Ron White's Ezine
September 17, 2008
Issue 77
Welcome!
When I was 20 years old I started a furniture refinishing business with my cousin Donovan. The business sputtered along for several years but never really showed a profit. We did provide some hotels with a great service restoring their furniture, the business gave my cousin an income and I learned a valuable lesson. The lesson came about a week into the business venture. Donovan's grandfather, Mr. Waggoner, had been in this business for 30 years and was passing on his supplies and tools to us. After loading up my truck with tools that day he handed me a typed note on card stock with a decorative pattern.
The note said, 'Nothing does as much good for a man's soul as a hard days work.' As he handed it to me he smiled as if to say, 'This is an important lesson and I hope you grasp it.' I did and a decade and a half later the lesson is crystal clear to me. So many problems in life can be solved by just getting out there and putting in a hard days work. I have watched some coast in the middle of the month only to be 'surprised' at the end of the month by bills due.
One of the best things you can do for yourself today, this week and this month is to put in a hard days work. If you don't believe me just try it. The catch is to make sure your work is smart and not just hard. You want to maximize your efforts - but this is another lesson. The lessons I found after a hard days work are that it:
1. Gives you a sense of self-worth
2. Allows you to enjoy every other aspect of your life guilt-free
3. Provides you with a sense of accomplishment
4. Produces a feeling of contribution to society
So for now - break a sweat, roll your sleeves up, put in a hard days work and make yourself and Mr. Waggoner proud.
Go for More this Week!
Ron White
PS - Today's issue is going out to more than 92,264 weekly subscribers. If you enjoy this week's edition and find it to be valuable, then if you would do me the favor of forwarding it to your friends, family and associates, it would be very much appreciated. If they would like to subscribe, have them send an email to: ronwhite@yoursuccessstore.com
In This Issue.....
1. Your Brain is the Greatest Computer Ever Created by Ron White
2. Quotes of the Week
3. Leading Up and Leading Across: Challenges of a 360º Leader by Dr. John C. Maxwell
4. Save Big! Buy Now Before the Price Goes Up!
5. More Information
1. Your Brain is the Greatest Computer Ever Created by Ron White
Have you ever walked into a room and couldn't remember what you went there for? Have you ever grasped the hand of a potential client and then when the handshake broke, the name seemed to disappear from your memory? Or have you ever left a prospect and as you drove away remembered a key point that you should have shared with them?
Of course you have... we all have. However, I have some great news for you. Your memory is nowhere near as bad as you may think it is. Recently, I was a guest at a radio station in Waco. The disc jockey wrote a 50-digit number on a sheet of paper and told his listening audience and then played a three-minute song for his audience.
As the listeners enjoyed the song I memorized the 50-digit number. When the song was over we went back live on the air and I handed him the paper. I then proceeded to say the number forwards and then I said it backwards. The disc jockey looked at me in utter disbelief and stunned he said, 'Ron... you are incredible!' I looked him straight in the eye and replied, 'You know... you are right!' I said, 'Jay, the greatest computer ever created does not come from Dell or Gateway. The greatest computer ever created does not sit on the assembly line of a computer factory. Instead, you and I are the greatest computers ever created. And yes... you are right. I am incredible... but so are you.'
The human memory has the ability to hear a 100 digit number or more once and then repeat it forwards and backwards, it has the ability to memorize a Shakespearean play word for word or memorize the stats of every baseball player for the last 100 years, and the human memory has the capability to meet 100 people in 20 minutes and recall every single name!
Now, the question is, are you doing these things? If not, the reason is simply that you have not been trained to. Two thousand years ago a Greek named Simonedes developed a memory method called 'Loci'. With this method, Simonedes numbered locations in his home. He started in the doorway and then logically proceeded around his home. He reviewed these items so many times mentally that if you asked him what was number 25 then he could instantly tell you what piece of furniture that number corresponded to.
