I recently found this story on Kirk Weisler’s website and I wanted to share it.

Years ago, my friend, Harvey Mackay, told me a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab [...]]]> It’s all a matter of choice.  What do you choose?

I recently found this story on Kirk Weisler’s website and I wanted to share it.

Years ago, my friend, Harvey Mackay, told me a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey. He handed my friend a laminated card and said:

‘I’m Wally, your driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk I’d like you to read my mission statement.’
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said:

Wally’s Mission Statement:
To get my customers to their destination in the quickest,
safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, ‘Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.’

My friend said jokingly, ‘No, I’d prefer a soft drink.’

Wally smiled and said, ‘No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.’

Almost stuttering, Harvey said, ‘I’ll take a Diet Coke.’

Handing him his drink, Wally said, ‘If you’d like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.’

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. ‘These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d like to listen to the radio.’

And as if that weren’t enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he’d be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

‘Tell me, Wally,’ my amazed friend asked the driver, ‘have you always served customers like this?’   Wally smiled into the rearview mirror. ‘No, not always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.

He had just written a book called You’ll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, ‘Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.”

‘That hit me right between the eyes,’ said Wally. ‘Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.’

‘I take it that has paid off for you,’ Harvey said.

‘It sure has,’ Wally replied. ‘My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I’ll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don’t sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can’t pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.’

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I’ve probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn’t do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

Customers love riding in Walter’s cab. His cab ride hits their emotions, and emotions are something that no competitor can copy.

What does it cost the cab driver to offer such treats to his riders? Close to $5,000 a year. What does he get for his $5,000? He makes $12,000-$14,000 extra a year in tips.  Just for being courteous and offering a few snacks and the morning paper.

What makes him unique? This cabby thinks differently. He stopped thinking like every other cab driver in town, and discovered what it would take to turn his boring, mundane occupation into an experience customers would always remember.

Not with mirrors, magic or miracles. Just by thinking differently.  How do you think differently?

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I hope everyone had a great weekend!! I hope that you are ready to take on whatever life may throw at you this week!!  I have a feeling it is going to be a great week.

Things are hoping around here with our Vacation Bible School program. We have around 50 kids signed [...]]]> Good Monday Morning!!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!! I hope that you are ready to take on whatever life may throw at you this week!!  I have a feeling it is going to be a great week.

Things are hoping around here with our Vacation Bible School program. We have around 50 kids signed up and a lot of volunteers. We are working hard to make this the best week possible for all of the young kids that are attending the program. To my surprise (and a good surprise) we have alot of 3-5th graders!!

On Sunday we announced in church that we wanted to have some reptiles come to the VBS program. After all it is Discovery Canyon!!! The problem was funding the event, as you know we do not charge for our VBS program. Well thanks to some generous people we were able to fully fund the visit.

“MaxMan Reptile Rescue” will be coming to St. Mark’s on Wednesday 10-11am, as a special treat. For more information please visit their website. http://www.maxmanreptilerescue.com/id34.html

The past few weeks I have seen many signs of Hope. I have seen it in the different activities that I have been involved with and in the church.

Last week I recieved an email from Lou Tice called “What is Hope?” I would like to share that with you today.

I think everyone would agree that a hopeful attitude is a good thing. But what exactly is hope? Can it be learned? Centuries of folk wisdom and religious teaching have taught the benefits of a hopeful attitude. These days, researchers believe that hope may be associated with good health and greater success, both personally and professionally. But what exactly is hope? Well, according to Dr. Rick Snyder while at the University of Kansas, hope is a practical, goal-oriented attitude – a stance people assume in the face of difficulty. It combines a goal-directed determination with the ability to generate the means of reaching the goals. Dr. Snyder developed a test to measure hopefulness, and he found that college students who scored high in hope also turn in the best academic performance, regardless of high school grades or SAT scores. Folks who are injured or seriously ill do better when they have high hopes, too. Actor Christopher Reeve had every intention of walking again, and had he lived, I would not have been surprised to see him do so. Hope was a very large part of his being. The research also suggested that – all other things being equal – a hopeful attitude helps people overcome obstacles like poverty, lack of education and even lack of social support. In this latest economic downturn, it is those people with hope, who can express that hope, who will best weather their circumstances. Can you learn to be hopeful? You bet you can! See failure as an opportunity to learn rather than a flaw in your character, and make a habit of remembering your past successes. Break down your long-term goals into short-term sub-goals, and reward yourself for reaching them. Visualize a positive outcome for every situation, affirm yourself for all your good qualities, and no matter what happens, hang on to your hope.

