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.

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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

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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

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Blake Lindsay

By Blake Lindsay

People often ask me, “Why are you no longer a deejay on the air somewhere?” I’m happy to explain with a story that has an unenthusiastic beginning, however has a very positive reassuring ending like some of my favourite trials. If you are experiencing a career transition, or know someone who is, I hope this life lesson I learned will help.

Like many others in the industry I keep asking, “Why in the world has broadcasting taken such a turn over the last decade or so?”

I’ve read and heard about the many occupations ranging from our auto industry to banking, the broadcasting business to our medical trade and more, feeling the downbeat blow from consolidations, and budget cuts which cause lay-offs. I believe that technology has certainly helped us more than hurt us, but the steadily improving automation with some of these new machines, has definitely taken several jobs away from people. I became personally impacted by these ongoing changes in the summer of 2001.

I had worked with KISS-FM in Dallas Fort Worth for more than seven years, which seemed to me like a respectable milestone that I was excited about continuing. I loved performing each weekend, especially when I had the opportunity to fill the shoes of our morning man Kidd Craddick during his vacations. Then, one day, all three of us part-time staff were laid off. This was yet another test along the way to transformation. Transformed people must be resilient and spring back when faced with obstacles and career setbacks.

Over the last several years, consolidation and computerized voice tracking has maximized the use of on-air personalities by canning one voice and automating its use on multiple radio stations within the same chain of ownership. One deejay or newscaster can be a talent on two or three radio stations a day, thousands of miles apart. Periodically a listener, who is unfamiliar to this concept, will call the local station hoping to speak with the personality they are hearing on the air, but that individual is not live or local to chat.  Honestly, engaging in on-air conversations was one of the many things I enjoyed about being a deejay. I know that radio is only one of many careers being affected in this way.

Much to my surprise, I became re-energized in 2005 concerning my broadcasting career. My radio mentor John King asked me to cut a few promos for WJEL. The station was preparing to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary on September 3. I was pleased he wanted my participation in their celebration and readily agreed to produce a few promos. I certainly didn’t consider this promo opportunity would be priceless experience, in a brand new role, known in the broadcasting business as voice talent imaging. Imaging is the common word, which simply means branding. For example, my voice is instrumental with communicating the purpose of listening to that specific station. In some instances, I might promote the station’s upcoming events, contests or perhaps the station’s identifications. Learning this fresh skill, and getting some practice was more valuable to me than money would have been at that time. I was also thrilled to be finally concluding my four-year absence from my broadcast profession or for me a type of hobby. When you truly enjoy what you are doing it seems to go beyond work resulting in a keen sense of contribution and fulfillment.

I get a real kick as I reflect upon this coincidence that launched a brand new broadcast niche. Here, more than 20 years after I was an on-air student, my first station to broadcast on was as well responsible for being my initial voice imaging assignment. I had been hopeful for a new broadcasting channel to fill my vacancy and voice talent imaging was absolutely my answer. It brought me additional excitement as WJEL received two noticeable power increases since I had been an on-air student. The station benefited from the improved signal.

When I agreed to perform imaging for my mentor and friend John King at WJEL, I asked my friend Jim, who has a simple production studio in his home, if I could make special use of his facility. He gave me the green light and we had a blast. Since Jim was 30 miles from my residence and I needed additional time in the studio, I learned exactly what equipment I required and purchased the right production tools. Now I have my own in-home studio to perform audio production. With expanded use of email, I send my work over to my client in a matter of minutes as opposed to a day or more through the regular mail system.

A lesson, which was reinforced to me here, is that there is really no self-made successful person. It takes other people to be a success in life. Think about that. You need colleagues, partners, employees, or clients and possibly all of the above. Collaboration and building strong partnerships such as this are critical to be successful in today’s fast paced world of rapid change.

As my friend Zig Ziglar would say, “Learn to win here before going there!” This is precisely what occurred for me. Before long, my next door was opening. Another friend, Larry, purchased a radio station in Paris Texas. I sent him a sample to hear from my fresh voice talent branding for WJEL. After listening to it, Larry was confident my imaging would also help him launch his brand new station in a full-size way. I created custom-made production for Larry’s specific needs and he was pleased with the outcome. These two radio stations were enough to provide plenty of experience and momentum to develop my new knack in broadcasting.

My mentor and friend John King, plus Larry and Jim all were active in helping me develop right into voice talent production, yet another career which has transformed into a hobby. My brand new business is called Blazin’ Blake Productions, using the radio handle, which I am known for, on hit music stations. My voice is also heard on several commercials, broadcast nationwide.

