http://www.tomhinton.com Professional Business Speaker and Author Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:18:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2012/01/finding-your-life-balance-between.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2012/01/finding-your-life-balance-between.html#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:16:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=8f3a38600b4d40706e1963b8a3195940
At a recent corporate workshop I facilitated on Work-Life Balance, a senior executive with the company asked me a tough question. Our exchange went something like this. “I’ve been working here for the past 30 years. I’m now 55, and even though I have a senior management position in this company, and make good money, and I’ve traveled the world, I don’t feel successful. What’s missing in my life?”

Although we had never met before, I reflected on his question for a moment and then replied, “I think sometimes we confuse success with fulfillment and happiness. It seems you have all the trappings of success, but what appears to be missing in your life is a sense of fulfillment.” He nodded affirmatively and encouraged me to expound on my answer. I did; and, here’s what I shared with the participants at that workshop.

One of the questions The Course of 10,000 Days encourages us to answer is the following: “How much happiness am I willing to forego in order to achieve success?” This is a tough question for us because we’re used to having it all without having to sacrifice anything. But, the truth is success comes with a price.

We all know people who are very successful, but are miserable. They have lots of money, power and fame, but few real friends. They have rank and privilege, but no one really loves them for who they really are. This is the dilemma that many – but not all --successful people face. Why?

The Course of 10,000 Days explains it this way. Before you seek success, you should first create abundance in your life. Only when you experience the blessings of life, true happiness and peace-of-mind can you enjoy success. Too often, we measure success in terms of the ego’s needs – money, power, fame, prestige and all the trappings that success can buy us. But, abundance is rooted not in material things, but in those things that allow us to be truly happy and experience peace-of-mind. Under such circumstances, we could experience abundance and still be earning minimum wage. Abundance is achieved not through our ego, but rather, our Inner Spirit. Thus, it is our Inner Spirit that we must turn to in order to find those things that create happiness and peace-of-mind in our life. Our ego does not care about such things. It only enjoys the trappings of success. But, such things do not satisfy the human spirit for long. This is why we yearn for something more permanent, more satisfying. And, that something is abundance in our life.

While The Course of 10,000 Days embraces the motto, “Ask and you shall succeed!” it teaches us that in order to attain true success, we must ask our Inner Spirit, not our ego.

About the Author: Tom Hinton is the author of the new best-seller: 10,000 Days: The Rest of Your Life, the Best of Your Life. Tom is one of America’s most respected authors and speakers on Work-Life Balance, Personal Development and Human Excellence in the Workplace. To order 10,000 Days, visit: http://www.amazon.com/10-000-Days-Rest-Your/dp/0983503214/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326344004&sr=1-1 or contact Tom at: tom@tomhinton.com

]]> http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/feeds/6432164246616807343/comments/default 0 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/11/wheel-of-life-wellness.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/11/wheel-of-life-wellness.html#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:18:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=889e12a168b9cd2d2837bf4bbf0ddbff Author’s Note:
This is the second in a series of eight articles that focus on the eight elements in the Wheel of Life, which I discuss in my book, 10,000 Days: The Rest of Your Life, the Best of Your Life! The eight elements are: Spirituality, Relationships, Environment, Career, Money, Wellness, Romance, and Fun & Recreation.

Last week I began this series with an article on Environment. This week I focus on Wellness.

When facilitating The Course of 10,000 Days retreats, I like to ask participants to define their state of Wellness. Interestingly, nearly every participant responds in terms of their physical state of well-being. Some will tell me they need to lose weight. Others will advise me that they are recuperating from an operation, a serious illness or fighting an addiction. But, oddly enough, very few people ever mention their mental, emotional or spiritual well-being as part of their Wellness formula.

In an era when health care is dominated by our physical aspects, we tend to forget that Wellness involves much more. The Course of 10,000 Days defines Wellness as “a multi-dimensional state of well-being in which you enjoy a positive physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance, thus allowing you to live your life to its fullest.” Using this definition, the significance of Wellness becomes much more apparent in how we achieve purpose, peace and happiness in our life.

Not only is Wellness multi-dimensional, but it is also sub-dimensional. The National Wellness Institute, which has done an excellent job in researching this topic, advocates six sub-areas of Wellness. They are: Social, Occupational, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual and Emotional Wellness. I encourage you to visit their website to read the definitions of each of these six sub-areas. It is: http://www.nationalwellness.org

The Course of 10,000 Days encourages us to take Wellness seriously. Many of us know family members or close friends who have died prematurely or their quality of life is suffering because they did not take care of themselves physically or mentally. These are the two dominant categories of Wellness. But, in order to achieve a state of Wellness in accordance with the definition used by The Course of 10,000 Days, it’s vital that we pay attention to all six sub-dimensions of Wellness. As the Wellness Institute suggests, “We may not all be physically fit or free from disease; we can, however, strive for increased wellness by working with what we’ve been dealt.”

