Pegine

Be Bold – Have Faith
by Pegine Echevarria

To be BOLD you have to have faith:

Faith is built on experiences, perception of self and optimism about your future. Faith is driven by what you tell yourself about yourself. For instance, if you focus, even for a short time, on your missteps or negative experiences your faith in yourself, your abilities and the concept that you have the power to receive what you desire will be limited.

This article will describe strategies to build your faith in these four areas to be bold in your life.

1. Your Abilities You have unique strengths and a work ethic that enables you to be where you are right now. Often we are so busy “doing” that we don’t stop to applaud how well we do what we do. Stop taking the red marking pencil to correct what is wrong. Instead take out the gold star and highlight what you do great!

In my program “Communicate Your V.A.L.U.E.!(tm)” I educate participants about the value each individual brings to the workplace. One value is calculating the impact your work has on others. How many calls do you answer in a day, and of those calls, how many people compliment you on your ability to resolve their problems? How many meetings do you attend and how does your presence make a difference? How do you positively impact your home, work, or volunteering environment?

Write a positive assessment of your abilities and the positive impact your actions have on others. You have to know your impact in order to tell yourself how amazing you are. Once you are over 18 it is up to you to cheer yourself on.

I didn’t know this when I was younger. I was so focused on what others thought that it never occurred to me that my power and my potential was determined by what I thought about myself. I knew I could change my life and circumstance (because I had), but it didn’t dawn on me that my power was determined by what I thought about myself and that I had the power to think what I wanted to think. Back then I never knew I could think “I’m the greatest Pegine in the world! I am a gift to this world!” I thought thinking that was was wrong, egotistical and self serving. I am here to tell you that you have to talk to yourself that way, because you are the greatest you and you are a gift to this world. Really, think what you want to think and think positively, boldly and know you are brilliant.

2. Your Purpose Have faith that you have a phenomenal, wonderful purposeful life and the journey to discover that purpose can be exciting, harrowing or boring, it’s your choice. Your purpose is determined by you and only you. Sometimes people think that their parents, their culture, or something outside of themselves chooses their purpose, however, it is always up to you.

You get to choose the kind of person you want to be, what values you hold dear and the rules you choose to live by. Sometimes those values are imposed on us by the groups we belong to, however, you chose to belong to those groups.

Secondly, you get to choose who you want to serve. Everyone serves people in a group, good or evil, positive or negative. Think about the people you know, or have met and analyze who they serve. Scientists, peace keepers, prisoners,’losers’, who do they serve? Who serves them? How do they impact the lives of others?

No matter who you serve, your power lies in making a clear, personal, thoughtful decision about who you want to serve and then focusing on accomplishing that goal.

3. Confidence That You Receive What You Desire You have to be childlike, expecting miracles to happen in your life. You have to know that you will receive what you desire and that by taking action you will accomplish your goals. This absolute belief is built by focusing on your successes and having a list that you review regularly of all the things that have come your way, just as you expected. Most people focus on what they did not receive and minimize the times when they received what they expected. I can point out to people that they receive what they desire. They think their life is awful and it becomes awful. They just knew they wouldn’t get the job they wanted and they were right! However, they will twist their perception of their outcomes to say to me and others “See I didn’t get it. I told you so”, as though they are disproving my point. I say “you proved my point, you said you wouldn’t get it and you didn’t.” You may not like what you have, however, you have what you hoped for and thought about. Are you willing to embrace that fact with confidence that you receive what you desire?

The focus then has to be on what you really want, truly embracing what you positively powerfully desire. I say “be careful what you think about because you’ll get it!”

4. Know You Are Favored The Queen of England knows, inside, that she is Queen. She knows that she will be favored and welcomed. If she wore different clothes and walked through Texas without her entourage would she interact with the world differently? My guess is she would still walk with the confident air that she is favored, her belief of who she is wouldn’t change.

How about you? Do you walk confidently knowing that you are favored? That you are blessed? That the world is looking out for your best interests? Do you walk confidently knowing that all the best opportunities for you are there for the taking? If not, why not start?

You have as much right to received good outcomes, blessings and opportunities as the next person. You are no less worthy than anyone else, however, do you know that is true? When you wake up in the morning are you excited because today is the day, your day, to receive surprises and gifts? When you write your reports do you imagine someone reading them and learning something?

Be BOLD and Have Faith!

You are worth it.

Small Business Administration Women in Business Champion and author Pegine (pronounced Peg-een) has a cause. Her cause is YOUR success. Feisty, brilliant and fun she is one of 58 inductees into the prestigious Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame. Subscribe to her free newsletter at www.pegine.com. (c)2010

Pegine

The Post-Gazette.com ran an article on Monday, October 19, 2009 by Ralph Bangs and Larry E. Davis called “Mentoring programs can build diversity in management”.

The article said mentoring is the #1 strategy for people to succeed. I agree, being mentored is critical in all areas and stages of our lives.

There are different kinds of mentoring: peer, group, one on one, online, in-person and over the phone.

Mentoring continues to play a huge role in my life. Without mentors in my life, I honestly don’t know where I´d be right now. As I continue to evolve, mentors play a powerful role in all areas in my life and career. I have also advised countless people at the same time, I had no clue they considered me their mentor. They asked questions and I just answered.

