EGR

We all have had those annoying people in our life, usually in meetings, that asks questions or evangelize things we frankly think are dumb. We call on our professional etiquette for patience and tolerance.

I recall one such meeting and one such associate. I had just read Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”. I was in a hotel meeting room in Chicago late in the second day of an all day meeting. As we were getting ready to be dismissed, an associate who fits the profile above raised his hand. The only thing separating our 50(+) member team from a night of indulgence was this associate’s, seemingly unimportant, clarifying questions. I got up and walked towards the back of the room to stretch and was confronted by another fellow associate who, like most, was annoyed by this person. That is when I had an epiphany! I whispered to this upset associate the letters “EGR”. The upset associate asked “EGR”?
I explained what I read in the “Purpose Driven Life” about EGR’s (Extra Grace Required). While explaining, I realized that some might or could even be saying the same about me. I told this colleague that we should learn how to get along now as we might be spending eternity with this person and others like them.

That night, I wanted to practice what I explained earlier so I sat by the annoying associate and began to find interesting things about this person. We became friends and chose to work with each other on certain projects. This diversity and synergy strengthened our team and our organization.

Before you start looking at the faults with others, look for the areas you fall short. Remember that we all fall under the category of EGR’s.

Great Days don’t just happen - Make it a Great Day!

Effective Listeners! Crucial advice for all of us to follow

(My beautiful bride forwarded this email to me….. hmmm, I wonder if she is trying to teach me. I think all could benefit from this crucial advice)

If you were asked “Who taught you how to speak, read, and write?” you’d probably be able to list a whole series of people who helped you develop those important and much used communication skills. But what if the question was: “Who taught you how to listen?” If you’re like most people, the answer would be “no one.” That’s truly ironic because, on average, listening is the part of communication we engage in the most (40% listening, 35% speaking, 16% reading, 9% writing), and it’s the one for which we typically receive the least training. Therefore, it’s the form of communication that most of us are least proficient at … a critical leadership skill that too often is ignored.

So, why do we pay so little attention to listening? Two reasons: 1) We assume that because we hear well, we also listen well. But that’s not necessarily true. Hearing is the mechanical (physiological) function of receiving sounds. Listening, however, is an interpretive function which involves turning those sounds into meaning. The two are very different. 2) We see listening as a passive rather than active activity. And in today’s fast-pace, quick-fix, take charge business environment, being passive is viewed as being weak. But wrong again! Effective listening is an active process that requires skill, discipline, and practice.

What can you do to be become a better listener? Here are just four of the many simple and effective tips:

Fight the urge to interrupt or finish a person’s sentence.
Tell yourself, “This is the most interesting thing I’ve ever heard!”
React with facial expressions, head nods, and posture to indicate you’re processing what you are being told.
Wait until the person finishes speaking, then say, “Here’s what I think you said.” Summarize. Then ask, “Did I get that right?”
Make a commitment to start trying these tips TODAY. They will make a positive difference for you. Are you listening?

Your Time Starts Now!

Time is so precious and is often wasted away. Time can never be regained, once it is gone, it is gone. Enjoy every minute of your time and get busy now, start and complete your objectives now. Don’t wait until the stars and planets are in alignment because your time will have come and left. Start today!
***
Your time to begin
The place to start is where you are. The way to start is by doing what you can, with what you know, using what you have.
You may get it wrong at first. But if you wait until you're sure you can get it perfect, you'll never get it done.
The best learning comes from doing. The way to get the experience you seek is to get busy without hesitation.
The longer you wait to get started, the more powerful your doubts will grow. Jump in right away, get going, and those doubts won't have a chance to take hold.
Time always moves forward whether you move forward or not. Your most effective strategy is to make use of each moment as soon as it arrives.
There's no end to what you can accomplish if you'll just go ahead and get going. Now is what you have, so make now your time to begin.
-- Ralph Marston

Time is what you make of it.... "Make it a Great Day"

"Which way is success?"

What is success, where can we find it and how do we obtain it, is relative to the one who is seeking it. I can tell you from personal experience, giving up to soon and being blinded by the obvious are common occurrence when searching for success.

Enjoy,

An eager neophyte meets a wise man in the road. The neophyte asks the wise man, "Which way is success?"

The berobed, bearded sage speaks not, but points to a place off in the distance.

The neophyte, thrilled by the prospect of quick and easy success, rushes off in the appropriate direction. Suddenly, there comes a loud "SPLAT." Eventually, the man limps back, tattered and stunned, assuming he must have misinterpreted the message. He repeats his question to the wise man, who again points silently in the same direction.

The neophyte obediently walks off once more. This time the splat is deafening, and when the man crawls back, he is bloody, broken, tattered, and irate. "I asked you which way is success," he screams at the wise man. "I followed the direction you indicated. And all I got was splatted! No more of this pointing! Talk!"

Only then does the wise man speak, and what he says is this: "Success IS that way. Just a little PAST splat."
--- Author Unknown

Great Days don't just happen .....

HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again.

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall

--- Author Unknown

Nothing wrong

The following was sent in an email to me today and I believe it reinforces the principles of Making it a Great Day ... because Great Days don't just happen they are Made. Enjoy…


There is nothing wrong. There is simply what is, and what you choose to make of it.

If you spend all your energy on judgment, there's no energy left for progress. And judgment doesn't pay the bills.

You have the opportunity to create something beautiful. It starts with accepting and valuing what already is.

Life's energy comes to you, and you can do with it whatever you please. Very little of what comes your way is under your control before it gets to you, but every bit of what you do with it is yours to decide.

Instead of fighting battles that are already over, simply accept that things are as they are. Then look closely with a positive purpose, and you'll find plenty of opportunities for creating meaningful value.

Life is bringing you amazing possibilities right now. Let them come, let them be, and find joy in making the very best of them.

-- Ralph Marston

Never Forget What's Important

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark.


1. Don't miss the boat.


2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.


3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.


4. Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.


5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.


6. Build your future on high ground.


7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.


8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.


9. When you're stressed, float awhile.


10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.


11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.