More from the book If You Want to Walk on Water You've Got to Get Out of the Boat, by John Ortberg:

"...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena...who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt

'...the story of Peter getting out of the boat and walking on water with Christ. It is one of the greatest pictures of extreme discipleship in Scripture....

What goes into the making of a water-walker?

* Water-Walkers Recognize God's Presence

...You can trust me. You know my character and my competence. You can safely place your destiny in my hand. Take courage. It's me.

* Water-Walkers Discern Between Faith and Foolishness

...discern between an authentic call from God and what might simply be a foolish impulse on my part. Courage alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment.

* Water-Walkers Get Out of the Boat

If you want to walk on the water, you've got to get out of the boat....

...You were made for something more than merely avoiding failure...to leave the comfort of routine existence and abandon yourself to the high adventure of following God....What's your boat?

* Water-Walkers Expect Problems

* Water-Walkers Accept Fear as the Price of Growth

The choice to follow Jesus - the choice to grow - is the choice for the constant recurrence of fear.

* Water-Walkers Master Failure Management

* Water-Walkers See Failure as an Opportunity to Grow

Failure is an indispensable, irreplaceable part of learning and growth. Here is the principle involved: Failure does not shape you; the way you respond to failure shapes you.

* Water-Walkers Learn to Wait on the Lord

* Water-Walking Brings a Deeper Connection with God

Jesus is still looking for people who will get out of the boat.

The call to get out of the boat involved crisis, opportunity, often failure, generally fear, sometimes suffering, always the calling to a task too big for us. But there is no other way to grow faith and to partner with God.'

More from this great book in future entries.

What is Your Body Saying?

From the Jan. 27th entry of the classic bestseller God's Best for My Life by Lloyd John Ogilvie:

'What has your body said to you lately?

Have you been listening? Often it warns us when we are overtaxing its strength. It cries out for rest and relaxation, just as it signals when it is hungry or sleepy.

Many of our difficult moods are physically induced. We feel badly in our emotions because of physical disorders.

Introspection does not help; we probably need rest, a break from routine, a vacation, or a chance to rebuild our strength.

Often our most creative times come after a time of resting our minds and bodies. There is an ebb-and-flow rhythm to life in Christ.

We should not feel guilty for loving ourselves as loved by Him and enjoying the pleasure of being in good physical shape.'

Winners take the time to get strength from God.

Stop Wasting Time on Gossip

More from the book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work by Richard Carlson:

* Ask Yourself the Question, "Am I Making the Absolute Best of This Moment?"

* Stop Scrambling - When you move too quickly and force yourself to do three or more things at once, you waste your energy and make more mistakes.

* Become Aware of Your Wisdom - Wisdom is as important as analytical thinking at work. Wisdom gives you creativity, ideas, perspective, common sense, and direction.

* Realize the Power of Rapport - Rapport is critical to success. It helps you build good relationships and makes you a better person. By learning how to establish rapport, you are growing professionally and spiritually.

* Recover Quickly - Someday, you will make mistakes. What is important is recovering from the mistakes you made.

* Give Up Your Fear of Speaking to Groups - Public speaking is vital to your success. The best way to get over this fear is to put yourself in as many situations as possible to speak publicly.

* Avoid Comments that Are Likely to Lead to Gossip or Unwanted Chatter - Refrain from using comments that can lead to unnecessary casual conversations. You are wasting your time and energy.
[my comment - hear that all you Twitter people?]

* Avoid the Tendency to Put a Cost on Personal Things - Don't calculate too much. When you put a price tag on everything you do, you will find it hard to do things you enjoy.

God's Plan for Success

From the Sept. 3rd In Touch devotional (www.InTouch.org):

'...get a proper mindset...we must define success as God does...we must follow His plan for triumphant living.

Step 1. Set goals according to God's will.
The Father has a tailor-made plan for every believer. Following it requires regular prayer and Scripture meditation. Only when our minds are focused upon Him can we discern the proper course for our lives.

Step 2. Walk obediently before God.
The Bible is packed with workable principles, because the Lord expects His people to use them. When we are applying His Word to our daily life, we cannot help living victoriously, even in times of trial and "defeat."

