Flexibility

Good morning,

Happy Friday! This week seems to have a theme to it and the theme is flexibility.

Be flexible.

Sometimes flexibility is the most important ingredient to success. Setting goals is important, but the path to achieving them often requires willingness to explore new and unexpected twists and turns along the way. Whatever your dreams are…

Stay flexible – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” Tom Robbins

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The List

Good morning,

It’s Friday! I woke up this morning thinking about so many things to be grateful for – family, friends, clients, health and much more. We each have our own list of things to appreciate. However, in today’s ambitious environment it’s easy to get so focused on trying to achieve more that we have to remind ourselves to appreciate what we already have. In the words of Frederick Keonig:

“Happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Even during the most challenging times, if we look for it we can always find something to appreciate.

Thank you – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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ROL

Good morning,

Do you feel lucky? This week I came across a great article in the New York Times to share with you called:

"What’s Luck Got to Do With It?"

Authors Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen discuss the difference between luck and return on luck (ROL), based on research findings published in their new book, Great By Choice.

It's a fascinating article which concludes that "Resilience, not luck, is the signature of greatness."

Be strong - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “What does not kill me, makes me stronger.” Nietzsche

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Step Up

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Earlier this week a friend commented on the importance of personal responsibility in team environments. She pointed out that for a team to succeed, the individuals must:

Take personal responsibility.

Teams can accomplish so much more than individuals, but not if being on a team is used as an excuse to leave things up to someone else or to make assumptions. We've all heard people make excuses like, "I thought so-and-so was handling it," when in fact they meant "I failed to make sure it got handled."

Personal responsibility doesn't mean doing everything alone. In fact, delegating tasks is often essential. Personal responsibility means being accountable for the outcomes.

No excuses - have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.” Josiah Charles Stamp

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Plan Ahead

Good morning,

It's Friday! Got a lot on your plate? Rather than stressing, it helps to remember that a few minutes of planning can save hours of reworking.

“Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.”

These are wise words from Winston Churchill, which have assisted me many times over the years. I hope they help you, too.

Happy planning – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” John Lennon

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Team Up

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Do you ever have one of those weeks where you look back and wonder how it all got done? There’s a one-word answer that can make all the difference.

Teamwork.

It’s amazing how productive a few people can be when they’re all working together to help each other succeed. The icing on the cupcake is that collaborating is not only more productive, it’s more fun.

Here are three little tips to facilitate successful teamwork:

1. Communicate. It’s almost impossible to over-communicate. On the other hand, insufficient communication can bring down a team. Provide clear, detailed instructions. Keep fellow team members informed. And make a habit of saying please and thank you to everyone, yes everyone.

2. Initiate. Don’t wait to be told. Don’t assume someone else is going to do it. Take the initiative to contribute wherever possible, while holding yourself accountable for finishing whatever you start.

3. Appreciate. Every team member has unique qualities. By encouraging each other’s strengths and appreciating each other’s efforts, we make our teams even stronger.

Best of all, working as a team means winning as a team and the joy of getting to celebrate together.

Go team – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Vince Lombardi

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Legacy

Good morning,

Steve Jobs left an incredible legacy that will undoubtedly influence our lives forever. He was an inspiration to millions and his passing at the age of only 56 leaves me thinking about how fleeting life is. In Steve’s own words:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Finding one’s own path through life isn’t easy, but walking with integrity is bound to take us to higher ground.

Clarity

P.S. “Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” Wayne Dyer
 
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Golden Opportunity

Good morning,

Happy Friday and final day of September! It’s either the end of summer or the beginning of one of Michigan's most beautiful seasons. As Henry David Thoreau tells us...

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

By learning to choose our perspective we can see every end as a beginning and every obstacle as a golden opportunity.

So here’s to opportunity - and a sunny day!





Clarity

P.S. “As summer fades, find sunshine in the golden leaves of fall.” Amanda Lewan

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Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

The Platinum Rule

Good morning,

Happy Friday! We're all familiar with the Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." But recently I was intrigued to hear Dr. Tony Alessandra talk about the Platinum Rule:

“Do unto others as THEY would have you do unto them.”

Not everyone wants to be treated in the same way. Therefore, whether in customer service or interpersonal relationships, it's important to figure out how others want to be treated and behave accordingly.

Dr. Alessandra pointed out that, “People won’t tell you how to treat them, so instead open your eyes and ears." They will give you signals, including non-verbal cues, that will let you know how to best interact with them.

"How to build rapport with anyone" was the topic of a recent Yes! Network seminar presented by Dr. Alessandra. If you'd like to review a summary of the complete presentation, you're invited to visit this link.

Enjoy - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. ”Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Bash Through

Good morning,

Hurray for Friday! Sure it's totally compatible to love one's job and love Fridays at the same time. I'm excited about this weekend because DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a Health Harvest Bash on Sunday.

Reading about their history leads me to reflect on what it takes to build something great. In particular the ability to:

Overcome obstacles.

