Five years ago, I had big insight about how I read books; it was like I just gobbled them up! In talking with clients, I have discovered that I am not alone in this gobbling!
Every so often, I tell the following story to clients because it really shifted me: I was reading a powerful book called The Millionaires Course by Marc Allen, who is the owner of New World Library, a big spiritual publishing house. I was flipping thru the pages and something dawned on me! This is the same stuff I have been reading for 20 years: Napoleon Hill, Andrew Carnegie, Stephen Covey, etc.. And then I asked myself a curious question: "If I have been reading the same stuff for all these years then why am I not getting it?" The obvious jumped out at me--what's missing is the "doing"! I gobbled up these wonderful books then moved right onto the next one. I was not getting inside the book and applying what they are trying to teach.
When you read spiritual or personal growth books, you feel good; you feel what's possible; you feel an opening to the life you dream of. You read an insightful passage and yell to your wife in the next room, "Sweetie, this is it! This guy knows me! This is exactly what I need to do!" And then in a matter of days that insightful book is residing with the other insightful books on a shelf or under the bed (my thing) and you're onto the next one!
So what do you do? Slow down! This is my prescription to clients: Read one or two chapters a day. No more! And if there are exercises or instructions of some kind, do exactly as they say! If there is an inspiring passage, highlight it and then write the words in your personal notebook or make little cards and tape it around the house. Try to digest it slowly. Now let me offer a caution here. I don't want you to walk thru your day "trying" to live that insight!
Don't turn this into a personal growth treadmill. Just let yourself be gently reminded or become conscious of what you got from that passage. Perhaps, you got an insight about how everyone is in a separate reality and that we can't change the way another person thinks. Then you get into a small conflict with your wife and suddenly you are conscious you are "doing it again", you are not remembering she is in a different reality than you. You saw yourself suddenly! Which is a long way from being caught in the behavior and not really conscious of how you are acting.
Like me, I am sure you have a few hundred self-help books on your shelf. You could take any one of those books and study it for a lifetime and not get all it has to offer. I often joke that if I truly understood just ten percent of my own book, The Woodstock Bridge, I would turn into a ball of light!
All these books have one hidden purpose: to guide you to your innate wisdom. So slow down, brothers and sisters, the wisdom is really not in the pages but inside you. The pages are just fanning your own wisdom! Now, this doesn't mean to stop reading my "stuff"! More fanning is always good!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Why Can't We Have Lots Of Best Friends?
The difference between friends and acquaintances is whether you'd let them see you without makeup or leave them alone in a room with your mother-in-law. My grandmother told me it was better to have one good pal than a room full of acquaintances. I know she was right; but when I want to know how I look in a new outfit or with a different hairstyle that one pal is going to tell me the truth.
Sometimes truth hurts. Whoever said you don't have to say you're sorry to pals must have been lonely. You can feel their pain - especially if you caused it.
Grammatically, we can only have one best buddy because best is a superlative. It's a one of a kind sort of thing. However, we can have as many good buddies and better buddies as possible.
We can also have as many magic buddies as possible. The magic ones are the ones you don't get to be with often enough; but when you're together, you pick up just where you left off the last time. You talk about the present and the future because you plan to share them.
On the other hand - the one with the school yearbook - get-togethers with acquaintances are full of do-you-remember-when's. Friendship is a living relationship. Eventually, acquaintances die.
True magic, of course, is when a sibling turns into a lifetime, "amiable ally". Because you've shared so many experiences and memories, sometimes a sibling can know you better than you know yourself. The true magic is that your relationship survived the sibling rivalry and your sibling lived to be an ally - not a blackmailer.
I don't understand when people say so-in-so-used to be their "closest companion". That's like saying blue used to be their favorite color. That person couldn't have been their closest companion because closest companions don't do whatever that person did to ruin the relationship.
In spite of the fact that men have never gotten over the ribbing they got when God created Eve, I think women make better companions for both women and men. We're genetically more caring and we talk about feelings.
