Session 12 Preview - elaborating on vision

Well, we've climbed to the top of a mountain. What a great view! It's awesome. Take some time. Enjoy it. Then after a bit of time, ask yourself the question........

Now, what?

When we get to the top of a mountain, by all means, it's important to take time to enjoy the view and relish our success. But after the celebration, the next step, and an important one, is deciding which mountain do I choose to climb next? And, what will the view look like from the top of that mountain? This is more than goal-setting.

For twelve weeks in the Dale Carnegie Course, we work on developing the ability to paint pictures in the minds of our listeners. Starting in an incident, we help our audience form a picture in their minds that matches the picture in ours.

This is basically the same. Imagine you are the speaker, describing an incident to you, the audience. It's merely a moment in time – that just hasn’t happened, yet. Your job is to paint the picture of what you want for yourself.

• What are you doing?
• What are you seeing?
• What are you saying?
• What are you hearing?
• What are you smelling?
• What are you sensing?

This is not difficult despite how others have made it sound.

• What do you daydream about? (Or, what do you worry about? Then, imagine what the opposite would look like.)
• When you think about what you want your life to look like, what excites you?
• To where does your mind wander when not thinking about a specific problem? Let your imagination run wild and dream.

It's vital to create a clear and compelling vision of our future. Without it, we'll lose interest. When it gets hard, we'll give up. So, how do we know it's compelling? You'll know what's compelling to you when:

• You think about it automatically when you wake up in the middle of the night;
• It's exciting enough to cause you to change;
• It's exciting enough for you to want to get better;
• It's exciting enough for you to to work harder and it doesn't seem harder;
• It's exciting enough for you to want to be more effective.

A compelling vision fuels the changes we need to make.

Maybe, the long-term goal, the long-term vision, is way off in the future. As you pursue it, what would your life look like three to six months down the road toward it?

Determining and deciding on your vision may be one of the most important things you ever do. Most people don't decide to go anywhere in life, so they never get anywhere in life.

According to insurance statistics, of 100 individuals beginning at age 25, by age 65, 95% will be dead, or dead broke. Only the top 5% will be successful.

95% of people never write down their goals; 5% do. Coincidence? I don't think so.

MY WAGE

• I bargained with Life for a penny,
• And Life would pay no more;
• However I begged at evening
• When I counted my scanty store;

• For Life is a just employer,
• He gives you what you ask,
• But once you have set the wages,
• Why, you must bear the task.

• I worked for a menial's hire,
• Only to learn, dismayed,
• That any wage I had asked of Life,
• Life would have gladly paid.

--J.B. Rittenhouse

Decide what you want, write it down, and go for it.

Success will come. (Just remember: opportunity is often missed because it arrives dressed in work clothes.)

Session 12 Preview

Session 12: Celebrate Achievements and Renew Our Vision

Wow. We've come a long way. Now it's time to reflect on (and celebrate) what's happened.

• When we walked through the door, we had an idea of what we expected from the Dale Carnegie Course.
• By living intentionally, committing and following through, we've had breakthroughs and successes. We’ve reported on those successes. What one incident (reported on or not) has been most meaningful for you?
• Now that we've achieved all, or part, of our initial vision - What next?

That's pretty much the format of our final presentation:

• 20 seconds what I expected
• 2 minutes my major breakthrough (magic formula), and
• 40 seconds to paint the picture of "What next?"

I've got another post where I elaborate a little on the vision. If you're interested, click here.

Otherwise, see you next session.

Session 11 Preview

Session 11A: Be a Human Relations Champion

Sometimes, we work so hard at doing something, we fail to realize that it is coming naturally. In this session, we take a step back, reflect on our actions and begin to realize our awareness of others has changed. You'll have a chance to tell us how you've used Dale Carnegie's Human Relations Principles and didn't realize it until later, or found yourself recognizing situations and using the principles. Either way, you're on the road to being a Human Relations Champion.

Session 11B: Inspire Others

Strong leaders inspire us to do more than we believe possible. They connect with us intellectually and emotionally. This session is about further developing that ability. Still using the three "E's" of Communication (Eager, Excited, Earned the Right), report on an incident that had an emotional impact on you and would inspire us to think or act differently. It’s an exciting and enjoyable session and the culmination of what we’ve been working on for the past eleven weeks.

See you next session.

Session 10 Preview

Session 10A: Disagree Agreeably

I'm sitting in my office. One of my team members walks in, absolutely ecstatic about the worst possible course of action. And wants my opinion.........

