Interpersonal relationships make a big difference in life

On February 21, 2012, In @ Work, By Bryan Dodge

The vast majority of benefit that people find in life’s ups and downs is a true relationship that makes life meaningful. It is this type of understanding in life that allows people to be there for you when you need them the most. It is during these times that people end up forging powerful ties that last a lifetime. How do they accomplish such a powerful feat, they do it by following this good advice…

First good advice: when someone close to you offers you support, accept it with open arms and with true appreciation instead of pushing it aside, or even worse, pushing away. These are not times for foolish pride. Foolish pride will only keep people at a distance. People want to help, so let them in, and always remember to say thank you, not only with your words, with your eyes and a true smile that comes from the heart. It is the smile that comes from the heart that stays in the soul all day.

Second good advice: True compassion and empathy are offered and then respond with an open heart. Remember: you’re not the only one in the world that has ups and downs. Don’t ever forget the truth in life. People need you as much as you need them. Learn to show up so they can.

Third good advice: Keeping your ups and downs quiet doesn’t allow people to become educated enough so they can show up when needed. You have to tell your story in a way that helps those around you understand what you’re going through. Don’t be afraid to be honest, it will allow them to do the same. Just don’t show off, and don’t be a whiner as well. Educate people about the reality, and it will help them to do the same.

Fourth good advice: in life, we all start out as strangers before we become a friend. Just because you don’t know them doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. If you turn away the kindness, you offend the person wanting to give it to you. So, pay attention to what truly matters in life.

Fifth good advice: it’s easy to be nice to somebody that is nice. The real test in life is, can you be nice to somebody that isn’t so nice?

Sixth good advice: make sure that you foster lasting relationships with the professionals that you need in your life. They need you as much as you will need them.

How do you get those around you to show up for you when you aren’t there? The answer is easy, just show up for them when you are there

I hope you have enjoyed some good advice this month. Thanks for all your support, and your prayers.

The Good Life Rules!
Bryan Dodge

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Dare To Dream

On January 13, 2012, In @ Work, By Bryan Dodge

Let nothing hold you back from exploring your wildest fantasies, wishes, and aspirations. Don’t be afraid to dream big and to follow your dreams wherever they may lead you. Open your eyes to their beauty; open your mind to their magic; open your heart to their possibilities.

Dare to dream,
Whether they are in color or in black and white, whether they are big or small, easily attainable or almost impossible, look to your dreams, and make them become reality. Wishes and hopes are nothing until you take the first step towards making them something!

Dare to dream,
Because only by dreaming, will you ever discover who you are, what you want, and what you can do. Don’t be afraid to take risks, to become involved, to make commitment. Do whatever it takes to make your dreams come true. Always believe in miracles, and always believe in you!

~ Julie Anne Ford ~

Doing the Right Thing starts with Never, Never, Quit! Winston Churchill said, “To every man there comes that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a special thing unique to him and fitted to his special talent. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour.”

Is this a normal holiday season for you? Or is it different like it should be? What I mean by that is the topic of this month’s e-Zine. Does it always take something outside of our control to put us back in control? The proven answer is yes. My question is why? Are all the changes within the market place trying to tell you something that you’ve forgotten?

Are these uncertain times trying to remind you of the power that allows you to see the meaning of your life? Or are these just confusing times and somebody else’s problem. Do we just brush these times off as something that will not really change our lives? I believe that times like these come only once or twice in a lifetime at a level that forces you to pay attention. If you embrace the lessons learned during times like these and make your new choices a part of your daily habits, you could save all the things that matter in life before it’s too late. Now is the time to be good, not average. Good people always appreciate what they have before they lose it; average people can only appreciate what they have after they lose it.

We all have a choice in the way we live our lives. But many times, you don’t discover whether your choices make a good life or an average one until the moment when a situation seems to find a voice and taps you on the shoulder. The problem isn’t that you couldn’t hear and see; it was that you wouldn’t listen and understand. The real question is why is this happening now? Is it the wake up call that you have asked or hoped for because of the direction you’ve gone in your life? I believe it is! Be thankful that it has called on you, because if you are truly thankful during these uncertain times, you will be reminded of the meaning that you truly have in life.

Let’s be honest…Why has this finally happened? Is it because you have lost control or have doubts? No, it is because you realize you are not totally in control and you need help. At that moment, you realize that the things that don’t matter, really don’t matter anymore. What matters most is doing the right thing and never giving up on your dreams in life. Nothing changes until you change, and once you change, your life becomes different which allows your dreams to become alive again for you and those depending on you. If you’ve been working on your dreams/ goals for a while and haven’t produced the results you wanted, keep on trying. You may just be a foot or two from the diamond field. So keep on digging no matter what obstacles you might encounter.

