Motivation Station

That hits home Fred, "...what lies within us".  It's a Great statement to focus on for the day!

Holiday Giving

 
by Bill Mansell

The holidays are a time of giving.  People scramble around rushing from store to store, spending hours online scouring newspaper ads—just to find the perfect gift for a loved one.  It’s a wonderful time of year when we tend to appreciate our relationships and thank those who mean so much to us. 

Ironically, because it is so busy, it’s also a time of year when people get a little grouchy and surly with each other.  We tend to snap at people, even our loved ones.  We often fill every free moment with preparations or celebrations, and leave little time to relax with family and friends to feel the joy of the season.

The best gifts you can give to your loved ones don’t cost money.  They do take effort, but they will make a huge impact.  What more could you want: free gifts with a huge, lasting impact!

Here are my top 5 free gifts for the holidays:

1. Smile and be pleasant. This can take work, especially during the holidays, but it will make someone’s day and improve yours at the same time.
2. Spread only good news (not just about other people, but about everything!)  There’s always plenty of bad news to talk about, just give it a rest until January.
3. Spread holiday cheer (wish people well, go caroling, decorate, visit neighbors, participate in community holiday events)
4. Set aside time for family and loved ones.  Why not set aside at least one “family night” where you don’t have anything planned.  Turn off the TV and just enjoy talking.  Relive happy memories of holidays past, share stories, play games, laugh and love.
5. Do a random act of anonymous service.  Whether you do it alone or as a family, nothing brings the holiday spirit better than serving someone else quietly, without credit or fanfare.

Thank you Cathy, your kind words always bring me encouragment. Smile!

WOW Fred!  These words of Holiday Giving are Brilliant!  With your permission, I would like to pass it on to others I know by way of a blog post, reference Motivation Station group on dealerELITE as the source platform and yourself and the message deliverer.  I'm not sure which of the 5 things I'm going to do first, I want to do all of them right NOW!  I'm smiling, that 's a good start. 

THANK YOU to all the contributors of this Group!  It's a pleasure to communicate with like-minded people in the auto biz.  Happy Holidays to you! 

Fred, Thank you for your excellent post, Holiday Giving. and for that matter, all of your posts! You are truly an inspiration to us all and I appreciate the time and effort you put into our group here. Thank you so much!! Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Take care my friend.

‎"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent."
~ Mike Jones

Cathy and Jack, Thank you! I appreciate your kind words and the ability to post on DEalerelite; knowing you enjoy the posts adds to my desire to be a contributor. Thank you all very much, smile and enjoy your life!

Give Your Spouse Positive Reinforcement

I once saw this advertisement: "Make sure you're part of a winning team." The way to be part of a winning team in marriage is to bring out the best in your spouse.

Remember to keep your focus on your spouse's strengths and not his or her weaknesses. Remember to believe in the potential of your spouse. Believe that your spouse has untapped wisdom and goodness that both of you can reach. Remember to notice positive changes and to express your appreciation. Express appreciation and gratitude for positive words and actions, even if they are not totally what you would have wanted.

By giving positive reinforcement to a movement in the right direction, you encourage your spouse to keep moving along the best path for both of you.

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book entitled "Marriage" - ArtScroll Publications, 1998, Chapter One, pp.30-1)

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."

Winston Churchill, British prime minister

"Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things."

Denis Diderot, French Philosopher and Writer

The Continuous Improvement Formula

By: Brian Tracy

Put Your Career on the Fast Track
There are many things you can do to put your career onto the fast track. You can set clear, specific goals for each area of your life and then make plans to accomplish them. You can plan your work and work your plan.

Ask For Greater Responsibility
You can accept 100% responsibility for everything you are and everything you become. You can refuse to make excuses or to blame others. You can tell your boss that you want greater responsibilities and then when you get them, put your whole heart into doing an excellent job.

Utilize Your Inborn Talents
In the parable of the talents in the New Testament, Jesus says, "Oh good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over small things. I will make you master over large things."

If you too will carry out every assignment to the very best of your ability, you will be given larger and more important things to do and you'll be paid more as a result.

Dedicate Yourself to Continuous Improvement
The key to long term success is for you to dedicate yourself to continuous improvement. If you become one tenth of one percent more productive each day, that amounts to 1/1000th improvement per working day. Is that possible? Of course it is!

Improve A Little At A Time
If you become one tenth of one percent more productive each day, that amounts to one half of one percent more productive each week. One half of one percent more productive each week amounts to two percent more productive each month and 26% more productive each year.

The cumulative effect if becoming a tiny bit better at your field and more productive amounts to a tremendous increase in your value and your output over time.

How to Double Your Productivity
Twenty-six percent more productive each year, with compounding, amounts to doubling your overall productivity and performance every 2.7 years. If you become 26% more productive each year, with compounding, times 10 years, you will be 1004% more productive over the next decade. That is an increase of ten times over ten years.

The Reason For All Great Successes
This is called the Law of Accumulation, or the Principle of Incremental Improvement. It is the primary reason for all great success stories. By the yard, it's hard. But inch by inch, anything's a cinch!

Become A 1000% Person
Make a decision, right now, to be a 1000% person. Commit yourself to continuous personal and professional development. Read, listen to audio programs and take additional courses. This process will completely transform your life.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do to put these ideas into action immediately.

First, make a plan to become a little bit better every single day. Learn and apply one new idea each day to help you to become more productive and effective at your work. The incremental effect will amaze you.

Second, be patient. Don't expect overnight changes or instant results. Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare. Become a little bit better each day and your future will take care of itself.

Don't Take Disagreements Personally

When someone disagrees with your ideas, realize that he's not attacking you personally. This perspective will help you be more open to listen to someone who disagrees with your position.

As an experiment, go an entire week without reacting defensively (unless it is necessary to do so to protect yourself from loss or harm).

Rabbi Pliskin's "Gateway to Self Knowledge,"

"One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered. "

Michael J. Fox, Actor

"I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed." 

 Booker T. Washington, Educator

In which new direction would I like to head?

When you’re dealing with something that can’t be changed, you have choices.

You can choose to struggle, battle, and cling, and remain stuck -

stuck in an unfavorable situation, with negative feelings.

Or, you can choose to go with the flow -

in other words, you can choose to accept the situation,

let go of negative thoughts about it, and

open up to a change in direction.

Is there an area in your life where you’re feeling stuck? 

Use this awareness as an indicator that it’s time to go with the flow -

use it as your inner compass to get you moving again in a new and positive direction.

First ask yourself:

Will any amount of thinking, forcing, or coaxing alter my situation?

If the answer is no, accept that fact.

Without acceptance, you’ll continue to fight, resist, and struggle,

which will erode your joy and energy.

On the other hand, accepting the situation for what it is and

choosing to go with the flow

will bring tranquility, peace, and lightness.

Next, ask yourself:

Which thoughts and old beliefs do I need to let go of?

Let go of any thoughts about the situation that are causing upsetting feelings;

such as impatience, jealousy, fear, or anger.

One way to do this is to trust that out of every situation, good will come.

When you choose to believe that good will come out of every experience,

you’ll soon discover that perceived obstacles are really blessings in disguise.

Sometimes these obstacles serve to nudge you in a new direction -

one that will open up your world to magnificent experiences.

Sometimes they help you become a stronger, better, and wiser you.

Take all the positives you can out of each experience and

choose to leave the negative feelings behind.

Finally, ask yourself:

In which new direction would I like to head?

It’s important to understand that going with the flow doesn’t mean

you drift aimlessly and allow the tide to determine where in your life you’ll end up.

It’s fulfilling to decide where you want to go and

then take the steps to get there.