The Quest for Total Happiness

I've been thinking about happiness. Specifically, I've been pondering
the keys to total
happiness and thinking about a wonderful book by the Dalai
Lama, 'The Art of Happiness'.

The Dalai Lama argues that, fundamentally, we all seek more
and greater happiness in our lives and that one of the
great questions in life is, 'What makes my life totally
fulfilled and totally happy?'

For many people, happiness is related to money, and
happiness means accumulating wealth. For them, money has
great value and they are motivated to work hard and
smarter, and to use money in ways that make them happy.
But there are thousands of individual differences in how
that works. Some make money and give it all away. Some make
money and hoard it, even burying it in the backyard, while
others invest it, and still others make a show of
displaying a wealth of possessions.

For others, happiness has little to do with money, and they
seek fulfillment in their creativity, or they find ultimate
happiness in family relationships, or by serving others.
There are many paths up the mountain called 'happiness'!

One of the most important distinctions the Dalai Lama makes
is between happiness and pleasure. We can all think of
experiences that bring us delightful pleasure but which
utterly fail to make us 'happy' in life. Almost everyone
enjoys a fine meal, perhaps with good wine, but we all
reject a life of gluttony and drunkenness.

So the question: What makes you truly happy?

This is a central question for the World Class Life
Conference next month, because in order to have a GREAT
life, we must first determine what it might look like. What
are the key pieces of a great and joyful life FOR YOU?

Almost 150 years ago, Henry Thoreau wrote that most people
'live lives of quiet desperation', and sadly, I think
that's still true. All our wealth and freedom, our
education and military power, even our access to the wisdom
and literature of past generations has not created a
society in which most people are 'happy'. Indeed, many
people seem to be incredibly unhappy. With all this freedom
to choose our destiny and create the life we truly want,
why aren't more people happy?

I think this is a vital question. It may even be THE
question for modern adults to ponder and answer. Given that
you can live almost anywhere you choose, read and learn
almost any skill, and have pretty much any reasonable
lifestyle you want, WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

What are your happiest memories? What are your happiest
fantasies, dreams and aspirations? Who do you know who
seems to be truly, massively happy?

What makes YOU happy? At the end of life, what will allow
you to say, 'I did it right. I made good choices. I am
HAPPY with the way I lived my life!' Whatever your answer,
in the coming days and weeks, do more of it, and do less of
everything else.

Philip Humbert

Quotes of the Week

The thoughts we choose to think are the tools we use to
paint the canvas of our lives.
-- Louise Hay

The problem in my life and other people's lives is not the
absence of knowing what to do, but the absence of doing it.
-- Peter Drucker

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be
lost. Now put foundations under them.
-- Henry David Thoreau

It is never too late to be what we might have been.
-- George Eliot

The Quest for Total Happiness

I've been thinking about happiness. Specifically, I've been pondering
the keys to total
happiness and thinking about a wonderful book by the Dalai
Lama, 'The Art of Happiness'.

The Dalai Lama argues that, fundamentally, we all seek more
and greater happiness in our lives and that one of the
great questions in life is, 'What makes my life totally
fulfilled and totally happy?'

For many people, happiness is related to money, and
happiness means accumulating wealth. For them, money has
great value and they are motivated to work hard and
smarter, and to use money in ways that make them happy.
But there are thousands of individual differences in how
that works. Some make money and give it all away. Some make
money and hoard it, even burying it in the backyard, while
others invest it, and still others make a show of
displaying a wealth of possessions.

For others, happiness has little to do with money, and they
seek fulfillment in their creativity, or they find ultimate
happiness in family relationships, or by serving others.
There are many paths up the mountain called 'happiness'!

One of the most important distinctions the Dalai Lama makes
is between happiness and pleasure. We can all think of
experiences that bring us delightful pleasure but which
utterly fail to make us 'happy' in life. Almost everyone
enjoys a fine meal, perhaps with good wine, but we all
reject a life of gluttony and drunkenness.

So the question: What makes you truly happy?

This is a central question for the World Class Life
Conference next month, because in order to have a GREAT
life, we must first determine what it might look like. What
are the key pieces of a great and joyful life FOR YOU?

Almost 150 years ago, Henry Thoreau wrote that most people
'live lives of quiet desperation', and sadly, I think
that's still true. All our wealth and freedom, our
education and military power, even our access to the wisdom
and literature of past generations has not created a
society in which most people are 'happy'. Indeed, many
people seem to be incredibly unhappy. With all this freedom
to choose our destiny and create the life we truly want,
why aren't more people happy?

I think this is a vital question. It may even be THE
question for modern adults to ponder and answer. Given that
you can live almost anywhere you choose, read and learn
almost any skill, and have pretty much any reasonable
lifestyle you want, WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

What are your happiest memories? What are your happiest
fantasies, dreams and aspirations? Who do you know who
seems to be truly, massively happy?