Blazin’ Blake Productions is growing, and I am pleased to be making progress with this brand new trade. I currently perform voice production for four radio stations, and a local TV program. I additionally help people with professional audio on their websites, explaining in 10 to 60 seconds, a quantity of key benefits their trade accomplishes. This also keeps my broadcast communication skills sharpened.

That is another life lesson learned. Try to make every engagement or opportunity a win-win. John’s request for promos to billboard WJEL’s upcoming reunion was the precise push I needed to see my brand new vision through. My personal voice production illustration I am sharing can happen to all of us in a variety of ways. This has really helped me maintain my commitment in staying open-minded. I continue to strive toward personal mastery, good technique, and effective execution in the hopes that what I am able to do is a service to others.

It is intriguing how sometimes the occasional unsolicited career changes that we encounter usually find some way to challenge us by making us even stronger rather than stopping us. I encourage anyone in a job or career transition to be resilient and to positively look for a new door to open when one seems to close. Life is a series of entering and exiting. I have learned that how you exit one event or era affects how you enter the next. So exit gracefully and well as you enter into the next opportunity.

I have also learned that when we are forced to seek new and perhaps better opportunities our hidden talents frequently emerge. That is the process of being transformed by turning the lemons of life into lemonade. Doing our very best to remain hopeful, resilient, stay confident, and keep a positive attitude is most important through these career changes and professional transformations. I absolutely believe deep in my spirit that when one door closes another one is about to open. That open door might be just a step away or around the corner. The main thing is to just hang in there, and keep knocking and seeking because soon a new door of opportunity will open. You have to believe that or life challenges will have you instead of being able to meet learning challenges head on and become transformed in the process. As the good word says, be transformed by the renewing of the mind.

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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

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MYPIE Summit Host, Chris Savage, & Organizer, Nadine Dunn

The network of Miramichi Young Professionals and Involved Entrepreneurs (MYPIE) hosted an interactive supper workshop entitled “The Summit Experience” at the Boulevard Pub in January. Over 55 people from all sectors registered for the event featuring guest speaker Paula Morand with the goal of learning how to change their attitudes to reach their altitude!

Paula Morand is a renowned guest speaker and executive coach whose mission is to help people improve their lives and reach their goals. When approached in October by MYPIE’s network, she immediately jumped on the opportunity to return to the Miramichi to speak to professionals, entrepreneurs, and citizens, and created a whole new workshop just for the occasion. With tips on how to achieve goals, heart-touching stories, laughter, video clips, and games, Paula engaged the crowd for over 90 minutes.

“It was awesome,” said Patsy Martin, job training coordinator for the Schizophrenia Society, who had spread the word of the workshop through her own network. One of the participants at her table even got up in front of everyone to “yodel” and show what she would yell when she reached the top of her mountain.

“A well invested five dollars,” echoed Bruno Doucette, instructor at NBCC-Miramichi. Several people from the real estate industry attended as well and their laughter could be heard throughout the night. Some attendees traveled as far as from Moncton and Bathurst to participate in the event.

Chris Savage, owner-operator of The Boulevard went all out for the special occasion, providing a full buffet meal and maximizing seating space for everyone. Even his mother chipped in, helping with the food preparation! For over half of the attendees, this was their first time at the pub and many expressed their intent to return in the near future.

“This is what it is all about,” said Nadine Duguay, Job Liaison Officer at Enterprise Miramichi and MYPIE instigator. “Giving professionals and entrepreneurs an opportunity to mingle, to learn about one another and to give tools that will inspire them and help them to work and live beyond the survival mode. I think we are achieving this goal through our efforts on a monthly basis with these activities. This event is one of the best turnouts thus far and we have our funding partners and sponsors to thank for helping make it a success including Enterprise Miramichi, Atcon Group, Dew Engineering, Northumberland Co-op ltd., The Boulevard, NBCC-Miramichi, CBDC Northumberland and the Rodd Miramichi.”

The MYPIE network was created by the joint forces of the CBDC Northumberland and Enterprise Miramichi. It targets Miramichi’s young professionals, entrepreneurs, or simply “young at heart” citizens, who wish to connect with others, provide their input and help instill a sense of pride, belonging, and familiarity on the river. For more information about the MYPIE network and its upcoming activities, visit their website at www.mypie.ca.

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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.

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