Catalyst Quotes

08 Oct 2012

Leadership – “Is Anybody Better Because of You?”

“The ripple effect of a leader’s enthusiasm and optimism is awesome. So is the impact of cynicism and pessimism. Leaders who whine and blame engender those same behaviors among their colleagues. I am not talking about stoically accepting organizational stupidity and performance incompetence with a ‘what, me worry?’ smile. I am talking about a gung-ho attitude that says ‘we can change things here, we can achieve awesome goals, we can be the best!’” (Colin Powell)

“You cannot build a team or organization that believes in different things from you. You can’t make them into something you’re not. Leadership isn’t just a job; it is a commitment to other people’s excellence. As an illustration, think of the movie, ‘Remember the Titans.’ One of the highlights of that film was the heated exchange between the white captain and one of the black players, who had experienced firsthand the captain’s lack of acceptance and support. When the captain confronted the player for deliberately missing a play, the player retorted, ‘attitude reflects leadership, captain.’ We must remember that, unfortunately, too many managers and supervisors who are responsible for developing others haven’t learned the basics of good leadership and development, even for themselves. They are trying to build organizations or provide services based on a different value system. It doesn’t work. Employees quickly observe the disconnect between words and deeds.” (Don Ritz)

“If you want to know whether or not you’re a leader, your title may or may not give some clues. The real clue is in the answer to this question: Is anybody better because of you? Do the people you work with say, because of him or her, I’m a better person or I’ve been able to find skills and talents I didn’t know I had, or develop skills that were latent.” (Mark Sanborn)

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07 Oct 2012

“Heroes and Fools”

“If one of us could ascend to the heavenly realm and for a few hours accompany the Divine on His daily rounds, he would see below millions of his fellow humans busily hurling themselves into the passions, sports, (work) and actions of the moment – all the while seemingly oblivious of those around him.

But if our observer had the power … he would also feel and sense, pulsing through and vibrating from every one of us here below a desperate and unending plea …. ‘Notice me! I want to be known, admired, and loved by the whole world!’

And it is this; this glorious weakness, this dependence of us on each other that makes some of us heroes and some of us fools – and most of us heroes and fools at the same time!” (Rev. Michael Burry)

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

“Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)

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06 Oct 2012

“It’s Fun To Do the Impossible”

“You’re good, but you’re going to be great. You’re the best, but you’re going to get better. Sometimes the paths we take are long and hard, but remember: those are always the ones that lead to the most beautiful views. Challenges come along, inevitably; how you respond to them determines who you are deep down inside – and everything you’re going to be. Increase the chances of reaching your goals by working at them gradually. The very best you can do is all that is asked of you. Realize that you are capable of working miracles of your own making. Remember that opportunities have a reason for knocking on your door, and the right ones are there for the taking. You don’t always have to win, but you do need to know what it takes to be a winner. It’s up to you to find the key that unlocks the door to a more fulfilling life. Understand that increased difficulty brings you nearer to the truth of how to survive it – and get beyond it. Cross your bridges. Meet your challenges. Reach out for your dreams, and bring them closer and closer to your heart. Get rid of the “if only’s,” and get on with whatever you need to do to get things right. Go after what you want in life, with all the blessings of all the people who care about you. And find out what making your wishes come true really feels like.” (Unknown)

“If we did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” (Thomas A. Edison)

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” (Walt Disney)

Whenever you are faced with a challenge or you believe that something is impossible, think of the words above and you will rise above your challenges. ~ GMUniverse

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05 Oct 2012

Escape

I took this photo of a book on my desk next to the keyboard. Get the connection?

Always pay attention to what’s around you; it could be telling you something.

I believe it’s time for me to get into the moment and escape. ~ GMUniverse

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05 Oct 2012

“If You Can Dream It …”

“Our ordinary mind always tries to persuade us that we are nothing but acorns and that our greatest happiness will be to become bigger, fatter, shinier acorns; but that is of interest only to pigs. Our faith gives us knowledge of something much better: that we can become oak trees.” (E. F. Schumacher)

“We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts, we make the world.” (The Buddha)

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.

If you can dream it, you can become it.” (William Arthur Ward)

Open your eyes and realize what you can do. To repeat a quote stated in an earlier post, “Control your own destiny or someone else will.” (Jack Welch)

Whether it is at work or at home, you have the power inside of you to determine what you can do positively and not let outside negative forces stop you. Use that power wisely or as a great ‘philosopher’ once said “Use the Force, Luke.” ~ GMUniverse

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05 Oct 2012

THINK and Make It Happen!

