Returning Thanks

Good Morning,

I hope you enjoyed a happy Thanksgiving. In the spirit of the season, I’m feeling very grateful this morning for you and everyone in my life, and I’ve been chewing on this food for thought: often the people who are closest to us, the ones we depend upon most, are the people we forget to thank.

When a stranger holds the door for us as we enter a building, we automatically say “thank you,” but when a loved one does something we’ve come to rely upon every day, how easy it is to take his or her efforts for granted.

More than 1,500 years ago, St. Ambrose said, “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” And more recently, Mother Teresa pointed out that “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”

I once dated a guy who got annoyed with me for saying “thanks for calling.” He said I shouldn’t thank him for something he’s going to do everyday anyway. But I disagree - because I don’t think I can say “thank you” enough, especially for the things that family members, friends and coworkers do everyday - anyway.

No success is ever achieved without the help of others. So whether I’ve said it too often, or not often enough, thank you. And have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us,” Albert Schweitzer.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505

Success Equation

Good morning,

I promised to stay in touch and this morning I’m thinking about something that’s worth sharing with you – food for thought on a Friday. If it encourages you or just brightens your day, then I’m glad.

It’s a simple equation: “Success = Preparation + Opportunity.” I don’t know who said it first, but it’s powerful and true.

In my own life I’ve been often lucky – in the right place at the right time. But encountering opportunity doesn’t equal success unless we’re prepared to act. Perhaps it’s as simple as having an elevator pitch ready in case we encounter a potential investor, or keeping a passport current incase an opportunity involves travel.

I was recently reminded of Arnold Palmer, after an amazing golf shot, being congratulated by a fan about how lucky the shot was, to which Palmer responded, “It's a funny thing, the more I practice the luckier I get.” I love that quote because it underscores the importance of preparation and good old fashioned hard work in achieving success, or being “lucky.”

So this morning I’m reflecting on this question, if success occurs when preparation meets opportunity, what is one thing we can do TODAY to help prepare for the opportunities we desire to meet?

Have a Sunny Day!

Clarity

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505

P.S. Now is usually the hardest and best time to act, because you never know what tomorrow will bring or when opportunity will knock…

The "If Only" Disease

Good Morning,

I’m sending you this note today because I often think, “if only” I could stay in touch with all the people I know. I sure would like to be in touch instead of making excuses like, there’s not enough time, or what could I say that you’d be interested in anyway…

I just heard a piece of advice that I’m putting into practice right now and passing along to you, in case it helps you, too. “Don’t catch the “IF ONLY” disease,” is a warning from James Malinchak. It was an important reminder for me to quit making excuses – if only I could do this…if only I had time for that… Excuses are like a disease and, yes, they’re contagious - one excuse leads to another.

So that’s it, no more “if only” excuses will keep me from saying “hi” to you. Starting with this little email, I’m going to stay in touch on a regular basis. I hope you don’t mind. I hope you’ll be happy to hear from me. Maybe today I’ve even jogged your memory about something you’d like to do “if only…” At least I hope you don’t think, “if only she would stop emailing me!”

Have a Sunny Day,

Clarity

P.S. “Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down,” Kobi Yamada. That's what I was thinking when I took the leap from Washington to Michigan in 2001 without knowing what lay ahead. Not surprisingly, it's the people I met here who helped make Michigan a great place to land, and it's the people I left behind who make Washington a great place to visit. Thank you!

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
www.MetroMichigan.com