In his book, "Start with Why", Simon Sinek shares a familiar story:

"Consider the story of two stonemasons, you walk up to the first mason and ask "Do you like your job?" He looks up at you and replies, "I've been building this wall for as long as I can remember. The work is monotonous. I work in the scorching hot sun all day. The stones are heavy and lifting them all day can be backbreaking. I'm not sure if this project will be completed in my lifetime. But it's a job. It pays the bills."

You thank him for his time and walk on.

"Sales people are not born ... they are developed! No delivery room doctor ever delivered a "bouncing baby salesman".
~ Tom Hopkins, Author - "How to Master the Art of Selling" ~

The field of selling has changed dramatically over the last decade. Having the right attitude in business can make all the difference in the world. Sales people who do not adjust and adapt to the changes quickly will see their income drop as competition gets tougher and more determined.

It never fails to amaze me when I walk into some retail stores ... how often I walk out again in less than a minute (with my cash and/or credit cards), due to the following reasons ...

"When dealing with people remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion."              ~ Dale Carnegie ~

Whenever I ask someone in any industry, "how are things going for you in business?" The recurring answers depict a very gloomy outlook about the economy and how challenging it is. Their call for and their need is - more sales.

There are trillions of dollars circulating in the economy right this minute ... and there are customers willing to pay for what they need and value. Are they more cautious about spending ... maybe? It was reported that retail sales accounted for over 70 per cent of the luxury brand, Burberry's revenue in the October to December period of 2011; a reported increase of 23 per cent.

The 'noise' (of the GFC2, Eurozone crisis, global warming, natural disasters, etc.) can become deafening – if you allow it too. It is creating a level of anxiety , that most of us have not experienced before. 

"One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

What a great start to the new year for our Golden Retrievers, Hercules (two and a half years) and Zoey (seven years) - proof that over-indulgent pet owners/parents can achieve great weight-loss results. Ultimately, they are what we feed them!

Here's how winning their weight loss challenge helped us achieve our own ...

Wow, what a challenging year it's been!

Fraught with natural disasters, political unrest and countries on the verge of economic collapse. Media amplifies the 'noise', so we need to work extremely hard to stay emotionally balanced and focused on moving forward. As 2011 draws to a close, it's a good time to reflect on your achievements and set/reset your goals for 2012.

"Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person."
~ Albert Einstein ~

When I read this quote, I am reminded that the single most important factor for an individual to succeed is through COMMITMENT. Why? Commitment ignites action. I like to think of commitment as being 'persistence with a purpose'.

There are two fundamental conditions for commitment. The first, is to possess a set of sound values. The second is faithfully adhering to your beliefs and to behave accordingly. 

"Your thoughts construct patterns like scaffolding in your mind. You are really etching chemical patterns. In most cases, people get stuck in those patterns, just like grooves in a record, and they never get out of them.

I'll always stay connected with Apple. I hope that throughout my life I'll sort of have the thread of my life and the thread of Apple weave in and out of each other, like a tapestry. They may be a few years when I'm not there, but I'll always come back....

"I advise you to say your dream is possible and then overcome all inconveniences, ignore all the hassles and take a running leap through the hoop, even if it is in flames. "
~ Les Brown ~

Question : Have you decided to follow your dreams? If you're uncertain or have doubt then read on ...

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"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said that it'd be easy, they just promised it would be worth it."
~ Unknown ~

I took that chance and it transformed my life. Here's how it happened...

"Give up defining yourself - to yourself or to others. You won't die. You will come to life. And don't be concerned with how others define you. When they define you, they are limiting themselves, so it's their problem. Whenever you interact with people, don't be there primarily as a function or a role, but as the field of conscious Presence. You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are."

~ Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose ~

 This reminds me of a fable about two frogs ...

"Positive Change is usually not a question of capability, it is almost always a question of Motivation."

Most of us fear change because it ...

• Threatens our comfort zone
• Could be for the better or the worse
• Has an adjustment period that varies from individual to individual
• Could be uncomfortable
• Upsets our control over the outcome

Change can be a gut-wrenching experience for those who won't let go. Flexibility is the key to creating a more positive outcome from change. 

"I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers."
~ Helen Keller ~

In 1997, two profound incidents reshaped my future. The order of which is unimportant here. What should be highlighted is that these incidents changed my life forever.

As I post this blog on the eve of September 11th, I am reminded of that horrific day in our history. Almost three thousand innocent people were killed in a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Although ten years have passed, the memories of that fateful scene is etched so painfully in my mind, and many of you around the world. The resulting aftermath was unimaginable. Recently, a documentary was made featuring the children of 9/11. Particularly those of whom had lost a parent. The emotional upheaval that they had to face, seemed insurmountable in the aftermath of this tragic event. The pain and the grief indelibly etched in their hearts and in their minds. Interviews conducted with these children, showed that some of them coped better than others, while some still bottled up their grief.