70 posts categorized "Abundance"

May 31, 2011

Gratitude Is A Compound Word: Gracious + Attitude

During my book tour, I've met a lot of great people.

One of the most remarkable was a driver, that took me to my hotel in Denver. His name is Shawn, and prior to being a driver, he was a nurse at an assisted living facility. I told him about Today We Are Rich, and the principle of gratitude. When anyone asks me why I'm in town, I talk about the book and Billye.

He responded that his grandmother taught him gratitude too, and how important it was to your attitude and behavior. He said that until he was an adult, he thought that gratitude was a compound word: Gracious + Attitude. His grandmother said that being grateful wasn't just about saying thanks or appreciating the source. Gratitude should make you polite, forgiving and thoughtful - gracious. (See his video interview)

This is why I start off every day with a Gratitude Exercise. It begins the day by injecting gratefulness into my psyche. In the book, I explain that this will increase your confidence by telling you that "you are not alone." My conversation with Shawn takes it a step further, beyond the appreciation or 'thanks for the help' expression.

Gratitude can/should/must transform your attitude. It should make you empathetic and sympathetic to others, especially those that might irritate, annoy or disappoint you. You should be forgiving, loving and understanding when you are grateful. As Billye taught me growing up, "you can't be hateful when you are grateful."

So start off tomorrow with gratitude, fill yourself up to the brim, and measure your attitude all day long with this thought: Gratitude should lift my attitude, making me the giver, lover and helper all day long.

Try this one next time you are traveling for business! Be gracious when the flight is delayed. Be gracious when going through security or boarding the plane. Be gracious as you go from the airport to the hotel, to dinner and to meetings. I promise, you'll enjoy this trip living in the good loop!

May 26, 2011

What Executive Coach and Author Scott Eblin Learned from His Rock

Billye, Tim’s Grandma, raised him from the age of 5 and became his "rock" in life. She taught him principles that grounded him and helped him succeed later as an adult. Her influence, words and love had profound effect on Tim’s life and inspired his book "Today We Are Rich." Think of a particular person who has had a similar impact on your life. Who was that person and how did, or do, you know them?

My grandfather, Leonard Eblin. To me, he was Pa-Pa..

How did they help to shape your life or life philosophies?

Before I was born, Pa-Pa was a Scoutmaster who took troops of Scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico on a regular basis. When I was old enough as a little guy to understand what he was doing, I desperately wanted to go to Philmont with him. Of course, I wasn't old enough to do that as a six or seven year old but as soon as I was old enough I joined the Cub Scouts because that was the way I'd get to do what Pa-Pa was doing. That path eventually led to me becoming an Eagle Scout. Like they say, once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout. The tenets of the Scout Law, trustworthy, brave, loyal, thrifty, brave, clean, reverent and all the rest have been guideposts for me throughout my life.

Tell us about a specific lesson you learned from them, or a piece of advice they gave to you?

My grandfather was very practical. Two lessons from him really stick with me. First, when you're camping in cold weather, always change out of the clothes you wore all day before getting into your sleeping bag. The reason is the sweat that's retained in your clothes from the activity of the day will give you the chills at night. The second big lesson from Pa-Pa is to serve others. He was 93 when he died and he helped build over 50 houses for Habitat for Humanity between ages 75 and 85. I'm still a lot younger than that but aspire to serve in the way he did.

Have you ever drifted away from their grounding advice? What price did you pay?

There have certainly been times when I've been more focused on the extrinsic markers of success than the more intrinsic ones I learned from Pa-Pa. I don't have any dramatic stories of failure from those times but definitely recognize the difference in my overall peace of mind and happiness.

Find out more about Leonard Eblin at http://scotteblin.typepad.com/blog/2008/08/a-good-scout.html

Find out more about Scott Eblin, executive coach and author of The Next Level: What Insiders Know About Executive Success at:

www.eblingroup.com (company site)
www.scotteblin.com (leadership blog)
@scotteblin (Twitter)
The Eblin Group (Facebook)

From Tim Sander's to Scott's grandfather, Leonard Eblin, we want to thank you for helping make Scott who he is today. You have helped make the world a better place.

This interview is part of a series of interviews focusing on some of the great Rocks that have influenced our lives. Just as Tim's new Book, Today We Are Rich, shares what he learned from his rock, Billye, we want to pass on the knowledge of some other great rocks out there.

Rock on! Be a Rock, or applaud a Rock you know.

