The Optimist Way - Part 3

Promise yourself,

A promise as defined by Webster’s Dictionary is an assurance given that a specified action will or will not be taken. A reasonable ground for hope or expectation of future excellence, satisfaction. A pledge.

Each journey begins with a pledge to yourself. If you believe you can, you will. Earl Nightingale, said “A man is what he thinks about”. By making a pledge to promise yourself you are working at giving your every effort to make your promise come true. Think positively. Think of something else if negative thoughts begin to enter your head. Replace them with the commitment to be strong.

Promising yourself is a process. You will have bad days. The real test is how you react to a bad or difficult situation. Always move towards your pledge. I like reciting the Optimist Creed over and over in my mind. I have committed it to memory. A Buddhist Monk might repeat a mantra. A devout Catholic might use their rosary beads. A religious Jew may recite a daily prayer. For me it is the, commitment in the Optimist Creed to Promise Yourself, as a way of staying focused and being in a right frame of mind.

To be so strong that nothing disturbs your piece of mind.

An athlete works hard to get in strong physical and mental shape. It is essential for an athlete to attain peak performance. A few years ago I attended a sales meeting with a group of co-workers and my father whom I worked for at the time. Our facilitator asked us, “What was the most important aspect of our job, our profession, our lives.” Several of my co-workers yelled out things like family, money, making a difference. All noble answers. My father stated in his blunt way. “What matters most is my health. If I can’t take care of myself, I can’t take care of anything or anybody else.” He was right. Making sure you are in peak shape makes everything else flow.

My father knew that if he was not physically fit, nothing else mattered. At age 65 my father was determined to run the Los Angeles Marathon. He was in great shape. He always had worked out with weights and trained and trained to run this race. He ran the marathon in a rare, pounding, L.A. rain and completed it in a time of four hours and forty five minutes. An accomplishment at any age. I asked my father what kept him going. He said, “I kept telling myself I could finish the race. The more I ran, the stronger I felt.” Wow, more pearls of wisdom from my Dad. Talk to yourself. Promise yourself, you can do it.

I was inspired to run after that. Now, it wasn’t a marathon but I did enter the Boulder, Boulder, one of the largest races in the country. Never having run a race before, I trained and trained like my Dad. I had just finished reading a book by Brian Tracy called Focal Point. One quote in his book that helped me to finish this 6.2 mile run was, “Yard by Yard it’s Hard. Inch by inch it’s a Synch.” I repeated this line over and over. I finished the race and felt a huge sense of euphoria as I crossed the finish line in at Folsom Field at Colorado University at Boulder. Like my Father, I believe having a strong body is the beginning of keeping your mind fit.

I keep my mind fit in many ways. I am a news and weather junkie. I like to know what’s happening in the world. Often the news is negative and it can disturb your piece of mind. I will tell you now that I often fall back into a rant after listening to negative news. Or hear some critic or pundent spew their poison. Of course one solution is turn the stupid TV off. I often do. The other opportunity is to use it as a tool to strengthen your convictions and let it help you stay focused on your positive thoughts. Don’t let the bad news get under your skin. It can only get to you if you let it. Don’t.

Some things I do to keep my mind shape;

Read - My goal is a book a month.
Write – I attempt to write at least a page a day.
Listen - Buy or borrow books on Tape or CD’s. Listen in the car.
Speak – Join Toastmasters and learn to sharpen your speaking skills. www.toastmasters.org
Join – Volunteer your service to a group or club. Optimist Club www.optimist.org
Create – I started a masterMIND group with some friends from Toastmasters and we meet and discuss our business issues twice a month. Be a student of your business. Know it inside and out and be the best at it.

The Optimist Way - Part 2

Before we start on how the Optimist Creed can make you a better sales person, I

In 1973 I was the Student Body President at Oliver Wendell Homes Junior High School in Northridge, California. One day I was invited to attend a meeting by the administrators of my school. I was greeted by Mrs. Joan Elam, our Student Government Advisor. She was a wonderful teacher and a well-liked administrator. Mr. Thompson, the Principal entered with some guests. The next thing I knew I was being introduced to our local Councilman, Robert Wilkinson. Then, other teachers entered the room as well as some people I was unfamiliar with. They were members of the local service club, the Optimist Club of Northridge, California. I didn’t know what the Optimist Club was at that time. I was introduced to them and they asked me many questions and seemed to have a genuine interest in my classes and hobbies.