What makes YOU happy? At the end of life, what will allow
you to say, 'I did it right. I made good choices. I am
HAPPY with the way I lived my life!' Whatever your answer,
in the coming days and weeks, do more of it, and do less of
everything else.

Philip Humbert

Using Your Inner Guidance SystemUsing Your Inner Guidance System

You have incredible powers of mind and emotions
that give you timely and accurate feedback in every area of your life.

In this newsletter, you learn how to "tune in" to
yourself so you can make the right decision in every situation.

Using Your Inner Guidance System
We know that the body has a natural bias toward
health and energy. It's designed to last for 100
years with proper care and maintenance. When
something goes wrong with any part of our body,
we experience it in the form of pain or discomfort of some kind.

We know that when our body is not functioning
smoothly and painlessly, something is wrong, and
we take action to correct it. We go to a doctor;
we take pills; we undergo physical therapy,
massage or chiropractic. We know that if we
ignore pain or discomfort for any period of time,
it could lead to something more serious.

How to Tell Right From Wrong
In the same sense, nature also gives us a way to
tell emotionally what's right for us and what's
wrong for us in life. Just as nature gives us
physical pain to guide us to doing or not doing
things in the physical realm, nature gives us
emotional pain to guide us toward doing or not
doing things in the emotional or mental realm.
The wonderful thing is that you're constructed so
that if you simply listen carefully to
yourself­to your mind, your body and your
emotions­and follow the guidance you're given,
you can dramatically enhance the quality of your life.

Just as the natural physical state of your body
is health and vitality, your natural emotional
state is peace and happiness. Whenever you
experience a deviation from peace and happiness,
it's an indication that something is amiss.
Something is wrong with what you're thinking,
doing or saying. Your feeling of inner happiness
is the best indicator you could ever have to tell
you what you should be doing more of and what you should be doing less of.

The Messenger
Unhappiness is to your life as pain is to your
body. It is sent as a messenger to tell you that
what you're doing is wrong for you.

Very often, you'll suffer from what has been
called "divine discontent." You'll feel fidgety
and uneasy for a reason or reasons that are
unclear to you. You'll be dissatisfied with the
status quo. Sometimes, you'll be unable to sleep.
Sometimes, you'll be angry or irritable. Very
often, you'll get upset with things that have
nothing to do with the real issue. You'll have a
deep inner sense that something isn't as it
should be, and you'll often feel like a fish on a
hook, wriggling and squirming emotionally to get free.

Divine Discontent
And that is a good thing. Divine discontent
always comes before a positive life change. If
you were perfectly satisfied, you would never
take any action to improve or change your
circumstances. Only when you're dissatisfied for
some reason do you have the inner motivation to
engage in the outer behaviors that lead you onward and upward.

Listen to yourself. Trust your inner voice. Go
with the flow of your own personality. Do the
things that make you feel happy inside and you'll
probably never make another mistake.

Action Exercises
Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, listen to yourself and trust your own
feelings. If there is a part of your life that
causes you stress and unhappiness, resolve to deal with it.

Second, identify those areas of your life where
you are dissatisfied or frustrated for any
reason. What changes should you, could you make?

Third, remember that nature wants you to be
happy, healthy, popular and prosperous. Any
deviation from those conditions is a signal to you that action is necessary.

Author: Brian Tracy

It's Gift

Many people will walk in and out of your life. But only true friends
will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head; To handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
If someone betrays you once, it is his fault; If he betrays you
twice, it is your fault.
Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds
discuss people.
He, who loses money, loses much; He, who loses a friend, loses much
more; He, who loses faith, loses all.
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make
them all yourself.
Friends, you and me .... You brought another friend ... And then
there were 3 .... We started our group ....
Our circle of friends . There is no beginning or end ....
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.

Don’t give up…..

One day I decided to quit…
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me… "Look around", He said.
"Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I
took very good care of them. I gave them light. I
gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the
earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet
nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and
plentiful. And again, nothing came from the
bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
He said. "In year three there was still nothing
from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In
year four, again, there was nothing from the
bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged
from the earth. Compared to the fern it was
seemingly small and insignificant… But just 6
months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet
tall. It had spent the five years growing roots.
Those roots made it strong and gave it what it
needed to survive. I would not give any of my
creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all
this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The
bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet
they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story. I
hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up.
For us it is not an option but an opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell
the problem how Great the Lord is!
Heavens door open this morning, God asked me… "My
CHILD, what can I do for you?"
And I said, "God, please protect and bless the one reading this message."
God smiled and answered, "Request granted."
This message is now in your hands. What will YOU do with it?

