by Dr. James Pierce

Communication is very important to human society and relationships. Without communication, our lives would be incomplete. Relationships suffer when communication breaks down. Most people look at communication as a one way street. Meaning they emphasize the delivery side of communication, not the receiving size. They want to be heard more than they want to listen. Yet listening completes the process of communication, making it a two way street. I believe when we improve our listening skills, we benefit from what we hear. There are rules or laws that govern productive listening that will improve your communication and effectiveness with others to benefit your life in a positive way. Listening is more than hearing sound, it’s hearing with intentions of understanding. First, let’s talk about how to listen with the intent of learning.

How to Listen to Learn

• 1. Listen To The Right People.

  Having the right listening skills is counter-productive when you’re listening to the wrong people. You could be learning a lot of the wrong information. I can’t tell you who to listen to, that would depend on the context of what you want to learn. But the best way to evaluate who you listen to is by their fruit of their life.

• 2. Listen To The details.

  When you pay attention to details when listening you will be a more effective communicator. This is so important when you’re given instructions to follow. You’ll make less mistakes and get better results. Remember, small details make a big difference.

• 3. Listen Without Rebuttal.

  This is difficult for people who want to verbalize their opinion quickly. Do everything you can to hear the whole matter first. Think about what was said. Seek to understand and necessarily agree with or approve. The other person will feel acknowledged. Remember, you can’t hear with your “BUT” in the way. Just listen!

• 4. Listen To Know The Context.

  When listening, always stay within the context of the conversation. Truth out of context is still flawed. Usually the speaker sets the context of the conversation so stick with their context. It’ll make what they say more relevant.

In our next report we will continue on this subject. There’s a lot more to be said but you’ll have to wait until next time. But I’m sure these 4 points will help you become a better listener. Try them out this week and see the difference in the response you get.

These change agents can will effect your attitude in a positive way, thereby helping you look at life as an optimist and not a pessimist.

1. Be honest with yourself.
   Most people have a hard time seeing themselves as having a negative attitude or needing an attitude adjustment. But when you have dreams and goals you really want to achieve, self evaluation is important to making the proper changes in your attitude. If you have a hard time with self evaluation, get a life coach or a mentor that you trust to do an evaluation for you.
2. Practice being positive.
   Take a day or a week and practice finding something positive in as many situations as possible. This will not be easy if you have a negative disposition. Most people around you will be surprised while not even knowing what you’re doing. Start the day before by posting reminders to yourself in places like your bathroom mirror or refrigerator that say “I will be positive today” or “I will see the good in all that I do and others.” And keep your promise to yourself.
3. Find positive people to be around.
   I always say people are like elevators. They can take you up or bring you down.
   Find people who have an up button on them and take the ride with them. I must warn you that most people have a negative disposition. So this is a tough assignment for you. But when all else fails, get audio CDs and downloads of motivational speakers. This is a good place to start.
4. Change the way you use words.
   Start saying things in a more positive way and change some of the negative words that you use. For example you could take certain words out of your vocabulary for a day like the word “bad” and use a replacement word that’s more positive like “ok”. This will help change the way you talk.
5. Read positive things.
   What you read can change how you see your world. And we know that how you see your world comes from what you know. Learn to know the effects of what a positive attitude can do for your life. Read some of the classics, such as The Power of Positive Thinking or As a Man Thinketh as well as many others. Reading the work of achievers can make a significant difference in your attitude.

A positive mental attitude alone won’t make you an automatic success. But it will improve your chances by a significant amount. It will almost always help you get through tough situations much easier. Try it for yourself, I think you’ll like what will happen to your life.

Attitude is a mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in a certain way.

There are four key words in this definition that are a clue to how to harness your attitude. These words are Beliefs, Feelings, Values, and Dispositions. All of these words have to do with your mental state of mind. Positive thinking alone doesn’t change you situation, but a positive mental attitude will cause you to do things differently, therefore changing your situation. Being positive is always a good way to think. You can take a person a long way if you start with a positive thought process. But mental attitude is far more powerful than just positive thinking. Let’s look at these four words I mentioned earlier and bring more clarity to the subject of having a positive mental attitude.

