Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 438, January 30-31, 2007
FREE Self
Improvement Newsletter, Click here!Please Visit Our Sponsors
Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 438, January 30-31, 2007
FREE Self
Improvement Newsletter, Click here!
Please Visit Our Sponsors
* Self Improvement and Personal Growth Weekly Newsletter
* Issue # 438, Week of January 30-31, 2007
Publisher: David Riklan -
http://www.SelfGrowth.com
In this issue:
-- Quotes of the Week
-- Personal Growth Products and Services
-- Article: Inspirational Tennis – By Dave Kurlan
-- Article: Become an Energy Banker – By Jon Gordon
-- Book Review: Take Time for Your Life: A 7-Step Program for Creating the Life
You Want – By Cheryl Richardson
-- Brief News of the World
-- How to Subscrďbe and Unsubscrďbe from this Newsletter
Current Subscribers – 253,454 subscribers.
Remöval instructions are listed at the end of the newsletter.
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*** Quotes of the Week ***
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Experience is a revelation in the light of which we renounce our errors of youth
for those of age. – Ambrose Bierce, 1842-1914, American Author/Editor/Journalist
One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to
find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do. – Henry Ford, 1863-1947,
American Industrialist and Founder of Ford Motor Company
Just as iron rusts from disuse, even so does inaction spoil the intellect. –
Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519, Italian Painter and Sculptor
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*** Article: Inspirational Tennis – By Dave Kurlan ***
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I was lucky to get some serious inspiration from sports. I played baseball, but
tennis was the sport at which I excelled. There was an annual Labor Day
Tournament where, heading into the event, I was the second seed, and my doubles
partner--now a tennis pro and the former coach to Andre Agassi--was the top
seed.
Before the tournament I had it all figured out: I would dominate the rounds
leading up to the finals, and then my doubles partner would probably beat me in
the finals.
However, when the tournament began, I played so poorly that I barely beat my
first three opponents and ended up losing in the quarterfinals.
That wasn't the outcome I'd imagined!
I was upset, humiliated, and felt I had let myself down. Sitting in the
clubhouse and acting perfectly miserable, I caught the attention of John, the
new club pro. "Is something wrong?" he asked. I whined my way through the day's
events, and he sprang into action. I was about to get the lesson of my life!
John was a professional tennis player, recently off the pro tour after several
knee surgeries. He said that I had great form, great talent, and great
expectations but that I was mentally lazy. I protested, but he offered to prove
it.
"You've seen me walk. I can't bend my right leg," he said, rolling up his pant
leg to show scars like zipper marks that went in two different directions.
"Here's what I'm going to do: I'll play against your two good legs with my one
good leg and this racket," he said after reaching for a ridiculously warped
wooden racket. (This was 1973, when wooden rackets were the preferred choice
over clunky metal ones.) "How much are you willing to wager that you can beat
me?"
Well, I thought this was free money. Here I was, a very good player and with a
good racket. He was crippled and holding a racket with which you couldn't
possibly hit a tennis ball. If I was mentally lazy, surely he was mentally
crazy. I had $50 to play with, and he accepted my wager immediately.
He limped and I jogged onto the freshly groomed, green clay court on which I'd
spent my youth playing. I served first, a hard serve inside the service court.
Imagine my surprise when John set up like a human tripod, bracing himself with
the warped wooden racket positioned so that the ball would just bounce back. He
didn't even swing that ridiculous racket, instead allowing the ball to bounce
back to me. I approached the net and pounded the ball to the other corner of the
court, but John anticipated the move and was already there in tripod position,
ready to let the ball bounce back to me.
So the play went. I would pound the ball, and he'd be there already set up, as
if he had some Star Trek "beam me up, Scotty" technology. Each time, the ball
would bounce back to my side, until I'd get frustrated, make a mistake, and lose
the point.
As the set progressed, about the only thing that changed was how long each point
lasted. The volleys became fewer, my patience shorter, my frustration greater.
By now, you can gather that this tour-hardened professional with one good leg
and a warped racket beat me 6-0. I didn't even win a single point.
