Having vs. Giving Value

There is a lot of literature and talk about adding value and being valuable - especially in the professional space.

I found 3 quotes that I'd encourage you to hold on to - as I plan to continue doing - in both professional and personal settings:

The value you add comes from the values you hold. ~ Anonymous

You are recognized for the value you add not the values you possess.

~ Bishop David Oyedepo

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. ~ Albert Einstein

In summary,

the more value you add,

the more valuable you become

and that in itself is success...

Empowered to "walk" and excel

Welcome again to 2013...

I really enjoy reading what others - especially those who have excelled - have said.

I pray these words (mainly from women) empower you to " rise up, walk" and excel this year.  Here are 7 quotes that caught my attention (comments in purple font, mine):

  

I do not wish [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.                          

~ Mary Wollstonecraft

If you don’t like being a doormat then get off the floor.    

~ Al-Anon

One thing that gets to me about us women is that some of us believe that we are, and behave like, victims. I believe that some of us actually behave like "doormats" and so we're treated as such. The fact of life is that - it's all up to you, so get up.  Some of us spend more time talking, or even complaining, about what we need to do to get ahead in life. Much talk and no "walk" is of little to no value...

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one. ~ Mark Twain

The most effective way to do it, is to do it. ~ Amelia Earhart

It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it were the only one we had.

~ Elisabeth Kubüler-Ross

It's really about making each day count - not counting the days...

One of the most courageous things you can do is identify yourself, know who you are, what you believe in and where you want to go. ~ Sheila Murray Bethel

Then do the most courageous thing: get up and go...

The more we see ourselves as a vibrant, successful, inspiring person who boldly declares and manifests her vision, the more we become just that.

~ Kristi Bowman

With 350 days to go, there is so much you can aspire to and actually achieve this year. Like Jesus said: "Rise up and walk..."

...the power to excel is within you.

Are you ready for success?

Last year, I watched part of the 2012 Oscars Academy Award ceremony. It was interesting that most of the Oscar winners had prepared their acceptance speeches which means that as nominees they had each come ready for success and that struck me. Beside the fact that it was a great example of "thinking before you speak" especially in public, it reflected a level of optimism on their part. Optimism is a great virtue to have because:

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

~Helen Keller

“Optimism is essential to achievement

and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.”

~ Nicholas Murray Butler

Now this is not to say that achieving your dreams/heart desires will be easy but it can be eased by your perspective. Are you an optimist - ready and working for success or a pessimist - working for survival? I like the way 2 prominent men defined both perspectives:

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;

an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

~Winston Churchill

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities

and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.

~ Harry Truman

It has been said in so many ways by so many people that:

“Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity” ~ Henry Hartman

As we start this brand new year, are you prepared or ready for success?

Wishing you and yours the very best in this year.

Booster or Burster?

Do you know that what you believe (or even don't believe) can boost or burst your dreams? Indeed it can -  which is why you need to know and be sure about what you believe and especially Who you believe in.

My 10...

7 months ago, I read a devotional that highlighted 6-word bios. In other words, the question (& challenge) was: "If you were to describe yourself in less than 10 words (even shorter than an elevator pitch) what will those words be?"

I couldn't come up with 6 words so here's mine in 10 words:

Here to thrive and support others not just to survive!

I like this picture because it encapsulates it so well for me.

I'd love to hear what your 6-10 words would be - feel free to post it via a comment on this blog, on Twitter or on Facebook...and beyond that, do your part to live up to it...

Don't give...

...hand-outs.

A lot of us are willing, and mostly able, to give to others. Ok, before I go too far let me restate that maybe it's just a few of us that are willing to give whether or not we're able to.

For those of us who are willing and able to, I'd like you to take a step back the next time you want to give and ask yourself: "Is this going to be a 'hand-out' or a 'hand-up'?"

Be Energized

Living a fruitful and fulfilling life takes work - more precisely, hard work. So you should enjoy what you do or look for something you enjoy and do it well - otherwise you'll be unhappy for a long time. Look within (and around) for something you are passionate about - pursuing it will propel you to success...

"You never achieve success unless you like what you are doing."

~ Dale Carnegie

"Without passion you don't have energy, without energy you have nothing."

~ Donald Trump

With exactly 60 days to go in this Leap year, I encourage you to be energized and aspire to leap with joy and accomplishment by the end of this year.

You can also start planning on how to continue leaping for joy and covering ground in the years to come.