Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:37:43 -0800WeeblyFri, 11 Nov 2011 12:37:15 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2011/11/the-wayman-tisdale-story.htmlIt has been a while since I have had the time to post, but after watching "The Wayman Tisdale Story" last night I felt inclined to share a few thoughts.  If you haven't seen this show or heard about it yet you owe it to yourself to take the 90 minutes out of your day to watch it.....you won't regret it. 

This show is so much more than the life of a basketball player and accomplished musician.  Tisdale's story is about overcoming adversity in the face of huge obstacles.  It is a tale of his courage, optimism, positive attitude and zest for life.  Wayman Tisdale proved to be a role model for us all and he teaches us that no matter what challenges one might face there is always something positive that can be taken away from those experiences. 

I was blown away by how upbeat and positive Tisdale was after being diagnosed with cancer.  His smile was contagious to all of those he came in contact with.  If you don't walk away after watching this program with a better appreciation for life you might not be human :)

Here is a link to the CD/DVD and a short video trailer. 
http://www.mackavenue.com/artists/detail/wayman_tisdale

This quote sums up his life:  "You can never give up because quitting is not an option. No matter how dark it is or how weak you get, until you take that last breath, you must fight.” ~ Wayman Tisdale (1964-2009)


]]>Wed, 04 May 2011 12:05:27 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2011/05/failing-forward.htmlI recently experienced a level of failure in my professional career that I have not faced in a long time.  To some it may not be consired a failure, but in my eyes it is.  As John Maxwell has said in his book Failing Forward, "The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure."  The key here is our response to failure.  In the face of failure it is imperative to find a way to motivate ourselves to see past this percieved failure and find a way to see the opportunities that it  has presented to us.  Use this time to identify new ways of doing things, changing old habits or coming up with new more creative approaches to the same task.  Use failure to help change your attitude, reinvigorate your passion or light a fire in your belly to go out and be the best at what you do.  

"According to Tulane University business professor Lisa Amos, the average for entrepreneurs is 3.8 failures before they finally make it in business."  If every business owner gave up after their first or second failed attempt there would be no businesses to speak of.  A majority of our country's businesses are small businesses and they represent the foundation of this great country.  If it were not for the fortitude, perserverance and ability to Fail Forward where would America be today??

The next time you look failure in the eye no mattter what you think you have failed at remember these 5 rules:
1.  You will learn lessons
2.  There are no mistakes, only lessons
3.  A lesson is repeated until it is learned
4.  If you don't learn the easy lessons, they get harder.
5.  You will know you have leanred a lesson when your actions change. 

If you are interested in learning more about how to overcome failure then I recommend reading John C. Maxwell's "Failing Forward."  It is a great resource on the subject and should be recommended reading in every college and university across America.    ]]>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:59:07 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2011/03/dont-quit-when-youre-almost-there.htmlI wanted to share one of my new favorite quotes from one of Mac Anderson and Sam Parker's books called 212 the extra degree.  "The line between failure and success is so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it.  How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience, would have achieved success.  A little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. 

Elbert Hubbard
American Writer & Business Person
1856-1915 ]]>Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:02:31 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2011/02/the-oreo-cookie-approachmaybe-not-the-best-idea.htmlAnyone that has ever managed people or has had to report to someone else has probably been hit with the Oreo Cookie Approach as I like to call it.  Most managers tend to mix the good with the bad when coaching a subordinate.  We start out with a positive, add some negative and then finish off with some more positive.......thus the Oreo Cookie (Good-Bad-Good).  I don't believe this is the best approach and here's why.  If it becomes part of your regular routine then everyone knows it is coming.  It becomes predictable and the negative can and often  does  outweigh the positive leaving the whole discussion to end on a sour note. 

Research shows that the #1 reason people don't like their job is because they don't like or respect their supervisor.  It is up to the supervisor to create and foster an environment conducive to positive two way feedback.  The only way to create this environment is to turn coaching discussions into 1) positive feedback sessions or 2) opportunity sessions.  Positive feedback sessions speak for themselves.  The only things covered in these meetings are positive comments, feedback, and praise.  Opportunity sessions on the other hand are geared towards identifying reluctances, areas for improvement, stretch goals and developmental opportunities.  Address behaviors, give immediate feedback after the behavior and make the feedback worthwhile. 

My best advice is to take every opportunity to communicate positive feedback and think long and hard before you jump into an opportunity session.  If you  are consistent you can help build a long lasting employee/employer relationship  that is based on a solid foundation of effective communication.  ]]>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:59:49 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2011/01/a-new-year-and-easy-way-to-motivate-yourself-and-others.htmlIt is now 2011 and another year has come and gone.  Now is your chance to grab the proverbial bull by the horns.  Like many others I have resolved to give up any sort of new year's resolutions.  In my opinion they don't usually last and have no long lasting effect on your life.  However I have decided it was a good time to take a look in the mirror and ask myself if I could do more to become a better person.  Of course the answer is yes. 

