A STUDENT'S PRAYER

Loving Father, I stand before You in the midst of confusion and complexities of life. My future sometimes seems distant and unknown. Give me, O Lord, the vision to see the path You set before me. Grant me the courage to follow Your way, that through the gifts and talents You have given me, I may bring Your life and Your love to others. I ask this through Jesus, Your Son and my Brother. Amen.

St. Thomas Aquinas

C e to o a th g , r a r f ll in s t u s u c o lig t a dw d m r e o r e f h n is o , o ig o a b in , r in f ll e g g a io s le ar yo y u lig t p n tr t r c u ly t a f o r h e e a e t ed r n s o m u d r ta d g h a k e s f y n e s n in . T k fr mm t ed u led r n s ae o e h ob ak e s inw ic I h v b e b r , h h a e e n on a o s u ityo s a dig o a c . n bc r f in n n r ne G em ak e u d r t n in , iv e e n n esa d g ar te t em m r , a d e n iv e oy n th a ilit t g a pt in s e b y o r s h g c r e t a dfu d m n a . o r c ly n n a e t lly Ga t m th t le t r n e e a n o b in e a t inm e p n t n f e g xc y x la a io s a dt ea ilit toe p e s m s lf n h b y xr s ye w th r u h e s a dc a m ith o o g n s n h r . P in o t th b g n g o t u e e in in , d e t th p o r s , ir c e r g e s a dh lpint ec m le io . n e h o p t n I a k t is th o g C r t o r L r . s h r u h h is u o d A e. mn

THE STUDENT NURSE'S PRAYER

Lord: I know we go through this every day but please give me the knowledge as to why I actually wanted to go to nursing school. Lord, give me the strength to make it through those boring three hour lectures without falling asleep. Lord, please give me the patience to make it through twelve hour clinicals with instructors that can't just give you the right answer and on the same note, give the nurses the ability to remember what it was like to be a student and give us just a little more respect. Lord, give me the endurance to read all the assigned readings and be able to remember it when I am taking a test with four right answers. Lord, give my family and friends

the ability to realize I really am on the edge of insanity. Finally, Lord, give me the vision to see that one day I will be a real nurse and I will never have to wear this ugly uniform again.

STUDENTS PRAYER

Heavenly Father up above, please give me wisdom strength and love

Students Prayer
Keep me always in the right track, and open your doors every time I knock. The wisdom is is for my studies sake, The strength is for the

trials I will take, Your love is for everyone to share

This can keep me away from lifes nightmare. Lord, give me wise decisions To fulfill my dreams and expectations
Prayers for Students and Tests
Here are some prayers for your finals starting on Friday. St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron of students, so it is a common practice to ask for his intercession and use prayers that he wrote.

PRAYER OF ST. THOMAS Ineffable Creator, Who out of the treasures of Thy wisdom has appointed three hierarchies of Angels and set them in admirable order high above the heavens and hast disposed the divers portions of the universe in such marvellous array, Thou Who art called the True Source of Light and supereminent Principle of Wisdom, be pleased to cast a beam of Thy radiance upon the darkness of my mind and dispel from me the double darkness of sin and ignorance in which I have been born. Thou Who makest eloquent the tongues of little children, fashion my words and pour upon my lips the grace of Thy benediction. Grant me penetration to understand, capacity to retain, method and facility in study, subtlety in interpretation and abundant grace of expression. Order the beginning, direct the progress and perfect the achievement of my work, Thou Who art true God and true Man and livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen. **Another from St. Thomas Aquinas - patron of students. We used this one in Grad. school frequently. Grant, O merciful God, that I may ardently desire, prudently examine, truthfully acknowledge, and perfectly accomplish what is pleasing to You, for the praise and glory of Your Name. Amen. **A good prayer to use before studying.

A Prayer before studying for exams.God of Wisdom, I thank you for the knowledge gained and the learning experiences of the semester. I come to you this day and ask you to illuminate my mind and heart. Let your Spirit be with me as I prepare for exams, guiding my studies, and giving me insight so that I can perform to the best of my ability. Please grant me the strength to handle the pressure during these final days of the semester, the confidence to feel secure in my knowledge, and the ability to keep an appropriate perspective through it all. Help me to keep in mind what is truly important, even as I focus my time and energy on these tests in the immediate future. Finally, may I sense your peace in knowing that I applied myself to the challenges of this day. -Amen**Here is a nine-day novena (in pdf format) for those who want to start today and end next Wed, the end of finals. **Two Prayers to St. Joseph of Cupertino - another patron of students: 1 - O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favour in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked. Through Christ our Lord. St. Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us. Amen. -2 - O St. Joseph of Cupertino who by your prayer obtained from God to be asked at your examination, the only preposition you knew. Grant that I may like you succeed in the (here mention the name of Examination) examination. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked. O St. Joseph of Cupertino pray for me O Holy Ghost enlighten me Our Lady of Good Studies pray for me Sacred Head of Jesus, Seat of divine wisdom, enlighten me. Amen. **Finally, here are two prayers from Catholic.org: Prayer for Students Under thy patronage, dear Mother, and calling on the mystery of thine Immaculate Conception, I desire to pursue my studies and my literary labors: I hereby solemnly declare that I am giving myself to these studies chiefly to the following end: that I may the better contribute to the glory of God and to the promotion of thy veneration among men. I pray thee, therefore, most loving Mother, who art the Seat of Wisdom, to bless my labors in thy loving-kindness. Moreover I promise with true affection and a willing spirit, as it is right that I should do, to ascribe all the good that shall come to me therefrom, wholly to thine intercession for me in God's holy presence. Amen. Prayer before Study or Instructions Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge: deign, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understanding, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those who lack utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls. Amen.

