Every time you see them you try and avoid them like the plague because they are just so negative and draining. To them everything is a crisis…everyone and everything is out to get them. Nothing works and everything that is not going right in their world is someone else’s fault, never theirs. They never smile and they always seem to find the negative in everything and everybody…never the positive. Anytime there is a small setback, it is like the world is coming to an end. They treat life like it is a WIN/LOSE game…and trust me, there is no such thing. Whenever someone wins and someone loses, both lose. Does this type of person sound familiar…do you know people like this? I sure do.

Then there are those people you love being around because for whatever reason they just have this positive energy about them which makes you feel good. They are always fired up, have a smile on their face and having a good time. When there are small setbacks, they seem to find the positive side or don’t even acknowledge it…they just keep moving forward as if it is an expected part of the process. They are the ones who keep their emotions under control…they don’t yell, they don’t scream, they don’t attack, they don’t fight and they don’t blame. Now don’t get me wrong, they are passionate and fired up. They just don’t fight it…they seem to always find a way to use the flow to their advantage. They aren’t pushing…they seem to be getting pulled through life. They are WIN/WIN people…always looking for ways that they can WIN, but so can everyone else.

The interesting thing about these two different types of people is that the positive ones almost always seem to win in all the equities of their life…Personally, Professionally, Business, Health…you name it. They actually say people who smile and laugh a lot…the positive ones live longer and are much healthier and happier. The negative ones always seem to look unhealthy and anxious…they seem to struggle in business and in their relationships…they look run down.

So, my question to you is which one are you? Be honest. Is your energy good energy or bad energy? Fired up energy or draining energy? If you asked those around you to describe your energy, what would they say? Fired up and infectious or exhausting and draining. Are you positive or negative? Do you fight life or do you use those people and things around you to propel you to success.

It is a choice…another one of those small choices I write about every Monday morning. It is the cumulative effects of all those small choices that will get you are looking for in life.

Make it a GREAT week!

Tom

Are you “good” energy? is a post from: ronsblog

I had a great strategy meeting with my agents this morning. We face many challenges and have resolved to meet them head on.

This video was an inspiration to us so I thought I would share it with you. I hope you like it.

Ron

Facing The Giants is a post from: ronsblog

If there has ever been a doubt that the way we think and the things we do are impacted by what we read, what we watch, the people we spend our time with and the environment we choose to live and work in every day, the last year has cleared that up.  I make a conscious decision everyday to spend time focusing on keeping mentally tough and keeping a positive attitude, but I have to admit, this last year it has been real tough with all of the doom and gloom everywhere you look…newspapers, the news, magazines, internet, people, etc.  If I don’t pay attention and keep focused, I find my mind drifting into the gutter where all of those outside influences are trying to lead me.

Think about it for a minute.  Over the last year, if you had not looked at your bank account…you had not listened to the news…had not read the headlines on the internet…had not talk about how the world is coming to an end with your friends and coworkers, is your life really that much different today than it was a year, or two, or three ago…really?   For some I know it is, but for most it really has not changed much except for the conversation we have going on in our head.  And for many of those who are struggling, the reason why, is the conversation they have going on in their head has sabotaged them…it is what has caused their pain and suffering.   This last year has really taught me that one of the biggest keys to success or failure is determined by one of two words…Confidence or Fear.  Those two words have more to do with our circumstances…our success or failure than anything else.   Confidence or Fear determines our attitude and mindset…our attitude and mindset determines our actions…and our actions determine our circumstances.

    * What caused the stock market to spiral down?  Sure there where many financial and fundamental reasons it pulled back, but what really caused it to crash?  FEAR

    * What has caused the stock market to start and recover a bit over the last couple of months?  Yes things appear to have stopped free falling, but are things really that much different today than they where just 2 months ago?  The main thing that has changed is people are turning more CONFIDENT.

So, what is confidence and fear?  They are nothing more than thoughts and feelings.  And if they are the two things that will have the biggest impact on our success or failure, we better make sure we are giving ourselves a check up from the neck up everyday…probably several times a day.  We better pay attention to what we read, what we watch and who we spend our time with.  Don’t ever underestimate the power and influence of the people we spend our time with and the environment we choose to live and work in.  Remember, the thing that will determine our success or failure at almost anything in life is our thoughts….guard them.

Make it a great day! is a post from: ronsblog

Do you know what percent of our body is water?  We BEGIN life as a fetus at 99%…when we are born, it drops to about 90%…then the average human body settles in some where around 70%.  So, from a simple physical perspective, we are all made up for the most part of water!

Let me ask you a simple question…if you had a choice to drink from a body of water, which would you prefer….a river or a pond?  Why?

Water in a river remains pure because it is moving, and it is generally agreed that the quicker it is moving, the more pure it is.   When water is stagnating, trapped, or immobile, what happens? It collects a lot of crap and becomes polluted…right? 

So, what is the message we all can learn from water?  That it is critical for us to be moving fast and forward if we are interested in improving and not becoming polluted and turn into crap.  It is interesting to note that as children, we are expected to grow and improve every year mentally, physically and emotionally.  That is why we have different grades in school and you must improve each year in order to move on. 

Then we graduate and what happens?  Most people stop or slow down drastically that growth process…except around the middle.  And the unfortunate thing is when we stop growing, we don’t stay the same…we actually start to move backwards year by year.  What are you doing to improve every year mentally, physically and emotionally?  Are you reacting to life or are you attacking and taking from it?  It is a choice…just continue to be a kid…have fun, learn and improve everyday. 

Let’s all make a commitment to keep in action, keep moving, changing, flowing; mentally…physically…emotionally.  It is going to help purify who we are.  Let’s not turn into crap…let’s continue to get more and more pure!!!!

On a side note, be sure and drink lots of water since 70% of our body is made up of it and we don’t want it just sitting in our bodies stagnant like a dirty pond…purge the old and replenish with new fresh clean water everyday.  Like most of you, one of my New Years resolutions is to eat healthier.  There is a group of about 20 people I am doing food logs with.  Everyday we send everyone in the group an e-mail with everything you eat/drink for the day…everything.  It is amazing how much of an impact this little exercise has on what you eat and what you drink.   One of the most important things we are all making sure we are doing is drinking a lot of water.  I have been drinking about 100 ounces a day.

Make it a powerful week!!!!!

Tom

A river or a pond? is a post from: ronsblog

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life right now. I’m looking to the future with a positive attitude and an eye towards what’s possible.

In case you haven’t seen this yet … I wanted to pass it along. This YouTube link is from Professor Randy Pausch, who gave a repeat performance of his graceful last lecture on Oprah several months ago about “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. The video is only about 10 minutes and it’s truly very inspiring. Randy passed away this July and with this video he reminds us, among many things to be grateful for what we have right now … time!

Happy Thanksgiving! is a post from: ronsblog

Did you ever think about momentum? If you have ever studied an engine you would know that it usually has a flywheel. This heavy wheel keeps turning after the other parts of the engine have slowed or even stopped. There are many parts of an engine that work together to make an engine run. The key, battery, pistons, oil, valves, fuel, timing, belts, spark plugs all have to work together and over and over to get the engine running.You may be asking yourself “what does this have to do with me”? The flywheel keeps the momentum of the engine but you can’t get momentum without doing all of the little things, over and over again.Many people are looking for the quick fix but it’s the little things (the right things) that lead us to success repeated over and over again.Watch the little things!

Ron Davis

Momentum is a post from: ronsblog