Monday, February 29, 2016

Don't Do This at Home!

Even the best of us bite the dust from time to time!

Today, I had an early Monday morning coffee appointment.  I looked on my calendar last night to see what my next day looked like and noticed this appointment with Amy, no last name, at Panera.  My convoluted brain immediately changed Amy to Kim (you know, three letter names!).  Kim is in my BNI chapter and I know that we have a one-to-one meeting scheduled.  Don't ask about my brain!

So when I arrived on the dot at Panera a young women was sitting at a table and she made eye contact with me like she knew me.  Not being Kim,
I was mystified.  I thought, "She just knows me from somewhere, " and to be nice I said, "Who are you meeting this morning?"  Smooth, I know!  I'm sure you've guessed the rest of the story, it was AMY and she said, "You." with a very puzzled looked on her face. 

Now to a 20 something year old, how do you explain Convoluted Brain Condition?  Try explaining this story to yourself and you'll see what I mean. 

But that's not the end, oh no! I could not remember anything about her.  Nada.  I gave myself a few minutes of thinking time by excusing myself to get coffee, but those certain brain cells did not ignite.  I do think I covered myself by saying, so tell me about what you're doing.  As soon as she said the first sentence, I put it all together.  I had met her at a networking event ONLY last week, but you know, my CBC got in the way!

What's your story that can top this????

Tuesday, February 02, 2016

When You're Down, Read Don's Book Report

Whereas last month's book selection needed some time to read and savor, Don's selection for this month is a quick read, quick use, always relevant type of book.  The author Jeffrey Gitomer is a favorite of mine.



In less than 200 pages Jeffrey Gitomer blasts the reader with positive affirmations.
This book does not build chapter to chapter.
You can begin in the middle and move to the front or choose a different page each time you finish one.
There are no chapters only elements of focus on attitude.
Jeffrey identifies six elements, however, he calls the sixth element 'Element five point five'

  1.  Insight to your inside attitude
  2. Self Awareness 
  3.  Actions 
  4.  Attributes 
  5.  Achievement 
  6.  Fulfillment

At the end of a few Element selections he gives you the opportunity to take a self-evaluation test with the rating system of 1-5... 1 Never, 2 Rarely, 3 Sometimes, 4 Frequently and 5 All the time.
It's an interesting tool and can help clarify where you stand in his total rating system which is sort of a positivity index. 

The book is cleverly laid out with lots of eye catching font colors, size changes, cartoons and cute drawings.
While "The Little Gold Book of Yes! Attitude" is not deeply philosophical it's a good book to have around.
It could be visited every time you need your 'Attitude Battery' charged.
To follow my often used food metaphor this book is a great light appetizer for those days you just don't want to digest a full meal.