Issue 21

In Search of an Excellent You
August 1, 2009

In this Issue:

Introduction
Ask a Marketer
Latest Press
Gratitude is an Attitude
Left-handed Soldiers
Life Rewards Action


Most people think that failure is bad and success is good. I want to help you change your thinking about that if you fall into that category. I will give you that failure isn't fun and success is, but I think the following is true:
Both failure and success are good... if you know what their specific purpose is.
Of course we know that success is good, but why? Success is good because it confirms things for us.
Success confirms our plans.
Success confirms our decisions.
Success confirms our resources.
Success confirms our strategies.
Success confirms our hunches.
Success confirms our teamwork.
Success confirms our risks.
Success confirms a lot of things!
So when you are successful, ask yourself the following question: What does this success confirm in my mind?
Now, what about failure? What is the role of failure and how in the world can it be GOOD?
Failure's role is to teach us. We learn from failure.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our plans.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our decisions.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our resources.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our strategies.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our hunches.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our teamwork.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our risks.
Failure teaches us that we need to change a lot of things!
But at least now we know one more thing that won't work! With every failure, we learn one more way we can abandon and focus in on what may be the correct way in the future! When we look at it that way, we set ourselves up for a powerfully successful future! So when you fail, ask yourself this question: What does this failure teach me? Remember, Success and Failure are both good. They can both be your friend... If you know what role they are to play in your life. Learn From Failure and Confirm with Success.


Gratitude is an Attitude

Think for just a moment of all the things that require
practice: grammar, arithmetic, cooking, and even the guitar.
Practice is probably something you think you're done with
when you leave school or give up music lessons. But, have
you ever thought of practicing the fine art of gratitude?

It's quite possible to attain great wealth, the best
education, and an exceptional quality of life and still be
unhappy. This occurs when people live with an absence of
gratitude.

Once gratitude becomes part of your nature you begin to see
the connections between your success and creature comforts,
and the talents and contributions of others.

* The farmer plants, waters, fertilizes and harvests the
tomatoes you enjoy.

* The truck driver delivers the food to the market that will
soon feed your family.

* The baker kneads and bakes the bread for the sandwich
you'll eat for lunch.

* The engineer and architect design the bridge that allows
you to get to work.

* The furniture maker's handiwork creates the furniture in
your living room.

* The plumber fixes your leak, clears your drain and plunges
your toilet.

* The teacher educates and inspires your children to be the
best they can be.

* The customer provides the support that enables everyone to
receive wages.

* The performer engages the imagination and entertains your
senses.

* The seamstress sews the beautiful clothes that make you
look great.

* The physician and nurse help to bring your beautiful baby
into the world.

It's quite humbling to think of all the roles that complete
strangers play in our daily existence. The sheer ingenuity
and effort required of others is one of the most compelling
reasons why we must make gratitude a daily practice.

One of the best ways to cultivate gratefulness is to count
your blessings by thinking of all the good in your life as
well acknowledging the contributions of others. This is
important for three reasons:

Positioning. By focusing on the positive things in each and
every day, you position gratitude so that it has top of mind
awareness.

Perspective. By looking for goodness and nobility in
yourself and others, you are reminded that there are lots of
good people with good intentions in the world.

Power. By being appreciative for challenging lessons and
adverse situations you are demonstrating grace under fire.
That grace results in greater personal power, self-
confidence, momentum, and energy.

Practicing the fine art of gratitude is not only among our
most important positive emotions, but one that links
directly to physical and mental well-being. It's in our
self-interest to feel gratitude because it makes us better
people.

Like other attitudes, gratitude can be cultivated. We don't
have to wait for someone to shower us with gifts before
feeling thankful. We can develop gratitude by reflecting on
the gifts that are already ours. This reflection can be done
for a minute, a day, or throughout a lifetime.

Everything Counts!