Chris Widener

major part of the process of achieving success and living the kind of life

that you dream of is to give. Many people think that to get what you want you have to take it. There is a universal truth though that the true path to get what you want is to give. When you give, you get. What you sow, you shall reap. If this is true, then what is it we must give? I'll show you the way
1. Give Others Your Honesty. The world we live in has a simple rule that

most follow: Lie when you have to. Unfortunately, this may make some people wealthy but it make us humans poor. To achieve success is to become wealthy not only in money, but in character. To be successful, truly successful, is to be able to attain your goals and keep your character at the same time! How about you? Are you honest in all things? The problem with little lies is they become big ones. Lies spin out of control. You get caught in one lie and you lie to get out of it etc. In all things and at all times, give others your honesty.
2. Give Others Your Respect. Most of the time we give people respect

based on what they have done or what they have accomplished. We gauge whether or not they are "worthy" of it based on what we know of what they have achieved or who they know or are related to. But I believe we should have a higher standard: We respect people not for what they have done or for who they are related to or for what they can do for us. Instead, we respect people for simply being.
3. Give Others Your Vulnerability. We are taught to "be strong." And

yes, we should be strong. But we have also embraced something that I think keeps us from having the kind of life that we long for. It is an idea that keeps us from experiencing the kind of relationships that would bring deep meaning to us. It is the idea of vulnerability.

"But Chris, make yourself vulnerable and people will step all over you!" It is true that this will happen. But I have also seen that most people will be drawn to you. They will help you. They will open up to you. You see, we are all broken people inside. We all have secrets. Yet everyone plays the poser. When one let's down their veil, others soon followand we all win.
4. Give Others Your Care. Too many people are running around this old

earth not caring about others. The days of "Look Out for Number One" and "Winning Through Intimidation" are over! Let's bring about a new day when we can care about others and succeed! Take the time to show people you care. Listen to them. Empathize with them. Love them. Now, I don't mean that you have to go around hugging everyonethat probably wouldn't fly in corporate America anywaybut we can take some time to step back from business and be human! And I have found that when we do so, our business succeeds as well!
5. Give Others Your Passion. There is nothing this world needs more than

passionate people. And people need passionate people. Living in this day and age can be tiring. The hustle and bustle of it all can wear you down and tire you out. Give your passion to others and fire them up. Don't just be humdrumbe excited. Give people all the energy you can muster up. And you will find that energy reciprocal. They will get energized and passionate. This in turn will fire you up more when you are already charged and get you going altogether when you don't feel like moving at all!
6. Give Others Your Experience. We all have areas that we excel in and

they are usually areas that we have experience in. One of the things we can do to make our lives more meaningful and be of utmost help to others is to show them the way through the experiences we have. Sometimes it will be what they should do: Shortcuts to take, people to meet etc. Sometimes it will be what they should not do: Shortcuts not to take and people to stay away from! Whatever it is, we can be of service to others by giving them our experience and ultimately it will make us all better!
7. Give Others Your Help. All in all, what we want to do is to help others.

Zig Ziglar says that if we will "help others get what they want, we will in turn get what we want." If we want to be successful, we should consider ourselves servants of other people. What can we do to help them and

make them better? This is the true path to greatness and success, not only in business but in life!

Creating and Maintaining an Ethical Corporate Climate The Woodstock Theological Center

Responsibility of Purpose. "The starting point for any organization must be a purpose and a set of goals that reflect the organization's obligation to serve the larger community." Responsibility to Constituencies. "A responsible organization, like a responsible individual, will be concerned about the impact of its behavior on others." Honesty. "Honesty requires the avoidance of deception and careless misrepresentation of information on which others may rely." Reliability. "Reliability implies fidelity to promises and other commitments. Competence and quality are subcategories of reliability." Fairness. "In its most general sense, fairness requires an equitable distribution of burdens and benefits." Integrity. "Employees at all levels, but especially managers and executives should not subject themselves to improper influences or conflicts of interest that may undermine their ability to exercise independent, unbiased judgment. Loyalty in carrying out the duties of a job is an important aspect of integrity."

Respect for the Individual. "Respect for the individual requires fairness, honesty, reliability, and many of the other virtues already discussed. Beyond that, however, it involves recognition that individuals participate in valuable relationships outside the firm, as well as respect for individual autonomy and privacy." Respect for Property. "Respect for property requires recognition of the proprietary rights of others and the exercise of care in handling assets of all typestangible property, patents and proprietary processes, confidential information, and real estate."

Wireless World Dan Briody

There comes a time in any technological revolution when some basic

guidelines need to be laid down. It happened when e-mail exploded on the scene and people started to learn some basic dos and don'ts around the new medium.There are some real abuses of wireless technology being perpetrated all around us, and the time has come to create some social order out of the cell phone chaosso think of this as the first Ten Commandments of cell phone etiquette, with amendments to follow:
1. Thou shalt not subject defenseless others to cell phone

conversations.When people cannot escape the banality of your conversation, such as on the bus, in a cab, on a grounded airplane, or at the dinner table, you should spare them. People around you should have the option of not listening. If they don't, you shouldn't be babbling.
2. Thou shalt not set thy ringer to play La Cucaracha every time thy

phone rings. Or Beethoven's Fifth, or the Bee Gees, or any other

annoying melody. Is it not enough that phones go off every other second? Now we have to listen to synthesized nonsense?
3. Thou shalt turn thy cell phone off during public performances. I'm

