NAMASTE - The Words of Aspire (#3 of 11)

Namaste

Lesson #3 in an Eleven-part series 

based on Aspire by Kevin Hall

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“You are an unrepeatable miracle” … thus says Kevin Hall in this chapter from Aspire.

Your fingerprint and your footprint are unique to you alone.  You eye can be used for identification because of the unique patterns found inside.  Even your voice vibrates at a frequency unmatched by any other on earth. 

You are unique.  You are special.  You have a touch of divinity flowing within you.  That my friend is “Namaste”.

So, since all of us have this uniqueness, this structure unlike any other on the face of this earth, then for what are we created?

What indeed!

There is greatness in each of us.  Greatness in you.  Greatness in me. 

If you’ve read Kevin’s book, then you know all about Arthur, Kevin’s linguistic mentor.  Arthur points out that Namaste sounds like it comes from the roots of our English word “enthusiasm”.  “Enthusiasm” means ‘God within or God’s gifts within’.

The word “enthusiasm” then led Arthur to “authentic”, which comes from two words.  “Autos” means self, and “hentes” means being.  Authentic means “being yourself.”

How about that?  We are to be in pursuit of our real self – our authentic nature and gifts.

We are to become a genius – which is nothing more than being “genuine”.

Genuine:  The real deal.  The true-blue, unmistakable, unbending example of all we were made to be.

And how do we come to this place in our lives?

We “Recognize” ourselves.

Arthur breaks down “Recognize” as follows:  “RE” is again, and “COGNIZE” is a derivative of “cognizant,” which means to know. 

“Recognize means to know again.  Recognizing your natural gifts is like meeting an old friend. 

We come face to face with ourselves, our giftedness, our inherent nature, and we recognize that spark of divinity.  And the next step is the most critical step of our lives.

We have to embrace what we recognize.  We have to embrace US.  That spark of divinity, of creativity is already there.  Now that we see it, recognize it for what it is.  Embrace it.  Make it you.  Claim your giftedness, your talents, your inner qualities, and begin the journey of a lifetime for the rest of your life. 

I have always known that I am a people person, and I have found jobs and career paths that enabled me to use those people skills. 

I have expressed them through music, retail sales, and management.  Always, always, as a manager, I placed a higher priority on the people under my care more than on the financial bottom line.  It was my passion to see each person grow and flourish as an individual first, and then the rest would fall into place. 

I still hold to that mindset.  It’s people who do our bidding when we are managers.  

Those are the thoughts that make my heart beat faster as a manager.

And now I write and speak.  I’m still passionate about helping individuals become whatever it is they want to become.  Now I use words – words of hope, encouragement and inspiration.

So, what were your born to do? 

As you meditate on this question, use these as guideposts.

--When you are all alone, and your mind runs free,

what are your most dominant thoughts

when you think about your life and career?

--If you could do anything in the world,

and knew you would not fail,

what would you do?

I love what Kevin says at the end of his “Journal Thoughts”:

“I commit to stop doing what I am good at and start doing what I am great at.  That is Namaste at its very essence.” 

If you’ve ever received any written communication from Kevin, you instantly know he is famous for signing off with “Namaste my friend.” 

He is saying -- “I salute the Divine within you.  I salute your God-given gifts.”

Go forth, my friend.  Show the world what is fully inside of you.  Strut your stuff.

You are full of divinity!

PATHFINDER - The Words of Aspire (#2 of 11)

Pathfinder 

Lesson #2 in an Eleven-part series 

based on Aspire by Kevin Hall
(Click Here to order your copy of Aspire.)

When I lived in Albuquerque, I had the grand opportunity to see the wildness of that great land of enchantment.  I still love the dessert landscape with the tumbleweeds and the sage brush. 

One winter, my good friends Lawrence and Bess Oliver took a group of us on a snow-shoe outing in the Sandia Mountains.

We got all gathered up, and packed our backpacks and our warm clothes and off we went.

The snow began to fall as we parked our car, and got heavier as the morning went on.

On we trudged.  We were in a winter wonderland and loving every minute of it.

After two hours into our hike, Lawrence stopped, looked around and quietly said, “I think we’re lost.”

What to do?  We were in a blizzard, it was cold, and the hot chocolate was long gone.

But as quickly as Lawrence told us that grim news, he quickly added, “but I think I can get us back on track.”

We cut across what was surely untraveled landscape, and before long we were back on the path and soon found our vehicles. 

Lawrence was a pathfinder.  He knew what to do to lead us on our way. 

A Pathfinder is a leader.  Kevin breaks down these words for us as follows:  “The first part of leader is “lea” – which means path; the second part – “der” means finder.”

“A leader is a pathfinder.  They read signs and clues.  They see and show the way.”

