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I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.
Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.
Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.
Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.
Today I can wail because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.
I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.
Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has entrusted treasures into my care.
Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.
What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!
I hope your day is as good as mine will be!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Here is a Question to Ponder
A friend shared this with me and I hope it brightens your day as it did mine.
What if... Every day I will wake, look at myself in the mirror and say:
"There is no justice. I may be the victim of many unfortunate circumstances in life of which I have no control over. Regardless, I will not make excuses. I will not whine and complain. I will not feel sorry for myself. No!
Instead, I will find solutions! I will encourage others around me to think more positively. Most importantly, I will reconcile myself to a life of action, the kind of action that will set an example for others to emulate.
I will push myself beyond the limits of what I felt was possible before. I will remember the phrase: 'If I believe I can, or if I believe I can't; I'm probably right!'
I will not be afraid to take the challenge. Because of that, I can.
I WILL SUCCEED!!!"
One more thing if you are looking for a tenacious, competitive and results oriented person to lead a Sales Team then we must talk further. Thank you for reading and remember Great Days don’t just happen they are made.
What if... Every day I will wake, look at myself in the mirror and say:
"There is no justice. I may be the victim of many unfortunate circumstances in life of which I have no control over. Regardless, I will not make excuses. I will not whine and complain. I will not feel sorry for myself. No!
Instead, I will find solutions! I will encourage others around me to think more positively. Most importantly, I will reconcile myself to a life of action, the kind of action that will set an example for others to emulate.
I will push myself beyond the limits of what I felt was possible before. I will remember the phrase: 'If I believe I can, or if I believe I can't; I'm probably right!'
I will not be afraid to take the challenge. Because of that, I can.
I WILL SUCCEED!!!"
One more thing if you are looking for a tenacious, competitive and results oriented person to lead a Sales Team then we must talk further. Thank you for reading and remember Great Days don’t just happen they are made.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Giving Back
Winston Churchill said,” We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” In the Bible Paul teaches, “…the person who plants a little will have a small harvest, but the person who plants a lot will have a big harvest. Each of you should give as you have decided in your heart to give. You should not be sad when you give, and you should not give because you feel forced to give.” So why give? By helping other, I have found it gives a clarity, purpose and direction in my life.
One of my wife’s friends, Lisa who lives in Chicago, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. As her condition deteriorated, her husband could not continue to live up to his wedding vows (in sickness and in health) and left. Being in Houston made it difficult for my wife and I to do much for her. Some friends told me about the MS150, a bike tour from Houston to Austin to raise money for MS. I decided: I would be Lisa’s champion and enter this event and ride in her honor. How hard could it be, it’s a bicycle! I don’t have to run or walk. Being overweight, I thought I could get in shape too. Once the training rides started, I quickly realized that I was in over my head. Not only did I tell all of my friends, family and associates but I told Lisa and her family. It was too late, no turning back. This was one of those defining moments in my life. Knowing that I couldn’t do it, I was determined to prove myself wrong. I trained 5-7 days a week. My driving force came from knowing that the pain I was experiencing was nothing compared to what Lisa was going through on a daily basis. How I suffered and knowing how Lisa was suffering gave me clarity, purpose and direction. She needed someone to stand up for her and face adversity with her. I am glad that I was there and used for that purpose. I did it and I survived and I have been continuing to ride in this event, in honor of Lisa, for the last 4 years.
To be loved, you have to love. It’s your chance to Pay It Forward. Help a friend, coworker or stranger down on their luck. Find a cause and be a champion for that cause. You will experience blessings that money can’t buy and meet people along the way that will change your life. Try it today. Do something unexpected for someone and start changing the world.
To learn more about MS or make a donation please visit:
Click Here or copy and past http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/EdHenderson
Great Days don't just happen, Make it a Great Day.
One of my wife’s friends, Lisa who lives in Chicago, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. As her condition deteriorated, her husband could not continue to live up to his wedding vows (in sickness and in health) and left. Being in Houston made it difficult for my wife and I to do much for her. Some friends told me about the MS150, a bike tour from Houston to Austin to raise money for MS. I decided: I would be Lisa’s champion and enter this event and ride in her honor. How hard could it be, it’s a bicycle! I don’t have to run or walk. Being overweight, I thought I could get in shape too. Once the training rides started, I quickly realized that I was in over my head. Not only did I tell all of my friends, family and associates but I told Lisa and her family. It was too late, no turning back. This was one of those defining moments in my life. Knowing that I couldn’t do it, I was determined to prove myself wrong. I trained 5-7 days a week. My driving force came from knowing that the pain I was experiencing was nothing compared to what Lisa was going through on a daily basis. How I suffered and knowing how Lisa was suffering gave me clarity, purpose and direction. She needed someone to stand up for her and face adversity with her. I am glad that I was there and used for that purpose. I did it and I survived and I have been continuing to ride in this event, in honor of Lisa, for the last 4 years.