Sender: Cyn

Quotes of the Week

"You are what you think about all day long."
-- Dr. Robert Schuller

"Once you know that what you think about expands, you start
getting real careful about what you think about."
-- Wayne Dyer

"The way we live our days, is the way we live our lives."
-- Annie Dillard

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a
big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can
make which, over time, add up to big differences that we
often cannot foresee."
-- Marian Wright Edelman

Tools for The Mind(tm)

Recently, I saw a new set of new, high-tech cookware
hanging in the kitchen and made the mistake of asking how
much it cost. Mary lovingly reminded me that I never scrimp
on the cost of woodworking tools, or new computers, or a
new golf club. Her point is well taken. Investing in the
right tool for the job is always a good idea! When it comes
to our tools, we want the best.

Except. when it comes to tools for the mind.

Whether it's audio programs or books, or classes or
coaching, as a society too often we "can't afford it". How
many of us will invest in a new laptop, a vacation or new
barbeque grill (I recently bought one) but then look at the
cost of a book and convince ourselves that we can't afford
it, and if we bought it, we "wouldn't have time" to read
it?

We all know that we live in the "information age" and that
continuous learning is the key to the future, and yet as a
practical matter, we are "too busy".

I recently talked with a colleague who coaches real estate
brokers and she noted that her most productive clients
"constantly" listen to audio programs. She noted that "if a
person will not (listen to tapes), I don't think they are
coachable. Listening to tapes is the LEAST they can do to
increase their income potential. If they won't do that, I
won't coach them."

I agree.

We all have areas where we MUST improve our performance.
Whether the challenge is in our careers, our families, our
fitness, communication skills or a hobby, staying where we
are is no longer an option. The world is moving too quickly
and changing too fast. We must improve our skills on a
daily basis.

Fortunately, this is not difficult. What's difficult is
finding time to DO more stuff, but I am not talking about
that. In fact, my point is that we should be doing LESS,
but doing it better, smarter and with more joy. Too often,
we confuse activity with productivity, and they are NOT the
same thing!

There is a old story that one of Henry Ford's early
production lines broke down and after his staff had tried
everything they could think of to fix it, he called a
specialist, who found the problem and fixed it in a few
minutes. Later, he sent Ford a bill for $10,000, which was
a fortune at that time.

Ford refused to pay it, claiming it was far too much for
ten minute's work, so the specialist revised his bill to
read, "Repairs, $10. Knowing HOW to do the repair, $9,990."
Ford quickly paid the bill.

Knowing what to do, when and how to do it, pays off!

One of the great ironies of our age is that for the first
time in history, survival is rarely a question. We have
food, clothing and shelter in abundance and are free to
spend our time pursuing other things. The question becomes,
what will you do with your one and only, marvelous life?
Will you collect things, or memories? Will you pursue more
and better "stuff", or a better life?

In Thomas Leonard's memorable phrase, the choice is between
creating a life or building a lifestyle.

Author: Philip Humbert

Do Less, Live More

One of my favorite stories is that when Henry Thoreau told
his friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson, that the key to living
well was to 'simplify, simplify, simplify', Emerson
supposedly replied that, 'one simplify might have sufficed.'
I love the reminder that in many situations, less is more.

The mantra of our age seems to be, 'better, faster, cheaper
and more, more, more!', and the problem is that it's not
always helpful.

This week I told Mary that while the past few weeks have
been unusually busy, and very productive, I'm not having as
much fun as I would like. We are making more, but enjoying
it less, and that's not a good thing!

As we talked it through, it was clear that two different
processes were involved and we had to sort them out.

The first was being clear about our values.

We both love doing stuff, learning things, building things,
starting things. We love things that challenge us or
promise to enrich our lives, so we are suckers for every
great new idea that comes along - and there are lots of
great ideas!

But our values are not around glamour or excitement or
even, primarily around money or success. Our values tend
to be more about relationships, quality time, travel and
education, peace of mind and personal integrity, and the
problem is that our culture rarely encourages or talks
about those things.

The media tends to applaud public displays of wealth or
power or popularity, and our culture celebrates things that
result in 'progress' or tangible profit. And those are
good things! Don't get me wrong - I love both progress
and making a profit!

But, as Emerson observed, 'sometimes money costs too much.'
We noticed that in our rush to jump on several recent
opportunities, we were getting caught up in what Michael
Angier calls 'the thick of thin things' and it wasn't
working for us. A return to personal values is called for.

Secondly, we had failed to plan, and as the saying goes,
'those who fail to plan, are planning to fail.'

In our case, the failures were not obvious. In terms of
profits, we are doing very well, and that is exciting!
It's wonderful to see things come together and to receive
the applause of friends and business associates. It's fun,
it's good - and it's seductive.

