Focus on Positive Thoughts

Accentuating the positive will attract good things to you and accepting the negative will bring the bad. ~Napoleon Hill & W. Clement Stone

Not long ago my wife and I had a conversation very early in the morning. She was telling me about two or three very negative things in the news and I told her that I'd heard more than enough and asked her to change the subject to "something positive" rather than continuing the conversation as it was going.

It is very important to begin each and every day on a positive note. You don't want to have negative thoughts running through your head on your way to the office. Instead, focus on positive things and on what you want to accomplish today.

The problem with negative thinking is that it's habit-forming. Once you start down that road things tend to snowball. The easiest way to avoid it is simply change the conversation or start your day by reading good news or motivational books.

Cynicism and pessimism are bad habits.

If the news taints your attitude, don't read it first thing in the morning or just before bed. Those are the two most important times to think positively. You want to have a restful night's sleep and you want to awaken to a blissful morning.

While you are at it, greet people with a cheerful "Good Morning!" and say it with energy and enthusiasm.

You don't know-- your greeting might just lift someone's spirits and brighten their whole day.

Attitude is Everything

Contrary to popular belief, you don't raise morale in an organization it filters down from the top. ~Earl Nightingale

The Attitudes of the people working in any organization will always reflect the attitude of the leader. ~Earl Nightingale

I have worked in business management throughout most of my career. Over the years, I have witnessed both good management style and bad. The former was more common earlier in my career and the latter seems to be far more common, today.

Right now, I work for a company with a really talented group of shakers and movers. They are professionals in every sense of the word. It's refreshing to see it and be a part of it.

So what is it that makes a management team effective? In short, it is the way they handle people.

Bosses are a dime a dozen. It doesn't take much talent, nor tact to boss people around. With autocratic management, there is no such thing as diplomacy. Poor time-management often results of pushing the cart before the horse.

Lee Iacocca once said of the auto industry: "In this business, you either lead, follow, or get out of the way."

Often times, poor management gets in the way of production.

A Leader Inspires People

The difference between a boss and a leader is the former pushes people around as if they were pawns on a chessboard. But, A LEADER inspires people.

Genuine leadership builds relationships-- get to know your people. A leader builds TEAMS from what were once individuals. Those teams tackle complex problems. They work toward common goals. Each member is valued and respected. Each member contributes beyond what is common in the workforce of today. Each member is hard to replace. Lose them occasionally, you will, but you will have many candidates jumping in line to become a part of your team.

If you want to read about how you can become a leader and not just a boss, I recommend Earl Nightingale's book, Lead the Field. It is available at Amazon.

If you want to take control of your life, build confidence and be all that you can be, whether you are a freelancer, a manager or just a rank and file employee in some company somewhere, check out my latest book, Ninja Mind Tricks (Take Control of Your Life with the Secret Mental Powers of Japan's Shinobi Warriors). If you are not sure what you want in life, check out my book, Get Happy, Write Away. Both are available at Amazon.


Be A Leader, not the boss.

Socrates and Dale Carnegie

My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher. ~Socrates

If there is anything people need to glean from all the various Internet quote sites it is that we are far better off in life when we don't take ourselves too seriously.

A little levity goes a long way.

People are caustic and it seems that so many of you are trying to prove it. Some highly respected, notable people are trying to be witty while insulting other people for their political views (i.e. let's bash the Trump supporters). Personal insult is never a good policy.

I prefer the wry sense of humor of the Greek philosopher and teacher, Socrates. He is the ancient equivalent of Dale Carnegie (How to Win Friends and Influence People).

It amazes me how so many people engage in political rhetoric with an all or nothing fervor. Every discussion escalates to an insult-filled, emotionally child-like tantrum rather than civil discourse and the free exchange of ideas. It would seem that we have all forgotten protocol and the art of winning friends and influencing people.

First, you cannot convert people to YOUR way of thinking via personal insult. Second, the art of persuasion works best when one engages in civil discussion rather than clubbing someone over the head with a Louisville Slugger. By all means, aim for the fences, Babe Ruth.

The Art of Subtlety is indeed lost in the arena of political discourse.

For all his faults, Donald Trump has been a successful real estate tycoon. He is rough and tumble, as the old saying goes. He doesn't try to be something he is not. He does know how to negotiate and he is willing to compromise. That is not the same as buying and selling favors-- no wonder politicians hate him.

A Trump presidency will be all about making money. If there is anything good that will come of it, it would be that buyer confidence will increase when people feel that the president wants America to prosper. If America's economy is strong, the Trumpster and family will make money-- and so will all of us. If the economy does not recover, things will be more of what we have had over the last eight years.

Will a real estate tycoon be a better president than a career politician or a "community organizer"? Just wait and see.

Is Trump a failure? Let me know when you make your first billion-- we'll talk more.

What if Hillary Clinton wins?

--listen to the sound of a flushing toilet-- that is what's left of the US economy.

 

We're At Our Best When...

We're at our best when we're climbing, thinking, planning, working– when we're on the road to something we want to bring about. ~Earl Nightingale

We are at our best, and we are happiest, when we are fully engaged in work we enjoy– on the journey toward the goal we've established for ourselves. 
~Earl Nightingale 

I learned a long time ago that I perform at my best when I have planned my day around a particular goal. But the same holds true for life goals.

Planning is important. You need to have direction in life. By that, I don't mean someone telling you what to do-- although the sheep are many and the shepherds are few. When I refer to direction in life, I mean FOCUS. You need to TAKE AIM.

Establishing goals is like the mariner who goes to sea with a compass heading and a destination in mind. The clearer the understanding of the path you will follow, the most timely and truer your course will be. It is not as simple as saying, "Go west, young man." Think of goals as a direction in life and think of working on the completion of those goals as a journey.