not even sure this one needs to be said, but given the repeated violations of this heretofore unwritten law, I felt compelled to include it.
4. Thou shalt not wear more than two wireless devices on thy belt. This

hasn't become a big problem yet. But with plenty of techno-jockeys sporting pagers and phones, Batman-esque utility belts are sure to follow.
5. Thou shalt not dial while driving. In all seriousness, this madness has

to stop. There are enough people in the world who have problems mastering vehicles and phones individually. Put them together and we have a serious health hazard on our hands.
6. Thou shalt not wear thy earpiece when thou art not on thy

phone. This is not unlike being on the phone and carrying on another conversation with someone who is physically in your presence. No one knows if you are here or there.
7. Thou shalt not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on

any other phone. These things have incredibly sensitive microphones, and it's gotten to the point where I can tell if someone is calling me from a cell because of the way they are talking, not how it sounds. If your signal cuts out, speaking louder won't help, unless the person is actually within earshot.
8. Thou shalt not grow too attached to thy cell phone. For obvious

reasons, a dependency on constant communication is not healthy. At work, go nuts. At home, give it a rest.
9. Thou shalt not attempt to impress with thy cell phone. Not only is

using a cell phone no longer impressive in any way (unless it's one of those really cool new phones with the space age design), when it is used for that reason, said user can be immediately identified as a neophyte and a poseur.
10. Thou shalt not slam thy cell phone down on a restaurant table just

in case it rings. This is not the Old West, and you are not a gunslinger sitting down to a game of poker in the saloon. Could you please be a little less conspicuous? If it rings, you'll hear it just as well if it's in your coat pocket or clipped on your belt.

Well, I'm all thou-ed and thy-ed out, so there you have it: the first 10 rules of
using your cell phone. Most of these seem like common sense to me, but they all get broken every day.

10 Ways to Have a Better Day Today

by Geno Stampora

1. Wake up 30 Minutes Early.

Get up 30 minutes before the alarm goes off and take the first half hour for yourself. Once you get busy and into the day there never seems to be the time for yourself. Take this time to plan getting the most from the day.
2. Read, Listen, or Watch Something Uplifting.

Make this a daily habit. Get out of starting the day with no mental food. A great day does not begin with the news or the paper, it begins with ideas or energy that will propel you through the day. What you first hear will stay with you throughout the day.
3. Eat a Good Breakfast to Start You Off Right.

Get something good into your body to wake it up and get it going. Think about the energy you will need to perform. Everyday we run a marathon. What would you need to eat and drink to win it.
4. Choose Your Winning Attitude.

There is enough to go wrong without sabotaging yourself. Your attitude is a choice you make. Don't let it come between you and your success. Be careful to keep it positive all day long.
5. Be Aware of What They are Telling You.

The people around us have a profound effect on how we get through life. Our closest friends and family are our greatest environmental influences. Make sure you have the best advisors you can find.

6. Make the Most of What You Do.

When you get to your work, make it the best place to be. Most people go to work and never think about work while they are there. Focus on your contribution. What would it be like if you were not around. Strive to give a 100% each and every day.
7. Always Remember that People are Listening.

Make a point of talking well of others. Wish others the best in life. What goes around does come around. Don't talk negative about anyone. Try to understand their circumstances Practice being a support system to your friends and family. They need you.
8. Be Honest and Fair to Others.

It does make a difference. What you give to others is usually what you get from others. Practice integrity that people can see and feel. Be aware of what you say. Learn to walk your talk at all times. The more people trust you, the more of their time they will trust with you.
9. Pace Your Energy to Last All Day.

Be careful of bursts of energy. Pace your energy throughout the day. If you get to crazy early in the day, you will reach a point of exhaustion before the day is over. By planning your entire day before you begin, you will have what you need. You've heard the old saying "look alive."
10. Get in Bed Early and Study for the Future.

I have a friend who keeps a journal at his bedside. Every night he writes what he learned new on that day. The only way to keep one step above the masses is to learn new ways to do things. Develop the habit of reading a work or personal development book before you go to sleep. Reading for 30 minutes a day is like a year of college. You can't succeed if you don't read. Remember throughout your day that life is what we make it, day by day. Practice having the best day ever. It adds up to a great life.

Gossip may be defined as any form of communication that harms another. It

can ruin lives, assassinate reputations, split families, alienate friends and destroy businesses. On the other hand, a gossip-free environment leads to peaceful lives, healthier relationships, and overall prosperity. Yes, the gift of speech is a marvelous one, depending upon how it is used. Would you like your words to soothe instead of sting? Heal instead of hurt? And build instead of burn? Following these ten pathways will help:
1. Speak No Evil. Say only positive statements. Let words of kindness be

on your tongue. This means to respond instead of react. And, even, to edit your speech before you speak.
2. Hear No Evil. Refuse to listen to gossip, slander and other negative

forms of speech. Hint: If avoiding the conversation is impossible, have another topic of "positive" interest you can quickly bring up in order to change the subject.
3. Don't Rationalize Destructive Speech. Excuses like "But it's true" or

