We live in a world that is ever changing. People, organizations, and life continues to evolve, presenting us with new paradigms, ideas, and philosophies every day. I once read a postcard that had a quote that captured what I believe about change --"Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become."

Most of us do what we like. We like it because we're good at it. Why would anyone spend time doing something they don't like? Being an expert is understanding the areas in your life you do well and doing them....doing them often.

One of the most important aspects of understanding your expertise is looking at your strengths, not other people. Have you ever compared yourself to others? If you answered "yes", I encourage you to STOP right now! We all have something that we do well and it's important to focus on our strengths and acknowledge our expert status.

Being a recognized expert is the best way to advance professionally. What is it about you that makes you different than others in your profession? What you are an expert at and how are you going to share it with others?

- Mahatma Gandhi

I've received a few phone calls from people who faithfully read my blog and want to know what his "What is Success? poem is all about. Here are the words.

What is Success?

To laught often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.

I would have liked to have met Ralph Waldo Emerson at a local coffee shop just to get to know him a little better. I quote his work often, especially his poem, "What is Success?" and have carried around several of his pieces in my wallet until the paper became so soft that it actually started to dissintegrate. Today seemed like a great day to share one of his less popular pieces in Upside Living.

"Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; Forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day; Begin it well and serenely,
And with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
This day is all that is good and fair.
It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations,
To waste a moment on the yesterdays."

"Love. It is like air. We breathe it in, and we breathe it out."
- Maya Angelou

The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as: A nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future. Interesting.

The reality is that while most people can tell you what time it is, they can't necessarily tell you what time is because it is a paradox. We speak in minutes, hours, days, and years, and yet, what is it that we are measuring? Regardless of race, ethnicity, social status, etc., etc., time is the same for everyone; we all get the same days in a year, hours in a day, and minutes in an hour.

It's rare to attend a business conference or work retreat and not hear the words "Time Management" mentioned. I guess it's because every moment counts in life and some people know how to make time work for them. Throughout my life, my friends would often comment on how I was able to accomplish so much during the week. Work, household responsibilities, community functions, family gatherings and much, much more. It was as if they thought I had a magic formula or was blessed with more time in my life rather than the ability to manage and leverage what we all are given - 24 hours.

Whether you're at hard at work or hard at play, you are producing something. Be aware of what your product looks like to others and remember that time doesn't stand still for anyone. Make every moment count!

Marketing companies do have it right. Kids like animals, creatures, and colors which is why Lucky Charms was on my top 10 list. The commercials always featured Lucky, the cute, charming leprechan who created marshmellow shapes out of his rainbow magic. There were pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, green clovers, and blue diamonds and Lucky said that they were magically delicious so I believed him!

While the formula of Lucky Charms has changed over the years and some of the shapes no longer exist, I remember how facinated I was with Lucky and the thought of his pot of gold. What is the legend of the pot of gold? Why are rainbows and leprechauns associated with it?

One of the most beautiful sights in nature, the rainbow has been associated with many stories and fables to explain its existence. In the western world, it has become a symbol of hope, beauty, and awe....something "lucky" to have seen but it's because of Irish mythology that leprechauns have become know to hide their pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. Irish Americans could often be heard telling stories about how gold could be found if you followed the rainbow to the end. This tale is fascinating because we'd all like to believe it's true.

Finding your pot of gold involves more than a little luck and good marketing. Finding your pot of gold involves having a clear vision and direction for your journey. Finding your pot of gold involves having a large sphere of influence and upside impact partners to help you on your journey. As Thomas Jefferson said, "I believe in luck. I find that the harder I work, the more I have."

May you find your pot of gold and may it be more brilliant than you ever imagined!

The famous saying has triggered a phenomenon where just about everyone is familiar with the Verizon guy. But how often do we truly feel we're not being heard?

In almost every presentation I deliver, I incorporate a block on active listening because I believe that it is an art form that is disappearing in both homes and in the workplace. Speaking from experience, I know there are times when I have tried to share something that I thought was valuable with someone who I knew wasn't listening. Because I felt it was soooo important, I continued, only to be frustrated in the process. Worse yet is being involved in a "conversation" where the person you're speaking with chooses only to hear what they want to hear or isn't mentally present for the conversation.

These situations have an uncomfortableness about them. The upside thinker in me recognizes that sometimes I need to walk away. Walking away isn't giving up on what I believe in. Walking away is about understanding that we are all in a different place in life. Sometimes the message I carry isn't one that everyone is comfortable, ready, or willing to hear.

It's taken me a long time to remember that it's important to love people for who they are and not who you want them to be. That is part of the joy of living on the upside!

As Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll probably end up someplace else." And, so it is with leadership.

Keep in mind that it is important to map out a clear direction for your journey. Don't forget to enjoy the sights along the way!

One of my cousins avoided bedtime at all costs. He would kick and scream making the biggest scene whenever the word came up that if Hollywood ever came to his house, I was sure he would've received an Oscar for his performance. It wasn't that my cousin wanted to stay up, it was that he was afraid to go to sleep. And, after he fell asleep, once he woke up, he was afraid to get out of bed because he was certain that there were monsters living under his bed.

Last week I had lunch with one of my closest friends who said that she believes that 97% of all people live in fear of something. I don't remember the whole conversation but I do remember thinking about that particular sentence and how it applies to my own life. Am I afraid? If so, what am I afraid of?

Every coach across the world can be heard using the statement "limiting beliefs" at least once a day because whether we acknowledge it or not, we all have our own monsters under the bed, thoughts that keep us from being who we were meant to be. We all have our own set of FEARs -- False Experiences Appearing Real.

While I'd never seen a monster come out of my cousins bed, for him, the fear was real.....very real. Wouldn't it be neat if he could see the monster as his buddy, someone sent to protect him from harm? It takes courage to think about that which we don't like in our lives. It takes courage to acknowledge and face our fears.

I challenge and encourage you to look at your monsters and find the courage to meet with them face to face. Sometimes you need to be uncomfortable in order to grow.

I recently read an article about where Reverend Will Bowen, a pastor of the Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, Missouri asked his congregation to make a 21-day promise not to complain. Then, he gave each person who was willing to participate a purple bracelet to serve as a reminder of their commitment. If they failed and complained, the bracelet was to be switched to the other hand and the 21-day pledge began over. Reverend Bowen summed it up well by saying that at least there's "a lot less ear pollution."

I challenge you to take the 21-day no complaint challenge. Make a pledge to yourself that for the next three weeks you will not criticize, gossip, use sarcasm, complain, whine, or mope about anything. I guarantee you that your life will be the better for it!

Visit them at http://www.ccunitykc.org and help them create a complaint-free world!