Step 3. Use gifts for God's glory.
Every believer is given the Holy Spirit as a Helper and Guide (John 14:16-17). Furthermore, when a person is saved, he or she receives one or more spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-8). God provides the Spirit and our gifts to aid in accomplishing the tasks He sets before us.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight."
- Proverbs 3:5-6

Success is conditional. God won't help us achieve goals that are outside His will.'

Winners map their success plan to the perfect plan of God for triumphant living.

The Value of Time

From the book Minute Motivators for Leaders by Stan Toler:

"Everything comes to those who hustle while they wait."
- Thomas A. Edison

'Leaders know that time is their most precious commodity, valued even above wealth. They hold the currency of twenty-four precious hours in their hands. The use of these hours will determine success or failure, want or gain. Effective leaders lord over time. They make its minutes and seconds their slaves in order to accomplish their purpose.

They start meetings on time and end the same way. They set sensible borders to house deliberations or planning.

They don't use ten words when one will do. Their presentations are well-planned, relevant, and interesting, but also concise.

They relax, but never daily. They are alert to their prime time - the hours of the day when they are the most effective. They pause to regroup physically and mentally.

Effective leaders plan their time well. Each day has an agenda, whether formal or informal. Nothing is done without a purpose, even if that purpose is rest.

A leader considers killing time to be a capital crime.'

Winners value time.

Gandhi, Keller, Truman

Three motivational quotes by winners for winners:

"A man is the sum of his actions, of what he has done, of what he can do. Nothing else."
- Mohandas K. Gandhi

"The best-educated human being is the one who understands most about the life in which he is placed."
- Helen Keller

"I found that the men and women who got to the top were those who did the jobs they had in hand, with everything they had of energy and enthusiasm and hard work."
- Harry S. Truman

Are You Being Called?

From the book If You Want to Walk on Water You've Got to Get Out of the Boat, by John Ortberg:

' There is a consistent pattern in Scripture of what happens in a life that God wants to use and improve:

* There is always a call. God asks an ordinary person to engage in an act of extraordinary trust, that of getting out of the boat.

* There is always fear. God has an inextinguishable habit of asking people to do things that are scary to them.

* There is always reassurance. God promises his presence. God also promises to give whatever gifts are needed to fulfill his assignment.

* There is always a decision.

* There is always a changed life. Those who say yes to God's call don't walk the walk perfectly - not by a long shot. But because they say yes to God, they learn and grow even from their failures. And they become part of his actions to redeem the world.

Those who say no are changed too. They become a little harder, a little more resistant to his calling, a little more likely to say no the next time. Whatever the decision, it always changes a life - and it changes the world that little life touches.

There is some aspect of your life in which God is calling you to walk with and to him, and that when we say yes to his calling, it sets in motion a divine dynamic far beyond merely human power. Maybe it has to do with your work or a relational risk or a gift you could develop or resources you could give. Probably it will involve facing your deepest fear. Certainly it will go to the core of who you are and what you do.'

[I'll say more from this great book in future entries.]

Winners are called by God and ready to respond.

Embracing the Lean Times

From the March 30th Today God Is First devotional (www.TodayGodIsFirst.com):

' "...blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him."
- Jeremiah 17:7

Have you ever considered at what point a test becomes so difficult that you decide you can no longer trust in God and you must take over to solve the problem?

The prophet Jeremiah describes a situation in which the temptation to solve a financial problem can become so great that we trust in man's way to solve it.

This is what the Lord says (in Jeremiah 17:5-6a):

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes...."

Repeating Jeremiah 17:7 but continuing with Jeremiah 17:8 as well:

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

...whenever a plant lives in an arid climate, the roots drive deeper and deeper into the soil to get the water they need. This forces the plant to develop a root system that is far beyond the normal plant because it is forced to go deeper to gain the water it needs.

Sometimes God forces us to go deeper into the grace of His love in order to build a greater foundation in our own lives. These lean times are designed to accomplish this in us....'

Winners embrace lean times and dig their roots deeper into God.

Given Much, Much Demanded

Luke 12:48b states:

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded...."

The study note further clarifies:

Watchful and faithful leaders will be given increased opportunities and responsibilities. The more resources, talents, and understanding we have, the more we are responsible to use them effectively.

