Communication - Personal Development - Business

Well, this is very interesting, and everyone will be amazed. The 8th of July! What is so different about the 8th of July this year?

At five minutes and six seconds after 4 a.m. on the 8th of July, the time and date will be 04:05:06 07/08/09. This will never happen again.

I think we should use this unique day to reflect on our distinctiveness.

Spend the day creating mindfulness of what makes you different. So often people try to emulate other situations, styles and personas. I say STOP! Be your own unique self.

In this difficult economy, companies are looking for ways to distinguish themselves from their competitors. Employees are looking for ways to secure their positions or find new ones. That means you have to put on your game face and strategize on creating distinctiveness.

Consider these as starters:

1. Humorous - Dump the dour face and sad stories. Nobody cares. You can separate yourself by adding humor to promoting yourself, your company, your product . . . anything with a little levity. If you choose to be glum, plan on spending much of your 24 hours with yourself. Lighten up!

2. Warm - In this “text me”-infested world, graciousness, connection and warmth seem to be saved for the “Kumbaya” campfire outings. Not so. People want the personal connection, the handwritten notes and the phone call instead of the e-mail.

3. Straightforward - Call them as you see them, but remember #2. Don’t beat around the bush, but be kind. Stay focused with a realistic approach. It is all about personal responsibility, communications and professional development.

4. Positive - Negative people suck the life out of just about anything. So think about stopping the downward spiral or falling for somebody’s sad story. Create your own realistic, encouraging environment. Target your own mental terrorism and replace with an optimistic outlook.

5. Knowledgeable - Keep investing in your own learning, and don’t expect others to foot the bill. Order some new resource by July 8! I just preordered Larry Winget’s new book No Time for Tact: 365 Days of the Wit, Words, and Wisdom of Larry Winget (hardcover, August 25, 2009) from Amazon. Or how about my new book, The Reactor Factor: How to Handle Difficult Work Situations Without Going Nuclear on Amazon?

So hurry up! July 8th is only a few days away. What will you do? Please share.

Marsha

Tags: self awareness // Add Comment »

Al and I worked this weekend cleaning a water tank for the conservation of Elk herds and other animals in the Big Lake, Arizona area.  I don’t think I have ever been this dirty -

Marsha and Al at water tank

but the day was rewarding, and fun. This will provide much needed water retention areas for the animals.  Thanks to the Arizona Society of Elk for feeding us and for gathering 80 people for these worthy projects. They know how to treat their volunteers! One thing I know, I could have become a toxic person and spewed difficult behavior but decided not to.

Why did I do this? My mission in life is to give back more than I’ve received and connect my head and heart with my mouth.  Do you have a mission?  You should because goals are easier to achieve when you know where you are going.

Whatever your passion, contribute your time and energy for the betterment of something other than yourself. It will help you be balanced and focused at work.  Creating a breadth of interests makes you interesting.  Do something different, expand your knowledge … helps your creativity. What have you done lately that helps you be more dynamic at work?

More articles at www.MarshaPetrieSue.com

Tags: accountability, mission statement, responsibility // Add Comment »

I am packing for our trip to Namibia, Africa and I am working to eliminate the non-essentials.  Do you carry around a bunch of junk in your head that clutters your judgment and choices? I think we need to do the same for our brain, thinking and planning.

I know for me, the extra stuff can get in the way of my making the best choices. This personal responsibility will help keep the trash away from our business success.  And think about what the junk does to our communications!

So how about you?  What non-essentials could you leave behind to unclutter your thinking?

Off to the wild blue yonder…
Marsha
www.MarshaPetrieSue.com

Tags: business success, personal responsibility // Add Comment »

Boy am I enjoying life! Going fishing and will hopefully again catch the biggest fish. I’ve been working hard and will rest today. Give my brain a break! I always feel like I’m playing hooky when I take time off mid week but I also know it is exactly what I need! BTW - I was quoted in the Detroit Daily News today!

Marsha’s biggest fish!

Definition of “playing hooky?” The Phrase Finder states that one of the origins of these two words include “to hook it” or “to escape or make off.” To “hook something” is also an old slang term for stealing, as in “stealing a day off!”

Think about the personal responsibility you take for YOURSELF.  You can become a toxic person and display difficult behavior quickly if you are stressed, tired and over meetinged!

Email me for the Ten Commandments for Cooperation or go to the website www.MarshaPetrieSue.com and you will find them under Tools for Success and Free Stuff.

Promise yourself that at least for today, you will have some fun. How do you take care of yourself? Would love to start a conversation on this!

Marsha

PS: Here is the update!  I caught the biggest and the most fish!  Yeah!!

Tags: Stress Management // Add Comment »

If everyone cheats, who can judge? I am so tired of greed, cheating, lying and the lack of ethical standards.

