Attraction Marketing Excellence

Staying On The Grateful Side Of Life

Deciding to take advantage of the weather and the convenience of my laptop computer, I ventured out to the deck in the back of our home, opened up the file for this year’s journal, and proceeded to copy and past this phrase into its proper place:

My gratefulness journal for today…

Several moments later my entry looked similar to this one:

My gratefulness journal for today…

• So grateful for Sherry… same “song,” millionth verse, lol!
• I think I will say “the deck” again.  I decided to come out and record a few things because I understand in an hour or two thunderstorms may come our way.
• Music.
• Very grateful for Coaching Cognition.
• The Lord.  So “simple,” but where on earth would I be without Him?

Enriched Because Of A Small, “Make It Happen” Choice

Several months earlier I made the choice to create the phrase “My gratefulness journal for today” with a goal of completing a personal gratefulness exercise at least once a week.

I am happy for my choice. Actually, I would use the term enriched.  Enriched because of…

• The simplicity involved in making it happen.
• The rewards of doing so.

On The Value Of Being Grateful

Not long ago I not only prayed this prayer but wrote it down for others to see:

Father, may my eyes see

what my heart should in gratefulness feel this day.

PrayingSimple by © Lee Wise

I share this with you here not because I expect you to approach gratefulness from a faith based perspective, but to state how I personally feel about our need to cultivate gratefulness in our lives.

Gratefulness, in my mind, touches so many aspects of who we are and who we choose to become.

For instance, I did a search for some of my own thoughts on the subject and below may be found only several of the ideas I created in recent days:

• Wisdom – embedding images of beauty in the mind by constantly revisiting them with a joyful and grateful heart. © Lee Wise
• As encouragement inspires hope so gratefulness cultivates the expressive heart of an encourager. © Lee Wise
• In gratefulness I see better and in seeing better I acquire more for which I am grateful. © Lee Wise

Note that my thoughts about encouragement, wisdom and perspective found their way into what I might call my own sphere of “gratefulness thinking.”

Yes, And Your Point Is…?

My point…

Our decisions to cultivate and promote the gratefulness habit in ourselves and in the lives of other people are decisions that count for something good in a world where not all is good all of the time.

• Our “gratefulness habit decisions” count for us,
• And they count for those we influence.

Okay, Lee.  How Would You Define “The Gratefulness Habit”?

Let’s try looking at the practice of being grateful as something like this:

The Gratefulness Habit

The decisions I make to see all the good I can,

As consistently as I possibly can,

For the internal health of myself

And those within my circle of influence.

© Lee Wise

What It Does

In my opinion, the ongoing development of the gratefulness habit can:

• Help us bring things into perspective.
• Help us … or “force” us… to stop and look at things in a positive light.
• Slow us down and cause us to push our internal pause button and to do so for a good reason.
• Prompt us to look outside of ourselves instead of only at ourselves.
• Lead us to others for the purpose of helping or thanking them in some way.

Questions For Influence.  Questions For Life.

• Should your child (older or younger) want to know how you personally stay on the gratefulness side of life, how would you answer them?
• On the way to an internet marketing conference a friend of yours — one of the speakers — calls and says: “Say, I need someone to fill in a ‘bullet point’ ten minutes time frame on a topic to help everyone: at topic like gratefulness for instance.  I know it’s short notice, but can you step in and fill in the gap for me?”  Assuming you answer in the affirmative, what would you say?
• While interacting with your personal coach about a seeming gap between your goals and your reality, she states: “Now tell me, what positive points are you seeing in your life right now.”  How would you respond?
• What part does gratefulness play in your life, business, or in your mental or physical health?  Assuming you could record a great variety of ways — and assuming the question began your thinking — does anyone come to mind you should share any of your responses with?
• Do the important people in your life — those for whom you would say you are extremely grateful — would you also say they most assuredly would know of your feelings?

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© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute this inspirational note. The copyright and this resource box must be included.

Lee is a writer, online marketer and coach. With a passion for on purpose living and making a positive impact in the world, he seeks to encourage people in their personal and professional lives. See hisInspirational Handbook for Attraction Marketers here http://attractionmarketinghandbook.com

Interested in exploring the possibility of working with Lee as a coach? Go here to check out his FREE 15 minute session and learn more.  http://leewise.marketingmerge.com/coaching

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Share Or Reply…

May these brief words of mine prove to be a blessing for you and those you love in one way or another.

Share your positive comments here or if you liked what you read, pass it on!

