Monday Morning Motivations Striving for Excellence

Published by Robert A. & Vicki L. Prentice of Professional Development Systems
July 31, 2006 Issue 209

From the Desk of Bob

Sizzlin’ heat! Stayin’ cool! Ice Cold Lemonade has become my new best friend.

I am so thrilled to have my dear wife contribute today to Seeds of Success. I must confess that she is really the brains behind our organization. She is the lady who makes things happen. She is so diligent in always making me look good. She has more than earned the right to write this article for our Monday Morning Motivations. She lives this stuff on a daily basis.

By the way, if you have always wondered who motivates the motivator, well, let me introduce to you Vicki Prentice.

Enthusiatically! Bob

In this week's issue

Life Attitudes

Seeds of Success: Striving for Excellence

Lessons of Failure

The Prairie Beacon

Mr. Attitude's Life Tested Tools

On the Sunny Side of Life

Life Attitudes

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face; we must do that which we think we cannot."
~Eleanor Roosevelt~

"Anyone who doesn't make mistakes isn't trying hard enough."
~Wess Roberts~

"Most people achieved their greatest success one step beyond what looked like their greatest failure."
~Brian Tracey~

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Today's Administrative Solutions

Seeds of Success: Striving for Excellence

By Vicki L. Prentice

I am by nature a bit of a perfectionist and have worked diligently over the years to overcome this flaw of temperament. Though I have not yet “arrived” I believe I have come a long way towards breaking the habit of going to extremes in this area of my life. Being married to “Mr. Attitude” has certainly helped, since he has taught me the difference between striving for perfection and striving for excellence.

One of the things striving for perfection does is robs us of the joy that comes from trying something new. When we are set on having a “perfect” outcome we can become so paralyzed by a fear of failing that we won’t risk venturing out of our comfort zones and we are defeated before we can even begin.

On the other hand, striving for excellence frees us from the need to perform perfectly and we get to experience a joy that comes from venturing into unknown territory. Aiming for excellence gives us a determination to keep trying until we get it right. We can try and fail, and then try and fail again as often as it takes to achieve our very best.

I have come to believe that the only way we can fail is to give up. Quitting in the middle of the struggle assures that you will never succeed. At that point, saying “I can’t” is the absolute truth, because you cannot think negatively and experience a positive result simultaneously. Ah, but how much more likely we are to succeed when we say “I can” and then set out to do our very best, even though our best may not be quite perfect.

As long as we keep trying, even when we make mistakes, we can rejoice in the fact that we’re learning and growing along the way. Reaching perfection in this life is impossible, but attaining excellence is not only possible, it is also stimulating and very rewarding.

Lessons of Failure

Failure does not mean I’m a failure; it does mean I have not yet succeeded.

Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing; it does mean I have learned something.

Failure does not mean I have been a fool; it does mean I had enough faith to experiment.

Failure does not mean I have disgraced; it does mean I have dared to try.

Failure does not mean I don’t have it; it does mean I have something to do in a different way.

Failure does not mean I am inferior; it does mean I am not perfect.

Failure does not mean I have wasted my life; it does mean that I have an excuse to start over.

Failure does not mean that I should give up; it does mean that I should try harder.

Failure does not mean that I will never make it; it does mean that I need more practice.

Failure does not mean that you have abandoned me; it does mean that you must have a better idea.

~Author Unknown~

Bob "Mr. Attitude" Prentice is available for Keynote, conference engagements, and in-house company training assignments Call to schedule Bob TODAY! 800.437.9715

Read on...

The Prairie Beacon

The Prairie Beacon is a monthly positive attitude paper, published by Mr. Attitude, featuring Seeds of Success articles, motivational stories, quotes and attitudes, all guaranteed to challenge and inspire it's readers to live a richer, fuller and happier life.

Subscribe today! Just $15 for 12 issues. Send your check to: The Prairie Beacon 410 Wessington Street South Wessington, SD 57381

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Mr. Attitude's Life Tested Tools

My training sessions consist of the principals, attitudes, and skills that I have discovered over the course of my life, and that I aspire to practice in my day to day living. These are the Life Tested Tools that I have to offer:

KEYS TO BETTER LEADERSHIP • Creativity Encounter • Planning for Results • Organizational Effectiveness • Understanding Ourselves and Others • Teamwork Works • Building Morale

KEYS TO BETTER SELLING • Gaining a Prospects Attention • Building Interest • Communicating with Conviction • Painting Pictures of Desire • Asking for the Business • Welcoming Objections • Showmanship in Selling • Total Customer Service • Bootstrap Marketing o Barter o Networking o Advertising o Podcasting/Blogging o Internet

KEYS TO BETTER LIVING • Attitudes for Excellence • Managing Stress and Time • Complete Life Strategy • Tapping our Potential

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Feel free to pass your Monday Morning Motivations on to a friend.

What a great way to let them know you are thinking of them!

On the Sunny Side of Life

A man joins a big corporate empire as a trainee. On his very first day of work, he dials the pantry and shouts into the phone, “Get me a coffee, quickly!”

The voice from the other side responded, “You fool you’ve dialed the wrong extension! Do you know who you’re talking to, Dumbo?”

“No,” replied the trainee.

“It’s the CEO of the company, you fool!”

The trainee shouts back, “And do YOU know who YOU are talking to, you fool?!”

“No!” replied the CEO indignantly.

“Good!” replied the trainee, and puts down the phone.