Winners continually work at making this world a better place. What have you done so far on this earth for your fellow human?

More from the book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work by Richard Carlson:

'* Never, Ever Backstab - when you backstab, not only does it make you look bad, it adds stress and anxiety to your life; earn the respect and trust of other people by not speaking badly about others

* Have a Favorite Charity - it is always good to help others in need

* Accept the Fact That, Every Once in a While, You're Going to Have a Really Bad Day - try to look for the silver lining in every bad situation

* Recognize Patterns of Behavior - negative patterns often repeat themselves; detect problems and nip them in the bud

* Pat Yourself on the Back - it is not enough that you show appreciation towards other people; you should also give yourself praise and encouragement

* Become Less Self-Absorbed - don't take yourself too seriously; self-absorbed people are rude, demanding, selfish and arrogant

* Don't Be Trapped by Golden Handcuffs - don't choose to live very close to the edge of your current means; you are trapping yourself into keeping a job you might hate merely because you need the income

* Get Really Comfortable Using Voice Mail - voice mails are an effective way to give you an uninterrupted point of view; use them to your advantage

* Stop Wishing You Were Somewhere Else - don't wish your life away; accept your reality and make the most out of it; it is better to focus on what you are doing right now than on what you'd rather be doing; you will enjoy your life and work more

God Speaks Through a Friend

From the Sept. 18th In Touch devotional (www.InTouch.org):

'When we're not listening for the Lord's voice, He will often send a message through someone else. In 1 Samuel 3:1-10, for example, young Samuel is confused about what is happening. He hears a person speaking but doesn't recognize it as the voice of God. However, his mentor - Eli, the priest - discerns that the Father was calling, so he tells the boy what to do when the Lord speaks again....

When we're going off course, the Lord will sometimes speak through other believers to reach us. Therefore, it is vital to maintain a close network of godly men and women we can trust.'

Winners pray for wisdom, and surround themselves with wise Christ-centered counselors/advisors.

Major Causes of Failure - Part3

The long-time-enduring classic book Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill has been called "a textbook that should be studied, digested, and meditated upon."

In the book, Mr. Hill identifies 30 major causes of failure in life/career.

Here is the last set of 10 (previous 20 - see Sept. 5th, 12th entries):

* Lack of enthusiasm

* The habit of indiscriminate spending

* Intolerance - a "closed" mind seldom gets ahead

* Intemperance - over indulgence is fatal to success

* Inability to cooperate with others

* Possession of power which was not acquired through self-effort

* Intentional dishonesty

* Egotism and vanity - fatal to success!

* Guessing instead of thinking - acquire facts to think

* Lack of capital

Winners are great at avoiding the major causes of failure.

Sleep and Digestion

Taken from the Feb. 2nd Biblical Health Daily devotional, by Jordan Rubin (author of The Maker's Diet and The Great Physician Rx):

'The Unlikely But Essential Combo - Sleep and Digestion

Sleep disturbances set up vicious cycles of pain, fatigue, and emotional distress that make sleep even more unlikely. Things don't improve much during waking hours either for people who do not sleep well. Inadequate sleep increases sensitivity to bowel, skin, and muscle stimuli, thus leading to more pain and distress. Many people report that when they don't get sufficient sleep, their digestion suffers as a result.

The brain and gut are much alike. Both have natural 90-minute cycles. The slow wave sleep of the brain is interrupted by periods of rapid eye movement, or REM sleep, in which dreams occur. Poor sleep (and thus abnormal REM sleep-) has been reported by many if not most patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and non-ulcer dyspepsia (sour stomach)....'

Winners get adequate sleep and care for their digestion.

The Answer is the Asking

Taken from the January 8th entry of the classic bestseller God's Best for My Life by Lloyd John Ogilvie:

'...God has more prepared for us than we are prepared to ask. We need to spend as much time seeking what God wants us to ask for as we do asking. Then our asking will be in keeping with His will....

Praying is not to get God's attention but focusing our attention on Him and what He has to say to us. Don't make prayer a one-way telephone conversation in which we hang up before we listen to what He has to say!