To be loved, you have to love. It’s your chance to Pay It Forward. Help a friend, coworker or stranger down on their luck. Find a cause and be a champion for that cause. You will experience blessings that money can’t buy and meet people along the way that will change your life. Try it today. Do something unexpected for someone and start changing the world.
To learn more about MS or make a donation please visit:
Click Here or copy and past http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/EdHenderson
Great Days don't just happen, Make it a Great Day.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Story of 3 Brothers
This story was shared through an email I received. It reminds me that every day we are faced with task and how we approach these tasks ultimately defines our success and can determine our value. This story does an excellent job of illustrating these points.
Some years ago, three brothers left the farm to work in the city. They were all hired by the same company at the same pay. Three years later, Jim was being paid $500 a month, Frank was receiving $1,000, but George was now making $1,500.
Their father decided to visit the employer and find out why each son was being paid a different amount. The employer listened to the confused father and said, "I will let the boys explain for themselves."
Jim was summoned to the supervisor's office and was told:"Jim, I understand the Far East Importers has just brought in a large transport plane loaded with Japanese import goods. Will you please go over to the airport and get a cargo inventory?"
Three minutes later, Jim returned to the office. "The cargo was one thousand bolts of Japanese silk," Jim reported. "I got the information over the telephone from a member of the crew."
When Jim left, Frank, the $1,000 a month brother, was called. "Frank," said the supervisor, "I wish you'd go out to the airport and get an inventory of the cargo plane which was just brought in by Far East Importers." An hour later, Frank was back in the office with a list showing that the plane carried 1,000 bolts of Japanese silk, 500 transistor radios, and 1,000 hand painted bamboo trays.
George, the $1,500 a month brother, was given identical instructions. Working hours were over when he finally returned."The transport plane carried one thousand bolts of Japanese silk," he began. "It was on sale at sixty dollars a bolt, so I took a two-day option on the whole lot. I have wired a designer in New York offering the silk at seventy-five dollars a bolt. I expect to have the order tomorrow. I also found five hundred transistor radios, which I sold over the telephone at a profit of $2.30 each. There were a thousand bamboo trays, but they were of poor quality, so I didn't try to do anything with them."
When George left the office, the employer smiled. "You probably noticed," he said, "that Jim doesn't do what he's told, Frank does only what he'd told, but George does without being told."
How can we be more like George today not only in your business dealings but personal life as well?
Hope you enjoyed.
Remember Great Days don’t just happen, Go out and “Make it a Great Day”
Some years ago, three brothers left the farm to work in the city. They were all hired by the same company at the same pay. Three years later, Jim was being paid $500 a month, Frank was receiving $1,000, but George was now making $1,500.
Their father decided to visit the employer and find out why each son was being paid a different amount. The employer listened to the confused father and said, "I will let the boys explain for themselves."
Jim was summoned to the supervisor's office and was told:"Jim, I understand the Far East Importers has just brought in a large transport plane loaded with Japanese import goods. Will you please go over to the airport and get a cargo inventory?"
Three minutes later, Jim returned to the office. "The cargo was one thousand bolts of Japanese silk," Jim reported. "I got the information over the telephone from a member of the crew."
When Jim left, Frank, the $1,000 a month brother, was called. "Frank," said the supervisor, "I wish you'd go out to the airport and get an inventory of the cargo plane which was just brought in by Far East Importers." An hour later, Frank was back in the office with a list showing that the plane carried 1,000 bolts of Japanese silk, 500 transistor radios, and 1,000 hand painted bamboo trays.
George, the $1,500 a month brother, was given identical instructions. Working hours were over when he finally returned."The transport plane carried one thousand bolts of Japanese silk," he began. "It was on sale at sixty dollars a bolt, so I took a two-day option on the whole lot. I have wired a designer in New York offering the silk at seventy-five dollars a bolt. I expect to have the order tomorrow. I also found five hundred transistor radios, which I sold over the telephone at a profit of $2.30 each. There were a thousand bamboo trays, but they were of poor quality, so I didn't try to do anything with them."
When George left the office, the employer smiled. "You probably noticed," he said, "that Jim doesn't do what he's told, Frank does only what he'd told, but George does without being told."
How can we be more like George today not only in your business dealings but personal life as well?
Hope you enjoyed.
Remember Great Days don’t just happen, Go out and “Make it a Great Day”
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
What Does Your Echo Say?
On a daily basis, what are we telling ourselves about who we are? What are we telling others about ourselves? How does this reflect on our interactions with others? This is a great story and someone shared this with me a few years back. I wish I knew who the author is to give appropriate credit. Enjoy.