25 years ago the founders of Huron Valley overcame a lot of obstacles just to open a little community hospital which now is nationally recognized. This morning they're a reminder that whatever your dream is, persevere and you can achieve something great.

Happy Friday - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” Benjamin Franklin

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

You're Right

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Golf anyone? Historically I haven’t been a very good putter but last weekend I delightfully sank the longest putt of my life. Then the crazy part was that a few holes later I did it again! Of course today’s sunny note isn’t about golf, it’s about what we believe we’re capable of and how that belief shapes our achievements. Quite simply, to achieve more:

Think bigger.

We’re each capable of so much more than we currently believe is possible, we just have to expand our thinking. This applies to every area of our lives, not just on the golf course where my recent improvement came about after playing with a friend earlier this spring who kept saying “you can make that,” as I faced lengthy putts that I used to assume were impossible.

In business, at home and on the golf course, let’s set our sights higher – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right." Henry Ford.

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Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Well Done

Good morning,

Happy Labor Day! I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend. Have you heard of the Lake Wobegone Effect - everyone’s above average? Unfortunately, we all tend to think we’re smarter than we are and organizations tend to think their customer service is better than it is. But every once in a while there really is a company whose service is exceptionally good, and this week I was surprised and delighted to have that experience.

From the moment they first answered my call to our last interaction at their office, Collex Collision on Merriman Road in Livonia got it 100% right. The delightful woman on the phone assured me I’d called the right place, affirmed that their technicians are excellent and they’d get me taken care of right away. It was old school sales translated beautifully into customer service.

When I arrived (how could I say no?), the place was clean, organized and efficient. They were as friendly in person as on the phone and I left my vehicle with them to repair the paint for an agreed upon price. They provided a website where I could view photos of my vehicle during the repair process and when it was ready, they even offered to come pick me up. I arrived expecting to be disappointed by a bill slightly above estimate (taxes, right?) but no, it was under! And they detailed my car and I could go on and on.

Do I want to damage my car again just so I can get service from Collex? Not really! But it was almost that good.

Let’s all try to shine like the team on Merriman Road - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.” Walt Disney

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Finish Line

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Did this feel like a marathon week? I'm reminded that life itself is a marathon. At home and at work, anyone can sprint at the beginning of an exciting new project or opportunity. It's easier when we're inspired. However, to be successful we need the ability to "stick with it" long after the initial excitement wears off and the inspiration fades.

Persevere.

Don't get distracted. Personally, I have to admit that sorting my inbox often seems more urgent once tasks I'm working on lose their appeal, but those are the times when it's critical to stay focused regardless of whether or not it’s fun anytime. The results of persevering beyond the point where others might quit, can be simply amazing.

Let’s make it to the finish line - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” Benjamin Franklin

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Fired Up

Good morning,

Hurray for Friday! This week I managed to get in a little shopping and I was struck by how unenthusiastic some people are about the products they’re selling. I found myself thinking, if you don’t care about this product, why should I? It was a good reminder that when we’re selling something it’s very important to…

Show enthusiasm!

At a recent Yes! Network seminar titled “Moments of Magic: Ten Strategies to Create an Awesome Customer Experience” Shep Hyken put it this way. “To create an awesome customer experience, you have to be excited about what you do. Believe it or not, enthusiasm is contagious.”

Smile (it’s contagious too) - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.” Henry Ford

Or how about this one! “If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.” Vince Lombardi

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Upward Bound

Good morning,

Happy Friday! It looks like it's going to be a beautiful summer day here in Michigan. This morning I'm reflecting on a recent conversation with colleagues about what holds people back from achieving greater success. While there are lots of factors, the big one is fear. The solution?

Change perspective.

Here's an interesting example. Rather than fearing someone coming up through the ranks who might take our job, we can change our perspective on "being replaced" and intentionally teach them our role so we can advance to something even better.

Today are we facing challenges or opportunities? We get to decide - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." Henry David Thoreau

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Water Works

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Today I’m thinking about water and not just the kind my lawn needs after all the hot weather. It’s on my mind because of a fun little article I read on the CBS Business Network site last night and I loved this piece of advice.

“Be like water - it will find its way no matter how big an obstacle is placed in front of it.”

The article is a brief summary of “best business advice” tips and you can ready the whole thing here: http://www.bnet.com/blog/ceo/top-10-best-business-advice-youve-ever-gotten/2757

Let no obstacle block the way – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

“Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” Michael Jordan

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Cheerleaders

Good morning,

It's Friday! Earlier this week I was talking with a friend of mine who is job hunting. He was telling me he'd found a posting for the perfect position for him. Then he added, but they probably won't think I'm qualified. Have you ever done this? Let self-doubt talk you out of something before you even start?

Believe in yourself!

Many of us are our own harshest critic when we need to be our own biggest cheerleader and encourager. Confidence is believing in yourself and then acting accordingly, without waiting around for someone else to say "you can do it."

The best part is that it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, the more you believe, the more you can achieve.