Prayer is seeking God with all our hearts. God can use our imaginations to give us a picture of His future for us, but with one qualification: that we seek Him with all our hearts....

Many of us aim at nothing and hit it because we have not taken God at His Word. We all become what we envision. Prayer is the time to let God paint the mind picture of what we are to be and do.'

Winners ask for more, and receive more, when they are in tune with God's will in their asking.

Don't Harden Your Heart

In Psalm 95 the people are instructed to not harden their hearts.
The NIV Study Bible further elaborates with this study note:

'A hardened heart is as useless as a hardened lump of clay or a hardened loaf of bread. Nothing can restore it and make it useful. The psalmist warns against hardening our hearts as Israel did in the desert by continuing to resist God's will (Exodus 17:7).

They were so convinced that God couldn't deliver them that they simply lost their faith in Him. When someone's heart becomes hardened, that person is so stubbornly set in his ways that he or she cannot turn to God.

This does not happen all at once; it is the result of a series of choices to disregard God's will. If you resist God long enough, God may toss you aside like hardened bread, useless and worthless.'

Winners have soft, malleable, compassionate hearts.

Lugubrious

A TV critic has described Kanye West's apology to Taylor Swift on the new Jay Leno Show Monday as being lugubrious. (The first show was quite funny, by the way - welcome back, Jay.)

So let's learn a new word for many of us:

Lugubrious - mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree

I'll also make use of this entry to spotlight how much so many of us have strayed in our use of proper grammar, a trend I believe will grow exponentially by all the Twittering and texting going on (to say nothing about the spelling of words).

The biggest culprit is the inaccurate use of "I" versus "me" in sentences. So many of us reflexively say things like "It's important to him and I" when it's supposed to be "It's important to him and me".

It's actually easy to remember - whenever there's an "and" in the sentence, just break the sentence up into 2 sentences - "It's important to him" and "It's important to I"? - of course not, "It's important to me" - and then put the "and" back in there.

There are so many people in this world who pay money to learn English (the English education business is huge); many foreigners overseas know English (grammar & vocabulary) better than lots of Americans.

Winners keep up with their vocabulary, spelling, and grammar.

You Catch More Flies with Honey

More from the book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work by Richard Carlson:

' * "You Catch More Flies with Honey" - Always be nice; people respond better to kindness than threats

* Brighten up your working environment

* Take your breaks - Failure to take regular breaks makes you less productive over time; take a few minutes to clear your head and to get some air

* Make a list of your personal priorities

* Use effective listening as a stress-reducing tool - A good listener is respected and sought after; effective listening saves you lots of time and eliminates mistakes

* Avoid the phrase "I Have to Go to Work" - Although the phrase may indeed be true, it is self-destructive; try to come up with a more positive message to start your day

* Examine your rituals and habits (and be willing to change some of them) - Some of your habits can cause you a great deal of stress; procrastinating, overeating, not exercising, and excessive drinking are just a few of the habits you should consider changing

* Stay focused in the now - Keep your attention focused on the present; worrying about the future will only cause you unneeded stress and hinder your productivity

* Absorb the speed bumps of your day - When problems pop up, consider them as mere speed bumps that should only slow you down temporarily; get through the situation and go on your way

What Value Do You Place on the Bible?

From the Sept. 8th In Touch devotional (www.InTouch.org):

'The value we place on something determines how we treat it....

...once we realize the worth of Scripture, we no longer read merely out of obligation. Instead, we hunger for its revelation and life-changing power.

Here's how God instructs us to read His "instruction manual for life"

First, turn to it daily with eager expectation for what the Lord will reveal.

Second, meditate upon the Word by thinking about what you've read and absorbing its meaning and implications.

Third, study God's truth. There are a variety of ways to do this. For example, follow a specific word through the Old and New Testaments by using a concordance (do you know what this is?) or search engine. Or study an entire book by dissecting one chapter at a time.

Fourth, believe what the Lord says.

Fifth, obey. In other words, apply what you read to your life situation. This often requires courage and discipline.

Sixth, share what you've learned. This will encourage others while strengthening you and sinking the lesson deep in your heart.

The Bible may LOOK like just another book. But it is living truth that can protect and guide, pierce and encourage. Nowhere else do we learn how to be saved so we can eventually dwell with the Lord in heaven.'