"I'm only joking" or "I can tell my spouse anything" just don't cut it. Gossip is gossip, anyway you cut it. Besides, the fact that it is true is what qualifies it as gossip. If it were not true, it would be libel or slander.
4. See No Evil. Judge people favorably, the way you would want them to

judge you. If you've ever been accused of doing something for which you know you were innocent, then you know how it feels to be misjudged. Remember, if you weren't there, you don't know. And, even if you were, you may have missed what actually happened in context.
5. Beware of Speaking Evil Without Saying An Evil Word. Body

language, and even positive speech, can bring tremendous destruction. Yes, telling someone you know takes advantage of others' kindness that a particular person will give you "the shirt off his back," although it seems like positive speech, is not an act of kindness.
6. Be Humble; Avoid Arrogance. These will be your greatest weapons

against destructive speech. As Rabbi Noah Weinberg teaches, "Take pleasure in your accomplishments, not pride." This way you recognize the Ultimate Source of your accomplishments. And those who are

arrogant are so filled with themselves, there is no room for their Creator in their lives.
7. Beware Of Repeating Information. Loose lips sink ships. Even

positive information needs permission before being repeated. Telling someone who's out of a job that your mutual friend, Julie, got a raise, does not constitute proper speech.
8. Honesty Really Is The Best PolicyMost of the Time. Be careful to

always tell the truth unless it will hurt others, break your own privacy or publicize your accomplishments. Strive for honesty in everything you do. But if it's between honesty and unnecessarily hurting another's feelings, it's better not to be so truthful. Those who boast about being "brutally honest" are usually more brutal than honest.
9. Learn to Say, "I'm Sorry." Everyone makes mistakes. If you've spoken

badly about someone, clear it up immediately. It might be embarrassing, but get it over with quickly. Apologize, ask for forgiveness, and let him or her know it won't happen again.
10. Forgive. If you have been wronged, let it go. Forgive for your sake, if

not for theirs. Those who can forgive live healthier, happier, and less stressful lives. Those who say they'll forgive but not forget are actually saying that they'll neither forgive nor forget. Try this for the next month. The good news is, if you slip up now and then, it only means you are human. Try again. I congratulate you simply for making the effort.

by Michael Angier download as PDF

One of the greatest responsibilities we have is to support ourselves and others

in living at our highest and best. Whether were parents, partners, friends or leaders, its incumbent upon us to help others to live as close to their unique potential as we can. With everything we say and do, were influencing, positively or negatively, the people we care about. The ideal is to do this with consideration and intention. Here are ten ways you can help others see and realize the best thats within them.
1. Believe in Them: We all have self-doubts from time to time. Our

confidence is shaken. We lack the faith in our talents and skills to go for an important promotion or launch a new initiative. Having someone believe in you at these times is priceless. The stories of great men and women are saturated with examples of someone who believed in them even when they didnt fully believe in themselves.
2. Encourage Them: "You can do it. I know you can." These are words

that are all-too-infrequently voiced. Sincere encouragement can go a long way in helping someone stay the course. The more specific you are, the better the results. "I remember when you got through your slump last year and ended up winning the sales contest. Im willing to bet that youll do even better this time."
3. Expect a Lot: Were often told not to get our hopes up. Were

encouraged to have realisticexpectations. But when it comes to helping others operate at their best, we sometimes have to up-level our expectations. This can be taken to extremes, but there are many times when a teacher, a parent or even a boss has required more of us than we thought we were capable. And weve risen to the challenge which enabled us to see further than before.
4. Tell the Truth: And tell it with compassion. We often avoid telling the

hard truth because we dont want to upset anyone. We want to be nice. But telling the truth is a loving act. You may be the only person who can or will say to another what needs to be said. And you can confront someone without being combative.
5. Be a Role Model: One of the best ways we influence is by our own

actions. Who we are speaks much more loudly than what we say. Dont think that people arent watching you. They are. And theyre registering

everything about you consciously and unconsciously. We automatically emulate our role models. And were all role models to someone so lets be good ones.
6. Share Yourself: Too often, we miss the value of sharing our failings.

We dont want to be vulnerable so we hold back. In doing so, we deprive others of our experience, our learning and our humanity. When you share from your own experience, especially your failures, you increase empathy, youre more approachable and you increase your relatability to others.
7. Challenge Them: The word "challenge" has some negative

connotations. The meaning were using here is, "a test of ones abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking." We all need to be challenged from time to time. Doing it for another is an art form. Go too far and it will backfire. Go too easy and you will appear patronizing. Remind people of their commitment to being their best and state your challenge. "I challenge you to overcome these unimportant opinions and get on with the real task at hand, get the job done, make the commitment, etc."
8. Ask Good Questions: A good therapist or coach doesnt tell their clients

what to do. They ask good questions in order for the client to understand themselves better, to get clear on what the issue is and from there to make good choices. You can do the same. By asking elegant questions, you cause people to think and come up with solutions. Theyll appreciate it.
9. Acknowledge Them: You find what youre looking for. If youre

looking for the best in someone, youll see it. If youre looking for their failings, youll see those. Catch people doing things right and tell them. When we acknowledge the good deeds of others, they tend to do more of them. Write a note. Send a card. Give them a call. Praise them in front of others.
10. Spend Time With Them: We love what we give our time to. By

devoting your most precious resource (time) to another individual, youre showing them that you truly value them and your relationship with them. Invest time in your relationships; its what life is made of.

There are 12 elements that make great service possible.

None of which have ever been taught in school. 1. Establishing and maintaining a positive attitude; 2. Establishing and achieving goals; 3. Understanding yourself, your co-workers and your customer; 4. Having pride in yourself, your company and what you do; 5. Taking responsibility for your actions, what happens to you, and the success of your company; 6. Listening with the intent to understand; 7. Communicating to be understood; 8. Embracing change as a natural progression of things and of life; 9. Establishing, building and maintaining relationships;

10. Gaining the ability to make effective decisions (which means taking risks); 11. Learning to serve others in a memorable way, and, 12. Working as a team to make everyone more productive.

In order to serveyou must be prepared to serve. How

important are each of these subjects in your success? Have you ever taken a course in any of these subjects?

