Archive for March, 2009

« Older Entries

FYI #150: How To Set Goals and Stay Motivated

Monday, March 30th, 2009

LISTEN UP! I’M EXCITED to share today’s FYI/TGIM e-zine with you because it’s the first time in over two years of publishing this newsletter that I am adding an audio component to the content.

My goal is to provide you with more value as a subscriber and develop a closer relationship with you. I also want to encourage you to be more interactive and share your thoughts, ideas and feelings by commenting on what you read, see and hear.

I’m going to facilitate this by utilizing my blog, www.EricTaylorsBlog.com as a place for you to post comments and meet other FYI/TGIM subscribers.

In addition, starting next Monday, April 6th I’ll be adding a weekly video blog titled–

“Instant Inspiration!”

The goal with the video blog is to provide an additional “live” component to the weekly FYI/TGIM e-zine. Of course, I’m not going to read the e-zine to you on camera. In just a couple of minutes or less, I’m going to expand on the major points of the FYI and probably add additional Inspirational Thoughts and Action Ideas to enhance the content and, hopefully, motivate and inspire you to take positive action.

The video blogs are going to be energetic, off-the-cuff, in your face, spontaneous, fired-up and fun! I’m extremely pumped-up about adding this component to each week’s FYI/TGIM.

Get Ready!

In the spirit of embracing technology to communicate more effectively, this FYI will be in Audio Form and as of next Monday, April 6th it will also be in Video Form.

Here’s the setup: In the beginning of the year I received a phone call from a long-time friend of mine Robert Mandelberg. Rob is an extremely successful interview coach and has owned his resume writing company, The Creative Edge Resume Service in Eatontown, NJ since 1987.

Due to our current economic climate Rob recognized there were more people than ever trying to find a job or transition their career. To help new job seekers in their quest, Rob decided to create a program that would give people the tools and strategies to be successful in their search.

Rob reached out to industry leaders to provide content in their area of expertise for his program titled “The Job Search Summit” – www.jobsearchsummit.com

He specifically asked me to share, in a one-hour interview, specific Goal Setting Strategies and ways to Stay Motivated while searching for the career of your dreams.

I decided to provide the interview to you for FREE in this FYI, as another way to Thank-You for subscribing to the weekly FYI / TGIM Ezine.

Of course, I want to encourage you to take a look at the information page for entire The Job Search Summit Tele-Seminar that Rob created. You can access all of the details of the program by clicking on this link www.jobsearchsummit.com. It is a phenomenal program and there is nothing like it on the web or anywhere.

In my one-hour interview with Rob Mandelberg you will learn:

• Effective goal-setting techniques: increasing personal accountability to help you succeed.

• Networking and communication strategies to make goal attainment easier.

• Energy-Boosting System: Eric’s D.R.E.A.M.S. system explained.

• Time Mastery: Fitting it all in – making time for family, work, and self; accomplish more than you ever thought possible.

Enjoy the audio program and be sure to visit www.EricTaylorsBlog.com next Monday for the launch of my weekly motivational video: “Instant Inspiration!”

Click the Play Button to listen!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Weekly FYI | 1 Comment »

TGIM #195: I Got A Stimulus Bonus

Monday, March 30th, 2009

I GOT A “STIMULUS” BONUS from the President’s news conference last week.

Now don’t get angry. I’m not going to keep it all to myself. I’m going to share it -
with YOU!

Best of all: You get it ALL … 100% … all for you.

By the way: It wasn’t exactly cash in hand. Sorry.

But in some ways it’s better. It’s an idea; a motivational, inspirational idea. So I get to give each and every one of you every bit of it AND keep it for myself. And if it proves to be as good an idea and as worth sharing as I believe it is, we can each turn it into “cash” or the equivalent at virtually no immediate out-of-pocket cost.

