Curious about the Power of “Yes”: One Three Letter Word that Can Make a Difference in Our Lives, Our Careers, and So Many More Ways

“Too many of us fail to fulfill our needs because we say no rather than yes, or perhaps later in life, yes when we should say no.” - William Glasser, American psychologist

“The oldest, shortest words - 'yes' and 'no' - are those which require the most thought.” – Pythagoras, Greek mathematician

I chose the word “Yes” for this week’s theme, because I realize that I have always been quick to say, “Yes” when asked to take on a job (usually non-paying). I realize that even though a lot of these “yeses” have brought me a network of friends and a huge amount of learning and experiences, I need to take a bit more time and thought before jumping to a yes answer.

Do you, like me, have a problem with saying, “No”? If you do, you probably have also experienced that uncomfortable feeling of overwhelm. It is hard to say no, but often it is the best choice.

Another area where the power of yes is important is in sales. As a sales person – and we are all sales persons whether we accept it or not – if we have a “Yes” attitude it will rub off on our clients and prospective clients. It has been known in sales that if you can get the prospect answering, “Yes” many times, he or she will be ready with a yes when asked to buy.

In marketing, it is also suggested that we include “Yes” in our headlines and titles. I am going to test it in several of my sales letters and e-book titles.

I was amazed to find 14 pages of quotations using “Yes”, so here are a few:

• “When people ask for time, it's always for time to say no. Yes has one more letter in it, but it doesn't take half as long to say.” - Edith Wharton, American author
• “A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.” - Mohandas Gandhi, Indian leader
• “When your mother asks, 'Do you want a piece of advice?' it is a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway.” - Erma Bombeck, American journalist
• “The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes.” - Tony Blair, British statesman
• “Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.” - Eleanor Roosevelt, American First Lady
• “Learn to say 'no' to the good so you can say 'yes' to the best.” - John C. Maxwell, American clergyman

And, of course, I especially love this next quotation by Jack LaLanne, American athlete, “Yes, exercise is the catalyst. That's what makes everything happen: your digestion, your elimination, your sex life, your skin, hair, everything about you depends on circulation. And how do you increase circulation?”

So, if you say “Yes” to anything this week, month and year, it should be exercise!

Curious about Continuity: What Does this Mean in Your Life, Business and Internet Marketing?

Definition of Continuity: the state of being continuous; uninterupted connection or succession; close union of parts; cohesion; as, the continuity of fibers.

“The thing is, continuity of strategic direction and continuous improvement in how you do things are absolutely consistent with each other. In fact, they're mutually reinforcing.” – Michael Porter, American educator

“Man has always needed to believe in some form of a continuity of achievement.” - Robert Vaughn, American actor

I chose the word “Continuity” for this week’s blog because it is all over the Internet now. Why and What do those using it mean? Continuity refers to paid and usually monthly membership sites, forums, newsletters, training back offices, mastermind groups, and any other site or setup where you are enrolled and pay on a regular and continuous basis.

Continuity programs offer advantages to the enrollee(s) and to the owner(s) because of the cohesion and close union of parts. They create strong communities and those who take advantage of membership receive the benefits of in depth learning, sharing of special information and cost effective coaching.

The owner(s) also benefit financially because of the regular – usually monthly – income, which grows as more and more enrollees join. Think of it as a gym or club membership where those who take advantage of the facilities pay an on-going fee. Generally, if a member wants to drop out, it is merely involves a call or fax to the group. However, there is little attrition as long as the benefits are strong.

Of course, I did find many interesting quotations that involved continuity, but weren’t related to the programs I have just described. Here are a few:

• “Vision is perhaps our greatest strength... it has kept us alive to the power and continuity of thought through the centuries, it makes us peer into the future and lends shape to the unknown.” - Li Ka Shing, Chinese businessman
• “The little religion that I have clung to - that what matters most is the continuity of life, and its improvement from one generation to another.” - David O. Selznick, American producer
• “If you associate enough with older people who do enjoy their lives, who are not stored away in any golden ghettos, you will gain a sense of continuity and of the possibility for a full life.” - Tom Stoppard, English dramatist
• “For many of us, sport has provided the continuity in our lives, the alternative family to the one we left behind. It gives us something to talk about, to preen about, to care about.” - John Thorn, American historian
• “Identity in the form of continuity of personality is an extremely important characteristic of the individual.” - Kenneth L. Pike, American sociologist
• “Continuity does not rule out fresh approaches to fresh situations.” - Dean Rusk, American diplomat

And one more from Michael Porter, American educator, who had several of the best quotations: “Finally, strategy must have continuity. It can't be constantly reinvented.”

