60-Second Speeches

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Roger Crawford, a successful motivational speaker and tennis player—although he has only three fingers and an amputated leg—tells people, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Not even the greatest martial artists in the world ever score 100% of the techniques they throw. But they still keep throwing them, even when they know they can’t be perfect. Are you missing some shots in life simply because you aren’t taking them? Get those goals written down today, and start taking some shots you haven’t been taking.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you see someone “snowed” under, do you offer to help them or would you rather the boss think they can’t handle their job so you’ll look better? Are you the person, when asked to help someone else who answers, “That’s not my job.” When you know the company is on a tight schedule and needs you to work overtime, do you work without being asked or expect overtime? You keep going until the job is done because you know it is vital to get the work out on time. As a Black Belt, you never hesitate to offer help and when someone asks you to help, you do it willing. You support your boss in every way because you know that, if the company succeeds, so will you when you give your all.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Do you belong to any organization that helps those less fortunate? Do you ever go to nursing homes to chat with the patients or read to them? Do you volunteer to help at the hospital? Do you volunteer to read to children? Do donate old books to the library? During the holiday season, do gather food and take it to less fortunate people? Do you volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Do you volunteer to shop for someone who is unable to shop for themselves? If you have the Black Belt Attitude, you are always in the middle of community events. Your community looks to you to organize community events and know they can always rely on you to help in every possible way.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Each night before you go to bed, ask yourself, “What have I learned today?”  Make a conscious effort to monitor your level of learning.  You’ll be amazed at the amount of new material you can pick up simply by reading one chapter in a non-fiction book, watching a documentary or browsing through an informative magazine.

Make it a point to stay up an extra fifteen minutes each night in order to learn something new.  A realistic goal you can set for yourself would be to not go to bed each night until you’ve learned something new for the day.  Before shutting the light ask yourself, “What have I learned today?”

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE AT SCHOOL

If you see someone struggling to understand a subject, that comes easy to you, do you offer to tutor that person? Would you give up your free time to help this person understand the subject? Would you do it if you weren’t paid to tutor? How would it make you feel if, because of your help, someone made the National Honor Society? Would you take pride in the fact that it was because of your unselfish help that they succeeded? When someone else succeeds because of you, do you think it makes you a success, too? With the Black Belt Attitude you love to see someone improve and become good at whatever they are trying to achieve.   

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   When you bump into someone and they ask how you are do you say, “Okay” or “I’m fine.” with no inflections in your voice? If this is your usual response, you are a “whiner”. Or do you say, “Great”, “Super”, “Marvelous!” with inflections in your voice that reinforces what you are saying? These are the words, actions and tone of voice of “winners”.

   Whiners say, “I’m too (fat or stupid, short, in experienced, afraid, disorganized, weak, etc) to do something.” Winners never believe they have any kind of handicap that will keep them from accomplishments.

With the Black Belt Attitude, you use positive words that build your mental fitness and public image.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Are you a person who never really sees things and the people around you?  Do you go about your daily life accepting everything as it is and never saying “Why is it that way?” There is an old saying that people who never read are no better off than those who cannot. The same thing can be said about seeing. You can have excellent vision but do you really see the world around you?

   Losers never look beyond their noses. They don’t enjoy the beauty around them. They don’t recognize the opportunities available to them. As a Black Belt, you look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time and you ask “Why is it that way?”. If you think it can be changed for the better, you find a way to change it. You are a creative thinker and are always looking for better ways of doing things.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Are you a person who has to always be right? Do you close your ears to your children’s ideas because they conflict with yours? Do you fail to listen to your employees who may have better ideas than you do about how to increase your business? At school, do you bore your friends by constantly trying to impress them with your vast knowledge?

If you are a parent with Black Belt Attitude, you listen to your children without making judgements because you want them to share their thoughts with you. As an open, supportive parent, you will be the one your child seeks out for advice. As an employer with the Black Belt Attitude, your employees feel free to make suggestions. In fact, you ask them to write down any suggestions they may have and you reward them for the good ones. They feel they are a part of your team working together. As a result, their production levels are high and you never have a retention problem. If you are a student with the Black Belt Attitude, you listen to your classmates and friends and learn from them.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Black Belt Excellence is built on the premise that anything less than a commitment to excellence is an acceptance of mediocrity. Unless you make the conscious commitment to become excellent at what you do, you are  unconsciously accepting that you are only going become mediocre.  Great achievement in life only comes when you make the decision to become outstanding at what you do.

Every excellent performance builds your self-esteem and reinforces your self confidence. That carries over into all areas of your life. If you only do things in an average way you don’t get anything. You don’t get the charge. Always strive for perfection.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Did you realize that about 60% of all Americans never read even a single book last year?  That’s sad!  Apparently we don’t realize the importance of reading.

It’s a proven fact that successful people read.  They constantly feed their hunger for new information through the use of books.  Self education is key.  And one of the best ways to expand your knowledge foundation is to read.

Find a non-fiction book that interests you either at the library or the bookstore, and bring it home with you.  Each day, reserve about fifteen to thirty minutes of quiet time and read it.  The idea is to always be reading something.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

A wise man once said, “Aim your arrow at the moon and you may hit an eagle.  But if you aim your arrow at an eagle, then you may only hit a rock.”

When setting goals make sure that you do not underestimate yourself.  In fact, set your goals a little higher than you initially intended them to be.  In other words, challenge yourself to go the extra distance.  It’s a proven fact that you can usually always do a little better than you think you can.  As the old saying implies, when you set your goals high you’ll still get what you wanted even if you happen to fall a little short of the target.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Action is the root of accomplishment.  That’s why successful people tend not to procrastinate and are rarely ever lazy.  They act on things as quickly as possible and ensure immediate results.

Unfortunately, many people know what they should do but opt not to do it.  In other words, they fail to take action and merely talk about doing something.  How many times has someone told you, “I’m gonna….” and then they never do it?  The fact is that actions speak louder than words.

For example, a lot of you have told me that you are going to earn your black belt.  What actions will you need to take in order to make that happen?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

When we are born, we all are given a body. Whether we like our bodies or not, we have to live with them the rest of our lives. If we want everyone else to accept us the way we look, we must learn to accept ourselves. Think of the people you have known who, when you first met them, you thought were beautiful. After you got to know them, they were no longer beautiful, only hard looking. They didn’t change; you did. You saw their inner self which was not beautiful. It also works the other way. People we first thought “ugly”, once we got to know them, they became beautiful through our eyes because their inner self was beautiful. The way we feel about ourselves inside is what everyone else will see on the outside. Whether tall, short, beautiful or plain looking, a Black Belt knows it is not what shows on the outside of a person but what is on the inside.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Winners refuse to say, “I failed”. Winners may not succeed every time, but they know they didn’t fail. A winner will find a new way to do it. A winner replaces “I can’t”, “I don’t, I won’t” with “I haven’t done it up to this point but it is a challenge that I accept.” Thus, the winner opens to door to endless possibilities of future successes. With the Black Belt Attitude, you look at every thing as a challenge and never say, “It can’t be done.”

   Throughout history, people like the Wright Brothers, Edison, and Ford were told “It can’t be done.” but they did it! As a Black Belt, you meet a challenge head on with the attitude of “I’m only as good as I think I am! Here’s my chance to shine!” Quoting from the June, 1998 keynote speech by John Graden, publisher of Martial Arts Professional Magazine, with the Black Belt Attitude, you will never carry the baggage of “I should of” and look back with regret at what you “could of” done. As the old song goes, “You’ve got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and don’t mess Mr. In-between”.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Are you a person who, if you don’t have anything about which to worry, you make something up? Do you always think the worst of every situation? If you failed to win a tournament, do you say to yourself, “I failed. Therefore, I am a failure.” and from then on, you feel you are a complete failure? With the Black Belt Attitude, you realize there are no absolutes in life. No one is absolutely ugly or absolutely beautiful. No one is totally stupid or totally brilliant and no one is an absolute failure. Every person has their victories and defeats.  A person who sees life as an absolute will always be in a sense of depression because they can never measure up to their own expectations. As a Black Belt, you don’t see the world as black and white; you see it as gray. You will never worry about what may happen tomorrow because your focus is on what is happening today. You never waste your time and energy on worrying about what may never happen.     

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

There are those who feel if they don’t have a member of the opposite sex to call “their own”, they must be nothing. They start to feel despondent because they think they are not worthy of someone wanting to be with them. They lose incentive to push forward toward their goals. They become filled with self-pity. They feel that, if they found someone to love them, their lives would change magically and they would find happiness. Or, as the fairy tales go, they will live happily ever after. They see the world as “couples”. What they forget is, in the fairy tales, none of the heroines were actually looking for a Price Charming. The truth is those people who have found happiness within themselves are the most desirable people. With the Black Belt Attitude, you know you are worthy with or without someone in your life. You are content in the fact that you and your goals of happiness are not dependent on someone else.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Often we confuse high IQ with being smart.  You can have a very high IQ yet still not be very smart. As martial artists we have all set a goal of earning a black belt.   So when it comes time to practice and we decide to skip practice, we are not making a smart decision based upon our goal.  A smart person is a person who make choices and takes actions in line with their goals in life.  They take responsibility for achieving their goals. Someone who is not smart makes poor choice and takes actions that prevent them from reaching their goal.  You are in class today, so you can count yourself as being pretty smart.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

One of the most important attitudes of the black belt is to focus on what works.

The amazing thing is that about 95% of everything that we do every day works! And on many days, 100% of what we do works! Still some people tend to spend a lot of time focusing on the five percent that didn’t work, and they miss the satisfaction of feeling the many successes they have. A really sad fact is that too many people don’t take the time to really think about everything they do every day that actually works. What did you do yesterday that worked?  Let’s focus on that and simply make adjustments in the areas that didn’t work as well so we’ll get it next time.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Its interesting in the last decade or so the emphasis that has been placed on exercising 20 – 30 minutes each day in order to be fit.  However, as martial artists we recognize that healthy works from the inside out. One of the most powerful rules you can live by is to spend 30 minutes a day reading something of substance, something of value, something that was nourishing, something that helped you grow intellectually and spiritually.  In many ways this is as important as exercise, but in today’s MTV world it’s overlooked.  Jim Rohn, an expert in the field of personal achievement said reading 30 minutes a day was more important than eating.  “Miss a meal” he said, “but don’t miss your reading.”

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Is there someone around you who always responds to your ideas with “yeah, but.”  We call those negative people; “yeah-buts” and “yeah-buts” live in the forest.

Sometimes people won’t even bother to suggest something because a “yeah-but” is just going to shoot it down. They can create a current of negativity that is hard to overcome. If you start making an effort to surround yourself with positive people, you will find the attitudes of positive people to be very contagious.  Start to today to surround yourself with positive people and you’ll start to soar with the eagles high above the “yeah-buts” in the forest.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

This is a true story. Two car salesmen were on duty in the showroom. The salesman who had been in the business for 25 years was the next one up for anyone walking in the door. The young salesman noticed a person looking at the new most expensive car in the showroom. The person was very poorly dressed and looked like she was a street person. The young salesman said to the elder salesman, “There is a lady looking at the cars. It is your turn.” The elder salesman laughed and said, “You take her. I’m not wasting my time on a window shopper, much less one that looks like a street person! ”

The young salesman walked over to the lady and said, “May I help you?” She asked how much the car cost. The young salesman said, “This is the most expensive car this company makes.” The woman said, “So, young man, how much is it?” He told her and she said, “I think I’ll take it.” She paid for the car with a certified check and the next day picked it up.

The young salesman learned a valuable lesson that day, as did the elder salesman. With the Black Belt Attitude, you never assume anything about a person by the way he or she looks on the outside. You give everyone a chance to prove themselves.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Is everyone who has achieved worthy? Adolf Hitler achieved world fame. Do you think he was worthy? He may have thought he was the greatest leader ever to be born but what do you think? You may know people who have achieved a lot in life, wealth, fame, and prestige. In your mind, do you think they are worthwhile? Are they, because of their achievements, snobs, conceited, egotistical? Do you really like them because of their achievements or do you dislike them because of their attitudes? Do you have a friend who has never achieved anything great but is a good friend, loyal, honest and true blue. Is this not what makes a person worthy in your eyes? Though you may not have fulfilled your achievements, as a Black Belt, you know you are still a worthy person because of the way you feel about yourself and how you treat others.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Are you a parent whose children are afraid of you and are afraid to talk to you openly? Are you an employer whose staff trembles when they see you come into the office? Are you a bully at school?

If you see yourself as any of the above, what do you feel you accomplish by having everyone around you afraid of you? Do you honestly believe you have better children? Do you think you will get more production from your employees?

Are you foolish enough to think your classmates respect and look up to you because you can bully people?

