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1. Reflections
A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I visited my daughter Risa in
, to celebrate her 27th birthday . . . we got
to eat at a bunch of different restaurants, did some shopping (well,
forget all the rest . . .
Found out some fantastic news . . . on the morning we were slated
to leave, Risa's boyfriend JP called one morning from the lobby of our
hotel--actually awakening me from my beauty sleep . . . he asked
pleasantly surprised when he asked me for Risa's hand in marriage!
B. Upon our return, we went out for dinner with some of our
friends to Pane E Vino (
215.340.1414)--an Italian restaurant
in
Doylestown, PA . . . it was the first time we've been there; it
will most definitely not be the last.
The food is excellent . . . Cynthia and I shared a veal dish,
along with an order of pasta bolognese . . . we enjoyed both
immensely, and Cynthia also said her lobster bisque was
delicious . . . desserts were equally mouth-watering: I had
the creme brule, while Cynthia chose a cannoli.
What you have to eat, though, is just part of the story . . . there's
live music supplied by a guitar player and from time to time,
various members of the staff got up to sing and/or dance . . . our
server Alberto was excellent, and Antonio, the owner, made us
feel welcome the minute we arrived.
C. For New Year's Eve, we got together with other friends and
went locally to Jumbo Palace (
908.874.3050) in
Hillsborough,
NJ . . . this is a combination Chinese-Japanese restaurant that
we enjoy, in that the food is always good and the service is
friendly . . . we all shared a variety of appetizers that were
all good, though I'd especially recommend the boneless
spareribs . . . for our main course, we continued to share
our various main course choices . . . the names escape me,
though I do recall sampling chicken, vegetable and pork dishes
that I found quite tasty.
From there, we came back to our place for some more sharing--this
time of stories and songs . . . we next went around the room,
telling of our intentions for the coming year . . . dessert followed,
featuring a cheesecake sampler from our local Sam's Club . . . this is
our favorite bakery item from there; it never fails to delight . . . the
ball then dropped, leading us into 2007 and what promises to be
another phenomenal year for Cynthia and me.
D. CONGRATULATIONS to Earl Goldberg, now an associate professor
of nursing at La Salle University . . . he was just promoted and at the
same time, he was granted tenure . . . Buck's loss (he used to
be a teaching colleague of mine) has been La Salle's gain!
***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD *****
This week, it goes to Pat Hannigan--a former student and longtime
friend who is also a frequent contributor to this newsletter (via his
insightful emails).
Pat gets special recognition this week for something he did
recently for me; i.e., he took pictures at the Lindback Award for
Distinguished Teaching presentation that I gave in the fall at
Bucks County Community College . . . they came out great, but
that's no surprise in that Pat is an excellent photographer who
did a great job taking pictures at our wedding . . . should you want
to utilize his services, you won't go wrong . . . he can be reached via
phone,
215.968.1615, or by email at
pat.hannigan@verizon.net.
When not taking pictures, Pat is a senior account executive
for Carrier Air Conditioning (commercial services), and in his spare time,
he and his wife Gloria hang with Spike--an adorable dog that is
1/2 yorkshire terrier and 1/2 shizu.
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2. FYI
And here’s the tested and proven method . . . to achieve your goals:
1. Write down big ones. On 3 x 3 yellow post-it notes, write down
your prime goals in short words (get funding for business; win
salesman of the year award; new client: First Citizens Bank).
2. Write down small ones. Use three more notes and write down your
secondary goals in short words (read about attitude 15 minutes a day;
read book--Dale Carnegie; organize desk; build new closet).
3. Put them in front of your face. Post them on your bathroom mirror,
where you are forced to look at them--and yourself—every morning
and evening.
4. Say them aloud each time you look at them. Look AND say doubles
the affirmation.
5. Keep looking and talking until you act. You will look at them until you
are sick of looking at them and will begin to take action--achievement
action--and accomplish them.
6. Seeing the note there every day makes you think about acting on it
every day. Once you start acting, the note triggers a “What do I have
to do today to keep the achievement on target?The note forces you
to act. To achiever your goal.
By posting the goal in the bathroom, you are consciously reminded of
your goals at least two times a day. From there your subconscious
gets into the act, gnawing away at your soul until you are driven to take
positive action. Achievement actions.
And when you get to the top of the mountain--when you achieve what
you've been working for--at last you can say the magic words. Scream
them--I DID IT! (Screaming positive things always feels wonderful.)
6.5 Revisit your success every day. Here comes the best part--after
your goal is achieved, take the post-it note off the bathroom mirror and
triumphantly post it on your bedroom mirror. Now, every day when you
check out “how you look for the day,you also get to see your success.
