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5.75 Questions for Your Leap Year Bonus Day

Ah, Leap Year.

An extra day--24 whole hours--to do...what?

Have you asked yourself what you'll do with all that bonus time?

Will it be just another Wednesday for you--work, school, errands, foraging for grub at the food court, television, Facebook, complaining about this and that--or will you use those "extra" hours to do something different?

Here's an idea from our friends over at Box of Crayons. Why not take some time, say 10- or 15-minutes, to ask yourself these 5.75 questions. Press the pause button on your life and do something different. Take a look at the course you've charted and consider what you want or need to change.

Listen, don't just ask the questions. Actually take a few of your extra 1,440 minutes to formulate honest, introspective, and creative answers.

 

Box of Crayons presents The 5.75 Questions You've Been Avoiding

So, how will you answer the 5.75 questions?

1. What is going well?
2. What are you doing your best to ignore?
3. What is boring you?
4. How do you want to be remembered?
5. Who do you love?

Now go do GREAT things!

What is Your Short Story?

For some reason, I love watches.

I always have. When I was a kid in a younger body--I'm still a kid inside--I took watches apart just to see what made them tick (you know, now that I think about it, this is about the only appropriate place for that idiom).

I appreciate their construction, their artistry, their precision, their utility.

My appreciation for watches makes me notice their advertisements. The one shown below for Patek Philippe is one of my favorites. It simply says,

"You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely take care of it for the next generation."

That's it. These brief but simple lines tell an emotionally compelling story of tradition, reliability, strength, longevity, value, pride, and heritage. Even love.

If you notice, there is not even a single direct word about features or accuracy or materials or any other physical attribute. Those things are not an important part of the short story.

Instead, there is a subtle reference to the advertising campaign's overarching theme, "Begin Your Own Tradition."

What matters in this story is that Patek Philippe watches are here for today and tomorrow. That is the short story.

Let me ask you: Do you have a short story?

Of course you do!

We all do.

And you know what? Your story is important, and if you are reading this, that means that you are still writing it.

Will your story be one dominated by physical features and material objects, or will it be one of moral character, reliability, strength, eternal values, a positive heritage, and love?

Will it be about your cars, houses, and money, or will those who recite your story recall your love for God, your integrity, your service, and the kindness you've shown to those around you?

It is up to you.

Nobody can write your story for you.

So, what is your short story?

[If you would like to share the short story you're writing, please post a comment. I love to hear from my readers!]

Worth Repeating - Optimism

Are you wise or foolish?

 

This is certainly worth reading. Are you really as wise as you think you are? There are big differences between the ways those who are wise and foolish respond to instruction and counsel.

 

 

The Primary Difference Between the Wise and Foolish

[From Michael Hyatt] A few weeks ago, a business acquaintance called to discuss a challenge he was facing at work. As usual, I began with a few questions, trying to understand the context and the issues involved.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/AnnBaldwin

It quickly became apparent that he didn’t want to change. In fact, the entire conversation was about why he couldn’t change, why he didn’t need to change, and why he wasn’t responsible for the results he was getting.

Ten minutes into the discussion, I realized I was dealing with a fool. There was no point in continuing the conversation. More talk would not change anything.

...Read the rest at Michael Hyatt's blog.

One Tip for Communicating Everything

He was undoubtedly the worst boss I've had.

The exact representation of how NOT to act.

The epitome of what NOT to do.

Yet, as you may have noticed, you can learn as much from the bad examples as from the good.

After applying another of his infamous verbal beatings to my then closed ears, he had a moment of calm clarity and delivered a lesson that still rings true almost a decade later.

He told me, "It's all in the presentation."

And he was right.

Whether you are delivering good news or bad, how you say it is frequently more important than what you say.

How do you speak to your boss?

Your co-workers?

Your spouse?

Your kids?

Presentation matters.

Remember:

Why Leaders Fail

I have trained and coached many hundreds of leaders over the years as they worked through a broad range of problems and challenges. 

