Curious about Winning: How Important Is Winning to You? – in Games, in Life, in Business, and in all Aspects?

Definition of Winning: Attracting; adapted to gain favor; charming; as, a winning address. The act of obtaining something, as in a contest or by competition. The money, etc., gained by success in competition or contest, esp, in gambling; -- usually in the plural.


“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan, American athlete


“Winning is only half of it. Having fun is the other half.” - Bum Phillips, American coach


Phillips’ quotation really applies to me. As I have mentioned before, a few months ago I moved to a new apartment complex. To get to know some of the other tenants in a fun way, I started attending the Thursday evening BINGO games. I had never played Bingo before and I wasn’t winning – got frustratingly close, but that was it.


And then, this past Thursday, I won a hand. Since I really experienced a thrill, I chose “winning” for this week’s blog theme. I am not sure what made the difference. Never having played Bingo before moving here, I found it to be fun with a good social outlet. I don’t feel that winning is just luck, or even skill, but I have been wondering if mindset helps.


Anyway, the quotations were geared mostly toward sports, but also touched on attitudes. I was surprised by how obsessive – and negative - some of the comments by athletes were – I did not include those.


So, here goes:

• “Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself.” - Paul Bryant, American coach



• “I'm competitive with myself, but not with other people. I set goals for myself. I don't really care about winning or losing as long as I do my best.” - Lucas Grabeel, American actor



• “The determination to win is the better part of winning.” - Daisaku Ikeda, Japanese writer



• “Winning may not be everything, but losing has little to recommend it.” - Dianne Feinstein, American politician



• “A winning effort begins with preparation.” - Joe Gibbs, American coach



• “Let's try winning and see what it feels like. If we don't like it, we can go back to our traditions.” - Paul Tsongas, American politician



• “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.” - Wilma Rudolph, American athlete



• “In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case it is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. Hares have no time to read. They are too busy winning the game.” - Anita Brookner, English historian

And, some more:

• “Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” - Vince Lombardi, American coach



• “I've done the calculation and your chances of winning the lottery are identical whether you play or not.” – Fran Lebowitz, American journalist



• “Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet



• “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” - Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austrian actor



• “Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning.” - Erwin Rommel, German soldier



• “Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown.” - Ross Perot, American businessman



• “Personally, I rather look forward to a computer program winning the world chess championship. Humanity needs a lesson in humility.” - Richard Dawkins, English scientist



• “Success is almost totally dependent upon drive and persistence. The extra energy required to make another effort or try another approach is the secret of winning.” - Denis Waitley, American writer

So, how do you feel about winning? What qualities do we need to prepare to win? I would love to hear from you.

Curious about Proof: How Important or Influential Is It? How Do You Establish It?

Definition of Proof: Any effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial. That degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments that induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.

• “That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” – Abraham Lincoln, American President


• “Confidence in the goodness of another is good proof of one's own goodness.” - Michel de Montaigne, French philosopher


• I chose the word “Proof” for this week’s blog for a couple of reasons. First of all, there are so many comments being made about the veracity of the Internet. It is unsettling – at least for me and others I interact with – how much of the information shared is questionable. Right now, I am experiencing so many sites that are pushing systems that will easily – with one click – make you a millionaire. No work, just collect your money. Their proof is copies of bank statements showing large amounts of income daily. These are relatively easy to create. No wonder we are skeptical.


• Another reason – and this one is legitimate – is that I watched an excellent video this morning about Social Proof by Greg Habstritt. Social Proof is the name for testimonials and is so important to our success. When we receive incredible service, we tell others. If we experience an outstanding product, we tell others. As I surmised, the quotations I found didn’t address phony sales letters or Social Proof, but were so excellent, I want to share them with you.

