"The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better."~Barbara Pletcher

"Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work it until it's done and done right."~Walt Disney. Have a blessed Sunday!

"Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action for all eternity."~Johann Kaspar Lavater

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."~Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I never knew a man come to greatness or eminence who lay abed late in the morning."~Jonathan Swift

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"No man was ever so completely skilled in the conduct of life, as not to receive new information from age and experience."~Jonathan Swift

"Speak when you're angry, and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret."~Lawrence J. Peter

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt with the heart."~Helen Keller. Have a blessed day!

"For every failure, there's an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. When you come to a roadblock, take a detour."~Mary Kay Ash

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think."~Benjamin Disraeli

"We come this way but once. We can either tiptoe through life and hope that we get to death without being too badly bruised or we can live a full, complete life achieving our goals and realizing our wildest dreams."~Bob Proctor

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."~Abraham Lincoln

"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."~Helen Keller

"I strive to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am."~Unknown

"Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity."~Carl Jung

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly"~Robert F. Kennedy

"Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company."~George Washington

"I don't believe in pessimism. If something doesn't come up the way you want, forge ahead. If you think it's going to rain, it will."~Clint Eastwood

"Although men are accused of not knowing their own weakness, yet perhaps few know their own strength. It is in men as in soils, where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not of."~Jonathan Swift

OVERCAUTION IS AS BAD AS NO CAUTION

This is an interesting idea. We are in a world where we are so overcautious. We are creating a generation of people who are challenged with taking risk and fearful of failure. Even to the extent that they feel they must succeed at anything. I have heard this saying many times: "Failure is not an option". I believe failure to be only that which we choose to be one and really is opportunity to learn something new that will inspire us to move forward and continue with it. I never thought that it could damage your credibility as Napoleon Hill suggests. I would think that having fear be the driver of our thoughts, emotions and actions then it makes sense that credibility could be in question. What do you think? Enjoy.

"If you expect others to have confidence in you, you must conduct yourself in a way that inspires trust. Being so cautious that you never try anything new will damage your credibility just as much as will throwing all caution to the winds and trying any idea that comes along without thinking it through. (Most people equate any kind of extreme behavior with poor judgment.) But don’t fall victim to "analysis paralysis." Learn to separate facts from opinions and make sure your decisions-and your subsequent actions-are based on reliable information. Then take action!"~Napoleon Hill

"Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it is too late. Today, this hour, this minute is the day, the hour, the minute for each of us to sense the fact that life is good, with all of its trials and troubles, and perhaps more interesting because of them."~Robert R. Updegraff

"Every decision you make - every decision - is not a decision about what to do. It's a decision about Who You Are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes. You begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what you came here to do."~Neale Donald Walsch

"No man was ever so completely skilled in the conduct of life, as not to receive new information from age and experience."~Jonathan Swift

"In the long run men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, though they should fail immediately, they had better aim at something high."~Henry David Thoreau

"Remember, happiness doesn't depend on who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think."~Dale Carnegie

"Hope is like a road in the country; there wasn't ever a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence."~Lin Yutang

"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill."~Muhammad Ali

"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill."~Muhammad Ali

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion
to one's courage."~Anais Nin

"I don't run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead, I run toward it because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your feet.”~Nadia Comaneci

"I'd rather be a failure at something I enjoy than a success at something I hate."~George Burns

"I do not have superior intelligence or faultless looks. I do not captivate a room or run a mile under six minutes. I only succeeded because I was still working after everyone else went to sleep."~Greg Evans

This Hormone Makes Counting Calories Irrelevant?

Got an email about this and though it would be good to share with others. It is so amazing all the work that is being done these days on how the body works to take care of itself. I am always fascinated by the great machine that we have for a body. It is truly a great gift from God who created each of us. There are some amazing bits of information about how a hormone called Leptin works within your body so that you can life your life to the Max. Not only how you can live healthier but potentially live longer! Hope you enjoy it. Look forward to your comments and feedback. Have a great day!

http://ping.fm/vPR5v

"When you face your fear, most of the time you will discover that it was not really such a big threat after all. We all need some form of deeply rooted, powerful motivation - it empowers us to overcome obstacles so we can live our dreams."~Les Brown

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."~Will Rogers.

