. And don’t make excuses. Successful people seek those who look and sound like success. Always talk affirmatively about the progress you are trying to make.

As we said earlier, find successful role models after whom you can pattern yourself. When you meet a mastermind, become a master mime, and learn all you can about how he or she succeeded. This is especially true with things you fear. Find someone who has conquered what you fear and learn from him or her.

When you make a mistake in life, or get ridiculed or rejected, look at mistakes as detours on the road to success, and view ridicule as ignorance. After a rejection, take a look at your BAG. B is for Blessings. Things you are endowed with that you often take for granted, like life itself, health, living in an abundant country, family, friends, career. A is for Accomplishments. Think of the many things you are proud of that you have done so far. And G is for Goals. Think of your big dreams and plans for the future that motivate you. If you took your BAG—blessings, accomplishments and goals—to a party, and spread them on the floor, in comparison to all your friends and the people you admire, you’d take your own bag home, realizing that you have as much going for yourself as anyone else. Always view rejection as part of one performance, not as a turndown of the performer.

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Borrowing Experience

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

                                                                                                                                    Proverbs 1:7

In my last 40 years of existence, I have come to understand this fairly well. There are many means and method to shorten the learning curve or acquisition of knowledge and wisdom. One of this method is about having a Mentor. Before all of that,  we need to be grateful for the freewill and intellect that was given to us. All of these are the gifts from our Creator and we are considered as stewards of them. Need to ensure we make best of use of them as in the Parable of the Talents and improving on them for the glory of God. Enjoy! 

The Best Teacher?

We’ve all heard, “Experience is the best teacher,” but it’s simply not true. Experience is not the best teacher; it never has been and never will be.  Maturity doesn’t always come with time; sometimes age brings nothing more than wrinkles and gray hair.

Experience is not the best teacher; evaluated experience is the best teacher.  Reflective thinking is needed to turn experience into insight. We draw lessons from the past only when we study it. I have a habit of spending time each evening in reflective thinking. When I get ready for bed, I take ten minutes to look back on my day—conversations I’ve had, people I’ve met, things I’ve done, statements I’ve said—and I make note of significant lessons.

Now, the younger you are, the less experience you have to evaluate. Since you have limited firsthand experience yourself, look to borrow it from a mentor. Listen, learn, and ask questions from somebody successful who has gone before you. A wise leader never stops seeking to glean from the experiences of others.

Take Action: Looking for a Mentor

There’s no specific formula when it comes to finding a mentor, but these steps can aid your search.

1. Conduct an Honest Self-Assessment

Write down responses to the following questions: Where am I in my career? Where do I hope to be in the future? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What obstacles are keeping me from growing to my potential?

2. Clarify Your Purpose

Go into a mentoring relationship with a goal. Ask yourself: What do I hope to gain from the relationship? You may be interested in learning a specific skill, obtaining advice on an important decision, or gaining insight into a problem. Whatever the case, spend time on the front end to get clear about your purpose for pursuing the mentoring relationship. Put your purpose on paper. It will help narrow your search for the right mentor as well as keeping you focused on your main goals.

3. Consider Possible Mentors

After assessing where you are professionally and clarifying why you want to be mentored, the next step is to identify prospective mentors. Obviously, you want to find someone with experience and expertise in the areas where you hope to grow. Additionally, the more they share your values, the better.

You probably already have someone in your network with the combination of skills and experience that you’re looking for in a mentor. If not, ask for referrals from trusted coworkers and friends. Don’t feel like you have to find a mentor who can help you in every facet of life; just make sure they have something to offer in at least one area in which you hope to grow.

Make a list of everyone who comes to mind as a possible mentor, and then rank your top two choices. Research their interests, background, and involvements, looking for points of connection.

4. Come up with a Game Plan

Before approaching a prospective mentor, come up with a tentative framework for your mentoring relationship. How often would you meet? How would meetings be structured? What would be the duration of the mentoring relationship? Certainly, you’ll want to be accommodating of your mentor’s preferences, but having a plan in place will facilitate discussion about the nature of the relationship. Also, having a game plan in hand demonstrates to your mentor the forethought you’ve put in to the relationship.