Companions are with us in good times and in bad and they make bad times better. There's one more thing I don't understand - why friend is misspelled. It shouldn't have the word end in it. It should have the word forever. Friend should be "friever"
Sometimes truth hurts. Whoever said you don't have to say you're sorry to pals must have been lonely. You can feel their pain - especially if you caused it.
Grammatically, we can only have one best buddy because best is a superlative. It's a one of a kind sort of thing. However, we can have as many good buddies and better buddies as possible.
We can also have as many magic buddies as possible. The magic ones are the ones you don't get to be with often enough; but when you're together, you pick up just where you left off the last time. You talk about the present and the future because you plan to share them.
On the other hand - the one with the school yearbook - get-togethers with acquaintances are full of do-you-remember-when's. Friendship is a living relationship. Eventually, acquaintances die.
True magic, of course, is when a sibling turns into a lifetime, "amiable ally". Because you've shared so many experiences and memories, sometimes a sibling can know you better than you know yourself. The true magic is that your relationship survived the sibling rivalry and your sibling lived to be an ally - not a blackmailer.
I don't understand when people say so-in-so-used to be their "closest companion". That's like saying blue used to be their favorite color. That person couldn't have been their closest companion because closest companions don't do whatever that person did to ruin the relationship.
In spite of the fact that men have never gotten over the ribbing they got when God created Eve, I think women make better companions for both women and men. We're genetically more caring and we talk about feelings.
Companions are with us in good times and in bad and they make bad times better. There's one more thing I don't understand - why friend is misspelled. It shouldn't have the word end in it. It should have the word forever. Friend should be "friever"
Internet Consumer Strategy: Get Rid Of The Bad Eggs!
The customer is always right. However, a particular customer may not be right for you. There's a lot of stress and hard work in being your own boss. By eliminating as much of that stress, you make your business better. By eliminating the few troublemakers who take up most of your time dealing with customer service issues, you do everyone a favor!
This doesn't mean you have the right to be wrong or rude. You need to be polite, patient, refund their money and never accept another cent from them, ever again. It may seem like bad business to turn away more money. The fact of the matter is that aggravation is one of the most costly drains on a business. It causes chronic health problems, poor customer service to your good customers and unnecessary stress.
There's a famous ratio called the 80/20 rule, or Pareto's Principle. It states that 80% of your income will come from 20% of your customers. In the same fashion, 80% of your stress will come from 20% of your customers. In this case, that ratio may be more like 95% of the stress comes from 5% of your customers. Be willing to let them go and replace them with low-maintenance, nice customers.
In the same fashion, do your best to attract and keep the good ones. Put most of your customer service effort into retention of the ones that pay on time, are polite and respectful and handle your mistakes and errors with patience and kindness. The change in attitude and lowering of stress will improve your work environment.
You can take this improvement to the next level by thinking of ways to involve your customers in your business. By sincerely trying to find ways to make your business more useful, attentive and sensitive to the needs of the good people who buy from you, you create a connection with your customers that will be hard to break.
Keep in mind, your competition will be out there, trying to steal or seduce as much of your market share as they can. Your best defense against price cutting, bonuses, coupons, discounts and all the other inducements they may offer is customer loyalty based on something higher - love and respect.
This may sound extreme, but it's really just the Golden Rule, applied to business. If a person behaves repulsively, repel them. If they behave wonderfully, wow them! This is just good business sense and practical business practice. You will find that your business's "brand" will be measured by how well you treat people.
Wasting time and energy on negative influences is bad for business. Eliminate as many of them as possible. Pour as much energy and time into cultivating your good customers as possible. The result of this kind of working rule may seem intangible, but it will definitely create a positive influence on your future growth and stability.
In like fashion, be willing to take a small loss in favor of preserving customer retention. Quibbling over a few dollars for return postage or extra fees to solve a problem is another bad business practice. Many marketers are beginning to offer what is called a "lose/win" guarantee.
They not only give 100% refunds, they throw in a bit extra to show that they really stand behind their product or service. In reality, just getting your money back doesn't reimburse you for the time and effort you wasted buying a product you have to return. A lose/win guarantee respects that fact and acknowledges it in the best way - being willing to take a loss, just like the customer did!