"As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you otherwise might."
~Marian Anderson

THE TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO NEVER GET AHEAD...

Had this come by my email today and wanted to share everyone. It is very interesting how the evolution of the workplace is evolving based on the speed at which new technology is being created and adopted by others. If only we could adapt and change with it to help grow ourselves in what we do and how we deliver value to others. The idea of Personal Initiative is so important these days. In fact it has been important at all times as one of the key factors that leads people to success in what they do. Working on our mind, body, and spirit will help us all to maximize our opportunities for success.

What do you think about how people are taking personal initiative in todays world?

Look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback. Have a fantastic day! Enjoy.

"It’s hard to say which would be more discouraging: drifting from job to job because you’re always the first to be laid off, or laboring in monotonous obscurity at the same job. The first results from not doing what you are told to do, the second from doing only what you are told to do. You can "get by" for a time following either approach, but you will never get ahead. Personal initiative is more important in today’s enlightened, high-tech workplace than it was during the Industrial Age, when the ability to follow orders was a critical skill. As technology makes many supervisory functions obsolete, every one of us is expected to do more with less, determine what needs to be done, and do it. Don’t wait to be told. Know your company and your job so well that you can anticipate what needs to be done-then do it! Stop explaining and start doing!"~Napoleon Hill

"Obstacles in life are like logs in your path. You can step over it or move it out of the way. You could cut it up and make firewood."~Unknown

Wishing all the Dad's out there a Happy Father's day! Enjoy every moment of it. You deserve it! Have a blessed day.

"It's always too early to quit."~Norman Vincent Peale. Have a blessed Saturday!

"Two things a man should never be angry at: what he can help, and what he cannot help."~Thomas Fuller. Happy Friday! Have a blessed day!

"The miracle is this - the more we share, the more we have."~Leonard Nimoy. Have a blessed Thursday!

OUR DEEPEST FEAR

WOW! What a powerful poem full of many great nuggets of wisdom.
Upon reflection, I can see for myself how it is really the possibility of achieving the impossible that can hold me back and at the same time drive me to want to move forward with more passion and determination as well as finding people to come along for the ride.
We were born to manifest the greatness of the God who's image we are created in. It is through our relationship with Him that we can shine a great light in the world and play at our biggest game!
As we grow through our fears and let our true light shine through we are able to be witness and encouragement for others to know that they can do the same. Someone once told me: Light can overtake Darkness but Darkness cannot not over take light. Darkness only appears when the light is taken away. So don't hide your light from the rest of the world. Let your light shine bright in all that you do. You deserve it!

Enjoy.

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

"The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible."~Richard M. DeVos

"One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered."~Michael J. Fox

DON'T QUIT vs. TAKE A DIFFERENT PATH

I came across this poem today in my email and it reminded me of the mindset that we need when pursuing our passions and dreams. The idea of "DON'T QUIT" is something that all of us need to remember when the obstacles and challenges of doing something great to create our best life show up. From my experience, when they do show up they show up BIG! Focusing daily on taking care of your whole self including your mind, body, and spirit will help you when these things show up. I try to look at obstacles and challenges as opportunities to grow more in what I am attempting to do, within myself, and also to be a guide post for the path that I am on. When pursuing your passions and dreams you should follow the advise of DON"T QUIT but don't confuse it with TAKE A DIFFERENT PATH. Enjoy the journey!


DON'T QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit!

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure has turned about,
When they might have won had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow!

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering one,
Often the struggler has given up
When they might have captured the victor's cup.
And they learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close they were to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint to the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the task when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem the worst, that you must not quit!

"Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand."~Neil Armstrong. Have a blessed Monday!

"Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it."~William Penn

Speaking Words or Taking Action

What a true story of how most of us who strive to create a great life for ourselves face in every step of the way. We must remember that we are created to create greatness in our lives and inspire others to do the same. When it comes down to it, people tend not to listen to our words but watch our actions to see if we will do what we say. Those people who are pointing and laughing will always be there. Are you listening to them? Are they driving your decisions and your actions? How are you aligning your actions with your words?
Enjoy the story and have a great day!

