Dr. Success

Imagine

2012-01-23T16:26:00.000-08:00

Today begins the year of the Dragon in the Chinese tradition. This photo to the left was taken by Stew Gibbons today. Dr. Success Challenge: Look at the photo for about a minute. Then answer the following question: If I was brave, I would take action toward ____________ in 2012.

Happy Year of the Dragon. Thank you Stew Gibbons. May the Year of the Dragon usher in a year of great prosperity.

Andrea T. Goeglein, Phd

www.ServingSuccess.com

Ready to Sing Your Own Song?

2012-01-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

Twelve days into to 2012 the question is: Are you ready YET to sing your own song? Listen to a conversation I had with Dr. Marilee Adams founder of the Inquiry Institute.

Dr. Adams book, Change Your Questions, Change Your Life has sold almost 100,000 copies and a must read recommendation for anyone wanting a path approach to crafting their present and future. Her site offers a free download map process discussed in the book.

Of course you can get the book on Amazon.

Thank you, Marilee for a great interview. Andrea

Action vs. Reaction

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Last week on a radio interview with Amy Ayoub on her show Moving People to Action, I made the following statement: "It is better to take action than take no action."

Today during my morning reflection time, I realized there is a major caveat I must mention about my belief in taking action. That caveat is the following: Take action if you are in the daily habit of reflecting quietly for some period each day. What I am saying is that the habit of NO ACTION must be an integral part of your TAKING ACTION.

Just sit with that. Comment or reach out at DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com if you would like further clarification or to contribute your thinking on my position. If you would like to hear the interview where I made the above statement here it is: http://www.movingpeopletoaction.com/services/mpta-radio/216-serving-success

Thank you and enjoy your happy no action, take action, day! Andrea

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DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

www.ServingSuccess.com

364 Day Question

2012-01-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

One day down. 364 days left in 2012 (or 354 if you are Mayan). I decided to ask myself one question each morning, each day of 2012: How would I live each day of 2012 if I really believed 12/21/12 was the end of the world?

Would I worry about the past, or find joy in the only seconds I have left?

I have 86,400 chances to make the right choice each day.

So do you.
Happy choosing. Happy 2012. Peace, Andrea
http://www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
Lots of great reviews of personal development books on http://www.youtube.com/ under my name Andrea Goeglein or ServingSuccess
If you need to write to me: DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
http://www.servingsuccess.com/

Open Windows

2011-12-29T18:29:00.000-08:00

Like everyone in business I am doing a year-end evaluation. Like many, the numbers are not adding in the right direction. Twice as much work. Half as much revenue. Then I got an email that read:

Song Unsung has been sitting on mydesk since I got it. I read a couple of pages and then it was quickly buriedunder a mound of issues and projects.

I picked it back up this morning,read it and watched Gary sing his heart out.

I love this little book and thebeautiful creation you made. I can't wait for your next one.

You are an inspiration, a remarkableand intelligent woman. I am so glad to know you.

Twice as much work. Half as much revenue. Unmeasurable gratitude. Thank you!

Closing Doors

2011-12-27T07:41:00.000-08:00

Although I have not been writing often since the launch of my newest book, I have written a bit about making lists and using this time of year when we 'make lists and check them twice' to also makes lists that will aid in your personal growth. Today I am writing about another kind of list. This list should be entitled: Doors I Should Close List.

A personal development adage about doors goes like this, "When one door closes, another (or a window) opens." This adage feels a bit powerless to me. It feels as though, yet again, I was the victim of something negative happening 'to me'. I am suggesting you be a bit proactive in your development today. I am suggesting you make a list of 'doors' you have walked through enough and it is time that you take an action and close the door.

To often we wait for a door to close when we should have locked the door a long time ago. The door -- the relationship -- be it a business, love, community or even spiritual -- had served it's purpose in our lives and our lives in theirs. The 'reason and season' had come and gone, yet we held on. We waited for them to close the door.

Dr. Success Challenge: Make a list of doors (relationships) you should respectfully close. If you need to take an action to close the relationship, take that action. A respectful closing might look like a letter thanking the person for being in your life and stating you will not be in communication going forward. Maybe it is a job you need to leave. Of course, find a new one or find the financial support needed to end that relationship prior to taking action, but take action.

Here is the interesting thing about actively closing a door in your relationship life -- you can also choose to re-open it at some point. When you choose to respectfully end a relationship you can choose to respectfully approach that door -- I mean relationship -- again if something changes in the future. That is usually not the case when you wait so long that the door is slammed shut on you and you are sent scrambling to find an open window out of which to crawl.

Happy list making. Happy door closing. Happy window shopping.
Andrea Goeglein, Phd
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

Gifts

2011-12-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

Tis the seasons to be thinking, buying, wrapping, and sendinggifts. Tis also the season to rememberyou have natural gifts that lead to your life satisfaction and success –naturally -- if you use them. The reasonlife is better, more satisfying and more successful if you use your naturaltalents is summed up best by Rickie Byars Beckwith,

“A gift is not our ticket to ride – it is our ticket tolove.”

When you allow yourself the gift of using, appreciating andsharing your gifts you automatically develop emotional responses that replicatethe feelings of love in your memory.

Dr. Success Challenge: Make a list of your natural gifts. During the next 7 days lovingly use your gifts and notice how manypeople smile in response when you are doing something that uses one of yourgifts. Remember to put yourself on thatlist – notice how often you smile when you use your natural gifts.

If you have not had the opportunity to take the free Valuesin Action survey highlighting your natural character gifts go to: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx

May your season be merry and bright, Andrea
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
In addition to Rickie's inspirational book Surrender, Don't Die with Your Song Unsung would make a great last minute gift -- a book about the using your gifts with love.

Winter

2011-12-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

Giant Leap Consulting posted the following in theirnewsletter:

During the winter months, our pace often slows down. If welook around us, nature seems to do it too. Animals hibernate, trees go bare,growth slows down and prepares for the warmth of Spring. Now is also anopportune time for organizations to consider what they want to achieve in thenew year. What mark will you make? What innovation will you try? What risk willyou take?

At Giant Leap, we believe in the value of planning. Ourexperience has helped us to develop a strong model for strategic planning andimplementation. This month, we want to share some of those resources with you.

This message is an organizational version of what Gary Russoexperienced in the ‘winter’ of his life – and the actions he took lead to anincredible spring, summer and fall. Readhow Gary transformed his life in Don’t Die with Your Song Unsung.

If your need is organizational, I suggest you check outGiant Leap Consulting. I highlyrecommend them.

Dr. Success Challenge: The challenge is to remember: What you begin in winter, determines how you spring intoaction and harvest your visions.

Thank you, Andrea Goeglein, PhD

866-975-3777

DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

Blue Note and Gary Russo

2011-12-09T08:36:00.001-08:00

How is this for an incredible endorsement of Gary Russo's singing and entertainment power? This came from the of the famed Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.

"Over the years, the Blue Note has given ashot to a number of artists. Though only a select few like Michael Buble have become household names, we
consider the Blue Note to be a place that fosters up-and-coming talent. Gary was all over the news for serenading New Yorkers at the 2nd avenue subway
construction site, and when we were approached about giving him an opening slot, we were more than happy to give him a chance. Gary has a warm voice, all of the qualities of a great performer, and an inspiring story that, thanks to Inside Edition, Americans can identify with and appreciate. We
hope Gary continues to sing - the sky's the limit!"
- Jonathan Kantor, Publicist & Marketing Director, Blue Note Jazz Club

And, of course, you can read that inspiring story in Don't Die with Your Song Unsung! Even if you do not buy the book, you can start putting action to your dreams by downloading the free journal pages from the book at www.ServingSuccess.com

Thank you, Andrea Goeglein, Phd
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

What Getting it Right Looks Like

2011-12-07T08:48:00.001-08:00

I read this piece this morning by Eva Hogan from Spirituality & Health Magazine -- a favorite by the way. What I can say about this piece is that this is what everyone who works in personal development longs for -- someone asking a question, hearing answers for themselves, and then owning the answers as their own and taking action from that place of ownership. Cannot get more personally developed than that!

http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/blog/your-own-inner-wisdom-gives-the-best-advice/

Peace, Andrea
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Die-Your-Song-Unsung/dp/0984715606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321898776&sr=8-1

Three Minutes with the President

2011-12-02T13:30:00.001-08:00

Sometime in 2009 I was at a dinner and someone posed a conversation starter: If you had 3 minutes with the President Obama, what would you ask or say. For me the answer was easy. "Please do not violate my ethical trust in you." Notice I did not say, please don't cheat on your wife. Personally, not my business. Stay with me here. The President does not make an ethical vow to me to be sexually faithful. He makes that vow presumably to his wife. No, I just don't want the President -- any President, any party -- not to break their ethical vow to me. That means you do not lie -- period, clean and simple.

If you are asked a question and you cannot or do not want to answer immediately, say something creative like, "I will not answer that question right now." Just don't lie.

Herman Cain take note. If you cannot do the small stuff like "just don't lie" why on earth would I trust you to rule the greatest country in the world. Your infidelity is your wife's problem. You not being smart enough or ethical enough not to lie or to reflect on your answer when asked about infidelity, is mine. I expect the President of the greatest nation in the world to have the ethical depth of something greater than a puddle. Herman Cain, you could not even dog paddle.

It made me happy to write this. Now I can put my attention where it really matters: helping myself and others live to their greatest human potential.

Thank you.

Hope to Recession-Weary Workers

2011-11-21T19:19:00.001-08:00

Gary Russo, a construction-worker-turned-singing-sensation,releases Don’t Die with Your Song Unsung, a small book that translates his remarkable story into inspiration forevery worker who feels stuck in a job and unable to pursue personal dreams.

NEW YORK, New York – November 7, 2011: Blue-collarworker Gary Russo literally rose above the noise and heat of hissubway-construction job in New York to pursue his dream of singing in public.In Don’t Die with Your Song Unsung (ServingSuccessPublishing, November 2011, $15.95), a new book co-authored with Dr. Andrea T.Goeglein, he inspires others to pursue their dreams.

Recession-weary workers nationwide could use thisinspiration. A recent Gallup poll showed that roughly one-third of U.S. workersare dissatisfied by the amount of on-the-job stress and 26% citedissatisfaction stemming from a lack of promotion opportunities.[i]Worn down by a perceived lack of opportunity in a stressful workplace, workershave most likely shelved their dreams.

Russo’s story andGoeglein’s personal development commentary in Don’t Die with Your Song Unsung tell readers that they don’t haveto settle for where they are. “I worked for a great company, but I was justgoing through the motions,” reflects Russo. “My life changed completely in 31days. Now my goal is to help others understand that they, too, can pursue theirdreams while also holding down a job and paying the bills. My message is: If Icould do it, you can, too.”

Russo transformed what could have been aflash of fame into a lifetime commitment to help others smile, dream, and knowthe power of love.He stepped onto the main stage of his lifethrough the magic of an August 2, 2011 YouTube video. Known as the “2nd AvenueSubway Sinatra,” Gary has shared his song and live-your-dreams message throughmedia outlets such as Good MorningAmerica, World News Tonight withBrian Williams, and Inside Edition,and at premier venues including New York’s famous Blue Note Jazz Club, RockefellerCenter, and the ING New York City Marathon start line, where a televisioncommentator hailed him as “a New York legend.”

Andrea T.Goeglein, PhD, aka Dr. Success^®, is founder, curator, and author ofthe Don’t Die, Small Book, Big Impactpersonal development series. As an expert in Positive Psychology, she translatestrue stories into actionable inspiration. Andrea frequently appears on KAZ-TV’sAM Arizona; she has also appeared on the RachaelRay show and on major radio networks across the nation.

