Our actions communicate very loudly!

In his article Marketing Time, author Seth Godin talks about the message we communicate based on how we treat other people’s time. I wholeheartedly agree with this. Time is the most valuable resource we have – yes I believe it is even more valuable than $, because there is a limit on the time we have. Therefore, acting in a way that takes into account other people’s time sends a very powerful message that WE CARE.

Yesterday I had an appointment for my yearly check-up with my optometrist. I waited for 45 minutes. During this time, not once did anyone come to me and apologize or told me how long it would be before the Dr. saw me. When I finally saw the doctor, all he said was a quick “sorry to keep you waiting”. I definitely didn’t feel that he was sorry at all. All it did was reinforce the feeling that I had that he felt his time was more important than mine.

Another area where people don’t take into account other people’s time is in how they respond to email or voice mail messages. What people don’t realize, is that the way they respond to others sends a very powerful message as to how they feel about other’s time.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve had a personal policy of responding to email and voice mail messages within 24 hrs anytime I’m not traveling. And I’ve been very good about doing this. The reason I do this is because I care. I care enough about communicating to people that they are important to me. I care more about them than I do about my reasons for not doing it.

What is interesting is how often people remark how surprised – and appreciative – they are that I got back to them so promptly.

What are you communicating?

Technorati Tags: Time, Seth Godin, Communication, Xtraordinary Living, www.productivelearning.com, Rick Itzkowich

Quotes for the week of April 23 – 27

If you are currently a “QuoteActions” subscriber and would like to receive the corresponding actions to these quotes, please send me an email requesting them. Just be sure to include this week’s dates in the subject line so I can send you the appropriate ones.

If you are not yet a subscriber, you may want to take the two-week $1 trial so that you can find out the tremendous value that these actions add to the quotes. Here are this week’s quotes:

“When you are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, Faith is knowing that one of two things will happen; There will be something solid to stand on or you will immediately learn to fly” Unknown Author

“Judgment comes from experience, and great judgment comes from bad experience” Politician – Bob Packwood

“It is the petty expenses that empty the purse.” Italian Proverb

“The miracle is this – the more we share, the more we have.” Actor – Leonard Nimoy

“The truly free man is he who knows how to decline a dinner invitation without giving an excuse.” 19th Century French author – Jules Renard

Technorati Tags: Motivational Quotes, Xtraordinary Living, www.productivelearning.com, Rick Itzkowich

Quotes for the week of April 16-20

If you are currently a “QuoteActions” subscriber and would like to receive the corresponding actions to these quotes, please send me an email requesting them. Just be sure to include this week’s dates in the subject line so I can send you the appropriate ones.

If you are not yet a subscriber, you may want to take the two-week $1 trial so that you can find out the tremendous value that these actions add to the quotes. Don’t forget to vote for this week’s favorite quote in the poll at the end of this post. Here are this week’s quotes:

“Repetition does not transform a lie into the truth” Franklin Roosevelt

“Things ain’t what they used to be and probably never was.” Will Rogers

“Success is not a matter of mastering subtle, sophisticated theory but rather of embracing common sense with uncommon levels of discipline and persistence.” Patrick Lencioni

“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.” Sally Koch

“My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” Clarence Budington Keeland

Which “QuoteAction” did you find most useful this week?
If you are not receiving the “QuoteActions” by phone, then vote on the quote alone
Franklin Roosevelt’s
Will Rogers’
Patrick Lencioni’s
Sally Koch’s
Clarence Budington Keeland’s
See Results

Technorati Tags: Motivational Quotes, Xtraordinary Living, www.productivelearning.com, Rick Itzkowich

Podcast Episode #29 – Crisis – A Positive Aspect of Change

Episode # 29 of Xtraordinary Living is out. This podcast interview with Azim Khamisa was recorded on April 9th. It was scheduled for release the week of April 23rd. In the wake of the April 16th Virginia Tech tragedy, where 32 young college students, like Azim’s son, senselessly lost their lives, I felt compelled to release Azim’s message sooner rather than later.

The topic is Crisis – A Positive Aspect of Change. In this episode I interviewed Azim Khamisa. Azim is the co-founder of TKF or the Tariq Khamisa Foundation. TKF was formed in 1995 after Azim’s son, Tariq, a 20-year-old SDSU student, was senselessly shot and killed while delivering pizzas. His assailant was a 14-year-old gang member named Tony Hicks. Believing that there were “victims at both ends of the gun,” Azim reached out in forgiveness to Tony’s grandfather and guardian, Ples Felix, to begin the process of healing.

