Home About Say Hello
Home About Say Hello
Twitter
RSS
Facebook

The First Word of Success: Word

By Laurence Hansen on Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 | Comments Off

"Be impeccable with your word."
- First of The Four Agreements 
                by Don Miguel Ruiz

 
word - noun
1. a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning.
2.words,
a. speech or talk: to express one's emotion in words; Words mean little when action is called for.
b. the text or lyrics of a song as distinguished from the music.
c. contentious or angry speech; a quarrel: We had words and she walked out on me.
 
 
There are plenty of other definitions for word. A good dictionary might have up to a dozen or more definitions. When you really dig down into its meaning, it can get a bit dry and academic. That’s not the point of what we are doing here.
The point is this: Understanding the meaning of words and the awesome power of words is absolutely essential to achieving success.
And this word, word, is as good a place as any to start in your search for personal growth.
When you get right down to it, word is all about meaning. It is all about conveying the understanding of an idea, plan, goal, operation, intention, etc. from one person to other people.
Words are the fundamental building blocks of language, meaning, communication and intelligence. Without words to express ideas we would be very limited in our ability to communicate with others. The result would be a significant lack of social progress.
In the same way, a limited vocabulary or misunderstandings about the meaning of important words can slow or even halt your personal progress.
By fully appreciating the power of words and having a solid understanding of the meaning of words, you will have the essential tools for fully developing yourself into the person you wish to be.
 
"Be impeccable with your word."
 
There is a world of significance in this statement. To really appreciate it, you need to understand the meaning of the word impeccable. Without giving it the full Words of Success treatment, in simplest terms it means “not capable of sin.”
There is a good reason for this to be the first of Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements. It recognizes the power of words. When you fully appreciate the power of your word and you are choosing to live a life of success and significance, you will choose and use your words carefully.
You don't need to understand the power of words to be greatly affected by that power. It happens to all of us. In fact, most of us have been shaped, for better or for worse, by the power of words without ever knowing it happened to us.
At a very early age an infant begins being affected by the power of words. As soon as an infant is old enough to understand the simplest words, "good", "yes", "no", “bad”, connections are being made between the wants and needs of the infant, and the words and actions by others in response to the infant's needs.
Even before an infant is old enough to begin expressing itself through language, it is being programmed by the language of parents, siblings, caretakers. Especially when they are words of judgment, in any way describing the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of the child, they are shaping that child’s self-image.
How often have we heard the expression, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?” It’s a lie! Words have incredible power to harm people. In chapter 9 of The Greatest Salesman in the World, “The Scroll Marked II” states, “Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of men . . .” Like love, words have the power to heal, the power to create and “the power to open the hearts of men,” but they also have the power to seriously damage others.
What we say to each other and especially what we say to ourselves has dramatic impact. Just take a look at the results Adolf Hitler achieved with his words. By the same token, the inspiring words of Winston Churchill helped galvanized a nation and the free world in its effort to stand up and defeat Hitler.
 
“A diet of words can feed the mind and inspire us to faith, vision, and articulation.
That's how miracles can happen.”
- Jim Rohn 
 
One of the great synonyms for word is intelligence. It is about achieving and sharing knowledge, understanding and vision with others. It is the meaning of words that gives them their power. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” True enough, but it’s only because you and I agree that “rose” refers to a particular type of flower that we both understand the significance of that statement.
Some of the language of personal development has been misused. This is true of “motivational” speakers. Many times, in order to make a point and impress the audience, the speaker will twist words slightly out of shape with an air of authority. Unfortunately, this can set up the listener for confusion when hearing the word again.

This is becoming an even greater challenge with the rapid growth of the Internet. Anyone with an Internet connection and the slightest bit of technical ability (or assistance from their elementary school child) can set herself up as an authority for the whole world to see. Unfortunately, this means that you and I may stumble on a well-designed website that is flat-out careless in its presentation of “information.” Your greatest defense against wasting time being misled by careless use of language in the internet is to become a dedicated student of the language of success.
By carefully studying the language of success from thoughtful, reliable sources, you can position yourself to gain the most from the wealth of personal development information available to you on and off the Internet. You will be able to take in what is valuable as well as recognize and discard the useless and confusing.
 
“For me, words are a form of action, capable of influencing change.“
- Ingrid Bengis
 
The right words, used in the right way will be the basis for taking actions you must take to propel yourself to a life of success. The wrong words, regardless of what motivated their use, have been instrumental in establishing limitations you continue to place on yourself. 
When we learn the real meaning of important words, we start to have the tools we need to create a new life of success and accomplishment. When we use the right words in a productive manner, we begin to create our world as we want it to be.
The words you say to yourself are a key element in your ability to move beyond where you are now to achieve the success you desire. Words that have been said to you by yourself and others are the key influencers that have put you where you are and may be preventing you from moving from where you feel stuck to where, in your mind’s eye, you know you want to be.

Resolve To Be Grateful

By Laurence Hansen on Monday, December 27th, 2010 | 1 Comment

In this, the last week of the year I am investing most of time in reflection, completion of unfinished business, concrete planning and foundation work for the new year.  The process naturally has me thinking about the annual tradition of New Year’s resolutions.  Normally I don’t make “resolutions” but I do take time to review goals I had set for the year and set some new goals for the coming year.