Let’s get started:

• “To have the sense of creative activity is the great happiness and the great proof of being alive.” - Matthew Arnold, English poet


• “We must never assume that which is incapable of proof.” - George Henry Lewes, English philosopher


• “We're living proof that nice guys always finish last.” - Matthew Cooper, American journalist


• “You actually can make it, no matter what. I truly am a firm believer in that. Eminem's living proof.” - Brittany Murphy, American actress


• “You know that I am living proof that the American Dream is real. Growing up, our congressman cut through government bureaucratic red tape to help my mom buy our first house. That's the kind of congressman I'll be.” - Geoff Davis, American politician


• “Anything that won't sell, I don't want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.” - Thomas A. Edison, American inventor


• “Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values.” - Ayn Rand, Russian writer


• “I remember the time I was kidnapped and they sent a piece of my finger to my father. He said he wanted more proof.” - Rodney Dangerfield, American comedian

And, a few more for fun and interest:

• “Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.” - Benjamin Franklin, American politician


• “Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.” - Khalil Gibran, Lebanese American poet


• “Aviation is proof that given, the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible.” – Eddie Rickenbacker, American aviator


• “Do not be fooled into believing that because a man is rich he is necessarily smart. There is ample proof to the contrary.” - Julius Rosenwald, American businessman


• “Do not consider it proof just because it is written in books, for a liar who will deceive with his tongue will not hesitate to do the same with his pen.” – Maimonides, Spanish philosopher


• “Euclid taught me that without assumptions there is no proof. Therefore, in any argument, examine the assumptions.”- E. T. Bell, Scottish mathematician


• “In matters of truth the fact that you don't want to publish something is, nine times out of ten, a proof that you ought to publish it.” - Gilbert K. Chesterton, English writer


• “The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment.” – Elbert Hubbard, American writer

So, what do you think? What kind of proof do you need before making a decision? I would love to hear from you.

Curious about Influence: How Important Is It? How Much Do You Have and Use?

• Definition of Influence: The bringing about of an effect, physical or moral, by a gradual process; controlling power quietly exerted; agency, force, or tendency of any kind which the sun exerts on animal and vegetable life; the influence of education on the mind; the influence, according to astrologers, of the stars over affairs. Power or authority arising from elevated station, excellence of character or intellect, wealth, etc.; reputation; acknowledged ascendency; as, he is a man of influence in the community. To control or move by power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to move; to persuade; to induce.


• “You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've become yourself.” - Eleanor Roosevelt, American First Lady


• I chose “Influence” for this week’s blog, because recently there have been several books and articles written about it. I also am interested in what has influenced us in our lives to become who we are. I just experienced a TED talk by Caroline Casey at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyBk55G7Keo . I suggest that if you have 20 minutes, you will find this no limits talk incredible.


• I found many thought-provoking quotations. I know you will love them. A couple that I want to share right away are:


• “Influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you've got.” - Andrew Young, American clergyman


• And, “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” - Wilma Rudolph, American athlete

Ready for more? I am:

• “The forbidden things were a great influence on my life. I was forbidden from reading A Catcher in the Rye.” - Amy Tan, American novelist


• “I think maybe the rural influence in my life helped me in a sense, of knowing how to get close to people and talk to them and get my work done.” - Gordon Parks, American photographer


• “I have been trying to point out that in our lives chance may have an astonishing influence and, if I may offer advice to the young laboratory worker, it would be this - never to neglect an extraordinary appearance or happening.” - Alexander Fleming, English scientist


• “If you examine this, I think that you will find that it's the mechanics of Japanese architecture that have been thought of as the direct influence upon our architecture.” - Minoru Yamasaki, American architect


• “Another cause for the increase in alienation and cynicism is a feeling that too many policy decisions that affect individuals have been taken out of any system that has accountability or that they can influence.” – Robert Teeter, American politician


• “Ted Turner is still a leader. And he sets a great example. His ability financially has been reduced, but his influence and his example still is an important asset to the whole environmental movement.” - Maurice Strong, Canadian businessman


• “There is no influence like the influence of habit.” - Gilbert Parker, British politician


• “I really do believe in the influence of your surroundings.” - Matt Sharp, American musician

And just a few more – they are so good!

• “The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions.” - John Hancock, American politician


• “Our chief justices have probably had more profound and lasting influence on their times and on the direction of the nation than most presidents.” - Richard M. Nixon, American President


• “The secret of my influence has always been that it remained secret.” - Salvador Dali, Spanish artist


• “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” - Mark Twain, American author


• “Whatever we do or fail to do will influence the course of history.” - Arthur Henderson, British politician


• “Picasso's always been such a huge influence that I thought when I started the cartoon paintings that I was getting away from Picasso, and even my cartoons of Picasso were done almost to rid myself of his influence.” - Roy Lichtenstein, American artist


• “Dreams have as much influence as actions.” - Stephane Mallarme, French poet

So, what has been a big influence in your life? And who, how, and when have you influenced? Remember, I would love to hear your feedback.