SOURCE:
THE SALES BIBLE (see also Section 4C) by Jeffrey Gitomer
FYI, part 2
* Bev in
Pennsylvania:
If you haven't seen them, rent:
KINKY BOOTS (don't ask; just trust me); and
SOPHIE SCHOLL.
* Joe in
New Jersey:
NutriSystem is still looking for about 15 more employees, sales
representatives and/or weight loss counselors to accommodate their
rapid expansion at their
Horsham, PA location. NutriSystem's Human
Resources Recruiter, Ginny McGinnis, is excellent.
Just in case your newsletter readers were interested in these positions,
they could either call her directly at 215.346.8092 or go online at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/14/60minutes/main2267927.shtml?CMP=ILC-SearchStories
* Jerry in
Pennsylvania:
One of my goals for 2007 is to speak to more groups, so a good referral
for me in 2007 is the name of other groups that you may be involved with.
Maybe they would enjoy me as their guest speaker. My favorite topic is
"Earn More Interest on Your Money and pay Less to the IRS!" If you
work for a company, we can even do a LUNCH and Learn workshop.
I try to make these workshops fun and entertaining as well as educational.
For more information, please call Jerry Gross at
215.355.4544 or
send an email to this address:
grossfin@aol.com.
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3. Mom knows best
While in the Army, my friend's son Gabe attended POSH (Prevention
of Sexual Harassment) classes. During one session, the sergeant
said to his men, Before you tell a joke, ask yourselves, What
would my mother think?
Gabe replied, Sergeant, theres a problem with that.
What is it?
If I listened to what my mother had to say, I wouldn't have joined
the Army in the first place.
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4. Reviews
A. Even if you saw the show DREAMGIRLS, rush to see the movie
version . . . it is fantastic; in fact, one of the best films I've seen
in a long time . . . it is the story of a Supremes-type group that
has such great music that afterwards, I had to rush to
get the CD . . . one song, in particular, sung by Jennifer Hudson,
had those in attendance clapping at its conclusion (something that
I don't think that I have ever seen) . . . Hudson was magnificent
in her first screen role; however, equally good were Beyoncé Knowles,
Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy . . . although I ordinarily don't pay that
much attention to costumes, I certainly noticed them in
DREAMGIRLS . . . I often complain about the fact that movies are
too long . . . this is one that I would have wanted time added to
it . . . make sure you stay for the credits, in that you'll get even more
music and a chance to see pictures of the actors who played the various
characters . . . rated PG-13.
B. MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND is now out in DVD format . . . my
review from BLAINESWORLD #513 follows:
Four words come to mind when I think about the movie MY
SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND: better than SUPERMAN RETURNS . . . that's
certainly not a ringing endorsement, but I at least had fun with the
former film; the latter did little for me.
MY SUPER is a sometimes amusing spoof on the superhero
genre . . . it involves a guy who finds it difficult to break up with
a gal who can fly, lift cars and do other spectacular things.
Uma Thurman was funny in the title role; Luke Wilson was a little
too bland for me as her boyfriend . . . I did like the work of the
supporting case, and I loved the cheesy special effects . . . rated PG-13.
C. I can say that I honestly loved THE SALES BIBLE (see also
Section 2) by Jeffrey Gitomer, but won't because according to
the author, honestly is a word that is almost always followed
with a lie . . . so frankly . . . oops, I shouldn't use that either because
frankly is a word that sounds insincere.
These are just some of the many words and phrases that you'll
learn to avoid . . . others include:
* Quite frankly
* And I mean that
* Are you prepared to order today?
How are you doing today?
Can I help you with something?
That's the type advice that Gitomer, a former salesperson and
now author/consultant, provides on virtually every page . . . although
his constant use of lists got to me after a while, the technique
works in that it enables him to pack-in a lot of information
that makes this book a MUST for any salesperson.
I especially liked his use of examples, as well as the constant
humor that he injects throughout the book . . . and there was
the following idea that I learned that will probably always
stick with me:
An all-time class technique . . . was offered by Thomas J. Elijah III,
of Elijah & Co. Real Estate, at a SalesMasters meeting. Thomas said,
Leave a partial message that includes your name and phone number,
then pretend to get cut off in midsentence as you're getting to the important
part of the message, cut it off in midword. It works like a charm because
the prospect can't stand not knowing the rest of the information or thinks
his voice mail is broken.
Here are a few examples of the Elijah Method:
Leave your name and number, then deliver half a sentence to peak interest:
* Your name came up in an important conversation today with Hugh . . .
* They were talking about you and said . . .
* I have a deal that could deliver you a hundred thou . . .
* I'm interested in your . . .
