Jim's podcast

Here is a quick podcast you can practically listen to on the way to the mailbox!

Celebration:

Celebrate things you have, you want, and what celebration does to help us all!

One person's perspective.

www.onewebstrategy.com

Everybody loves a story - what about YOUR story?

It is true that we all identify with a person's story - or a brand's story, or something like that.

We all probably know someone that has a story that inspires us, right?

We also probably know someone that has a story that has lots of excuses and reasons why things aren't happening in life, right?

Maybe we even have a story that isn't empowering, maybe even it is limiting?

Listen to this story about your story....

Charities, giving, volunteering are important things all year around.

Here is a quick podcast with some helpful hints and ideas about charities, charitable actions and gifts.

No, you don't have to be rich - you don't have to even have any money.

Just a decision to give a little and do something small for another person.

www.onewebstrategy.com

This could be the last podcast you'll ever need to listen to....

...this is not arrogance or blubber

Listen why....

Imagination is so very important in our world - yes even for us adults.

We often forget how important it is - and how fun it can be.

Yes even you engineers and technical types, your imagination - or your visions or whatever you call them - can be so powerful and let's face it, everything starts with imagination.

Everything new or everything that it innovated, has been imagined by someone.

Worrying is a form of negative imagination - a form of negative praying.

Imagination + emotion is so powerful ...just watch to make sure the emotions and visions are good - that's what happens with worry - bad visions and bad emotions only make it worse!

YOU ARE THE GATEKEEPER to your imagination....listen for more.

www.onewebstrategy.com

Did you ever receive a really cool or a really meaningful letter, note, or card from a friend/parent/loved one?

Some kind of communication that meant a lot, encouraged you, said nice things, or otherwise was just great and meaningful?

Did you ever send one?

Could you send a letter, email, or communication to someone right now?

What if you sent a "life letter" to yourself - what if you were the you you'll be in 5 years, and you're writing a letter to yourself today?

What would you say?

Listen for some cool ideas and thoughts!

www.onewebstrategy.com

People ask for quick ideas that they can do everyday.

Focus on what works

Focus on action

Give

Enjoy

(This is one of a part of a series of WORDS TO LIVE BY. This series grew out of a workbook I first made for my young daughters and discussed at the dinner table. These Words include values, good ideas, and Words to aspire to….and learn from….enjoy!)

As the holiday season approaches, I think we all need to be reminded of a few things.....

Enjoy the holiday. So many of us get caught up in the shopping, preparation, decorating, work and clean up, that we forget what the holiday is about, what friends and family get together for.....

en·joy

[ in jóy ]

find something pleasing: to take pleasure in something

have use of something: to have the full and satisfying use or benefit of something

benefit from circumstances: to benefit from a desirable condition or situation

How many of you - or maybe it's your spouse, your mother, grandmother, etc. spend so much time in the kitchen, or doing something else that takes so much work - and sometimes you don't enjoy it. Is that what this is all about?

Take time to Enjoy the holiday, your friends, your family, the season!

Live in the moment. The best gift is the present. Think about all the great memories that you have. Those were created when you were "in the moment." If you were worried about the future or concerned about the past, you would have missed that great memory. So as this holiday comes, live in the moment, listen to others, ask, take action, enjoy the moments that come your way. You may be creating the best memories yet!

Forgive - so many families and friends have some kind of ill feeling or hold grudges. Some actually forget why but still they hold the grudge. Forgive! We all need to remember that Forgiveness is more for ourselves than the other person. You will benefit if you forgive another. Forgive yourself!

Reach out/Step out/Give/Share/Donate - I challenge you and myself to doing just a little more this year that last year. Give time to a church or organization-volunteer. Give money or donations. Can you contribute some food? Clothing? Or maybe reach out to a family member or friend. Do you know someone that could use encouragement? A listening ear? Some help? Maybe a simple letter, email , or phone call? What would you like to receive from someone - then go and give. Give without expecting you'll receive it back. Take time to do something a little more that you usually do.

From time to time I like to pass along other good websites or blogs, etc. that are really good stuff.

This is from Robbins-Madanes Training (Tony Robbins and Chloe Madanes) http://robbinsmadanescoachtraining.com/?p=1464

I highly recommend that you take time to read it and watch the video(s)…….

It starts here…..

Have you ever been in an argument with someone where you realize, “Wow. This might be the end of our relationship!” It could be a tough conversation with a friend about hurt feelings that could end the friendship and make you enemies. It might be a business negotiation where instead becoming partners you become competitors. It could be a conversation with your spouse that could lead to a decision that you regret forever. These are dangerous minutes, right? Well, conversations like this we call “high stakes conversations.” If you win, you win it all. If you lose, you lose it all. The stakes are high. So how do you turn it around?

Today let’s explore one simple strategy called the Outcome Strategy.

