Tips for a Happy Thanksgiving With Friends and Family

With Thanksgiving tomorrow I just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful day with family and friends. Here are a few tips to make it even better!

1. Less is more! It is better to go into the day with a feeling of gratitude verses high expectation. Less eating, less talking and more active listening will help you have a happy ending.
2. Look for the good qualities in everyone! It is very easy to find issues with family and friends, but make a commitment to only focus on the good qualities in everyone. Don’t let anyone take you down the wrong path and start an argument. RESIST RESIST and concentrate on the good qualities in everyone.
3. Get dressed up a little! I know that this isn’t a popular theme, but putting on your best clothes gives the entire party a “lift”. It dresses up things and sets a more elegant atmosphere for everyone. Nothing is worse than seeing someone look like they should be working in the garage sitting across from you on Thanksgiving!
4. Before you go, pull out the Bible and read God’s word. Nothing provides more insight into how to have a successful Thanksgiving.
5. Put out the candles! A beautiful table setting with real candles lit makes for better and warmer discussions! Think about the mood and the atmosphere of coziness!
6. Be Thankful for what you have! No matter what you have, be thankful and try to put that into all of the day’s discussions!

Okay, just some simple TIPS for having a great day indeed! Happy Thanksgiving All!

The 20 CEO Behaviors That Can Hurt a Company’s Performance

For 30 years, I have worked with people, trying to influence people to work towards the goals of the company trying to put the right butts in the right seats and on the right bus going in the right direction. We call it strategic alignment and it is a critical component of executive success. Here are 20 habits of CEO’s that work against that alignment according to Marshall Goldsmith in his book “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”:
1. Winning too much at all costs, 2. Adding too much to each and every conversation, 3. Passing judgment on others before understanding, 4. Making destructive comments and needless sarcasms, 5. Starting with “NO”, “BUT” or “HOWEVER”, 6. Telling the world how smart you are, 7. Speaking when angry, 8. Negativity or “let me explain why that won’t work”, 9. Withholding information, 10. Failing to give proper recognition, 11. Claiming credit that we don’t deserve, 12. Making excuses, 13. Clinging to the past, 14. Playing favorites, 15. Refusing to express regret, 16. Not listening, 17. Failing to express gratitude, 18. Punishing the messenger, 19. Passing the buck, and 20. An excessive need to be “ME”-exalting our faults as virtures!

What Do Really Want?

Isn’t this the 10 million dollar question? When I ask people what they really want in my work, there is often a blank look on their faces. Many tell me they want material possessions, many talk about being financially independent of their jobs, but from my work with hundreds of people in these past 30 years, people are searching for their “why” in life. I call this finding purpose in life. Isn’t that what we are all trying to figure out? When we find our purpose in life that gives us clarity and when we have clarity, we find energy to pursue our goals. When we realize our unique Godly design, we begin to see how our gifts and talents help and inspire others. When we find our WHY, we find the reason we EXIST. And when we find the reason we exist, we begin to fulfill our MISSION in life. And when we start to live out our MISSION, we have a new VISION in life on how we will fulfill our purpose.

Your Self Image Determines Your Results Achieved

When I begin to work with a new client, the first thing they want to improve are their results! And this always requires slight adjustments in their behavior! That is why I always start with helping them articulate their habits, paradigms, limiting beliefs and goals. When a client starts to become aware of them, we always start to discuss whether these current beliefs and habits will take them to the goals and destinations they have for themselves. Our self Image is a cybernetic instrument that either liberates us or keeps us in bondage. If we see ourselves as a winner, we typically achieve winning results! If we see ourselves as a loser, we achieve losing results as well. So, the next time you look at yourself in the mirror, make sure you realize that you are God’s masterpiece! No one in the entire world is designed like you! You are made in His image and never forget that!