Positive Minutes - "Tonic for Your Mind and Soul"

Energy is the essence of life..

2009-04-25T01:50:00.000-07:00

"Energy is the essence of life. Every day
you decide how you're going to use it by
knowing what you want and what it
takes to reach that goal, and by
maintaining focus." - Oprah

"Turbocharge" Your Productivity by Going Paperless

2008-10-18T23:50:00.000-07:00

By: Bean Jones

I recently cleaned up my apartment (for real) and I was amazed at the amount of paper I had accumulated in a little over a year. Though I'm a big fan of paper products, the frightening sight of three garbage bags loaded with paper got me thinking about going paperless.

Sometime ago, Microsoft bigwig Bill Gates caused a fuss when he declared that his office was 90 percent paperless. In the same Fortune magazine interview, he emphasized that losing the paper trail had a "great impact on productivity."

I may have dismissed his anti-paper drive when he first came out with it, but I'm checking out his tips now:

1. Make room for your desktop. Gates claims that his actual desktop is free of clutter. How does he do this? Well, he's got his workload segregated on three computer screens. According to John Peddie Research, Gates' multi-screen technique increases productivity by 20 to 30 percent--as having multiple screens saves you from window switching and resizing.
Then again, not everyone can afford having multiple screens on their desk. In lieu of actual computer screens, you can do it better than Gates by using virtual desktops that segregate work into different workspaces. Sounds complex? Not at all. Just download Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop Manager (Windows XP) or VirtueDesktops (Mac OS X).

2. Use email to get things done. Utilize the free online storage space that comes with your email to keep important documents handy wherever you go. Likewise, you could get rid of the avalanche of Post-Its by using your email as a virtual calendar or planner through free web-based services like Yahoo! Calendar and Windows Live Calendar.

3. Make your email sift itself. Gates is all for filtering emails. We oftentimes receive emails less important than others. These less priority mails steal our attention from the task at hand. They can be filtered to be read at a later time so that our focus remains on the task we have at the moment. For Yahoo! Mail, for instance, there is the filter management page.

Failures and Mistakes

2008-08-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

"When I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I
did were failures. So I did ten times more work.

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but
more useful than a life spent doing nothing. "

- George Bernard Shaw, an Irish
playwright who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925.

We all have the Power..

2008-08-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

"We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream
to be weaving, and we all have the power to make wishes
come true, as long as we keep believing."

How to understand the worth of time

2008-08-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both
useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the
worth of time by employing it well."

Strong Convictions Precede...

2008-08-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

"He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong
convictions precede great actions."

Within You

2008-08-02T23:49:00.000-07:00

"Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action." - Orison Swett Marden, an American writer associated with the New Thought Movement and a successful hotel owner.

Obstacles, What can you do?

2008-08-02T23:47:00.000-07:00

"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them."

Action- What's it worth?

2008-07-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

"An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American poet, essayist and leader of the Transcendentalistmovement in the early 19th century.

Nothing can stop you

2008-07-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."

Don't be afraid if things seem difficult in the beginning

2008-07-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

"Don't be afraid if things seem difficult in the beginning. That's only the initial impression. The important thing is not to retreat; you have to master yourself."

Olga Korbut
Gymnast - Four Time Olympic Gold Medallist

Get Started

2008-07-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

"So what do we do? Anything - something. So long as we don't just sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late."

Lee Iacocca
Former Chairman of Chrysler Corporation

Reaching Your Goals

2008-07-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

"If you know what to do to reach your goal, it's not a big enough goal."

Bob Proctor

Motivation and Habits

2008-07-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Motivation gets you going and habit gets you there. Make motivation a habit and you will get there more quickly and have more fun on the trip.

Zig Ziglar

Law of Compensation

2008-06-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

Crowd out all inferior thoughts by superior thoughts, evil thoughts by good thoughts, ugly thoughts by beautiful thoughts, distressing thoughts by pleasant thoughts, and you will begin to overcome the growth of all negative and confused states of wrong and discord. In other words, learn to think constructively of all persons, all things, all events, and all circumstances. Appraise them from the ideal point of view. As you do this you will gradually transform your whole existence for the better. These are the means whereby you may steadily promote your welfare and advancement.

As you train yourself to mentally look for the good, you will move towards the good; and, as you form higher and larger conceptions of the good, these elements will begin to find expression in your words, acts, character, person, talents, powers, attainments, and achievements; that is, all things in your life will commence to improve as the direct result of your improved thinking.

This process does not imply, however, that you are to ignore the wrongs of life, the empty places, and the undeveloped states of being; but that you are to think right through and beyond them towards the hidden good or the principle within that is ever seeking a higher and fuller expression. You will, therefore, cease to condemn and to criticize in a destructive manner; instead you will seek to bring out the good in yourself and in others, and to discover and develop the greater possibilities everywhere.

