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We all have days when we are down, worn out and just not feeling all that happy.

That’s okay. You need to have days like this, otherwise how would you know when you are happy? You appreciate your good days even more when you have the occasional bad day for contrast. What is black without white?

Even though sadness is a part of life, let’s try to make it a small part of life.

With that said, here are a few tips to help you feel better when you are feeling down in the dumps. They are easy to practice every day, and they work!

1. Stand up straight and sit up straight. When your body is in alignment your energy can flow and when your energy is flowing freely, you can flow.

2. Smile! Yes, just smile. Easy to do and effective. This technique can also change the way others react to you, which can further elevate your mood.

3. Repeat positive affirmations. Things like “I feel good”, “Positive energy flows through my body”, “I see the good in all”. Always phrase your affirmations is a positive way. For example, “I hate smoking” becomes “I love taking deep breaths of fresh air”. One more very important thing about affirmations, you must infuse your affirmations with emotion. This is the key to making affirmations work.

4. Listen to some music that you like. It doesn’t have to be anything specific, just something you enjoy. Certain types of music work better than others, so experiment and see what works for you. Studies have shown that classical music and new age music work best.

5. Take some “me” time. Indulge yourself in something you enjoy, such as:
• Relax and read a book.
• Take up a hobby
• Slip into a bubble bath
• Watch a sunrise or sunset

6. Meditate. Meditation is an excellent habit to develop. It will serve you well in all that you do. If you have a hard time sitting still, then try some special meditation CDs that coax your brain into the meditative state.
   Just search for “meditation music” on Google or Yahoo and explore.

7. Exercise. This doesn’t have to mean pumping iron! Even something as simple as taking a walk will get your blood flowing. Believe me, you will feel better.

Our outside world is simply a reflection of our inside world. Remember there is no reality just your perception of it. Use this truth to your advantage. Whenever you are sad, realize that you have the power to change your perception.

These tips will lift you up when you are down, but don’t just use them when you are sad. Try and practice them every day, make them a habit. You will be surprised at how these simple exercises will keep the blues away.

On a final note, if you are in a deep depression that you can’t seem to shake, please go see a doctor. This is your life, don’t take any chances.

Mark McCoid owns HealingProducts.com, your Meditation and Healing Resource.

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The following article is offered for free use in your ezine, print publication or on your web site, so long as the author resource box at the end is included. Notification of publication would be appreciated.

Title: Learning From All Our Relationships Author: Margaret Paul, Ph.D. E-mail: mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com Copyright: © 2003 by Margaret Paul Web Address: http://www.innerbonding.com Word Count: 698 Category: Relationships

LEARNING FROM ALL OUR RELATIONSHIPS By Margaret Paul, Ph.D.

All of our issues come up in our relationships - our fears of domination, rejection, abandonment, of being wrong, embarrassed, or humiliated. Relationships bring up our deepest fears of loss of self and loss of other, which triggers our deep learned protections - anger, judgment, withdrawal, resistance, and compliance.

While our dysfunctional patterns emerge most clearly in primary relationships with a partner, these patterns are certainly activated in friendships, work relationships, and relationships with our parents and children. Therefore, if you are not in a primary relationship with a partner, do not despair! You can still be learning from and evolving through all your relationships.

Craig, one of my clients, has not been in a committed relationship for about seven years. Yet most of the work we do together revolves around the problems he has in his work relationships and friendships. Craig is a person who hates to be controlled by others. As soon as he feels someone wanting something from him such as time, attention, or approval, he feels smothered and withdraws. He is highly sensitive to people coming to him from an inner emptiness and “pulling” on him to fill them up. However, his withdrawal doesn’t work well for him. When a “puller” comes up against Craig’s resistance, the other person tends to pull even more. Craig, who doesn’t want to appear rude, ends up giving himself up and caretaking - giving the person what he or she wants. He then feels angry and finds himself not even wanting to be around that person any more. This same dynamic occurred in both of his marriages.

