Stocks and corporate profits may be rising and the economy may be expanding a bit. However, far too many Americans feel left behind. The problems remain frustrating … joblessness, home foreclosures, and the growing ranks of the long-term unemployed.

8.7 million people lost their jobs during the recession … think about that number! Sadly, more than 7.3 million are still without work. There are still nearly five job seekers for every job opening.

Washington politicians tell us that it will be years before the economy puts all those folks back to work. That’s probably true if we depend on them to make it happen.

Many, however, have decided to avoid reliance upon empty promises and instead have chosen to engineer their own comeback.

The rules are somewhat simple … the execution a bit more challenging. However, chances for successful outcomes are greater than waiting for others to do the job for you. Take a look …

Comeback Rule #1:

Refuse to die. Those with the character to triumph in the end tend not to allow the indignity of failure to force them down. Those who come back accept disaster, laugh in its face, and crawl to their feet again.

Comeback Rule #2:

Decide to fight. Those who come back have an inner sense of justice that refuses to be violated. They manage their emotions, reminding themselves of where they’ve been and why they’re here, and resolve that nothing will stop them.

Comeback Rule #3:

Get clever. Savvy fighters won’t make the same mistake twice. They accept the hard rules of the real world, analyze how they wound up on their back, and chart a course around the problem. Often as not, they turn trouble to their advantage.

Comeback Rule #4:

Focus, focus, focus! Once you’re on your way, don’t look up and don’t look back. A hundred distractions, doubts, and setbacks will haunt someone recovering from disaster. The true champion rolls with the punches and keeps coming back for more.

Comeback Rule #5:

Enjoy the ride. The reward for those making a comeback is to see their vision come to life in the real world. And they enjoy the deep confidence of one who had fought his way through hell and emerged to see the stars.

Begin your journey today!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Are You Gonna Make a Comeback? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

• He was illiterate, so he never read newspapers.
• He was hard of hearing, so he never listened to the radio.
• His eyes were weak, so he never watched television.

However, enthusiastically, he sold lots of hot dogs. His sales and profit went up. He ordered more meat and got himself a bigger and a better grill. Things were certainly going well.

As his business continued to grow, his son, who had recently graduated from college, joined his father. Then something strange happened.

The son asked, “Dad, aren’t you aware of the great recession that is coming our way?” The father replied, “No, but tell me about it.” The son said, “The international situation is terrible. The domestic is even worse. We should be prepared for the coming bad time.”

The man thought that since his son had been to college, read the papers, and listened to the radio, he ought to know and his advice should not be taken lightly.

So the next day, the father cut down his order for the meat and buns, took down the sign and was no longer enthusiastic. Very soon, fewer and fewer people bothered to stop at his hot dog stand. And his sales started coming down rapidly. The father said to his son, “Son, you were right. We are in the middle of a recession. I am glad you warned me ahead of time.”

This same process is happening to US today. The national media (radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, Internet) reports only the negative for the simple reason that they make more money by doing so. If we allow them to control our dominant thought we downsize, lay off, reduce advertising and training, become less creative, fail to offer service as we should, etc.

This is an interesting concept at a time when we see very successful organizations grow, hire more people, become more creative, increase advertising, marketing and training, enhance customer service, and offer new products and services.

As a result, they prosper at time when we’re told that can’t and won’t happen! You can see examples in most every industry today. The moral of this story SHOULDN’T have to be explained. It’s as plain as the nose on your face! However, it’s quite obvious that far too many CANNOT learn from these positive examples. For those we offer the following:

1. Many times we confuse intelligence with good judgment.
2. A person may have high intelligence but poor judgment.
3. Choose your advisers carefully and use your judgment.
4. The tragedy is that there are many walking encyclopedias who are living failures.
5. YOU control your most DOMINANT THOUGHT and you will ALWAYS move in that direction! What is YOUR most DOMINANT THOUGHT at the moment?

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

The Dominant Thought Strikes Again is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

I have his permission to share this unusual story as long as I don’t reveal the name of the organization … for obvious reasons.

Several months ago, I was asked to present a customized version of our often-requested “Productive Chaos” seminar. Over the years, we’ve presented various versions of this popular program to thousands of clients across a wide variety of industries from coast to coast. However, this request was rather unique.

The majority of previous presentations have been to those in leadership positions at various levels in the organizations we serve. This particular client requested that we share that same relevant content with his frontline staff! Here’s why he felt it was so important to do so.

