Dalbey Education Institute

About being lost and being "outside the box"

One of my staff members - Lead Educator David Winter - brought up a great idea in a meeting the other day.

David challenged us by asking, "Do we really 'think outside the box'?"

His question really resonated in me. We've all heard this now-old cliche, and we know that "thinking outside the box" is a way to step back and re-evaluate our options and strategies, but how often do we really do this? 

Do I actually try new ideas and venture down unproven paths, in everyday situations? 

Here's a quote that sheds a different light on this concept. Are you willing to be confused, upset and think you're stupid in order to achieve success? And are you willing to make a mistake or take a wrong turn in order to discover a shortcut?

"Lewis and Clark (American frontier explorers) were lost most of the time. If your idea of exploration is to always know where you are and to be inside your zone of competence, you don't do wild new stuff.

"You have to be confused, upset and think you're stupid. If you're not willing to do that, you can't go outside the box."
- Nathan Myhrvold, former Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft

On the eve of the anniversary of our nation's declaration of independence, it might be appropriate to reflect that nothing worth achieving was ever accomplished without taking an enormous risk... setting a course towards the unknown... or being brave enough to get lost along the way.

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

Choices

The other day, I was in one of those made-to-order smoothie shops... you know, the ones where you can not only pick the flavor of your concoction from dozens of recipes described on the wall, but also select “boosts” or health supplements to add to the mix.

Just deciding from among the almost-overwhelming selection of fruit and yogurt blends took me a minute or two. But the next step – picking the boost – took even longer.

Hmm... what about a wheatgrass shot for some purifying chlorophyll? Or green tea caffeine for antioxidants and a little energy? Hey, a calcium boost sounds good... but so does an “immunity” shot that might help ward off that cold I think I’m getting.

I finally did get my drink ordered of course. Sometime afterwards, this experience at the smoothie shop made me think about the many choices we have to make every day.

Many of the decisions we’re faced with aren’t that significant in the big picture. But some of our decisions – even if they seem trivial – really could affect our lives in a huge way. And here’s the thing: sometimes, we’re not even aware that we are making important decisions.

Am I going to dress professionally or casually for work? Will I choose to get all the stressful or difficult tasks I’ve been avoiding so far this week done and off my plate, or will I continue to push them off? Will I maintain a positive attitude and find the good, or will I say to myself the first chance I get: “Oh boy, it’s going to be another one of those days... I should have never gotten out of bed.”

And will I continue to keep working at a job that I don’t like, when I know I can - and should - do better for myself and my family?

All of these thoughts – choices, really – create direction and energy that WILL chart the courses of our lives. Not just for that day, but the next day, and the whole week, and so on.

Are you making the right choices for you?

Choose well.

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

Be in the NOW

You’ve heard the expression: “Be in the know.”

Well, how about this one: Be in the NOW.

Our lives are all so busy... work, meetings, kids, spouses or significant others, housework, bills, errands, friends, networking, holidays, weddings, community events... it never ends! If your life is like mine, it often seems like we’re all just buzzing around like crazy people, with our focus only on the next thing on our agendas - and NOT on the moment we’re experiencing NOW.

It’s not easy to be present at all times, to really savor the moment you’re in. The whirlwind of responsibilities and obligations we all have can get in the way.

But, just as “be in the know” is a great reminder that knowledge is the key to success... and that in order to be the best we can be we must constantly learn and grow, “be in the NOW” is a guideline that directs us to make the time – everyday – to stop. To breathe. To focus on what we're doing, and really experience the moment we’re in with all of our senses open.

I feel that EVERY moment, no matter how seemingly insignificant, mundane, or even unpleasant, adds purpose and meaning to your life. Every instant in life is a gift... so take the time to unwrap it, marvel at it, and fully appreciate it.

Warmly (and in the now!),
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

Are you living like a ‘Blue Zone’ resident?

An interesting new book was published recently: The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner.

Buettner, an American explorer, author, and record-holding endurance cyclist, has spent seven years researching communities that have high percentages of individuals who live past 100 years old. He calls these areas of unusually long life “blue zones.”

After studying the people of the Nicoya region of Costa Rica, where living over a century seems to be the rule, not the exception, Buettner has outlined some of the common characteristics of these amazing people in his latest book.