Please remember, you’re much stronger than any obstacles life can throw at you. That is why you have those dreams to begin with. When you face an obstacle, examine your actions. And if they seem to be taking you further away from your goals, change your approach and take new actions. Keep your goals and dreams by your side as you work toward turning them into reality. Follow the wise advice from Winston Churchill:

Lofty dreams/goals always will take time, effort, hard work, and a ton of persistence to attain.

An effective way to get empowered when facing obstacles is to read stories and quotations from the people who had overcome insurmountable setbacks before achieving their aspirations.

From the Dodge Development family, we all wish for you the best that the holiday season has to offer you and all those that depend on you. Thanks for being you.
The Good Life Rules! Bryan Dodge

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Change your choices, and change your life. It’s your choice.

On December 2, 2011, In @ Work, By Bryan Dodge

Success oriented people know that hard work is important, but they also appreciate the value of continuing education. Tragically too many people never bother to systematically continue learning throughout their adult lives. If you want to become a better person and achieve The Good Life, you must understand the importance of continued learning. Learning how to work harder on yourself than you do on your job will cause your job to begin working for you. The key to adult learning is reading. Answer this question: “Do you have the willingness and the discipline to be a reader?”
One of the best ways to learn something new is to read a book. Yet, according to syndicated newspaper columnist Harvey Mackay, “51 percent of the American population never reads a book of more than 400 pages after they complete their formal education.” Most American workers don’t read four books during their lifetime! In contrast, some Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) I know read four books a week. These leaders commit themselves to continually learning as a part of their strategy for The Good Life. They also understand the real power of reading.
Can a book change a life? Absolutely! If you buy the book yourself and only keep it for yourself, then you miss the real point of reading. How many books have you given away this year? If the answer is none and you are in the “people business,” what are you thinking? Go back to building the people around you, and they will help your dreams become a reality. Many people tell me they don’t have the time to read. It’s simply not true. You have to make time.

If you read one book a month for 12 months, you would be in the top 25 percent of all intellectuals in the world. Does that sound impossible? One book per month is about half a chapter a day, which might take fifteen minutes of your time. Think about it. If you read
one book a month in your chosen field for one year, you will have read 12 books. In five years, you will have read 60 books. If you read 60 books while your competitors for the same job have only read three books, don’t you think you will have an advantage?

When it comes to reading, your challenge isn’t actually finding the time to read. Your challenge is creating personal discipline to do it. I’d encourage you to set a realistic and achievable goal of reading at least 15 minutes every day and over a year you can complete an average of 20 books. If you devote this time to learning and sharing, it will separate you from your competitors who are also pursuing the next opportunity. Remember, the more you learn, the more you will be able to earn. Don’t go through a single day without learning something new.

Announcement

November marks the beginning of our sixth year on radio and I’m excited to announce that the listening audience has more than tripled because of all your support. The show is based on education, entertainment, and opportunities to build a better you both at work and at home. Go to my website www.bryandodge.com and you can listen to one of my radio shows (in the archives) if you would like. Let’s stand strong, let’s walk strong, and let’s work more strongly together than we ever have before so that we can make America a better place both at work and at home.
I love what I do and I would be honored to be a part of your meetings in 2012. So, pick up the phone and call my office 972-780-7459 or 800-473-1698 and say “I would like to book Bryan Dodge for our upcoming meeting.” I will not let you down—that is my promise.

