I Seek Happiness -
"I want Happiness..." the repetitive lyrics of a favorite song of mine. "Pursuit of Happyness" title of a recent favorite movie of mine. Happiness is sought by all. At an early age I figured out that happiness depended to a large degree on myself. Kind of like a game you play. In the game of happiness you choose the rules.
You choose "what" has to happen to be happy. Some of us make it to hard to win. Some of us require a so much to happen before we can feel happy, that we rarely feel it. I've seen some people have rules set up like this: to be happy this has to happen...
1)lots of money, 2)no problems, 3) no hard work, 4) perfect lover, 5)complaint coworkers, 6)everything goes according to plan....
No wonder some people are never happy. On the flip side here are some of my rules for happiness:
1)being alive, 2) awareness of infinite possibilities in the present, 3) self improvement, 4) deep breathing, 5)learning something new...
In my world happiness is easy...because I make it like that. Unfortunately many of us accept rules from friends, tv, movies, parents, etc., instead of choosing our own. Some of us have become experts at consciously diverting our attention from all the good and all the potential and finding or making up dramatically tragic sorrows.
The second thing I mentioned regarding possiblities of the present is probably the biggest deal for me. Something I adopted from Einstein. Its the awareness of expectation. Of embracing the unknown with optimism. Instead of repelling the unknown with pessimism. Its true that any little occurence in your life can transform everything instantly. Its been true for many individuals. Mark Cuban, said in an interview in Selling Power, that he would read everything he could get his hands on. To him he justified doing so because he realized that any minute distinction made in the knowledge he encountered could mean the difference between him "making it" or not. This is the type of expectation that enchants any ordinary moment with potential, expectation, or excitement.
Think about it. You can meet someone in 1hr. that completely changes your life. You can pick up a book right now that opens a new dimension of possibilities for you. You can listen to a song that inspires a dormant passion in your heart. Every moment erupts with potential to transform your life. If you think about it like that then how can anyone ever be bored? How can you be sad? Its almost impossible.
Happiness is not a quantity. Its not limited, or scarce. Its infinite and available to appease your whims at any moment. Enjoy your happiness...
Angel Armendariz
Showing posts with label winning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winning. Show all posts
Friday, October 5, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Iran President - Sales Opportunity Missed?
Iran President - Sales Opportunity Missed?
Category: News and Politics
Big hoopla over the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his speech at Columbia University. He seems a little different. He doubts some happenings such as the holocaust, and the validity of Al Queda's role in 911. So why is he over here speaking at an Ivy League University?
Well, he has a lot to say apparently. Many people protested his arrival and scheduled speech, siting many valid reasons. My take is this....what is our objective? If our objective is to win something then let him speak. If we want to win understanding of our perspective let him speak. If we want to win a war...let him speak. If we want to win an ally let him speak.
If on the other hand we don't want to win anything then don't let him speak. Hard as it may be to set beliefs and emotions aside, to win anything a person or a country must listen, and subordinate resistant emotions and beliefs. A simple strategy we should've learned in grade school most educated adults still struggle with. If "we" are right or "true" then no matter who speaks or what they speak about it will not eliminate the "truth." So we defend something that cannot be destroyed?
Often, we see the same debacle occurring in most of our interactions. In a relationship we want to be understood; we want to feel important and listened to. So in a relationship instead of using a strategy to win and get what we want, we instead use a horrible strategy, and worse keep repeating it with no thought about changing what we're doing. Usually it will consist of not communicating with your partner...and sometimes using mind reading as a tactic. If I want to be listened to then I must listen. If I want to be understood, I must first seek to understand. By giving what I want; I will get all that I want.
In sales the same theme plays out. The incompetent sales person "sells" without first understanding or listening to the buyer. If I want the buyer to listen and to buy; then I must listen first. We all want to win; we all want to be understood and listened to. So lets use a strategy that works. Listen first...understand first...next time you meet someone that you want to see your view...understand theirs first...listen attentively and with curiosity.
We spend billions on war strategies and fancy CRM sales gizmo's and we can easily save money and win by being patient and using effective diplomatic, sales, negotiative, and persuasive strategies. Keep the end in mind...focus not on mood or emotion, but strategy to manifest the desired outcome.
Angel Armendariz
Category: News and Politics
Big hoopla over the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his speech at Columbia University. He seems a little different. He doubts some happenings such as the holocaust, and the validity of Al Queda's role in 911. So why is he over here speaking at an Ivy League University?
Well, he has a lot to say apparently. Many people protested his arrival and scheduled speech, siting many valid reasons. My take is this....what is our objective? If our objective is to win something then let him speak. If we want to win understanding of our perspective let him speak. If we want to win a war...let him speak. If we want to win an ally let him speak.
