Showing posts with label Gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gratitude. Show all posts

Today...

Today...before you say an unkind word...
 
Think of someone who can't speak.
 
Today...before you complain about the taste of your food...
 
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
 
Today...before you complain about your husband or wife...
 
Think of someone who’s crying out to GOD for a companion.
 
Today...before you complain about life...
 
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
 
Today...before you complain about your children...
 
Think of someone who desires children but they are barren.
 
Today...before you argue about your dirty house someone didn’t clean or sweep...
 
Think of the people who are living in the streets...
 
Today...before whining about the distance you drive...
 
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
 
And when you are tired and complain about your job...
 
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
 
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another...
 
Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER!
 
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down...
 
Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you’re alive!
 
Just a reminder to not take our lives and the ones we love for granted.
 
 

Don't Sell Me...

I get calls...and emails all the time from someone trying to sell me on some new marketing, whether online or paper material. Those on the hard sell that don't listen to me...I've been known to hang up on when they talk over me.


So...knowing I don't want to be sold...and a line I've used many times...I want to share how I believe people want to be approached:


1. Don't sell me...Help Me!

If you need someone to sell you...go to a salesman who talks you into something because that's not me...I'm here to help you so you make decisions for yourself.

2. Don't close me...Advise Me!

If you need someone to quote you a good script to close you on something...you again want to speak with a salesman...I'm here to advise you, inform you, and help you form your own opinion.

3. Don't push me...Encourage Me!

If you need someone to push you because you struggle making decisions...I'm not the one for you either...I'm here to encourage you to gain knowledge and understanding so you can create your future.


Here's to your future!
To find out more: www.rhondasrealestate.com


Rhonda's 2012 Blessings...









....no, make that 11!



·         Blessed are the confident for they shall have an unshakable belief in themselves based on a realistic understanding of their circumstances; a trait that most people admire in others and strive to acquire themselves.



·         Blessed are the curious for they shall be eager to know, learn, and grow; always showing interest and giving special attention to the less obvious; always being the person who says “I want to know more about…”



·         Blessed are those who are decisive, for they shall arrive at a final conclusion or make a choice and take action; making decisions with determination even when they don’t have all the information they think they need.



·         Blessed are those who are empathetic, for they shall demonstrate care and understanding of someone else’s situation, feelings, and motives; always thinking about what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes.



·         Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape, nor be rigid and unable to change with life; responding positively to change; being pliable, adaptable, and able to deal with ambiguity.





·         Blessed are those who love humor, for they shall not take themselves or life too seriously; viewing themselves and the world with enjoyment; being amused, and at times, even comical!



·        Blessed are the intelligent, for they shall think and work smarter and cleverly; being sharp in their dealings; “not reinventing the wheel”: planning before acting; working efficiently and focusing on quality over quantity.



·         Blessed are the optimistic, for they shall expect the best possible outcome; dwelling on the most hopeful or positive aspects of a situation; believing that the glass is half full rather than half empty.



·         Blessed are those who display perseverance, for they shall have passion, energy, focus and the desire to get results; always staying motivated, persistent in their hard work.



·        Blessed are the respectful, for they shall remember that it is just as easy to be nice; protecting another person's self-esteem; treating others in a considerate and courteous manner.



·        Blessed are the self-aware, for they shall display a sophisticated form of consciousness that enables them to regulate themselves by monitoring, observing, and changing their thought processes and behaviors. 


5 Steps to Increasing Income At Your Current Job.


         Show Up Early - This step alone will make you stand above the crowd.  Most people are not willing to get to work early.  By taking the initiative, you will show your boss that you are a serious and valuable employee that is worth their trust and consideration for promotion. 



         Work Later – Do this without complaining.  Especially when there is a big project due or they are short staffed, this can be a huge help for your company.  Going the extra mile counts in the long run.  Believe in the sowing and reaping principle.  Although you may not get verbally recognized right away for your efforts, you will reap the benefits eventually.



