Release Your Brilliance

It's Time to Shift

2010-06-04T05:11:00.001-07:00

You are being invited to break with the old and embrace the new. Shift or be shifted!

Today's Brilliant Thought ...

2010-05-10T10:31:00.001-07:00

If you want to grow your business, connect first and sell last.

Think Big!

2010-04-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

Eliminate "small thinking" from your life. It’s limiting you. Think big and watch unlimited opportunities flow your way!

SHIFT - Be In It to Win It

2010-04-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

As I look around the world, there is a gravitational pull to be average, common, just plain ole regular. The reality is that anyone and anything that has made an impact or left an undeniable imprint refused to be ordinary. The longer I live and the more I travel, I see men and women playing it safe and living beneath their potential. I observe people with unbelievable gifts, raw ability, and uncommon talents who settle for what life has given to them instead of striving for who they were meant to be.

Oftentimes people show up to a place of work to collect a check. However, people who show up to shift the conversation, shift market share, shift the thinking, and shift results are the ones who are promoted and have a seat at the table. If you are not shifting how you do what you do, then you will be shifted. How do I know? It happened to me. Now is the moment and now is the time to stand up and SHIFT or be shifted! There is no room for average thinking, average living and average results. Kick butt or be kicked in the butt as the door hits you on your way out.

Beware of distractions. Turn the negative news off. It’s a distraction. Turn off the flow of gloom and doom; it’s a distraction that is keeping you off-center and off-kilter because negative input + good person = negative results. Focus on what you can control and what you can change. Resist the ADD (attention deficit disorder) tendencies and finish what is in front of you. You will win as you SHIFT.

Personal Accountability is the Icing on the Cake

2010-04-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

As we immerse ourselves into the Spring season, there is one key character trait, skill, and value that you have to master, and that is personal accountability. Big Brother (organizations-at-large) doesn’t have time to look over your shoulder to see if you are focusing on the right activities consistently, using the company’s time wisely, and spending the company’s resources prudently. When you were hired an unwritten contract went into effect that simply says…you would take personal responsibility for your actions and represent the organization at all times in a positive light. How are you doing so far in this regard?

It is DIFFICULT to be personally accountable to a job, place of business, or volunteer assignment if you are unfulfilled and unsecured in future employment. However, when you take personal responsibility for what you do it drives what author James O’Toole calls “extra effort that is based on innovative ideas, willingness to serve customers and engagement in works tasks – which positions the nation to compete in knowledge-related activities.”

You are responsible for producing work that matters. Personal Accountability flows from a simplified life. De-clutter your world by employing the OHIO rule when appropriate…Only Handle It Once! De-mystify complex tasks into bite size chunks and get it done. Determine your rhythm - when you are most alive, most alert and in the zone. Do your difficult assignments then. Why? It comes easier to you. Dr. Lothar Seiwert, a simplicity expert says “identify your high productive periods and root out “inner time thefts” by writing down your work schedule for the week. Furthermore, nothing is more detrimental to your enthusiasm for work than a cluttered working area that silently asks you, “Where are you going to begin?”

It is my fundamental belief that people who take personal accountability for all that they do will rise to the top of any organization and may, in fact, be the icing on the cake. Could that be you? I believe it is.

Brilliant Presence Rubs Off

2010-03-23T04:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed someone with Brilliant Presence? They walk into a room and immediately light up the atmosphere. This doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you discover that brilliance is 90% understanding how to “be” and 10% knowing what to do.

Brilliant Presence is magnetic confidence that is released into the space around you. People can sense that there is something different about you. Why is that? The body is an electromagnetic force field that attracts likeminded objects. The energy that vibrates from your innermost being fills the atmosphere, and others can feel it. Did you know that within your body there is enough atomic energy to build any one of the world’s greatest cities many times over?

Brilliant Presence is demonstrated through emotional commitment to a cause, an individual or an organization. Individuals who possess Brilliant Presence have a way of connecting with others, thus attracting the resources, situations and opportunities that enable them to accomplish tasks easier and faster. Some would say these

individuals have “it” – a special something that gives them an extra edge over those who are average.

The same “special something” that these people possess also exists within you. Are you surprised? Don’t be. It’s called “potential.”

Simon Says...Be Dynamic

2010-01-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

When it is time for you to shift into a new reality, you will hit an air pocket of resistance that will cause unexpected turbulence in your journey. Here's the deal - when life gets bumpy, it's time to rise to a new altitude. That new altitude is summed up in two words - Be Dynamic.

You know it and I know it ... you were born to be the very best at whatever you set your mind to. If you are a mother, then be a dynamic mother. If you are a teller at a bank, then be a dynamic teller. If you are a salesperson, then be a dynamic salesperson. Mediocrity is the antithesis of dynamic living.

Simon Says Be Dynamic today and for the rest of the decade.

Trost Moving Pictures

2009-10-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

O' Brilliant Ones,
My brilliant friend, Tracy Trost (www.findmethemovie.com), shot a video clip with me recently. You can view it by following this link:

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

Simon Says...

2009-10-16T06:15:00.001-07:00

Here's something to chew on...You should be paid for the problems you solve and the solutions you find, instead of the product or service you provide.

2009-10-05T05:10:00.000-07:00

2009-10-05T04:54:00.000-07:00

2009-10-02T05:29:00.000-07:00

2009-09-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

Simon wants to know - have you registered for UnRetreat 09 yet? It will be a great time of renewal and refreshing in beautiful Costa Rica. Go to www.unretreat09.com for all the details.

UnRetreat 09

2009-09-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

O'Brilliant ones,

I would like to invite you to register to attend my very special UnRetreat09. It's being held in Costa Rica on November 20-22, 2009. You can check out the details including cost and agenda at our website - www.unretreat09.com.

It will be a great opportunity for you to Reset, Reflect and Release Your Brilliance.

Come, join me in Costa Rica in November and get ready to SHIFT into 2010.

Mastermind with Marley Majcher

2009-09-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

It's Friday o' brilliant ones! I trust you have been releasing your brilliance all week. I wanted to share with you an interview I did with The Party Goddess herself, Marley Majcher. You can listen to it by following this link:

http://www.archive.org/details/MastermindSessionWithMarleyMajcher

Stay Brilliant!