Dr. Leif Livingheart, a brilliant physician who leads Life Transformation retreats in Spain, tells us, “Wellness is not merely the absence of illness. It is also your ability to create a positive physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance, thus allowing you to live your life to its fullest.” I agree with Dr. Livingheart’s assessment because our life-systems are inter-connected and, therefore, can sustain or disrupt each other. For example, if we’re emotionally distraught, that will affect our physical and mental dispositions. So, this is why we believe it’s important for people to make the mental transition from “avoiding illness” to “living life to its fullest!”

Here are a few ways you can practice Wellness.

* BAG It. Every morning as you awake, practice the “BAG It” exercise. Think of three Blessings you have in your life, and three Accomplishments you've completed in the past 24 hours. Then, set three Goals you will achieve in the next 24 hours. It's very powerful and when you awake tomorrow, today's Goals become tomorrow's Accomplishments!
* Move. It’s tough to exercise every day unless you’re a dedicated gym rat, but you can get some exercise by parking farther away from your office door, taking the stairs instead of the building elevator, or enjoying a lunchtime stroll around the block. If you sit at a desk all day, you need to counter that inertia by moving at least 20-30 minutes every work day. Also, if you're active on a keyboard, take 5 minutes every hour to flex your fingers and palms to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome which causes damage to your median nerve in the palms and forearms.
* Fast. For most people, weight control is a matter of moving more and eating less. That’s very difficult for most of us, so we need to consciously choose to eat less, and simply change what we eat. Losing weight is primarily about how many calories we shove into mouth every day as well as the types of food we eat. So, here are a few proven ideas attendees who lost weight shared at The Course of 10,000 Days Weekend Retreat: skip breakfast; absolutely no “whites [salt, bread, sugar, dairy] during the work week; eat salads three times a week with light dressings; eat fish twice a week; include vegetables at least three times a week instead of French fries or chips; eat boiled food instead of fried foods; drink sparkling water or ice tea, and avoid sodas and juices that are loaded with sugar. do this and watch the pounds drop off you! But, remember, you also have to "Move!"
* Meditate. Don’t confuse meditation with prayer or having to go to church. Meditation is simply closing your eyes for 20-30 minutes a few times each week and allowing you mind to rest. Lay down on the bed or the living room floor and dim the lights. Sometimes, spa-type music can help you enter that state of calm and relaxation. This exercise will quiet your mind and help you relax, let go of today’s problems and reduce your stress levels. You'll be amazed at how refreshed you are when you're done.
* Set Goals. Set a few small goals for yourself every day. This could be part of your BAG It exercise mentioned earlier. By setting goals, you will continuously push yourself to aim at something you want to accomplish. In this way, you’ll always be striving to accomplish the goals you set. And, remember Dr. Ken Blanchard's goal setting formula for setting SMART Goals, which means: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time certain.

I can guarantee you that if you’ll do these few things, your state of Wellness will improve. And, the healthier you are, the happier you will be. As always I look forward to your feedback. Let me know what works best for you.

About the Author. Tom Hinton is the author of 10,000 Days: The Rest of Your Life, the Best of Your Life! that is now available as an eBook or paperback at: www.Amazon.com Tom is a popular speaker on Work-Life Balance and Personal Growth topics. He also facilitates The Course of 10,000 Days retreat workshops. Contact: tom@tomhinton.com

]]> http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/feeds/5270017127398764529/comments/default 0 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/11/wheel-of-life.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/11/wheel-of-life.html#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:32:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=a79eef2d4bd9e56c43e0171025a66749 This article is the first in a series of eight by author Tom Hinton on the Wheel of Life


I realize it’s only November, but many people have asked me this question: “What can I do now to jump-start some of the positive changes I want to make in my life for next year?”

It’s a great question and here’s my response. Over the next eight weeks, I’ll be posting a series of eight brief articles that focus on each of the 8 elements in the Wheel of Life. Since I’ve been teaching The Course of 10,000 Days for the past six years, it’s become clear that the primary concerns and issues facing people are related to one or more elements in their Wheel of Life. So, together, we’ll explore these eight elements and, hopefully, shed some insight to help you move forward by making your next 10,000 days significant!

But, first, here’s some background on the Wheel of Life. Legend has it that the Buddha himself created the first depiction of the Wheel of Life -- or Bhavacakra -- as it’s referred to in Buddhism. The original Wheel of Life design adorns most Buddhist Temples.

Over the centuries, this concept has evolved to take on many different interpretations. For example, the version created by The Course of 10,000 Days equates eight equally important elements to its Wheel of Life. In no particular order, they are: Spirituality, Relationships, Environment, Career, Money, Wellness, Romance, and Fun & Recreation.

This article will focus on Environment. When we use the term Environment in The Course of 10,000 Days, we mean the following: What is the living, working, cultural and growth environment you currently exist in?

