The Full Measure Blog

Last Night I Spent Time With An Angel (several in fact)

Fri, 29 May 2009 18:43:43 -0400

Last night I spent time with an Angel (several in fact).

You see, my daughter (she’s one of the Angels) called me and asked to borrow my car. She needed to visit someone at the Riley Hospital for Children. Her car had a flat tire; an inconvenience for her that turned out to be a blessing for me.

I asked, “What’s up”? She told me that Chase’s father had died. I thought, “Sad but these things happen.” “So why the hospital?” I asked.

Chase is one of Lindsey’s students. She teaches children with severe disabilities at Rise Learning Center. Chase is a six year old with severe autism. He had spent the last three days locked in the house with his dead father. My heart skipped a beat, just like yours did now. How did he survive? All the cupboards were found open, food scattered throughout the house. Somehow, Chase had managed to feed himself.

I told my daughter that of course she could borrow the car. Then she told me the rest of the story.

Chase is a six-year-old autistic child. He was adopted when he was three years old. His mother died in an automobile accident when he was four. (My heart jumped again.) Now at six years old, Chase’s father has died. He has no one to take him home. Child Services placed him in the hospital. He is being nursed and watched over as Child Services looks for a foster home.

I told my daughter that she could not borrow my car. I would be over in five minutes and we would both go visit Chase.

I had to meet Chase. I had to know for myself that he was being taken care of. That is how I was able to spend time with an Angel.

When we walked into Chase’s hospital room there were three nurses surrounding his bed. They were showing him attention and attending to his needs.

Then my daughter ran into the room and filled it with hugs and kisses - a tickle here, a kiss on the cheek there, rubbing Chase’s back and shoulders, picking him up into her lap. It happened all so quickly. I wasn’t quite ready for such a frenzy of love.

The nurses weren’t either. Tears came to their eyes as one of them whispered, “Look at his smile.” Yes, Chase was smiling. The familiar love and embrace of a caring teacher let him know he was not alone.

What happened for the next hour and a half was nothing short of Heaven on Earth. Chase smiled, played and hugged. He was an Angel being taken care of by Angel Nurses and engaged with love by his Angel Teacher.

I am so proud of my daughter, Lindsey. I am so amazed by Chase.

I can never complain. The economy is bad…Chase has autism. Health Care is killing businesses…Chase’s mother died when he was four. Wall Street is corrupt and ruining the country…Chase’s dad died four days ago. No one understands me…Chase has no home; but he does have someone who truly loves him, which is all that matters.

Share the LOVE.

Larry Kevin
The Actionator!

I Refuse to Participate in a Recession

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:05:14 -0400

I Refuse to Participate in a Recession

One of the speakers, at the iLearningGlobal Launch Conference in Vegas last month, was Ivan Misner. Ivan is the Founder & Chairman of BNI, the world’s larges business networking organization. And Ivan Miser spoke on refusing to participate in a recession.

I know, you are probably like me…”This guy is ignoring the reality that the rest of us have to live in”.

But the message is not about ignoring reality. If the reality is that you need to get a part time job to get through this recession, then do it. And then get over it.

No, the message isn’t about ignoring reality, it’s about taking on “the attitude” that your refuse to participate.

Ivan tells of a real estate professional who had his best year ever during the bottom of the real estate market. How? He refused to participate. He went back to a list of over 100 previous clients and told them, “We are having a half off price sale. You have avoided investing for years saying the market is to high, well guess what? It’s on sale. And I don’t want you coming tome 3 to 5 years from now crying about how you should have bought now.”

Just that simple. Seeing and taking advantage of the opportunities instead of seeing only problems.

What was my take away? What can I implement this week? IMPLEMENTATION IS EVERYTHING

I am taking on the attitude that I refuse to participate in the recession.

