Montana Janzen

I was reading in a mag the other day that my wife gave me, an article by John C Maxwell.  He went on to say….

“A leader with credibility has a pocketful of coins. As long a the pocket is full, the leader is believable, worthy of respect and able to be trusted. Each time the leader breaks a promise or acts inconsistently with professed values, he or she must spend some of the conins in their pocket. When the coins are gone, so is the leader’s credibility. No amount of persuasion or personal appeal will be able to buy it back. Once lost, respect and trust take years to regain”

Here are somethings that I learned from John’s article….Gold Life Nuggets to have a life time of crediblity.

1. Always speak the truth and always be open to questions.

2. Don’t hide bad news. - “With huge corporate scandals seared in our collective memories, we have entered on era in which transpaency is demanded live never before”

3. Never over-promise. - To may people over promise and under deliver…however this could happen to us on the home front -  We promise our kids that we are going to do this or that and then our jobs or business gets in the way and we change the plans on them.

 4. Do what you say you will do. - When you speak…speak with commitment and then seal it with a hand shack. Then never back down.

 In case you are leader and you have blown it big time, here is what John recommends you do when your credibility is in question.

1. Acknowledge the mistake.

2. Apologize.

3 Make amends

 Credibility allows you to develop strong relationships and its the bond between leaders and followers. Credibility in whatever your profession or discipline, is what will allow you to become successful in life.

 So always remember to keep a pocket full of changes.

 The artical “Credible Communication” that, John C Maxwell wrote is from The Leader’s Edge.

Have you wondered why…..

1. You don’t get ahead.
2. You had a great idea…but it faded away before you even tried to accomplish it.
3. You feel like you have been spinning your wheels in your life for quite sometime.
4. You feel like you have been failing lately in life

I think we all have been there! But I have some good new for those who have just been beating themselves up lately. – YOU ARE OKAY!

I am writing this, because that is what happened to me.

Just a couple of days ago, I have picked up another book to read and I bought “Your Best Life Now” by Joel Osteen. I remembered seeing him in the Larry King Show and I was very interested in his positive message in this crazy world. So I bought his book and I must say a very good read so far.

I have realized that the world does not care for people who give up or just float along in life. The world will not stop for the mentally week or wounded…now I don’t say this to be harsh, but I say this for people who are having self imposed pity parties for themselves. I will tell you first hand…people just don’t give a rip about how you feel! People have their own problems…why do they need yours.

What people care about are “people of purpose”, “people who are in the mode of conquering and accomplishing their dreams”. The world is hungry for great people to follow and be inspiring by. After thinking about this for sometime, I asked myself one question, that I was asked of 6-7 years earlier…..

Are you living a life worth following? 

In this book by Joel Osteen, he writes in his first chapter “Enlarging Your Vision”…which was exactly what I needed to hear. Now a lot of these principles I have heard before, but this time it hit like a good slap in the face (Wake up call).  Once you have figured out your vision and you have it in front of you…you must keep it there. Unfortunately, here is where most people stumble and or struggle.

You need to raise your level of expectancy. What you expect is what you will get. If you dwell on positive thoughts, your life will move in that direction, however if you think negative on a regular basis, you will start to live a life of negativity. The old saying goes…you reap what you sow.

After getting your stinking thinking sorted out, Joel Osteen mentioned in his book that you need to program your mind for success. “It’s important that you program your mind for success…”. “Each day, you must choose to live with an attitude that expects good things to happen to you”.  This is where I believe most people…including myself fall and stumble. We don’t stay committed to the “Choice” the “Each day, you must choose…” we just give up and let our self talk and thought life just kill our vision and dreams.

Here is a couple of suggestion that Joel gives in book,

1. Say this statement every morning before conquering the world – “This is going to be a great day. God is guiding and directing my steps. His favor is surrounding me. Goodness and mercy are following me. I’m excited about today.” We must expect and anticipate good thins and favor to come our way and you will find yourself in the right place and the right time.
2. Don’t listen to lies from your self talk or from dream steals (people, coworkers or family and friends who tell you, that it can’t be done). – God (or your gods) wants you to get your hopes up. You can’t develop faith without hope.
3. Always set your expectations higher. – Our expectations se the boundaries for our lives. Jesus said “According to your faith be it done onto you” KJ
4. Start using your eyes of faith. – You must see yourself as a happy, health and whole person…even when your situation looks bleak and your are tempted to be discouraged and depress must encourage yourself through prayer or mediation.
5. Prayer or Meditation – Spend a 1/2hour to 1hour in prayer or meditation to get your attitude in the right place so that you make it through the day. Here is a suggestion of a prayer from Joel Osteen’s book “God, I know that You are in control, and even though this looks impossible, I know today could be the day that things turn around. Today could be the day You restore my marriage or relationship. This could be the day You bring my child home. Today may be the day my business begins to prosper exponentially. This could be the day I see my miracle”
6. Avoid negative statements and also let other people’s negative statements slide off you… like water on a ducks back.
7. Expose yourself to an atmosphere of success. – This will get you dreaming again.
8. Surround yourself with successful people. – This too will expand your thinking and association as well. Through positive association…doors will open. Just remember Proverbs 13:20 “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
9. Find a place where you can dream – Go touch, feel, smell and see your dreams…may it be, test driving a car, home shows or tours, look at travel magazines etc….you must feed your faith to accomplish your dreams.
10. “NEVER NEVER GIVE UP” – Winston Churchill

This person is a leader of men and women. This person’s happiness comes from serving  the masses and joining the classes. Remember the foundation block of human relations - ” Do onto others as you would have them do unto you”

Here is a list of traits that you must live, breath and eat - if you want to be a master of human relations.