“So, being a leader means finding the path, but before you can help someone else find their path, you must know your own.”

Lawrence was an experienced outdoorsman.  He had walked the Sandi trails many times.  We had confidence in him that he knew what to look for.

That’s what we want in a leader.  We want someone who has gone before us and can read the signs. 

--Great teachers are pathfinders.

         --Some exceptional ministers

            have proven to be pathfinders.

     --Certain authors are certainly pathfinders. 

        They point us to good and wholesome places

        for our life’s journey. 

What kind of pathfinder are you? 

Are you trusted and proven in your field?

Do you know your own way 

so that you can lead others?

We are all on some kind of path.  Is it the right path for you?  Only you can answer that after some serious soul searching and thinking about your life, your dreams, your passions, and your calling.

Joseph Campbell, author of The Power of the Myth, teaches us this:  

“When you follow your bliss, you put yourself on the track 

that has been there all the while … you begin to meet people 

who are in the field of your bliss, and they open doors to you.”

Kevin wraps up this chapter with these thoughts:

“I have come to realize that those who follow their true path and purpose do five things:

1.     1.  They are able to read the clues that guide them on their path.

2.     2. They are very clear about where they are going.

3.     3. They recognize and embrace their natural gifts.

4.     4. They are willing to sacrifice to make significant contributions.

5.     5. They follow their bliss, and as a result they meet people on their path who have been placed  

        there to guide them along their journey.

I love what Kevin writes in his Journal Thoughts:

“Four things I need to recognize daily.

1.      People who appear on my path to help me fulfill my purpose.

2.      Actions taken on opportunities

3.      Thoughts that help me create a life of meaning and significance.

4.      Moments of happiness and bliss.

P – People

A – Actions

T – Thoughts

H – Happiness

That spells PATH.”

Genshai - The Words of Aspire (#1 of 11)

Genshai

Lesson #1 in an Eleven-part series based on Aspire by Kevin Hall

I am a word-hound.  The longer I live, the more I realize the importance words play in impacting our lives.  As a writer, I know that I can lift someone up, or bring them down simply by how I paint word images. 

For the next eleven weeks you and I will take a journey together.  Using Kevin Hall’s book Aspire, we will explore the meaning of eleven powerful, life-enhancing words.  This will be good for our souls and our minds, and especially good for our relationships with others.

Let the journey begin

“One word could change the world for the better.  Words are like passwords.  They unlock the power.  They open the door.”  (Kevin Hall)

Our first word is Genshai.  It means that “you should never treat another person in a manner that would make them feel small.” 

A practitioner of Genshai will use language such as this:

“I think there is a better way to do this.

Avoid this – “That’s stupid.  Why would you do it that way?”

Or this:

“You gave your best effort on that report today and I thank you.  Now, I see a couple of areas that need strengthening.  What if we work on this together next Thursday and see if we can make an even stronger presentation?”

Avoid this – “What were you thinking on that report today?  Don’t you

know anything?  I should have done it myself.”

Do you see how our words used can make a big difference on the receiver’s end?

Words matter. 

I am all about lifting people up.  I dislike put-downs and condescending tones.  And I despise being made to feel like a slug; a wee little person who is not worth considering except to be stepped on and squashed under foot.

Genshai:  Never treat another person in a manner that would make them feel small

The second part of Genshai is this:  “Genshai means that you never treat anyone small – and that includes yourself!”

Oh my.  I could write volumes about this one. 

What conversations do you have with yourself about you?

Do you like yourself? 

Do you approve of yourself? 

Do you see value in ‘you’?

The image one holds of oneself is perhaps the most important ingredient for success and development as a fulfilled and successful individual.

The bottom line here is this:  Treat yourself with respect.  Hold forth a more lofty idea of your worth, your skills and your worthiness as a human being.  After all, You Are Somebody!

As Kevin closes this first chapter, he gives us a glimpse into his Journal Thoughts.  Listen to this:

“I have divinity within me.  I have greatness within me.  I attract into my life that which I believe I am.

“Believe” means to ‘be love’.  When I love myself, I treat myself with respect.  “Spect” is to look at.”  “Re” is back.  “Respect” is to look back at.”

May we commit that from this day forward we will always treat everyone we meet as large and important –and especially ourselves.  May we hold forth an image of I am somebody.  I am a person of worth and value.”

That, my friend, is Genshai.

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A Recap of Seven Characteristics of Unstoppable People

Recap of Seven Characteristics of Unstoppable People

Based on the book Unstoppable by Cynthia Kersey

 We’ve just completed a seven week review of the Seven Characteristics of Unstoppable People, based on an idea from the book Unstoppable by Cynthia Kersey.  I highly recommend this book if you aren’t familiar with it.  Cynthia tells some fascinating stories of famous and not-so-famous individuals who have demonstrated what it takes to succeed in the work-a-day world. 