Don’t Die books makeaffordable, high-impact gifts that convey support and encouragement duringthese tough times. They are available for purchase at Amazon and at http://www.ServingSuccess.com/

[i]Survey conducted August 10 – 14, 2011. Full results can be found at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/149324/workers-unhappy-health-benefits-promotions.aspx

Making Lists

2011-11-18T08:08:00.000-08:00

Tis' the Season...I will not comment on my feeling about the commericalization of the season we are entering. Instead, I will focus on a great habit that has come from this season and how to use it move forward with your life goals. The habit I am referring to is the making of lists.

During the next few weeks we will be making lists for all the extra groceries we need to prepare the larger than usual meals, all the gifts we will purchase to spread joy (and increase stress) and all the things we want to do differently come the first of the New Year.

Dr. Success Challenge: Before you make the lists mentioned above, made a list of all the things that went well in 2011. If a negative remembrance comes into your mind, honor it, write it down, then cross it out and keep thinking about the things that went well. Example:

Got a promotion.
Closed a major sale I had been working on for two years.
Took a well needed vacation that was paid for before I ever left home with the sales commission.
Car was stolen from airport parking lot. (Do I need to tell you to cross that one out?)
Had to spend the first few days I was back from my vacation filling out insurance claims. (Cross out!)
Realized I had insurance and will be getting a newer car because prices are lower this time of year.

There you go...start making your list...then you will be ready for the holidays. Oh, and of course, if you want a great gift idea for under $20 for anyone who feels stuck in a rut - Don't Die with Your Song Unsung is available on Amazon.

Remember, everytime you take an action to help your self live a life of success, you are already living a successful life. A successful life is a life lived moment-by-moment.

Thank you, Andrea

Setting Goals and Failure

2011-11-16T14:46:00.001-08:00

This week I set an ambitious goal. I wanted my newest book, Don’t Die with YourSong Unsung, with Gary Russo, to make the top of the Amazon chart in self-help booksales.

I set a goal.

I asked for help.
The help and love showed up from all over the place.
The goal was not met.

Dr. Success Challenge: How do you remain optimistic when a goal is not met?

One solution: Do agap analysis of the situation.

The first gap you analyze is the goal gap. The goal gap is a simple question “Is thegoal one that I really want to achieve?”
If the answer is yes, then you do step two of a gap analysis:you measure the original goal against the result and determine the ‘gap’.
Next, you reset the goal to fill the gap and take thenecessary action or actions to reach the goal.

And always remember the words of Henry Ford: Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this timemore intelligently.

Thank you to all who supported our initial goal. Andrea

Don't Die Thank You

2011-11-14T14:33:00.001-08:00

Take AIM on Happiness

2011-11-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

Now that the new Don't Die book is complete and on the market, its time to get back to the great teachings and teachers of Positive Psychology. The following is a blog post by Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener. To learn more about Dr. Biswas-Diener's work and the learning opportunities he offers, go to:

Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener
Positive Acorn, LLC
www.positiveacorn.com

There's more to this pleasantfeeling than you think!

A few years ago a friend andcolleague of mine-- Sonja Lyubomirsky-- wrote a book about the science ofwell-being called "The How of Happiness." In this book Sonja reviewedmuch of the empirical evidence for various ways that a person might achievehappiness: cultivate a habit of gratitude, plug in spiritually, let go of sourfeelings through forgiveness. The How of Happiness was timely and important inthat it addressed what is, for many folks, the single most pressing questionabout happiness, "How can I get some more of it?"

What many people fail torealize, where their own emotional good life is concerned, is that there is anequally crucial question: when is happiness? Many of us simply assume thathappiness is an emotion we experience in the present and it therefore makessense to find pleasant and rewarding tasks in which to engage. There is,however, more to the story..... there is a psychological "happinesstimeline" during which happiness is constructed, much in the same way yourstory of your wedding day or trip to Paris is constructed.

In a book published the sameyear as Lyubomirsky's, my father-- Ed Diener-- and I introduced readers to the"AIM" model of happiness. In Happiness: Unlocking the mysteries ofpsychological wealth, we separate into three distinct components: attention,interpretation, and memory.

A- Attention: It turns out that what you pay attention toin the first place is what your mind becomes filled with! This is why a dailyhabit of gratitude can be helpful; it shifts your focus to the ways in whichthe world is good and in which you are fortunate. This is not a matter ofnaively overlooking the bad, of course. Rather, it is a matter of NOToverlooking the small good daily events.

I- Interpretation: This isclassic cognitive psychology. Are you the type of person who feels appreciativewhen your boyfriend brings you flowers or are you the type to immediatelysuspect him of wrongdoing? We all have thinking habits and interpreting theevents of daily life is one of these. To improve your happiness try consciouslyconsidering alternative explanations before jumping to an emotional conclusion.

M- Memory: Happiness does notjust exist in the present but also can be drawn from past events. Try savoringpast successes, enjoyable experiences and other golden memories by making ahabit out of looking at memorabilia or trading stories with a spouse orfriends. You will be surprised to find that you can draw actual happiness--right now-- from events that have taken place long ago. Rather than looking forincreased happiness in a better future you can mine your past experiences topay out happiness dividends!
This week, set a challengefor yourself to undertake at least one of these three approaches to happiness.

Thank you Robert for a great post.

2nd Avenue Subway Sinatra Book Signing

2011-11-03T08:28:00.001-07:00

Learning from Mistakes

2011-11-02T06:55:00.000-07:00

At a weekend spiritual retreat, my husband Richard became resistant because the word 'sin' was used. He couldn't relate to the word 'sin' until I said that it means a 'mistake', a turning away from good. That he could relate to. In business, as we review our careers, we usually see all the mistakes we have made. The shoulda, woulda, coulda's of our lives. Here is a TED video that helps put all that in perspective. Enjoy.

2nd Avenue Sinatra Book Launch

2011-10-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

Read Bounce 110811 Gary Russo
Online Publishing from YUDU

Target hits the Target with Zoe Glassman

2011-10-15T12:17:00.000-07:00

In June 2009 I wrote of a customer service experience I hadat my local Target store. It was anexample of incredible customer service. Now I would like to share with you an example of an incrediblecustomer!

What this young lady, Zoe Glassman, exemplifies is how wellTarget is branded and how well they deliver on their brand. Target hit the branding jackpot having thistelevision reporter unknowingly select a customer who was the target age fortheir product line (the new Missoni for Target), has the potential of being a customer for decades to come,and who could articulate the price-value proposition of the brand.

Target should write a self-help book or success book on branding. And then there is luck! This time Target hit the Target without even trying. Think Zoe Glassman may have a future as theirnational spokes person!

Happy shopping. Remember smart shopping is a wise investment in America's future. Target delivers on that investment.

Thank you, Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess

And You Think You Have It Hard

2011-09-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Imagine trying to grow and be better if you were this flower? Stop complaining!

Small Action, Huge Impact

2011-09-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

I am always amazed how easy and inexpensive an act of kindness can be. During the month of August in Las Vegas we had more 100 degree days than we needed. As I walked past a neighbors home one 'trash day' this is what I saw. What could you do to lift a persons spirit today? Just do it!

Shifting Sands Steve Donahue

2011-09-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Everything starts somewhere and for me, Shifting Sands is the book that started my BK relationship in earnest. Steve Donahue was a keynote speaker for a Stillpoint fundraiser in 2009 and his book continues to impact my consulting and my life. Thank you again to AM Arizona for allowing me the segment to feature inspirational books.

Five Secrets John Izzo

2011-09-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

Today's selected BK book is John Izzo's, The Five Secrets You Must Discover before You Die. Know that I really pronounced John's name so very, very wrong. Thank you to AM AZ for allowing me to feature these great books. As always, you can purchase this book at Amazon or from BK direct.

Be the Hero Noah Blumenthal

2011-09-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

I am off to the Berrett-Koehler Co-op Author's retreat. I am not a BK author but I am very honored to be a part of this community. Over the next few days I will be sharing with you some of the books I previewed on AM AZ over the years. You can purchase any of the books featured from Amazon or BK direct. Happy watching and happy reading, Andrea www.DontDieBooks.com

Looking Back to Move Ahead

2011-09-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

In 2007 when I was working with a web design team to create my ServingSuccess site, I provided photos to be included on the home page. I felt the photos represented different emotions that people go through as they transform and develop. I had taken all the photos submitted. One was of the rays of sun coming through some gray clouds. I really like that photo. When I took it, the scene was in front of me as I drove through the entrance of the development I live in. The web designer recommended that I not use that photo. She felt it did not show hope and might make people feel sad. I did not use it on the site although I did have note cards made using it as the cover.

On my walk yesterday, I was prompted to turn around and look back. I don't know why I did that. This blog is what I saw. I took out my phone and took a photo. I then continued my walk imagining a life where the clouds were behind me, there was still lots of road, and the sun was still there to send its rays of hope. I had an incredible walk and a very productive day.

Dr. Success Challenge: Look at the photo. Think about what it is telling you about your life right now. Write down your thoughts and allow them to be. No further action necessary.

Thank you, Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success
www.DontDieBooks.com

Thirty One Days

2011-08-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

I journal each morning (and of course you do too). I have a ritual, at the end of each month I list the good things that occurred during that month. I don't list the negative things that have happened unless I have transformed the experience and have begun to use it in a positive way. Today is August 31 so I made my list. Then I went to YouTube to record the number of hits Gary Russo has received since the original video was posted on August 1.

Here is the number: 1,005,417 8/31/11 8:30 a.m. PST

That is the power of the internet. That is the power of a spirit would not be stopped. That is only the beginning. Congratulations Gary. Thank you Fish for creating the video.

Music and Personal Development

2011-08-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

I have always been a advocate of using music to increase your positive emotions. It is a staple technique in the personal development and self-help communities.

During my July Don't Die with Your Book Inside You workshop, I adapted the technique. I would introduce a writing exercise, give the directions, then as the participants began to do their work, I would play an instrumental song in the background. I played the same song the entire weekend. My intent was to embed the action of writing with a 'que' song. When the participants began to hear the song, their memory would go to the action of writing. I did this as much as a harmless experiment as I did to introduce a new CD by Kevin Courtney, Nada Sadhana.

The song I used from the CD was Let it Go. I will admit that by the end of the day and a half I was actually a bit annoyed when the music started to play. Not sure if I was tired, but I needed to be honest about how my own technique had impacted me. The participants were told ahead of time of the technique so that they could adapt it after the program with a song they may want to listen to more. None of the participants mentioned being annoyed by the song at the end of the two days.

Then something really cool happened (that is a scientific term of course!) -- another instructor who had the same CD used it in a class she was teaching two months after my original program. One of the participants from my workshop was also in the other instructors class. The participant heard the music and immediately remembered it fondly and began writing away. Being totally unaware that the CD had been used in another class, I gave the CD as a gift to that same participant as we began working on a project. I wish you could have heard her enthusiasm as she told me how she had just heard the CD the past weekend and how it helped her write. The best part -- she did not connect that it was the same music I had played during the original workshop! You see, when I played the music I played it from my computer. When she attended the recent class, the instructor had the actual CD jacket.

I know its is only a subject of one -- but it feels good to know my experiment worked for at least one person. If you would like to hear a sample of the music go to http://nadasadhanamusic.com/album/NadaSadhana.html. If you would like to purchase, write Kevin at YogaHappens@gmail.com

If you would like to experience a Don't Die Workshop for yourself, the next one will be Friday, November 18 and Saturday November 19.

Thank you, Andrea Goeglein, PhD
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
www.DontDieBooks.com

Sex, Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

2011-08-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

Big news: All criminal charges against former global financial leader, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, have been dropped.

Bigger news we globally are too weak to discuss: Strauss-Kahn story should not be about criminal wrong doing. The story should be about about trusting leadership to have evolved in their emotional intelligence to the point that they can manage their basic urges. That is a sign they can make better decisions.