• These are challenging times which call for increased productivity from every level of the organization.
• The majority of his frontline staff were not college-educated and had never attended an out-of-town conference of any kind. In fact, many had never received classroom training of any kind, even on the premises.
• This group of key employees was very concerned about the state of the business and the deteriorating status of our U.S. economy. In short, morale was low and self-confidence and self-esteem were far from what they should be to inspire the performance needed from this critical support staff.
• Our client felt they needed a boost and wanted them to know how important their performance was to the success of the company in these trying times.
• Therefore, he scheduled the entire staff to attend this presentation of “Productive Chaos” over several days of continuous sessions.

It’s been a few months now so I was certainly happy to hear from him this morning. In short, he was ecstatic. He rambled on for quite some time sharing the results of his risky decision. When he scheduled the seminar, he was honest in saying he wasn’t certain if the cost burden of training at this point was a wise decision. However, after seeing the results, he no longer uses the terms “cost” nor “burden.” He claims it was one of the best “investments” he’s ever made.

Let me cut to the chase. This is NOT a commercial for employee training. Paraphrasing our client’s feedback, he noted the following:

• In the days following the training, he observed an obvious increase in productivity by the majority of his employees.
• He observed more and better communication among individuals and departments.
• He saw daily evidence of greater morale, better attitude, and enhanced confidence and pride among his employees.

At this point, I would love to tell you that these key outcomes were a direct result of our powerful “Productive Chaos” program content and our unique method of delivery. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.

In further discussion with our client, we agreed on the obvious. His staff differed little from other employees all across the nation today. They were beaten down and frustrated by daily media reports of a nation in demise. They were constantly exposed to reports that the future looks bleak and prospects of a turnaround grow more dismal by the day. In short, they were running out of gas and had little or nothing to look forward to.

Then our client gambled. He sent a subliminal message to his staff that they were indeed important and a crucial key to the company’s future success. The message was clear. They were important. They were needed. They were going to receive training with the expectation that performance and increased productivity would soon follow because their potential excellence was recognized, appreciated and a key ingredient for future success.

They were validated!

Sounds too simple doesn’t it? The results speak for themselves. People today want and need validation. The majority may not even be aware of it. I’ve seen it time and time again. A simple “thank you” or “good job” can make a difference. Eye contact, a smile, or a handshake can and will do wonders. People want to know that they possess value and can contribute in some way. Don’t you DARE underestimate the value of validation.

I don’t care who it may be …. a parent, child, spouse, friend, significant other, neighbor, vendor, client, employee or team member …. the results are the same. You’ll see greater pride, enhanced self esteem, increased performance and productivity, higher morale …. and the list goes on.

I saw it in the faces of those attending the training. They suddenly realized they were important enough to their company to receive training, to spend a day in a classroom increasing their ability and worth, to warrant their boss to bring in an outside speaker just for them. Of course, there were the typical number who didn’t care and refused to take part. There always are … but you don’t focus on those folks. You focus on those who care and appreciate your efforts. And the results cannot be denied.

I recently saw a video which so impressed me that I shared it on our blog. At the time, I honestly thought it was somewhat “corny.” However, 30 seconds into the content, I couldn’t turn it off. In fact I can’t believe I watched it to the end. It shared a very powerful message which should bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye and inspiration to your spirit. It should be shown to every parent, spouse, teacher, CEO, supervisor, manager, team leader, and team member everywhere. In addition, it should be shared in every classroom in the nation.

Today, with this call from our client, that video content was validated!

It’s worth your time to view it. Who knows, it may lead to the successful outcomes experienced by our courageous client who sent a special message to his staff. Can you spare a few minutes? What are you possibly doing that could be more important. Enjoy and prosper!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao

“>http://youtu.be/Cbk980jV7Ao

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Validation – A Powerful Strategy in Trying Times! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

This video is what they call a LipDup and, by the way, this one set a new world record. A LipDup is a type of video that combines lip synching and audio dubbing to make a music video. It is made by filming individuals or a group of people lip synching while listening to a song or any recorded audio then dubbing over it in post editing with the original audio of the song.

This particular video evolved from simple pride. Newsweek magazine printed a story in January which listed Grand Rapids, Michigan, as No. 10 on a list of America’s “dying” cities. This didn’t sit well with the sassy citizens of the “Furniture City” so they decided to prove their town is very much alive. They did so via a massively multi-performer, lip-sync video done in an epic, single shot, unedited take lasting almost 10 minutes.

