Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Motivational Operations

There's an inexorable law operating in business. I call it the law of UP — Unfulfilled Potential. One can see aspects of this law working in other areas: For instance, in neurophysiology, humans are supposed to use only a fraction of our brains' capabilities; in technology, superconductivity is not yet widely available; and in medicine, the harnessing of the body's abilities to fight cancers is. . .

Prime That Pump! Part 3

How healthy is your vision of yourself? How does your mental image of yourself stack up against that of, say, some hero of yours? Let’s find out. Take a few seconds and picture yourself in your mind’s eye. Now imagine a hero of yours in the same setting. Did your vision have to “shift” a little? A lot perhaps? Is your posture, both internal and external, as strong and confident as that of your . . .

Ten Winning Traits - That Make A Difference!

No surprise - winning traits are common among high achievers.Are you tired of schlepping to the beat of someone else's drum? Does the idea of being your own boss appeal to you? Are you entrepreneur material?There are ten common traits among winners and the most successful entrepreneurs.Ten Winning Traits!An Eye For Opportunity: Many entrepreneurs start by identifying a common need and using som. . .

Miscommunication - Root Cause of Problems?

People of two opposing ideas can stir up arguments and fights. It's that situation when one thinks he has the right concept while the other one also believes he has the proper notion. Both of them would try to outsmart each other until one claims victory. Here's an actual example. My girlfriend Riza would sometimes buy me signature clothing. When my Mom founds out how much it costs, she would a. . .

Reflections of 2004

2005 is upon us. Do you remember what your New Years resolution was for 2004? Did you accomplish your goal?If not, don't worry. The New Year is forgiving. It gives you the chance to try again. If you failed to carry through in 2004, you can avoid that failure in 2005.First, you must really think about what your goal was in 2004. Did you have a plan for reaching your goal? Did you work on your p. . .

Meeting Mickey Mantle - His Idol

Meeting Mickey Mantle would be a dream comes true. A dream realized for Dan on his 38th birthday, when his wife honored him with a week long stay at the Yankee Fantasy Camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dan played with some of the Yankee legends: Bobby Murcer, Mickey Rivers, Ron Guidry, Moose Skowron and Catfish Hunter. The games were great and being on the same field with some of the players he. . .

It’s More Important than Batting Practice

It was a night of focus and inspiration. On October 20, 2004, the Boston Red Sox made history. They became baseball’s first team to win a best-of-seven post-season series after losing the first three games. And they did it against arch-rival New York in Yankee Stadium. Even if you are not a sports fan, here are some lessons you can use to turn any situation around. When things stink and they ha. . .

Ringing Doorbells Without Howitzers

Many operations leaders have been there, done that with re-engineering. And they report, in effect, that the process is like ringing a doorbell with a howitzer shell. Reducing costs through wholesale layoffs ostensibly tied to ultimate results provides quick hits on balance sheets, but its clumsy blows can raise hell with operations.Operational results can be achieved consistently with precisi. . .

You Have the Power to Change Your Life!

Do you wish you could go back in time and make decisions that would change your life? Well I am not a genie therefore; I am not qualified to grant you any wishes! However, there is one thing I can do which is tell you: that even though you can not travel back in time, you can still change your life. Does this sound good? Keep reading!It does not matter how many mistakes you have made in life. . .

Control Your Own Destiny

“You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.”-Brian TracyIn order to make choices that may change your destiny, you must first know yourself and what you are creating moment by moment. What you do in the present moment brings you closer to being in command o. . .

What Good Is a Resume, Really?

I find that most people are convinced that a resume is a necessary part of the job search, especially if an employer says so. Tain't necessarily so! Often an employer wants a resume because they don't really know what the job entails. They want a recital of what the job seeker knows or doesn't know about the job in question, without factoring in the personal about a real, live human being! The . . .

Make Mistakes and Become Successful

Would you like to start your own business? Become a super star? Get a college education? If none of the desires that I mentioned above motivate you then what does? Now ask yourself: what is holding you from making your dream a reality? Could it be fear of failure?Fear is a natural emotion that can help us stay safe. With fear we won’t throw ourselves from a building, cut a finger etc. which i. . .

How Can I Get Out Of The Routine And Be Motivated?

"I do not seem to have anything going in my life, just the same cycle day in and day out. I feel overwhelmed in all aspects of my life from marriage to work... I smoke, I over eat and I do not have much energy. What can I do?" -Divakar from Malaysia It's important that you were able to articulate your thoughts and feelings and it's even more important that you could acknowledge your unhappiness. . .

