Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Power of Word
Word power can be awesome. Think about the impact of these words: A young man and a young woman each say "I love you." Later, the minister says, "I now pronounce you man and wife." Still later, the doctor says, "It's a girl!" or "It's a boy!" Think of the joy those words create. Listen to these words spoken after the Battle of Gettysburg: "Four score and seven years ago..." and Lincoln had just opened his historic address. Or this: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," and Roosevelt gave a nation hope and courage. Or: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country," and Kennedy challenged us to get involved. "I have a dream," and most of us recognize the hope that Martin Luther King gave all of us that racial tensions can disappear. Or, "My feet hurt," as Rosa Parks refused to stand up and move to the back of the bus and an entire people stood up and moved forward. Or, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” - and a nation was launched. Think about this: "Give me liberty or give me death," and Patrick Henry rallied thirteen isolated colonies to fight for their freedom. Consider "We have not yet begun to fight," and John Paul Jones roused his command aboard ship to repel the British invaders and an enormous chapter was written in our fight for freedom.The message is clear: Think about the words you use and the impact they can have and as you choose the right words or listen to the right words, it can make a difference not only in your life, but the lives of others as well. Buy this concept, choose and carefully use the right words, and I will SEE YOU AT THE TOP
FINDING YOUR VOICE
"One word expresses the pathway to greatness: voice. Those on this path find their voice and inspire others to find theirs. The rest never do." ~ Steven Covey
One of the expressions bandied about by political commentators this season has been of a candidate "finding a voice." In fact, in the space of about two months, seemingly every candidate found his or hers.
On November 11, 2007, TIME contributor, Ana Marie Cox, wrote about Senator Barack Obama "finding his voice," at a Democratic dinner party in Iowa.
During post-debate coverage on November 28, 2007, CNN's David Gergen asserted, "I think that the most presidential tonight was John McCain, who's found his voice again."
On January 9th 2008, Jack Horowitz of the New York Observer wrote about Hillary Clinton's primary election victory in New Hampshire. The headline? "Hillary, Triumphant, Finds Her Voice."
On January 16, 2008, Ana Marie Cox raised the question, "Has Romney Found His Voice?" in her article on Mitt Romney's first-place finish in the Michigan presidential primary.
In an April blog post, Stephen Covey tackles the nebulous concept of a leader's "voice." He feels that leaders "find a voice" when they 1) Tap into Talent 2) Find What Fuels Their Passion 3) Are Burdened with a Need 4) Take Action to Meet the Need.
Step 1: Tapping into Your Talent
Tapping into your talents starts with understanding where you excel. It involves recognizing your strengths and positioning yourself to leverage them. To tap into your talent consider the question: What am I good at doing?
Step 2: Fueling Your Passion
When you take part in activities that fill you with positive emotion, you are fueling your passion. Pursuits that spark your passion bring excitement, enthusiasm, joy, and fun. To fuel your passion, ask yourself: What do I love doing?
Step 3: Being Burdened with a Need
When a problem in society lodges itself in your heart and won't let go, then you have been burdened with a need. Perhaps, the need is an injustice you wish to remedy. Maybe it's a disease you would love to cure. Whatever the case, a burden gnaws at your conscience. To take stock of your biggest burden, wrestle with the question: What need must I serve?
Step 4: Meeting the Need
Once a need has arrested your attention, then you can find your voice by taking action. A need compels you to do something besides criticize from the sidelines. To meet the need, think about this question: How can I align my talent with my passion in order to meet the need that burdens me?
For more discussion about finding your voice, visit Stephen Covey's blog
Five Questions for Leaders With Newfound Authority
The most revealing chapter of a leader's journey begins when they ascend to their first position of influence. Much can be deciphered about a person's character by observing how they wield authority.
Don't misinterpret me; leadership transcends titles, and influence cannot be confined to positions of rank or seniority. Nonetheless, newfound authority carries the weight of responsibility. How a leader responds to that responsibility can be a measuring stick of their overall fitness to lead.
