Heart Leader

Did you ever see the TV show “Scared Straight”? It was about some hardened criminals who stood in front of a group of teenagers and told them about their lives of crime and what it is like to be in prison. It was designed to scare viewers into choosing a crime free lifestyle and thus avoiding going to prison.  Sometimes having a potentially deadly disease can also feel like prison.

For 21 years my mom had a boyfriend named Ralph Stein. Rotten Ralph to his friends and family. He lived with my mom, my twin brothers and I. Ralph was a Brooklyn boy who didn’t make it beyond a middle school education. He had a rough exterior but a warm and loving heart. He was also diagnosed with type I diabetes at age 40. Over a 10+ year period diabetes took Ralph’s eye sight, his teeth, one of his legs to the knee and eventually his life.

The reason I tell you about Rotten Ralph is because I learned a lot about diabetes in the years he lived with my mom, my two brothers and I.   Ralph’s life and his tragic death has served as a reminder about the need for good emotional and physical health. 

We are living in hard times.  There is a great need for us to take care of ourselves so we can be of service to others.  This includes taking some time to do the things we enjoy doing and it includes eating right and exercising.

As we enter the holiday season, I hope this blog serves as a reminder that we all have a lot to be thankful for but it always starts with us.  We must be mindful of taking care and protecting ourselves.  This includes our emotional health and our physical health.

Action Plan: Lower your stress through doing a little more for yourself during the holiday season.  In addition focus some effort on eating a healthy diet and exercising as often as you can.

Thank you for reading my blog.

If you like what you read, please ask your friends and family to log on to http://www.heartleader.com and encourage them to sign up for my free weekly blog.

You can learn more about me on my web site at http://www.darylwizelman.com

My book, Heart Leader, can be purchased by clicking the link below.

http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/02877.htm

Daryl

I am in my mid-40’s and more and more I am hearing from friends and family about illness and death among people in my age group.  Am I getting to “that” age where it is “normal” for some of my peers to get sick and in some cases die?   During the past few months I have lost several friends and several others are suffering through illness.  All of this doesn’t take into account all of those suffering financially through this rough economic period.  I find myself much more contemplative and reflective lately… 

I am taking stock in my health and the health of those I love.  I am being mindful to be of service to those I love and those who I know who are in pain.  I am trying to live everyday to its fullest and to be grateful for all of the blessings in my life. I am trying to eat right and exercise to improve my odds of living a long and healthy life.

I ask myself if I am grateful enough?  Am I giving enough?  Am I too selfish?  Am I fulfilling my purpose in life?  Am I serving enough?  How can I be and do more?  Who can I help or influence that I haven’t yet?

I remind myself everyday that life is short and we don’t know how much time we have nor do we know how much time we have with the people we love. 

Action plan: Do something that increases the odds of you living a long and happy life.  It can be emotional and/or physical.  Some suggestions include, taking more time to reflect, taking more time for the things you want to do and to be with the people you want to spend time with, serving others, reading, exercising, dieting, taking time off from work, going on a weekend trip with your friends etc…

Try to find happiness and peace and enjoy your life!

Thank you for reading my blog.

If you like what you read, please ask your friends and family to log on to http://www.heartleader.com and encourage them to sign up for my free weekly blog.

You can learn more about me on my web site at http://www.darylwizelman.com

My book, Heart Leader, can be purchased by clicking the link below.

http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/02877.htm

Daryl

From time to time there are new buzz words that enter into the language of business.  During this recession I have witnessed more and more companies and industries offering products and/or services for free in order to introduce their products or services to potential customers. I have been hearing the business community referring to this as “Freemium.”

In my case, I have offered to speak to groups such as Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and other groups for free or at a greatly reduced fee in order to help other people improve their lives and their careers.  While I don’t expect it, another great reward would be to earn future business form the organization I am speaking to or the individual attendees at the events.

What I have experienced is the following benefits flow from offering products/services for free;

1.   There is no expectation on the part of the “buyer” to buy anything.
2.   Serving with no expectations of getting anything in return.
3.   Adding value during a difficult economic period.
4.   Planting seeds for the future when economic conditions improve.

Questions to ask yourself:

1.   What service or product can we offer for free?
2.   Who are the best potential clients to offer our “freemium” services/products to?
3.   Are we making our approach to our customer with the mind set of giving without the expectation of getting anything in return?
4.   Can we make this a regular discipline that can be offered to a finite number of current or potential customers every week?

I hope this blog and the entries that will follow will inspire thought and action.