1. Belief
   Belief is simply something you accept as true. It has nothing to do with truth, it’s just what you accept as truth. Many people believe things that are not true; for example, a kid might believe that a monster is in the room when the lights are turned off in spite of the fact that turning the lights out doesn’t change what’s in the room. Yet because they believe it does, they change how they act when the lights are turned out. They act afraid. Belief is a powerful thing as it pertains to your mental attitude. What you believe controls what you think, therefore controlling your mental attitude.
2. Feelings
   How do you feel about life, your future, and the circumstances you are facing?
   Your feelings have a lot to do with your mental attitude. If you feel bad it could affect how you treat others as well as how you see yourself. Feelings can be deceptive if you misinterpret information in a negative way. Try doing things that make you feel good that are moral and don’t violate you values in life. Stop taking things so personal and start creating an environment of positivity. When you feel bad, know that things aren’t usually as bad as you feel. Like a child when they fall and bruise themselves while playing. They feel like the bruises will never heal, but sometimes when the parent kisses the bruise the child suddenly feels better. You can do the same when things feel bad, kiss the feelings with the thoughts of victory and watch your feelings change.
3. Values
   Your values play an important role in your life. If you value someone’s opinion, how they feel about you matters. You values are beliefs in which you have personal and emotional interest. If you value something you will do what you can to protect it. Place value in how you think and you will do what you can to think positive. Have positive values and your actions will go in a positive direction.
4. Disposition
   Your disposition is your usual mood and way of acting and dealing with things. When a person has a calm disposition, they will deal with challenges in a calm way. People who have a positive disposition see the positive in most every situation. This helps them to get through problems much easier than those with a negative disposition. If things in life seem to be going downhill, change you disposition and respond to the problem with the right mood.

Adjust your life in these four areas and make each area as positive as you can, and your mental attitude and outlook in life will go from a 4 to an 8, or from a 7 to a 10. The point is that the positive number will go up.

1. Don’t give up on your dream of being wealthy. You might be going through a low time right now that makes you feel like you’ll never recover what you’ve lost. But don’t lose your dream of a better life. You’re just one idea or connection away from being on the road to wealth. So keep dreaming; it costs you nothing but your thoughts.
2. Stay focused on what matters. What you focus on, you attract. If you focus on problems, you’ll attract problems.
   In times of bad news you have to invite good news into your life. Try to keep yourself from dwelling on the negative by not talking about it. Invite the good news in through books and magazines that are positive and point you to new opportunities. This will help you stay focused.
3. Be bold and courageous. Now is not the time to lose heart or feel sorry for yourself and have a pity party.
   Now is the time to be bold and courageous with your business or service. To attain wealth takes courage. Taking risk should be followed by a bold attitude that is confident during tough times.
   In tough times, it’s the bold that will get the breakthroughs. So go for it with your new idea with excellence. You’ll find that you’ll win more than you will lose.
4. Be excellent. In times of trouble it is excellence that will win the day. Excellent customer service, excellent presentations and excellent products. People buy excellence, so make sure you’re more excellent than your competition. Sell your excellence to them and they will buy it. By being your best you tell your prospect that they matter to you. So let’s improve and watch the profits come in.
5. Be diligent in your labor. Do your work with energy and effectiveness. The lazy will never profit in tough times.
   If your energy level is down about your work it will zap the profit out of your business and life.
   To be wealthy, you must be profitable, and a diligent attitude is the way to profits. Remember poverty follows the lazy, but prosperity follows the diligent. Diligent people are profitable people, so if you’re not seeing profit then check to see if you’re being effective through diligence.

Make sure you get my Coaching Kit “30 Days to Wealthy Living” if you’re serious about inviting good news into your life. It’ll keep you on course as you strive toward your goal to attain wealth.

1. Avoid long and unnecessary conversations in person or on the phone. One of the great time wasters is talking when you should be working. Talking seems to make time go by faster. That’s why you should manage your talk-time so you can be more productive.
Caller ID, voicemail, and schedules are tools that can stop the waste.

2. Breaks that break your flow. Does your mind sometimes trick you into thinking you need a break when you don’t?
Getting into a good work flow or zone is hard to find, so don’t disrupt it with unnecessary breaks like turning on the TV or radio, playing games on your phone or the Internet, or getting a snack even when you’re not hungry. Take your breaks only when rest and nourishment are necessary for continued productivity. Protect your flow at all costs.

3. Interruptions by others. People dropping in unexpectedly can interrupt your work flow. Unless it’s someone important, reschedule a time for people who just “drop by” to come back at a more convenient time. Be cordial but control you production time.

4. Unrestrained TV time. Unless you’re a TV personality or work in TV programing, your TV time must be managed. One of the greatest wasters of our time is TV. Don’t get me wrong, TV is not evil. It can become a waste of valuable productivity time. Nowadays the Internet can also be very addictive.
Don’t get hooked if it’s wasting time. Turn them off.

5. Crisis Management (fire fighting). Unless you are a fire fighter or emergency worker you are not equipped to properly handle crises that get you off focus of what’s important. When you’re running around like a headless chicken, too much time is wasted through a lack of effectiveness. Stop putting out fires and do work. It’ll be time well spent.

Most people are not productive in life. This is why most of the wealth of America is in the hands of the most productive people. I read an article that stated that 87% of the work force will not work effectively without constant supervision. If this article is true, this means that only 13% of people on the job have some degree of productivity in their lifestyle. This is good news for you because it doesn’t take much to put yourself in the top 13%. Being in the top 13% can change everything in your life. You’ll make more money because of your increased value. You’ll have more time because of your priorities. And you’ll be prepared for opportunities as they present themselves.