Earl Nightingale was telling us that we reach our full potential when we are working toward achieving our goals. We think, we plan, we move forward. Along the way, we are learning, growing, becoming stronger, wiser, and better equipped for future endeavors.

We are happy on the journey toward our goals because we SEE progress. We have a sense of fulfillment and we taste the reward for our effort. We appreciate those experiences because we feel that we've earned them.

I don't want to sound political, but, part of the problem with a welfare system is that people don't appreciate what they are given nearly as much as what they earn as a reward for their labor. It's just a fact of life. Give something away and it is often not valued. That's the difference between feelings of appreciation and feelings of entitlement.

I just gave a friend a couple of the books I have written and she thanked me. She is genuinely appreciative. If I gave them away to the world at large, few if any would even say thank you. It's human nature. We tend to value things that cost us time and money. We take for granted things that are free.

If you want to make the most of life and be your best, make daily goals and long-term goals. Then, work toward the completion of those goals. And remember, life is the journey, not the destination.

Success Starts with A Great Attitude

Great attitudes are not the result of success; success is the result of great attitudes. ~Earl Nightingale

Most people think that success gives people happiness and a positive attitude. They think that they, too, could be happy-- if only they had money. What they don't realize is that money doesn't buy happiness. At best, money buys convenience, but, happiness starts from the inside and works its way out from there.

Successful people realize that it was their positive attitude and their belief in themselves that made all the difference in their lives.

I was raised by parents who were cynical. I have mentioned it in two different books. It was not their fault, it was bred into them. The children of parents who survived the "Great Depression" were that way in most cases. My parents were no different than the rest of their generation.

Success comes from opportunity and opportunity starts with a positive attitude. According to Earl Nightingale, in his book "Lead the Field", if you want to become a success in life, you have to start with a positive mental attitude.

So what does a great attitude give you?

When you have a great attitude, people like being around you. When your attitude is positive and you are assertive, you make friends easily. Surround yourself with successful people and you will become successful, too. It is a simple concept to grasp if you push away the cynicism.

Successful people attract other successful people and that, in turn, attracts greater opportunity to be successful. So, if you want to be successful, you have to start thinking as if you already are successful. It is as simple as that.

You need to believe in yourself.
You need to establish long-term goals.
You need to break those goals into short-term interim goals.
You need to imagine yourself being the success you want to be.
You have to hunger and thirst for it... but, you MUST BELIEVE it can be done.

If you take all of this to heart, remember, happiness starts on the inside.

When you see success in the road ahead, you can rest assured that it is coming. It is attainable. If you can imagine it, you can make it happen.

It starts with a dream and a desire to make it real. You achieve it by believing that you can. Then, your determination and commitment to it takes you to the finish line.

Believe you can and you will.

Believe You Can and You Will

To succeed in life, you have to be convinced that you can achieve your goals.

First off, without clear goals there can be no clear results, so, it is essential that you start by making clear goals for yourself. Next, you want to establish a time table for your goals. Then, you want to create a plan of action in order to accomplish those goals.

When you set goals for yourself, you have to believe that you can complete them. If you don't believe they are attainable it's a waste of time. But, if you can imagine yourself completing those goals, keep that mental image and start moving.

Right now, we are in an election year. America is polarized. We have people at one extreme or the other when it comes to political candidates. That's because the people of this nation, America, are cynical. We have little reason to trust politicians and little reason to have faith in political outsiders, like Donald Trump.

Before "The Donald" decided to run for president he was a media darling. Once he threw his hat in the ring, people started to attack him at every opportunity. Why? Because he poses a threat to the status quo. The inside-the-beltway gang hate him-- he's not one of them.

People call him racist-- because he wants to stop the flow of illegal aliens crossing our southern border. They call him stupid because he has had failed business ventures. Thomas Edison failed innumerable times when he tried to invent the light bulb, yet, he eventually succeeded and then people called him a genius.

Donald Trump took 200 million dollars and turned it into over 3 billion dollars in profit (made from real estate investments). He wrote a book titled "The Art of the Deal" and has been a hawk in business negotiations-- hardly stupid.

Will Donald Trump make a good president?

In truth, it is hard to say. He is certainly not stupid. Is he really in it for the good of the country and the people? I believe he is because, ultimately, the business climate can improve, Americans can make more money, and Mr. Trump can make more money in the process.

Our government has been getting in the way for far too long. At a federal level, the government has grown way too big for its britches (that's breeches for you Language Scholars). In all seriousness, we need leaders who understand business, who know how to bring industry back home to America, who can help create tax incentives to do so. A nation that builds things is a nation that prospers.

Can Donald Trump do this? That remains to be seen. 

I can definitely tell you this: Hillary Clinton cannot. She has been a fan of socialism for decades. She believes in big government and big government is the problem.

As for me, I believe in America. I believe that people can be awakened to the real problems we now face like these:

Unemployment.
Underemployment.
Genuine Racism.
So-called "racism" that is really not.
A biased media that secretly embraces socialism and the nanny state.
Chemicals and artificial ingredients that are in almost everything we eat.
SODIUM, SUGAR, and other unhealthy things in commercially prepared foods.

In short, we are killing ourselves more with what we eat than all the guns, knives, and drunken drivers put together.

What can we do about it? 

Love your neighbor as yourself. Raise your children to believe in the power of dreams-- never stop dreaming. Celebrate America because we have hope for a better tomorrow. Don't celebrate diversity, celebrate UNITY. FROM MANY-- ONE.

E PLURIBUS UNUM...

It is a concept that Barack Obama and many others either have forgotten or never believed. We are one nation. We are one people. We have one hope for a future... that a united people can build a better America.

Let's Do it!

Innocence Lost

When I read about young kids questioning their gender identity and sexuality before the age of ten I must declare that innocence is lost.

This subject kept me awake for a while, last night, as I pondered this issue. I gazed out the sliding glass doors at the treeline behind the house and watched the twinkle of fireflies as they engaged in their courtship flights. 