From the files of Bob Proctor...
Many years ago a young lady who was attending a seminar shared an interesting story with me. Apparently she and two or three of her girlfriends went and tried out for a place in a stage play. She got the starring role while her girlfriends were not even picked for the supporting cast. Opening night she said she was really excited but afterwards became very disappointed when her girlfriends never came out and supported her. She was explaining the situation to an elderly friend of her fathers named Hap. He wrote her a letter and she gave me a copy with her permission to share it with others. Read it carefully and think.

Dear Ann,

Once upon a time there was a fellow by the name of Al Capp who wrote a comic strip called "L'll Abner." Many years ago he had some characters in his strip who lived in a town near Dogpatch. They were the town bums, the n'er do wells, the failures whose whole aim in life was to pass judgement on others. Their criticism and ridicule became so vehement that in time the rest of the people in the town became acutely conscious of it. "The boys down at the stable," as they were called because that's where they spent most of their time, soon set the social standards of the town. Nobody could do anything without their sanction.

Because they lived within the structure of their crummy little world, they would laugh and point their fingers at anyone and everyone who tried to be better than they were. As a result the people feared the ridicule of the boys down at the stable so much that they stopped trying. Soon everybody became bums and the town died.

In every social structure, Ann, whether it be family, town, county or state, there are "The boys down at the stable." They are the jealous ones. They are too scared to try something different. They show their ignorance by laughing at those who do. Learn to recognize them Ann, for what they are. Don't let them hurt you. It takes a certain amount of toughness to succeed. One has to rise above those who would tear you down so that they can laugh and say, "I told you so!"

There are too many of us who love you and want you to make it. I could put myself at the top of the list. You aren't going to fall flat on your face as they would have you. You are going to do a superb job. Remember this show is only a small step in the direction of greater things you will do, many of which are beyond your wildest dreams. All you have to do is want to. One of the things I like about you best is that you always give it hell for try.

The show will be a success because of you and others like you who try. There are only winners in the cast. The losers are gathered down at the stable laughing and hoping for your failure. If we could dig down deep inside them, I'm sure we'd find they want to win also, but are too scared to try, and they attempt to cover up their own failures as human beings by laughing at others. In a sense I'm sorry for them. Their guilt must make them very unhappy people.

Much love,

Hap

"All those who have achieved great things have been great dreamers."~Orison Swett Marden. It all starts with a dream. Have a blessed Friday!

YOUR PROGRESS IN LIFE BEGINS IN YOUR OWN MIND AND ENDS IN THE SAME PLACE

Some more great inspirational words of wisdom from a great teacher. The idea of having a clear and fertile mind is foundational to leading a great and successful life. We all have the chance to have this. Sometimes the weeds come in and we need to do a little pulling and cleaning up so that the good things can grow again. Add determination and persistence to this and watch out. You will fulfill your dreams and achieve even more that you thought was possible. Guard your mind in all that you do and experience so that all good things can grow. Enjoy your day!

"Every great accomplishment began with the germ of an idea in the mind of a great person, then was shaped for practical usefulness and finally transformed into reality. Make your mind a fertile ground for ideas through constant study and learning, and condition through constant practice to discipline yourself to follow through on your good ideas. The most brilliant concept in the world is only a dream unless you take action. Even a mediocre idea that is put into practice is far more valuable than a flash of genius that languishes in a fallow, undisciplined mind."~ Napoleon Hill

"If you develop the habits of success, you will make success a habit."~Michael E. Angier. Have a blessed Thursday!

"Give to the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you."~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

YOU WILL NEVER BE GREATER THAN THE THOUGHTS THAT DOMINATE YOUR MIND

This is such an inspiring idea. It is so true that what we think about comes about and determines the success in our lives. It will form the basis of who we are and what we will capable of becoming. So in order to Maximize your Health for Life, think about your thoughts. In fact, it is said that we are the only creatures on this earth that can actually do that. Enjoy the info from Napoleon Hill and let me know what you think.

