“Life will not go according to plan, if you do not have a plan” – Gary Ryan Blair

Great companies do it every year.

High performing executives consider its maintenance among their top 5 activities.

Smart department heads do it in addition to whatever the company comes up with overall.

Successful individuals do it almost without thinking about it.

What is it?

Strategic Action Planning!

Corporations practice strategic action planning to provide a greater return on equity. They want to make sure all departments and employees are utilizing their time and activities in a way that will return the greatest amount of profit.

Strategic Action Planning then is a method used to ensure that you are utilizing your time and activities in a way that will return the greatest amount of energy, or life experience.

• Personal Action Planning

Once you learn the fine art of action planning and execution, you’ll know how to pick up from where you are right now, and create the life you want.

Imagine for a moment that your life is a business. Your goal should be to get the highest return possible on the investment of yourself in everything you do.

In other words, your time and your energy – mental, emotional, and physical energy – are investments. Your time and energy are your personal equity.

A business wants to maximize how it invests its equity, because in business, everyone knows and understands that equity is limited. We have only so much.

Isn’t the same true of your personal time and energy?

So it makes sense then, that you need to strategically plan how your investments are being made, so that you can maximize them to get what you want.

Planning is a Process

Strategic action planning is a disciplined thought process, which produces fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide who you are, where you are going, what you do, and how, when and why you do it. All of this is done with a focus on the future.

In fact, every minute you invest in planning your goals, activities and time in advance saves ten minutes of work in the execution of those plans. That’s precisely why  STRATEGIC ACTION PLANNING will give you a return of ten times, or 1,000% on your investment of mental, emotional and physical energy.

The name evolved simply because the last pick in the draft was often irrelevant because the player many times failed to make the selecting team’s roster.

The first Mr. Irrelevant was Kelvin Kirk, pick number 487 of the 1976 draft, and the current Mr. Irrelevant is quarterback Chandler Harnish of the Northern Illinois Huskies, who was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as pick number 253 of the 2012 draft.

I’m sharing this concept with you today because, you are either…

REMARKABLE OR IRRELEVANT

Irrelevant is defined as being; unimportant, without use, besides the point, and something not worth mention or attention.

I think it’s fair to say not one of us would want the title of being Mr. or Ms. Irrelevant.

Sadly though, that is the reality faced by many websites, businesses, and people.

We must all accept the fact that we are either remarkable, or we are irrelevant.

BEING REMARKABLE IS A CHOICE

The great news is that being remarkable, being worthy of notice and attention begins with a simple decision.

If you want to break out of the mold of average, the first thing you need to do is to make a decision to be radically different.

REMARKABLE people are people of action, and for a good reason: if you don’t take decisive action, nothing will ever change.

But this first step is entirely mental. It calls for a clear decision to rise above the culture of mediocrity. And then, of course, it calls for action.

SO, how do you decide to be remarkable?

The following are eight ways to BEING REMARKABLE and standing out from the crowded field of mediocrity:

1. Question Management: When someone asks you a question, make sure they get an answer bigger, richer and far more thought provoking than they ever expected.

2. Problem Management: When someone brings you a problem, bring them a solution that not only solves the problem, but which also delivers and opportunity for them to capitalize on.

3. Project Management: When someone gives you a project, see to it that they get a plan that is bolder, more ambitious and more detailed than they hoped for.

4. Deadline Management: When you take on a task, finish it under budget, before deadline, and with a cheerful attitude.

5. Conflict Management: When a customer has a concern, go the extra mile as a policy, and blow their mind by your professionalism and responsiveness.

6. Quality Management: When you do your work, make your name and results synonymous with excellence, consistency, originality, and speed.

7. Meeting Management: When you participate in a meeting, anticipate questions, come fully prepared, and contribute your ideas with clarity and conviction.

8. Expectation Management: When you engage in any activity, under promise, over deliver and demonstrably exceed all expectations.

If you think about it, individuals are not much different from companies.

Having a trusted personal brand, and a reputation of being remarkable, uncommon and extraordinary, nets you the same advantages as a company.

You’re likely to foster loyalty, be trusted, be forgiven for occasional mistakes, and earn more money, especially if you develop a reputation for delivering insanely good and consistent results.