Curious about Title: How Much of a Difference Does It Make? To a Book, Person or Other?

Definition of Title : The inscription in the beginning of a book, usually containing the subject of the work, the author's and publisher's names, the date, etc. An appellation of dignity, distinction, or preeminence (hereditary or acquired), given to persons, as duke marquis, honorable, esquire, etc. A name; an appellation; a designation. That which constitutes a just cause of exclusive possession; that which is the foundation of ownership of property, real or personal; a right; as, a good title to an estate, or an imperfect title. The instrument which is evidence of a right.

“A good title is the title of a successful book.” - Robert C. Gallagher, American sportswriter

You've got to realize. In the western world, regardless of what color you are, what title the music is, it's all played by the same notes.” - Ornette Coleman, American musician

I picked title for this week’s theme, because it sets the tone for acceptance – whether for a book, any kind of written material, a person, a movie or play, or music. I also wanted to introduce you to a fascinating and helpful website. At http://www.aminstitute.com/headline/index.htm , when you enter your title and/or headline (with 20 words or less), The Headline Analyzer goes to work.

This free tool will analyze your headline to determine the Emotional Marketing Value (EMV) score. As you know, reaching your customers in a deep and emotional way is a key to successful copywriting, and your headline is unquestionably the most important piece of copy you use to reach prospects.

Your headline will be analyzed and scored based on the total number of EMV words it has in relation to the total number of words it contains. This will determine the EMV score of your headline. In addition to the EMV score, you will find out which emotion inside your customer's your headline most impacts. It is a fun and great way to find out more about your title and/or headline.

As usual, I found an interesting variety of quotations. Let’s take a look:

• “The beauty of a main title is that you establish your main theme and maybe a bit of your secondary theme. You plant the seed that you're going to go water later in the score. And so, having that removed just made it so much more difficult.” - Danny Elfman, American musician


• “The word actress has always seemed less a job description to me than a title.” - Gene Tierney, American actress


• “Could you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am? It's just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title. I'd appreciate it.” - Barbara Boxer, American politician


• “J. Lo is also an homage to my fans. That's what fans call me on the streets, and I like it. So giving the album this title is my way of telling them that this is for them, in appreciation of their support.” - Jennifer Lopez, American musician


• “Jigsaw Lady is the working title of a science fiction novel I've had in my head for darn near 15 years. I think I'll start work on it next year (in all my spare time) but I'd like to get it finished some day.” - Raymond E. Feist , American author


• “Seven is a lucky number, so I plan to do a lot of lucky things with my seventh place title.” - Anwar Robinson, American musician


• “That is what the title of artist means: one who perceives more than his fellows, and who records more than he has seen.” - Edward Gordon Craig, British actor

And, a few more:

• “Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title.” - Thomas Paine, English writer


• “Oh, that lovely title, ex-president.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower, American President


• “Let me tell you about being executive producer. It is not a job, it's a title. Don't go around asking executive producers what they do because they don't do anything, alright?” - Morgan Freeman, American actor


• “Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by his heart, and his friends can only read the title.” - Virginia Woolf, British author


• “When I was in college, I was the editor of the literary magazine and insisted neither the editors nor the writers be specifically identified-only our student numbers appeared on the title page. I love that idea and still do.” - Jonathan Carroll, American author


• “When you won that title you should know now that you are representing a whole country or nation with your actions and you are now in a glass house or under a microscope and you better be ready to make your people proud.” - Alexis Arguello, Nicaraguan athlete


• “My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title.” - Layne Staley, American musician

I also found it interesting that some authors title their books when finished while others title at the start of writing. “We don't have to think up a title till we get the doggone book written.” - Carl Sandburg, American poet and writer “I do not believe in inspiration, but I must have a title in order to work, otherwise I am lost.”- Guillermo Cabrera Infante, Cuban novelist Do test out the headline analyzer and let me know what you think.