• I will look for opportunities when others see gloom & doom
• I will let others worry about the Macro economic picture
o I will focus on my own Micro economic picture, which I know better than anyone else.
• The more you focus on fear, the more afraid you will become
• The more you focus on obstacles the larger they will loom
• The more you focus on today’s economic gloom and doom headlines, the less time, energy, and faith you will have to build the successful business you really want.
• I will become someone who sees opportunities when others see problems
• I will become someone who seeks growth when others expect collapse
• I will become someone who sees success when others see failure.

Hhmmm? I feel kind of energized (empowered) just by reading all that. How about you?

Come join me as I engage in this new attitude. An attitude of possibilities.

Time to take ACTION!

Larry Kevin
The Actionator!

You can find more about Ivan Misner by following this link to his website.

http://www.bni.com

If you would like to find out how my MasterMind Groups can help us all take on the attitude of possibilities, follow the link below and leave you contact information in the form at the bottom of the page.

http://larrykevin.com

I Can Tell Where You’ve Been

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:32:56 -0400

I can tell where you’ve been…

Do you know Jim Cathcart? What a great person! Jim was a hit at the iLearningGlobal Launch Conference. Let me tell you why…

First of all, Jim’s passion for ACTION comes across almost as soon as he walks on the stage. He understands the value of every human being, and his passion is helping others to “shine their light.”

Jim told a story of the “lamp lighter”. Before we had electric lights to guide us, it was the lamp lighter’s job to walk the streets at dusk (with his matches and oil) and light each lamp post along the way. The thing about the lamp lighter is you could always tell where he had been. For in his wake he left a path of light.

Is it easy for people to know where you’ve been by the light you leave behind? Do the faces of the people you meet shine a little brighter? Do your acts of love and generosity make the world a little brighter?

These are the questions Jim put in our heads. These are the questions that if answered will show your impact on the world.

What is my take away? What can I implement this week?

I realize that I affect everyone I meet. Am I leaving them a little better off or am I draining them? Do I add energy to their day, or am I an energy vampire, sucking the life from those I meet?

Today I will pay attention to the light I leave behind. I will not add to the negative news. I will look for opportunities to make someone smile.

It’s not all that hard, you just have to put some thought and ACTION into it. You can practice sharing your light. Be aware of your mood and how it affects others. Look for reasons to smile. Give a helping hand. Hug somebody for Pete’s sake!

It all comes down to this:

Let Your Light So Shine.

Don’t hide your talents...USE them! Get out there and share your talents and energy with the world. We need you so much! We need leaders to stand up and Take Action by using their talents and abilities to make the world a better place.

I’ll be watching.

Larry Kevin
The Actionator!

You can find more about Jim Cathcart by following this link to his website:

http://cathcart.com/

If you would like to find out how my MasterMind Groups can help move your business forward, follow this link and leave your contact information in the form at the bottom of the page.

http://larrykevin.com

The Platinum Rule

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:31:18 -0400

The Platinum Rule

OK, you’ve heard of the Golden Rule, well Tony Alessandra gave us The Platinum Rule – Treat people like they want to be treated. What a great speech by Tony (iLearningGlobal Launch Conference). He made me want to be Italian. LOL.

What is my take away? What can I implement this week?

Not everyone wants to be treated like I want to be treated. So, if I treat people like I want to me treated, then I’m imposing my world on them. They may misunderstand my intentions. The relationship will not grow and I will not establish the one thing I need in order to convert a client – Trust.

What if I learn how to treat people the way they want to be treated?

Trust will come quickly. The relationship will grow, and I just might develop a “Raving Fan”.

I will stop treating everyone the same way. I will stop and listen (a lot more). I will find out how people want me to approach them. If they want the facts, I’ll give them the facts. If they want to be understood, I’ll listen. If they want direction, I’ll lead.

It’s all about building trust by building the relationship. We just have to remember that not everyone likes to be treated the same as we do. Some need more hugs, some need more data, some need more time to think. Give it to them! Give them what they want in the relationship first, then you can give them what they need as a client.