Craig is in the process of developing a powerful adult self who can speak his truth when feeling pulled on rather than withdrawing or complying. He is learning that it may be loving to himself to be open to learning with the other person and say something like, “I feel there is something you are wanting from me. What is it?” He is learning that it may be loving to himself to say, “When you pull on me for approval (or time or attention), it doesn’t feel good. I would like to have a caring relationship with you, but I don’t want to be responsible for your good feelings.”

Every interaction we have with others is a reflection of our beliefs about ourselves, and we have the opportunity to learn from each difficult interaction. For example, if we believe we are inadequate, unlovable, not enough, or unimportant, we will tend to take personally others’ cold or judgmental behavior toward us. We may feel rejected and alone, and respond with anger, resentment, hurt or withdrawal. Our painful feelings and reactive behavior can alert us to the fact that we need to explore our limiting beliefs about ourselves. If you know you are a caring and compassionate person, and your definition of your self-worth is based on who you are rather than on what you do, how you perform or how you look, then you will be much less likely to take other’s cold or judgmental behavior personally. You might respond with understanding, compassion or with gently removing yourself from the situation, but you would not feel hurt by other’s behavior, nor would you get angry, resentful or withdrawn.

All our relationships and our reactions to them provide fertile ground for our personal and spiritual growth. If you are willing to notice all painful interactions and feelings - even to people with whom you are not involved, such as the person who cut you off on the freeway or the clerk at the market who was rude - you can learn much about your false beliefs about yourself and about what you can and cannot control. Your feelings such as anger at the person who cut you off on the freeway or resentment toward the rude clerk are red flags that let you know it’s time to look within and explore the beliefs that are causing your difficult feelings. When you recognize that your feelings are coming from your own beliefs rather than from the other’s behavior, you are on the road to personal responsibility and the personal power that comes with that.

A writer from a national magazine called me this week. He wanted quotes for an article he is writing for the December issue. I was very excited. The article is about Prima Donnas. I asked him if he was sure I was the person he was trying to reach. I am humble and a team player, at least I think so.

He called the right person. I’m sure he found it ironic that I instantly thought of myself, but he spared me any analysis. He wanted my quotes about how a Prima Donna affects the workplace. Cool! My new book is about how personalities can create drama at work. He gave me an example of a sales rep who consistently outsells his co-workers. The sales rep doesn’t follow any of the rules of his workplace. Every process must be adjusted to accommodate his schedule. In the magazine writer’s words, “This guy breezes in and breezes out. No one really knows what he is doing, but they know when the checks come in.”

That can be a dangerous situation. I felt tension and I don’t work with the guy. Where are the boundaries? The writer then asked me for a few “snappy” lines. I don’t know if I can be snappy on command, but I tried. My first comment was that there are times when the circumstances require a unique personality. This is often so in sales. When you have a special personality, people remember you and look forward to seeing you. They also buy your products, especially if they are unique and helpful too.

The writer told me that he wanted some “psychological jargon” for the article. I’m not sure if the Prima Donna has a personality disorder. I think that negotiating the workplace often requires adjusting yourself to be effective. Sales does not require modesty. Belief in the product and confidence in your ability to sell it is crucial. Moral imperatives apply. There are lots of products that cause harm and they are sold just as enthusiastically as any other. In fact, many people are sold things that they can not afford or don’t need because the person selling it is so convincing.

This Prima Donna example was hard to nail down. This guy is competing with his co-workers. In some circles, we are taught that people will not like you when you win. Winners will tell you that it comes with the territory. One of my classes had a discussion about Rosa Parks. Some of us saw a biography about her that examined her reasons for leaving Alabama and making Detroit her hometown. People in the Civil Rights Movement were mean to her. International exposure inspired a lot of jealousy. Can you imagine a sweeter, more humble person than Rosa Parks? Few of us have that level of grace. All of us have to deal with the fact that people don’t like things about us. If that reason is that you are outselling them, so be it!