What’s fascinating to me is that 99% of the people who enroll in The Course of 10,000 Days have never given a moment’s thought to this aspect of their lives. Ironically, it isn’t until we think about retirement that the issue of Environment even surfaces. And, frankly, most people define Environment as “where they want to live when they retire.” But, this is only one aspect of Environment. The bigger picture must take into consideration not only where you live, but also where you work, the people you associate with, your ability to grow and develop as a person and spiritual being, and your ability to spend time developing your talents and gifts. Now you can see why Environment is so critical to one’s success in life and our ability to achieve life balance.

So, here’s your assignment for this week. Take a sheet of paper and turn it sideways (landscape version). Across the top of the page, draw five columns and label each one as follows: Where I Live; Where I Work; People I Associate With; My Ability to Grow; and, How I Spend my Time.

Then, in each of the columns, write your responses to the following questions:
• What are the positive aspects of __________ [where I live, where I work, etc.]?
• What are the negative aspects of __________ [where I live, where I work, etc.]?
• What steps can I take in the next 30 days to change the negative to a positive in each of these five areas?
• What action will I take today (or the next 24 hours) to implement that change?

Here’s an example of how one 52 year-old female student at The Course of 10,000 Days Weekend Retreat responded to the question: “Where I Live?”

-- Positive Aspects include: close to my 84 year-old mother; it’s where I work; I have a small circle of friends; I’ve lived here 33 years and know the area including shops, bank, and my church; I enjoy the four seasons.

-- Negative Aspects include: it’s cold and dreary in the winter (Midwest USA) and it’s humid in the summer; I stay indoors too much because of the weather and don’t exercise; I have a job but I’m not advancing in terms of pay or position; very little culture other than a movie theater in my small town; my two best friends are approaching retirement and talking about moving to Florida; my church is in turmoil because of sex scandal issues with a former minister; my company has laid off 12% of its 400 employees and I feel insecure in this job and economy; my two sisters live near Atlanta with their kids; I feel obligated to care for Mom since I’m the only sibling still living in the same town where we grew up; I'm single and there's very little social life or privacy in a small town.

-- Steps I Can Take in the Next 30 Days include: I’m going to start researching new places to live in Florida or Georgia; I’m going to talk to Mom about relocating; I’m going to update my resume and put out some feelers. I’m going to tell my sisters I’ve decided to relocate as soon as possible, which they’ve encouraged me to do.

-- What Actions will I take Today? I will talk to Mom at lunch today about the benefits of moving to a warmer climate near her daughters and four grandchildren; I will update my resume; I will Google similar companies in my industry to see who is hiring.

There’s a great expression we use in The Course of 10,000 Days that goes like this: Nothing happens until you commit to doing something and then act! What this exercise will help you do is simply that – commit to doing something and then act.

While your situation is different and unique, no one is hopeless or helpless. You can do something to improve your life and take steps to make the rest of your life, the best of your life! So, start now by evaluating your Environment!

About the Author. Tom Hinton is the author of 10,000 Days: The Rest of Your Life, the Best of Your Life! that is now available as an eBook or paperback at: www.Amazon.com Tom is a popular speaker on Work-Life Balance and Personal Growth topics. He also facilitates The Course of 10,000 Days retreat workshops. Contact: tom@tomhinton.com

]]> http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/feeds/3244796331331565759/comments/default 0 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/02/you-can-do-something.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/02/you-can-do-something.html#comments Fri, 04 Feb 2011 05:59:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=087abbd24d916cf16d615db70195d978
Recently, at a weekend retreat I facilitated on The Course of 10,000 Days, I asked attendees the following question. “Tell me one thing you can do right now to improve your life and start to get the results you desire?” This question is designed to get people thinking about taking that all-important next step to create change in their lives and achieve their goals.

Invariably, this question meets resistance from some attendees who are so stuck in their own velvet rut that they cannot climb out of it. For example, some attendees are stuck in life because they lost a spouse, a family member or a dear friend. For others, their self-esteem has suffered a serious blow because they lost their job or their home as a result of tough economic times. Still, there are some who are so consumed with anger and resentment towards an ex-spouse or boss that they’ve never been able to get past it. Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that we get stuck in life because we fail to accept the fact that we have the power to change our life, move forward and live our dreams.

This is what The Course of 10,000 Days is all about. It’s a process by which we confront the demons in our life and learn how to quiet our ego so our Inner Spirit can surface and guide us to our destiny. For, it is through our Inner Spirit that we create our greatest outcomes in life. No one should have to live their life according to someone else's terms. We have the power to create our own outcomes. We have the power to achieve our own destiny. This is what makes us unique and transforms ordinary people into extraordinary human beings.

And so, when you are asked the question — “Tell me one thing you can do right now to improve your life and start to get the results you desire?” — your answer can be as simple as “I will think positive thoughts about myself.” Or, “I will believe in my own goals and dreams.” Or, “I will start to research my pet project, or read a book, or accept the fact that I can do something today – even if it is taking a baby step in the right direction – to move my life forward.”