Professionally, I’ve written, lectured, taught and consulted regarding mentoring. Here is what I´ve learned.

Everyone needs mentors – including CEOs of Fortune 100 companies. The difference between CEOs of a corporation, middle managers and college graduates is in how one goes about getting mentors.

No one will raise their hand and say, “I want to be your mentor!” Many mentors don´t even realize that others consider them mentors. The term “mentor” can put a tremendous amount of pressure on the mentor because the mentee has expectations that often cannot reasonably be met.

So, if it is more comfortable, use the word “adviser” instead. Seek people who can advise you on a particular issue or tool that you need to master.

Listen carefully to the advice that is given. Often if it is from family and close friends. They may have your best intentions in mind, but often they don’t want you to be disappointed and hurt, so their advice may be subjective, focused on protecting you. Ask different people, people who look and think differently than you and know a lot more about the area that you need to master.

You need to be prepared before you ask for an adviser/mentor.

You have to:

• Acknowledge that you need and want help
• Know what kind of help you want (presence, technical assistance, leadership skills, or management skills)
• Identify people who have what you want
• Learn about those people
• Know that as you move up rank the more willing you will need to be to seek advice, identify mentors and be willing to be uncomfortable.
• Get comfortable being uncomfortable, this is the only way you can grow

You will need more than a mentor, you will need a sponsor. You will want someone to sponsor you into their network. To attract a sponsor you will have to do a lot of internal work on yourself and acknowledge your Connectors ^TM.

Connectors ^TM are those similarities that people have with each other that bind them together – industry, experience, family structure, etc. We have Connectors ^TM with everyone in our environment. We have to do some digging and find them.

Pegine´s Thought of the Month:

Be a mentor to someone else and find a mentor for yourself. To walk the path of success you need to do both actions.
~Pegine Echevarria

Quote of the Month:

“Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight” ~ Anonymous

Try-it:

If you want to move into the upper echelons of your industry notice what those who currently occupy those jobs do effectively:

• What volunteer organizations do they belong to?
• What do they read?
• What do they listen to?
• What committees are they on?
• Read their speeches – what are they focusing on?
• Where do they do their clothing and food shopping?

Then assess yourself. What Connectors ^TM do you have that are similar to theirs? What interests you? Would you be willing to join one of their committees?

Check your own network.

• Who is in your network?
• Who is missing who you would like to have in your network?
• Are the people in your network a reflection of where you want to be? If not, why not?

This is a very important assessment.

Kick-butt action:

To grow to higher levels of corporate and entrepreneurial success there are major internal shifts you have to be willing to go through. If you aren´t willing, then you may not ever access the mentors you will need to grow to higher levels.

It is your choice.

Too often we focus on top down in diversity and not bottom up. Diversity and Inclusion is a two way street. It is important that we not only look at what they can do for us, but what we can do for ourselves. We can make ourselves very, very mentor friendly by taking actions and being responsible for our personal development.

Reprinted from “Pegine’s Motivational E-zine for Leaders in a Diverse World”. Subscribe at www.pegine.com. For information call 904-280-8806. (c)2009.

Pegine

To Play BIG you have to Be BOLD

Bold acts come from knowing deep within that you will be okay, no matter what. Bold acts draw on the experience and knowledge that you have the talents, capabilities and confidence to:

1. Survive whatever is handed to you. That you have the perseverance, tenacity and determination to LIVE WELL and SUCCEED!
2. Accomplish a task you may not know how, but in your heart you know that if you are given the knowledge, the guidance and teachers you can take the actions that lead to success.

I didn’t say you would be perfect. I wrote that you can take action. Each of us has experience taking bold actions. When we were toddlers we boldly stood up and took our first steps. It didn’t matter if we fell down. It didn’t matter if we were unbalanced, we took bold actions.

We took bold actions when we raised our hands in class and gave an answer, even if the answer was wrong we took action. We took bold action when we went for job interviews; showed up and presented ourselves.

Look back at your life and focus on the bold actions you have taken. If actions led you down the path of failure, be bold and stop going down that path. Instead, focus on the strengths you have gained.

I hear people say, “No I can’t do that I’ll lose everything,” yet when they find the courage to take action they didn’t die or lose everything. They may not have received what they were hoping but they survived. Some may have lost material possessions but, in time they gained so much more. I was there, I am there. Every day I put another foot in front of the other, I step out with faith. I expect big things and what I receive often is a string of little things. Good little things that are signals to me that I’m on the right path. I’ve laid everything on the line and with each step I get stronger, more confident and more focused. This is an ongoing process for you and for me.

You have to be bold and be willing to step up and take action.

B - Believe in yourself. Know that you are here to do something powerful. You have to look around and realize that you have talents, unique abilities and the creativity to decide what you want and what your life needs to look like for you. Have in your head a continued, persistent message that says, “You are here to create something and expand your reach. If not you, then who?” Remember, you are resilient.

O - Opportunities are given to those who are bold enough to go after them. If you can’t find a job, volunteer and share your brilliance, create something that will give value to others. Help someone grow their business, being active, creates energy. Share your work ethic and values with others so that people experience you. At work and in your business create opportunities, change your daily rituals. Walk the office and talk to people you don’t know, offer your insights or ideas in meetings. Call people in your network and build them up. Write your boss a note of appreciation (if they deserve it), we forget that our leaders also need our cheers.