If you have the Black Belt Attitude, you know that if you bring out fear instead of respect in anyone, you are going to alienate them. Children leave home and never look back; employees seek better working conditions; classmates detest and avoid bullies. A Black Belt is kind and considerate to all people and they gain other’s respect.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Are you a person who shows one face to the outside world and another to your loved ones? Does the outside world see you as a considerate and kind person and your loved ones see you as a tyrant?

A woman, who lived with her daughter and her family for 15 years before passing away, was thought to be the nicest, sweetest person outside of the home. Everyone spoke so highly of her. In her daughter’s home, she made every day a living hell. She could have had the easiest life and enjoyed her grandchildren but instead she found fault with everyone in the house. She could never see where she was wrong and how much she was missing. She only saw that no one in the household would bend to her thinking.

With the Black Belt Attitude, you are kind and considerate with everyone. You take joy in being with your loved ones and know they are the most important people in your life and you would do nothing to alienate them.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You are on the deck working out and someone kicks you or knocks you down. Did the person do it intentionally? Do you get angry because someone accidentally does something to you even if it ends up hurting you? Why would you become angry over an accident? You are in a traffic jam. You feel what is now known as road rage. Do you think you are the only one being held up in traffic? Are you looking for reasons to let off steam? As a Black Belt, you will always accept the fact that, if someone kicks or knocks you over, it was not usually done intentionally. You understand that there are times when you will be inconvenienced, like in the example of road rage, and no one is really at fault. With the Black Belt Attitude, you recognize the difference in intentional and unintentional acts by others.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

We are discussing family feuds this month and why these riffs between families happen. Sometimes it is because one family member feels that another family member has done something that is disappointing.

Often the person has no idea what they have done or why their family member no longer communicates with them. They don’t go to that person and say, “Hey! What did I do to you?” which would open the door to communication. A Black Belt knows that the longer you go cutting someone out of your life, the worse it will get. There comes a point where the damage is almost beyond repair. A Black Belt would never let it get to the point of no return.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

     Critical success factors (CSF’s) are the things that you absolutely, positively must become good at before you can reach top performance.  However, you must know precisely what these CSF’s are before you can begin improving them.  For that reason, identifying them should become a major priority.  Usually, you can find about five to seven of them associated with each of your goals.

     CSF’s can be strengths, weaknesses and vulnerabilities.  As you know, your strengths will help you reach your goals quickly.  But your flaws and imperfections will always hold you back.  In fact, your weakest important skill will always set the height of your success in any area of accomplishment.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You have the idea that you can solve all of your problems and reach your goals in no time flat. When you come up against roadblocks, you become frustrated and angry. But with the Black Belt Attitude, you have learned that you must crawl before you walk. You have learned to set your goals and take them one step at the time. You have learned that you may trip over a step and fall back a few but that doesn’t mean you are not going to ever reach your goals. It means you are in a learning experience. You know that reaching your goals is an every day challenge like climbing up a steep mountain.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

One of the constant reminders that Norman Cousins gave to his medical students at UCLA was this: “The control center of your life is your attitude.” That is one of the best definitions of the importance of developing a black belt attitude which is an attitude of positive self expectations.  Negative attitudes lead to illness, feelings of defeat and downhill thinking. Positive attitudes lead to hope, love, caring, fun and endorphin flow from the adrenaline system. And you control all of it with your attitude. Take a few minutes today and think about how a little attitude adjustment for you might start those endorphins flowing again! It’ll feel great!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You can wake up today and choose to be filled with excitement over all the great things you are going to accomplishment before the day ends. Or, you can choose to be dejected because you have so much to do so you don’t do anything at all. As a Black Belt you jump out of bed each morning with great enthusiasm. You know it is your job to choose just what kind of day you are going to have. As a Black Belt, you have goals and you know you cannot achieve those goals unless you fulfill your responsibilities each and every day. As a Black Belt, you are happy that you have the ability to fulfill your goals and make new ones. As a Black Belt, you know that how you choose to shape each day will shape your future.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

There are two main ways to change your state of mind.  First, you can think of something that really makes you happy.  Try to remember a time when you felt as though you were on top of the world.  Recreate this memory as vividly as possible and you’ll soon see your mood begin to change for the better.

Secondly, you must change your physiology.  Sad people are usually slumped over with poor posture.  Their shoulders droop inward and their facial expressions are dull.  To begin feeling better instantly stand up straight, take a deep breath and begin doing something you enjoy.  After a good martial arts workout, for example, you’ll almost always feel better.  This shows that by changing your physiology you can improve emotional state.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

A lot of changes have taken place in the last 100 years. At the last turn of the century, there were no radios, no stereos, no televisions, no airplanes, no computers, no washers, dryers, or dishwashers. It seems a million other things were yet to be invented and were from 1900 to 2000. What kind of creative minds changed our world, as we know it today? Were they all born with brilliant minds? The answer is “no”. So, if they weren’t born brilliant, how did they invent these amazing devices? Could it be that they had the Black Belt Attitude before that, too, was created? We know with the Black Belt Attitude our dreams can be made into a reality. In the next century, will you finalize a dream that, if it doesn’t make the world a better place in which to live, will fulfill your goals?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

People have a will of their own and when you demand they do something they are not willing to do, it can back fire and you are left with only rage and a burning anger.

Anger wastes a lot of energy. Anger and rage never produce positive results. Anger and rage only alienates those around you. That is because other people don’t like to be manipulated or controlled any more than you do. As a Black Belt, you understand that you can use your energy in positive directions rather than in rage and anger. You know your positive Black Belt Attitude keeps you in control of your temper at all times.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Your brain is capable of storing more information than some of the most sophisticated computers on Earth.  Yet, we often forget something simple like a person’s name five seconds after we’re introduced?  That’s a sign of weak listening skills.

   It’s important to listen carefully so that new information gets stored away instead of thrown away.  In other words, listen with the intent to remember.  Always try to concentrate and give your undivided attention so that you really hear what the other person is saying.  That will help you to retain knowledge for longer periods of time.  In fact, think of your brain as being a steel trap.  Once new information enters, the trap shuts, and nothing can escape.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Body language can tell a lot about you.  Usually, it’s a reflection of how you feel about yourself.  The way you stand, your arm positioning, whether or not you make eye contact and your posture all weigh in.  For example, looking at the ground when you walk is a sign of low confidence.  However, if you walk tall with your eyes straight ahead you’ll appear to be much more confident and proud.

Body language can also determine whether or not a person gets victimized.  If you appear to be confident and in control, chances are that an attacker will pass you by and look for a weaker person.  So work on improving the signals your body is sending out.  It will make a big difference in the “external you.”

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

“A person with a black belt attitude listens, a person with a white belt attitude just waits until it’s his turn to talk.” It’s  often true that listening is the most neglected skill of communication. Many people hear the words, but don’t get the message, simply because they are just waiting for their turn to talk. Listening takes concentration and an interest in what the other person is saying and what they really mean. How often do you catch yourself waiting until it’s your turn to talk? How can you improve your listening skills?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

True success in life only begins when you make the commitment to become excellent at what you do. We call it the commitment to Black Belt Excellence. Without that commitment you’ll always perform at low levels and never achieve your full potential.  There are no rewards in this society for mediocre or average performance.

Great achievement in life only comes when you become outstanding at what you do.  Anything less than a commitment to excellence is an acceptance of average or below average performance. Unless you make the conscious commitment to become excellent at what you do, what you are doing is unconsciously accepting that you are only going to become mediocre.

Our goal as martial artists is to not just become black belts in martial arts but to become academic black belts, black belt employees or corporate black belts.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Dia Phoron is the Greek phrase for excellence. It simply means “Follow through.” Lots of people have great ideas and little follow through.The world is full of great starters. These are people who start projects, start diets, start martial arts lessons.  The key is to follow through, Dia Phoron . It’s the last 10 – 15% of a project that the 95% of people without follow through drop and leave the field wide open to those of the discipline to stay with it to the end.

Do you want to reach excellence in your life? Then try a little Black Belt Dia Phoron.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Anyone with the Black Belt Attitude knows that it is possible to control rage because a Black Belt replaces negative thoughts with positive thoughts. A Black Belt works hard to keep negative thoughts from entering the mind so is not inclined to ever go into a rage over anything. A Black Belt has patience, empathy, consideration and love for others. A Black Belt does not jump to negative conclusions. A Black Belt will think the best until proven wrong and, by always thinking the best, will not feel anger quickly. A Black Belt is proud of the fact that he/she is always in control of emotions and tempers.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

The black belt attitude is an attitude of high personal and professional standards or what we call black belt excellence.  Black belt is a metaphor for being the very best that you can be in any given situation.  In school, how would a black belt sit and listen to the teacher?  How would a black belt clean their room?  Would a black belt be respectful and courteous? Do you want to be known as someone who has a black belt attitude or a green belt attitude?  The best thing is that you don’t have to have a black belt to have a black belt attitude.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Benjamin Franklin would have made a great black belt teacher. He once said, “I never knew a person who was good at making excuses, who was good at anything else.” He couldn’t have said it more perfectly regarding people who just don’t follow through. “I’m too busy;” “I didn’t know about it;” “I can’t do it.” Those are just a few on the long list of excuses conjured up by people who often don’t want to admit they don’t have the courage, strengths or skills to do it. You don’t need any excuses for trying. Black Belts always give it a try!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Become a “I can do it!” person. Once you have a dream, start planning how to fulfill that dream. Do not let others discourage you because, if you let them, they will. Part of your plan may be to start researching or you may want to find a mentor who can help you. If it will take money, start putting aside a specific amount each week in an account that will draw interest. Successful people know you must “Pay yourself first”. Whether it is $5.00 or $500.00, deposit it in a separate interest bearing account and don’t touch it until you need it to help fulfill your dream. With the Black Belt Attitude, you believe that miracles do happen and dreams do come true because you can make them happen. And you make them happen because you believe in yourself!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Know that every day is a new beginning. Believe that miracles do happen and your dreams really can come true.

If you believe strong enough, there is no limit to what wonderful things can happen in your life. You can make your dreams come true by believing in yourself and knowing in your heart that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Those with the Black Belt Attitude make dreams come true because they constantly work toward their goals. Black Belts are capable of making miracles happen because they know that miracles don’t come from “out of nowhere”. Sometimes, when a dream comes true, you may feel that it is a miracle but it is really from all the things you did to make that dream come true.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Wouldn’t it be great to be able travel back in time to the days of Ben Franklin?  Can you imagine walking through the streets in the 1700’s facing life the way he did?  Let’s go one step further, imagine actually becoming Ben Franklin or at least experiencing his life through his eyes, ears and memories.  Here is a man who invented street lights, the library and discovered electricity!  Do you think he may have some interesting thoughts? Of course and you can go back in time with him.  How, read his life story in the Autobiography of Benjiman Franklin.  when you read books by men like Ben Franklin, you start to think like him.  You are in the streets of Philadelphia in the 1700’s and you start learn the attitudes of of greatness.  Their attitudes become your attitudes and you carry those attitudes long after you’ve turned the final page.

What adventure can you take with a hero from the past?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Not only do you help your community by volunteering your services, you help yourself by seeing new possibilities for your own future. Every thing, every skill you learn while in a volunteering position can be carried over into your own professional or personal life. Volunteering to work in a hospital can teach you skills you may need in an emergency. It will also teach you to have compassion toward the sick and elderly. Volunteering to be a teacher’s assistant can teach you how to become a good or better teacher. Volunteering to read to children at the library can teach you the love of literature. Every community service teaches its volunteers new skills and expands volunteers’ sphere of influence.  As a Black Belt, volunteering your services should be a part of your goal setting.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Executives are razor sharp individuals who take a tremendous amount of pride in themselves.  They’re extremely professional, their hygiene is impeccable and they dress as if they own the company.

From now on, consider yourself to be an executive of the martial arts.  That means that everything about you is top-notch.  That includes all of your techniques, your level of effort, the amount of respect you have for your classmates and even the appearance of your uniform.

Try imagining that you’re being payed over $100,000 dollars a year to work out at this school.  How well rounded would you become in order to keep your job?  What would your overall performance be like then?  

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You are unhappy with your life and you know you must make some changes. Are you the type of person who can take a good look at yourself with an honest eye and recognize the choices you must make? Can you honestly look at the options you have to change your life and change it? If you can, then you know you have to take a long look at what direction you are going to go and start making changes today.

You have to find something that will motivate you to make those changes. What would motivate you? More money? Better working conditions? Better grades in school? Maybe you are overweight and you realize that the exercise you do in Martial Arts is not enough to take off that weight so you must commit to start eating properly. As a Black Belt you can be honest in evaluating your life and you are self-motivated.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You have projects to do, goals to reach plus your every day routine. You say to yourself, “I don’t have time to waste just thinking. If I don’t get started, I’ll never get anything done!”