Left handed Soldiers

Left-handed Soldiers is dedicated to all of those who have been wounded in life ... whether physically, emotionally, spiritually, or financially and yet, against all odds, have risen from the devastation to become a champion!
There are few things in life that move me like seeing someone overcome adversity. I believe that there are great men and women from all walks of life, who, because of some "event' or series of events, have pretty much given up. Somewhere between brokenness and bitterness many have laid down their proverbial swords and surrendered. They've been wounded. Left-handed Soldiers teaches us that when we are wounded ... when our "right arms" have been hurt ... that we can become Left-handed Soldiers rather than allowing our circumstances to condemn us to a life of "what-ifs."
How many great leaders are no longer leading? What will our society suffer because the leadership we need is somewhere hurting rather than rallying the troops? What great sickness is raging because the doctors and nurses who can make a difference are in need of healing themselves? How many great sermons will not be preached because an overworked and underpaid Pastor had a "humpty-dumpty' fall and is allowing condemnation to keep him out of service? Great public servants, teachers, volunteers, entrepreneurs, and politicians, all over the world are waiting ... waiting for someone to care enough to put their arms around them and say ... "Let's get back into the battle of life again! We need you!"
I believe that great leaders can inspire the "wounded warriors' among us that they can "engage' in life again and they can be winners!
In the real world ... most of the time ... it's the size of your mess that determines the size of your message. It may not be pleasant to hear, but, the size of your testimony is due, in large part, to the size of your test. Where would Abe Lincoln have been without the Civil War? Where would John Kennedy have been without the Cuban Missile Crisis? David needed Goliath to become King. You cannot wear a victor's crown without having fought a few battles! You can't sing before you talk. You can't run before you walk. You can't have a message until you've had a mess ... and you can't have a testimony until you've had a test! Let's look at these lyrics to a song that I wrote.
The victor's crown only goes to those who've been in war.
Eagles can't stay in their nest if they want to soar.
Sitting on the sidelines you'll never be your best.
You can't have a testimony 'till you've had a test.
God won't send thirsty people to an empty well.
Heavens cup sure is sweeter once you've tasted hell.
There's no wine until the grape has gone through the press.
You can't have a testimony 'till you've had a test.
Out of this understanding "Left-handed Soldiers" was born. I want to teach you ... to teach others that "Change is a door that can only be opened from the inside!"
The willingness to change can be inspired by others but change itself is a personal choice. It is "Choice" not "Chance" that determines your destiny.
Left-handed Soldiers is a call for the wounded to "get back into the battle of life!'"
Left-handed Soldiers is a call for leaders to build an army of renewed, revived warriors. Let's teach them that they can make a decision to "engage" in life again. Let's teach them that they can make a difference in the world. They can be "Left-handed Soldiers!"
-- Gary Eby

Life Rewards Action
Life Rewards Action by Chris Widener
Thinking is good, yes it is. I strongly encourage thinking. In fact, thinking plays a terrific role in success. It helps you strategize. It helps you get motivated. It tunes you into success. I am all for thinking and I do it regularly!
That being said, just thinking, no matter how good of a thinker you are, will never catapult you to success. The difference between the thinker who succeeds and the thinker who doesn't is that the thinker who succeeds also ACTS!
Life does not reward thinking. Life rewards action. Let me clarify: Life rewards thoughtful action.
Think first, by all means... But then ACT!
Do you want to gain wealth? Then save your money - ACT!
Do you want to lose weight? Then hit the treadmill - ACT!
Do you want a new job? Then find a new one so you can quit your current one - ACT!
Do you want to write a book? Then begin to write - ACT!
Do you want a new friend? Then introduce yourself - ACT!
Anything you want to accomplish will only be done by bold and decisive action.
Wishing won't bring it about. Neither will dreaming. Nor will hoping. Nope, you must ACT.
What is it you want from life? Tell me. Be specific. Be clear. Think about it. Strategize. Roll it around inside that noggin of yours. Got it? Good. Now what? What will you DO to turn that non-physical electrical impulse we call a thought into a physical reality?
There is only one thing: ACTION.
Will you succeed? Will you achieve your dreams? Will you live the life that you want? Only you can make that decision because only you can decide whether or not you will act.
My friends, life rewards action. Your actions do not need to be perfect. They just need to be. And then they get rewarded with success. With achievement. Accomplishment. You have the power within you to lead YOUR life as you see it. There is only one question you must answer for yourself:
Will I act?
Because life rewards action.
Chris Widener



Ask a Marketer
Your question:

Can I use PR in my Business?

Answer:
Public relations is all about news and other elements of interest. As such, it should be the focus of virtually every start up company, and should always be part of the marketing plan - even for established companies. Its impact does vary by company, however. Some are inherently more newsworthy. But all companies can capitalize on the benefits of an effective public relations program.
PR helps build a company's reputation. It is about building a brand "picture" that makes sure the company and what it's doing is better understood by the prospects, customers, employees - all the people it touches. PR helps make all of these audiences advocates for the company. Almost any organization that has a stake in how it is portrayed in the public arena should employ public relations initiatives at some level. PR is, of course, much more than sending out press releases and talking to news media representatives. Properly managed, it is a highly creative proactive process with tactics ranging from special events and speaking at conferences to cause marketing and social media activities.

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