____________

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21 Great Time Management Questions

• Interested in time management?
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Receive a 21 Day Impact Your Life In A Positive Way set of questions in an email series I developed. Simply send a blank email here –>mytimeismylife@aweber.com I will send you a confirmation email so be sure to watch for it and click the link: otherwise, you will not receive the series

Or, you can also click on this link.  It and it should open up in your email and you can send your request that way. Cool. mailto:mytimeismylife@aweber.com

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Men: Reflect On What You Are About To Read

• Am I striving to be the best I can as an “attraction marketer“? Absolutely.
• Do I desire to accomplish my business goals for the purpose of enhancing my life and the lives of those I influence in a positive manner?  Absolutely.

However…

Even though I am sixty-four and the children do not live in my home, I do know one thing for sure: I never want to hear anything like this…

“Well, pops, I’m glad you ‘made it’ as a business person during this transition period of your life where you went from being in ministry in the educational realm to being a successful online marketer.  I’m glad for you.  But somewhere along the line your attraction for us kids dropped off — way off — and we took second place to you as a dad.”

I don’t know you, you aspirations or your drives and how they are being handled at this stage of your life: and I certainly don’t have to.

But one thing for sure: I do know that if you are a dad now or planning on being one, I would encourage you to thoughtfully read the article below.

It may be far from the best you may ever read, but I simply don’t care.  What matters to me is that you sense the heartbeat of the article, apply it to you in a positive manner at this stage of your, and use it as a motivation to keep on trying to be the best dad (or grandfather) you can while in the process of building the best possible business you can.

“Attraction Marketing Excellence:
On Being A Sensitive Dad”
© Lee Wise All rights reserved

A View From The Men’s Room

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. A father and his son had entered the men’s room. While I was washing my hands, I listened as the father wielded a series of demanding and demeaning statements at his son as if they were swords in a battle for … who knows what?

And all about going to the bathroom quickly!

It was the perfect victory.

• The enemy (the son) had been slain.
• The battle was won.
• The general had summoned his one-man army to do his bidding.

It was also totally and completely ridiculous. There was no consideration for the feelings or physical needs of the young person.

The “bad boy” had won the day — and the bad boy was not the son.

It was the son’s insensitive dad.

I Felt Sad And Angry

This incident occurred while on vacation. I loved vacation except for one aspect: watching fathers deal with their children.

I was sad.
And I was angry.

The “interesting” thing was that when I related this observation to my daughter and son-in-law, they proceeded to share with me their same discouragement while they were on a recent trip to a theme park.

Their message was the same:

“We had a great time. The only discouraging thing was seeing dads with their children.”

I Agree: It Is Far From Easy

I am a father and I would be among the first to declare that raising children is not an easy task.

Parts of it are rough. Real rough.

I would also be quick to admit the times I have failed as a father.  How could I not? I may have a few answers but that doesn’t mean I’ve lived them all..

• All time
• In all of the best possible ways.

But I do hope that no one has ever said this about me after observing my relationship with any of my children or grand children:

“We saw the most discouraging thing today. This guy was a jerk. The way he treated those kids was awful.  No respect. No honor. Only demands and unrealistic expectations. I tell ya, it was sad.”

There Is A Better Way… And As Dads We All Know It

Let me be quick to add…

All is not bad.

I have seen many loving, caring fathers throughout the years. I love watching those types of dads relate to their children. It is one of my personal delights in life

With that in mind, I am offering a few simple suggestions for a better way: a better way for fathers to relate to their children than the two negative examples I have shared with you.

I Will Center On Five Themes

1. Consideration

2. Respect

3. Humility

4. Compassion

5. Love

Two comments as I transition into my suggestions:

• You will quickly discover that this will not be a long and drawn out discussion of these themes. Enjoy.
• Many of the points will be shared through using simple “affirmations” — or descriptive comments if you please.

These affirmations will help you personalize what is said.

So…

We have discussed a few of the “bad boy” characteristics.

Let’s turn our attention to five characteristics of the “good boys.” That is, men who are determined *not* to be thought of as “one of those insensitive dads.”

Consideration

Consideration says…

“I adjust my expectations according to the needs, maturity level and emotional capabilities of the child I am relating to at the moment.”

Because of the important aspects of the statement you just read, I’m going to repeat it and break it down for you.

That’s my part.

Yours will be to reflect on each aspect as you read it one more time. Reflect on it through the lens of how you would have liked to be treated as a young-person-in-the-making. (The extra spaces are there by design to prompt reflection).

“I adjust

My expectations

According to

The needs,

Maturity level

And emotional capabilities

Of the child

I am relating to

At the moment.”