If you will learn to set aside one hour each day just to think, you will find you will come up with new ideas that could make your life so much easier. Don’t wait for the weekend to have your “Think Time”, do it seven days a week. Go where you are alone and it is quiet. Some people like to walk on the beach or sit alone in a park. Some set up a place in their home that is their own special “Think Tank”. A place under a tree in the backyard is great! Black Belt’s know the value of “Think Time”.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

There is a huge difference in becoming a hermit, feeling lonely and being alone. Becoming a hermit and becoming anti-social is a sign of low self-esteem. Hermits may tell you they stay away from others because they are fed-up with the human race but, underneath, they usually don’t feel they are worthy of friendship and are afraid of being rejected so they reject others before others can reject them. Being lonely and being alone are worlds apart in definition. To be lonely is to feel unworthy of anyone wanting to be with you and is filled with self-pity.

With the Black Belt Attitude, you know being alone gives you the opportunity to explore things you could not if you were with someone. A person who enjoys being alone likes to read, paint, do crafts, practice forms, research on computer or millions of other things that are not practical to do when with someone. A Black Belt never feels lonely when alone but is invigorated with the chance to explore his/her talents.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

  Don’t try to be a perfectionist. There is a big difference between someone who calls himself a perfectionist and what may actually be an excuse to quit. Some people, as soon as they realize that it will take work to get good at martial arts, will quit. Their excuse is, “I’m a perfectionist. If I can’t do it right, I don’t want to do it.” The translation is, “I’m lazy and don’t want to even try.”

A real perfectionist stays with a project and does the best job possible. A quitter bails out as soon as the going gets rough.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Have you ever had a project so big, you felt you never could complete it so why even start? So you kept putting it off until tomorrow? Tomorrow came and went and you put it off for another day. You may sit and think about it for ten minutes or so and then give up.

With the Black Belt Attitude you understand that, if you took that ten minutes to dig in and start on the project, you would eventually get it done. Just like money where pennies add up to dollars, in time, minutes add up to hours. By planning just ten minutes a day on any project, you will find that you seldom stop after ten minutes because you get so involved, you continue to dig into it and soon it is completed.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Cynicism can be a deadly weapon. You can’t be a cynic and believe that miracles happen and dreams come true. A definition of a cynic is “non-believer, skeptic and doubter”. Cynics seldom have positive thoughts. A cynic’s attitude is “The good life will never happen to someone like me.” Cynics doubt their and others abilities to accomplish goals. They think goals are impossible dreams. Cynic’s think those who become successful were at the right place at the right time. Those with the Black Belt Attitude believe that the good life can come to them through planning and hard work. They know there is no such thing as an impossible dream because they know they are the only ones who can make dreams impossible.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

We should look at everything that happens to us as an opportunity. Even things we don’t want to happen could become challenges and make us take another direction, which could improve our lives. If we don’t take hold of each and every challenge, we will go through our lives missing boat after boat. We will look back and feel regret that we didn’t seize the moment when our ship came in. Remember that everyone is in the same boat. The difference is what we do when we get on board. Some will plan ahead and some will not. Remember, when Noah built the boat, it wasn’t raining. That was really planning ahead!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   At home or in the office, if you see something that needs to be done, do you go ahead and do it even if it is someone else’s job? If you see the trash is running over, do you empty it or do you leave it for someone else? At home or in the office, if you see dirty cups in the sink, do you wash them and put them away or leave it for someone else? If you see a co-worker is snowed under and you are finished with your project, do you offer to help your co-worker? You know the difference of someone taking advantage of you and don’t allow that but, with the Black Belt Attitude, you do whatever you see that needs to be done. You never wait to be asked because you believe that every day tasks, at home and or in the workplace, are a team effort and you are a team player.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Remembering that we define a smart person as someone who uses their time wisely in relation to their goals, smart people always strive to have double positives.  For instance, here at the martial arts school, your learning self defense which is a definite positive and at the same time getting in better shape and learning some important success skills.  Martial arts is really a triple or quadruple positive!  What are some other examples of double positives you can share?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

The things we hate or love in another person is merely a reflection of what we hate or love about ourselves. Too often when parents see the same trait in their child that he/she hates about themselves, they will be very harsh with the child for showing the same trait. With the Black Belt Attitude, you recognize that you cannot love or hate something about someone else unless you hate or love that same thing about yourself. The only way to stop hating traits in others is to change your own unlikable traits so that you end up loving yourself and, by change, you will be able to accept others as they are not as you wish they were.      

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

One of the best ways to make sure that you actually do reach your goals is to acquire the help of a “buddy.”  Your buddy should have a similar goal that they want to accomplish as well.  Together, you would monitor each other’s progress and follow up to make sure that your partner stays on track.

For example, I once heard of two dieters who tried this plan.  They watched each other’s eating habits very closely and also made a little bet.  The first person to deviate from the rules of the diet had to eat a can of dog food.  So they left a can of Alpo out in plain sight as a constant reminder of their goal to lose weight.  Needless to say, their idea worked.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Eustress is positive stress.  It’s very mild stress that is the result of something good.  Often, it makes you into a better person.  For example, if you knew that your black belt exam was coming up in a few months, then you’d probably be under a little bit of extra pressure.  You’d begin practicing a little harder and more frequently.  Black belt would constantly be on your mind.  But, wouldn’t you agree that the eustress associated with earning a black belt is a positive event?

Do you have any positive stresses in your life right now?  The key, however, is to not mix eustresses up with negative stresses.  There’s a big difference between the two. Positive stress is something that we should welcome, while negative stress is something we should avoid.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

No matter how many good things you do or how many bad things you do, every person you meet in life will judge you differently. If you should receive disapproval from one person, which you perceive as rejection, it does not spread like the plaque. One rejection will never become an epidemic or a lifetime of rejections. As a Black Belt, you know that criticism and disapproval can erode your self-esteem only if you buy into it as being an “End All” event.

With the Black Belt Attitude, you will make mistakes, you will be criticized, you will receive disapproval but you will always understand that it is not rejection, only a learning experience.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Every experience whether it be bad or good has value.  You just have to look for it.  Experiences that are difficult or painful often build character.  They make you wiser.  Those that are easy and pleasurable will provide happiness and memories that will be cherished forever.  The point is that you should try to learn something from every experience regardless of its nature.  In that sense, every experience may be considered a positive experience.

From this day forth, let your imagination run wild with the possibilities of everything you could explore and experience.  Begin this immediately.   Ask yourself, “What new experience can I pursue today that would expand my life?  What kind of person will I become as a result?”

Fly With The Eagles

As we go through life we meet all kinds of people.  Some of them are reliable, trustworthy and productive.  As a result, they make better friends than others.

It’s important to associate yourself with other people who have the same kind of goals in life that you do.  They will, in turn, help you to reach your goals even faster.  But if you hang around with individuals who do not have similar goals, they’ll almost always try to bring you down to their level.  They will always contribute to your demise as they try to make you just like them.  For this reason, you must choose your friends wisely.  Soar with the eagles, and never lower your standards for anyone!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Making good eye contact is a “black belt” trait.  It’s a primary indicator of someone’s level of confidence.  Timid individuals often look at the ground during a conversation.  Also, proper eye contact is a sign of honesty.  That’s why liars have a hard time looking you in the eyes when they speak.

When you make eye contact with someone it implies that you’re really paying attention.  The best students in any class always make eye contact with their instructor when he’s explaining a lesson.  Not only is that respectful but you also learn better when your eyes aren’t roaming all around the room.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

The green-eyed monster called “Jealousy” is the most destructive emotion a person can have. There are those who envy everything someone else has. They hate it when someone does better than they. Instead of setting goals and going forward, they stay stagnant because of their mental states caused by the green-eyed monster

There are people who are obsessively jealous. They are suspicious of every move a loved one makes. They make life miserable for the one they allegedly love and they make their own lives miserable. What they do not understand is that unfounded suspicions will drive a loved way away. Those green eyes that see everything distorted end up getting the opposite effect of what they desire.

As a Black Belt, you have trust in others and you admire others’ successes. You know that jealousy is a futile activity that can completely ruin your relationships and make you ill. Being eaten up with jealousy keeps you from giving your best at work, at school, at home, in interpersonal relationships and keeps you from reaching your goals.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

All of us have heard of families that no longer communicate with one another. They seem to have lost all feelings for a member or members of their family. Except in extreme cases where a family member has committed a crime against the person, it is hard to understand how families can be torn apart to the point of not speaking for the rest of their lives to the very people whom they grew up loving. With the Black Belt Attitude, you know that to forget and forgive is one of your greatest assets. Family is very important to you and you would never let a lack of communication keep you from your family. You would go out of your way to make things right between you.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

At the beginning of the last century families were close and supportive. In today’s fast paced world, unfortunately, that is not always true. Today there is a tendency to be workaholics and families suffer from the lack of togetherness. With the Black Belt Attitude, we know that our first responsibility should always be to our family. We know there is a time for work and a time for family and recreation. Without time out for recreation and family, families are torn apart and we become burned out.

Going into the the new year, we must learn to manage a healthy balance of work and play. Both are important to our well being.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Everyone comes to a point where there is so much to do that they don’t know where to begin. Some people jump from one thing to the other and get nothing accomplished except they become more frustrated. A Black Belt will make a “To Do” list, prioritize and keep to that list. He or she will focus on the #1 item until it is finished.  Then, and only then, does he or he move to the second item. Unless, for some reason something comes up that necessitates moving a lower item on the list to #1. In that case, a Black Belt will make the move, focus, get it done and return to the original #1 without flinching. Black Belt’s know how to focus and not shatter their brains into fragments trying to do too many things at one time where nothing gets accomplished.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Last week we talked about being optimistic.  Well, to be an optimist you must first learn to look for the good in things.  In other words, try not to dwell on negativity.

It’s very easy to focus on the bad that’s constantly all around us.  But that only brings you down and makes you depressed.  Instead, it would be much better to focus on the good qualities in a person or situation.  It doesn’t take any additional effort and it makes you feel better inside.  There’s a positive side to just about everything.  You’ll be an even happier person once you find it.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

There are people who spend so much time on getting everything just so that they never end up completing anything. They will labor over something for hours, days and even weeks until they feel it is just right. In the meantime, more is added to the workload and nothing is ever accomplished.

If you have the Black Belt Attitude, you will just dig in and do it. You won’t worry about whether or not it is perfect. You finish what needs to be done and then you go back and revise. A Black Belt knows that nine times out of ten, what they did the first time is correct and changes are minor. But because they dug in with only one thing on their mind -getting it done- they were relieved to find that it was not only finished, it was nearly perfect!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   One day, you asked your martial arts instructor a question and your instructor said he or she was in the middle of something and would get back to you. Your instructor never did get back to you so you felt your instructor thought you were just a pest and your question was silly. The next day, you thought about asking the question again but felt your instructor would think you were just being obnoxious and you’d only make a fool of yourself. So you withdrew and felt uneasy with your instructor. A few days later, your instructor came to you and said, “Gee, I’m so sorry. With the expansion of the school on my mind, I completely forgot to get back with you.” With the Black Belt Attitude, you would never have let negative thoughts about your instructor enter your mind. You would not cause yourself to be depressed and stressed out over what you perceived to be a rejection when you tried to “read the cards for another” and ended being 100% wrong.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Someone pays you a compliment and you say to yourself, “They’re just being nice.” Like a swift sidekick, you have just bruised your self-esteem by feeling yourself not worthy of a compliment. You go out of your way to help a fellow student. Your instructor thanks you and praises you for your thoughtfulness and help. You say, “Oh, that was nothing.” If these are examples of the way you react to others, your life will always feel cold and you will feel left out of the warm embrace of relationships. With the Black Belt Attitude, you accept praise graciously. You never let your mind turn positives into negatives and you have the ability to appreciate the good things in life that happen to you without question.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Are you a person who, if you don’t have anything about which to worry, you make something up? Do you always think the worst of every situation? If you failed to win a tournament, do you say to yourself, “I failed. Therefore, I am a failure.” and from then on, you feel you are a complete failure? With the Black Belt Attitude, you realize there are no absolutes in life. No one is absolutely ugly or absolutely beautiful. No one is totally stupid or totally brilliant and no one is an absolute failure. Every person has their victories and defeats.  A person who sees life as an absolute will always be in a sense of depression because they can never measure up to their own expectations. As a Black Belt, you don’t see the world as black and white; you see it as gray. You will never worry about what may happen tomorrow because your focus is on what is happening today. You never waste your time and energy on worrying about what may never happen.     