You can find out more about Tony Alessandra here:
http://www.PlatinumRule.com/index.html

I’m building two more Mastermind Groups. I need 10 people. If you would like to find out more about how a Mastermind powered by iLearningGlobal works, opt in at http://larrykevin.com. It will change your life!

Larry Kevin
The Actionator!

Full Day of Inspiration

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:38:06 -0400

WOW! I just had a full day of inspiration!

You see, my day started with Mary Morrissey taking the
stage at the iLearningGlobal Launch Conference. Mary
taught us that we need to stay in a positive frequency if we
are to see the opportunities in front of us. Some of us have
let the news of the economy put us in a negative frequency.
Change your frequency...Change your life. I love Mary!
You can find her here: https://www.lifesoulutions.com/

What did I take away from Mary's speech? What can I
implement this week?

It's very simple.
I can change my life by allowing myself to recognize the
opportunities that will come to me this week (yes,
implementation can not wait) by staying optimistic and
enthusiastic about my future. You see, I will never see
what the solutions to my problems are if I dwell on the
problems. I will now dwell on my dreams. My vision for
what is possible will open my eyes to opportunities that I
can take ACTION upon. My actions will take me to my
dreams. The problems will take care of themselves as I
move toward my dreams with confidence.

How cool is that?

And Mary was just the first speaker today! And we have
more tomorrow. iLearningGlobal is changing my life.

I'll tell you more about the great speakers I met and fell in
love with, all this week. I would love to talk to you about
how this day changed my life. Opt-in at my website and
I'll give you a call: http://larrykevin.com

I love this life you help me live everyday. Thank you!

Larry Kevin
The Actionator!

Taking Inspired Action - Receiving and Responding to Inspiration

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:55:19 -0500

Taking Inspired Action – Receiving and Responding to Inspiration

I’m excited about 2009! I have written down my goals and spent some time on my business model. I have developed a crystal clear vision of what I want December 2009 to look like, and it’s fantastic! But as I was going through the process I was reminded of what accelerates my business the most – Taking Inspired Action.

All the New Year’s resolutions, goals, promises, plans and visions will never take us closer to our dreams unless we take ACTION. Inspired Action is based upon those “Ah ha” moments when we receive promptings (invitations to take action toward our goals). Sometimes it’s the “Big Idea”, but most of the time it’s a small and simple act that, if taken, will help to create momentum in our business.

I like to think of my business as a giant flywheel. As I apply ACTION, the flywheel begins to move. If I consistently apply small and simple actions to the flywheel it begins to spin faster and faster, creating greater and greater momentum.

Unfortunately, there are times when I loose focus. I stop listening for the promptings, or simply stop acting upon the promptings I receive. The flywheel decelerates and any momentum I had is now lost. My business is in a slump.

What makes it really frustrating is that when you stop listening for the promptings or stop acting up on them, then they stop coming. Have you ever been in a business slump where all you see is Bad News? You start blaming your poor results on the economy, the government, business cycles and a hundred other excuses. No matter how hard you try, you can’t come up with “a good idea” on how to get yourself out of the mess.

Why should the universe give you guidance if you are not going to ACT upon the promptings you have already received? No one trusts someone with their valued advice if that someone has failed to act upon their advice in the past. So they simply stop giving it. It’s the same with inspiration. If you want to receive inspiration you have to ACT upon it. If you do, you will receive more. If you don’t, it will stop coming to you.

So how do you get out of a business slump? Find a mentor, coach or mastermind who can look at your situation and give you advice. As you discuss the possibilities (not the excuses) you will start to receive inspiration. The trick is to treat the things that give you energy, those things that get you excited, with respect. Take ACTION on them and then ask, “What’s next?”

The flywheel will start spinning faster and faster as you consistently apply Inspired Action to your business.

Larry Kevin
The Actionator!

P.S. If you want to see where I receive inspiration everyday and get paid to share the inspiration follow this link: http://larrykevin.com

Taking Inspired Action - Finding Your Talents

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:56:02 -0500

Taking Inspired Action – Finding Your Talents

I love Taking Inspired Action. It happens whenever I listen to the promptings that would engage my talents. You get them too. You just may be ignoring them because you don’t trust where they are coming from.