When leaders are handed authority, they enjoy broader latitude to exercise their leadership style. As positional leaders, they are able to implement their ideas more freely and instill their values more directly. The decisions they make at this critical juncture may either launch their careers or stunt their development.
In his blog for Harvard Business Publishing, Bill Taylor poses five questions aspiring leaders should consider as they assume the reigns of authority. For rising leaders, or those mentoring a leadership rookie, his material will be particularly beneficial.
Five Make-or-Break Questions for Aspiring Leaders
1) Why should great people want to work with you?
Money without mission attracts mercenaries. Talent "for-hire" flows to the highest bidder, and refuses to drop anchor. In the absence of a compelling vision, leaders find themselves presiding over a collection of individuals rather than leading a team.
As Bill Taylor writes, "great people want to feel like they're part of something greater than themselves." By offering more than a paycheck, an aspiring leader attracts values-based performers. Such employees are likely to forge emotional ties to the organization, take ownership of its mission, and invest themselves to accomplish its vision.
2) Do you know a great person when you see one?
"When it comes to evaluating talent, character counts for as much as credentials," writes Taylor. Aspiring leaders are wise to hire people who, in addition to being competent, fit smoothly into the company's culture. To do so, it may be necessary to endure the inconvenience (and extra work) of a longstanding opening until a suitable candidate surfaces.
3) Can you find great people who aren't working for you?
Aspiring leaders may want to polish their sales pitch to attract star performers from outside the organization. According to Taylor, "Leaders who are content to fill their organizations with people actively looking for jobs risk attracting malcontents and mediocre performers."
Talent will not beat a path to your door. The best leaders are actively on the lookout for key contributors. They look to hire, not when the need arises, but whenever they locate peak performers.
4) Are you teaching great people how your company works and wins?
In an effort to showcase their leadership skills, insecure leaders may rally their team to outperform others within the organization. The result: a counterproductive spirit of competition instead of togetherness.
Smart leaders are wary of silos. They define the win for their team and connect that win to the company's overarching strategy. They recognize the power of a "we" mentality. As such, they prioritize connecting the performance of their people to the overall success of the company.
5) Are you as tough on yourself as you are on your people?
Bleed your creed. Undemonstrated or uncertain commitment on the part of a leader has a corrosive effect on that leader's influence. Followers resent leaders who are unwilling to make the investment they demand of those they supervise.
Oppositely, leaders who pay the price to fulfill lofty self-expectations earn the right to place high standards on their people. By doing so, they are imbuing their authority with authentic influence.
One of the expressions bandied about by political commentators this season has been of a candidate "finding a voice." In fact, in the space of about two months, seemingly every candidate found his or hers.
On November 11, 2007, TIME contributor, Ana Marie Cox, wrote about Senator Barack Obama "finding his voice," at a Democratic dinner party in Iowa.
During post-debate coverage on November 28, 2007, CNN's David Gergen asserted, "I think that the most presidential tonight was John McCain, who's found his voice again."
On January 9th 2008, Jack Horowitz of the New York Observer wrote about Hillary Clinton's primary election victory in New Hampshire. The headline? "Hillary, Triumphant, Finds Her Voice."
On January 16, 2008, Ana Marie Cox raised the question, "Has Romney Found His Voice?" in her article on Mitt Romney's first-place finish in the Michigan presidential primary.
In an April blog post, Stephen Covey tackles the nebulous concept of a leader's "voice." He feels that leaders "find a voice" when they 1) Tap into Talent 2) Find What Fuels Their Passion 3) Are Burdened with a Need 4) Take Action to Meet the Need.
Step 1: Tapping into Your Talent
Tapping into your talents starts with understanding where you excel. It involves recognizing your strengths and positioning yourself to leverage them. To tap into your talent consider the question: What am I good at doing?