We all build, manage or destroy our personal brand every day through our character, choices, attitudes and actions.

With that said, choose to BE REMARKABLE!

Often called `the father of psychology’, William James taught us the `Act as if ‘ principle.

He stated, “If you want a quality, act as if you already have it”.

You’ve no doubt heard these three words before, maybe even took a crack at applying this strategy in your life.

But have you ever really taken the time to ask, “what exactly does it mean to “act as if?”

Just what it says!

Act as if you already possess a behavioral characteristic, an outcome, or an ideal. Inhabit the outcome in advance, see it, smell it, taste and affirm it as if the outcome is already reality.

Muhammad Ali provides us with the perfect example of this philosophy with this inspiring quote; “To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.”

WHY IT WORKS

Every outcome, every result you want to manifest consists of a mental equivalent.

Huh? It’s actually very simple, before a goal or outcome is achieved, a mental process, a belief system was first initiated.

A “construct” in its simplest form is a concept or “model”. This in itself is not very interesting until we realize that just about everything ever made outside of nature began as an idea in someone’s head.

Some of these ideas or “Constructs” have had more impact than others over time. Of those that have had impact, some have been for the good of mankind and some have not.

The “Act As If” philosophy is a powerful mental construct which allows you to assume the correct mental position or posturing IN ADVANCE.

This is one of the 100 lessons you will learn once you begin the 100 Day Challenge.

In this message, I want to talk with you about the importance of not quitting  and what it takes to become a champion.

In three simple words, here’s the true secret to success….Choose Your Suffering!

That’s right, Choose Your Suffering.

Think about it, everything you want in life, every goal you want to achieve, every dream you want to manifest comes with a price tag.

There is NO FREE LUNCH when it comes to success, and their are no free rides when it comes to failure and under performance. Each has their own price.

To achieve any goal, you must choose the suffering that’s right for you, you must accept that reality, you must embrace that truth, and then you must live with it every day of your life.

The moment you choose not to continue to pay the price of success IS the moment you choose to suffer the consequences of failure which is the worst kind of suffering.

The suffering cost of failure is always higher than the suffering price for success.

The cost and consequences of failure in a relationship, job, career or any area can cause a monumental amount of disruption and chaos in your life.

IT’S TIME FOR A REALITY CHECK

Your results speak for themselves.

Are you paying the price of success and enjoying the fruits of your efforts?

OR…

Are you suffering the consequences of a a sub par performance?


You will always pay dearly for under performance, and the following are just a few examples of the suffering costs of failure:

• …if you lack financial discipline you will suffer the consequences of debt and sleepless nights.
• …if you do not manage your diet you will suffer the cost of diabetes and poor fitting clothing.
• …by not keeping your promises, you suffer the loss of reputation.
• …by choosing to be late and unprepared you will suffer the cost of lost opportunity.
• …by not investing quality time with your children, you will suffer by paying the price of regret your entire life.

Sooner or later each of us must choose to pay the price of success or pay the cost of failure.

Sooner or later you will come to the understanding that you must “Choose Your Suffering”.

True success is something that is achieved by the minority of people, and is therefore unnatural and not to be achieved by following our natural likes and dislikes nor by being guided by our natural preferences and prejudices.

If you are ready to begin paying the price of success and done with paying the consequences of under performance, then sign up for the 100 Day Challenge right now.

Stop paying the cost of failure and dissappoint and START paying the price of success!

It is also the parent, teacher and coach who wants their children and students to reach their full potential.

It’s the leader or entrepreneur who wants to create a culture that inspires excellence, passion, and innovation.

It’s the artist who wants to create a true work of art that moves everyone who comes in contact with it.

It’s everyone who strives to excel on their own terms, to set and realize personal goals and achieve their own defining moment of greatness.

That’s the reason why I created the “100 Day Challenge”, a powerful program designed to inspire anyone who wants to achieve their own moment of greatness, and who truly wants to be the best they can be.

To those who are overwhelmed by the prospect of what is required to reach their goals and truly find their greatness, my advice is this…

Be better today than you were yesterday, as each day of your life provides you with an endless number of opportunities to demonstrate commitment, character, focus, integrity, initiative, creativity, perseverance and a host of other noble virtues to showcase your greatness.