These 25 objects were actually mental files for Simonedes. Then if he had a list of items he wanted to recall he would place them mentally on these objects in his home. Let's say that you are a professional who wants to give a speech without notes. Simply turn the key points into pictures and then file them to your 'house files'. When you are called upon to speak simply mentally walk through the house and give your talk without notes.
For example, recently I gave a one hour keynote in Atlanta at a home builders conference. I wrote my speech out the night before. The first thing I wanted to do was talk about the book, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People.' So I visualized the book on my front door and then mentally walked through my house and gave the one hour talk without notes! That can work for you as well. Anything that you want to recall simply turn it into a picture, place it on your house files and get ready to be amazed! YOU are the greatest computer ever created!
Ron White
Catch me on DVD or CD from the SUCCESS Symposiums... and Save Big--Buy Now Before the Price Goes Up!
Right now, you can still take advantage of the pre-release pricing special for SUCCESS Symposiums I & II on CD and DVD!
• Choose either 6 CDs or 4 DVDs
• Order both and receive 3 bonus CDs with exclusive backstage interviews
• Take advantage of pre-release pricing-for a limited time only!
Don't Wait! Learn More Now -
http://www.YourSuccessStore.com/SymposiumPackage
2. Quotes of The Week
MIRACLES
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein
"The next time it begins to rain... lie down on your belly, nestle your chin into the grass, and get a frog's-eye view of how raindrops fall... The sight of hundreds of blades of grass bowing down and popping back up like piano keys strikes me as one of the merriest sights in the world." -- Malcolm Margolin
"When we accept tough jobs as a challenge and wade into them with joy and enthusiasm, miracles can happen." -- Arland Gilbert
"The only way to live is to accept each minute as an unrepeatable miracle, which is exactly what it is - a miracle and unrepeatable." -- Margaret Storm Jameson
"The world is full of poetry. The air is living with its spirit; and the waves dance to the music of its melodies, and sparkle in its brightness." -- Percival
"Ingenuity, plus courage, plus work, equals miracles." -- Bob Richards
3. Leading Up and Leading Across: Challenges of a 360º Leader
by Dr. John C. Maxwell
The Principles 360º Leaders Practice to Lead Up
Leading up is the 360º leader's greatest challenge. We're accustomed to influence flowing from the top down, and, for that reason, leading up feels like running uphill. True enough, leading up requires extra effort. To exert influence upon those in authority above us calls for boldness, respect, and sacrifice. In the long run, the extra effort will distinguish you from the rest of the pack. Jack Welch calls this "getting out of the pile." The following suggestions are ways to successfully catch the attention of those at the top.
Lighten Your Leader's Load
To lead up, increase your value by helping to lift your leader's load. Try to anticipate what your leader needs and wants. Occasionally, you may even approach your leader and ask, "What can I do for you today?" Always remember: when the boss succeeds, the organization succeeds. Ultimately, you can't succeed if your boss fails.
Being a load lifter has its benefits. It demonstrates your dedication to the team, and displays gratitude for your position on the team. In easing your leader's burden, you'll be noticed and valued. At the same time, you'll be playing a substantial role in helping the organization move forward.
How to Lift Your Leader's Load
Be sure to do your own job well before you concentrate on lifting your leader's load. If you drop your personal responsibilities, you'll drag your leader down rather than propping them up.
When you find a problem, provide a solution. If you only identify what is broken, you look no different than a complainer. Show initiative by repairing the problems you encounter.
Tell your leaders what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. In the words of President Dwight Eisenhower: "A bold heart is half the battle." Have the courage to speak your mind and confront difficult truths.
Go the second mile. Be willing to arrive early, stay late, and do more than your share of work.
Stand up for your leader whenever you can. Don't become party to backbiting or criticism. Speak highly of your leaders and diffuse the negativity others may show toward them.