For each of us, the answer to the question will be different. What matters is that you must be able to answer the question – and answer it with conviction; then, act on whatever it is you said you would do. It is in this way cathedrals have been built – one stone at a time. It is the same way Walt Disney created Disneyland and America was founded and grew, and man was able to land on the moon. Nothing is impossible, but you must believe in yourself and be willing to do something right now to move your life forward. Even if that something is a small step forward.

So, let me ask you once again, “Tell me one thing you can do right now to improve your life and start to get the results you desire?”

About the Author: Tom Hinton is the author of the new book entitled, 10,000 Days: The Secret to Finding Purpose, Peace and Passion for the Rest of Your Life, which will be available March 11th. Tom is a popular speaker at corporate and association meetings on such topics as Leadership, Creating your Legacy and Achieving Your Life Goals. He can be reached at tom@tomhinton.com

]]> http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/feeds/6375768228711081367/comments/default 0 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-consumer-citizens-of-world-really.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-consumer-citizens-of-world-really.html#comments Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:59:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=f5c5764bbeb19c3886791b4e2d5d7402
It’s both disturbing and encouraging to see the strife taking place in Egypt and Tunisia. In America, we take for granted so many of our basic rights and entitlements that are causing millions of citizens to take to the streets in protest of the policies of their authoritarian governments. It’s disturbing because the very rights and opportunities these people are demanding are basic economic building blocks that every citizen should enjoy regardless of where they live or the religion they practice – freedom of speech, the opportunity to live in an economic environment that offers hope for a better life, and the right to assemble without being shot or attacked by armed thugs operating under the guise of self-serving politicians.

What is playing out in Egypt and Tunisia is also encouraging because the voice of the people is finally being heard. And, it is being heard not only in the streets, but within the inner sanctums of every repressive government around the world.

Some commentators have suggested the Arab uprisings are being fueled by fanatics and religious extremists. There’s little, if any, evidence to support such claims. I believe these protests are the result of frustrated consumers who see unlimited economic opportunities in neighboring countries and throughout western societies. Unfulfilled, exasperated and without any chance to climb the economic ladder of success, these well-intentioned protesters are asking a basic human question of their tyrannical leaders: “Why can’t we enjoy the good life?” Not only is it a fair question, but one that every government should respond to or face defeat. But, governments that exploit their citizenry don’t believe they need to answer such questions because they are not in the business of lifting-up the masses. They’re in the business of suppressing human and economic rights and controlling citizens in brutal fashion.

This is why leaders like ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak do not remain in power. People will only tolerate so much before they take to the streets. What is happening in Egypt and Tunisia are consumer-citizens demanding the same economic opportunities afforded to a handful of people in their country and the chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Certainly, that is a fair demand.

No nation’s leadership can suppress the population forever and outlast the will of its people. This is why I believe there is still great economic hope for the people of Iran, North Korea, Libya, Myanmar, North Korea, Somalia, China, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. As we have seen in Egypt, it only takes a few thousand people to ignite the flames of economic freedom and bring about significant constitutional change as well as new political leadership.

In this era of social networking and instant global communication, it’s not surprising that on a Friday afternoon, a handful of well-intentioned thought leaders tweet or Facebook their friends to rally in the main square and, by Sunday afternoon, ministers are resigning and corrupt leaders are making plans to flee the country.

Frankly, it’s consumerism at its best!

About the Author: Tom Hinton is America's Expert on Business Excellence and a popular speaker at corporate and association events. He can be reached at tom@tomhinton.com

]]> http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/feeds/5824193489828590599/comments/default 0 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/01/jobs-factor-leadership-is-at-core-of.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/01/jobs-factor-leadership-is-at-core-of.html#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:27:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=b218fb8e7212b6b8d9dd4fa074ad8aa8
As one who teaches managers how to become better leaders, I'm intrigued by the "Jobs Factor" as I like to call it. There's no question that Steve Jobs is the face of Apple. As USA Today reported, during Jobs' second term as CEO, which began in August 1997, Apple's stock has soared more than 7,273% versus a 67% gain for Standard & Poor's 500-stock index. That's impressive whether you're an Apple fan or not! It's clear that as CEO, Jobs has inspired a rebirth at Apple leading to such innovative marvels as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Stores and the burgeoning industry knows as Apps – slang for Applications – that support all these new products. In short, Apple has transformed how a generation communicates, learns, listens to music and socializes. Steve Jobs continues to demonstrate his brilliance and his Midas touch.

Over the past 100 years, very few leaders have had as great an impact on transforming our world as Steve Jobs. Certainly Thomas Edison, Alfred Sloan (GM), Sam Walton (WalMart), Walt Disney, Bill Gates (Microsoft), Henry Ford, Thomas J. Watson (IBM), Ray Kroc (McDonalds), Estee Lauder, Richard Branson (Virgin), Philip H. Knight (Nike), Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Welch (GE) merit mention. In 2005, Fast Company published an outstanding list of the 100 Greatest Business Leaders of the 20th Century which included Steven P. Jobs at #26.