L- Let other people know your talents, let them help you, let yourself out of your office and build leverage through relationships. Engage in conversations that build people up. Whining is not an option. Use your strengths to offer guidance, inspiration, and help. Let others know what you do and how you do what you do. Let your energy flow to others so they feel your energy. Leverage your connections, introduce people to each other. Share someone’s resume, enlarge your market.

D- Discipline and determination are key to being bold. It is the disciplined daily action of keeping on your mission or path that opens doors and opportunities. Time will come and time will go, just stick to your plan. Determine what industry you want to be in, what client you want to close, and who you want to meet. Plan your strategy and do it. You have control of your actions. You decide how determined you want to be, you decide on the disciplined action you will take. You decide, this is where your power lies.

Being bold is key to playing big. Being bold is what kids do every day when they are young.

Your life is yours and only you can decide where you will go. Live your life like the opening to Star Trek “boldly go where no man has gone before.” No one has lived your life and no one can.

Be BOLD, live your life.

Motivational Diversity Leadership Rebel Pegine (Peg-een) has a cause. Her cause is YOU. Feisty, brilliant and fun she is one of 58 inductees into the prestigious Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame. Subscribe to her free newsletter at www.pegine.com. Copyright (c) 2010 Pegine Echevarria,MSW- All rights reserved worldwide.

Pegine

Plan, action and results. Each and every day you read or hear about the power of plans. You think about your plans, and the organizational plans. You look at your to do sheets, squash the fires within your teams and make the calls you need to make, then you review the results. Did the plan work? Did the actions bring the results you hoped for? Without enthusiasm and infusing energy into your plan and actions the results will always be less than expected.

You have to bring your energy and life force to the game every day. Your work and life is a game and how much enthusiasm and energy you bring to your game will determine the results you achieve.

Here is a game I play with a friend and associate of mine. Brandon is a small business owner, a wonderful writer and a good friend. He has 3 teenagers and 3 children under the age of 5. He works from home, teaches at his house of worship on weekends and flies around the country working with authors and publishing houses.

We both have lives that are very full, very bountiful and at times can feel overwhelming. So that stress doesn’t overwhelm us we have developed a game. “How are you doing?” Brandon asks, and I reply, “I’m wearing a sequin gown, with false eye lashes out to here and tons of make up. I have fourteen plates spinning on sticks and I’m on national TV.” I laugh as I try to be as outlandish as possible. “How about you?” I ask. “I have all of that while teetering on heels which I’ve never worn in my life and being teased by all of my buddies, with a HUGE Smile on my face.” I burst out laughing at the image that was just created.

The power lies in the fact that I know Brandon and that is the last thing I would have expected from him.

Our game; create a funny visual that incorporates what we are feeling mixed with over the top crazy wardrobe and actions. One person starts and the other has to make it even more outlandish. The game is hysterical and immediately changes our mood and perception of the situation we may be in.

Ready to play GAME ON? This month I’ll share tips and kick butt actions that you can use to be passionate, energetic and enthusiastic about work and life.

Pegine’s Thought of the Month:

“Enthusiasm is contagious. Be a carrier.”
~ Susan Rabin

Try-it:

Before you walk out the door, go to a meeting, or make a call. STOP – Prepare to bring your game on!

• Tell yourself how great you are, how special you are and how you are ready to receive an amazing opportunity.
• STOP -if a word, statement or idea pops in your head that this is silly or ridiculous WARNING BELLS should go off. Take the time to evaluate what you are saying about yourself. Are you being negative about the opportunity before you, criticizing yourself or feeling fear? Are you saying this isn’t real? DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER until you can tell yourself how great you are, how special you are and how you are ready to receive an amazing opportunity.
• As you walk to your meeting, as you are dialing your call or driving to your appointment. Use all your power of choice, all your power as a human to choose your thoughts wisely. Think positive, enthusiastic and powerful thoughts. Remember the movie the Wizard of Oz? You can choose to walk and sound like the Wicked Witch soldiers (“All we owe, we owe her.”) or choose a different path. It is your choice choose wisely.
• SMILE… BIG

Take small actions and see BIG results!

Kick-butt action:
Are you running a meeting? Is everyone looking and acting like drones? Shake your meeting up, really.

Pass out Silly Putty or better yet go to the cafeteria or outdoors and have your team make Really Silly Putty (see below).

Use an interactive activity as a chance to be creative about solutions for your business. Ask your team to share ideas on ways you can reach out to past clients, new product ideas, or how to improve the presentations your team gives to others. Let them play, be creative and share new ideas.

If you are in a very staid, stiff, conservative environment breaking down barriers and building camaraderie is even more critical. You can be serious about your topic, your business and your work – however to keep your team engaged you need levity, enthusiastic engagement and mutually memorable experiences.

If you haven’t seen your team relaxed, enjoying each other and exhibiting a strong sense of camaraderie your team may be working on fumes…energize them, engage them and applaud them through actions.

