I recently returned from an awesome time in Atlanta, GA, great friends, food and fun. Met some wonderful people that I know will turn into great friends in the future. When I travel, I’m looking to do a few things, converse, connect and collaborate.  I teach in my seminars about The Law of Collaboration, this law says to bring like minded people together to accomplish a specific task or goal.

Collaboration is one of the most powerful laws working in the universe today. Individuals, organizations and companies that really want to move forward use this law all the time. I would have to say after personal development, this law is one of the most powerful laws available to each of us.

So, let me tell you how to use this law to benefit you. It’s a three step process. Whenever I leave my house and I have an opportunity to meet people, whether in the store, gas station or office building, I make it a point to greet them. Now before you make an excuse and say, well I’m really not out going or I just like to mind my own business, STOP IT!!! Let me let you in on a little secret about myself, naturally I am an introvert, love to spend time by myself hanging out in my man cave.

Fifteen years ago, I had to perform a personality make over. This enabled me to broaden my sphere of opportunities. Talking to and interacting with people was one of my biggest challenges. But I learned being able to offer a simple hello, a warm good morning can go a long way. Depending on where you are and the time available, this can be the beginning to a great conversation. Which is step one in the process. Learning to converse with other people from all types of backgrounds and ethnicities will serve you well.

When I talk with people I am looking for the connecting point. What do I mean by the connecting point? It is that something that we have in common, whether it is business or personal related. Once I hear it, that’s where I land the plane, I close the deal. I’m looking to further the conversation at a later date. This is when I offer to exchange contacts. The second step of the process, connecting has been completed.

Now, this last step is where moves are made. Once I have the follow up information, I move fast. I want to find out as soon as possible, how I can add value to their life, business or projects they are working on. I know there may be a hurdle they have been trying to cross, and if I have the knowledge, resource or contact to help them, I want them to have it.

Zig Ziglar said it best, “When you help enough people get what they want, you can’t help but receive what you want.” I truly believe that, that when you are willing to help someone reach their goal, accomplish their dreams, you can’t help but be blessed.

The Law of Collaboration is so powerful, the Bible, the Ancients all confirm that working together will produce maximum return. Any successful person will tell you, that collaboration is what has allowed them to achieve at a high level.

So the next time you leave your house, look to converse, connect and collaborate. Someone may have the heart, the help or the hand that you need to succeed at the next level!!!

Remember,

THINK BETTER, LIVE BETTER

Each week I travel and listen to conversations addressing the many problems and issues facing America. I turn on my T.V. and see the sea of people sharing their opinions on what the Government or President Obama should do. It all makes for great debate, and in many cases heated exchanges between the two Vietnam Vets at the donut shop, all the way to the top intellectuals of our time.

Two years ago, I watched with pride, as so many others, President Obama be sworn into the highest office and into one of most powerful offices in the world. As I set in my home my eyes swelled with tears of joy. Not so much because a Black Man was being sworn into office, I would have felt the same, if it were a White Female, an Asian Male or Female, a Hispanic Male or Female or whatever. To me it was a step forward in humanity and equality. America’s view of humanity was shifting. Having the opportunity to travel to many countries and living overseas for over a decade, I had the chance to see people of all social, economical and racial backgrounds. Living in Germany, I was there when Angela Merkel became Chancellor. Travelled to India to see

Pratibha Devisingh Patil another female sworn into the office of President. I have travelled to Ghana several times, and saw John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor who was President at the time. So I already had a visual of a Black President.
If you study history, you will find that the times we are experiencing right now are not new, and will not be the last time we experience these types of challenges. So what do we as individuals need to do, to not only survive, but thrive. Complaining, debating and pouting will not change your situation, but these few keys will set you up for success.

1. But God First
2. Believe Success is Yours
3. Be Specific about the Success you will Achieve
4. Build the Necessary Relationships
5. Make Small Improvements Daily
6. Develop a Desire to Serve7. Strive to be Better, not Bigger
8. Develop your Financial Literacy9. Protect your Health
10. Enjoy the Journey

Each of these keys can be implemented immediately; Congress doesn’t have to vote on them. The President doesn’t have to introduce them into law. Stop waiting on the President or anyone else for that matter to take control of your life.
In two or four years, President Obama will be out of office, he will sign a book deal, and First Lady Michelle will sign a book deal as well. They will hit the international speaking stage and become billionaires. Another person will be in the Whitehouse, and you will still be in your house, so don’t find yourself still complaining, debating and pouting about the same things. Create your own recovery plan and stimulus package now, and work it like you life depends upon it, because it does. Think Better, Live Better!!!

Everyday we are bombarded with bad, challenging or unpleasant news from some source. But at the end of the day, it is still our choice how we process the information we receive.

Here is a truth of life, trouble and bad things, indifferent things happen to everyone, but I have found that the way you RESPOND will make all the difference. Most people tend to REACT, rather than respond. Responding is a thought out plan to an event, as a reaction is an instant action in the heat of the moment.

You will probably agree that the majority of our worst outcomes our times when we didn’t take the time to think something through and we just made a random decision. Each day we are training ourselves how to respond or react to situations we don’t like.

Let me give you an example we can all relate to. Driving on the Freeway and some person (nice word used) cuts you off without signaling or anything. This is a training moment, do you respond or react. I know for me I want to react. Number one, by speeding up to catch this rude person, number two to give them THE LOOK and number three to fulfill the inner ego inside of me to say, “I showed them.”

But have you ever noticed once you pulled next to the car, the person is never looking at you or even worse, they are looking at you and you begin a screaming match with both windows closed driving at high speeds. JUST CRAZY, not a good look for you or me.


This type of behavior only grows and gets worse if we don’t learn how to RESPOND, rather than REACT.

So what we all have to learn to do is stop and always ask ourselves a few questions.

          1. Will responding or reacting make a difference?

          2. If I respond or react what is my goal?

          3. If I react, what message will I send about myself?

This doesn’t happen over night, but you must begin the process to change the way you think. So when you are presented with these little test, make sure you think, then RESPOND…………………