Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 480, November 20-21, 2007
FREE Self
Improvement Newsletter, Click here!Please Visit Our Sponsors
Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 480, November 20-21, 2007
FREE Self
Improvement Newsletter, Click here!
Please Visit Our Sponsors
* Self Improvement and Personal
Growth Weekly Newsletter *
Issue # 480, Week of November 20-21, 2007
Publisher: David Riklan -
http://www.SelfGrowth.com
In this issue:
-- Quotes of the Week
-- Personal Growth Products and Services
-- Article: Breaking Away -- Dealing With Life When It Breaks Down - By Jim M.
Allen
-- Article: Seven Steps to Maximizing the Power of Association - By Jill Koenig
-- Book Review: It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with
Less Stuff - By Peter Walsh
-- How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe from this Newsletter
Current Subscribers - 262,412 subscribers
Removal instructions are listed at the
end of the newsletter.
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*** Quotes of the Week ***
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Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character. - Albert Einstein,
1879-1955, German-born American Physicist
No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to
change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change. - Barbara
De Angelis, American Author and Expert on Relationships and Personal Growth
It is better to know nothing than to know what ain't so. - Josh Billings,
1818-1885, American Humorist and Lecturer
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*** Personal Growth Products and Services ***
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** How to Add a Description of Your Website Here **
If you want to share information about your website, your business or your
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----------------------------------------------------
*** Article: Breaking Away -- Dealing With Life When It Breaks Down - By
Jim M. Allen ***
----------------------------------------------------
It started with the toaster.
My wife and I get up one weekend morning, plug in our humble little toasting
machine, drop in a few slices of bread, then sit back and wait for toast.
One minute goes by, then another, then another, and then still another. By
now we should have made charcoal let alone toast, so we go take a look...
Now, operating a toaster is not complicated. There are just a few
"necessities" involved in the process of making toast. We'd done all of
those things (plugged it in, put in bread, pushed the lever down), but
nothing happened. The heating coils weren't hot and definitely weren't
heating.
Our toaster was toast.
A few weeks later, we bought a new barbeque grill. In the process of putting
it together -- or rather, the process of trying to put it together -- my
electric screw gun seized up and stopped working. Just like that. Kaput.
A few days later, I went to shave with my infrequently-used electric razor.
I plugged it in, hit the "on" button, and nada. Nothing. I have a four-day
stubble and it's getting worse...
And last but not least, my PDA, which I use to stay organized, has seen fit
to be unfit and is leaving me completely disorganized as I track down why it
magically stopped interfacing with my computer.
I'll admit that I'm no genius, but even I can figure out that somebody's
trying to tell me something. Stuff breaks for a reason. It's a sign. It
means something. It means a couple of things, actually:
1. Fix What Ain't Working
Maybe it's simply a broken toaster. Maybe it's the failing plan that you
have to do X, Y, and Z. Regardless, you have to do something about it. That
is, if you want to get back to eating toast.
If you can't fix it, hire somebody who can.
If they can't fix it, get rid of it. You don't need it sitting around taking
up time, space, and energy. Yep, I said energy... See, every time you pass
by your broken, irreparable widget, your mind will spend some time and
energy thinking about it. So save yourself the hassle and get rid of it now.
2. Take Care of What Ain't Broken Before It Gets That Way
I'm not going to tell you that you can beat science. After all, whether it's
a razor or a screw-gun or an ecosystem, entropy's at work, constantly
breaking stuff down. It's chaos, but hey, that's life!
The smart thing to do is to plan for that in the beginning. Expect that
things will go wrong, will wear down.
Things, peoples, plans, ideas all benefit from regular upkeep and
maintenance. And you'll benefit from them for much longer by it, too.
Regular care, preventive care, is always easier, more enjoyable, and less
expensive than REPAIRS.
3. It Ain't Fixed If It Keeps Breaking
Yeah, you'd think this was pretty common sense, but lots of people seem to
miss this point:
If stuff keeps breaking, you have not fixed the real problem.
So dig a little deeper next time and get to the real problem, whatever it
is, and solve that; otherwise you'll just be right back where you started
from!
By keeping these three things in mind and staying tuned to the signals
you're getting from the people (and things) in your life, you can break the
cycle of breakdowns and start living a happier, less stressful life -- a
clean break to a life free from costly and annoying breakdowns.
About the Author:
Jim M. Allen, The Big Life GuyT, a professional success coach, has been
working with clients from around the world since 1999. For more ideas, visit
his website, http://www.BigIdeaCoach.com
or subscribe to his free ezine, The
Big Idea, by going to
http://www.BigIdeaCoach.com/subscribe.html
Check out the Experts page for Jim M. Allen, the Official SelfGrowth.com
Guide to Success Coaching:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/jim_allen.html
----------------------------------------------------
*** Article: Seven Steps to Maximizing the Power of Association - By Jill
Koenig ***
----------------------------------------------------
There is a saying that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. And one
negative person can affect everyone they come into contact with.