Step 2: Fueling Your Passion
When you take part in activities that fill you with positive emotion, you are fueling your passion. Pursuits that spark your passion bring excitement, enthusiasm, joy, and fun. To fuel your passion, ask yourself: What do I love doing?
Step 3: Being Burdened with a Need
When a problem in society lodges itself in your heart and won't let go, then you have been burdened with a need. Perhaps, the need is an injustice you wish to remedy. Maybe it's a disease you would love to cure. Whatever the case, a burden gnaws at your conscience. To take stock of your biggest burden, wrestle with the question: What need must I serve?
Step 4: Meeting the Need
Once a need has arrested your attention, then you can find your voice by taking action. A need compels you to do something besides criticize from the sidelines. To meet the need, think about this question: How can I align my talent with my passion in order to meet the need that burdens me?
For more discussion about finding your voice, visit Stephen Covey's blog
Five Questions for Leaders With Newfound Authority
The most revealing chapter of a leader's journey begins when they ascend to their first position of influence. Much can be deciphered about a person's character by observing how they wield authority.
Don't misinterpret me; leadership transcends titles, and influence cannot be confined to positions of rank or seniority. Nonetheless, newfound authority carries the weight of responsibility. How a leader responds to that responsibility can be a measuring stick of their overall fitness to lead.
When leaders are handed authority, they enjoy broader latitude to exercise their leadership style. As positional leaders, they are able to implement their ideas more freely and instill their values more directly. The decisions they make at this critical juncture may either launch their careers or stunt their development.
In his blog for Harvard Business Publishing, Bill Taylor poses five questions aspiring leaders should consider as they assume the reigns of authority. For rising leaders, or those mentoring a leadership rookie, his material will be particularly beneficial.
Five Make-or-Break Questions for Aspiring Leaders
1) Why should great people want to work with you?
Money without mission attracts mercenaries. Talent "for-hire" flows to the highest bidder, and refuses to drop anchor. In the absence of a compelling vision, leaders find themselves presiding over a collection of individuals rather than leading a team.
As Bill Taylor writes, "great people want to feel like they're part of something greater than themselves." By offering more than a paycheck, an aspiring leader attracts values-based performers. Such employees are likely to forge emotional ties to the organization, take ownership of its mission, and invest themselves to accomplish its vision.
2) Do you know a great person when you see one?
"When it comes to evaluating talent, character counts for as much as credentials," writes Taylor. Aspiring leaders are wise to hire people who, in addition to being competent, fit smoothly into the company's culture. To do so, it may be necessary to endure the inconvenience (and extra work) of a longstanding opening until a suitable candidate surfaces.
3) Can you find great people who aren't working for you?
Aspiring leaders may want to polish their sales pitch to attract star performers from outside the organization. According to Taylor, "Leaders who are content to fill their organizations with people actively looking for jobs risk attracting malcontents and mediocre performers."
Talent will not beat a path to your door. The best leaders are actively on the lookout for key contributors. They look to hire, not when the need arises, but whenever they locate peak performers.
4) Are you teaching great people how your company works and wins?
In an effort to showcase their leadership skills, insecure leaders may rally their team to outperform others within the organization. The result: a counterproductive spirit of competition instead of togetherness.
Smart leaders are wary of silos. They define the win for their team and connect that win to the company's overarching strategy. They recognize the power of a "we" mentality. As such, they prioritize connecting the performance of their people to the overall success of the company.
5) Are you as tough on yourself as you are on your people?
Bleed your creed. Undemonstrated or uncertain commitment on the part of a leader has a corrosive effect on that leader's influence. Followers resent leaders who are unwilling to make the investment they demand of those they supervise.
Oppositely, leaders who pay the price to fulfill lofty self-expectations earn the right to place high standards on their people. By doing so, they are imbuing their authority with authentic influence.
