I wrote this originally in August of 2005 (when I had been a REALTOR for 8 months). I was reminded of it from a wonderful conference I attended in Chicago this past weekend when Floyd Wickman, The Teacher, brought up the Abe Lincoln quote! Now more than ever, with things a little more stressful, it's best to really take control of attitude. Be the sunshine that no one else probably sees in the day. Bring the warmth even when you aren't feeling it, because it really does get better. It goes up and down all day long whether you are smiling or crying, IT JUST DOES! And dang it, if I am on my way home and I don't make it, I sure don't want the last few hours of my life to be wasted by some random CRAP when people will say, wow, she really loved life and we are gonna miss her!!!

Bless every day, and fight the temtation to let the bad stuff win! Even if that's the only real success you have in that day for what ever reason....it will be a success! IT's A POWER CHOICE!!! U rock!

POWER CHOICE

This is generic information that can help anyone in any profession.

My brokers bought a DVD by Bill Drury called A Passion For Service. We got together at my brokers home and watched it as a group. This was a phenomenal teaching tool, provided we use it.

It's the easiest thing in the world to think about what you want, and what's in it for you. It's difficult to remember WHY we do the things we do in the first place, to serve a client.

This is true in any profession. Even a ditch digger (cause my dad is one) provides a service to a client. And when a client is served well, they will tell a few others about the great service. I found that if you don't take and make an effort to remember who we work for...not our bosses, not ourselves, but for whoever we are serving, our needs will be met. And to do this with a positive attitude.

Since I am a Lincoln, I am gonna quote old Abe from the book from the seminar, Abe says "Most people are as happy as they make up their mind to be". We make a choice everyday on how we are going to be toward others we work with, and others we work FOR>call them customers, clients, students (if you are a teacher) congregation, whatever you do you serve someone.

Yes things happen that we don't plan, that is exactly why it's important to remember your POWER CHOICE. You decide your attitude. That's why the same action can happen to two different people and you get two different reactions.

And it's way better to control your attitude. Who are you making suffer because you just can't get over yourself?

(Again from the seminar) Pain is inevitable, misery is optional. I am so tired of people who think their life is worse than someone else. I am constantly amazed at what some people truly go through. I feel I wouldn't even be able to rise out of bed if it were me, and they don't even let anyone know. And others are ready to commit suicide over a hangnail! Well, I guess hangnails really do hurt, but you get what I am saying.

A POWER CHOICE is deciding to decide your own attitude regardless of what happens TO YOU. It's a form of self control that will have people puzzled as to what you are on, but will say, "I wish I were more like that".

You don't want to be happy all the time especially in truly sad situations, but attitude is different. Your attitude enters the room before you do, especially if everyone can hear you complaining down the hall.

POWER CHOICE, is just that. YOU DECIDE YOUR ATTITUDE. That's easy. It's hard to do, but the concept is simple.

I want to get little stickers that say Power Choice and put one on my rearview mirror when I am freaking out driving; one on my computer when I am freaking out because something is not going right; and one on the forehead of each of my four boys. And one on my husband, too. And one on my dog, and one on my neighbor, and etc....OK, a big one on my own forehead when I am looking in the mirror at the weight I can't seem to lose and the hair that I can't control. So pretty soon it will become automatic that I realize I chose the day I am going to have.

And it can only help me treat my clients, my co-workers, and my family with the dignity they deserve.

Stepping off my soap box now. Power Choice stickers will soon be available online....I am just kidding!!! See, it's working!!!!!