I remember chasing fireflies and catching them, putting a few in a jar, complete with air holes, and thinking how cool it would be to fill it and make a lantern of "lightning bugs" to illuminate the patio. I must have been all of six, perhaps eight years old, living in Teaneck, New Jersey.

In the 1960s, most kids, like me, were innocent. Nobody heard of a child that age pondering their sexuality.

Back then, kids couldn't wait to grow up, to learn to drive, and to get a job and earn money. For me, school was fascinating because I learned things. The more I learned, the more I realized that there were so many things I didn't know and I wanted to learn as much as I could.

Back then, kids would run through the local woods and play. They were discoverers, adventurers. The world was full of wonder.

Today, over-protective parents don't allow their kids to go out and play in the woods. They hover over them. Half of all families are headed by single parents and kids are not raised with the same parental influences of my generation.

Many kids live in fear of growing up. They are terrified by the concept of living on their own and supporting themselves. They feign wisdom on social issues like gender identity and sexuality when, deep down, they are emotional children. They have no confidence, no assertiveness, and cannot handle any sort of constructive criticism.

Parents, you owe it to your kids to let them explore the world around them. Give them the freedom to make mistakes and learn by them. 

Kids have it tough enough already. If you are divorced, don't use them to manipulate the ex-spouse. 

Raise your kids with as much wisdom and positive thought as possible and give them the space to make their own decisions on small things so that when they are confronted by big decisions, they have a better chance of doing the right thing.

Get Happy - Ninja Mind Tricks

I wrote Get Happy, Write Away in order to help people figure out what they want to do-- what direction to take in life.

When people finally figure out what they want to do in life it is often fear, uncertainty, and doubt that stands in their way. So... I wrote my latest book, Ninja Mind Tricks, to solve that problem.

When you have figured out what you really want in life, and you want to make it happen, it is THEN that you need to establish goals and start planning for your future. Figuring out what you want to do is half the battle. From there, all you really need to do is start changing the way you think in order to make it happen.

You have been programmed to fail. Why? Because people love to hold other people back. Why? Because misery loves company. Why? Because it takes a little effort to be a winner and many people would rather sit on a couch, eat junk food, and be lazy rather than risk potential failure if they try to do something and fall flat on their face.

Cynicism is Everywhere

If you want to succeed in turning your dreams into realities, these two books will tell you how.

Get Happy, Write Away is a self-actualization guide, so to speak. It helps you figure out what your past dreams were and where your heart really lies.

Ninja Mind Tricks helps you overcome all the things that are keeping you from taking a chance and reaching for the stars.

Believing in yourself is a good start. Making a plan of action is your compass. Then, cast off fear, uncertainty, and doubt... there is a place in the sun just waiting for you.

YOUR TIME HAS COME.

Unleash the Ninja Warrior Within

I used to be high strung. I was always worried about losing my job or not being good enough. Then I was introduced to a martial art that came from the misty mountains of Japan's Iga province.

Learning martial arts is good for physical conditioning and self-protection, but the Way of the Ninja opened up doors for me that I never knew existed.

Of course, I learned how to protect myself, but it was the mental training of the Ninja that began in the dojo (martial arts training hall) and went a lot farther with me.

Being the avid reader and researcher that I was, I had to dive headlong into this new world of mental discipline. What began as a few simple relaxation techniques and breathing exercises coaxed me into wanting much more. I found out that ancient teachings of shinobi-no-mono, the Ninja, were in museums and libraries, and private collections in Japan.

I started digging...

Over the years, I have discovered the "Law of Attraction" and other teachings of what people call the "New Thought Movement." It just so happens, the Ninja have been using the Law of Attraction for centuries. But, the Ninja took it a lot farther than "The Secret" teachers take it.

What I have done is put together the teachings of the Ninja with modern business philosophy and positive thought of people like Earl Nightingale, Brian Tracy, W. Clement Stone, Napoleon Hill, Robert Collier, and other great teachers in more recent history. This book, Ninja Mind Tricks, will unlock your potential.

Imagine having confidence and the determination to accomplish almost anything. Cast off fear, uncertainty, and doubt. 

Become a Ninja Warrior at heart. See yourself in a whole new light. Reach your full potential.

Available at Amazon.com.

Ninja Mind Tricks

Announcing--- My latest book is LIVE at Amazon.com.

Ninja Mind Tricks (Take Control of Your Life with the Secret Mental Powers of Japan's Shinobi Warriors).

You might have heard of something called the Law of Attraction. Japan's shadow warriors, shinobi-no-mono --the Ninja, have used the Law of Attraction for centuries-- long before anyone heard of the so-called "New Thought Movement" and The Secret.

The teachings of the Ninja incorporate the mental discipline of Kuji-In, taught to Daisuke Togakure, the founder of the Iga ninja Togakure Ryu tradition.

I began my study of this Ninja tradition at twenty years old. I fully embraced the mental discipline and have used it to accomplish many goals over the years since then. 

This book teaches you the mental discipline of the Ninja without the combat arts. It goes beyond the teachings of the dojo (martial arts training hall). I teach you how to use this power to your advantage.

Take control of your life. Cast off fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Become a fortress of Iron Will. Become the WINNER that you were meant to be.

Available at Amazon.com.

Dare to Be Different

There's just as much opportunity in one business as another, if you will only stop playing copycat and begin to think creatively. ~Earl Nightingale

The world is full of also-rans and me-toos.

I see a lot of people going into business these days, but they all seem to be copying what has already been done. While it is true that some people have built a successful business doing what has been done before, on closer inspection you'll see that they have been able to do so with improvements and refinements.

What happened to invention? What has happened to creativity?

What sets you apart from everyone else?

Being good is not good enough anymore. You have to be exceptional. You have to go farther, climb higher, be better, and stand out from the crowd if you want to be noticed.

