2nd of "3 Dangerous Myths to Avoid"

As always, if you've not had a chance to read the first blog article in this series (and/or listen to the 1st episode of the podcast in the series), be sure to take a few minutes to do so.

These are "3 Dangerous Myths to Avoid" that are a "disease" to any person, community, organization and yes, even to a society.

The first of these was covered in that last article - "It's Not My Fault", and now, let's continue on with my thoughts on the 2nd of these DANGEROUS myths:

If you want to hear my passion on this particular "dangerous myth", then you definitely need to listen to the podcast! I'm here to tell you, there are few things that get me "worked up" as quickly as the verbalization of this attitude, or in other words, TO HEAR SOMEONE ACTUALLY SAY THIS.

And, as I talk about on the podcast,  I did have a man (an older man, at that) say that to me during a situation when we were supposed to be working together on a particular "project"just the other day. The "task" that he didn't want to do because "it's not my job", was not much of a task at all. As a matter of fact, my hands were already full and I had already done a LOT of things and it would have been a BIG help - with very little effort on his part - for him to do this one small thing. But, when I asked him if he had done that, he actually said, "No, it's not my job."

I wish I could tell you that I handled that well, but I did not. I pretty much "unloaded" on him letting him know what a HORRIBLE attitude that I thought he had and that I really felt it was pretty pathetic for him to use that line in this situation.  Yeah, he had no doubt how I felt about his choice.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Friend, let me just caution you in this way: When you find yourself even THINKING this thought, you are headed for trouble. Sure, this is my personal opinion, but look again and you'll also see that it's my blog. See how that works? But, more than that, I have observed and studied people and situations for years and I really DO know what I am talking about.

This attitude is lazy and selfish and does NOTHING to help support and/or build any sort of team. 

Apply that to yourself as an individual and you will find that you will never really contribute to ANY team situation in any real way. In other words, you won't be of value and you can be - and will be - easily replaced.

I was going to suggest that you then apply this to a group of people but, in fact, you won't have to apply this thought to a group because it is CONTAGIOUS. (Remember me calling this a "disease" earlier?) This is a CONTAGIOUS DISEASE that will spread it's deadly poison throughout any organization and, again, even society.

I'll share with you the same advice that I gave to all three of my sons when they were still living at home and applying for summer jobs..."Always do MORE than what is expected of you!"

I would tell them that, by doing so, they would always have a job and always have a list of good references. Guess what? It's true.

Oh, I know that the idea of "doing more than what is expected" just really sounds strange to some people. These are the people that have been groomed in the "It's Not My Job" mentality and mindset but, friend, THIS DOES NOT NEED TO BE YOU.

Please be sure to take a few minutes to listen to the podcast to hear my thoughts on this more in depth. I know you'll be glad that you did.

Get rid of this dangerous - and poisonous - myth in your life and help spread this message to as many as possible by sharing this blog article as well as the podcast. OUR WORLD NEEDS THIS MESSAGE NOW!

Join me in the last article of this series as we discuss the final of the "3 Dangerous Myths to Avoid" - 

"It Will Never Happen to Me"

Whatever you do, each and every day, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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Selfishness Is NOT Purpose

If you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read the blog from yesterday as I began this discussion on "Living a Life of Purpose" before you go on with this one. Well, go on.  Well, I mean, you don't HAVE to do that but it might help as you read today's blog entry.

In tomorrow's blog I'm going to begin talking about what a life of purpose really is but I thought I'd spend a little time today talking about what it is NOT. And, as you can tell from the title of today's blog alone with the graphic at the top, a life of purpose is NOT about SELF!

We definitely live in a self-centered world, don't we? Oh, I know - and am thankful - that there seems to be a shift among many in our world today toward understanding the need to live a life of service. But I'd suggest that for every person - especially younger person - that is beginning to understand the importance of this fact, there are maybe five that are still focused on themselves.

I've recently discussed how this may come about by never helping our children understand that, as a matter of fact, they really AREN'T the cutest kid in the world and they really AREN'T the smartest one, either. Again, I get being proud of our kids but, at some point, we MUST help them make that transition over to reality and a more meaningful purpose for their existence.

Me, me, me, me. Just listen to those around you as they talk and you will likely hear this word (or "I") more than just about any other. Wow, I get really tired of listening to someone that does that, don't you? As a matter of fact, I will usually tune them out rather quickly and move on to someone else for a conversation with some actual substance.