Was your grandma your Rock, or did she have some grate advice? Tell us on Great Stuff My Grandma Said.

May 13, 2011

Sideways: Here's a question that can change your life

The key to getting back on your feet again is likely inside you.

That's what I learned in my encounter with Eric (as told in my new book) about a decade ago. He was a rock star during the boom, was rattled by the dotcom bust and recession - and found himself going sideways for an entire year.

He was suffering a "personal recession" where he stopped growing as a person, leading and believing in himself. It's very natural for all of us to experience this when faced with economic adversity and prolonged periods of uncertainty. We stop boning up for the future and just focus on "getting by." That's what it means to move sideways, wasting valuable time and letting our lack of emotional control eat away at us.

What can you do? Ask yourself, "What am I not doing today that I was doing back in the day, when I was on top?" Think about where you put your energy. What was your focus point of attention. Who were you giving to and how often? These sub-questions may shake loose the personal performance techniques you were using when you were rocking it. Sure, there was probably a market-tailwind, giving your circumstantial confidence - and a freedom to invest in yourself and others too.

Don't wait for the market or your pocketbook to starting investing, giving and Going Positive again. The recession didn't happen because you were studying up, reaching out, being social or mentoring others. If not now, when will your good biz-habits of 2006 really move the needle at work?

Ask yourself these questions, discover your personal growth strategy and end your personal recession. NOW. While you go sideways, others move forward and leap over you with their faith. Besides, are you really happy being stuck in time?

May 10, 2011

Michael Gilbert, Chief Executive Officer of element6, on Feeding Your Mind Good Stuff

An excerpt from the forward of the Michael Gilbert Edition of Feed Your Mind Good Stuff (an excerpt from the book, Today We Are Rich)

Why do you think it’s important to Feed Your Mind Good Stuff?

As a successful entrepreneur for 16 years (and 14 businesses) I have found the businesses that failed were a direct result of focusing on the negatives instead of the positives. One business I started was the first company in the country to launch wireless broadband in Republic, Missouri alongside Motorola. That did not guarantee our success. Years after we shuttered that business I realized there were many things we could have done to make it a success. I believe the main reason wasn’t lack of funding, lack

of know how, or lack of sales. It was the negative people we had associ- ated ourselves with. They focused on the negatives, instead of the posi- tives. That was reflected in our concentration of our competition and lack of funding. If we had focused on the positives we could have come up with different solutions that are now evident to me. Now I realize that negative people influence me much more that positive people. They are like a virus. If you don’t feed your mind positive and motivating thoughts and associate yourself with positive poeople, you’ll get caught up in their illness and soon you’ll be spreading the disease as well.

How has this changed your life or improved your performance?

In our current business we have “Ferris Bueller’s Day off DAY”. It’s the day that any employee can call in sick, with pay, if they are in a bad or negative mood. Negativity is an illness. It spreads through the office like a plague...

Click here to read Michael Gilbert's entire forward from Today We Are Rich - Principle 1 - Feed Your Mind Good Stuff.

Because the seven principles of confident living are principles that some of the most successful people you know live by, I wanted to provide a forum for these same people to tell you why they love this book. Each custom edition features a special forward written by our participants. Find out more about the Today We Are Rich Custom Editions here.

April 28, 2011

Dr. Joey Faucette, Speaker, Author & Coach, on his two rocks, his Grandaddy Greene and my dad, Lonnie Faucette

How did they help to shape your life or life philosophies?

My Grandaddy Greene and my Dad shaped my life both sharing when I would listen and modeling when I was “sideways” to use Tim’s description. Both of these men gave generously to others from their hearts and their wallets, constantly in search of ways to assist others. Gratitude motivated both of them, and they moved about their lives in ways that were humble and grounded in integrity. When either of them told you something they would do for you, all doubt was removed. It would get done. And they expected the same from me as their son and grandson.

Tell us about a specific lesson you learned from them, or a piece of advice they gave to you?

Grandaddy Greene was a crop farmer, dairy farmer, and ran a country store—at heart, an entrepreneur. Whether planting corn, herding cows, or chewing the fat with the men who hung out around the pot belly stove in his store, my Grandaddy had a respect for all of life that shaped my core values today. His respect for the earth meant that we sought to understand her need to receive as well as give us food. That meant we protected her from erosion, saw to it that her nutrient levels were sustained, and insured she lay fallow when needed. “The land must rest like us,” he said.