Really Silly Putty Directions:

• Elmer’s Glue
• Liquid cornstarch (available in a grocery store)

Mix equal parts of starch and glue (5 teaspoons of each is generally a good amount to work with). If the mixture is too stiff, add more glue. If the mixture is too runny, add more starch. Wipe off any excess starch and you have silly putty! Try stretching it, pulling it apart sharply, or bouncing it on the floor. CAUTION: It sticks to rugs! (From the “Sticky Business” Room at The Children’s Discovery Museum, Acton, MA)

Reprinted from Pegine’s Motivational Ezine for Leaders. Subscribe at www.pegine.com. Pegine motivates leaders in a diverse world. (c)2009

Pegine

I’ve got the power. It is a great day when you realize that you have the power to change your life, your perceptions of the world and your willingness to decide to succeed, no matter what.

It is shedding the layer of thoughts, ideas and perceptions that has held you back, and, instead embracing new ideas, new thoughts and beliefs about yourself and what you can be.

The decision to be free and independent – to truly declare and shout from the roof tops: “I am the only one who will decide what I want for me. I am the only person who has the power to think for me and to choose what thoughts I have. I can choose who I want to be.” That is true freedom.

Don’t you love being around happy, joyous, enthusiastic, smart, prosperous people? Don’t you enjoy learning from people who see the world of possibilities and who can help you be better?

Independence is the glorious gift you give yourself when you realize that what others think of you doesn’t matter to you. The only thing that matters is what you think of yourself.

You can choose to be that happy, joyous, enthusiastic, smart and prosperous person.

Listen to what you say about yourself. Listen to the words you use to describe yourself. When someone says something to you that you don’t like or that makes you feel uncomfortable what do you say to yourself?

The other day I was on a plane and heard two little kids fighting with each other. One of the girls said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” I wanted to applaud her. “Yes, you are right!”

The words someone uses when they talk to you, the tone of their voice or their facial expressions only effect you when you give them meaning. The thoughts that go through your mind are the meaning. Have you ever noticed how one person can say something and it doesn’t faze you, but when another person says the same thing you react (positively or negatively). You react because you gave those words meaning – through thought.

One of my favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” That quote used to make me so angry. I could prove the times that others made me feel inferior, until one day I realized that it was my thoughts that were filling me with negativity, anger and upset. The people weren’t making me feel inferior. I was doing it to myself.

Both the childhood rhyme and Eleanor Roosevelt’s comment drive home the fact that it isn’t what others say to us that affects us, but rather what we say to ourselves.

There are people who are reading this who will disagree with me. They will want to cite examples of people who were hurt, abused or victimized, because people called them names. Years ago I would have agreed with them. I could show lots of people who were hurt by others, including myself. However, what others said is not where the pain lies. It is within your mind and your thoughts about what others said that causes the pain.

The effects of your thoughts impact your life, work and business. We act on what we think. I recently heard from a friend who was so frustrated by a co worker. This co worker always assumed that everyone was out to get her. My friend was new to the organization and was asked to teach this person (I will call her Jane) a new process. This process was new to the organization. No one, except my friend, knew the process. One of her job responsibilities was to train everyone in the process. She set up an appointment with Jane and met her at the appointed time. Jane‘s first statement was, “So they think I’m not capable and don’t know what I’m doing. Is that why they sent you? Well I’m not going to make this easy for you. I know what I’m doing and I don’t need a tutor. ”

Obviously Jane had a lot going on in her mind – and the thoughts weren’t good or positive. After working with her for 45 minutes my friend decided to end the session. She reported the results of the session to her supervisor. Through the grapevine my friend learned that the woman had sued the company several times and that she was considered a “mean, vicious, super sensitive person”. Have you ever worked with someone like that?

[Note to HR professionals: I agree that there are steps HR can take in this situation.]

Everyone is free to accept negative impressions and to continually repeat them over and over and over… or not.

It is within your power to be independent and to change your thoughts about yourself and to think good, positive and prosperous thoughts.

You have the power.

This is not easy especially when you have spent many years believing negative thoughts about yourself.

It is time to change and to be independent. Choose to think happy, joyous, enthusiastic, smart, supportive and prosperous thoughts. You have the power.

Pegine’s Thought of the Month:

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Christopher Robin to Pooh ~A. A. Milne

Try-it:

How many times did we hear from our parents after we did something wrong, “What were you thinking?” and our response was “I dunno.”

That response doesn’t it cut it anymore. You have to become very aware of your thoughts. You need to know what you are thinking. You have to pay attention. Think.

Try this action this month: pay attention to your thoughts. Listen to what you are saying to yourself about yourself.

If you aren’t your greatest cheerleader, if you aren’t celebrating yourself and applauding yourself, you must take charge and change your thoughts.

If you don’t… who will?

Kick-butt action:

Think like Muhammad Ali. He said, “I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.”

You are the greatest you there ever was!!

Reprinted from Pegine’s Motivational Ezine for Leaders”. Subscribe at www.pegine.com. Pegine motivates leaders in a diverse world. (c)2009

Pegine

There is a quote that millions of people hear all over the world, “You reap what you sow.” The interesting thing about that quote is that most people are not farmers, therefore the process of sowing is an art that many are not familiar with.

Many, many moons ago I was a student at John Bowne High School in Queens, New York for a short time. I attended their agricultural program (yes, I can do a comedy routine on that experience).

While I was there I learned about preparing the fields, sowing the seeds and harvesting the fruits of my labor. I was not cut out to be a farmer or continue my studies as an aggie (somehow Bronx girl to farmer Jane just didn’t feel right).

