A while back I started to talk about developing a positive attitude –
Your Ya-ttitude. I think we have reached a point where we should start to set up a few anchor points that will start you on your way. I know that regardless of what our ultimate goals are finding different ways to make us shine is of paramount importance to us all, so let’s get going!
Keeping it simple:
I just want to make it clear to everyone reading that I am AS human as the rest of you and I too have days that are less than perfect (notice how I try to stay away fro saying or having “bad” days – if you can keep those REAL negative words out of your vocabulary and try to make an effort to turn those into positive statements – you are well on your way to being a positive person). I know and you know that “shit” happens. You need to realize that when these “not so positive” happenings enter your life it is a great opportunity for you to work on and test out your newly created, or “getting better everyday” Ya-ttitude. It is a great chance for you to get that shiny new you and that shiny new Ya-ttitude working for the betterment of YOU!
I think we are going to start this day with a few easy-to-do but OH so life changing skills for you to acquire, or embellish. They are so easy that you can get 2 of the first 3 sent to you every day in your email, and all you have to do is read them; nope I have no intention of spamming you or even asking you to sign up for a newsletter (not yet anyway – I have not gotten that far – Where is Melissa when you need her J ) For now I want you to do a few things for yourself and by yourself – build up that “go-getter” in you and really start a foundation for that Ya-ttitude that will ultimately bring you to your success!
Something I read:
This reminds me of a story related to those of us who spend some of our free time reading in an area of personal interest. It has been stated that if you read in an area of your interest for thirty minutes a day, within three years you will be known in your community. Add another two years to make five years all the while reading thirty minutes per day in the same area of interest, and you will be know nationally. Finally, add just two more years to total seven, and by reading just thirty minutes a day in this same area, you will be known internationally in this specialized field.
Why is this so?First of all, 98% of individuals do not have the self-discipline to read just thirty minutes a day and even more so, 98% of the people cannot stick with or determine a definite area of interest that they want to hitch their star to for peak performance.
I want you all to start your first mission(s) (there is no turning back now – so don’t even think about clicking off or going somewhere else) with these three simple things.
Word of the Day:
Dictionary.com: I want to you join dictionary.com’sword of the day email. If you click that link here it will take you straight to the sign up page.
Your brand-new word-of-the-day is one of the easiest ways to get a positive jolt every morning. I know what you’re thinking.
Corny, cheesy, this is stupid and way too simple; try me on this one, soon you will be in the habit of looking for these in your mail box every morning and the one day that you miss one – just watch how you react to it and watch as you go to the site and check your mail to see why it was missed. This is a great way to develop your learning skills – while getting a pure boost of vocabulary! Two great positive actions that will set you on the way to that Ya-ttitudeyou desire.
Remember: If you want to be successful – you need to look and SOUND successful!
Motivational Quotes:
Here are two addresses you can use to get yourself a motivational quote of the day sent to you. The first one is from a pretty cool blog I found on wordpress. You will get a motivational quote a day from one of the Neato’s and sometimes a little “quipish” humor or insight to go with it. The second is just a generic site that will email you similar quotes. I like the blog – so I have been using it most recently but there are many places to get this sent to you. Pick one of these two and make your life quick and easy – no “Procrastinational” web searches please!
http://theneatos.wordpress.com/
http://www.daily-inspirational-quotes.com/indexb.html
I figured while you were busy thinking cheesy and corny, I wanted to add this to your list.
Get ‘em, Read ‘em and Repeat ‘em!
Even better cut and paste them into a word document, make them all pretty-like and pass them around to your friends, family and coworkers. Ya! They may think you’re a bit crazy* at first – but similar to the missing dictionary.com email just watch how they come looking for you when you miss a day of giving them the quote! This is quite addictive – once the cheese-factor your feeling wears off.
*This reaction from friends and family or even coworkers is something we need to delve deeper into. People will always have reactions to you – look for the positives – ignore the negative ones!
Reading is Fundamental:
Read, read, read, read and did I mention that you should read? If you start your day with fifteen minutes of reading – spend another 30-45mins during the day reading just do some quick math and think of all the knowledge you will acquire.
Try this:
I know all of you remember the “Reading is Fundamental” commercials on ABC Saturday Morning Television – and if you don’t click here for a refresher course – or some new original learning. Man were they right! But it is not just reading – it is very important for you to understand that the material you are reading plays a huge role in your attitude.
STOP READING THE NEWSPAPER!
And Watching the News
I cannot say this loud enough! There is no positive gain (‘cept the Sports section and the crossword – but that’s me / or if there is a benefit to your job/work). We all know that everything the news writers and the T.V. News Reporter does is put in a negative light, all the news that’s fit to print is rarely positive and almost always pushes the negative-envelope. Same goes for watching the news on T.V. STOP!