The meeting started and the President of the Optimist Club spoke and gave a brief explanation of this “Friend of Youth” organization and what their club did in the community. As I looked around the room and saw the Optimist Club member’s professional appearance, big smiles and confident stature. I felt like I was in some big-time business meeting. Now, came the reason they were all gathered and why I was invited. It turned out this was an opportunity for their Optimist Club to recognize students in a leadership role in our school. They asked me to come to the front of the room to receive, A Youth Appreciation Citation Award. I was a surprised.

I was not expecting an award or to be recognized by people I did not even know.  It was long lasting experience for me. All our student government members had worked on many community events such as food drives and playing wheel chair basketball with kids my age that had lost their legs in accidents. These were activities which were not unique to me since I was raised that one should look out for their fellow citizen. They were just part of what I was taught to do to have the virtue of gratitude. To be of service in my community. To help others in need. To be aware that there are different people, some less fortunate then myself. And to take a leadership roll in doing community activities. As my Mom always said, "If you’re not involved, then you have no right to complain.”

Receiving this award always stuck with me and I knew that one day when I put down roots, I would become involved in the organization that made such an impression on me. In 1999, when I moved to Colorado I decided to make the commitment to join the local Optimist Club. In 2005 I was elected President of the Optimist Club of Erie, Colorado and have held every officer role in the club.  Today, I am a lifetime member of Optimist International and share the message of optimism whenever I can.

Now, on my next installment I'll begin my trek into the Optimist Creed.

The Optimist Way - Part 1

I recently attended a membership-drive dinner for my Optimist Club of Erie, Colorado. Now, if you are not familiar with the Optimist International organization, you should be. We are a service club and we “help bring out the best in kids.” Our motto is “Friend of Youth.” As President of our Club I was introducing our invited guests and prospective members as to the meaning of the Optimist Creed.

In our club, the Optimist Creed is recited at the start of each meeting. As I explained to our guests, the Optimist Creed helps me align my thoughts and my energies with my fellow Optimist. I likened the Optimist Creed to an old wagon wheel. At the center or hub is the Optimist Creed. The spokes radiating out from the hub are our Members. On the outside connecting us together is the rim of the wheel or the community we serve. If one of the spokes is out of alignment, then as the wheel rotates it makes a thumping sound and eventually it will fall off.

We start our meetings at 6:30p.m. on Thursdays. After a long day at work sometimes we are still thinking about something that went badly during the day. Some of our members are business people, we may have had a tough time with customer issues or complaints. Some of us are teachers, we may have had children acting up or misbehaving in class. Some of us are home makers, we may have had an appliance break or our car fail. All reasons to be in a bad frame of mind.

The reciting of the Optimist Creed, out loud, with your fellow Optimist is an opportunity for each member to get their minds in alignment with each other. To focus on the reason we are all members of this wonderful club and to rotate as one, smooth rolling wheel.

In the next few blogs I want to explore how Optimism and the Optimist Creed have helped me in so many ways to be a better sales person, a better father and husband and a better human being. You see, even if all I did was remain a member of this club and serve the youth of my community I would be in debt because the Optimist Club has given me so much more than I have given it. The Optimist Creed is a point of reference that brings me back to center. First, here is the Optimist Creed;

Promise Yourself-
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Gingrich, Gitomer and Giuliani

I play in the minor leagues. The minor league of speaking that is. I have been a member of a local Toastmaster’s group for two years now and I have empirically improved my public speaking and writing skills. You might even say public speaking has become one of my passions. The only way I have found to get better at speaking or any skill is to Practice! Practice! Practice! Like the minor leagues the only way to get to the majors is to also Practice, Study, Execute and Review. One way I have found to enhance my skills is to watch and learn from the Pro’s.