I ask -- and I hope you do too -- "How can I trust you to advise me on global finance when you cannot find better things to do when you have a minute or two but engage in a sex act with a stranger?"

Now, does anyone wonder why we are in the global economic mess we are in? Please remember, great economic growth was lost in the United States in the 1990's because a leader here had the same problem. We spent a decade losing great growth because the media and political parties focused on the act and resulting dishonesty instead of demanding more of our leadership.

Man or woman, we must demand more of ourselves and our leaders.

Now here is the real Dr. Success challenge: What are you going to do today to hold yourself more responsible for the growth of your emotional intelligence?

Thank you, Andrea Goeglein, PhD
1 866 975 3777
www.DontDieBooks.com

One door closes

2011-08-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

And other door opens...and many times there are many years between the door closing and the door opening.

Have you ever been told that part?

Hope is maintaining the state of knowing -- not just believing -- but knowing -- the door will open.

Don't die waiting for it to open. Remember to live a don't die spirit.

Dolphin Talk

2011-08-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

August 24, 2011 update: The photo is of a whale, not a dolphin. Message is the same!

I once wrote a question, "Just because we can teach a dolphin to communicate, does that mean we should invest our time teaching them to communicate?"

I really don't know the "right" answer to that question. What I do know is that dolphins bring an enormous amount of good emotion out in human beings.

I grew up watching Flipper and can recall fondly the silly theme song. The simple site of a dolphin in a photo reminds my cells of all those good feelings. If something so simple can create positive emotion, maybe dolphins are communicating with us without us ever "teaching" them to communicate as we know it. Maybe that is what Barbara Fredrickson meant when she postulated that: Love is the experience of positive emotions which are noticed in the momentary increase in the well-being of another, causing a sychronistic response that builds over time.

I don't know the answers, I just know dolphins make me feel good. Peace, Andrea

What did you say?

2011-08-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

How often do you stop and ask the vista before you, "What are you saying to me?" Try it!

IPPA, Love and Gary Russo

2011-08-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

A year ago I was attempting to yet again clarify the message I bring to my work and my clients. This is what I wrote in my journal on August 12, 2010:

Science has proven what we instinctively knew – love is the answer no matter what the question, forgiveness is the key difference to creating a successful life lived forward or a distressful life stuck in the past. atg 081210

At the IPPA Second World Conference, Positive Psychology luminary, Barbara Fredrickson, clarified what the emotion 'love' is when referred to as an emotion that builds and broadens well-being or happiness in an individual's life. Love is the experience of positive emotions which are noticed in the momentary increase in the well-being of another, causing a sychronistic response that builds over time.*

Defining love in this manner explains why an entertainer -- like Gary Russo -- can feel love when he performs on his lunch hour to a group of people he does not know.

Now here is something incredibly cool. The photo in this blog was taken a few weeks ago at Barbara Fredrickson's presentation at IPPA. The shadow of the mic is part of the original photo. It just so happened that where I was sitting all of my photos of the slides had the mic in the way. I was originally disappointed. Now that I am writing Don't Die with Your Song Unsung with Gary Russo, and the theme of that book is love, it feels more like it was meant to be there all along.

*This is my interpretation of the slide presented. The actual research is yet to be released.

Happy singing, Andrea
www.DontDieBooks.com
DrSuccess @ServingSuccess

Expectation vs. Action Part 2

2011-08-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

Dr. Success Challenge: Manage your expectations of what is most likely NOT going to happen today and TAKE ACTION of those things that possibly can.

This is how it worked for one person. I’ll share the story with you in numbers:

30 years of work and a mere $700 the balance in the bank. Most likely not going to change today.
30 minute lunch break and thousands of anger neighbors. Most likely not going to change today.
30 years of singing to anyone who will listen. Most likely not going to change today.

Unless, of course, you take action on those things that are possible. Here is what it looked like for Gary Russo:

Use your 30 minute lunch break and sing to your angry neighbors.

Results: Over 700,000 ‘anyone’s’ chose to listen in less than 3 days.

As for the bank account, I guess he will have to see if the saying, “do what you love and the money will come” is true in this situation!

Peace, Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success™
1 866 975 3777
www.DontDieBooks.com

Gary Russo Don't Die Author

2011-08-04T08:23:00.000-07:00

In the last few days my cousin Gary Russo's voice became known to millions. This evening he agreed to be my next Don't Die author. I told him to sleep on a title that feels right. I gave him the first few lines of the introduction I had written. He paused and said, "Wow, that's deep". Now the work begins of writing the book which we hope to have out by October 1. What follows is an email he wrote to me on June 9, 2011 -- several weeks after we had spent the afternoon together at a family gathering.

Dear Andrea,

It was so goood to see you the other day. Especially to see Cara and the family having a good time. It really made my heart swell to see you give your time to help my little one and the contest. Time goes too quick. I am very impressed with your site and the work you do. Dr Success I love it. I've been on a path of discovery for the past few years. It must have been the water in Richmond Hill that put us on the path. LOL Just down loaded Shifting Sands on my nook. Looking forward to following your success. Stay well and help the world get better. Keep in touch. Love to you and the family. Thanks for Jeanie\'s number, I\'m working 500 ft from her front door.

Cousin, I don't think you will be following my success. I think we will be enjoying some success together.
Thank you, Andrea Goeglein, PhD
1 866 975 3777
www.DontDieBooks.com

Expectation vs. Action

2011-08-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

If you knew the ending, would you ever attempt greatness? Just sit with that question for today. The photo was taken on July 8, 2011 at the final Atlantis launch by Stew Gibbons, Principle, CTC ~ Creating Tomorrow's Communities

Happy - The Movie

2011-07-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

Help this movie get seen by as many a possible. Everyone from teachers, senior community centers, local arts movie houses, through a fundraiser and use it as the centerpiece (as I hope to do), just see it and get it seen in your town. Go to The Happy Movie for details how you can help get this great piece of educationally inspirational work out to the world. Thank you.
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success
www.ServingSuccess.com
www.DontDieBooks.com
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

The Wisdom of Platitudes

2011-07-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

You have probably heard, “Do what you love and the money will come”, “No matter what your plan is, the right people show up at the right time”, and “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”

And you have heard me say, “Blah, blah, blah….”

I am writing because I was proven wrong this past weekend. I will get to that in a moment.

First, I want to share how I laughed when the August issue ofO arrived a week or two ago. As is my custom, I read What I Know for Sure first. It was a piece on how Oprah has always followed her gut on her biggest life decisions. I knew as I was reading the piece Oprah was speaking in part about the current tenuous nature of her creation of the OWN network. Currently, it does not have the best ratings, press or a very complete offering. I can say the same thing about my Don’t Die™ brand.

I created and began marketing the first Don’t Die With Your Book Inside You workshop on June 14. I had a modest goal of 30 participants. That goal was set for two main reasons: 1)I wanted enough diversity in the room to make the workshop stimulating for the attendees and 2) I wanted it to be economically beneficial for me. I chose Stillpoint Center for Spiritual Development as the location as much for convenience as I did for any business reason.

What happened was the following:

Ten participants signed up. Their hair was blond, their skin was brown, they represented countries near and far, there was no central spiritual or religious denomination. Yet there was one thing they all had in common: they came in for individual reasons and left 10 hours later knowing they shared more in common than any of them could have ever anticipated.

After the first night of working together, one of the participants arrived with a gift for me. In the gift bag I found two things: a beautiful Thank You note to me for arriving as her teacher and a little bowl with the message To Teach Is to Touch a Life Forever.
Sometimes the business of personal development makes no economic ‘cents’ and yet investing in my passion to share the Don’t Die Spirit continues to make all the sense in the world. Go figure!

Thank you Rose Pinard for seeing that before I did!

West Point Wisdom

2011-07-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

As is the tradition at a West Point graduation, the cadets toss their hats in the air. Young people run on to the field hoping to be lucky enough to get one of the hats. Usually, the cadet has put a dollar bill in the hat. A beautiful young lady cousin of graduating cadet, Lieutenant Gerard Connolly, got more than a $1 dollar bill -- she received wisdom worth millions of dollars. What follows is a typed transcript of the letter. The letter is only signed 'SS' so I will respect the desired anonymity. Since I have the graduation roster I could narrow down who that might be, but decided to allow the message to do all the talking. Hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Thank you.

To the receiver of this hat:

If I have one piece of advice for you it’s to “live above the common level of life.” As the cadet prayer says, never be content with a normal life, or an easy life. Success in life, friendship, love, and work often involves taking the hard, difficult route. It means choosing the harder right over the easier wrong. To be honorable, loyal, responsible, and to be endowed with justice and truth, to be courageous: These things require dedication and commitment. No matter what you do whether you serve as a soldier, a doctor, or a candle stick maker, be the best. Serve with all your heart, and always do what is morally right no matter what the pressure. To do what is right does not mean do what is easy. Most of the time, the right thing is the hardest. You are the future of this nation. As you grow older, do not be afraid to become the leader of your generation, do not be afraid to forge new paths, and make the tough decisions. Also, the Right path will be difficult, often treacherous. However, do not lose faith. God will provide what you will need. He will place friends along your route to help you and aid you and to guide you in your hardest trials. I leave you with the final stanza of Robert Frost’s A Not Taken:

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and…

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Peace, Andrea Goeglein, PhD
http://dontdiebooks.eventbrite.com

Success Books -- Yours!

2011-07-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

http://dontdiebooks.eventbrite.com Thank you, Andrea Write if you need additional information: DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

Love is a Business Attribute

2011-06-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

PositivityDr. Success Challenge: As you go about your business day -- and the business of your life today -- consider sharing joy. The groundbreaking research of Positivity found 'joy' to be an attribute of 'love'.

Before the research was ever conceived, two prominent minds contributed these words of wisdom:

"To get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with." Mark Twain

and

"When one has once fully entered the realm of love, the world — no matter how imperfect — becomes rich and beautiful, it consists solely of opportunities for love. Soren Kierkegaard

Thank you to my friends at Heartmath, leaders in developing systems to help us enjoy the relief of stress and greater life love.

Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSucces
www.dontdiebooks.eventbrite.com

Technology and Growth

2011-06-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick tip for today. Make yourself a video of something you really feel good about that you did. Add music. Upload to your smart phone. Throughout the day if you find your personal inspiration going a bit flat, take a few minutes and watch your video. It will remind every cell in your body how great you really are! Have fun.

Graduation

2011-06-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

Niece Andie Terzano graduated from high school yesterday and she happily looking forward to her next educational adventure -- the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Her graduation made me realize that is what the personal development journey -- otherwise known as adulthood -- is missing. Graduations. A clear sign you have completed your course work and are ready for your next adventure.

Yet here is what I know. Even without a clear sign of completion, even without a diploma, even without a formal graduation, embracing the journey keeps you in a constant state of possibility instead of stuck where you have already completed your learning.

Just because there is no formal graduations at the different levels of personal development during adulthood does not mean you can't create some Maybe that should be a Don't Die book title: Don't Die waiting to Graduate Life! Happy creating!

If you want to experience transforming your life lessons into a Don't Die Do Live book join me for a 1 1/2 day journey July 15 and July 16.

All You Need Is Friends

2011-06-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have used the infamous Beatles song lyric many times in my writings, "All you need is friends..."Today I was reminded of that yet again. Dear friend Claire Wolfe planned a ladies week at The Oaks in Ojai, CA. I had intended to go but life got in the way of that intention. Never being one to want to miss a marketing opportunity, I sent a box of Don't Die With Vacation Time On The Books hats so my friends in arms could wear them on their morning walks while at the Oaks. Of course the hats have the website to order the book!

Well, this photo shows (or not since Blogger upload is not going well!) my friend Claire doing me one better. As Claire takes her morning hike -- with her Don't Die hat of course -- she is pitching away to the founder of the Oaks, Sheila Cluff, what a great idea it would be to have me come to the Oaks and do a version of my Don't Die with Your Book Unwritten personal development workshop.

