Glenn Edleys Blog

Today's minimotivator #35-2010: Kindness

2010-03-10T15:06:00.000+13:00

Joann C. Jones wrote, "During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was a joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.

Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade. "Absolutely," the professor said. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy."

What a great lesson and one to teach your kids.

Today's minimotivator #34-2010: Peace

2010-03-09T14:45:00.002+13:00

Indira Gandhi once said, "You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist."

Over the weekend I got to read an amazing book called Century by Bruce Bernard and really got the feeling that as a race we feel clenched fists will get us what we want.

They won't.

If you remember you can only shake hands with an open hand I think we would all be better off.

Today's minimotivator #33-2010: Fishing

2010-03-08T14:30:00.002+13:00

Roderick Haig-Brown said, "There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home."

Fishing is like everything else you really like doing. No matter whether you win or lose, or don't catch anything, you are still doing it.

What can be better than that? Winning of course but as much as I like winning you cannot win all the time and that is when wanting to be there no matter what really helps.

YourMondayMotivator: Hmmmmm

2010-03-08T10:05:00.002+13:00

I'm a bit late this morning sorry. After the weekend we had a lot to do this morning and I am probably a bit deflated / tired after the amazing, hectic time I have had.

As the morning ticked on it started to get even harder to figure out what to write about and my shoulders sagged. It was then I read this quote from Charlie Brown.

Charlie Brown said, "This is my "depressed stance." When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this."

This is so true. How you stand betrays, or portrays, how you feel. If you're feeling a bit low because it's Monday take note of how you're standing.

I just have and so my shoulders are now back, my head is high and I'm cracking into the day.

Have a successful week and keep your chin up. See the old ones do actually mean something.

Today's minimotivator #32-2010: Marriage

2010-03-05T14:30:00.002+13:00

Rita Rudner said, "I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."

Today I'm getting married and having found the person I want to annoy for the rest of my life I wanted to wish the same to you.

Have a great day, smile at the person who lets you annoy them, or if you haven't got some like that find someone and give them a hug.

You're special but letting someone else know they are too is even better.

Today's minimotivator #31-2010: Dream sticks

2010-03-04T15:12:00.000+13:00

Dr SunWolf said, "Give crayons. Adults are disturbingly impoverished of these magical dream sticks."

What a great name for crayons, dream sticks. Give some today, or buy some yourself, grab huge pieces of paper and scrawl.

Create, scribble and laugh. What joy that will be and who knows the result might be good enough for you to frame for yourself.

Today's minimotivator #31-2010: Optimism

2010-03-03T15:17:00.000+13:00

Robert Brault said, "The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser - in case you thought optimism was dead."

I have read similar quotes to this but when I read Robert's version today I finally understood it. It's very optimistic because it says you will make way less mistakes than you will write words or draw pictures.

This has changed the perspective with which I will look at pencils from now on. Maybe we should all keep one close at hand to remind us we do more good things than make mistakes.

Today's minimotivator #30-2010: The meaning of patience

2010-03-02T15:06:00.001+13:00

In 1680 John Dryden wrote, "Beware the fury of a patient man."

Have you ever got to the absolute end of your tether and then been told you have to hold on for dear life because you could say or do something out of anger?

What do you do when you get there? Do you hang on or do you do something that makes you feel amazing but could be detrimental to your business or a relationship.

Patience to me can mean giving people enough rope to hang themselves when really I would like to tie the noose. Doing this can cost you money and time so like pulling of a plaster it's better to get things over with quickly with a short sharp pain and then relief.

What does patience mean to you? Tell us here.

Glenn

YourMondayMotivator: Are you committed?

2010-03-01T08:50:00.000+13:00

How committed are you to what you do? Will you do whatever it takes to get your goals or aspirations. This week I'm making the biggest commitment of my life, I'm getting married.

Someone once said, "Marriage means commitment. Of course, so does insanity."

However, Peter F. Drucker said, "Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans."

My life has always been based on Druckers quote because I realised at a very young age, 5 1/2 years old to be exact, that if I wanted to be good at something I had to commit to it and give it my all. Until I did I wouldn't be as good as I wanted to be.

When you commit to something it is like getting married. You make plans and you have someone to help to stick to them. Many fences have been built and lights changed because of this.

So this week think about what you are committed to as a marriage. Have hopes and dreams but plan and do whatever it takes to make a success out of it.

Have a successful week.

