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Don’t make a “Goal” instead make a “Promise”

January 15, 2012 By

This is the time of year that many of us start to think about ‘setting goals’.

I try to pull out my “Goal Plan” (a sheet of paper I wrote them on) to see where I am on their achievement on a regular basis.

I end up ‘hitting’ some and not others.

I started to give this more thought and study this month in anticipation of the New Year (Resolution). I came across a Bill Bateman video on iLG where he was talking about his “10 Step Goal Setting” process. It was all really good information – much that I had already learned, but it was good to revisit. He said ‘one thing’ that completely changed the way I’m looking at my personal and business ‘goal setting’.

He said to replace the word ‘Goal‘ with the word ‘Promise‘ when we go about this task. He offered up a study by Harvard that indicated that people “miss their Goals” 76% of the time – but “achieve their Promises” 98% – and that got me thinking about how my own mind interprets the difference between the two words.

First off, I am rare to make ‘Promises’ – I completely understand on a very “Conscious‘ level what that means and I always remember both Mom and Dad teaching ‘how you never make Promises you can’t keep’. Which explains on my subconscious level how I feel about this same word… It is to be taken very seriously!!!

As to ‘Goals’ – for some reason I seem to have an entirely different internal perspective about that word. I’ve made them most my life and if I did not achieve them I would refine either the goal or the time frame and simply forgive myself – or hit a mulligan (do it over).

This year I intend to do this one simply thing; I intend to create my ‘Promise Plan’ for 2009 and in it I intend to make some real ‘Promises’ on what I ‘will do’ both Personally and Business wise this coming year. So far the list is already much shorter as it forces me to ‘filter’ things better and interestingly it also ended up covering the ‘most’ important things.

Maybe this will help you as well. Best to you and yours in 2009 – I ‘Promise’ :)
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The Golden (Platinum) Rule = The Social Networking Rule

January 14, 2012 By

We speak of it and we try to live by it – “treat others as you would like to be treated.”

To me it’s the main rule one needs to follow within Social Networking.

The Golden Rule was a common principle in ancient Greek philosophy.

A few examples:

“Do not to your neighbor what you would take ill from him.” (Pittacus)

“Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing.” (Thales)

“What you wish your neighbors to be to you, such be also to them.” (Sextus the Pythagorean)

“Do not do to others what would anger you if done to you by others.” (Isocrates)

“What thou avoidest suffering thyself seek not to impose on others.” (Epictetus)

A couple snippets from different world views…

Christianity:

Matthew 7:12
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Luke 6:31
“Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.”

Judaism:

“That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn.”

Buddhism:

“One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other
beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter.”

Confucius:

“Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.”

Hinduism:

“That man who regards all creatures as his own self, and behaves towards them as towards his own self, laying aside the rod of chastisement and completely subjugating his wrath, succeeds in attaining to happiness.”

Islam:

“Woe to those . . . who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due”

Taoism:

“Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss.”

The “The Platinum Rule” adds a nice addition to the “Golden Rule”…

“The golden rule is a good standard which is further improved by doing unto others, wherever possible, as they want to be done by.”

You’ll see lot’s of “Top 10 Rules of Social Networking” – pick any of the above and I think you’ll have it covered.
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What Would You Do IF You Were Fearless?

January 14, 2012 By

Not so long ago while still living in Raleigh, NC I attended a networking event that was

awesome. The room was filled with strong, goal oriented, God fearing women who

are choosing to walk toward their visions and dreams. Some are working the

vision on a part-time basis and others are forging to do it full time; but all

are taking action to get to the next level, spiritually, mentally and

financially. There were authors, empowerment coaches, financial consultants,

event planners, image consultants, and a host of other equally dynamic entrepreneurs

and small business owners all sharing in a common theme of growth and

development. To me it was an evening about making strong and empowering

connections that could last a life time.


The featured speaker was electrifying, inspirational and even humorous too. She

made us all think about not listening to the “THEY” group. You know who “THEY”

are, your family members or friends or co-workers or even those you may not

even know saying you can’t do this or you can’t do that or you must be crazy

taking a chance like that and giving up that job to go pursue your dream. You

know exactly who they are. But my question to you is, are you listening to

them? I hope not.


We’ve all been conditioned by our childhood and our past both negatively and

positively. But I would venture to guess a lot of us still hear the negative

“voices” pop up more than the “positive” especially if we find ourselves in

stressful, unexpected or undesirable situations in our journey of life.

Remember the race is not given to the swift but to those of us you endure to

the end. Turn down the negative volume and turn up the positive to get to your

next level.


Getting back to the event for just a moment, our host was a woman by the name

of Ericka Jackson, who pours into others with encouragement and empowerment,

but one thing that is truly a part of her ministry is instilling in others the power of

FEARLESSNESS. I first heard her at Women’s Empowerment 2008” and

she gave a thought changing definition of FEAR for me. And no it wasn’t the usual

False Evidence Appearing Real…..she defined FEAR as “a lack of surrender or

submission to God. He allows fear so you’ll understand the areas of your life you

don’t believe God for.” I carry that definition and other notes I made that day around

with me everyday in my day planner and I pull it out every now and again to help

me refocus when I’m feeling fearful.

With that said the challenge given to everyone in the room was as my title

suggest, What Would You Do In The Next 30 Days if You Were Fearless?

• Would you write that book that’s been filed away?

• Would you start that business you had a vision for years ago?

• Would you let go of the past that’s still dictating your now?

• Would you think more positively and speak more positively about yourself?

• Would you go back to school?

• Would you run that marathon?


Those above are just suggestions to get your thoughts flowing. So think about

what it is you would do, write it down and then act on your fearless challenge.

I would love to get your thoughts and feedback.














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