It wasn’t until years later that I connected the dots about that experience in my life. I had to learn the rules of sowing and how to plant the right seeds physically, then mentally and finally emotionally, so that I could share them with you.

Rule One:  Clear the land. Remove weeds, stumps, rocks and anything that impedes growth.

You have to look inward and clear your head. We all have weeds, stumps, and rocks in our head that impede our growth.

We learned rules as children that were for children, but not adults. Rigid rules can hinder our careers and relationships. “Be quiet” is okay for kids (sometimes) but as adults we have to speak up. “Don’t be a show off.” As adults you have to share your achievements and accomplishments – no one will do it for you. All of us heard family and cultural rules that don’t work in our adult lives. We have to change and clear our heads.

How do you accomplish this for your life? By reading, going to seminars, taking courses, joining personal development groups and hiring a coach. You have to know your thoughts, your beliefs and those that are working against you. Just like a hidden tree stump that you uncover once you start to dig, you will find hidden beliefs and thoughts that are holding you back, that is normal. Just dig, uncover, get the weeds out of the way and prepare for good things to come.

Rule Two:  Use fresh compost and clean soil.

Once we have cleared our minds we may find that we might need to change our environment, friends and associates. If we keep the same people, behaviors, and environment that held us back we will continue to impede our growth and will have to continually keep clearing our heads. People may want to hang on, protect you, or hold you back. Seek the people and places that reflect who you want to be. You will be uncomfortable for a while, but that will pass.

Rule Three:  Label your seeds.

You have to know what you want and be clear, in order to accomplish this task you need to write a plan. Define your plan with affirmation statements and post those statements on your computer, dream board, bathroom, kitchen, or wherever you will be consistently reminded of what you have planted in your mind. You won’t see the flowers (the results) for awhile, so you have to remember the seeds you planted and stay focused.

Rule Four:  Place the seeds in the ground.

This is your declaration. You are taking action by declaring to yourself and to the universe that this is what you want and will stay dedicated to its attainment. You commit to care for, nurture, and feed your dream. No matter what obstacles come your way, you will nurture your plan, your dream. You have made a commitment.

Rule Five:  Watch the water. Too much or too little is not healthy.

You have to have balance in your life. All work and no play is not healthy. Your life should be balanced so that you have health, love, wealth, joy and rest. The seeds will grow. You have to trust the process. You can stay focused and determined while loving, laughing and resting.

Rule Six:  Watch for predators (snails, rabbits, slugs, etc.)

Be vigilant regarding your thoughts. A word, an image or a momentary lapse of judgment can send your thoughts in the wrong direction. Keep negative thoughts at bay by reading positive, uplifting material. Stay away from negative news. When an influential person talks about how “THEY” (meaning some group or organization), are holding another group of people back, whether it is a newscaster, preacher or parent,  stop listening. Only you can decide what you want to reap. Don’t let predators into your mind. Stay focused on what you planted, nurture your dreams, keep vigilant and protect your dreams.

Finally, Rule Seven:  Reap what you sow.

After putting in the work to change yourself and implementing your plan you will reap the rewards of your harvest. Enjoy and appreciate what you have received.

However, don’t stop with just one planting. Just as farmers sow their seeds often, so should you. Each time you reap your rewards you can continue to sow bigger dreams and, in turn, your life will grow. It is time to step up and be the man or woman with big thoughts and accomplish big things with your life.

Here we go again…

Rule One: Clear the land. Remove weeds, stumps, rocks and anything that impedes growth.

You have to face yourself and decide to be bigger. We all have weeds, stumps, and rocks in our heads that stop us from being bigger than we are.

And so on… You have a bigger potential, keep sowing and reaping your rewards, the world needs your excitment and growth.

Pegine’s Thought of the Month:

“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” ~ Napoleon Hill

Try-it:

Rule One: Clear the land. Remove weeds, stumps, rocks and anything that impeds growth.

Let’s move some earth and clear the land. Ask yourself the following:

What excuses do I use to stop me from going after my dream?

The kids, my mom, my husband, I’m not smart enough, rich enough, tall enough etc. Really look at the rationalizations and excuses. None of them can really hold you back.

Start really looking what you believe and then think, what can I do today?

• Read a positive life affirming book.
• Write out your dream.
• Participate in a teleseminar, take a short one hour class or write a page of your book.
• Think…”what I want for my life” and just sit in quiet contemplation.
• Think good thoughts for five minutes, then ten minutes and so on.

Kick-butt action:

Rule Three: Label your seeds or rows.

Want to really kick butt? Go to your local Office Depot or Staples.

Buy yourself a:

• Tri-Fold Foam And Project Board, 36″ x 48″
• Easel to put your board on
• Post pictures, words and dollar amounts that you want in your life. Be really clear: What do you want in your life? What do you want to achieve? Have? Receive?
• Keep your board visible at home.

CAUTION: If you have people who will laugh or criticize your dreams DO NOT display your board, instead, create a photo album that you can look at. Keep it private and commit to reviewing it at least twice a day.

I have both. My photo album is over 20 years old, I love reading it and seeing how far I have come. It is truly a miracle!