2009-09-16T00:44:00.000-07:00

Interview with Dennis Snow

2009-09-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

O'Brilliant Ones,
I recently did an interview with my good friend, Dennis Snow. Dennis and I were colleagues at Walt Disney World and share the same passion for providing brilliant customer service. You can listen to our 25 minute interview by following this link:

http://dennissnowblog.com/?p=347

And, while you're there, please take the time to visit Dennis's website and check out his book

"Unleashing Excellence: The Complete Guide to Ultimate Customer Service"

You Are Brilliant

2009-06-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

No matter where you are in life, remember, you are BRILLIANT!

Shift, Oh Brilliant One ... Shift

2009-06-11T04:50:00.000-07:00

A video thought for you ...

Unlocking a Woman’s Brilliance

2009-06-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

The following comments are the result of observing women for over twenty-eight years and listening to professional male and female colleagues over the years. If you’re a man, use these insights to help the women in your life – including your wife, significant other, daughters, sisters, and friends – unlock their potential and release their brilliance.

Ask her about her vision for the future and get a vision as well. Most importantly encourage her to fulfill her vision.

Encourage, support, and celebrate her seeking professional and educational development. She has a brain and wants to use it.

Let her talk. Women use more words than men. Be present and listen because it’s a test to see if you connecting to their message. They will mention something down the road to see if you were really tuned in when they said it.

What other suggestions do you have?

Unlocking a Man’s Brilliance

2009-06-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

It continues to amaze me how often I’m asked by females how they can unlock the potential in their men. I hear it all the time – “I’m married to a good guy who just can’t seem to make it happen” or “I’m dating this wonderful man with tons of potential, but something is missing.”

Now, I don’t claim to be a therapist or a licensed counselor. However, I am a dedicated student of life, and as you well know, I always have an opinion. Recently, a female friend asked if I’d host a “Whining with Simon” session at a local wine bar for all her girlfriends to vent and seek advice about their men. I declined that particular offer, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt compelled to share with you my thoughts on the many ways women can help men release their brilliance.

Here is one that you can implement this week:

Affirm him every day. Authentically tell him that you believe in him. Let him know that you are proud of who he is and who he is becoming. Men want to know that you celebrate them.

I am curious to hear what you think are ways to unlock a man's brilliance. What do you think?

A Manager’s Dream

2009-05-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited by Purolator, an oil filter company based in Fayetteville, N.C. with more than 1,000 employees, to share a few thoughts with their star employees who were being honored that day with awards and recognition. I must say that I was totally blown away by the candid, genuine and heartfelt remarks company managers made about these wonderful, exemplary employees.

At one point during the evening I leaned over to Rob Malone, president and CEO, and told him he has amazing people at his company. He said I was absolutely right. Throughout the evening, as manager after manager gave out awards, there was a reoccurring theme: everyday men and women are showing up and giving a little something extra to the company. A few of those mentioned for going above and beyond were Ronnie Johnson, Lynn McNeal, and Regina McCoy. Here were some phrases that I heard again and again about them and other excellent employees:

One of the first people to show up; always comes in early and stays late
Everyone wants to be on their team
Works with out supervision
Always willing to learn
They are known as the go to person on the team
Thinks with their heart and head
Always looking to meet the needs of others
Willing to help others when their work is done
Anyone would want to work under him or her
Goes the extra mile and doesn’t expect for their palms to be greased with a few extra Benjamins ($100 in American currency)
Unofficial trainer and teacher

They are in a league of their own
Works beyond their current job description
When called upon at 3 p.m. and given a challenge, they don’t fail to get it done

Can the same be said about you? If so, then congratulations. If not, why not?

Essence is the Missing Link

2009-05-15T05:45:00.000-07:00

Today, I am writing from one of my favorite cities - Chicago, IL.

Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager and a dozen other books, made a very powerful statement.

He said, “Relationships have two parts - essence and form. If essence is wrong, you will spend 90 percent of your time on form.” Any relationship will start to deteriorate when a person focuses on the outside of the relationship (the form) before building the inside of the relationship (the essence). A friend of mine recently shared a high school story. The most gorgeous guy in high school, the one every girl wanted to date, asked her out. She recounts the experience as the most boring evening of her entire life. The young man had form, but no substance. Another example of essence versus form is people who know all the right things to say to tickle your ear and have you believing in them (form), but it’s all talk and no action. They’re missing the essence of “walking their talk’. That’s why it is important to watch what people do, rather than putting your faith in what they say.

Now we need to expand this discussion about essence by revisiting “Pareto’s Principle,” or the 80/20 rule. Vilfredo Pareto was an Italian economist who in 1906 observed that 20% of the Italian people owned 80% of their country’s accumulated wealth. In other words, 20% of your efforts generate 80% of your results. If you want to change your output, then you must examine your input. Time and energy are your most precious resources. Are you investing time and energy in relationships that have essence and will yield the greatest results? Or are you investing time in trivial relationships that are shallow, fruitless, and draining because of your need to be needed?

In life we grow within the context of relationships that require the investment of time and energy. With this insight, you owe it to yourself to grow every meaningful relationship from the inside out (essence) instead of the outside in (form). Your essence is a rare diamond stored in the vault of your spirit. Many people would like access to your vault, but are they qualified to appreciate your brilliance (diamond)?

Here are five tips for you to ponder:

1. 80% of your success is the result of 20% of your efforts. Determine how you can move the needle by becoming laser-like in your daily efforts.

2. Reevaluate every relationship and determine which ones have “essence” and which ones are only “form.”

3. How do you plan to invest your most precious assets today…time and energy? Download and listen to audio CD programs that build your essence. Read books that build your essence, and invest in relationships where you can be yourself instead of having to impress people by what you drive, where you live, what you wear, and where you dine. That is form - egocentric, shallow and unattractive.

4. Decide how much one-hour of your time is worth. Make each hour of the day your employee and determine how you will achieve maximum output with each hour.

5. 99% of your time in any relationship should be spent on the essence, and 1% on the form.

I want your feedback. What do you think of this Essence being the missing link?