Enough build up. Let’s get down to cases. After nearly an hour of press conference talk mostly about “the economy” there was a geo-political question about the Israeli/Palestinian state of affairs and the decades of difficulties building consensus there. After a little preamble noting the similarity in some respects to the two sides in the now-greatly-resolved Northern Ireland disputes, I heard a Presidential message that was -

Useful and personally powerful. Here, as reported by the Federal News Service, is a verbatim excerpt from Mr. Obama’s spontaneous answer to what turned out to be the last question that evening:

“And what that tells me is that if you stick to it, if you are persistent, then — then these problems can be dealt with. That whole philosophy of persistence, by the way, is one that I’m going to be emphasizing again and again in the months and years to come, as long as I am in this office.”

“I’m a big believer in persistence.”

Me, too. And you should be, as well, no matter what your political persuasion.

Case in point: In the next part of his answer the President went on to enumerate a number of sticky issues that face him and you and me as individuals and all of us collectively as a country these difficult days. And in that enumeration, the theme of persistence, well, persisted.

Now check this out: I went online to dig out the transcript to accurately report the quote above to you. And as I read the next few Presidential paragraphs, I realized that if I edited out the political references and filled in the blanks with almost any challenging sticky issue – personal, family, business – the end result would be a pretty good -

TGIM ACTION IDEA: Instead of “domestic affairs,” “nuclear weapons,” “terrorism,” “the banking system” — plug in whatever personal essentials you care to specify.

TGIM IDEA IN ACTON: Try it yourself. Here’s more of the transcript of what the President went on to say at the press conference. To make it easy for you to personalize, I replaced the political particulars with (fill-in-the-blank).

“I think that when it comes to (fill-in-the-blank), if we keep on working at it, if we acknowledge that we make mistakes sometimes and that we don’t always have the right answer and we’re inheriting very knotty problems, that we can ( ); we can find better solutions to our ( ) challenges; we can ( ) more effectively; we can deal with a very real ( ) crisis that is not fully dealt with in my ( ) at this point, but makes progress.

“What I am confident about is that we’re moving in the right direction and that the decisions we’re making are based on how we are going to get this (fill-in-the-blank) moving, how are we going to ( ), how are we going to make sure that (fill-in-the-blank), and how are we going to create not just prosperity here but work with ( ) for global peace and prosperity.”

“And we are going to stay with it as long as I’m (fill-in-the-blank), and I think that when you look back ( ) years from now, I think hopefully people will judge that body of work and say, this is a big ocean liner — it’s not a speedboat; it doesn’t turn around immediately — but we’re in a better — better place because of the decisions that we make.”

Payoff: Didn’t you just give yourself a pretty motivating little pep talk and self-fulfilling lesson in persistence? Do you feel “stimulated” to try a little harder, strive a bit more energetically, search for one more viable option, “hang in there” a little longer?

I hope you do. Persistence pays … or can be made to. Positive self-talk pays … obviously even the President of the United States does it. Give it a try, too and see if it lifts us to better decisions and a better place.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing
8 Depot Square
Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
gsteck@hotmail.com

P.S. Equal time policy. As ET noted in his FYI last week, as a rule we try to remain “agnostic” about religion, politics and money policy in these e-blasts. So, adhering to that principle (and because perhaps the most persistent quote about the power of persistence belongs to the 30th President, a conservative Republican) here’s a reminder of what “Silent Cal” Coolidge broke his silence to share: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men 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.”

P.P.S. I persist in adding a postscript here about The Best Year Ever! Program because Eric and I really do believe it’s an unsurpassed tool for self improvement and we can all use that, especially in times such as these. Just like these e-blasts, it brings you information in an easy-to-digest-and-implement form. Persist in mastering these skills and you do better immediately and in the future. We’re continually updating and improving the BYE content and media formats. Check the website and ET’s blog for the latest developments.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Weekly TGIM | No Comments »

FYI #149: Self-Discipline Pays Big Dividends

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

Dear High Achiever:

Religion, politics and money management are topics I typically stay away from in my personal conversations and in the FYI ezine. But today, I’m going to use a quote from the Bible because, in my opinion, it best illustrates the importance of Self-Discipline.