5. Make the Connection

The last step is asking to be mentored. When approaching potential mentors, express what you respect about them and share why you are attracted by the idea of having them as a mentor. Then, concisely share your goal for the mentoring relationship. Articulate your expectations and be attentive to their goals and expectations as well.

Be mindful that you’re asking for a big favor. If they agree to mentor you, make the logistics (schedule, location, etc.) as easy as possible for them. Finally, both upfront and throughout the relationship, show appreciation for your mentor’s willingness to invest in you.

 To Your Success!

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Dare to Soar Series - Perseverance and Tenacity

The ants painstakingly preparing for the coming difficult
season. Carrying leaves 50 times their body weight.

Blaze you own trail-don‟t wait others to clear the path.

To develop an idea, you must listen tot he silence of your mind.

There is great potential in dreams, and the cost is free.

Soaring requires great conditioning.

If you don‟t know where you‟re going, how will you know when to get there?

Failure is temporary; defeat is permanent.

Surround yourself with the precious few who believe in you.

Great ideas are spawned during moments of silence.

Focus on how you can vs. why you can‟t.

winning breeds complacency. To avoid that trap requires a constant vigil.

Great things usually follow difficult problems.

Life is a game -be a player, not a spectator.

We only go around once; make the most of it.

A change in habits will yield extraordinary results.

Put down roots. Roots don‟t pull you back -they hold you up like a tree.

When the sun comes up, you better be running.

If you don‟t sow, you won‟t grow.

If men can reach the moon, you can reach the stars.

Replace thoughts with actions.

Great thoughts coupled with intense action produce unbelievable results.

Bury your ego. Don‟t be the star. Be the developer of the stars.

Do not worry about the conditions of the field-just play.

If life was perfect, challenges wouldn‟t exist. Neither would victories.

You can make the difference.

Sitting on your butt accomplishes nothing.

Soaring clears the soul.

“On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who, on the threshold of victory, sat down to wait, and in waiting, died.” -William Moulton Marston

Winners never give up.

Don‟t wallow in your problem; rise above it.

Be a true friend to others.

Soaring provides a different perspective.

If you believe you are beaten, you are.

Winners feel like winners. Losers act like loser.

Watch that ego.

Once you have seen the mountaintop, you will never be the same.

The eagle is mentality is committed to total discipline

Don‟t rely on luck.

Success has a very little to do with intelligence.

People are really wonderful. Some never learn to accept it.

See yourself as a winner.

Don‟t allow the seed of doubt to be planted in your mind.

Be your own navigator.

Cultivate winning thoughts.

The power of human spirit is beyond measure.

If you believe you can, you will.

Always remember, no one is unimportant.

If you don‟t start, you don‟t stand a chance of getting there.

There is spectacular beauty in high altitudes.

Why mingle with mediocrity when you can soar with excellence.

 The thing I admired most was his patience.
 He was always there when and where I needed him, never giving up on me even when I doubted my own abilities.
They say that leaders love what they do and who they work with. Without a doubt, he was powerful leader in my life.
He always focus on giving credit to others, never wanting personal attention and receiving great joy through the successes of his students.
One week before the 95 masters, Ben Crenshaw lost his lifelong friend and mentor, Harvey Penick.

Most felt he wouldn‟t compete in the Masters Tournament, but following the example of strength set by his teacher. Ben Crenshaw not only competed, but won!

Are you up where you belong?

Pick the partners who are willing o soar with you.

Success is found in the opposite side of “Good Enough”.

Never forget the ones who helped you develop your wings.

Choose the passing lane of life.

Choose to be up here vs. down there.

Be committed to a cause bigger then yourself.

“ Come to the edge, he said. They said, we are afraid. Come to the edge he said. They came. He pushed them……and they flew.” -Guillaume Apollinaire

To Your Success!

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