30 Qualities for Success

Zig Ziglar

Honesty, Humor, Friendliness, Confidence, Integrity, Persistence, Humility, Goal Setter, Decisive, Hard Worker, Learner, Positive Mental Attitude, Compassionate, Disciplined, Dedicated, Faithful, Dependable, Knowledgeable, Communicator, Loving, Enthusiastic, Motivated, Patient, Loyal, Organized, Good Listener, Empathetic, Self-Respect, Common Sense, and Character. Go ahead now. Look yourself in the mirror and claim these qualities!

Do it for several weeks and youll notice a change in your life.

Afraid to Speak Up?

Battling the Public-Speaking Jitters According to Peter Urs Bender, author of the bestseller Secrets of Power Presentations, the thing we humans fear the most is speaking in public. Close behind on the list of fears is death. (Speaking and dying in front of a group ranks third...) As frightening as public speaking can be, good oral presentation skills are worth pursuingArmed with such skills, you will be more likely to seize upon any speaking opportunities that come your waymoreover, you will be more confident (and effective) when you do so. Even experienced public speakers should put a fresh polish on their presentation skills from time to time. There are many excellent books on the subject of public speaking. Here are a few tips to get you started, gleaned largely from Benders book: Anatomy of a Good Speech The ideal after-dinner speech is fifteen minutes long: one and a half minutes for an opener, thirteen minutes for the body, and one minute for a summary at the end. Strive for a minimum of two points and a maximum of five. A much longer presentation may have up to seven points. Your extra efforts will pay off if you prepare a good beginning, or "hook" for your speech, to get the audiences attention. Aim, too, for a powerful ending, perhaps tying everything together with a quote. Put your most important material in the last portion of your speech, and the second most important material in the first. Use short words and phrases. Be willing to express a clear point of view, and not just a list of facts: otherwise your speech will be too dry.

If you decide to use humor in your speech, be careful. Any jokes must be tasteful and appropriate for the occasion and the audience. It is not true that every good speech must start with a joke! Know Your Audience Research your audience beforehand: background, affiliation, main interest in attending. With preparation youll avoid slipups and bond more easily with your audience. An added plus: you will enter the room feeling invigorated rather than intimidated by your audience. Ask several questions when you are first asked to give a presentation: How long will I speak? Should I thank the person(s) who invited me to talk? Where will I sit before and after my presentation? If Im not the only speaker, where will my talk fit in? Will the audience contain any special guests? During your speech, be sure to pay attention to the audience. Watch for peoples expressions and play off of them. Adjust your speech if necessary: good preparation will make it much easier for you to be flexible if necessary! Easing the Jitters The name of the game is to be relaxed, comfortable, and prepared. Practice, practice, practice! Try using a friend, or a tape recorder. Listen for filler words ("You know, Uh...Uhhh...Umm.) Dead air, or silence, is better than babbling. Avoid clichs, as well. Even for a short, 2-minute talk, you must take the time and practice to organize your thoughts before you speak. Dress for success. Wear clean and polished shoes, with heels in good repair. A good rule is to dress the same way as your audience. Try to wear dark blues or red. Stay away from jewelry that might make noise while you speak. Anticipate problems and be prepared: bring an extra pair of nylons, a spare tie in case of spills, etc. Avoid the temptation to wear a new outfit for your speech, nor is this a good day to get a new haircut!

Give yourself lots of time. Dont set yourself up to arrive out of breath or with clothes and hair all askew. Relax and deep- breathe. Mingle with guests 10-15 minutes before giving your speech. This will make everyone much more comfortable, you included. During your presentation, spot people youve mingled with in the audience, and smile at them from time to time. Prepare for your own comfort in advance. Have a glass of water and a handkerchief close by as you talkbut not so close that youre likely to spill! Dont drink liquor or caffeine, or eat any unfamiliar foods or foods likely to cause headaches, etc., the day of your speech. While you are giving your talk, remember not to put your hands in your pockets or slouch. Never fidget. Dont talk on your way to the podium. Giggling is out, too: that tells everyone you are nervous and dont know what to do about it. Use a watch if it makes you more comfortable, but try to only glance at it once, to see whether you need to wrap things up quickly. Know what you know. Unclear thoughts remain unclear even when said in public. Have something to say and be prepared to say it. (in other words, if you truly know what you think you will be able to find the words to express it.) Above all, be positive! Your audience is here because they want to be. Believe in your ability to improve. For better or worse, this will be a learning experience for you. In General Use index cards. On the first card, write down the name of the group for which youre speaking as well as other incidentals. Jitters can make you forget even the obvious! First write your whole speech, then pare it down to essentials for your cards. Dont break sentences or paragraphs between cards. Use large type, double-spaced and with wide margins. Highlight key words and sentences. Number your cards sequentially, in case they are dropped or accidentally shuffled! Bring extra blank cards for last-minute changes or additions. If index cards are not suited to the occasion, memorize your speech. If you memorize, make sure also to know the topic well enough that youll be able to improvise if you have a memory lapse! Prepare extra material in case you need it. An important point to remember: if you want to look as though youre speaking spontaneously, you will need much more preparation, not less.

Remember that verbal content accounts for only 7% of your presentation. 38% is vocal (how your voice sounds) and 55% is non-verbal content, Therefore, pay attention to your voice (dont speak in a monotone!) and use open body language (do not cross your arms or hold your hands in a "fig leaf" position in front of your pelvis.) Remember to make eye contact, and smile! Avoid abrupt gestures, such as grabbing at your collar, ears or nose, or incessantly smoothing your hair. Breathe slowly. Banish negative thoughts and images. Your extra efforts will be highly rewarded. Remember you are here because you have something to say, and the audience wants to hear it!