This doesn't mean you have the right to be wrong or rude. You need to be polite, patient, refund their money and never accept another cent from them, ever again. It may seem like bad business to turn away more money. The fact of the matter is that aggravation is one of the most costly drains on a business. It causes chronic health problems, poor customer service to your good customers and unnecessary stress.
There's a famous ratio called the 80/20 rule, or Pareto's Principle. It states that 80% of your income will come from 20% of your customers. In the same fashion, 80% of your stress will come from 20% of your customers. In this case, that ratio may be more like 95% of the stress comes from 5% of your customers. Be willing to let them go and replace them with low-maintenance, nice customers.
In the same fashion, do your best to attract and keep the good ones. Put most of your customer service effort into retention of the ones that pay on time, are polite and respectful and handle your mistakes and errors with patience and kindness. The change in attitude and lowering of stress will improve your work environment.
You can take this improvement to the next level by thinking of ways to involve your customers in your business. By sincerely trying to find ways to make your business more useful, attentive and sensitive to the needs of the good people who buy from you, you create a connection with your customers that will be hard to break.
Keep in mind, your competition will be out there, trying to steal or seduce as much of your market share as they can. Your best defense against price cutting, bonuses, coupons, discounts and all the other inducements they may offer is customer loyalty based on something higher - love and respect.
This may sound extreme, but it's really just the Golden Rule, applied to business. If a person behaves repulsively, repel them. If they behave wonderfully, wow them! This is just good business sense and practical business practice. You will find that your business's "brand" will be measured by how well you treat people.
Wasting time and energy on negative influences is bad for business. Eliminate as many of them as possible. Pour as much energy and time into cultivating your good customers as possible. The result of this kind of working rule may seem intangible, but it will definitely create a positive influence on your future growth and stability.
In like fashion, be willing to take a small loss in favor of preserving customer retention. Quibbling over a few dollars for return postage or extra fees to solve a problem is another bad business practice. Many marketers are beginning to offer what is called a "lose/win" guarantee.
They not only give 100% refunds, they throw in a bit extra to show that they really stand behind their product or service. In reality, just getting your money back doesn't reimburse you for the time and effort you wasted buying a product you have to return. A lose/win guarantee respects that fact and acknowledges it in the best way - being willing to take a loss, just like the customer did!
Benefits of Vinyl Replacement Windows
Vinyl replacement windows are a great way to increase the resale value, curb-appeal, and style of your home. Early vinyl replacement windows were not very popular, but advances in design and improved technology have made vinyl windows a desirable addition to homes everywhere. Many of today’s replacement windows meet requirements that older wood-frame and metal windows couldn’t possibly match.
Frames
Probably the greatest benefit of today’s vinyl windows is the quality of construction. These high-quality windows are fusion-welded at the corners to form a structurally sound frame. The frames themselves are strong, watertight, and airtight.
Another great benefit of vinyl windows is that they will never need sealing or painting, as traditional wood windows do. The vinyl window frames are extremely durable and will withstand fading and discoloration much better than wood frames.
The high quality of today’s vinyl windows can also offer superior security over older windows. Many vinyl replacement windows are available with a wide range of locking devices designed to give your home exceptional security.
Glass
Today’s vinyl replacement windows use high-grade products and ingenuity to deliver high-performance. Most vinyl windows use double or triple-paned glass units. These units create an insulation barrier of air, which provides protection from damaging elements, higher energy-efficiency, and greater sound protection.
These airtight layers of protection are key to the high standards of energy-efficiency that today’s vinyl replacement windows offer. Each manufacturer’s windows are submitted to an energy-efficiency test conducted by a government-backed program. These tests are meant to determine the window’s U-value, or U-factor.
The U-value is a measurement that represents the rate in which heat passes through the window. The lower the U-value assigned to the window, the lower the amount of heat allowed to pass through the window. The windows with the lowest U-value receive Energy-Star ratings, which can be claimed as a tax write-off. These windows can offer tremendous savings on monthly electric bills, by keeping in heat or cool air.