If on the other hand we don't want to win anything then don't let him speak. Hard as it may be to set beliefs and emotions aside, to win anything a person or a country must listen, and subordinate resistant emotions and beliefs. A simple strategy we should've learned in grade school most educated adults still struggle with. If "we" are right or "true" then no matter who speaks or what they speak about it will not eliminate the "truth." So we defend something that cannot be destroyed?
Often, we see the same debacle occurring in most of our interactions. In a relationship we want to be understood; we want to feel important and listened to. So in a relationship instead of using a strategy to win and get what we want, we instead use a horrible strategy, and worse keep repeating it with no thought about changing what we're doing. Usually it will consist of not communicating with your partner...and sometimes using mind reading as a tactic. If I want to be listened to then I must listen. If I want to be understood, I must first seek to understand. By giving what I want; I will get all that I want.
In sales the same theme plays out. The incompetent sales person "sells" without first understanding or listening to the buyer. If I want the buyer to listen and to buy; then I must listen first. We all want to win; we all want to be understood and listened to. So lets use a strategy that works. Listen first...understand first...next time you meet someone that you want to see your view...understand theirs first...listen attentively and with curiosity.
We spend billions on war strategies and fancy CRM sales gizmo's and we can easily save money and win by being patient and using effective diplomatic, sales, negotiative, and persuasive strategies. Keep the end in mind...focus not on mood or emotion, but strategy to manifest the desired outcome.
Angel Armendariz
Monday, September 17, 2007
Tom Brady and Your Harvest
Tom Brady and Your Harvest...
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes
Tom Brady's Patriots crushed the San Diego Chargers last night. John Madden, who was announcing the game referred to Brady as "making it look so easy." He does make it look easy. Brady has a confidence that seems to be above any challenge. What's interesting is that when they interviewed Randy Moss, he mentioned that he always sees Brady sweating, and he seems to work harder than anyone else. The corollary there is amazing. Similar observation have been made of Steve Nash - 2 time MVP of the NBA.
During a conversation I had earlier today, I was speaking to a close friend about cultivating excellence. I mentioned Brady, for the reason that he was drafted in the 6th round, and now has several NFL championships.
Cultivation is the essence of any highly effective skill. Cultivation means preparation, practice, and nurturing of the fundamental principles that produce the desired result. This consistency is seen in high performers. J. Paul Getty (richest man in the world early 1900's) once said:
"The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might and force of habit. he must be quick to break those habits that can break him - and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires."
The "natural" or the "gifted" individual is made...anything can be cultivated...the human potential is unlimited. Those who seek to see limits will find them and be enslaved by them. Wayne Dyer said it best, "Nobody knows enough to be a pessimist."
Cultivate something worth reaping...this requires patience...delay of the end result...this also requires faith, that is, faith in knowing that you will reap that which you sow. Many times we want the reap with out the sow, lol. The good thing is that we can fall in love with both the reap and the sow...who says that we can only enjoy the end? Enjoy the journey, the rest stops, the side roads, and the multiple destinations...
Angel Armendariz
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes
Tom Brady's Patriots crushed the San Diego Chargers last night. John Madden, who was announcing the game referred to Brady as "making it look so easy." He does make it look easy. Brady has a confidence that seems to be above any challenge. What's interesting is that when they interviewed Randy Moss, he mentioned that he always sees Brady sweating, and he seems to work harder than anyone else. The corollary there is amazing. Similar observation have been made of Steve Nash - 2 time MVP of the NBA.
During a conversation I had earlier today, I was speaking to a close friend about cultivating excellence. I mentioned Brady, for the reason that he was drafted in the 6th round, and now has several NFL championships.
Cultivation is the essence of any highly effective skill. Cultivation means preparation, practice, and nurturing of the fundamental principles that produce the desired result. This consistency is seen in high performers. J. Paul Getty (richest man in the world early 1900's) once said:
"The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might and force of habit. he must be quick to break those habits that can break him - and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires."
The "natural" or the "gifted" individual is made...anything can be cultivated...the human potential is unlimited. Those who seek to see limits will find them and be enslaved by them. Wayne Dyer said it best, "Nobody knows enough to be a pessimist."
Cultivate something worth reaping...this requires patience...delay of the end result...this also requires faith, that is, faith in knowing that you will reap that which you sow. Many times we want the reap with out the sow, lol. The good thing is that we can fall in love with both the reap and the sow...who says that we can only enjoy the end? Enjoy the journey, the rest stops, the side roads, and the multiple destinations...
Angel Armendariz
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