I imagine before he broke world records, Michael Phelps started his Olympic career swimming the length of a pool. And before she won gold medals in both the individual and team all-around competitions, Gabby Douglas did her share of handstands in her family living room. Their greatness was born by a consistent daily desire to improve.

You can’t lose 25 pounds before you lose five. You can’t run a marathon before you run a mile. You can’t achieve your goals and become great at anything before you choose to become great. It’s one day of making good decisions and executing on those decisions… followed by another.

The key factors for success and finding your greatness will always involve setting challenging goals, enjoying the thrill of the chase, and reaching those goals through discipline, consistency, and perseverance.

Greatness has no fixed address but is a place where each one of us can achieve our own personal success and shape our own definition.

Greatness isn’t reserved for the chosen few, but it is reserved for the few who CHOOSE to find their greatness.

A new day has unfolded, choose to make the world a better place, choose to be great!

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your two-cents worth on the importance of Finding Your Greatness and by all means, check out the 100 Day Challenge.

“We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.

In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time.

Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood — it ebbs.

Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, “Too late.”

I wanted to share this message with you to remind you that time waits for no one.

If you are unhappy with your individual or team year-to-date performance, you need to step up your game and deploy better strategies, and you need to do it now before its “TOO LATE”.

WARNING

If you do not make it a priority to use your time wisely in the conscious pursuit of your goals and dreams, I can assure you that your future is in serious jeopardy.

Why? Because procrastination has become precedent, patterns and performance standards have been set and reinforced.

Your current results speak for themselves.You’ve had more than enough time to perform, to display your talents, and show the world how good you really are.

Take this message very seriously. Get your hands on this Special Report and start making big things happen in your life.

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your thoughts on MLK’s quote and how it applies to your life.

making excuses…

putting it off…

bitching and moaning…

crying over spilt milk…

sabotaging your efforts…

worrying and wasting time…

thinking you’re not worthy…

waiting until the time is right…

Instead, do this…

suck it up…

hold on tight…

jump in the deep end…

say a prayer…

and…

GO FOR YOUR GOALS!

The 100 Day Challenge shows you how.

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your impressions on this post and be sure to participate in the next 100 Day Challenge.

It will hurt.

It will take time.

It will demand willpower.

It will require dedication.

It will scream for sacrifice.

There will be temptation to quit.

At times, you’ll want to throw in the towel.

But, I promise you…

When you do reach your goal…

The pleasure will far exceed the pain…

It will be worth every once of blood, sweat and tears…

And you’ll make yourself proud.

In a world filled with so much regret…

We should all…

Elevate our game…

Dream big dreams and…

Focus on doing whatever it takes to achieve our goals…

The 100 Day Challenge shows you how.

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your impressions on this post and participate in the 100 Day Challenge.

Allow me to provide you with a beautiful example of Carpe Diem and the importance of asking your way to success.

Billy Joel recently held “An Evening of Questions and Answers and a Little Bit of Music” at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

During the session, student Michael Pollack, a Long Island native, asked clearly, confidently and boldly if he could accompany Billy on piano and perform “New York State Of Mind.”

Billy said “YES”, and here is the complete video of their magical performance together.

I believe that if you only knew what you were not receiving, nor enjoying because you were not asking boldly and directly for what you want, that you would surely change our behavior.

By not asking for what you want, you unfortunately put yourself in a position to stop receiving help because you don’t ask for it.

As a result…

…your progress becomes halted.

…your dreams begin to evaporate.

…your happiness is stunted.

This is completely unnecessary, and as soon as you begin the 100 Day Challenge, life as you know it will change as you’re going to learn how to unleash a
performance explosion that will dramatically change everything about your life and future.

Download all the program details and prepare yourself for a life changing experience!

“A man’s reach,” wrote Robert Browning, “must exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”

This reaching, this searching for something better, for the realization of a dream or ideal, is the pursuit of excellence.

It’s the motivation of the monk entering meditation or prayer, the farmer sowing seed, the nurse adjusting a patients pillow, the executive charting an organization’s future.

Excellence is the pulley by which we lift the present into the future.

Why choose excellence?

Because the status quo is not enough, in fact, it’s unacceptable.

Unfortunately, far too many people and organizations have not made that decision and function in a suspended state of mediocrity.