         Share Ideas to Reduce Expenses – Begin listing ways that can help the company to start cutting back on unnecessary spending.  Share one of your ideas at your next meeting and continue to offer great feedback to your employer each time you meet.  Show them that you are forward thinking and looking out for the interests of the company. 



         Think of Ways to Increase Income – Just like step #3, there are various steps that your organization can take to improve their cash flow.  Start asking yourself questions like:


a.       What new services or products can be offered?

b.      Were there any requests that your clients need fulfilled?



          Improve Efficiency & Service – Find ways to constantly improve your productivity and always be learning about your job.  Take the time to reach out to your clients and really make a lasting impact with the people you come across.  Be willing to think of others and to genuinely be interested in their needs.

Real estate agents: Get over your smartphone hang-ups

A life lesson in being unavailable!

By Alisha Alway Braatz
Inman News™

Last week my husband and I took our very first family vacation with our new little one, and on the second day away from home my cell phone suddenly stopped working. It offered no warning or explanation for its deadness. (Personally, I think it was made to break two weeks before my upgrade.)

So I found myself without mobile access to the multiple listing service and my email, documents, faxes, phone, address book, calendar, blog feeds, GPS, camera, Facebook and TweetDeck accounts --- I had nothing!

I did find a phone plugged into a wall with a handset as big as my head, but I couldn't remember my own office number. What to do ... what to do?

The nearest Verizon store was 35 miles away, but the thought of spending even one of my precious vacation days in manmade purgatory didn't jibe. I stood there in the hallway, cradling my dear departed Droid and wondering what would happen next.

I stood there a long time.

Nothing happened.

There was complete and utter silence. No message updates and no voice mails. Nothing.

After five or 10 minutes I realized that other people were packing their swim bags for the pool.

"Do you want to borrow my phone?" asked my husband, towel in hand.

I looked at his iPhone in disgust. Its one button fooled me every time.

I shook my head, "Hey, we're on vacation. I'll be fine. Everything will be fine." But I wasn't sure. I reluctantly put the phone down.

The carnival atmosphere of the pool brought me out of my doldrums. I challenged my two 7-year-old nieces to a cannonball competition. Then we ate ice cream. Then we rode our bikes to the novelty store and bought stickers. By 3 p.m. I didn't miss my phone at all. It felt like I was 7, too! And I'm sorry, Aunt Kim, we were unavailable.

Remember that? Being unavailable?

Nowadays, if you don't answer your phone you are doing it on purpose. It's taken as a personal insult because who doesn't have their cell phone in their pocket or stuck in the top of their bra?

And who hasn't promised on their voice mail to call back immediately, at the first possible opportunity, or on the quarter hour?

I started to think: How funny would it have been to see our parents pack for vacation, filling the station wagon with the IBM computer, the yellow pages, four yearbooks each, a map of the world, and the 12-volume encyclopedia set we bought from the last-known traveling salesman.

Not to mention my boom box and tapes. Lots of tapes.

Certainly, some of you are arguing that our parents would have brought all of that stuff if only they could have.

Really?

What has this magical technology brought us? Teenagers are growing sixth fingers to prop their cell phones up so they can text faster. We are never alone. People want to Skype me at 7 a.m. Really, 7 a.m.?!

And there's too much to do. Angry Birds and Jewels have replaced taking deep breaths in the great outdoors.

A broken phone was the best thing that happened to me this summer. I received the gift of freedom, and I liked it!

Sure, I have another phone now: an even bigger, faster and more powerful phone that drives my car and pumps gas for me. But every now and then I put it in a drawer and walk away. I am unavailable! And not because I'm in the bathroom or in the car wash.

Did you know that right outside your window the sky is blue, the sun is warm, and trees are growing taller every day?

Try it. Be unavailable.

Alisha Alway Braatz is a buyer's broker for Coldwell Banker Advantage One Properties in Eugene, Ore., and a real estate humorist.