(I'm often amazed by how much time people will waste on reading utterly nonsensical fiction, yet they will say that they have no time to read the Bible - something that directly impacts their lives)

Winners place high value on, and spend time flourishing in, God's instruction manual for life.

Major Causes of Failure - Part2

The long-time-enduring classic book Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill has been called "a textbook that should be studied, digested, and meditated upon." In the book, Mr. Hill identifies 30 major causes of failure in life/career.

Here are another set of 10 (first 10 were revealed in the Sept. 5th entry):

' * Uncontrolled desire for "something for nothing"

* Lack of a well-defined power of decision (reaching decisions promptly and changing them, if at all, very slowly)

* One or more of the six basic fears (#6-Death, #5-Old Age, #4-Loss of Love, #3-Ill Health, #2-Criticism, #1-Poverty)

* Lack of controlled sexual urge

* Wrong selection of a mate in marriage >> misery and unhappiness destroys all signs of ambition

* Over-caution >> the person who takes no chances generally has to take whatever is left when others are through choosing

* Wrong selection of associates in business >> pick an employer worth emulating

* Superstition and prejudice

* Wrong selection of a vocation >> the most essential step in the marketing of personal services is that of selecting an occupation into which you can throw yourself wholeheartedly

* Lack of concentration of effort

A few of these are particularly important for all those many job seekers out there right now.

I'll share the last set of 10 next Saturday.

Two Ears, Only One Mouth

It's not arbitrary that God created us with two ears and only one mouth.

The Bible tells us in James 1:19 to be "...quick to listen, slow to speak...."

The study note for that verse further clarifies:

'When we talk too much and listen too little, we communicate to others that we think our ideas are much more important than theirs. James wisely advises us to reverse this process.

Put a mental stopwatch on your conversations and keep track of how much you talk and how much you listen.

When people talk with you, do they feel that their viewpoints and ideas have value?'

Winners talk less and listen more, and show respect for others' ideas.

Following Only the Father's Commands

From the March 15th Today God Is First devotional
(www.TodayGodIsFirst.com):

'How do we determine what we will be involved in each day of our lives? What keeps us in sync with the will of our heavenly Father for the daily tasks He calls us to? Jesus tells us that He was only involved in those things the Father was involved in. Nothing more, nothing less.

So often we determine our participation in an activity based on whether we have the time to do it or whether we desire to participate. The real question we should ask is, "Does the Father want me to participate in this activity?"....

We are an activity-based society that often encourages more and more activity, often in the name of Christian virtue.

Our lives will become less cluttered, less stressful, and more fulfilling when we follow the model Jesus provided. It may not always please everyone. Jesus never sought to please everyone.

Ask the Lord each day this week how you and He are to spend your time. Yield your schedule to Him. Let Jesus direct your every activity.

You may discover that He desires you to cut back some things in order to spend more time alone with Him. He will be faithful to show you. And you will become more fulfilled because you are centered in His will for you.'

Winners strive to follow only the Father's commands.

Get a Mentor, Be a Mentor

A mentor is one who takes responsibility for the care (career, spiritual, physical, emotional) of another. It requires a commitment from the teacher and the student.

Who are the people God has placed in your life? Are you learning from them? Are they learning from you?

Ask God today if there is someone He would have you mentor or be mentored by.

Winners seek mentors and are also mentors to others.

Attitude

The following is something I've heard Chuck Swindoll talk about, but I don't know for sure if he was the original author. I do know that I like it and I believe it to be very true:

'The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of "attitude" on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude...

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you...We are in charge of our attitudes.'

Winners choose to have winning attitudes.

Dare to Be Happy

From the book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work by Richard Carlson:

'* Become Less Controlling

* Eliminate the Rat Race Mentality

* Don't Dramatize the Deadlines

* Have Some "No Phone" Time at Work

* Stop Anticipating Tiredness

* Light a Candle Instead of Cursing the Darkness

* Remember to Acknowledge

* Don't Keep People Waiting

* Create a Bridge Between Your Spirituality and Your Work

Allow yourself the luxury of being happy at work.'