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin "Taking Action" - pp. 86-87 Artscroll.com

Ambition can be powerful. Ambition helps a person

mobilize his resources. Ambition enables someone to face challenges and persist. Ambition prevents a person from giving up.

A person with a high degree of ambition will be able to

accomplish much more than someone with similar intelligence and skills but without ambition.

Ambition enables a person to overcome laziness and a

tendency to procrastinate. When you have an authentic ambition to excel in a certain area, you will put in the necessary time and energy to gain the knowledge. You will have the energy to practice the skill you want to perfect.

Ambition helps you overcome potential obstacles that

might get in the way. The stronger your ambition, the less any obstacle can deter you from proceeding.

by Jim Rohn

The process of human change begins within us. We all have tremendous
potential. We all desire good results from our efforts. Most of us are willing to work hard and to pay the price that success and happiness demand. Each of us has the ability to put our unique human potential into action and to acquire a desired result. But the one thing that determines the level of our potential, that produces the intensity of our activity, and that predicts the quality of the result we receive is our attitude. Attitude determines how much of the future we are allowed to see. It decides the size of our dreams and influences our determination when we are faced with new challenges. No other person on earth has dominion over our attitude. People can affect our attitude by teaching us poor thinking habits or unintentionally misinforming us or providing us with negative sources of influence, but no one can control our attitude unless we voluntarily surrender that control. No one else "makes us angry." We make ourselves angry when we surrender control of our attitude. What someone else may have done is irrelevant. We

choose, not they. They merely put our attitude to a test. If we select a volatile attitude by becoming hostile, angry, jealous or suspicious, then we have failed the test. If we condemn ourselves by believing that we are unworthy, then again, we have failed the test. If we care at all about ourselves, then we must accept full responsibility for our own feelings. We must learn to guard against those feelings that have the capacity to lead our attitude down the wrong path and to strengthen those feelings that can lead us confidently into a better future. If we want to receive the rewards the future holds in trust for us, then we must exercise the most important choice given to us as members of the human race by maintaining total dominion over our attitude. Our attitude is an asset, a treasure of great value, which must be protected accordingly. Beware of the vandals and thieves among us who would injure our positive attitude or seek to steal it away. Having the right attitude is one of the basics that success requires. The combination of a sound personal philosophy and a positive attitude about ourselves and the world around us gives us an inner strength and a firm resolve that influences all the other areas of our existence. To Your Success, Jim Rohn

Zig Ziglar

1. If I'm really tired, I don't make significant decisions (except in emergencies). 2. If someone is pressing me to decide something "right now," unless an immediate decision is critical, I say, "If I have to decide now, the answer is no. After I have had a chance to catch my breath and review the facts,

there's the possibility it could be yes." Then I put the ball back in his or her court and ask, "Do you want my decision now, or should we wait?" 3. I like to determine the maximum benefit of a decision, assuming that everything goes my way. Then I ask, "Suppose nothing goes my way? Suppose this doesn't develop and materialize as I expect it to? What is my maximum exposure? What would I lose?" 4. For significant business-related decisions, I run them past my advisors. These people are successful in their businesses and professions and have a considerable amount of knowledge, experience, and wisdom, all of which are musts in the decision-making process. I get their advice and follow their recommendations, with good results in most cases. If the decision is too minor to involve my advisors but I still want input, I get my family together to look at the pros and cons. 5. I like to pray about my decisions. I ask God to help me see the truth of my motives and to lead me in the way I should go. If I'm about to make an unwise decision, I simply don't have peace about that decision, and I consequently act on that feeling of unease. I ask myself, "How will this decision affect all the areas of my lifepersonal, family, career, financial, physical, mental and spiritual?" Obviously, not all decisions affect all areas, but if the decision involves a financial reward but also carries considerable family sacrifice, for example, I think carefully as to whether what I give up is compensated for by what I gain. One final note: Prioritize your decisions. Some are more urgent than others!

Price Pritchett TEAMWORK: The Team Member Handbook

One of the most basic elements of teamwork is this: Be

good at what you do.

Teams need talent. The more of it you bring to the group,

the more you can contribute. Build your skills, and, in a very real sense, you are building the team.

You can't have a high-powered team with low-talent

people. And sometimes the weakest link in the chain sets the limit on what the group as a whole can achieve.

So keep stretching. Polish your skills and perfect your

moves. Master the fundamentals of your job.

Strive for continuous improvementthe Japanese call

it kaizenso the team never stops growing. Keep getting better at your craft, and you can do more to help the team chalk up higher scores. Any time you level off in your learning, the potential of the overall group flattens out a little more. And teamwork always takes a hit whenever people start to lose their touch.

Also keep this in mindunless you're competent, people

really can't afford to count on you. You're best positioned to build a high trust level in the group when you bring talent. Individual ability.

Give teammates good reasons to believe in you. Keep

getting better at what you do.

by Jim Rohn

Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it

all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than

perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves." We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.

We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every

day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming

back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for

someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life If you dont like how things are, change it! Youre not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your lifeand it all begins with your very own power of choice. To Your Success, Jim Rohn

Checking the Day

Edgar Guest

"I had a full day in my purse When I arose, and now it's gone! I wonder if I can rehearse The squandered hours, one by one, And count the minutes as I do The pennies and the dimes I've spent. I've had a day, once bright and new, But, oh, for what few things it went!