Jobs come and go. Businesses rise and fall. In recent trends, it seems that everyone wants to be a copywriter. Funny, I recall when everyone wanted to be a journalist. Now, out of work journalists all seem to be jumping into the copy-writing arena. "But we tell the story." they say. Yeah, right. But can you SELL?

There are lots of opportunities in this world. The question remains, "What makes you so special?" Indeed, what sets you apart from everyone else?

It's called a differentiator in copywriter geek speak. What's yours?

Surround Yourself with Positive Thinkers

Positive thinking is easily tainted by the people with whom you associate. If you are always hanging out with cynical people, don't be surprised if you start feeling the same way they do. That's the way things work.

Misery loves company. People love to moan and groan about things. If you want to maintain a positive attitude, you have to limit your exposure to negativity. If not, negative people will taint you. Their bad attitude and cynicism will influence your thinking even when you try to resist.

The same holds true with stories in the nightly news and on the Internet.

Sensationalized stories get people all fired-up until their emotions get the best of them. Tragic stories like that of a gorilla getting shot and killed while dragging around a kid who fell into its exhibit in the Cincinnati Zoo charge peoples' emotions. People on both sides of the argument go online and take shots at each other. Political debates over presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, or Hillary Clinton's e-mail server and Bill's wandering Willy can end what were once cordial online relationships and even real-world friendships.

With news like that, who needs Middle Eastern terrorists and wars?

So much of what we put in our heads is negative. It's no wonder that cynicism is rampant.

If your emotions get the best of you in these incessant political debates and emotional reactions to news and events give you stress, don't engage in the debates and stop watching the news-- it's really all about entertainment.

When a genuine news story that might really be important to hear comes across the airwaves, trust me, you will hear about it. If you want to be aware of what is going on, just do what I do, read the headlines and not much else unless it is something that you need to know. Then, fact check it.

As for friends online and off... surround yourself with positive thinkers. You have hopes and dreams and they will never become realities if you fall into the trap of negative thinking.

Find Your Passion, Reach for the Stars

Passion is the driving force that propels people to achieve greatness. ~Mickey Maguire

The quote above is from my latest book, Ninja Mind Tricks (Take Control of Your Life with the Secret Mental Powers of Japan's Shinobi Warriors).

If you are passionate about what it is that you are doing you will do it better. You will go farther. You will give it all you've got. You will achieve more.

It's true, passion is the driving force that makes you a winner. It is what separates a champion from an also-ran. 

There are lots of great actors in the motion picture industry and in theatrical productions around the world, but the performers who win an Oscar are the ones who reach for the heavens.

Jimmy Stewart poured his heart into his performance as Jefferson Smith in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and I cannot imagine anyone else in that role. Charlton Heston played Moses in the Cecil B. DeMille's motion picture classic, The Ten Commandments. Again, I could never even imagine anyone playing that role other than Heston.

Passion is the key to reaching the pinnacle, the zenith, the highest height.

Find your passion and reach for the stars.

Keep Moving, Keep Improving

Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving. ~Albert Einstein

When I was twenty-years-old I started studying a traditional Japanese martial art. The 34th Grandmaster of the tradition taught his students that the goal of the Togakure Ryu ninjutsu discipline was to develop a balanced personality.

Balance is important. Like riding a bicycle, balance in life is achieved by constant learning, constant improvement, constant refinement. That is what the brilliant scientist, Albert Einstein meant when he said you have to keep moving.

Learning new things makes life interesting and infinitely more rewarding.

I had a friend who was in sales for many years. Jerry once said that in business, if you are not growing, you are dying. I don't necessarily hold to that opinion in the way he does, but there is truth in the fact that when a business is no longer expanding, it is harder to stay financially healthy and survive when the market is tough. You don't want to become complacent.

Like Jerry's business philosophy, I have looked at life in a similar way. If I were not learning new things, setting and achieving new goals, and making new memories, life would not be worth much. Growing makes life interesting and rewarding. Sharing it with someone makes it even better.

Like the way of the ninja, life is the journey, not the destination. It is the experience of learning new things, refining your skills, achieving a balance between working life and personal life.

My life has been a mix of business and artistry. I am both the artisan and the artist. I am the writer, the poet, the philosopher, and the entertainer.

There are lots of roads to success. It is important to chose one that will reward you monetarily and also build a legacy.

How do you want to be remembered?

My goal is to be remembered not for wealth, not for great possessions, but for the lives I helped make stronger, for the joy and laughter I brought to people, and for personal integrity and the fact that when I gave someone my word, I lived by it.

Seiko Pocket Watch Follow-up

Yesterday's post was titled "The Pocket Watch Saga" and I just wanted to post a follow-up to that story.

The watched arrived from Japan Tuesday at about 3:30 PM. It is extremely well-built and is keeping perfect time. The watch left Japan early Monday and was at my door the next day.

Here is a picture...

Notice that it says "Success" right below the "XII" position on the watch face. It is one of the main reasons I picked this particular watch.

Stellar service and superb quality. Again, thanks Seiko.

The Pocket Watch Saga

So much of what I see in the world these days is sloppy workmanship and poor service.

I have always had a passion for time-pieces. I love anniversary clocks, grandfather clocks, and, in particular, pocket watches.

Many years ago, I carried pocket watches with me wherever I went. For whatever reason, pocket watches became harder to find in the mid 1980s and I had no choice but to put up with wrist watches with their ill-fitted straps and cheap bezels. I like mechanical time pieces. I am not a big fan of battery powered watches. Although, in recent years, I have had more satisfaction from battery powered Timex and Casio watches than I did years ago, I still prefer pocket watches.