I was recently sharing some of my short-term business Goals with someone in
my professional peer network.
While I do have a tendency to aim high and set some outrageous Goals, I also
have the drive and determination to take decisive action, advance them at a
rapid pace, and see them through to completion.
When I shared my exciting Goals with my "friend," their response was not
encouraging and enthusiastic. All I got was negativity and discouragement. I
knew this friend was having some personal struggles, but I intuitively
realized I needed to separate myself from them for the time being.
I realized a pattern had been developing, where every time we talked, I felt
emotionally drained after the conversation.
Have you ever had that experience?
There are times in life when some of the people around you become a bit
toxic to you.
They complain a lot, they whine, their attitudes are poor, and they act
helpless. I have a tendency to try and shine the light on all of the good
around them and within them, but sometimes even that is unwelcome. There is
a wall of resistance. You can tell because they would rather have a big old
pity party, blame others, and be the victim than transform themselves into a
more positive resourceful state.
I love coaching people in how to turn things around. It's easy to do with
coaching clients because they pay for that expertise and are typically
looking for change. There is nothing wrong with being stuck; however, no one
is obligated to be on the receiving end of someone else's drama or drain.
I believe in serving others, but sometimes the people around you are not
receptive to your kind efforts. No matter how hard you try to serve them,
sometimes they try to drag you down. I could not remember even one recent
conversation where I felt good after a discussion with this particular
person.
That's when I knew... it was time to limit my association with them.
Often when you share your Goals with people, they see everything from their
own lens, from their own perspective, and ultimately from their lack of
vision and their own limiting beliefs. This is one of the reasons it is so
important to have a coach and/or a mentor. Your coach's job is not to judge,
but rather to guide you and help you find the way to your Goals.
Seven Steps for Maximizing the Power of Association
1. Be selective about which Goals you share with which people. Whenever you
share your Goals or ask for feedback, consider the source. Ask yourself, Is
this the right person to share this particular goal with? Will this person
be objective, or will they be negative, cynical, and critical?
It is inevitable that some people around you right now might not understand
what you are trying to accomplish. Perhaps they are even a little (or a lot)
competitive with you. Sometimes they are downright jealous. Sometimes they
are afraid if you become successful, you will leave them.
2. Do not allow other people to determine your chances of success. Ever.
What seems impossible for them may very well be within your reach, range,
and ability, especially if it is something you are passionately committed to
achieving.
If I allowed other people's opinions to sway me from my Goals, I would have
never become a cadet (junior firefighter) at the age of 13.
I would have never become a firefighter/EMT at the age of 18.
I would have never painted works of art in my early 20's that are now
hanging in government buildings and on the walls of some pretty remarkable
people.
I would have never started a business of my own, not to mention built the
network of companies that were once only a dream and are now a bright,
shining reality, and been working with amazing people from all over the
world.
I would not be talking to you right now.
I want you to think about the people in your peer network right now.
3. Make a list of your current associations (both professionally and
personally). On paper, write down the names of everyone you came into
contact with in the past few months.
On the list include all of your friends, your family, your coworkers, and
acquaintances.
Everyone.
4. Determine who among them is positive and encouraging. Thank them.
Seriously, write them a note, send them a card, or even give them a phone
call and just say "Thank you. Your support and encouragement mean so much to
me." Tell them what it means to you.
5. Determine who among the list of people is negative, draining, and toxic
to you. Perhaps it's time to limit your association with them. Limited
associations mean you still love a person, but you do not obligate yourself
to spend time with them or talk frequently with them if they repeatedly have
a negative impact on you. Sometimes the only way to salvage a relationship
is to take a break from it.
6. Get rid of the energy vampires. I mean it. I'm talking about those dream
stealers. Don't give them your time anymore, and if for some reason you must
interact with them for professional reasons, limit your time with them. You
be the judge on whether or not they are adding to or taking from your energy
and what level of interaction seems wise.
You will become like the people you surround yourself with.
You need to continually monitor the effect of the people around you.
Sometimes you need to reduce the time you spend or sometimes drop the dead
weight and excess baggage in your life in order to expand your network and
make room for new, empowering people.
Your time and your energy (both emotional and physical) are two of your most
precious resources.
7. Get around people who have Goals. Get around positive people. Get around
people who want to help you achieve your dreams and help them with theirs
every chance you get.
The most amazing people in my life are usually the ones who read, who hunger
to learn, to grow. They are kind and enjoy making positive contributions to
the lives of others. They are honest, and they have passions and Goals. And
sometimes we have to make room for more of them to enter our world.
Live Your Dreams!