We were off balance and off track. We were canceling
private time and postponing important priorities. We were
missing the joy of time together and the daily activities
we value. We had failed to plan, and so the distractions
of life were running away with our schedules, and again,
that is not a recipe for success!

So, we've cut back on activities and are talking about our
values every day. We talk about what we love, what we
cherish, what we stand for. It's not that we had forgotten
these things, but we have realized (again) that it is our
personal responsibility to align ourselves with our values,
and to do it on purpose, every day.

And, we have re-committed to investing time and money and
energy in the things that mean the MOST to us. We have re-
committed to planning our lives, to living from values, and
to making the most of our talents, our relationships, and the
opportunities to live well, rather than to being merely busy.

Philip Humbert, PhD

The End of Procrastination!

People often ask me how to over-come procrastination to
achieve their goals and create the life they truly want.
This week, I discovered two of the essential steps to
dealing with procrastination and making your dreams come
true.

The situation is familiar: We have a vision or goal, and
we know it is within our reach. It may not be simple or
easy, but we KNOW it's possible - if only we would get
started. But we don't. We procrastinate. We plan and
dream and talk, but we fail to take action. Time passes,
things don't change and we berate ourselves in frustration!

That is no way to live your life! Let's look at some solutions.

Step One: Power comes from Purpose!

This week I talked with three people who have big dreams
and wonderful ideas, but they've taken no action. As we
talked, I realized they have no powerful, passionate
REASONS to succeed. No rational person works long and
hard without a good reason!

They each thought they had reasons. Their dreams are
creative and would make them rich if they succeeded. Their
families support them, and they thought their 'reasons to
succeed' were obvious, but their reasons were really just
cliches, and cliches have no real power in them!

Power comes from purpose! The power to get up early, stay
late, and work hard to achieve a distant goal comes from
your heart. It comes from knowing your purpose, your
REASONS for doing it!

When a teenager wants to make the basketball team, or a
mother wants a doctor for her sick child, or we NEED a
college education, human beings will find a way. But
'nice' goals are not enough.

The power to over-come procrastination, take action, find
solutions and keep going comes from one source: Living
your life on PURPOSE! When you know WHY, you'll find
the HOW!

Step Two: Become a Player!

This is simple: are you an amateur, or a pro? Are you
serious, or are you dabbling? Are you committed, or merely
interested? The answers make all the difference.

Again, I've recently talked with several people who claim
to have a sense of purpose behind their goals, but I don't
think they truly mean it. They 'dabble' and leave no
tracks in the sand.

They tell a great story, and they seem committed, but their
actions are not consistent. At some level, they know that
dabbling rarely brings substantive results, and so they
postpone and procrastinate. Action that has no weight or
substance is hardly worth taking, so over the long-haul,
they make little or no effort to achieve their goals.

Don't be a lightweight! The ancient general, Hannibal, is
famous for taking his troops through impossible mountains
and is remembered for saying, 'We will find a way, or make
one.' He found a way!

To over-come procrastination, be a player! Put some weight
and time and money and skill behind your dreams and make
them happen! Life is not a rehearsal and there are no 'do-
overs'! If you have dreams that call you, be certain you
have enough REASONS to justify the investment, and then go
all out! Put your whole life into it! Procrastination cannot
survive in the face of a committed, determined human will!

Philip Humbert. PhD

Quote this day

People who enjoy what they are doing invariably do it well.
­ Joe Gibbs, Hall of Fame American Football Coach

You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of
it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an
alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world.
Tom Brokaw, American Television Journalist

The Law of Accumulation

The Law of Accumulation: how your financial fortune accumulates
slowly over time and then becomes enormous, like a snowball. The Law
of Accumulation: Every great financial achievement is an accumulation
of hundreds of small efforts and sacrifices that no one ever sees or
appreciates.

Develop Discipline
The achievement of financial independence will require a tremendous
number of small efforts on your part. To begin the process of
accumulation, you must be disciplined and persistent. You must keep
at it for a long, long time. Initially, you will see very little
change or difference but gradually, your efforts will begin to bear
fruit. You will begin to pull ahead of your peers. Your finances will
improve and your debts will disappear. Your bank account will grow
and your whole life will improve.

Build Up Momentum
The first corollary of the Law of Accumulation says: "As your savings
accumulate, you develop a momentum that moves you more rapidly toward
your financial goals."

It is hard to get started on a program of financial accumulation, but
once you do get started, you find it easier and easier to keep at it.
The "momentum principle" is one of the great success secrets. This
principle says that it takes tremendous energy to overcome the
initial inertia and resistance to financial accumulation and get
started, but once started, it takes much less energy to keep moving.

