Catalyst Quotes

Compiled by Alex Pena ~ ‘Catalyst’: “to spark, to ignite, energize, mobilize; something that accelerates a reaction (DDI)." Thought-provoking & motivational quotes and stories for you to read, reflect on and move forward in making creative and positive changes in your life.

02 Oct 2012

Believe

“Blame nobody. Expect nothing. Do something.” (Bill Parcells)

“So how good do you want to be? All of us want to be good at our jobs, but how good do we really want to be? Quite good. Good. Very good. The best in the field. Or the best in the world? Talent helps, but it won’t take you as far as ambition. … Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great. Most people are looking for a solution, a way to become good. There is no instant solution, the only way to learn is through experience and mistakes. You will become whoever you want to be.

You can achieve the unachievable. Firstly you need to aim beyond what you are capable of. You must develop a complete disregard for where you abilities end. Try to do the things that you’re incapable of. If you think you’re unable to work for the best company in its sphere, make that your aim. If you think you’re incapable of running a company, make that your aim. If you think you’re unable to be on the cover of Time magazine, make it your business to be there. Make your vision of where you want to be a reality. Nothing is impossible.” (Paul Arden, It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be)

“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.” (Jerry Rice)

There are many people who balk at the notion of positive thinking. They may say it’s all ‘touchy feely’ stuff or that it is psycho-babble. However, there are many who believe in it and state that it has changed their lives. If you’ll look at the quote by Jerry Rice, it must have done something to help achieve his status as a great football player. If you’ll look at the number of quotes that I have done on this blog from people you may know, it must have done something good. You don’t have to be a great athlete or anyone famous to believe in affirmations or positive thinking. It can change your focus on things and perhaps create a better environment for you and those around you. Why not try it and see what happens? As Steve Jobs said, “Let’s make a dent in the universe.”

Believe and make it happen ~ GMUniverse

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01 Oct 2012

“New Look”

It’s a new month, a new quarter and a new look (theme) to my blog, Catalyst Quotes. People talk about ‘spring cleaning’ but I’m doing it a bit early or maybe a bit late. Anyway, it was time for a new look.

This blog is something new to me and I hope you bear with me as I try to figure out what I am trying to do. Any suggestions on the blog would be appreciated. When I started last month, I mentioned that this blog is an extension of my twitter account, @GMUnivers Thougths, but I seem to be spending more time on this than on Twitter. It also is somewhat similar to what I had been doing while I was at my last two employers in that I would send out emails with motivational quotes or stories to inspire and motivate the management teams at the workplace. Since I am no longer working, I felt it would be good to continue to send something out.

To those who happen to stop by my blog and read it, I thank you for reading it and hope you enjoy it. If you do, please spread the word. If you don’t like it, I still want to thank you for stopping and reading it. This continues to be a work in progress.

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01 Oct 2012

“Dramatic Personal Change”

“Once there was a time when you could experience change and then return to a period of relative stability. In that era, as things settled down, you could thoughtfully plan and get ready for another change. … The reality today is that there is no … rest and no getting ready. The situation reminds us of the story about the little girl who comes home from school one day and asks her mother (today it certainly could be her father), ‘Why does Daddy work so late every night?’ The mother gives a sympathetic smile and replies, ‘Well, honey, Daddy just doesn’t have time to finish all his work during the day.’ In her infinite wisdom the little girl says, ‘Then why don’t they put him in a slower group?’ Alas, there are no slower groups. Constant change is a way of life in organizations today.” (Ken Blanchard, Leading at a Higher Level)

“The significant challenges we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” (Albert Einstein)

“The first step in a ‘dramatic organizational change program’ is obvious – dramatic personal change!” (RG)

Change! Many people think the word, change, is a dirty word. (Well … except the baby that needs a diaper change.)

Why do people think of it as a dirty word? Because change makes people uncomfortable; it takes us out of our comfort zone. We are comfortable doing things and then – BOOM! – things change!

Remember, one thing is certain – in today’s time, change occurs quickly and regularly so we must be change-resilient and accept it when it comes.

Whenever any change is being implemented in a business, at home or somewhere in your life, you must first look inward and make that dramatic personal change for things to work.

Be a change-agent today and make things better. ~ GMUniverse

Posted in Challenges, Change | Leave a comment

01 Oct 2012

Short Course in Leadership

PhD in Leadership: “Make a list of all things done to you that you abhorred. Don’t do them to others, ever.

Make another list of things done for you that you loved. Do them for others, always.” (Dee Hock)

“It’s not what you say, it’s what you do! Actions DO speak louder than words. When faced with inconsistencies between words and actions, people tend to give greater credence to actions. It’s behavior that counts! The implication of this for managers is: You’re a role model. Employees will imitate your behavior and attitudes.” (Stephen P. Robbins, The Truth about Managing People)

“Three things I’d say to a team to help hold them together:

If anything goes bad, I did it.
If anything goes semi-good, then we did it.
If anything goes real good, then you did it.” (Paul “Bear” Bryant)

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30 Sep 2012

2 Comments

“Courageous Change”

“Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, ‘Where have I gone wrong?’ Then a voice says to me, ‘This is going to take more than one night.’ “ (Charlie Brown)