The Good Life Rules!
Bryan Dodge

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THE POWER OF A SMILE

On October 21, 2011, In @ Work, By Bryan Dodge

Everyone is searching for a great life. Maybe it’s the home run at work which will elevate you to the next level in your company. Maybe it’s the supportive spouse or the child that excels at school and sports. Yet the golden ring of greatness is always just a bit out of our reach. We never can grab the ring and achieve the great life. Instead we continue on the merry-go-round of life—in search of the good life.
As you have probably discovered, a good life is one of those interesting paradoxes. It is both easy and difficult to attain. It’s easy because we were made to live a good life. But it can be difficult because we seem to go out of our way to make ourselves unhappy. We seem to focus on the great moments in life and not appreciate the good life that we have each day. A good life requires both a decision to be happy and a commitment to follow through with those actions, thoughts, and behaviors that will give us the good life we deserve and should have.
The focus point that I want to share with you brings me to a statement that I have heard before: “People who smile a lot don’t know why.” The most pleasant people are those who smile a lot. A smile doesn’t cost you anything and it is one of the universal signs worldwide that is never misunderstood. A smile says, “I like you; I’m glad to see you; I’m glad to be with you.” It is a sign of recognition to both loved ones and strangers who cross your path. You will never run out of smiles no matter how many you give away. As people smile they set free the light within them. They know that love helps to ease pain, grief, discouragement, failure as well as the other negative experiences and emotions. Their smile communicates a good life.
Those who are afraid, in need of control, have given up and lost hope, rarely ever smile. They have lost touch with the light within themselves. I suggest the next time you see somebody in the office or pass a family member in the hallway, just send him or her, a big smile and watch the good life grow. A smile is your choice. Just please understand why it is so important now, more than ever, for you to consistently focus on the “good life!” Always remember, “Life is too short not to be happy and life is too long not to understand the power of a smile for you and those that depend on you.”

The Good Life Rules when you smile!
Bryan Dodge
Dodge Development, Inc.

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Love What You Do

On September 15, 2011, In @ Work, By Bryan Dodge

Do what you love in the service of people who love what they do. There are four “keys” and one major “door.”

1) Do what you love and make sure that your heart is in your work. Bring yourself fully and gratefully into everything you do. Be connected to your own work in order to inspire others. I truly believe that the vast majority of people grossly underestimate the power of the heart. They have no idea (or have forgotten) how much energy can be unleashed in themselves and those around them by telling others why they love their position and the influence they have on the company. Communicating their authentic hopes and aspirations for the future of their company will help bring back the liveliness that may have faded with time. We don’t always remain in love with what we do, as if it is in the beginning. But unless you love what you do, you are not making that true difference you are here to make. Accept that as truth and associate with people who will help you fall back in love again…with your job, your life, with all the opportunities that are around you. Don’t do what the average person does, fall out of love with what they do, yet hang on as long as they can until they lose what they used to love, and only then appreciate what they had. Successful people have learned how to find ways to fall back in love with what they do before it’s too late; they find the energy to encourage growth in the environment for which they are responsible.

2) Understanding the power of serving people will keep you true,
honest, and ethical. If you’re doing what you love, you’ll make yourself happy. But leadership is not only about you; it’s about your impact on others. After years of raising Labrador Retrievers, I always remind the people that buy the pups from me that money can buy the dog, but love can make it wag its tail. I believe that in most cases, it is a simple case of mistaken cause and effect. A mission statement in a company doesn’t generate the energy that produces the chemistry in the team; love does, great ideas do, principles and values do, and most importantly, learning how to show up for people consistently so they are reminded why they truly love where they are does. During one of my programs in Colorado, a V.P. asked me, “How do you make sure you show up for each employee on a consistent basis?” I asked him how many people are on his team and he replied, “116.” So I told him to take the next 116 workdays and assign each day to one person. Each day would be the “show up day” for that person and during the day, he was to make a point to go out of his way to let that person know that he believes in them and that they are important to the team. When he gets up each day, the first thing he should do to prepare for the day is look for the name of the person whose “show up day” it is. Over the next 116 days, each person will have his or her own day, consistently with no one left out. He asked what I recommended after the 116 days were completed and I told him to start over at the beginning, this is an on-going process that should never end.

3) Really loving what you do doesn’t mean that you find people who love you and then serve them. It means that it is your responsibility to give everyone you serve something to love about you and what you are doing for them by revealing yourself as a human being to those that you are in charge of or hoping to lead at some point. It is important, whether you are talking one-on-one or standing in front of a crowd, that you say “This is who I am, this is what I believe, this is what I believe we can achieve together if we put our hearts into it. I believe in you. Please join me and let’s help each other make this happen.”

4) Inspire love; don’t try to “motivate” it. Never forget that love is the true inspirational motivator of all great people. Love of something or someone; love of a cause; love of a principle; love of people you work with and the customers you have the opportunity to serve; love for the future; and love for your business. These are the things that truly matter in the world. Without the inspiration of your heart, there is no good reason for you to take a stand, to take a risk, to do what it takes to make a difference in life. Remember, if you don’t stand for something, then you lose the energy necessary to keep you from falling for anything.

The Major Door: Being Thankful
Over the past 26 years of servicing the education industry, I am constantly reminded why loving what you do matters most.

Make it a great day!
Proud to be an American,
Bryan J. Dodge

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