It’s early in the morning and you are just arriving at work. You get to your office or your workstation and you begin thinking, “How in the heck am I supposed to feel good, be motivated and do a good job when it seems that everything around me is going bad? There are too many changes going on in the company, there are issues at home, the economy is topsy-turvy, and there are some things that I just don’t understand!” With all those thoughts in your head, your mind begins spinning and you feel woozy, and then all of a sudden …

(Background music begins … harp playing … a dream-like state begins)

… you find yourself sitting on a chair in the middle of a large room. You see a line of people coming towards you. You can’t move. As a key floats down to you, you hear a booming voice that says, “Do not worry; you already have the keys to your success.” Then, one by one, each person in line comes to you, gives you a key and says:

“Change your thoughts and you change the world. How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself – so always think positively.” (Norman Vincent Peale)

“Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.” (Niccolo Machiavelli)

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” (Colin Powell)

“Trust is enormously powerful in a corporation. The only way I know how to create that kind of trust is by laying out your values and then walking the talk. You’ve got to do what you say you’ll do, consistently, over time.” (Jack Welch)

“We have a ‘strategic’ plan. It’s called doing things.” (Herb Kelleher)

“Essentially there are two actions in life – performance and excuses. Make a decision as to which you will accept for yourself.” (Stephen Brown)

“In the last analysis, what we are communicates far more eloquently that anything we say or do.” (Stephen Covey)

And then poof! …. All of a sudden, you begin to wake up, your mind becomes clearer and you look around your work area and realize it was all a dream. Or was it? “But it made sense,” you say. “I’ve heard those sayings before but I never paid too much attention to them. Could those statements be some of the keys to success?”

It’s now become clear to you that, in order to be successful and create a positive and fun environment at work, (and at home), it all begins with you – the way you perceive events or issues, and the image you project to your employees, your costumers, your friends and your family. As you go back to work, you can’t help but start singing James Brown’s song, “I Feel Good!”

Now, what can YOU do to “think and make it happen?” ~ GMUniverse

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04 Oct 2012

Let’s Believe in Ourselves!

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04 Oct 2012

“Impossible is Nothing”

“What would I do if I knew I could not fail?

If I believed, would the wind always fill up my sail?

How far would I go, what could I achieve

Trusting the hero in me?

What would I do today if I were brave?” (“If I Were Brave” – lyrics and music by Jana Stanfield and Jimmy Scott

“You were born with potential

You were born with goodness and trust.

You were born with ideals and dreams.

You were born with wings.

You are not meant for crawling, so don’t.

You have wings.

Learn to use them and fly.” (Rumi)

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it.

Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion.

Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare.

Impossible is potential.

Impossible is temporary.

Impossible is nothing.” (Adidas TV Commercial)

Don’t underestimate the power of the mind and the will to excel that we all have. Be brave and do it! ~ GMUniverse

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03 Oct 2012

What Did You Say?

“There is a story about an older man who made an appointment with his doctor for a physical. He went into the doctor’s office and sat down, but then confided that he didn’t really need a checkup. Rather, he was a little concerned about his wife’s hearing. She was a little defensive about getting older and he didn’t want to upset her by bringing up the possibility that she was losing her hearing.

He asked his doctor what he could do to determine how bad her hearing was, short of bringing her in for tests. The doctor suggested that he go home and, while his wife was in the kitchen, he should go to the back of the house and start calling her name. If she didn’t respond, he was to move forward and keep calling her name until she did respond. Then he could estimate the distance and report it to the doctor.

He went home and found his wife cooking dinner in the kitchen. He quickly went to the back of the house and called her name. No response. He moved forward into the living room and called again. Nothing. He went to the dining room and called. Still no response.

Finally, he opened the kitchen door and called her one last time in desperation. She turned around in frustration and said, “What do you want? I have already answered you three times!” (Unknown Author)

While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, “It is essential that husbands and wives know each other’s likes and dislikes.” He addressed the man, “Can you name your wife’s favorite flower?” Tom leaned over, touched his wife’s arm gently and whispered, “It’s Pillsbury, isn’t it? (Unknown)

“If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.” (Winnie the Pooh)

Be sure to show interest in what people are saying, listen to them as opposed to hearing them and show them the respect they deserve. ~ GMUniverse

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03 Oct 2012

Today’s Schedule – “Plan for a Miracle”

Getting Out of Bed

Why do you get out of bed each morning?

Is it your job? Is it to fulfill a hope or dream? Is it the damn alarm clock?

Is it the chance to make a difference, however great, however small, in your work, your family, your community, and possibly even the world in which you live?

Your answer could change your life. It could also change the lives of those around you. (Unknown)

Beginning of the Day

“This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind … let it be something good.” (Unknown)

Expectation for the Day

“Be realistic: Plan for a miracle.” (Rajneesh)