It's About Time...Really!

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST TIME CHALLENGE?

8% Having leisure/recreational time to spend with the family

9% Finding time to be alone

12% Carving out time together as a couple

34% Scheduling time to exercise

37% Too much time putting out fires and not enough on high-priority goals

Are You Asking, "Why Not?"

If someone you love calls you with an emergency, you rush to help, right? It's because your "why not" or your reason for doing it, is clear and important to you. You don't have to give it much thought. Your action and responses are automatic.

When your reasons for doing something are BIG enough, you'll have the necessary motivation to make sure it happens. If you want to run your first marathon, start your own business, run for a political office, write a book, take that trip you've always dreamed of, you first have to answer the question: Why not?" Your answer builds your case for staying on course to get to where you want to be.

So take the following steps to answer your "Why not?"

1. Write out your 'why not'. Ask yourself, "why do I want to...______." Write down your answer.
2. Be specific and clear. For example: "I want to become a teacher so I can give kids hope for their future." Or, "I want to start my own business so I can spend my life as I wish." Include how your life will improve if you hit your goal.
3. When you find yourself slipping on your goal, remember or reread your why. Or use it as your personal mantra.

So when you wake up in the morning and your feel hit the ground are you headed off to a day that answers 'why not?' Odds are that right now you know what "it" is that you want to do in your life. Why not?

The Pizza Boy

John Schnatter was a 15- year old kid who went from being a dishwasher to a pizza maker in a small sub shop. Now anything is better than washing dishes for a buck right? So Schnatter took to learning how to make pizzas right away to show his boss that he deserved a promotion and away from dish washing.
Today Papa John's Pizza is one of the largest pizza franchises in the world. Below is Schnatter's "Do's and Dont's" to building a strategy to being successful at whatever endeavor you may pursue.

DO...
Love what you do. "If you have a passion and you're proud of it, you will do a good job."

Be the best in your class and offer the best product. "We want to be the best pizza delivery company in the world and we think we can."

Teach people leadership. "It is very fulfilling to watch people grow," says Schnatter.

DON'T...
Give up too early.

Be afraid the confront the facts (especially the ugly ones) and tackle challenges.

Be arrogant. "When companies start to fall apart it's because they think they're smarter, they're not open and they don't watch trends," Schnatter says.

Reasons You Need a Best Friend

In conjunction with my latest blog article, here are some great reasons you need a best friend in life.

1. Comfort. A best friend is someone you don't have to fill in the blanks with. They already know all the inner details of your life. You can cut to the chase and get right to the meat of any discussion.

2. Connectedness. One of our most basic fears is being alone. Whether your best friend is around the corner or across the world, just knowing they are there provides a connection.

3. Unconditional Support. It's important to have someone in our lives we feel totally at ease with, someone we can be ourselves with, with no conditions for support.

4. Honest Opinions. Best friends will always be totally honest with you. They know you well and are able to tell it like it is. They have your best interests at heart.

5. Self-esteem Boosters. Best friends help us to develop our self-esteem. Having someone in our lives who believes we're important - someone who wants our opinion on things and who values our company--makes us feel wanted boosts our self-esteem.

6. A Fresh Perspective. A good friend can help us find those "A-ha" moments that lead to solving problems and fulfilling dreams. They share things with us that can open our eyes to new ideas and ways to think about the world around us.

7. Personal Growth. Having a best friend means sharing experiences. They know when to push us alittle, support us, challenge us to reach out to new experiences. Conversely, they know how to tell us that it appears where stuck in a rut.

8. LOYALTY! Loyalty means never having to worry about someone spilling your secrets or talking about you behind your back. Best friends = built-in trust. A loyal friend will be on your team no matter what. They will be honest with you, but won't betray you.

Who Needs a Best Friend...We All Do!

"Friends...Who Needs Them?"

This is the story of 3 Midwestern boys - childhood friends - growing up together in small town America. We started kindergarten together at Hilltop Elementary and crossed the stage in May 1971 from Lincoln High School.
My one friend was the epitome of the All-American boy despite the social and political unrest of the late 1960's and early 70's. Think of the "Ballad of the Green Beret" and you'll have the picture.
My other friend was "the" class clown. He went unopposed with that title. I mean how many students after repeated warnings from a 7th grade History teacher find themselves with their mouth duct taped shut?

Then something happened to all three of us....LIFE!

Like being shot out of a canon we went our separate ways. We each had different paths in life that brought pain, disappointment and joy. Sometimes the pain was so deep there was little hope of joy. We each found ourselves in different locales across the country. Time and distance had fractured our friendships that we had always believed would never be contested.
One friend faced personal challenges but persevered. My other friend...well...I'm not sure. he disappeared. Maybe deliberately.
Four years ago I attended what would be my first high school reunion...my 30th. I really went because my Dad had told me that my friend would be there and hoped I would also. I did.
When I entered the local country club (the first time in my life since I grew up on the wrong side of town) a former cheerleader at the receptionist desk jumped to her feet and shouted, "You're here! Oh my gosh you're here!" (Keep in mind that back in the day I never even got a look from her).
And then without missing a beat she said, "He's over there" and pointed to my friend. It looked like a scene from Love Story as we came together and hugged one another. This was a friend who once called me and asked for forgiveness if he had ever said anything hurtful back in the day. No forgiveness was needed.
Our other friend did not attend the reunion. Whenever I'm asked about him, where he is, what he is doing, what's happened to the class clown my answer is always the same: "I really don't know but if you hear anything please let me know."
In 1963 the three of us sat in Ms. Miller's 5th grade class. She was teaching that day how to know when the letters "i" and "e" comes before the other. "For instance" she said, "like the word friend. Remember that the last three letters are 'end.' Friends stay together to the 'end.'"
So Donnie take care of yourself. I know lately there's been a health concern or two. Maybe we can hook up at that 35th high school reunion and represent!
And Dave...just remember that Donnie and I are in the phone book. We both still think of you and hope you are well. Or hey just forget the phone call...just come join us at the country club in 2011 for that 35th reunion.
FRIENDS...Who Needs Them? We all do especially those friends who stick with you to the 'end."