I don’t think the writer wanted me to be “pro-Prima Donna.” It’s supposed to be a negative description. I really tried, but my last quote was equally positive. I thought of another unique quality of the sales profession. They work for the customer. Their work often happens outside of the workplace, or at least away from direct supervision. They are accountable to the people they are selling to. The guy is breezing in and out because it is a formality. His work is done in the trenches. The lack of structure seems to suit him.

I wish I could think of something snappy, wry, and cynical but we have so much to learn from each other. The only time that being a Prima Donna is bad is when they are bad at what they do. There is another name that applies to that situation - Drama Queen. Rosa Parks was the real thing. She did what she had to do and accepted the consequences, good and bad. She maintained her humility throughout her very long life. We didn’t see her on the red carpet in the latest designer clothing. She worked until she could not work any more. She is a great example of how to be great and humble at the same time.

People do not understand you when you stand out. Needing to fit in can keep you from being exceptional. You have to make a conscious choice. I’m sure the writer expected my responses to be different. There are times when what you do will not be popular or expected. Do it anyway!

Dr. LaMar researches, writes, and speaks about mentoring relationships among professional women. She also consults with growing businesses about how personality and processes can affect workplace dynamics. Her books “God Provides The Sacrifice: Women Discuss Making Their Hardest Decision” and “Drama Free Workplace” can be purchased in e-book format and paperback from her web sites or by calling 806-203-4094.
http://www.DrLaMar.com
http://www.DramaFreeWorkplace.com
http://www.PhenomenalWomansGuide.com

Understanding Behavior

Actual behavior is vary important, but so are the reason behind it. In most cases, the only way to know how motivated your staff members is through the ways in which they behave. This includes what they say, their gestures, expressions, and stance.

Note

Be aware that the systems that your staff use mat be demotivating Reading Behavior

When trying to read behavior, recognize that while body language can give clues to motivation levels, it can also be misread. More concrete signals will be provided by the ways in which individuals perform their tasks: this is likely to give you the clearest indication of their motivation. Some one who works cheerfully and efficiently is unlikely to be hiding anything if they greet you with a smile. Like wise, a dour facial expression should only be interpreted adversely if combined with a grumpy “That’s-not-my-job” attitude to work.

Note Look for positive responses to any criticism - they are good signs of motivation in staff

Seeing Enthusiasm

Positive motivation is often signaled by positive gestures: a smile, a eager pose, and a relaxed manner. When people carry out a task in which they are interested or enthusiastic, they may have a “sparkle” in the eyes, since their pupils actually enlarge. Confident eye contact is also important as a measure of motivation: demotivated people are less likely to look you straight in the eye. Blushing can indicate pleasure, while an increased rate of breathing can indicate enthusiasm - both of these are good signs of motivation.

Note

Maintain eye contact with your staff whenever you speak with them

Recognizing Motivation

Motivation can be recognized in a number of ways - look particularly for signs that your staff feel useful, optimistic, or able to take opportunities. A team in which each member looks after the others’ interest is likely to be a good source of motivation. Look for evidence that your staff are satisfied in their job rather than anxious and frustrated. If you find such signs, ask them whether they are satisfied. You can also establish a good idea of an individual’s level of motivation by their attitude towards work. The statements below are all indicative of motivated staff members:

They freely volunteer efforts and ideas, as well as other contributions; They always react well to request and new assignments They work to achieve, not “to rule” They seem to be happy at work They always respond frankly to question

Note

Ask your staff if any changes at work would help to motivate them Learn to see the difference between work problems and personal problems

Recognizing A Motivated Worker

A tidy, organized work space and a well-groomed appearance can initiate a positive attitude to work. A tidy desk is a sign of motivated workers who wish to be able to find the things they need easily, while attention to personal appearance suggests a high level of communication to the job

Visit my site http://www.careerpath.cc

For many sufferers, depression brings on feelings of guilt and shame and because of these feelings, they will not seek help. But are these feelings valid? Lack of understanding - both in sufferers and non-sufferers - clouds the issue. So here’s how to end the stigma associated with depression, stress, and anxiety.