Lou Tice

The Pacific Institute

What give you hope? My hope rests on the one who came to save us – Jesus Christ. In Christ I know that all things are possible. I hope that you can find that assurance as well.

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8z7f7a2Pk

Those of you who came to see a video of me dancing might be disappointed.

But there is a video I would like to share with you that has been making it’s way around the internet.

The video is from the 2009 Sasquatch Music Festival.  It is of a man dancing.  Now that by itself  might not be [...]]]>

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8z7f7a2Pk

Those of you who came to see a video of me dancing might be disappointed.

But there is a video I would like to share with you that has been making it’s way around the internet.

The video is from the 2009 Sasquatch Music Festival.  It is of a man dancing.  Now that by itself  might not be news.  However, the dancing man is suddenly joined by someone else and before you know there are hundreds of people dancing.  If you don’t believe me check the video out!

This video has been called inspirational, this video been described as a way to promote perseverance and determination within us all.  The reviews I have read have been right on.

But I see something else in this video.

I see this video revealing something about our society in general. I think we as a society are still too quick to judge someone because of who they are, what they look like or things that they might do. For example, the man in the video is not a good dancer, we expect him to fail, we expect him to feel embarrassed by his actions and to sit down.  It reminds me of Susan Boyle, who walked on stage and was almost booed off until she started to sing; and now she is an international star.  We too often look at someone, quickly judge them and then we are surprised when they produce something good.

It doesn’t matter if the person is too fat or skinny, too white or black- or anything else that we use to judge someone it is not right.

This happens in the church as well.  In too many congregations we are quick to judge if “they” walk into “our” church not dressed the way we would like them to be or not act like we think they should.  We start to push them away before we really get to know them and accept them as a child of God.

My prayer is that we can look past that and see who is on the inside. Or like the man in the video – if we think we are not being treated fairly because of what we look like or how we might act in certain situations, that we can keep dancing and doing what we think is right until the crowd starts to follow us.

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8z7f7a2Pk

Positive thinking changes our mind and our actions.  If we think positive then we start to believe [...]]]> Sometimes thing get tough for us- it happens to everyone.  There are two ways we can handle it.  The  first way is to get down on ourselves or our situation or we can rise above it and to think positive.

Positive thinking changes our mind and our actions.  If we think positive then we start to believe those thoughts and then we start to live those thoughts.  Below is an email from Lou Tice that really breaks down how this works and how we can apply Positive Thinking to our own lives.

Winner’s Circle Network with Lou Tice – 5/19/09 –

“You Are What You Think”

What is the one thing that determines, more than anything else, the quality of your life?

Some people say, “You are what you eat,” but I say, “You are what you think.” Now, this is not really “new” news. This is one of the great universal truths, handed down over the centuries by poets and philosophers and by almost every great religious leader the world has ever known.

We move toward and become like what we think about, and our present thoughts, more than anything else, determine our future. So it is important to learn to control your thoughts because if you can do that, you’ll be taking control of your life as well.

And how do you control your thoughts? Well, you learn to monitor yourself by listening to the stream of inner messages that precede your emotions. Then, you ask yourself if some of these thoughts are other people’s ideas that may not really be true.

You look for distortions, exaggerations, and other misrepresentations, and you deliberately correct them – on the spot – to a more realistic viewpoint. Finally, you choose to put the best possible slant on every situation, every event, and every occurrence.

I believe that because your present thoughts determine your future, when you consistently expect the best, you tend to get it!