Let's go for it - and have a sunny day!

P.S. "The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you. Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." William Jennings Bryan

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Modern History

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Have you Googled yourself lately? Sure it sounds like bad behavior but it's actually good business. These days we're all being Googled for one reason or another and it's wise to know what people see when they search for us.

History matters.

In addition to monitoring our own history online, we can make more responsible decisions about hiring individuals or businesses by researching their history. If this sounds like common sense that's because it is, but the trick is consistently remembering to do it.

Happy Googling - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "Knowledge is power." Francis Bacon

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Independence

Good morning,

It’s Friday! I hope you had a nice week and a happy Independence Day. How wonderful it is to be free as a country and free as individuals to stand up for our own principles, beliefs and values. This morning I’m reflecting on our freedom to:

Think freely.

Each of us has the opportunity, and perhaps the obligation, to form our own opinions and forge our own path. Other people may try to tell us what to do and even how to think, but we are free to make our own decisions.

Let’s be independent – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "Independence – is loyalty to one’s best self and principles, and this is often disloyalty to the general idols and fetishes.” Mark Twain

P.P.S. To receive Sunny Notes each Friday morning in your email, simply Visit This Link to sign up.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Endurance

Good morning,

Happy Friday! There are many attributes that contribute to a person's success. But one that doesn't get talked about as much as more glamorous attributes like talent is endurance. In other words, the sheer tenacity to:

See it through.

In the words of James Arthur Baldwin, “Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck -- but, most of all, endurance." A little bit of talent can go a long way if it's backed by a sufficient amount of endurance.

Let's be strong - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas Alva Edison

P.P.S. Please help spread the sunshine. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Courage

Good morning,

Wow! Monday seems like it was just here but today really is Friday. Yesterday a friend of mine was anxiously worrying and our discussion brought to mind some wise words from Dale Carnegie.

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

Taking positive action, however small, can get us moving in the right direction to overcome challenges and conquer fears.

Today let's have courage - and a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "Fortune favors the brave." Publius Terence

P.P.S. Please help spread the sunshine. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Change Up

Good morning,
 
It's Friday and going to be a beautiful one here in Michigan. Last night I was excited to open my just-arrived shiny copy of a new book published by my friend Brian Bartes. I randomly opened it in the middle and my eyes fell on these words.

"Changes creates opportunity, and those who are willing and able to learn new skills will be well positioned to benefit from change."

Wow - Brian, what a timely message! Change can be very challenging and today's sunny note is a word of encouragement to believe in yourself and focus on turning the challenges into opportunities.

If you'd like to know more about Brian and his excellent book, called Life Lessons, the website is www.LifeLessonsTheBook.com.

Let's change for the better - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." John Wooden

P.P.S. Please help spread the sunshine. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Never Too Late

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Is there something you've wanted to do but now it seems too late? Don't let that get in your way! No matter what you have in mind...

It's not too late.

Sure, it might have been easier or wiser to start sooner, but that's no excuse for not starting now.

It also helps to remember that "never too late" applies to little things as well as big things. Phone calls that need to be returned? Tasks that need to be finished? Words that need to be said? I know I've been guilty of using the passage of time as an excuse not to do something, telling myself "I should have done that a long time ago."

So whether it's a lofty goal we have in mind or a simple task we should complete, let's start now - and have a sunny day.

Clarity

P.S. "It's never too late to be who you might have been." George Eliot

P.P.S. Please help spread the sunshine. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Path Finding

Good morning,

It’s Friday and finally feels like summer in Michigan! This week I’ve been reflecting on the power each of us has to choose our own path. Even when we feel stuck, if we look closely at a situation there’s almost always more than one option. However, it’s up to us to:

Use the power to choose.

"If you have a choice but you don't make use of it, that's as good as not having one," says success coach Jonathan Sprinkles, who spoke at a recent Yes! Network event. Figuring out our options and making tough choices are often daunting, but always worth it, in order for us to actively guide the direction of our own lives.

This morning let's choose to have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.” Khalil Gibran

P.P.S. Please help spread the sunshine. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Bridging Troubled Water

Good morning,

Happy Friday! In today’s interconnected business environment it seems that the importance of not burning bridges should be pretty obvious. Yet lately I’ve observed a number of situations that left me shaking my head.

These were instances in which one party didn’t get the outcome they wanted from the other and instead of being graceful about it they lashed out. I’m simply amazed by the shortsightedness of such bridge burning behaviors, which turn temporary setbacks into permanent losses. Since we don’t always get what we want today, the following advice is especially important.

Think long term.

Earlier this week I hired a company I haven’t worked with in years. I kept their contact information all this time because they did a great job and in particular, I still remember how gracious they were when I canceled their services. No muss, no fuss, just “we hope to have the opportunity to work with you again in the future.” That’s the opposite of burning bridges.