And, if you have had or presently have interaction with a continuity program, let us know how it is working for you.

Curious about Lifestyle: Is Your Lifestyle Fulfilling Your Dreams and Goals? Or Do You Need a New and/or Different Lifestyle?

“A lifestyle is what you pay for; a life is what pays you.” - Thomas Leonard, American businessman

“My definition of success is to live your life in a way that causes you to feel a ton of pleasure and very little pain - and because of your lifestyle, have the people around you feel a lot more pleasure than they do pain.” - Tony Robbins, American author

I chose the theme of “Lifestyle” for this week’s blog, because I love my life and lifestyle. I realize, however, that there are many people who don’t have a lifestyle that brings them happiness and fulfillment. They have work that they don’t enjoy – even detest – and are dissatisfied with their surroundings and the people in their life.

I feel strongly that whether or not we have wealth and material possessions, if we are not passionate and in love with our lives and lifestyles, we should investigate how we can make it better.

One of my favorite Internet gurus, Yanik Silver, wrote today about “Big Lists” in his blog. He wrote, “And that's everything you want to see, experience, people you want to meet, things you want to own, accomplishments, etc. etc. It's a great exercise to write up your own.” Once you have this on paper, or in a bound journal, you can start to re-adjust your lifestyle to make sure you accomplish everything on your list.

As you can imagine, I found many excellent quotations from the experts:

• “I think one can achieve a very pleasant lifestyle by treating human beings, fellow human beings, very well.” - Rene Rivkin, Australian businessman
• “I thought, you know the food and the diet thing is one way to start yourself onto a healthy lifestyle, but if you don't move, if you don't start exercising you're gonna deteriorate.” -Warren Cuccurullo, American musician
• “I'd like to provide information, inspiration, and access to whatever goods and services are needed to make it super easy for everyone to change their lifestyle to a sustainable one.” - Daryl Hannah, American actress
• “The lifestyle that an artist can have, the freedom to wander in the landscape with no real pressure or deadlines, was a very attractive one.” - John Dyer, Welsh poet
• “It's the kind of clothes that mothers and daughters can wear, in terms of concept... It's not about age. It's about taste, and it's about lifestyle. I believe women of all ages can wear anything.” - Ralph Lauren, American designer
• “Well, jazz is to me, a complete lifestyle. It's bigger than a word. It's a much bigger force than just something that you can say. It's something that you have to feel. It's something that you have to live.” - Ray Brown, American musician

I suggest you think about your lifestyle. Also, have the fun of making a big list. I am going to, even though I have already been doing a re-evaluation of my direction.

And, then two more quotations to think about that can set the mood and inspiration for you.

“Adopting a new healthier lifestyle can involve changing diet to include more fresh fruit and vegetables as well as increasing levels of exercise.” - Linford Christie, British athlete

“However, lifestyle intervention requires discipline with a tangible end result that is within reach. It requires personal resolve, a lifelong commitment.” - Tim Holden, American politician

Curious about Yoga: The Results and Benefits from Practicing Yoga Are Much More than I Ever Expected

“Yoga's an amazing release.” - Monica Keena, American actress

“Yoga is a way to freedom. By its constant practice, we can free ourselves from fear, anguish and loneliness.” - Indra Devi, Latvian celebrity

I am a group fitness instructor and have been having a blast teaching “SilverSneakers” classes for seniors. It is a terrific program offered by Health Insurance Companies at hand-picked fitness facilities. Besides focusing on preparing participants for ADL (Activities of Daily Living) functioning, one of the goals is to have fun.

