true humility

The following was sent to me by Robert A. Rohm, PhD of Personality Insights, Inc. He sends great tips each week, but this one really hit the spot.

Tip: Humility is not thinking less of yourself - it is thinking of yourself less!

There is much written on the subject of self-esteem. Some of the information is excellent but some of it is not very helpful at all. I think there is a great deal of confusion about the issue of self-esteem. True self-esteem involves humility.

The opposite of humility is arrogance. Those who are arrogant and have a prideful spirit will meet with resistance from others. No one likes someone who is arrogant. However, it is important to exhibit and exude confidence in who you are and what you are doing. All of us want to deal with people who are confident in their area of expertise.

For instance: In 1982 I had a ruptured disc in my lower back and I had to go into the hospital for a procedure. My physician was visiting me the night before to explain what he would be doing. Since I was a little nervous about it, I asked him if he felt good about everything. He looked at me and said, "I am the best orthopedic surgeon in America. I know exactly what I am doing. I have done this procedure a thousand times and by this time tomorrow, you will be fine!" I thought to myself, "Wow! This guy certainly is arrogant!" After he left the room, I thought, "Wait a minute. Isn't that the kind of person I want to do this procedure tomorrow?" I don't think I would have been very happy if he had said, "Well, I am not sure that I know how to do this, but we are going to cross our fingers and hope for the best. Wish me luck!" That would not have inspired my confidence in him at all.

I hope you get the point I am trying to make. It is important that we are confident in ourselves and our abilities. We should learn and grow in every aspect of life, whether that is in business, family or personal development. However, while we are doing that, we must not develop the attitude that we are better or more important than anyone else either.

Humility is not about thinking less of yourself as a person. It does no good to think that you are nothing but a worm who is unable to make any meaningful contribution to your life or environment. True humility allows you to be confident in your abilities and yet focus on others and their needs. When you reach that point, I believe you can begin to experience your best growth.

In 1981, after being out of college for ten years, I decided I wanted to go to graduate school in Dallas, Texas. There was a school there that I very much wanted to attend but I knew it would be very difficult because I was married and had four small children. Taking my family across the country and essentially starting all over was not something that I looked forward to. Yet, I could not have done that if I thought less of myself in the process. It actually bolstered my confidence for trying to learn and grow in new areas of life. It was a difficult process, but looking back, I am certainly grateful for everything that transpired during those years.

This week, why not take a few moments to evaluate how you see yourself? Do you really believe that you are an important person and can do many good things that perhaps no one else could possibly do? You must think highly of yourself in order to grow and do better. You can never achieve anything unless you are willing to take a chance and risk some things you have not done before. In order to do that, I believe you must think more of yourself, not less. But, at the same time, you must spend time thinking of yourself less often and focus more on others.

Are you trying to make a better life for your family? Are you working to achieve more success in your business? Are you concentrating on stretching to grow in your own personal life? All of those are good reasons to try to achieve success. This is a tricky balance to achieve. However, if you spend some time thinking about it and treat this principle with respect, it will reward you greatly in every area of your life.

Tip: Humility is not thinking less of yourself - it is thinking of yourself less!

Have a great week! God bless you!
Robert A. Rohm Ph.D.Personality Insights, Inc

The greatest wisdom can come from the oddest places

So I'm watching Iron Chef America Thanksgiving Challenge and enjoying it thoroughly. At the end, Alton Brown quotes Thornton Wilder, "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

How profound, and how unexpected.

I plan to spend the next week being conscious of my treasures and making sure that I share those treasures as appropriate. Because simply having a treasure is not sufficient, it must be shared.

Are you sharing? and are you willing to receive?

Who do you associate with?

There is an old saying that who you will be 5 years from now is dependent upon the books you read and the people with whom you associate. I think this also includes what TV and music we expose ourselves to.

It makes sense. We don't want our kids to associate with bad influences. So why would we want to do so ourselves?

Last weekend Bryan and I spent time with some amazing people. Folks who run charities for at risk kids, folk who have helped many families to fix their economic issues, folk who have given so much of themselves to others, folk who think at a totally higher level. And we have felt the difference in ourselves all week.

So, who and what are you exposing yourself to?