When something pops into our heads “out of thin air” we tend to think less of the idea than if someone we respect gives it to us. It’s very important to “hang out” with people who have enjoyed success; those who we want to model. And yes, when they give us an idea, we want to give it due consideration. That’s how we can learn and grow our business; by standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before.

What I’m talking about here is a little different. I’m talking about the ideas that come to us and are suited precisely to our talents and abilities. We all have certain talents and abilities that are gifts to us for our growth and well-being. When we engage those talents we prosper.

Do you know what your talents and abilities are? They have a lot to do with your strengths. When you are consistently good at something you can say you have a talent in that area. I’m good at helping people find and develop their strengths. I can consistently do a good job of helping people discover their strengths. It’s my talent.

I have my best days (and weeks) when I’m taking ACTION on ideas that speak to my strengths. They engage me. I have more energy and enthusiasm in my work. I move my business forward in ways that seem surprising. I can help more people when I’m working from my strengths.

You will have your best days when you are taking ACTION on ideas that are suited to your strengths. The days that you engage your talents and abilities will be the days that add momentum to your business. When you put more and more days together where you are working from your strengths you will create greater and greater momentum. That is when you will begin to prosper. You will then be able to help others prosper as well.

You can find your strengths by thinking back on the times when things came easy to you; those activities that seem to flow smoothly and energize you. You can also take assessments to help clarify your strengths.

I often send my clients to buy a book that helps them find their strengths. “Strengthsfinder 2.0” by Tom Rath (you can find it here http://bit.ly/E4Nd). When you buy the book you are given access to the “StrengthsFinder 2.0” assessment. Go there and you will find your Top 5 strengths. This is a great place to start building on your strengths to develop talents and abilities. Engaging your strengths will enable you to set yourself apart as a valued expert.

Have an Action Packed Holiday!

Larry Kevin
The Actionator!

P.S. If you would like to catch The Next Big Wave on the internet and prosper from the best Self Development and Business Development advise on the planet, then follow this link: http://larrykevin.com

Super Charge Your Career by Taking Inspired Action

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:39:42 -0400

Super Charge Your Career By Taking Inspired Action

Would you like to Super Charge your career? If you are feeling stuck in mediocrity then maybe you need to learn to listen to your inner voice and Take Inspired Action. This is the one sure way to bring extreme results into your life.

You may be asking, “What is Inspired Action?” Well, it starts with the fact that every individual has been given their own unique set of talents and abilities. I have my set of talents and abilities and you have yours. In order to Super Charge our careers we need to develop and engage our set of talents.

One of the things I enjoy most in life is watching someone perform at the best of their abilities. When someone works hard to develop their natural talents and becomes the best in their field it is absolutely amazing to watch them perform. They “Inspire” us to want to become the best at what we do.

There is no situation in which this is more obvious than in the Olympics. Billions of dollars are spent in the four-year preparation for the event. Millions (Billions?) take time to watch. I loved watching Lightning Bolt (Usain Bolt of Jamaica) run faster than any human being before him. And he did it with such ease! Maybe you were amazed while watching Michael Phelps win gold medal after gold medal. It is inspiring! We feed off it like a giant buffet. It can even move us to Take Action ourselves.

Being inspired by watching the best of the best isn’t limited to the athletic field. Have you ever been moved to tears by a musical performance? I have. How about listening to a great speaker? The talents of John F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. have been forever embedded on our minds through their speeches.

One of my favorite subject areas is entrepreneurs. I love reading the stories of Steve Job (Apple Computer), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Meg Whitman (ebay) and others. All of these great entrepreneurs have developed their talents and learned how to Take Inspired Action. This Inspired Action propelled them to new heights.

Inspired Action is the action we take on the ideas that flow to us from our inner voice. If we work hard to develop our talents and abilities, we will be lead to Action Steps that will engage those talents and abilities. It’s a natural process.