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Negative thoughts are time robbers. Negative thoughts can cause inertia, depression and defeatist attitude. With the Black Belt Attitude, you replace negative thoughts with optimism. You have the confidence to realize that with optimism you have the time and energy to push forward so that you can handle any situation that arises. You clear your mind of all negatives so that you have the time to concentrate on your future without fear of failure. You know your time is valuable and you know that, to take advantage of every moment, you must have a clear fearless, optimistic mind.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

There has never been an Olympic participant who didn’t go that extra mile. The difference between gold, silver and bronze is like a blink of an eye as the time between is so miniscule. When you see the three standing up there getting their medals, do you feel the silver and bronze are losers? Do you realize that every participant in the Olympics is a winner or that person would not be on an Olympic team? Each person participating in the Olympics has dedicated their whole life to being where they are. You don’t have to be an Olympian to be champion but you do have to have the Black Belt Attitude and go that extra mile to show you have the right stuff to be a champion.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

People who are always wishing they were “over there”. once they reach “over there”, they find out that it becomes “over here” and discover that “over there” is no better

than “over here” and continue to look for “over there”. They are never satisfied and blame everything on not being at the right place at the right time. A person with the Black Belt Attitude understands that, whether you are “over here” or “over there”, it is all up to you to make the most out of life. Being dissatisfied with where you are in life is good only if you see it as a challenge to move toward your goals.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Be careful with people who, since they are not committed to doing a good job, try to interrupt you as well. These are people who would rather waste time then try to perform to their potential. That’s certainly their right. However, the problem arises when they come down the hallway and interrupt your day. Now they are wasting your time and pulling your focus away from what’s important to you. Don’t let them do it. Let them know, in a polite manner, that you are really busy. If it’s really important, you can set discuss it at a different time. In almost every case, the issue will be dropped or forgotten by the interrupter. In time, they will realize they need to find someone else to interrupt and leave you alone.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you make goals and get frustrated because it is taking too long to achieve them, you may just give up because you are too impatient. As a Black Belt, you learn that all things worth while in life are well worth waiting and working for. You know that Rome wasn’t built in a day and you must have the patience to methodically do the things you know are necessary to achieve the kind of success you dream of attaining. If you try to rush headlong into something because you feel it is taking too long, you could completely undo all the good you have done up to that point. As a Black Belt, focus on your goals, work toward attaining those goals and remember the old cliché “Patience is a virtue”.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

When you are criticized, your feelings are hurt and you feel very uncomfortable. Stop moping! It will pass. Get busy with something to get your mind off of it. Don’t wallow in self-pity. Self-pity can destroy you. It can erode all of your ambitions. With the Black Belt Attitude, you know disapproval is rarely, if ever, permanent. Good relationships never end over an argument. Good friends are able to quickly forgive and forget. If someone is the type to hold a grudge, they are not worth your time or energy. When you run up against a person who holds a grudge it is that person’s problem, not yours. With the Black Belt Attitude, you will always make an effort make peace but when the other person refuses to forgive and forget, you go on with your life and never feel rejected. If worse comes to worse, you will never be alone because the person who cannot forgive or forget is not the only person in your life.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

The British leader Winston Churchill, during some of the toughest times of World War II, said, “I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” Those with an optimistic attitude are those who have some goals, who look for the good in themselves and others and who are learning from the present but looking to the future. It’s a funny thing, but the more we’re around optimistic people, the more optimistic we get. That’s why the martial arts is so powerful.  We all work to help each other and keep a strong optimistic attitude. This black belt attitude of optimism can help us out of those pity parties in life.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

A little smile adds a great deal to your face value. Have you noticed recently how many people smile when they look at you, or say “hello”? It’s amazing how different we feel when we see someone who smiles rather than someone who doesn’t smile, or worse, continually looks down at the ground.  A good smile says a lot about you and how you feel about your self.  As martial artists, we want to show our confidence and sincere interest in others.  Do you smile a lot at others? How does it make you feel? I’ll bet that almost every time you smile, you get one in return. Add some real face value to your looks today—smile at everyone you meet!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You have signed up for a tournament and paid your fee. One night, when you were not in class, someone spilled a soft drink on the list and a new one was made up. Your name was inadvertently left off the new list. Because of this oversight, you have not been scheduled to participate in the tournament. As a Black Belt, you realize that no one is perfect and anger will not make the error magically go away. As a Black Belt, you calmly discuss it with your instructor and try to find a solution to the problem. It is okay to be upset but, as a Black Belt, you know when and how to control your anger. Getting angry at something that was an honest mistake is irrational and anyone with the Black Belt Attitude would understand that.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   When the interest rates were high and going higher, a large company hired a top motivation speaker to give a seminar to pep-up salespersons. Over lunch, the speaker asked the young man how he was doing. He said, “Oh, things are really bad. The interest rates are so high, nobody is buying.” He turned to a woman, in her sixties, and asked her the same question. Her reply was “Everything is great! I’ve never made more money in my life! I hope the interest rates never come down!”

   Everyone sees life from a different perspective. The young man listened to the doomsday news. He felt anyone was stupid to buy and pay such high rates and his clients picked up on his pessimistic attitude. The older woman, through experience, knew that, when interest rates go up, prices go down and she made a point of letting buyers know that “now was the best time to buy”. As a Black Belt, you are able to seize the day because your eyes are open so that you can take advantage of situations that others cannot see.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Whether you are asked to take out the trash, wash the dishes, mow the lawn or, in an office atmosphere where certain tasks are rotated, if you complain that it isn’t your turn, you are keeping score. If you keep score, you will end up feeling resentment which is a very destructive emotion. Keeping score will clutter your mind because, instead of doing something constructive, you will be worrying whether or not you are doing more than someone else. Feeling resentment can ruin your whole day. With the Black Belt Attitude, you never think of whose turn it is. With a smile, you just do it and it makes you happy to know someone else has one less thing to do.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

The old song goes “It isn’t raining rain, you know. It’s raining violets.” Which means you can complain because rain has spoiled your day or you can be thankful that it rains and waters the earth so that beautiful things will grow and you will have the water necessary for you to survive. You can relate “getting rained out” to every aspect of your life. If things don’t go exactly as you planned, you can choose to feel gloomy and just give up. But with the Black Belt Attitude, you choose to see set backs as learning experiences and you choose never to “shut the door” because you know a ray of sunshine will come through leading you into all sorts of new and wonderful accomplishments. With the Black Belt Attitude, you can always choose to see “violets” no matter how “hard it pours”.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You want to make changes in your life but keep putting them off. One of the best ways to start making those changes is to visualize them until you make them happen. Set your short-term and long-term goals. Make a picture of Mount Everest and hang it where you can see it every day. As you fulfill one of your short-term goals put a marker on the mountainside. You may want to make a picture of a “camp site” where you “rested” as you climbed Mount Everest. As you go toward the top, you will be able to see your progress whenever you look at the picture of that mountain. Watching that campsite move upward jumpstarts your motivation every time you look at it.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

This month we have been discussing your support for others. Let’s discuss your martial arts peers and instructors. In martial arts do you always cheer your competitor? Do you encourage the new students? Do you encourage others, who you think martial arts would help, to join your martial arts school? When your school has a fund raising event, do you participate? Even if you are not going to test, do you attend in order to encourage and cheer those who are testing? With Black Belt Attitude, you are always ready and willing to help others. You have a positive attitude and you are constantly showing you support of others in school, at home, at work and everywhere you know there are people who need your support.                                                                                                                                                                                      

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you want to take a simple approach to critiquing yourself, just ask the question, “If everyone in the world was just like me, then what kind of world would it be?”  In other words, would you feel comfortable living in a place where all the people behaved as you do?

This same idea also works well when trying to maximize your performance at work.  If you’d like to rate yourself as an employee ask yourself, “If everyone in this company was just like me, then what kind of company would it be?”  Would you buy stock in that particular company?  If not, then you should try to improve your level of performance.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   How easy it is for us to remember all the things we do for others but forget all the little things others do for us. It is easy for us to remember how many things we do for our spouse, but it is too easy for us to forget how many countless things they do for us each and every day. It is easy for us to remember how many things we do for our parents, but it is too easy for us to forget how much they do for us each and every day. With the Black Belt Attitude, we have to stop keeping score of the things we do for others and start keeping score of the countless things others do for us. By doing this, your life will be filled with happiness knowing you are making life easier for those you love.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Know the value of real dreams as opposed to idle daydreaming. Real dreams are really goals. Goals must be reachable. Winning the lottery is a daydream. Dreaming of becoming a millionaire through planning your strategy to attain your goals is a real dream. If you believe you can become a millionaire, you can become a millionaire. With the Black Belt Attitude, you know there is no limit to what you can do in your life when you believe in yourself and you believe that your dreams can come true. As a Black Belt, when you dream of your future, you write down your plan and you consistently follow through and make your dreams come true.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Black belt and motivational leader Brian Tracy teaches us that the key to success is the law of incremental learning.  We must realize that we cannot change any one area of our life 100% overnight.   However, we can make a 1% change in 100 areas of our life on consistent basis.  Your progress in martial arts is a perfect example.  You know you can’t execute like  black belt yet, but if you set a goal of making a one to two percent improvement every week in your stretching, your technique and your conditioning, you’ll see a huge difference in one year and an incredible difference in three years.  You’ll also avoid any frustration that someone might have if they didn’t understand this important principle.

Where else can you apply the law of incremental learning to your life and also enjoy incredible results in the next 3 – 5 years?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

  If you want to be the absolute best that you can possibly be at any subject, you should first study the behaviors of other people who have already successfully achieved what you want to accomplish.  Find these individuals and then emulate the things they do that allows them to be so successful.

For example, if you want to be a great black belt, then copy the training habits of people who are already great black belts.   If you want to become wealthy, then read the biographies of wealthy people and learn how they became that way.  Follow this strategy and soon you’ll begin to see a pattern.  That pattern will serve as your template for success.  Try it, It really works!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Short-term goals are really just little accomplishments that get you to your main goal.  Their purpose is to help you to stay on track.  And depending upon the magnitude of your main goal, they can project anywhere from one day to several months into the future.

For example, think of each of the under ranking belts in your belt system as being a short-term goal.  Then, think of your black belt as being the reward you get for successfully completing all of the little goals.  As you can see, the successful achievement of a major goal is almost always preceded by a series of minor accomplishments.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Last week we discussed the importance of short-term goals.  If you remember, their purpose is to get you closer to your long-term goals.  These long-term goals can span from six months on up to many years.  An example might be earning your black belt, getting a promotion at work or graduating from college with a particular degree.

Whatever your goals may be, the first step in achieving them is to clearly write them out on a sheet of paper.  Normally, this takes about twenty minutes to do.  First identify a long-term goal.  Then, underneath it write a series of short-term goals that will logically get you to the main goal.  Be specific and post the sheet up when your finished.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Learning to compromise with other people is a very powerful skill.  It demonstrates that you’re after the best possible solution and not just looking out for yourself.  Also, it shows the other party involved that you’re not greedy.  That will make them much more apt to work with you towards finding a happy medium that both parties are content with.

Compromising better will improve the quality of both your personal and business relationships with others.  That’s because it usually creates a win-win situation.  Ideally, you’d like for everyone involved to walk away from the “negotiation table” satisfied and smiling.  Do you think that you could benefit from learning to compromise better?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   No one person can do it all and do it all well. A good leader will recognize the abilities in others and will delegate jobs to persons capable of handling the job. Once a leader delegates a job, that person will be left alone. A good leader will trust the person delegated to make the right decisions. A good leader never interferes with the delegated person’s decisions unless requested to give an opinion. As a Black Belt, you recognize that the ability to delegate is one of the essential characteristics of a good leader. You know that delegation can bring out hidden talents and, when a leader makes an individual feel important and valued, the harder that individual will work toward excellence in personal performance. A Black Belt will always make people feel as though they are working “with” him/her, not “for” him/her. A good leader will exude the aura of “we’re a team” instead of “I’m the boss”. A good leader will never make someone feel they can be easily replaced because a good leader wants to build self-esteem, not destroy it. Once you learn to understand the Golden Rule, practice what you preach, realize you will never know everything and learn to delegate, you will be well on your way to becoming an outstanding leader.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   A successful person knows the art of being a good listener is their first step up the ladder of success. Henry Ford once said, “If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from his angle, as well as, from your own.” Listening to others is vital to diversity in your life. When you won’t listen or accept others’ point of view, you become stagnant and have a one-track mind. With the Black Belt Attitude, you have an open mind and an open ear to all new ideas and innovations.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   It may seem unusual, but a good Black Belt Attitude is to be sure to not say “yes” to something when you should say “no.” If you know that when you say “yes” and commit yourself to doing something that you really don’t have time to do, or can’t do, you over extend yourself. As a result, you become frustrated, angry at yourself because you couldn’t say “no” and usually end of doing a haphazard job. Plus, your reputation for good follow through suffers as well.