And so, as Steve Jobs prepares to step aside as CEO for medical reasons, the question behind the question is this. First, will Apple continue its rabid success once Steve Jobs steps down? Secondly, how does a company like Apple design a succession plan to ensure the company's continued success and growth? The second question is profoundly important when the CEO, Steve Jobs, is considered a god among his colleagues, competitors and the business media. The fact is that while Tim Cook can succeed him, no one can replace Steve Jobs.

While no one knows the answers to these key questions, I think Steve Jobs has a surprise in store for all of us. I think Jobs' greatest contribution to Apple will be revealed as he steps aside as CEO and allows Apple's senior leadership team to stand on its own. Remember, Steve Jobs has hired, trained and developed these people over the past 14 years. Jobs' goal has been to ensure Apple's profitability and product success will continue long after he is gone.

Interestingly, for Steve Jobs, this is not unchartered territory. When Jobs resigned as Apple CEO in September 1985 after a bitter confrontation with his board of directors, he was succeeded by a series of less-than-successful CEOs. During Jobs' 12-year absence from Apple, he had time to reflect on his successes and mistakes as a leader, innovator and business strategist. One of the mistakes Jobs acknowledged and vowed not to repeat was hiring the wrong people to lead the largest (and greatest) technology company in the world.

Now, Steve Jobs can step aside knowing he has in place a solid executive management team with capable leaders like Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook and Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer. These leaders have been schooled in how Jobs thinks and fosters creativity and innovation at Apple. They embrace the Apple culture and will maintain its current course to greater successes. Despite the concerns that Steve Jobs' temporary departure from Apple is causing to Wall Street and the business media, I am confident that Apple will continue to outperform its competition because Steve Jobs has learned how to create a culture of excellence and innovation that now permeates all levels of the world's greatest tech company.

About the Author: Tom Hinton is recognized as America's Expert on Business Excellence. The author of four books, Mr. Hinton is a popular speaker at corporate and association meetings on Leadership, Customer Service and Creating a Culture of Excellence in the Workplace. For information, contact: tom@tomhinton.com

]]> http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/feeds/7550422778535528335/comments/default 0 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-keep-your-new-years-resolutions.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-keep-your-new-years-resolutions.html#comments Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:28:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=f4672638ec1223735834159df382081c by Tom Hinton

If you’re like most people, you probably spent a few minutes during the holidays thinking about the new year and making several resolutions. And, if you’re like most people, you’ve already broken most of your New Year’s resolutions. Although we’re well-intentioned, it’s very difficult to honor our words and promises. Why is that? After all, who doesn’t want to get healthy, quit smoking or drinking, lose weight, spend more time with family and friends, get out of debt, travel and enjoy life more fully?

You would think these types of resolutions would be easy to embrace and follow. But, the harsh reality is most New Year’s resolutions require more from us than just verbalizing a statement of intent. My experience has been that setting goals is a simple process, but staying on track and honoring our resolutions is anything but easy! Why? Well, for starters, most of us are poor planners. As the saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.” So, you need to have a plan.

Here’s a three-step plan to help you honor your words and promises and keep your New Year’s resolutions.

Step 1. Write down your goals. Someone once quipped that the difference between a wish and a goal is that goals are written while wishes remain a figment of our imagination. I am a firm believer that resolutions and goals need to be written down if we intend to achieve them. So, the first step, is to simply write down each resolution in the form of a SMART goal – that is, each goal must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time certain.

For example, let’s say you want to get in shape and start exercising. Your goal should be written as follows: I exercise 5 days each week for 30 minutes or longer by walking, bike riding, going to the gym or doing calisthenics. I mark my calendar each day after I complete my exercise routine to measure my success. Now, there’s a goal that meets the SMART test!

Step 2. Enlist someone to help you achieve your goals. There’s an old saying, “Two heads are better than one.” When it comes to goal-setting, one of the best techniques I have found is to enlist the help of a friend, spouse or family member who has a similar goal. Use the buddy system to support each other. This is particularly powerful when it comes to achieving goals like exercise, diets, work projects or finally writing your first novel!

Step 3. Get Results. Another quote that comes to mind is this one. “If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me!” There will always be hurdles and challenges that block your path to success. But, remember, you alone are responsible for your success. You alone must remove those barriers if you want to go forward. You need to get results. John Lennon, the late Beatle, once quipped that “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” It’s true! You need to be alert to disruptions and guard your personal time so you can achieve your goals. This is how you get results. And, remember, it’s okay to tell friends you can’t join them after work for a beer because you have a prior commitment – the fitness center. It’s okay to order fruit for dessert when everyone else is gorging themselves on cheesecake! And, when your exercise partner can’t make it, don’t quit. Put on your sneakers and go for a long walk by yourself. Don’t make excuses and don’t ever give yourself permission to fail.

Most of us set New Year’s resolutions and goals because we want to improve our lives. We want to become the person we dream about. However, what we forget is that setting goals and resolutions requires us to change something – a behavior, a thought process, certain values or old beliefs – that keep us from becoming that person we dream about. So, change is also part of the equation for achieving your goals.

