Good Morning: Share Your Smile...

“Smile today … one smile can make miles and miles of smiles.” ~Lisa’s Mother   Good morning!   A while ago I received a wonderful email that is perfect to share with you as a Good Morning message.   Lisa wrote, “I was just sending an email out to some friends and remembered a saying my mom has always said to me since I was really young and thought I would share it with you. ‘Smile today … one smile can make miles and miles of smiles.’”   “I remember thinking about this when I was about 6 – 7 and...

Good Morning: Life is a Mirror...

“Life is just a mirror, and what you see out there, you must first see inside of you.” ~Wally Famous’ Amos   Good morning!   Want a quick way to measure how you feel about yourself and what type of attitude you have? Answer this question: how do you see the world around you today? If you see the world as scary, worrisome, negative or stressful–odds are you are holding these feelings within. Likewise, if you see the world as hopeful, optimistic and joy-filled, you likely embrace those feelings within. We can’t capture the invisible. If...

Good Morning: Stop “Wasting”...

“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.” ~Harvey MacKay   Good morning!   Our time is more valuable than money. Our time is the one thing money can’t buy. If only we would protect and cherish our time like we would a winning lottery ticket. One of my mentors is a very successful CEO who has gone through vigorous, top-notch, elite training programs. When I asked him for advice, he shared that the single most...

Good Morning: To Get the Best, You Must ...

“You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself.” ~Anonymous   Good morning!   What a simple and true wisdom today’s quote holds.  Often when we get frustrated with someone in our life, whether it be a colleague, a friend or a family member, we begin focusing on “what’s wrong,” or use it as an excuse not to go the extra mile.   However, like attracts like, and when we behave like this we then attract “half-hearted efforts” from those around us. The cycle continues until we find ourselves with a...

Good Morning: Live in a Garden of Happi...

“One of the most tragic things about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” ~Dale Carnegie   Good morning!   If you were to gather 100 people in a room and ask them to write down their happiest times, you would likely find the lists had one thing in common. Our happiest times come when we connect with others and give the best of ourselves. Yet, these happy times can be hard to come by since human nature is...

Good Morning: Learn to re-Start Your Day...

“I can start my day over anytime I choose.” ~Brook Noel   Good morning!   While my mother and I were chatting recently, she reminded me of something I had done as a little girl. Every once in a while, she would see me stop for a moment and close my eyes as if intently concentrating on something. One day, when I was doing this after lunch, she asked me what I was doing. I informed her that, “My day isn’t going that good, so I am starting it over.” I don’t know where I learned the skill, but it has served me well.   A while ago, I...

Good Morning: Have an Attitude of Gratit...

How beautiful a day is when kindness touches it.” ~Unknown   Good morning!   When I was 10, I was a math whiz. My mother was always helping kids in our neighborhood and we often took in a child who might have been having problems in their home. One year, we took in a young man who was around 18 and wanted to get into the military. Unfortunately, his education had been lacking and he was unable to pass the math test. I went to my school principal and asked if he could loan me elementary math books. I started tutoring him 2 hours a night, beginning with first...

Good Morning: How You Feel Colors the Wo...

“Life is just a mirror, and what you see out there, you must first see inside of you.” ~Wally Famous’ Amos   Good morning!   Want a quick way to measure how you feel about yourself and what type of attitude you have? Answer this question: how do you see the world around you today? If you see the world as scary, worrisome, negative or stressful–odds are you are holding these feelings within. Likewise, if you see the world as hopeful, optimistic and joy-filled, you likely embrace those feelings within. We can’t capture the invisible. If we...

Good Morning: Share a Good Morning with ...

“Thoughts are energy. And you can make your world or break your world by your own thinking.” ~ Susan L. Taylor, journalist   Good morning!   For those of you who have sincerely practiced one or more of the Good Morning routines, you have likely noticed that a chipper good morning has a drastic influence on your morning, and therefore the rest of your day. Just as we say ‘breakfast’ is the most important physical component of a day, I feel a ‘good morning’ is the most important emotional component of our day. It also shows how...

Good Morning: Embrace Change...

“When the root is planted deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” ~ Chinese proverb   Good morning!   As we end this new week… take a moment to analyze how deep your devotion to change is planted. Are you looking for a quick solution or are you committed to making lasting change? I always say that the Make Today Matter Program is for those who have tried enough “quick fixes” to realize they are a long and endless spiral with little result.   But change is tough. Today, and every day, it is important to review your reasons for...