I recently read a story about Gordon Dean, who was a distinguished American lawyer and prosecutor He had certain life lessons that he tried to live by each and every day.  They are listed below:

1. Never lose your capacity for enthusiasm.

2. Never lose your capacity for indignation.

3. Never judge people–don’t type them too quickly. But in a pinch never first assume that a man is bad; first assume that he is good and that, at worst, he is in the gray area between bad and good.

4. Never be impressed by wealth alone or thrown by poverty.

5. If you can’t be generous when it’s hard to be, you won’t be when it’s easy.

6. The greatest builder of confidence is the ability to do something–almost anything–well.

7. When confidence comes, then strive for humility; you aren’t as good as all that.

8. The way to become truly useful is to seek the best that other brains have to offer.  Use them to supplement your own, and be prepared to give credit to them when they have helped.

9. The greatest tragedies in the world and personal events stem from misunderstandings. So communicate!

Here is one of my favorite quotes of all time:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”
–Calvin Coolidge

“Hanging Onto the American Dream” is a story of business leadership and leaving a legacy, which is based on Des Lee’s life experiences. The following “Ten Commandments of Effective Selling” is what Des Lee lived by each and every day. They are listed below:

1. Practice the highest standards of integrity with your company and your customers at all times.
2. Have a thorough knowledge of your products, their features, their strengths, their advantages, their uses and pricing.
3. Know your competition, their products, their strengths, their weaknesses, their market strategy, their pricing. Never underestimate them. Never discredit them.
4. Sell your company’s culture, its values, its philosophy, its policies and its successes.
5. Earn the right to increased sales through relentless determination, perseverance, hard work and continuous learning.
6. Be on time for all appointments. Keep all commitments.
7. Constantly cultivate new customers.
8. Make prompt follow-up on any complaints or problems. Stay involved.
9. Live out your selling philosophy in everything you do. Don’t limit it to customers alone.
10. Don’t oversell or pressure your customers. Play for the long haul.

I recently read an article by Carmine Gallo and he talked about Steve Jobs and his rules of success. I have listed below the seven rules just for my review:

1. Do what you love.
2. Put a dent in the universe.
3. Make Connections.
4. Say no to 1000 things.
5. Create insanely different experiences.
6. Master the message.
7. Sell dreams, not products.

Are you close to your health and fitness goals for 2011 yet? If not, I want to share with you a program I just got done using that works. It’s called Insanity and you can do it from home and doesn’t require any weights. It’s a nine week program that if you go at your own pace and fully commit, you will get results. If you want to learn more about the program go to www.beachbody.com.
**Please consult with your doctor before you start any health/weight program**

Start today and hit your fitness goals before the end of the year. NO EXCUSES!!

John Wooden’s personal creed he lived by each day of his life. This is the same John Wooden that led UCLA to 10 NCAA Basketball Championships in 20 years coaching the Bruins.

“Making the Most of Oneself”

Be true to yourself.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Help others.
Drink deeply from good books.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build shelter against a rainy day.
Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

Ten questions for making the next twelve months your most successful ever. I got these from Jinny Ditzler’s book “Your Best Year Yet”. Please spend a whole day thinking and answering the questions below and let me know if your life gets better over the next year. Good Luck!

What did I accomplish?
What were my biggest disappointments?
What did I learn?
How do I limit myself and how can I stop?
What are my personal values?
What roles do I play in my life?
Which role is my major focus for the next year?
What are my goals for each role?
What are my top ten goals for the Next Year?
How can I make sure I achieve my top 10 goals?

I thought these were great tips to persevere from BJ Gallagher’s book ” The Best Way Out Is Always Though”.

Persist no matter what.
Endure discomfort.
Request help.
Steadfastly hold on to your beliefs and values.
Envision triumph.
Very consistently keep at it.
Embrace adversity as your teacher.
Refuse to give up.
Enjoy and celebrate every tiny bit of progress!

I was reading an article by Ralph Waldo Trine this week and picked up these following tips:

1. First, form your ideals. And then follow them continually, where ever they lead.
2. Always remember that the great and strong character is the one willing to sacrifice the present pleasure for the future good.
3. Life is not for the passing pleasure, but for the highest enlightenment one can attain, the noblest character one can grow and the greatest service one can offer to mankind.
4. Resist the temptation to take shortcuts because they will not lead to real and lasting pleasure.
5. Thoughts are forces and each one creates its own kind, whether we realize it or not.
6. Rather than spending your days complaining about what bothers you, focus on your ideals and that will bring you closer to them.
7. Learn to use the power of suggestion positively.
8. It’s not the conditions of our life that define us, but how we meet them.
9. In the realm of our own minds, we have absolute control.

1. Believe in Yourself
2. Make Integrity Your Watchword
3. Maintain a Positive Attitude
4. Realize Your Dreams
5. Go Ahead… Get Started
6. Listen When Opportunity Knocks
7. Never Give Up
8. You Become What You Think About
9. Be Prepared
10. Spread Sunshine to Others
11. Fail Forward

I got this list from a short video I watched today from “Simple Truths”.

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