I love my friends! Thank you Claire -- and Rebecca for sending the photo. So how many of you got that I believe 'friends' equals 'love'?
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
www.facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

Las Vegas Don't Die Workshop

2011-06-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

This workshop is desigened for you with your story in mind :) Join me. Thank you.
http:dontdiebooks.eventbrite.com

Don't Die Books Workshop

2011-06-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Dr. Success Challenge: Notice what messages you have received in the first few hours of the day. These messages can be written, spoken, texted, in a commerical or a song you heard. What thoughts came to mind?

The message I received today during my meditiation was to FOCUS. My main task is to formalize and finalize the details for the July 15 & 16 Don't Die with Your Book Inside You workshop in Las Vegas. The next message I got from a reading: "There is no script that we must follow in life. We get to write the story, and if we don't like the one we wrote, we get to rewrite it as many times as we choose. That is how we find out who we are, what we really want from life, and how we really want to live." Rev. Ron Fox p. 50 SoM

Plan to join me. Thank you. Andrea Goeglein, PhD
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
www.facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

Journals and Journaling

2011-06-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

I to share the journal I have been using since March 25. It is designed with a quote from a famous person on one page and a Biblical quote on the other. Don't think it would appeal to everyone but for those with a Christian background or for those who are not offended by Christian verse, it really is a pretty, and pretty inspirational, book to write in each day.

I have shared -- and been inspired -- by many of the quotes in this journal the last few months so it's only right I give you the link to possibly buy one so the author makes something from all my sharing!

And for those in the Las Vegas area Stillpoint Center for Spiritual Development will be conducting a journaling workshop in August.

As always, happy writing and thank you, Andrea
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/

Are you receptive?

2011-06-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

I have a favorite line in my first Don’t Die™ Book.
“Change is not the promise that there will be no challenges, but the hope that with each challenge you learn to grow with greater trust. What I can promise is that all this hope, change, and trust take time.”

I had made a 30 day commitment to write on the topic of awareness and perspective. Up until now, I have not met my commitment 100%, yet the messages that I get from my daily readings keep pulling me back to that focus whether I have time or not!

I started the day with three…yes 3 again…messages that keep lining up:

From TUT, I was reminded that challenges actually give life it’s richness. Mike Dooley posed this question: Now what if, painful as they may temporarily be, you could choose a life during which challenges might arise whenever your thinking needed expansion, on the sole condition that every one of them could be overcome no matter how daunting they may at first seem?

From Fr. Richard Rohr, “After the Madonna and child image (the essential Incarnation icon), the Annunciation is the most painted Christian scene. Did you ever notice that Mary does not say here that she is “not worthy”? She just asks for clarification. She only asks “How” because that might ask something more of her. She never asks if, whether, or why!”

And from the top of the journal page I wrote on this morning: “Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good.” Vaclav Havel

Dr. Success Challenge: Answer this question for yourself: If you received these messages, what message would you actually be receiving?

Thank you...And by the way...you did receive these messages since you read this!
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
www.DontDieBooks.com

Transforming Won’t into Wills

2011-06-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

Henry Ward Beecher observed that ‘the difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t.’
One way to transform your awareness of a situation from a ‘it won’t work; it won’t ever get better; it won’t happen’ thinking level to a perspective of ‘I will find the resources to make it work; I will attract a solution; I will make this or that happen’ thinking is to look for the opportunities in every situation to persevere and be nourished by the learning.

Reverend Ron Fox shared a story I had never heard before that summed up the opportunity for transforming awareness by shifting your perspective very neatly. The story is about the difference between heaven and hell. Heaven has a beautiful banquet table set with the most delicious foods. Hell has a beautiful banquet table set with the most delicious foods. Both places have lots of people with utensils strapped to their arms in a way that they cannot feed themselves. However, in hell everyone is mad as, well hell, that they cannot eat the food. In heaven, everyone is feeding each other.

How will you live today? And always, remember to Don't Die with Vacation Time on the Books!

Happy eating! Thank you.
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
Info@ServingSuccess.com

Turning Don't into the Do's of Awareness

2011-05-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

The magic of threes was at work this morning during my quite time. I have been working with my business strategy, trying to figure out how to have my passion match my desire for unlimited profitability. Here are the three messages I received:

"What you see in others has more to do with who you are than with who other people are." Epictetus

"I am defeated, and know it, if I meet any human being from who I find myself unable to learn anything." George Herbert Palmer

"Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser; teach the just and they will learn even more."
Proverbs 9:9

The messages for me were: Don't imitate, do innovate. Don't judge, do learn. Don't stay in my audience of comfort, do broaden my message.

And like all life, changing those 'don'ts' into 'do's' is simple but not easy. What messages have your received today?

Peace -- on this Memorial Day -- and always,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess.com
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

The Message of Threes

2011-05-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of folklore about things coming in threes. Today I received three messages about taking responsibility. Each message came in a wonderful way.

The first was in the daily message from TUT.
The next came in the way of a quote printed in my journal which stated you don't achieve what you think about, you achieve what you take responsibility for.
The third came as part of the message delivered by a lay deacon at a Catholic Mass. His message was that we must take responsibility for what we think because what we think is actually our real 'judgement day'.

What I think is taking responsibility is the most freeing action I can take. What do you think?

Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD

Dr. Success™
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess

Stumbling on Happiness

2011-05-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

Oh, it’s that old awareness and perspective thing coming back to haunt us all again.
So you want to have kids, yah? Parents beware for what you wish! Harvard researcher, Dr. Daniel Gilbert’s research shows that ‘people with young children living with them are the least happy of all.’ How is that for a Monday morning wakeup call?

Gilbert’s research goes on to show, however – and this is a big however – that it is critical that parents believe children will make them happy. That belief, no matter how unsubstantiated by evidence, allows parents to continually put forth the effort, energy, time and money needed to rear a child to adulthood.

Now here is the perspective changing part directly from the author: “As a result of that sacrifice, we love them all the more. We don’t value our children in spite of how difficult they are, we value our children because of how difficult they are.”

My Mom always said you appreciate the things you work hard to accomplish. Once again, Mom was right and she did not need any research to prove her intuition.

Thank you, Mom!
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success™
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess

Note: The quotes in this blog are taken directly from the October 2010 Monitor on Psychology article by Christopher Munsey.

Discomfort and Personal Development

2011-05-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

Dr. Success Challenge thanks to TUT morning message: Think of an area of your life you feel discomfort. Things like your lack of follow up and follow through; your vocabulary before a speech; your finances; the condition of your home -- either literally, figuratively or both. Now imagine that area of comfort at 110% of who you would really like it to be. Imagine every detail of the discomfort area transforming into a strength.

The challenge is not in naming the discomfort. You are probably well aware of the discomfort you allow yourself to feel about the area. The real challenge is creating the 110% image and replacing your discomfort awareness with a perspective of comfort and strength.

Peace be with you,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess.com
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

Seeds, Gardening, and Transformation

2011-05-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

I received an email today from my first teacher in the behavioral sciences, Pamela Cole. At the end there was this quote,

“Let us be grateful for the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Marcel Proust

Seeds, gardening, planting and transformation have been a part of my daily conversation for several months now. Last week my daughter Dana planted seeds in her grandparents’ garden. Both Dana and my parents discussed the process. This last weekend in the Stillpoint ISDS class I was talking about snakes (which have a transformative meaning in Jungian dream work) and I said of my lack of gardening skill, “I don’t touch dirt.”

Yet planting the seeds of growth is what personal development and self-help means to me. Moment by moment we are all planting seeds in our life garden. The impact of what we plant is not the results we get. The impact of our life garden is how well we remember to count the flowers and not the weeds.

Happy gardening and may peace be with you,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/

Transforming to Happiness

2011-05-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

The work of transformation is not about the world getting more peaceful.

The work of transformation is about YOU becoming more peaceful regardless of what happens in the world.

Then there is the peace of knowing we are all human. This is what that sounds like:

Andrea: You have to describe that story without using shame, blame or rationalization in order to have more peace in your life.
Client: You can’t take those away from me. I won’t be able to explain anything in my life!

Bryon Katie: Gratitude is who we are without our stories.
Thank you,

Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

Goals, Energy and Self Help Books

2011-05-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

I once bought a book entitled Living Without Goals just because the title ticked me off so much. The thought of living without goals is so counter intuitive and so alien to me I actually bought the book just to prove the author was wrong. I bought that book 20 years ago.

Today I write living without goals still does not resonate with me, yet I now understand what the author was attempting to convey. Having goals, writing goals, thinking about our goals is not the problem. How we attach to our goals is!

Dr. Success™ Challenge*: Think about your goals. Is it the goal that turns you on and ignites your flame for life or is it the potential outcome?

Consider your goals from a place of “high attention, low attachment”. And remember: where you put your energy, you create your results.

Thank you,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
I wish to thank Jack Canfield for introducing me to the concept of “high attention, low attachment.”
A Dr. Success Challenge is an example of teaching what I need to learn!

I AM The Movie

2011-05-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

In the category of ‘there are no coincidences”, about a week ago I found myself watching one of the final episodes of Oprah. Although I am a devoted fan, student and teacher of her work, I have not seen a segment on the air date in literally years. I specifically tuned in because I had seen a commercial describing the episode and it caught my attention. (So commercials do still work by the way.)

The episode was number 26 in her 30 day countdown and the guest academy award winning filmmaker, Tom Shadyac. His newest movie – actually a documentary – will not win any academy awards, yet it will contribute one of the user-friendly pieces on the concept of evolving consciousness. The movie is entitled I AM.

A life altering illness caused Shadyac to question his established concepts about success. He got to the same place I did when I wrote in my book, “This book is my attempt to dispel a myth that has been perpetrated on the unsuspecting masses for many generation. The myth I refer to is the one that assures if you do your homework, earn good grades, and graduate from the right schools, you will land a job or create a business that will provide you riches, happiness, health, and love; you will achieve your “happily ever after.”

My book and the movie I AM focus on the myth part of that sentence.

Go see the movie. It is worth the ticket price and more.

Dr. Success Challenge: Make a list – as long as you would like – about what is RIGHT with the world.

Enjoy. Peace be with you and thank you Roxanne W. Isbey, Jr. for the wonderful photograph.
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

Awareness Part 1 Zillion

2011-04-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

I ended my last post with the sentence…
Her guidance during that time did not give me any comfort. I did not grasp that a situation could be terrible but I was still suppose to be doing it.

Here is what I should have written: Her guidance during that time did not give me any comfort. I did not grasp that a situation could be terrible AND I was still suppose to be doing it.

It took several years before the first glimpse of why Richard was called to “build it anyway”. We were in the Las Vegas airport going who knows where and I was visiting the bookshop as I always do before a flight. I eye caught the words that had haunted me for over five years,

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

I froze in place and then regained my composure enough to buy the book. I had the book finished before I landed. It fit the category of books I really enjoy and after which I have designed my own book writing life: A small book with big impact. The book, of course, was Anyway by Kent Keith.

The following week Richard and I were driving to Cottonwood, Arizona to work at our little hotel. I read the book to him as he drove. Tears welded up in Richard eyes from the Keith’s account of how the book came to be, the disappointments he endured and the strength he gained from the experiences. It was as though someone finally understood what Richard had gone through.

The myth of “do the right thing and everything with turn out okay and you will be rewarded” was being dismantled with every line in I read. A belief was being dismantled and a new reality was being born.

You do not do good things to be rewarded. You do go things because doing good is all you are suppose to do. The reward is in the doing, not in the receiving some reward.

Think on that! Peace,
Andrea Goeglein, PhD
www.Youtube.com/user/ServingSuccess
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/

Anyway

2011-04-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

It is my intent to fill in a lot of the story behind the scenes of Don't Die. Here is today's installment.