FYI - 6 Insights to Sustaining Brilliance

2009-05-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

There isn’t a day that goes by that you don’t hear about another organization laying off significant numbers of people. The first reaction most people have is “am I next?” The second reaction is “if not now, then when?” And the third reaction is to dust the cobwebs off your resume and have it ready just in case. It reminds me of people who seem to move suddenly during the night. Their bags are always packed just in case they have to make an unexpected mad dash.
Right now, you Oh Brilliant One you are being “stretched to shine or being invited to shine while being stretched by this unpredictable economy.”
That’s right… your industry will never be the same again because the marketplace is not the same. So the question is…what can you do to Sustain Your Brilliance in times of change? Here are a few insights for you to chew on:
· Re-assess Your Personal Brand. You are the CEO of You, Inc. which means that you have a portfolio of skills, talent and incredible future potential. What is it – your point of differentiation that you bring to the organization? If you don’t know, then ask those around you.

· Take stock in your life. Invest in other aspects of your life. While your career is certainly important to your well-being, ensuring you have balance is integral to your happiness. If you are happy with yourself and where you are in your life, you are bound to project that positivity at work. People WILL notice. People want to be around positive people - be someone others want to be around!

· Engage, Engage, Engage. In times such as this, it is tempting to emotionally disengage as you fear for your job security. You may start sending out resumes, looking at other opportunities. While there is nothing wrong with keeping your options open, there is something wrong with sabotaging yourself. It is critical to remain engaged in your role for the success of your company and your own security.

· Diversify your exposure. Branch out and partner with colleagues in other disciplines and at other levels. Ask them to lunch or coffee. Find out what they do, what challenges they face, how your job/department might impact what they do. And be genuine with your interest. If you learn that you can help or support them, do something about it. This allows you to gain new perspective, be seen as a team player, and gain allies and support from many areas and levels.

· Open your eyes. Be aware of the changes going on around you. As companies flex to fit into the changing economy, processes, responsibilities, and goals will likely change. Make an effort to understand and know about the changes… the ones that impact you and even the ones that don’t.

· Be an innovator. Don’t just wait for someone to tell you what needs to change. Find ways to contribute to the new agenda. No one knows your job better than you, so use that expertise to find efficiencies. Make an impact and you will make a name for yourself.

As you are overwhelmed by news of the economy, hold on to this… you WILL be ok. Maintain your integrity, keep your focus, and choose to be a shining light. Your brilliance will influence others. Simon Says – You are being stretched to shine.

Simon Sidebar

Check out www.youtube.com/brilliance777 to see my experience at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Subscribe for future updates.

My brilliant friend Jennifer Remling and her husband Joe have written an amazing book called Carve Your Own Road – Do What You Love & Live the Life You Envision. Here is a quick snapshot:

There is an epidemic facing our world today. People everywhere, even those who are successful by most standards, are utterly disconnected from what they really want out of life. We’ve abandoned our true passions and dreams in exchange for a daily grind that offers no fulfillment. Some estimates say that fully 80 percent of people don’t enjoy their work and wish they could exert more control over their lives.

This book offers stories from dozens of inspiring entrepreneurs and individuals who have done something intimidating to most of us – quit their jobs to pursue a whole new path, one filled with uncertainty and fear – and passion and excitement.

Get this book today at http://www.carveyourownroad.com/

Follow me:
Twitter – www.twitter.com/brillianttweet
Blog – http://wwwsimontbailey.blogspot.com/
FaceBook – http://www.facebook.com/ - Simon T. Bailey
LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/ – Simon T. Bailey

Eiffel Tower - at the bottom

2009-04-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

Oh Brilliant Ones,
Just one last thought from my trip to Paris - Everything Matters. I hope you enjoy it - look for a new series from a new location starting next week.
Simon

2009-04-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

Simon Says...Ascend into Brilliance

2009-04-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

Oh Brilliant Ones,
The view from the top is amazing! From what angle are you viewing your dream, life, circumstances? Is it time to change your perspective? Simon Says...you CAN do it!

2009-04-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

Oh Brilliant Ones, I finally made it! What are you trying to achieve?

2009-04-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

2009-04-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Oh Brilliant Ones! During my trip to Paris a couple of months ago, I challenged myself to walk the steps of the Eiffel Tower. This is the first in a series of short videos shot while I was making that journey - I hope you enjoy taking the trip with me ...

Serendipity

2009-04-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Imagine that your life (the complete you -- spiritual, personal, professional, social, and educational) is a vehicle that you are driving on an interstate highway. As you accelerate in a forward direction you will have an opportunity to slow down, drive faster, exit on/off, and decide to pull into a rest stop to refuel.

Today’s rest stop is called serendipity. The best way to explain this five-syllable word is “happy accidents” or as Joe Jaworski describes in his book Synchronicity – The Inner Path of Leadership, serendipity is when you go to a place, a setting, or a meeting expecting a certain outcome and discover something entirely different because you are open and are present to the moment.

“Perceptions of Serendipity” was an article published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology. It states that, “career analysts find that 83% of midcareer professionals believe chance (serendipity) played a significant role in their ultimate career path and that they highly value staying open for unexpected opportunities.”

At this season, I invite you to be open and aware of serendipitous moments as you drive on the highway of possibilities. The following are five tips to mapquest your way into the future:

Reflect on this entire week and write down one new thing that you learned this week.

Schedule a 30-minute appointment with yourself. No interruptions. Go for a walk, read a book, write in your journal.

Create a list of positive, present tense affirmations that motivate you to be your best.

Decide to make a presentation at your next all-staff meeting on secrets of success tips. This will raise your visibility and boost your self-confidence.

Embrace where you are in life at this moment. Celebrate the fact that you are alive, well, and full of vigor.

Reconnect to Your Power Plant

2009-04-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, you are one relationship away from closing a major deal and having a significant door of opportunity opened for you. However, I invite you to do the inner work of flushing your system from the toxic behavior of backstabbing, politicking, and controlling outcomes.

Today, consider living your life based on detached intention. Intent alone is awesome, since intent is desire without attachment to the outcome. When you’re obsessed with a certain outcome you are disconnected from your spirit – your spirit, after all, is always at peace no matter what the outside circumstances.