Many times self-centered people will try to convince you that they are happy and, hey, they may even have all of the"bling" to make you think that this may even be so! I mean, they have focused so completely on themselves that they had NOTHING to stop them from doing anything and everything necessary to collect all of the "stuff" that many want to attach to mean "success".

However, I truly believe that no matter how much they try to convince you or others that they are happy, they really aren't. Of even more significance is the fact that, regardless of how much they try to convince THEMSELVES that they are happy they are, more likely, very lonely and miserable.

Living a life of self is a lonely life. Why? Because there is no one else in your world but YOU. Oh sure, there may be some people around that enjoy getting the perks of being your "friend". But as soon as those perks "dry up" or you try to test them to see if they are there because of those perks or because they actually LIKE you... well, get ready for the echo of your own voice.

Listen friend, we are all here for something bigger and better than ourselves! Please - PLEASE - if you have any teens still at home (or even in college and still coming to your home) spend some time "picking their brain" to see where they are in this process. So many do nothing and expect EVERYTHING given to them. Oh, I do know that there are some exceptions but I'm talking about what I have seen as the majority.

And, while you are at it - do a little self-examination, too and see what you find. Hey, it's easy to get caught up in this "me" thing. But remember - a life of purpose is NOT a life focused on self.

I hope you'll join me again tomorrow and that you'll remember to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Don't Be a TAKER

Today is "Magical Monday"...isn't it time YOU created a little 'magic' in YOUR day?

Today I will continue going through my "7 Life-Changing, Life-Directing, Powerful Daily Affirmations" by discussing #5: "I AM A GIVER - not a taker!"

Now, if you haven't done so, be sure to go back to last week's blog articles and podcast to catch up with the first four and - specifically - the very first, foundational principle/building block affirmation. THIS IS A MUST in order for the others to really have any validity, purpose or focus.

We have grown so accustomed to the idea that "the customer is always right" and "Have it YOUR way" that we have begun to think that WE are the MOST IMPORTANT person in the universe and that the whole universe revolves around us as a result. Uh...here's your wake up call = NOT TRUE!

I honestly get really tired of watching people - kids, teens and even adults - that seem to live their lives really believing that they ARE actually the center of the universe. Seriously, it's quite sickening!

Sometimes it begins when parents - as parents do - just "ooh and ahhh" over their precious little ones. Hey, there is nothing wrong with that! I have a precious little granddaughter that is the apple of my eye and I will proudly tell anyone that will listen -- sometimes even if they AREN'T listening! But, the problem starts when this never stops. Make sense?

When our children continue to be told that they are so special to the point that we give them the idea that they are better than everyone else and when we keep giving them stuff and stuff and stuff then, guess what? They begin to BELIEVE it and EXPECT it! And, some people NEVER grow past that and end up STILL believing and expecting that even as adults.

I said the following to a group of teens not too long ago: "You can tell how focused on self a person is by listening to how many times they say 'I' or 'me' in a conversation." to which one young lady (who is absolutely focused on self) answered, "I don't think I really talk about me that much!" Notice the use of the words "I' and "me" used in that short little sentence?

Now do you see why I think it is important for not only YOU to get in the habit of saying these affirmations out loud to yourself, but also for your KIDS to do so (if you have them)? We need to plant this seed DEEP and EARLY so that it can take root and be TRUE in the lives of our young people as they grow and develop!

You will find that every great leader (the "non-blood thirsty ones" anyway) has always promoted the idea of serving others and putting the interest of others ahead of ourselves. I'm sure that some of you almost cringed just reading that -- it is so foreign to what we are told and taught by so many forces around us every day (have you WATCHED commercials lately?).  The next time you sit and watch commercials notice the WHY they want you to believe in order to get you to buy their product. Why? Because YOU deserve nothing but the best and, by the way, their product IS the best!

This is getting a little longer than I had planned and I haven't even gotten started yet so I will continue these thoughts tomorrow. So far in this article we have noticed and focused on the PROBLEM of being nothing but a "GETTER". Tomorrow we will focus on the other end of this spectrum...being a GIVER!

Be thinking about this and, yes, make that painful self-examination that we all need to make from time to time to see how much "ME" is a part of our daily activity.

Begin now directing your focus to being a GIVER and not a GETTER and, until next time, whatever you do, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
Mike