[I'll share more from this book in future entries.]

Winners are happy workers - creative, good listeners, and highly motivated.

Preparation for Greater Service

From the Aug. 25th & 28th In Touch devotionals (www.InTouch.org):

'...God does not enlarge our faith instantly. He begins with what little we have and proceeds to grow it....

Faith is like a muscle, which must be exercised in order to become strong; just wishing cannot make it happen....

Rather than a spiritual "plateau," faith is actually a process that involves increasing degrees of trust throughout life. Little faith hopes that God will do what He says; strong faith knows that He will; and great faith believes that He has already done it....

God wants each of us to be influential in His kingdom. He knows which faith challenges to present so that we can be entrusted with even greater tasks.

The Lord will provide occasions for you to believe Him and respond in obedience. These situations are what we call "problems."

Begin to look at each difficulty as an opportunity designed by God specifically for the purpose of increasing your faith so He can do great things in and through you.'

Winners prepare for greater service.

Major Causes of Failure - Part1

The long-time-enduring classic book Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill has been called "a textbook that should be studied, digested, and meditated upon." In the book, Mr. Hill identifies 30 major causes of failure in life/career. Here are 10 of the 30:

'

• Lack of well-defined purpose in life - you must have definite goals!

• Unfavorable hereditary background

• Lack of ambition to aim above mediocrity

• Insufficient education

• Ill health

• Unfavorable environmental influences during childhood

• Procrastination

• Lack of persistence

• Negative personality

• Lack of self-discipline'

We'll identify 10 more each of the next 2 Saturdays.

3 Insightful Quotes

Here are three quotes from three historical winners:

"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time."
- Winston Churchill

"Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them."
- John Updike, Pulitzer Prize novelist

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
- Theodore Seuss Giesel (Dr. Seuss)

Rely On the Source

From the Aug. 24th In Touch devotional (www.InTouch.org):

'From God's perspective, being in need can be spiritually beneficial. When the bottom drops out of our imaginary financial security bubble, we will discover the reality that all provision comes from His hand....

...He alone is the source of all we possess or earn. God can use traditional means - like an employer - or remarkable methods to supply our needs....

...Every financial need is an opportunity to learn to walk by faith in the Lord as our source....We're totally dependent upon the Father whether we know it or not....

...We may not see the Lord perform a supernatural work in our financial situation. However, we can be sure that, just as God fulfilled His promise to Elijah, He'll be faithful to His Word in our situation as well: "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)....

...He's infinitely more reliable than any employer or 401K. The Lord is inviting you to trust Him and live in both the adventure and security of a life of faith.'

Winners rely on the Source.

Effective Communications

Final entry from the Permission to Win book by Ray Pelletier
[previous entries 8/3,12,20,26]:

• Think before you speak.

• Learn to listen and to read body language.

• Maintain control of your emotions and be positive, open-minded, and respectful of other's views.

• When communicating with others: Be polite. Don't interrupt. Be attentive.

• Show that you care. Understand the other person's perspective first. Not everyone sees things the same way.

• K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Simon! This means great communicators use plain, simple, concise and direct language. Nobody likes a pretentious person who only uses big words and likes to sound superior.

• Non-verbal communication, or body language, is very important.

• Tone of voice and enthusiasm are also important cues in communication. Keep your emotions in check.

• Raising your voice unnecessarily can be interpreted as a sign of anger or frustration and is to be avoided in every instance. Keep focused on your goal.

Winners communicate effectively.

Humor

From Minute Motivators by Stan Toler:

'Good leaders don't take themselves too seriously. They know how to laugh and are willing to laugh at themselves. Since they have a firm grip on who they are and what they are about, they aren't threatened by the understanding that their associates are keenly aware of their foibles and probably have had a laugh or two at their expense.

Good leaders know that a bit of measured silliness can break the bondage of prolonged seriousness...Humor is effective in breaking down the walls between leadership and the team. A shared joke with the team may not only calm a tense situation, it can create rapport and cultivate trust. When the leader laughs, the team shares a sense of relief.

Nobody trusts a leader who doesn't know how to laugh. Lincoln had a sharp wit. Kennedy kidded with the press.'

Winners are confident with themselves and are able to smile.