Exceptions Break The Rule

The golden rule isn't: "Treat others as you want to be treated... unless they tick you off." Nor does the commandment "Thou shalt not steal" come with restrictions or blackout periods. It's a rule — a very powerful rule — that should be followed in all circumstances. Any exception would break the rule completely. What's the point of a rule, goal, or plan if you don't follow it? If you're not wi. . .

What if We’re Not Getting It “Our Way”?

That’s it! I’ve had it! Here I am bustin’ my hump and all I get is busted in the chops! Enough awready! I’m sick and tired of trying to get anything to go my way. From now on, I’m just going to get up, do my thing and whatever happens – happens! To hell with it!Yep, it does happen, doesn’t it? To just about everybody I would imagine. We reach a point where nothing seems to be going the . . .

Rage for Money!

Money, Money, Money and Money is all what this world is about. Every individual in this world is working hard all day, all nights and all weekends just to smell the aroma of money - Rupees, Dollars, Euro, Yen and what not. There was a time when an individual was evaluated based on his charisma, talents, character and health but those days are way behind us. In the present world of "Money and Ha. . .

On St. Valentine's Day, Or Any Romantic Interlude, Woo Yo...

Leadership authority Brent Filson asserts that wooing one's sweetheart can be done with a special kind of communication methodology which he has been teaching leaders worldwide for 21 years.My experience in teaching the Leadership Talk to thousands of leaders worldwide for the past 21 years confirms that the Talk is a boon for leaders of all ranks and functions in their jobs and careers.But I'v. . .

Is This Love or Emotional Dependency?

One of my clients, whose ex-girlfriend recently broke up with him, asked me the following question:“I think I still love her, but is this love or just emotional dependency? Many times I ask myself if falling in love comes from the wounded self because (for me at least) it feels as if I can’t live without the other person. When I give love from the heart I don't expect anything back, but when I . . .

Self-Esteem in the Performance Arts

Many athletes and performers I work with often wrongly determine their self-worth by how successful they feel about their career. When an athlete performs well or feels successful, he or she can feel good about him or herself. But the opposite is also true: despair and low self-esteem results when this person does not perform well or view him or herself as a failure. Self-esteem is a core issue. . .

9 Great Ways To Change Your Life By Changing Your Motivat...

If you are not as productive as you'd like or tend to procrastinate, you can become motivated by changing your personal style. The trick lies in making the activities you put off more interesting, easier, and less unpleasant. One way to make a job easier is to break it into smaller jobs. If your task is to file your income tax return, you may view it as time consuming and tedious. But if you br. . .

Why To Dump Will Power And Get Motivated The Easy Way

Today I wanted to tell you a little about my background and share a motivation tip you can use right away. For over 20 years I have been fascinated by the possibilities that exist for creating rapid and lasting personal change. And I learned some great tools for personal change. And like you I would get excited about having more, being more and doing more but the momentum would never last. I wo. . .

To be, or Not to be (Average)?

When is hate OK? When it's the feeling you have toward average. Let me make this point clearly and without reservation. I hate average!What is average? My dictionary describes it as being about midway between extremes. Being not out of the ordinary. Common. You know, "Average". To me average is having a focus that's on just doing enough to meet the standard. Average is showing up for work, or s. . .

Are You Seeing a Vision?

As we look at bringing your business to the next level, I ask you a very important question: do you have a vision—a Technicolor snapshot in your mind of what your ideal life looks like? If not, create one. Not a goal; goals come later. Visions are more powerful than goals because visions have an emotional component. When you see a picture, it evokes emotion—involving your heart, not just your h. . .

The Characteristics of a Winner

As kind of a hobby I like to watch people. Just kind of sit back and quietly watch how they react and respond to others and their environment. Through the course of this activity I've noticed a few things that the real winners in life seem to have in common. I'd like to point out a few of these characteristics for the purpose of reinforcing them.So without further delay or introductory verbiage. . .

Know your Mission

One passage states "If you want to defeat them, distract them." Another reads "divide and conquer."In the game of life there is a constant battle raging within and all around you for your attention. It’s like two opposing teams wanting to occupy the same spot on the playing field. That playing field being you. Each team is wanting to control where you go, what you do, who you do it with, etc. I. . .

A Balanced Life

Today, people as busy and stressed as professionals often do not take the time to check in with themselves periodically about where they are in their lives. They tend not to stop and ask what is giving meaning and value to their lives. Sometimes the idea of doing so is frightening because of what they think they might find. In my coaching practice, I do meet many professionals who want to make. . .