We respected the cows as well, knowing that they gave us more milk when fed appropriately, richer milk when fed well, and always cared for in such a way that prevented illness. And when the heifer bellowed all night because she was separated from her new-born calf, we understood that grief comes to us all.

We respected the men who hung out in the country store even when they didn’t spend a dime. “His crops failed this year,” my Grandaddy explained when I asked why someone took a stick of bologna and hoop of cheese home without paying. “He has children to feed. You will too one day,” he said. “Someone helped me. Now it’s my turn to return the favor.”

He was, at heart, an entrepreneur who respected all of life.

Lonnie Faucette (my dad): His constant refrain to me was, “Son, get all the education you can because no one can ever take it away from you.” This from a man who wasn’t a stellar student in school, repeating the third grade, and just completing his high school diploma. However, as a young man in his early 20s with a new baby (me), he took a job working with computers for a national department store, learning on the job everyday and diligently paying his dues to move up the corporate ladder. Eventually he became a Data Processing Manager and later an IT Director. He was passed over by other corporations for high-profile positions because he lacked a college degree. Yet, he learned informally everything required to excel in his work. Sure, I heeded his advice, eventually completing a doctorate degree. However, my greatest learning was that education comes to those who want to learn in any given situation, formally or informally.

Have you ever drifted away from their grounding advice? What price did you pay?

Haven’t we all gone sideways?

When I lost respect for others, I realized one day that I first lost respect for myself. I became confused and thought that I was to be served, not serve. The bitterness and cynicism I experienced at trying to do life my way choked me. Fortunately I caught my breath and began living again. The price for turning blue as I held my breath was my investment—sweat equity—in guaranteeing that I would remain focused on respecting all of life and learning everyday.

Find out more about Dr. Joey Faucette, Speaker, Author & Coach - Receive a free positive story weekdays & discover how to Work Positive at www.ListentoLife.org

From Tim Sander's to Dr. Faucette's dad and granddaddy, we want to thank you for helping make Joey who he is today. You have helped make the world a better place.

Rock on! Be a Rock, or applaud a Rock you know.

April 27, 2011

The best gift to give on Administrative Professional's Day: Knowledge!

To commemorate Administrative Professional's Day, my friend Jonathan Spring is giving Laura, his administrative assistant, a copy of What The CEO Wants You to Know by Ram Charan. Why? Because Laura is a smart young person whose hero is Colleen Barrett of Southwest Airlines.

Colleen, too, was once an admin. In fact she was once Southwest CEO Herb Kelleher's admin. When they worked at a different company. Over time, Colleen matured into a savvy professional, so savvy that when Herb Kelleher took over Southwest, he hired Colleen away from her old job. Today she's the president of the airline. My friend Jonathan knows that anyone who wants to be the next Colleen Barrett must have a basic understanding of how companies work. And so he's passing along to Laura the greatest gift of all: knowledge.

Called National Secretary Day when it was first celebrated 50 years ago, now called Administrative Professional's Day, April 24th is more than a chance to recognize your assistant, helper, secretary, or whatever you want to call him/her. It's a chance to stage a positive experience, to inspire your most valuable resource, and to promote growth. What does the day really celebrate? Type in the phrase in a search engine and a host of information comes up. One web site actually claims that the day is a conspiracy made up for FTD and other related service industries. Actually, the day was invented to promote the secretarial profession. PR maven Harry F. Klemfuss of Young and Rubicam, Mary Barrett of the National Secretaries Association, and C. King Woodbridge of the Dictaphone Corporation created and launched this day, along with National Secretaries Week, in 1952. Their objective wasn't commercialism or placation. It was "to recognize the secretary, upon whose skills, loyalty, and efficiency the functions of business and government offices depend".

While the titles change and evolve over time, the celebration should continue. Despite computers and downsizing, administrative professionals make businesses run smoothly. They are taking on more technology requirements and handling more management activities than their 1952 counterparts. Harry and friends had the right idea: celebrate the profession and promote solid business values. It's just that over the last five decades the execution has become totally commercialized and the event is de-personalized.

Re-personalize it. These last twelve months have been an amazing challenge to everyone in your company. Nobody feels the pain like your administrative professionals. They have to roll with the your moods, with job stability, with communicating changes and executing everything others think up. This last few years has meant more fear, less pay, and more work than ever. During tough times, people continue to search for answers, and too often alone. As a result, I think the bosses of the world are blowing it. They are ghetto-izing this opportunity. Think of the normal gifts you people give--chocolates, flowers, photograph frames (so they can put your picture in it?), greeting cards. Do you really think these are the best gifts? Think about it. These are not professional gifts that recognize someone's intellectual and material contribution. These gifts only recognize your lack of imagination.

