success

Congratulate Success

Backstory

My friend Elizabeth Cottrell just published a book about how handwritten notes have comforted, encouraged, and provided extraordinary support. Her book Heartspoken provides a guide to help readers improve the emotional support of their handwritten words.

Reflecting Elizabeth’s advice to write out encouragement, today’s Consider This show is about conveying best wishes on success. It recognizes the importance of acknowledging small triumphs as well as major joys.

Congratulate Success

A friend just bought a new house overlooking the Atlantic. I am so happy for her. It’s exactly what she wanted; a dream come true.

If I applaud her success and wish her well, and really mean it, then her success adds to my own happiness. Isn’t it great, how that works? Hers is a really big success.

But we are surrounded daily by lesser successes that can also be recognized and appreciated. Be sure to acknowledge the success of those around you. Don’t just assume they know you are proud of them. Tell them. Make a special call to give congratulations. Write a personal note. Friend, relative, child, colleague, or acquaintance, your congratulations will add immensely to their joy in success. Give kudos generously. They’re FREE! And they have such value to those who receive them.

Do it today. Find a reason to congratulate success. Even better, spread the word about someone else’s success. There is no finer form of flattery, especially when it is sincere And from the heart. Look for someone to congratulate today, and make it a good one.

P.S. Who has time to sit around writing notes? Here are some suggestions for creating time:

Mute the TV when serial commercials begin and write away.
Choose a greeting card that expresses what you want to say and write less by hand.
Put a clipboard and notepaper in the car. Write while stuck in heavy traffic.
Be motivated by how much you love the person you’d address.

[Show #264]

Measuring Success

Backstory

I recently read, “Happiness is the new rich. Inner peace is the new success. Health is the new wealth. Kindness is the new cool.” Here is my take on that.

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Measuring Success – #610

Success – It’s a very ethereal thing. The question today is – How do YOU measure success?

Some measure it by the material proof – big house, lots of money, executive position or one of authority.

Another metric is how much you helped to make the world a better place. Some folks find success on the job, some by raising a family, some try to have the best of both worlds.

Many folks today measure success by your level of contentment; whether you are doing what you love to do.

A grandmother celebrating more than seven decades on earth told me,

“Success is when you look back at your life and the memories make you smile.” Let me add that she had a wide grin on her face as she spoke.

Has your idea of success changed over time? What’s your definition today? Have our times and culture changed your idea of success?

Are you there? If not, how do you plan to get there? Can we really lay a plan to reach success or are we at the mercy of the Universe and the time and place into which we are dropped upon birth? Is it all dumb luck?

Come and share your concept of success, and how you’ll know when you found it. You should enjoy the exploration.

P.S.

If you woke up this morning in a warm bed, and you have someone to love today, that may just be all the success you need. It sure is for me.

[Show #610]

Personal Mission Statement

Backstory

I’ve always set goals and made sure my plans were in writing. It does not end when you retire. That may be the best time to map out who you want to be and where you want to go. You have a second chance to scratch things off that bucket list, get organized or mend fences. What will it be?

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Personal Mission Statement – #659

In my working days, I wrote strategic plans and helped organizations decide what their future should look like.

When I settled in the Shenandoah Valley to take things easy, I wanted a PERSONAL mission statement; something I could refer to, to see if my days are being spent on things that matter to me. It’s so easy to get side-tracked and whittle time away, when you’re not in a 9 to 5 job. I wanted to set a course and keep on it.

There’s a quote from Henry David Thoreau. It so inspired me that I have it in a picture frame in my office.

Thoreau says, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Thoreau was saying to me – “Your Personal Mission Statement should aim you toward your own version of success and contentment. Yours – not anyone else’s.”

If you are interested in writing your own Personal Mission Statement and would like to see a sample, I’d be glad to share mine with you. It outlines the RESULTS I want to achieve from the things I do each day.

Just send me an email and I’ll get it out to you.

Once you write your mission statement, be sure to post it where you’ll see it every day so you can track your progress toward ”success unexpected in common hours.”

P.S.

To request the sample Personal Mission Statement, send an email to Annette@ConsiderThisRadioShow.com. Hope you enjoy the process of creating your own strategies.

[Show #659]

Entertainment Talent

Backstory – Entertainment Talent

Curious, I looked up the show business careers of several winners of America’s talent shows. Not many stayed at the top, after being discovered. Just having a good voice or being a good musician was not enough. So what does assure the path to stardom? Let’s take a look.

Consider This Show – Talent

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Talent – #423

Who could have guessed that there was so much untapped entertainment talent out there in our country?

When you watch early auditions on talent shows like American Idol, you have to wonder what some people were thinking when they decide to try out. How could they possibly believe that the screechy voice or the bellowing screams they emit qualify them as singers? Who told them they sound good? Nasty friends? Kind parents? Wishful thinking?

But once the nincompoops are weeded out, oh my, what a field of talent.

Of course success will involve so much more than simply a good voice. Will they have the stamina to keep up with the demands of stardom? Will they have the right professional guidance to help them choose the right songs, the right auditions, the right looks and quotes and publicity?

Will they avoid the temptations that take so many fine artists down the road to destruction?

Will they manage to keep close, those who love them and treat people fairly? Do they really know what they are getting into when they decide to accept celebrity? Is it worth it?

We cheer them on and wish them well and watch them evolve right before our eyes.

Destined for stardom, tragedy . . . or both.

[Show #423]