This issue is made up of the following sections:

1. Personal Effectiveness Tips
2. Comments from Subscribers
3. Reality Check - Everyday Loyalty

1. Personal Effectiveness Tips
1. Manage your energy levels better. Don't assume that "calming down" is the prescription for reduced stress in your life. You may be the type of person that needs to be "revved up." The key is to know your style. If you are high strung, you probably need to learn to relax more. If you are the calmest person you know, you may need to get out and "live a little" more.

2. Be selective in your news intake. Husbands do this naturally, as wives know. Don't watch the news before bed, don't read news headlines that increase your blood pressure, and don't scour the obituaries for signs that your time is coming. Fill your mind with uplifting news, or ideas that can benefit you. After all, there will always be "bad" news to read about. But why would you really want to dwell on that stuff?

3. Here's a hint: We all fail, some of us on a daily basis. Get over it. Acknowledge your failures, learn why they happened (was it because of something you could control? or was it out of your control?) and then move ahead. To do otherwise is akin to driving while looking only in your rearview mirror. You're gonna crash into something ahead of you in the near future, and it ain't gonna be pretty.

4. In everything you do, forget about tasks and focus instead on impact. Too often we become bogged down in the mundane details of life (i.e., "let me make a list of things to do today, and then I can get back to you about whether we can have lunch together"). Your decisions and your activities should center around only those that get the best results.

Back to top

2. Comments from Subscribers

Some recent comments from subscribers like yourself:

"I enjoy your life tips. Being a woman coaching a men's sport I am always looking for ways to improve my coaching relationships. Thanks!" Sherry Bossart, Walsh University

"...I signed up to receive your monthly letter, and I am really glad I did.... I just wanted to thank you for the information that you pass on freely to others. I can tell, you are working in a field that is truly a passion for you"
Dee Ramer, Ohio

"Enjoy your newsletter very much. Great tips, no fluff."
Brian Matison, New York

"Your effectiveness tips come in quite handy in my everyday work... Many thanks!"
Donald Bolling, Canada

Back to top

3. Reality Check - Everyday Loyalty

I was driving home from a meeting with a client this past week when I decided to get my hair cut. The fact that I got a hair cut is hardly a big deal or breaking news, but what I realized the significance of the event as I pulled away from the curb and began the drive home afterwards. I had driven miles out of my way to get the same quality haircut I always get, but from a different store. The woman that usually cuts my hair transferred to a new store this past year, and I hadn't been to her in awhile, so I decided to change that.

The important learning lesson for me in this haircut was not that I drove out of the way to get a haircut, but that I drove out of the way, gave her a tip almost as large as the amount charged, and discussed bringing my 20 month old son back for his first haircut. Why? Here's why:

• she remembers my name
• she remembers the names of my children and seems genuinely interested in how tall they get
• she even remembers our nanny's name
• she is never in a bad mood
• her haircuts are always done well

Pretty simple, I think, but these are the reasons I decided to drive out of my way to spend more money than I typically would on a haircut that will last me four weeks. This is called customer loyalty.

In your life, to whom are you loyal? In whom do you invest your time, energy, and valuable resources? Have you ever thought about why you do it?

I think that our lives can are measurably improved by being more loyal to those who make a difference in our lives. In this day and age where convenience is everything and attention spans are five seconds long, loyalty to others is a rare but admirable choice. But think of the gains for both parties involved:

• better responsiveness
• increased personal satisfaction
• better quality work
• increased personal investment in your success
• better and increased referrals (business, friendship, etc)
• increased chance of repeat business

I could go on. Think about the most important people in your life, and then think about how much loyalty they have shown to you in your time together. There is a correlation there. Life is about relationships and experiences, and not much more. What are you consciously doing to improve both of these areas of your life? A simple choice to put another person or parties' own interests in line with yours can make a dramatic impact on the lives of both of those involved.

Back to top