Christine Casey ~ Change Begins with Choice

I thought I’d have a little fun this week with my post, and share some of the sayings I’ve collected from fortune cookies…what I like to refer to as “Fortune Cookie Wisdom”.

Do you know where the Fortune Cookie originated from? Much to most American’s surprise, it is not a Chinese invention ~ fortune cookies were actually invented in California. One legend is that in the 1900’s, a plan was created to transform San Francisco’s Chinatown from a ghetto into a cute tourist attraction, to promise visitors a real Oriental experience. Supposedly, increased tourism led to the invention of the fortune cookie to fill the void of a dessert item. In the 1930’s, in order to fill the visitors demands for a dessert, a worker in San Francisco’s Kay Heong Noodle Factory invented a plain flat cookie, and while still warm, was folded around a little piece of paper on which a hand-written prediction or piece of Chinese wisdom would be found.

One of my favorite restaurant’s is Pei-Wei’s, and with as frequently as I visit there (wish they offered something similar to “frequent flyer miles”…ha~ha), I have tons of “Fortune Cookie Wisdom” to choose from (lol!) ~ here are some of my favorites that I’ve kept:

• Good luck is the result of good planning.
• The simplest answer is to act.
• Advancement will come with hard work.
• Your love of life can carry you through any circumstance.
• Always surround yourself with true friends.
• There will be many surprises: unexpected gains are likely.
• Adventure can be a real happiness.
• A great man never ignores the simplicity of a child.
• Be assertive when decisive action is needed.
• You are a lover of words, someday you should write a book.
• The courage to be great lies deep within each of us.
• The love of your life will appear in front of you unexpectedly!
• The problems of today will soon be buried by the sand of time.
• Honesty and friendship bring you fortune.
• Learning is a treasure which accompanies us everywhere.
• Take the advice of a faithful friend.
• Luck will visit you on the next new moon.
• You will soon emerge victorious from the maze you’ve been traveling in.
• Do not let great ambitions overshadow small success.
• Happier days are definitely ahead of you.
• A quiet evening with friends is the best tonic for a long day.
• The respect and help of influential people will soon be yours.
• Many successes will accompany you this year.
• You are never selfish with your advice or your help.
• Set the right example. It will inspire others.
• Endurance and persistence will be rewarded.

Yes, I know…a couple of them are rather “silly”, yet quite a few do make you s top and think ~ so much so, that I’ve shared some of them on my Facebook page ~ do any of them seem familiar? 

I hope you’ve enjoyed my “off the beaten path” post this week…and BTW, my blog’s byline is from a fortune cookie

P.S. I appreciate you stopping by and would enjoy hearing your personal thoughts about these various fortune cookie sayings, how about you, have you ever come across a fortune cookie wisdom that really had significance or special meaning for you? Please feel free to share in the comment box below. And, if you have found my post to be of value to you, and feel it would also be to others, then please free free to share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

For my post this week, I wanted to touch on a subject that is vital yet not exactly related to personal growth…

As it seems just about every website requires a password, people tend to use the same password for many accounts, however this makes you vulnerable to hacking and identity theft.  Have you noticed that the prospect of coming up with numerous different hack-proof passwords is a daunting task…not to mention having to memorize them!  There are a few tricks that can help.

First, make a password at least eight characters long with a mixture of numbers and letters, upper and lowercase, and avoid using any information that is obvious, such as your name, birthdate or the name of a child or favorite pet.  Yet, think of a phrase that you won’t forget, and use the first letter of each word.  Then the key is to replace some of the letters with numbers.  As an example, substitute 1 for the letter I or L, or a zero for the letter O.

Create a core password you can easily remember, and then add a different prefix or suffix with numbers for each site such as “HelloOklahoma” becomes “He1100klah0ma8″.  If you have a site that frequently requires you to update your password, just change the number but keep the core password the same.

Obviously writing down your passwords could be dangerous – what if someone found your list?  A suggestion might be to instead write down a clue or part of the password to jog your memory, yet not enough so others could figure it out.  Also, be sure you don’t put clues in well though of places like on a sticky note under your keyboard

For me personally, I use a combination of the methods mentioned above and I have a program on my computer called “Passkeeper” where I can store all information, and fear not…a password is required to open the program.  I have found this simple little program to be a lifesaver from time to time throughout the years.  If interested, here is the link.

P.S. I appreciate you stopping by and would enjoy hearing your personal thoughts about using passwords ~ please feel free to share in the comment box below. And, if you have found my post to be of value to you, and feel it would also be to others, then please free free to share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

If you study successful people, you’ll find one trait they all have in common is consistency.