Here are three steps you can take to deal with change in your life.

First, prepare yourself -- mentally and emotionally -- for change. You cannot just walk into a sea of change and expect to swim. Most change consists of whitewater and treacherous rapids. Seldom is the sea of change calm. Changing your beliefs, values and behavior requires some degree of mental and physical preparation if you really expect to achieve your goals.

Secondly, you must identify the barriers that keep you from changing your life and resolve to overcome those barriers. Make up your mind that you will change that part of you that heretofore has resisted lasting change or improvement. For example, you cannot quit smoking if you continue to buy cigarettes. You cannot stop drinking if you continue to buy booze and bring it home. These types of actions and behaviors must stop if you want to achieve your goals. You must resolve to give up those behaviors that undermine your success. Once you take positive action, the chances of achieving success will increase dramatically. Frankly, it’s not rocket science, It’s as simple as 1-2-3.

Finally, expect setbacks. No one is perfect. We all stumble from time to time. So, when you stumble, get back on your feet and move forward. If you miss a day of exercising, resolve to add a make-up day at the gym. If you sneak a cigarette, be aware that you are undermining your goal of quitting and don’t finish it. Throw it away after a few puffs. Reset the clock and start again. But, be sure to note what caused you to stumble so you can train your mind and emotions not to falter for the same reason the next time that temptation or excuse rears its ugly head. You have to resolve to be stronger than the excuse. Otherwise, you’ll never achieve your goals.

It’s tough starting off the new year with several well-intentioned resolutions but lacking the confidence to see them through to fruition. Hopefully, this plan for success will surprise you as spring approaches and you are well on your way to a healthier, happier you! Be Positive, Stay Focused and Get Results!

About the Author. Tom Hinton is a professional speaker and author of 10,000 Days: The Secret to Finding Purpose, Peace and Passion for the Rest of Your Life. He can be reached at: www.tomhinton.com or via email at: tom@tomhinton.com

]]> http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/feeds/9165008093314524637/comments/default 0 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2010/10/discovering-your-life-purpose-before.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2010/10/discovering-your-life-purpose-before.html#comments Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:50:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=1bc666bbe77456f177a8a1dcd77366f4 Discovering Your Life Purpose Before It’s Too Late

Several few months ago, I had an intriguing conversation with a good friend named Roger who confided he was tired of the rat race. He had worked for the same energy company for 24 years and decided his work was no longer fulfilling. He told me he was going to make some major changes in his life.

What struck me was Roger is a methodical planner and analytical thinker. He does not make irrational or snap decisions. He’s 56 years old, a former Army officer, unmarried and has an advanced degree in engineering. Given Roger’s management position with his company, I’m sure he earned $250,000 per year or more. I could tell something profound was stirring inside my friend.

Then, last week, Roger sent me another email announcing he had quit his job, sold his spacious home near Houston and moved to northern Colorado where works as a project manager for a non-profit organization that helps disabled veterans get their lives back on track. Despite the low-paying job, cold weather and one bedroom apartment, Roger couldn’t be happier.

In my email response to Roger, I had to ask, “What made you do it? Why did you toss everything aside and change direction in your life?” His answer was profound.

Roger told me he had attended a company-sponsored workshop on how to re-discover one’s passion for life and work. Roger attended the program as a way to get re-energized and motivated since his company was considering him for a major promotion since it was expanding its business. For several months prior to the workshop, Roger was bored at work and felt he was slipping into a velvet rut of contentment without any sense of personal satisfaction or growth.

But, during the workshop, the facilitator asked attendees to think about their legacy and how they would like to be remembered. “It was a haunting question,” Roger told me, “because I never really gave it much thought. I realized I was 55 years old and could spend the rest of my life leading a project team and having a nice retirement and a gold watch to show for it. Somehow, that just wasn’t enough. I knew if I had any doubts about how I would spend the next ten years, now was the time to make some changes. And, that’s what I did!”

Roger’s decision to quit his job and seek a new direction is not uncommon. In fact, every month -- at seminars and workshops I conduct on Finding Your Passion in the Workplace -- I am meeting dozens of people who tell me they are unfulfilled. They either hate their jobs or don’t think their lives have much significance. That’s not to suggest they’re unhappy or miserable. But, they are unfulfilled. They want something more out of life and they just need a good reason or hard shove to get off the dime and make the same changes that Roger made in his life.

Andrea DeBell, an author who writes on happiness and bliss in life, uses a beautiful analogy about footprints in the sand. She writes, “We all leave footprints in the sand; the question is, will we be a big heal, or a great soul?” It’s a powerful question because it captures the essence of our life purpose. And, sooner or later, it’s a question we must all answer. Even by ignoring the question, we answer it.

In my new book, 10,000 Days: The Secret to Finding Purpose, Peace and Passion for the Rest of Your Life, I challenge readers to consider their legacy and how they want to be remembered? Frankly, it’s not that long a time when you consider that 10,000 days equals 27 years and 145 days. The average person only lives about 30,000 days or 82 years. So, the clock is ticking for all of us!

