The Road to Lifestyle

Here is an old Air Force award of mine made into a Santa decoration! It made a lovely and well received Christmas present! The project started with a few sketches.  I thought perhaps I was just going to make a Santa face, but I settled on the second sketch. Sketch 1: Sketch 2: I then used strips of pages from a 1955 Standard Highway Mileage Guide to wrap the piece.  The guide was being thrown away by a local library.  Always be on the lookout for unique (and FREE) items that can be used in your art.  I figured Santa was a traveler, so old maps would be perfect! I used a papier mache technique I first used in grade school:  strips of paper soaked in Elmer's Glue and water.  Simple, yet effective!   Once the piece was wrapped completely I let it dry for a day. I then used an ordinary #2 pencil to draw my Santa sketch onto the piece.  Next came the paint!  I used Liquitex acrylic paint.  Once the paint was dry I decided to give Santa an old, antiqued look with some Fragile C

I don't have this t-shirt, but if I did, I would wear it! Happy Thursday as we count down the days to 2012! Make these last days count everyone! YOU have the POWER!

"You were created as different nations and tribes, not that you should despise one another, but that you should know one another." - Qur'an, Chapter 49:13

A wonderful insight from fellow agents, David & Lisa Goodman:   Good morning all,   Yesterday I had the television on and was listening to some political pundits talking about political advertisements and all of a sudden someone said something profound that I immediately related to what we do; she was talking about how the best political advertising works and she made the following statement :   "we motivate with reason and we persuade with emotion"   I relate that to getting someone to fill out a form or answer a telemarketer as motivating the individual with reason. When we get in the home its all about persuading with the emotion.   Just thought I would pass that along.   Dave & Lisa Goodman   Financial Solution Specialists National Agents Alliance   www.thegoodmanfinancialgroup. com

Leaders MUST: 1.  Trust in their own ability 2.  Communicate the vision daily 3.  Be able to hold people accountable 4.  Constantly input into the lives of their teammates 5.  Create and maintain loyalty 6.  Get to know their people as people (Nuggets shared by Barry Clarkson, NAActivity Call, 12/16/2011)

I found this passage intriguing, especially since I enjoyed the movie Avatar so very much.  It is a passage from The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook as quoted in Susan Scott's Fierce Conversations:  Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time : Among the tribes of northern Natal in South Africa, the most common greeting, equivalent to "hello" in English, is the expression:  "sawu bona."  It literally means, "I see you."  If you are a member of the tribe, you might reply by saying "sikhona" or "I am here."  The order of the exchange is important:  until you see me, I do not exist.  It's as if, when you see me, you bring me into existence. Avatar director and writer, James Cameron , had a little inspiration it seems... :)

Grab a cup of cocoa, snuggle up with your favorite blanket, and ponder this one... let it soak in, I mean, really soak in: "Why is it so important to spend time conversing with ourselves?  Because all conversations are with myself, and sometimes they involve other people .  This is incredibly important to understand.  Embracing this insight changes the way we relate to and interact with everyone in our lives.  I may think I see you as you are, but in truth, I see you as I am .  The implications are staggering, and not the least of them is this:  The issues in my life are rarely about you.  They are almost always about me ."  - Susan Scott

With art the possibilities are endless and Magnabilities are no different! As their motto states:  Endless Possibilities.  Unique Personalities. I came across this unique jewelry idea yesterday while doing some last minute shopping at Sawmill Creek Shops in Huron, Ohio.  The artistic circular magnetic pieces are interchangeable and can be put on uniquely designed necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more! Check out:  http://www.magnabilities.com

I'll look both ways before I cross the street... promise... look left, look right, look left again... step... awww shucks!  A puddle! :) Happy Tuesday!

ACEO, By Laura Ceville

"Hire attitude. Train skill."  - Peter Schutz, Former President of Porsche

So, how do you build a strong sales business?  Well folks, leaders focus on the right things.  They help their teammates accomplish and achieve their goals, and take the focus off of themselves.  As one of the Air Force core values states, "Service Before Self." Furthermore, leaders are incredibly good at recognizing, rewarding, and reinforcing the right behavior in their team, even when they accomplish the smallest of goals.  As my Dad always said, "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!"  Have faith that the small victories will lead to larger victories.  A healthy attitude will drive solid prospecting and is an important step in building a strong business. Remember: 1.  Attitude drives prospecting... 2.  Prospecting drives promotions... 3.  Promotions drive production... 4.  Production drives earning... 5.  Earning drives leadership... Someone that is strong financially will make sound, right decisions.  They will not operate from a point of

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. - David Brinkley