Truth be told I enjoyed my prep day enormously. The book I was reading ended with a passage entitled Do It Anyway. I knew that passage, and I knew it well. It had come into my life in the late 1990’s. My spiritual advisor, Vicki, had introduced one line from the poem to me as a comfort. During the many years of work with Vicki, I agonized to understand a destructive business relationship my husband was involved in. Vicki attributed the piece to Mother Teresa, as did the book galley I read that day. I found out a few years later the passage was often attributed to Mother Teresa. The real author is leadership visionary, Kent Keith. Keith wrote the piece when he was a 19 years old sophomore at Harvard as part of a booklet created to teach leadership skills to high school students. The correct title is The Paradoxical Commandments of Leadership.

The Paradoxical Commandments of Leadership

By Kent Keith[1]

People are illogical,

unreasonable, and self centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good,

People will accuse you of

selfish ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win

false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today

will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness

Make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest of men and women

with the biggest ideas can be

shot down by the smallest

men and women with

the smallest minds.

Think big anyway…

People favor underdogs

but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building

may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People really need help

But may attack you

If you do help them.

Help them anyway.

Give the world the best

you have and you’ll get

kicked in the teeth.

give the world the best

you have anyway.

Reading the concluding passage in the book galley flashed me back to the years 1997 through 2000 when my husband of struggled to get a project built. Each time I lamented whether we should be involved with the project, Vicki would say, “I don’t know if you should be involved but I do know Richard was meant to build this project. As I sat there in June 2007 I could remember every time Vicki quoted the line, “What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.”

Her guidance during that time did not give me any comfort. I did not grasp that a situation could be terrible but I was still suppose to be doing it.
Guess I needed to remember to: Live the 'Don't Die' Spirit©
Andrea T. Goeglein, Ph.D.
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
866 975 3777 Toll-Free
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess

[1] Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments. Copyright 2001 by Kent M. Keith. Inner Ocean Publishing, Inc. Makawao, Hawaii.

Don’t Die With Vacation Time on the Books

2011-04-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

My book, Don’t Die with Vacation Time on the Books is short for a host of strategic reasons. Yet, the longer the book is out the more I think of things that were going on behind the scenes of the main story that is in the book. This passage is just one example.

Perspective Changing Events and Awareness June 2007

I found that perspective changing events come in all shapes and sizes. Around the time my friend Marel was making me promise not to die with vacation time on the books, I was doing what every 50 year old is suppose to do – get their first colonoscopy. Of course like every 50 year old, I had already put it off a year!

I heard all the horror stories of the pre-procedure prep day. I was feeling somewhat fortunate because I had someone tell me how to get around having to drink the dreaded colon prep cleanse juice. Seems if you have a doctor that knows you are trustworthy enough to drink gallons of water, they will prescribe pills to take with all that water. The result is the same, minus the nasty tasting drink. When it comes to drinking gallons of water a day, I am very, very trustworthy.

My calendar usually gets booked out a month in advance for business commitments. I found in the weeks leading up to my wellness check, I was gleefully informing people I was unavailable for a 36 hour period. Thirty-six hours! Less than a day and a half, yet I felt the only thing that would allow me that much time away from my commitments was a flipping colonoscopy. I even planned what book I was going to read the way people do when they plan a vacation! People who enjoy reading can tell you what books they are saving for their next vacation. In my case, a friend had a galley of her book, Rules for Renegades. I was excited to have the time to read it cover to cover. The author had agreed to be part of my Fall women's conference.

It was only in the weeks that followed the procedure that I began to realize how warped my perspective about life, pleasure and vacations had become. I came face-to-face with the awareness that I my idea of when I deserved to take a vacation looked a lot like needing a doctor’s excuse. I realized that I had taken my Mom’s famous saying that you can stay home from school is you are dying a bit too literally.

Seems I needed to learn to: Remember: Live the 'Don't Die' Spirit©
Thank you and Happy Birthday Christine Comaford.
Andrea T. Goeglein, Ph.D.
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
866 975 3777 Toll-Free
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess

I AM

2011-04-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

Really think watching this segment of Oprah is worth the time. If nothing else it will allow for conversation.
My only critical observation is that, unlike millions negatively affected by the economic downturn since 2008, Tom Shadyac made a choice to release his excessive possessions. Knowing what I do about spiritual transformation, I know he really did not have a choice -- but on paper he did.

I would appreciate hearing what others think. I know i will be at the movie I AM when it opens this Friday in Las Vegas at Village Square.

Thank you,
Andrea Goegelin, PhD
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess

The Wisdom of Self Help Quotes

2011-04-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

At last night’s Las Vegas Library event using Don’t Die With Vacation Time, I facilitated one simple, yet powerful, exercise.

The book is printed in a way that quotes relating to a particular lesson are paired with the story. In the back of the book all of the quotes used are repeated. The intent is to have the reader think of their own life, and tell a story of overcoming adversity using the quotes as guiding lessons.

I took all the quotes, put them in a bag, and had the seminar participants choose just one. They then had to think of a life challenge in any area they were attempting to heal or recover from. They then discussed the challenge from the perspective of the quote’s wisdom.

Some of the randomly quotes chosen:

“A promise made is a debt unpaid.” Robert Service
“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” Confucius

Participants who chose these quotes were initially confused and rejected that these quotes had any wisdom that applied to their particular challenge. Be the end of the evening, as they told their story – or challenge – they began to see what they could learn for themselves.

Here is what I know: What those participants learned from those quotes would not be the same thing you would learn if you applied those quotes to your situation.

That is the beauty of ‘words of wisdom’ – the words are spoken or written, and you create the wisdom.

Happy Spring,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/

Success Not By The Book

2011-04-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

I have had an interesting start to the day. The messages I am receiving from unrelated sources are giving me a lot to work with, especially as I prepare for Thursday's final free library event on Don't Die With Vacation Time on the Books. I have been cleaning house literally and figuratively. During the literal cleaning I came across a DVD of the first Prescott Professional Women's Conference. I have been looking for the Closing session for over a week -- I found the opening session!

Change Your Awareness and Your Perspective Changes...I open Don't Die with a quote from Michael Bernard Beckwith, "Remember to remember", and let's just say I forgot a few things.

In a few days I will upload that video for you all to see. For today I would just like you to think about some issue in your life you have created a challenge around. What awareness do you need to examine? What perspective change can you experience from that shift in your awareness?

If you are in Las Vegas, join me Thursday evening for the one hour workshop where you can explore and share with others awareness, perspectives and how to move forward with renewed energy. Thank you.

Andrea Goeglein, PhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
www.ServingSuccess.com

Success by the books

2011-04-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

During a discussion with a colleague this morning, I found myself asking the question:

Do you measure your self-worth by your net worth? I noticed I have asked this question of several people this week. That pattern in my work usually means I need to stop and ask myself that same question.

I did not create that question. It came into my preview most likely thought a book like Eric Butterworth's Spiritual Economics

Join me this Thursday for the last of the free Las Vegas Library hosted events for Don't Die With Vacation Time. Come see what questions you need to ask yourself.

Thank you, Andrea
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/

Success Event Last Chance

2011-04-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Andrea

www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

http://www.dontdiebooks.com/

http://www.lvccld.org/

Bad is Stronger Than Good

2011-04-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

I may have written about this research before, yet I find it comes into my daily conversations. I wanted to reiterate an important message in self-help, positive psychology, personal development -- or whatever you choose to call the process of life transformation -- and that message is this:

No one, no process, no program can promise you that life will be eternally happy and without pain and sorrow. Bad things happen and we humans seem to remember those things more than we remember the good. There is a physiological reason for that -- get over it! It is a fact.

However, and this is a big HOWEVER, you (and I) can traverse the sorrow and pain AND be happy. Part of the answer is that we adjust our current attitude of 'normal' to meet the new situations instead of continually measuring life happiness using our past 'normal' as the yardstick. That is an internal adjustment, not a statement about external realities.
Love * Learn * Prosper
and Remember: Live the 'Don't Die' Spirit©
Andrea T. Goeglein, Ph.D.
Dr. Success™
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
866 975 3777 Toll-Free

Thank You

2011-04-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

You may notice that I use the words Thank You a lot. I sign a lot of my correspondence using that salutation. I do that because it causes me to pause and think before I sign off. Do I always mean it when I use it? No! But there is never a time I am not striving to mean it. For me part of the Don't Die spirit is never missing an opportunity to transform a relationship. For me that means never miss an opportunity to make a good relationship better, or a not so good relationship better. Watch this short clip from TED.com

Thank you!
Andrea Goeglein, PhD
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

Teaching What I Needed to Learn

2011-04-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

I started the day receiving the following message from someone I consider my teacher. I met the author of this piece 25 years ago when I was first studying the DiSC behavioral model. I did not know anything about the self-help industry. I did not know anything about personal development. I knew even less about how my life was going to change because I met this teacher and the subject she taught.

Last year we were having our annual phone conversation and I was sharing how difficult the last few business years had been. That experience became the book Don't Die With Vacation Time on the Books. One of the chapters is You Teach What You Need to Learn. That is exactly what was happening when this conversation took place. Here is part of the review she posted about my book:
"Andrea (aka Dr. Success) is doing a great job of carrying an important message of hope and practicality with her website, blogs, social network posting, writing, speaking etc.. I value her for being such a great role model in putting the success principles we've studied for years (40 years for me)into practice. I remember a very important phone conversation with her last year just as everything was falling apart. Her candid appraisal of her business and her life gave me the impetus to face some hard decisions in my personal and professional life. I think at the moment I spoke with her what I really needed to hear was the experience of someone I respected because I knew she was "walking the talk". Thanks for continuing to share your journey with us."

Whether you are teaching or learning today keep your spirit alive by living with the Don't Die Spirit.

Thank you,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

Fear

2011-04-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Some may think starting the day with a reading about 'fear' would make the day a bit dark. However, I it to be a challenge. My morning reading started with a quote:

"Always do what you are afraid to do." Ralph Waldo Emerson

So I thought about my business -- which in my case is also my life interest -- helping people remember how strong they are so they achieve what they never thought possible -- and I wondered what I am afraid to do to get that message out? That gave me a few ideas of actions I had been sidestepping in the distribution of my book. I made a commitment to do the top two things on my list that I have been avoiding.
What action are you afraid to take in your business -- or you life? Always start your day doing that thing and see what happens.

Sending my book to President Obama was one such thing for me. I got this nice thank you note! Still see him carrying it and quoting from it! That may be a dream but my dream can not possibly become a reality if I did not at least first send the book.

Thank you, Andrea Goeglein, PhD
www.DontDieBooks.com
www.ServingSuccess.com
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
www.FaceBook.com/DrSuccessPhD

Help Your Self Live the Don't Die Spirt

2011-04-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Are you living your Don't Die Spirit Today?

Peace, Andrea Goeglein, PhD

http://www.dontdiebooks.com/

http://www.servingsuccess.com/

www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD

The Future of Philanthropy

2011-04-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Giving, and the positive impact on the giver, is a very hot topic this week. There seems to be no end to people and causes that are in need. A search of TED.com resulted in a an interesting conversation (as always) on the subject of the future of philanthropy.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/katherine_fulton_you_are_the_future_of_philanthropy.html

Happy Giving. Thank you.
Andrea Goeglein, PhD
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
www.FaceBook.com/DrSuccessPhD

Self-Help is not Self-ish

2011-04-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite researchers has done it again. Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener renowned author of many books in the field of positive psychology published some great research on giving to charity and increased personal happiness.
The link to the actual study can be found at: http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/11-038.pdf

The research compared people in a rich and a poor country (Canada and Uganda). Participants were asked to think about the last time they spent the equivalent of 20 dollars on either themselves or on another person. Whether rich or poor, participants reported more happiness when they remembered spending money on others. Dr. Biswas-Diener and his colleagues surmised that humans are hard-wired for generosity.