To your growth!
Robin

Honk and Helen

How awesome is this! A dear friend, Erik, set us a link to a wonderful blog that we will be following. Here's the text of his e-mail:

This sounds like a very cool project - thought you’d be interested!
http://honkandhelen.blogspot.com/
“Honk and Helen raised corn, soybeans and cattle. He also worked on the railroad, for the old Monon line, and Helen was an RN… Helen was also a diarist - and I recovered her papers covering the years 1953-54 and 1973-74 from the flotsam and jetsam after the auction. These are the diaries that will be preserved on this blog.
Starting November 1st, I will post here the contents of the 1953-54 diary, which runs to December 1st, 1954. The following August (2010) I'll start the contents of the 1973-74 diary, which runs to September 7th, 1974. There won't be a post every day - the blog will follow the diary, and Helen didn't write every day.”

Enjoy!
Erik

Bryan (my hubby) grew up on a family farm in southwest Indiana and I love going back to visit. It is absolutely the heartland, in more ways than one! I look forward to the warm feelings I will have following this blog, and I hope you enjoy it too!

To preserving our history.
Robin

Unemployed and feeling useless?

There are a lot of people who are going thru challenges right now. Some have lost their jobs, some have had hours reduced. Others have the same income, but with prices rising they are trying to figure out how to feed the kids, or get Halloween costumes, or Christmas gifts. Or just get by.

For those that are feeling unwanted due to a lay off, downsizing, realignment, deselection (or whatever word they use where you work), it may be a good thing to remember that one of the best ways to combate depression is to do something for someone else.

There are only two ways we can help anyone, with our time and with our money. So take some of your time and find a way to give. Volunteer with an organization like the Second Harvest Foodbank, or with the local school, or a youth organization. Or go to a neighbor and volunteer to sit with their kids while they go out to cheap movie, or just to watch the sunset and breathe!

The benefits to volunteering are many, and include the fact that you are sowing good seeds (which will come back to you multiplied!), and that you are getting to know others. And getting to know other people is also known as - tada - networking! And since most jobs are found through networking, you are benefiting yourself.

So go give to others and give to your self esteem at the same time.

God bless!
Robin

Harvest Festival

Wow. We went to the Shelton Vineyards and Winery this afternoon to enjoy some great weather, lovely views, and good ole Carolina blue grass music. My nephew's step-father is playing in a blue grass band, and they had not seen each other in about 10 years. It was a wonderful reunion, and the kids (all five of them) had a blast. Hay ride, feeding fish, listening to great music, running in the grass, looking at the old tractors, it was a blast!

In the process, I met several people who are amazing artists. Who knew that people made candles out of soy oil? (I sure didn't) - and some amazing painted glassware, kind of stained glass style. Beautiful hand crafted knitwork and crochet, hand crafted jewelry and woodwork. Wow! I think I'll be able to hook some of these wonderful vendors up with people who have shops and take consignment work. And maybe I can help someone get set up for full time self employment!

And I met a couple of groups that are doing fundraising and I gave them my contact info.

And we bought two huge boxes of apples, Golden Delicious and Winesap. Yummy!

The moral, take time out for fun and you will still make a difference in people's lives!

Smile and bring some joy to someone else today!
joyfully!
Robin

Fundraising - tie it up in a down economy

I have had people asking about my fundraising program, so figured I should put it on my blog.

Fundraising - as easy as tying a bow!

Everyone buys gifts, for all kinds of occasions.

Tap into your group’s need to buy gifts and raise money at the same time.

No one has to buy something they won’t use or pay more than they normally would. Your group doesn’t have to take orders (or payments!) or make deliveries. We do all of it!

How? So glad you asked.

Ribbon Gift collections are simple to use:
The gift giver simply chooses the Ribbon Gift Collection they want to give. They order it and then give it to the recipient.
The recipient chooses the gift he or she wants online and redeems it. The selected gift is delivered directly to the recipient.
It’s that simple. And risk free, since both the gift giver/purchaser and the recipient are covered by our satisfaction guarantee.

The Ribbon Gift Collections cover all types of occasions, birthdays, weddings, new baby, hostess and thank you gifts, holidays, Valentines Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. They cover popular name brands like adidas®, Sony®, Ghirardelli®, Cuisinart®, and many more. There is a huge selection including home décor, gourmet foods, electronics, educational toys, jewelry and lots more. Ribbon Gift Collections are a joy to give, a pleasure to receive. You can see more about the program at rweber1.ordermygift.com.