TKF is a non-profit organization dedicated to breaking the epidemic of youth violence. Through TKF’s school-based nonviolence programs, Azim and Ples speak to elementary and middle school children about gangs, violence, revenge, and the importance of becoming “peacemakers.”

We could not have anticipated the families’ and our nation’s grief as this podcast’s poignant message is delivered – hopefully bringing light to darkness. Listen with an open mind and heart, as you hear firsthand how a father moved from inescapable grief to compassionate forgiveness.

In our 29th episode, you’ll hear:
– Why Azim felt compelled to meet both his son’s assailant and his grandfather.
– How their relationship grew in stages, to its current state of brotherhood.
– How the crisis created positive change, TKF programs have touched over 20 million children to date.
– How violence is a learned behavior.
– What does it mean to be in a state of “bardo.”
– How our society can begin to be healed through “RJ” or restorative justice.
– Gandhi and the Dali Lama’s succinct quotes on anger and revenge.
– How you can plant seeds of hope.

The Tariq Khamisa Foundation is helping kids take a new trajectory — in effect transforming them! If you would like to learn more about the foundation or to donate funds go to: TKF

If you were moved by this podcast, you’ll find this book “Azim’s Bardo: A Father’s Journey From Murder to Forgiveness” hard to put down.

After you listen to Azim’s interview, post your thoughts below. Be sure you tell us what you think about our new podcast theme song! In addition, you can leave your feedback by phone. Simply call 1-800-609-9006 x3144 and record your comments and tell us what you think.

This episode is approximately 39 minutes long. To listen to it, click here:Podcast 29

Instead of listening to the podcast here, you may want to consider subscribing directly using your preferred podcasting tool (see below.) The benefit to you in doing this is that it frees you from being tethered to your computer. You now have the freedom to listen to it WHEN & WHERE you want to.

Subscribe:

Or copy and paste this URL into a podcasting tool:

http://www.switchpod.com/users/rickipll/feed.xml

Technorati Tags: TKF, Azim Khamisa, Tariq Khamisa Foundation, Children’s Violence, Crisis, Opportunity, Xtraordinary Living, www.productivelearning.com, Rick Itzkowich

Fun way to meet new people and increase traffic to your blog

Something that is fun about blogging is that you get to meet new people that you wouldn’t have otherwise met. If you happen to have your own blog, here’s a way to increase traffic to your blog.

I recently discovered a way to exchange links via the Technorati favorites feature. Dosh Dosh & Beta Blog for Dummies started this link exchange program.

Here’s the fastest way to join the exchange program: Favorite my blog by clicking here and then please leave your Technorati username as well as a similar link to your blog in a comment below this post. Click the Post a Comment link at the bottom of this post.

To make things easy, I suggest using a Technorati favorite link or button. You can get the buttons and links easily at this Technorati page. Please leave a link to one blog only.

When you add my link to your Technorati favorites, I will do the same for you. This way we can both benefit for additional exposure.

Technorati Tags: Technorati Favorites, Increase blog traffic, link exchange, Xtraordinary Living, www.productivelearning.com, Rick Itzkowich

Quotes for the week of April 9-13

If you are currently a “QuoteActions” subscriber and would like to receive the corresponding actions to these quotes, please send me an email requesting them. Just be sure to include this week’s dates in the subject line so I can send you the appropriate ones.

If you are not yet a subscriber, you may want to take the two-week $1 trial so that you can find out the tremendous value that these actions add to the quotes. Don’t forget to vote for this week’s favorite quote in the poll at the end of this post. Here are this week’s quotes:

“Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take many small steps.” German Parapsychologist – Helmut Schmidt

“Do not free a camel of the burden of his hump; you may be freeing him from being a camel.” English Writer – G.K.Chesterton

“The road to success is always under construction.” Actress & Comedian Lilly Tomlin

“Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.” Actor Ed Cunningham

“Each of us is the accumulation of our memories.” Author – Ann Loy McGinnis

Which “QuoteAction” did you find most useful this week?
If you are not receiving the “QuoteActions” by phone, then vote on the quote alone
Helmut Schmidt’s
G.K.Chesterton’s
Lilly Tomlin’s
Ed Cunningham’s
Ann Loy McGinnis’
See Results

Technorati Tags: Motivational Quotes, Xtraordinary Living, www.productivelearning.com, Rick Itzkowich

Podcast Episode #28 – Adding the Extra to Ordinary.