Moral — Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior.

Ethical — Behaving with integrity.

Defining immoral and unethical is defining pornography: You know it when you see it.

But what does it mean to be ethical and moral? It sounds like a good thing, and normally most people steer clear of unethical behavior.  But how do you know if someone is ethical or not? Should it even be important?

Many people think ethics and integrity are the same. Realistically ethics are the statements hanging on the wall while integrity is the way the ethics are consistently applied. Perhaps walking your talk is the real definition.

Ethics are perceived as the values displayed in your personal life, and integrity is the way you model and apply your values to relationships, parenting, caring and giving.  Ethics plus integrity equal morality.  It is all about personal responsibility, self awareness, internal communications and leadership.

Your thoughts?  Marsha
www.MarshaPetrieSue.com

Tags: Ethics, integrity // 1 Comment »

Sharing what you learn and know is one of the steps to success that everyone must take.  And here’s what happens.  You get payback big time. Start today by helping others take personal responsibility in their own life whether a child, teen, college student, buddy or anyone you can reach out and touch. Have them sign up for this Club on Facebook!

I’m meeting with some ASU (Arizona State University) students this morning to discuss my book The CEO of YOU: Leading Yourself to Success. One of the students had it and called me from the contact information in the book.  I could have easily brushed the request to the side, but decided to accept.  After all, these kids will probably be deciding the kind of health care I have and how the old folks homes will be for me!!
The CEO of YOU

Here is another payback.  I received the following message.  It is just wonderful.  If you are interested in the package Christa is talking about go to my website www.MarshaPetrieSue.com, click on Tools for Success and take the package at the top.  On check out, enter the code NAR and you will receive the entire package for $50 – the same “deal” Christa explains. That’s the Bailout Plan.

Marsha,

I had the absolute pleasure of getting to experience you at the AE Institute in Colorado Springs about a month ago. I purchased your “bail-out” plan for my Association and figured I would take advantage of your awesome materials myself! I took a road trip and listened to you the entire way! I just can’t get enough. I just wanted to let you know that the Time Management CD was especially helpful to me. I began utilizing the 80% rule when scheduling my day because I could never get my To Do List finished. It is now 3:00 pm on Friday, April 24th. I have FINISHED my To Do List. Everything on it is CHECKED OFF! Can you believe that? Amazing! I believe it is the 1st time EVER for me to complete a To Do List. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have also been trying really hard to practice TLC. I have LEFT a lot that was bringing me down behind and I feel like a new person is starting to emerge. I know you are busy and I don’t want to keep you long. I just wanted to say thanks and KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING! You are changing lives! Christa

Make my day – heck, make YOUR day!  Help others and share your expertise! What do you plan to do?

Cheers, Marsha Petrie Sue
www.MarshaPetrieSue.com

Tags: mentor, personal responsibility // Add Comment »

Forty-nine percent (49%) of adults nationwide now say it is possible for anyone who really wants to work to find a job. That’s up from 45% a month ago but still down from 52% in January. (Rasmussen)

While the economy is showing a glimmer of hope, are you? I truly believe we get so caught up in our own issues, negativity and problems that we sabotage our own capabilities.

Start today to elevate your thinking and dust off that positive attitude that is hiding under the guise of “bad times.”

1. Hang around positive people
2. Got Negative? Remember you are in control of how you think.
3. Stay realistic. A realist, vs. a optimist or pessimist, says you have the wrong size glass.
4. Access enough news to stay up to date.  Otherwise, turn it off!
5. Add joy and fun to your life.  Enjoy the spring, take a walk, go bowling or picnic at the park.
6. Volunteer - 2 hours a month is all you need to lift your spirits.

7. Read, learn and apply. Go to the library.
I’m off to take a bike ride!  See ya…

Tags: attitude, make a difference // Add Comment »

1. Spirit: Definition - Vivacity or enthusiasm. Do you have real enthusiasm in your interaction with others? Spirit is built by caring and learning from your environment and not being engrossed only with yourself or your own opinions.

Tips for building your spirit:

- Stay hopeful.
- Take risks.
- Volunteer two hours a week.
- Celebrate with your family.
- Enjoy the outdoors.
- Share a positive thought.
- List reasons for gratitude.

The enthusiastic, to those who are not, are always something of a trial. - Alban Goodier

2. Self-confidence: When you feel that you can handle life’s challenges, you create the capability to move forward in a positive manner. This is self-esteem. The external application of self-esteem spills over into self-confidence.

