Jane’s book, “The Art of Managing…How to Build a Better Workplace and Relationships,” gives the reader a step-by-step process to follow in the development of Self which includes the mind, body and spirit. If you visualize what you want, you will be able to create a better understanding of the lives that you most desire. “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne reinforces this concept by saying that everything that’s coming into your life you are attracting into your life. And, it’s attracted to you by virtue of the images you’re holding in your mind. You become what you think most, but you also attract what you think most. Just remember, what we think, walks and talks tomorrow.

Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do. Believe in yourself that you will do what you need to do to get where you want to go. Sometimes we doubt what we are doing or if what we are doing is the right thing to do. Trust your intuition and that little voice that you hear; no, not the one who leads you into trouble; it’s the one who leads you in the direction that you know is right. I always say, if you have to ask someone, then it probably won’t be the right direction. If you believe in yourself, you will begin to trust the answers that come from within. Believe in yourself and know that you are on the right path. Take one step at a time and start today!

What do you want that you don’t have now? This is such a key question when helping people. Whether their wants are realistic or not, if you are in a service position, it is our job to help them prioritize those wants and fill those needs. Finding the want is such a simple concept, however, there are times when we get so involved with what we think they want or what they should want, that we really don’t hear them. In essence, we hear what they are saying, however, we interpret what they are saying to what we think they are saying, not really what they mean. The key is to ask lots of questions for clarification and listen for the answers. Find the want and fill it!

Develop Self to better understand how we can create the life that we most desire. One of the keys to a better Self is to understand your emotions (fear, anger, sadness, guilt, rage, shame). When you feel an emotion, reflect to see where it is coming from. People can only evoke reactions in us if we choose to let them. By reflecting and going back in time to when you first remember a similar word, situation, person, or incident, you can work through the original incident by replacing those memories with what should have been to make you feel okay. By replacing negative messages with positive ones, we overcome negative programming and become more in harmony with our relationships and our environment. As you begin to understand yourself more and more, you will respond positively to more and more situations and relationships with understanding and compassion.

Any obstacles to knowing the right course of action are within each of us, and so is the right course. Sometimes it seems as though a decision truly hangs in the balance, with such equal values on both sides. You can hear yourself saying, “I was so close to saying no, or yes.” We hold our thumb and forefinger a quarter inch apart. That close may not be close at all; we knew all along what was appropriate. If we let ourselves be still and listen to our inner voice, we usually know what is right for us to do. If we find ourselves faced with a lot of decisions that seem so close apart, maybe we are not acting according to our ideas of what’s right. It might be time to reappraise our values. If we believe one way and act another, we are not being true to SELF.

I had an opportunity today to attend a luncheon that was a networking function that comprised a group of well-educated, entrepreneurial, successful business women. The one thing I learned was that most successful businesses are built on referrals from family, friends and associates. It is these folks who we have established relationships with that know who we are, what we want to give to others, how we work, and why we want to do the business that we do. No only are relationships the key to a successful business, they are also the best teachers in our lives. Maintain and nurture these precious relationships.

Developing a clear vision of what you want and how to get there as described in The Art of Managing…How to Build a Better Workplace and Relationships is supported by “Talent is Never Enough” by John C. Maxwell. He says, “When people believe in themselves, they unleash power in themselves and resources around them that almost immediately take them to a higher level. Your potential is a picture of what you can become. Belief helps you see the picture and reach for it.” He also says, “Accomplishment is more than a matter of working harder and smarter. It’s also a matter of believing positively.” Believe in yourself and you will succeed.

Lorna Hines, Owner of Sales Career Resources, Inc., sent me an inspirational message that I wanted to share with all of you.
“Success requires planning, focus and patience. Patience is often the most difficult part of this formula. Success requires doing the things we need to do to get where we want to go. Success requires getting things done. The most difficult part of this process is the ability to be patient long enough to continue the effort required to achieve our goal. There is something very powerful that results from our ability to be patient and focus on the outcome. It helps our clients feel good about themselves and the effort they are making to achieve their goals. It keeps us centered and focused and gives us the fortitude to be patient long enough to achieve success.

She recently heard a speaker tell a story that she had been told many years ago. It is the story of a man who found and hung a painting of a small row boat. It was a painting of a row boat beached in the sand. The boat’s oars were lying at each side of the boat in the sand. A visitor saw the painting and was startled by how sad and bleak it looked. He was about to ask the man why he would hang a painting with such a dark image when he looked down at the bottom of the painting and read the painting’s title “And the tide will always return.” What this means is that you have the ability to focus on the outcome, work hard with an optimistic attitude and be patient while working for good results that will deliver success.

When Jerry Seinfeld was asked the question, “Why do you think you have had so much more success when there are so many very funny comedians out there?” He replied (and I am paraphrasing this), “There is always a long line of very talented comedians standing off stage waiting for their turn. Many of them are probably better and funnier than me. It takes a long time to practice in front of an audience and perfect our craft. Sometimes it’s brutal when the joke doesn’t make it and an audience can be very tough. I just stood in line long enough. One at a time others who were standing in line would become discouraged and drop out, but I stayed in line. Every time someone dropped out I took another step forward and moved up in line. I stayed in line until finally I was at the front of the line. I had succeeded.”

Ty Murray, the champion rodeo star and professional bull rider, has said that “You’re never really ready. It’s just your turn.” The key is to develop the focus and the patience to earn our turn.

In just a few short minutes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his immortal poem, “A Psalm of Life”. He summed it well in the last stanza,
Let us, then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labour and to wait.

Reach out and take your turn… ”

According to Wikipedia encyclopedia, Honesty is the human quality of communicating and acting truthfully related to truth as a value. This includes listening, and any action in the human repertoire, such as body language and tone used while speaking. The meaning of the word truth extends from honesty, good faith, and sincerity.
Honesty means simply stating facts and views as best one truly believes them to be. It includes both honesty to others, and to oneself and about one’s own motives and inner reality. Dishonesty, at times, has the ability to cause misfortune to the person who displayed it.
Isn’t it interesting that we judge ourselves by our intentions and judge others by their actions.

I wanted to share with you something inspirational that will bring optimism into your life as suggested by one of my favorite authors, Michael Robinson, and some of my own thoughts.

1) Tell the truth – Admit to yourself and to others your own fear, worry, and negativity. While we don’t want to complain or dwell on things in a detrimental way, so often we deny or avoid our true negativity or pessimism, which keeps it stuck. When we admit it and own it, we have a chance to move through it and to let it go consciously. But, only say it once; and, then let it go.

2) Practice looking for the good in everyone and everything – This is a skill that we can practice all the time. It can be challenging to find the good in the midst of adversity, but that is the most important time to do it and the most valuable way to practice being optimistic. The more you do it the easier it gets. Move beyond the desire or need to be the victim.

3) Surround yourself with authentic and optimistic people – Choose to be around people who are genuinely positive and hopeful. Seek out people who choose to appreciate life and to focus on what’s working. Doing this will not only be more fun and empowering for you, but it will also support you in your desire to be more optimistic in your own life.

I believe that optimism is the basis of happiness, fulfillment, and the ability to overcome and have the life that you want and deserve.