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www.darylwizelman.com

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December 2010 Newsletter

Be Thankful

This is a piece that has resonated deeply with me.  Maybe it is the holiday season.  Maybe it is the emotional and/or financial struggle that so many are facing today.  Maybe it is the changes I am going through in my own life.  Maybe it is a combination of all of those.  For you it may resonate because of something totally different.  I share this piece with you in hopes of validating the thoughts and feelings you may be having in this season of life.

Be Thankful

Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who

are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles.

and they can become your blessings.

2 Lessons Life Learned by Example

Last month I wrote about two valuable lessons I learned from my father.  This month I have chosen to share some things about my mother. Lana Wizelman is a deep feeling and loving woman who understands what it means to "give without the expectation of getting anything in return."  I know this because she has done it for me and so many others over and over during my 45 years of life.  Today I will share with you two lessons that I have learned from observing my mother.  I carry these lessons with me every day.

1. Always be Graceful and Empathetic: When the value of our homes go up we are building financial equity.  When the depths of our personal relationships increase we are building emotional equity.  My mother, as we all have, has fought her share of demons.  Through it all and through her personal growth and maturity she has shown uncommon grace and empathy for the people she touches.  In many ways I believe my desire to teach others what I have learned and to positively impact as many people as possible has come from my mother's desire to do the same. 

I have observed how my mother interacts with people.  She does anything and everything in her power to add some value to that person's life.  It may just engaging them in conversation.  It may be the transference of her genuine warmth and love to the people she comes in contact with.  I have observed my mother on countless occasions treating total strangers like she has been friends with them for years.  She exhibits this behavior with a true heart.  She expects nothing in return.

2. Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity and then show you love them through your actions: I feel loved by my mother because she tells me and shows me how much she loves me at her every opportunity.  I agree with her point of view that we cannot say "I love you" too much to the people we love.  We never know when we may see that person for the last time...

My mother also shows me and my children her love through her actions.  My mother takes every opportunity to pour love into my children.  She spends time with them every chance she gets.  When I contracted shingles and spinal meningitis in March 2008, my mother spent day after day in the hospital with me.  When I wrote my book, my mother was the first at book signings inviting her friends and colleagues and being my biggest fan.  When I bought a new house in September of this year, it was my mother who was there every day with me cleaning and helping me organize.  Maybe most valuable is that my mother celebrates every one of my victories no matter how big or how small.  She also walks beside me when I have been at my worst and assures me that whatever I am feeling and thinking will pass and positive things will come soon.  So far she has been right. 

I hope this advice resonates with you and you can utilize part of my mother's wisdom in your own lives.

I also hope you will pay it forward and teach these lessons to others.

Book and Music Recommendation

There are few things more powerful then discovering a new band that moves my heart with their lyrics and their music.  I featured "The Outsiders" by the band Needtobreathe in last month's newsletter.  After I fell in love with that collection of music, I downloaded "The Heat" and was again blown away by the moving music and lyrics.  This is a very moving and powerful collection of music.  I recommend it highly.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Gladwell's own words:
 

Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push — in just the right place — it can be tipped.

Gladwell's is a simple, powerful and elegant model: Create an epidemic from the introduction of some new thing by having the 3 crucial kinds of people, Connector, Maven, and Salesman after making sure that the thing is sticky enough, and that the context is right.

Gladwell gives examples and details that make his arguments compelling and give insights into how the reader can apply his model.

The book is a fast read, and will supply the reader with the information you need to do so you have enough understanding to refocus your own efforts more effectively by being more of a Salesman, Maven, or Connector or to make your intervention stickier, or to alter your context.

Quotation

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"
            -Plato

A Closing Note

Thank you for reading this month's newsletter.  I hope you are able to use some of the content to improve your life and/or your career.  If there is an opportunity for me to speak at an upcoming conference or meeting, please let me know.
 
If you like what you see, please feel free to review my web site at www.darylwizelman.com.  I speak on leadership, work/life balance, strategic initiatives, emotional intelligence and life planning among other topics that can be viewed on my web site.  I believe I can inspire your group and provide them with excellent practical tools to improve their career and their life.
 
There are two buttons below.  One reads, "forward email."  Please forward this newsletter to anyone that you believe would derive benefit from its content. 

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Again, thank you for your interest.
 
Daryl

Daryl Wizelman
www.darylwizelman.com
daryl@wizelman.com

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