Well that sounds great, but how can my group make money with it?
Again, it’s very simple (you’re busy enough, right?!)
~ We send you the announcement of the program which you send out to your group. (You are welcome to add information if you want, but what we send will be ready to copy and hand out or send as an e-mail. Many prefer going green by doing all the communication online).
~ Group members then sign on to a website, register, place any order they want, and make their payment. The gift arrives when and where they want. They have a 180 day period to get a refund if they choose. There are no shipping charges to anyone, just retail price and the appropriate sales tax (which the computer figures).

At the middle of each month, we will review all orders from the previous month and determine the amount of sales and related funds which will be sent to you, along with a copy of the accounting. If you wish, we can send personalized thank you e-mails to donors as part of the monthly accounting, too.

It really is that simple. No one has to hassle anyone. You just let your group know about the opportunities to shop on line, give them the info to get registered and let the computer and us do the rest. We provide an e-mail address for anyone who wants to contact us directly, but will not initiate contact with them, so there’s no spam!
The benefits to your group members:
1) Ease of shopping (in their fuzzy slippers and robe without having to bring the kids!)
2) No gas used!
3) No need to pay shipping costs for gifts they send in the mail (and no need to insure anything either)!
4) No need to worry if the recipient really liked the gift!
5) The opportunity to have one purchase to become two gifts, one for the gift recipient and one to your fundraiser!

The benefits to your organization:
1) No need to hassle folks to buy something just to support your group
2) No administration time to keep you from doing the things you do best
3) No need to worry about handling money (or having your group members have to handle money)
4) No deadlines. Once this is set up, it can continue to generate funds for your organization year round.

While fall is the biggest shopping season of the year, this program can start anytime.

Please send me an e-mail at robin.e.weber@gmail.com for any questions or to get started.

PS – if you have anyone in your organization that has gift needs for their company, we can service them too. And that service will create even more income for your group.

And how does the newest economic news affect me?

Wow, things have been really, um, interesting, in the past two weeks. The financial sky is falling according to some, and according to others, it's just a low cloud ceiling that will break up soon. Regardless, a lot of folks are concerned.

The concern has done a couple of things. It has reinforced that the financial security of your family does not come from your employer (we learned that years ago, when companies began wholesale layoffs!). Nor does it come from your employer's "secure" retirement pensions and 401k. If the company uses loans to do business and is traded on the stock exchange, security is not available any more!

A lot of people are asking for my help in developing their financial security. The look of relief on their faces as they realize they can control their future is wonderful. It's why I do what I do!

People are also feeling very depressed that they cannot support the charities they have in previous years. In a way, they take on a guilt that they don't have the disposable income to share. I took this on as a challenge and am having a lot of fn and great success helping charities to raise funds with no stress, no hassle, no financial exposure, and no need to ask families to spend money they would not normally spend.

In short, the economy is an opportunity to serve more and I am loving every minute of it! Success is often defined as 'how many people are better off because you lived?' I hope you are finding ways to serve and give, and be successful, too. Please let me know how. And if you know anyone who has a need, would you let me know? I'd like to help!
Gratefully,
Robin

The strength of personal determination (aka Donna's my hero!)

I have a dear friend in St. Louis (one of my bestest) who has been through an interesting time these past few weeks. She had pain in her right thigh for several weeks, which the medical community was treating as bursitis. Well, on a Saturday about noon, she turned in her kitchen, heard a 'pop' in that thigh, and fell on the floor in extreme pain. The medics take her to the hospital where she waits for literally hours, because she went to one of the ERs that was shut down in that hazmat scare they had. Once the docs are able to treat her, they find she had broken the thigh bone! So, she goes in for surgery to put a rod in the thigh and spends almost a week at the hospital learning to walk again. Then she goes to a rehab center for another week. Last Friday she was released and has gone home.
The success part of this story is that she took it all with incredible courage and fortitude, and truly made lemonade from it. She took the opportunity of these two weeks and decided to use the time to improve her health by incorporating better eating and exercise habits. She is determined to take control of her life and she is making huge strides! As well, she put in so much effort on her rehab that she improved twice as fast as they thought she would!
My plan is to remember her courage and determination when the little things go sour in my life, and then take those opportunities to make life better for myself, and for others.
How about you? Who's your hero and why?