The video is set to a live recording of Don McLean’s “American Pie” so you WILL find yourself singing along. They shut down a good portion of downtown Grand Rapids as they coordinated more than 3,000 people, marching bands, parades, weddings, motorcades, bridges on fire, and a helicopter takeoff. The entertaining, up-beat LipDub included entertainers, political figures, and local media celebrities surrounded by hundreds of football players, musicians, cheerleaders, police and firefighters, swing dancers, kayakers and more. Watch closely for the impeccably-timed pyrotechnics!

This unique project shows a sense of kinship that is endearing to everyone because it gets at the heart of who we are, and gives us a sense of what we can do together with determination, pride, focus, communication and a keen desire to succeed.

If only more of us would do something like this without waiting until we’re pushed into a corner being forced to respond in desperation! The Human Spirit is a powerful force to be reckoned with. Let’s harness it today to face the challenges confronting us!

Enjoy this video as you recall how a so-called “dying” America city spanked a statistically-dying magazine and entertained the Internet to the tune of 2,754,494 hits

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Never Underestimate the Power of the Human Spirit! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Now … do revelations actually surround us? I may have contested that fact at one point—until recently. I now totally believe it and have added a very unique, crucial element to my daily existence as a result of that belief.

I certainly can’t speak for others, but I believe those revelations have always surrounded me. I simply didn’t acknowledge them for several reasons:

1. too busy
2. lack of proper focus
3. chaos
4. lack of awareness
5. and probably others that I’m unaware of!

My turning point? A simple 2:49 video clip brought to my attention by a long-time client. This short clip left me dumbfounded! It made me consider so many things I had never given thought to over the decades.

It made me think about how many people I come into contact with on any given day and the thought that every single one of them has their own story. All these years, I’ve never even seen these people I come into contact with. They come. They go. Just a blur. A single second in my long, challenging day. Until I saw this video.

Now, through a single re-frame, my day has decelerated—yet I’ve lost no time or production. I now look closer at those around me. I make more eye contact. I talk less and listen more. I wonder about their story. I even strive to learn some of them. It’s made a difference in how I view people, actions and situations. It’s affected outcomes. It’s been an asset I wish had discovered many years ago. I’m sure it would have made a difference in so many ways.

Invest two minutes and forty-nine seconds of your time to watch this short video. It’s self-explanatory! It may be the best investment you ever made! If you like it, share it. You’ll be glad you did. I am.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Revelations Surround Us is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Here’s a brief bio and an interesting fact about that famous speech.

• Winston Churchill was a British politician, statesman and orator known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the WWII. He is widely regarded as one of the great wartime leaders. He also served as Prime Minister twice 1940-45 and 1951-55. He passed away in 1965 at the age of 91.
• Concerning his speech … it was reported that he delivered his inspiring message to the boys of his old school, Harrow, in 1941 and the entire text of his speech consisted of five short sentences built around his advice that you should “never give up.” It was commonly reported that he supposedly spoke for less than a minute and immediately sat down.

Actually, that was a myth that has been recorded in many history books over the years. In reality, his speech was much longer than reported, and his actual phrase was “never give in” as opposed to “never give up.”

Regardless, it was excellent advice which has been heeded by many over the decades.

In the midst of today’s chaotic turmoil, no one has to be told that times are tough. On the other hand, everyone should be encouraged to “never give in.” We, as parents, grandparents, leaders, etc., have a responsibility to educate, encourage, support and even model this classic message.

Let me tell you about another legendary gentleman who shares this critical philosophy of “never give in.”

This celebrated musician lost his sight at the tender age of six years old. This tragedy left him devastated … feeling lost, alone and totally abandoned. He could visualize no future at all. His mother did her best to support, encourage and console him. However, his fear of the unknown kept him in a constant state of terror.

Watching her son waste away led his mother to make a statement that inspired the young boy and eventually change his life forever. She said, “Son, you have lost your sight and nothing can change that. There are things you can’t do. But there are lots of things you can do. You have a creative mind. Find something you enjoy and stick with it, no matter what.”

Following his mother’s advice, he thought about what he really wanted to do with his life. He had always dreamed of becoming a recording star so he would practice playing the piano and singing every day.

Sadly, he was discouraged at every turn. Friends, neighbors, teachers, and even other family members discouraged him and suggested that he find another way to support himself. They made it clear that he would never play the piano or sing well enough to earn a living.

However, he remembered his mother’s words and refused to quit. He remained focused on his goal and practiced different techniques, different styles and different melodies that would fit him. Many times he cried himself to sleep as a result of the rude remarks which haunted him. However, his mother was always there reminding him that he must never give up.