There is no need to wait for New Year’s Eve to consider resolutions for 2011.  I can make my “resolutions” now and then focus on the real work of setting concrete goals, making plans and putting plans into action.  So in the spirit of tradition, and only a few days early, I will proclaim my resolutions for 2011.

It’s really quite simple.  Read the rest of this entry »

A Record of Gratitude

By Laurence Hansen on Monday, December 27th, 2010 | 2 Comments

Does anybody sell address books these days?  I mean address books.  You know – those small books with alphabetical tabs.  The ones with several spaces on each page dedicated to the purpose of recording the name, phone number and mailing address of everyone you might want to stay in touch with.  The kind your great grandmother kept next to the dial phone in the kitchen.  Remember?

In this age of iPhones, Blackberries, Google Contacts and every other variation on the theme of an electronic address book, does anybody buy new paper-based address books?  What would you do with one if you received it as a gift?

A little over ten years ago my friends Bill Senkus and Sheryn Labate partnered with Alyson Kuhn and a group of designers from AIGA/SF to create stamp designs and a public presentation entitled Ephemera Philatelica.   (It has been renamed Alphabetilately  for its website incarnation and exhibition at The National Postal Museum.)  It was for me an enthralling, eye-opening celebration of postage stamps and other features of stamp collecting (philately) I previously had no clue about.  The stamp designs produced by local graphic designers are wonderful examples of philatelic topics from A to Z.

A couple of years later Bill, Sheryn, Alyson and AIGA/SF stepped up and produced an absolute gem of an address book.  Every letter from A to Z featured the stamp designed to represent a philatelic topic associated with that letter.  Inside the back cover was a glassine envelope containing samples of the actual Ephemera Philatelica stamps.

I bought a few copies of the address book, giving some away as gifts and keeping two for an undetermined purpose.

Even before the advent of PDAs and other electronic contact management tools I was never a fan of paper address books.  They were never reliably in alphabetical order or clearly legible as names, numbers and addresses were added, scratched out and re-entered out of order.  They were a source of frustration for me.  When personal computers became powerful enough and I could afford my own I jumped at the opportunity to use it to store my address list.  Then it was a Palm Pilot and eventually Microsoft Outlook and a Blackberry where I was able to keep my contacts close at hand and searchable.

I never really wanted a paper address book.

So what was I to do with two beautiful Ephemera Philatelica address books – two books I had no intention of using for their stated purpose? 

One night as I wrote in my journal, I put my pen down to reflect on what I was grateful for in my life.  That’s when it hit me.  An address book that will never be used to record addresses and phone numbers is the perfect place to record the names of people who’ve been influential, had a positive impact or for any reason have earned my personal gratitude.

Did I neglect to mention that one of the two Ephemera Philatelica address books I held onto was actually a gift from Sheryn Labate.  That is the book I first used to record the names and a brief observation about people I am grateful for and want to remember.  Sheryn’s is among the first names I recorded in that book.  The second book is the one personally signed by Bill, Sheryn and Alyson at the reception celebrating its publication.  I certainly hope I have filled both books to overflowing long before I leave this world.

Today I am proud to publicly express my thanks to Bill, Sheryn and Alyson for being in my life.

What are you grateful for?  Who are you grateful for?  Have you committed your gratitude to writing?  Maybe you have an unused address book buried in a desk drawer someplace.  Now you have a good reason to dig it out and put it to use.

Your friend and champion,
Laurence Hansen

Welcome, Early Bird

By Laurence Hansen on Friday, December 24th, 2010 | No Comments

Welcome!  You have stumbled onto the beginning of a resource that will be unique on the Internet.  It will be unique because it fills a void.  It will provide many things my friends and I have found lacking in the Internet. 

As the title says, this is all about achieving balance, wholeness, integrity and fulfillment in life.  It is about acknowledging that money is not everything.  There is, indeed, far more to life than money.  But in contrast to a common misconception drilled into many of us by parents, family, religion and culture, money is not the root of all evil.

One very important objective of this site is to help people address what their money mindset is doing to hold them back from achieving everything they want in life. Welcome to the future in-depth examination of why being a millionaire is a worthy goal and why being a millionaire is simply not enough.

Because you are one of the first to visit this site, you will be a witness to its development, warts and all.  It may be rocky at times but we believe it is better to begin sharing, make a few mistakes along the way, make adjustments and corrections and keep on sharing.

What MoreThanAMillionaire has to offer is simply too important to keep on the back burner until it is perfectly designed.

If you'd like to be kept informed of developments, just sign up for the Millionaire Focus newsletter over on the right side of this page.  You will be among the first to receive the very first issue when it is published.

If you'd like, you can also leave a note on the Say Hello page.  We'll be in touch.

Your friend and champion,
Laurence Hansen
December 24, 2010
Updated January 3, 2011

  • Free Newsletter: “Millionaire Focus”

     

    We respect your email privacy

  • Influential Books

  • Recent Articles

  • Article Categories

  • Article Archive
Copyright 2010 - Friend and Champion