XLR8 The Passionate Leader (G + L + F = JOY!!!)

Weekly Inspiration: Insight from the Dalai Lama from his 2011 calendar:

• “Meditation is the process whereby we gain control over the mind and guide it in a more virtuous direction. Meditation may be thought of as a technique by which we diminish the force of old thought habits and develop new ones.” After many years, I have begun to integrate meditation into my daily spiritual practices. This is my major 2011 marker under my #1 passion of “bringing peace and happiness to myself and those I love”.
• Since my previous attempts have been unsuccessful, I chose a local Transcendental Meditation coach to help me. I came across TM through the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness Based Education and World Peace (click). If you go to his website, there are some remarkable results from a variety of different applications - schools, military, prisons, at-risk children, etc. Most recently, Dr. Oz came out with his views on how TM can help reduce stress which leads to numerous illnesses. See video (Click) There are many YouTube videos from very successful people who have found benefits from meditation. Quit complaining about stress and do something about it!

XLR8 YOU!!! – An invitation to our vision:

For all of us to awaken to the magnificence of our limitless possibilities.

A marker that has been part of my passion to coach leaders who are passionate about personal and cultural transformation was to write a book. I actually started in earnest in mid 2010, however, I found that the physical act of writing a book did not bring me JOY!!! Soon after, my friend and colleague, Richard Barrett, of the Barrett Values Centre (Click) asked me to read/edit/add to his book: The New Leadership Paradigm: “Leading Self; Leading Others; Leading an Organization; Leading in Society.” His previous books resonated with me, so it was no surprise that this one did as well.

What I found was that Richard had written much of my book and added the richness of many other Tom Brady’s from around the world. Writing truly gives Richard joy, where coaching people using this work is what gives me joy. From this has come a revision of one of my passions to coach/mentor the future generation of holistic (spiritual) leadership coaches.

Given these two passions, I will be devoting the next several blog posts to the content of the book which was released last month and can be purchased at LuLu Books (Click). It will also be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in a month or so.

Here’s a personal Leading Self story - the foundation step of the New Leadership Paradigm. You have heard me say that we are all leaders - starting with “leading our life.” Over the last few years, I have used and coached “The Passion Test” process for people to clarity and focus on what they really, really, really, really….want.

I’ve been reminded of an early experience which made me think about this. I turned 64 on Saturday, and for the last several weeks, the Beatle’s tune When I'm 64 (Click) has been playing in my head. I didn’t remember many of the words beyond the first stanza. Here’s how it played out:

• When I get older – I was only 20 when it was released on the Sergeant Pepper’s Album – eons from then.
• Losing my hair – I still have quite a bit, but “bald is beautiful” baby!
• Many years from now – Men at 64 didn’t look so good in 1967; I’ve been working on it.
• Will you still be sending me a Valentine – I am living a beautiful love story, and I never get tired of reading that special Valentine every year.
• Birthday greeting – Elaine and all the kids were there.
• Bottle of Wine – has to be sparkling grape juice, but that’s just fine with me.

I honestly do remember thinking about what I wanted out of life when I first heard this song. I am grateful now that I have been able to help myself and others to be more intentional about it. We’ll Keep on Truckin’ using Leading Self to assist us. Talk to you next time!

XLR8 The Passionate Leader (G + L + F = JOY!!!)

Weekly Inspiration: Insight from the Dalai Lama from his 2011 calendar:

• “Happiness comes through taming the mind; without taming the mind there is no way to be happy.” This is demonstrated perfectly by HAPPY!!! The Movie-The Movement (Click). The limited edition DVD sale is over, but you can sign up for the newsletter where you will be informed about when it goes on sale. I have an extra copy thanks to my good friend, Joan, that I will begin circulating to all those people who comment about being interested and why in the next 10 days. Make 2011 the year you learn more about how to be happier.

XLR8 YOU!!! – An invitation to our vision:

For all of us to awaken to the magnificence of our limitless possibilities.

Happy New Year to all!!! I’ve waited a couple of weeks to give you a chance to get settled in the new year before offering some suggestions about how to get off to a great start in making 2011 a year of holistic growth – body – mind – heart & spirit.

An easy way to start the New Year with a little reflection is to pick an angel card @ www.innerlinks.com. We use the angel cards at our Leadership Week on a daily basis and have everyone pick one as a “send off” during the closing ceremony. I have been picking an annual one for several years and adding a mentor card as well.

My 2011 angel card pick is PLAY!!! – “Maximize every moment of aliveness. Experience pleasurable involvement in all your activities and enjoy what you are doing. Have fun!” I will do so by mentoring generosity.

My 2011 started with the daily message from Abraham-Hicks on January 1^st.

The idea of “success,” for most people, revolves around money or the acquisition of property or other possessions, but we consider a state of joy as the greatest achievement of success. And while the attainment of money and wonderful possessions certainly can enhance your state of joy, the achievement of a good-feeling physical body is by far the greatest factor for maintaining a continuing state of joy and Well-Being. And so, there are few things of greater value than the achievement of a good-feeling body.