Ultimately his perseverance paid off.

Later in his life, he received countless awards for his music, including 12 Grammies. He performed before millions of people including Presidents and heads of state. His unique musical style has made a lasting imprint on all forms of popular music over the past 50 years. He credited his success to his mother’s words which remained in the back of his mind until the day he died. He wouldn’t listen to the negative influences in his life and refused to quit. His name: Ray Charles.

The next time someone tells you to forget your dream, remember this young boy’s mother who wouldn’t let him “give in” and the Prime Minister who inspired an entire country with the same message. Is there someone in your life that would benefit from hearing that message from you? It could very well make a crucial difference in their lives.

If your dream is something that you REALLY want, don’t let anything stop you until you achieve it!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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Ray Charles and Winston Churchill Shared a Powerful Philosophy is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

If that’s any indication of things to come, we should probably be giving serious thought to our New Year’s resolutions. Your list for the coming year will more than likely include something that will assist you in your efforts to cope with the many challenges which will appear in 2011.

Everywhere you look today there are problems. Turn on your TV or computer, pick up a magazine or paper, and what do you see? Problems! Talk to your family, co-workers, clients or friends, and within minutes someone will bring up a challenge they’re current facing … or two or three. Problems seem to be out of control as we approach the end of another year. We see them with products, services, health care, retirement plans, sales, marketing, budgets, IT, personnel, politics, customer service … a growing list that is indeed vast.

One strategy which seems to have proven very successful for many individuals and organizations is almost too simplistic to believe. That’s probably why so many have chosen to overlook it. In today’s trying times, it may very well be wise to give it a second look.

It’s called “Pink Bat Thinking,” and it emphasizes the importance of looking at things from a completely different angle. In essence, learn to use your imagination to look at a problem as an opportunity in order to create a solution.

You probably remember this strategy as something you’ve heard many times: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”

In essence, the lesson of the Pink Bat comes down to the following: “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” In other words, use your imagination to look at a problem as an opportunity to create a solution.

History provides us with example after example of this strategy proving to be successful. Consider: Charles Schultz of Peanuts fame, Barbara Walters, Grandma Moses, Walt Disney, Abe Lincoln, Thomas Monaghan (Dominos), Ray Kroc (McDonalds), Fred Smith (FedEx), Wilma Rudolph (athlete), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), J.K. Rowlings (Harry Potter) and Helen Keller. The list goes on and on.

Take a closer look at this “Pink Bat Thinking” … it may very well make a major difference for you in the coming year. Michael McMillan’s video will give you an overview in a very unusual, but artistic, performance.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Start Now to Prepare for 2011 is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

I remember, as a grade-schooler, standing in the gymnasium … half of us dressed in headbands and feathers and the other half wearing pilgrim hats and collars made of heavy construction paper held together with our favorite edible paste. My classmates and I did our best to warble the sweet sounds of our annual favorite hymn, “We Gather Together.” It always brought tears to my eyes. It wasn’t really a religious hymn, but it certainly felt like it. To this day, I remember every word.

“We Gather Together”

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to His name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

Back in those days, I was under the impression that we, as Americans, had been celebrating Thanksgiving since the first meeting between our Pilgrims and Native Americans. Like so many others, I commonly believed that the first Thanksgiving happened in 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, and has continued to our present celebrations.

However, I was surprised to discover that the official celebration of this popular holiday involved several of our Presidents and the persistence of a popular female magazine editor from Boston. Paul Harvey explains it best in one of his “Rest of the Story” classics which you can hear via this link.

In the meantime, from all of us at the AchieveMax® company of speakers to all of you and your families … have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration and enjoy each and every minute of it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg2DqJ8Ge0Y

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

The Truth Behind Thanksgiving is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

The mental capacity found on one street in the Big Apple, or any major city for that fact, could resolve most of the problems we’re currently experiencing across this country. The sad fact emerges when you realize that most of those people have no idea of their own potential! My work has allowed me to witness some extraordinary creativity and innovation evolve from people who had no idea they were capable of such thinking!

Did you realize that you have the capacity between your ears to store more information that can be stored in dozen’s of man’s most sophisticated computers? In fact, you can store more data than you will find in the millions of volumes in the Library of Congress!

Scientists claim that if man were to attempt to create a human brain, it would cost billions of dollars, would be larger than the Empire State Building and would require more electricity than a city of tens of thousands!

