- Helen Hayes (1900–1993)
American actress
Academy, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy winner

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Give more history…

Monday is Memorial Day in the U.S. – a day to pay tribute to the individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States.

It was first established on a national level in 1868 (3 years after the Civil War) and became a federal holiday in 1971.

In 1950, the Congress, by a joint resolution, approved a request to the president to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people might unite in prayer – 11 am local time.

Also, Congress designated 3 pm local time as a time for all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance (1 minute of silence… lights on if you’re driving) to remember and honor those who died in service to the United States.

Have a colleague or customer who enjoys history? Here’s a 3.5 minute video you can share about Memorial Day (from History.com). Have kids? Could be a good quick history lesson over the weekend.

Be safe. Love your people.

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- Louis Pasteur (1822–1895)
French chemist and biologist

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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? 4 points to bounce back)
• Wishful (do what you can to influence the deal/ project/ situation and keep moving)
• Self-pity (get over yourself… complain less… 4 ways to do it)

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.)
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If you’ve not seen it (outside the money hours or on a well-earned break)…

To help you kick off the day… A beautifully shot and scored video of New York (5 minutes). I’ve found it puts me in a great state of mind to make good things happen. (Thanks to Mark Hurst for tipping us off. Surround yourself with good people, you’ll learn about good things.)
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On a personal note…

I was doing a little research on how a student gets into Stanford (the place seems to have a great track record for producing people who make good things happen).

If you’re interested (or have young kids who you hope go on to big things), I found these thoughts helpful and personally inspiring in a strange way.

Bottom line… "You should realize that Stanford isn’t looking for the best students: they’re looking for the best people."

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- Malcolm Gladwell (1963 – )
Canadian journalist

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Give more push…

Are you sitting on some kind of wonderful (waiting for a better day, week, month, year, time to move)?

Be careful to invest your money hours wisely. Time is the only thing you can never get back.

Sure… There are lottery winners. But that’s not the way to bet.

Gladwell’s bestseller "Outliers: The Story of Success" is a favorite read of mine (well worth the time) – some great insights on what it takes to succeed.

The hard work piece you already know (hopefully). It’s the impact of luck and culture that are pretty fascinating.

Here’s…

• the author’s Q&A on the book (it’s his site – the excerpts there are a bit weak but still interesting)
• the introduction to the book (on USA Today’s site – an interesting story about community and it’s impact on health)
• a 3-minute video clip where Gladwell talks about the front work that goes into the "overnight success"

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Have you signed the Declaration of Contribution? We’re getting close to 5,000 signatures and would love it if you joined us and encouraged others to sign.

I wrote it up to help us remind ourselves to be a part of the solution and make good things happen for other people. You can sign it online here (and get a printable version when you sign it). We also have posters and pocket cards of it here.

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If you’ve never seen it and need a little push to get going… Terry Tate might work (video). The ‘pain train’ kills me (at 1:13).

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- Isaac Newton (1643–1727)
English mathematician and physicist

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Give more attention…

Beginning at the top of the next hour and through the next 48, challenge yourself (and your team)…

When you begin a discussion with a colleague or customer (or family member), give that individual your complete attention until the issue at hand has been fully addressed.

Every single discussion. Every single interaction. The entire 48-hour period.

Don’t let a phone call interrupt an in-person conversation. Don’t let your email distract you from a phone call. Don’t let a passerby, instant messenger, berry, or iThing take your attention away from someone standing right in front of you (or on the phone).

Remember… Life is an interpersonal endeavor (and you’re a grown-up).

(Dig deeper and get 5 tips to giving better attention.)
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If you’ve not seen it or need a reminder (over the weekend or a well-earned break)…

A quick (2.5 min.) video made by Chick-fil-A to remind their employees that their customers are people and they may have things going on in their lives (a good thing to remember as you work with colleagues, customers, patients, students, etc.). It’s lightened me up more than once.

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- Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902)
American activist, writer and editor

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Give more leadership check…

Are you holding yourself accountable as a leader (with a title or not)?

As leaders, we enjoy the responsibility of helping people develop in a way that encourages them to hold themselves accountable for their attitudes, their work, and their results.

We need to be as disciplined, resourceful, and resilient in our efforts as we ask our people to be in theirs.

Relentless leadership is embracing the fact that the need for solid & ongoing reinforcement never ends and uncomfortable conversations are a necessity. This is how we create something special. (I talk a little bit about this in this quick video.)

Managers: How much development attention are you giving to your team? (20% of your week would be a full day of nothing but development time… 40% would be two full days, beginning to end)

Smile & Lead. Need some development discussion ideas? Try the ones here (they’re down the page after the story about the ridiculous pickle I was given).