Episode # 28 of Xtraordinary Living is out. The topic is “Adding the Extra to the Ordinary.” In this episode I interview Romance Concierge Michelle Koert. Michelle’s companies, “Marry Me Services” and “Romance Concierge Services” both help singles and couples master the art of fun, love and romance. Based in Solana Beach, California, Michelle’s special occasions are custom designed. They could be planned for a married couple celebrating their 50th anniversary or college girl friends wanting to have an evening on the town reminiscing the fun of their roommate years.

In our 28th episode, you’ll hear:
– How Michelle went from a position at IBM to starting “Marry Me Services.”
– What are the benefits of enjoying “out-of-the-ordinary” experiences with loved ones.
– Examples . . . from progressive dinners to an ice bed at the Ice Hotel in Quebec.
– Why both men and women are choosing to create magical memories for themselves.
– How to take ordering flowers for your special someone to the next level.
– Tips on how you can easily plan a “Just Because…” occasion.
– How tears of joy are often the best testimonial for a job well done.
– And much more!

Michelle’s fun-filled excursions are based on one of PL&L’s Learning Vacation principles. We believe going to Africa or swimming with the whales in Tonga helps people see and enjoy life differently from the way they were before. Leaving the routines of your life to step into new surroundings, heightens your awareness. Enjoy!

If you would like to find out more about Michelle Koert, click here:
Marry Me Services
Romance Concierge

After you listen to Michelle’s interview, post your thoughts below. Be sure you tell us what you think about our new podcast theme song! In addition, you can leave your feedback by phone. Simply call 206-337-0637 and record your comments and tell us what you think. For your comments you will be entered into a contest to win a fully loaded iPod nano. Watch for details, but start getting your entries today.

This episode is approximately 26 minutes long. To listen to it, click here:Podcast 28

Instead of listening to the podcast here, you may want to consider subscribing directly using your preferred podcasting tool (see below.) The benefit to you in doing this is that it frees you from being tethered to your computer. You now have the freedom to listen to it WHEN & WHERE you want to.

Subscribe:

Or copy and paste this URL into a podcasting tool:

http://www.switchpod.com/users/rickipll/feed.xml

Technorati Tags: Romance Concierge, Marry Me Services, Singles, Special Engagements and Weddings, Xtraordinary Living, www.productivelearning.com, Rick Itzkowich

Are you a self-help junkie?

One of the blogs I read had an interesting post called Self-Help Junkies. In this post, the author suggests that many people who spend all of their resources learning how to get better and not actually doing anything to improve their life.

I have been facilitating Personal Development courses since 1981 and agree that the majority of the people who seek self-improvement are exactly what Steve describes in his post.

I have learned that there is a big difference between “feeling better” and “getting better” – with the former being much easier than the latter. The junkies out there just want to FEEL better and are unwilling to do the action part (which is the hard work) to GET better. So reading a self-help book or attending a seminar can definitely help them feel better. However it won’t help them change much at all.

There are many reasons why people fail to act. Besides motivation, people need what I call “the 3 pillars of change” – Vision , Structure & Support – if they have any realistic chance of making significant changes to improve their lives. You can read more about this topic in the following posts: Change or Die & Structure – One of the 3 Pillars of Change.

Technorati Tags: Self-help junkies, Xtraordinary Living, www.productivelearning.com, Rick Itzkowich

Quotes for the week of April 2-6

If you are currently a “QuoteActions” subscriber and would like to receive the corresponding actions to these quotes, please send me an email requesting them. Just be sure to include this week’s dates in the subject line so I can send you the appropriate ones.

If you are not yet a subscriber, you may want to take the two-week $1 trial so that you can find out the tremendous value that these actions add to the quotes. Don’t forget to vote for this week’s favorite quote in the poll at the end of this post. Here are this week’s quotes:

“Goals are dreams with deadlines.” Time Management Consultant, Diana Scharf Hunt

“The next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.” An Anonymous Author

“Do not confuse activity with accomplishment.” An Anonymous Author

“Strangers are friends that you have yet to meet.” Art Dealer, Roberta Lieberman

“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop laughing.” Keynote Speaker, Michael Pritchard

Which “QuoteAction” did you find most useful this week?
If you are not receiving the “QuoteActions” by phone, then vote on the quote alone
Diana Scharf Hunt’s
Anonymous #1
Anonymous #2
Roberta Lieberman’s
Michael Pritchard’s
See Results

Phil Black’s New Baby Boy

For those of you who know PL&L’s staff member Phil Black, you’d be pleased to know that his wife Vanessa delivered a baby boy a few weeks ago. Cole Michael Black was born on March 22. He weighed 5 lbs & 14 oz. and was 19 3/4 inches long. You can see some additional pictures here.

Type rest of the post here