Good news

What if the media reported more good news than bad? How would it shift the way people think and act? Many of the decisions people make are largely based on emotion, so if someone hears that the stock market is doing poorly (for example), they will react to the news based on how that affects them personally. If we shift things to be presented in a more positive way, would people’s emotional responses reflect that positivity?

I was listening to the radio the other day and, naturally, they were talking about the poor economy and how difficult it is to find/keep a job right now. I began to feel really hopeless and negative. I started to question my path and the dreams that I have. Are they too unrealistic? Instead of getting totally sucked in, though, I made a bold decision – I turned the radio off! I am tired of hearing bad news. I want to hear good news about good people doing good things. There are sources out there that report good news. Look at Ode Magazine – their entire premise is that they report good news. I encourage everyone to spend more time reading good news than bad, and see how your attitude shifts.

Feeling Funky

I have been feeling funky this week. Worried about making money. Doubting whether what I am offering is useful. Feeling the weight of the systemic economic and environmental challenges we face.

I was “on it”.

And while I kept moving forward by doing the little things – exercise, biking, being with the kids, hanging with friends, and sharing my ideas, I could not see how to get past it.

I even remembered a teacher of mine who said “it is not that I don’t get on it, but I am able to get off it way faster than you and others”. His perspective is that the way people find meaning and fulfillment is that they are able to get off it faster than others.

The idea was there, but I remained stuck.

And then I got an email from a friend – who was on vacation - about a radio interview he was doing with Dan Pink...on vacation? Dan Pink happens to be one of those people whose ideas get me inspired and engaged. So I listened to the show.

And the ice melted. The funky feeling began to fade. And my positive, powerful, inspired self emerged again.

I coach my clients that when they are feeling funky to get their Play Huge Notebook (where inspiring and powerful items are captured) and get themselves going again, but I had forgotten.

As soon as I began to fill up my brain with possibilities, ideas, and challenges the powerful part of me emerged again. Now, a day later the possibilities are flowing and I feel reconnected to my aliveness and drive to make a difference.

Now its time to capture how to help you and others awaken your spirit.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Greed, Games, and No Responsibility

Listening to people talk about the current economic crisis who were involved in it has got me fired up. I do not think that the real cause of what happened is being talked about. We are missing (again) what the real crisis is.

People say that they did not know what was going on.
People say they were just a cog in a bigger wheel.
People say they were just playing by the rules trying to get an edge.
People say that they were being opportunistic.
People say a lot of things but they do NOT say, I apologize. I knew what I was doing was lousy and I should have stopped.
They also do not say, I know that many innocent people lost a lot of money because of my actions and I would like to do something to make that right (here, you can have my boat, or would you rather have my beach house?).

They avoid responsibility.

As they explain, they are either lying or we have a much bigger problem on our hands. If people are not able to determine whether what they are doing is gaining for themselves at the cost of others, then we are missing something fundamental in the kind of people we are.

What do we do about it?
Well, I propose a couple things.
First we have got to slow down. I watched a guy clean an awning at a business the other day. He was maintaining the foundation of the business - cleanliness, infrastructure, the basics. We are so busy that we are missing out on the basics.

Second we have to get back in touch with the basics. The basics we are missing? Human connection “I am too busy to see my friends.” Treating people with respect and dignity - answering our cell phone when talking to someone. Being conscientious of others - driving while you talk on the phone endangers yourself, people in your car, and other people (80% of accidents are caused by distracted driving -- not drunk, distracted). Taking care of our health - eating fast food, not exercising, relying on pills to alleviate our health concerns.

Third is we have to take responsibility for our actions. We have got to Play Above the Line (to learn what I mean by that, you can visit my site at www.playhugecoaching.com), and stop making excuses, justifying our behavior, denying that we are doing something wrong, or bailing out and not cleaning up our mess.
We have got to begin living with integrity, compassion, and confidence, while treating people with dignity and respect.

There is a way out of this mess, but it is not about financial models, bailouts, and economic gymnastics. The solution is looking out into the future and remembering some things that no one can take from us and will be the foundation of our future success.
People. Relationships. Honesty. Care of others.