The Power of Belief, Expectation, and Positive Thinking

While you may not always get what you want, you will always get what you expect! Surprisingly, the power of belief and expectation work just as effectively on your feelings of self-doubt and limitation as they do on your thoughts of success and achievement.

Think thoughts of defeat or failure and you are bound to be discouraged. Belief is an incredibly powerful state of mind. Your belief system not only defines and shapes who you are, but it also determines your potential.

Henry Ford was correct when he said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you are right.”

Your belief system, like your computer, doesn’t judge what you input; it simply accepts it as the truth.

Earl Nightingale concluded that life’s strangest secret is that you become what you think about all day long. If you want to know where your predominant thoughts lie and what you believe, look at what you are experiencing in your life. Your thoughts are creative by nature and express themselves through your emotions, which in turn, drive your actions.

Everything you say, both positive and negative, is literally an affirmation. Consider this well-known quotation:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
- Anonymous

Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favorable results.

A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful
outcome of every situation and action.

Whatever the mind expects, it finds.

Not everyone accepts or believes in positive thinking. Some consider the subject as just nonsense, and others scoff at people who believe and accept it. Among the people who accept it, not many know how to use it effectively to get results.

We hear people say: "Think positive!", to someone who feels down and worried. Most people don't take these words seriously, as they don't know what they really mean, or don't consider them as useful and effective. How many people do you know, who stop to think what the power of positive thinking means?

When the attitude is positive we entertain pleasant feelings and constructive images, and see in our mind's eye what we really want to happen. This brings brightness to the eyes, more energy and happiness. The whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even the health is affected in a beneficial way. We walk tall and our voice is more powerful. Our body language shows the way you feel inside.

Positive and negative thinking are both contagious.

All of us affect, in one way or another, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through thoughts and feelings transference, and through body language. People sense our aura and are affected by our thoughts, and vice versa. Is it any wonder that we want to be around positive people and avoid negative ones? People are more disposed to help us if we are positive, and they dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity.

Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause more unhappiness and negativity. This is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment.

In order to turn the mind toward the positive, inner work and training are required. Attitude and thoughts do not change overnight. Think about its benefits and persuade yourself to try it. The power of thoughts is a mighty power that is always shaping our life. This shaping is usually done subconsciously, but it is possible to make the process a conscious one. Even if the idea seems strange give it a try, as you have nothing to lose, but only to gain. Ignore what others might say or think about you, if they discover that you are changing the way you think.

Always visualize only favorable and beneficial situations. Use positive words in your inner dialogues or when talking with others. Smile a little more, as this helps to think positively. Disregard any feelings of laziness or a desire to quit. If you persevere, you will transform the way your mind thinks.

Once a negative thought enters your mind, you have to be aware of it and endeavor to replace it with a constructive one. The negative thought will try again to enter your mind, and then you have to replace it again with a positive one. It is as if there are two pictures in front of you, and you choose to look at one of them and disregard the other. Persistence will eventually teach your mind to think positively and ignore negative thoughts.

When you feel inner resistance to replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, don't give up, but keep looking only at the beneficial, good and happy thoughts in your mind.

It doesn't matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly. It may take some time for the changes to take place, but eventually they do.

You are what you think! So...

Whatever
THE MIND OF MAN
Can
CONCEIVE
And
BELIEVE
it can
ACHIEVE

 
Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is a day to be thankful...positive...motivational...and encouraging. Though, I believe everyday should start with something to be thankful for, I wanted to share some short thoughts you could remember especially today.

  • The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. (Oscar Wilde)
  • No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.
  • Every time we remember to say “thank you”, we experience nothing less than heaven on earth.
  • I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom. 
  • Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.  (Gladys B Stern)
  • Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting.
  • God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” (Wm A Ward
  • Gratitude is the memory of the heart. (JB Massieu)
  • It isn’t what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.
  • If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you’, it will be enough. (M Eckhardt)
  • A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues. (Cicero)
  • If you can’t be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.
Wishing you many thankful moments making memories with those you are so thankful for...the things you treasure in this life...and the time you spend with those you love.