Around 2005 or 2006, I bought a pocket watch from Fossil. It had a quartz movement. Annoyingly, the battery lasted about a year and had to be replaced. I found out that Fossil had to use a special tool to open the watch and replace the battery and when I stopped at the store, the young lady behind the counter did not know how to open the watch back, could not find the tool, and suggested I return in a day or two when the manager was there and could help me. I went home and threw the watch in the trash.

I found a mechanical pocket watch on Amazon's website and ordered it. The watch was made by Charles Hubert Paris. It turns out, the watch was made in China using inferior materials and it stopped working about six months later.

After a couple of years using a Timex, I was irritated with having to replace the watch strap again and bought a new pocket watch in an upscale mall in Columbus, Ohio. It was made by Dakota Watch.

The Dakota would not wind at all. The spring was just turning in circles when I tried to wind the watch. They gave me another one. It stopped running a month later. They replaced it and told me that if it breaks they will not give me another and I will have to send it to their repair center to determine if it was abused or damaged by me. Winding that watch, the hands slip around when the spring is tighter, but not fully wound. Another problem.

I then ordered a Celtic design pocket watch from a store in Ireland. When trying to set the time, the hands jump around when I push in the stem. Once the watch is set right, it does not keep perfect time, but it will do. The problem is that this watch is flimsy and has “quartz movement” under the hood. In short, it is made in China and it's junk.

I would prefer a mechanical watch, but, I bought the “Irish” Celtic watch with a quartz movement in the hope that it would last longer than the mechanical watches that I have purchased over the last dozen years.

I finally ordered a Seiko pocket watch that is made in Japan. I should be receiving it some time late this month. It is a quartz movement with a five-year battery. Unlike most companies, Seiko still makes a quality product.

When I first started carrying pocket watches, they were all mechanical movements and they were all nicely made. Back then, you could buy one for as low as $30 (USD) and get years of use from them. Today, like so many other things that are deemed “commodity goods”, it is hard to find a pocket watch that is well-built.

So, what does this have to do with passion and self-discipline?

When you really love what you are doing and you pour your heart into it you don't settle for mediocrity. You don't want to make junk. No, when you really pour your heart into it, whatever IT is, you want to do the best you can. You want to be the best you can be.

Like the sword maker, the pen maker, and the watch makers of times past, you want to be a master of your trade.

NOTE: I checked the status of the Seiko pocket watch order just before I started typing this blog post. The order was processed in Japan yesterday. The product was shipped to the USA from a Japan-based UPS terminal. The watch is currently received in a UPS facility in Kentucky and is now scheduled for a delivery today, May 24th. Now THAT is SERVICE!

Perhaps it is the discipline of Japanese people. Perhaps it is their devotion to service. Perhaps it is the culture and success of Seiko. If all businesses were run this way success would be guaranteed

To Seiko, I say: 

 
arigatou gozaimashita ありがとうございました (Thank You for what you have done).

What a great way to start the day!

Kick the Habit

We are what we repeatedly do. ~Aristotle

Have you ever heard the expression "Old habits die hard"? 

People who have a long string of failures in life typically are the victims of their own habits. In many cases, they don't even realize that they have those habits.

For example, people are often guilty of inactivity. Doing nothing is actually a habit. How can that be? You ask. Picture this:

A guy comes home from work. He pops some easy to prepare food in a microwave or an oven and sits down to watch television until the food is ready to eat. He watches television while eating dinner. Afterward, he sits and watches whatever shows are available. That is the course of every evening during the week. Weekend television is mostly sports events.

So... it can be said that this guy's activity is really a habit of inactivity. Days come and go. Weeks pass... months turn into years... the guy becomes the quintessential couch potato. For you Brits... he's a Chaise tuber.

If you want to accomplish anything, you have to break free of the habit of inactivity.

Some people dream of writing a book, for example, but their inactivity gets in the way. Perhaps it is really fear of failure. Lots of people would rather sit idle than risk failure by doing something. In essence, their greatest failure is never starting to work on anything.

That is why you really should write your goals on paper and start working on a plan to make them happen. You'll never accomplish anything if you don't take the first step.

Success Secrets

Success lies on the other side of failure. ~Thomas J. Watson Jr.

It's funny how peoples' perception is easily skewed, especially during an election year. Right now, there are countless people under the impression that presidential candidate Donald Trump is stupid, a crook, a spoiled rich kid, a bigot, and a racist and cite all of those memes (I hate that term) on Facebook as evidence.

Love him or hate him, there are some facts that are simply undeniable. The Donald inherited some 200 to 450 million dollars (estimates vary) when his father passed away in 1999 and with that money, Mr Trump invested in real estate in Manhattan when it was not considered wise to do so. People scoffed at him.

Donald Trump had failed at a few business ventures while he was young and enthusiastic; but, he never quit trying. Somehow, people on the left are calling the Trumpster a total failure in spite of his billions.

FAILURE IS PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS

What Donald Trump learned as he grew older and more experienced was that he could not do everything himself. He surrounded himself with talented people, regardless of race, creed, or color, and he accepted expert advice when it was given. In fact, he sought it.

Donald Trump took that 200 to 450 million dollars and, by wise real estate investments, he turned it into over 3 billion dollars worth of holdings. That is well over 566 percent gain.

What separates Donald Trump from a lot of people is that he never gave up on business when he failed in his youthful exuberance. He learned from it. He also proved that he had determination.

HAS THE MEDIA DARLING LOST HIS CHARM?

So, has the media darling lost his charm? No, not really, he just ran for president and eclipsed all the politicos in the process. What Donald Trump actually has to his credit is accomplishment. He built a financial empire by investing in real estate in what some thought was a series of risky ventures. He wisely managed those holdings and had gains far in excess of any losses that were incurred.

At the risk of sounding political...

How would such a businessman run the country? Well, let's look at how he learned to run a business successfully...