I'm sitting in a meeting watching two people argue passionately for their point of view. Voices get loud, then louder; tempers flare. Suddenly, they turn to me and say, "Well, what's your opinion.............?"

Sound familiar? In this session, we learn how to get our point heard, without making enemies. Think about three work-related subjects you have a strong opinion bout - one way or another. We'll work on helping you get your opinion heard.

Session 10B: Manage Our Stress

Another celebration session. We've been dealing with stress more effectively for the past several weeks. Now, it's time to brag on our success. Two minutes - magic formula. Prepare to be inspired.

We're taking a class photo at this session. If it's possible to be a few minutes early, that would be great.

See you next session.

Session 9 Preview

Session 9A: Demonstrate Leadership

Could you use a new perspective on leadership? Looking for another way to connect with that person who has ability to get it done, but isn't? This session will give you a plethora (good word, eh?) of new perspectives and applications you can put to use immediately to begin changing the attitudes and performance of those around you. And, your story may be just the idea one of your classmates needs.

Session 9B: Develop More Flexibility

No preparation required. Just wear comfortable clothes.

By the way, we'll have pictures taken next week (Session 10).

See you next session.

Session 8 Preview

Session 8A: Building Others Through Recognition

If you've ever struggled to give honest and sincere appreciation to someone you just don't connect with, be here. Honing the ability to give authentic praise and recognition can have a direct and immediate impact on the productivity of your team and the morale of everyone in your world.

Session 8B: Realize the Power of Enthusiasm

If you're feeling down at all, this is a DO NOT MISS session! Not only will we celebrate your success in consciously applying enthusiasm to your life and the pursuit of your vision - and we'll celebrate the success of our classmates.

Heads up, we're bringing in a photographer for a class photo in two weeks (Session 10).

See you next session.

Session 7 Preview

Session 7A: Gain the Willing Cooperation of Others

If you want to be more effective at working on teams and getting more cooperation and support from others, this is the session for you! We'll hear lots of examples of how applying the Dale Carnegie Human Relations Principles ( principles 10 through 21) have affected the cooperation and support we receive. In Session 4, we committed to apply one (or more) of the second set of eleven principles with a specific individual to improve the level of cooperation we enjoy with that person. Well, how's it going? Here's your chance to tell us.

Session 7B: Commit to Influence Others

If you need to be more effective in coaching and correcting others, you'll want to be here. We'll focus specifically on the principles that make effective leaders so powerful and successful. And we'll identify areas we can increase our influence, and how we can effectively go about creating that success for us and those around us.

See you next session.

Session 6 Preview

Session 6A - Make Our Ideas Clear

If you've ever been frustrated trying to explain how to do something (at work or at home), this is the session for you. We'll use the LIONS formula to make explaining even complicated stuff a snap. Pages 6.4 and 6.5 in your Course Guide explain the concept of LIONS, how it can help you organize your presentation for maximum effectiveness, and provide a planning sheet to help you be successful. Bring the visuals you want to use; if you need to write something on the flip chart, please be a little early so you can get it ready before class.

Session 6B - Think on our Feet

As our responsibilities increase, we will be called upon more frequently to deliver our opinion on various subjects clearly, concisely, and convincingly - sometimes on the spur of the moment. Mastering this skill can often be the tool that opens new doors to greater opportunity, promotions, and success in life and it's easier than you think! Page 6.10 in your manual, and pages 12, and 14-18 of the Speak More Effectively booklet will help you prepare for this.

See you next session.

Session 5 Preview

Session 5A: Energize Our Communications

Be ready to be entertained. As we dive into our story and really re-"live" it, it becomes fun for us and for our audience. Think about the stories you love to tell at family reunions. Put a lot of action into it, stir it up, stand back, and have a good time.

Session 5B: Unleash Our Full Potential

"History has repeatedly been changed by people who had the desire and the ability to transfer their convictions and emotions to their listeners."

- Dale Carnegie

This session will help develop a greater freedom for self-expression - for you! Be ready to tell us about something that matters to you.

In in his essay on Self-Reliance, Emerson said, "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide ... The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried."

Remember - Your specific talents, abilities, and experiences have never existed before you and will never exist after you. You are unique in nature. Let's capitalize on it next week.

See you next session.

