Never used ‘em. Not likely to start now.

OK, so I just lied a little bit. (Is that anything like being a little bit pregnant?) I really didn’t mean to. (Hmmm, that comment could be applicable to the pregnant thing too but actually I was referring to my lying.)

I guess the one positive affirmation that I commonly use is not so much a phrase that I repeat or think about periodically throughout the day – it’s more like an answer to a question. The question? “How ya doin’?”

My answer will likely be “Super! And you?” Once in a while it may slip to “Really good!” and occasionally it will pop up to “Fantastic!” but most of the time I cruise through the day at a “super” level. Do I mean it? Well, of course I do. I wouldn’t lie about something like that. And no, I wasn’t always “super” – but many years ago I started saying it anyway because I had heard that if you start thinking more positively your life will be better. So I tried it and it worked – well, sort of. Once I figured out – with help naturally – that I really had to do something to make some changes in my life so that it would be “super” – it became “super”. I’m still doing things and making changes so that I can be “double super”. I think that probably equates to somewhere close to “fantastic”.

So I guess when you get right down to it, I do use a positive affirmation – along with positively oriented actions to do those things I want to do. But that’s it. That’s the only positive affirmation I use!

OK, except for maybe another exception that I just thought of. When I get out of bed in the morning and am having my first cup of coffee, I do think about what a great day it is (yes, no matter what the weather is or what I need to do that day) and how great it is to be alive and to be able to experience just living. I think about that for awhile and then I chat with my spiritual director and say “thanks” for allowing me to be me and permitting me to have the opportunity to learn and enjoy this great creation. Then I usually have another cup of coffee and think about this a little more as I make plans for doing those things I believe I should do during the day. But that’s it. That’s the only other positive affirmation I use!

Well, maybe except for the times that I experience something really neat during the day. Like meeting someone new – or just getting to know an old friend a little better. Or like seeing a situation develop and realizing that the odds of it happening just coincidentally would be totally astronomical. Or like noticing the strange little plant that popped up just outside of the flower bed has really cool leaf markings. Or like feeling the morning dew on my bare feet as I walk across the front lawn. Or – well, you get the idea. But since I’m “fessing up” here, I know I have a pile of good, positive thoughts at these times and I suppose you could say these would be a type of positive affirmation. But that’s it. Those are the only other positive affirmations I use!

Well, maybe except for when I’m getting ready for bed and I take a few minutes to think back on my day and all the really good things I’ve seen and experienced and I take just a minute to thank my master teacher for giving me the opportunity to enjoy another day. I guess you could consider that to be a type of positive affirmation.

But that’s it. That’s the only other positive affirmation I use! I just don’t believe in ‘em…

About The Author Gene, through NuPathz.com, provides an easy reading self-help blog, articles and links along with affordable books and materials written to help folks find the road to a more enjoyable lifestyle, to pass on some of life’s “secrets for survival” in a chaotic world & offer a few smiles along the way. It’s a down-to-earth, simple approach to discovering a better life. You can visit Gene at http://www.nupathz.com/ gene@nupathz.com

This article is based on the following book:
Mind Your Own Business
A Mavericks Guide to Business, Leadership and Life
Doubleday & Company, Inc., 2003
ISBN 0-385-50959-6
208 pages

A maverick is an independent person who will not go along with the other members of a group (Oxford ESL Dictionary). This book provides priceless stories and insights from a maverick of the business world; an exemplary business leader who prefers not to follow orthodox beliefs in business, nor be eaten by the hyped up ideas of the present. Instead, he chooses the course of action that is appropriate for the changing times.

The Mavericks Way: New Old Thing

What is effective? This is the question answered by the maverick. He reconciles the good things from both the Old and New times, and focuses on what is really effective in confronting the challenges of 21st century business dealings.

A maverick thinks outside of the bed, knows that it pays to be daring, does not allow technology to tyrannize, finds strength in diversity, maintains balance and harmony among people, sets leadership by example, has a strong ethical base, and values employees and customers. A maverick knows his customers and believes strongly in his products.

To a maverick, a company is a not just a big candy store. It is a living instrument with living human beings. It should have a HEART.

Keys to Leadership

The leader leads. He exercises critical judgment, which will have a great impact on his people.

The leader defines the company. The leaders responsibility is to explicitly present and advocate the companys purposes and goals.

