Sunday, October 16, 2011

How to Improve Your Personal ROE.

Based on a presentation made to the APRA-Virginia Chapter on October 12, 2011

Being a better you!

My top 10 little things you can do to improve your ROE.

____10. Every day do something nice for somebody.
____9. Think positive thoughts about yourself.
____8. Accept that life isn’t always fair.
____7. Stop blaming other people.
____6. Work smarter not harder.
____5. Listen more talk less.
____4. Don’t make excuses.
____3. Say thank you.
____2. Be on time.
____1. Smile.


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10. Every day do something nice for somebody.
When you do this you increase your serotonin. It's just like taking Prozac.
In fact giving of yourself can be really good for you. Research shows that people
who volunteer just two hours a week enjoy better mental and physical health,
according to a report released by the Corporation for National and Community
Service.
Specifically, benefits include:
greater longevity
higher functional ability
lower rates of depression
less incidence of heart disease

Click to read the entire report.

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9. Think good thoughts about yourself.
Check the voice in your head. As a little person you were conditioned to say more negative things than positive things about yourself. Now that you are grown up you can change the ratio to more good than bad words during the day.
Here is some nonsense that works.
Start the morning by looking in the mirror and saying out-loud, while smiling...
I like myself
I like myself
I like myself
I like myself
I like myself
Periodically through out the day stop and say inside your head...
I like myself
I like myself
I like myself
I like myself
I like myself
Do this for two weeks and you will be well on your way to thinking more
good thoughts about yourself.

Thoughts create feelings, so guess what?
Good thoughts create good feelings.

Got'a see!!!
http://ow.ly/6ZEph

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8. Accept that life isn’t always fair.


If life was fair,
Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead.

Check it out. http://gprime.net/video.php/lifeisntalwaysfair

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7. Stop blaming other people.

Everyone blames someone else at one time or another. Nobody's perfect. And you may even be thinking, "But it WAS my spouse's/parent's/boss' fault that I missed my plane/don't trust others/don't make enough money."
And it very well may be, but the key to living a long and happy life is knowing how to accept personal responsibility and not blame others -- even when it may be their fault. This does not mean you have to go through life letting others walk all over you. On the contrary, accepting personal responsibility means you have to take the high road and be the bigger person, even when it's hard.

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6. Work smarter not harder.

So how can you start to work smarter? Well, its very simple. If you just step back and analyzed everything you did during the day you could probably see a better way to do many of the things you did. Just by making a few small changes you can make things work out better.

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5. Listen more talk less.
God gave you two ears and one mouth. Why not use them in that proportion. Ask lots of questions and actively listen to the response.

Active listening goes like this:
1. Look at the person, and suspend other things you are doing.
2. Listen not merely to the words, but the feeling content.
3. Be sincerely interested in what the other person is talking about.
4. Restate what the person said.
5. Ask clarification questions once in a while.
6. Be aware of your own feelings and strong opinions.
7. If you have to state your views, say them only after you have listened.

These steps, quoted from The Self Transformation Series, Issue no. 13, are simple; however, becoming skilled in active listening requires considerable practice.

So practice, practice, practice and become a "Magician in listening".

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4. Don’t make excuses.
Make things happen. Make changes. Then make history.
Doug Hall

The only man who is really free is the one who can turn down an invitation to dinner without giving an excuse.
Jules Renard

Don't make excuses - make good.
Elbert Hubbard

He who excuses himself accuses himself.
Gabriel Meurier

Maybe you don't like your job, maybe you didn't get enough sleep, well nobody likes their job, nobody got enough sleep. Maybe you just had the worst day of your life, but you know, there's no escape, there's no excuse, so just suck it up and be nice.
Ani Difranco

How strange to use "You only live once" as an excuse to throw it away.
Bill Copeland
No one ever excused his way to success.
Dave Del Dotto


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3. Say Thank You
Hello! How will this increase my ROE?

Here's a just do it and find out exercise:
Tomorrow count the number of times you say "thank you".
The next day double the number times you say "thank you" from the day before.
The next day double the number of times you say thank you" from the day before.
By the fourth day you will be a NICER different person.
The people around you will notice a more pleasant you but won't know why.

Research shows that, people who are encouraged to express gratitude report feeling happier, more excited and joyful, and even have fewer headaches and colds.—"Counting blessings vs. burdens: Experimental studies of gratitude and subjective wellbeing in daily life," by R.A. Emmons and M.E. McCullough (2003).
Thank you for reading this blog.

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2. Be on Time.
"I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!" -The white rabbit.

My mother use to say, "you can never be on time - you are either early or late, so just be early and you will be on time."

I believe most people are much more irritated by lateness than they show or will admit; it can dampen everything from promotions and raises to friendships.

Late people crowd you, physically and mentally. When people show up late, it undoes your schedule and disrupts your day.

Showing up late or sending something in late -- no matter how well done -- still means a black mark against you.

Yogi Berra on time," I knew I was going to take the wrong train, so I left early."

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1. SMILE!
It will make you feel good.










I said smile darn it!


An exercise to use while you fake it til you make it.

Say out loud EASY CHEESE and hold it for the count of 10.
Are you ready?
Here we go ---

SAY - EASY CHEESE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

That was great. Now do this at least 3 times a day for the next week until you get the feel of what a big smile is all about.

Research indicates that when you smile it increases your Serotonin. That's the stuff in your brain that make you feel good. By just smiling some people have actually been able to stop taken their daily dose of Prozac.

Here's are 10 reasons to Smile by Dr. Mark Stibich, Ph.D., About.com.
1. Smiling makes us attractive.We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood. Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling is Contagious. When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress. Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System. Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure. When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin. Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful. Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive. Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!"

Just do it!

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My top 10 little things you can do to improve your ROE.

____10. Every day do something nice for somebody.
____9. Think positive thoughts about yourself.
____8. Accept that life isn’t always fair.
____7. Stop blaming other people.
____6. Work smarter not harder.
____5. Listen more talk less.
____4. Don’t make excuses.
____3. Say thank you.
____2. Be on time.
____1. Smile.

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http://www.wilsonmotivational.com  

JimWilson@WilsonMotivational.com