If it’s true that you become what you think about most, it follows that the quantity and quality of success you achieve in your life will be in direct proportion to the size of your thoughts. If you allow your mind to be dominated by trivial matters, your achievements are likely to be unimportant. Discipline yourself to think about important things. Keep up with what’s new in your field and with what’s going on in the world. Make a list of good ideas that you can use anytime you are searching for a creative solution to a problem. Remember, small minds think about things; great minds think about ideas.

"In every success story, you find someone who has made a courageous decision."~Peter F. Drucker. Have a blessed Tuesday!

Life is short...

Had this sent to me by a friend and thought I would share it in a note.
Really made me think about living each moment of every day to the fullest that it can be.
Enjoy

Life is to short to wake up in the morning with regrets.
So love the people who treat your right, and forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance; take it!
If it changes your life; let it!
Nobody said that it would be easy, they just said it would be worth it.

"The best job goes to the person who can get it done without passing the buck or coming back with excuses."~Napoleon Hill

"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work."~Aristotle. Have a blessed Saturday!

"If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of."!Bruce Lee

"Every man is the architect of his own fortune."~Sallust. Happy Friday! Have a blessed day.

"You can achieve anything you want in life if you have the courage to dream it, the intelligence to make a realistic plan, and the will to see that plan through to the end."~Sidney A. Friedman

"There are only two options regarding commitment;
you're either in or you're out. There's no such thing as life in-between."~Pat Riley

"Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day."~Sally Koch. Have a blessed day!

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or the last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory."~Betty Smith

"Time is too slow for those who wait, too
swift for those who fear, too long for those
who grieve, too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love, time is eternity."~Henry Van Dyke

Friday Story...

In todays story it reminds us of the impact and power of the words we use can have on others.
We can learn a lot about how a simple act of smiling, even when we do not feel like it, can totally change our life. I leading a Healthy life to the Max, it is a key point to lead with a smile since ... it can't be all that bad when you really think about it.
Have a Happy Friday. Enjoy.

JOY JUICE
by Linda Davenport

Six Words That Changed a Life Six words - "Smile...it can't be that bad." - changed Judy's life. Judy is a young woman I worked with some years ago. She was in her late twenties, maybe early thirties, more than a little overweight, and not the most stylish dresser. What was most striking about her appearance was her smile; it was always there. Anyone passing Judy in the hallway was greeted with that smile and a soft, "Hello," or, "Good morning," in her gentle, Minnesota accent.


I happened to be with Judy one day when she had her driver's license out of her purse. The photograph on her license showed a face that looked like it had never smiled! The corners of her mouth were turned down, her face looked slack, and the eyes were dark and troubled. The overall impression was anger and deep grief. "Whoa! Judy...is that really you? What in the world was going on? You look like you're mad at the world!" Judy giggled. "Yes, it's me. I used to look like that all the time."


She then shared with me her story and the six words that changed her life. Judy had moved to Tennessee to care for an invalid uncle. Her life revolved around caring for this much older and very ill man who, though grateful, offered little in the way of good company for a shy young woman.


When he died, Judy realized for the first time that she had nothing - no job skills no education, no experience with which to support herself, and no friends. Lonely, grieving, and terrified, she took a big step and enrolled in a community college CAD/CAM program. The Judy that walked the halls between classes was the Judy captured in her driver's license photo. She didn't talk, didn't smile, didn't make eye contact.


One day, however, she met an instructor in the hallway who, in passing, said, "Smile...it can't be that bad." As Judy told me the story, she giggled again. "I was so embarrassed! And I didn't say anything at all. I couldn't. But I started thinking...maybe he was right." Nothing in Judy's life had changed, but she made a decision to smile anyway, to put a smile on her face without waiting for it to spontaneously show up. And so she did.


She would arrive at school and, very self-consciously at first, put a smile on her face as she walked across the parking lot. She forced herself to look up at the people she met, even if only for an instant. Over and over she repeated to herself the six words that started her down the path: "Smile...it can't be that bad." Without realizing it, she said, she had begun to practice "fake it 'till you make it," acting happy even when she wasn't. "And when I did," she said, "things changed.


People stopped avoiding me. Before, people sometimes crossed the halls to walk on the other side, and if they didn't, I did. When I started smiling, even though I didn't really feel it, people reacted differently. It took a little while, but one morning, someone actually said hello to me. And I smiled for real!"