THE BREAKING POINT
Breaking point is the point where you get to and you feel that you've had enough of the pain, the shame , the guilt , and the frustrations. you may be eating the best food on the table of your comfort zone feeling that you are the king of the world, never wanting to go out and try new ideas, seeking new informations, meeting new friends and seeing new places. Man is never made to be satisfied with one accomplishment, we are always made to seek for new ways to improve our life, to be different, to cause a raise in our situation. Just like a wire when stretched above the limit it can exceed will get taught and get broken so does your brain but in the reverse way. I think that may brain is always saying to me stretch me so that you will be very great. Research shows that the brain can take as many as more that a million informations and process them to give us a result. You own life breaking point is when you are tired of your prsent situation and you want a raise in your life. You are more than your limiting factor. My mentor Mr PRAISE FOWOWE always make it clear that the only nation you can travel to without a visa is the nation called imagination.
welcome and be aware that you are always getting to your point
welcome and be aware that you are always getting to your point
Play like a champion today
It's just a simple wooden sign, painted gold and blue and mounted on a cream-colored brick wall at the foot of a stairwell. Yet, the "Play Like A Champion Today" sign, found outside Notre Dame's locker room, is so much more.
The slogan "Play Like A Champion Today" is so synonymous with the University that one can be excused for believing that Father Edward Sorin, the school's founder, received it as a divine revelation in 1842.
While the exact origin of the slogan is not known, the sign that currently hangs in Notre Dame Stadium came courtesy of former coach Lou Holtz.
"I read a lot of books about the history of Notre Dame and its football program," Holtz explains. "I forget which book I was looking at - it had an old picture in it that showed the slogan `Play Like A Champion Today'.
"I said, `That is really appropriate; it used to be at Notre Dame and we needed to use it again.' So, I had that sign made up."
Soon, the tradition of hitting the sign before every game developed. Holtz even used a copy of the sign when traveling to road contests to help motivate the team. The players took no time in embracing Holtz's idea.
"(The players) were encouraged by it; I told them the history of it, that this had been here years ago. I didn't know who took it down, I don't know why it wasn't here when I came here, but this is part of Notre Dame tradition and this is what we're going to do," Holtz says.
"Hopefully, it will be here for years to come."
Chances are it will, as the sign still inspires the same feelings that Holtz hoped it would back in 1986.
"(Whenever I see it) I think `Why not? Why not today? Why not this game? Why not right now?'" sophomore left tackle Ryan Harris says. "You just remember what you're out here to do. You came to Notre Dame to be a champion and every time I see it, I think `Why not? Let's go do it!'"
Fifth-year senior Carlyle Holiday vividly remembers his first encounter with the famous sign. "The first time I hit it, Anthony Denman, who was a linebacker here, said when you hit it, you better mean it." Holiday recalls. "The guys take it seriously, so it meant a lot to me. I knew you had to come out with intensity when you hit that sign."
As Holiday's Notre Dame career comes to a close, the slogan has taken on a special meaning.
"You know that the time is coming when you won't be able to hit that sign for very long, so you've got to take advantage of it and cherish every moment you get to hit that sign when coming down the tunnel."
Former Irish coach Gerry Faust, a great believer in motivational tools, has spoken to the team at various times and believes in the power of the "Champion" message.
"The word `champion' means you're the best - the very definition of it," Faust says. "You're a bar above the rest. When you play that way, you're going to be the best and if you give your best, that's all you can ask of a person."
To Holtz - the man who resurrected what has become even a worldwide phenomenon - the hitting of the sign comes with a solemn commitment.
"Regardless of the won-loss record, regardless of the problems you have, when you walk out on that field you have an obligation to your teammates and the fans to play to the best of your ability - to play like a champion and to think like a champion," Holtz says.
"But, I also asked my players that every time they hit that sign, to think about all the sacrifices your family has made; your teammates made in high school; the sacrifices your teachers have made; and you also think of the thousands of people who would love to be in your position. Just think about how fortunate we are.
"All of these thoughts should go through your mind when you hit that sign - `Play Like A Champion Today'."