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Proverbs 25:28

Or, if that visual doesn’t work for you try this one:

Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

The most difficult thing to master while creating Your Best Year Ever! is YOU. Yes, there are secrets, strategies and skills sets you need to learn and develop in order to have a Best Year Ever!. But mastering the self-discipline to receive the benefits and dividends is where most people stumble.

Clear? Good. But, perhaps surprisingly, my challenge for you today is not, “Are you working on your self-discipline?”

FYI Takeaway: The question you must constantly ask yourself is, “Are my goals, passion and focus driving the decisions, actions and discipline to manifest what I want in my life?”

Below are ten examples of how self-discipline can pay great dividends in your life, from a person I think, and hope, I know fairly well — me.

● The discipline of 45 minutes of cardiovascular training 6 days a week … pays the dividend of a lean healthy body.

● The discipline of resistance weight training 4 days a week … pays the dividend of strength, endurance and muscle tone.

● The discipline of going to bed at 10:30 pm and waking up at 4:30 am … pays the dividend of 6 hours of restful sleep and an 18 hour productive day.

● The discipline of writing daily and polishing at least some part of that to share weekly with you in this FYI newsletter … pays the dividend of 50,000 words of focused thought a year — the equivalent of writing two books.

● The discipline of working 50 to 60 hours per week at a career I love and am passionate about … pays the dividend of creating an income so my family can experience all of the “good things” in life.

● The discipline of investing 2 to 3 hours of quality time each day with my family … pays the dividend of children developing a deep, loving relationship with their father.

● The discipline of eating 5 or 6 well-balanced healthy meals a day … pays the dividend of increased metabolism and lower body fat.

● The discipline of enriching my mind by reading or listening to positive, personal development books or audio programs 30 minutes each day … pays the dividend of higher self-esteem, self-confidence and creativity.

● The discipline of studying and mastering the art and science of sales, marketing and effective communication skills every day … pays the dividend of providing a high level of quality, service and advice to my clients.

● The discipline of nurturing my marriage, focusing on my wife’s needs and understanding what she really wants is beyond my comprehension. (Just kidding; had to break things up with a little humor.) The dividends of being a loving, caring partner and husband have transformed my life.

Easy for me to say? I want to be clear in my communication with you about Self-Discipline. It is the hardest thing for me and most people to master. For me, the things that drive my obsession with self-discipline are my goals and my level of personal expectations. I’m really hard on myself and I like to think, not to a fault. To be disciplined –

You must know what drives you. I want all of the good things life has to offer not only for me, but for my wife, and my kids, and the people I care most about.

It’s important. Sure I wake up at 4:30am every day to exercise for me. But I also do it so I don’t take away from family time and can actually have more energy for family time. My wife and kids are still sleeping when I’m exercising and writing. It’s a beautiful thing.

The importance of my self-discipline to train and write early in the morning so I can be 100% present and focused during Family Time is immeasurable. My hope is that the dividends will be paid when my kids have to make a really hard choice in life and they come to my wife and me for the answer because they know, love, trust and cherish the bond we developed throughout their life.

The BIG 168. You, me everybody else on this planet only get ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY EIGHT HOURS each week. That’s it. I’m like a drill-sergeant about time; it’s extremely valuable and I guard it closely. Self-Discipline and/or Time Discipline will determine your actions, your productivity and ultimately the quality of your life and your legacy.

*** If you enjoy reading our weekly FYI/TGIM Ezine but would like a daily jolt of motivation and inspiration -  visit my new website and sign up for the Daily Inspirational Quote ***  – www.EmpowermentGroup.com

*** Important Announcement for FYI Readers ***

Please re-subscribe to my FYI Newsletter if you haven’t done so already.
I’m converting to a newer and more powerful newsletter program and I want to ensure that I include you in all future FYI’s. By Signing Up, you will not get any more or any less emails from me than you are receiving now.

I’ve recently re-launched my website www.EmpowermentGroup.com and my new blog www.EricTaylorsBlog.com.

Simply, visit my blog www.EricTaylorsBlog.com and re-subscribe.