Respect

Respect says…

“I see this person entrusted to my care as one who is worthy of my honor, approval and love.”

This mental stance provides for me a frame. A frame I wrap around my child *to begin with.* The child is worthy of my honor, approval and love — from the beginning.

It is a part of the package each child should *sense* in me from “Day One” so-to-speak.

Humility

Humility says…

• “Because I am still learning, I give my child space and time to learn.”
• “Because I still fail, I forgive and support my child when he or she fails.”
• “Because I respond poorly when people are angry with me for reasons I do not understand, I resist all uncontrolled and self-centered anger when dealing with my child.”

Compassion

Compassion says…

• “I am a ’show and tell’ person. I show my child I care. I tell my child I care.”
• “I strive to be gentle, not harsh.”
• “I care and my child senses it.”

Love

Love says… all of the above.

A DISCLAIMER

Let me make something perfectly clear: children can — and do — hurt their parents: good parents.

Parents who in a very real sense lay down their lives for their kids and still get kicked in the guts while trying to help their children be happy and succeed in life.

These parents know a special kind of pain. A pain that no one really wants to understand. I salute those parents.

You may be one of them.

So my disclaimer is..

• I realize this is a two-sided fence
• My purpose is not to add guilt to a conscience already plagued by the “Why’s” of their child’s bad attitudes and behavior — in spite of hundreds of hours of trying to do what’s right.

Rather, if you happen to be one of those parents — and especially a dad since that is the topic of these comments — I want you to hear these words:

“I thank you for trying.”

I thank you for trying and for the lonely hours you have spent that only you, and possibly your spouse — and God — knows about…

The tears. The heartache and the pain that goes on and on as each new report surfaces about some action or attitude your child has displayed.

For those times, tears and heartache — I reflect to you my appreciation.

And I’m sure I represent only one of many voices that would echo the same to you if they could.

Therefore, review these comments and take note of each positive thing you have done.

• Take note.
• And take a bow.
• You deserve it.
• And we applaud you.

Yours for living a courageously beautiful life,

Lee

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© Lee Wise All All rights reserved. You may freely distribute this inspirational article. The copyright and this resource box must be included.

Lee is a writer an online marketer. With a passion for on purpose living and making a positive impact in the world, he seeks to encourage people in their personal and professional lives. http://attractionmarketingexcellence.com/blog

Subscribe to Lee’s ezine A Beautiful Moment In Time by sending a blank email to: beautifulmoment@aweber.com Remember to confirm your request!

________________________________

And Now That You Have Read And Reflected On A Few Things…

• Continue… either now or later.
• Reflect.
• Journal.
• Pray
• Act.

Like It? Then Share It!

Be a blessing and share it. Twitter, Facebook, send it… whatever.  I would appreciate it. And just maybe — just maybe — several sons or daughters may as well!

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Quotes For Living An Exceptional Life
© Lee Wise All rights reserved

– Purpose –

“A purpose yet to be discovered may mean the expression of
an even more beautiful life yet to be revealed”

– On Leaving A Legacy --

“Legacy — the tangible expressions of the values I choose to
live and love during my short stay on earth.”

– On The Value Of Becoming –

“May I rest secure in who I am but never rest in who I can
become.”

– On Resting On The Inside –

“To rest assured only comes when the rest is deserved from
the inside out.”

– Encouragement –

“To influence by encouragement is to influence by the power
of caring wrapped in the brilliance of understanding.”

-- On Reflection –

“In reflecting on the best I avoid the worst about
reflecting.”

~*~*~*~* Good Questions For Great Living ~*~*~*~*

I suggest that you pause long enough to think through the
following questions. Should you be a person who journals,
you may want to record several of your responses.

1. Am I resting for all the right reasons or hardly resting
for many of the wrong ones?

2. In my review of the quotations I just read, what do I
hear my heart saying? Am I blocking anything that *should*
be heard?

3. Reviewing my world at this time, who comes to mind when I
think of someone I should influence by using the power of
encouragement.

4. Should any of the quotes be placed in my day planner for
further reflection?

5. Am I becoming all I can be at this time in my life or
allowing who I could become to be smothered in a sea of all
the things I think I need to do instead of those I really
should be doing?

6. Do I need to reflect on what “purpose” means for me at
this stage in my life?

7. Could I — or should I — be more purpose directed than I
have been in recent days? If I thought about why that might
be so, does that tell me anything I need to know at the
moment?