Glenn

Today's minimotivator #29-2010: The meaning of life.

2010-02-26T15:00:00.000+13:00

Robert Louis Stevenson said, "Anyone can carry his burden, however hard, until nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, till the sun goes down. And this is all life really means."

If you do these things every day, and rest at night, you will be happier, healthier and richer than most.

Living one day at a time with an eye on your legacy seems to be the meaning of Life. It's as simple and as hard as that.

Today's minimotivator #28-2010: What now?

2010-02-26T14:35:00.000+13:00

Someone once said, "It's not what if, it's what now."

You are dying! That's right you're dying right now as you sit there reading this. In fact we we all are. Every second that passes is another one closer to our death.

So why do people, people who know this too, have what if's? "What if I..." or "What if they...". You don't have time for what ifs you only have time for "What nows?"

Take a minute to think about this and then put a reminder somewhere that says "WHAT NOW?". What now is a powerful question that will get you thinking. Use it daily.

Glenn

Today's minimotivator #27-2010: Adversity

2010-02-25T15:16:00.000+13:00

Lou Holtz said, "Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity."

It occurred to me when I read this quote just how true it is. You have to keep in mind we are talking about something 'worthwhile' here. That might mean being a successful business person but not a successful person because of a large inheritance.

If life was easy and you could easily become successful I suspect you wouldn't be that proud of your achievements because no sweat went into them. It's like being at a restaurant and enjoying the food but the chef is really chuffed because he made it.

Life isn't meant to be easy. It's meant to everything that happens because who are you without everything that happened? No one. Sweat more and you will always feel successful.

Today's minimotivator #26-2010: Hope

2010-02-24T15:43:00.000+13:00

Mignon McLaughlin wrote, "Hope is the feeling we have that the feeling we have is not permanent."

Have you had that thought: the one that says it's ok because what I'm feeling, or what is happening to me, will pass?

That's a good thought to have. It grounds you and helps you remember that the situation is not permanent. You will survive, you will feel better.

Make sure you keep having that thought. Write a note to remind you to have it. It's powerful and it will transform you and get you through anything.

Today's minimotivator #25-2010: Little things

2010-02-23T17:30:00.000+13:00

Edmund Burke said, "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."

My favourite law is the Law of Compounding. Usually 'interest' is added on the end of that sentence and there is even a quote attributed to Albert Einstein about it.

However, the law of Compounding can be added to anything. Work, play, relationships, fitness, lap times and diet.

So, don't sit there today doing nothing because you think you can only do a 'little'. Do that little thing. Because you might think of another little thing you can do while you're doing it and before you know it all the little things have compounded into a HUGE thing.

HUGE! Start doing 'little' things now.

Today's minimotivator #24-2010: Last Chance To See

2010-02-22T16:36:00.000+13:00

Douglas Adams said in "Last Chance to See", "Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."

We look, we say "hmmm" and "ahhh", and then do exactly the same thing ourselves - in a different way.

If you haven't seen Last Chance To See its very good. The latest series with Stephen Fry makes for good viewing but still has the same message Douglas Adams gave us 20 years ago. Why do we not want to learn from the apparent mistakes of others when we could so easily do so.

Learn from the mistakes of others. Hit yourself over the head, have reminders all over the place reinforcing what you should do, do whatever it takes. Learn.

YourMondayMotivator: Screw this!

2010-02-22T08:17:00.000+13:00

What do you you do when one of the worst things that could happen to your business or you happens?

When you can't get hold of anyone to fix it and you're basically at a standstill?

When you just feel like throwing your hands in the air and saying, "Screw this!", then throwing in the towel.

What do you do? What do you do?

I'm repeating myself because I really want you to think about this. It's a measure of your character.

I look at it like this. I'm one step away from the summit of a mountain, the wind is howling, I'm being blinded by the rain, I've run out of food and I'm starting to slid backwards. But I know one more step will take me to the summit and over the top to a gentle downhill run where a nice warm meal and a hot drink are waiting.

What do I do? I fight with every ounce of energy I have to take that step over the top because even if I stumble over the top I can roll down the slope on the other side.

Next time you feel like this take your hand off the towel and take the step. The hot drink and warm meal will be worth it.

Today's minimotivator #23-2010: Faeries, mountains and flames.

2010-02-19T14:47:00.000+13:00

In 1894 William Butler Yeats wrote,

"Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame."

Imagine dancing upon the mountains like a flame....

Do it now and exit the dull world for a moment.