This suggests that the happiness we feel when we lend support or donate money is part of the natural psychological reward system for looking after others.

Dr. Biswas-Diener can be reached at http://www.intentionalhappiness.com/

Happy giving. Thank you.
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
http://www.dontdiebooks.com/
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
www.FaceBook.com/DrSuccessPhD

What Corporate Integrity Looks Like

2011-04-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

You may be grossly inconvenienced by Southwest Airlines decision to cancel over 300 flights today, but in my opinion it is an beautiful example of corporate integrity at its best. 04/02/2011 Southwest Mass Cancelation: Thank you Southwest! Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD http://www.DontDieBooks.com http://www.ServingSuccess.com 1 866 975 3777

Self-Help Hogwash

2011-04-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

I do not believe the cliche "all things happen for a reason" as many use it...when something bad happens there is some 'reason' why it happened and your job is to find out what that reason is and learn from it.

Hogwash.

There is only one reason anything happens and that is because the purpose of life is the transformation of the spirit from one level of connection to our spirit to hopefully more complex levels of connection to our spirit and our spiritual source. That is the reason we live and take each breathe. What shows up in our lives are just opportunities to continue to transform -- the kickin and screaming down the road of transformation is just the noise we make!

So, how is your Monday starting out? Peace,

Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD

DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

www.ServingSuccess.com

www.DontDieBooks.com

1 866 975 3777

Give and Get No April Fool's

2011-04-01T07:31:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I get Mercury is retrograde. The post I just wrote was published with no content. So being the persistent soul that I am, I will do it again.

I have republished many of Dr. Biswas-Diener's blogs and suggested you purchase his great books on positive psychology. Today he has made an offer I want to pass along. He wrote another great blog summarizing the research of giving on the giver. I will post those comments over the next few days. In the meantime, please buy his workbook Positively Happy. It is a self-contained 6 week course in a book on how to make yourself happier. Buy purchasing the book in the next 7 days, all the proceeds go to Mercy Corp to aid the efforts in Japan. Below is Dr. Biswas-Diener's offer. Thank you.

A Happy Way to Help Japan

There are a number of ways you can help the people of Japan. Although they are a wealthy nation donations to groups like the Red Cross and Mercy Corps reflect your compassion and help rescue and reconstruction efforts in that country. As with the earthquake that recently devastated Haiti I want to throw my weight into the humanitarian effort. From April 1 through the 7th I will donate all the proceeds from sales of the Positively Happy workbook (http://tinyurl.com/3dtb97k) to the Mercy Corps

efforts in Japan. I am not donating 10%, or 20%, but 100% of the proceeds. Please allow for up to 24 hours for the electronic workbook to be delivered to you. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you so much. As always, feel free to contact us with ideas, suggestions, or questions at http://www.intentionalhappiness.com/ Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener

Thank you, Andrea Goeglein, PhD
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess

Do You Want to be a Lap Dancer?

2011-03-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

What is the price you are willing to pay to have financial success?

During a business strategy call this morning I found myself using a personal example of a low water mark for financial success. Lap dancers.

Let me explain. In the community I live, lap dancers out earn me by about 10 to 1. Some might success that at 55 year old becoming a lap dancer is really not an occupational choice. However, if you live in my community you would soon learn that is not the case. So go with me for the moment -- let's assume I could choose to become a lap dancer and earn 10x more than I earn today per hour.

Would I do it? It's legal. This is not a question of 'am I choosing to do something illegal to achieve financial success?' This is a question of 'exactly what am I willing to do to achieve fiancial success.'

We all have to answer that question at some point in our business careers. I found myself answering it a lot lately. A few weeks ago someone mentioned the names of two highly intelligent men who happen to host talk shows that I think represent the 'no water mark' meaning the quality of the material and topics presented is so low that it does not even raise to the point of being a low standard of acceptable. Since hosting a show is one of my many objectives, I could see clearly what I was not willing to do for success -- financial or otherwise.

Which brings me back to lap dancers. There comes a point in striving to be successful that you must face your 'lapdancer' question. Your 'lapdancer' maybe a rude boss, late paying clients, publicly demeaning co-workers -- whatever and whoever you are ignoring just to keep earning money -- and do what is right for your spirit regardless of how it effects your financial success.

Just thoughts. Please share yours with me. Thank you.
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success (tm)
www.DontDieBooks.com

The Psyche of Your Home

2011-03-08T15:19:00.000-08:00

One of the observational cliques that goes around psychology is that the condition of your physical home -- how orderly things are, how well maintained and clear the environment is, if there are photos of friends and family, etc. represents the condition of your personal psyche. One of my favorite Positive Psychology researchers and authors is Robert Biswas-Diener has again written a blog that I want to share with you. Again, he made this contribution on the way to another incredible location -- last time he was in Hawaii, this time he is off to South Africa.
Before you read his contribution, look around your own home. What is the condition? Is it showing the way you are feeling? As I write this I have begun the process of updating and renovating our master bath and bedroom. We have not done any work on our home since 2007. I remember how that shook things up. I look forward with great anticipation what this upcoming work will shift in our lives.

To read more about Robert and his work, go to www.intentionalhappiness.com Thank you

Do you live in a retreat center or a circus tent? By Robert Biswas-Diener, PhD

I recently posted photos of my house on Facebook because, I realized, I love my house so much that I wanted to share it with others, if even in a small way. I don't live in a mansion and there is nothing all that remarkable about my two car garage or wooden deck. My house is not necessarily the cause for any bragging rights. My home does have a unique feature, however; a small river running through the lush, fern filled yard that feeds the massive cedar trees that rise up like towers. The natural setting in which my house is nestled has led-on more than one occasion-to guests comparing it to the quiet and serenity of a retreat center. I have come to understand that the physical environment in which I live-the color of the walls in my home, the furnishings, the lighting, the plants, and other features-play a subtle but powerful role in my well-being.

There are many research studies pointing to the conclusion that having a view of a natural setting can be rejuvenating. Nothing new there. That's exactly why people are willing to pay extra for ocean facing hotel rooms when they go on holiday. What is fresh, however, is a new publication by Richard Florida, an intellectual with an interest in place. Florida argues that where you live matters. Living in areas where schools are good and crime is low obviously leads to a better quality of life. Less obvious is the fact that people living in different areas derive happiness from different sources! Using Gallup survey data Florida and his research team discovered that city folk get a kick out of meeting new people, suburban dwellers emphasize safety and education, and people in the country place importance on tight social relationships. Florida suggests that there are four basic qualities to a person's sense of place: basic needs, community, stimulation and freedom.

1. Basic Needs
2. Community
3. Stimulation
4. Freedom

Florida is referring to whole areas-cities and societies. I thought it would be interesting to shrink his theory and apply it on a less grand scale: to my own home. It can be useful to think about the very place you live-your house or apartment-in reference to Florida's four place qualities. Ask yourself how well your basic needs are met? For instance, is the home warm or cool enough? Do you complain about the light? Is there typically food on hand? What about your sense of community within your home? How do your friends, family members, neighbors or housemates contribute to or detract from your well-being? What about stimulation? Is your home full of opportunities to engage your mind in ways you value, or do you find yourself ducking out to get your kicks? Finally, how much freedom do you experience? Do you have a room that is a reflection of you and which you are free to decorate? Chances are, intervening in any one of these areas will translate to more satisfaction and happiness for you. I admit, I ran away with Florida's theory and applied in on a micro scale, but I have found it to be an effective way to understand my own home and how it affects me. I suggest you take the time and try it on for yourself.

One way of getting a more objective gauge of how happy a place your home is would be to take stock of the types of compliments you get when visitors arrive. If you take my house as an example, people are quick to point out the beautiful landscape. Calling my home a "retreat center" suggests that it scores high points on the basic needs dimension, but that it might not be the most stimulating place in the world. This is true, in fact. You won't find TVs blaring or music blasting or people playing video games at our residence. You'll find a group of people reading quietly. Which means, where the happiness of the Biswas-Dieners is concerned, it would be important for us to acquire games, puzzles, toys or other tools for boosting the stimulus value of our otherwise calm household. What are people saying about the place you live, and how can this point you to making small improvements in one of these four areas?

Marshmallows Predict Success in Life

2011-02-21T18:55:00.000-08:00

It may be a holiday in the U.S. today, but one of the leading researchers in Positive Psychology combined a bit of holiday in Hawaii with a bit of work by posting the following article. I remember the first time I read this work. Being a sugar addict from birth, I had negative thoughts of being the kid who actually ate the marshmallows! Thank you Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener of Positive Psychology Services, LLC

Marshmallows Predict Success in Life

In the 1960s the psychologist Walter Mischel conducted one of the most whimsical and important studies in the history of the field. He placed marshmallows in front of pre-schoolers and instructed them NOT to eat the treats. He explained that they could have a single marshmallow, or be rewarded with an additional marshmallow if only they could resist temptation until he returned. He then exited the room, leaving the poor children alone with that delicious, soft, white, mouth-watering little goody. This test became the classic "delay of gratification" task and Mischel and other researchers quickly saw that some kids were naturally good at withstanding temptation while others gave in almost immediately. What's even more interesting and-ultimately-more important is that the pre-schoolers' ability to delay gratification predicted their college entry exam scores almost two decades later. This simple childhood test also predicted drug use later in life. In short, a person's ability to exert self-control is a good predictor of success in life.

Mischel went on to a long and productive career, much of it aimed at refining and explaining the insights gleaned from his marshmallow study. Mischel theorizes that humans have two important systems-hot and cool-and the interaction of these is crucial to the art of willpower. Our "hot" system is our emotions, and these are simple, reflexive, and drive us forward. Our "cool" system is cognitive, and it is reflective, complex, and helps us "know" instead of "go." There is something you should know about how these systems work together: first, stress-both acute and chronic-can take the cool system "off-line" and lead to the dominance of the hot, emotional "go" system. Think about it this way: Have you ever been stressed while working at your computer, but seemed unable to pull yourself away? You likely stayed at your work station, angry, muttering comments to colleagues such as "just give me another minute with this" as if more minutes with the stressful work will be just the thing to calm you down. You make this type of backward decisions because your thinking has been partially dismantled in favor of an approach oriented emotional state.

Fortunately, there are several solutions to hot state problems. One of the easiest is a strategy with an almost military title: attentional deployment. What is attentional deployment? Simply put, this means distracting yourself or otherwise removing the hot temptation from your field of vision (or thought). Remember those pre-schoolers and that plate of marshmallows? The kids that did the best at the delay of gratification task sang songs and closed or covered their eyes. Compare this to the far less successful children who stared directly at the marshmallow, willing themselves not to eat it. The avoiders had the intuitive understanding that distraction is a superior strategy than the heavy lifting of trying to muscle the task with sheer willpower. Once you understand that hot engagement is often the very problem than disengagement is the obvious answer. So, next time you are angry at your computer try getting up and leaving it until your cool system takes over! Simply another reminder that we can all learn a lot from pre-schoolers!

Thank you.

Don't Die With Vacation Time on the Books

2011-02-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

Note: If you buy the book from Amazon, make sure to only pay the $9.97 price! The Book is not out of stock at $9.97 and you can have all you want! Or go to http://www.dontdiebooks.com/

A big thank you to all who have purchased the book today.

I will be hosting a call to answer your questions the week of March 1.

Information to follow.

Peace

Long time no write

2011-02-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed that sometimes life requires you to stop doing things that you actually enjoy in order to do something you do not enjoy nearly as much? Well, that is what has happened to me. I actually enjoy writing a blog each week, sharing the blog posts of some noted and content-rich contributors, and just plain staying connected in a virtual way.