The Power

I had a friend ask me a question not to long ago that really led me to do some thinking. "How do you manage to stay so positive all the time?" You never seem to have "bad" days she said.Truthfully the thing is physically I have plenty bad days. I’m convinced more than my fair share of them. To a certain extent this is something over which I have no control. However, on the other hand her assump. . .

Affirm, Visualize, and Receive - Is Planning Really Neces...

We are repeatedly told of the necessity to plan. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail", "Plan your work, work your plan" etc. In terms of goalsetting and achieving goals, when people talk of planning, they generally mean: 1. You set your goals 2. You make a plan for achieving your goals This, for us, is putting things upside down. And we are going to put things right back on their feet. If pl. . .

Mindfulness and Depression: Things Are Looking Up

From yoga studios to cancer clinics, from preschools to college campuses, mindfulness is quite the buzz. Law schools are offering courses in mindfulness as a tool to help in mediation, and business consultants are pouncing on mindfulness as the latest surefire path to better client relationships and higher sales figures. I find all this interest in mindfulness quite thrilling. It's fun to see p. . .

5 Ways To Get Back On Track With Your New Year's Resolutions

1. Keep your eyes on the prize. Don’t focus on how hard it is to change or improve. Keep a laser-beam focus on how your life will be better once you achieve the desired change.2. Ask yourself, “What do I need to do differently?” It will help you identify obstacles much more quickly than asking, “What’s wrong with me?” 3. Mix it up. Do resolutions at different times of the year, not just New Yea. . .

10 Tips For Better Public Speaking

Is there a great speaker hiding with you?“Not hardly,” you may be thinking. Think again.The fear of speaking in public is well-documented, often discussed, and probably overrated. The great news is that speaking in front of a group can be an entertaining and energizing experience for even the most fearsome among us.Try these 10 ideas to enjoy speaking and to sharpen your delivery: 1. Be yoursel. . .

My Girls Are People Magnets!

Since I work at home I spend the whole day with my girls and everyday I observe what a splendid greeting they give my husband when he comes home after a long day at work. What does he think about it? He loves it; sometimes he knocks on the door instead of letting himself in on purpose so, that they can run to the door before he comes inside. They start shouting at the top of their lungs: DADD. . .

Fact to Fiction: The Brutal Truth About The Practice Of S...

“Like humans void of soul or mind, they jeered and yelled as they went about selecting their most jagged stones.” – David Hearne, excerpt from Hulagu's Web.Stoning is a brutal and outdated practice that is kept alive only by Muslims under Sharia rule. Although it has been practiced since biblical times, every other culture has systematically ceased the practice in favor of more humane forms of. . .

Tsunami: Bringing Forth a New Wave of Hope

Has the huge tsunami had a similar affect on you personally, as it did on much of Asia? Has any of what you believed in been washed away, shattered, or destroyed? Has the recent tsunami scared you more or less than 9/11? Or, perhaps the recent tsunami has even led to a deepening of your faith?I don't want to seem uncaring, or just downright impervious to feeling, but as horrific as the recent t. . .

7 Easy Creative Rituals to Spark Your Imagination and Ins...

Creativity is a mysterious force that visits us with great ideas, new ways of seeing the world and the courage to do things differently. Revitalizing your creative talents will help you in the most unexpectedly wonderful ways: a new business idea, a renewed commitment to self-care, an appreciation for the beauty that lies all around us. Finding a small bit of time each day to feed this force wi. . .

Gratitude: The Secret Behind Creativity

When you think of being more creative, what comes to mind? Most people think in terms of artistic skills, but creativity manifests itself in a number of ways beyond the obvious. Picture creativity like a jet stream that flows all around us: when we step up to the flow and dip our hands in, we easily grab wonderful ideas, refreshed insights and innovative actions. At times, things get in our wa. . .

Ingredients For Success

Management by Objectives, strategic planning, quality, teams, re-engineering. Passing management fads? Consultants, more consultants. Training and more training. Businesses are littered by the corpses of all these attempts at finding the way to become better. What happened? What went wrong? How can simple and productive ideas like these have failed in some companies while succeeding in others? . . .

10 Simple Ways to Turn Your Creative Spark into a Flame

Creativity and innovation begin with the spark of an idea. But for so many, the process ends there with no plan to manifest. Understanding simple ways to turn your ideas into action will give you the edge to turn that spark to a flame and rise as a leader in innovation and creativity.These ten simple tools not only jumpstart your creative spirit, but they help you maintain and sustain the idea . . .