A friend from Toastmaster’s, Gary and I have taken this idea to heart. We have journeyed early in the morning and at all times of the day to listen and learn from some of the best public speakers in the world. I guess you could call us “speech junkies.” Watching the Pros speak is for me where ideas and inspiration ignite. To date I have listen to Financial Wizard Suze Orman, Former Secretary of State, General Colin Powel, Investor Phil Town, Denver Broncos Football Coach Mike Shanahan, Sales Legend Tom Hopkins, President and CEO of Forbes Magazine Steve Forbes.

I have listened to numerous lesser know, yet equally inspiring speakers such as 1-800 Flowers Founder and CEO Jim McCann, E-Myth Author Michael Gerber, Restaurateur Bob Farrell, Phone Doctor Anita Sullivan and Business Authors Gregg Grey, Hal Becker, Carl Larson, Michael Angelo Caruso, Jeff Tobe, and Dan Coleman.

In the Floral Industry where I have worked for over 23 years there are some of the best Professional Floral Commentators around, including Bobby Ecker, Phil Rulloda, Frankie Shelton, Bill Taylor, Ralph Null, Holly Money-Collins, Rocky Pollitz, John Hanes, Rene Van Rems, Kim Morrill, Richard Milteer, Sharon McGukin, Susan Overton, Robbin Yelverton, Ardith Beveridge, Bob Bigham, Frank Brice, Carol Caggiano, Deborah, De La Flor, James Del Prince, Ken Fetgatter, Marlin Hargrove, Catherine Hillen-Rulloda, Marie Ackerman, Talmage McLaurin, Tom Bowling, Johnny Childres, Phil Easter, Toomie Farris, Hitomi Gilliam, Lynn Lary McLean, Herb Mitchell, Kirk Pamper, Alan Parkhurst, Jerome Raska, J Schwanke, Richard Seekins, Joe Smith, Margo Sutter, Matt Wood, Kevin Ylvisker.

Speakers can also remind you of habits to watch out for. I once heard Do-It-Yourself Diva, Martha Stewart as the keynote speaker at a craft industry trade show. Her information was great, however her delivery was lackluster and she had over 300 um’s and ah’s in a 50 minute speech. A Toastmaster Club could really help Martha with that.

Three speakers in particular stand out for me. Former U.S. Speaker, Newt Gingrich, Author and Business Guru Jeffrey Gitomer and Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Each of these gentleman are first and foremost great storytellers. They use their voice to add variety to their message. They are entertaining and informative. Their message is clear, concise and easy to follow. They paint pictures with words. They speak with authority and conviction. Most importantly they speak from knowledge. They know their stuff. They are masters of the subjects they speak about. And they have some fun while they are speaking. I could tell they all enjoyed what they were doing. Messrs Gingrich, Gitomer and Giuliani all are in the big league of public speaking. If I practice some more, maybe one day I’ll be called up to the majors.

Random Acts of Kindness

The other day I was driving into Denver to see some customers. Once on the freeway I was being passed left and right by cars speeding towards their destination. People were ignoring the speed limit and passing other cars jutting in and out of lanes. It’s amazing that people are in such a hurry. If they would just allow more time to get where they are going, perhaps they would not be in a rush. Yet, I understand the need to be someplace for a appointment and at times, I too have gone over the speed limit and drove less then safe.

Recently, I found a way for me to be a more kind and courteous driver. As President of my Optimist Club I wanted to help promote our Club and also give a sense of identity to our members. I purchased license plate holders that are printed with, “Optimist International” on the top and our motto, “Friend of Youth” on the bottom for all our members. What I didn’t realize was because I have this license plate holder on my car I am a more courteous driver. How could I not be? I wouldn’t want to set a bad example for a young driver by driving reckless. I wouldn’t want to be recognized in my community for ignoring the speed limit while having this identifying holder on my vehicle. It is amazing how much more aware of my driving I have become since I added the license plate holder on my car. If you are a member of a service club or other organization see if they have a license plate holder available. It will not only promote your organization, it may just make you a more careful driver.

I have found if I can do one random act of kindness a day such as driving courteously I feel better and so do those I come in contact with. We all can practice being a bit more kind. For other great ideas on random act of kindness check out www.actsofkindness.org

How Seven Young People Influenced My Life.

