We Love a Visionary

President Obama quoted Lincoln yesterday as he celebrated Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

"The American people needed to be reminded, he believed, that even in a time of war, the work would go on; that even when the nation itself was in doubt, the future was being secured; and that on that distant day when the guns fell silent, a national capitol would stand, with a statue of freedom at its peak, as a symbol of unity in the land still mending its divisions."

Those are reassuring and hopeful words. They put the positive future into the negative now. Tricky.

Many of us today are at war with our circumstances, fighting our situations or ourselves. Our houses may be gone or at risk, our jobs - gone or at risk, our relationships feel the pressure and our self-concepts go right out the window.

All those invisible forces: status, relationships, and a sense of security. How in the world do we grasp at thin air and make it take shape?

Exercise a clear mind.

1. Visualize. Start with your daydreams and then grab the pieces that mean the most to you. Distill it down to your core values. Freedom, family, health, etc.

2. Act “as if”.
Not employed or just not content? Act as if you are. Spend your time and talent toward something worthwhile. You will attract a worthy future (and put positive potential into the negative now).

3. Explore.
“It’s not what I thought I’d be.” Are you like an actor hanging on to a glamorous role, too full of doubt to explore a gritty new one? Hang on to your values, let go of that outdated glossy.

4. Mend your divisions.
You’ve lost the familiar. It’s exhausting and at times disturbing. Find things in the outer world that give you inner strength – most don’t cost dime; a nap, a walk, a friend, a moment of peace and a sense of pride in your own courage.

5. Lose the baggage.
It’s too heavy anyway. The cynicism, bitterness, self-pity, jealousy – those seven deadly sins are fabled for a reason.

Errant and misguided thinking can cause distress as if it were a physical ailment. Mental clarity can give you energy, integrity and a sense of well-being.

Let Freedom Ring.

7 Ways to Give and Grow Business this Holiday Season

The economy is in a train wreck and it's Christmas, Hanukkah and Winter Solstice. Ugh.  If this isn't a time for some positive Yellow Hat thinking, I don't know what is. For the uninitiated in 6 Hat Thinking, the Yellow Hat focuses on values and benefits. Why something may work.

So in the spirit of holiday giving, here are 7 ways to give positive energy to co-workers, displaced workers and business in general. And it won't cost you one red cent. 

7 Ways to Make it Work.

1. Write a real referral. Whether it's on linkedin.com, Google maps, or just an email, take 15 minutes to write a brief, succinct and honest referral for a co-worker or a business you like. Who wouldn't want to receive that?
2. Send along a job idea. If you're trolling through Monster.com or happen to hear of an opportunity that reminds you of someone else, pass it along. It doesn't matter if it's perfect, it matters that you are connecting dots.
3. Get really social. Jump on Twitter, Facebook, linkedin and any other social network that makes sense. It costs nothing, expands your network and is also entertaining, which is nice to get for free, especially this year.
4. Ask Questions and write Answers on linkedin. Stimulate the conversation. Join the party. Toot your horn and someone else's too. Be spirited. Lively.
5. Volunteer your time on a charity board. It's another way to make connections, keep your skills sharp and do good in your community. And it beats staring into the abyss with the Grinch.
6. Give some of your talent. Whether you critique a resume, help someone network or donate your time to their business development it can help keep the business engines humming. 
7. Build ideas up. It's easy to Black Hat any idea but in this economy we need builders so when the next person suggests an idea, whether for a job or a new business, deliberately scour your brain for the positive outcomes. Light it up for the holiday season. 

Seeking out the positive possibilities is honest work. Donating your time and talent is a real gift. Finding the benefits of a new situation or new idea is not always spotting the obvious. But if you can do it, it pays.

Happy Holidays