As a result, reputations are damaged, brands become diluted, and both opportunities and years are lost by blatant disregard for the small stuff which negatively impacts their overall results.

The popular philosophy that instructs us not to “sweat the small stuff” is flawed, because it breeds poor customer service, under performance, wasted opportunity, mistakes, inconsistencies, rework, and oversights.

From typos to tardiness, many people and organizations act as if details just don’t matter much. The result of this mind-set is that they treat customers poorly, deliver sloppy results, and show up both unprepared and late.

While mission statements and service creeds extol excellence, quality, and consistency, clients and customers tend to receive mediocrity, apathy, and-far too often-incompetence.

Quite frankly, this has to stop…and it needs to stop now.

If a business, individual, family, church or country truly wants to create a culture of excellence and reach their full potential, then it must embrace and adopt EVERYTHING COUNTS as its operational philosophy!

This adoption will become the driver for organizing all educational, sales, service, government, family and quite frankly ALL performance-improvement initiatives.

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your two-cents worth on committing to excellence both personally and professionally.

Search wherever you will for a single sound argument against the principle of going the extra mile, and you will not find it, nor will you find a single instance of enduring success which was not attained in part by its application.

From parenting children to managing a staff, the true leaders in any field are willing to go farther than anyone else…the extra mile.

YOUR ability to elicit behavior that goes above and beyond the call of duty is a key asset and competitive weapon, one that is extremely difficult for competitors to imitate and virtually impossible to ignore.

In today’s competitive environment, it’s simply not enough to just show up and do your work. Simply stated, superior performance is not, never has been, nor will it ever be the by-product or ordinary efforts!

YOU must embrace the fact that in order for you to remain competitive, then it’s in your best interest to learn what it takes to go the extra mile and exceed expectations at all times.

Everything Counts shows you how!

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your two-cents on the importance of going the extra mile.

MOST of those people are not hard acts to follow…and that’s exactly why a commitment to excellence is the ultimate competitive advantage.

The great part about excellence is that it is achieved via QUALITATIVE, not quantitative shifts in developing skills.

What that means is a focus on developing assets such as the quality of your thoughts, expertise, image, leadership, and reputation are priority #1.

Why? It’s actually very simple as an improvement on your qualitative assets, guarantees an improvement in your quantitative results.

Being part of a qualitatively different world or environment where excellence is expected and practiced is the key to achieving excellence.

The following quote from Martin Luther King beautifully demonstrates the meaning of a qualitative shift and how it pertains to personal excellence.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

The moral of this message is simple: Focus on the quality of your work, and demonstrate excellence in every way, shape and form.

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your two-cents worth on how you can apply this everything counts message in your life and career.

You must get used to the fact that success requires an enormous threshold of discomfort, fear and inconvenience.

This truth applies to every definition of success; it applies to everyone and to every endeavor. In short, you must get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Inconvenience and discomfort are part of the foundational building blocks of success. Every person who has ever been legitimately successful has formed the habit of doing things that others don’t like to do.

Unfortunately, our society has placed such a high premium on convenience and expediency that it has enabled weakness, while also creating an inability for many to perform at peak levels.

The acceptance of inconvenience and discomfort explains why people with every apparent qualification for success become disappointing failures, while others achieve outstanding success in spite of many obvious and discouraging handicaps.

In other words, we’ve got to realize right from the start that success requires an unconventional approach and a much different philosophical view.

True success is something that is achieved by the minority of people, and is therefore unnatural and not to be achieved by following our natural likes and dislikes nor by being guided by our natural preferences and prejudices.

We have to accept that becoming uncomfortable is not a nuisance, but a necessity to growth, excellence and success.

The list of things that most people don’t want to be inconvenienced by is too long to permit specific discussion, but saying that they all emanate from a willingness to embrace easy and convenient solutions to just about any situation can dispose of them all.

Every single qualification for success is acquired through the habit of inconvenience and this is done by moving outside of your comfort zone.

People form habits and habits form futures. If you do not deliberately form good habits, then unconsciously you will form bad ones.

You are the kind of person you are because you have formed the habit of being that kind of person, and the only way you can change is through habit of inconvenience.

As long as you live, don’t ever forget that while you may succeed beyond your fondest hopes and your greatest expectations, you will never succeed beyond the purpose to which you are willing to surrender.

