- Isabel Allende (1942 – )
Chilean-American novelist

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Give more investment…

Moving forward (now), make a conscious choice to flip that internal switch and focus on giving more for the dollars you earn (with your effort, with your product/ service) and you’ll find more will come your way. It may not always happen as quickly as you’d like, but it’s the better bet in the long run.

(pace your expectations… give more… enjoy more)
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When I think about today’s quote, it reminds me of Jon Stewart’s introduction of Bruce Springsteen at the Kennedy Center Honors program a couple years ago…

"Whenever I see Bruce Springsteen do anything, he empties the tank… every time. And the beautiful thing about this man is he empties that tank for his family, he empties that tank for his art, he empties that tank for his audience, and he empties it for his country. And we, on the receiving end of that beautiful gift are ourselves rejuvenated, if not redeemed."

That "every time" is what gets me.

Most of us don’t get the opportunity to empty the tank in such a cool way as Springsteen, but we can work to empty the tank and be rock stars in our own worlds.

As a subscriber to GiveMore, you’re obligated to empty the tank (No Gomos*).

Over the weekend or during a well-earned break, you can enjoy Jon Stewart’s hilarious and moving introduction to Springsteen here (9.5 minutes).

*Gomo: Someone who goes through the motions. The Gallup poll people tell us 54% of us are in this category (they corporate speak it using the term… disengaged). Get a No Gomo wristband here. Get a No Gomo or No D-grunt printable reminder here.

Connect with Sam (guy behind this stuff)…

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- George Lucas (1944 – )
American film director, producer and screenwriter

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Give more evaluation…

Do your actions…

1. create a positive buzz about you and your work?
2. make others want you as a part of their team?
3. make your employer cringe at the thought of losing you?
4. make your colleagues (or customers, clients, patients) excited about referring you to others?

You want your actions to scream value without the need for you to say a word.

This is what creates true economic and job security – the value you and your team create for others.

This is care (what it’s all about).

When you have the opportunity over the next few days, set a reminder to review these four questions at the end of each month. Then, give yourself a little (objective) attention by reviewing them and creating an action plan to improve in each area where you feel you should.

Easier said than done… still needs to be done.

Forward this to a friend or colleague (it’s Smover approved).
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"Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a sort of life, rather than a Monday-to-Friday sort of dying."

Studs Terkel (1912 – 2008)
American writer, journalist, broadcaster
Pulitzer Prize winner (print it)

Outside the money hours, enjoy this clip from NPR – the story around Studs Terkel’s book "Working" – actual recordings from a few of his interviews for the book.

Particularly heartwarming (seriously… if you don’t get a little teary-eyed with Therese, check your pulse): Delores the waitress Loving Her People (at 1:50 to 3:00), Terry the newspaper boy on collections and his spending problem (at 3:30 to 4:45) and Therese on being "just a housewife" (at 6:45 to 8:10). I’m playing it for my kids.

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- Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)
26th president of the United States

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Give more inspiration…

Roosevelt was an advocate for "the life of strenuous endeavor." He was a rancher, captured an outlaw, authored 35 books, served as president of the American Historical Association, led two major scientific expeditions for prominent American museums, served as president of the United States (started as the youngest in history – 42), won the Nobel Peace Prize, and was the father of six children.

After he left the Presidency in 1909, he went on a safari in Africa. When he returned, he ran for President in 1912 as an independent because he lost the Republican nomination. While campaigning, he was shot in the chest by a fanatic and ultimately recovered. His words at the time…

"No man has had a happier life than I have led; a happier life in every way."

What will you make happen in the last 26 workdays of 2011?

No Gomos*. No busywork. We’re here to make good things happen for other people.

(gomo: someone who goes through the motions… get a wristband here)

For another favorite from Roosevelt and a nostalgic wallpaper… use this link.
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Tomorrow (and every day), we wish you great food and conversation wherever you might be.

To those still working hard today (and on Friday)… Thanks for giving more!
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In 1939 and 1940, we had two Thanksgiving days in the U.S. It all had to do with business (here’s why).

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- Mark Twain (1835–1910)
American writer

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Give more inspiration…

What if…

John and Abigail Adams had been more concerned with themselves and work/life balance than creating a democracy (if you’ve not seen the HBO miniseries – great stuff)?

What if… Abraham Lincoln (born on 2/12… coincidence?) had quit trying after having a business go under and losing his first local legislative race (and then 3 congressional races and 2 senatorial races)?

What if… Martin Luther King didn’t have a dream and played it safe (and didn’t travel over 6 million miles giving more than 2500 speeches). What if he thought he was too young to have an impact (he did everything he did in a life of only 39 years)?

What if… Gandhi, Teresa, Roosevelt, Ford, Disney, Walton, Gates, Winfrey, Jobs, Stewart, and Ash hadn’t stepped up and worked hard. (What if the thousands of people who supported them hadn’t?) What if your police, military, firefighters didn’t?

What if… No one pushed it, risked it, and pushed it again (and again)?

Be obligated to your world (your people).

Give > Take.
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Need a little pump up today? Maybe this little guy can help you get started (1 minute).
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To connect with me… Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter

- Cato the Elder (234 BC–149 BC)
Roman statesman and soldier

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Give more thought…

Think about your schedule. Starting or leaving on time – whether it’s at work, at a meeting, or at an event – is what’s expected.

And if we do only what’s expected, we can be fairly sure we’ll rarely enjoy any special result.