There were twelve hours when I began, Good hours worth sixty minutes each, Yet some of them so swiftly ran I had no time for thought or speech. Eight of them to my task I gave, Glad that it did not ask for mre. Part of the day I tried to save, But now I cannot say what for. An hour I spent for idle chat, Gossip and scandal I confess; No better off am I for that, Would I had talked a little less. I watched steel workers bolt a beam, What time that cost I don't recall. How very short the minutes seem When they are spent on trifles small. Quite empty is my purse to-night Which held at dawn a twelve-hour day, For all of it has taken flight Part wisely spent, part thrown away. I did my task and earned its gain, But checking deeds with what they cost, Two missing hours I can't explain, They must be charges as lost."

Nido Qubein NidoQubein.com

Peter Drucker claims that more than 60% of all management problems result from breakdowns in communications. A major study by the Rockefeller Foundation found that 68% of the customers who quit buying from their regular suppliers do so because employees fail to communicate effectively with those customers. Efficiency experts claim that at least 40% of the average worker's time is spent doing tasks that are either unnecessary or have to be done over because they were not done according to instructions. So, as you can see, the ability to communicate with precision has a tremendous impact on the bottom line. One way to communicate precisely is to put it in writing. Executives can multiply their influence by learning the techniques of forceful writing. Highpowered writers learn to focus words the way a laser beam focuses light. A few years ago, Earl Nightingale and I recorded a cassette program on this subject. In it, I recommended some pertinent guidelines:

Focus your objective. What is the purpose of the material you want to write? Writing can help you achieve the five I's: It can inform, inquire, influence, instruct and incite. Focus your audience. Written materials such as reports and brochures can be valuable positioning tools. They should be written with a specific audience in mindthe audience you wish to influence to buy your products or services. Focus your content. Make sure that your message is the right message for the right audience. Don't let unnecessary ideas intrude on your principal message. To quote Professor William Strunk Jr., the renowned authority on English usage:

"A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts."

Focus your organization. A good piece of writing flows like a symphony. Organize your material so that each topic flows easily and naturally into the next. Focus your clarity. Some writers think they can hide fuzzy thinking by burying it under a mass of words. To have impact, ideas must be expressed precisely and concisely. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address required only 275 words, and 196 of them were of one syllable.

Focus your refinement. Perfection rarely emerges from a first draft. Ambrose Bierce once said that "a saint is a dead sinner revised and edited." Great writing is rough copy revised and edited. Be your own toughest editor, but don't stop there. Let others read what you have written before you submit it to your audience. You know what you meant, but you can't know how others might interpret it until others have read it. Focus your results. Unless results are built in, they don't happen. Good writing always does four things: It creates a feeling. It gives an idea. It gives the reader a benefit. It produces a desired response.

Listening, Learning and Leading

Technical Skill and Motivational Art

There are several ways to enhance listening effectiveness, especially in an

emotionally charged exchange. A fundamental technique is "Active Listening" with its four components:
1. Clarifying. Asking the other party to provide more information, to

elaborate upon their statement or answer specific questions,

2. Paraphrasing. Repeating the other's message in the person's words or

your own words, to affirm that "message sent is message received,"

3. Reflecting Feelings. Inquiring about or acknowledging overt or

underlying feelings that are attached to the other party's communication; a tentative or tactful approach is often best: "I know you are on board, still it sounds like you have some frustration with the decision. Care to discuss it?" Also, especially regarding the emotional component of messages, both listening and looking for verbal and nonverbal cues

voice tone and volume, facial and other bodily gestures, eye contact and physical distancewill facilitate more accurate reflection. And,
4. Summarizing. Reviewing and pulling together such problem-solving

elements as mutual agreements, outstanding differencesfactual as well as emotionalaction plans to be executed, time frames and follow-up.

Yet effective listening is not just a technical skill. It is also an art form and a
motivational bridge for learning about team members, modeling being a leader and, ultimately, sharing leadership with others. Here are three listening and leadership concepts I strive to uphold in decisionmaking and dealing with conflict:

Demonstrating an understanding of people's positions and predicaments, pains and passions. Reducing, whenever possible, the obvious status and power differential between yourself and other(s). Enabling people to accept gracefully their vulnerabilities, errors and imperfections.

by Philip Humbert We have all read about people who are successful briefly. They win a gold medal, make a fortune, or star in one great movie and then disappear.These examples do not inspire me! My focus and fascination is with people who seem to do well in many areas of life, and do it over and over through a lifetime. In entertainment, I think of Paul Newman and Bill Cosby. In business, I think of Ben and Jerry (the ice cream moguls)As a Naval Officer, husband, businessman, politician and now as a mediator and philanthropist on the world stage, Jimmy Carter has had a remarkable life. We all know examples of people who go from one success to another. These are the people who inspire me! I've studied them, and I've noticed they have the following traits in common:

1. They work hard! Yes, they play hard, too! They get up early, they

rarely complain, they expect performance from others, but they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with a recognition that hard work pays off.
2. They are incredibly curious and eager to learn. They study, ask

questions and readconstantly! An interesting point, however: While most of them did well in school, the difference is that they apply or take advantage of what they learn. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it's about being able to take information and create, build, or apply it in new and important ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything!
3. They network. They know lots of people, and they know lots of

different kinds of people. They listen to friends, neighbors, co- workers and bartenders. They don't have to be "the life of the party," in fact many are quiet, even shy, but they value people and they value relationships. Successful people have a Rolodex full of people who value their friendship and return their calls.
4. They work on themselves and never quit! While the "over-night

wonders" become arrogant and quickly disappear, really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don't tolerate flaws; they fix them!
5. They are extraordinarily creative. They go around asking, "Why not?"