Start Slow, Finish Fast
The second corollary of the Law of Accumulation says, "By the yard
it's hard, but inch by inch, anything's a cinch."

When you begin thinking about saving 10 or 20 percent of your
earnings, you will immediately think of all kinds of reasons that it
is not possible. You might be up to your neck in debt. You might be
spending every single penny that you earn today just to keep afloat.

If you do find yourself in this situation, instead of saving 10
percent, begin saving just 1 percent of your earnings in a special
account, which you refuse to touch.

Increase As You Go Along
This small amount will begin to add up at a rate that will surprise
you. As you become comfortable with saving 1 percent, increase your
savings rate to 2 percent, then 3 percent, then 4 percent and 5
percent and so on. Within a year, you will find yourself getting out
of debt and saving 10 percent, 15 percent and even 20 percent of your
earnings without it really affecting your lifestyle.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do to apply this law immediately:

First, decide upon your long-term financial goals and then resolve to
work toward them one step at a time. The first steps are the hardest
and you must discipline yourself to avoid backsliding into old habits.

Second, practice the law of accumulation in other parts of your life
as well. Resolve to master a subject one page at a time. Lose extra
pounds one ounce at a time. Learn a language one lesson at a time.
The cumulative effect can be enormous.

By: Brian Tracy

Quote: Dream, Life & You

Each of us was born with wings...(and) has the ability to
go farther than we ever thought possible, to do things
beyond our wildest imaginings.'
-- Barbara Stanny

'If you can DREAM it, you can DO it.'
-- Walt Disney

'A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan
and a deadline.'
-- Harvey Mackay

'It only takes one person to change your life - you.'
-- Ruth Casey

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

In the end, performance counts and in many ways, ONLY
performance truly matters. Words are interesting and
emotions are powerful, but in the end, it's what we DO
that matters.

The old saying, 'who you are speaks so loud I can't hear
what you say' is very important because it addresses both
the shallowness of words, and the reality that in life we
measure who a person IS by what they DO.

Over a hundred years ago, William James, arguably the
founder of modern Psychology, noted that 'we sing because
we're happy, and we're happy because we sing.' Emotions can
cause behavior (feelings happy makes us smile), but more
importantly, our behavior creates emotions in a reciprocal
relationship that is vitally important.

If you want to feel happy, do the things that MAKE you
happy - tell a joke, attend a concert, tickle a child, fly
a kite. For normal, healthy adults, most of our feelings
are the RESULT of how we think and what we do.

How often have you felt bored or tired, then gotten
involved in some project and discovered that the activity
picked you right up? We've all had that experience because
positive ACTIONS are a reliable source of positive feelings.

Athletes know all about this. It's called a 'runner's high'
and it's caused by chemicals (endorphins) released in the
brain. When you move your body and do stuff and breath
deeply, the brain literally, physically, rejoices!

And that has EVERYTHING to do with success, motivation and
achievement!

Active, highly effective people ARE happier than the rest
of us. They do more. They think and move and create and try
more stuff! They DO more, and as a result they FEEL BETTER.

Now of course some people suffer from depression or other
physical or emotional disorders, and these are serious
medical conditions that must be treated by a professional.
If you suspect you or a loved one has a medical problem,
for goodness sake, see your doctor! Positive thinking will
NOT fix a broken leg and it won't cure depression!

But for the rest of us, I think it's time for a call to
ACTION! As a nation, we have been focused on the war, a
sluggish economy, and of course here in North America, it's
been winter! We have lots of reasons to be cautious, to
stay home, and be careful. But now spring has come. Let's
move it!

A basic law of physics says that an object at rest will
stay at rest, while an object in motion tends to stay in
motion. Let's be objects 'in motion'!

Now is the time to make those calls, write your spring and
summer business plans, set goals, even go outside and plant
some flowers. Create beauty in your yard, bring it into
your office, and add it to your home. Surround yourself
with music and laughter, with inspirational posters and
projects that excite you. It's time to invest in your
future and MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Be an object in motion! Just DO it!

Author: Philip Humbert

The Quest for Total Happiness

This morning I've been thinking about happiness.
Specifically, I've been pondering the keys to total
happiness and thinking about a wonderful book by the Dalai
Lama, 'The Art of Happiness'.

The Dalai Lama argues that, fundamentally, we all seek more
and greater happiness in our lives and that one of the
great questions in life is, 'What makes my life totally
fulfilled and totally happy?'

For many people, happiness is related to money, and
happiness means accumulating wealth. For them, money has
great value and they are motivated to work hard and
smarter, and to use money in ways that make them happy.
But there are thousands of individual differences in how
that works. Some make money and give it all away. Some make
money and hoard it, even burying it in the backyard, while
others invest it, and still others make a show of
displaying a wealth of possessions.