Judy later went to the instructor who had made the comment and thanked him. As you might expect, he was surprised that his almost throwaway comment had that kind of impact. Judy met his family, visited his church, and slowly developed a social network. After living in Tennessee for more than ten years, she made her first friends.


When she told me the story, she finished with, "See? You never know how you might influence someone with what you say. Those six words changed my life. When I started acting happy, I became happy. I didn't even know it was happening, but it was, and I'm so glad he told me to, 'Smile...it can't be that bad.' He was right...it wasn't that bad...and it won't ever be that bad again."


Today's Joy Juice by Judy - happiness is a choice; fake it 'till you make it if you have to; and pay attention to the words you say...you may change someone's life.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Davenport is a freelance writer and full-time communications professional. She publishes "Joy Juice" every week on her website, Happy By Nature, and blogs her personal journey at http://ping.fm/TNf1H If you'd like to contact Linda, join the conversation on either website or email her at mntngal@comcast.net

"We will receive not what we idly wish for but what we justly earn. Our rewards will always be in exact proportion to our service."~Earl Nightingale

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down."~Mary Pickford

"Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to start where he was."~Lao-Tzu. Have a blessed Wednesday!

"Relentless, repetitive self talk is what changes our self-image."~Denis Waitley

"If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather that dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities."~Barbara Bush

"If you make the unconditional commitment to reach your most important goals, if the strength of your decision is sufficient, you will find the way and the power to achieve your goals."~Robert Conklin

"The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the more clearly we should see through it."~Jean Paul. Have a great Friday!

"If the creator had a purpose in equipping us with a neck, he surely meant us to stick it out."~Arthur Koestler. Have a blessed Thursday!

"We are not the creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance."~Benjamin Disraeli. Have a Happy Wednesday!

Ten ways to be a leader

Happy Tuesday!
Everyone is a leader within although most do not realize it. Each one of us has the qualities to lead in the life that we are living and just need the encouragement and understanding of what leadership is. In living a Healthy and Wealthy life to the MAX, leadership is at the core of it. Below are some characteristics of leadership qualities that can be found in each of us. What qualities of leadership to you see in yourself? Enjoy!

Everyone tells us to be a leader, but they never tell us how. Dale Carnegie tells us exactly how. If you haven't read his book, you are missing a treat.

1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.

2. Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.

3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.

4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.

5. Let the other person save face.

6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement.

7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.

8. Use encouragement.

9. Make the fault easy to correct.

10. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

- - Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)

"Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you;be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them."~W Clement Stone

"Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver."~Barbara De Angelis

"Whatever you do or dream you can do— begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it."~Johann Goethe. Have a blessed Saturday!

"The kinder and more thoughtful a person is, the more kindness they can find in other people."~Leo Tolstoy

“You can have anything you want in life, if you simply help enough others get what THEY want.”~Zig Ziglar. Happy Friday!

Are You for Real?

Everyone is a leader in some way. Some of us do not know this but we all are in one way or another. Leadership is about the influence that we have on others that impact their life. In order to live a Healthy Life to the Max we must all recognize our leadership qualities and roles in what we do. What leadership qualities do you see in yourself? The number one quality of a true leader is authenticity.
In the article below the author talks about its importance and how to be authentic in all that you do. Enjoy and have a great day!


What is authenticity and why is it important to leadership?

Leadership isn't something we do in response to our circumstances. It's a way of being. You don't DO leadership. You ARE a leader. Leadership comes from within. It is an ongoing and consistent expression of who we are that inspires others to action. Authentic leaders know themselves and their purpose; they use that knowledge as their internal compass. When we align our actions with our sense of purpose, we act authentically; we take a stand, living centered, calm, powerful lives. We are in control of our feelings and emotions, rather than letting them control us.

Authenticity is about having personal integrity, being genuine, and acting in a way that is true to yourself and your beliefs, no matter what. It's about NOT putting up a facade, NOT being aloof or inaccessible.

Our sense of another's authenticity has an enormous impact on whether or not we trust them, how comfortable we are with them, and how willing we are to follow them. Authenticity, then, is critical to effective leadership.

