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| Volume 2, Issue 10 | November 2003 |
| Jeff Yalden | |||||
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Thoughts to Live by "Adversity is an experience, not a final act." - Michael LeBoueuf, Ph.D. "Everybody ought to do at least two things each day that he or she hates to do, just for practice." - William James "Everybody is born in-purpose, it's because of our influences that we become STUPID." - Jeff Yalden "If you have a dream, give it a chance to happen." - Richard de Vos
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Your Voice Matters As I travel the United States it has become evident that young people have good opinions and should be used as credible resources. I not only speak to over half a million youth annually but, I ALSO LISTEN! They are intelligent, knowledgeable, and capable and so are the caring adults who try to lead them in positive directions. It is my hope that this newsletter reaches over 10,000 people this year giving a voice to young people and the adults who guide them. The goal is to bring together youth and adult leaders by providing stories, comments and other educational resources. I thank you for your support and encourage you to use and pass this newsletter on to anyone you think would benefit. I offer thoughts and opinions and in no way intend to offend or insult anyone. I am sure you understand. Should you like to add something that you think would benefit the masses of in-purpose people please feel free to email me at jeffyalden@aol.com. To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind; To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet; To make all your friends feel that there is something in them; To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true; To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best; To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own; To forget the mistakes of the past and
press on to the greater achievements of the future; To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others; To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble; To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds; To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you. C.D. Larson Here's the premise: We are all, right now, living the life we choose. This choice, of course, is not a single,
monumental choice. No one decides, for example, "I'm going to move to L.A.,
and in five years I will be a waiter in a so-so restaurant, planning to get
my 8-by-10's done No. The choices I'm talking about here are made daily, hourly, moment by moment. Do we try something new, or stick to the tried-and-true? Do we take a risk, or eat what's already on our dish? Do we ponder a thrilling adventure, or contemplate what's on TV? Do we walk over and meet that interesting stranger, or do we play it safe? Do we indulge our heart, or cater to our fear? The bottom-line question: Do we pursue what we want, or do we do what's comfortable? For the most part, most people most often choose comfort - the familiar, the time-honored, the well-worn but well-known. After a lifetime of choosing between comfort and risk, we are left with the life we currently have. And it was all of our own choosing. Peter McWilliams I start with a simple question: Do you consider yourself to be honest and at least reasonably intelligent? Okay. As an honest, intelligent person, do you, as a general rule, get about twice as much work done on the day of deadline as you normally get done? Now I am going to ask you a long question, so stay with me all the way through. If we can figure out why and learn how and repeat it every day without working any longer or any harder, does it make sense that we will be more valuable to ourselves, our students, our people, our family and our community? The answer is definitely "Yes." I want to make it crystal clear that I am communicating with you about you - I'm not referring to anybody else, but to you about you. You have already confessed that you are an honest and intelligent person. Now on the day of deadline or the day before a nice long well deserved vacation, do you get your laptop or a sheet of paper out and plan, "Now today I've got to do this, this, and also this and this...." We've given this a very clever name --we call it GOAL SETTING. So, you set your goals. Then you get them organized in the order of their importance. Then you tackle it one goal at a time. You slowly but efficiently complete the goals you have set for yourself. Let me encourage you to make one slight change here. Take care of the most difficult and challenging things first. Put them in order and have the three most challenging tasks at the top of the list. You will feel good once that is complete and have momentum finishing off everything else. Free your mind so you can concentrate on what else you have got to do. You get it organized. You accept responsibility. You make the commitments. You take action. Now commitment is important whether it is to finish school, to get your education, make one more call, practice one more hour, clean your room, keep the marriage together or whatever. Commitment is important because when you hit the wall--not IF, but WHEN you hit the wall--if you have made a commitment your first thought is, "How do I solve the problem?" If you haven't made the commitment your first thought is, "How do I get out of this deal?" And we find literally what we are looking for. When you make that commitment, things happen. It shows that you are dependable and trustworthy. Your integrity comes through. Have you ever participated in organized team sports? Did you ever go home one night and say to your parents something like, "Mom, Dad, you won't believe the game plan the coach has worked out. Man alive, it is incredible. We're going to kill those suckers tomorrow. You can count on it." You were optimistic simply because you had a plan of action, and likewise you are optimistic that tomorrow you are going to be able to get all of the things done that need to be done before you can go on that vacation or take time off after the deadline. Now some of us are born optimistic, and some are born pessimistic. For your information, the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary does not have the word pessimist in it. It has the word optimist. But the good news is if you are a natural born pessimist, you definitely can change. You are a pessimist by choice because you are what you are and where you are because of what's gone into your mind. You can change what you are; you can change where you are, by changing what goes into your mind. Anyway, on the day of deadline or the day before that nice vacation you are looking forward to, you not only get to work or school on time, but you are a little early and you immediately get started. You don't stand around and say, "Well, I wonder what I ought to do now." You can't wait to get after it. You want to do the right