Gitomer cites many other sales gurus, including Zig Ziglar and one
of my favorites, Tom Hopkins--and the latter's five-step formula for success:
1. Maintain your curiosity.
2. Sustain interest in all you do.
3. Have a never-ending thirst for knowledge.
4. Believe in what you do.
5. Your purpose in life must be more than money. (I would dare to
add a sixth--Don't dwell on problems. Concentrate on solutions.)
If you maintain a business library, THE SALES LIBRARY is
certainly something that belongs there!
D. Enjoyed listening to EMPERORS AND IDIOTS by Mike Vaccaro,
the story of the 100 year Yankee-Red Sox rivalry . . . it emphasized
the very exciting races in both 2003 and 2004, while also interspersing
tales from 1904, 1919, 1941, 1946, 1949, 1977, and 1978 . . . and
that leads to my only criticism of the book; i.e., it was a bit
choppy . . . personally, I would have preferred a more linear approach.
Yet I quibble . . . what a thrill to relive many of the seasons that I
personally followed . . . (NOT the ones prior to 1977!) . . . and even
then, I enjoyed hearing about DiMaggio and Williams, and the fact
that they almost got traded for each other . . . also, it was fun
getting to again hear names from my not-so-distant past, including
Mantle, Maris, Fisk, Yastremski, Pinella, Munson, Jackson and taking me
through the present era of Martinez, Jeter, Damon, and Rivera.
The CD version had an added bonus: interviews with Bill "Spaceman"
Lee and Yogi Berra, two players who had actually experienced the
rivalry . . . to quote Berra, "You really have to go through it to
know what it was like to go through it."
This book gave me a feel for just that . . . fans of either team--or
sports, in general--will like EMPERORS AND IDIOTS.
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5. TV alert
A. DIRT, according to THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL, is a "slick and
entertaining new FX series" . . . it stars Courtney Cox who plays a
ruthless editor of a gossip tabloid . . . debuts Tuesday at 10 p.m.
B. There's been a lot of hype about THE KNIGHTS OF PROSPERITY,
a heist comedy about a group of misfits . . . notes TV GUIDE, "Mick
Jagger steals the pilot with his outrageous cameo" . . . Wednesdays
at 9 p.m. on ABC.
C. JOSH BLUE COMEDY SPECIAL has the winner of LAST COMIC
SPECIAL with his own showcase from his hometown of Denver . . . he's
one funny guy, and the fact that he lives with cerebral palsy makes his
work even more noteworthy . . . Friday at 6:30 p.m. on BRAVO.
D. Just when you think you've seen the end of reality shows on TV,
another one pops up that looks like it might be fun . . . GREASE:
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT is an audition competition
for would-be actors hoping to play Danny and Sandy on
Broadway . . . Fridays on NBC at 8 p.m.
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6. Epiphany
I watched an ant climb a blade of grass this morning.
When he reached the top, his weight bent the blade
down to the ground. Then, twisting his thorax with
insectile precision, he grabbed hold of the next blade.
In this manner, he traveled across the lawn,
covering as much distance vertically as he did horizontally,
which amused and delighted me. And then, all at once,
I had what is sometimes called an "epiphany,"
a moment of heightened awareness in which everything
becomes clear.
Yes, hunched over that ant on my hands and knees, I
suddenly knew what I had to do . . .
Quit drinking before noon.
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7. Websites
A. Rex was born with a cyst in his brain. He was blind, didn't learn to walk
or talk, and developed autistic-like symptoms. It seemed there was little
hope for Rex, until his second birthday, when his father gave him a keyboard.
For the complete story that was reported on 60 MINUTES by Lesley
Stahl, please click:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/20/60minutes/main957718_page2.shtml
But if you REALLY want to see something, catch Rex actually
performing by clicking:
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?channel=60Sunday
B. Imagine getting paid to submit a video for others to watch online . . . you
can now do so by clicking:
http://www.iystv.com/
There's a weekly $1,000 prize and an overall grand prize of $100,000 . . . so
get filming and don't forget that WHEN you win, my coat size is
40R (hint-hint) . . . eventually, the plan is for Carson Daly to host
an NBC show that will feature the best entries.
Also, you don't have to make a video . . . you can just critique. You'll
have fun doing so because some of this stuff is definitely--searching for
a term--"out there."
For example, there's this one:
http://www.iystv.com/3489_Identity_Theft/media
C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view
it, please click:
http://www.blainesworld.net
To see some of my favorite websites, go to "Blaine's Best" on the left,
then "Websites" . . . I'm in the process of updating these, but in
the meantime, check such ones as the following: C, F, H, I, R, and T.