Doing vs. being:
Some corporate executives are motivated primarily by money, earning six- and seven-figure incomes. Others are motivated by "the game," by winning, and besting others who may be competing for limited corporate resources needed to implement their plans. Typically, these executives reach a place where they burn out, or become increasingly dissatisfied by their day-to-day routines. As a result, their teams suffer and are not as productive, or effective, as they could be.

The best leaders are guided by a deeper purpose -- to create a product or service, for example, that delights their customers, or leaves a mark on the world in some way that is meaningful to them. When authentic leaders do this well, they can sustain success and the seven-figure income, along with a genuine feeling of accomplishment, of having made a significant contribution.

When we clarify our true purpose, we come to understand what gives meaning to the things we do. Our purpose gives us guidance on how to do things. For example, my purpose is to live powerfully, contribute to the creation of powerful lives, and connect communities of people. I've chosen to do this through my career as a Leadership Development Specialist and Executive Coach. My purpose doesn't dictate my profession or what I do. I could live purposefully in many others roles: I could have chosen to teach or to be a leader in a corporate setting. My purpose guides how I do what I've chosen to do. And it shows up outside of work, also, in how I contribute in my community, behave in my family, and so on. It is my internal compass.

When I start playing small (holding back and not being powerful), or when I'm being stingy with my time and talents, I can feel it in my body. I feel uncentered, uncomfortable, and unfulfilled. I'm at my best when I am being myself, connecting members of my various networks, and inspiring and supporting others to be their best. It's from this place of purpose that I do my best work.

Of course, living on purpose means that you may not 'fit' or be successful or happy in every setting. But that's OK. You will be most successful and make the greatest contribution in the place where you can be your fully genuine, purposeful, authentic, wonderful self.

So, how do you become an authentic leader?

1. Know the leader you want to be. Clarify your purpose. Create a vision for yourself as an authentic leader. Identify your deepest values. Think about leaders you admire. What is it about them you want to emulate? What is the legacy you want to leave? Picture how it looks and feels to be being the best, most authentic leader you can be.

2. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Especially in this fast paced, global, technological world, we can't be experts in everything. Nor do we necessarily want or have time to be. Be honest about what you can do well and enjoy doing and what is best left to others.

3. Identify the gaps between your vision and current reality. Determine which gaps you want to close by learning and growing your own expertise and which ones you want to fill with the talents of others.

4. Identify sources and opportunities for development. Pursue them with a beginner's mind. Enjoy the learning process.

5. When making decisions or engaged in discussions, ask yourself, "What does my authentic self tell me to do?" Even if it is a difficult decision, check in with yourself and ask, "How can I make and communicate it in a way that is an expression of my purpose and in integrity with my values?"

6. As you begin to use newly learned behaviors, be generous and forgiving with yourself. The leader who can forgive him/herself can forgive others.

7. Create visual cues to remind yourself to be your newly discovered real self when self-doubt begins to creep in. Post-it notes, special screen savers, mantras, a rubber band around your wrist, or New Leaf Touchstone bracelets or pocket stones can help.


About the Author:

Cindy Loughran is a certified professional coach and the founder and president of New Leaf Touchstone. Her products and services help people break out of their habitual patterns and make desired changes in order to turn over a new leaf and create a fulfilling and satisfying life. http://ping.fm/UEEGR

"You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone, which can become a watered-down, occasional hope that you'll get to tomorrow. Intention without action is useless."Caroline Myss

"To be loved, be lovable."~Ovid. Have a blessed Wednesday!

Necessary Steps to Persistence

From the revolutionary book, "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill it states Four Necessary Steps to Persistence:

1. A definite purpose backed by burning desire for its fulfillment.

2. A definite plan, expressed in continuous action.

3. A mind closed tightly against all negative and discouraging influences, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances.

4. A friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose.

If you started to make it so today how do you think it would increase your overall Health and Wellbeing? Would it help you to Maximize your Health for Life?

"The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better."~Barbara Pletcher

A New Strength...

There are times in everyone life when we feel hurt or alone...

