2012 - A year in review

You know - when I started to think about 2012 - I thought it was a rather quiet and uneventful year until -

I started looking back at pictures and realized that it was indeed quite an eventful year.

Professionally speaking - the year started with a new team with a new team manager.  We started the year with less people on our team (downsizing) and with a lot of concern about what the year would bring.  I am happy to say that while it has been challenging (and so very difficult to say goodbye to many co-workers that I have known and worked with for years) it was a year that I am glad that I have had the opportunity to experience.

Each year as I prepare my goals for the new year - I always include the "travel" goal as a high priority goal.  At first - I thought that I had failed this miserably until I realized that indeed I had managed to work some travel into my life.

In March I was lucky enough to visit the Bay Area on business.

In April - I had the privilege of traveling to New Orleans with my oldest son to celebrate his birthday.

In September I once again visited my oldest son but this time it included a trip to Denver.  During this trip my son introduced me to Poudre Canyon.  If you have the chance to visit - please do - you will love it!

In October it was a trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for a family wedding...congratulations Jennifer and Charlie.  As always when in T-town...I have to take tons of pictures of the University of Alabama campus that means so much to me...

In November I had an opportunity to travel to the Greater Boston area.  Now for those that know me realize that another one of my goals or items on my bucket list is to visit all 50 states.  Massachusetts is one state that I had not visited yet so I can now mark that one off as well as two other states - New Hampshire and Maine.  While in the Northeast I had the honor of seeing Harvard and MIT...what a thrill!

Now - enough for traveling - let's talk about other events of the year.

In April I had the opportunity to attend an Alabama Alumni event in Dallas that included Nick Saban as the guest speaker...

September was also a very busy sporting month.  It included a Dallas Cowboy game, a Texas Ranger baseball game but most importantly - I had the change to watch Alabama play (and soundly defeat) Michigan at Cowboy Stadium.  Let me tell you - I have to be a huge BAMA fan to handle the 100 degree weather that day!

Now - this year has offered a bit more than travel and sports.  I have also been able to mark a couple of more items off my bucket list.

I had the opportunity to see a show that is headed to Broadway.  Jerkyll and Hyde starring Constantine.  Now all you American Idol fans will recognize Constantine!

I also finally...after many years was able to see Trans Siberian Orchestra in concert.  OH.MY.GOODNESS...what a treat this was!  If you have the opportunity to see them perform...run do not walk to the ticket office!!!!

Last but least - it was a White Christmas...here in Texas!!!

Thank you 2012 - you have been a very good year!

Do you hear the knock on your door?

Saturday's Inspiration

Thursday's Blessings

For those of you in the U.S. - may your day be full of love, family, blessings and gratitude!

Wednesday's Wisdom

Tuesday's Thought

Monday's Musings

Sunday's Inspiration

Saturday's Thoughts

A Friday Favorite

Thoughts for Thursday

Words for Wednesday

Success is a State of Mind

If you truly want to be successful, start thinking of yourself as successful.

The only thing that stands between you and what you want from life, is simply the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible. There is nothing on earth that you can't have, once you mentally accept the fact that you can have it.

The feeling must come first. If you actually feel successful, if you have a deep inner conviction that you'll always have all that you need, it will be so.

Whatever your mind can conceive and believe in, your mind can help you achieve. 

Monday's Musings

Sunday's Inspiration

“Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one's better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk- and to act. ” 

— André Malraux

Traits of Successful People

Today while reading Yahoo News - I came across an article about successful people  I think that many of these traits are true of all successful people.  After reading this article I thought it was important enough to share!

1. They don't create back-up plans.

Back-up plans can help you sleep easier at night. Back-up plans can also create an easy out when times get tough.

You'll work a lot harder and a lot longer if your primary plan simply has to work because there is no other option. Total commitment--without a safety net--will spur you to work harder than you ever imagined possible.

If somehow the worst does happen (and the "worst" is never as bad as you think) trust that you will find a way to rebound. As long as you keep working hard and keep learning from your mistakes, you always will.

2. They do the work...

You can be good with a little effort. You can be really good with a little more effort.

But you can't be great--at anything--unless you put in an incredible amount of focused effort.