“If you have ever planted a seed, you know the power and promise of hope.” (H. Jackson Brown

“I promise you, as you choose to remake yourself, to see in new ways who you are and what you are capable of, to dedicate yourself to using body, heart, mind and spirit in living your life, you will open up windows of possibility within your life and within the lives of others. Your courage will inspire others to be brave. Your model will inspire others to change. Together, the courageous change will create something worthwhile, something completely human.” (Stephen R. Covey)

Posted in Attitude, Challenges, Change, Life

29 Sep 2012

“YOU MATTER”

“When you love the work you do and the people you do it with, you matter. When you are so gracious and generous and aware that you think of other people before yourself, you matter. When you leave the world a better place than you found it, you matter. When you continue to raise the bar on what you do and how you do it, you matter. When you teach and forgive and teach more before you rush to judge and demean, you matter. When you touch the people in your life through your actions (and your words), you matter. When kids grow up wanting to be you, you matter. When you see the world as it is, but insist on making it more like it could be, you matter. When you inspire a Nobel Prize winner or a slum dweller, you matter. When the room brightens when you walk in, you matter. And when the legacy you leave behind lasts for hours, days or a lifetime, you matter.” (Seth Godin)

“It’s time to start living the life you’ve imagined.” (Henry James)

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28 Sep 2012

“It’s Hopeless, We’re Surrounded” Are You Sure?

“All right, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us … they can’t get away this time.”
(Chesty Puller (USMC, when surrounded by 8 enemy divisions during the Korean War.)

“We’re all in this together if we’re in it at all.” (Johnny Cash)

“Control your own destiny or someone else will.” (Jack Welch)

Do you think you would react in the same way that Chesty Puller did when surrounded by the enemy? Instead of looking at it in a gloomy way and giving up, the message he gave his troops was that ‘we have them just where we want them.’ That put his troops in a different mind-set and also for them not to give up. To paraphrase Johnny Cash, ‘if we are going to go for it, all of us have to be in it together and work as a team.’

As you look at your life at work or at home, do you give up easily when faced with insurmountable odds? Do you or your team say, “I (we) can’t beat this.” “I (we) can’t win.” It’s no use in trying.” Next time that happens, think about what Chesty told his troops, what Johnny Cash said, and most importantly, take note of what Jack Welch said – “Control your own destiny or someone else will.”

You can do it! Don’t let someone else control your future. ~ GMUniverse

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27 Sep 2012

General Manager of the Universe

Quite often I have to remind myself that others can take care of the Universe!
But it’s a pretty cool title, isn’t it?
All of us have our own universe that we take care of and nurture. Be good at it.

Enjoy your day! ~ GMUniverse

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27 Sep 2012

Cathedrals and Castles

“All the things we achieve are things we have first of all imagined.” (David Malouf, writer)

A story is told of a visitor visiting a work site and talking to the workers to find out how they felt about their work.

He approached the first worker and asked, “What are you doing?” “What are you, blind?” the worker snapped back. “I’m cutting these boulders with these tools and putting them together the way the boss tells me. I’m sweating under this blazing sun, it’s back-breaking work, and it’s boring me to death!”

The visitor quickly backed off and retreated to a second worker. He asked the same question: “What are you doing?” The worker replied, “I’m shaping these boulders into usable forms, which are then assembled according to the architect’s plans. It’s hard work and sometimes it gets repetitive, but I earn good money every week and that supports my family. It’s a job. Could be worse.”

Somewhat encouraged, he went to a third worker. “And what are you doing?” he asked. “Why, can’t you see?” beamed the worker as he lifted his arms to the sky. “I’m building a cathedral!”

As the Leader of your team, what are you doing to create a vision for your employees? What is the “big picture” they see? How can you inspire them to take pride in their work and believe in their company?

It all begins with you, your dreams, your imagination and how you lead.

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost. That is where they should be. Now put the foundation under them.” (Henry David Thoreau)

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27 Sep 2012

“YMCA House Rules”

“To manage or to coach? People will manage the work. By attempting to manage people you are limiting their potential. A manager is a title, it does not guarantee success. Coaching is an action, not a title and actions will result in successes!” (Catherine Pulsifer)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Excerpt taken from the Communication Section of ‘YMCA House Rules, Y-Sports Basketball Coach Handbook:

Listen to others. Then they’ll listen to you.
Avoid put downs. Who needs them?
Take charge of yourself. You are responsible for you.
Show respect. Every person is important.

Cooperative-style coaches give direction and provide instruction when it is needed, but they also know when to let players make decisions and assume responsibility. Your players will show more respect and be more willing to listen if they know that you are genuinely interested in their opinions.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Let’s take a look again at the YMCA House Rules. Couldn’t we apply the same rules at work or at home? Instead of using the word “players” why not use associates or family members. When we as Leaders at work or Parents at home begin treating those around us with respect, courtesy and genuine care, I believe an atmosphere of engagement, collaboration and trust will develop. Once that occurs, the strategic plan at work will move forward with success and the “agenda” at home will flow smoothly.

Who knows? Maybe you and those around you at work or at home will begin singing and dancing to the song, YMCA! Okay, maybe not. Just think about it.

Enjoy the day! ~ GMUniverse