The instructor training is excellent and the classes range from strength and range of motion exercises, cardio circuits, water aerobics, and in the past two and a half years, Yoga. When they were launching it, I signed up for YogaStretch – a modified Yoga class for seniors. I thought it would offer a welcome change, and I admit that I was curious about the benefits touted by so many Yoga enthusiasts.

Was I pleasantly surprised! Being an A personality type go-go being, I worried that Yoga might prove to be too slow for me. A big wrong! My classes have grown in size as I have grown to realize all of Yoga’s wonderful results and to love every minute. Many comment about how calm and relaxed they feel. One woman said it makes her feel “taller.”

American model, Christy Turlington, expresses it perfectly, “Yoga has brought me closer to myself. It's helped me realize the interconnectedness of the mind, body and spirit, in the Buddhist sense of the word.”

So many experts have expressed their feelings. Here are a few:

• “Yoga is wonderful. It clears up most health problems. It also gives you an overview.” - Helen Reddy, American musician
• “I mean the whole thing about meditation and yoga is about connecting to the higher part of yourself, and then seeing that every living thing is connected in some way.” – Gillian Anderson, American actress
• “Though the names karma yoga and sannyasa are different, the truth at the heart of both is the same.” - Vinoba Bhave, Indian educator
• “It's been my experience that the longer I do yoga, the more I want to know, the more I am able to understand and the less judgmental I am.” - Ali MacGraw, American actress
• “The deeper you get into Yoga you realize it is a spiritual practice. It's a journey I'm making. I'm heading that way.” – Sting, British musician
• “For me, first, it's finding quiet in my life - and I do that through yoga and meditation. It's also been a matter of changing the way I eat, because I think what we eat can inform who we are; food is a chemical and a drug to a certain extent.” - Mariel Hemingway, American actress

My suggestion to you is to take a chance and try Yoga if you are not already hooked. And, if you start attending a class, give it some time before it will begin having an effect. Do let me know how it works for you.

Curious about Pillars: They Are Referred To in Many Ways. How Do You See Them and Use Them?

Definition of a Pillar: The general and popular term for a firm, upright, insulated support for a superstructure; a pier, column, or post; also, a column or shaft not supporting a superstructure, as one erected for a monument or an ornament. Figuratively, that which resembles such a pillar in appearance, character, or office; a supporter or mainstay; as, the Pillars of Hercules; a pillar of the state. A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church.

“Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man.” - Pliny the Elder, Roman author

Lately, the word “pillar” or “pillars” had shown up as a theme in self improvement writing and teleseminars. Once you have read the definition above, you, as I, can see why the word has become popular.

I have heard that someone is described as “a pillar of strength.” Jim Rohn has written “Twelve Pillars” with Chris Widener. I haven’t read it yet. A friend just told me that when he started reading it, he “couldn’t put it down.”

One of my favorite blogger gurus, Yaro Starak, gives the following blog writing advice: “Write at least five major “pillar” articles. A pillar article is usually a tutorial style article aimed to teach your audience something. Generally they are longer than 500 words and have lots of very practical tips or advice. This article you are currently reading could be considered a pillar article since it is very practical and a good “how-to” lesson. This style of article has long term appeal, stays current (it isn’t news or time dependent) and offers real value and insight. The more pillars you have on your blog the better.”

So, let’s share some pillar quotations from the experts:

• “Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much, are the three pillars of learning.” - Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman
• “The spirit of truth and the spirit of freedom - these are the pillars of society.” - Henrik Ibsen, Norwegian poet
• “The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.” - George Washington, American President
• “Women's natural role is to be a pillar of the family.” - Grace Kelly, American actress
• “In journalistic terms, syndication is equivalent to ascending to heaven on a pillar of cloud.” - John Skow, American author
• “Medicine rests upon four pillars - philosophy, astronomy, alchemy, and ethics.” – Paracelsus, Swiss scientist

In addition a timely quotation:

“The bicycle is a former child's toy that has now been elevated to icon status because, presumably, it can move the human form from pillar to post without damage to the environment.” - Brock Yates, American editor

So, I challenge you to make use of the words pillar and pillars this week. I plan to write a couple of articles using them as metaphors. And, I ask you, are you a pillar of strength? We need to be in times like this.