A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, the son falls, hurts himself and screams, "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells, "Who are you?"
He receives the answer, "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, he screams, "Coward!"
He receives the answer, "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks, "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says, "My son, pay attention."
And then he screams to the mountain, "I admire you!"
The voice answers, "I admire you!"
Again the father screams, "You are a champion!"
The voice answers, "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains:
"People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; life will give you back everything you have given to it.Your life is not a coincidence. It's a reflection of you!"
A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, the son falls, hurts himself and screams, "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells, "Who are you?"
He receives the answer, "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, he screams, "Coward!"
He receives the answer, "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks, "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says, "My son, pay attention."
And then he screams to the mountain, "I admire you!"
The voice answers, "I admire you!"
Again the father screams, "You are a champion!"
The voice answers, "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains:
"People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; life will give you back everything you have given to it.Your life is not a coincidence. It's a reflection of you!"
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Making a Difference with a Personal Mission Statement
I started my career in sales like many others: doing whatever it took to make the sell and counting commission dollars along the way. I had a mentor that suggested not to count commissions, but to count quantity of production. He also advised to take the word sell out of my vocabulary and replace it with the word help. It took me a while to grasp this approach and it wasn’t until I had another mentor whom suggested developing a personal mission statement. Her personal mission statement was “To Improve the Quality of Life for the People I Serve”. I liked her personal mission statement so much that with her permission I adopted and made it my own.
This personal mission statement governs every interaction with the people that I serve. Who do I serve? My direct reports, my boss, other departments within our organization, our customers, and our agents that sale our products, my family, the youth sports teams I coach, my church, my friends and the list goes on. Identifying who I serve was just part of the equation, but how do you improve their quality of life? What I do is try to be one’s advocate, looking out for others best interest, making every interaction as positive as it can be, doing what is asked and helping them grow. Sometimes my products are not the best match for a client. If I am an advocate for that person then I need to make honest recommendations. Admit mistakes and don’t hide them. Take a genuine interest in others and watch how you can make a difference.
Once I adopted this personal mission statement and started living it out, my life changed. Sales grew and relationships deepened. I have another friend who has a personal mission statement that I love: “Helping Others Grow" She uses this similar to the way I use mine. As a VP of Sales, this governs her interaction with her staff, family and in her church. It’s a wonderful way to live – “helping others grow”
Email me your favorite personal mission statements and I will post them in the future.
Remember Great Days don’t just happen they are made. Make it a Great Day!
This personal mission statement governs every interaction with the people that I serve. Who do I serve? My direct reports, my boss, other departments within our organization, our customers, and our agents that sale our products, my family, the youth sports teams I coach, my church, my friends and the list goes on. Identifying who I serve was just part of the equation, but how do you improve their quality of life? What I do is try to be one’s advocate, looking out for others best interest, making every interaction as positive as it can be, doing what is asked and helping them grow. Sometimes my products are not the best match for a client. If I am an advocate for that person then I need to make honest recommendations. Admit mistakes and don’t hide them. Take a genuine interest in others and watch how you can make a difference.
Once I adopted this personal mission statement and started living it out, my life changed. Sales grew and relationships deepened. I have another friend who has a personal mission statement that I love: “Helping Others Grow" She uses this similar to the way I use mine. As a VP of Sales, this governs her interaction with her staff, family and in her church. It’s a wonderful way to live – “helping others grow”
Email me your favorite personal mission statements and I will post them in the future.
Remember Great Days don’t just happen they are made. Make it a Great Day!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New Year Resolutions - How to achieve part II
I complete a business plan every year and have my sales team do the same. We list our goals, we break the goals down to monthly numbers, identify the activity it takes to achieve the goals and at a minimum on a monthly basis review the plan and make amendments if needed. Here is my 7 step model for achieving goals:
- Step 1. Identify a clear and measurable goal, spending more time with the family or reading my Bible are great things to do but is it clear and can it be measured.
- Step 2. Think it through, what will it take, what resources do you need come up with a plan and write it down.
- Step 3. Tell others. Solicit the help of family and friends to hold you accountable.
- Step 4. Review regularly. I weighed and tracked both calorie intake and outtake on a daily basis.
- Step 5. Celebrate your success along the way.
- Step 6. Adjust your plan for unforeseen variables and sometimes you might have to consult with experts or others who may have more experience in certain areas.
- Step 7. Prayer - Prayer is needed through this entire process. Remember, With God All Things Are Possible!
Have a Happy and Safe New Year and may you accomplish all your resolutions and goals in 2009.
Great days don’t happen they are Made. Go out and “Make it a Great Day”
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