Consistency creates habits.  Habits make the difference between success or failure.  Did you know that quitting is a habit?  And, every time you quit, you risk damage to your self-esteem, and send your subconscious a message that you’re helpless.  You are not helpless.  If you’ll take action every time you feel like quitting, you will gain confidence that seems to make your next step easier. Consistency takes discipline and for some, this just isn’t an easy task.  Sometimes, just doing those small, often mundane tasks on a daily basis can make all the difference in driving you forward.

Being consistent is a tough job for most people, especially if it will be asking for major efforts and participation. Think about this: Unless you are willing to try to do something beyond what you have been doing, you will never receive the maximum growth that you need for your growth. Expand your expertise. No matter what you do, being consistent will lead you toward success!

Life happens and sometimes, the routine demands of life will overload you, or unexpected events will blow in from nowhere and threaten to drive you off course.  When such things do occur, confront the urge to give up.  From time to time, you’ll be tempted to rationalize, “Well, I’ll quit for now, but I’ll get back on track tomorrow or next week”  Don’t do it!  Instead, take immediate action to get you working toward your task before the temptation to quit gets too strong.

If you happen to own your own business, what can you do to ensure you stay consistent (in your business)?  One would be to make the decision to be consistent. Another would be to establish a daily schedule and set specific time to work on your business.  If your business is more than a hobby, realistically, you need to plan to work on your business a minimum of 4-5 days a week, for at least a couple of hours a day.  Keep in mind, it’s okay to work a business part-time or full-time, but never sometimes.

P.S. I appreciate you stopping by and would enjoy hearing your thoughts on consistency,  so, please feel free to share in the comment box below. And, if you have found my post to be of value to you, and feel it would also be to others, then please free free to share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

* This post was originally published in May 2010.

In your quest for excellence, have you ever found yourself stuck (or worse quitting!) because you just could not figure out how to do something perfect?

Do you wonder what is the difference between the two?  Excellence is an attempt to perform a task in the best possible way, whereas perfection is the definite 100% right way of doing anything.  Excellence is something that all of us can aspire to ~ Perfection is seldom achievable by mankind.

Another way to think about it: excellence allows for occasional mistakes, yet perfection eliminates that possibility.  For example, if I expect perfection from myself, I’ll most likely fail every time!

Have you ever thought about how the two relate in our everyday lives?  Perfection is throwing one interception and losing confidence and Excellence is throwing five interceptions, yet coming back to lead your team to victory.  Perfection is performance based.  Excellence is always based upon improvement.  Perfection can make a victory become a failure. Yet, Excellence can turn a failure into victory.

What are some key differences between excellence and perfection:

• Excellence is willing to be wrong.  Perfection is being right.
• Excellence is risk.  Perfection is fear.
• Excellence is powerful.  Perfection is anger and frustration.
• Excellence is spontaneous.  Perfection is control.
• Excellence is accepting.  Perfection is judgment.
• Excellence is giving.  Perfection is taking.
• Excellence is confidence.  Perfection is doubt.
• Excellence is flowing.  Perfection is pressure.
• Excellence is journey.  Perfection is destination.

To best sum it up:  Perfection is not a goal, it is a fantasy.  Perfection can never be attained. Perfection is not part of our human world. ~ Excellence is attainable, and a very healthy goal for each of us to pursue.

Do you have a clear picture for what excellence looks like for you? Action steps you can take once you have your clear picture is to hold onto that image and take steps daily in that direction ~ whatever excellence is for you!

A great quote to leave you with, “No one is perfect…that’s why pencils have erasers.” ~ Unknown

P.S. I appreciate you stopping by and would enjoy hearing your thoughts on excellence or perfection,  so, please feel free to share in the comment box below. And, if you have found my post to be of value to you, and feel it would also be to others, then please free free to share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

A couple of weeks ago, I received in my email inbox an article from Darren Hardy, Publisher of Success Magazine, titled, “2011: How to Live Your Best Year Ever”. And, although I receive numerous links to articles in my email each day, I have to admit, this one caught my attention.  Why, you might ask…

Well…it’s not because the title refers to leading into this new year, or the general nostalgia that one might feel this time of the year.

No…it simply captured my attention because the initial contents struck upon a familiar cord, “Are you feeling a little bummed or even disappointed in where you are in life right now?”  Okay, you’ve got my attention, I thought.  The article touched upon specific thoughts such as, “Did you think you would be doing a little bit better and be a little bit further along in life by now?”   Regardless of the usual “New Year” type topics that one might expect to read, this one hit a little too close for comfort for me…

2010 was truly a wonderful year for me personally and professionally, filled with personal growth and new friendships, yet as the year was coming to a close, I did find myself a bit overwhelmed with “life” and, as far as “growth” may have been concerned, found myself at a personal “standstill”.  And, so yes, (unfortunately???) this article and subtopic points posed by Darren truly hit home.