Walk From Obesity

Did the Walk From Obesity at Concord Mills this morning. Had a great time, saw some wonderful people, donated some awesome Ribbon albums, and gave to a great cause! Bryan and Megan walked with me. And Meredith went as a volunteer as part of her nursing degree requirements. Meredith is planning on putting together a team from her nursing program at York Tech for next year.
I want to help Sue expand the walk, too. So if you have any ideas, please let me know. And think about supporting the cause!
To your health!
Robin

Self Fulfilling Prophecy

When I was in undergrad (Special Education at Indiana State University) I learned about the concept of the self fulfilling prophecy. In a nutshell, studies show what we all know. Kids will live up or down to what they hear you say about them. If a kid hears, "This little girl is sweet, but she probably won't be very good in school, she just doesn't have the smarts," odds are she won't be that great. And she will not think of herself as smart. The more they hear it, the higher the chance they won't succeed.
While I was in grad school I was exposed to a great book, "What to Say When You Talk to Yourself" by Shad Helmstetter/ It helped me understand more about how the concept actually works and how it is even more powerful for ourselves.
And tomorrow, I will have a great example of the truth of this principle. Tomorrow, I walk in the Walk From Obesity at Concord Mills, Concord, NC. I care about this cause because I have dropped 180 pounds in the past three years, through diet, exercise, and gastric bypass (Roux en Y with Fobi Band). But the actually journey began a couple of years before that, when I started using self talk to change my self image to be at 180 pounds (rather than the 423 that I was at when I began). I still have 60 pounds to go, but I *know* that I would not be where I am if I had not changed my self image through influencing my self fulfilling prophecy.
So I encourage you to get the book and use this to make your life more enjoyable!
To your personal success!
Robin

Fantastic New Book!

Wow! I finished "The Go-Giver" (Burg and Mann) yesterday morning and was blown away. A really, really, really, quick read, and full of impact. It seems to describe my philosophy so well. In a nutshell, it's all about giving. And if you give enough, the world makes sure you get enough! It discusses personal value and compensation, being influential, being authentic, and how it all comes full circle. If you haven't read it, you are missing out on something huge! Check it out and let me know what you thought!
To being a true success!
Robin

What do you sell, how can you sell more?

Phil Johnson posted a great question on LinkedIn today - What are you selling and how can you sell more? - He really made me think and here's what I said:
Nicely put!
"What are you selling?"
the product can be a specific item, a service, or yourself (if you are looking for employment).

"How can you sell more?"
In all cases you are best served to find the need of the prospective buyer/employer and then realistically see if your product meets that need. I believe it was Andrew Carnegie who said that when you help enough others get what they want, you will get what you want. So finding what others want and helping them get it is what will help you sell more.
It's simple, almost deceptively so.
What I do is help individuals and companies to realize their income and leadership potentials. Once I know what they want, I help them find paths to achieve it. One of my major tools is a line of gift and incentive products that help their customers and friends to get *what* they want. And so it goes. . .
It's simple, not necessarily easy, tho!

Do it yourself!

Just Sell has a quote today that is awesome! "There is no path. The path is made by walking." Antonio Machado (1875-1939) Spanish poet.

That is so true. All the great achievements come because someone just did it, and continued to do it, till it became reality. They may have followed where one or two went before, but not on the beaten path, instead, on the road less taken. Never did the great successes come from doing the exact thing that many had done who had come before.

For me, that means coming up with unique ideas to help my friends and customers succeed. Life is all about helping others. And if I can do that and be creative (or at least as creative as I have the ability to be! LOL) then that's a blast.

One of my favorite poems is The Road Less Taken, and it was one of my Mom's too.

So today, take action, start walking, and make a path for others!

Complete Attentiveness (2 day challenge)

I subscribe to "Just Sell" and they had the best post. I have copied it in it's entirety here:

complete attentiveness (another 2 day challenge)
Beginning at the top of the next hour and through the next 48, challenge yourself (and your team)...When you begin a discussion with a customer, prospect, or colleague, give that individual your complete attention until the issue at hand has been fully addressed. Every single discussion. Every single interaction. The entire 48-hour period.
Not only will it help you maximize your time by minimizing miscommunication, but also it'll send the right message. Don't let a phone call interrupt an in-person conversation. Don't let your email distract you from a phone call. Don't let a passerby, instant messenger, or BlackBerry take your attention away from someone standing right in front of you (or on the phone).
Sales is an interpersonal profession. Anything less than your full attention sends a message of arrogance - a message of condescension - a message of which no one (including ourselves) enjoys being on the receiving end (and certainly not when we're the prospect or customer).
For those who lead a team, set the example. Give your attention today, and every day, to one person at a time – the person in front of you (on the phone or not) - and Just Sell®.