Its construction would involve the most brilliant men in the world and yet with all of this size, cost, and power requirements, this man-made brain couldn’t originate a single thought, which YOU can do in the flash of an eye! Your remarkable mind brings 72 muscles into perfect coordination each time you utter a single word!

Review what I’ve shared in the last three paragraphs and realize that I’ve been describing YOU. Now consider the number of people working and living around you who possess that same potential. You and those around you are each remarkable with more than enough capability to attain the success you desire!

Our major challenge lies in the need to recognize, accept, and harness the valuable potential we each possess. It’s the age old matter of closing the knowing-doing gap. Education, experience, and networking mean little if not focused on an action plan to achieve the success you desire. The world is filled with those possessing tremendous potential while tapping so little, if any, of it. Are you focused on closing that critical gap. If not, do something about it … and soon!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

You Can’t Imagine Your Own Potential! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Early in my career, I was fortunate to discover the wisdom of authors and speakers such as Earl Nightingale, Zig Ziglar, Denis Waitley, Wayne Dyer, Robert Schuller and so many others who contributed to my foundational beliefs. Basic wisdom and truths I learned at that time are still being practiced and proven to this day. The lessons have been passed on by a new generation of messengers … but the messages have passed the test of time.

For instance, I remember learning that “The way you see life will largely determine what you get out of it.” The example used to illustrate this truth was a simple bar of iron. Use it as a door stop, and it’s worth a couple of dollars. If used in the production of horseshoes, the value of that same bar increases to about $50. Remove the impurities, refine it into fine steel and create mainsprings for precision watches, and it’s worth a quarter of a million dollars!

It all depends on how you view that simple bar of iron. The same theory holds true in how you view yourself and your future. It’s critical that we establish major goals accompanied by deadlines. This requires preparation and a plan which leads to action. This formula is necessary regardless of your personal choices in life.

Sadly, goal setting is seldom taught in school, and in the few instances that it is shared, it’s done so sparingly! On a more positive note, we’ve been receiving increased interest from the business community in our goal-setting seminar, “On Your Mark, Get Set, Goal!” Apparently more and more leaders understand the importance of every employee knowing the critical steps of setting goals.

To insure future success … research, read, or attend a seminar to learn exactly how goal setting can and will impact your future in a more positive way.

This short video may inspire you to enhance your efforts to set the goals that will provide your desired success.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0mSyQLnzNQ

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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How Do You See Life? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

That happened to me last week. It was Veterans Day, and I couldn’t help but
notice that everyone seemed to be well aware of it—much more so than
in years past.

You could see it and hear it everywhere … radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, billboards, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Everyone seemed to be showing support and appreciation to our military “Heroes and She-roes” … both past and present.

That day I received an unexpected phone call from an old friend I haven’t heard from in years. We chatted for a while, and he suggested that we meet at one of our local Applebee’s Restaurants as they were providing free meals for Veterans in honor of the holiday.

I seldom get the opportunity to do something “spur-of-the-moment” like that, and I hadn’t seen my friend for ages so I agreed to meet him.

Walking into that restaurant was like entering the “Twilight Zone.” I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The free meal was nice, of course, as Applebee’s provides a terrific offering and the ambiance is uniquely ‘hometown.”

However, today was different. The place was packed, and I recognized no one other than my old friend. However, I felt as though I actually knew everyone in the restaurant. My friend and I quickly caught up on old times and suddenly found ourselves totally immersed in our surroundings.

What we witnessed was heartwarming and almost indescribable. Veterans were getting up from their seats to introduce themselves to other Veterans. Some in uniform … most in civies. They were shaking hands, hugging, and chatting as though they had known one another forever … even though they had just met.

Civilians were approaching Veterans and shaking their hands as they thanked them for their service … some even hugged the Veterans with tears in their eyes.

The waiters, waitresses, and bartenders were hurriedly seating and serving everyone and yet took the time to treat customers as though this was a very special day to honor very special people … and it was just that!

I must admit that this was one of those rare “lump in the throat,” “tears in the eyes,” “warmth in the heart” moments that so quickly changes your entire outlook on life.

We were there less than an hour, but the memory will last forever. I shared some quality time with a fellow Veteran I haven’t seen for far too long … I watched a community of strangers come together as a family obviously blinded to prejudice of any kind … I saw warm smiles and heard friendly laughter as everyone seemed to easily forget negative thoughts of the economy, politics, joblessness, and the many other aspects of our current distress.