8. What type of legacy do I desire to leave? Why?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this inspirational note. The copyright and this resource box
must be included. If the quotes are shared, this copyright
must be included: © Lee Wise

Lee is a writer an online marketer. With a passion for on
purpose living and making a positive impact in the world, he
seeks to encourage people in their personal and professional
lives. http://attractionmarketingexcellence.com/blog

Stay Motivated! An Inspirational Handbook For Attraction
Marketers. http://attractionmarketinghandbook.com

And You?  How About Your Responses?

If you like or appreciate what you have read, spread the joy!

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Your Values. Your Vision. Your Life.

Bridget Haymond recently created a post on her blog entitled “Values For Your Success.”

Within that very well said article, she lists an acronym for values that I believe is worth sharing.

• Vision – create a vision board with inspirational photos and phrases
• Alignment – keep goals in alignment with core values for momentum
• Legacy – commit to a lifestyle that leaves an inspiring legacy
• Useful – useful goals have measurable results that further the vision
• Endurance – worthwhile endeavors take time so endurance is key
• Success – successful results are balanced and whole life focused.

Aren’t those great?

Expanding, Applying, Digging Deeper

– Vision –

As you move through your day — whether that be an “attraction marketing day” — a personal day off, or during this stage in your life:

How could are you, or feel that you should be, keeing your vision alive?

If yours, like many, is a “vision in formation,” how might paying attention to the remainder of the points help you along the way?

– Alignment and Core Values –

Have you identified your core values that could be “attached” to any of your goals or dreams?

If so, are they in print where you could share them with someone else?

** A side note here. Chapter two of my ebook gives you a simple process to clarify and create your own values list.

– Legacy –

Don’t you love that word “lifestyle” when associated with the topic of a legacy?

Question: if you were to summarize in broad terms what you are aiming at in terms of a legacy, what would it be?

Have you created a mission statement that would faciliate your living the way you desire to live for the purpose of leaving the legacy you desire to leave?

– Useful and Enduring –

Putting these two words through my particular grid, I might say…

We design target attitudes and actions that serve to move us towards the desires of our hearts (i.e. they are useful) and stimulate in us a sense of sticking with it until they are accomplished or modified to fit our purposes.

How would you reframe that combination of words to fit your take on life and what you want to accomplish?

Writing down how you might answer that could be the stimulus to share with those you are training, your family or another significant person you are seeking to influence.

– Success –

“Balanced and whole life focused.” Now that says tons to me.

Tons.

In my way of thinking, being “balanced” and “whole life focused” qualifies for a never ending pursuit. Why? Because we…

Learn.
Grow.
Adapt.
Adjust.
And keep moving forward in those areas.

Suppose your son, daughter, spouse, best friend, or business partner and this question was posed to you:

“How do you attempt to stay balanced and whole life focused?”

How would you answer that person?

Thanks, Bridget!

Naturally, Bridget has more to say on her post but she sure got me thinking!

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Attraction Marketing Excellence Life Quote: Credibility

Both in business and in the business of life, few the importance of establishing and maintaining a solid sense of credibility can hardly be overstated.  If we are going to work toward the goal of being a success — and being a success on purpose — our credibility base simply must be kept solidly in place in the minds and hearts of those we seek to influence.

Allow my simple working definitions of credibility that I share with you below to be two simple, but all important, reminders to keep moving in the right “credibility direction.”

Taking It All In…

We establish and maintain our credibility because of our hearts and what they “say” to others, or practices and how people view what we do, and the words we speak (and often how we speak them).

• How are you seeking to establish credibility with those you influence?
• If someone being trained by you asked for you to share with them how to gain initial feelings of credibility in business or personal setting, what would you tell them?  (And… if you are training people: have told them?)
• If you had to name one person that gained instant credibility with you this past week — no matter how small that credibility was — what made that happen for you?  Could you learn from your observation and reproduce it somewhere in life or business?

And As Usual…

Love to hear from you!  Share reactions below if you would like.

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Attraction Marketing Excellence Quote: On Winning With Grace

Whether we find ourselves training the team in our business, relating to our families, or continuing our personal development quest for success, we realize the necessity to win and lose in the proper fashion. We must win and lose with character.

The brief quote below should prove to be a positive motivational thought for you relative to what I mentioned above.

Several Take Aways (Comment if you like!)

• If you had to record and pass on the three most important aspects of winning to a team of people you were training, what would say to them?
• Should you happen to be pursuing the art of attraction marketing, how might you share your thoughts and ideas regarding the value of winning with character to those you influence?
• And what about your family?  Any thoughts there relative to how to help build or mold their character in this area?

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