You will see “Click Here and Subscribe to Eric’s Free Weekly FYI Newsletter”

I appreciate you taking the time to do this. As a token of thanks, you will be able to download the free Best Year Ever! e-book.

The Beginning -”How to Start Having Your Best Year Ever!”

As always, Thank-You for subscribing.

Make It Your Best Year Ever!

Eric Taylor is the Chief Inspiration Officer of SelfGrowth.com and founder of New Jersey based Empowerment Group International. He delivers more than 100 energized and interactive keynotes, workshops and seminars each year to corporations, associations and tradeshows. He is the author of the Energy Passport, Co-creator of the Best Year Ever! Success System and Co-author of The Complete Sales Training Encyclopedia. Eric can be reached at 732.617.1030 x114 or email Eric@SelfGrowth.com or Eric@EmpowermentGroup.com

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Personal Development, Weekly FYI | No Comments »

FYI #148: No More "Some Day"

Monday, March 16th, 2009

THE WORDS FOR THIS FYI are hard for me to write.

Someone very close to me was recently diagnosed with fourth-stage Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. So the words for this FYI don’t come easily or painlessly. But one thing I’ve learned over time is that –

Writing focuses your thinking. So creating and sharing this FYI with you is, I hope, useful for me as well as Informative and Inspirational for you.

The good news is: This is a very treatable form of cancer. I’ve already spoken to people who have loved ones that have lived for years with this type of cancer, even when it’s in its fourth stage.

The troubling part is: I know this isn’t a death sentence but it’s very disheartening watching someone I love age what seems like 10 years in two short weeks.

I often write about the importance of Carpe Diem — seizing the day. I believe, and I like to think that I live the words I write. I truly try to “walk my talk” and to test that conviction you only need to ask the people close to me.

But this FYI isn’t about testimonials.

This FYI is about a major life lesson for me and, I hope, one for you.

You may have had the experience of having someone close to you die; perhaps a mother, father, sibling or friend. If you have I’m sorry for your loss.

Thankfully, I’ve never had a relative or some very close to me die. The only person I knew and felt that kind of close to who died was Christopher Reeve. His death was a profound experience for me. I felt tremendous grief because he died only ten days after he had spoken at a seminar I produced where he was the featured speaker. I had a lot of anxiety and was very emotional on the night of the event; it created a unique bond between Chris and me. Even now I think about him every day.

But the reality of the experience I’m having right now brings mortality –

Even closer to home. I’m finding myself doing “The Rocking Chair Test” every day. It’s as if I’m the one with cancer and I’m thinking of all of the things I need to do. It drives home the idea that –

Today not Some Day. I imagine myself as an old man, nearing the end of his days. As I sit on the porch in my rocking chair and contemplate my life, I ponder if the decisions I have made (and will make) have meaning. Will I be proud or ashamed of my decisions? How will these decisions have affected the course of my life and the lives of others?

“The Rocking Chair Test” helps me take a long view of my options. If any decision passes the test, then I know that it was a good choice.

I don’t want to be all alone in a hospital bed thinking back on my life, wishing I had gone to Ireland … or I had spent more time with my kids … or hugged and said “I love you” more often.

I don’t know that my “someone-very-close-to-me” patient is thinking these thoughts. I only know that I don’t want to leave any “unfinished business” behind me when I die. This experience has made me realize more than ever that I – and I’m going to add, we – need to –

Live while we’re alive. Yes, I’ve always talked about creating a life worth living and a legacy worth leaving. Yes, I’ve always championed Carpe Diem. But today I’m adding a new step.

FYI ACTION IDEA: Today I’m creating a Must-Experience-NOW! List. It’s not a dream board or a goal that I want to achieve in the next five or ten years. It’s a list of things I need to say, do or experience Right Now — not “Some Day”.

Starting Today, and for the rest of my life, there will be No More “Some Day”.

FYI IDEA IN ACTION: Today especially, I’m Thankful For and Thank YOU – those of you I know personally and those of you I may not have met but who I feel close to because you make an effort to connect through this ezine. Your friendship and support are important to me. I greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness and prayers.