Here are some keys to mastering productivity…

1. Productivity starts with a change of attitude.
   1. The attitude that says I will finish what I start effectively and in excellence.
   2. Finish on time or before the deadline. Yes productivity has deadlines!
2. Speed and effectiveness are essential to mastering productivity.
   1. Be excellent, but also be quick. Find the tools and system that can help you do both.
   2. Speed, agility, and excellence will help you seize opportunities in a competitive environment.
3. Tackle the hard things that yield the most, first.
   1. Usually the hard things are the most important thing. Don’t always take the path of least resistance. What you ignore will always resurface as a problem.
4. Make a list of priorities every day.
   1. A list is a way to see your thoughts and priorities on paper. Lists help you to remember the important things. Lists will help you master productivity. People who list their life put themselves on the list of the top 13 percent who produce far more than the rest.

This year’s EIM (Excellence in Ministry) conference was amazing. We discussed what excellence can do in a changing economy. I also did a lesson on faith that charged the crowd to believe on a whole new level. It was not your typical lesson on faith, it was a call to action. I recommend you get the CDs of the whole conference. It’ll be a game changer for you. Stacia’s sessions were invaluable if you’re ready for next level leadership. To get your CDs call 877-393-9860.

Don’t forget to get my free CD “10 Secrets of Excellence.” Sign up and get this important info! I really want you to have it so get it today on my blog page and also tell a friend about this free giveaway. In the days and weeks to come, keep checking back for more special posts that will help you on your journey to success. So stay tuned, we’re just getting started and want to bring you the best in leadership development and education.

In times of ‘boom’ it can be easy to let the basics slip as we scramble to take advantage of the wide variety of opportunities that are available to us. Unfortunately, when times of ‘bust’ come, it’s the basics that will determine whether we sink or swim. I’m able to maintain growth regardless of the economic and social climate because I maintain excellence in what I do; in my businesses, my church, my family and my personal life.

There are certain fundamentals of excellence that should be regarded, whether things are booming or not. This is a list of the principles I live by to maintain my level of excellence:

1. Set concrete goals. Remember any goal you set should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
2. Know what you’re aiming for. A goal is hard to reach if you don’t know what it will look like when you get there. If you desire to own a business in a certain field, become an expert! Read every book on the subject you can find. To strive for a goal without understanding it is to waste time, energy and money.
3. Find a role model and emulate them. Chances are there’s someone that’s already doing what you want to do. Find them, find out how they do what they do. If you don’t have personal access to anyone that fits the bill, you can be mentored from a distance. Get all the books, audio recordings, and video by or about your role model you can. Listen to speeches they’ve given, watch a documentary on how they operate, read a biography about them or their auto-biography. The information you get will be priceless.
4. Excel beyond the average. Don’t set your standards by your peers in  your community or industry. Look to the top – see how they operate, and set your standard accordingly!
5. Be mentally tough! Don’t let the news or what anyone says surpress your desires! If I listened to the pundits and the naysayers I would’ve been defeated before I ever started.
6. Speak success! Talk like you’ve already achieved your goals, whether it looks like you have or not. To some this might look foolish, but chances are they’re not top achievers! The words you say have a powerful effect on what you can accomplish. So when it’s easy, and especially when it’s hard, make sure what you say lines up with what you desire.
7. Grow up. Maturity is a vital component of excellence. Know your faults, and work on correcting them. Receive correction from superiors without having a pity party or a tantrum.
8. Learn from your mistakes. This is a principle that we all know, but often don’t follow. It’s easy to sweep an issue under the rug. If you don’t deal with it though, it will always come back. Problems we don’t address, we’re doomed to repeat. When problems arise, find a solution and change your system so it won’t happen again.
9. Never stop learning. A know-it-all attitude is a sure way to grow stagnant. I constantly read: books, magazines relevant to what I do. There is no new success without new information.
10. Pay attention to the details. There’s a saying that “the devil is in the details,” but when you plan the details effectively, you can produce miraculous results. If you’re in business, chances are there are many others who offer the same services or products that you do. What will set you apart? The answer is often in the details. Find creative ways to “wow”  your audience – whether it’s one customer or an auditorium full of people.
11. Be a problem-solver. When I encounter an obstacle, I never panic or get distraught. I am often energized because I’ve trained myself to be a problem-solver. I spring into action, writing down solutions and figuring out ways to make things work. If you find yourself complaining about everything that’s wrong, stop immediately and start developing solutions.
12. Seize success! Excellence is not for the faint of heart. If you are going to succeed and set a new standard of excellence, you are going to have to do it aggressively. Tough times create new opportunities and tough people sieze them. That person can be you. You and your organization can rise to the top. Be excellent and go after suceess with everything in you. There’s room for you at the top and excellence can carry you there!