These habits and activities of blue zone residents can add 10 healthy years to your life, Buettner states.

Here are three of the key traits of “long lifers.” Note that none of these are directly about exercise or diet!

Being nice. According to Buettner, “there wasn’t a grump in the bunch” of centenarians he met. “Being likeable,” he writes, “makes people happier to provide you company and care as you age.”

“Hara hachi bu.” This is a Japanese expression for “stop before you’re stuffed.” It’s practiced by residents of a blue zone in Okinawa, Japan. Buettner writes that cutting calories by 20 percent can add six years to a lifespan.

Picking healthy pals. Good habits and lifestyle choices are easy to make when you don’t see other options! “Your friends’ habits can be as influential as diets and exercise programs,” Buettner writes.

I hope that living long and well is among one of your top goals. If so, you could really benefit by heeding some sound advice from these amazing
blue-zone people!

For more information about the blue-zone people, check out this site: www.bluezones.com

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

A supermarket employee unlike any other

Sometimes, you come across people that truly surprise you... and humble you too.

Take a look at this story about a very unusual man who is taking what he has received in life and making the most of it... no complaints.

http://www.komonews.com/news/19339104.html

Warmly,

Russ
Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

Invest in your future!

Well... April 15 has come and gone. If you received a refund this year, is it already spent on something essential? If not, why not put some of it towards something really important... your financial future.

Don’t give in to the temptation to take a tax refund and spend it frivolously!

Here’s a great article from MSN that gives some very practical and smart advice on how to spend that tax refund windfall:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/Advice/GrowYourTaxRefund.aspx

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

Are you sabotaging yourself?

I’ve blogged before about the importance of first impressions in business. How you present yourself – everything from your clothes, your hair, and your briefcase... to your demeanor on the phone, your promptness, and your handshake – can be the critical factor that unlocks the door to success.

The other day I had an interesting experience that highlighted this whole notion and brought to light the need to recognize some “not to dos,” as well.

This is what happened: I was at a meeting with a group of very professional and accomplished business people. One young man immediately caught my attention. He wore a nicely-tailored suit, his body language was confident, and he smiled and talked easily with everyone in the room. This individual had a commanding presence, and gave off an air of self-assurance and poise. He was polished down to the last detail.

I thought to myself, “That young man is going places.”

Then something amazing happened that changed everything: He blew a bubble with gum.

Suddenly, all of my good feelings and positive impressions vanished and I thought to myself, “Well... maybe not.”

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not against chewing gum (in fact, the sugar-free variety can help keep your teeth clean). What I’m saying is that there’s a time and place for all things, and true professionals always keep this in mind.

So, what are some “not to dos” that can create a negative impression (first or otherwise) and will only serve to sabotage your success? Here’s what I think are best to avoid:

• Interrupting the other person repeatedly.
  
  
• Dominating the conversation and not respecting or acknowledging the other person’s opinion or what they have to say.
  
  
• Inconsistent or minimal eye contact.
  
  
• Standing too close and invading someone’s "personal space."
  
  
• Taking a cell phone call in the middle of meeting or even letting it ring. It’s simple: if you’re in a meeting, turn off your phone at the beginning of it! Don’t compose text messages during meetings either.
  
  
• Arriving late, especially if you don’t give a client a heads-up that you’re going to be late, or worst of all – “no show, no call.”
  
  
• Off-color humor (especially with someone you don’t know very well).
  
  
• Wrinkled or dirty dress, or clothing that is inappropriate for the situation (e.g., wearing casual workout gear to a prospective client meeting).
  
  
• Checking your watch frequently; this gives the impression that you’re bored or don’t find the meeting's attendees or topics important.
  
  
• Poor table manners (at lunch meetings).
  
  
• Being arrogant or boastful.
  
  
• Complaining about anything (especially other clients or mutual acquaintances/associates) or having a negative attitude.
  
  
• Being unprepared and forcing others to be delayed because of it.

Remember that for many people, just one small negative thing they perceive can erase many positive attributes about you in their minds. Make sure nobody gets the wrong impression about you and your business.

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

Achieving Peace of Mind

What is it that we’re all really after?

Success? Sure. Financial freedom and security? You bet. Accolades and approval? Of course.

But what I believe most of us are really after – what truly drives us as human beings – is something less tangible than the things I listed above.