Lou Tice

The Pacific Institute

www.thepacificinstitute.com

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“Fear of Success?”

Many people are afraid of failure, but do you know anyone who is afraid of success? Today, let’s talk about this all too common problem. But first, ask yourself, “Am I afraid of success?”

Even if your first instinct is, “No, of course not!” think about it. Abraham Maslow, one of the [...]]]> Winner’s Circle Network with Lou Tice -

“Fear of Success?”

Many people are afraid of failure, but do you know anyone who is afraid of
success? Today, let’s talk about this all too common problem. But first, ask
yourself, “Am I afraid of success?”

Even if your first instinct is, “No, of course not!” think about it. Abraham
Maslow, one of the great psychologists, called it a “Jonah Complex,” because
Jonah chose to turn away from the great things God had planned for him. The
Bible tells us that Jonah eventually found himself eaten by a whale, but
most people who fear success find themselves consumed by regrets for things
that might have been, rather than a large cetacean.

There are many reasons why we might turn away from the challenges that could
bring us success, but it is usually because we just don’t believe we have
what it takes to pull it off. Our self-efficacy is low. (Self-efficacy
simply means our own estimation of what we can cause or bring about.)

The good news is that self-efficacy can be improved. One way is to remember
the successes you have had in the past, and vividly imagine yourself
repeating similar successes in the new situation. Another is to set yourself
up to succeed by taking on risks you are pretty sure you can handle, and
then gradually – step by step – upping the ante.

It is important to surround yourself with supportive people who believe in
you, and to control your self-talk and negative thinking. You don’t want to
end up stopping yourself before you start. Why not begin today to live your
life in the present, so that you will have no regrets in the future.

Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute
www.thepacificinstitute.com

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Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every [...]]]> Don’t Quit

Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won if he’d stuck it out.
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are -
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit -
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

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Six humans trapped by happenstance in black and bitter cold. Each one possessed a stick of wood or so the story’s told. Their dying fire in need of logs, the first man held his back, for of the faces round the fire, he noticed one was black. The next man looking cross [...]]]> The Cold Within

Six humans trapped by happenstance in black and bitter cold. Each one possessed a stick of wood or so the story’s told. Their dying fire in need of logs, the first man held his back, for of the faces round the fire, he noticed one was black. The next man looking cross the way saw one not of his church, and coulden’t bring himself to give the fire his stick of birch. The third one sat in tattered clothes, he gave his coat a hitch. Why should his log be put to use to warm the idle rich? The rich man just sat back and thought of the walth he had in store. And how to keep what he had earned from the lazy shiftless poor. The balck man’s face bespoke revenge, as the fire passed from sight. For all in his stick of wood was a chance to spite the whites. The last man of this forlom group did naught except for gain. Giving only to those who have was how he played the game. Their logs held tight in death’s still hands was proof of human sin. They didn’t die from the cold without, they died from the cold within.

When I was born, I was black
When I grew up, I was black
When I am sick, I am black
When I go out in the sun, I am black
When I am cold, I am black
When I die, I will be black
But you….When you are born, you are pink
when you grow up, you are white
When you get sick, you are green
When youare out in the sun, you are red
When you are cold, you are blue
When you die, you turn purple
And you ahve the nerve to call me colored

Nicole B. Age 12, Miami, FL

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Self- Affirmations

I belive I am

A unique and precious human being. My own best friend and my own worst enemy. A loveable and Loving person. Capable of realizing my potential. Self-Respecting. Responsible for my own behavior. Learning from my mistakes. Creating a joyful [...]]]> Great things to think about. I do not have any authorship. If you know who they belong too let me know.

Self- Affirmations

I belive I am

A unique and precious human being.
My own best friend and my own worst enemy.
A loveable and Loving person.
Capable of realizing my potential.
Self-Respecting.
Responsible for my own behavior.
Learning from my mistakes.
Creating a joyful life.
An important part of the universe.