Fill that half hour with some reading – positive reading!
Sixty quality minutes added to you day. Wow, so easy! Now think about this: 1 hour a day – 7 hours a week – That translates into over 15 days of quality learning and positive power added to your life – amazing how that stuff adds up.
So that is all easy enough isn’t it? C’mon You know it is! Creating your new Ya-ttitude is all about being easy – things that should come natural and WILL come natural!
If you want some direction as to what you should be reading please drop me a note. I will be more than happy to give you some pointers. I hope to have up a section here shortly on the books I recommend and the books I am reading and the books we should all read!
Benny!
; ?>)
April 9th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I think what you are doing here is great. To put people in a positive direction. A+ work you have here I will definitely be back to read some more. Plus I have added you to my blogroll.
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Thanks for the props -
I like what I am reading on your blog as well -
Stay tuned for the next mission - Just as easy - more fun - and a way to spread to Ya-ttitude!
Ben
April 9th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I completely stopped watching the news and reading the paper a little over a year ago. I am still up on current events by doing a quick perusal of news on the web but don’t get all the negative junk. Tim Sanders recommends this as well. Newspapers, magazines, and TV are like eating celery for every meal. You chew but get no sustenance. Books are great because you can choose to read something that is a light snack or a Thanksgiving dinner, but you get sustenance.
Obviously I would love to see your book recommendations but a cool idea I think would also be to have “the ya-ttitude reader bookshelf” where readers can add titles of their favorite reads. Eventually they could be filtered by category.
Either way, keep up the good work! Yah for a new ya-ttitude!
April 9th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Hey Kevin - Congrats again on the Baby Girl Sturm - did she get a name yet?
I love the readers bookshelf idea - Hey Melissa - Where are you? You getting this? Next Idea - Readers Bookshelf!
I have also found the quick snippets on the web as a great source for the news I want - and a great way to filter out the crap.
The other great tool that a good read can be - is inspiration! I find that when I have a creative block of any sort - I will grab a good book - maybe one I have read - or one in the stack I received as Christmas gifts that I am working my way through and just read - read - read.
Thanks Kevin!
Ben
April 9th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Benny,
I agree with your insights. What’s interesting is that today’s afternoon I had a client whom I was encouraging to read at least one book a month and he kept telling me how he doesn’t like reading.
I suggested that he sets a timer for 15 minutes and once it goes off, he stops. This he felt was affordable. What I found fascinating is that he intimated to me that he can read a whole newspaper from cover to cover and yet over 90% of what’s in news papers is negative.
For those who may find 30 minutes daunting, I suggest you start with 15 minutes. That will translate in at least a book per month.
Here are some of my top picks of what should be on every reader’s book shelf:
Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller–Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
The Alchemist
Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence
Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed
The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
The 11th Element: The Key to Unlocking Your Master Blueprint for Wealth and Success
The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham
The Secret
Awaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
The Magic of Thinking Big
As A Man Thinketh
That should get you going. For now, open that book and invest 15-30 minutes. Your life may as well depend on it.
By the way there are some people who find listening to audios easier than reading. If that describes you, then buy audio books instead. If you spend 2 hours in traffic per day, that translates into 14 hours a week. Can you imagine how much quality input that would be if all that was educational?
In fact, even though I am an avid reader, I make sure I turn traffic time into mental profit.
Ethan Musolini
April 9th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I highlighted the book choices of yours with Amazon links for people who may want to look these up. I would start my collection with Hill’s Think and Grow Rich – and when you’re done there – shoot me an email and I will point you in other directions!
I love just about every book on your list. Though I have some issues with The Secret and The Law of Attraction - - no coincidence there. And I will be definitely getting into the shortfalls of The Secret. If you can read it and apply some of the things we will be working on – then it is a good read - but it will never be a great read – in my opinion.
I have many others that are great reads and they need not fall into these categories. Actually ANYTHING by Napoleon Hill is a MUST READ - No matter what your life’s goals are - and even more important if you have not set up your life’s goals.
But stay tuned - because there are many other GREAT READS that do not fall anywhere near these categories - and will give you a broader set of subject material to work with…
I am also not the biggest fan of audio books. I like my paper books - I can jot down notes, write on the margin, and in general stop and think things that just gave me an AHA! But If I am not at the wheel - then an audio book works.
Benny
April 9th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Benny,
I like the concept of reading BUT I like watching the news though. We’ve got to learn and know what is going on around you.
Looking forward to see the books that you recommend.
Loved the homepage. Have to take a tour so see ya…
Best,
K
April 9th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Kajal - Your taking a tour?
BTW: In response to your need to keep up on what is going on around you comment - Kevin had the ultimate answer…
“I am still up on current events by doing a quick perusal of news on the web but don’t get all the negative junk. Tim Sanders recommends this as well. Newspapers, magazines, and TV are like eating celery for every meal. You chew but get no sustenance.”