The third week of each April, and particularly the third Wednesday, is a special time just for YOUR administrative professional. It's your chance to shine. You can be a dynamite boss or a dud, it's your choice. The hint? Don't give the standard clinker. The solution is simple; personalize your expression and promote your AP's growth. In a recent poll taken by the International Association of Administrative Professionals respondents were asked how they'd like this special day observed. Almost one fourth responded that they'd prefer a training session or educational event. Only two percent responded that they'd like candy or flowers, while only four percent preferred being taken to lunch.

In my first book, Love is the Killer App, I define BizLove as the intelligent sharing of intangibles (knowledge, network and compassion) to promote another person's growth. To give some growth, give some Bizlove, in the form of a great book. You can make a profound difference on someone's life with just the right message. Which book to give? Think about a person's dreams, interests, and business challenges. Have a conversation with him/her as you research the gift. They will be happy to tell you about books they want to read, subjects they're curious about, ideas they want to pursue.

A great book is a gift that keeps giving. As Cicero once said: "Books are the wise man's passport to success and greatness. Books are the thresholds to wonder; the gateways to enlightenment; the foundations of virtue; and the pediment of honor."

Here are some of my recent book recommendations

April 26, 2011

Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker and Investor, Rajesh Setty on Feeding Your Mind Good Stuff

An excerpt from the forward of the Rajesh Setty Edition of Feed Your Mind Good Stuff (an excerpt from the book, Today We Are Rich)

Today We Are Rich is a gem of a book. Just the chapter alone on “Feed Your Mind Good Stuff” is worth the price of the book and more.

When I was an Engineering student, one of my teachers who used to teach us about computers told me about a term GIGO (Gar- bage-In-Garbage-Out) - referring to the way computers process things. He used to say that computers are not intelligent or not intelligent - they are indifferent. It is the human beings that can use computers intelligently to make the most out of them.

Our brains work almost in a similar fashion. You feed them good stuff and you get good results and you feed them bad stuff and you get bad results...

Click here to read the entire forward and see Rajesh Setty's highlighted text from Today We Are Rich - Principle 1 - Feed Your Mind Good Stuff.

April 25, 2011

Question and Answer about the Devil's Advocate

From time to time, I write about something that really stirs people up. In 2010, I wrote a blog post called "The Problem With Devil's Advocates" and it got a lot of engagement. It was also expanded on as a concept in Today We Are Rich (move the conversation forward). Since then, I've talked to several people that needed additional clarifications on the subject, since it's a habit that many leaders create to 'add value.' Here (with the author's permission) is one of those Q/A sessions.

QUESTION: Dear Mr. Sanders,

Enjoyed your interview with Robert Pagliarini-- great stuff, thank you! I do have a question. You expressed disdain for the playing of "devil's advocate". In my organization and teams, I often assume this role, particularly when discussing a possible idea or new direction with my business partner. It's certainly not bullying (not my personality), but I see it as a way to make sure we understand and consider the risks and costs of the proposed idea or strategy, so that we are going in with our eyes open. I am sure I am misunderstanding your point somehow, but it sounded to me almost like you were saying we should just "focus on the positive" and ignore any alternative viewpoints, evidence to the contrary, or possibility of failure or harm coming to us as a result of our decision. You mentioned, "You don't come up with breakthrough solutions playing devil's advocate". I suppose that's true, though, would you agree that playing devil's advocate can be a way to "vet" an idea? If you'd be willing to provide some clarification, I'd sure appreciate it. I know your time is very valuable. Thank you. Ryan Levesque eBookIt.com

ANSWER: Hello Ryan -

Nothing is absolute, and at certain companies, their are leaders who manage 'group think' - but it is a strategic assignment. You may be the exception to the rule. My issue is that Devil's Advocate is misunderstood. In the book, I explain it was invented by the Catholic church hundreds of years ago to prevent a 'bad guy' from being canonized. Attorneys were assigned to do it, only once, and in many cases it was career suicide.

In our culture, far too many people (wracked with jealousy or devoid of creativity) evoke the D.A. Approach as a linguistic form of 'catch up.' They aren't doing it, as you do, to protect the organization. In any collaboration (tech labs to comedy), this rampant approach is a killer to the critical 'yes-and' approach to disruptive innovation.

