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Weekly Challenge – Role-Model Roundtable

February 22, 2009

The Challenge:

This week we will do our first IMAGINATION challenge, these challenges at times will seem kind of “out-there” but they do help with various mindset principles.  This week’s challenge re-develops a skill that many of us lost as we grew older – the ability to play “make believe.”  Let’s create our role-model roundtable, imagine you could have sitting at your round table anyone from the past or present, alive or deceased, someone you know or someone famous.  Write in your notebook the names of the people you have sitting at your round table and list the personality traits you want to acquire from them. For example, perhaps you want honesty from Abe Lincoln.   The last part of this challenge is to take 15-minutes and imagine yourself having a conversation with your round table.

This task is worth 20-points on your scorecards.

Thought Provoking Questions:

What was the topic of discussion at your round table?

Did any of your role models suggest something specific to enact in your life?

The Lesson:

It is important to have role models in your life, these are people we want to learn from or perhaps acquire pieces of their personalities.  Often times, we only look to people around us to be our role models, which it is very important to have in-person role-models as well. However, there are no rules as to whom you can choose to influence your life.  Get creative and include influential people from the past or present.  That is the beauty of using your imagination to support the other aspects of your mind, there are no limitations.  Once you identify the people sitting at your role-model roundtable, read about them to gain further insight of how they lived their lives.

This task is one that should be used frequently, the more often you have discussions with your roundtable the more you will learn about yourself.  Don’t be afraid to talk out loud to your imaginary role models, just as you did when you were a child.  Slowly you will acquire the traits you want, the attitude you want and the life you want if you can enact what your role-model roundtable suggests.  Hint – keep your round table to a reasonably small group so you can focus on the specific traits and attitudes more easily.

“Assume a virtue, if you have it not.” – William Shakespeare

Weekly Challenge – Attitude of Gratitude

February 14, 2009

The Challenge:

A special Valentine’s Day challenge this week is really a combination of both attitude and discipline.  This holiday doesn’t have to be focused solely on your significant other but should be expanded to the many people, things and experiences that shape who you are.  The first part of the challenge is to list 25 people, things, etc. that you are thankful for in your notebook.  The second part of the task is to pick 5 people, things, etc. from this list and then show your gratitude towards them.  Perhaps this means donating money to your alma mater, sending a thank you card, etc.

This task is worth 50-points on your scorecards!

Thought Provoking Questions:

Did you see any trends in the specific areas of your life that you are most thankful for? (work, relationships, family, etc.)

When was the last time you expressed gratitude towards the PEOPLE you are thankful for?

The Lesson:

The power of gratitude is amazing!  The more often you show your gratitude, whether towards people or experiences, the more often those good things will happen to you.  To really prove this point, let’s reverse the roles.  Have you ever done something really nice for someone and received no thank you or sign of gratitude?  I bet your were you not too anxious to provide that person any further help.  On the contrary, if the person showed you sincere appreciation for your time, you would probably be more willing to help that person in the future.  Showing gratitude doesn’t have to be anything more than saying thank you, but it is important that you make it a habit to do at least that.

There are two keys to this lesson that must also be reinforced. First, you have to be sincere.  Don’t be fake.  You have to mean it when you show your gratitude so STOP and take a moment to be sincere.  Second, don’t show gratitude just because you want more things done for you.  That would be taking advantage of people and the immense power of gratitude. 

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward

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