Reconnect your head to your heart by reawakening your spirit – your power plant. When you do this, you will enter into a rhythm of universal alignment where your head, heart, hands, spirit, and soul are connected to your brilliance. Why is this important? Your power plant possesses all the juice you need to be brilliant! When you are truly aligned with your spirit and feel peace that is not based on a certain outcome, you will actually attract what is in your highest good.

Reconnect all of the disconnected parts of your being from the inside out! How? Do those things that bring you joy and balance – long walks, hot baths, yoga, relaxed time with loved ones, journaling, feeling gratitude – whatever it takes to bring you back to yourself.

Purge all behavioral characteristics that are self-serving and toxic. Remember what goes around comes around.

Ignite a fire in yourself and others to connect with making a life, and not just a living.

Book Suggestion - White Pearl and I

2009-04-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

My friend Svetlana Kim, has written a new book called White Pearl and I: A Memoir of a Political Refugee

She is a Soviet-Korean political refugee who escaped from Leningrad to the US, White Pearl and I is the inspiring story of what one woman achieved with courage, hard work, and a little luck. Short Description Svetlana Kim was just twenty-three years old when she left Leningrad, Russia, for New York City. During a chance encounter in a bread line, a former schoolmate offered her a plane ticket from the black market to America.

With only a dollar in her pocket and no knowledge of the English language, Kim left her family and friends for a new life, just as her great-grandparents had left Korea for Russia nearly a century before. Faced with seemingly insurmountable odds after her arrival in the United States, the intrepid young woman clung tightly to her memories of her Soviet-Korean grandmother Bya-ok (Korean for "White Pearl").

Inspired by White Pearl's indomitable spirit in the face of tremendous adversity, Kim tirelessly pursued the American dream. Seventeen years after her arrival in America, she has built a successful career, rubbing elbows with some of the country's most respected politicians and businesswomen. White Pearl and I is an inspiring account of one woman's courage and conviction. Extended Description Svetlana Kim's remarkable story opens in Leningrad, Russia, on a frigid winter afternoon. Standing in the bread line for the third day in a row, she listens as her neighbors discuss the impending fall of the Berlin Wall.

Life as a student in a crumbling country offered few possibilities for the ambitious young woman, so when a former classmate offers her a plane ticket to the US, she jumps at the opportunity. She arrives in New York speaking no English, with only a dollar in her pocket. With the help of a Good Samaritan, she travels by bus to California, hoping to connect with an acquaintance from home. Yet when she mistakenly disembarks in San Francisco instead of Sacramento, she finds herself penniless and alone.

What unfolds is a miraculous story of survival, as Svetlana encounters kind strangers and struggles to cobble together a meager existence. Determined to succeed, she takes a job selling cosmetics. Within a few years, her hard work carries her up the corporate ladder. Eventually, she earns her American citizenship after ten years as a political refugee and an opportunity to become a stockbroker, a career that introduces her into a realm of powerful businesswomen and politicians.

Through it all, when her nerve threatens to fail her, she returns to memories of her grandmother White Pearl, whose parents immigrated to Russia from Korea. As a girl, White Pearl was among 200,000 Soviet Koreans deported to central Asia by Joseph Stalin, who feared they would spy on behalf of the Japanese.. Kim reflects often on her grandmother's tales of that hard time, drawing on the strength of beloved babushka White Pearl to enable her to make the very best of her life.

Order you copy today at www.svetlanakim.com

Hug Your Tree and Bounce Back

2009-04-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

As an individual who aspires to inspire before I expire, I often feel helpless because I cannot fix everyone’s situation. The only thing I can do is to offer a small insight. A friend of mine, Robin Rampersad shared with me a powerful concept. What he said totally rocked my world, and I’m happy to share it with you.

His eyes on fire, Robin explained that when a tree is going through its winter season, it is denied the ability to produce food through the process of photosynthesis. Everything changes for this tree because it is accustomed to trapping sunlight in its leaves via chlorophyll, which gives the leaves their green pigment, and transforming that chlorophyll along with other viable ingredients into food. This is normal for the tree, and it doesn’t have to think about it. It’s second nature. Yes, this is third grade science but it is so cool.

In the winter, though, these normal functions are no longer an option because there isn’t enough sunlight to produce food, nor are there any leaves on the tree to trap the light. The tree, at this time, becomes almost dead on the outside, but internally, it begins to search for answers. As a result, it is forced to find food another way. And here’s the brilliance of God – the tree must push its roots deep into the soil to find enough minerals, salts, and water to sustain itself.

Because the tree has spent the winter anchoring itself deeper and deeper into the soil and finding sustenance in a time of scarcity, it will be able to grow and thrive in the spring and summer months. Its fruit will be of a wonderful quality because the nutrients that helped produce it have come from deep within the recesses of the earth.

OK, I admit, I have goose bumps on my arms after sharing what Robin told me. It was exactly what I needed to hear as a business owner. Like the tree, I have been forced out of my normal routine.

If you, too, have been forced out of what you’ve known into unfamiliar territory, then just realize that you are in the winter season of your journey. Many of you are wondering why they let you go. Why did they put you on the street along with millions of other jobless individuals? But, that is not the question you should be asking. The real question is: What took them so long? Some of you outgrew your companies a long time ago. You chose, however, to stay planted in soil that could no longer sustain the particular brilliance of your fruit. The reality is that you grew too big for your place, but you were comfortable, so you chose not to make a change, not to make waves. Now the waves and the change have come to you.

Here are Four tips to Hug Your Tree and Bounce Back:

1.Detox! When you leave a previous place of business, you have to let all of the emotions and thoughts work themselves out of your system. You may have become your job and lost a sense of yourself. You may have become your title and forgot that you are a human being instead of a human doing. Take a deep breath and let go.

2. Quiet the Internal Chatter! Your mind has the ability to reach back into the archives and flash onto the movie screen of your mind a picture from your previous place of business. The moment you see the picture words begin to emerge. The more you relive your past, the more you choke your present momentum. Stop it. Move on. Write a letter to yourself about everything you learned and appreciated in your previous position, then get a match and burn it up.

3. Write down your preferred or ideal work environment. Most experts say to write down the type of work you do, then go and find the environment that best suits you. However, that could take a ton of time. I suggest you write down the ideal environment that you would like to work in and then determine which one of your brilliant skills will best suit the opportunity.

