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!!!

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

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

• “When it is time for a new job, the opportunity presents itself.” One of my clients has an interesting story that is still unfolding which relates directly to this quote. He separated from his last job at the end of 2009. While he hadn’t been happy there for a while, it still came as a shock. I was lucky enough to start working with him based on the recommendation of his next-door neighbor. Actually, his neighbor recommended me several months before. So how was this unemployment and forced life transition a gift?
• For me, it has been the joy of being of service to him and helping him become clear and focused on what is most important to him. For him, it was the opportunity be fully engaged during his parents’ passing since they lived six hours away. His Mom’s death was expected and occurred a little before the Leadership Week he attended in the Spring, while his Dad’s was unexpected a few days ago. That’s where he was called to serve and he is grateful for that gift of time, even though it was very difficult.
• I had coffee with him this week and while he was making the final arrangements for his Dad, a very promising job possibility materialized. He had a great phone interview with the President of the company and looks forward to the follow-up visit to the company. It will make a great story if this is the job that he has been waiting for particularly given the timing. Wish him food fortune, along with us!

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

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

I received a new Audio-Tech Business Book summary of a book I read just when it hit the New York Times Bestselling list in early 2010. The book is Drive – The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us - click by Daniel Pink. (If you would like the PDF file of the book summary, e-mail me.) It is a must read for anyone aspiring to be a better leader. Not because we need to “motivate” people, but rather we need to create a culture that allows people to realize their intrinsic motivations.

In order to better understand “Motivation 3.0” as Daniel calls it, take 10 minutes to watch this RSAnimate of YouTube-Drive - click. He talks about Type X and Type 1 behaviors. “Motivation 2.0” depends on Type X behavior, which is fueled by extrinsic desires - meaning the external rewards to which that activity leads. Quite frankly, it is what many still think is leadership’s job - to motivate using the carrot and stick approach.

”Motivation 3.0” is fueled more by intrinsic desires or Type 1 behaviors - meaning the emphasis is less with the external rewards and more with the inherent satisfaction of the activity itself. If leadership wants to strengthen their organizations, they need to move from Type X to Type 1. Ultimately, Type 1 behavior depends on the following three elements:

1. Autonomy – the desire to direct our own lives and work.

2. Mastery – the urge to get better and better at something that matters.

3. Purpose – the yearning to do what we do in service of something larger than ourselves.

After a thorough explanation of the above, Pink spends the last third of the book on the strategies that individuals and then organizations can do to put them into action. This alone is worth the read since he makes a convincing case that organizations ignore intrinsic motivation at their peril.

Those who have read Alfie Kohn’s book: Punished by Rewards (referenced in my 6/13 – 6/20, 2010 blog) or Brady Wilson’s, Love at Work, know this isn’t new information. It hasn’t gained wide acceptance and must be repeated often because the current generation of senior leadership, by and large, have been brought up by “Motivation 2.0”. While we will understand the merits of “motivation 3.0” and will hopefully encourage our successors to adopt it, most of us will have a hard time changing our old habits.