But I believe that these are times when we feel lost and all around us seems to be falling apart are really bridges of growth....

We struggle and try to recapture the security of what was, but almost in spite of ourselves.....

We can emerge on the other side with a new understanding, a new awareness a new strength.

It is almost as though we must go through the pain and the struggle in order to grow and reach new heights....

"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life."~Muhammad Ali. Happy Monday!

Wishing all the Mom's out there a Happy Mother's day! Enjoy every moment of it. You deserve it! Have a blessed day.

"Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee, and do not try to make the universe a blind alley."~Ralph Waldo Emerson.

"An attitude of gratitude creates blessings."~Sir John Templeton. Have a great Saturday!

"We are what we think. All that we are arises from our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."~Buddha. Have a blessed Friday!

"If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work."~Thomas J. Watson

"The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice."~George Eliot. Have a blessed Wednesday!

"Life is like a mirror. If you frown at it, it frowns back. If you smile at it, it returns the greeting."~Herbert Samuels

"It takes a real storm in the average person's life to make him realize how much worrying he has done over the squalls."~Unknown

Maximize Friday Story

Here is a story that shows how we travel through life in such a way that we forget to experience the joy of each moment and the people that are around us.  Everything in this life is about relationships.  Our relationships with others is key to maximizing your health for life.  Enjoy the story below and have a Happy Friday!

The Man With The Mustache

I saw him today! 

I haven't seen him for awhile. But I saw him today. In that same seat on the bus, where I have seen him for the past 17 years. The man with the mustache.

He looked a little older, a little tired perhaps, but the same really. In a world filled with so many changes, I find it comforting when I see him, like an old shoe that is always there some place under the bed, and reappears from time to time.

Over the years, I have wondered about him, who he is,where he gets off the bus, what his name is, and what his life is like. Not once, in all those years, have we spoken or even acknowledged one another, and yet every time I see him, I wonder about his life.

I wonder in the last 17 years, if he has..........fallen in or out of love. I wonder if he wakes up at four o'clock in the morning, thinking about life. I wonder if he has children, if he lives alone, what he likes on his pizza, what he takes in his coffee, what his dreams are. I wonder if the years have been kind to him, or if they have taken their toll.

He has a serious, chiseled kind of face, which makes me think he must do a serious, kind of work, not an artist or a painter, but an engineer or a geologist.

He looks like a person who analyzes a lot, and sits in meaningful contemplation. I wonder how I would feel if he moved away, and I didn't see him on the bus anymore. I'm sure I would, after a time, wonder what happened to him, what turn in the road his life has taken.

It's funny, even though we've never met or spoken in all these years, he makes me feel a little less alone somehow, just by being there. I feel touched by him.  In a way, our souls have met. For a few moments, we've shared time and space, travelled down the same road, however short, on our way to somewhere.

 

Isn't that all we do with people anyway, for a short while, travel down the same road, share time and space, on our way to somewhere?

The world is full of people, who make us feel less alone. I wonder if they know it? The stranger on the bus, the girl who cuts your hair, the fellow who takes your order at your favorite restaurant, the cashier at the grocery store. We all have something in common, we're all in this together.

And yet, so often, we place such little importance on these events, sometimes even walking around in a daze, oblivious to all of it, on our way to somewhere else, waiting for the bigger moments in life, you know, the ones that really matter.

And yet, these bigger moments are so few, and last for such a little while.

Perhaps if we thought of these simple times as flowers, and instead of a huge bouquet every once in a while, we picked a daisy here, a lily there, a rose somewhere else.

At the end of the day or week, we could look at the arrangement we've created, just by being present, and savor the sweetness, smell the fragrance and water the memories.

Then, at the end of our life, if we're really lucky ...we might have an entire garden, to take with us into eternity.

 

Veronica Hay

 

Veronica Hay is an inspirational writer and author of In a Dream, You Can Do Anything, An Extraordinary Collection of Words. Her work inspires others to be more of who they really are. For more insights and inspiration you can visit her website at: www.insightsandinspirations.com or email her at: veronicahay@telus.net

"The more you have, the more you're occupied; the less you have, the more free you are."~Mother Teresa. Have a blessed Friday!