For me, the thing that I really want is peace of mind. And that’s what I am hoping to help you achieve as well.

Creating monetary wealth definitely can help create peace of mind. But there’s more to it than that. Peace of mind is a place of inner calm and tranquility. It is a sense of freedom – when worries, strain or fear aren’t on your mind, and your head, heart and body are content. It is a feeling of wholeness.

As we all know, achieving real peace of mind in our hectic and often overwhelming lives can be very difficult to achieve.

Different people find peace of mind in a variety of ways: meditating, exercising, going to church, gardening, or creating art like painting or poetry. I encourage you to find and nurture the activities and people in your life that help you in your personal quest for inner calm and wellness.

Here are some tips that I hope will be helpful to you in achieving everyday peace of mind:

· Take the time to breathe, reflect and relax. Even a few minutes a day will make a change in your life. Meditate, take a walk, take a run, call a friend or parent…whatever activity that helps you clear your mind and get clarity and perspective.

· If situations out of your control – such as the typical daily reports on the evening TV news – upset you and cause negative feelings, direct your attention on things in your life where you CAN effect positive change.

· Cleanse you heart: Don't hold grudges. Learn to forgive and forget. Nurturing ill feelings and grievances hurts you and causes internal stress. There is no benefit to dwelling on unpleasant memories or past injustices.

· Weed your garden: Stay away from negative conversations and from negative people.

· Tame the “green eyed monster”: Don't waste energy being jealous of others and the things and lives you think they have. Look at your life as the beautiful, whole and unique gift that it is.

· Don’t sweat the small stuff: Every day we are faced with countless little annoyances and irritations: traffic jams, a long and slow-moving line at the “express checkout,” your computer crashing. If you can take action to avoid these daily inconveniences, that's great, but otherwise, try to accept them cheerfully. A bad attitude won’t help anything! By focusing on what you can change, what you do have control over, you will feel empowered and an inner strength that is the basis for peace of mind.

· Practice patience and tolerance with people and events.

These ideas and strategies are not necessarily easy to do, nor have I mastered them myself. But by striving to achieve inner peace every day, we will ultimately create more happiness in all aspects of our personal world.

And by creating peace in our personal worlds, we automatically bring it into the external world, which means helping ourselves helps others as well.

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

 

Shop smart to cut food costs

Did you know that the average American household spends 15 percent of their total income on food and drinks?

And, did you know that the most basic foods - the staples like eggs, bread and milk - have had a double-digit percentage price increase during the last year? On average, eggs cost 38% more now!

It's no wonder that just going food shopping is often a stressful experience. But what'™s the answer? We all have to eat, right?

I just saw this great clip from €œGood Morning America that has some helpful tips on how to save at the grocery store.

I especially like the advice to "€œshop smart"€... going armed with a list of the essentials... so that you avoid making a bunch of unnecessary impulse purchases. There's plenty of times I end up in the checkout line, buying stuff I don't really need!

And, the tip to set a weekly spending limit -€“ and sticking to it -€“ is spot on. Budgeting is a key tool to manage your finances and expenses in general.

Take a look:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/story?id=4672020

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute

Take another look at that brick wall

I’ve been thinking about brick walls. You know, the ones that seem to stand in our way of getting where we want to be.

I’ve been thinking that maybe we’ve been looking at them all wrong.

Most people think of a brick wall as a barrier to our dreams... a solid obstruction that is intimidating and fearsome.

But here’s what I’ve decided: if we look at brick walls in a different way, maybe they can be assets, not obstacles.

Maybe brick walls are difficult to overcome simply to make us work harder for what we want and to help us appreciate our triumphs.

Maybe they are there to keep out those that really don’t want to climb them in the first place.

Or how about this: brick walls - as strong and permanent as they are - are really there to keep us from EVER going back to where we were before. And that the taller and steeper these walls are, the more inspiring the view from the top is.

Maybe once you're PAST a brick wall, it's actually there to support you... to prevent you from "backsliding." And the taller that wall behind you is, the easier you'll be able to look over your shoulder and still see it, and draw strength from that sight, even when you're way beyond it.

Just food for thought... a little shift in perspective that could give you support and encouragement in everything you do. 

What do you think?

Warmly,
Russ

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Dalbey Education Institute