You know you have to learn to say “no” and not feel guilty about turning a request down. You know you cannot be all things to all people. Learn  to pick and choose the commitments you make to others.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

All of us are enrolled in an informal school called “life”. Life is an on-going process of trial, error and experimentation. We don’t make mistakes. We only learn lessons. Our so-called “failures” are not failures at all but the way we experiment in reaching our ultimate goal. If we never experiment, we would never find things that work for us. We repeat our “lessons” until we learn what will work for us and what won’t. Black Belts understand lessons in life are never ending and never feel like failures when they are unable to complete a lesson. A Black Belt considers it a challenge and, once they have learned a lesson, they move on to the next one. A Black Belt knows that life is what we make it. We have all of the resources and tools that everyone else has. It all depends on what we do with it.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Many people spend the majority of their time complaining about an issue or situation that they are uncomfortable with.  By doing this they are only adding to the problem.  A much more efficient use of their time would be to look for a solution.

Never spend more than 10 percent of your time on the problem, and always spend at least 90 percent of your time on the solution.  People who do this already are “solutions oriented” individuals.  They have the ability to remain calm and focused in the midst of challenges or emotional “storms.”  They do not overreact or complain.  As a result, they usually derive a quick solution to their problem.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Imagine if you were listed in the Encyclopedia.  What would the description read?  Would it be a short sentence? Or, would it be a long story of a martial artist striving for achievement, happiness, overcoming obstacles, confronting fears and helping others.  It’s up to you to write your own story.  Today’s chapter is this class, less make it an exciting one.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You believe you are very much in love. The two of you are married or have been going together a long time. He/she tells you the want out – that they no longer care for you. You are devastated. You can’t believe what they are telling you. You know in your heart they must still love you because you still love them. When they insist and leave you, you are filled with jealous, possessive rage. You get the feeling, “If I can’t have him/her, no one else is going to have him/her.” You get stupid ideas of what you’re going to do. As a Black Belt, you know rage is a complete waste of time and energy. You cannot force anyone to love you. You know jealousy and possessiveness is the quickest way to kill the love someone has for you. With the Black Belt Attitude, you give total love and trust and if it is not returned, you realize it was not meant to be and you go on with your life.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

How do you see a rainy day? Is it a day ruined for you because it has inconvenienced you in some way? Do you get depressed, as some do, when it rains? Or do you see a rainy day with the Black Belt Attitude? If you do, you see it as the food of life. Without rain, there are droughts and no vegetation, flowers, grass or trees grow. Without rain, humans and animals could not exist.

As a Black Belt, you know that “into each life some rain must fall” for a person to grow and become strong. If you never had challenges, your brain would wither away and atrophy. And you know that after it “rains” there will always be sunshine and with perseverance, a beautiful rainbow.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

It’s very difficult to maintain the vast amount of information that we are constantly presented with.  As you may have noticed, many facts and details continuously escape the confines of our short-term memory.  For that reason, maintenance of our precious skills and knowledge is key.  We must continuously remind ourselves of that which we’ve already learned.  Otherwise, we’ll gradually forget it.  It’s as simple as that.  So whether it be a kata, a college course or a work related task you must set aside some time to review.  Doing this will keep the old information from leaving as the new information comes in.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

What you constantly think about is what you will become.  For example, if you continuously think about becoming a black belt, then you’ll begin to do whatever is necessary to reach that goal.  Subconsciously, you’ll begin to see yourself as a black belt before you even become one.  You’ll start training

It’s important that you concentrate on the things that are most in line with your goals.  If you think of yourself as being successful and read things about other successful people, then soon you’ll start doing what other successful people do.  So focus your thoughts on ideas of what you eventually want to become.  That’s the first step in getting there.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

What makes you different from all the other people on this planet?  One very important source of your uniqueness is your experiences.  Everything you’ve ever done, seen, tasted, touched or smelled is tucked away in the giant computer known as your brain.  While many of us have similar experiences, what makes us different is the meaning we attach to these experiences.  Sometimes people look only for the negative in life’s experiences and they become negative people.  Others learn to look for the good in even the worse situation.  It all falls back on the importance of using the black belt attitude to look for the good in life and developing your own unique positive qualities.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

When there are riffs between families, each party usually believes it is the other person’s fault. Neither party can accept the fact that it may be a little fault on both sides. Unfortunately, they don’t communicate and try to straighten things out. They just let it boil inside until the relationship is beyond repair. Neither person will take that first step.

As a Black Belt, you would be the first one to go to that family member and say, “I’m sorry. Let’s not let this come between us any longer.” You would say you are sorry even if you don’t believe you are the one who should be saying that. However, if you really love that family member, you don’t have do say you are sorry for something you didn’t do. You say you are sorry that you have had a difference and want to set it straight.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you are an “Alas, poor me” person and are always blaming others, you need to take a long hard look at yourself. If you are not getting the promotion you think you should, you need to be honest with yourself. Is it because you do not do the best job or is it something beyond your control? If you are not getting the top grades in school, are you blaming it on your teacher or is it because you are not studying as much as you should? If you are having problems with a spouse, parent, child or friend, are you the antagonist or they? Are you the real problem? With the Black Belt Attitude you take responsibility for your flaws and deficiencies and you recognize that no one, including you, is perfect. As a Black Belt, you change and grow and the things you cannot change you accept as a challenge never blaming anyone for your lack.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Where are you going in the next decade? What do you plan to do with your life? If you are in school, you have a lot of goal setting to do. As you go from school to the work place, you will set many goals. If you are already in the work place, if you are unhappy with what you are doing, will you still be doing it 10 years from now? If you have a dream, do you believe you can become another Woolworth, JC Penny or Bill Gates and make a difference during the next millennium? If not, why not?  With the Black Belt Attitude, you can and will make a difference. With the Black Belt Attitude, you cannot sit idle and watch the world go by.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You won’t find the word “uplook” in the dictionary, but the word “uplook” indicates setting life goals and going for the top.  Often, a bad outlook can be translated into a positive uplook, if  you know how to look for it. Martial artists understand the importance of maintaining a positive attitude in their life.  It’s all part of the black belt attitude.  So, if you don’t like the outlook of a situation try to figure out what the uplook is.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

When others have negative thoughts about you and criticize you, it doesn’t mean they are right and you are wrong. It just proves once again that people are different and have different ideas, which may cause them to express words of disapproval. If the criticism is justified, it is not the end of the world. If you made a mistake, as a Black Belt, you can easily admit your mistake, correct it and move on without feeling depressed or rejected. With the Black Belt Attitude, you know you will make mistakes. To keep learning, you know you must mistakes. Once you make a mistake, you learn from it and prosper through your learning experiences. You never feel rejected from criticism.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” This is the beauty of the belt system in martial arts. As  soon as you reach one goal you have another one just a little more challenging waiting for you. Successful people are always reaching beyond what they have already mastered. Setting new goals, looking up and out instead of at the ground, and constantly seeking self improvement and ways they can help others to improve. Take a minute today and think about those things you are reaching for. Have you updated your list of goals, or have you temporarily stopped growing?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

     Let’s imagine that you’re traveling down a narrow path that will eventually lead you to a pot of gold.  But before you get to the end of the path, you encounter a huge rock that’s blocking the way.  Well, unless you find a way to get past it, you’ll never get the gold that’s sitting on the other side.

     The “rock” is a term that refers to the major obstacle that’s sitting directly in between you and one of your goals.  Do any of you have a “rock” of your own?  If so, then I challenge you to devise a plan that will allow you to successfully climb over it.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

What would be the effect over time if by the end of each day you learned just one extra piece of information?  Clearly, you’d become a much more knowledgeable person.  Over time, that would add tremendous value to your character.   

Make it a point to stay up an extra fifteen minutes each night in order to learn something new.   It’s real easy to read one chapter in a non-fiction book, watch a documentary or browse through an informative magazine.  Self education is a very powerful tool.  In fact, some of the most brilliant people in history were self educated.

   So before shutting the light each night ask yourself, “What have I learned today?”  If nothing comes to mind, spend a few minutes researching a favorite topic.  This is a great self-investment.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

A “can do” needs to have a powerful positive vocabulary that keeps that person on a continuous high and builds within the person an immunity against pessimistic words and thoughts.

   A “can’t do” person’s brain is programmed to fail because their words and thoughts control them in such a way that they can never accomplish anything.

   A “can do” person says, “I can do that” or “I will do that”. A “can do” person never doubts that s/he has the ability to do anything.

   A “can’t do” person says, “I’ll try” but really means “I feel I have to do it but I really don’t want to do it and I know I will fail when I do try.”

   With the Black Belt Attitude, you will always be a “can do” person. The words “can’t do” are not a part of the vocabulary of a Black Belt.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Usually to make major changes in your life, you must sacrifice something. If you are unhappy in your job, are you willing to start a new career doing something you really like to do at less pay until you can work your way to the top? If you want to start your own business, are you willing to make the sacrifices it takes to invest in your future with money going out and nothing coming in until your business succeeds? If you are not doing as well as you should in school, are you willing to take the time to study longer hours and give up some recreation? If you need to lose weight, are you willing to give up the foods you know are not conducive to losing weight, exercise and start eating properly?  As a Black Belt you should have the stamina to jump-start your motivation to accomplish whatever change you need to make in your life.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Transforming negative words into positive words is a very important process of developing a black belt attitude.  We call this transformational vocabulary (TV).

Have you ever noticed how many people use the word “problem”? And how many times it gets said every day? The really sad fact is that often when the word is said, we discover afterwards that there wasn’t any problem after all.  Wouldn’t you rather face  challenge than have a problem? Wouldn’t you rather have an interesting situation than face a problem?  By watching our TV we can control our attitude in dealing with life’s challenges.

This week, keep track each day of how many times you hear the word used and how many times there really isn’t any problem after all.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you have the Black Belt attitude, you know that you have the ability to attain whatever you seek; within your grasp is every potential you have ever imagined if you will always aim higher than you believe you can reach.

Unlock your talents by letting your imagination run free and you will attain success beyond your wildest dreams. If you believe you will

ultimately succeed at whatever you do, never forgetting the value of  self-discipline, persistence and determination, you will become all you were meant to be. By truly believing and diligently working toward higher goals, you will discover that “we are what we think we are”.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   A woman and her daughter were looking at houses. They walked into a home that had atrocious colors, worn out wallpaper, outdated carpeting, old fashion baths and an antediluvian kitchen. Everything about the house was ugly.       The daughter was ready to walk out and look at something more modern. The mother said, “No, this floor plan is perfect. The house just needs some updating and it will be a beautiful home. I can visualize just how bright and exquisite it can be. Can’t you see how peaceful it would be sitting in this sunroom overlooking that beautiful back yard? I see it with all white rattan furniture and lots of colorful ferns and flowers. Plus, the older homes are built so much better than the new homes.”

   They continued through the house and the mother explained how she visioned each room. By the time they left the house, the daughter was excited, too. True to the mother’s vision, when the house was finished, it was the truly a dream house. As a Black Belt, are you like the daughter, who cannot see beyond what is there, or like the mother who looked beyond the ugly and saw beauty?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

How often have you lain in bed and a brilliant idea flashed through your head? The next morning you ran by someone to show just how brilliant you were and they punched credible holes in your idea. By the time the two of you finished, the idea was not recognizable but it was just what you wanted. When you’re able to brainstorm with someone else, the ideas seem to flow faster and become better. Anyone who wants to go into business alone should have a mentor with whom to brainstorm. For anyone still in school, when two serious students are thrown together in a study group, the learning is more exciting. Also, it is wise to remember that when going into unknown waters, it is best to travel in pairs for safety reasons.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

One of the best attitudes you can learn from the martial arts is how to turn a negative into a positive.  The secret is to look for opportunities in situations that seem negative on the surface.  This attitude will force you to explore your creativity and help you deal with life’s inevitable challenges.

Who has some examples of ways they have turned negatives into positives?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

The martial arts teach us that, “There are really no mistakes in life—there are only lessons.” Like learning a new kata, we continue to work on it even when we know it’s not what it should be, because we know what it’s going to be.

If we are going to continue to grow, then we must understand that growth is nothing more than a continuous process of trying new ideas, discarding the ones that don’t work— sometimes known as failures—and keeping the ideas that do work. Unfortunately, many people shy away from trying new ideas because of the fear of failure. Innovative people are those who not only find the new ideas, they try them.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

We always teach that the goal of this school is to help each other to reach our potential.  As a wise person once said, “True friends don’t sympathize with your weaknesses, they help bring out your strengths.” Do you have some friends who need to have their strengths pointed out to them right now? Things may be so difficult for them, they have forgotten their strengths. You can help remind them of those strengths today. What a great opportunity for you to be a true friend. Help some of your friends who need a bit of help to look at their strengths. You may not notice right away, but you’ll be looking at your strengths too.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

“What I do today is important because I’m trading a day of my life for it.” What does that mean? Your choice to come to class today was a good trade vs sitting at home and watching Seinfeld re-runs. The one thing you must plan for every day is time for yourself. That’s why martial arts training is so important.  It’s 100% for you. Enjoy yourself, and make every day count because you’re trading a day of your life for it.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Too often a brilliant idea pops into our heads only to be placed on the back burner and forgotten about.  To prevent this simply remember the acronym TODAY.