As you can probably tell I like to write about the topic of motivation.  I like to read, watch and listen just about anything that is motivational.  With that being said I recently read a small motivational piece from Sam Parker and Mac Anderson titled 212 The Extra Degree.  It's packed with great quotes and stories that will get you pumped up to go that extra mile. 

The one thing I took away from this book had to do with complaining.  If your like me you probably do a lot of complaining.  I can find a reason to complain about almost anything.  The problem with complaining is there is nothing positive about it.  I have never once heard a complaint that motivated me to do something good or think positive thoughts.  The moral of the story was to Cease Complaining.  Complaining once less each day cuts off a total of 365 negative seeds each year.  When you want to complain about the weather, traffic, a tough day or whatever it may be try this.  Instead of complaining, put a smile in the path of a complaint.  Doing this once a day every day for a year will turn what would have otherwise been 365 negative seeds into 365 positive actions!  Try it, and I bet you will start to see a difference.  Go forth and have a great 2011!]]>Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:41:28 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2010/09/emotional-intelligence.htmlIn order to motivate employees it is critical that those coaches, managers and leaders have a high level of Emotional Intelligence.  We have all heard of IQ at one time or another.  Your IQ is a measure to some extent of how  smart or intelligent you are.  Your EI or Emotional Intelligence is how well you identify, assess, and control your own emotions and the emotions of those  around you. 

Not many of us has a very high EI and those of us that do are able to excel in the most extreme and stressful of environments.  Historically, great  leaders have very high emotional intelligence.  They can weather any storm and  may seem unfazed by their surrounds no matter how hostile or unfamiliar they may be.

If you want to learn how to keep from demotivating employees or anyone else you may work with then it is very important that you are at a very minimum aware of your own emotions and how they are afffecting those around you.  A great leader is the rock on which his or her people  can stand on.  They are the foundation and cement that holds and organization together.  They don't waiver in the face of failure and continue to exhibit high levels of the 3 E's (Energy, Excitement, and Enthusiasm).  In order for you to truly become a great leader and succeed at motivating others you will need to develop an above average level of EI.  Being aware is the first step along your journey down this path.  Good luck! ]]>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:38:57 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2010/07/peter-druckers-insight-into-a-managers-responsibilities.htmlBeing a manager isn't an easy task.  In fact, at times it can be quite daunting.  The Wall Street Journal posted and article some time ago by Alan Murray titled "What do Managers do?"  It lays out a clear path that all manager should incorporate into their job in some shape or form.  1) Set objectives 2) Organize 3) Motivate and communicate 4) Measure 5) Develop.  ]]>Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:58:02 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2010/04/new-video.htmlI just added a new video the "A Satisfied Employee" page of this site.  It runs about 5 minutes but helps to clarify the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivators.  Good Stuff!]]>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:06:18 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2010/02/power-of-the-mind.htmlI just started reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and there is discussion of a fairly new field of reseach called Noetic Science.  According to www.noetic.org Noetic Science is the exploration into the nature and potentials of consciousness using multiple ways of knowing including intuition, feeling, reason, and the senses.  More specifically how our minds can effect our physical being and surroundings. 

Sounds like some mystical mumbo jumbo doesn't it?  Not so fast.  Our minds are more powerful and complex then any of us realize.  It has been proven that our thougths and feelings can have physical manifistations.   Just think of a time when you were under a lot of pressure to get something done.  Your mind is racing and going in a hundred different directions which can often lead to increased levels of stress.  Stress can cause headaches, tightening of muscles, quizziness and other physical problems. 

Bottom line, we have the ability to affect our physical being and surrounding environment with a positive attitude and thoughts.  Motivation starts from within and ultimately it begins in our minds.  If you start out each day telling yourself that it will be a productive day and you will accomplish great things, eventually you will.  Conversely if you wake up each morning with negative thoughts and feelings you may start to see the glass half empty instead of half full.  Just remember the journey to getting yourself and others motivated starts in our minds.  Think big and you will do big things!!!  Go out and have a great day.]]>Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:13:21 -0800http://www.howtomotivatepeople.com/1/post/2009/12/the-3-es.htmlAnybody that knows me knows that I am a huge fan of watching sports.  It doesn't matter if it is football, basketball, baseball or golf.  Just the other night I was watching a college basketball game and Dick Vitale was calling the game.  I heard him refer to something he called the 3 E's:  Energy, Enthusiasm, and Excitement. 

It is important for anyone trying to motivate others or even trying to motivate themselves that they show a high level of Energy, Enthusiasm, and Excitement.  Most people who are passionate about what they do find it easier to have these qualities, while others need to dig deep to bring them out.  Either way if you live by the 3 E's you will find success.  ]]>