–Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
American statesman, scientist and writer

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Give more virtues…

In Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, he lists 13 life virtues worth pursuing — each builds upon the previous…

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

Learn the remaining 9 virtues and get a printable reminder of all of them.

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Do you have your September calendar and computer wallpaper?

–Eugéne Delacroix (1798–1863)
French artist

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Give more tech tip…

Get specific address information and phone numbers sent to your cell phone or personal device by text messaging Google – perfect for those last minute "I forgot the number/ address" moments on the way to a meeting or when setting up dinner reservations.

Here’s how…

1. Set up Google in the contacts list of your device in the same way you add a friend
2. Add Google’s number as 466453 (you can do this each time without adding it to your contact list, as well)
3. Type in the name of the business or person on which you want the information, the city, and the state and send it as a text message (sometimes just the zip code will do – even part of a name or a misspelling will work at times)
4. Within 5-10 seconds (this is our experience), if the information is available, it will be sent back to your device

Absolutely wonderful. Learn more or tip off your most important people (clients, colleagues, family) by forwarding this email.

(If you’ve not seen it (4 minutes), Louis CK will have you laughing here about our challenge with being astonished – well-earned break only.)

–Kim Clijsters (1983 – )
Belgian professional tennis player
2-time U.S. Open champion

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Give more truth…

You don’t know everything.

You do know that, don’t you?

Continual learning is a basic necessity to professional improvement and in many cases it’s other people who will help you get there.

But only if you’re coachable. Are you?

To be coachable means to be…

• Approachable
• Attentive
• Receptive
• Curious
• Objective
• Trusting
• Shapeable
• Confident

It means you must listen with the intent to learn rather than to show what you know. (be no ego)

Get more insight and a quick 8-point check on your coachability.

(The 2010 U.S. Open Tennis Tournament begins today. Clijsters is the defending champion. Tons of ways to stay in the loop over the next two weeks.)

Leaders: If you’d like to present this to your people, you can pick up a copy of the slides and the script at http://www.GiveMore.com/cross.  If you’d like to show this narrated version to a group of people, you can purchase it here.

We also have versions for colleges, coaches, and schools (high and middle).

Know a student who could use the message? Send them to this version.

Get the Cross the Line™ Wristband

(Read the original essay here.)

–Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968)
American civil rights leader
Nobel Peace Prize winner

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Give more inspiration…

Martin Luther King lived for just over 39 years.

He traveled over six million miles, spoke on over 2500 occasions, became an icon for civil rights, was the youngest Time magazine Man of the Year (35), and won the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

When you have some time (outside the money hours, of course), enjoy his "I Have a Dream" speech (he was 34 when he delivered it at the Lincoln Memorial… unreal), read his Nobel Prize acceptance, or listen to this quick audio clip from his Drum Major Instinct sermon for a little inspiration (full text of the speech).

(Tomorrow’s the 47th anniversary of King’s delivery of "I Have a Dream" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.)

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I’ve been loving King’s book "Strength to Love" recently. If you’re a fan, I highly recommend it.

Martin Luther King lived for just over 39 years.

He traveled over six million miles, spoke on over 2500 occasions, became an icon for civil rights, was the youngest Time magazine Man of the Year (35), and won the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

He was 34 when he delivered the speech above (unreal).

When you have some time (outside the money hours, of course), enjoy his Nobel Prize acceptance, or listen to this quick audio clip from his Drum Major Instinct sermon for a little inspiration (full text of the speech).

Principals and teachers: If you’d like to present this to your students, you can pick up a copy of the slides and the script at http://www.GiveMore.com/cross. If you’d like to show this narrated version to a group of people, you can purchase it here.

We also have versions for colleges, coaches, and companies/organizations.

Get the Cross the Line™ Wristband

(Read the original essay here.)

–St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622)
French bishop and writer

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Give more list…

What are the most common "drag you down, get in the way of success" thoughts?

• Defeatist (accepting, expecting, or being resigned to defeat)
• Cynical (contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives)
• Vindictive (seeking revenge)
• Blame/ Fault (who cares? what are we going to do now?)
• Wishful (do what you can to influence the deal/ project/ situation and keep moving)
• Self-pity (get over yourself… complain less… especially to yourself)

Get the complete list (5 more) and a printable reminder.

(Some definitions provided by Merriam-Webster. Most popular thoughts provided by your GiveMore team. They’re not our thoughts, you understand. We have friends with these thoughts.)

–Colin Powell (1937 – )
former U.S. Secretary of State

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Give more thought…

There’s nothing more powerful to the workday than enthusiasm. It excites everyone to positive action…

• you
• your team
• the new customer you just brought on board
• the internal department responsible for the delivery of what you promised the customer
• the receptionist who talks with your customers and associates first

As you work with your people today (and tomorrow) your level of enthusiasm will impact all of them (one way or the other). What do you want your impact to be?

TGIS: Thank God it’s Smonday

(Smonday: the first work day of the week for a Smover — one who
smiles & moves)

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If you have 2 minutes… Inspiring enthusiasm from my boys.

And this one from Nike is a favorite of mine too… better for Smorning people than late risers. (Get up 15 minutes earlier each day and get 90 waking hours back every year in time… MMMMM)

–Victoria Holt (1906–1993)
British writer

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Give more encouragement…

complainless: (adj.) 1. to be free of complaints 2. a pleasure to be around

Your words move others. Your words move you.

Let yours send everyone in the right direction.

Here’s how to be "ComplainLess"…

1. Be aware. Recognize your typical paths to complaining – what (who) sparks your tendency to gripe. Minimize your exposure to them (eliminating those ’sparks’ altogether may not always be realistic or the best thing). Know that your grumbling is a complete waste of energy.
2. Be thankful. Regularly reflect on all the good in your life (people, opportunities, things). Understand and enjoy how lucky you really are. Be entitled to nothing.
3. Pause before you begin. Clip a complaint as you feel it coming. Put a smile or thoughtful statement in its path. Blame no one. Blame nothing.
4. Be accountable. Focus on solving problems rather than having them (especially with prospects and customers). Set the example for others and recommit when you slip. Care for yourself and create a positive habit.

Simple. More enjoyable for everyone. Let’s Smove.

(get the ComplainLess card)

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If you’ve not seen it, on a well-earned break, here’s a hilarious 4.5 minute video clip that speaks to the being "ComplainLess" (from comedian Louis CK on Late Night with Conan O’Brien).

Let it help you be more amazed (and maybe pass it along to those who could use a gentle reminder that in many cases, we’re luckier than we think).

For a different twist on complaints, here are 3 minutes from Monty Python’s classic sketch, Four Yorkshiremen.