About the Author:
Jill Koenig, the 'Goal Guru', is America's Top Goal Strategist. A
best-selling author, coach, and motivational speaker, she is an expert on
the subjects of Goal Setting, Time Management, and Business Success. Her
passion in life is helping you UNLEASH your full potential. Get your FREE
Goal Setting CD at http://www.GoalGuru.com
------------------------------------------------------------
*** Book Review: It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life
with Less Stuff - By Peter Walsh ***
------------------------------------------------------------
Veteran "organizational consultant," TV show host, and author Walsh ["How to
Organize (Just About) Everything] has more ideas in his latest book on
clutter management than the spare closet has junk, and even better, it's
organized, in-depth, and entirely user-friendly.
Part One examines the "Clutter Problem": how it happens, how it hampers, and
how to face it without excuses or discouragement. Part Two presents a
step-by-step approach to "Putting Clutter in its Place," which begins with
"surface clutter," and developing a household plan before moving on to the
bulk of the book, a walkthrough of each room in the home. Also included are
ideas for involving other family members, letters Walsh has received from
viewers of his TLC show "Clean Sweep," vignettes illustrating how real
people deal with common organizational challenges, and plenty of charts,
checklists, and sidebars ("Clutter Quiz," "Yard Sale Planning") for added
utility.
Walsh is upbeat and funny throughout, treating the task at hand like "a
thrilling archeological dig," a "positive and exciting" way to unlock your
"ideal home" and "unearth those things that are most important in your
life." Entertaining and instructive, this is one guidebook readers should
place in their "keep" pile. (Copyright C Reed Business Information, a
division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
The list price of this book is $14.00. To purchase it from Amazon.com for
$8.40, a 40% discount, go directly to
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0743292650/selfimprovemeonlA/
------------------------------------------------------------
*** Brief News of the World ***
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Positive:
* Queen Elizabeth marks 60 years of marriage *
Queen Elizabeth, the first reigning British monarch to celebrate a diamond
wedding anniversary, marked the milestone on Monday with a service of
thanksgiving alongside her husband Prince Philip. The royal octogenarians,
whose family have been buffeted by a string of scandals, divorces and
tragedy, retraced their steps up the aisle of Westminster Abbey to hail 60
years of marriage. (Click here for complete news story)
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSL1968284120071119?pageNumber=1
* E-field trips take kids to nation's parks *
Standing next to Jenny Lake, park ranger Diane McGee tells students about
the plants and animals at Grand Teton National Park. "Very soon, we will
have snow falling on the ground," she says. "Winters here are very long. We
get up to 200 inches of snow here on the valley floor." The children,
however, can't feel the crisp air or smell the sagebrush. They are hundreds,
possibly thousands, of miles away, watching McGee by Webcast. (Click here
for complete news story)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/11/19/virtual.parks.ap/index.html
* Boxer, plague scientist among Rhodes Scholars: 32 scholarship winners
stand out for achievements outside academics *
Thirty-two men and women from across the United States have been selected as
Rhodes Scholars for 2008, the scholarship trust announced Sunday. The
scholars were selected from 764 applicants endorsed by 294 colleges and
universities. The scholarships, the oldest of the international study awards
available to American students, provide two or three years of study. The
students will enter Oxford University in England next October. (Click here
for complete news story)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21871493
** For more positive news, please visit
http://www.selfgrowth.com/news.html
Other:
* Coin collection sells for $30 million *
An anonymous buyer has paid more than $30 million for a collection of rare
U.S. prototype coins, some from the 1700s, that never went into circulation,
according to the dealer that brokered the deal. The collection consists of
about 1,000 coins that collectors refer to as pattern coins -- trial designs
that never went into production because the U.S. Mint chose other designs.
(Click here for complete news story)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071117/ap_on_re_us/30_million_coin_collection;_ylt=AhIBs7kn5dmcElYEjm53VCQDW7oF
* Recipe for stress: students' holiday homecomings *
College senior Lisa Hamlett is looking forward to going home to Crossville,
Tennessee, on Wednesday, but she hasn't always been so enthusiastic about
spending Thanksgiving vacation with her parents. A blowup over a broken
curfew during her first year at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, is
still fresh in her mind. "I'm used to being out on my own," says Hamlett,
now 21, "I'm not a child." (Click here for complete news story)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/family/11/19/hm.family.stress/index.html
* Could the Solar Bug Bring the Sun to the Car Market? Some Entrepreneurs
are Trying to Create an Affordable Renewable-Energy Vehicle *
In the local airport parking lot, Steve Titus clicks shut the lightweight
fiberglass door of his fireman-yellow "Solar Bug." It looks like another bug
-- a Volkswagen one -- that got sliced in half by a band saw, then pinched
front to back by the Jolly Green Giant. Titus straddles the saddle-style
seat and revs the Hi-Torque Pancake motor. It whirs away quietly, reaching a
top speed of 40 miles per hour in a few seconds. (Click here for complete
news story)
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/IndustryInfo/story?id=3867219&page=1