Every one of these leaders had the resources--human, material, time, etc.--they needed to succeed, yet many failed anyway.

Why?

Success eluded most because they failed to learn. Oh, they all had college degrees--in fact, most had master's degrees and many held doctorates--so it wasn't book learning they lacked.

What they lacked was the ability to observe and learn from what was going on around them. Instead of seeing what was right in front of their eyes and adapting their actions to the situation, they fell back into the comfort of what they knew already.

Their books became hammocks instead of launching pads.

If Albert Einstein's observation--"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"--is accurate, then many of these leaders were, indeed, insane.

The lesson I taught these leaders over and over again was to "always learn and learn all ways."

You can always learn and learn all ways if you:

...understand that you will never know it all (only a fool thinks he knows everything)

...study your challenges from different vantage points (that is, look at them from the points of view of your customers, spouse, children, co-workers, boss, subordinates, competitors, etc.)

...trust that the messages your eyes, ears, and gut are sending are valid (most of us can tell when something isn't working or won't work, but for some foolish reason we're tempted to press on anyway)

...give yourself permission to evolve your thinking

...are willing to change your mind

...refuse to fear failure ("A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new" - Albert Einstein)

Take a step back and look with fresh eyes at your most vexing challenge today.

View it from a different perspective.

Trust your gut, think differently, be willing to change your mind, and refuse to let your fear of failure stop you from attacking the challenge from a different angle.

You can win!

Always Learn and Learn All Ways...

Do You Object?

My daughter, her husband, and their son (frown) moved overseas recently, so I sold their car for them.

As I left Jimmy (my daughter names everything!) with his new owners, I felt a sense of sadness and as I looked back at him, he somehow looked lonely sitting in that parking lot.

Lonely! Yes, Jimmy looked lonely. And it made me sad.

I was struck as to the way we sometimes assign human qualities to things, like Jimmy. For some mysterious reason, we treat objects like humans.

Pretty bad, isn't it?

What's worse is when we treat humans like objects. When we use those around us as though they were furniture or move them around like suitcases, it is not good.

Who have you treated like an object? Your wife or kids? Co-workers? The clerk at the gas station? Your girlfriend? Your parents? Your siblings?

Who?

Think about it for a moment and identify one of these people before you read the rest of this.

Okay, do you have a name--and a face--in your mind? Good!

Now, let me ask you this: What can you do TODAY to change your relationship with that person? What can you do to show that you value them as a person rather than view them as an object?

Do it!

Don't let fear or anger, or resentment, or pride, or any other excuse get in your way. Just do what you can do to repair that relationship.

The person you thought of was made in the image of God and because of that, they're worth your effort.

Do it today!

If you would like to share your success with us, please comment below or by clicking here.

How to be happy - "Everything is a present"

You want to be happy, but you have so much working against you.

Your boss is mean to you.

Your co-workers whisper behind your back.

Your house is too small.

Your car is too old, or slow, or underpowered, or overpowered, or the wrong color.

Your legs are too short, or too long, or too fat, or too skinny.

Your belly is too round.

Your hair is too thin, or thick, or straight, or curly.

You know, if you think about it, you can find a lot of reasons to not be happy, can't you?

I can too.

On the other hand, if we think about it, we can also find a lot of reasons to be happy. That very act--thinking of reasons to be thankful--is the way you and I can be happy.

Alice Herz-Sommer had every reason to be unhappy. Born in Prague in 1903, she became an accomplished and famous pianist in pre-World War Two Europe. She lost her mother to a Nazi concentration camp in 1942 and was then taken, along with her husband and young son, to a concentration camp the following year. She and her son survived.

As she shared with Anthony Robbins in the interview below, although surrounded by innumerable reasons to be unhappy, Herz-Sommer focused instead on being happy by being thankful. This is a powerful lesson for us today.