1. He learned from his mistakes.
2. He surrounded himself with talented people.
3. He took expert advice to heart when he needed it.
4. He worked night and day to turn failure into success.
5. He taught his kids that they, too, have to work and contribute to society.
6. He is still working and continues to make money.

Now, Mr. Trump is determined to try and make America great again. What does that mean?

Will Donald Trump make a good president? That's the question. I guess you will have to define what is good or bad according to your own brand of politics.

What I do know is this: Anyone who thinks that Donald Trump is stupid or a failure in business does not know the meaning of success.

Don't Stop Dreaming, Don't Stop Believing

Dreams are the seedlings of realities. ~James Allen

A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities. ~J.R.R. Tolkien

Dreamers have brought us the greatest advancements in science and technology. Without dreams we would not have the light bulb, the automobile, the airplane, and that iPhone everybody wants.

Dreamers were often teased by scoffers and belittled by critics. What those scoffers didn't realize is that dreamers are visionaries. 

The late Bob Nastasi once told me that the difference between an artist and normal people is the way they SEE things. Bob was a fly fishing guru, a brilliant graphic designer, and an advertising man. He worked hard and he played hard. Cancer got the best of him, but not many men could beat him or get him down.

Like the artist, the dreamer sees things that other people do not. They might not be the best business persons, but most business managers are not visionaries. Managers are tacticians and administrators. Anyone can learn to be a good boss. A genuine leader inspires people.

Don't Look Down on Dreamers

To put this in a tech-industry perspective: Gil Amelio was a effective business leader. Steve Jobs was a visionary. Without Steve Jobs Apple almost went the way of the T-Rex.

Virtually every great invention started with a single idea-- a dream. So did Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney did not accept defeat and he eventually built an entertainment empire.

Don't stop dreaming. Don't stop believing.

The Secret to Long Life

The man who has something to live for lives longer. ~Napoleon Hill & W. Clement Stone

I had a friend with whom I used to go fly fishing. He had retired from the United States Air Force. He once told me that retirement was the quickest path to the grave. He left the Air Force and started working in the civilian world.

The "major" even worked on some project or another every weekend. For instance, there was a time when he fully restored his powder blue '64 Ford Mustang. He used to rebuild and repair antique typewriters. He was always doing something.

I truly believe that Napoleon Hill and William Clement Stone were onto something when they wrote that the man who has something to live for lives longer. That's why I never plan to retire.

So how does one stay busy and continue to "work" long after the world begins to think of you as a living fossil? That's the question.

I am fortunate that I am a writer. I am also a musician and songwriter. I am a artist. Which reminds me of someone you should know-- Will Daskal.

Will is busier now than when he taught school in New York City.

I met Will Daskal more than twenty years ago. He was a part-time instructor at a fly fishing school where I was teaching fly fishing and guiding clientele in the Catskill Mountains and the West Branch of the Delaware River. Will came to the school to help out when we could use an extra instructor. We became friends and remain in touch through e-mail and Facebook.

These days, Will teaches watercolor painting. He sketches and he paints in watercolor, acrylic, and oil. He is on the board of a Pocono Mountain Trout Unlimited Chapter. He has taught prison inmates how to paint. He is involved with various art exhibitions. He does occasional TV spots on painting, on wildlife conservation and water quality. He also writes. He has written several books and remains continually busy. Will Daskal is a true renaissance man of the highest character.

The best way to keep a sharp mind is to keep it occupied. Many old people sit around and do nothing. They get bored. It is boredom that leads to an early grave.

If someone asks me what I plan to do in retirement or when I plan to retire, I tell them that I will not stop working until I am pushing up daisies. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Goals: The Key to Successful Living

The establishment of a goal is the key to successful living. And the most important step toward achieving an objective is first to define it. ~Dr. Ari Kiev

I know a lot of people who have been stumbling through life as if they were trying to navigate through a crowded shopping mall blindfolded.

If you want to get anywhere in life, you have to set clear goals. The best way to define those goals is to write them in some sort of journal or log. At the very least, write them on a sheet of paper and pin it on a bulletin board by your computer.

Once you have committed your goals to paper, read them in the morning and again at night before you go to sleep.

It is important to read your goals and visualize having accomplished them. In your mind, picture yourself enjoying the fruits of your labor.

When you were a child, did you ever look at a Sears catalog and think of yourself owning that new bicycle, telescope, or whatever else you wanted? I know one family that would circle something they wanted in catalogs. Those circled items became their Christmas wish list.

Your goals are similar. They are your wish list. So, write them down and read them daily. But don't stop there. You need a plan to accomplish your goals. That might take some homework.

Remember, establishing your goals is the first step. The road to success is traveled one mile at a time. Some goals take longer to reach than others. Break big goals into smaller interim goals. Having checkpoints on the way to your primary goal is a great way to track your progress and keep your attitude positive.

I'll see you at the finish line.

Life Is A Precious Gift

Dost thou love life? Then, do not squander time– that's the stuff that life is made of. ~Ben Franklin

Life is a precious gift. I have been face to face with mortality. If things had been a bit different, I would not be here right now. I can tell you from experience that every day is a blessing and should not be wasted.

Based on experience, here is my advice:

By all means, dream. Never stop dreaming; but, don't merely dream-- DO! Dreams, alone, are of no use. So, turn your dreams into realities and pursue them.

Never pass up an opportunity to do good. Leave the world a better place then when you came into it.

Never pass up an opportunity to say "I Love You" to those near and dear to you.

Give without thought of getting something in return. Believe me, your reward will be much greater than that which you have given.

Enhance the lives of people around you. Find a way to do that.

Always encourage your children to be the most that they can be, to try new things, to reach for the stars, to believe in themselves.

Likewise, encourage friends and give them a reason to smile.

Start your day with an attitude of gratitude and be thankful for the blessings in your life.

Be grateful for rainy days. They bring beauty to the world around you.