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- C.S. Lewis (1898–1963)
Irish writer and scholar

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Give more attention…

How many of us have wished we’d given something (or someone) a little extra effort or attention earlier in the quarter/ year rather than later?

Lewis’s thought encourages us to care about what/ who is in front of us now… to fully use today and enjoy what it brings us in the future.
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Outside the money hours or on a well-earned break…

If you’ve not seen it (or need a reminder), enjoy this little 15-minute video on the value of a smile, being encouraging and resilient, and the impact we have on others (even when we don’t realize it).
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No Flintstoning this week!

flintstoning (verb): 1. leaving the moment the whistle blows (or before) 2. mentally checking out early 3. sad (what’s a flintstone?)

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- Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)
Italian painter, sculptor, and inventor

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Give more brain…

How are you kicking off your workday?

Are you preparing your mind with solid thought, information, and support? Are you allowing the right radio or TV personalities to get you ready (are any of them good…share one)? The right news or material? The right people at the office?

Be careful to what you give your attention. It all has an influence on you. (And kicking it is much more fun than mediocrity…or worse.)

Feed your mind well. It’s where action starts.

(smove out)
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If you’ve not seen it…Here’s Eric Thomas on Work (calls himself the Hip Hop Preacher – 5-minute video). It’s meant for students but it’s reminded me more than once to work hard and focus.

Short on time? Start at 2:20 and go to 4:00. Chills baby.

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- Marie Curie (1867–1934)
French physicist and chemist
two-time Nobel Prize winner

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Give more inspiration…

Remember… We are The Economy. (That includes you.)

Recovery depends on the work we do today… regardless of difficulty, regardless of political belief, regardless of what the media says. It’s our work (your work) that will get us there.

The US Navy SEALS have a creed they live by in their work. A few of my favorite lines are…

• The lives of my teammates and the success of the mission depend on me… (individual accountability)
• If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. (resilience)
• In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. (purpose)
• By wearing the Trident I accept the responsibility of my chosen profession and way of life. It is a privilege that I must earn every day. (commitment… did you catch that word ‘privilege’?)

What if we all had a Trident for our work – something that says we truly accept the responsibility for our chosen profession – and we did it?

You up for it?

(the entire creed with a printable version)
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1 minute from Nike to get you revved up. I watch this at least once every couple of weeks. I love how it builds and then pops at 0.38. Sick good. (That’s really really good.)

If you know a teenager who wants to care, pass it along. I shared it earlier in the year at a talk with some high school students and it seemed to connect nicely.
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Area code and state abbreviation charts are here.

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- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
American writer and activist

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Give more challenge…

A simple challenge where everyone wins (you and those around you). No risk. No additional time required.

Within the next 3 weeks (or maybe the next 3 minutes), set a 2-day period as your days (or your team’s days) to inspire others. Two days where you’ll put on blinders to anything negative and be the one in the office who everyone else can count on for words and actions that inspire and encourage. Two days where you’re the light for other people – your colleagues, your customers, your patients, your students – no matter what.

Allow nothing negative and focus only on your service to others.

Once you set your 2 days, fully commit to the effort regardless of the inevitable challenges, regardless of the weather (please, never the weather). Fall off the inspirational horse at 2:11 on the first day? Get back on at 2:12 – no excuses.

Remember, you wake with an option for your daily attitude. Challenges will come up regardless.

Choose positive. Spread it for two days. Get Smoving.

& ~> (that’s Smile & Move)

Not only will it be contagious… it might become a habit.

(Who could do it with you? Forward this idea to them.)
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If you’ve not seen it (and maybe even if you have), on a well-earned break, here’s a hilarious 4.5 minute video clip that speaks to being "ComplainLess" (from comedian Louis CK on Late Night with Conan O’Brien from a few years ago).

For a different twist on complaints… 3 minutes from Monty Python’s classic sketch, Four Yorkshiremen.
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Printable WorkDay charts are here and Q2 calendars are here.

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- Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)
Dutch painter

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Give more focus…

About 6 months ago I introduced the Distraction Diet Commitments… essentially, my re-commitment to Focus.

It continues to be a challenge for me – especially the email piece (I’m checking it at least 4 times a day at the moment and I’m not sure I’ll ever get to the twice daily goal… I’m thinking 3 might be the ideal number). Personal web use is way down but Focus Hours are still broken too often.

If I missed you with the idea, I hope you’ll join me by reading it here.

If you started your own distraction diet and have learned anything that you feel might be useful to all of our subscribers, please call or email me using the contact information in the footer below.
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Honda’s 8 minutes on how failure is a part of success (on the track and in business).

Only 30 seconds? Here’s Michael Jordan’s reminder.

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