The Course of 10,000 Days suggests that our lives are divided into three segments -- our Discovery Years, our Fulfillment Years and our Legacy Years. Each portion lasts ten thousand days. As we transition from our Fulfillment Years into our Legacy Years -- our final 10,000 days -- we begin to ask ourselves those haunting questions about our life purpose and how will we be remembered? It’s a natural part of life. But, it can cause major problems if you don’t have good answers. This is what my friend, Roger, experienced. He didn’t have any satisfactory answers so he decided to revisit his goals and dreams. That’s what triggered his major changes. Now, according to his own definition of success, his life has meaning and purpose. He has found his bliss.

While this period of self-reflection and introspection can occur as early as your mid 40s, typically it hits us as we enter our 50s. Some of us might think we are experiencing a mid-life crisis when, in fact, it’s simply our Inner Spirit challenging us to do something meaningful and memorable with our life. But, because our ego controls most of our emotional responses, our Inner Spirit (that third dimension of our Being that guides us through life towards our higher purpose) does its job by repeatedly posing those haunting questions and demanding truthful answers.

And so, like Roger, we begin to think about our footprint on the sands of life. Are we leaving a profound imprint that will not be washed away by the sands of time, or will our footprint disappear quickly because our life lacks meaning and purpose?
By examining your life through the questions and exercises of The Course of 10,000 Days you can leave a lasting imprint on the people you love and the planet where you live. But, it requires you to take that all-important first step and answer the question: How do I live a life worth remembering?

About the Author: Tom Hinton is one of America’s most respected authors and speakers on Personal Development, Professional Growth and Human Potential. He is the author of four books including:10,000 Days: The Secret to Finding Purpose, Peace and Passion for the Rest of Your Life, which will be published in 2011. For information, email him at: tom@tomhinton.com

]]> http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/feeds/1222106470816265706/comments/default 0 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2010/04/americans-can-re-learn-art-of-customer.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2010/04/americans-can-re-learn-art-of-customer.html#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:16:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=2c55a9cfca3cd0c1589a55a88af1b3e6
It’s no surprise that customer service has been on the decline for the past ten years in America. Company executives are quick to blame the economic downturn for the decline in service. But, frankly, that’s just a weak excuse for companies that are not willing to spend the money to train their employees in the art of customer service. But, there’s a deeper problem that is causing the decline in customer service among American companies. And, it’s a two-headed monster!

The first head on this menacing monster is a mindset among the bean counters within corporate America who fail to see the correlation between superior customer service and profit. For these mindless bureaucrats, who fatten the top line of most businesses and contribute little to the bottom line, customer service is a cost-center. From their narrow vantage point, teaching employees how to smile, be polite and answer customer questions doesn’t translate into more revenue. This mindset is problematic, but it can be cured by enlightened leaders who understand that customer service is a philosophy not a department!

Unfortunately, the second head on the monster is more challenging because it is rooted in our changing national culture which has drifted away from customer service because of greed, technology and the unwillingness of consumers to fight back for better service and fair treatment. How do we go about restoring customer service as a way of life in America?

Perhaps, the answer can be found across the Pacific Ocean. On a recent trip to Hong Kong, Macau and Tokyo I found customer service is alive and well. Certainly, these destinations have been hit with tough economic times; and yet, their commitment to superior customer service is unwavering. Why is that?

I think the answer is cultural. There is something inherent among Asian cultures that teaches people to be of service, to be kind and help each other. There is also a deep regard among Asians for respect and common courtesy. I remember an advertising campaign by Toyota in the early 1990s that emphasized uncommon courtesy. It was brilliant because it captured the essence of a traditional Japanese custom -- courtesy -- and Toyota’s commitment to superior customer service based on respect for people.

That sentiment is alive and well in Asia. At every stop, the overwhelming majority of people -- from hotel clerks and waiters to taxi drivers and flight attendants -- practiced the art of superior customer service. For them, it is a way of life to be of service. For Americans, it’s part of our job. Regrettably, too many Americans fail to practice the basic tenets of superior customer service (courtesy, respect, quality and going above-and-beyond the call of duty for our customers) in their everyday life. For most Americans, practicing superior customer service takes too much time and effort. We’d rather be ill-mannered and arrogant. We’d rather blame the customer for their stupidity than bow respectfully -- as do the Asians -- and humbly apologize in order to retain the customer’s loyalty. And, let me add, Asians do this regardless of how wrong the customer is. Why?

Well, I think the Asians understand the concept of “winning a customer for life!” Contrarily, in the United States, if the customer is wrong or acts like a jerk, we would rather tell him/her to go jump in a lake!

So, if you’d like to rediscover the beautiful art of customer service, I encourage you to visit to Hong Kong, Macau or Tokyo. In addition to their spectacular beauty and wonderful sites, you will find customer service is alive and well -- and, by the way, so is business!