Let’s build some bridges – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. Life is short but there is always time for courtesy. Ralph Waldo Emerson

P.P.S. Please help spread the sunshine. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Funny Bone to Pick

Good morning,

It's Friday! Have you had a good laugh lately? They say laughter is the best medicine, and regardless it certainly makes life more fun. In our work lives laughter can help, too, with breaking the ice, building camaraderie and making the workday more enjoyable and therefore more productive. But trying to be funny is no excuse for being offensive.

Watch out for wisecracks.

This week 7-Eleven got sharply reprimanded about this after they made a wisecrack about Mental Health Month in a Facebook post, which has since been deleted. It's yet another reminder to think before one speaks - or writes - and when in doubt...leave it out.

Today let's try to make others laugh - without hurting anyone's feelings - so we can all have a sunny day!


Clarity

P.S. Do you have a favorite clean joke from your childhood? Here's one of mine :)

Why did the turtle cross the road?

To get to the shell station!


P.P.S. Please help spread the sunshine. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Fool's Gold

Good morning,

Happy Friday! A friend shared a Chinese Proverb with me that I found especially relevant this week. “He who asks a question may be a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.”

What great advice, especially in the business world where inaccurate assumptions can cause major consequences. So today’s Sunny Note is simply a word of encouragement to take responsibility for asking questions instead of assuming answers. This kind of foolishness can really pay off!

Let’s be the “five minute fool” – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “Never assume the obvious is true.” William Safire

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Extreme Productivity

Good morning,

It's Friday! In today's busy world most of us are continually seeking ways to be more productive. This month's Harvard Business Review has an interesting article that offers six principals to help us achieve "extreme productivity," including this advice.

"Think First, Read or Write Second."

Making time to think is a highly essential and often neglected key to productivity. As the article's author Robert C. Pozen points out, "many people feel overwhelmed by the huge volume of reading and writing they have to do for their business. They don't realize that the key to faster and more effective reading and writing is more rigorous thinking in advance."

For example, when writing an article, compose an outline first with just the key points and a few subpoints under each. "After writing an outline, write the concluding paragraph," suggests Pozen. "That will tell you whether you really know where your article or memo is going."

Let's think first - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." Benjamin Franklin

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Have you ever gotten a new car and then suddenly you see the same model everywhere? Last time I bought a car it seemed like everybody followed my example and got the same one in the same color no less. Of course what really happened is this.

We find what we’re looking for.

This is true in pretty much all areas of our lives and when it comes to managing employees, apparently it’s been scientifically proven, according to an article in yesterday’s Science Daily.

“How leaders view their employees tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy,” according to Thomas Sy, assistant professor of psychology at UC Riverside and a longtime business leadership consultant. In what he describes as the first study to examine leaders' conceptions of followers, the psychologist found that "if managers view followers positively -- that they are good citizens, industrious, enthusiastic -- they will treat their employees positively. If they think of their employees negatively -- that they are conforming, insubordinate and incompetent -- they will treat them that way," he said. "Manager beliefs about employees impact organizational outcomes."

This study is an interesting reinforcement of an important piece of common sense, that having positive expectations increases the likelihood of positive results.

Let’s stay positive – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being." Goethe

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Perpetual Motion

Good Friday,

Happy Morning! Yesterday I had the opportunity to hear retired Ford Motor Company executive Andy Acho deliver a keynote speech on Practical Sustainability during an Earth Day event at the DIA hosted by Grand River Printing & Imaging. One of my favorite pieces of advice from Andy applies not only to environmental initiatives but also to life in general.

"Don't confuse motion with action."

This is so important to keep in mind because rushing around and spinning our wheels are counter productive to accomplishing goals and making progress.

Let's replace motion with action - and have a sunny Earth Day!

Clarity

P.S. "You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action." Anthony Robbins

P.P.S. Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
www.SunnyMediaGroup.com
313-268-6810

Just the Facts

Good morning,

It's Friday...and Rebecca Black's "Friday" YouTube video has surpassed a hundred-MILLION views. So maybe that means Friday's really are special! But if you're reading Sunny Notes instead of watching Rebecca, here's today's tip:

Get the facts first.

We put ourselves at risk when we draw conclusions, make decisions or take actions based on incomplete information. Sure, we might never have ALL the information about any given situation, but it's important to collect as many facts as possible before acting. Hours of unnecessary worry can be eliminated and many painful mistakes avoided simply by having the patience to withhold judgment or decision-making, until more information is available.

One of the most common actions people take before they have all the facts - gossip. One of the most effective ways to get accurate information about a situation involving another person - ask them!

Let’s get down to the facts of the matter - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing A Sunny Note with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Let's Face It

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Have you ever noticed that things we're afraid of or worry about most, often turn out to be nothing when we finally confront them? Instead of wasting energy on worry:

Take action.

Taking action to confront a fear is like turning on a light to confront the dark. You do it, and it usually turns out there was nothing there.

So whatever is worrying us most today, let's shine a light on it - and have a sunny day.

Clarity


"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." Plato

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing A Sunny Note with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

The High Road

Good morning,

It's April 1st! Today, and every day, don't get fooled into taking the wrong turn when challenged by a provocative or combative individual. In almost every situation, we have a choice of either taking the high road or taking the low road. Often the "high road" means responding respectfully or professionally to disrespectful or unprofessional behavior. No matter what:

Treat others the way we would like to be treated.

Sometimes it's very difficult and that's when it's very important. Even though we can’t control other people’s behavior, we can always control our own, and everyone benefits when we take the high road.

So no matter what thunderstorms you run into this Friday, bring your own sunshine - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” ~James Matthew Barrie

Special Delivery

Good morning,

Happy Friday! In a world of rising expectations and "need it yesterday" requests, we must be able to deliver on the commitments we make. Others are counting on us, and we're counting on others, so...

Don't over promise.

Helpful people risk falling into the dangerous trap of saying "yes" to everything. It's better to do more than we promise than to promise more than we do.

Remember that "yes" is not always the right answer - and have a sunny.

Clarity

P.S. "He who is most slow in making a promise is the most faithful in performance of it." Jean-Jacques Rousseau

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing A Sunny Note with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Yes! Network Seminar Highlights 3/15/11

Seminar Reviews by Clarity Patton Newhouse - Clarity.tv
Compliments of Metropolitan Lincoln of Garden City - MetroMichigan.com

The Yes! Network is one of America’s leading seminar training companies. President Michael Jeffreys offers complimentary workshops that can take place at your business, networking group or association meeting. For more information, visit YesMidwest.com.

March 15, 2011 - Novi, Michigan. This month’s Yes! Network speakers brought two totally different and highly engaging topics to the event. Niurka presented “The Art of Materialization” in the afternoon followed by Shawna Schuh with “Winning Interactions: Face-to-Face Networking Skills for Making High Quality Connections.” Both speakers successfully connected with the audience, delivering informative and motivational seminars. In case you missed either of the sessions or would simply enjoy a little refresher, here are some of the highlights.

AFTERNOON SESSION: THE ART OF MATERIALIZATION

In Niurka’s engaging program, “The Art of Materialization,” she set out in detail the method she recommends to harness our creativity and make our dreams a reality. Niurka calls this process ‘the art and science of materialization’ or ‘purposeful transformation.’ It is a synthesis of what she has learned from scientific disciplines such as physics, psychology and linguistics and years of personal study and practice.

According to Niurka, we are all creators inhabiting a universe of infinite possibilities. But we tend to see - and therefore create - the same things over and over again, due in part to our mind’s Reticular Activating System or ‘RAS’. This is the part of our mind that tells us what to pay attention to among the countless things vying for our attention. We can’t take in an infinite number of ideas and sensations, so our RAS “sifts” reality for us like a search engine. Though we think we describe the universe that we see, because of this sifting system, we actually ‘see what we describe’ i.e. what we’ve unconsciously chosen to pay attention to.

We attract and see what vibrates in harmony with our thoughts. Our filter, through our suppositions and associative thinking, determines our reality since, as Niurka tells us, “where attention goes, energy flows” and everything is energy. Therefore, Niurka tells us that we should pay attention to the suppositions in the language we use and challenge them. We should describe ourselves as we want to see ourselves, if we desire to achieve our goals.

With this in mind, Niurka teaches a process to align our filter with our goals and thereby “materialize” them, i.e. bring them from the realm of ideas into the realm of reality.
Niurka tells us it is necessary to write down with specificity the goal we want to materialize. However, when formulating and working on materializing your goal, it is important to be in the proper emotional state. To get there, Niurka teaches meditation to create a state of grounded and centered presence, a materializing meditation to be practiced daily, because what you practice daily determines the quality of your life. This meditation helps us create the space to ground ourselves and harness our energy.

She suggests we imagine a cord, tree trunk or other connecting image stretching from our spines all the way to the center of the Earth. Then we are told to look around and notice that there is a release button or lever nearby. We press the release button and picture releasing any doubts or fears. Next, we imagine a golden sun above us. We use this sun to call back any energy we’ve left behind in any period of our lives we choose. Then we poke a hole in this sun, releasing the light, letting it flow into our heads, out through our eyes, down our throat and into our trunks and fingertips, down our legs and all the way down into the Earth. Through this practice we begin our day from a grounded and centered place, and from this center we materialize and create.

Following the session break, Niurka taught us an exercise to align our “pictures” with our goals. First, we picture a model on an imaginary screen, someone naturally gifted at what we wish to accomplish. Then, we pick one specific thing this “model of possibility” is doing or exemplifying that we would like to embody and we begin to align our vibration with theirs to mirror their behavior.

Next, we step into the model on the screen, paying attention to how we feel. What do we see through their eyes? At this point we are advised to imagine a future time when, without having gone through this exercise, we would have failed at our goal, but now we behave in concert with it.

Now, we step back out of the model, hold that state and breathe as the model did. We brighten, amplify and clarify the image and finally step off the screen and back into ourselves. Niurka says we can use different models but we are advised not to stay too long in a model’s image. We can imagine our model within a rose and then blow the rose away.

During the course of her dynamic presentation here are just a few more of the ideas Niurka shared with us:

“Whatever you feed grows. Whatever you starve dies.”
“In a universe of infinite possibility, the ‘wrong’ is always available.”
“Be aware of the space between the notes of your life.”
“The quality of your questions determines the quality of your life.”

Throughout her presentation, Niurka reminds us that we have magic around us all the time. We are creators with the freedom to choose and the power to create.

If you’d like to know more about Niurka beyond these highlights, additional information is available at NiurkaInc.com. Also, you can read my review of a 2010 seminar presented by Niurka by visiting this link.

EVENING SESSION: WINNING INTERACTIONS

During the evening session Certified Speaking Professional Shawna Schuh presented “Winning Interactions: Face-to-Face Networking Skills for Making High Quality Connections.” It was an engaging seminar on how to get the most out of networking. Throughout her presentation Shawna emphasized her core belief that when we network properly, it’s a win-win for everyone. She also provided a specific analysis of why we have networking difficulties and how to address them.

Shawna began by relating the story of her start in business when, young and unsophisticated, she barged into the office of a very successful and polished businesswoman. Shawna realized immediately that she had failed to make an appointment or even plan for the meeting. Yet rather than dismiss her out of hand, the business woman gave her a chance to make a proper appointment, come back and present her ideas. Shawna related this story to illustrate a number of points, not the least of which was that by not prejudging Shawna, the businesswoman created a win-win situation that resulted in a 20 year business relationship.

Shawna went on to describe the five most common fears related to social interaction. First, we don’t take risks because we fear we’ll be judged. That fear exists because we ourselves judge others all the time! Next, we fear being dismissed. Dismissal frequently happens when someone we’re talking to in a networking setting decides we don’t have anything they need. She points out that this is also something many of us are guilty of ourselves and should make an effort not to do. Third, we’re afraid of appearing to be stupid. In addition, we’re concerned we haven’t anything worthwhile to contribute. And finally, we’re afraid we’ll say or do something to jeopardize our reputation so we just keep quiet.

At this point, Shawna shared her philosophy of networking and the importance of focusing on helping others. This, in turn helps us. And we have to speak positively. Too often, we talk about what we don’t want. We don’t want to loose our market share, our homes or our jobs. However, when we’re focused on the negative, we’re not focused on helping anyone or achieving positive outcomes.

“First,” she tells us, “we have to ask ourselves, ‘What do we want’? We want to make connections.” To achieve that objective we have to address our five big networking fears, and to accomplish that, Shawna offered a number of practical suggestions.

For example, to damp down concerns about being judged, arm yourself by becoming better at your job and more knowledgeable in your field. Rather than asking a new acquaintance right off the bat for a business card, Shawna suggests we ask what magazines or books they are reading. “This is a good technique because I learn from the other person and the other person feels valued and appreciated. We’re getting to know each other. You’ll never be judged if all you’re doing is asking questions that make others feel engaged. “

Shawna also reminds us that “leaders are readers.” For example, make a habit of reading leading magazines in your field. When you are knowledgeable you become a resource and build your reputation. Even if your new acquaintance can’t use your services, she may know someone who could.

In keeping with her advice that we focus on others, Shawna tells us to be prepared when we go to a networking event. “If you show up someplace and you’re not prepared, not dressed properly or don’t have business cards, you’re apologizing and focusing on you. Instead we need to focus on “them.” And, speaking of apologizing for such things, Shawna tells us to avoid it.

Shawna also pointed out a number of other things to be wary of. Don’t give anybody your card unless they ask for it. Otherwise, they are likely to throw it away. The other ‘no’ is, don’t just ask for someone’s card. Instead, engage them in a meaningful conversation. Ask about books, classes, hobbies etc. Then you can sincerely say something like “I like the way you think…we should stay in contact. You’ve taught me something today that was interesting. Is it alright if we stay in contact?”

Surprisingly, Shawna advises that if you’ve ever called yourself a business ‘problem solver,’ stop. If you solve problems, when the problem is over others don’t need you. Instead be a ‘solution finder’. That way, you become an ongoing resource for clients.

After the break, Shawna reemphasized the theme of helping others. “I think sales are one of the most interesting, exciting careers in the world. Salespeople are also the wealthiest people in the world. If I were to wake up and say, ‘I don’t like sales’, but I’m in sales, then I’m in trouble. Instead wake up and say ‘I’m going to help people’.” Shawna reminds us that in networking, ‘don’t worry about you, worry about them’. Develop ongoing relationships instead of onetime sales.

Toward the end of her informative presentation, Shawna gave us a number of helpful tips. She suggests that when attending networking events, wear something to help others remember our names. For example, Shawna wears a pin in the shape of a shoe to remind people of her last name, Schuh. In the same vein she offered advice on the three ‘Cs’ of dressing: colorful clothes, cover your skin (don’t show too much) and wear a coat or blazer because it gives you more credibility and makes other people more comfortable. Shawna also pointed out that ‘integrity’ is an over used word. Don’t put this on your business card. Your actions should demonstrate that you have integrity.

Shawna reminds us life is networking. And networking, i.e. face to face interaction, is about the small details. Too often we’re in such a hurry to get the big sale, the big job, that we’re not paying attention to the details that would really make our lives magnificent. In conclusion Shawna asks us “What are you doing every day to increase your value to people, and how are you sharing that value. That is the challenge!”

For more information about Shawna Schuh, visit http://www.shawnaschuh.com/ .

Your comments and feedback on these seminar reviews are welcomed and appreciated. Sincerely, Clarity

Field of Dreams

Good morning,

Happy it’s-almost-Spring Friday! Earlier this week during a Yes! Network seminar, motivational speaker Niurka made the point that ‘Whatever you feed grows. Whatever you starve dies.’ So, this Spring as we’re nourishing our lawns and gardens, let’s also…

Nourish our dreams.

Attention is the life blood of dreams. As we go through each day paying bills, raising children and chasing seemingly endless tasks, the easiest thing in the world is to stop paying attention to our dreams. Yet once we neglect them by directing our energies elsewhere, they begin to fade. Sure, a dream doesn’t require 24 hour a day care, but if starved too long for attention, it can wither and die.

So here’s to hoping your dreams flourish - and you have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "People need dreams, there's as much nourishment in 'em as food."
Dorothy Gilman

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing A Sunny Note with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Go Team

Good morning,

Hurray - we made it to Friday! Looking back at this week, the word that describes it best is teamwork. So many things I'm proud to say got accomplished and not one of them by me alone. Today's sunny tip is simply this.

Work together.

Business is a team sport. Yet so many of us who care passionately about our work are at risk of trying to do it all ourselves. That's just not possible and if we try that approach we limit or diminish the results.

Instead, look for ways to effectively collaborate. One of the keys is to ask for help or involve other people BEFORE the crisis point...you know, that moment when you discover you can't do it alone and now it's a crisis because you didn't anticipate the need and involve someone else earlier in the process...

Instead of trying to avoid the need for help, let's anticipate it - and have a sunny day.

Clarity

P.S. "The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime." Babe Ruth

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing A Sunny Note with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Front Page

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Here’s some food for thought. Imagine that every email you sent yesterday just got published on the front page of today’s newspaper.

No problem? Great! Because although that scenario might sound farfetched, in today’s electronic world it’s not just celebrities and politicians, whose texts and emails can bounce back to bite them. In the business world, it’s just as easy for emails to get accidentally or maliciously sent to unintended recipients, wreaking havoc on businesses and individuals. We can help protect ourselves with this simple tip.

When in doubt leave it out.

Email is not the place for venting, reprimanding or transmitting sensitive information. If it’s genuinely confidential, or if we’d simply feel ashamed to see our choice words published on the front page, then put down the mouse and slowly back away from the keyboard. If it still needs to be said, then fortunately there are other more appropriate, more sensitive and/or more secure ways of communicating those types of messages.

Let’s “think first” – and have a sunny day.

Clarity

P.S. “If we could measure the damage to corporations from gossip, it might be more than the GNP of the Third World.” Harvey Mackay, New York Times Bestselling Author

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Believe It

Good morning,

It was great hearing news reports this week about Michigan organizations planning to expand their workforces. This raises the question, what traits are employers looking for when hiring?

When asked this question, a business owner conducting a recent seminar replied, “Confidence, above anything else.” So today's sunny note is a reminder to...

Believe in yourself.

When you have confidence that you can accomplish anything, anything can be accomplished. The world needs what you have to offer.

Believe it - and have a sunny day.

Clarity

P.S. "As is our confidence, so is our capacity." William Hazlitt

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Cut Your Losses

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Sometimes in business you can "stay the course" and in time you’ll reach your goal. But what do you do when you discover you’re going the wrong way?

Change direction.

Too often we’re afraid to admit we’ve made a mistake and take corrective action. Once we’ve invested our time, money or ego we’re reluctant to give up on those investments. But when we find ourselves on the wrong path a willingness to accept losses and change direction can enable us to avoid even greater losses later.

Lester Thurow reminds us that sometimes, “A competitive world offers two possibilities. You can lose. Or, if you want to win, you can change.”

Let’s make the right call - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “When you're finished changing, you're finished.” Benjamin Franklin

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Write is Right

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Here's one of the simplest and most helpful keys to improving productivity.

Write it down.

Whether we're talking about things to do or information to remember, writing it down not only increases productivity but reduces stress. In fact, writing things down actually improves future recall. So even if we write something down and then throw away the paper (which I don't suggest) we're still more likely to remember the information than if we hadn't written it down in the first place.

Now who was I supposed to call this morning...?

Write away – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else." Les Brown

P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Touch Down

Good morning,

Happy Super Bowl Friday! Just like the Packers and Steelers, we all want to achieve great things. As we pursue our own unique dreams, our fears and anxieties are often our biggest obstacles.

"Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world."

That’s from Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose point is that fear and the paralysis that fear creates keep us from achieving our goals. We can overcome countless obstacles faced in life, but only if we look fear in the face, stare it down and take action.

Let’s bravely pursue our dreams – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." Dale Carnegie

P.P.S. I always enjoye hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Cutting Edge

Good Morning,

Aren’t Fridays grand! I don’t know about you, but for me this week has been all about learning new software. Powerful programs that will help our business do wonderful things…but only if we know how to use them.

Some people’s tools includes knives that can be sharpened, other people’s include computer programs that can be learned. Whatever you use, today’s note is a red-alert to:

Sharpen your tools.

It’s the only way to be cutting edge. I recently heard productivity expert and best-selling author Laura Stack tell a related story about her grandfather who made a living for his family chopping wood. They were paid by the amount they chopped and his team always earned more team than the other teams. Their secret? Every day they took 20 minutes for lunch. But while they were taking lunch, they were actually sharpening their tools.

Sadly, Laura reported that most of us only employ abut 20% of the capabilities of our computer programs because we haven’t learned how to use them.

Let’s brush up – and have a sunny day!

P.S. Did you know...you can save an Outlook email into a regular folder on your computer, just by selecting Save As and choosing *.msg as the file type. Then you can open the message, with its attachments, anytime in the future simply by double-clicking on it. Thanks for the tip Laura! You can read my review of Laura's entire seminar by visiting this link.

P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com

Tackle It

Good morning,

Happy Friday! What's on today's to-do list? Chances are there's something on the list that keeps getting put off because it's difficult, distasteful or we just don't know where to start. It happens to me, too. The solution?

Do the difficult task FIRST.

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed speaker Desi Williamson encourage us to challenge our fears. "Whatever it is that you fear most, do it first!" says Desi. "The best remedy for fear is massive action."

To help us overcome our fears, Desi suggests asking ourselves six little questions about the goal we desire to achieve. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? "Whenever you're faced with a challenge or opportunity, the answers to these questions will provide you with the blueprint for action, results and the adjustments you need to make to move forward."

Let's tackle that daunting task - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." Dale Carnegie

P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
http://www.sunnymediagroup.com/

Too Obvious

Good morning,

Hurray for Friday! Remember the days of taking multiple choice tests in school and avoiding the obvious answers because you knew they were there just to mislead you? Life is like that. The obvious answer is frequently not the correct one.

“Never assume the obvious is true.”

These are wise words from William Safire, because we’re all at risk of making erroneous assumptions, especially about other people. Today’s note is a simple reminder to look closer, investigate further and make sure we understand the situation or the person before drawing conclusions.

Watch out for “multiple choice” moments - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “Most of our assumptions have outlived their uselessness.” Marshall McLuhan

P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
www.SunnyMediaGroup.com

Just Because

Good morning,

Happy Friday! Some things in life are worth doing just because they’re the right thing to do. The world is full of crossroads where commercial interests and human concerns seem to point in different directions. Today’s sunny note is simply a reminder to take the high road.

Do the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do.

Not every action needs an obvious “return on investment.” It’s inevitable that some of the things we do for the people in our lives will go unnoticed or even unappreciated. Yet we do them anyway. Not for pats on the back or commercial rewards, but simply because we care.

In fact, caring turns out to be its own reward, making each of us happier at the end of the road.

Drive safely – and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. In response to last week’s Sunny Note, Cheri Young sent in a great suggestion that I asked her permission to share with you today. Here is Cheri’s recommended alternative to "resolutions." Thanks Cheri!

>>>I find that most resolutions are good for about 3-4 days, after that we are crabby and discouraged. I make a list called "less and more." This way I can celebrate improvement and failure never happens unless I quit trying.

Instead of the usual, I want to lose XX pounds. How about:

I want to eat more real fruit and less refined sugars.
I want to eat more lean protein and fewer fast food hamburgers
Supporting actions:
• Change purchases at grocery store, we tend to eat what is at hand.
• Eat Grilled chicken salads instead of fried foods at restaurants.

I want to spend less time on routine cooking.
I want to spend more time entertaining.
Supporting actions:
• Double the recipe on "routine" foods and store/freeze for another day.
• Pick one weekend a month and invite friends for dinner and cards. (Friends bring the wine and fruit-based dessert.)

I want to save more money.
Supporting actions:
• Increase your retirement savings by one percent and eat out less often.
• Throw change in a cookie jar for the next vacation instead of using your credit card.
• Invite friends to dinner and cards instead of going out, put saved dollars in cookie jar.

As you can see, some actions have multiple results! This is way more fun and successful than promising to lose 10 pounds. Best Regards, Cheri

P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
www.SunnyMediaGroup.com