I get all I need - by doing a quick peek at Yahoo in the morning.
What is keeping up with current events in the world doing for you and your future success and positive attitude?
Unless you are a newscaster or reporter - odds are real good it is all negative and not helping your Ya-ttitude at all!
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I just received this from Kajal…
Thanks Benny for the reply.
You’ve got me thinking…how is news helping me in my
future success and my attitude. I really don’t have an
answer and now I realise what I am doing with my time.
Thanks for the question!
Kajal
April 11th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Reading the newspaper and watching shows like CNN is an addiction for many people. I was addicted so I know.
One day I realized, even if I want to know what’s going on, do I need much more than the headlines? And the answer is no. Developing a practice of active reading has been very helpful to me. What are you reading a particular article for?
With so many books and articles competing for my attention, just being conscious of why I’m choosing to read (or watch ) something has really helped weed out a lot of the negative time wasters.
If you like the TV get a DVR and watch the news with a time delay. You can know what happened today in less than 10 mins.
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April 11th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
In todays digital world - ten minutes is even a waste of time. You can get all you need with a quick look out the window (weather) and a quick scan of yahoo/google/msn headlines. I think if I spend more than two to three minutes on the news in any given day - its way too much. Now sports is another issue - but that is part of MY 1/3 of the day - remember - all work and no play makes for one boring guy/girl!
There is just so much GREAT STUFF THAT you have not read yet - why read the trash - or the negatives - read and abosrb the positive - and soon you will be producing the positive!
Ben
July 26th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Fully agreed Ben… “You are what you read! ” Body health came from mental health and what you read impact on your mental health.
Great write here. Thanks for sharing & Happy Weekend.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Reading is a definite fundamental. You need to keep learning everyday. I actually make it a point to learn something new each and every day!
July 26th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I have received a new word for the day from “Doctor Dictionary” and a positive quote of the day from “Positive Press” for several years now. I try hard to have a positive attitude. I do my best to live by the ‘golden rule’….if I don’t have something nice to say - I keep my mouth shut.
This is a great post!
July 26th, 2008 at 7:40 am
I agree Donna.
If I do not have anything good to say I want my mouth shut tight against the “comedic influence” of the wise-ass negative comment. In life it is a fine line we walk between being accepted (or thinking we are) by blasting or gossiping about another person (- never to realize that if we are doing it - what makes us think that no one would do it to us?) and taking the high road. Be Positive and you get positive!
July 26th, 2008 at 9:26 am
If you stop reading the paper and the watching the TV you will be better off. Disconnect your TV and cancel your cable and you’ll save money and find that you have more time to do things like read, organize your house, etc.. things that will improve your life. It’s a good move..
July 26th, 2008 at 9:44 am
If I kill my cable and disconnect my TV - I will never get to watch another N.Y. Mets game - and realistically speaking - That is just never going to happen. I never said that you need to kill modern technology - Just eliminate the repetitious negatives. No reason to spend hours on FOX, CNN, etc. You can get what you need to know what is going on in snippets and live a great life.
July 26th, 2008 at 10:59 am
In this “information age” we are being bombarded with so much to process that unless we do as you suggest and take care of ourselves we easily become fragmented and non-productive.
I have become increasingly more vigilant about how much I allow through my eye gate and ear gate and I monitor my emotional responses as well. Your program dovetails with my own and I find all your tips to be excellent. This time I particularly twigged to your reading tips and I have written them on a 3″ by 5″ index card and pinned them to my bulletin board by my computer.
It’s a crying shame that we aren’t all issued with a “user’s manual” for establishing the habits that protect and preserve our health, empower us and result in success and happiness. But the truth is that we need to fill our own tool boxes with instruction manuals and tools. Thanks so much for filling in this gap and helping us chart a course towards successful living.
Best wishes for better living blogging and better blogging too.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Loved the article. Much of what you recommend I am all ready doing.
Recently I turned off my car radio and haven’t turned it back on. Too much stuff coming at you. Forget the news you’re right. Daily quotes, well I do a newsletter every week day on quotes. Reading… I have an enormous appetite for reading… and for the last two years on the subject of self-development and spirituality.
I thought I was the only one who knew about the word of the day!
My best suggestion to everyone: SLOW DOWN!
Great reading your article.
Nick
September 9th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I do love what you have to say! I am going to try try try to change some things in my attitude.
October 24th, 2008 at 3:05 am
hey i really like your site and have been looking it over. i just started blogging and want to make websites and i would really value your opinion.
if you could maybe check mine out and give me a little advice on where to go with my style of blogging id really appreciate it.
thanks and cant wait to read more of your posts!