The leader inspires. He gives sense and meaning to the job. He makes his people realize, that beyond profit there is an underlying meaning, value, and deeper reason for the work they do.

The leader should be the evangelist. He should be able to exercise his influence, to sell the values of ethical conduct.

The leader must see the company as a coherent whole. He should be aware of the diversity in the company and bring this together to promote the whole.

The leader must know that there is no better way to create a family in the workplace than to encourage the family at home. Harman International introduced the anti-domestic violence program in the company, which reinforces the idea that the company cares.

The leader should never underestimate the value of disciplined hard work.

The leader empowers subordinates to do their jobs. He should institute programs for the guidance and training of his people. He should always keep the lines of communication open.

The leader promotes closure. He should know the right time to get things done.

The leader knows what he doesnt know. The leader is not afraid to ask clarifications, if he does not understand a particular subject.

The leader knows the meaning of two minutes. He should respect the time of others and that of his own.

The leader teaches.

Above all, the leader develops others. As Lao Tzu advanced: the leader having accomplished great things, the people all feel they did it themselves

The very best leaders go beyond the mere setting of example. He should be able to cause a leap of imagination and faith in his people.

The leader recognizes that people are often at their very best the moment they have been let go. There are times when an employee doesnt like the work anymore, or he is unable to appreciate how the whole enterprise works- this is the time to set him free.

A Company Must Be Profitable

1. A solid financial base is fundamental.

2. Debt should not exceed equity. A debt to equity ratio of 1 to 1 or better should be the goal, so that a companys leader and key executives do not spend all their time on mere survival -paying bills, meeting the payroll, and keeping the banks happy- but moving forward and meeting bigger challenges and doing more visionary work.

3. There should be a regular process for annual strategic planning and budget-planning.

The Fundamentals of Profit and Loss

1. Manage expectations, not the profits. Keep the shareholders informed, to eliminate doubts of manipulating numbers.

2. The Chairman and CEO should be financially literate. They should know what the numbers really mean.

3. Good growth and profitability requires the exercise of critical judgment. The leader should make certain that the budget is one the company can live with.

4. In repurchasing the companys own stocks, make sure that it will add to the companys earnings.

5. Look into the availability of funds so that the balance sheet will not be compromised.

Make an Edge in the Business World

1. Writing. It is a unique and powerful skill you can use for clarity and persuasion.

2 Public Speaking and Story-telling. Speak directly, and without notes, to your audience. Individuals respond to a well-told story.

3. Thinking. People do not respect sloppy thinking in a leader. Thoughts should be carefully considered then expressed directly, crisply, and clearly.

About The Author Summary By: Regine P. Azurin http://www.bizsum.com “A Lot Of Great Books….Too Little Time To Read” Free Book Summaries Of Latest Bestsellers for Busy Executives and Entrepreneurs Mailto:freearticle@bizsum.com BusinessSummaries is a BusinessSummaries.com service. (c) Copyright 2001-2002, BusinessSummaries.com – Wisdom In A Nutshell bizsum@bizsum.com

According to NewOpenWorld, the organiser of the new world natural wonder selection, Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Fansipan Mountain were rejected from the selection list because of lack of official support committees.

In an email answering Tien Phong Newspaper’s question about why it removed the two above sites from the nomination list, NewOpenWorld said all nominees become official nominees when they have official support committees, otherwise they will be removed.

According to NewOpenWorld, each nominated site must be registered, using NewOpenWorld’s form, and faxed to +49-89-818196033. The registration form includes the name of the site and information about the support committee.

The committee must be assigned by the government or have a legal presence or responsibility to the registered site.

Nguyen Van Tinh, Head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Physical Training’s International Cooperation Agency, said that Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Fansipan were nominated by local administrations and the media. Only Ha Long Bay was registered and supported by the government and state agencies. Ha Long’s support committee is temporarily the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province.

To maintain the top position of Ha Long Bay in this selection, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is printing posters to deliver to passengers on Vietnam Airlines flights, organising Vietnamese cultural weeks abroad, which include events to advertise Ha Long Bay.

Quang Ninh province, the site of Ha Long Bay, is awaiting the government’s approval to launch a nationwide campaign calling for votes for Ha Long Bay.

Pham Sanh Chau, Chief of the External Cultural and UNESCO Agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said NewOpenWorld will choose only one wonder in each country. Is it reasonable that three scenic spots of Vietnam be represented in the selection? Should Vietnam focus on only one nominee?

(Source: TP)