You see, the problem with high stakes conversations is that two speakers tend to get stuck in an emotional opposition to each other. In other words: the more you take your position, the more I disagree with you and take the opposite position, and vica versa. When you get opposed to each other like this, you start reacting to me and the emotional dynamics of our conversation rather than the actual outcome you want. Instead of being proactive – and thinking creatively about what’s best for everyone, the conversation plays out as if only one of you can win this game. Now, what’s wrong with getting stuck in an opposition is that any two people having a high-stakes conversation are likely to have a lot in common: a relationship, a history, and shared objectives. When you get stuck in an opposition, you stop reacting to what’s good and only react to what you see as bad – the other person’s disagreements, opposition, disrespect. That’s what’s so dangerous – you’re likely to throw out the baby with the bathwater. The Outcome Strategy is there to stop that pattern, see past the opposition, align with each other, and find creative solutions for your outcomes. The strategy has three basic parts:

1. ASK TO UNDERSTAND. Simply tell the person, “I really want to understand you, your experience, and what you want. Please tell me what is most important to you right now.” In other words, you’re asking to understand their outcome. Most conflicts are triggered by a specific emotion -when the other person doesn’t feel you will look after their interests. When you become a great listener, this changes fast. The thing they’re upset about could be a policy decision, it could be that they want to feel respected, it could mean they sick of deadlines not being met. At bottom, what is upsetting them is the feeling that you are not willing to help them. Listen, listen, listen. Align with them so that you’re helping them get what they need.

2. ASK HOW IT’S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN – AND OFFER HELP. Pretty common-sense, right? When we rally for something, when we push for something to happen, we usually have a vision – an expectation, an idea, a preconception, a bias – on how it should happen or will happen. You need to understand the other person’s vision in very concrete terms. So just say, “What’s important to you is important to me, and I want you (and us) to have this outcome. How are you thinking it’s going to take place? What has to happen? What do you need? What’s the sequence of steps we need to take?” Don’t ask this in a challenging way. Instead, think of yourself as rolling up your sleeves, going side-by-side with the other person, saying, “OK, where do we start?” If you can, take notes and get the sequence of action steps to get to the outcome. Remember: if this is a high-stakes conversation, the upset was caused by the feeling that you’re not looking after your friend… so counter that by committing now to some steps(continued)

(This is one of a part of a series of WORDS TO LIVE BY. This series grew out of a workbook I first made for my young daughters and discussed at the dinner table. These Words include values, good ideas, and Words to aspire to….and learn from….enjoy!)

Today’s Word To Live By: Encouragement – Definition: help, support - Antonyms: denunciation, derision, deterrent, discouragement

Years ago I was unemployed for the first time in my life and I struggled to find a new job. Frankly, I applied everywhere and I would have taken just about anything. The Lehman Bros. “thing” happened and I just was in a funk anyway, so it was tough. I finally did find a good job at a solid company. I had a boss that was very encouraging, very supportive. Many people on the team were also encouraging, helpful, etc.

I had a tough time getting out of my own ‘funk’ and getting back the confidence and esteem that I once had. Part of the job required me to go away for training with others from around the country. I really enjoyed the whole experience and think about those people and times fondly. I recall that first day at training. We were all pushed outside of our comfort zone, which was good but hard. I knew no one. I was struggling to do well…. we all had to do a few different tasks, presentations, calls, proposals, etc. etc.

“The finest gift you can give anyone is encouragement. Yet, almost no one gets the encouragement they need to grow to their full potential. If everyone received the encouragement they need to grow, the genius in most everyone would blossom and the world would produce abundance beyond the wildest dreams. We would have more than one Einstein, Edison, Schweitzer, Mother Theresa, Dr. Salk and other great minds in a century.”—Sidney Madwed

Then, one of the other ‘students’ just like me, made a comment. I wish I could remember exactly what he said. I think that I was just plain shocked, I wasn’t expecting it. Anyways, he encouraged me that I did some things well, others things were good but could improve, and gave me lots of encouragement. He stated how he had struggled with the same thing and was right there with me.

He didn’t gain anything by helping or encouraging me – at least none that I could see. He was just being a good guy. Others in our group seemed to continue to encourage each other. I found myself doing it more than usual. We became a cohesive group and stayed in touch for quite a long time after, which was unusual, I’m told.

I think back in grade school, in high school, college, and in life. Sometimes, like the example above, I don’t remember what someone said specifically, but I definitely recall times when people offered encouragement. It may have been something small like spelling a word, hitting a ball, doing a chore. It sometimes was bigger things like a relationship, a job, a big financial challenge. I can see and feel those words of encouragement. They still warm my heart today.

I think about times when I encouraged others. First, it feels good to me when I think about supporting others. Second, I frankly am a little sad that I didn’t do it more often. I know that I want to do it more in the present and future. It isn’t that hard, is it? Encouragement, support, help isn’t that hard to offer is it?

Real friends are loving in an unconditional manner. They accept you for your faults, the quirky things that you do or so, and regardless of what you “do for them.” Friends offer support. Friends are a good influence. Friends offer encouragement. We need to choose our friends carefully. It doesn’t matter their income, status, style, or dress. I try to be a good friend too, but again I sometimes feel that I am lacking here.

Tony Dungy, NFL coach, player, and author, said once, “Peer pressure works in both directions.” Do we encourage? Do we support? Do we set a good example?

Do we provide a positive influence to others? Are we complainers? Do we point out others weaknesses or k(continued)