Furthermore, your surrender will not be complete until you adopt the winner’s philosophy that all progress, change, and success is based on a foundation of inconvenience.

We’ll close as we began this rant, the magic happens outside of your comfort zone. Always has, always will.

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your two cents worth on the importance of getting outside of your comfort zone.

It offers a philosophy that is immensely popular, but highly flawed as it panders to the majority by telling them what they want to hear rather than what they need to do.

As pragmatic advice on how to run a business and live a life of excellence, it’s a big steaming pile of nonsense.

This is bad advice, and it spells trouble in the current economy.

All the power and leverage is with the customer and they will exercise their power by leaving one business in favor of another over very small things, things that could have easily been avoided by simply using common sense and paying attention to the small stuff.

Every business is severely and adversely affected by poor customer retention. If a customer abandons one restaurant or coffee shop for another it’s most likely NOT because of the food or coffee, but due to dissatisfaction over a small detail like;

• Having to hunt down a waiter for more coffee or the check.
• Not receiving a genuine welcome or prompt greeting.
• Too long on hold when making reservations.
• Table conversation constantly interrupted.
• Gum or debris on the ground.
• Too long a wait for service.
• An unclean fork or glass.
• Apathetic personnel.
• A filthy bathroom.
• No eye contact.

The cost of losing a customer is multiplied in tough times simply because there is a smaller pool of replacements and much more intense competition for them.

Do NOT be fooled by mainstream news; businesses are not suddenly upside down thanks only to a credit crunch or drop in customer spending; there’s much more to
their suddenly revealed weaknesses than that.

They have gone on too long not sweating the small stuff, and now they are suffering consumer’s revenge.

If you have any interest in being competitive than start sweating the small stuff because every little thing does count.

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your two-cents worth on the power of small details and what you are doing to make everything count.

Everything Counts! is an execution strategy for inspiring excellence and driving exceptional results. It offers a profoundly important message for running a great business and for enjoying a fulfilling quality of life.

Its meaning is simple, yet powerful…

everything you think…

everything you say…

This is the golden rule of excellence!

By adopting the golden rule of excellence, you’ll begin to examine even the smallest details; those which in the past may have compromised performance and even contaminated your character and reputation.

No matter how you define performance excellence, it will always include exceptional quality, meticulous attention to details, uncompromising standards, and superior craftsmanship fueled by love and passion.

Excellence is respected and admired, and serves as the triumphant accomplishment of those unwilling to accept anything less than their absolute best.

World-class results are the product of world-class habits and activities. From start to finish, the distinguishing characteristics of success are found in the details.

Make no mistake, the adoption of an Everything Counts! philosophy takes conscious effort, immense discipline, and a deep reservoir of commitment. If it were easy, you wouldn’t need those attributes to be successful!

What To Do Now? Share your two-cents worth on the importance of making everything count!

Ready?

Let’s go!

• Truth #1 – Successful people have successful habits.
• Truth #2 – Unsuccessful people have unsuccessful habits.
• Truth #3 – Habits are behavior, and behavior never lies.
• Truth #4 – Your habits determine your past, present and future.
• Truth #5 – If you want change in your life, you must change your habits.

NOW, let’s do a simple fill in the blank exercise to determine how well your current habits are serving you.

Here’s a health related example with two possible answers:

My health, exercise and eating habits have…turned me into a firm, energetic and unstoppable powerhouse.

My health, exercise and eating habits have…turned me into a flabby, lethargic and unmotivated person.

Now, take a few moments to answer these questions regarding your habits.

1.   My savings and spending habits have…

2.   My sales and marketing habits have…

3.   My relationship habits have…

4.   My parenting habits have…

5.   My time management habits have…

6.   My demonstrated leadership habits have…

7.   My communication habits have…

8.   My work habits have…

9.   My health habits have…

So, how did you do?

Are your habits helping or hurting your performance?

The one true path to success and happiness in life is to change your behavior by replacing your bad habits with positive habits that that move you in the direction that you want.

It’s easy for me to say that if you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting, so change your behavior.

And that’s exactly what I’m going to tell you to do–just change!

I want you to look at your results year to date, right now–today and determine what habits you must change in order to secure a better tomorrow.

Don’t procrastinate as that’s a destructive habit that is definitely not worth repeating as it bears no desirable fruit and WILL lead to regret and missed opportunity.

WHAT TO DO KNOW: Share your two-cents worth on the power of habits and their impact on your life.

You have strengths that make you who you are.

You also have weaknesses that could potentially lead to your downfall.

The powerful Greek warrior Achilles was mortally wounded from a heel wound.

Superman was incapacitated by Kryptonite.

Popeye just ain’t Popeye without Spinach.

The strongest leaders have mortal weaknesses too.

In fact, we ALL have them.

So, what is your Achilles’ heel?

An Achilles’ heel is a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength, actually or potentially leading to our downfall.

Think about your fatal weaknesses in light of your overall strength.

What is the one thing that could potentially harm you and make things very difficult in your life and career?

I’m quite certain you know exactly what it is.

Is it…

• Moral Failure? What needs to happen or change immediately to ensure this is not an issue for you and your family?
• Prideful Ego? Would a dose of humility help you and your future?
• Wanting Excess? Is there a hunger for more that could lead you to less?

Take the time to think about the areas that could lead to your downfall. If not for yourself, for your family and team members.

You are your own best teacher. You know where you’re coming from and what you’re all about.

You are well aware by now that BEHAVIOR NEVER LIES.

You know where the bodies are buried, the secrets are kept, as well as the names of the skeletons in your closet.

You also know the answer to your problem. But you don’t yet know what you know, or until now you’ve been unwilling to confront it head on.

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your two cents worth on the importance of protecting your Achilles Heel.

most job descriptions are…

a joke…

a tool for CYA … (covering your a@#)

a complete waste of time…

Regardless of your talents, experience, and responsibilities, this is why you are on the payroll and what you are REALLY hired to do… (in no particular order)

• surprise and delight
• go the extra mile
• exceed expectations
• focus on solutions
• elevate the conversation
• challenge assumptions
• inspire excellence
• practice integrity
• raise standards
• contribute ideas
• deliver results
• meet deadlines
• be accountable
• take risks
• ask challenging questions
• set a good example
• make everything count
• think
• solve problems
• love your customers
• persevere in spite of obstacles
• fight for principle
• showcase your art
• demonstrate best practices
• become brilliant on the basics
• act with urgency
• initiate ideas
• honor your commitments
• keep your promises
• make good decisions
• play to your strengths
• learn from mistakes
• fail forward
• be proud of yourself
• build a legacy

EVERYTHING else revolves around the technical elements of your vocation.

In today’s world, simply showing up, going through the motions, and only doing what’s on your written job description is not sufficient and completely unacceptable.

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your two cents worth on this new take on job descriptions and responsibilities.

This letter from Abe Lincoln to his son’s Head Master serves as a powerful reminder of the value of both a Parent and a Teacher has in shaping the lives of our children.

Respected Teacher,

My son will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero. That for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader.

Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend. It will take time, I know; but teach him, if you can, that a dollar earned is far more valuable than five found.

Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning.

Steer him away from envy, if you can.

Teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick.

Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books. But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him it is far honorable to fail than to cheat.

Teach him to have faith in his own ideas even if everyone tells him they are wrong.

Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the band wagon.

Teach him to listen to all men. But teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him if you can, how to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness.

Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right.

Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself because then he will have sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order, but see what you can do. He is such a fine fellow, my son!

Abraham Lincoln

WHAT TO DO NOW? Share your thoughts and impressions on what this post means to you.

But what about the other long run effects?

In the long run, we all learn that…

• happiness is a gift we give ourselves.
• being nice and kindhearted wins out.
• going the extra mile pays off.
• simplicity is the key to good life.
• time is more important than money.
• the best things in life are free.
• attitude truly is everything.
• behavior never lies.
• excuses are character deficiencies.
• living within our means is smart living.
• gratitude enhances your quality of life.
• humility is more powerful that arrogance.
• reputation is built over many acts and lost by one.
• trust once lost is virtually impossible to regain.
• excellence is the only acceptable standard.
• having character is far more important than being a character.
• a promise made must become a promise kept.
• integrity is profoundly important.
• everything we think, say and do counts!

WHAT TO DO NOW?
Share ONE lesson you learned and it’s long-term impact on your life.