For others, happiness has little to do with money, and they
seek fulfillment in their creativity, or they find ultimate
happiness in family relationships, or by serving others.
There are many paths up the mountain called 'happiness'!

One of the most important distinctions the Dalai Lama makes
is between happiness and pleasure. We can all think of
experiences that bring us delightful pleasure but which
utterly fail to make us 'happy' in life. Almost everyone
enjoys a fine meal, perhaps with good wine, but we all
reject a life of gluttony and drunkenness.

So the question: What makes you truly happy?

This is a central question for the World Class Life
Conference next month, because in order to have a GREAT
life, we must first determine what it might look like. What
are the key pieces of a great and joyful life FOR YOU?

Almost 150 years ago, Henry Thoreau wrote that most people
'live lives of quiet desperation', and sadly, I think
that's still true. All our wealth and freedom, our
education and military power, even our access to the wisdom
and literature of past generations has not created a
society in which most people are 'happy'. Indeed, many
people seem to be incredibly unhappy. With all this freedom
to choose our destiny and create the life we truly want,
why aren't more people happy?

I think this is a vital question. It may even be THE
question for modern adults to ponder and answer. Given that
you can live almost anywhere you choose, read and learn
almost any skill, and have pretty much any reasonable
lifestyle you want, WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

What are your happiest memories? What are your happiest
fantasies, dreams and aspirations? Who do you know who
seems to be truly, massively happy?

What makes YOU happy? At the end of life, what will allow
you to say, 'I did it right. I made good choices. I am
HAPPY with the way I lived my life!' Whatever your answer,
in the coming days and weeks, do more of it, and do less of
everything else.

Author: Philip Humbert, PhD

Breaking The Success Barrier

Session 1: Know What You Want
The golden age of opportunity. Masters and victims of change. Owning
your future. How to blaze your own trail. A lifetime of searching.
What makes some people successful? You are what you think you are.
Choose your own thoughts. Controlling your response to life's
challenges. Cultivating optimism. The principle of the "Objective."

Session 2: Do Whatever It Takes
Becoming action oriented. Learning the "Offensive" principle. Feeding
your need for control. Planning continuous and sustained attacks. Why
we need courage. The power of persistence. Learning the GOSPA formula
for success. The difference between desire and ability. How the
world's top executives spend their days. The ultimate test of leadership.

Session 3: Put First Things First
Mastering a simple formula. Paradigm shifts in the 20th century.
Organizing your life. The problem of complexity and how to avoid it.
Making lists of your priorities. The 80/20 rule. Using the ABCDE
method to simplify your life. Something old, something new. The seven
"R's" to greater productivity.

Session 4: Concentrate Your Powers
Learning to concentrate. Your one most important goal. The benefits
of self-discipline. Cultivating the commitment of champions. The
seven critical success factors. Increasing your return on equity.
Planning in advance. Keeping your eye on the prize.

Session 5: Lead from the Front
Becoming a united force. Playing the part of a leader. The greatest
success story ever told. Three major forms of power. Asking the right
questions. The qualities of effective leaders. Maintaining your
vision. Determining your core competencies. Giving what you're
getting. How to pass life's many tests.

Session 6: Leverage Your Strength
The principle of concerted action. Supporting your team. Taking on
more responsibility. Why many small businesses fail. The four types
of people. The key to becoming a great manager. Command vs. control
management. The importance of conflict. The power of group commitments.

Session 7: Learn All You Can
The principle of intelligence. Honing your ability to gather
information. Getting the facts straight. Upgrade your education. A
results-oriented world. The minimum requirement for success. Tapping
your brain's power. Striving to be brighter than the rest.
Accelerated learning techniques. The three most important forms of
knowledge. Rules of continuous learning.

Session 8: Be Fast on Your Feet
The principle of movement and positioning. Creativity and
entrepreneurial thinking. The purpose of every business. Strategies
for becoming more flexible in a highly-competitive market. Getting a
share of the customer. Zero-based thinking. The importance of
admitting our errors. Flexing your creative muscles.

Session 9: Minimize Your Costs
Appraising your worth. Choosing your battles. The principle of
economy. Becoming an invaluable asset. Ten steps that will accelerate
your personal and professional advancement. Developing a positive
image. The value of networking. Strengthening your character.

Session 10: Conserve Your Resources
The principle of security. Building your financial fortress. Securing
a positive mental attitude. Why we take things for granted. The
importance of customer service. Improving the quality of life. The
age of the independent contractor. Seizing the initiative. Battling
the know-it-all within all of us. Saving your money. The financial
secrets of self-made millionaires.