To be sure you're giving your complete attention to those with whom you interact...
- Maintain eye contact and face the person.
- Acknowledge key points with a nod, smile or brief comment ("I see" or "I understand").
- Avoid interrupting and wait for the person to pause fully before asking questions to clarify. Ask only to better understand and avoid unrelated questions that can disrupt the person's train of thought.
- Dismiss distractions and acknowledge phones, email, instant messengers, and other people following the current interaction.
- Confirm understanding by rephrasing pertinent discussion issues.

Pretty awesome stuff, huh?

Get going!

This week has been incredible. I've had the priviledge of helping several small businesses develop plans and activities for growth. This includes a local retail business, a dental practice looking for more dentists and possibly some people (dentists or not) to invest in the practice, and a phenomenal photographer looking for marketing ideas. Also counseled several individuals who want to develop their leadership and income potential.

And the Enviro-Tek MMG, a group of amazing professionals who are creating a unique business model to help midsize manufacturers with their development challenges. It's a great honor to be included in this group. And it is absolutely causing my mind to expand in huge ways.

Who we are five years from now is based solely on the books we read and the people with whom we associate. Make sure you get hooked up with the best, and then be around them as much as you can!

Make it a great one!
Robin

Rain? no way!

Today, nothing so deep, just an observation of the weather and how it impacts me. It's raining! And has been off and on since yesterday. In the past, pd (pre-drought), the weather might have dampened my spirits (yup, pun intended). But I find it refreshing now. Interesting how our non-planned and non-monitored emotions can change based on our experiences.
Other things can impact mood too. How someone else is behaving, not doing something I had planned (and so letting myself down), a song, a smell, all kinds of things.
Today I resolve to not let those inanimate things make a difference in my life. I'm in control.
How about you?

What do you bring to the table?

Had a question from some business associates yesterday. We are putting together a businesss concept and wanted to know what each of us involved brings in terms of expertise and skills. In this journey of self discovery (marvelously directed by Jodi Kahr at Right Management!) I am looking at myself in a more structured way. Organization, creativity, vision, optimism, the ability to analyze the issues and develop a solution, the ability to get others on board and excited about the process, the ability to develop the path and keep the team on track.
Yesterday I used all of these to help a local business establish a plan to increase traffic. I'll report on how it goes. I'd love to hear what you bring to your tables. Celebrate yourself today, and celebrate others!

Who made a difference for you?

Thinking about the people who have made a difference in my life, I find a common thread. My parents, my business coaches, brothers and sisters, in-laws, significant managers, others in the family. They all believed I was more than capable of doing something special, at least in one area of my life. And they told me so. Often. I never doubted how they thought of me.

When I think of them all, the greatest gift they gave me was to believe in myself. And it has shown up in interesting ways. Going to law school in my late 30s while working full time, no problem. Starting up and running several successful businesses over the years, done deal. Having an incredible marriage because we work at it and because I believed I was worthy of being married to such an incredible man; it's a given.

The most important part, I am obligated to pass it forward. If you notice that I'm not, will you remind me please? Thanks!

Giving - Sowing the Seeds

In all major faith paths, there is a concept of sowing the seed to get the harvest, you have to give to get, what you send out will come back to you multiplied, etc. It makes sense. And I've seen it work in my own life and the lives of those I love, many times over.
Why does this phenomenon happen? Is it that our Creator wired us this way so that what we dwell on in our hearts and in our minds is what we see come to fruition? Or is it just that we are a reflection of the natural law of the field?
I strive every day to do better in sowing the good seeds in all my life. To borrow from the Confiteor, "In my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I fail to do."
Does this principle work for you? And why do you think it works this way?
Blessings on your sowing.
Robin

Strength or Weakness?

So today I wonder, which is better - spending your time emphasizing your strengths, or shoring up your weaknesses? Seems to me that using your time on your weaknesses will at best make you mediocre across the board. You won't be optimizing your potential, and will only be functioning at half speed.