Scratch the surface of any person with rare skills and you'll find a person who has put thousands of hours of effort into developing those skills.

There are no shortcuts. There are no overnight successes. Everyone has heard about the 10,000 hours principle but no one follows it... except remarkably successful people.

So start doing the work now. Time is wasting.

3.  ...and they work a lot more.

Forget the Sheryl Sandberg "I leave every day at 5:30" stories. I'm sure she does. But she's not you.

Every extremely successful entrepreneur I know (personally) works more hours than the average person--a lot more. They have long lists of things they want to get done. So they have to put in lots of time.

Better yet, they want to put in lots of time.

If you don't embrace a workload others would consider crazy then your goal doesn't mean that much to you--or it's not particularly difficult to achieve. Either way you won't be remarkably successful.

4. They avoid the crowds.

Conventional wisdom yields conventional results. Joining the crowd--no matter how trendy the crowd or "hot" the opportunity--is a recipe for mediocrity.

Remarkably successful people habitually do what other people won't do. They go where others won't go because there's a lot less competition and a much greater chance for success.

5. They start at the end...

Average success is often based on setting average goals.

Decide what you really want: to be the best, the fastest, the cheapest, the biggest, whatever. Aim for the ultimate. Decide where you want to end up. That is your goal.

Then you can work backwards and lay out every step along the way.

Never start small where goals are concerned. You'll make better decisions--and find it much easier to work a lot harder--when your ultimate goal is ultimate success.

6. ... and they don't stop there.

Achieving a goal--no matter how huge--isn't the finish line for highly successful people. Achieving one huge goal just creates a launching pad for achieving another huge goal.

Maybe you want to create a $100 million business; once you do you can leverage your contacts and influence to create a charitable foundation for a cause you believe in. Then your business and humanitarian success can create a platform for speaking, writing, and thought leadership. Then...

The process of becoming remarkably successful in one field will give you the skills and network to be remarkably successful in many other fields.

Remarkably successful people don't try to win just one race. They expect and plan to win a number of subsequent races.

7. They sell.

I once asked a number of business owners and CEOs to name the one skill they felt contributed the most to their success. Each said the ability to sell.

Keep in mind selling isn't manipulating, pressuring, or cajoling. Selling is explaining the logic and benefits of a decision or position. Selling is convincing other people to work with you. Selling is overcoming objections and roadblocks.

Selling is the foundation of business and personal success: knowing how to negotiate, to deal with "no," to maintain confidence and self-esteem in the face of rejection, to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, to build long-term relationships...

When you truly believe in your idea, or your company, or yourself then you don't need to have a huge ego or a huge personality. You don't need to "sell."

You just need to communicate.

8. They are never too proud.

To admit they made a mistake. To say they are sorry. To have big dreams. To admit they owe their success to others. To poke fun at themselves. To ask for help.

To fail.

And to try again.

Friday's Inspiration

Thoughtful Thursday

 

 

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.

Each one of us has cause to think deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

Words for Wednesday

Thanks Lee Ann Locken for sharing this!

Today is the DAY!

Today is a very important day for every American.  It is the day that we can express our thoughts on who we want to be our next U.S. President.

It is not only an honor for me to have the right to vote for my choice but in my mind - it is a duty that I have for my country.

No matter whether your are a Republican or Democrat - please let your voice be heard today! 

Thought for Tuesday

Monday's Musing

Thanks to Marc and Angel Hack

Thought for Sunday

Saturday's Thought of the Day

Gratitude

Thought for Thursday

Words for Wednesday

Too important to not repeat!

Remember - you have a choice of who you allow in your life. 

Monday's Musings

Inspiration for Sunday

Saturday's Thought of the Day

Friday's Thoughts

Thursday's Thought

Happiness Is...

Tuesday's Thought of the Day

What kind of person are you?

Be the kind of person others admire, can count on, trust, and enjoy spending time with. After you have developed that reputation, people will start to ask you what you do, and you will be amazed at how many people will want to work with you on the things that matter to you.

Fountain of Youth

Many people search for this:

But do you really know where to find it?  Read below and you too will know:

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. — Sophia Loren

Inspirational Sunday