For a few precious moments, there was no age difference, no skin color, no religion, no politics, no ethnicity … just proud Americans sharing respect, support and appreciation … and loving every minute of it!

I shared a final hug with my friend, promised him we’d do this again soon, and, as we walked to our cars, wondered why every day couldn’t be like Veterans Day, 2010. My thanks to Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar for accomplishing something in one afternoon that our government hasn’t been able to accomplish in quite some time.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

When You Least Expect It … is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Driven by desire, intelligent ignorance is the characteristic or capability of not knowing what you can’t do, and doing it anyway.

Mary Kay Ash probably explained it best in her classic explanation of the fact that the bumblebee can’t fly. Scientific evidence states that the bumblebee’s body is far too heavy and his wings are far too light. Aerodynamically, it is an impossibility for the bumblebee to fly. However, the bumblebee doesn’t read and therefore does fly!

Some may equate these shortcomings to that of a lemon, but the bumblebee certainly transformed them into lemonade!

Historically, Charles Kettering had a rather unusual lemon in the form of a broken arm. Many years ago he was cranking his car and it “kicked” him unexpectedly. For the younger generation, that means the crank on his car didn’t disengage, jerked sharply as a cylinder began firing and turned the crank rather than the crank turning the engine. The sudden lurch broke Kettering’s arm.

What did he do? First, he grabbed his arm in pain. However, he then immediately thought: “This is a dangerous thing to happen while you’re cranking your car. An easier, better, safer way to start engines must be developed or the masses simply won’t want to own an automobile.”

As a result, he invented the “self-starter.” The rest is history. His lemon, a broken arm, became our lemonade.

Don’t let anyone tell you something can’t be done. Anyone can do that. You be the one to show that it can be done.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Intelligent Ignorance is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Later that evening I passed it on to another friend to enjoy. I quickly received a note back explaining that while he enjoyed it as well, he had learned via the Internet that this story was an urban legend. It was such a great story that I decided to look into it.

I went to Snopes.com … officially the Urban Legends Reference Pages. This is a web site that discusses urban legends, Internet rumors, e-mail forwards, and other stories of uncertain origin. It receives about 300,000 hits per day. It’s been around since 2005 and has a pretty good record of tracing the origins of most anything you might find online.

Within a few minutes, I learned that this story has appeared under several titles including “Just Lunch,” “Act of Kindness,” “The Sack Lunches,” and “An Unforgettable Flight.” Their research discovered that the story has been circulating since August 2008 and has been published in a number of magazines. There has apparently been a couple of versions telling the story with both a religious message as well as an attempt of simple appreciation for our military.

The story is attributed to an author living in Wood Dale, Illinois, but they have yet to be able to locate him.

I guess my personal feeling is simple. I don’t care if it’s true. It’s a very touching story of what I would like to believe is true of any citizen living in this terrific country. It made me feel good, hopeful, and appreciative. In this day and age, what more could one ask for? See what you think by reading it below. If you share my appreciation of a heart-warming story, pass it on. I can’t think of too many people who couldn’t use a “feel-good” story today. Enjoy.

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. “I’m glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,” I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

“Where are you headed?” I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

“Petawawa, we’ll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we’re being deployed to Afghanistan.”

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time …

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. “No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn’t be worth five bucks. I’ll wait till we get to base.”

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty-dollar bill. “Take a lunch to all those soldiers.” She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. “My son was a soldier in Iraq; it’s almost like you are doing it for him.”

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, “Which do you like best—beef or chicken?”

“Chicken,” I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

“This is your thanks.”

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.

A man stopped me. “I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.” He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked. I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, “I want to shake your hand.” Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain’s hand. With a booming voice he said, “I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.” I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.

I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. “It will take you some time to reach the base … It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.”

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little …

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount of “up to and including my life.”

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Truth or Legend – Does It Really Matter! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

My thoughts on this particular issue were, at first, totally humorous. However, the more I think about it, the more sense it makes!

As we approach a major political vote next week, I find myself bored and irritated at the same time. I’m tired of seeing politicians who avoid telling us what they’re going to do by telling us why we shouldn’t vote for their opponent. In short, from coast to coast, we see nothing but liars calling each other liars. In the meantime, nothing gets done anywhere.

I’m quickly arriving at the conclusion that high school students, using what little experience they have … coupled with common sense, enthusiasm, and creativity … could quickly solve the majority of the country’s current challenges. Of course, I’m talking about those major challenges that have our current political masterminds within the Washington, D.C., beltway totally stifled and gridlocked.