Reprinted from “Pegine’s Motivational E-zine for Leaders in a Diverse World”. Subscribe at www.pegine.com. For information call 904-280-8806. (c)2009

Pegine Echevarria

There is a lot of talk these days about responsibility. Finger pointing at others for the conditions that we are experiencing. The truth is that we, you and I, have to take 100% responsibility for the condition that we are in.

I’m talking about what is happening in your world, mind, home, job, family and finances. You are 100% responsible for what you have. You made certain choices along the way that resulted in what you are experiencing right now. The condition you are in physically, intellectually, fiscally, emotionally, spiritually is 100% your responsibility.

Jack Canfield in his book The Success Principle shares the following:

“You are responsible for everything that does or doesn’t happen to you.”

He goes on to share specific questions we need to ask ourselves to understand our part in every situation, emotion or outcome we experience. He shares:

How did I create that?
What was I thinking?
What were my beliefs?
What did I say or not say?
What did I do or not do to create the result?
How did I get the other person to act that way?
What do I need to do differently next time to get the results I want?
©2005 Jack Canfield- The Success Principles TM

Facing the truth is really hard. I know. It is so much easier to:

• Blame the economy for our personal financial condition
• Say that weight we put on was because the food was so good
• Say the heart condition is a result of our incredible stress
• Blame another person.

Stuff does happen. Accidents happen and tragedies occur, however, how you deal with them and how you react to them determines the outcome you experience in life. That is your responsibility.

You can keep on experiencing the same or similar thing over and over, until one day you realize that you can change, really change, how you think about the experience and the outcome you receive.

Once you take responsibility for your actions then you are set free to find solutions. Often those solutions appear as different ways of behaving, different perceptions of the same situation and different desires that lead you to a new life, usually a better life. Of course this takes courage. It takes courage to say what needs to be said or take an action that would put you out of your comfort zone. It is when you do that that magic happens.

I have an artist friend. She is incredibly talented. She makes the most amazing pieces of art. Her ability to see the magnificence in a simple leaf, or see the brilliant beauty of sunlight hitting a tree stump and transforming those images into a photograph is extraordinary. Her work is amazing. However she thinks it is ordinary, no big thing. She can never imagine that her pictures move people to an emotional high. Or that people remember the pictures and use those images to feel good about life. Only a few people ever get to experience their beauty because she doesn’t see her talent as a gift.

If she did see her talent as a gift and took 100 % responsibility for sharing her talent with the world what would she do differently?

• She would share her pictures
• She would be willing to face tough times because her pictures ‘had’ to be shared
• She would endure cocktail parties at art functions where her work was displayed
• She would take pictures, lots of pictures and have them copied
• She would put her pictures up everywhere so people would see them

No one can do that for her … because she has to take 100% responsibility for her gifts.

How about you? Are you taking 100% responsibility for your gifts and talents? Are asking yourself the questions that Jack Canfield posed about your life?

Only you can take responsibility. You can point fingers, blame others or avoid taking action. The consequences are the result of those actions.

The ultimate question is – are you happy, joyous, thrilled with your life? Are you doing everything you can to be who you want to be? Take 100% responsibility and live well.

Try-it:

So how do you start taking 100% responsibility?

Start by paying attention to your thoughts. Especially the thoughts you are having about yourself.

Scenario A: Do you put yourself down and call yourself names when you make a mistake?

Scenario B: Do you applaud yourself for taking action, learn what you did wrong and figure out how to fix the mistake?

These are two different ways to deal with a mistake which result in two very different outcomes.

Scenario A: The person who thinks this way doesn’t take responsibility for his or her actions, he or she is pointing fingers and blaming, in this case blaming his or her self. When people are yelled at or called names they shut down, even when the yelling and name calling is happening in their head. They stop trying, thinking, “What is the point I’ll eventually mess up. I always do.”

Scenario B: This person accepts responsibility and says, “Yes, I messed up. I did try to do the right thing but I messed up.” He or she asks, “Where did I mess up? What caused me to act that way? What was I thinking? How can I act differently next time?” He or she understands that this situation or something similar will happen in the future and he or she will be better prepared. That is taking responsibility.

Kick-butt action:

Think of a time when you made a mistake. What did you learn? How has that helped you?

Applaud yourself. You took responsibility!

Pegine’s Quote of the Month:

“ You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.” ~ Jim Rohn

Reprinted from Pegine’s Motivational Times for Leaders. Subscribe at www.pegine.com. Pegine motivates leaders in a diverse world. (c)2008

Pegine Echevarria

Pegine’s Motivational Times
by Pegine Echevarria

Thank you so much for being terrific! Without you I can’t do what I do. I’m so thankful that you implement the techniques taught and that you are willing to see yourself and your potential.

Thank you for being focused on your growth. When was the last time someone thanked you for taking care of yourself. For reading material that supports the person you are and the person you are becoming?

Think of the last time you went around the office and thanked the people who work for you. Thanked them for the smile of encouragement they give you when you present a new idea. Thanked them for the frustrations they give you because it makes you stronger as you seek solutions to resolve their frustrating behaviors.

Have you thanked your kids for being…your kids? Did you thank them for their individual personalities and how they leave you in awe of the miracles they are? Thank them especially for the times when they drive you crazy and you find yourself behaving in a manner that is embarrassing to you. Those moments make you aware of areas that you need to change within yourself. You become better because of those experiences.

