Change, the Only Constant by Denis Waitley

December 15, 2009 Issue 145 My friend and colleague Jim Rohn was laid to rest Saturday, December 12, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. As I said in my note to you last week, I simply cannot find the words to describe my heartfelt emotions concerning the loss of perhaps the greatest business and personal-development philosopher of our time. However, what I can do is offer you some words of wisdom taken from some of the many articles that Jim wrote and left us as part of his great legacy. I hope you enjoy this issue’s “Seeds of Greatness” section with Jim Rohn quotes and a special “Winner’s Edge Coaching Tips” article by Jim. Nearly 5,000 people whose lives were impacted by Jim and his personal achievement philosophies have posted their memories and thoughts on the Memorial Wall at the Jim Rohn Tribute Site. If you haven’t had the chance, you can share yours here. This bears repeating: His voice will be heard for generations to come. Warm regards, Denis Waitley P.S.: If you've enjoyed this newsletter and have found it to be valuable, then if you would do me the favor of forwarding it to your friends, family and associates, it would be very much appreciated. If they would like to subscribe, have them visit www.deniswaitley.com for easy and convenient sign-up. Many Thanks! In This Issue..... 1. This Week's Jump-Start 2. The Champion Within Article 3. Seeds of Greatness 4. The Winner's Edge Coaching Tips 5. The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan 6. More Information 1. This Week's Jumpstart Change, the Only Constant by Denis Waitley There’s a Chinese proverb that is more relevant today than ever before: “If you haven’t seen a man or woman for three days, look them over very carefully when you next encounter them, for they will have changed dramatically during that three-day period.” More changes are crammed into every day of our lives than our grandparents experienced in decades—and this process is just beginning. Every 15 seconds a new Web site is launched! Every 15 minutes a new technological breakthrough occurs! Every 15 days a new product or service is introduced that didn’t exist before! Consider for a moment that the musical greeting card you ordered via the Web has more computing power than existed on the planet when the first satellite went into orbit. Consider the computer’s impact. Designed as a tool for managing complexity, it also adds complexity, just as freeways add more traffic. The computer enables us to sort, store, retrieve and transmit information with ever-increasing speed. But the faster data can be analyzed, the faster decisions are expected, and the greater the pressure to reach them. And the computer’s efficiency is hardly lost on our competitors. They utilize them to produce goods and services of comparable quality, for less money. As this year comes to a close and the New Year arrives, welcome change rather than try to resist it. Learn how to make change work for you rather than against you. Develop unique strategies and skills that enable you to create opportunities from challenges. In response to rapid change, introduce it in the form of new business systems, pricing and marketing that increase effectiveness and efficiency; create new products and new services; lower costs and encourage ideas to enhance productivity. In everything we do, there are more choices available today than at any other time in history. To become the “brand” or “person” of choice, give others what they want in a time-starved world. Save others time and money, and you will gain more time, freedom and wealth. This week embrace change and make it work to your advantage! 2. The Champion Within Article Be Committed to Keeping Your Personal and Professional Life in Balance by Denis Waitley It is so important to be living in prime time, rather than watching TV in prime time. On your way to success make certain you grow friendships, not just bank and mutual fund accounts. Life is a collection of memories, not of material things. The Egyptian pharaohs were buried with all their treasures, and were mummified in the hope that they could enjoy their bounty in the next life. But we are only caretakers of possessions. There is a big difference between standard of living and quality of life. Standard of living is based on income earned. Quality of life is the enjoyment of the thousands of minutes between accomplishments. Having money is only one aspect of wealth. To the sick person, wealth is health. To the lonely person, wealth is someone to talk to and share with. To the estranged person, wealth is hearing words of love and forgiveness. Borrowing the free verse style from Brother Jeremiah’s classic poem “I’d Pick More Daisies,” here are a few things I’d do, the second time around. I’d laugh at my misfortunes more. Spend more time counting my blessings than my blemishes. Spend more time playing with my children and grandchildren and less time watching performers in the arena. More time enjoying what I have, less time thinking about the things I don’t have. If I could live my life again, I’d walk in the rain more without an umbrella and listen less to weather reports. I’d spend more time looking at trees and