Random Act of Kindle Kindness

As August, 2012 comes to a close with the light of a Blue Moon, I wanted to re-post this offer that expires this Monday.  Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day Weekend.  If your travels take you to Queens, NY Resorts World New York, Gary Russo will be performing free at the 360 Bar, Sunday and Monday 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.  You will have more fun that a person should outside of Las Vegas!

Growing up on the East Coast my Dad and Uncles had a fun habit.  When we were caravaning to some family outing, the lead car generally paid for the cars behind.  When I began to drive, I continued the practice with total strangers.  Well, maybe if truth be told, as a teenager if I spotted a car driven by a hot guy, I would pay his toll!  Never got a phone number, but did get lots of hot smiles.

Since smiling started the Don't Die with Your Song Unsung story, I decided to create a Random Act of Kindle Kindness.  First, I priced the Kindle edition of the book at a silly .99 cents for the month of August 2012.  Happy anniversary Gary Russo!  Then I started going through my address book and randomly sending a copy a day to someone in one of my many, many circles.  In the gift message box I put this message:

You have received this book as a random act of Kindle Kindness celebrating the anniversary of the events in the book.  If you can, please pay-it-forward by purchasing a Kindle edition for a silly .99 cents for someone.  If not, please remember to smile as you enjoy this gift.  Thank you.   

I just started yesterday...and it has been so much fun -- and cheaper than a toll costs today.  Disclaimer:  I developed this process to help drive the SEO on the book.  If you can, try it.  At a minimum you will see how little it takes to smile and elevate your mood. 

Here is the direct link to Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Your-Song-Unsung-ebook/dp/B006EJFM36/ref=tmm_kin_title_0 

I would love to know how this makes you feel.  Please drop me a note at DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com  Thank you, Andrea Goeglein

Traveling

Part of the Don't Die Book structure is to encourage the reader to pass the book along when they are finished reading.  There is even a page in the back to sign and date as you pass along. 

I received this photo of a copy of Don't Die with Your Song Unsung on the nightstand of a retreat center.  That would have been good enough -- but seeing the title of the book next to it really brought a smile to my face.  Thank you, Amy Ayoub, for sharing. 

Huffington Post Thank You

Don't Die with Your Song Unsung made the Huffington Post today.  Thank you Kim Michele Richardson. 

Meaningful Work

I invested several hours yesterday developing this Saturday's Don't Die workshop.  Part of that work was reviewing comments from people who have shared they have been touched by the work we have done together in the past.  I dug out a copy of Jana Ruth's book, P.L.A.Y.  Jana told me that because I had allowed her to be the closing session of my first women's conference -- she was able to return the following year with her book completed and ready for sale!

In the middle of my preparation, I received a message from Steve Purdon, President of the EnneagramLas Vegas.com   Steve shared with me an email he had received from a participant in one of the many Enneagram Master Lecturers Series he hosts.  The participant shared how markedly life had changed since learning the Enneagram and thanked Steve for supporting his personal development.

I mention these two instances because I made no profit from 6 months of work on the women's conference, and Steve hosts the lecture series for only a good will donation.  With that in mind, I suggest you read Ariel Schwartz's article in Fast Company, How to Find Meaningful Work. 

As always, do not misunderstand -- I like money, I always expect to make lots of money, and yet I have experienced some of my greatest gratification in my work at times when I made no money at all! I can't wait to have both gratification and high compensation!

Happy Monday. And it is done, Andrea Goeglein
P.S. If you would like information about this Saturday's Don't Die workshop, write me at DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com

Books, Publishing and Writing

Notice the title of this post.  There is a reason, of course. 

As I prepare for my upcoming Don't Die with Your Book Inside You Workshop (Saturday, March 31, 9:30  a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - 702 243 4040 to register), Gary Russo sent me this Huffington Post article about what it took to get an outstanding book, The Unbreakable Child, to the public. 

Read it to experience just what it takes to succeed as a published author.  And remember, it is not about getting published, it is about writing your story no matter what happens with publishing.

Every life starts with a single breath.  Every book begins with a single written word. 

And it is done!  Andrea

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Good Multiplies Part 2

Nothing like instant gratification to inspire me to keep moving forward.  That is particularly true when it seems like I am investing more time walking into a wind storm than being lifted by a wind at my back.

Last night I received this message from the person who got her copy of Don't Die at The Shade hotel and then purchased and additional copy for a friend in transition:

Thanks for sharing Andrea. . .And btw, coincidentally just today my friend arranged to start working part time so she can focus on what's important to her.

I love the way universe works.

All I can say is to that is I do too!  Enjoy your day, Andrea Goeglein, PhD
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Good Multiplies

At the launch of Don’t Die with Your Song Unsung I made a request to friends and business associates to please purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.

One friend, Micheal Zislis, owner of The Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach, responded to that request with an order for enough copies of the book for each of his hotel rooms.  I was, of course, grateful beyond words for such a generous gesture of support. 

Then yesterday I was able to experience the wonderful feeling of good deeds multiplying.  Here is what happened.  I received an order for a book through Amazon.  I noticed that the purchaser was actually ordering the book as a gift.  I wrote an email to thank the purchaser.  This was the message I received back:

Not sure if this will actually reach you Andrea, but I'd like to say your book was on the nightstand at hotel Shade in Manhattan Beach while recently visiting a friend. I am at a point of transition in life and my friend is unhappy in her work. I was in town visiting and felt it serendipitous that the book was there. So, thank you. I hope we are able to find our dreams and make them come true. Gratefully, XXX

Did a dream come true?  Yes.  My dream for the Don’t Die series has always been for books to be read, inspiring the reader to take action, and then pass the book along.  An additional dream I have had was for companies to use the books to promote their businesses – each time a customer sees the book they remember the great experience they had with the company that gave them the book.  Until now that latter part was just a dream.  I believed it was doable, but had no proof.  Now the dream of using Don’tDie books to promote good companies has become a reality. 

A big thank you to all involved in making that dream come true, Andrea

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Gifts

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

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

When you allow yourself the gift of using, appreciating and sharing your gifts you automatically develop emotional responses that replicate the 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 many people smile in response when you are doing something that uses one of your gifts.  Remember to put yourself on that list – 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. 

2nd Avenue Sinatra Book Launch

Read Bounce 110811 Gary Russo
Online Publishing from YUDU

One door closes

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.

What did you say?

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

IPPA, Love and Gary Russo

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

Graduation

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. 

Transforming to Happiness

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
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What Corporate Integrity Looks Like

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