Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Reflections on 2013
Wednesday December 25, 2013
never imagined it was possible, and if it were possible, I could have never imagined that I’d get through my embarrassment to share this with you, but here goes: 
This article was inspired by a can of Coke. I’m serious, a can of Coke.
A few years ago Coke’s holiday packaging had three simple words prominently displayed:
LIVE GIVE LOVE
Now I have no idea exactly what Coke’s intent is, beyond, I’m sure, selling lots of their product. I do have my own interpretation and, with a small nod to humility, will share that perspective as if it were “true” and incredibly valuable!
Coke may have unwittingly captured a good structure for each of us to do two very necessary year-end chores that have the potential for moving us with certainty toward extraordinary accomplishment in the New Year.
1. Before setting our goals for next year, we first must find a quiet moment to write down all of our accomplishments in the past year. This exercise is more than just a “feel good” one. Acknowledging our results generates additional self-confidence and self-confidence is the ideal foundation for generating extraordinary future results.
Take a large piece of paper and divide it into three sections, each headed by one of those magic words: Live, Give, and Love
In the first section, list all of your accomplishments that resulted from you showing up in your personal and professional life at (or close to) 100%. It could have been as simple as keeping more of your agreements. Perhaps you ran a marathon or attended many of your children’s school activities or got the promotion you’ve worked for. Write them all down, all those accomplishments you’ve perhaps taken for granted as just part of daily living.
In the second section, write down all you’ve given in the past year. To your friends and family, to your work, to your profession, to your community. This is no time to beat yourself up for opportunities to give where you’ve not done it. Just allow yourself to notice all you’ve given to all of the people in your life and to all of the environments where you choose to participate.
Again, this may range from small donations to support disaster relief to time with your children to coaching and mentoring younger colleagues. Write them all down and be willing to notice, as my friend the late John Denver said in song, “the gift you are.”
Finally, in the third section, have the courage to write down all the ways you expressed your love last year – to your family and friends, to your professional commitments and colleagues, to your community and nation and to your spiritual source.
2. It’s time to CELEBRATE !!!
Find a way to celebrate your accomplishments in how you have lived, given and loved last year. Perhaps it will be part of a family tradition. If you don’t have one, make one up! Gather some people with whom you want to celebrate or go out in your yard tonight alone … and howl at the moon.
Treat yourself to a walk in the woods or viewing a favorite movie again or a night out dancing.
CELEBRATE!!!
These two simple practices satisfy deep human needs and better prepare you for further positive shifts in patterns and habits. Plus, they just plain feel good.
DO IT, and then write and let me know what experience you created for yourself and those important people in your life.
Extraordinary Wisdom Quotes of the Month
Our theme is “Completion and Celebration” so here are a few of my favorite quotes on those subjects.
“A day dawns, quite like other days; in it, a single hour comes, quite like other hours; but in that day and in that hour the chance of a lifetime faces us.”- Maltbie Babcock
“You can only give away what you have, and so you damned well better work at getting something. You want to be the most educated, the most brilliant, the most exciting, the most versatile, the most creative individual in the world, because then you can give it away; and the only reason you have anything is to give it away.” - Leo Buscaglia, Ph.D.
“Isaac Dineson, the Danish author of "Out of Africa", once wrote that there are three occasions for true happiness. The first is a surplus of energy. The second is the cessation of pain. The third is the absolute certainty that one is doing the will of God. The first is the province of youth. The second can be only brief. The third is to be won by virtue of much work – inner work. Those who progress past the duality of life come to the absolute certainty that they are doing the will of God.” - Robert Johnson
Wishing you an Extraordinary Life and Extraordinary Organizations … in 2014 and always!
(photo from Wikipedia)
Robert White
Robert White is a Speaker, Author, Leadership Trainer and Executive Mentor who teaches the art and science of mastering executive challenges. He specializes in integrating a heart centered, result-oriented and transformational leadership approach to being effective. His experience includes founding and leading companies doing high-impact experiential learning events with over one million graduates.
Robert’s culture change work has been praised by corporations like JPMorganChase, Progressive Insurance, Duke Energy and The American Cancer Society.
Additionally top business experts and authors Ken Blanchard, Jimmy Calano, Kathy Gardarian, and Robert Wright, plus thousands of training and mentoring clients, have endorsed his professional knowledge and skills.
Robert authored the best-seller “Living an Extraordinary Life” available in English and Mandarin. He is a contributing author to “Being Fuller” a compilation from students of Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller and “One World, One People,” a photo journal of mankind’s journey to oneness.
Today you’ll find him speaking at conferences, hosting masterminds, mentoring today’s emerging business leaders and teaching everything he knows about fostering entrepreneurial success and building an entrepreneurial mindset in established, growth-oriented companies.
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