Raymond Holliwell

Mistakes..

2008-06-22T01:19:00.000-07:00

By Zig Ziglar

Mistakes are the springboards of accomplishment. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had as much foresight as hindsight and were able to avoid ever making a mistake? Not only is that unrealistic, it's unwise. Out of mistakes come major accomplishments because mistakes are often the springboard for accomplishment.Once Thomas Edison was working with a lab assistant who was coming up dry after over 700 experiments. In discouragement he told Mr. Edison that after all these mistakes, errors and false starts, he simply did not believe the project was valid. Mr. Edison quickly told him that he was not wasting his time and that he now knew more about the project than anybody alive. Edison wisely observed that he had not made "mistakes" but had acquired an "education" as to what would not work. Needless to say, the assistant went back to his project with renewed vigor.It's safe to say that if each of us took that approach to life we would end up accomplishing much, much more. After every mistake we need to understand that we can look back and learn so that we can move forward with confidence and avoid making the same mistake again.

Let's look at three tips on how to handle a mistake - either at home or at the office.

First, don't let it depress or discourage you. See a mistake as a step on the road to a solution. We must realize that depression and discouragement are negatives that limit the future.

Second, admit the mistake - I'll admit that takes courage, but recognition of errors is a sign of maturity. Not to recognize them is to deny them. The reality is that "denial" is more than just a river in Egypt - it's something that will limit your future.

Third, understand that when we confront our mistakes we are taking full advantage of them as the "positives" they are. Only when you ignore mistakes are they negative. Buy that idea and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Zig Ziglar is a motivator and teacher. He is the author of 26 books and loved by millions of people world wide for his practical wisdom and his gift of hope.

Energy is the essence of life.

2008-06-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you
decide how you're going to use it by knowing
what you want and what it takes to reach
that goal, and by maintaining focus."
- Oprah Winfrey

The blame game

2008-05-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

"All blame is a waste of time. No matter how
much fault you find with another, and
regardless of how much you blame
him, it will not change you"
- Wayne Dyer

If You Want to be Happy

2008-05-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

"If you want to be happy, set a goal that
commands your thoughts, liberates your
energy, and inspires your hopes."
- Andrew Carnegie

What's Your Past? What is Your Future?

2007-05-24T05:47:00.000-07:00

"If you want to know your past - look into your present conditions. If you want to know your future - look into your present actions."
Chinese Proverb

Positive Minutes Today - Change

2007-05-24T05:42:00.000-07:00

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."
Maya Angelou
Author and Poet

How Do You View Failure?

2007-05-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

"The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the process of getting to the top."

Dr. Joyce Brothers
Psychologist and Television Personality

Do Common Things In Life In an Uncommon Way

2007-04-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world."

George Washington Carver
1864-1943, Scientist and Educator

Each indecision brings its own delays..

2007-04-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

"Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days... What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
1749-1832, Poet, Novelist and Scientist

Power of Focus and Team Work

2007-04-23T01:40:00.000-07:00

Put practice, focus, and trust together, what do you get? Team Work Precision. Check out this amazing performance.

Real Winners

2007-04-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

Nobody loves motivational quotes more than I do. But be very careful because every once in a while you'll find a quote that might sound good but isn't true. And if you believe that quote, it might actually do some harm.

Let me tell you a story...

It was the most important Little League game of Eric's life. He was 11 years old and his team, the Pirates, were playing the Giants in the championship game.

It was the bottom of the sixth inning and the Pirates were ahead 2-1. But the Giants had the bases loaded with two outs and their best hitter was at bat.

He hit an easy fly ball to Bobby, the Pirate's right fielder. Bobby circled under the ball as everyone held their breath. The ball fell into his glove and then bounced out. Bobby scrambled for the ball, but by the time he decided where to throw it, two Giants had scored.

Final score:
Giants 3
Pirates 2

It would be "wait until next year" for the Pirates.

As the Pirates moped off the field, something totally unexpected happened. Their manager started yelling and screaming at Bobby. "You lost the game for us. You cost us the championship!"

Crying, Bobby ran off the field and vanished into the woods.

After the game, Eric went to meet his parents in the parking lot, but his dad wasn't there. His mom said he had something to do. On the drive home, a dejected Eric saw something that startled him.

Way in the distance, Eric saw his dad walking Bobby home. His dad had his arm around the kid who probably felt like he didn't have a friend in the world.

Eric never forgot the kindness his dad showed that evening.

As the years passed, whenever Bobby saw Eric's dad, he always greeted him warmly and enthusiastically because he never forgot, either.

So whenever I hear stories like this one, I think of this quote:

"Winning is not the only thing, it's everything."

This quote makes my blood boil because the manager in the story actually believed it. He believed that winning a Little League game was "everything" and that the feelings of a fragile 11 year old boy were "nothing."