Here is a recap of the principles and a brief synopsis of each.  To see the full text for each character trait simply click on the underlined header.

#1:  What Is Your True Purpose

--Define your mission and stick to it (stated by General Tillet in the book Winds of War by Herman Wouk).

--Cynthia says “anyone … can achieve their goals and overcome any obstacle, if only they will commit themselves to doing so.”

#2:  What Is Your Passion?

--Why do you do what you do?

-- Passion sweeps one off their feet.  Now that is some strong something. 

--Marshall Foch says this about passion:  “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”  

--One of the best definitions I found for passion when researching this article is this:  “a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object or concept.”

#3:  Believe In Yourself

--Earl Nightingale is famous for saying … “You become what you think about.”

--Do you believe in you?

--Do you approve of yourself?

--Brian Tracy, speaker and writer, is famous for saying “I like myself.  I really do like myself.”

-- Only you can become the best you this world has ever seen.

#4: Prepare for Challenges

--Face the challenge head on.

--Understand it.

--What is in your control as you face challenges?

--Hold forth an image of successfully overcoming your challenge.

#5:  Ask for Help

--There are two parts to this equation.

--Part I - Sometimes you just have to say the words – “Will you help me?”

--Part II - BUILD A SUPPORT TEAM. 

--Betty Ford knew something about teamwork.  She once said – “You can make it, but it’s easier if you don’t have to do it alone.”

#6:  Seek Creative Solutions

--It’s called creative problem solving.

--Think outside the box.

--Paint outside the lines.

--Go where no man has gone before.

--Try the impossible.

--Look at things upside.

--Write it backwards.

--Do a mind dump.

--Steve Jobs once said – “Let’s go invent tomorrow.”

#7:   Persevere

--Have Pertinacity.  It means determinedly resolute in purpose, belief, or action.

--Persevere in spite of bad press, rejection slips, failed tests, and poor grades.

--“The arrow that hits the bull’s eye is the result of 100 misses.” 

And now we know seven character traits of unstoppable people. 

I’m wishing you much success in the pursuit of your dreams.  They may not come easy, but they can come true by applying these principles.

What’s that I hear? 

It sounds like …

It looks like …

My oh my!

It’s you crossing the finish line and the throngs are cheering you on because you became one of the unstoppable ones.

Persevere (Pt 7)

Persevere

Part 7 in a Seven-Part Series

Seven Characteristics of Unstoppable People

Based on the book Unstoppable by Cynthia Kersey

Are you up to learning a new word? 

The word is:

Pertinacity

It means determinedly resolute 

in purpose, belief, or action.

Every great man or woman, every successful institution or business, has become great because of this one ingredient. 

Abraham Lincoln had it. 

He ran for numerous political offices, and lost. 

His fiancé died. 

He started two businesses and they both failed. 

And finally in 1860 he was elected the 16^th President of the United States. 

He had perseverance.

Cynthia Kersey tells the story of a man who wanted to be a lawyer so badly that he finally succeeded – after taking the bar exam forty-eight times. 

Forty-Eight Times! 

That is unbelievable. 

Yet he persevered.

He spent $50,000 in testing fees and 144 days in testing rooms, and he passed the bar exam.  AMAZING!

Jim Carey now has a well-established comedic career.  He is a film star and is considered one of the comedy greats.  But his early days were less than funny.  He practiced in front of a mirror, with a hair brush in hand as a prop microphone.  He listened, read, studied, practiced and became The Jim Carey that we all know about today. 

During the beginning days of his professional life he was a warm-up act for the bigger names in Vegas.  One night, when a big-time performer fell ill, Jim convinced the stage manager to let him go on in the limelight and that one moment in time launched him into the big time.  But he prepared for that one moment all his life. 

He persevered. 

J.K. Rowling is now worth $15 billion dollars, yet in 1995 her first novel was turned down by twelve publishers before Bloomsbury finally decided to take a chance on her.  However, they encouraged her to take a day job.  You might recognize her name from the Harry Potter books. 

She persevered.

--Walt Disney was once fired because he “didn’t have any good ideas.”

--Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade, yet became the Prime Minister of England.

--Albert Einstein could not speak until he was four and he didn’t leard to read until age seven, yet he is famous for the theory of relativity. 

What is perseverance? 

It is …

Determination

Focus

Pursuing a dream

Never giving up

Taking the alternate route when the main highway is closed

Perseverance is following one's dream to the end.

This quote still rings true. 

“The arrow that hits

 the bulls eye

is the result of

100 misses.” 

It’s perseverance that counts. 

Aim

               Fire

                               Miss

Correct, check, double check,

Fire again. 

PERSEVERE