The t stands for think.  Find a quiet spot where you can concentrate and begin expand upon your idea.  O stands for outline.  While you’re thinking about your new idea you must outline, or organize your thoughts.  The D stands for draft.  In other words, rewrite your outline into a completed idea and include a clear plan of action.   The a stands for act.  This is the most important step since an idea is nothing more than a thought without action.  Finally, the y stands for you.  Because you’re the only one that can make this happen!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

What is the difference when a White belt is practicing side kick vs when a black belt is working on the kick? The white belt is taught not to be concerned with where they are now, but where they are going. This is a long term perspective required to reach black belt.

In all areas of life, we must ask the question; What is the long term effect of my actions?  The longer term your perspective the better.

Lack of time perspective leads to frustration and under-performance.

A great example are immigrants that work very hard so their children can go to American universities have great long term perspective.   

Just like the white belt working that side kick knows that this is the work necessary to achieve success has a long term perspective in martial arts, we all must increase or lengthen our time perspective.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Everyone has been given the same amount of time in a day.  But it’s how we use that time that counts.  Do you think that you could begin using your time a little more efficiently?

Expert time managers plan every hour of their day wisely.  They make each precious moment count and never waste time!  As a result they are highly productive and successful people.

To help yourself become a better time manager simply ask yourself, “What would be the most efficient use of my time right now?”  So whenever you’re unsure of what you should be doing, pause for a moment and ask yourself that question.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

We’ve said that time is like money because, like pennies grow into dollars, seconds grow into minutes and minutes grow into hours. The difference is that, when you spend money, you can replace it. You can deposit your money in an account that will accrue interest and your money will grow. We all know that, if we invest money today and leave it in an account, years down the road, it will be there for us to spend and support us in our retirement years.

Not so with time! Once we spend time, we can never replace it. It is gone forever. Consequently, the old adage “Time is money” is very true. A Black Belt knows that, if we wrote down everything we do from the moment we get out of bed until the time we go to bed – EVERYTHING – we would see how much time we waste. By doing that and being aware of where we can put our time into a “Savings Account”, we would have the time finish our projects and reach our goals.

Remember that, when we said yesterday, “I’ll do it tomorrow”, today is tomorrow!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

First of all, stop volunteering for things you feel you really do not have the time to do. Learn to “sit on your hands”. Being overly burdened can cause negative thoughts to enter your mind. Negative thoughts are time robbers. Negative thoughts keep you from doing the things you have to do for fear of failure. Negative thoughts shatter your brain and can cripple you. A Black Belt sees a crisis as a challenge and a time to learn. The more taxing a problem, the better to exercise the brain. Get in the habit of total focus with the positive attitude of “I can do it! I know I can!”  When you can cope and accomplish without allowing negative thoughts to shatter your brain, regardless of crisis, you have achieved the Black Belt Attitude!

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Motivational leader, Roger Crawford, tells his audiences, “I don’t know if a positive attitude works every time, but a negative one does.” That’s a strong statement, considering that Roger was born with three fingers, three toes on his right foot, and a left leg that required amputation when Roger was just five. Yet, with these handicaps he became a star tennis player in high school and college, and is living proof that a positive attitude does work in difficult situations.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You may not be entering the Summer Olympics but you can still be a champion. If you help others less fortunate than you, you definitely have the right stuff and you are already a champion. You don’t have to win a gold medal to be a champion. If you encourage others around you and you never envy anyone, you have the right stuff and are already a champion. If you always have a smile and a warm word for everyone you meet, you have the right stuff and are already a champion. If you make others feel they are champions and you always bring out the best in others, you are made of the right stuff and are already a champion. If you live your life with the Black Belt Attitude, you have the right stuff and are a already a champion.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Sometimes you may look around you and think everybody you know is getting ahead of you. Your best friend has his/her own business. Another has just gotten a degree from the university. Another is a successful doctor. Another is happily married and has three children. You’re frustrated because you feel you are not accomplishing anything worth while. Stop and think. Were any of your friend’s goals your goals? It so, were you late in learning how to set your goals or did circumstances make you put them on hold? If not, why worry about it? As a Black Belt, you know it is never too late to reach goals. You just have to make certain that you understand what goals you want to reach and go for it. You know you have the option. You can let the world pass you by but it will never pass you by unless you let it.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

The famous motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, “you can have anything in life you want, as long you help as many people as you can achieve what they want in life.”  That is the foundation of this martial arts school.  It is about giving and sharing and help each other to achieve our own potential.  There is no stronger emotion than the sense of worthwhile contribution.  The feeling that who you are, how you’ve lived your life, the example you’ve set and the things you’ve done and said has touched others in a deep and meaningful way is the ultimate gift in life.   That’s why our SWAT team is so strong.  It’s all about giving back to the martial arts and helping others achieve and benefit like they have.  That is the essence of the black belt attitude and that’s why this school is so strong.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Willa Foster, a philosopher, once said, “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution, and it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” We always have alternatives to choose from. It is striving to make the right choices that continues to ensure quality in our personal strengths. Those who make a sincere effort to make themselves the best possible persons they can be, have taken the first step in the pursuit of black belt excellence.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

A parallax error is the apparent displacement of an object when it is viewed successively from two points not in the same line of sight.  For example, when a passenger riding in a car looks at the speedometer from his vantage point, he may think that the driver is way over the speed limit when he’s really not speeding at all.

We have to be careful not to pass judgment on others before considering all of the angles.  The way you see something may be completely different than the way someone else sees it from his or her point of view.  As we talked about last week, you must learn to be open-minded.  That’s one way to avoid making a parallax error.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Have you ever attended a high school reunion and found the “stars” of your high school years had accomplished nothing in their lives and the “nerds” were highly successful people? It is very common for high school “stars” to feel completely lost when they are no longer in the limelight. Sadly, no one taught them to be prepared for the future when they would become a part of the “real world”. They did not learn how important it was to diversify and concentrate on the value of education rather than being the center of attraction. With the Black Belt Attitude, you should be well aware that “fame” is too often a fleeting event in time. Adults, who have always looked for diversity in their education and surroundings, are the ones who are successful.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   Someone pays you a compliment and you say to yourself, “They’re just being nice.” Like a swift sidekick, you have just bruised your self-esteem by feeling yourself not worthy of a compliment. You go out of your way to help a fellow student. Your instructor thanks you and praises you for your thoughtfulness and help. You say, “Oh, that was nothing.” If these are examples of the way you react to others, your life will always feel cold and you will feel left out of the warm embrace of relationships. With the Black Belt Attitude, you accept praise graciously. You never let your mind turn positives into negatives and you have the ability to appreciate the good things in life that happen to you without question.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

The mark of a true winner is consistency.  In other words, who wants to be a winner just some of the time?  We want to establish the black belt attitude of a winner all of the time.  How do we accomplish this?  It’s all based on your habits. Becoming a winner takes practice.  You have to work at it.  We know what we have to do to get there. But knowing what to do is not important.  It’s doing what you know that will give you the mark of a winner.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

     The Law of reaping and sewing states that you will always get out of something exactly what you put into it.  For example, if you train sloppily or infrequently, then it will show in your martial arts skills.  But if you train hard on a regular basis and constantly give it your all, then you’ll become an outstanding black belt someday.

     This law also applies to everything you do in your personal life outside the school.  That includes the quality of your family life, your job related success and how well you are respected by your friends.  So remember, you’ll always reap

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

There are people who never appreciate what they have and always think what everyone else has is better. They think their friend’s house is better, their car is better, their job is better, etc. They never do anything to make their own lives better; they just whine about not having it as good as someone else. As a Black Belt, it doesn’t matter to you what others have; it only matters to you what you do with your life. With the Black Belt Attitude you appreciate everything you have and are constantly working toward reaching higher and higher goals. You know that the grass is seldom greener on the other side once you get to the other side.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Would you buy the world’s most powerful computer and let it sit unused collecting dust?  Would you only use it for the easy projects and never test its power?  The most powerful computer in the world is between your ears.  Your brain is far more powerful than ten stories of computers.  Unfortunately, too many of us let it get dusty or only use it for easy, safe tasks.  The main difference between our brain and ten stories of computers is that our brain can be controlled by fears and held back from doing its job.  Let’s resolve to erase those fears, dust off that computer and start reprogramming it with the black belt attitude.  Program your computer system with books and knowledge and the attitude that you are going to test the limits of its capacity.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

A comfort zone is a routine that someone eventually gets stuck in.  We simply get use to them.  Hence, they are very hard to break away from.  They try to hold us back.

Comfort zones can be dangerous because they lead to stagnant lifestyles.  Individuals who fall victim to them usually avoid change.  As a result, they do not grow as people and tend to miss out on many valuable opportunities.

Do any of you have a comfort zone?  If so, I’d encourage you to try and move out of it.  Expand your horizons a little.  You’ll be a more well rounded person once you do.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Have you ever said to yourself, “I can’t do that!”?  As black belts, some of us used to think like that to.  What we discovered was when we said “I can’t,” it was like running into a wall that we had just built for ourselves.  The “I can’t wall.”  Of course, as we learned about the power of the black belt attitude, we started to replace, “I can’t” with “I’ll try”.  Then the wall crumbled a little bit so we at least had a better chance of getting over it.  Then we replace, “I’ll try” with, “it’s hard but I’ll get it.”  Then the wall crumbled some more.  Finally, as we really developed our black belt attitude, we replaced, “it’s hard but I’ll get it” with “ no problem. I love a good challenge.”  Then the wall not only disappeared completely but our attitude of loving a good challenge propelled forward faster than if the wall never existed.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

As martial artists, we all work to overcome our fears.  There’s a great saying, “If you don’t ask, the answer’s no!” That very true statement should help us realize how many times in our own lives we didn’t ask a question for fear of being turned down. Or didn’t ask the question for fear of looking stupid. Unfortunately, we will never know some of those answers. Maybe some would have been “yes” answers, but since we didn’t ask, the answer remains “no.” Think about the questions you are hesitating to ask in fear of the “no” answer. You might as well ask, or the answer will be no.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Sometimes we are faced with large challenging situations that can seem to absorb our every waking moment.  Here is a black belt rule to live by:

Never spend more than 10 percent of your time on the problem (challenge) and always spend at least 90 percent of your time on the solution.  Become solution oriented and you will blast right past challenges that would leave the average person paralyzed with dread because they are spending 100% of the time on the problem and never focus on the solution like we do.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   When asked to do something for your family or your employer, do you say, “Hey! That isn’t my job!” Or do you do it without even thinking about it because it has to be done? With the Black Belt Attitude, you are pleased because you were asked. You never think about whether it is your job or someone else’s job. You like doing things for others and you realize that, usually, the person asking you to do something has confidence in your ability to do it. You don’t do things for others expecting a reward but, if you have the Black Belt Attitude and do things willingly, even when it is a job you feel someone else should be doing, rewards will come to you.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

It’s that time of the year that we start to plan for the holidays with all of the good cheer and gift giving. Did you ever think that, maybe, Thanksgiving comes a month before the holidays so that we have time to step back, look around us, take inventory, and give thanks for all the good things we have in our life? Or do you take for granted everything that is good in your life? With the Black Belt Attitude, you are always aware of how fortunate you are to live in this great country where you are not afraid to express yourself and where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

At this time of year, we need to take stock of what we have and be thankful. Maybe you don’t have as much money as you would like but take a good look around you. You will see those who have no family, no friends, are in poor health, or may not even have a place that they can call home. We take so much for granted in our lives, that we are prone to forget how much of the good life we do have. As you walk through the front door of your home or apartment, do you ever stop and be thankful you have a place you can call home? As you eat your meals, are you thankful you don’t have to worry about from where you next meal will come? As a Black Belt, you should always be thankful for everything positive in your life.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

It’s the things you have in life, not the things you want that are important. One of the most stressful mental tendencies is to always want what you don’t have. A child can see a toy on the floor and never want it until another child picks it up. A man or wife wishes their spouse were different instead of seeing the good qualities in their mate. Instead of saving up for a dream vacation, a person will whine about not being able to have a dream vacation.