Session 4 Review

Session 4A: Putting Stress and Worry into Perspective

Much of the stress in our world is a result of misunderstandings among generally well-intentioned people … Greater cooperation and harmony should be possible if we learn to understand and appreciate the ways in which others differ from ourselves.
– Peter Briggs Meyers

I'm always pleasantly surprised by the insights I gain from listening to you. Our ability to handle stress, or lack of it, has a direct impact on those around us -- for good or ill. For many of us, learning to use these principles consistently to deal with the stress and worry affecting us every day will have a HUGE effect on our happiness (and our health).

Session 4B: Motivate Others and Enhance Relationships

Wow, we really covered a lot.

Enhancing Relationships: We demonstrated, decisively I think, the value of improving our human relations skills. The ability to gain the trust, rapport, and cooperation of others is often what separates the successful from the “also-ran.” Our choice is between hoping relationships develop to the level we need to succeed or proactively working to develop relationships. None of us succeeds by our lonesome, so strong relationships are key. Not surprisingly, these principles work best when applied sincerely – as principles, not as techniques.

Motivating Others and Gaining Cooperation: Facts tell; stories sell. To successfully persuade others, we need to build the relationship and be persuasive in asking for action - essentially selling the other person on taking action. The "Magic Formula" helps us do that succinctly, and often more successfully. Keep applying the first set of principles, add the second set, and look for opportunities to use the magic formula to persuade to action. You'll be pleased at how much more effective your interactions are.

By purposely applying the second set of Dale Carnegie's human relations principles (numbers 11 – 21) with individuals in our lives, it'll be easier to gain their willing cooperation, creating commitment instead of just compliance without resorting to authority or manipulation.

Session 4 Preview

Next Week: Session 4A - Put Stress in Perspective

The unproductive areas of our lives (and we all have them) tend to be the most stressful. Some can be very stressful. Next week, we'll tackle that challenge together. Identify an area of your life causing you a disproportionate amount of stress. It may be worthwhile to consider the following questions:

1) What about this situation is causing the stress?
2) What impact is this having on achieving my vision?
3) Which of the principles listed in Dale Carnegie's Golden Book (and in your student manuals on pages 4.5 - 4.8) will help me most effectively handle this stress?

Then, we'll commit to deal more proactively with that area. In a few weeks, we'll have a chance to report on the progress we've made.

Next Week: Session 4B - Motivate Others and Enhance Relationships

Human Relations - We just finished talking about achievements. In this session, we continue building on the power of living intentionally. In Session 2, we committed to apply a couple of Dale Carnegie's Human Relations principles to improve a particular relationship. In Session 4, we'll have the opportunity to report on the status of our commitment.

Magic Formula - We've worked on beginning our talks with an incident to capture their favorable attention. Now, we're introducing an effective way to end our talks to move people to action. This ability, so arresting and interesting to our audience, helps lower the walls of resistance so our message(s) are not just heard, but listened to.

KEY TO SUCCESS: As our time to get our message out is often limited, in business and in life, one of the MOST effective ways to grab our listeners attention is to begin, immediately, with a mental picture of us involved in some action our audience can visualize. Not only does it grab the attention of our listener(s), it helps us relax, and it keeps us from wandering down those tempting "rabbit trails" which waste time for our listener.

Reading: In this week’s readings, Dale Carnegie writes about four ways to develop speech material that guarantees audience attention, and about how Ben Franklin’s whistle helped him live life with less stress.

See you next session.

P.S. Don’t forget the booklets in the back of your participant manuals – Remember Names, Speak More Effectively, and The Little Recognized Secret of Success. They are great resources – and easy to read.

Session 3 Review

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
– Calvin Coolidge

Actions speak louder than words.
– Anonymous

Session 3A – Put Enthusiasm to Work

In Session 3A, we committed to be 10 times more enthusiastic in one specific area of our lives which will help us in the pursuit of our vision. In his booklet, “The Little Recognized Secret of Success,” Dale Carnegie credits his success at Armour & Co. (selling meats and cheese to butcher shops), almost entirely to his enthusiasm. Our challenge for the next few weeks is: Will we be enthusiastic by choice? I believe we can, and I am looking forward to some amazing success stories in a few weeks. As Charles Schwab (the first president of US Steel) said, “A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.” (I believe it applies to women, as well.)

Session 3B – Recognize Achievements

If Session 3A was about choosing our attitude, Session 3B reminded us of (at least) one way to help us take greater control of it – recognizing our achievements. Vital to our success in life is making the choice to guard our thoughts – i.e. what do we think about and how do we think about it? In talking about our achievements and hearing about and identifying with the achievements of others, it’s apparent we are much more successful in life than we give ourselves credit for. We can use this to change our self-talk. As we do this, our success will accelerate.