Be grateful for sunny days. Enjoy them and play in the sunshine.

Be grateful for chilly nights. Snuggle with the one you love.

Remember the good times and do not dwell on the bad.

Give LOVE to those around you. The love you give others is the love you will get in return. 

There is more to riches than money, fame, and possessions.

In the end, you will be remembered long after those grumpy old folks had faded away. And that is genuine success.

A New Week, New Opportunities

It's Sunday, the start of a new week and that means new opportunities.

Thursday evening I bought a new guitar. I have always loved playing music and singing. In fact, it has been one of my passions. I've played in various bands and solo over the years. I've made some decent money in music at times, but I am not mainstream.

Before there was a genre known as singer-songwriter people like me played smaller places when they were not in a band and bigger places when they were in a working band. Now that people get into the whole singer-songwriter category of performing artist there are more opportunities to play and actually make some decent money. It depends on where you live.

New York City is, of course, one of the best places to be for the singer-songwriter. The folk music scene grew in NYC faster than most places and people traveled there just to participate in the clubs in Greenwich Village. Guys like Bob Dylan would come and go, or hang with the crowd there and connect with other musicians and songwriters. 

Los Angeles was a different scene. Out there, some of the best musicians became session players later known as the "Wrecking Crew" (they recorded just about every major hit record in the 1960s and 70s). Even the Beach Boys didn't play their own music. The Wrecking Crew recorded thousands of songs for various artists. They worked night and day.

New Opportunities...

If you are creative, there are lots of ways to turn your passion into income. It is not a sell-out. It is getting rewarded for all the work you put into your art or craft.

In my case, I'll continue writing songs, writing books, writing articles, and blogging. There are lots of great opportunities available.

You have to be aware of what is around you and how you can turn your passion into income. Some opportunities are ephemeral, they are hear today and gone tomorrow. Others persist. If only you persist, you can grab the brass ring. 

Never give up on your dreams. If you always wanted to play guitar and somehow never got around to it, now is the time to learn. If you've always wanted to write a novel, put together an story, some characters, make an outline, and give it a shot. If you have a hobby, find out how you can turn it into a side income. You never know what the future may hold.

Believing You Can is Half the Battle

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. ~Napoleon Hill

If you have a desire to accomplish anything, you have to genuinely believe it is achievable. You have to be able to imagine it. If you can envision yourself doing whatever it is, that is, making it so realistic in your mind's eye that it feels as though you have already accomplished it, you are halfway there.

On the other hand, if you imagine yourself longing for whatever it is you dream about doing, and you picture one stumbling block after another, you have already lost.

What Napoleon Hill was teaching us was this: If you have an idea, say an invention for example, and you believe that it is not only possible to achieve, but you are the one to make it happen, you CAN do it. You might have to do some research. You might have to experiment a bit. You might even have to backtrack and rethink some elements of the project, but, if you persist and continue to believe it is attainable, you will succeed.

Henry Ford's V8 engine was one such project. His engineers said that it couldn't be done. Henry said it could. He told them to keep trying. A couple years later, they finally had a working model and went into production.

Visualization Is A Powerful Tool

Every great invention began with a single idea. A visionary sees a need. That same individual creates a rough sketch to share the concept with another individual. The design then is used to create a working model. That's how things get made. It worked with Philo Farnsworth (He invented the television).

It all starts with a single idea.

Indeed, if you can picture it in your mind, and believe that it can be done, you just might be the one to do it.

What Ever You Do, Do it with Passion

What e'er you do in this life, do it with passion.

Love without passion is empty. It is reduced to the fulfillment of physical urges and nothing more.

Work without passion is just something you do for a paycheck and results in mediocre performance at best.

Recreation without passion is just going through the motions and often leads to boredom.

You need passion in life. Passion brings out the best in people. It gives you the energy and determination to succeed. It motivates you to be the best that you can be. It gives you joy in what you are doing. Work becomes play when you are doing what you love.

It's alright if you have more than one passion. I have several passions. I am a singer-songwriter. I am an author. I am a photographer. I sketch in charcoal, pencil, pen and ink, and I paint watercolor. I am a poet. 

My circle of dear friends includes more than one who would be considered a renaissance man. 

There is Will Daskal, painter, sketch artist, author, teacher, fly fishing guru, and all around wonderful guy.

There is Jeremy dePrisco, songwriter, performing artist, writer, who plays more musical instruments than I can recite here. He never ceases to amaze me.

Will and Jeremy have passion and they both pour it into much of what they do.

FIND YOUR PASSION

If you can identify your passions and pursue them, you will love life and make the most of it. Seek and you shall find.

The year is still young. Make it a point to find your passion by a mid-summer night's eve and run in pursuit. Let 2016 be the year of your discovery. Don't let the politics of the day distract you. Brush it aside and look to the road ahead.

As for those politicians, what fools these mortals be...

Thanks Wm Shakespeare. And thank you friends for enriching my life.

Expect Failure and Lose, Expect Success and Win

A person who sets his or her mind on the dark side of life, who lives over and over the misfortunes and disappointments of the past, prays for similar misfortunes and disappointments in the future. If you will see nothing but ill luck in the future, you are praying for such ill luck and will surely get it. ~Prentice Mulford

I have met many people who live with the expectation of failure. No matter what they try to accomplish, their own thoughts betray them.

You cannot go into any new venture with the expectation that it will fail and succeed. You have to anticipate success and believe it is attainable. If not, then why even bother? If you expect failure it is a foregone conclusion.

If you are unsure of yourself, arm yourself with information. Ask yourself this: "What do I need to make this happen?"

A little research can often help you prepare for any new challenges or opportunities that come along. Then, you have to decide that you really want to succeed and prepare yourself mentally.

Visualization is the great secret of success. ~Genevieve Behrend 

Most people use visualization without even realizing it. The problem is that they are envisioning failure because the fear of it paints vivid images in their mind. It is as though they will it upon themselves. To avoid this, you must learn to visualize yourself succeeding rather than failing.