If you read the book, and I hope you do, I make it very clear that the banker OR the resource giving leader MUST play the Devil's Advocate on the part of the enterprise. But the junior leaders need to focus on problem solving, innovation and encouraging other to bring ideas to work and spin them up into breakthrough strategies.

Got a question about Today We Are Rich? Email me at tim (at) timsanders.com

April 22, 2011

Who Is Your Neighbor? (Hint: Everyone!)

This morning, as I prepared my talk for the Anaheim YMCA's 44th annual Good Friday Breakfast, I pondered the Good Samaritan story from the book of Luke about the Good Samaritan. In it, a doubting lawyer asks Christ what it takes to be a good person. He's reminded of the commandment to "love your neighbor as you love yourself." When faced with such a blanket rule, he probes...

"But who is my neighbor?"

At this point, The Good Samaritan story is revealed where the least likely passerby decides to aid a person who has been attacked by bandits left half-dead on the side of the road. A high priest avoided the victim. A temple aid was curious, but didn't get involved. The Samaritan, traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was the one who came to the victim's aid. According to some theologians, Samaritans were despised in Jericho as a result of prejudice. So the Samaritan was a stranger in a hostile land, on a trip to support his family and business. During my book signing today, a local priest who's visited Jericho revealed something to me: Between Jericho and Jerusalem is a road known as the "Valley of the shadow of death." But yet, the Samaritan saw the victim as his neighbor and showed him love and mercy.

The point of the story is deep, and likely draws the lines in our lives: Which one of the three was the neighbor to the man in need? The one who showed compassion. The priest likely avoided the situation because it wasn't a member of his church. The aid didn't act because he didn't recognize the victim and getting involved looked like trouble. The Samaritan didn't care - he was activated to act like a neighbor because of 2 things:

1. The victim was in dire need - If not him, then who?

2. The Samaritan had means to make a difference.

3. The Samaritan was truly a man of faith, not appearance or convenience. He likely was giving his way out of uncertainty on the road to Jericho,

As I travel on this book launch tour, I'm finding neighbors everywhere. They need my politeness, my positive demeanor, my compassion if they are in need. I see others, who tightly draw the lines around the definition of "neighbor". Too often though, I see others who behave like the priest (why me?) or the temple aid (looks like trouble). This explains so much of the trouble in our world, and our potential to become a person of significance. Commit yourself today to expand the circle of neighbor-ness, if you do, you'll make your mark for sure. So who is our neighbor? Anyone that needs us to help. Everyone we can find to enrich. Please think about this over the weekend and in the coming days.

This blog post may be preachy, but I share it because it aligns with my personal mission statement: Promote good works and outbursts of Love. As we gather in public (or online), encourage others to do the same!

Have a great Easter Sunday.

April 21, 2011

What Jim Grillo, CMP of hereschicago.com, has to say about his Rock

My dad. He used to work from home for his company. He formed my opinion of how work life is supposed to be and it definitely is not in the “rat race” driving in rush hour traffic to and from work and especially punching in a time clock. Therefore, I sought to do the same and opened up my own home based business www.hereschicago.com which I still run out of my 2^nd bedroom every day for the last 7 years.

It instilled comfort and confidence for me as I know there is no other option than to succeed. This helped me to not only start my business, but, helped me stay in my business which allows me the freedom to do make my own decisions personally and professionally, spend time with family and friends and provides flexibility to contribute and give back to our industry with volunteering.

Tell us about a specific lesson you learned from them, or a piece of advice they gave to you?

I learned confidence and to instill comfort to others close to me no matter the situation. Since I have comfort and confidence instilled in me from growing up with someone who has conveyed this no matter what, I now convey this to friends, colleagues and family no matter what. This applies to any situation a friend or colleague discusses with me. It is my personal obligation to never show fear and to help others channel their fear into progress.

Have you ever drifted away from their grounding advice? What price did you pay?

Great question. I am sure that occasionally I drift from his advice as I am only human, however, I have never drifted from the core advice which always keeps me on the road he provided. I “swerve” once in awhile, but, never drive off the road.

Jim Grillo, CMP is an internet entrepreneur and founder of Hereschicago.com, Chicago’s online resource directory featuring Chicago’s top meeting and event venues and event service providers. You can find Jim at:
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From Tim Sander's to Jim's dad, we want to thank you for helping make Jim who he is. You have helped make the world a better place.