Alli, Alex, Anna, Erin, Erica, Riley, and Will.
Seven high school sophomores between the ages of 15 and 16 years old that taught me, their 48 eight year old Facilitator, about Leadership. I got involved in the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, (HOBY), by being an Optimist Club member. I wanted to see if I was up to the challenge of mentoring young people. I have been in business for 23 years as a Manufacture’s Representative, National Accounts Manager and National Sales Manager. I have been to dozens of Management Institutes and Leadership Conferences. I have read dozens of books, watched DVD’s and listened to motivational and leadership tapes. Nothing really impacted me like the four days I spent with these young leaders.

These Ambassadors were selected by their high schools to participate in HOBY. This leadership program is designed to motivate tomorrow’s leaders today. The premise of the program is to teach these young people how to think, not what to think. The HOBY program provides lifelong leadership development opportunities that challenge these Ambassadors to achieve their highest potential thorough self-identification and self development.

The four day event was held at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado in the spring of 2007. Over two hundred and thirty young people participated from all over the state. The Ambassadors interface with leaders in business, industry, government, and education through seminars and workshops using a question and answer format on topics like the Genocide in Darfur, Business Ethics, Immigration, Volunteerism, Worldwide Hunger, Media and Education. My seven Ambassadors would then gather and discuss in depth these topics and look at all sides of the issue. The crown jewel of this program is the enthusiasm these young leaders will bring back to their communities and the changes they can make, in their country and throughout the world.

I received way more from these young people than I gave. I received hope for the future. I regained my optimism. I can see how these Ambassadors will be the important leaders of the future. One of the most rewarding portions of the whole experience was that I had a small hand in helping to select one of my Ambassadors to attend the World Leadership Congress in Washington DC. This is the highest honor an Ambassador can win. Over 500 participants will gather including Ambassadors from 30 countries and the heads of state and business to do this same type of event on an international scale.

I found the true meaning of leadership by working with these Ambassadors. Listening, learning, planning, taking action, going with the flow, the reevaluation of assumptions and beliefs and having fun. The biggest take away I received is everything starts and ends with us as individuals. It is our personal responsibility to be informed. I lived up to my own challenge to make a difference in a young person’s life, so can you. For more information on Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, contact them at http://www.hoby.org/

The Collection

My parents took my daughter to Disneyland in California many years ago. My daughter Melissa was about nine at the time. After a full day of fun and rides my parents and daughter walked down Main Street into a gift store. My daughter said to my Father, “Grandpa, look here I really need these for my collection.” Sitting on a shelf was a set of a dozen ceramic Disney characters, all shinny and smiling.

My Father said, “OK, pick one out and I’ll buy it for you.” How could a grandpa refuse? My daughter responds, “But Grandpa, I need them all to finish my collection.” My Father said, “Well, I’ll buy you a few now, and then, buy you some more later if you’re a good girl the next time we come here.” “But Grandpa I really need all these now.”

So what does my Father do? Of course he gathers all the characters up and buys them for his granddaughter. An hour later they are back at our house. They walk in the door and my daughter says, “Daddy, look what Grandpa bought me,” as she unfolds the paper around the figurines. One by one she unravels the paper and shows us her new friends. My Father says to my Daughter, “OK Melissa, where’s your other figurines so we can add them to your collection?”

I said to my Father, “What collection”? He said Melissa wanted these figurines because they would finish her collection of Disney characters? I started to laugh out loud. “Dad, I hate to tell you this, but you just bought her, the collection. She doesn’t have a collection of these figurines. We all laughed because my Daughter had just done the best selling job on her grandfather, who in my opinion is the best salesman in the world.

My daughter had persisted in her desire to get what she wanted. You could look at this story in a few ways, yet I choose to look at it from the perspective of a good salesperson. My Daughter told her Grandfather what she wanted. She had a burning desire to pursue her Grandfather to buy theses items for her. She persisted when he said, “OK, pick one out and I’ll buy it for you.” My daughter came back with, “But Grandpa I really need these now.”

Too often as salespeople we don’t know what we want or how to ask for it. We don’t do the four “P’s” - Prepare, Practice, Pursue, or Persist. This is a clear example of persistence on my Daughter’s part. It’s amazing how you can learn salesmanship for children. I can hear my own Granddaughter’s say, “Hey Grand Brad, I need…