Let me shared a simple example. Illegal immigration to the United States is currently a major issue which is quickly leading to disastrous consequences. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants, settlement patterns, impact on upward social mobility, crime, and voting behavior.

There are currently 15 to 20 million illegal aliens in this country by many estimates, but the real numbers could be much higher and the numbers increase every day because our borders are not secure. Washington claims it cannot find these illegal aliens.

Consider this approach. Have you ever sent a package by way of FedEx or UPS? If you have, you know that private enterprise has mastered, using easily accessible technical advances, the fine art of tracking that package from one side of our country to the next. They can pinpoint the location of that package at any given time during its journey. Private enterprise can track each and every one of millions of moving packages while the federal government can’t locate a single illegal alien who has been living in the same location for years!

Solution: Let’s have FedEx and UPS locate the illegal aliens … then send every one of them a package … then track the package using their technology placed inside police cars.

Package delivered …. alien apprehended … problem solved! Politicians will never learn!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Let Students Run the Country is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

This “classic,” written by James Allen, seems to be even more relevant in today’s stressful and competitive society than it was when the author originally shared his wisdom. As a Man Thinketh is partly responsible for the creation of the entire personal development industry. In fact, it has greatly influenced many contemporary writers including Norman Vincent Peale, Earl Nightingale, Denis Waitley and Tony Robbins, among others.

The premise is simple but can truly be life-changing: “We become what we think about.” It’s been translated into five major languages, inspiring millions of readers to recognize that man’s visions can become reality, simply through the power of thought.

In both keynote presentations and seminars, we share irrefutable examples that “each of us constantly move toward our most dominant thought”! Therefore, YOU CHOOSE to move in a positive or negative direction. Obviously, your daily thoughts determine your destiny. Are you prepared to harness this powerful energy on your journey to success?

This book has changed lives all over the world and has been an inspiration to great leaders in every field. It should be required reading in every classroom on earth but is seldom recognized by the majority of our population.

Watch this short but compelling video, find a copy of As a Man Thinketh, and start changing your life TODAY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFcdUQsYEkE

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Be Aware of Your Dominant Thought! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

However, I wonder how many of those million things are truly that urgent. As I grow older, each of those priorities seem a little less important to me. Not all of them, of course. Some things must be dealt with and within a certain time frame … but certainly not all of them.

And, in striving to accomplish them all, I have to wonder how many simple pleasures I’ve missed over the years … things that seem so important to me today.

• Making a phone call to someone special.
• Spending more time with children and grandchildren.
• Observing so many aspects of nature.
• Enjoying a book.
• Pausing to smile at someone who may need it.
• And the list goes on and on.

One of the most powerful messages we share in several of our keynotes and seminars is very simplistic but also very true. “You constantly move toward your most dominant thought!” It’s proven every day in every way.

I guess a key question arises from that statement that we should really give some thought to. Today—what is YOUR most dominant thought? … because that’s where you’re going to focus your time and energy. Is it worth it? The choice is yours. Make it wisely!

Pause for a moment right now and enjoy this short video which shares some simple secrets for finding true joy… and have a nice day!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Simplicity at Its Best is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Unfortunately, few of us find the time to do this and suffer greatly as a result. However, by the time we do reach a point in our lives where we can pause and reflect on those many priceless lessons which history contributes to us, it’s often too late.

For instance, in 1923, who was …

1. president of the largest steel company?
2. president of the largest gas company?
3. president of the New York Stock Exchange?
4. the greatest wheat speculator?
5. president of the Bank of International Settlement?
6. the Great Bear of Wall Street?

These men were considered some of the world’s most successful of their days.

Now, 87 years later, history tells us what ultimately became of them.

The answers:

1. The president of the largest steel company, Charles Schwab, died a pauper.
2. The president of the largest gas company, Edward Hopson, went insane.
3. The president of the NYSE, Richard Whitney, was released from prison to die at home.
4. The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cooger, died abroad, penniless.
5. The president of the Bank of International Settlement, shot himself.
6. The Great Bear of Wall Street, Cosabee Livermore, also committed suicide.

However, in that same year, 1923, the PGA Champion and the winner of the most important golf tournament, the US Open, was Gene Sarazen.

So, what became of him?

He played golf until he was 92 and died in 1999 at the ripe old age of 95! He was very financially secure at the time of his death.