God’s Rainbow

The falling rain dissolves into mist
And the thunder begins to die
As the sporadic lightning fades
An arch of colors pours from the sky

Rainbows appear after mighty storms
When things look their worst
Just when the skies are darkest grey
Out of heaven does the rainbow burst

God first sent the rainbow to Noah
As a sign that His word is true
The rainbow’s eternal message
Still speaks to me and you

The rainbow is a sign of God’s promise
That he will guide us through any storm
No matter what their form

When you feel battered by life’s storms
And you are filled with doubt and dismay
Just remember God’s rainbow is coming
For its blessing you have only to pray

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Tale of Two Towns The Thuzzlewaps live next to the Muzzlewaps town, They run and they jump all dressed up like clowns. Then one day the Thuzzlewaps were mad; They wanted something they could not have. The kids of the town wanted to play on [...]]]> I wrote this a few years back. It is my attempt at writing like Dr. Seuss:

Tale of Two Towns
The Thuzzlewaps live next to the Muzzlewaps town,
They run and they jump all dressed up like clowns.
Then one day the Thuzzlewaps were mad;
They wanted something they could not have.
The kids of the town wanted to play on some slides,
To swing from bars, to soar and to glide.
The Muzzlewaps kids they could slide all day
“Your kids can’t come over,” The Muzzlewaps would say.
“This is not fair,” the Thuzzlewaps yelled
As all of their spirits suddenly fell.
“We need to get even to settle the score,
Friends of the Muzzlewaps we are longer no more.”
So they planted some flowers and planted some trees,
The Thuzzlewaps town the Muzzlewaps could not see.
They fought and they talked and they talked and they fought.
More and more trees the Thuzzlewaps bought.
The Muzzlewaps yelled from the top of their shacks
“We will cut down those trees with our tree cutting packs!”
The Thuzzlewaps said “these are our trees not yours,
We will not let you come over here any more!”
Pretty soon the trees covered the town,
No more did anyone dress up like clowns.
The elders got together they fought and they swore
Then a small boy said, “Let’s not fight anymore.”
“I wish you would not be so angry and mad;
I wish we all could be happy and glad.”
“Let’s stop this fighting and cut down the trees,”
He said while begging and adding the word please.
The feeling between the two towns was much better,
“Let’s build a big playground,” they shouted together.
They cut down the trees with the tree cutting packs;
Together they built a playground with no holes or cracks.
It was big enough so everyone could play,
The Thuzzlewaps and Muzzlewaps kids played all day.
After awhile things were just like before,
They made a promise that this would happen no more.
They agreed “no more tress between the two towns”
Once again they were happy and there were no frowns.
The Thuzzlewaps and Muzzlewaps continued to play
They would not fight for the rest of their days.

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Do you consider yourself a risk-taker? I think you probably are, and I will tell you why.

In one of his books, Leo Buscaglia wrote that, “To laugh is to risk appearing a fool, to weep is to risk appearing too sentimental, to reach out for another is to risk [...]]]> Winner’s Circle Network with Lou Tice – 10/10/07 – “Taking Risks”

Do you consider yourself a risk-taker? I think you probably are, and I will
tell you why.

In one of his books, Leo Buscaglia wrote that, “To laugh is to risk
appearing a fool, to weep is to risk appearing too sentimental, to reach out
for another is to risk involvement, and to expose feelings is to risk
exposing one’s true self.

“To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss, to
love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying, to hope
is to risk despair, to try is to risk failure.

“But all risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk
nothing.

“The person who risks nothing also does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. If
we avoid risk we may avoid suffering and sorrow, but we simply cannot learn,
feel, change, grow, love or live.”

I would agree with Leo Buscaglia. If, out of our fears, we refuse to risk,
we also forfeit our freedom because only a person who risks is truly free.
And, only a person who risks can grow, because all personal growth involves
risk.

If you stay focused on the benefits of the risk, instead of putting all your
energy into worrying about what could go wrong, and if you consistently
affirm and visualize what success will look and feel like, it will be much
easier for you to take the risks you need to take in order to grow and to be
the best you can be.

Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute

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