4. See yourself as a corporation. You are a brand. Your tree of brilliance doesn’t belong in every open lot. Where can you bloom?

Be a tree and stand when you don’t know what else to do. There is a deeper anchoring taking place that never would’ve happened unless you had gone through the winter season.

I want to know - What are you doing to thrive and get back up on your feet if you have experienced a setback?

A Setback is a Setup for a Comeback

2009-04-01T04:09:00.000-07:00

Brilliant people are being laid off in several industries, and many people who are lucky enough to still be working are being asked to take pay cuts. On the other hand, there are some businesses that are thriving in the midst of this economic tsunami.

A dear friend of mine told me recently that her job was being eliminated; however, she was applying for another position within the same corporation. My friend mentally and emotionally prepared for the interview. She put on her best suit, prepared a portfolio, which included her contributions and core skills, and rehearsed her little heart out, but she still didn’t get the position. Now she finds herself in the job market at one of the most challenging times in the history of world.

At certain times in our lives, we have to be replanted into a new garden of thinking in order for our leaves to bloom. At certain times in our lives, we have to be uprooted from an existing system that can only take us so far. What we need is a new sprinkler system of thinking. On my property, every sprinkler head is supposed to water a particular zone for a certain amount of time. I have noticed that during this winter season, there are some zones that have not been watered properly and some of the grass has died.

Then, on the flip side, I noticed one cold winter night that my well-watered plants had frozen to death because I didn’t cover them up. Now, I have to dig them up and plant some new ones that are sturdier and can withstand the cold nights in Florida.

These three ideas are from my friend Haydee founder of Professional Impressions in South Africa. Check her out at this address:

www.profimpressions.co.za/newsletter/2009/feb1/

1. Don’t be intimidated. If you are meeting someone who intimidates you, be the first person to say something so that the conversation is in your control. Don’t say anything competitive or defensive; instead, ask something personal like, “How is your family?” or “How was your weekend?” Be sincere and it will probably throw off the other person’s power-tripping ways.

2. Confident people love life so much that they don’t want to waste a minute of it. Start your day “on the front foot,” that is, ready and prepared, and you won’t waste the rest of the day trying to catch up with yourself.

3. Overcome mingle-phobia. Psych yourself up to enter a room. If you don’t know anyone, walk up to a group, smile wildly, introduce yourself and say: “I don’t know a soul at this party. May I join you guys?” this usually gets a warm, sympathetic reception, and people start chatting with you immediately. –Jeanne Martinet, author of The Art of Mingling

This is your season to bounce back, Oh Brilliant One. I believe in you. Everything you need to succeed is inside of you. This is your season to make a comeback.

"Shift"

2009-03-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Today, as I was driving around my city, I could sense a shift in the air. As you look in the eyes of other human beings, you can sense that they are ready to experience something totally different and fresh. Everybody is looking for the New-New and why not - Spring is around the corner.

In the world, there are shifts that take place all of the time. These shifts impact people, processes, and products. Many times, shifts in perspectives, ideologies, and mindsets often need to be overhauled in order to make room for new possibilities. This doesn’t happen overnight. It is a long sustained march in the same direction. Deliberate in nature and intentional it’s desire.

Examine your world and determine for yourself what shifts you need to make personally and professionally. When you do it, you will find hidden gems of relationships and unlimited opportunities that were just below the surface waiting for you to shift.

Simon says: What shifts do you need to make and why?

Leaders Build Lives...Bosses Build Stuff

2009-03-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

I was recently in New Orleans, LA giving a half-day program for the top leaders of EDG, Inc. a 400-person engineering firm. During the course of the discussion, Tim Moreau, COO, said that his main driver for showing up to work every day was to build people instead of building stuff. He went on to say that he had spent a great deal of time over his professional life building stuff for the sake of building stuff. He had an epiphany one day and realized that senior management needed to focus on building character, purpose, and philanthropy.

He believed that if this mindset was also instilled in the hearts and minds of the employees then maybe they could transition from just working a job and making money to creating meaning. His bet has paid off and EDG has experienced 15-20% annual growth over the last few years. And guess what? Their turnover is down and productivity is up because they believe in taking care of people first. He said to me “It makes no sense to have someone successful at work but a failure at home.” Tim and his wife have seven children and he believes he is modeling for them the idea that building a significant life is way more valuable than acquiring stuff.

Are you a leader who builds lives or a boss who builds stuff? Leaders ask…bosses tell. A leader listens…a boss hears. A leader asks for commitment…a boss demands compliance. Which one are you? I invite you to build the lives of people first and watch them take off and build your business.

Embrace a Fresh Perspective part 3 of 3

2009-03-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

If you would like to ignite a fresh perspective in your life and organization, then I am inviting you to embrace the unfamiliar and begin to act on intuition.

Think about what might enhance your intuition and awaken your spiritual self. For instance, what would it be like for corporations to have a corporate chaplain -- someone who is available to answer questions from disengaged employees who awaken to the fact that they are spirit beings having a human experience and are suffering from spiritual malnutrition?

When you embrace the moment and focus your energy on pertinent details rather than listening to the gremlin of brilliance, then you remove the mind mucus that clouds your vision.

Embrace a Fresh Perspective Part 2 of 3

2009-03-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Professor Howard Gardner was the catalyst behind Project Zero, which involved developing intelligence tests for babies. The researchers found that up to age four, almost all the children tested were at the genius level in terms of multiple frames of intelligence that Gardner talks about -- spatial, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, mathematical, intrapersonal, and linguistic. But by the age of 20, the percentage those who tested at a genius level was down to 10%, and over 20, the genius level proportion of the subjects sank to 2%.

So now you’re thinking…what’s the point? What exactly prevents you from having a fresh perspective? It is the gremlin of brilliance that whispers thoughts of fear in the crucial moments of your life. It is the gremlin of brilliance that says you can't, won't, shouldn't. It is the gremlin of brilliance that says you should continue to play small. However, when you have the capacity to suspend your thoughts, then, as Peter Senge has stated, ”suspension allows you to see your seeing.” When you see, then you will understand the greatest tragedy in life is not blindness it is to have sight but no vision.

When you think about the future, what do you do see?

