Feed Your Good Dog

Positive Thoughts | Positive Actions | Positive Results

Wednesday Wide Smile

Each Day Is A New Day Full of Choices

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Choices Quote Nick VujicicFor most of us, how we approach each day, as we get out of bed in the morning, is up to us. We must make choices about what we think and do. Deciding is so much easier if we have purpose.

When the alarm rings at 6AM each day for CJ Stewart, he is ready for a new day because he has purpose. As CEO and Co-Founder of L.E.A.D., his purpose is based on his dream to empower an at-risk generation of young, black males from the inner city of Atlanta to lead and transform their city of Atlanta, and eventually the world. Some say his dream is too lofty, and that he is crazy to think he can realize it. However, through L.E.A.D., together with his wife, Kelli, its board and a host of supporters a positive culture is emerging among young black boys in Atlanta that is showing every indication that CJ’s dream is becoming reality. Find out how in CJ’s current blog post 6AM AND IT’S A NEW DAY . . . OR IS IT?”

And, remember . . . Feed Your Good Dog so your good dog always wins!

Power of Words

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from Voilà! – The Parks Image Group Newsletter by Peggy M. Parks, AICI CIP, CPBS
Voila! Newsletter

Lately I´ve been reading a lot on the power of words and how they can affect our attitude. For instance, nowadays many people prefer to use phrases like “let go” or “laid off” because they aren´t as harsh or violent-sounding as “fired.” Many folks talk about work by using negative-sounding terms that can make the office seem even drearier: grind, in the weeds, backlog, deadline. Describing your job that way makes it easy to see work as a negative part of your life. What would happen if you instead opted for upbeat terms like progress, projection, goals, and collaboration? I wouldn´t be surprised if it made you feel better about your job, simply by focusing on more empowering language.

I remember a time when I was going to the gym a lot to get in shape. I called it “skinny skool,” because that reminded me of my ultimate goal and made it seem more fun. “Workout” and phrases like “no pain, no gain” just felt too negative and like, well, work. To reach my goal, I needed a shift in attitude, and it worked! My advice: Take note of the phrases you use when you talk about various aspects of your life (work, relationships, money, etc.). If you are seeing a negative pattern and need to get motivated, perhaps switching up your language can help.
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About Peggy M. Parks and The Parks Image Group

The Parks Image Group, Inc. delivers high-impact corporate image and business etiquette training to companies in the Southeastern United States. Management and employee training is an investment in building corporate credibility and staff confidence.

CEO Peggy M. Parks is Atlanta’s premiere corporate image and branding expert — available for Corporate Workshops, Public Speaking and Civility in the Workplace sessions, which are customized to have major impact for whatever you would like to accomplish. Click here to contact Peggy M. Parks by email or you may contact her by phone at 404•266•3858.

Life Lessons – Former Navy SEAL Commander Commencement Speech 2014

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Navy Adm. William H. McRavenWe all know that social media can wreak havoc on, and forever negatively change, a person’s life with a single post or comment, but it can also be, and has been, used to spread good news and stories to become a source of inspiration for positive life changes. For instance, I may never have known about the brilliant commencement speech delivered by Naval Adm. William H. McRaven to the University of Texas graduating class of 2014, if it weren’t for Facebook. Thankfully, my dear friend, Teresa, shared the New York Times article “10 life lessons from the SEAL who led mission for bin Laden” written about the speech and there it was on my wall to read and share. Adm. McRaven, former commander of the Navy’s SEAL Team 3 and current commander of the US Special Operations Command — the man who led the mission to get Osama bin Laden – shares the lessons he learned during his Navy SEAL training. Although we know the process of learning these lessons would be anything but, his advice on how to live a better life is simply put.

Admiral McRaven opens his speech humbly as he offers “suggestions” to his young audience “that may help you on your way to a better world.” With each lesson, he relates an experience during SEAL training, and then states the lesson. If you want a peek inside this world, here’s your chance. The ten lessons to adopt if, as he puts it, you want a better world are:

  • Start off by making your bed.
  • Find someone to help you paddle.
  • Measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
  • Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.
  • Don’t be afraid of the circuses.
  • Sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head-first.
  • Don’t back down from the sharks.
  • You must be your very best in the darkest moment.
  • Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.
  • Don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

My favorites right now and those that I know will make a positive change in my world: Don’t be afraid of the circuses; start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud; and, don’t ever, ever ring the bell. What are yours?

Wednesday Wide Smile

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Yesterday, March 8, 2011, marked the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, and Women for Women International celebrated with its 2011 Join Me on the Bridge Event!

Tens of thousands of people came together on bridges all over the world — from the Millennium Bridge in London, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, to the Grand Barriere Bridge joining Rwanda and Congo — to show their support for women’s causes and celebrate women’s achievements.

Close to 14,000 people checked into the March 8, 2011, Join Me on the Bridge – Brooklyn Bridge Event in New York City for International Women’s Day.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

Wednesday Wide Smile

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Here’s a quirky animated short film about people falling down while onlookers from an office building enjoy a little workplace humor at their expense. Fans of stylish, animated shorts should enjoy the distinct visuals and laugh at the funny accidents on display here. Of course, it’s not so funny when a shaky little old man is in danger of breaking his hip, but the scenario ends up presenting a small surprise that makes you feel like going out and doing good deeds near you.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!