1. The majority of people in our society experience psychological problems during their lives: Problems from childhood with parents and siblings; stress at work; marital breakdown; losing loved ones and of course, making mistakes. Very few people go through life without experiencing mental trauma of some description. So there’s nothing odd or unique happening here, indeed, depressive illnesses are as common as colds. More than 20 million sufferers in the USA every year bear this out.

2. These are real illnesses. There’s no stigma associated with diabetes, asthma, or allergies for example, so why should there be with these? Just like the above illnesses, depression, anxiety and stress have specific causes that can be addressed. You wouldn’t think an asthma sufferer could just “snap out of it”, yet many people say this to depression and anxiety sufferers. Lack of understanding again causes such a reaction and it is the reaction that is wrong, not the sufferer.

3. Suffering a depressive episode is not your fault so why feel guilty? You didn’t wake up one morning and think “right, I know, I’ll become anxious from now on”. It doesn’t happen like that. No one CHOOSES depression, it can happen to people just like many illnesses do. And like other illnesses, depression can be treated very effectively. But not one sufferer is to blame. You wouldn’t blame someone who hadn’t been taught to read or write, you wouldn’t blame someone who suffered from hay fever so why blame yourself and feel guilty because you’re suffering a stressful illness?

4. If you own a car and it’s broken down you go to a mechanic. If you fall and break your arm, you go to casualty to get it repaired. If you have toothache you go to a dentist to get it sorted. Stressful illnesses can also be fixed, so don’t let guilt or shame stop you from getting help. Just as your body can become ill so can your mind. It isn’t permanent and just as your body can be fixed so can your mind.

5. Many sufferers believe that treating depression is a futile exercise because once you have depression, you have it for life. This simply isn’t true and the depression itself feeds this feeling of helplessness. And believing that depression is incurable further exacerbates the feelings of guilt and shame and fuels the depression. Depression has a specific cause and this root cause can be effectively treated so that depression can be beaten once and for all.

6. Change the way you look at these problems. I know from experience that at the time, stressful illnesses can be overwhelming and you can’t see a way out or how anything good can come of it. But now, I’m glad I had that 5-year period because I’ve come out of it stronger. I learned how to beat depression and deal with the very trying circumstances I was faced with. I now know how to cope with the various trials and tribulations life throws at all of us and those 5 years of depression and anxiety have given me a greater understanding about myself and others. Sure I hated it at the time. But by getting help and learning how depression had entered my life, I became stronger than my depression.

One thing that really helped me was to change the way I thought about what was happening to me. Instead of thinking it was something that no good could ever come from, I looked at it as something that was going to help me to become stronger. What helped me to think this way was discovering how many other people used their illnesses and disabilities to do something positive with their lives. I realized that the same principle could be applied to stressful and depressive illnesses and that they too can be used in a positive way.

The above points clearly demonstrate that the stigmas associated with depressive and stressful illnesses are completely false and I hope you use them to help you win your fight with stress, depression or anxiety.

Until next time.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of “Conquering Stress”, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

Part of our evolutionary process is learning how to communicate
more effectively and efficiently. Few of us have had much
training in the matter, and most of us have experienced the
consequences of communication breakdowns. We all know what
doesn’t work, and how badly it feels to be unheard and
misunderstood.

I learned how to speak from a man who didn’t know how to listen.
I once worked for a CEO who had no space or time for my emotions
or conversational processso I wrote an article called “Who’s
Listening?” for a newsletter I created every month. Since I had
been so thrown off guard by his apparent disinterest in the
“whole” me, I was led to question what it was about my own
communication style that made it hard for us to talk.

These are the questions I asked myself and ultimately included
in the article. I hope they help.

1. Are you being negative? Nobody enjoys being in the presence
of negative energy. Try listening to yourself as you speak. Pay
attention to your tone of voice. If you are whining, stop it. If
you are being cynical or complaining, stop it. For one week, try
turning your complaints into requests and see if you notice a
difference in how your ideas are received.