They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, "I've got it!" They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff!
6. They are self-reliant and take responsibility. Incredibly successful

people don't worry about blame, and they don't waste time complaining. They make decisions and move on.Extremely successful people take the initiative and accept the responsibilities of success.
7. They are usually relaxed and keep their perspective. Even in times of

stress or turmoil, highly successful people keep their balance, they know the value of timing, humor, and patience. They rarely panic or make decisions on impulse. Unusually successful people breath easily, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions, even in a crisis.

8. Extremely successful people live in the present moment. They know

that "Now" is the only time they can control. They have a "gift" for looking people in the eye, listening to what is being said, enjoying a meal or fine wine, music or playing with a child. They never seem rushed, and they get a lot done! They take full advantage of each day. Successful people don't waste time, they use it!
9. They "look over the horizon" to see the future. They observe trends,

notice changes, see shifts, and hear the nuances that others miss. A basketball player wearing Nikes is trivial, the neighbor kid wearing them is interesting, your own teenager demanding them is an investment opportunity! Extremely successful people live in the present, with one eye on the future!
10. Repeatedly successful people respond instantly! When an investment

isn't working out, they sell. When they see an opportunity, they make the call. If an important relationship is cooling down, they take time to renew it. When technology or a new competitor or a change in the economic situation requires an adjustment, they are the first and quickest to respond. These traits work together in combination, giving repeatedly successful people a huge advantage. Because they are insatiable learners, they can respond wisely to change. Because their personal relationships are strong, they have good advisors, and a reserve of goodwill when things go bad. And finally, none of these traits are genetic! They can be learned! They are free and they are skills you can use. Start now! Dr. Philip E. Humbert,

Loral Langemeier download as PDF

Character:Your internal makeup, your personal DNA. To develop a stronger sense of character, get to know yourselfassess, evaluate and correct. Capacity:Your mental ability to conceive or perceive. Internalize and lead a concept until it is expressed through your vision. Credibility:Your personal integrity, a mirror of your actions as opposed to words. Courage:The inner strength required to overcome obstacles and movetoward your vision. Communication:The ability to translate your vision into actions.

Source Unknown

1. A leader must be able to take criticism. No person in a position of authority will be immune from it. One must learn to sort out the constructive, from which one can learn, and the malicious which one must ignore.

2. A leader must learn to stand adversity. Things will not always go well. Failures will happen. A good leader will bounce back. 3. A leader must be able to delegate authority. He or she must be able to give up power, to trust those under them. 4. The leader must make decisions. The person who cannot take a stand does not deserve to lead others. 5. The leader must be free from prejudices. "Prejudice," someone once said, "is a luxury only little people can afford." 6. A leader must learn to praise others, to share the credit, and to give credit where it is due. If he or she tries to take credit for everything, they will not lead, they will only frustrate those under them. 7. A leader must be able to concentrate under difficult conditions, to keep the goal constantly in mind, to keep his or her head when all about them are losing theirs. 8. A true leader will assume responsibility for their own mistakes. 9. A leader will not try to avoid responsibility for the mistakes of others. 10. A good leader will grow and learn. Stagnation is not leadership.

1.

I possess the Right Motivation: As a leader, I am called to be an example-setter of high character to the people to whom I am responsiblewhether they are my peers, children, employees and/or constituents. No matter if it seems inefficient, inconvenient or ineffective, I will build character because it is the right thing to do. I possess an Accurate Mindset: My character flaws undermine my leadership, but are correctable. Character is who I am; competency is what I do. I will no longer confuse the two. Character is not only attractive to me, but is irresistible. I possess the Freedom to Choose: I am 100% in control of my character and my response to others. I choose to be a leader of character. I regret my past character-poor choices. I will do all within my power to change. I will become more like the mentors and models I most admire. I possess a Teachable Spirit: I am designed to be a life-long learner. I am teachable and have a strong bias to apply what I learn, to who I am and what I do.

2.

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5.

I possess an Optimistic Vision: A few might remember my competence, but virtually all will remember my legacy of character, good or poor. Many will exceed me in various competencies, but I will set my sight on building a reputation of uncommon character. I possess a Clear Target: I know the "bulls-eye" of high character. I know exactly what character-ethics areand the corresponding behaviors I desire, even though I may struggle to achieve them consistently. I possess the Right Tools: I have taken the time to assess and acquire the correct resources to support my character-building journey, including a list of defined character-ethics and a support system of like-minded leaders. I possess a Sensitive Conscience: I may not always act on its every conviction, but I have a conscience that consistently generates a sense of great personal peace when I act in high character and appropriate guilt when I do not. I possess the Ability to Find a Caring Mentor: My mentor(s) know me personally and we have agreed on a transparent, accountable, encouraging relationship as it relates to building character. My mentor(s) help me to create and maintain the conditions and principles necessary to build my character. Our respective roles and expectations are defined and mutually understood.

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10.

I possess an Integrating Perspective: My goal is to operate out of one, unifying and aligning character identity. I will tirelessly work to reconcile all of my various relationships to conform to this single identity. I possess a High View of Relationships: I value relationships, but I'm not perfect. I want to forgive those who make errors and be forgiven as well when I commit them. While this does not eliminate the consequences of committing wrongs (or omitting rights), it assures others that I earnestly value them. I have Counted the Cost: If I start, there is no going back. I will be painfully exposed for what I am if I attempt to champion a double standard or refuse to confront chronically poor character of those in my charge and/or completely abandon my own pursuit of character.

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Source: http://www.appleseeds.org/spec-idx.htm