The truth of the matter is that winning is not the only thing. Winning is not everything.

Real winners don't necessarily hit home runs or make spectacular catches. Real winners know how to be kind. Eric's dad was a winner.

Here's a quote that is true and will make you a winner if you believe it:

"Winning is not the only thing, but kindness is everything."

Rob Gilbert
From Bits & Pieces

Running Out of Wind?

2007-04-18T23:28:00.000-07:00

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out if they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you."

William James
1842-1910, Author

Winning from Losing is as Fine as a Razor's Edge

2007-03-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

It has often been said the line which separates winning from losing is as fine as a razor's edge - and it is (I am talking about winning in a big way and in all areas of your life)

One person "just about" starts a project, the other person starts it. One individual "almost" completes a task, the other does complete it. One person sees an opportunity, the other acts on it. One student "nearly" passes the exam, the other does pass it - and although the difference in their marks may be only one percentage point out of a hundred, it's that one point that makes all the difference.

In 1947, ARMED - the first race horse in the history of United States' racing to win over one million dollars in prize money over the duration of his career - had earnings of $761,500. But the horse which finished second in earnings that same year- a horse which often lost races a mile long by only "a nose" - won only $75,000. Now, if one were to look at their winnings alone, it would appear that ARMED was thirteen times better than his closest competitor. However, when you compare "the times" that were actually registered by those two horses in their races, you discover he really wasn't even four percent superior!

Think of how your results would change if you improved your performance by just one or two percent.

Bob Proctor

Today's Positive Minutes

2007-03-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."

Bill Cosby
Actor and Comedian

The Secret of Success is Within You - The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2007-02-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

"The Secret of Success is Within You"

Watch this short clips where John, TheSecret Guru explains how the 3 laws when put together will help you achieve success:

Law of Attraction
Law of Time (Gestation)
Law of Action

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Power of Responsibility

2007-02-23T06:42:00.000-08:00

It's been said that the line between childhood and adulthood is crossed when we move from saying "It got lost" to "I lost it." Indeed, being accountable - and understanding and accepting the role our choices play in the things that happen - are crucial signs of emotional and moral maturity. That's why responsibility is one of the main pillars of good character.

Many people have been seduced by the Peter Pan philosophy of refusing to grow up and avoiding the burdens implied in being accountable. Yes, responsibility sometimes requires us to do things that are unpleasant or even frightening. It asks us to carry our own weight, prepare and set goals, and exercise the discipline to reach our aspirations.

But the benefits of accepting responsibility far outweigh the short-lived advantages of refusing to do so. No one makes his or her life better by avoiding responsibility. In fact, irresponsibility is a form of self-imposed servitude - to circumstances and to other people.

Responsibility is about our ability to respond to circumstances and to choose the attitudes, actions, and reactions that shape our lives. It is a concept of power that puts us in the driver's seat. The grand panorama of the potential of our lives can only be appreciated when we begin to be accountable and self-reliant.

Responsible people not only depend on themselves, but show others that they can be depended on. This breeds trust, and trust is a key that opens many doors.

If you want more control over your life and the pleasures, prerogatives, and power of freedom and independence, all you have to do is be responsible.

Michael Josephson

Sandra Anne Taylor

2007-02-14T08:12:00.000-08:00

"Sometimes the Universe doesn't give us exactly what we want when we want it, because there's actually something better down the road."
Sandra Anne Taylor Author of Quantum Success

Today's Positive Minutes

2007-02-09T05:40:00.000-08:00

"The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious."
John Sculley Business Executive

The Secret - Visualization

2007-02-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

Throughout history all the great minds, all the great leaders, all the great achievers..they all have something in common. They knew the Secret. This Secret could give you anything you want. Happiness, Health and Wealth. You can do or be anything you want.

One of these Secrets is Visualization

Now all their The Secrets are revealed..Click here to get to The Secrets. It could change your life..

Welcome to Positive Minutes

2007-02-04T22:27:00.000-08:00

The heart to success starts with the mind. The secrets have been revealed, its been researched and documented, repeated by many gurus, yet only few succeed. Why is this so?

Every second, every minute our thoughts is shifting. It never stays still. Like a river, always flowing, always ebbing.

Those who read the secrets knew the success lies in the control of ones thought. Like steering a ship in the ocean of thoughts, we need to constantly adjust our sail to the winds of change. We need to be reminded.

Positive minutes are my collection of beautiful words and thoughts of wisdom I come across each day. Let these words be the beacon of light that will shine and guide us back to our path in our journey towards success. This blog is my beacon. It will remind me to remind myself when I am off course, to steer back. For those who found site I hope it will also light your path and find your way back to your journey.

God bless all who found this site and may the light be with you.