That person can never see how much fun they can have in their own backyard if they will just look around. A Black Belt focuses on what is here now and sets goals for the future. A Black Belt never whines about what could be; he or she makes things happen and are always thankful to be surrounded by so many opportunities.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

As we celebrate the last Thanksgiving of the 20^th Century, take a good look around you and be thankful. Instead of finding fault with your mate, child or friend, be thankful you have them in your life and start looking at their good qualities. Instead of finding fault with your job, be thankful you have a job or set your goals to find a new job or start your own business. With the Black Belt Attitude, you focus on all the great things in your life and are thankful for them. You know when you focus on the right things and are thankful, you will receive more love, you’ll be more productive in your job and you will see things you’ve never noticed all around you. With the Black Belt Attitude, you don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving Day to be thankful for the opportunities and the good things in life; you appreciate everything all year long.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

     In order to get the job done you must first have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish.  Look at the “big picture.”  Ask yourself, “Exactly what is it that I want?”  Once you know this, you can create a plan of action that will allow you to get the job done.  But if there is no vision, then you have nothing to work towards.

     For example, all of you are students of the martial arts.  What’s your vision in this particular area of your life?  Is it to become a black belt someday?  I hope so.  Just remember that without a future vision your future will always lack direction.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

How many of you have some kind of stress in your life right now?  That’s no surprise.  Rest assured that some form of stress will always exist.  That’s just part of being human.

Since stress is always going to be there it would be in your best interest to learn how to deal with it properly.  In other words, you must become an efficient stress manager.

Do not overreact to the little things that constantly irritate you.  Simply view these challenges as mental sparring matches.  Like in any other sparring match up, you try to neutralize your opponent’s strengths and capitalize on their weaknesses.  That’s the same strategy a good stress manager uses on stress.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

When handling mail, messages, etc., get in the habit of handling them the first time you have them in your hand. Don’t put them in a pile thinking you will go back over them later. You only create clutter and seldom do you get back to it. On the first go round, take care of it. If it is a letter or memo, answer it as soon as you read it. If it is a phone message, return the call as soon as you read the message. If it is a school assignment, do it and get it behind you. If it something you don’t have to act on, either file it away or throw it in the trash. Many times the things you put in a pile become out of date quickly and you end of neglecting someone or something. Black Belts get things done as soon as possible so they have no backlog, therefore, no frustrations and no shattered brains.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

A healthy body and a healthy mind will go a long way toward giving us the energy to strive toward filling our goals. If we don’t eat the proper foods and exercise, our body begins to deteriorate. When we totally do not use one of our limbs, it becomes atrophic. When we don’t feed or exercise our brain, it, like our limbs, will become atrophic.

When we start letting our bodies and minds go to seed, we no longer have the ambition or energy to work toward success. This is the time when we no longer care what life has to offer. So, always stay fit because when we are 600 years old, someone may ask us to do something really, really big.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

In today’s world, there seems to be an ever increasing amount of competition in just about every field.  To stay ahead of the competition you must always try to work a little harder and a little smarter than you have in the past.  Continuance of education is key.  If you fail to upgrade your current skills, you can rest assured that someone else who’s a little bit hungrier will soon pass you by.  They’ll sneak up and “eat your lunch,” if you will.  So always try to keep your knowledge base current and that way you’ll always be ahead of the competition.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

“Think Big, Start Small!” This idea reminds us of why so many people often have difficulties with setting plans and goals. They set their goals high, but then try to reach all of them at once without working out a step-by-step process for achieving them. They get bogged down and overwhelmed by the task, and often quit. That’s why we have the belt and stripe system as process for earning your black belt. We are focused on black belt and have a plan of short term goals to get us there.  How can you apply the same system to your other goals in life?  By breaking down our goals into smaller, more feasible tasks, we continuously move forward towards our goal without frustration or a sense of being overwhelmed.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

As a college student works at his degree, he usually keeps all of his educational materials in one spot.  When he graduates, years of books and notes proudly fill a bookcase of accomplishment.

After you read a book, find a special magazine article or listen to a motivational cassette tape place it in one centralized location.  In other words, start building a library of self-educational materials.  Such an arrangement would make it very convenient for the review of any information that begins to escape you.  As time goes by you’ll be able to see the many strides you’ve taken to become a more knowledgeable and successful person.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

This month we have discussed how others see you but do you really know who you are? Is your true self the one your loved ones see or the one outsiders see? Who do you want to be? Do you want to be the parent or spouse who rules the roost and a “good time Joe or Jane” to the outside world?

Do you take it for granted that your loved ones will love you because they have to but you feel you must go out of your way to make outsiders love you?

With the Black Belt Attitude, it is more important that you have the love and respect of your spouse, significant other, children, employees and friends than making a good impression on strangers. You want everyone to respect you as a person but it is with your loved one that you go out of your way to help, show compassion, show empathy, listen to and always be there with an open mind and an open heart.

So if you have seen yourself in the examples this past month, take that first step to becoming the person you want outsiders to think you are and you will have the Black Belt Attitude.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Regardless of how big your goof was, it does not mean you are a born loser! Your worth has not been lowered. You are still a most valued person and there is no goof that will ever make you less valued. Maybe the goof caused others to be upset with you. That’s okay. Accept the fact that you made a big mistake but, at the same time, remember all of the things you have done right. As a Black Belt, you don’t feel rejection from those who show their disapproval after you have goofed. You expect disapproval and you know they are not judging your value as a human being but only the incident where you goofed up.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Trying to change too much too fast will usually yield poor results.  Instead, making small but continuous improvements over time is more realistic.  The idea is not to try and make a 100% change all at once.  A much more logical strategy is to make one-hundred 1% improvements over time.

Often, small improvements will make a big difference in the quality of a person’s life.  For example, smokers generally find it easier to breathe when they cut down on the amount of cigarettes they smoke.  Just the same, a small change in a person’s diet can result in the shedding of unwanted pounds.  You see, the idea is not to stop “cold turkey” with cigarettes or to starve your self in order to lose weight.  Instead, small, gradual improvements will allow you to adjust to the change.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Speed isn’t always an advantage. Snails were on board of Noah’s ark with cheetahs. You should always look before you leap. Make a good plan and work your plan always striving to reach your goals. When you get stressed out, lie back and float awhile. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will be the solid foundation of the rest of your life. If you are afraid of criticism, don’t be. Just do what you feel you must do to succeed. If you are afraid you’ll look like an amateur, don’t be. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals. Noah was an amateur. No matter how stormy you “ocean of life” becomes, remember, after the storm, there is a rainbow with a pot of gold just waiting for you.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

One of the most powerful rules of success that we can share with you is the principle of delayed gratification or to accept short term pain for long term gain.  A perfect example is a medical student who endures a decade of poverty, sleep deprivation and intense pressure for a lifetime of prestige and wealth as a doctor.  The reverse case would be a teenager who quits school to go to work for a menial wage.  Because the drop out chose the short term gain of earning a little money over the short term pain of completing his education,  he will be faced with the long term pain of a lifetime of low wages, money worries and the unhappiness that results from short-term thinking.

That’s why missing class can be so painful.  Say your friends want you to go to a movie with them on a karate class night.  You are faced with a short term gain or pleasure of seeing a movie which will result in the long term pain of slowing down your progress towards black belt.  The flip sides is that you could see the movie with them another night, which is small short term pain but enjoy the long term gain of moving forward towards your goals.  

Short term pain for long term gain is always the key to success.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

To really make the most out of your life you must realize that you are your own manager.  In other words, you are a self-manager.  Don’t wait around for others to guide you.  Be a leader, not a follower, and take command of your person.

Effective self-managers often have an even balance between their job and their personal lives.  These individuals set personal goals such as earning a black belt, they take excellent care of their health and are self disciplined.  And since they are their own personal manager, they always get the job done properly.  They are in complete control of their lives.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

During her lifetime, Eleanor Roosevelt worked with all types of people from every aspect of American society. Perhaps one of her most profound statements was when she said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  You hear it all in the phrase, “he made me feel bad.”  A sign of black belt confidence is the refusal to let others affect your attitude about yourself.  No one is in control of your mind or the way you feel about yourself but you.  No one can make you feel bad but yourself.  This is not always easy to control, especially when someone we care about says something painful.  That’s why, as martial artists we seek to build people up rather than tear them down.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

“People with self discipline do things that failures don’t like to do.” How many people do you know who shy away from doing things simply because they don’t like doing them? In every family and every job, there are tasks that someone won’t like to do. Often we focus too much on the task, instead of the reward received from doing the task. Successful people focus on the feeling of accomplishment. Think about the feeling of pride you recently had when you finished a project.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You are tied up in traffic. There you sit fuming. You feel everyone in front of you is doing it on purpose just to keep you from getting where you want to go. With the Black Belt Attitude, once you had such a thought, you would sit calmly and realize that is an inane thought. You would ask yourself why, people who don’t even know you, would go out of their way to block you. You realize that they, too, are probably feeling the very same frustrations you are feeling. With the Black Belt Attitude, you would start to ask yourself, “Why do people get so angry when they are tied up in traffic? Why do people feel the urge to actually kill other people in heavy traffic?” You began to wonder what road rage accomplishes. Does it make the traffic jam go away? As a Black Belt, the next time you begin to feel road rage, ask yourself what that rage is doing to you and how getting angry will help you. Then, as you sit there, use positive thoughts toward how to accomplish your goals.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You can change your life if you are willing to make the sacrifices needed but to help you stay motivated, you should reward yourself with each step toward fulfilling your goals.

When you are setting your goals, pencil in what your reward will be as you accomplish each short-term goal. By making the rewards better and better as you fulfill each short-term goal, you will constantly jump-start your motivation to keep climbing until you have reached the top of the mountain. With the Black Belt Attitude, there is no mountain too high for you to climb.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you could be anyone you wanted, who would it be?  What about that person appeals to you.  What if you could take characteristics from a number of people you admire and combine them into one person.  What characteristics would they be?  Well, the truth is you can do that.  You have a secret identity that has all the characteristics from all of your heroes inside of you.  In order to reveal your secret identity you must first decide exactly what characteristics you’ll have.  Second, you must fully commit to developing those characteristics and letting them reveal themselves to the world.  Third, get excited about it.  Have a coming out party with yourself and just imagine how your life is going to change for the good as you reveal the secret identity of you, the hero of your story.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Industry leaders in any profession take the time to research the works of other people within their field.  In other words, they keep up with what the competition is doing at all times.  For example, medical researchers spend a large portion of their time attending seminars, reading the most recent journals and networking with other laboratories.  They are always on top of any new advances or discoveries that may occur.  The best illustration of this point was the discovery of DNA.  The two scientists who received all the credit simply pieced together the incomplete works of about five other researchers.  This clearly shows that to be at the top of your profession, you must research your field.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   To diversify, you must recognize your own limits of knowledge. As Socrates once said, “I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance”. With the Black Belt Attitude, you are aware that everyone you meet can teach you something from the janitor to the CEO of a company. New innovative ideas come from all walks of life, from every ethnic group and from every age group. A young child can teach the wonders of learning and discovery. An elderly person can teach you what experience has taught them. Your peers can share ideas with you. People of another race or ethic background can teach you their cultures giving you a better understanding of their personalities. With the Black Belt Attitude, you go out of your way to get to know people wherever you go. You “sphere of influence” includes people from many walks of life.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Did you realize that about 60% of all Americans didn’t read even a single book last year?  That’s sad!  Apparently our society doesn’t realize the importance of reading.  How many of you read a book in the last year?  Two books?  Three?

It’s a proven fact that successful people read.  They constantly feed their hunger for new information through the use of books.  Self education is key.  And one of the best ways to expand your knowledge foundation is to read.

Find a non-fiction book that interests you either at the library or the bookstore, and bring it home with you.  Each day, reserve about fifteen to thirty minutes of quiet time and read it.  The idea is to always be reading something because readers are leaders.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You can go through life mourning the fact that you have no friends-that nobody likes you. You can choose to blame it on those you feel do not like you or you can take full responsibility of not having friends. As a Black Belt, you recognize the fact that, those who have no friends choose to have no friends. With the Black Belt Attitude, you let people get to know you and find out what an important and wonderful person you really are. With the Black Belt Attitude you are on a constant quest to seek out new friends and new relationships. Because you are the one who chooses to reach out and touch others, your sphere of influence grows every year and people are drawn to you.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you are hungry for challenges that will put your thinking skills to a test, then you are an effective thinker. If you know that problems often lead to great discoveries, then you are an effective thinker. If you realize there is, in general, more than one solution to any problem, then you are an effective thinker.

As a Black Belt, you do not stop at the first idea that comes to mind. You know there might be another that is better. You are creative in problem solving, innovation and getting things done. Your mind is always busy thinking of things that lead to improvement.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Last week we discussed how to be an effective thinker through recognizing that problems can become opportunities. If you expect the very best from yourself, but your performance is not its best, you find out why so you can make the necessary improvements.  If you do this, then you are an effective thinker.