The moral here:

While work can be rewarding, refreshing, productive and profitable, it need not be all consuming and, in the end, isn’t as rewarding as the obvious benefits provided by achieving true balance in your life. Sadly, far too many of us don’t realize this until it’s too late. Many never realize it at all. Take a hint from this very popular hit song. I wish I had heard it … really listened to the words … years before I actually did!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s5r2spPJ8g

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Lessons from Professor History! is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Take a moment to read it, appreciate the message, and pass it on to someone else as we could all use a smile today.

A small boy and girl were building a sand castle on the beach. They spent hours building towers, walls, and a moat. As they were building, the tide crept slowly in. Suddenly, a big wave wiped it all away.

An adult nearby felt sorry for them because of all the work they had put into building the castle, until the two children held hands and ran off together, laughing as they scampered down the beach.

It was then that the adult realized a simple truth: it is fun building empires, but the lasting fun is in having friends you can continue to laugh with and be with long after all that you have spent your life building has washed away.

Relationships are the key to making almost anything happen. They are the foundation to the quality of our lives and to the results we get.

Excerpted from If How-To’s Were Enough We Would All Be SKINNY, RICH & HAPPY by Brian Klemmer.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Who’s Teaching Who? is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

Believe it or not, your entire body benefits from a good chuckle. There’s been a good many studies conducted by universities, hospitals, and independent researchers world wide on this subject.

Here are some of the statistics revealed from these studies. When you laugh …

• Your heart beats faster and your blood pressure rises temporarily.
• Your heart and lungs are stimulated.
• You breathe deeper and oxygenate more blood.
• You burn 78 times as many calories as you would in a resting state.
• Your diaphragm, facial muscles and internal organs all get bounced around in a message sometimes called “internal jogging.”
• Your body releases endorphins, your own natural pain killers, and you produce more immune cells.

After you’ve laughed, your muscles and arteries relax. That’s great for easing pain. Also, your blood pressure lowers and your pulse drops below normal. Many researchers claim this aids digestion.

In short, you can make a positive difference in your current health by simply hugging and laughing more often. Not a bad prescription … absolutely no cost, dose sizes are no concern, and it’s certainly easy to tolerate. Give it a try!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Laugh Your Way to Good Health is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.

However, as I’ve grown older I’ve been exposed to more and more evidence that there might just be something concrete to what I’ve been hearing.

Obviously, hugs certainly feel good for both those giving them and those receiving them … but apparently there’s more to it that just feelings. The effects are certainly more than skin deep.

Let’s examine some research on ”hugging.”

Psychologists at University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine have conducted a great deal of research in this area. Researchers found that hugs increase the “bonding” hormone oxytocin and decrease the risk of heart disease.

Hugs are good for your heart as they lower blood pressure and reduce stress. In fact, a hearty hug in the morning may help your loved one ward off stress all day.

A brief hug and 10 minutes of handholding with a romantic partner greatly reduce the harmful physical effects of stress, according to a study reported by the American Psychosomatic Society.

“Scientists are increasingly interested in the possibility that positive emotions can be good for your health. This study has reinforced research findings that support from a partner, in this case a hug from a loved one, can have beneficial effects on heart health,” said a spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation.

Indeed, a previous study found that hugging and handholding reduces the effects of stress. Two groups of couples were asked to talk about an angry event, but one group had previously held hands and hugged, while the others sat alone. It was found that:

• Blood pressure increased significantly more among the no-contact group as compared to the huggers.
• Heart rate among those without contact increased 10 beats a minute, compared to five beats a minute for huggers.

Humans are clearly social animals, as evidenced by countless studies showing that those who have friends are healthier, as are people who are married.

The findings suggest one reason that isolated, lonely people tend to have poorer health, says an Ohio State University psychologist. Although ours is a youth-oriented culture, older adults may benefit most from touch, she says.

“The older you are, the more fragile you are physically, so contact becomes increasingly important for good health.”

Therapeutic touch has also been shown to reduce stress and pain among adults, and reduces symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, such as restlessness, pacing, vocalization, searching and tapping.

“U.S. couples aren’t very touchy feely in public,” says Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School. This is a shame as touch also releases two feel-good brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine.

So all of this research tells us to forget about any hang up you may have about hugging someone. What are you waiting for? Grab your partner, friend or family member and give them a hug today. Spread health and happiness at a time when this world can certainly use it!

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management.  For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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Hugs a Day – Pave the Way is a post from the AchieveMax® Blog, which includes articles on business, change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, time management, and more. Please visit our site for more information on our professional speakers, custom-designed training, and keynote presentations.