Magic isn't it?

Today's minimotivator #22-2010: Rainy days, gardening and God.

2010-02-18T16:35:00.000+13:00

Someone once said, "God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done."

Do you love to do something so much that God has to intervene to stop you from doing it?

Most of us are so extremely passionate about something we put off everything else to do it.

This quote is a reminder that we have to stop from time to time to do our housework. That might be spending time with your family, tidying up or actually doing the housework but we must take a break from time to time before God intervenes.

Today's minimotivator #21-2010: DON'T PANIC!

2010-02-17T15:31:00.000+13:00

Douglas Adams wrote, "Don't Panic!"

Mr Adams Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy would come in quite handy today because it would be a constant reminder not to panic.

Being in the office by myself I am overcoming the urge to panic by just getting on with things and thinking I will get it all done. If I don't there is always tonight.

Have you got a big "Don't Panic!" sign in you're office? If you don't feel free to print this one out and hang it up as a reminder not to panic. It never solved anything.

Today's minimotivator #20-2010: Job done!

2010-02-16T17:55:00.000+13:00

Sam Ewing said, "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."

Having been working with a successful electrician today I really understand the importance of turning up. He turns up on time, every time and gets the job done. He is the kind of person who turns up, rolls up his sleeves, and is successful because of it.

Which one are you? More importantly, which one do you want to be? Tell me on Facebook.

Today's minimotivator #20-2010: What's eating you?

2010-02-15T14:43:00.000+13:00

Annita Manning said, "High-tech tomatoes. Mysterious milk. Supersquash. Are we supposed to eat this stuff? Or is it going to eat us?".

Love this quote because with the stuff that goes into food these days it's amazing they aren't eating us. Actually they probably are, from the inside.

Food plays a big part in your day, week, life and success. Teach someone to cook a meal this week and you could have saved lives. Their life and their children's and their grand children.

Jamie Oliver offers a lot of evidence in his 20 minute TED talk here.

YourMondayMotivator: Who do you compete against?

2010-02-15T08:37:00.000+13:00

This morning I have been listening to the news reports about BMW Oracle thrashing Alinghi in the America's Cup and I started to think about competition.

It is said competition brings out the best and worst of people but it also quickly advances technology and systems because in the strive to win you have to work better, faster and find better technology than the other person or team to win.This technology and systems then becomes common knowledge and is passed on to the rest of us.

However, Colonel Potter said, "It's too big a world to be in competition with everyone. The only person who I have to be better than is myself."

I agree with the wise old Colonel. The only person I need to answer too every day (some might mention God here) is me. Competing against myself raises my game and rubs off on those around me, raising their game.

So this week, focus on competing against yourself. Raise the bar a tad every day for the week and see where you are at the end of it. Those slight increases everyday will turn into a huge increase by the end of the week and before long you will be helping raise everyone else's game.

Have a successful week.

Today's minimotivator #19-2010: Instincts; do you trust them?

2010-02-12T14:35:00.003+13:00

Come to the edge.

We might fall.

Come the edge.

It's too high!

COME TO THE EDGE!

And they came

and he pushed

and they flew . . .

Christopher Logue, "Come to the edge"

Instincts are an amazing thing. They wake you up a split second before your child cries in the night and make you move to avoid a golf ball or catch a plate.

It takes practice to get in touch with them again and that's your challenge for the weekend: listen to your instincts. You'll be surprised at how good they are.

Today's minimotivator #18-2010: More countryside

2010-02-11T14:30:00.002+13:00

Eddie Cantor said, "Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going to fast: you also miss the sense of where you are going and why."

It's not a great idea to slow down on the motorway but, if you turn off sometimes, you can slow down to 70 or 80, maybe even stop, and really enjoy the scenery. Here in New Zealand we are very lucky but whatever country your from you will have the same opportunities.

Take them. Read the map and get a good idea of where you're going while you're at it. You might find an interesting short cut or cool sight you would have missed by blasting by at 100.

Today's minimotivator #17-2010: The countryside

2010-02-10T14:30:00.002+13:00

Henri Rousseau said, "When I go out into the countryside and see the sun and the green and everything flowering, I say to myself Yes indeed, all that belongs to me!"

It really is only in the countryside where you can sit on a bench or on a hill and say this all belongs to me. Do it this weekend. Go out to a park or a beach, breath in and say, 'This belongs to me."

Not only will you feel richer, you will feel healthier - mostly because your breathing fresh air.