For many of us, a good-feeling body would be a worthwhile pursuit for 2011. My pursuit began in October 2008 for at least the 10^th time in my life. I started with the XLR8 Your Fitness – Breakthrough Goal Process, which I’d love to share with you through my Google group – XLR8!!! Your Fitness. I have maintained my targeted weight and enhanced my overall fitness over the last 2½ years – my personal best!!!

In order to keep my record going, I’d like to help you, which would help me. Go to the blog itself and comment or e-mail me and I’ll get you started. There is no charge for this - just your commitment.

If it’s not fitness you are interested in but would like to accomplish something significant in 2011, then join my Google group - XLR8!!! Your Passions. Come play with me. Let me show you how this can be fun!

XLR8 The Passionate Leader (G + L + F = JOY!!!)

Weekly Inspiration: You Can Do It! (click) Affirmation by Louise Hay from her 2010 calendar:

• “I am very good at giving encouragement and compliments to others.” I thought this was appropriate for the holidays. If you haven’t already, remind yourself of all the people, places and things you are grateful for.

• Now, throughout the holidays, make it a point to offer validation to all those people you are grateful for. These relationships are the foundation of your happiness. Here are a couple of options for you:
1. Take 3.5 minutes to watch Marshall Goldsmith’s You Tube video: "Failing to Express Gratitude" click.
2. Take 16 minutes to watch a short film: "Validation" click from one of my favorite monthly subscriptions: “The Spiritual Cinema Circle” (“your choice of feel-good entertainment that inspires compassion, conversation and change”).

XLR8 YOU!!! – An invitation to our vision:

For all of us to awaken to the magnificence of our limitless possibilities.

Along those lines, we are grateful for our relationship with all of you. We would love to continue to be part of your lifetime journey of happiness. In that spirit, below are a couple of great gifts you can buy yourself and share with those you love to make 2011 the best year ever:

1. The Power of Intention - Gift Edition - "Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way” (Click)

1. Watch his YouTube video - Watch his YouTube video (click)

2. Happy the Movie, The Movement (click) HAPPY is a feature documentary that takes us on a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Kolkata in search of what really makes people happy. Combining powerful interviews with the leading scientists in happiness research and real life stories of ordinary and extraordinary people around the world, HAPPY uncovers the secrets behind our most valued emotion.

Elaine and I wish you all a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! See you in 2011.

XLR8 The Passionate Leader (G + L + F = JOY!!!)

Weekly Inspiration: You Can Do It! (click) Affirmation by Louise Hay from her 2010 calendar:

• “When I wake up in the morning I plan for a good day. My anticipation attracts good experiences to me.” Last night, Elaine, Andrew and I were playing cards. As we were jibber-jabbering, someone said something that made us all belly laugh. Over the course of the evening, we laughed like this several times . . . you know the kind . . . laughing so hard your belly shakes and tears come to your eyes. I thought to myself: “Wow, I could sure use more of that every day”!

• So this morning, right on queue, I get this e-mail from Simple Truths with the subject line: “A movie to brighten your day . . .”. Did you know that laughter is one of the simple joys in life; and recent studies say we need 12 laughs a day just to stay healthy. Well, this little three-minute movie is our contribution to your good health. Just sit back, turn up your speakers and take a little vacation . . . on us! Just “click here” to watch. Wake up every day with the intention to laugh at least 12 times! I know I have a ways to go.

XLR8 YOU!!! – An invitation to our vision:

For all of us to awaken to the magnificence of our limitless possibilities.

WHAT ARE YOU DREAMING?!!! More importantly, are you on a path to realize those dreams? Watch this one-minute video click here by Marcia Wieder; “America’s Dream Coach.”

I ask you this now because I want our 2011 to be the best year ever. I say “our” because we will be able to accomplish this best by doing it together. Starting in 2011, I will be offering a refresher on the XLR8 YOU!!! Leadership Excellence process that emphasizes your authenticity. I believe the clarity and focus of your authentic self is fundamental to personal and professional leadership success.

Most of you who have worked with Elaine and me over the last 10 years, came away with a heighted sense of your authentic self following your week-long leadership experience. Remember our measurement system that consists of:

What do you really, really, really, really want? . . .

&

Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream;

merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream!

My guess is that most of us have not kept up with a periodic review of these measures. Indeed, I have stated to our recent “graduates” that if we leave you with anything from our coaching, it is the desire and habit to keep updating and revising these measures over time.

This statement has inspired me to offer you a forum to revisit this work and keep moving in a positive direction to living a life of your dreams. Since we are continuously improving the process, most of you have not been a part of our latest thinking and techniques that will deepen your own work and hopefully make it easier for you to assist others. For those of you who have not worked with us, then we would be honored to get you started.

Between now and the New Year, I will be providing you with some additional background as to why this is important that inspires you to participate. Reading this blog is indeed the first step. Thank you for that.

Let me leave you with Napoleon Hill’s quotation which is the heading on our Passion Cards – “Cherish your visions and dreams, as they are the children of your soul, and the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.” As Marcia stated in her video, the world needs our dreams!!!