My children, now 20 and 22, have made me laugh loudly. When they remind me of the times that they were clowning around in a store or event and I would, with clenched teeth say in a low voice “stop embarrassing me”, I blush. I get teased royally about my “stop embarrassing” moments. Back then I was so concerned on what others thought of me and my family that I didn’t appreciate all the laughter, joy and fun my family was experiencing. People around us would be sour, stiff and boring , but my family was laughing and enjoying each other. Thankfully I’ve grown and choose to see the fun, joy and happiness everywhere – no matter what people think of me. Thank you kids for teasing me. The teasing reminds me how far I’ve come.

Do you take the time to thank yourself for the work you do, for the volunteer organizations which you give your time? Have you thanked yourself for the love and nurturing you give to your family? Take the time to pat yourself on the back.

Gratitude is a powerful process. Have gratitude for the time you spend with people. Gratitude changes behaviors, yours and theirs. It fills people’s hearts with joy. Gratitude allows us to appreciate all that we have…and each of us has so much.

Every day I take the time to be grateful. I start out with simple things and things just pop into my head. Here is an example of how my gratitude list starts and grows.

I’m grateful that I can read and write. I am so thankful that I can read a book, or email people. I’m so grateful that I can write this newsletter and share myself with others.

I’m grateful for my hands and my fingers that enables me to hold someone or scratch an itch.

I’m grateful for the sunlight and how it shines through our windows in Florida and makes everything bright .

I’m grateful for my wonderful clients who believe in my work and who see results.

I’m so grateful for the audience members who listen to my presentations and the organizations that hire me to speak to their people. Without them I am speaking to myself (like I do in my shower

I am grateful for the times I think to myself and communicate how grateful I am that I am alive and that I can serve and make a difference.

It only takes a few minutes and this powerful technique can change your perspective of your life, any situation and help you find solutions.

Gratitude lists works with teams, couples and individuals. It is a powerful tool to engage disconnected people. When people start writing their gratitude list their demeanor’s change. They don’t have to share, but by taking the time to write their gratitude’s they see situations, people and the world in a different way.

Try-it:

I play a game when I travel and I have so much fun. The game is to make an impact on another human by being really grateful for what they do. I have been at this for awhile and it has become a habit.

As you walk through your office, the airport or anywhere else, look for moments that you can say thank you. Not by rote, but with the intention of gratitude.

Let’s say that your are waiting for the elevator and another person is next to you. You both get on the elevator and she asks you for your floor and pushes the button for you. Your initial reaction is to say “Thanks.”

Change what you say, say thank you in a different way and really mean it. “That was really kind of you, thank you.” “You took care of me that really made a difference, Thank You.”

Watch how they react and respond to you. They smile bigger, they notice you more, their eyes and smile widen. You see them visibly become happier.

Notice yourself, because of their reaction to you, you change. You gain more energy, you are happier.

Be responsible. There are a lot of hurting and fearful people now. They feel disconnected and are attached to their worries. They need us to play this game more than ever. Lift their hearts and attitude by playing the Thank You game.

I am convinced that this diverse and challenging world needs each of us to play the thank you game more than ever.

Kick-butt action:

Think of 10 of the most normal things you did today that went unnoticed by you. Make yourself aware of how your life would be if you didn’t do them…life would be rough.

For instance:
1. If you didn’t brush your teeth how would your life be?
2. If you didn’t scratch that itch how would your life be?

After you made the list of things that you take for granted and listed how your life would be. Be grateful for the normal, everyday things that you do… because now you know how life would be without them.

Pegine’s Thought of the Month:

“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.”
~Brian Tracy

Reprinted from Pegine’s Motivational Ezine for Leaders. Subscribe at www.pegine.com. Pegine motivates leaders in a diverse world.

My favourite statement sits prominently in my office. It is from a Harley Davidson ad that appeared in USA Today on May 1, 2008. It reads:

“We Don’t Do Fear: Over the last 105 years in the saddle, we’ve seen wars, conflicts, depression, recession, resistance, and revolutions. We’ve watched a thousand hand-wrenching pundits disappear in our rear-view mirror. But every time, this country (and the world) has come out stronger than before. Because chrome and asphalt put distance between you and whatever the world can throw at you. Freedom and wind outlast hard times, and the rumble of an engine drowns out all the spin on the evening news. If 105 years have proved one thing, it’s that fear sucks and it doesn’t last long.”

Are you drawn into the drama on TV and in the news lately? Are you talking about calamity and loss?

If you are, then you should prepare-because you will attract the negative. It is interesting that this scary, dramatic crisis is all happening during the Halloween time frame. Can you hear the Halloween music? Feel the fear? The bone chilling drama among pundits? The only thing missing is the politicians, Wall Street leaders and newscasters wearing goblin costumes.

Puhleeze . . . You have to look back and see the positive results that have occurred when change happens.

The depression resulted in prosperity beyond what our grandparents could imagine. My mom was a baby during the end of the depression. Looking back we can trace how amazingly prosperous her life and that of her family became. I realize that one of the reasons this occurred was her hope and true knowledge of all her blessings.