climbing them, less time flipping through magazines made from dead trees. I’d spend more time fully involved in the present moment, less time remembering and anticipating. I’d smile more, frown less. And most of all I’d be more spontaneous and active, less hesitant and subdued. When some spur-of-the-moment idea came up to go hiking, play Frisbee, color Easter eggs, sing in a chorus, go kayaking, or watch an eclipse, I’d be less likely to sit in my chair objecting, “It’s not in our plan.” I’d be inclined to jump up and run out the door next time and say, “Yes, we can!” Although I can’t live my life again, I’m still going to live the new way every day anyway. I’ll never have all the moments I’ve missed, but I do have all the time remaining. Action Idea: Choose one activity this month that you really want to engage in, but that you have been putting off because it isn’t a priority. Schedule that activity in your planner, as if it were a “must do” business or financial commitment. When you have done it, while you are still feeling good, schedule one for next month, and do it as long as you live. Denis Waitley has studied, counseled and trained leaders in virtually every field including Apollo astronauts, Olympic gold medalists, Super Bowl champions, returning POW's, heads of state and Fortune 500 top executives. Denis is recognized as a world class speaker and author and has traveled the globe sharing success ideas and strategies to thousands of companies the past 25 years. To book Dr. Waitley to speak for your company or to be part of your upcoming Regional or National Convention send an email to speaker@deniswaitley.com or call 877-929-0439 and ask for Hilary. 3. Seeds of Greatness Personal Responsibility by Jim Rohn “Don’t become a victim of yourself. Forget about the thief waiting in the alley; what about the thief in your mind?” “It is not what happens that determines the major part of your future. What happens, happens to us all. It is what you do about what happens that counts.” “You say, ‘The country is messed up.’ That’s like cursing the soil and the seed and the sunshine and the rain, which is all you’ve got. Don’t curse all you’ve got. When you get your own planet, you can rearrange this whole deal. This one you’ve got to take like it comes.” “Walk away from the 97% crowd. Don’t use their excuses. Take charge of your own life.” “Take advice, but not orders. Only give yourself orders. Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘Since I will be no one’s slave, I will be no one’s master.’” “You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of. You don’t have charge of the constellations, but you do have charge of whether you read, develop new skills, and take new classes.” “Your paycheck is not your employer’s responsibility; it’s your responsibility. Your employer has no control over your value, but you do.” 4. The Winner's Edge Coaching Tips I hope you enjoy this article from one of the world's most authentic and valuable teachers in how to live successfully: Jim Rohn. —DW Change Begins with Choice by Jim Rohn Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year. We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, “The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth. We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives. And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life—if you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life, and it all begins with your very own power of choice. 5. The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan How have you done in achieving the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of 2009? Did you make any progress? Was it more like one step forward and two steps back? As you look toward 2010, what’s your plan to keep yourself growing, learning and achieving throughout the year? Now is the perfect time to incorporate a system that helps you stay focused and on course for reaching your goals. The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan is one of the most comprehensive resources and success plans ever created. Throughout the 12-month program, you will be empowered to grow and continually transform yourself (daily/weekly/monthly) while focusing on a new pillar of success each month. This consistent game plan will keep you on track, help you take action and give you the motivation to achieve the life of your dreams! Click here now to view a short video from SUCCESS publisher Darren Hardy talking about why he strongly endorses The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan. And take advantage of an amazing introductory offer with a special bonus! 6. More Information Newsletter Archives - To review previous issues of Denis Waitley's Newsletter, please go to Newsletter Archives. Printer-Friendly Version - Denis Waitley's Newsletter: Issue 145 All contents Copyright 2009 Denis Waitley International except where indicated otherwise. All rights reserved worldwide. **Duplication or reprints only with express permission or approved Credits (see above). All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This email was sent by: Denis Waitley International 200 Swisher Road Lake Dallas, TX 75065 877-929-0439 International and/or Dallas/Ft. Worth 940-497-9265