However...you notice I did not say "here is my excuse"...sometimes life requires you to forfeit in the short term to achieve a potentially greater long term goal. Choices, choices, choices! Just like my cats: Where you put your attention is where you get your results.

Here was my choice: Continue to write my weekly blog or lay the groundwork for my newest venture The Crooked Road of Success inspirational media company. The new venture won out. My first book in the Don't Die series is out, many events are on the calendar -- well booked but not yet up on my public event calendar -- and trademarks and copyrights are filed.

I've missed you even if you have not missed me. Forty-six days into 2011 and a book is out, a TV segment has been filmed, a website built, the first Amazon sales completed and one fundraiser and four events booked. Tired, yes. Happy, yes. Want to make me happier? Buy the book! Thank you.

I have a dream...

2011-01-17T09:47:00.000-08:00

Today, as a nation, we celebrate the life, accomplishments and contributions, of Dr. Martin Luther King. So many of his words have become infamous that often we don't remember the man who spoke them or why he said them.

Maybe the greatest honor of all is when you words still inspire, even if you are forgotten? I don't know. I just know that that the words of Dr. King for me as till infused with the television images of him speaking the words. For those memories, I am grateful today.

"I have a dream..." was a grander vision than any dream I have ever held, yet it is those words that I utter every time I remember that any dream is a worthy dream, and any dream begins to come to reality not when all the steps to create the dream are in place, but when I take just one step toward that dream.

My morning reading had an interesting passage: "Do you want to live the life you are living or are you ready to say yest to your dream life?" I paused after reading that question. For me the question would be different. I am grateful for the life of love I have built. That love is real and not a dream. For me the question would really not be a question. It would be a statement of intention.

"I am grateful for the life of love I have created AND I am ready to add to it my dreams that make those loves come to life."

What are your dreams or intentions? Are you ready to say 'yes' to your dreams even if you can see no further than the first step of writing them down and choosing one small step to take toward making your dreams your realities?

When you look at the road ahead you it may look as though the obstacles before you are to great to traverse. Start walking your path anyway. You may be surprise that the road may be crooked, but those obstacles can become nothing but majestic scenery.

Thank you Dr. King.

Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
www.YouTube.com/user/ServingSuccess
www.Facebook.com/DrSuccessPhD
http://www.servingsuccess.com/
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

A December to Remember

2010-12-24T07:27:00.000-08:00

A December to Remember is the local Lexus slogan. I found myself saying that many times during this month. I have not written much -- almost at all -- since December 6. For me it has been a December to Remember. I started the month teaching a class on Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' Life Change model, followed the next day by walking a 1/2 marathon. The week that followed was filled with a birthday celebration, and a foodie life experience extraordinaire.

In the mist of all, my first book that I am really proud of got as close to production as I could hope and it will go to the printer on Monday, December 26.

So here is my Dr. Success challenge: If you were to describe this December as a December to Remember, what stories about this month would you be telling?

I look forward to more regular writing as 2011 begins. My gift to you is the gift of your personal growth.

Peace on Earth and may that Peace begin within You. Thank you,

Andrea

Visualization Test

2010-12-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Monday, Dec. 6, 2010 update. Before you read the blog post below, look at the photo to the left. It was taken yesterday as I came in on the half marathon. Now read on....

I decided to have some fun with a technique that I used before as a sceptic and was shocked with the results. The technique was visualization. This blog is being written on 11/24/10. In 2005 I decided to walk my first marathon. I did not have time to train properly. The marathon site had a 6:30 minute video which traveled the whole route. Each day I could for about 2 months I watched the video from my desk chair, swinging my arms, and moving like I was walking fast. I wish you could have been there the day of the race. Remember I was walking this marathon, not running. As I approached the 26 mile mark the time clock read approximately (can't remember exact) 6:26! I came in a few minutes later at 6:34.

Well, I am about to do a version of that again. However, good sense has gotten the better of me, and I now only do 1/2 marathons. This week (11/20 to be exact) I decided to walk the Las Vegas half-marathon and of course have no time to train. The course video does not exist any longer, so I put a map of the route up and I have a timer I set for 3:20 minutes. Every few days I stand in front of the mirror and pretend to walk and enjoy every moment of it. If there was a video of what I do in front of that mirror, I know my kids would have me committed. In any event, I am 'game on' to see what time I clock in at on 12/4. This blog will post 12/4 in the morning. I will let you know how I do that afternoon.

For those of you interested in the science behind visualization and performance, read this great blog by Bomes Consulting. A copy is printed below.

The Power of Visualization Unleashed

Written by: Bob Bomes

Our theme this week on Bomes’ Monday Morning Message and on our blog posts has been about the power of Visualization. Hopefully you are getting the picture of how essential it is to have pictures in front of us throughout the day that give us a visual for the things we want in life. Here are several other examples about the power of Visualization that took the power of Visualization to an even higher power. Let me explain.

Researchers at the famed Cleveland Clinic found that picturing (Visualizing) an action activates the nerves, which makes muscles move and triggers an actual contraction. When participants in the study did an exercise where they practiced visualizing for five minutes a day, they were able to increase muscle strength by 35 percent in 12 weeks – without ever going near a gym.

Another study at the University of Liverpool showed people could improve performance by 29 percent if they would visualize themselves using proper form. If, for example, they were doing a bench press, they would visualize that their arms were rising evenly and in perfect alignment. By adding the Visualization practice, they boosted their performance.

The ways you could use this same type of Visualization power to improve your life is unlimited. At work, think of the things that you have to do that are stressing you and imagine doing them perfectly. Some examples include: • A heart surgeon visualizes guiding herself perfectly through a complicated operation. • A computer salesman imagines a perfect sales scenario. • A High School Senior imagines writing an outstanding paper that gets an A+. Now, it is up to you to pick the areas of your life you want to improve. Spend time each day looking at your Visualization Board. Imagine a perfect outcome.

As our friends at NIKE would say, “Just do it!”

Thrive

2010-11-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

There is a short list on which I keep the names of people whose work I admire in any given field. I find keeping such a list stops me from wondering in the 'woods' of an Internet search on any given topic. When it comes to those I trust in the field of applied positive psychology, Robert Biswas-Diener, is not only on that list, but on the top! I have never met him, but can tell from his thoughtful and useful newsletters that if I still owned hotels, he would be the consult I would hire. The following review of the new book, Thrive, was written by Robert Biswas-Diener. Since I loved The Blue Zones, I can't wait to pick up a copy of Thrive.
People familiar with positive psychology are often unfamiliar with Dan Buettner. This is because Dan is an explorer, journalist, world-record holder, and expert on a topic often overlooked by positive psychologists: health. In his first book-- The Blue Zones-- Dan identified geographic anomalies: places where a disproportionate percentage of the population lived to be 100 or more. He investigated the health and social habits of people in Okinawa and other places. His reasoning is as follows: it makes sense to look at the habits of people who are successful. In his newest effort, Thrive, Dan extends this strategy to happiness.

Thrive is another topocentric book; this time Buettner shifts his attention from the healthiest places on the planet to the happiest. One of the things I love best about Dan's take on happiness is that he gets out into the field. Scientific findings are great-- and Buettner certainly makes the most of his relationship to Gallup and access to Gallup survey data-- but it is often just as fruitful to get out of the laboratory and talk to people on the street who illustrate academic points on a more day to day level. It is because of this journalistic impulse that Thrive doesn't read like "just another happiness book" but appears to offer something new.... newer data, new stories, and new ideas.

On a final note I should also mention that I love Dan's take on the science of happiness. Rather than present his own model of happiness-- as if we need another one of those!-- Dan interviews Ed Diener, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ruut Veenhoven and other experts, reprinting their quotes in full and letting small points of difference hang in the air between them. Ultimately, I suspect Dan agrees with Sonja on the meaning of happiness when she says "Most of us don't need a definition of happiness because instinctively we know whether we are happy or not." Thrive is like this: supported on a foundation of science but, ultimately, a book about people.

Robert's company publishes various workbooks in the field of positive psychology. Check him and them out: Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, Positive Psychology Services, LLC, www.intentionalhappiness.com

Thriving, Thanksgiving, and The Thanks in giving, Andrea
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Turning My Stumbling Blocks Into Stepping Stones

2010-11-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

Dr. Success Challenge: Look at an unpleasant part of your business life. Maybe you are without a job because of a corporate layoff. Maybe you lost your business because of economic conditions. Maybe your whole industry is in flux and you have no idea where you will land. Whatever the situation, think of it as an opportunity. It is not a 'problem'. It is not a 'trouble'. It is an OPPORTUNITY.

Let me share a story of how one person handled a life-altering career layoff as an opportunity and created a whole new career.

John is a college educated accountant. He had invested his career energy in one major corporation in his hometown. He enjoyed his work and the company he got to work with. In the recession of the early 2000's, John's entire division was to be eliminated. He and his coworkers were devastated for all the normal reasons. Here is how John turned that devastation into manifestation.

After getting word of the pending layoff, John took stock of why he liked working with the company, what he had contributed, and what he felt he still had to contribute. He then wrote a letter to the CEO -- who he had never met -- and from whom he really did not expect a reply. Not only did the CEO reply, he invited John into the headquarter office. Once there, the CEO handed John a job description, and said he would return in a little bit.

During the CEO's absence, John reviewed the three page job description, counted up the years of experience that would be needed to successfully do the job from the company's view, and sank in his chair. If John was correct, he needed about 125 years of experience. John was not yet 40 years old. Then a thought came to him. He may not have the experience the job description said was required, but neither did anyone else. When the CEO returned he asked John if John thought he could do that job -- the CEO did not ask if John had the experience -- and John said yes! Over the next few months the company figured out a way to put John in that new position. The company saved its long-time investment in a terrific employee. The employee took an action none of his other coworkers even thought of, and continued his long-term employment.

Epilogue: John successfully performed in the new position for over 5 years. Then, as a result of the work he was doing, another, better opportunity presented itself. Today, he is a highly sought after consultant in a field that he never thought to enter. Another part of the epilogue is that many of John's former co-workers were angry at John. Strange, instead of using their energy to follow a successful alternative action, they used their energy to get angry. When the opportunity presents itself, please learn from the productive examples.

What opportunities are you missing today? What career stumbling blocks can you turn into stepping stones?

I am thankful for all the lives that enter my story and create the opportunity for me to share.
Thank you, Andrea

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How to combat 'Manhunt Monday'

2010-11-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

Many of you know I have been diligently putting effort toward attracting a
larger venue for my media work with positive psychology. Today was an example of one of those days that had wonderful stuff in it, and then the not so wonderful.

My day started with a beautiful email from a participant in a two-year spiritual direction program within which I teach (and, of course, learn). Next up was a good session with a client, a meeting with a book strategist, followed by some book edits. As I concluded my book work for the day my friend Claire sent me a slide show with outstanding quotes attributed to women.

Then there is the not so good. For me its not even about being 'not so good' its about being 'just plan good for nothing'. I am referring to a segment -- a well intended segment I am sure -- called 'Manhunt Monday'...in the middle of the local nightly disaster report -- oh, I mean news -- stuck right there in between the auto fatalities, the million dollar heroin bust, the body of an abused women and the unemployment figures -- is a segment asking that I help find the killer of the week. I don't know about you, after all that inspiring information I am plum out of energy to help find a killer.

I had another suggestion sent by author Mabel Katz. She sent a symbol that came to her as a tool to remember to focus on love and forgiveness. She asked that everyone pass it along to as many as possible. It is the pretty Flor-de-lis symbol above. Her request was an easy one to make room in my life to accommodate. I hope you do the same.

Sending you love to combat whatever war-like thoughts your head is filled with today. May your only hunt for a man be to share some love.

Thank you,
Andrea Goeglein
Dr. Success
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Ice cream or Church?