Session 11: Do the Unexpected
The principle of surprise. Satisfying the customer's appetite for
speed. Why customers love individuals. Listening to and acting on
every complaint. Your most important competitive edge. The four
levels of customer service. Learning from your rivals.

Session 12: Fulfill Your Potential
The principle of exploitation. Taking advantage of your resources.
Launching your shuttle toward success and lifetime prosperity. The
importance of strategic follow-up. The disguise of every opportunity.
Look within yourself. Determining your unique talents and abilities.
Becoming a no-limit person.

Brian Tracy International

You'll be Judged by Your Voice

From its earliest days the Net has been home to a rich variety of
voices. Never before have regular people had the means to communicate
their views to such a large and diverse audience. In fact, before the
Net came along, the power to publish lay in the hands of a few
powerful media companies alone. The best that you or I could hope for
was to find that our letter to the editor had made the cut.

The technology of the Net allowed anyone and everyone to publish
their views. From Usenet, to The Well, to a choice of thousands of
discussion lists and groups - millions of people discovered the joys
of raising their voices online.

Within this new culture, a premium was placed on voices that had a
unique and authentic character. That was how people stood out within
a text-based environment. No graphics. Nothing to see. Just words.
And the words that spread furthest were the words that carried the
unmistakable ring of an interesting voice.

The voices that attracted the widest or most attentive audiences did
so not by being loud, but by being interesting. And even being
interesting wasn't enough. There are lots of people out there with
interesting things to say. In addition, you needed to write in a way
that engaged the attention of your readers and always rang true.

This all happened before commerce came to the Web. And during that
period, people developed an uncommon sensitivity to voice online.

When commerce finally came to the Web, the writers or copywriters who
were responsible for writing commercial sites, emails and newsletters
failed to tap into the unique touch and flavor of online writing.
Instead, they simply borrowed their writing styles from what they
knew best - print and broadcast media.

And even today, companies online still don't get it. They still write
their online text in the slick, corporate style of offline writing.
The text of ecommerce has no character, no humanity, no recognizable voice.

This is a problem because your prospects and customers are quick to
ignore and skip over 'dead' text - wherever they see it.

To illustrate the point, here are two ways of talking about the new
Apple iBook laptop computer.

First, here's how Apple pitches it on their site:

The first thing you'll notice is that the iBook weighs just 4.9
pounds - almost 2 pounds lighter than before. You'll also note that
this iBook is appreciably smaller: just 11.2 inches wide, 9.1 inches
deep and 1.35 inches thick. The perfect size and shape to fit in your
backpack or briefcase. Fact is, the new iBook is designed to fit your
life. Fortunately, it's priced so you can still afford to have one.
Starting at $1,299.

With iMovie, iTunes and iTools, the new iBook is designed to work and
play with your digital tools and toys. Fact is, the iBook adds
fun-filled new dimensions to your MP3 player, music CD collection,
digital camera, DV camcorder and personal digital assistant. Your
iBook is right there at the center of it.

We'll forgive the writer for starting two sentences in the same way
with 'Fact is,'. A minor point.

But more telling is the construction and rhythm of the text. Take a
look at the four sentences at the end of the first paragraph.

The perfect size and shape to fit in your backpack or briefcase. Fact
is, the new iBook is designed to fit your life. Fortunately, it's
priced so you can still afford to have one. Starting at $1,299.

The first sentence has 12 words. The second has 11 words. The third
has 11. And the fourth and final sentence has just 3 words.

In other words, you get three sentences of equal weight and emphasis
followed by a very short, final sentence that places focus on the
price, and closes the paragraph on a high note. If you get my drift.

What's the big deal? The construction of the copy reeks of
'professional ad writer'. That's how you write for a print ad or a
catalogue. The construction is too measured, the voice too
commercial. The style is from the offline world where, as a customer,
you're meant simply to pay attention and listen to the message.

By way of comparison, here is an excerpt from an iBook review at epinions.com:

The first iBook was, like the first iMac, trying to make too radical
of a statement. The monstrosity weighed in at nearly 7 pounds. When
opened, it looked like an orange toilet seat. When closed, it looked
like a Hello Kitty purse (especially with that handle!). The colors
Apple picked made it look like a toy more than anything else. It was
underpowered and, despite Apple's greatest efforts, it was still
overpriced. The original iBook became sort of the odd little runt in
Apple's line - like the ugly duckling - and it sold like that too.

Well today is the day the little duckling turns into a beautiful
swan, and BOY whadda swan it is!

True, Apple probably wouldn't have the nerve to publish text like
this - however right the reviewer may be.

But it's not really the content I'm talking about. It's the voice and
the construction - or lack of construction - of the text. This iBook
reviewer writes pretty well, but the text isn't 'self-aware' or
'self-indulgent'. The voice is normal. It's from a regular person
with an interesting opinion.