If we take time out each day to develop the skill of listening to our inner voice we will be led to our talents. We will become energized and excited to do what comes natural to us. By working on and developing our talents to the best of our ability we become more open to new inspiration. We find new opportunities and action steps appear before us. As we act upon the ideas that come to us from our inner voice we start to perform at a higher and higher level of achievement. This is why Tiger Woods can be inspired to take a shot that only he can perform. And why I will never receive such inspiration; golf is not my talent. But, helping others is my talent; and as I act upon the inspiration to help others I find my talents becoming sharper and more powerful. I can help more people and I achieve better results because I have learned to Act upon Inspiration.

You can do the same thing in your career. You just have to learn what your talents and abilities are and then start acting on the inspiration you have to engage those talents.

This is just an introduction to the topic of Taking Inspired Action. Next time, I will give you some steps to take to find your talents, and then I’ll show you how to gain inspiration!

Have an Action Packed Day!

Larry Kevin
The Actionator!

P.S. Don’t miss Stu McLaren tonight on The Action List. Stu will be discussing some of the strategies that have developed over the last eight months, especially web 2.0. Use the link below to sign up for “The Action List”. See you there!

http://theactionlist.com

Beating My Head Against A Wall

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 16:43:12 -0400

Beating My Head Against a Wall.

Have you ever felt like you were banging your head against a wall? I sure have lately. You see I’m in the middle of a project that involves a lot of partners. These partners are scattered across the country and they all run their own businesses. They are very busy individuals. I have to grab their attention, get their agreement, and then push them to ACT upon our agreed agenda.

I’m sure you have had a similar project where you have to bring together the efforts of a busy team. They might be a group of partners, like my team. They could be clients, vendors, colleagues, volunteers, family members, or your sales team. The point is that they are a group of busy people and you are responsible to get them to ACT as a team. Sound familiar?

Let’s take a look at some Key Points for working with teams that may keep you from banging your head against a wall.

Key Point #1

Use Your Natural Strengths To Grab Their Attention.

When you are starting your project and you need to get someone’s attention, use your natural strengths. If you are good on the phone, then keep calling until you get the person on the phone. Maybe your talent is presentation. Then secure an appointment where you can present. If you are good at networking, get the news about your project to your circles of influence and let them grab the attention of your team members.

For my project - I made a video, posted it on a web page and sent out email invites. The video web page was a hit. I built my Dream Team in record time! Cool!

Key Point #2

MAKE NO ASSUMPTIONS

Don’t assume anything! I had to grab the attention of a lot of busy people. So I put a lot of effort into my video page. As a result I had my Dream Team signed up and ready to rock and roll. My Dream Team was beyond my expectation. It was so exciting!

I assumed that the ease of putting the team together along with the positive energy everyone was expressing about the project meant that they understood the project. All I had to do now was coordinate everyone’s efforts and the project would be a huge hit. Wrong!

My project was a success but it didn’t become the blockbuster I had envisioned. Here’s why. Even with tons (and I mean tons) of communication on what was expected and how things were to come together, very few participants understood the dynamics of what would make the project a celebrated hit. I had assumed, because of the excitement and the communications I sent out, that everyone was on the same page. Have you ever thought your team was all on the same page and later found that they were a little lost?

I assumed the excitement was about the process of the project. It was after all a very cool project! As it turned out, the excitement was about the team itself. Everyone was excited to be a part of such a great team.

Key Point # 3

Require Confirmation

This Key Point would have made all the difference in the world for my project. How about yours?

Here is what you need to do. As you communicate to your team, ask for (and require) confirmation of agreement on all tasks you are asking them to perform.

Sending out an email with a list of requirements and waiting for a return email letting you know they “got it” is never enough. Remember Key Point #2? I sent some great emails to everyone detailing exactly what I needed my team members to do. And I made sure everyone acknowledged receipt. Unfortunately, receipt does not mean read (or agreed).