And, it actually brought to my mind another book by Dr. Shad Helmstetter titled, “Who Are You Really, and What Do You Want?”, a title that has for many years stood out in my mind…not necessarily because of the very catchy title, yet rather because of the premise behind the title, WHO are you REALLY…and WHAT do YOU WANT.  To me, this seems to go hand-in-hand with the concept of personal development (actually hitting the nail on head), and makes me truly ponder about on the concept of who I am, where I am in my life (at present) and what direction I am really going (in my life). And, again I’m sure I’m not alone in this feeling.

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that it’s been a little over four months since my last blog post, and during this time I’ve felt “stuck” and a bit in limbo because I allowed myself to become overwhelmed, “changed train tracks” on my personal direction, and well, basically, let life get in the way of my momentum.  The great thing about a New Year is that it is a traditional new beginning, and “an allowable turning point”, and a time to try something different.  Hey, you never know if it works unless you try, right?

In the scheme of the Big Picture of Life, something that I’ve learned and would like very much to share is that  you have to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Meaning, you still have to have a plan, yet it’s so important to break tasks down into “bite sized pieces”,  few important ones to strive to do each and every day I have my ‘Six Most’ list that I utilize each day, and, with that in mind, I also keep track of the items that I have accomplished, and note these as completed every day.  What a feeling!!!

I would very much enjoy hearing from others who may have had similar “ah-ha”moments and the things you’ve learned along the way of personal growth (especially at a New Year) that you’d like to share

P.S. If you have found my post to be of value to you, and feel it would also be to others, then please do me one favor and share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

In my post from last week I wrote about the power of networking and sharing of information with one another, and now I want to build on that concept a little more…

The individuals that I choose to network with all have very diverse backgrounds, interests, and goals — and this is a great thing because from time to time, as I may need feedback or assistance, I’m able to contact specific people about things knowledgeable to them. As an example, I’ve recently reached another crossroad in my business, and if you’ve ever been there yourself, you know how frustrating it can be ~ not knowing exactly which road to take and perhaps even feeling so overwhelmed, that you find yourself procrastinating ~ with nothing getting accomplished for a week…or longer! Ouch.

When I finally realized what was going on, that I needed a little assistance to get me back on track, I got in touch with two people I network with — successful individuals who I greatly trust and value their insights — and who aren’t afraid of hurting my feelings by telling me “like it is”, good or bad.  From talking with them, I was able to gain some much needed clarity and refocus on what was really important. And, I came away feeling refreshed, energized, and excited about taking my business ~and perhaps even my life ~ in a different direction.

And, at least for me, none of this would have been possible without me first having made the decision months ago to “get out of my comfort zone” and work to build genuine relationships with others — and of course, network.

How about you? Have you ever sought out assistance from someone in your network?

P.S. If you have found my post to be of value to you, and feel it would also be to others, then please do me one favor and share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Why Network Marketing may be a perfect solution in our current economy

The Network Marketing Industry is one that continues to grow in tough economic times, because it is fun, flexible, financially rewarding and gives you the freedom and control you may be looking for.

The unfortunate thing is that many people don’t yet understand network marketing and end up passing on the opportunity. Don’t allow lack of information or other people’s opinions about network marketing ot stand in your way of learning about his incredible industry.

Network Marketing can be best described as this: a channel of distribution that cuts out the middlemen, and pays individuals for marketing the products and services. You become the vehicle for moving product from the manufacturer directly to the consumer. And, by doing this, the company is able to avoid the high costs of wholesalers, advertising and retailers and rewards you instead! You receive commissions on products sold and residual income by sponsoring others who sell and use product as well.

When was the last time you recommended a product or service to someone? When you did, you were probably pretty enthusiastic about it b/c it was something you believed in, found value in or results from, so of course, you think nothing of sharing with others. That is exactly what Network Marketing is all about…word of mouth advertising. The HUGE difference is that the company, products or service that you recommend is one that pays you directly for your referrals. The money that they would tradionally have to spend on advertising or stocking their products on store shelves, they instead share with you, one of their independent consultants or distributors.

More and more companies are developing network marketing divisions within their current structure because they understand the power of this “word of month advertising”.

As an example, the Health and Wellness/Personal Use Products are a large part of the Network Marketing Industry, which is a $100 billion dollar industry, with about $32 billion of that in the cosmetic/skin care arena.

If you’d like more information, visit my website: http://ChristineCaseyaB.com.