Ease of Use
The function of vinyl windows also typically last longer than wood-frame windows. This is because wood will tend to swell and retract in reaction to changes in temperature and humidity. Over time, this swelling and retraction may cause the wooden window frame to become misshapen. If this happens, the window will become more difficult to slide or close properly.
Choice of Options
Vinyl replacement windows come in a large variety of styles, sizes, and colors. All replacement windows are custom-made in order to properly match your home’s existing windows, so size is no hindrance.
Replacement windows are available in many styles, including casement windows, double-hung windows, bay and bow windows, and sliders with two, three, or more sashes. At first, vinyl windows were only manufactured in white, but today most manufacturers offer many color options to match the existing features of your home. Windows can be ordered with solid colors, two-toned, or with wood-grains. You can even purchases windows with one color on the exterior, and with a wood-grain finish on the interior.
Vinyl windows offer the same style features found on other top-quality windows. Divided light grids, decorative glass, tilt-out sashes, and high-efficiency locking systems allow for many options.
Vinyl replacement windows offer many great values for your home. They are an excellent way to add value to your home, giving them a positive cost-to-benefit ratio. If you desire to add security, style, and savings to your home, vinyl replacement windows should be one of your first considerations.
Frames
Probably the greatest benefit of today’s vinyl windows is the quality of construction. These high-quality windows are fusion-welded at the corners to form a structurally sound frame. The frames themselves are strong, watertight, and airtight.
Another great benefit of vinyl windows is that they will never need sealing or painting, as traditional wood windows do. The vinyl window frames are extremely durable and will withstand fading and discoloration much better than wood frames.
The high quality of today’s vinyl windows can also offer superior security over older windows. Many vinyl replacement windows are available with a wide range of locking devices designed to give your home exceptional security.
Glass
Today’s vinyl replacement windows use high-grade products and ingenuity to deliver high-performance. Most vinyl windows use double or triple-paned glass units. These units create an insulation barrier of air, which provides protection from damaging elements, higher energy-efficiency, and greater sound protection.
These airtight layers of protection are key to the high standards of energy-efficiency that today’s vinyl replacement windows offer. Each manufacturer’s windows are submitted to an energy-efficiency test conducted by a government-backed program. These tests are meant to determine the window’s U-value, or U-factor.
The U-value is a measurement that represents the rate in which heat passes through the window. The lower the U-value assigned to the window, the lower the amount of heat allowed to pass through the window. The windows with the lowest U-value receive Energy-Star ratings, which can be claimed as a tax write-off. These windows can offer tremendous savings on monthly electric bills, by keeping in heat or cool air.
Ease of Use
The function of vinyl windows also typically last longer than wood-frame windows. This is because wood will tend to swell and retract in reaction to changes in temperature and humidity. Over time, this swelling and retraction may cause the wooden window frame to become misshapen. If this happens, the window will become more difficult to slide or close properly.
Choice of Options
Vinyl replacement windows come in a large variety of styles, sizes, and colors. All replacement windows are custom-made in order to properly match your home’s existing windows, so size is no hindrance.
Replacement windows are available in many styles, including casement windows, double-hung windows, bay and bow windows, and sliders with two, three, or more sashes. At first, vinyl windows were only manufactured in white, but today most manufacturers offer many color options to match the existing features of your home. Windows can be ordered with solid colors, two-toned, or with wood-grains. You can even purchases windows with one color on the exterior, and with a wood-grain finish on the interior.
Vinyl windows offer the same style features found on other top-quality windows. Divided light grids, decorative glass, tilt-out sashes, and high-efficiency locking systems allow for many options.
Vinyl replacement windows offer many great values for your home. They are an excellent way to add value to your home, giving them a positive cost-to-benefit ratio. If you desire to add security, style, and savings to your home, vinyl replacement windows should be one of your first considerations.
Clean Computer Registry
Registry Cleaner Best Free Software Download:
Perhaps that is the reason even the best programs have a backup function - Such as any Windows Operating system Need To Clean The Registry. Sometimes the changes are made so often to windows services that the old entries to the related service are not deleted. So when the system calls up the service the entire services section of the registry has to be scanned to locate and configure the service being called up. The search will include past changes that were made as well. This process drastically slows down the system and makes it sluggish. A main symptom that will indicate the need for a power registry cleaner is that the system will take a very long time to boot up and shut down.. The scan always starts from the beginning of the registry and continues until the data is found.