We returned to the clubhouse lounge, and after my embarrassment and anger
subsided, he replayed the entire set--point-for-point and almost
ball-for-ball--to explain everything I did mentally to get in my own way, raise
my level of frustration, and eventually beat myself.
He went on to share some of the best lessons on goal setting, motivation,
inspiration, and controlling my emotions that I would ever hear, and I've been
teaching them ever since. "Your tournament goal was to get into the
finals--nothing wrong with that," he said. "But you didn't have a more specific
goal or a plan that you could execute. You have the skills, desire, and good
intentions, and you're a better player than the other players you met today.
Without setting specific goals and making a plan to achieve them you are
unprepared for what is to come, haven't rehearsed for the various possible
outcomes, and won't be able to control your reactions. You're being mentally
lazy."
He said that before I could win a tournament I had to win a match.
Before I could win a match I had to win a set. Before I could win a set I had to
win a game. Before I could win a game I had to win a point.
Before I could win a point I had to return the ball one more time than my
opponent did. And, most importantly, before I could return the ball one more
time than my opponent could I had to get to where the ball would be, set myself
up, and be in a position to hit it before the ball arrived. He said, "And if you
perfect that one thing--taking care of positioning, setting up, and executing,
returning the ball where you want it to go--and do it consistently, you will
beat everyone you ever play against!"
It was so simple--and it took time to get it right--but that lesson propelled my
tennis game to the next level and formed the foundation of my future career in
sales development consulting.
How does that lesson apply to you? Suppose your goal is to land a great new job.
You can't land that job until you interview with a decision maker. You can't
interview with a decision maker until you have a phone conversation with someone
in Human Resources. You can't have a conversation with HR until you call them.
You can't call them until you've responded to a newspaper ad or Internet posting
by submitting your résumé. You can't submit your résumé until you identify a
position for which you are qualified.
If you perfect one thing--dialing the phone and having effective conversations
with prospective employers--and do it consistently, you will get that great new
job you are looking to land.
Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by what we have to do. Other times, we aren't
properly prepared to accomplish our goals. The next time you find yourself in
either of these situations, ask yourself the following questions.
* What are the components or steps that would lead to a successful outcome?
* In what order must these steps be accomplished?
* What must be done in order to complete each step successfully?
* When can you start?
* How much time do you need?
* What resources do you require?
* Is your plan realistic?
When you're feeling overwhelmed or you need to make sure that you are properly
prepared, break the goal down into the smallest manageable parts by following
the simple steps outlined above.
About the Author:
This article was written by Dave Kurlan, contributing author to "101 Great Ways
to Improve Your Life: Volume 2." Dave is the founder of Objective Management
Group, Inc.,
http://www.objectivemanagement.com. He is also an author, a top-rated
speaker -- internationally known for his ground-breaking work in evaluating
salespeople -- and the developer of the Dave Kurlan Sales Force Profile. Also
visit his other sites:
http://BaselineSelling.com,
http://OMGEvaluation.Blogspot.com,
or http://www.squidoo.com/davekurlan
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*** Article: Become an Energy Banker – By Jon Gordon ***
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Ask my friends at Wachovia Bank in Florida what it means to be an Energy Banker
and they'll be able to sound off the answer quicker than this week's mortgage
and CD rates. I recently gave a seminar to 150 of their employees and they
learned that how we invest our energy is even more important than how we invest
our money. Because if we don't have the energy to get out of bed, it doesn't
matter how much money we have in the bank. Money can't make your life enjoyable
if you don't have the energy to enjoy it.
I receive many emails and phone calls from people all over the world that are
looking for their energy, happiness, and light. Many of these emails include
stories of burn out, stress, fatigue, and procrastination. I hear comments such
as, "You know, I really wanted to come to see you speak, but I just didn't have
the energy to come to your energy seminar." Or someone will come up to me and
say, "I've really wanted to get your book, but I've just been so busy and
tired," or "I have your free 10 day plan but I just can't seem to find the time
to start it."