Embrace a Fresh Perspective - Part 1 of 3

2009-02-23T03:47:00.000-08:00

In silence, you will enter a state of suspension which will open up your intuitive intelligence. Cognitive scientist Francisco Varela called suspension the first basic gesture in enhancing awareness. Within your deeper nature there resides keen insight and a tremendous bank of information stored in the subconscious mind.

How is it accessed? The door of opportunity is opened when you discover that moments of time matter. Your life is a mosaic of moments. In order to leverage your intuitive intelligence you must learn and practice the art of slow motion thinking in the moment. Our society moves at a frenzied pace and thrives on processing information more and more quickly, often ignoring the need to connect on a deeper level.

According to research there are over 60,000 thoughts that pass through your mind on a daily basis. A significant portion of these thoughts are negative, and unless they are purged from your system, their residue remains trapped in the subconscious mind. This in turn prevents you seeing the world with fresh eyes and makes you miss your precious moments.

What are you doing to embrace a fresh prespective?

Be Grateful!

2009-02-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

There is so much happening in our world right now. Yes, it’s very easy to get depressed.

However, be grateful because it could be worse. What’s worse than being alive? Well, being six feet under is worse. Every day on top of the ground is a great day. Any day you can wake up not pushing up roses is a brilliant day. Be grateful!

I am grateful to be an American citizen and live in the greatest country in the world.
I am grateful for you taking the time out of your busy schedule to read my e-newsletter.
I am grateful to be able to drive my children to school and walk them to class.
I am grateful to be able to write books and teach others how to release brilliance.
I am grateful to God for allowing me live at this period in history.
I am grateful that no matter what happens with this economy, the best days are in front of us.

Recession – The Gift of Re-motivation

2009-02-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

Thank God for this recession.

I have tried to ignore it and pretend as if it didn’t matter, but now I am shifting my position. I embrace the recession because it’s forcing me to bring my “A” game to my business every day.

This recession is a re-motivator because it is forcing businesses to ask the tough questions… why are we doing this? And for what reason?

This recession is a re-motivator because marketers are having to work their imaginations overtime to persuade consumers to part with their precious dollars.

This recession is a re-motivator because if you have a job you are suddenly aware that everything you do matters. The days of coming in for a chair, check, and coffee break are gone.

Re-motivated people look at what they are going to instead of what they are going through.

What about you? Are you Re-motivated?

Change - the Vehicle of Adventure

2009-02-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Like it or not the pace of change is forcing us to rediscover the adventurous spirit of our ancestors as we move from the known world of our previous achievements to the unknown world of future opportunity.

I recently read a quote from John Amatt that really struck a chord with me. He said “to challenge change we have to learn to view change as a great adventure.” Every day you have to increase your ability to manage change effectively and learn to benefit from the uncertainty that change creates.

Adventure is a journey with an unforeseen outcome. Be a change agent that controls the steering wheel of your life. Right now change is tapping you on the shoulder and inviting you to go to a place you have never gone to before. Are you ready? Buckle up – your adventure is about to start.

Please send a response to the following question – what type of personal or professional adventures are you experiencing right now?

Coaching - The Link to Phenomenal Results

2009-02-16T02:02:00.000-08:00

Recently I hired two coaches over a nine-month period to prepare me for an upcoming presentation that I had to give to 3,000 peers from around the world. You are probably saying why make the investment and why did it take nine months? Well, I heard from a friend of mine that Tiger Woods had hired a coach to change his swing. That day I decided if the No.1 golf player in the world believes in coaching then who am I to think that I could waltz through business without a coach.

In my research, I discovered that brilliant results are reserved for those who are willing to go beyond the normal requirements and push themselves to excellence. Simply put, the individuals believe that settling for anything less than the best is out of the question. I am intrigued by those who have gone through tremendous sacrifice to achieve the ultimate.

According a Harvard Business Review article - research clearly states “high performers seek out more advanced teachers to keep improving their skills.” Furthermore having a coach produces the following benefits:

Shorten your learning curve
Give direct feedback that hits you right between the eyeballs
Teach you how to pay attention to their inner compass
Address your constraints that may prevent you from maximizing your results

What have you learned from the person that is mentoring/coaching you to be brilliant?

Confidence – The most important asset you will ever need

2009-02-11T04:33:00.000-08:00

As I travel around I continue to hear gloom and doom. Corporations are tightening their belts, consumers have closed their wallets to a degree and when I look into the faces of people I see this blank stare – as if to say, I am just here, going through the motions.

O' Brilliant One, Snap out of it! Rattle the cage! Tip the boat! Grab your life by the shirt collar and pull yourself forward in to your future! This is what you signed up for when you decided to become a leader.

Did you know that everyone is looking to you as a barometer and they are feeding off of your energy and taking a cue from you in how to think and pursue the future? You are a leader. I know that this may come as a shock to you, but someone is watching your example every day. You are modeling for them the way to think, believe, and behave.

Your greatest asset in this economy is not your house, car, 401k, stocks, savings account or money under your mattress. It is your confidence. Grow it. Protect it and watch what happens.

It’s not a job…it’s a brilliant opportunity

2009-01-26T03:51:00.000-08:00

In a recent PriceWaterhouseCoopers survey of 387 CEOs, 78% of the respondents identified “retention of key workers” as the number one factor most critical for success. Are you an employee whom your CEO/company would fight to keep? Just let this question soak in for a moment. Are you driving value to the organization? If so, then how? Stop right now and write down three ideas that you have come up with in the last three months to improve the company you work for.

Let me ask you again…are you an employee whom your CEO/company would fight to keep? If so, then your productivity is never questioned and your commitment level never wavers in the midst of uncertainty. A few weeks ago a dear friend of mine called in somewhat of a panic to say that her company was just acquired by another one, and that the operational team of the new parent company would be evaluating the entire team. Within 90 days they would decide who stayed and who received the left foot in the rear end out the door. Now put yourself in that person’s place…either you can stay and rise to the occasion, or join the pessimists and whiners who predict the end of the world as they see it.

I suggested to my friend to show up early, smile, put on her best clothes, always raise her hand to answer any questions and be willing to pitch in and work any late hours. Is this brown-nosing? No, it’s called “loverage!” This means, “I love my brilliant opportunity (new name for job) so much that I am willing to leverage my knowledge, skills, and brand passion to win a permanent spot on the team.” There are times when you simply have to prove yourself all over again.