On Forbes.com, an article titled “The Gospel of Hope,” by Rich Karlgaard states, “During the worst year of the Great Depression, 1937, a writer named Napoleon Hill picked the positive gospel out of the gutter and lifted the spirits of the country with his bestseller, Think and Grow Rich.” Riches, wrote Hill, were available to anyone who changed his attitude. “Thoughts are things,” Napoleon Hill wrote.

My grandparents, especially my grandfather, always saw the good, had hope and believed. They counted their blessings.

• They had lots of family they kept close.
• They shared what they had, and because of that they had more than most.
• They truly enjoyed what they had which included lots of laughter, songs, joy and love.
• They focused on the blessings. The home they lived in, the furniture they had. They always had a place for someone to put their head-a couch, the floor. Their home was a place of peace.
• They worked hard and were grateful for work. They enjoyed their work and made those around them feel good about the work they were doing.

I never knew mi Abuelo (my grandfather Rafael Echevarria), but I knew of him. Many, many times I could feel him near me. He had nothing; no shoes, no money and he became something. First a post office worker (he practiced and practiced to be a mail sorter). He practiced his English so he could offer outstanding customer service. Eventually he saved his money and bought a restaurant/bar, his dream. He also purchased several apartment buildings and land out in the country. He believed in prosperity, in his ability and his divine right to succeed.

After 9/11, I focused on the pundits and the drama that swirled in the papers. I bought it, hook, line and sinker. My focus wasn’t on what was working, but on what wasn’t working. I paid a price. That wasn’t how my grandfather would look at things.

Today I choose my grandfather’s way. I see the love I have, my husband, my children, my parents and my extended family, as well as my staff. I feel so blessed to have them and to be able to provide for them.

I see the most amazing skies and natural abundance that surround me. As a matter of fact, it blows me away. It is such a gift. I see the ideas that I am given as gifts of prosperity. I love the book ideas, the licensing agreements, the speeches and the bountiful gifts.

I love that during a garage sale on Saturday I gave away two bicycles and a weight and bench set to three different people. The look on their faces, the knowledge that they felt “rich” and deserving made me feel gratified.

This is so different than before, because I’m choosing to think differently. Read my answer to the question “Are you Feisty, Focused and Fearless?” at www.pegine.blogspot.com.

What about you? Do you agree with the ad? Have you made the decision “not to do fear,” to instead go boldly and see the riches around you? Are you looking for new ways to do business? Have you decided that you will, every moment and every day, truly see the abundance, prosperity and joy in your life? Have you decided that you’re not going to play this game, because it’s not fun? Have you declared, “I’m looking for the positive, the good and the fun?” Have you decided that you will be in charge of your economy and that your economy is bursting with wealth? Have you decided that you will see all that you have and look for ways to double it? Are you willing to open yourself to incredible opportunities?

How many times have you heard of people losing their jobs and then, in time, achieved new careers that made them so much happier? How many times have people moved away to a better, richer, happier life?

The lazy way of life is to accept what others say about your life, your economy and your future. The courageous and incredible life is in the knowledge that you deserve more, have more and receive more every single minute of the day.

I may be a Pollyanna, but I have to tell you that it works for me. What is a Pollyanna? A Pollyanna is a person regarded as being foolishly or blindly optimistic. The term Pollyanna evolved from the heroine of the novel Pollyanna by Eleanor Hodgman Porter (1868-1920), an American writer.

Here is a question about the definition of Pollyanna-Pollyannas are people perceived as blindly optimistic, but who is doing the regarding or perceiving? What if the people who are doing the regarding or perceiving only see disaster, complain about life, focus on danger, speak of doom, illness, financial ruin and are depressed? Will they perceive anyone who has a little bit of spirit as a Pollyanna? People whose job it is to see problems will see anyone’s vision filled with problems and issues.

I choose to be a Pollyanna. I like being optimistic and even sometimes being blindly optimistic. It is a healthier perception of life than a reality that is negative. Depressing Dottie’s are just plain . . . depressing.

Are you a Depressing Dottie or a Positive Pollyanna?

Pollyannas don’t do fear. We ride, we succeed, we grow and we receive the rewards of our efforts. Ride hard, ride on and live well!

Which of the two; Depressing Dottie or Positive Pollyanna, will engage your employees, family and friends?
Which of the two; Depressing Dottie or Positive Pollyanna will help you enjoy life and see new opportunities?
Which of the two; Depressing Dottie or Positive Pollyanna will bring business, inspire and attract abundance?

Try-it:

Get Over Yourself and Get Grateful
Stop . . . Drop . . . and Roll . . .

• Stop thinking so much.
• Drop what you are doing and write 10 things you are grateful for. Distribute the gratitude as follows: five about your personal life, three about your leadership roles and two about work.
Roll with the waves. Stuff happens. It isn’t about you; it’s just stuff. How you perceive it and react to it is your stuff. Just roll.

Kick-butt action:

Are you Feisty, Focused and Fearless?
Read the blog at www.pegine.blogspot.com. Then answer the following:

• How were you feisty today?
• What did you do today that demonstrated your focus?
• What fearless action did you do today?

Thought of the Month:

” No man ever achieved worthwhile success who did not, at one time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging well over the brink of failure. ” – Napoleon Hill

Reprinted from Pegine’s Motivational Ezine for Leaders. Subscribe at www.pegine.com. Pegine motivates leaders in a diverse world. (c)2008