While I have a lot of compassion for these people because I truly understand how
busy and tired they are, I also want to energize them and say, "YOU MUST INVEST
A LITTLE ENERGY TO CREATE MORE ENERGY." You must think of yourself as an Energy
Banker and invest your energy where you will see the biggest returns. Whether
it's my book, Wayne Dyer's books, or another book that will energize you--make
the investment. It's worth the $15-$20. The problem is that most people would
rather spend $15-$20 on a few double lattes, energy drinks, donuts, and cans of
soda... then wonder why they don't have any energy. We get so caught up in the
day-to-day rat race that we don't realize the time and energy we waste on poor
energy investments. We say we don't have time to improve our lives and yet we
take the same amount of time it would take to improve our life complaining about
not having time. We want the quick fix, but quick fixes never work. Just like in
banking, if it sounds too good to be true... it probably is. Investing in your
energy takes a little time, a little energy, and a simple choice to invest in
positive people, positive habits, and positive mindsets that provide you with
sustained sources of energy.
Becoming an Energy Banker is not complicated. Making small, consistent energy
investments each day is the key to long-term success, just as a $5-dollar-a-day
financial investment provides you with a few million dollars in 20-30 years.
Start slow, pace yourself, and be smart with your investments. Like the first
brick laid in building a massive high rise, your energy is the foundation of
your life. Make simple, small energy investments each day and watch your health,
happiness, and success compound with growth greater than you ever imagined.
So today, right now, decide to become an Energy Banker. Use the following action
steps and enjoy results that will pay incredible dividends and provide you with
a rich, rewarding, and energetic life.
Take Stock. Take out a sheet of paper. On one side, make a list of things that
drain your energy such as negative people, poor eating habits, lack of
sufficient sleep, lack of exercise, anger, resentment, fear, and anxiety. On the
other side, make a list of things that increase your energy, such as the things
that bring you happiness in your life, positive people, exercise, your favorite
song, nutritious foods, and perhaps even your favorite place. Make a conscious
choice to remove the energy drainers and invest more on the energy boosters.
Invest in Yourself. Take time for yourself every day. Even if you just start
with a 10-minute break and sit in a quite place, it will energize you.
Grow. Buy one book, any book, that you believe will help you improve your life.
Read it. Schedule time each day and consider this an investment in your
continuing education and self-development. Just as workplace training is
imperative for you to stay at the top of your field, personal growth and
empowerment is important for your life.
Eat for ENERGY. Visit my archived newsletter page at
http://www.jongordon.com/newsletter_archive.html to view past
newsletters with recommendations for eating foods that will increase your
energy.
Fuel up your life. Go to my fuel for you page and do the simple 15 action steps
on that page.
http://www.jongordon.com/fuel.html
Be a Smart Investor. Every day you'll encounter situations that can either be a
good energy investment or a bad one. Before you act, take a moment to think
about your personal energy account. Are you about to make a deposit or a
withdrawal?
About the Author:
Jon Gordon, known internationally as "The Energy Addict," is an energy coach,
teacher, and author of "The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and
Team with Positive Energy." For free energy tips and more about Jon, visit
http://www.energyaddict.com
** Buy Jon's new book, "The Energy Bus," and get instant access to a great
selection of FREE gifts! Learn more at
http://www.jongordon.com/energybuspromo.html
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*** Book Review: Take Time for Your Life: A 7-Step Program for Creating the Life
You Want – By Cheryl Richardson ***
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Personal coach Cheryl Richardson helps people create the lives they want. In
"Take Time for Your Life," she shows you how to switch from being stressed,
unfulfilled, and overworked, to "living a life you love"
by using a seven-step process.
First, she gives you permission to "make the quality of your life your top
priority" by honoring your self-care--a difficult choice for fast-track readers,
but essential. Putting yourself at the top of your "to do" list will help you
connect your head with your heart and enhance your satisfaction and joy. Next,
you define your priorities and revise your schedule so it reflects them. Then
you figure out what actions, issues, and people are draining your energy and
start to "plug those drains." The next step is getting your financial house in
order. And so on, through seven progressive strategies that free you to live an
authentic, high-quality life, embracing your spiritual, emotional, and financial
well-being.
Richardson recommends enlisting a friend to work through the book with
you: a fine idea to help you benefit from all the guidance that this book
offers. Resource lists at the end of each chapter let you pursue topics further.
Highly recommended. --Joan Price
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