Wherever you are right now in life, either employed, unemployed, underemployed, happy or bored, decide now to look at everything in your life as a brilliant opportunity. An organization’s stock in you rises or falls as you respond to challenging circumstances and character-building moments. Winston Churchill said, “To every person there comes that special moment when he is tapped on the shoulder to do a very special thing unique to him. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared for the work (opportunity) that would be his finest hour.” You are not working a job, you are leveraging a brilliant opportunity.

Since you’ve decided to be a brilliant opportunist and an employee whom your CEO/company would fight to keep, then consider the following action steps:

Take the assignment or task that no one else wants. You know, the reject position that everyone says will pigeon-hole you. I invite you to make something beautiful out of it.

Do what the company asks you to do without remorse or asking for your palm to be greased with a few more dollars.

Read Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono.

Work on the pet projects of senior people. This will give you great visibility. Volunteer for those projects that you are passionate about.

Embrace a Fresh Perspective

2009-01-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to clear out the clutter in your mind? It’s a good idea to do so. Your thoughts have a powerful influence on your life, so it’s important to be conscious of what’s going on in that mind of yours! Do thoughts have brakes? Do thoughts stop at red lights and proceed on green lights? Not necessarily, but you can slow down your thoughts and tap into your intuitive intelligence. In silence, you will enter a state of suspension which will open up your intuitive intelligence.

Cognitive scientist Francisco Varela called suspension the first basic gesture in enhancing awareness. Within your deeper nature there resides keen insight and a tremendous bank of information stored in the subconscious mind.

How is it accessed? The door of opportunity is opened when you discover that moments of time matter. Your life is a mosaic of moments. In order to leverage your intuitive intelligence you must learn and practice the art of slow motion thinking in the moment.

Our society moves at a frenzied pace and thrives on processing information more and more quickly, often ignoring the need to connect on a deeper level. According to research there are over 60,000 thoughts that pass through your mind on a daily basis. A significant portion of these thoughts are negative, and unless they are purged from your system, their residue remains trapped in the subconscious mind. This in turn prevents you seeing the world with fresh eyes and makes you miss your precious moments.

If you would like to ignite a fresh perspective in your life and organization, then I am inviting you to embrace the unfamiliar and begin to act on intuition. When you embrace the moment and focus your energy on pertinent details rather than listening to the gremlin of brilliance, then you remove the mind mucus that clouds your vision.

Experience the Power of Serendipity

2009-01-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Imagine that your life (the complete you -- spiritual, personal, professional, social, and educational) is a vehicle that you are driving on an interstate highway. As you accelerate in a forward direction you will have an opportunity to slow down, drive faster, exit on/off, and decide to pull into a rest stop to refuel. Today I invite you to experience serendipity.

The best way to explain this five-syllable word is “happy accidents” or as Joe Jaworski describes in his book Synchronicity – The Inner Path of Leadership, serendipity is when you go to a place, a setting, or a meeting expecting a certain outcome and discover something entirely different because you are open and are present to the moment.

“Perceptions of Serendipity” was an article published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology. It states that, “career analysts find that 83% of midcareer professionals believe chance (serendipity) played a significant role in their ultimate career path and that they highly value staying open for unexpected opportunities.”

At this season, I invite you to be open and aware of serendipitous moments as you drive on the highway of possibilities. The following are five tips to mapquest your way into the future:

1. Reflect on this entire week and write down one new thing that you learned this week.

2. Schedule a 30-minute appointment with yourself. No interruptions. Go for a walk, read a book, write in your journal.

3. Create a list of positive affirmations that motivate you to be your best.

4. Decide to make a presentation at your next all-staff meeting on secrets of success tips. This will raise your visibility and boost your self-confidence.

5. Embrace where you are in life at this moment. Celebrate the fact that you are alive, well, and full of vigor.

Know Your Worth

2009-01-19T04:51:00.000-08:00

The painter Pablo Picasso was dining at a five-star restaurant in a metropolitan city. A female admirer walked over to his table to say hello and to tell him how much she admired his work. Sensing that he was receptive to her accolades, she asked if he would do a sketch for her.

Picasso grabbed some paper, and with pen and pencil promptly sketched the waiters carrying luscious ice cream parfaits. As the woman reached for the sketch, Pablo Picasso said, “Madame, that will be $10,000.” Shocked, the woman replied, “But that only took you five minutes.” “No, Madame,” replied Pablo Picasso, “it took me fifty years.”

Pablo Picasso knew how much time he had invested in the mastery of fine art. He didn’t belittle his value or succumb to the pressure of someone who didn’t value his worth. Up until that moment at the restaurant, fifty years of his life had been invested in developing his artistic brilliance. He refused to allow anyone to diminish his self-worth.

How much are you worth? What are you doing to increase your self-worth? People will treat you the way you treat yourself.

Contagious Optimism - A shot of hope

2009-01-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

As I look around I continue to hear gloom and doom. Prices at the pump are heading north and some days south, corporations are tightening their belts, and when I look into the faces of people I see this blank stare – as if to say, I am just here, going through the motions. The lights are on, but no one is home. It’s what Scott Dilbert calls “Dead People Working.” Do you know anyone like this?

Snap out of it! Rattle the cage! Tip the boat! Grab your life by the shirt collar and pull yourself forward in to your future!

Optimism, as defined by dictionary.com, is a tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation. Optimism creates confidence, and guess what? Your confidence is under attack as a result of layoffs, hiring freezes, decreases in benefits, early retirements, cancelled contracts… the list goes on. These announcements from businesses and organizations impact your confidence level. Your confidence is tied to your courage and when you have courage you take risks. When you are discouraged by negative news you play it safe. Why? You respond to what you hear, see, and what others say.

Is there a better way to live and experience life to the fullest? Yes and its called Contagious Optimism (C.O.). Individuals and businesses that subscribe to the C.O. mindset demonstrate the following behaviors:
When everyone is saying the same thing and moving the same direction, the C.O. mindset says go the opposite direction.
When others are tip-toeing through the tulips of self-preservation and “I need to be nice because I need this job or your business,” the C.O. mindset says let’s ruffle some feathers and shake up the establishment of comfort zone living.