*** If you enjoy reading our weekly FYI/TGIM Ezine but would like a daily jolt of motivation and inspiration – visit my new website and sign up the Daily Inspirational Quote *** – www.EmpowermentGroup.com

Make It Your Best Year Ever!

Eric Taylor is the Chief Inspiration Officer of SelfGrowth.com and founder of New Jersey based Empowerment Group International. He delivers more than 100 energized and interactive keynotes, workshops and seminars each year to corporations, associations and tradeshows. He is the author of the Energy Passport, Co-creator of the Best Year Ever! Success System and Co-author of The Complete Sales Training Encyclopedia. Eric can be reached at 732.617.1030 x114 or email Eric@SelfGrowth.com or Eric@EmpowermentGroup.com

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Personal Development, Weekly FYI | 1 Comment »

FYI #147: Positive Persistence

Monday, March 9th, 2009

IF THERE’S EVER BEEN A TIME in your life to be persistent, it’s right now. Now is the time for you and me and all the folks we know and love to wake up every day with the mindset of “Positive Persistence.”

FYI ACTION IDEA: Do everything in your power to stay motivated and inspired. Read, listen and watch more personal development books, CDs and movies. Hang around positive people in your life who are thriving and who will encourage you to do the same.

Big “by the way:” When I refer to “Positive Persistence” I’m not referring to motivation.

Of course, you must stay motivated and inspired every day. Motivation is like deodorant, it must be reapplied at least every 8 hours. And, you and I know some folks that need to reapply both more frequently.

An inside story: There’s a joke that’s fairly well known in the motivational-speaking business and in some HR departments and executive suites. Maybe you’ve heard it before. But, in case you haven’t, I’m going to share it with you now because it’s clearly illustrates the distinction between being “Positively Persistent” and “motivated.”

“If you send an idiot to a motivational seminar,
he’ll come back to the office a motivated idiot.”

You and I are not idiots. We know the economy is bad and people are struggling. But like you, I chose to not expose myself to the exacerbated redundancy that every so-called “news” channel is airing.

The global and economic news has been so disheartening even NBC’s Nightly News anchor Brian Williams asked viewers to send in suggestions for good news. Within two days he was flooded with thousands of responses from people who had good news to share.

So there is “Positive” out there. And people want and need more of it. And via FYI and TGIM and my blog and SelfGrowth.com and whatever other ways we can think of, we’re going to “Persist” in bringing it to you.

FYI Challenge: When we do, you must do your part.

Today is the day: The day to dig your heels in, work harder, work smarter and have a “Positive Persistence” in your demeanor.

There are people all around us claiming defeat. Every word out of their mouths is about how bad the economy is.

And they’re right. Things are bad, not to the extent of The Great Depression, but close, Ronald-Reagan-era close.

It’s a fact. But it’s not time to anesthetize the pain. When there’s pain –

That’s where “Positive Persistence” comes in. Winners will face the challenge.

You and I cannot afford to focus on how bad the economy is, think about it and talk about it, every second of the day.

Why?

We have families and companies that are counting us to lead them through, by being smart, strong and persistent.

“POSITIVE PERSISTENCE” IN ACTION: If you feed your belief and your faith, You WILL Persist! You WILL starve fear and doubt to death.

Belief + Faith = Persistence

I’m putting a YouTube link in today’s FYI which I encourage you to watch. It’s from the 2006 movie Facing the Giants. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vB59PkB0eQ

The movie is about belief, faith and persistence. It’s worth the six minutes you’ll invest watching it.

Below are two quotes about persistence. Both are profound and insightful in their own way.

“ 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

“Some guys they just give up living, Others start dying little by little, piece by piece, Some guys come home from work and wash up, And go racing in the streets.” – Bruce Springsteen

*** If you enjoy reading our weekly FYI/TGIM Ezine but would like a daily jolt of motivation and inspiration – visit my new website and sign up the Daily Inspirational Quote *** – www.EmpowermentGroup.com

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Personal Development, Weekly FYI | 4 Comments »

« Older Entries