The slogan "Play Like A Champion Today" is so synonymous with the University that one can be excused for believing that Father Edward Sorin, the school's founder, received it as a divine revelation in 1842.
While the exact origin of the slogan is not known, the sign that currently hangs in Notre Dame Stadium came courtesy of former coach Lou Holtz.
"I read a lot of books about the history of Notre Dame and its football program," Holtz explains. "I forget which book I was looking at - it had an old picture in it that showed the slogan `Play Like A Champion Today'.
"I said, `That is really appropriate; it used to be at Notre Dame and we needed to use it again.' So, I had that sign made up."
Soon, the tradition of hitting the sign before every game developed. Holtz even used a copy of the sign when traveling to road contests to help motivate the team. The players took no time in embracing Holtz's idea.
"(The players) were encouraged by it; I told them the history of it, that this had been here years ago. I didn't know who took it down, I don't know why it wasn't here when I came here, but this is part of Notre Dame tradition and this is what we're going to do," Holtz says.
"Hopefully, it will be here for years to come."
Chances are it will, as the sign still inspires the same feelings that Holtz hoped it would back in 1986.
"(Whenever I see it) I think `Why not? Why not today? Why not this game? Why not right now?'" sophomore left tackle Ryan Harris says. "You just remember what you're out here to do. You came to Notre Dame to be a champion and every time I see it, I think `Why not? Let's go do it!'"
Fifth-year senior Carlyle Holiday vividly remembers his first encounter with the famous sign. "The first time I hit it, Anthony Denman, who was a linebacker here, said when you hit it, you better mean it." Holiday recalls. "The guys take it seriously, so it meant a lot to me. I knew you had to come out with intensity when you hit that sign."
As Holiday's Notre Dame career comes to a close, the slogan has taken on a special meaning.
"You know that the time is coming when you won't be able to hit that sign for very long, so you've got to take advantage of it and cherish every moment you get to hit that sign when coming down the tunnel."
Former Irish coach Gerry Faust, a great believer in motivational tools, has spoken to the team at various times and believes in the power of the "Champion" message.
"The word `champion' means you're the best - the very definition of it," Faust says. "You're a bar above the rest. When you play that way, you're going to be the best and if you give your best, that's all you can ask of a person."
To Holtz - the man who resurrected what has become even a worldwide phenomenon - the hitting of the sign comes with a solemn commitment.
"Regardless of the won-loss record, regardless of the problems you have, when you walk out on that field you have an obligation to your teammates and the fans to play to the best of your ability - to play like a champion and to think like a champion," Holtz says.
"But, I also asked my players that every time they hit that sign, to think about all the sacrifices your family has made; your teammates made in high school; the sacrifices your teachers have made; and you also think of the thousands of people who would love to be in your position. Just think about how fortunate we are.
"All of these thoughts should go through your mind when you hit that sign - `Play Like A Champion Today'."
Who is Great between Ronaldinho and Messi?
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira aka ronaldinho is a player of great fleet that even the world would stand to see him play in the pitch.now as am writing this article in regards to two players who are shaking the world,in regards to thier power on the field there is none greater between these two players as they have shown that to be great on the field you need to obey the law of teamwork.
From his book the 17 irrefutable law of teamwork, John C Maxwel said that ' one is too small a number to achieve greatness'. So for anything great to be achieved then you must be in the team. The New England Patriots' locker room states "Individuals play the game ,but teams win championships."
From my own view I can say that there is none greater than the other but the sharpening of the skills through the help of the team that will always make you to stand out. So may I end this join a team that will lead you to your total accomplishment.
From his book the 17 irrefutable law of teamwork, John C Maxwel said that ' one is too small a number to achieve greatness'. So for anything great to be achieved then you must be in the team. The New England Patriots' locker room states "Individuals play the game ,but teams win championships."
From my own view I can say that there is none greater than the other but the sharpening of the skills through the help of the team that will always make you to stand out. So may I end this join a team that will lead you to your total accomplishment.
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