After you send your list of tasks, send out an agreement page. The agreement page lists all the required tasks that you are asking your team to perform, and those which you agree to perform. You are asking your team to say, “Yes, I understand that I will be responsible for x, y and z and I agree to the time table.” Otherwise you are assuming they understand the agreement and that everything will work out as expected.

This may sound a little too strict for your style. You may be thinking that an agreement page sounds too official and cumbersome. I thought that way…not anymore!

An agreement page can be the energy behind getting the project complete. When things get stuck you can simply refer back to the agreement page and point out which task needs to be completed to get things unstuck. Reminding everyone about the process that they agreed to will keep your project on schedule and bring about the results. It may also just keep you from “beating your head against a wall.”

Have an Action Packed Day!

Larry Kevin
The Actionator!

P.S. Kevin Hogan, author of “The Psychology of Persuasion” talks about the latest research in the marketing field and what approaches are effective in difficult times. Catch this important interview on “The Action List” – Tuesday, 6:00 PM eastern.

http://theactionlist.com

P.S.S I will be asking Kevin Hogan about marketing philosophy, ethics, and code words that sell in scary times, and key strategies for getting attention in a crowded marketplace. Sign up for “The Action List” webinar series at the link below:

http://theactionlist.com

Head Trash

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:17:58 -0400

Head Trash.

I have a new client. His name is Tony and he is desperate. He recently changed jobs (careers actually) and feels like he is headed for a train wreck. Have you ever felt that way, like you were headed for a train wreck?

When I asked him what he meant by the “train wreck” statement he said, “I honestly think changing jobs was the right thing to do. I know I’m on the right train and I’m building up a lot of steam (…more with the train metaphor). I’m just afraid that before I get to my destination, I’m going to have a train wreck!”

Head Trash! That’s my name for it. Tony had the guts to make a major shift in his life. He took Inspired Action and moved toward a more rewarding future. He moved away from a career where he was good (but not great) into a career where he has a chance to be the best in the world. His talents and abilities are totally aligned with his new career choice. But right now, all Tony can see are the bumps along the way. He keeps seeing one of those bumps causing his train wreck. And so Tony is stalling, focusing on the bumps instead of the shiny track that will take him to his dreams. If he doesn’t take immediate action he will end up causing the very train wreck he so desperately wants to avoid.

I love to get new clients like Tony. You see, most of my clients come to me not knowing they need a major shift in their lives. They want a quick Band-Aid fix that will help them get to the next level. They will bulk at major change and ask me to just help them fix what they have, and they will be happy. I agree to help, but the “next level” is never what it could be if they were more courageous. Little fixes will take you to a higher level but if you want the “next level” to be a lot higher, you will have to make big changes.

Tony has already made the big change needed to set up a big increase in pay. The truth is, Tony did a great job following inspiration into a career that suited his talents. He hired me after the hard part. Cool! All I have to do is help Tony get rid of the “Head Trash.”

Do you have someone helping you engage your talents? Or is your “Head Trash” keeping you from asking for help?

By focusing on work that matters (instead of the bumps in the road) we can become fully engaged in our work. When we are fully engaged, we find that the journey is fun and exciting. It’s the journey that fills our life with joy, not the destination. Destinations can be fun, but it’s the journey that brings fulfillment and meaning to our time here on earth.

Working with Tony will be easy and a lot of fun. All I have to do is keep him focused on the things he loves doing. By keeping Tony focused, he will spend most of his week fully engaged in work that matters. He is bound to succeed because he will love the journey. The destination will take care of itself, it always does when we embrace the journey.

Don’t let “Head Trash” get in the way of YOUR journey!

Have an Action Packed Day!

Larry Kevin The Actionator!

P.S. Tuesday’s guest on “The Action List” is Jim Bouchard – America’s Powervational Speaker. Jim will show you how the Dynamic Components of Personal Power can change your life! This will be awesome! Tuesday, 6:00 PM Eastern

You can sign up for “The Action List” Webinars by following the link below:

http://theactionlist.com