The text has a strong character that is individual, not commercial.

And that's pretty much what I'm talking about. Real voices online
have character. And for that character to ring true in the online
environment, it has to be authentic, interesting and human. That's
why the 'toilet-seat' intro to the new iBook is so much more
compelling and powerful than the Apple version.

The voice fits with how real people communicate online in a way that
'commercial' writing never can.

And that's a good reason for us all to review our own sites, emails
and newsletters - and check for the power and authenticity of our voices.

Yes, online writers can still be 'professional'. But those
professionals, myself included, have to relearn how we write. We
can't write for print. We have to write for the online environment.

We have to learn to write with a voice that is true to our clients,
true to their customers and true to the culture of communicating
online. (And, of course, true to ourselves.)

*Nick Usborne speaks, writes, and consults on strategic copy issues
for business online.

Acceptance

<http://www.motivationalquotes.com/cgi-bin/db/db.cgi?db=db&uid=default&ID=&Quote=&Author=&Source=&Prayer=&Affirmation=&Keywords=acceptance&keyword=&mh=25&sb=---&so=asc&view_records=View+Records>Acceptance

Character Traits of Extraordinary Leaders
by <http://www.madeforsuccess.com/>Chris Widener

The success of every organization rests on the foundation of
leadership. A group of people, whether a business, organization,
family or society, can only go as far as leadership will take it.

Some people do not believe that they are leaders or even that they
can be a leader. I believe that every person is a leader in at least
one situation.

Maybe you aren't a leader at work but you are in your family or as
the soccer coach of the little league team. Somewhere you are
leading. That brings me to my final point before today's specific
topic. Here is my working definition of leadership: INFLUENCE.
Nothing more, nothing less. So as you are reading this understand
that I am giving you these thoughts in order to help you influence as
many people and in the most effective way possible

When people make a decision (either consciously or unconsciously) to
follow your leadership, they do it primarily because of one of two
things: Your Character or your Skills. They want to know if you are
the kind of person they want to follow and if you have the skills to
take them further. Yes, there are other variables but these are the
bulk of the matter. This week we focus on the kind of character that
causes people to follow your leadership.

1. Integrity. Integrity is that you do what you say you will. You are
trust worthy. People can rely on you. You keep your promises. The one
thing that will most keep people from following you is if they can't
know for sure if you will actually take them where you say you will.
Are you known as a person of integrity? If so, you will become an
Extraordinary Leader!

2. Optimistic. People don't want to follow others who think the
future is bad! They want to follow those who can see the future and
let them know that there is a better place and that they can get them
there! Do you see the cup as half empty? Then you are a pessimist. Do
you see it as half full? Then you are an optimist. Do you see it as
totally full - half air and half water? Then you are a Super
Optimist! Are you known as an optimist? If so, you will become an
Extraordinary Leader!

3. Embraces Change. Leaders are the ones who will see the need for
change and willingly embrace it. Followers will at first desire to
stay where they are. Leaders need to see the benefits of change and
communicate them to followers. If you don't change, you won't grow!
Are you known as a person who embraces change? If so, you will become
an Extraordinary Leader!

4. Risk Taker. Whenever we try something new, we are taking a risk.
That is part of growing though and it is imperative. Most people are
risk averse. Not the leader! They calculate the risk and what is to
be gained from taking the risk. Then they communicate that to the
followers and away they go to a better tomorrow! Are you known as a
person who is willing to take risks? If so, you will become an
Extraordinary Leader!

5. Tenacious. The tendency of the follower is to quit when the going
gets tough. Two or three tries and their motto becomes "If at first
you don't succeed, give up and try something else." Not the leader!
They know what good lies beyond this brick wall and they will go and
get it. Then they will bring others with them! Are you known as a
person who is tenacious? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!

6. Catalytic. A leader is ultimately one who gets people going. They
are able to move others out of their comfort zone and on toward the
goal! They can raise the passion, enthusiasm and the ACTION of those
who would follow. Are you known as a catalyst? If so, you will become
an Extraordinary Leader!

7. Dedicated/Committed. Followers want people who are more devoted
and committed then themselves. At the first sign of lack of
commitment, followers scatter for the doors. If the leader sees the
end and is bailing out, they better get out first. Followers follow
those who will stick it out because they see the importance of the
task and the goal. Are you known as a person who is committed and
devoted to the goal? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!

Imagine a sad pencil that wants all the pens of the world to
acknowledge its handsome lines, but it can't win its way! So, it
decides not to be a pencil any more. And while one end of this pained
pencil concocts ways to change itself into something that is no
longer a lead-filled stick, in the end - by the very need it has to
dream such dreams to escape itself - it remains a pencil.