Leggo Your Ego and You’ll Be Happy You Did!

Have you ever found times where you want to express yourself freely, but something inside just stops you? I know I have. Or how about this: someone else is freely expressing themselves on a subject but you cut them off? Or, just the opposite, how many times have you sat back not liking what was going on around you, wanting to say something, but just too nervous to do or say something? Often we . . .

Choice and Change

OK, so here we are. We've switched the calendars out and made our resolutions. Now it's time to set about the process of making those changes we've resolved to make. You haven't forgotten already have you?I heard you say this year I'm going to... stop smoking, exercise more, take a few night classes, start saving for retirement, eat healthier, cut my alcohol intake by 50%, get more rest and on . . .

How Do You Win at Home Organization? Think Small!

Many people have written to me about their personal goals and one I see quite often is “Get organized,” specifically, “Get the house in order.” When I ask what obstacles are in their way, the most common response is “procrastination.”By the time it gets to the point of showing up on a goals list, household organization has been neglected so much that the results have culminated into a mountain. . .

Christian Singles: Questions To Keep Your Spirit Alive

With special events like Valentine's Day coming and going each year, I am reminded how difficult it can be to retain your spirit of who you are when you're a Christian single.It just sometimes feels like it would be easier to mold yourself into whatever your dating partners want, and then you can get on with living happily ever after.Become what other people want you to be, date non Christians,. . .

A Fresher Take on the World's Biggest Lies

Last month, I did a column about the world's biggest lies. Based on popular demand, I have decided to do a sequel. Here are ten more common, everyday fallacies that I am debunking. Actually, I've added an extra one this time for good measure. Enjoy!(1) 500 TV channels. All too often, the truth falls victim to popular belief. Such is the case with the supposed 500 TV channel universe. This myth . . .

A Collection of Unrelated Thoughts - Volume One

Have you ever heard of an FBI agent who wasn't "special"? Or an attorney who wasn't "at law"?Have you ever met an optometrist who didn't wear glasses? Do you think maybe the fact that most of them wear glasses has anything to do with advertising?Until recently, I thought Jessica Simpson was a cartoon character!Why would anyone want to run for the office of school board member? It seems to me th. . .

5 Tips To Keep Marital Bliss Alive After You Retire!

Let’s face it retirement is a time of great transition for spouses. Ample free time and drastic lifestyle changes can be a burden or a blessing for your marriage. Regardless of whether one or both spouses retire, the secret to a smooth transition is planning before you retire. For example, if one or both of you have been task-driven individuals with their own careers, a 7/24 marriage may not be. . .

Loving Without Losing Yourself!

You are in love and it feels wonderful. This love is different and you are prepared to do anything to make it last. To prevent this ship from sinking you work hard to steer this relationship into a safe harbor. In the process you lose yourself and your romantic relationship becomes all-consuming!When Kyra fell head-over-heels for Dan she went out of her way to create a wonderful relationship. . .

The 3 Pillars of Personal Power: Passion, Clarity, and S...

What’s missing? I don’t get it! I chant and pray. I meditate, exercise and do yoga every day. I go to a godzillion workshops. Why don’t I feel better? Why don’t I have the love, money and health I want? Where is the direct connection with Spirit I crave?Sound familiar? If so, help is on the way.I’ve spent the last forty years exploring techniques to awaken the abundance of life for my clients a. . .

A Faux Pas Is A Mistake In A Tuxedo

Everyone who is anybody has a hobby or at least entertains the idea. Hobbies range from sports to crafts to reading and even traveling. Some hobbies don't make sense to me like collecting dead insects.My long established hobby has earned me a membership in the POP (People Observing People) Culture. The rules specify that each member must swear not to divulge anything observed.Being a minister, . . .

Mindfulness and Laughter: Gaining Clarity While Giggling

Life is funny.Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous moments that we tend to ignore. We get so caught up in being earnest that we miss opportunities to gain clarity while giggling.Sure, there are times when it is considered inappropriate to laugh, but if we're honest, we'll see that if we're suppressing a smile it's a sign that we're fully present. Not only that, but these are times w. . .

Prescription Optimism

A client explained that she’s stuck in a writing rut because she’s on constant overwhelm. In other areas of life, she explained, she’s organized and orderly. But when it comes to writing, it’s as if she’s possessed. She’s inundated with ideas. Where to start? When she opens Writer’s Market seeking to be inspired, boy is she! She comes up with a great story perfect for a particular magazine, the. . .