Tips for building self-confidence:

- Maintain a strong belief in your own competencies to stop the thoughts of vulnerability.
- Review your talents and build from them. Check your weaknesses and if they are the problem, learn to change them. It’s your personal responsibility.
- Cancel your membership in the whine and cheese club. “Oh, cheese, this is so hard — being at war with the economy in the tank and our troops overseas.” (You can hear the tone can’t you?)
- Keep your focus on being problem-oriented rather than danger-oriented. Understand that there is a problem to be solved not a threat to your life or well-being. This helps solutions appear quickly.
- Rise above it. Pretend you are in a hot air balloon and lift your thoughts over the issue to get a new view.
- Picture what you want vs. what you don’t want. Be careful of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy by being sucked into a negative downward spiral.

Tags: accountability, attitude // Add Comment »

I ran into Kohl’s yesterday to grab one thing.

Retail Struggling to survive

A big check out line faced me but that was OK because I understand that retail is really trying to survive with less employees. A store employee came rushing by the line and opened the register.  The guy behind me just about knocked me over to get to the front of the line.  Instead of getting Toxic (after all I did write the book Toxic People!) I just stepped in front of him and put my purchase on the counter.  His face was bright red and I looked at him and said, “She said next in line and that would be me.”

He loudly said, “You are so rude! I can tell you live in Paradise Valley.” With a calm voice I said, “Well Sir, I don’t live in Paradise Valley (it is Scottsdale) but you just proved that chivalry is dead. I’m sorry your having a bad day, and I hope it gets better.”  He continued his yabbering, I smiled and left.

I choose to take personal responsibility for my own assertiveness and I pledge to myself that I will stand up for my right while not violating the rights of others.  Do you think I violated his rights?

Tags: accountability, bad behavior // 3 Comments »

I am always pleased to see how many people invest in themselves and their own learning. My resources are available at many of the speaking venues. Recently, out of a group of approximately 450, more than 60% took home my full package of books, DVD’s and CD’s. They made the choice to invest in themselves.

Here are some of my guiding principles when it comes to my own learning.

1.      Always have a book. Keep it with you so when you have down time you can fill these precious minutes with more than just reading The National Enquirer. Right now, I’m reading (for the second time) People are Idiots and I can prove it by Larry Winget.

2.      Spend time with smart people. Invest your time with people that invest in themselves and are life long learners. Two things will happen: they will share knowledge and their habits will rub off on you.

3.      You learn what you teach. Blog, twitter or post your insights and learnings. Mentor someone and share your expertise. The more you share, the better chance you have of changing old habits.

4.      Read and learn on a broad range of topics. Buy a Popular Mechanics, Field and Stream, Fast Company, Car and Driver or any magazine associated with anything you haven’t done.

Another great resource

Expand your learning!

5.      Sign up yourself or get your team together and sign up for the following program. There is no investment for you except your time! Or heck, listen with your family…

March 26, 2009 – Complimentary teleclass presented by Hilton-Johnson http://www.trainingu.com/scripts/leaders.lasso
I’ll be speaking on THE REACTOR FACTOR – how to respond positively to negative situations at work. Sign up today! 7 PM CST (9PM EST)

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Recommended Books and Programs:
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Success IQ by Stephanie Frank:
Stephanie Frank is one of the great minds, not to mention a friend. She has built the world’s first quiz that tests your Success IQ! I tried it and I think you should too.
What’s your Success IQ?
Click here <https://bigsuccess.infusionsoft.com/go/5step/a73>  to take the short quiz and find out. Let me know how you do!

Expect Success by Drew Laughlin
Purchase “Expect Success: How to Accomplish Anything in Life Using Your Inner Circle of Success” and receive a free audio download, worksheets and bonuses. After you complete your purchase on Amazon.com simply forward your receipt to: amazon [at] youcanexpectsuccess [dot] com and I will personally reply with a special, private download page.
http://www.youcanexpectsuccess.com/promo

Sign up for The Personal Responsibility for Success Club on FaceBook.
http://t.pm0.net/s/c?6h.bkbz.1.7qpe.Annoy People: Take Personal Responsibility

Connect with Marsha Petrie Sue – Speaker, Author, Executive Coach:

BLOG: http://www.decontaminatetoxicpeople.com
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/mpsue
LINKEDIN: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/0/047/079
PLAXO: http://www.plaxo.com/directory/profile/167503848635/58cb43f7/Marsha/Sue
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/s.php?init=q&q=marsha%20petrie%20sue&ref=ts&sid=77018e47ed504504385db3e20c4ef4ef#/profile.php?id=649153867&ref=profile
WEBSITE: http://www.MarshaPetrieSue.com
ILEARNINGGLOBAL: http://www.marshapetriesue.com/ILG/index.html
Plus – follow Marsha on TWITTER:  http://twitter.com/mpsue

Tags: ability, life long learning // Add Comment »