Clean Up My Registry Free:
If your computer crashes frequently has DLL errors regular error messages or is plagued by constant blue screens it's trying to tell you something. Think of the registry as a big notebook of your PCs to-do list and it logs everything into it. See nnanunanen registry cleaner Many applications tend to leave permanent files laying around on your hard disk.
Clean Registry Computer:
#Body#The registry is the place where your computer stores the configuration information about your computer and your installed programs so that your operating system can use them. Maintaining the registry is an important step in keeping your computer healthy. Registry problems can include slow performance, computer crashing, and the annoying Microsoft Windows error messages. Then you absolutely need to be repairing your Microsoft Windows registry regularly! All of the above leave traces in your registry that will only hurt your computer in the long run. If you don't clean your computer to fix your registry than you are going to be in a whole world of trouble.. As they say an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure to fix registry on computers See more windows xp registry paperport However one must keep in mind the importance or cleaning up the registry periodically.
Registry Cleaner 32Neaaou:
Some hardware such as plug and play peripherals also have to be registered in the registry. The Registry Replaced The INI storage system in Win 95. The registry was introduced in Windows 95. Before this the system used to store configuration information in INI files. Each software package had its own INI file system. These files were scattered all over the system's hard drive, which made it very difficult to keep track of the system settings. Though the central registry system assimilates the configuration settings it has its own set of problems. The greatest problem it poses is that it is a single point of failure. One snag and the whole system crashes.. There are two controls once you download the registry cleaner See http://www.registrycleanersweb.cn/registry-cleaner-downloads/nnanunanen-registry-cleaner.php And before you know it your system will be running smoother than ever before.
Perhaps that is the reason even the best programs have a backup function - Such as any Windows Operating system Need To Clean The Registry. Sometimes the changes are made so often to windows services that the old entries to the related service are not deleted. So when the system calls up the service the entire services section of the registry has to be scanned to locate and configure the service being called up. The search will include past changes that were made as well. This process drastically slows down the system and makes it sluggish. A main symptom that will indicate the need for a power registry cleaner is that the system will take a very long time to boot up and shut down.. The scan always starts from the beginning of the registry and continues until the data is found.
Clean Up My Registry Free:
If your computer crashes frequently has DLL errors regular error messages or is plagued by constant blue screens it's trying to tell you something. Think of the registry as a big notebook of your PCs to-do list and it logs everything into it. See nnanunanen registry cleaner Many applications tend to leave permanent files laying around on your hard disk.
Clean Registry Computer:
#Body#The registry is the place where your computer stores the configuration information about your computer and your installed programs so that your operating system can use them. Maintaining the registry is an important step in keeping your computer healthy. Registry problems can include slow performance, computer crashing, and the annoying Microsoft Windows error messages. Then you absolutely need to be repairing your Microsoft Windows registry regularly! All of the above leave traces in your registry that will only hurt your computer in the long run. If you don't clean your computer to fix your registry than you are going to be in a whole world of trouble.. As they say an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure to fix registry on computers See more windows xp registry paperport However one must keep in mind the importance or cleaning up the registry periodically.
Registry Cleaner 32Neaaou:
Some hardware such as plug and play peripherals also have to be registered in the registry. The Registry Replaced The INI storage system in Win 95. The registry was introduced in Windows 95. Before this the system used to store configuration information in INI files. Each software package had its own INI file system. These files were scattered all over the system's hard drive, which made it very difficult to keep track of the system settings. Though the central registry system assimilates the configuration settings it has its own set of problems. The greatest problem it poses is that it is a single point of failure. One snag and the whole system crashes.. There are two controls once you download the registry cleaner See http://www.registrycleanersweb.cn/registry-cleaner-downloads/nnanunanen-registry-cleaner.php And before you know it your system will be running smoother than ever before.
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