Everyone should carry a mirror

I think at birth we should all be given a mirror; a mirror that we are to carry with us every day until the day I die. The mirror will have two purposes:

1. The first purpose is simple. Every time you are in the vicinity of someone who begins to criticize or critique someone or something it should be your obligation to take out that mirror and hold it up in front of that person's face; reminding him or her that he or she is not perfect and probably guilty of the same thing. Let's face it, you cannot all be Boss, Employee or Parent of the Year.
2. The second purpose is even simpler: To make sure you always look your best.

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The Chinese even have restaurant waiting solved!

I've been in NYC the last two days; last night I had dinner with a friend who just happened to be in NY as well. I was craving Chinese food, so we headed to Chinatown. Lots of choices; not really sure which one was best; although it is Chinatown you would think they are all good. So we asked someone on the street which was their favorite. Green Bo.

People were waiting in the street to get in to Green Bo; which to me looked like a Chinese take-out with seats. They asked us how many. We told them two. They didn't want our name. About two minutes later we were summoned from the street and were told to be seated at a table for six. Ellen looked at them puzzled. They motioned with their hands to go sit down. We sat. Four people were seated with us. Two other couples. At first it was odd, but then I thought why not?

So there we were three couples having dinner separately but together and nobody seemed to mind.

Once again the Chinese are showing us how to run a business. I think I'll mention the idea to my friends who own a restaurant in CT. I'm sure the uptight clientele won't find it amusing, fun or acceptable.

Take Your Dog To Work Day

Everyday is Take Your Dogs To Work Day For Me - well every day I am not traveling.

And when I am not traveling I take some time out of my day to go have a bit of fun; to break the monotony; to rejuvenate my brain.

Here is what I did the other day......................



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Special thanks to my colleague and friend Gail Hand for her amazing video abilities.

A lesson from Michael Phelps on Being A Success

Did you see Michael Phelps' reaction when he broke the record for most Gold Medals ever by an Olympian? Did you see it it? His reaction was amazing!

His reaction: He looked at the board displaying the results, took his cap and goggles off and stood in the pool catching his breath. That is it. He then got out of the pool and walked away. He had another race in less than an hour.

That was it. No jumping up and down. No screaming and yelling. No intervews. He walked away. He still had work to do.

And that is what I call "A SUCCESS"; not needing that pat on the back; not needing the recognition from your fans and peers; not needing recognition no matter how small or great your contribution.

To me the successful people in any organization are the ones who just keep delivering; they don't look for recognition and they don't sit around airing their list of accomplishments. They just continue to move forward getting the job done.

Michael Phelps got the job done yesterday; for his team, for his country and for himself. You would have never known it when he pulled off his cap and goggles and tossed them ever so gently up onto the pool deck.

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Self Help Groups??????

I don't get it......................

Why are there self-help groups? Shouldn't it be called group help groups?

If it is truly self-help, you wouldn't need a group; you only need yourself; which is why I wrote my book The Only Self-Help Book You'll Ever Need; to show people they don't need groups, expensive seminars and DVD/mp3 programs. They no longer need to buy hype and promises.

They need something much closer to home - themselves; that's all.

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Do you have your copy of Rich DiGirolamo's Only Self Help Book You'll Ever Need? It's a fun look at self-help with great thoughts and exercises to stimulate your thinking.

Everything was great except................

I was entertaining yesterday; professional colleagues. And it was an international event, as we had some colleagues from The Netherlands join us.

So Hans comes out of the bathroom and stops to talk to me in the kitchen. He is telling me what a lovely home I have, but this is killing the Feng Shui. This meaning my knife holder below:



I chuckled. This knife holder was a gift from a relative; and here is what I have found; people either like it or they are horrified. I think Hans liked it (and I really liked Hans and his lovely wife); I also saw the irony that he chose the word "killing"the Feng Shui.

But where was I and what was the point? Oh wait.................... Have you ever told someone they did a great job...........except? Has anyone ever given you a complement only to end with a criticism? Sucks, right?

Try using the word unusual? Hmmm......well that is unusual? I have found it does several things, removes any defensive attitude, creates for conversation, and keeps me out of trouble.

Unusual. Try incorporating it into your vocabulary next time you're about to criticize someone or something.

And speaking of Feng Shui and something unusual.......................

Do you have a home office? A friend/colleague of mine is offering to help you make that space someplace you look forward to being - and she is doing it for free. I bought Linda's services a few years ago and after doing a little Feng Shui of my office I had one of the most productive work periods in a long time. What she is offering is not about Feng Shui, but something much cooler - and again it is Free; so check out what Linda Varone is offering by clicking here. I am planning on being there!

Detailed instructions on bus riding

I don't often travel by bus, but in the past 3 months I have used the bus several times; it was more convenient than plane travel and not much longer in time. It also gave me a chance to catch up on some pleasure reading.

So pulling out of the Port Authority yesterday the bus driver gave us what I thought at one point was going to be a keynote address. Now basically he told us the following:

• What time to expect arriving at our locations; and reminded us that he had no control over the weather or traffic
• Stay off the damn cell phone unless it is an emergency
• If it is too hot or too cold let him know and we will operate as a democracy and take a vote to determine what to do
• How to use the lavatory so as not to fall down into the tank
• He encouraged us to commandeer the seat next to us as the bus was only half-full

Was this really happening?

Here I was on a bus ride, being told what to expect from my ride and how to enhance my experience. On a bus? Who would have thought I would have been given a five minute speech upon taking a seat on a bus?

Maybe some bigger businesses need to take a look at this enhancing the customer experience thing.

All in all it was a pleasurable ride. I ate my lunch and read a book - The Power of Nice.

My only suggestion.............. know your audience and use interpreters. It was apparent that many did not understand the cell phone use rule as I listened to phone calls in everything from Spanish to Jive. Yes, Jive. The last time I heard Jive was in one of those Airplane comedy movies.

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