You can be “self-critical,” not in a negative sense, but in a positive sense. In other words, you don’t become paralyzed in perfection. As a Black Belt, you know that trying to be perfect in everything you do will hinder your progress. When you make a mistake, you turn it into a positive and go forward. You don’t let mistakes overpower your thinking. You know that those who never make mistakes never accomplish anything.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Continuing our discussions on the art of effective thinking you must be accountable and take responsibility for your own actions and failures. With the Black Belt attitude, you never blame your mistakes and failures on others. You know the “buck stops here” means it stops with you.

When you make an error, you analyze what you did and you put on your thinking cap to figure out how you can avoid making the same mistake again. You are able to turn the negative (the mistake or failure) into a positive (solution) through effective thinking.

BE CURIOUS

This month, we have discussed the art of effective thinking. To be an effective thinker you must have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. You should be like a sponge, soaking up knowledge from every source you can find.  For example, you should turn your car into a classroom, listening to tapes as you drive.  You should attend seminars and read everything you can find that will help you reach your goals.

As a Black Belt, you find it easy to seek out others and ask for help. You are the first to admit that you do not know it all and you eagerly pursue every possibility of networking with others who can quench your thirst for knowledge. With the Black Belt attitude, you never stop learning.  Therefore, you become not only an effective thinker, but you become an effective teacher eager to share what you have learned as well.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   When we were young, we hated it when our parents would say, “Do as I say do. Don’t do as I do.” With maturity, we realize that statement was really a lack of responsibility and a cop-out.  Our parents thought they were guiding us in the right direction but, when they did what we were told not to do, we had no direction and that resulted in confusion and anger. We would ask ourselves, “Why is it okay for my parents but not for me?” As a Black Belt, you know that you have to lead by action, not words. Whether in the role of parent, employer or teacher, you should never tell someone not to do something and then do it yourself. Nor would you tell someone to do something you would not do. You set examples for others to follow. You never use your authority to “talk down to”, demean or belittle another. As a Black Belt, you never let your authority go to your head so that you feel you are above doing what you ask of others.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

As future Black Belts, you must understand that there is a big difference between practice and progress.  One can practice sloppily all day long and not progress at all.  For  instance, you can do 100 sloppy push ups and receive no real benefits or you can do 30 “Black Belt” pushups and strengthen your punching muscles with each perfect motion.  And what’s the point in rushing through 500 sloppy sit ups if you’re not going to get anything out of them or feel a burn when you’re done?  At this school we strive for perfect practice which, over time, leads to progress.  Obviously, that theory applies to every kick, punch and form that you do.

     So don’t waste your time doing moves sloppily when you can invest your time by practicing them correctly.  It doesn’t matter how much time you’ve spent working out or how many repetitions you’ve done.  What really counts is the progress you’ve made and the quality of the end result.  What kind of Black Belt do you want to be?

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   The Golden Rule says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Some interpret this as meaning they are to “do for others what they want and expect others to do for them”. With the Black Belt Attitude, you interpret the Golden Rule as “understanding other people the way you want to be understood”. You get to know people so that you understand why they think and act the way they do. You understand that a person’s idiosyncrasies are the result of something that happened in their lives. You do not judge why a person acts this way or that way. You accept people as they are, the way you want them to accept you, regardless of your own idiosyncrasies. As a Black Belt, you are totally aware that the interpretation of the Golden Rule is understanding others and you know that interpretation is essential to being a good leader. A good leader knows that each person on their team must be treated equally but differently according to their individual idiosyncrasies.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

At turn of the last century, there were very few millionaires. There were no billionaires, much less trillionaires. One millionaire was Frank Woolworth, who was a very poor man working as a store merchandise clerk. He has a vision that, if merchandise was shown differently and was affordable, people would flock to the store. His vision proved to be correct. He started with a little hole in the wall and it became Woolworth’s Five & Ten Cent Store, which we know today as Wal-Mart. Woolworth died in 1915 but, before he died, he built an empire that is still around today. JC Penny did the same with almost the same dream and principals. Bill Gates started in his garage. Look at him today. What do you think they all have in common? We know they had the Black Belt Attitude of setting goals and seeing their dreams come to fruition. In the next century, will you be the next Woolworth, JC Penny, or Bill Gates? You can be with the Black Belt Attitude.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you sat a glass of water in front of several people, each person may see it differently

How do you see that glass of water? Do you have the negative feeling that you are cheated because, in your eyes, you see it as only half full. Or, are you one of those people who see it as a glass with some water in it? A person who, as long as you have some water, you could care less because the water fulfills the immediate need and you want no more or no less than what you have.

You have the Black Belt Attitude if you are a person who always sees it as half full because you perceive everything in life in a very positive way. If it is half full, you have enough faith in yourself to know you are not only capable of filling it to the brim but you can make it overflow because of your will power to move over the top and beyond.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

     Sometimes, in the middle of a workout, a student’s belt may gradually start to come undone.  But unless they’re paying attention they won’t even notice it.  Occasionally, a belt can loosen up so much that it will fall right off the student’s waist and land at his feet.  Then they have to stop what they’re doing and take the time to tie it back on again.

     Life, in general, can be this way unless we pay close attention to what we’re doing at all times.  When we’re in martial arts class we must resist the urge to be split focussed by any outside events or activities.  Only then will we be able to make the most out of our precious training time.  If we’d just learn to pay better attention to what we’re doing when we’re doing it the end result would be a lot closer to perfection.  Outside of the dojo, this idea also holds true and is equally as important.  You must always pay full attention when driving a car, operating machinery, playing sports and dealing with certain hobbies.  That will reduce the chances of a careless accident occurring especially now that we’re right in the middle of the Christmas rush.

      Learning to pay better attention to your martial arts instructors, school teachers, family members and yourself will make a huge difference in the quality of your life.  Then next time your belt starts to loosen up in class, you’ll snap it back into place before it ever has a chance to fall off.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

One of the most powerful indicators of how we feel about ourselves is to look at the people we surround ourselves with.  The people we spend time with have a powerful influence on us.  That’s why the martial arts school is such a great place to be because you are surrounded by people from all walks of life who are committed to improving their lives and the lives of others.  There are other groups outside of the school that you have to pay close attention to also.  At work, often we can get caught up with the complainers who hang around the water cooler and whine about their job.  At school, in order to accepted, we might hang around a group that feels failure is cool.  Make sure, like in the martial arts school, you surround yourself with people that have high goals and are committed to supporting their friends goals.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   The author of “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”, Richard Carlson, PH.D. tells the story of two men who were working in construction as bricklayers. A reporter walked up to one man and asked what he was doing. His response was to complain that he was virtually a slave, an underpaid bricklayer who spent his days wasting his time placing bricks on top of one another. The reporter asked the other man the same question. He smiled and said, “I am the luckiest man in the world! I get to be a part of beautiful and important pieces of architecture. I help turn these simple pieces of brick into exquisite masterpieces.” With the Black Attitude, you have trained your mind to see the extraordinary in every ordinary, mundane task.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Do you see the cup as being half empty or half full?  If you’re an optimist, then you’ll see it as being half full.  On the other hand, pessimists will see the cup as being half empty.  Characteristically, they tend to dwell too much on the negative aspects of life.  As a result, they are often less productive than their optimistic colleagues.

Since optimists look to the positive side of an issue or event, they have less stress in their lives.  Also, they tend not to take things “personal.”  To them, challenges are nothing more than learning experiences that help them to build character and become even stronger people.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

Open-minded people are those who are willing to explore new avenues and consider different alternatives to what they are currently use to.  Also, these individuals tend not to get caught up in comfort zones.  They consider all of the options before making their final decision and, as a result, they experience the best that life has to offer.   

One of the benefits of being open-minded is that you often come across something that will allow for an improvement over pre-existing conditions.  By considering other options you’ll give yourself a chance to grow.  Close-minded individuals are comparable to the trapped roots of a banzai tree.  In other words, they tend not to grow throughout their life.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

If you go all out and do the very best you know how and keep trying to improve, you have the right stuff and you are already a champion. . If you think you are the best, you will become the best. If you can accept not winning as a challenge not as failure, you have the right stuff and are already a champion. If you accept that with every step backward you will go two steps forward, you have the right stuff and you are already champion. If you can ignore those who tell you that you can’t and go ahead and do, you have the right stuff and you are already champion. If you know deep inside that you are not and never can be a loser, you have the right stuff and you are already champion.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

There are people who go through life blaming everyone else for their own deficiencies. Two siblings can be raised in the same dysfunctional home by the same parents. One will be highly successful while the other may be in prison or in a low paying job and going through life blaming his/her parents. When things don’t go exactly as they think they should, some people blame their spouse and/or children and even turn violent against their loved ones. These sort of characters put on an outward appearance of being in control and being the best so if anything goes wrong, it must be someone else’s fault. They are really people who have absolutely no confidence in themselves and go through life angry at something real or imagined that they feel caused them to be a “nothing”. With the Black Belt Attitude, you would be the successful sibling and while you were working hard to reach your goals, you would only blame yourself when you took a step backwards.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

You have been sitting in a restaurant for fifteen minutes. You haven’t received a menu. No one has come over to your table. You begin to boil inside. You feel you are being completely ignored. Your mind is thinking, “Why don’t those lazy waiters get off their butts and wait on me?” “None of those stupid waiters know how to treat people.” “Would it be too much to just bring me a menu and a glass of water?” The more negative thoughts you have the angrier you become. Instead of becoming enraged, train your mind to think only positive thoughts. “Gee, those waiters are really busy. Maybe they need more help in here.” “Maybe the waiter didn’t see me.” With the Black Belt Attitude, you learn to control your rage by replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts. You have learned that not getting immediate gratification does not mean personal rejection.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

     Do good things come in small packages?  Sure they do.  Can great things come in big packages?  Of course they can.  The fact is that you never know what you’re going to get until you tear the wrapping paper off and see exactly what’s inside.

     People are the same way too.  That’s why you should never underestimate your opponent.  Size, weight and physical appearance say very little about a person’s fighting skills.  Bruce Lee was a classic example of this.  Weighing less than 150 pounds most people wouldn’t be intimidated by his moderate physical stature.  That’s ironic since he’s one of the last people on earth you’d ever want to fight with.  The opposite of this also holds true. Some individuals are really big on the outside but when it comes to fighting they’re really just gentle giants.  In other words, never judge a book by its cover.

     Underestimating an opponent is a beginner’s mistake.  No one should be taken for granted until you find out exactly what they’re made of.  On a similar note, you can’t be sure of the quality of a Christmas present until you see what’s under the wrapping paper.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

   The late President, John F. Kennedy, said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Great leaders are honest about themselves and recognize their own strengths, weaknesses and lack of knowledge. Great leaders admit they don’t know everything. Great leaders are eager to learn everything there is to know about their profession. They will buy books, take courses, buy tapes and videos. They will subscribe to any periodicals they feel will help them become more knowledgeable. They will attend seminars and will seek out mentors.  Great leaders are open-minded to change and recognize and acknowledge that someone else’s idea of how to do something may be the best way. With the Black Belt Attitude, you are fully aware that you know very little compared to what you could know and you will be a “lifetime student” because you know that the path of learning is the one you must take if you want to be a great leader.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

A wise person once said that” life’s greatest regrets are missed opportunities.” Opportunity does not always come in the way of a business or career opportunity.  Your opportunity to earn a black belt is a great example of the importance of seizing opportunity when it comes.

Often we miss opportunity simply because we don’t recognize it when it comes knocking.  This is usually the result of a lack of confidence in our ability to take advantage for fear of failure or looking bad.  The key is to study hard, focus on your goals and when the opportunity knocks, you’ll be ready for it.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

This month we have discussed family feuds and how, with the Black Belt Attitude, we all should mend any broken fences we may have with a family member.

Keep in mind that blood is thicker than water and parents and siblings are the core of our life. How can we raise happy families if we do not set an example of how families should be? Suppose something happened to the person with whom you are having a feud. How would you feel knowing that you never mended the fences and now it is too late?

As a Black Belt, starting now, go about mending any fences you have broken within your family. Remember that family member may be waiting for you to make that first move. As a Black Belt, you are big enough to overcome any quarrel and misunderstanding you may have with your family members.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]

[op_liveeditor_element][text_block]

One of the greatest doctors of all time, Albert Schweitzer, was once asked what he would share with the world about what he had learned if he was told he had but five minutes left in life. He said “If you have something important to do, don’t expect the people to roll the stones out of the way.”  There are always obstacles for us to overcome before we can succeed. For instance, as you pursue your black belt,  you may be challenged by a schedule change, illness, or personal situation.  These are the stones rolled into your path and everyone who has ever earned a black belt has had these stones rolled in their path too.  They took responsibility of working around them and following through on their goal of earning a black belt.

[/text_block][/op_liveeditor_element]