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8. Computer tip
Computer manuals are becoming way too skimpy . . . the same thing
applies to manuals for most any other product; e.g., printers,
DVDs, iPods, etc.
Recently, when purchasing an iPod for Cynthia, all that came with
the product was a small sheet that said virtually nothing . . . however,
by going to the website, we were able to get a manual that answered
most of our questions . . . to see for yourself, please click:
http://www.apple.com/support/manuals
We then printed that out . . . in addition, we found some excellent
video tutorials.
Methinks you would do well to do the same thing for any similar-type
product that you might buy in the future; i.e., if you can't easily figure out
what you need to do after you open the box.
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9. Similarities
Ever notice the similarities between man and his best friend,
his dog?
Both take up too much space on the bed.
Both have irrational fears about vacuuming.
Neither tells you whats bothering him.
Neither of them notices when you get your hair cut.
Neither understands what you see in cats.
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10. A quote I like
When you arise in the morning, give thanks to the morning light
for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and the joy
of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies
in yourself.--Tecumseh (1768-1813), Native American chieftan
of the Shawnee tribe
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11. Thought for the day
Worried about breaking your new year's resolutions?
Try thinking like a yogi
by Deborah Metzger (reprinted with permission)
Humans have been making--and breaking--New Year's Resolutions
for thousands of years. Improvements in health are perennial favorites:
losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising more, and taking time
for relaxation, are likely to top many people's lists.
Unfortunately, research and surveys show that a small minority
of resolutions last even one month. According to Deborah Metzger,
Director of the Princeton Center for Yoga & Health, the problem is not
in the resolutions themselves, but in our mindsets as we make them.
Metzger explained that according to Yogic principles, most people
make three serious errors as they set their resolutions. First, they
judge themselves harshly. This leads to the second error, choosing
unattainable goals. They magnify the gap between where they are
and where they want to be. That causes the third error, thinking that
the only way they can climb such a tall mountain is by beating
themselves up until they reach the top.
"This combination of errors sets up a spiral of failure," Metzger said.
"The minute you start with negative judgments, you lose the ability
to make positive changes." For example, a woman who attends yoga
class to "fix" her stress-related problems may actually spend the class
berating herself for not attending every day: "This feels so good, why
do I only go once a week? She's just given herself a negative message
for doing something positive for herself. Why would she want to keep
repeating that experience?"
When judgment leads to unattainable goals, the first misstep can
spell the end of the resolution. "If someone who loves ice cream
vows to stop eating ice cream all together, that's just not reasonable.
So the minute they have a single spoonful, they just give up and say,
'Hey, why not eat the whole half gallon?' "
When resolutions can only be kept by discipline and fear of self-inflicted
punishment, Metzger asserted, they are not sustainable. "In the end,
we only do things that give us pleasure or help us avoid pain. If we think
of the change we want to make as essentially negative, as requiring
us to give up something we love, then we're fighting against ourselves.
Our old habits will prevail."
The Yogic model of personal change, by contrast, consists of three
simple decisions: awareness, acceptance, and adjustment. "Awareness,
as opposed to judgment, means knowing where you are right now. If you
want to follow a map to get to a destination, the first thing you need
to figure out is where you are on the map. It's not to beat yourself up,
but simply to allow you to make good decisions."
Acceptance means acknowledging your situation without wishing it
were different. "Once you accept reality, and stop fighting against it,
you can make a conscious decision to try something new," Metzger
explained. Often, non-judgmental awareness all by itself causes a shift
or adjustment--the change feels natural and effortless.
With this mindset, there can be no failure, only more information
to help make better adjustments in the future. "Awareness is the key
to the whole process. But in our culture, we prefer numbness to awareness.
We run around and keep busy rather than quiet our minds and pay attention
to our inner needs and wisdom."
To help people get into the right mindset for keeping New Year's resolutions,
the Princeton Center for Yoga & Health is offering a week of free classes
from January 2-8. "We want people who are curious about yoga, who
would like to experience difference styles and intensities, to take as many
classes as they like and see what feels right for them." And, since there's
nothing like a buddy to help with one's resolve, returning students who bring
a new friend to PCYH get one class free, too!
Metzger said that the Center's motto was, "Yoga for every body." "You don't
need special clothing, you don't need to look like a model--you don't even
need to be able to stand up! We welcome you as you are, and our morning
through night and weekend schedule accommodates virtually everyone."
The free week of classes includes Power Yoga, Hot Yoga, Hatha
or Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Kripalu Yoga, Gentle Yoga, and Relaxercise,
as well as Yoga for Beginners, Yoga for Stress Reduction, Pilates mat
classes, Belly Dance, and other healing forms and free chair massage.
For a complete schedule or directions to the Center, visit their website:
