Chris Widener's Ezine
November 17, 2006
Issue 50

Welcome!

Hey there! As we get deeper into November that means we are going to get more and more busy with the holidays and such. That can put a lot of stress on us if we aren't proactive about it. So let me encourage you to be proactive this year to make sure you get plenty of down time to relax and regenerate. The holidays are supposed to be joyful, and they can be, especially if we make sure to not get caught up in all the stress. So give yourself permission to enjoy the holidays and not get so stressed out! Come January first, you will be glad you did!

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener

P.S. Today's issue is going out to 72,459 subscribers. If you've gained value from what you read in my Ezine, then I would like to thank you in advance for forwarding this issue to friends, family and associates!



In This Issue.......

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article
2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary
3. The Last Word...
4. Introduction to the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan for only $9.97!
5. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article (This is excerpted from Week Nineteen of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan)

 Hi there, Chris Widener here. As Jim wrote about some ways to develop healthy relationships with our spouse and children, I wanted to bring another thought into the equation and that is the concept of praising your spouse and kids and the power that comes from that. Below is an edited version of an article I wrote on the subject.

The Power in Praising Your Family

One of the keys to success is to have successful relationships. We are not islands and we don't get to the top by ourselves. And one of the key ways to grow successful in our relationships is to be "life-giving" people to others. With every person we meet, we either give life to or take life from.

You know what I mean. There are people who encourage you and after spending time with them you feel built up. Then there are others who make you feel torn down. Successful people are people who have mastered the art of building up others. This is especially true of our families.

One of the ways we build up our families is to praise them. There is power in praising people! Something begins to happen in them, in you, and in your relationship when you praise someone. Can you remember a time when someone told you something about you in a praising manner? It was great, wasn't it? You probably liked that person more after they praised you, didn't you?

Now I am not talking about praising people for the sake of praising people. I am talking about honestly looking for and praising positive character traits and actions of your spouse and children. Don't lie to them. If they have done something wrong, correct it, but when they do something right, praise it!

With that said, here are benefits of and ways to start praising the people in your family.

Benefits:

Your relationship grows. Life is about relationships--family relationships, friends and co-workers. When we begin to praise people for their positive aspects, our relationships grow. It puts them, and us, on the fast track. Your leadership and influence grows. Who is going to have greater relationships, the one who tears down or the one who builds up?

Stronger relationships and loyalty. When the person is appreciated and praised, they become fiercely loyal, because they know that you care for them, love them and appreciate them. This will take you to success.

Happier, more fulfilled people. I truly believe it is our job to build the members of our family up and that they need it. There will always be others who come along to tear them down; it is our job to instill in them the power of praise!


Some Ways to Praise:

Character traits. Is your wife joyful? Is your husband hard-working? Is your son or daughter honest? Then let them know how much you appreciate that in them. Say something like this, "You know Tom, I think it is great that you are such a hard-worker. You really set a good example and I want you to know how much I appreciate that." Simple!

Action. Same idea as above. "Sue, I don't know if I have ever told you this, but I love how you always take action on the things you believe in. Thanks for that."

Other ways you can show praise and appreciation is with a card or a gift.

Make it your goal to praise every member of your family at least once each day. If you can, praise them a few times a day. It will take work but it is possible. It just takes discipline and a little work.

Any way you cut it, there is power in praising people. If you are serious about healthy family relationships, this is a great place to start!

Chris Widener


Questions for Reflection

Q. Do you know the best way to express love to your spouse so they interpret it as love and can appreciate it the most? Do you tell your spouse and kids that you love them each and every day?

Q. Would your family characterize you as having a serving attitude and heart toward the rest of the family? Why or why not? In what ways could you become a person who serves better?

Q. Are your family relationships characterized by honest and open communication? If not, what is the hindrance? What could you do to open up the communication?

Q. Are you patient with your spouse and children? Who are you most patient with? What are the things that trigger a lack of patience in you? How can you improve in that area?

Q. When was the last time you had fun - real fun - with each member of your family? What kinds of fun things do you like to do with your spouse? What kinds of fun things do you like to do with your kids? More importantly, what fun things do they like to do with you?


Chris Widener  

To hear (or see) what Chris Widener has to say about the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan or to join Chris and Jim Rohn as part of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan and to participate in a Special Introductory Offer, go to http://oneyear.jimrohn.com or call 800-929-0434 for more information.
 

2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary

"My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there." -- Charles F. Kettering

Chris' Commentary:
One of the biggest hindrances to people's achievement of success is that they spend too much time on two areas they shouldn't be in: The Past and the Present. We need not spend much time in the past because the past is, well, the past, right? There is nothing you can do about it but learn from it, and you learn for your future. The Present? Yes, we should spend our time on the present only in that we do so to further our future. Even our time and energy spent for the present is to create for ourselves the future. Yes, we should enjoy the present, but build for the future. Ah, the future. This is where your dreams are! This is the field of accomplishment. This is the arena of satisfaction. Focus there. Learn from your past, enjoy your present, but put your interest in the future!

Action Point: Make a decision today to get over your past. If it is too bad, then perhaps you need to get some help getting over it. As for your present, enjoy it, but take the time today to dream of, and plan for, your future!




3. The Last Word...

This week I'm offering you a list of my top 7 books on Leadership (I've done this before in one of my early ezines, but it's a great list and worth repeating for all my new subscribers). Because I believe we all operate in some kind of leadership role, take some time to read the books on this list and hone those necessary skills for developing the true leader in you! -- CW

Chris' Top 7 Favorite Leadership Books

1. The West Point Way of Leadership by Larry Donnithorne (GREAT book by a man who taught leadership at West Point for 20 years)

2. Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell (All around book.
Follow-up book is Developing the Leaders Around You)

3. Lincoln On Leadership by Donald T. Phillips (Looks at the Life of Honest Abe and the lessons of leadership he exhibited)

4. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (A classic on everybody's list)

5. Servant Leadership by Stephen R. Covey (Reminds us we serve those who
follow)

6. Leadership Jazz by Max De Pree (Lots about shaping the values of an
organization)

7. Oh The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss (Okay, it is a Dr. Seuss Book, but I kid you not, this could be subtitled Leadership Lessons for Kids... And Big Kids too. I read it to my kids often and am reminded of what it takes to have a successful journey)

Happy Reading!



4. Introduction to the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan for only $9.97!
 

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Yes, that is correct! We are excited to announce a Very Special Invitation to All our Jim Rohn Ezine Subscribers to be part of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan - One of the Most Comprehensive Resource and Success Plans Ever Created For You To Reach All Of Your Goals in the Next 12 Months - all for only an initial payment of $9.97!

Plus receive 4 Free Bonuses, all part of a special Goal-Setting package, that will help you create the 2007 that you desire to have (over $300 in bonuses)!

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5. More Information

Ezine Archives - To review previous issues of Chris Widener's Ezine, please go to: Ezine Archives