“The second time around, it’s better than the first time, baby…”
– Second Time Around, Lyrics by Shalamar
OK, so I’m dating myself with that song (1979) :), but the idea in the title of that disco hit might be a new one for you. It was for me.
Anyone who reads this blog knows how much I believe in reading every day. It can open your mind and world to possibilities you never knew existed, or at least you weren’t paying attention to, even though they are in abundance all around you.
While I’ve focused on reading – rarely, if ever – have I gone back to re-read an entire book. But what I’m learning is while it’s great to read about a book a month, there’s power in repetition, to go back and review a book which spoke to you, had great ideas or great philosophies, to make sure they are ingrained in you and that you take action on those ideas.
Right now I’m re-reading Smart Talk for Achieving Your Potential, by Lou Tice. I read it back in June/July and underlined so many paragraphs and ideas that I thought it was time to go back and tap in again. The book has so much to teach us about what we say when we talk to ourselves – which let’s be honest, makes up a good part of our day – that it seemed fitting to reach for a reminder to do this right, especially when the world (or your world) gets crazy, which it frequently does. The power of the human mind and the opportunity for possibilities and dreams far beyond what you could ever have imagined is always right there, if you believe in yourself, if you reach down deep and achieve your potential. (http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Talk-Achieving-Your-Potential/dp/0963491768)
And as I am re-reading the book, on page 41 is a passage that I was glad I saw again, because although I read it before, this time it I saw the words with my heart and it pulled me back in the direction I want to go in life:
You don’t need to sacrifice the joy in living, but you need to examine your motive. What if your purpose for working was to give so much of what you have to cause the life of other people to improve greatly? Suppose that was 75 percent of your intent, and 15 percent was to make a good living and 10 percent was to feel good about yourself.
I can guarantee you this: If you focus with 75 percent of your intent on doing good for others, you will make more money and you will feel better about yourself. If you focus on making money and feeling good first, you won’t do much good for other people.
Why are you doing what you do? What is your real intent in dealing with other people in your life? If your intent is selfish, self-serving, dishonest or shallow, it’s up to you to change your intent using your own self-talk, and then go into the relationship or whatever you’re doing with a new sense of purpose.
I guarantee that you will get back an absolutely surprising result: 2+2 no longer becomes 4; it becomes 16. With synergy, you can make a quantum leap forward, way beyond just the normal human relationship.
If you can get your spirit of intent to be one of generosity or giving or caring for another, you won’t need to continually push away the rewards that come to you. If you’re a giving human being, at the end of your life, you can say, “What a quality life!” In fact, you’ll hear people say, “There’s a quality person. This is a quality company.”
What does quality mean? What is the source? I submit that it’s this selfless spirit of intent. So if you care about quality of product, quality of service, and quality of life, then take a good look at your spirit of intent and try to focus on being and doing for the right reasons.”
I submit that it’s never too late. Wherever you are in your life, you can always go there, give back and do for others.
There can always be a second time around.
Until next time, thanks for taking the time
Mark
Mark Brodinsky, Author, Blogger, Podcaster, Speaker, SpeechWriter, Emmy Winner, USHEALTH Advisors
(http://www.prweb.com/releases/markbrodinsky/072015/prweb12862708.htm)
Author: The #1 Amazon Best Seller: It Takes 2. Surviving Breast Cancer: A Spouse’s Story
(http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Brodinsky/e/B00FI6R3U6)
The Podcast: (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sunday-series-courage-inspiration/id1028611459)
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