A couple of quick questions…

1. Of the 20 or so days you work each month, how many times do you start earlier than is expected of you?
2. How many times do you work longer hours than are required?

To start early and go long sends a message of purpose, commitment, and respect – to others and yourself – and assures better results over time. To be even one minute late, or rarely be challenged ending your day on time, sends a completely different message.

Get lost in your service to others. Give more and you’ll enjoy more.

: ) & ~> (that’s Smile & Move)

Hmmm: If you owned the place or lead the team, what kind of people would you want with you? What kind would you want to be somewhere else?

(excerpted from our little book, Smile & Move… it’s the first principle of Moving… learn more here)
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Did you get your free copy of our favorite, A Message to Garcia? Written in 1899, it’s a 10-minute read that still inspires us today (download it here).

We also created a version for kids here.

Also: I know I direct you to this at least once a month, but in the spirit of today’s quote and message, I just had to do it again (plus I love it more than once monthly myself)… 1 minute from Nike to wake you up.

Connect with Sam (guy behind this stuff)…

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

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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. (I love these.)
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Too many people will lose today’s productivity in anticipation of the holiday weekend (in the US and Canada). Isn’t it time to start a little positive revolution… a little LUKSA?

Connect with Sam (guy behind this stuff)…

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- Mark Twain (1835–1910)
American writer

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Give more evaluation…

Do your actions…

1. create a positive buzz about you and your work?
2. make others want you as a part of their team?
3. make your employer cringe at the thought of losing you?
4. make your colleagues (or customers, clients, patients) excited about referring you to others?

You want your actions to scream value without the need for you to say a word.

This is what creates true economic and job security – the value you and your team create for others.

This is care (what it’s all about).

When you have the opportunity over the next few days, set a reminder to review these four questions at the end of each month. Then, give yourself a little (objective) attention by reviewing them and creating an action plan to improve in each area where you feel you should.

Easier said than done… still needs to be done.

Forward this to a friend or colleague (it’s Smover approved).
_____

Speaking of doing the right thing… Do you know the fable The Emperor’s New Clothes? I always thought I did but it really goes much further than I knew (10-minute read, tops).

It’s about truth, conviction, and being valuable.

Read with an English accent (which apparently can sound very different depending upon which part of England you’re from) and a bit of actor’s energy, you might find yourself laughing out loud with pity as you recognize the similarities to some of our organizational experiences today.

Connect with Sam (guy behind this stuff)…

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- Kayla Kelly (1998 – )
American sandcastle builder
(overheard in The Outer Banks of North Carolina – 2011)

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Give more focus…

Imagine the incredible results you’d have if you and your team really focused on a consistent basis.

You’d likely…

• contribute more
• waste less time ramping back up
• serve customers better (internally and externally)
• find more customers
• come up with more ideas
• plan better
• be less frustrated and stressed
• help others focus more (by interrupting them less)
• make more money (for everyone… including you)

Nothing’s guaranteed, of course. But it’s a better bet. (And in the long run, you’ll enjoy more.)

4 ways to knock out the bulk of distractions (for Smovers & 212ers only… two of the points get some people angry). Also… Links to a couple of my favorite supportive articles to better thinking and focus.
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Today’s quotation came from a child I overheard last week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (wonderful place).

About 10 kids were in on the building of a sandcastle when Kayla reminded everyone of what was most important at that moment – protecting the sandcastle with a deep moat.

Being the quote freak that I am… it jumped out, hung briefly in the air, and was captured for your reading pleasure.

Connect with Sam (guy behind this stuff)…

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-Marcus Aurelius (121–180)
Roman emperor, philosopher

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Give more choice…

With everything, there’s a line.

On one side of the line is a greater chance to make good things happen (better results, better relationships, more responsibility). This is where you’ll find all those people you admire.

On the other side, there’s less of a chance.

And with each line, there’s a choice. You want to cross the line or you don’t. You want the better chance at making good things happen (meaningful things) or you settle with the lesser chance.

Your choice.

It seems simple but…

Then there’ll be those times. Those times when in the short run it’ll seem like you can’t cross the line (no matter what you do).

But then (read more / hear more)…

(some personal thoughts on it here)
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When you need a well-earned break, enjoy Al Pacino’s half-time speech (4.5 minutes) in the 1999 film "Any Given Sunday." Focus and turn up your speakers a bit to get the full feel with the background music.

It’s all about the 212 difference.

CAUTION: If curse words bother you, you should skip it.

–Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
German philosopher

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Give more reminder…

If you’re not getting push back from time-to-time (or conversations aren’t occasionally uncomfortable), you may not be getting the full truth. And without the full truth, your choices and actions might take you in the wrong direction.

Make sure you do your best to objectively dig for truth (rather than hope or wish something to be.)

We call it "wishing it in" at Give More. If you play tennis, you get it. In a match, if your opponent hits a ball that you’ll have to run hard to get, you might be lazy and "wish it out" instead of pushing it. Avoid "wishing in" a new hire (here’s an idea on this one), a partnership, or project. Go for objective truth.

Speaking of truth… Do you know the fable The Emperor’s New Clothes? I always thought I did but it really goes much further than I knew (10-minute read, tops).

It’s about truth, conviction, and being valuable.

Read with an English accent (which apparently can sound very different depending upon which part of England you’re from) and a bit of actor’s energy, you might find yourself laughing out loud with pity as you recognize the similarities to some of our organizational experiences today.

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If you’ve not seen it or need a reminder, 1 minute from Nike…
Excusing us not.