About the Author:
Tom Hinton is a professional speaker and business author who works with clients to help them create a culture of excellence. Tom can be reached at: tom@tomhinton.com

]]> http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/feeds/5852885753628536093/comments/default 0 http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2010/03/great-week-for-americas-consumers.html http://tomhinton.blogspot.com/2010/03/great-week-for-americas-consumers.html#comments Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:51:00 +0000 Tom Hinton http://www.tomhinton.com/?guid=9e1cdfd8ec162f8164e3714bb07cda9b America's Expert on Business Excellence

Three important events took place this week which will reshape the lives of millions of Americans and, perhaps, give hope to a billion Chinese.

Healthcare Reform. It’s been nearly a week since President Obama signed the historic Healthcare Reform legislation and the sky has yet to collapse on us. From all the hysteria and political rhetoric hurled by opponents to this mega-legislation, I was concerned the world would end as the president signed the new law. It didn't.

The healthcare debate is a keen example of what happens when politicians place the needs of special interests ahead of their constituents. They lose focus of their obligation to represent Americans and make absurd claims that have no basis. In the process, they lose credibility. This is what happened last week to the entire Republican congressional delegation when not one Republican in the House or Senate supported the passage of this monumental healthcare reform legislation. Of course, as consumers began to realize the benefits of the healthcare legislation, some Republicans will blatantly lie and claim they supported it. But, the average consumer knows better. Consumers will remember those elected representatives who had the courage to vote "yes" and, hopefully, reward the party of “Can Do” on Election Day.

Now, millions of Americans, who have been victimized by the unscrupulous and greed-driven health insurance industry, will have the opportunity to obtain affordable healthcare insurance and not go bankrupt if they become seriously ill.

While the new legislation is far from perfect, it’s a good start. Consumers have finally been heard after more than 60 years of repressive practices by the self-serving healthcare insurance industry. As the new legislation takes shape, the abuse of middle-class Americans by medical piranhas and health insurance companies will gradually end. This is good news for all Americans -- even those who vigorously opposed the healthcare reform bill. For, they shall also reap its benefits.

College Funding: Another positive benefit of the healthcare legislation is the financial-aid portion of the bill that shifts student loans from private lenders such as Sallie Mae and banks to the federal government. This will save $61 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and make more money available to struggling middle-class families who are trying to find ways to pay for college. Also, the bill will eliminate outsourcing of loan-servicing jobs to foreign countries by requiring all student-aid workers to be in the United States. Once again, Democrats in Congress are entitled to all the credit for helping middle-class Americans deal with the mounting cost of college. Not one Republican supported this legislation to help middle-class families afford college. What in the world were they thinking? Are the Republicans that far out of touch with middle-class Americans? I guess so.

Google Stands-up to China. Integrity matters. Finally, there’s an American company that has told the Chinese communist government where to go! Thank you, Google for putting ethics, integrity and freedom of speech ahead of profits by sending a strong message to the Chinese communist bullies that you aren’t going to play by their repressive rules. Now that Google has cracked the Great Firewall of China, it’s time for other companies to support the Google Revolution by telling the Chinese government they cannot censor ideas, rewrite historical events like Tienanmen Square, control births or suppress free speech.

Let’s not forget how quickly the Berlin Wall came down after President Reagan rallied world opposition during his speech in Berlin and challenged Russia to "tear down this wall." American companies and their global partners should rally round Google and send a united message to the Chinese extremists that free-thinking people are not going to play their crooked game. Imagine the potential market under a reformed China! Imagine how much business can be had if the handcuffs of freedom are removed from the Chinese people. They, too, deserve a chance to enjoy the basic freedoms of speech, thought, dissent and democracy.

While Google has taken the first step in this economic war against the Chinese oppressors, American consumers can support this effort by boycotting Chinese goods for 30 days. If just half of America’s consumers refused to buy anything made in China (which is a lot of stuff) for 30 days, it would send a strong message to the Chinese government’s repressive leaders and fuel the fires of freedom for a billion people. This means companies like Wal-Mart would have to put ethics and human rights ahead of profits. Unfortunately, I'm not holding my breath because greed runs deep in corporate America.

Mortgage Relief is Coming. Finally, the third significant issue is meaningful mortgage relief. The Obama Administration has realized that its well-intentioned mortgage relief program introduced last year was worthless. Banks and other lenders got richer while under-water homeowners slipped further into debt because the mortgage bailout was a sham. Now, new rules designed to provide meaningful relief to homeowners and prevent foreclosures are being introduced and these new guidelines will force banks to forgive some debt and reassess the current market value of homes so that mortgage payments can be lowered.

This makes sense for everyone. While some mortgage holders and lenders will experience a loss on certain properties, neighborhoods will be preserved and families can stay in their homes. As the economy recovers, more people will find jobs and, in turn, be able to start making a reasonable mortgage payment.

All in all it was a great week for American consumers!

About the Author.
Tom Hinton is a professional speaker and business author. He is recognized as America's Expert on Business Excellence. He can be reached at: tom@tomhinton.com

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