Here are 12 Traits of a Master of Human Relations 

1. This person will appear to be simple, uncomplicated…but very wise.  Majority of people in this planet are defensive by nature. However when others are around a true master of human relations, this person will bring the best out of people. If you appear simple and uncomplicated to others, they will tend to underestimate your ability. Do not let this bother you, for this is the very opportunity (the bridge) to deal with people…because their guard is down. Also when people have their guard down, they are more receptive to your wisdom.
2. This person will be genuinely interested in other people. This person will treat everyone he meets in his life time, with great respect regardless of the other person’s social status. Every person is a child of God and has a unique purpose in God’s plan and to mankind. If you are genuine, people will be able to trust you with their dreams, innermost secrets and their feelings. With true love in your heart for others, patience and understanding…you will be able to give people the time and to really listen to them. Once others have expressed their burdens to you, exercise true empathy and others will be open to your sound advice.
3. This person will be honest, truthful and live with integrity in all his ways. To be successful with dealing with people, they must be able to trust you and with every area in your life. You must learn to be transparent and live in a glass house. “The just walketh in their integrity: And his children are blessed after him” – Proverbs 20:7
4. This person will be humble in his all his ways. Being humble does not mean being weak and allowing people to walk all over you. Being humble…is like being a strong and powerful stallion, but giving the reins and all control over to God, so that he may guide you  and that we may be available to do his work through us and other people. Being humble will allow you to accept all your success in life for their true worth and not as something that makes you better then someone else. True humility is something everyone respects.
5. This person will avoid any gossip and slandering of another individual. This person will realize that gossip and rumors are spread by people with small minds. Idle chatter or gossip will destroy you and other and will occupy valuable brain space. If you don’t have anything nice to say about someone, then don’t say it at all.
6. This person will give credit… where credit is due and give praise to others. This is very hard to do, but if there is success in the air – give all the credit to other people.  Heap all the credit and praise onto other people and you just take the money. DON’T PRAISE YOUSELF, let others praise you.
7. This person will be patience and kind. You must learn the ability to be patience and calm. All good things come to those who wait. Also when you are kind to others, you will be left with good feelings.
8. This person will be fare and just. People will naturally resent unfair treatment. Do not show any favoritism to anyone, but build harmony will all your friends, family and business associates.
9. This person will be able to accept constructive criticism and be able to give constructive criticism. Constructive criticism should only serve one purpose and that is to improve people’s lives. When you begin, begin with your own mistakes (related to the issues or challenges at hand) and discuss how you overcame those issues or challenge…then smoothly make your transition towards the other person. Once you finished pointing out their shortfalls always help or give suggestion to possible solutions. If you have to, revisit some of your own challenges and the solutions you chose that moved you forward to your blessing. Lastly! This is very important…every true master of human relations will end their construction criticism this way – Once you fill them with holes, you need to patch them with praise. Every one has a fragile ego and I don’t care who you are, because this include you as well. After any constructive criticism, everyone will have some part, or their entire ego wounded…you must patch that wound with kindness and praise. People need to leave you feeling like they can take on the world and be better then when they first came to you. Just remember this saying – “For every negative you give, you must inject two positives”
10. This person will be generous with others. Every leader knows that your followers and or team come first. This generosity does not mean giving in a material sense, this means giving of your time and energy. Being generous to others and watching them move forward, will give happiness to your soul and spirit. There is also an old saying – “What goes around comes back around”
11. This person will be a decent person. We are all imperfect in most of our ways and we will mess up from time to time, but if you are waiting for the world, your situation or youself to be perfect before you get a move on – you are going to be either very frustrated or very miserable. The true master of human relations will understand who they are in “The Creator”. They will strive everyday to live with in the boundaries of the unwritten law of the Creator; they will live a life worth following. You will fail from time to time, but like every master they will admit they made a mistake and then will get back on track. If you every get a chance, study the life of King David. He was known for “The man after God heart” and found great favor with God, but he constantly screwed up and one with think, that he was God’s biggest project…and he was. However King David, became humbled and new his human weakness and admitted his mistakes and put himself back inline with his purpose. If are a sound, decent person and consistently “live a life worth following”, you will find favor with God and man.
12. This person will possess a positive mental attitude. You must learn to be an optimist regardless of the current situation. You must live in a world of expectation – “Of good things to come”. A positive mental attitude will sustain you and others through the valleys of death and will help you and others soar like eagle in the victories. A positive attitude is a powerful magnet and attracts all walks of life. If you possess this, you will be like the sun upon the earth giving warmth and light where ever you shine. For a good book to develop your attitude, pick the “The Winning Attitude” by John C Maxwell, this is definitely worth the read.      

The person who can master the human relations, has the world at his finger tips. This person is in demand and is pricess. Opportunity big and small is search for a person that has the developed ability to inspire and turn people on. Various industires and business will pay top dollar for the individual  who can expertly acheive positive results through working with and through people.

 People in Sales, The go-getter, A person of leadership or the team coach all know that they can acheive positive results through other people.  To the person that genuinely like people and has master the art of human relations will open the doors to many opportunities, which will lead to other opportunities of unlimited potentional. The person that has this priceless skill is on their way to the top and or already there at the peak of their success.

 I often observe people of success and ask myself,

What are they doing? Why are they so liked, accepted and respected by others? Why does wealth in all areas of life show up at their door step with effortless ease? Its because all these successful people pocess one key principle… it is the first building block of the foundation of success and give you the power to relate to other people.  This is ”The Golden Rule to life” - “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you” or in plan simple english “Do for others what you want them to do for you”

Do this, Live this, Breath this Golden Rule, and the whole world will lean your way.