Picture a job well done. Picture winning the race. Picture all the joy and happiness, the achievement and the reward for your success.

Now, Go for it! 

What You Think, Your Become

The mind is everything; what you think, you become. ~Socrates

You really are the sum total of your thoughts.

Whether you know it or not your personality is a reflection of what is happening between your ears. If you are not satisfied in life, you cannot hide it for long. Happiness starts on the inside and works its way outward from there. When you are not happy it, too, starts on the inside.

I have said many times that happiness is a state of mind, not a state of being. It seems that the average person spends most of his or her time complaining. In fact, I would venture a guess that most people have minds cluttered with negative thoughts.

If you start the work week dreading Mondays, you are starting on the wrong foot. Why not wake up to the idea that it's Monday, the start of a new week and new opportunities. Why not say to yourself that it's a great day. Then, make a list of about twenty things for which you are grateful. If you lose enthusiasm at any point of your day, read the list and picture yourself enjoying those blessings.

If you are not happy in your relationships, write down the things you really love about your spouse and read it every morning and every evening. Then, be grateful for those blessings.

Life is what you make of it and that typically depends on whether or not you pursue your dreams. If you are not satisfied, do you wonder why? Make a list of the things you really want in life. Make those your goals.

Take that list of things for which you are grateful and read them first thing in the morning and again at night-- just before going to bed. Doing this, you are improving your mindset by auto-suggestion. Focusing on your blessings is one of the easiest ways of changing how you see the world.

When you feel grateful for the things you have in life, accomplishing your goals is much easier.


 

Success Comes to Those Who DO

The most important thing about setting a goal is taking action. ~Napoleon Hill & W. Clement Stone

Setting goals is important-- but don't stop there.

It is amazing how many people say that they have a goal in life, they want to do this or that, and they are still talking about it years later. I hear it a lot from people who would love to have their own business. They talk about it, but they never do anything to make it happen.

I have written, previously, about the benefits of putting your goals on paper. Writing them down is a kind of commitment to them. It is a great starting point. From there, making an actual plan to get started is the next step. In creating the plan, you might need to do some research. What is required? Do you need a vendor's license? Do you need some sort of certification? Do you need some sort of training? These are all good questions.

Would-be writers are one of the most common examples of people who talk and never take that first step. I attribute it to fear of failure.

Oddly, the people I have known who actually started writing for a living were often laid-off professionals who were pretty good writers and never tried to go into business on their own until circumstances almost required that they do it. Many of those same people are now highly successful as writers.

Sometimes it takes drastic measures, like trying something new because of a job lay-off or some life-changing event forces your hand. If that is the catalyst one needs to stop talking and start actually doing something about those dreams, then it's a good thing.

If you daydream about what you'd really like to do in life, but you have been reluctant to start, write it down and start working on a plan to give it a test drive, while you are still working your regular job. You just might surprise yourself.

Success comes to those who DO, no those who simply talk about it.

Work Hard, Play Hard

As passionate as I am about working, I am even more passionate about playing-- here's why: Work has its ups and downs. If your job is stressful, or you have the kind of job where you are at a desk most of the day, play time can give you a chance to blow-off steam and keep fit.

I have met lots of people in the forty years that I have worked. I worked myself into business management early in my career and I've had to direct a lot of people. I always make it a point to get to know them. I see their strengths and weaknesses and I can work with their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses. They become more productive and feel better about themselves.

It amazes me how many of those people with whom I have worked over the years had no hobbies or interests. The older ones watched sports on television. The younger ones seemed to spend most of their time off work playing video games.

I've witnessed countless times when an employee joined a gym with the idea of working out and getting in shape to look like they did when they played football in college or something similar. After a short time and a few trips to the gym, they are into their old routine and just as out-of-shape as ever. What they need is a good healthy hobby that will get them in shape and keep them that way-- like cycling.

The perfect recreational activity is one that burns off excess weight and entertains you at the same time. Why? Because working out is too much like work. People quit working out as fast as they decided to start.

Of course, the best way to get in shape is eat right-- good, nutritional food in modest portions. Get plenty of exercise, like cycling, hiking, swimming, or other physical activity that serves as recreation and a work out. Get enough sleep for your body. Some people require more sleep than others, but too much is not good.

Protect your heart by cutting sodium intake. As much as possible, eat fresh produce and whole grains and stay away from processed food. Make sure that you take a good multi-vitamin.

Get lots of healthy sunshine, early and late in the day is better than the heat of day. Drink plenty of water. And SMILE.

Thoughts on Fear or Failure

No matter how hard you work for success, if your thought is saturated with the fear of failure, it will kill your endeavors and make success impossible. ~Robert Collier

If you really want to achieve success in life you have to start by believing in yourself. That means, you must cast fear aside and convince yourself that you have what it takes to accomplish what it is that you are trying to do.

Fear hinders everything you attempt to do. It's like paving your path with speed-bumps and rumble strips. The former slows you down and the latter aggravates you to the point of sheer frustration. What you want is a road to success that rivals the autobahn-- nothing but silky smoothness.

In reality, you cannot expect your road to success to be as smooth as glass. In fact, that would have negative consequences. You need some resistance in order to build resilience and determination-- they make you stronger. You want to prove you have what it takes when faced with adversity. Those are the sorts of challenges that build character and wisdom.

There is an old saying: "Wisdom is what you get from experience. Experience is what you get from a lack of wisdom." I am not sure who first said it, but, it is so true.

As you confront issues and overcome them you become better equipped to deal with the day-to-day problems that business people face. You handle people better. You develop good judgment and insights that you can one-day pass along to others.

Don't fear challenges, they make you better and stronger. So, cast fear aside and get moving. Your success awaits you.