The Art of Exceptional Living

Anytime you feel like quitting throughout your career, perhaps you’ll remember this story of one of our people: When he was born he was given the nickname “Sparky.” School was very difficult for Sparky, and he failed eighth grade. He also flunked several subjects in high school, the same high school that I attended a few years later. He wasn’t very good in sports either. He did make the school’s golf team, but he lost the most important match of the season and the consolation match too. Throughout his youth, Sparky was awkward. He felt he was a loser and other kids avoided him. One thing that was important to him, however, was his artwork.  He spent most of his free time drawing. He offered sketches to the high school yearbook, but they were rejected. Later on he submitted his cartoons to many publications and studios, including Disney, and he was turned down by every single one. Sparky was drafted into World War II, later stating, “The Army taught me all I need...

The key to make your life really unique and worthwhile is to share what you know, because sharing has a certain unique magic of its own. If you share an idea with 10 different people, they get to hear it once and you get to hear it 10 times—getting you even better prepared for the future. Share ideas with your family, with the people around you, with other employees, with your colleagues. If you share with someone else, they could be transformed. You may have dropped in at the right time—this may be their moment, the moment the door will open and there’s opportunity they never saw before. But here’s what else is exciting: The person who speaks could be transformed, too. Because guess what, we’re all looking for transformation for our new life—the new life tomorrow, this month, this year, next year. One day the caterpillar says, “I think I was made for more than this crawling on the ground.” So the caterpillar climbs the tree, attaches himself to a leaf an...

    Jim Rohn, the philosopher who has left an indelible legacy of time-proven principles and wisdom, shares his secret for making an impact.   “You know me, I am a philosopher. I love principles. Yes, actions are great and I talk about them regularly, but the important stuff is what lies underneath—the principles,” Rohn says.    Here are the principles he says we must commit to in order to leave the legacy we desire: 1. Life is best lived in service to others. This doesn’t mean that we do not strive for the best for ourselves. It does mean that in all things we serve other people , including our family, co-workers and friends. 2. Consider others’ interests as important as your own. Much of the world suffers simply because people consider only their own interests. People are looking out for number one, but the way to leave a legacy is to also look out for others. 3. Love your neighbor even if you don’t like him. It is inter...

I’m often asked the question, “How can I help someone else change, improve, be better?” My answer often comes as a surprise, and here it is: The key to helping others is to help  you  first. In other words, the best contribution I can make to someone else is  my own personal development . If I become 10 times wiser or 10 times stronger, think of what that will do for my adventure as a father… as a business colleague… as a friend. Related:  Why Personal Development Is Critical to Success​ So the best gift  you  can give to others, really, is your ongoing personal development—getting better, getting stronger, becoming wiser. If you have ever ridden in an airplane, then you might have noticed the oxygen compartment located above every seat. There are explicit instructions that say, “In case of an emergency, secure your own mask before helping others.”  Take care of yourself first.  If we used that same philosophy throughout our...