The C.O. mindset individual will raise their hand and ask the right question to get everyone in the room moving and thinking.
The C.O. mindset refuses to settle for business as usual.
The C.O. mindset will rewrite their job description.
The C.O. mindset organizations do not employ they deploy people to release their brilliance.
The C.O. mindset infuses the organizational culture to rise to the occasion and seize the moment.
The C.O. mindset leaders don’t tell people what to do but invite them to become what they were meant to be
The C.O. mindset realizes that every day you are adding a sentence to the story of your life. Today is the day to be the exclamation point.
The C.O. mindset mistakes are celebrated and failure is rewarded.
The C.O. mindset individuals don’t work in departments but on teams.
The C.O. mindset people work to make meaning instead of just money.
The C.O. mindset people see themselves as the solution that they’ve been waiting for.
The C.O. mindset individuals are attractive people. Everyone wants to be around them and seek their opinion.
The C.O. mindset people complete their work and then ask others if they need any help in completing their work.
The C.O. mindset people are the match that sets their life on fire. Others come from near and far to watch them burn.
Simon Says…Release Your Brilliance and be Contagiously Optimistic!

Competitive Intelligence - Dump Their Junk

2009-01-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

I was recently sitting in a client’s employee lounge and saw a flyer that was on all of the tables. As I looked closely it said the following “turn competitors trash into competitive intelligence treasure. Receptacles will be set up in the atrium and on the 2nd and 3rd floor to collect all the junk mail you receive at home from the competition.”

The name of this marketing initiative is “Dump Their Junk!” I love it. What are you doing to share your competitive intelligence with your internal team? We have all received mail that will put into file 13. What if we step back and ask what type of insight can we gain from what others are doing? You may just be surprised at what you discover.

Please send a response to the following question – what are you doing to increase your competitive intelligence?

Giving Up is Not an Option!

2009-01-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

I sense that some of you have reached a fork in the road and are unsure of which direction to go in. As your Brilliandeer (Diamond Polisher) I invite you think again. Take a deep breath, suck it up, put a smile on your face and pep in your step. You are a Brilliant Somebody that the world has never seen before and will never see again. The world is a better place because you are here.

You have invested your entire life’s saving in a dream that at times causes you to second guess your own thinking. Everything is now on the line and you are almost ready to step into the spotlight of unlimited possibility. However the gremlin of doubt, unbelief, and loneliness are chipping away at your protective wall of invincibility. Giving up and throwing in the towel is out of the question. You know that you can do it. Don’t you? I believe you can.

I am reminded of a classic story about a large fish that was placed in the middle of an aquarium with minnows to feed on. The fish fed to his heart’s delight. Then, the researchers placed a glass partition in the tank, dividing it in two. After the pike had eaten all of the minnows on his side of the partition, he could see the other minnows through the glass but he couldn’t get to them. He thrashed, he bumped, he bashed his body against the glass partition, but to no avail. He finally formed a belief that it was impossible for him to get to those fish. He stopped trying! Then, the researchers moved the glass partition and allowed the minnows to swim all around him.

He could smell them. He could see them. He could feel them. But he believed that those fish were no longer available to him – that they were forever locked away from him – that it was impossible for him to win. So he starved to death in the middle of an aquarium full of food.

Have you stopped trying? Have you given up? Has the air of possibility been let out of the your balloon opportunity? Everything you need to succeed is inside you and all around you. The way to access it is to form a belief – make it a behavior and then do it everyday.

Listening is Valuable

2009-01-09T03:12:00.000-08:00

This past year I turned 40. WOW – big deal you say. However, I realized that I don’t have a lot of time left on earth nor do you. I realize that every moment of life is valuable. Relationships are valuable. Working in your area of passion is valuable. You are valuable. I realize that we don’t know each other but consider this a cyber-handshake and an inspirational latte shot sprinkled with a few cinnamon thoughts.

Have you ever been talking to someone and your mind drifts off to la-la land and you give them the screen saver face?

Here is the point – Make every second count! Make every moment significant! Never take for granted the person standing in front of you. They are important and what they have to say should be honored. Hearing is a courtesy. Listening is a gift. Every time you take the time to listen you are valuing the person who is doing the talking. I realize that I need to listen more and talk less. It's valuable!

What about you?

Brown Nose Academy – The Art of Career Survival

2009-01-07T03:35:00.000-08:00

O’ Brilliant One (that would be you) there is a virtual post-graduate institution that teaches only one subject – Career Survival. Those who master the complicated subject eventually fire themselves from their job and rehire their talents, gifts and ability under the brand Me, Inc.

Since you intend to matriculate through Brown Nose Academy at broadband speed, there are some creative insight procedures that will keep you relevant and attractive in every economy. Here you go:

Do more than what is required. Become known as the King or Queen of going the extra mile.

Ask bigger questions every day. The quality of your questions determines how you are perceived as the CEO of You, Inc.

Raise your hand to cross pollinate in other departments.

There is no room for saying “it’s not my job” or “they didn't hire me to do that”. Get over it. In times like these, it’s all hands on deck.

Pay the premium on your career insurance by asking your boss “what can I do to make you look good?”, “what can I do take some work off your plate?” Yes, these questions are straight out of the playbook from Brown Nose Academy.

What other tips do you have for career survival?

Word Planet

2009-01-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

In 2009 your life will move in the direction of your most dominant conversation.

If your conversation is full of doom, gloom, talking about the recession, discussing pending layoffs, worrying about how you are going to fund your business, retirement, and pay for college, then you will have more of the same. Think about it for a moment, we live in a word planet.

Nothing happens until someone says something. For instance in order to confirm a marriage a priest, rabbi, or minister will ask each of the parties to exchange vows which cements their covenant. When you were looking for a job, the answers that you gave during the interview determined if you were hired or not. Simple as it may seem, there are numerous systems that exist because of words.

Everything that shifts, moves, increases or decreases does so because we live in a word planet. I have decided that from today forward I am going to create my future by speaking to the future. I suggest that you do the same. Stop waiting for something to happen. Make something happen by opening your mouth speaking in the direction of where you intend to be this time next year.

What words will you use to create your planet?