By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.
In Life Success's Basic seminar, participants often tell me that they want to learn how to manage their anger. At this point, I usually ask, "So you want to be angry?"
Of course, people say that they don't want to be angry--they just want to be less angry. It sounds like a play on words, but the goals are very different.
If you want to manage anger, then your bottom-line belief is that you aren't capable of letting go of your anger. Anger is a feeling everyone experiences, but when people speak of "anger management," I think they are living angry.
Each of us has a choice to experience and stay angry, or we can experience anger followed by forgiveness.
Hint: Be ready, because the steps of forgiveness often contain a lot of anger!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Trust Me
By Mike Monahan, executive director and CEO of Life Success Seminars, Inc.
How many times have you heard, "You can trust me"? Maybe it's my inner skeptic, but that statement raises a red flag for me. I often think, "Yes, I can, but I don't trust you."
Trust can't be dictated--it has to been earned. It doesn't matter if the role you're playing is one of parent, boss, friend or community leader, you can't demand that people trust you.
If you want to earn the trust of others, honesty and respect are the keys to building a trusting relationship. And it's important to remember that even if you do all the right things, you can't guarantee that others will trust you.
How many times have you heard, "You can trust me"? Maybe it's my inner skeptic, but that statement raises a red flag for me. I often think, "Yes, I can, but I don't trust you."
Trust can't be dictated--it has to been earned. It doesn't matter if the role you're playing is one of parent, boss, friend or community leader, you can't demand that people trust you.
If you want to earn the trust of others, honesty and respect are the keys to building a trusting relationship. And it's important to remember that even if you do all the right things, you can't guarantee that others will trust you.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sprinkles on Top
By Tony Miltenberger, director of leadership and outreach for Life Success Seminars
I recently participated in “Doughnuts with Dad,” an event at my 4-year-old son’s school. At this yearly event, fathers spend time with their children in the classroom—and eat doughnuts.
My son and I were both excited about the event, but for different reasons. I was excited about the bonding time and the change in my morning routine. He was excited about the sprinkles. Sprinkled doughnuts were what he wanted most. In his eyes, that was the special treat—the sprinkles.
I left “Doughnuts with Dad” thinking about the joy my son received from the sprinkles. He had pure happiness in his eyes.
It’s funny to me because I know that we can get sprinkled doughnuts any time we want, just by visiting the doughnut shop. His excitement was a good reminder for me that it’s important to enjoy the sprinkles of life.
In Life Success’s Basic seminar, we talk about the five steps of growth. The fifth step is Celebration. (You might’ve noticed that Mike, our executive director, talked about this step in last week’s blog.) Think about this fifth step as sprinkles.
This past weekend, Life Success celebrated 25 years of changing lives. Throughout the weekend, hundreds of our grads came to celebrate with us. That was the true joy of the weekend.
So today I want to say “Thanks!” Thanks to everyone who supports us and who continues to be a champion for this great organization. Thanks for being the sprinkles in our lives!
I recently participated in “Doughnuts with Dad,” an event at my 4-year-old son’s school. At this yearly event, fathers spend time with their children in the classroom—and eat doughnuts.
My son and I were both excited about the event, but for different reasons. I was excited about the bonding time and the change in my morning routine. He was excited about the sprinkles. Sprinkled doughnuts were what he wanted most. In his eyes, that was the special treat—the sprinkles.
I left “Doughnuts with Dad” thinking about the joy my son received from the sprinkles. He had pure happiness in his eyes.
It’s funny to me because I know that we can get sprinkled doughnuts any time we want, just by visiting the doughnut shop. His excitement was a good reminder for me that it’s important to enjoy the sprinkles of life.
In Life Success’s Basic seminar, we talk about the five steps of growth. The fifth step is Celebration. (You might’ve noticed that Mike, our executive director, talked about this step in last week’s blog.) Think about this fifth step as sprinkles.
This past weekend, Life Success celebrated 25 years of changing lives. Throughout the weekend, hundreds of our grads came to celebrate with us. That was the true joy of the weekend.
So today I want to say “Thanks!” Thanks to everyone who supports us and who continues to be a champion for this great organization. Thanks for being the sprinkles in our lives!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Celebrating Results!
By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.
At Life Success, we explore the five steps to growth:
1. Confusion
2. Exploration
3. Incubation
4. Illumination
5. Celebration
And it's that fifth step that we're focusing on now: CELEBRATION!!! Why? Because Life Success Seminars is celebrating our 25th anniversary this week!
Thousands of lives have changed as a result of our great organization. This is how we describe what goes on here at Life Success: Life-changing programs that deliver results.
Results speak the truth about what your activities have produced. Working hard is a noble gesture, but this doesn't guarantee a great organization or a great life.
Going the distance to deliver our mission to our participants has made Life Success a great organization. That's what has produced results. That's what has made us successful.
What has made you successful? What do you do to make your life great, day in and day out? And how do you celebrate your results?
At Life Success, we explore the five steps to growth:
1. Confusion
2. Exploration
3. Incubation
4. Illumination
5. Celebration
And it's that fifth step that we're focusing on now: CELEBRATION!!! Why? Because Life Success Seminars is celebrating our 25th anniversary this week!
Thousands of lives have changed as a result of our great organization. This is how we describe what goes on here at Life Success: Life-changing programs that deliver results.
Results speak the truth about what your activities have produced. Working hard is a noble gesture, but this doesn't guarantee a great organization or a great life.
Going the distance to deliver our mission to our participants has made Life Success a great organization. That's what has produced results. That's what has made us successful.
What has made you successful? What do you do to make your life great, day in and day out? And how do you celebrate your results?
Monday, August 2, 2010
Too Young ... Too Old
By Mike Monahan, executive director and CEO of Life Success Seminars Inc.
As we grow up, adults often don't trust our decisions because we are too young. When we get out of school and start our careers, it takes awhile before we can be trusted because we are young and new.
On the other hand, if you've been around awhile, you can't be trusted because you resist change and are stuck in the past. You act like you know what you're doing and think you know what you're talking about!
My conclusion is that we only have a few years in the middle when we can be trusted. The problem with this premise is that I didn't trust myself during those years! But remember, I could be wrong. After all, I'm too old and stuck in the past to be trusted!
As we grow up, adults often don't trust our decisions because we are too young. When we get out of school and start our careers, it takes awhile before we can be trusted because we are young and new.
On the other hand, if you've been around awhile, you can't be trusted because you resist change and are stuck in the past. You act like you know what you're doing and think you know what you're talking about!
My conclusion is that we only have a few years in the middle when we can be trusted. The problem with this premise is that I didn't trust myself during those years! But remember, I could be wrong. After all, I'm too old and stuck in the past to be trusted!
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