Among the reasons she gave when asked what she is thankful for, Herz-Sommer responded:

• "For being not hungry"
• "Seeing the sun"
• "Seeing a smile"
• "A nice word of somebody"

Her overarching lesson: "Everything is a present. This I learned, to be thankful for everything." She then added, with a smile, of course, "Smiling helps a lot."

I believe Alice about the power of a smile. Through it all, she has managed to keep a smile on her face and the smile is still there now at the age of 108. She lives alone and unassisted in her own apartment in London, and still plays her beloved piano every day.

 

You can read more about Alice in the soon-to-be released Alice's Piano: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer.

So, what are you thankful for? I would love to hear from you if you would like to share. You can post your comments below or by clicking here.

I will be thankful for every comment! [SMILE]

Want to be noticed? Then be different...

Are you tired of the same old thing at work, school, or wherever else you find yourself?

Do you feel like nobody notices what you do?

Do you feel like you're just part of the background scenery? Like white space on the paper?

Do you want to be noticed?

Then be dIfFERenT!

If you just do what is expected, just what's in your job description, nothing more than what the course syllabus demands, only what the coach orders, then you are just doing "C" work.

Average doesn't get noticed. It blends in. It hides among the crowd. It never changes, never invents, never creates, never does anything spectacular.

Average is where the uncommitted and the timid reside.

Average eventually fades away.

If you want to be noticed, then be different. Go beyond what is merely expected of you.

Resolve to take one extra step beyond what those around you--your boss, co-workers, customers, teachers, family, friends, coach--expect. Do it TODAY, and then do it again tomorrow and each day after that.

Tear down whatever restraining wall you've built around yourself--fear, timidity, resistance to change, comfort--and escape the mundane, leave average behind, and do something different.

Baby steps are fine, just as long as you are making forward progress.

If your boss directs you to build 10 widgets, build 11 instead.

If a customer asks where something is, don't just tell them; take them there and hand it to them.

If your coach tells you to do 10 wind sprints, do 15.

You get the point, right?

Listen, if you cannot be enthusiastic about where you are or what you're doing, then you are in the wrong place.

You have a choice. You can either act like an invisible victim or you can do something about it. You have the power within you.

Don't wait until tomorrow, my friend. Tomorrow may never come.

One of my favorite lines from one of my favorite musicals, The Music Man, hits the nail right on the head: "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering."

Do you want to be noticed? Then be different TODAY!

Make today worth remembering.

 

How Great is Our God

Don't forget...

...How Great is Our God

 

Psalm 31

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

A Psalm of Complaint and of Praise.

    For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be ashamed;
In Your righteousness deliver me.
² Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;
Be to me a rock of strength,
A stronghold to save me.
³ For You are my rock and my fortress;
For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
⁴ You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength.
⁵ Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.

 ⁶ I hate those who regard vain idols,
But I trust in the LORD.
⁷ I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness,
Because You have seen my affliction;
You have known the troubles of my soul,
⁸ And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy;
You have set my feet in a large place.

 ⁹ Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also.
¹⁰ For my life is spent with sorrow
And my years with sighing;
My strength has failed because of my iniquity,
And my body has wasted away.
¹¹ Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach,
Especially to my neighbors,
And an object of dread to my acquaintances;
Those who see me in the street flee from me.
¹² I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind;
I am like a broken vessel.
¹³ For I have heard the slander of many,
Terror is on every side;
While they took counsel together against me,
They schemed to take away my life.

 ¹⁴ But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD,
I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My times are in Your hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
¹⁶ Make Your face to shine upon Your servant;
Save me in Your lovingkindness.
¹⁷ Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call upon You;
Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.
¹⁸ Let the lying lips be mute,
Which speak arrogantly against the righteous
With pride and contempt.

 ¹⁹ How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
²⁰ You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man;
You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
²¹ Blessed be the LORD,
For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.
²² As for me, I said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried to You.

 ²³ O love the LORD, all you His godly ones!
The LORD preserves the faithful
And fully recompenses the proud doer.
²⁴ Be strong and let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in the LORD.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation