Live Rejoicing-Change your Story

You may feel like Penny Chenery Tweedy, the owner of Secretariat in this movie clip based upon the true story of Secretariat. The world is against you, the road feels so uphill. Looking back at history retrospectively, we know that Secretariat was the only horse in history to win the triple crown. Penny could have given up and a lot of people told her that she should. But, against what seems like impossible odds, she believed in that horse and never gave up.

Did you know that you could be one decision away from breaking your old story and facing success head on? That’s right, you could be one moment, one instant away from changing everything. It depends so much on the story you choose to tell. Is your story about the failed economy or the competition? Or how about your difficult childhood or how everyone else gets all the breaks? Penny didn’t tell the story of her obstacles, she told the story of her future success. She persevered until she reached her dream.

You were not put on this earth to fail. Yet, why do we write our life stories like we were? Don’t let the negative ‘what ifs’ be the headliners to your story. Consider your obstacles part of the amazing journey of victory and success. Penny saw her horse as a winner. Do you see yourself as a winner? That’s what it takes to become one!

Can your Genius Come out to Play?

When I was a kid I had to have a few ear operations. My parents always scheduled them in the summer so I wouldn't miss school. Not only did I miss some fun time being in the hospital, but, then there was the recovery time. I had a helmet of bandages and I wasn't allowed outside until they came off. I did miss playing outside with my friends. Those summers were the low point of my childhood.

Do you ever keep your genius cooped up like that? Stuck behind a window with all of the fun stuff happening outside? Every once in a while, you let it out, but for the most part, you keep it hidden inside when all the fun is happening outside. What is your genius? It's three things:

The stuff that you are really Good At; the stuff that you LOVE to do, and the stuff that people NEED you to do because it would HELP THEM.

When you are clear about those three things and begin to let them shine, you are letting your genius come out to play. Ask yourself about what those three things are for you and then ask the people that are closest to you to answer them for you too. See if what they say is the same as what you think. Sometimes people see our genius clearer than we do ourselves.

What opportunity is presenting itself for you TODAY to let your genius out to play?

It's a Wonderful Dream

Have you seen that classical Christmas time film it’s a Wonderful Life? George Bailey has the seemingly perfect life: a loving wife, Mary, four beautiful children, and his own business. However, on Christmas Eve, George has serious business difficulties at the Bailey Building and Loan. George has a major financial crisis when his Uncle Billy loses the cash they owe the bank. The unsympathetic bank owner, Mr. Potter makes things worse. This leads George to a life crisis, and he considers suicide. A visit from his Guardian Angel Clarence shows George how much his life means by showing him how the world would be without him.

It's a magical tale of a man who's allowed to see what his family, his friends and his community would have been like if he had never been born. The moral of the story is that everyone is put on this earth to impact others in their own way. All of us have a unique contribution to make. Your contribution can change the world if you let it.

You may be living your dream and take comfort in this story because you know you are helping people and making a difference; even if times are tough, or things get challenging. The pause to consider the people you are helping will help you live to serve another day.
For others, your dream hasn’t even been born.
For those of us who let our dreams stay in our heads and not in the world; wouldn’t it be cool if we could have an Angel like Clarence show us what the world would be like if we DID bring our dream to life. Who could we help? What impact could we have? What ripple effect would our help have on the people that pass that help on to others?

Is your dream worth it? Can you make a lifelong impact by your special gifts and services? Things got tough for George in the movie, just like they will for you and me. But, in the end, the community came together to help him solve his problem and he was blessed by that. It all worked out. He had impact. The community made sure of it. "Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more." Anthony Robbins

You are not the only one that is hurt by keeping your dream in your head. Do you believe that the world deserves your dream as much as you do? So, do something today to make sure that your dream has the chance to impact people. Do one thing. Do it now!

Remove the 'O' Word from your Vocabulary

“Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.” Earl Nightingale.

Running a business can be an overwhelming proposition. Trust me, I know all the steps, work and time it takes to be successful. Do you use the word ‘O”verwhelmed a lot? Do you know that the more you say it the more you will feel it? Try to remove the ‘o’ word from your vocabulary.

“When eating an elephant take one bite at a time.” Creighton Abrams ” Break your work down into manageable steps. Then, write those steps on a list and do them one at a time. Crossing off things from your list is empowering.

Remember to celebrate your accomplishments each day too. Look at that partially eaten elephant and pat yourself on the back.

What can you do today that will move you toward your dream? Do it, and then celebrate it!

“Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.” Earl Nightingale.

Running a business can be an overwhelming proposition. Trust me, I know all the steps, work and time it takes to be successful. Do you use the word ‘O”verwhelmed a lot? Do you know that the more you say it the more you will feel it? Try to remove the ‘o’ word from your vocabulary.

“When eating an elephant take one bite at a time.” Creighton Abrams ” Break your work down into manageable steps. Then, write those steps on a list and do them one at a time. Crossing off things from your list is empowering.

Remember to celebrate your accomplishments each day too. Look at that partially eaten elephant and pat yourself on the back.

What can you do today that will move you toward your dream? Do it, and then celebrate it!

Merry Christmas from the Sadallahs

This free scrapbooking design personalized with Smilebox

Thanksgiving is about Gratitude, not Turkey

“Some people have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder, and even ecstasy.” - A.H. Maslow. As I reflect on the upcoming Thanksgiving Day celebration, I reflect on the above quote and think about Lisa. Lisa Ryan is The Appreciation Strategist and is my best friend. She is the Maslow quote personified. Her mission in life is to help people realize the power of gratitude in their businesses and in their lives. She lives it daily and challenges others to do the same. I just wanted to share a bit of her philosophy with you and encourage you to check out her blog at www.theappreciationstrategist.com for more of her wisdom.

Notice the Invisible People: Today, when you go through your day, smile and say thank you to the check out lady, the UPS or mailman, the restaurant server. These are the nameless, faceless people that serve you every day. Tell them that they look nice; thank them for their service. You will make their day.

Surprise someone today: Send an unexpected note, card or gift today. Let someone know what impact they have had on you that they may not have realized. Follow your heart on this one. Someone needs to hear from you today!

Thank your customers: Did you know that it costs 65% more money to get a new customer than to keep an old one? Make sure that your customers know that you appreciate their business. Thank them today for their loyalty.

Appreciate your Circumstances: You know even your challenges are something to appreciate. We would never grow if we were not challenged. So, even if the economy is rough, or are having trouble in your marriage, appreciate the learning opportunity that exists within the challenge. There is a blessing in every challenge if you choose to look for it.


Take Lisa’s Challenge: (The following is an excerpt from Lisa Ryan’s blog at www.theappreciationstrategist.com )

“Take the 30 day challenge. For the next 30 days, either when you wake up in the morning, or before you go to bed at night, take 5 minutes and write down 3-5 things for which you are grateful. As an extra challenge – don’t repeat. In just 30 days you may or may not notice a difference – but the people around you will start to see it.

Keep up your practice of daily gratitude for 90 days and you may notice that you’re sleeping better (count your blessings, not sheep!), you have more energy, you’re exercising more, you’re easier to get along with, you’re feeling better physically; Just a few of the benefits of gratitude. Oh, and you’ll enjoy yourself a lot more as well!” ~ Lisa Ryan

In the spirit of Lisa’s philosophy, I would like to thank the many readers of this blog, my customers, family and my God for giving me so many blessings. I pray that all of us can live, as Lisa does, with every day being Thanksgiving Day.