thing so you get started in a big hurry. You are enthusiastic about it. You are highly motivated. You quickly and decisively move from one task to another. Now I am going to camp on this one for just a moment. Have you noticed that as a general rule people who have nothing to do want to do it with you? It's true, isn't it? Now, on this day of deadline, when you finish one task you move with purpose to another one. And people just will not block you for that two-minute gossip session or four-minute or five-minute or six-minute chat. They will not look to waste your time as they see your are moving with purpose. I am absolutely convinced and have no doubt about it that the listener has more to do with gossiping than the speaker does, because if you don't listen nobody is going to gossip to you. They just won't. When you move with purpose, people will step aside and let you go. I will absolutely guarantee that you will save a minimum of an hour a day in two, three and five minute spurts of time. An hour a day is five hours per week is 250 hours per year. That is six weeks of your life that you've wasted and six weeks of combined time that you have wasted with people who have been gossiping with you. What could you do with six extra weeks every year? Focus on the issue at hand. Discipline yourself to stay with it until you finish. Treat every day like it's the day of deadline or the day before vacation and you will get more work done! You'll be more productive and efficient in reaching your goals. (top) "We need to hold ourselves and our students to a higher standard. We need to raise the bar. If we/they don't assume responsibility today for our/their actions, than we/they will not assume it later in life either. Hold yourself/them to higher standards and be accountable. You are only helping yourself/them and teaching yourself/them that it is righteousness over happiness. It is responsibilities and obligations over right and privileges." (top) Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it will achieve. Dream great dreams and make them come true. Do it now! You are unique. In all the history of the world there was never anyone else exactly like you, and in all the infinity to come there will never be another you. Never affirm self-limitations. What you believe yourself to be, you are. To accomplish great things, you must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost - put foundations under them. Yes you can. Believing is magic, you can always better your best. You donāt know what you can do until you try. Nothing will come of nothing. If you donāt go out on a limb, you're never going to get the fruit. There is no failure except in no longer trying. Hazy goals produce hazy results. Clearly define your goals. Write them down, make a plan for achieving them, set a deadline, visualize the results and go after them. Just donāt look back unless you want to go that way. Defeat may test you; it need not stop you. If at first you donāt succeed, try another way. For every obstacle there is a solution. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. The greatest mistake is giving up. Wishing will not bring success, but planning, persistence and burning desire will. There is a gold mine within you from which you can extract all the necessary ingredients. Success is an attitude. Get yours right. It is astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen. I CAN! (top) The Jeff Yalden Experience? .. Priceless! "Dear Jeff, It was just yesterday that you came to my school in Dillsburg PA, and in the short amount of time you have changed me personally. It was too bad that you could only have been with us for an hour, but within that hour I know that you brought everyone in Northern High School together! The rest of the day, you were all everyone talked about. You are just so funny and real that we want you to come back. You have changed my life forever and keep up the good work!!!!"
Coy Wire - An Excellent Role Model for Youth Jeff Yalden supports his good friend and Buffalo Bill - Coy Wire - a graduate of Stanford University and a third round draft pick of the Bills. Coy in his rookie year surpassed all expectations from the Buffalo Bills and started in every game. He is a great athlete, role model, and person. His character, unselfishness, and loyalty to his family and friends set a great example for young people. For more information on Coy and his foundation please visit the www.CoyWireFoundation.com. (top) Jeff's Upcoming Schedule
For my complete schedule, please visit my website - www.jeffyalden.com - and browse through the months. You can help me to schedule schools by kindly passing my name around to people you know in education. I would truly appreciate your help. It has always been word of mouth that has been my best advertisement. Don't forget to keep in touch. I have always said that speaking is a great way for me to meet new friends. Leave a legacy and make a difference! Have a great month! Your friend for life, Jeff (top) |
Jeff's Audio Message for November:
Push the play button to hear Jeff's message. Don't see the play button or would like to hear more from Jeff? Then follow the link below: The Portable Jeff:
Keep It Simple - A Teenagers Guide to Life This book embodies the Jeff Yalden philosophy. Since 2000, this book has sold thousands of copies both within the continental US and internationally. "Life isn't complicated, we complicate life".. Read more.. (and for ordering information)
Traits of a Leader - A Character Based Workbook for Student Leaders This book covers the most important elements on the subject of character to help you become the kind of person you want to be. Read more.. (and for ordering information)
LEAD NOW or Step Aside! A must-read for student educators and leaders - written by Jeff and 15 of today's top education speakers. Read more.. (and for ordering information) Preview Jeff
Click on Jeff's image to get a glimpse of the excitement he'll bring to your school. Bring Jeff to Your Event "It was worth more than four years of college" - T. O'Rourke, Principal, Bishop Nuemann HS, Williampsort, PA Contact Jeff today to find out how you can put his powerful message to work to positively impact the lives of your students. Call 1-800-948-9289 to find out how to bring Jeff to your next educational event or visit us on-line at JeffYalden.com. My goal is to reach 10,000 people with this newsletter over the next year but I need your help. If you know someone who will benefit from this message - a student, educator, parent - please pass it on. Use the Forward to a Friend link below to send a copy of this issue to anyone who will benefit from it. Don't worry, they won't be subscribed unless they ask to be. Each issue I will report our progress towards this goal. This newsletter is currently reaching 1700 subscribers! Only 8300 to go by June 2004! Subscriber Information New Subscribers To Unsubscribe
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