Stand in for your leader whenever you can. In the words of Colin Powell: "When we are debating an issue, loyalty means giving me your honest opinion, whether you think I'll like it or not. Disagreement, at this stage, stimulates me. But once a decision has been made, the debate ends. From that point on, loyalty means executing the decision as if it were your own." There will be instances when you do not see eye to eye with your leader's decision. Respecting their authority by supporting them, even when you disagree, will give them the confidence to trust you.
The Principles 360º Leaders Practice to Lead Across.
Leading your peers is no simple task. It's easy for an effective leader to lead followers, but leading across can be difficult—especially for highly productive people who might create feelings of jealousy or resentment among their peers. Effective 360º leaders give their colleagues reasons to respect and follow them. Because they lead across successfully, they are able to assist the people beside them, profit the organization, and advance themselves.
Understand, Practice and Complete the Leadership Loop.
Leading peers is not a one-time event. It's an ongoing process. When leading across, the temptation is to try to take the lead too quickly. Taking shortcuts or cheating the process will erode your respect from others rather than gaining influence with them.
The Leadership Loop
* Caring – Take an interest in people
People always move toward anyone who increases them and away from anyone who decreases them.
* Learning – Get to know people
Invest the time to understand the values that motivate your fellow leaders.
* Appreciating – Respect people
Find and encourage the strengths unique to each of your colleagues. Assume they have your best interests in mind, and be open to their ideas and concerns.
* Contributing – Add value to people
Few activities add to a leader's credibility like the dedication to add value to the people around them – especially when the leader is neither obligated to add value nor receiving direct benefit from doing it. Adding value to peers lets them know that you are on their side and are cheering for them to win.
* Verbalizing – Affirm people
To affirm signifies to make firm. An affirmation is a statement of truth you make firm by repetition. Affirmations enable others to believe in their dreams. For people to reach their potential, their dreams must become more real than their doubts.
* Leading – Influence people Understand, enlarge, and empower those who are leading beside you.
* Succeeding – Win with People When you succeed with people, you gain opportunities to influence even more people. The leadership loop completes a cycle and begins anew. As additional people enter your life, you must again choose to take an interest in them, get to know them, etc.
-- John C. Maxwell
Now You Can Experience the Event Everyone Is Talking About... AND... Take advantage of the pre-release pricing special for SUCCESS Symposiums I & II on CD and DVD!
The DVDs and CDs are just about ready to be shipped out and when they are, the pricing will automatically increase...
You can still take advantage of a pre-release pricing special for SUCCESS Symposiums I & II on CD and DVD!
• Choose either 6 CDs or 4 DVDs
• Order both and receive 3 bonus CDs with exclusive backstage interviews
• Take advantage of pre-release pricing-for a limited time only!
Many spent thousands to witness these events live. Now, you can relive this experience with your family, friends and team. SAVE and get your FREE BONUS when you preorder both CDs and DVDs!
Don't Wait! Learn More Now -
http://www.YourSuccessStore.com/SymposiumPackage
4. Save Big! Buy Now Before the Price Goes Up!
Our Pre-Release Sale is Almost Over!
Now You Can Experience the Event Everyone Is Talking About!
Thousands of achievers traveled from around the world to personally be a part of the monumental 2008 SUCCESS Symposium events in Dallas and Anaheim. They came to be inspired by today's most well-respected and sought-after thought leaders, including John Maxwell, Bill Phillips, John Addison, Robert and Kim Kiyosaki, Denis Waitley, and a special message from Jim Rohn.
Now, you can take advantage of a pre-release pricing special for SUCCESS Symposiums I & II on CD and DVD!
• Choose either 6 CDs or 4 DVDs
• Order both and receive 3 bonus CDs with exclusive backstage interviews
• Take advantage of pre-release pricing-for a limited time only!
Many spent thousands to witness these events live. Now, you can relive this experience with your family, friends and team. SAVE and get your FREE BONUS when you preorder both CDs and DVDs!
Don't Wait! Learn More Now -
http://www.YourSuccessStore.com/SymposiumPackage
5. More Information
Ezine Archives - To review previous issues of Ron White's Ezine, please go to: Ezine Archives
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