2010-11-04T17:54:00.000-07:00

For those experiencing the ‘living loss’ of a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, finding moments of happiness can be far and in between. Yet when you keep your eyes, ears and heart open you can sometimes be touched by a moment that allows you to share a smile which is all you need to raise everyone spirits.
My friend Mary’s visit with her grandmother provided such a moment for all those who had gathered to celebrate the ailing matriarchs 92nd birthday. Although grandma was dressed in her pajamas and only somewhat aware of why everyone was there and who they actually were, a question fostered in confusion allowed everyone to share a smile.

As recounted to me, a conversation between Mary’s mother and Mary’s grandmother went like this:

Grandma: “Shouldn’t we be going”
Mom: “Where, Mother?”
Grandma: “Home, to church.”
Mom: “We aren’t going to church tonight.”
Grandma: “Oh, okay, Let’s go get ice cream then.”

The innocence of the moment made everyone laugh.

When the story was told to me, it jarred a memory of a teaching of Dr. Hew Len. He has taught that vanilla ice cream is a ‘spiritual’ tool. According to a message he received in meditation, eating vanilla ice cream is an opportunity to connect with God and erase memories of past mis-steps in life.

I remember when I first learned of Dr. Hew Len’s ice cream tool. I thought it was as wacky as anything I had heard. Then I noticed something. Every time I eat ice cream – and I am a vanilla ice cream eater – I think of Dr. Hew Len’s teaching, and after I smile, I realize I am thinking of my connection with God. Wacky or not, it does have the same effect as going to church!

Guess we should watch who we think is suffering dementia and who has odd teachings. Everyone has something they can teach us when we are willing to learn. What we think is 'loss' may not be a loss at all.

Happy learning. Thank you.
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
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A forever Hero

2010-10-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

Why do books matter? Because they continue to impact the reader long after the book is read!

August 2009 Be The Hero was released. January 30, 2010 master coach and author Noah Blumenthal presented his book at a fundraising event for Stillpoint Center for Spiritual Development. October 2010 -- ten months later -- someone who attended the presentation and read the book commented that book and presentation marked a positive turning point in their personal development.

The same week I sat in a board meeting for Stillpoint. Board members asked if the author we had the year before Noah -- Steve Donahue of Shifting Sands -- had another book out yet. They wanted him to come back!
AM AZ Shifting Sands
Time passes but good books live on in the hearts of their readers. Read on.

Thank you,
Andrea Goeglein, PhD
866 975 3777
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

Happiness Delivered

2010-10-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

I have invested a lot of energy spreading the word of how to apply the findings in positive psychology – specifically the science of optimism and happiness – to daily life and business success.
On Wednesday, October 20, 2010 I will be presenting a book on the morning show AM Arizona that recounts the story of how a company was built -- and thrives -- by employing those same principles and findings. This is no small company; this is Zappos.com a billion dollar plus company!

Delivering Happiness is part autobiography, part how-to build a company culture, and part well deserved youthful bravado. As you know, I do not promote books. I promote the message in books that discuss how to apply the principles of positive psychology. I like this book for three simple reasons:

1. It’s the first complete example of how a company can implement the teachings of positive psychology. This includes allowing them craft the story of what the culture is really like. They create an annual culture book. Not all the entries are inspiring, but they are sincere. Crafting your story is a part of creating a story that works for you.

2. Tony allowed a strong community to be built in the workplace. Social interaction has been shown to surpass other indicators for feeling happy.

3. Tony allowed a culture to develop that gave employees the power to serve customers until the customer felt well served. There are no time restrictions on how long an employee can or can’t stay with a customer. I believe this allowed employees to feel as though they were contributing to something and someone greater than themselves.

You will notice I wrote “Tony allowed”. Delivering Happiness is CEO Tony Hsieh’s story, told from his experience and his perspective. I am not offended by his less than subtle bravado. It was a lot of Hsieh’s net worth that kept Zappos alive long enough to get financing, product and customers so there could be a Zappos. Delivering Happiness can feel like the Tony Hsieh show, but in business the show is all about how you deliver profit, develop people, and deliver customer satisfaction. Hsieh and his team not only did that, they did it while delivering happiness.
Thank you,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success™
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Dr. Phil Show Taping

2010-10-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

Had an incredible experience at the Dr. Phil Show 5 hour marathon taping with my friend Carrie. So many synchronistic things occurred from the content of my morning reading entitled Expectancy to the front row audience seat when we arrived.

That day I was using a briefcase I had not used in a long time. On the plane ride home I was digging around it mindlessly and came across a small pamphlet published in 2002 containing leadership quotes and stories. The first page I opened to had these quotes:

Of what help is anyone who can only be approached with the right words? Elizabeth Bibesco (1897-1945). Writer. Thank you from the grave, Elizabeth!

Second motto from the same page: True success comes when you hit a crisis or rough spot, and people don't revert to their old behaviors. Lynn Mercer Wireless Network Manager

God is working overtime on my behalf. Thank you God! Wink Wink Wink

All of this during a week when my editor has been asking me to refine my message of how awareness opens the possibility for an awakening to the truth that we are never alone.

Thank you,
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
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Phil McGraw Life Strategies Part 2

2010-10-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I will be joining LA based www.Meetup.com Dr. Phil group to be in audience for two tapings. Will be fun. The video below was a segment I did in 2008. Still like the book Life Strategies. Good read.

Peace,
Andrea Goeglein,PhD
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Trust me there is a rainbow

2010-10-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

On a routine outing in Las Vegas this week I was stopped in my tracks by a rainbow on the horizon. I quickly took a photo of it with my cellphone, and uploaded to Facebook. I doubted anyone could see the actual rainbow so I captioned it: Trust me, there is a rainbow.

A dear friend, and the newly appointed Honorary Consulate of the Principality of Monaco, Jonathan Warren, commented that should be the title of my next book and he wanted credit. I decided not to wait as long as it would take to write a book!

Dr. Success Challenge: What actions would you take today if you could trust there was really a rainbow at the end of whatever or wherever you are right now? Make a list if its more than one...and then take at least one action in that direction.

Remember, you don't have to wait for the rainstorm to be over to begin creating rainbows.

The photo of the rainbow included in this post was graciously contributed by Stew Gibbons. Thank you -- as always -- Stew.

Thank you,
Andrea Goeglein, PhD
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DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

Football and Success

2010-10-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

What better way to be reminded about success on a Sunday than from a legendary coach. John Wooden left his mark not only on the game of football but on lives, organizations and communities. I thought this was a good way to start the week. Hope you agree. Thank you.

Andrea Goeglein, PhD
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Facebook

2010-09-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

I have been uber busy since returning from our daughter's magical wedding. I apologize for not writing more yet I needed to stop and make a request.
I have been enthralled with the $100 million donation Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, made to the Newark, NJ school district. His action is a perfect example of impacting institutions greater than yourself -- a hallmark contributing to well being as noted in the positive psychology literature.

Here is what has also struck me. I seem to be challenged to come up with a 20-something female who has used their young wealth and fame to do an extraordinary act of generosity. My mind keeps going to the marketing genius of the likes of Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, or the life choices of young women like Lindsey Lohan. I see a lot of getting but not so much giving. So I need your help.

Please send me the names of young women who are using their economic power to impact institutions greater than themselves.

I look foward to a very long list. Thank you.

Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success
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Love

2010-09-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of enjoying the moment, I will be off line until September 25, 2010.

Our daughter, Dana, and her honey, Kevin Courtney, will be married on Saturday, September 18 at 3 p.m. EST.

We are off to celebrate with our families and regardless of what my ego tries to tell me, the only thing that truly requires my attention is that celebration.

Moment by moment is all we have...we intent to fill each one with love. I invite you to do the same.

Thank you, Andrea

Success You Can Bank On

2010-09-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

Come join me this Wednesday for a free webinar discussing tools and technicques that get results if what you are saving is your ability to create a successful life.

Just as Stew Gibbon's photo -- even the darkest of skies has rays of sun behind them.

Please pass this link around. It's free, it's Wednesday 9/8 and it's live.

Success You Can Bank On

Thank you, Andrea

Success You Can Bank On

2010-09-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

Success You Can Bank On

I know this is a week away...but put it on your calendar. Of course I will remind you!

Happy Wednesday. And they are about to starts this weeks, so check it out.

Thank you, Andrea
Dr. Success
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Which hunger do you feed?

2010-08-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

I was sent an incredible article about a community kitchen in India housed in a Sikh temple that feeds 80,000 people per day for free. At first I was overwhelmed at the thought of so many hungry people in one place. Then I read the article more closely. I realized that many who came were hungry -- but they were not looking to feed their bodies as much as nourish their spirits.

I was then taken with the possibility of what such a community kitchen would look like in the United States...or for the real fun of it...Las Vegas!

What would it look like if our concept of 'soup kitchens' which have their roots in the great depression evolved to community kitchens which feed the soul while it nourished the body? What would it look like if people of all economic strata came together to join in the effort -- from washing the dishes to scrubbing the floors. I am reminded of a Wayne Dyer book title, There Is A Spiritual Solution to Every Problem.

Think I found an additional meaning for ServingSuccess. Thank you Div for bringing the article to my attention.

Peace,
Andrea Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success
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Superstition and Happiness

2010-08-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

Today I was engaged in an interesting conversation with a client about superstition -- holding them and what that means relative to your belief in God and Einstein's proposition that there are two kinds of people in the world -- those who believe the world is a friendly place and those who believe the world is a hostile place.

I went looking to my to my favorite source for all content wonderful -- TED.COM -- and typed in the word "superstition". What came up was the speech by designer Stefan Sagmeister. His opening story about a job in Hong Kong and his closing piece about his list of things he likes about his job still have me smiling.

Hope it does the same for you. Happy thinking...Thank you, Andrea
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Small Person Big Impact

2010-08-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

My last post was about Tipping Points and Positive Psychology. That theme continues with a message of hope that the high school students of today will be able to transform their ‘contagious power’ into the power that fuels contagious compassion.

Leaving a legacy has never been high on my list of things to be concerned about. For many years I was rather antagonistic toward the entire concept. Being concerned about leaving a legacy felt like the ultimate head-trip. Wanting to control how people thought about me and my life’s contributions after I was dead just seemed like taking ‘controlling from the grave’ to all new heights.

Then I was introduced to the concept in positive psychology of ‘using your strengths to impact organizations greater than yourself.’ Honestly, I like and was striving for creating a continual flow state, the second phase in the evolution of development within the positive psychology framework. Having a larger impact seemed – well – too large! Here comes the ‘however’…

On Friday, August 20, I will feature two books on this installment of AM Arizona's Books That Matter, Journey Through Heartsongs by Mattie J. T. Stepanek and Messenger by Jeni Stepanek. One book starts the journey of creating a legacy of compassion and the other attempts to grow the legacy by creating an army of compassion powered by the hearts of today’s high school students. Not exactly the picture one usually gets when thinking about high school students!

Author and peacemaker, Mattie Stepanek lived only 14 years. Focusing the legacy of his work on the eternal age group of his peers seems to be pure inspiration. In 14 years, Mattie succeed in living with a terminal disease and found a way to touch the world with a message of meaning and hope. He succeed in setting and achieving goals even as his body fought to take him out of the game. He succeed in creating so much love that his message is being kept alive not just in a book but as a program of compassion in action.

In the next week I will focus individual posts about each of these books.

For now I want you to imagine what your life could contribute if you:

Overcame your l challenges by devoting your life to a message of meaning. You don’t need to know your life purpose. You only need to know you have the strength to live a life on purpose.

Set goals and achieve them. Once again, you can make excuses or you can achieve your goals, but you can’t do both.

Lastly, firstly, and only – take action moment-by-moment to connect through love, create love, and be love.

Maybe now I understand why I created a personal guiding motto of Love * Learn * Prosper

Thank you for reading. And remember the force is with you.
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
Dr. Success
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