2. Do you share opinions, but not your inner self? When’s the
last time you were in the presence of a powerful speaker? What
do you remember about what the speaker said? Chances are,
whoever was talking was sharing some personal story,
illustrating a point with an anecdote. Listeners get enrolled in
a conversation when the speaker actually shares something
meaningful about his or her life. Rich communication never
occurs by accident. It takes intention and attention. Think of
the most engaging conversationalist you know. Next time you hear
that person, listen for how much of themselves they really
share. Try sharing something personal next time you’re in a
conversation with someone who’s important to your life. Trust
them enough to admit a fear of yours, to tell a story from your
childhood, or to share a vision you have for the future. We are
all waiting to have these conversations, but no one wants to go
first. Try going first.

3. Are you planning what you want to say while others speak,
instead of listening? This one always backfires. It’s a dead
giveaway. People know when you’re doing it because your
responses to their speaking are usually inappropriate, and
communication breaks down rapidly. No one listens back to
someone who hasn’t listened to them. Instead of spouting off
your opinions immediately after a person has spoken, ask them
something about what they just said. Pay attention to their
speaking and they will pay more attention to yours.

4. Do you live up to your word? Did you ever know someone who was always going to do this and always promising to do that and never came through? Did you stop listening to that person after awhile? The world is full of dreamers and planners, but it’s people’s actions, not their dreams, that inspire us. Open up and share something you’ve accomplished that you’re proud of. If you have something you want to accomplish, ask for support. People will not take us seriously if they see we do not take our own words and commitments seriously.

5. Have you created an environment for listening? It is not
easy to listen to someone in a room where TV’s and radios are in
competition with humans. If real communication is important to
you, try turning off the tube and finding a commercial-free FM
station that plays music conducive to conversation. Classical
music stimulates the alpha waves in our brains, and keep our
creative juices flowing.

6. Do you speak as a victim of circumstances or as a creator of possibilities? People who speak as if the world were out to get
them have a difficult time finding listeners. No one wants to
get pulled into the emotional quicksand that a “victim” seems to
be buried in. Consider how you respond as a listener to other
people’s tales of woe? Do you tire quickly in that context? Do
you get depressed and feel burdened? Energy is contagious. If
you speak as the one who’s designing your life, rather than as a
victim of other peoples’ actions, you will empower yourself and
others.

7. Does your listener know the value of your relationship with her or him? Establishing a background of trust and relatedness
is critical to communication. The better sense a person has of
you and of your commitment to the relationship, the more open
will they be to your speaking. If what needs to be communicated
is difficult or risky, it often helps to begin by stating what’s
at stake for you and how important honesty is to the
relationship.

8. Do you inquire about what may be important to your listener
or do you mostly talk about yourself? One way to ensure that
your listener is with you is to include her or his interests in
your conversation. The next time you have coffee with your
neighbor or sit next to your co-worker in the cafeteria,
initiate a conversation about something you know that person is
interested in. If she’s a ski enthusiast, ask her about her
favorite places to ski. If he’s into computer games, strike up
a conversation about an article you read on the subject. People
listen up and open up when you show a genuine regard for
something they’re interested in.

9. If people listened to you like you listen to others, would
you be satisfied? Most of us have a person in our life who plays
the role of listener when we really need to talk about
something. If you have such a person, consider what particular
skills this person has at listening. Why did you pick her or him
as your sounding board? What is it that makes you trust them?
What body language do they exhibit when you speak that lets you
know they’re with you? Is it helpful to have people give you
advice when you share something difficult, or would you prefer
they just listen and let you sort things out in their presence?
Can you be present to someone’s pain without trying to solve all
their problems? Observe how you listen the next time someone
shares something difficult and see if you can refrain from
offering advice and platitudes.

10. Are you complaining to the wrong people? It doesn’t help
anyone to complain to people who have no power to change things.
If something is wrong, find out who’s in charge and take your
concern to the right person.

JAN PHILLIPS is a principal with 9th Element Group. A master communicator, thought leader, keynote speaker
and award-winning author, Jan is currently writing The Art of
Original Thinking: The Making of a Thought Leader (9th Element
Press). Jan describes the steps to becoming a Thought Leader and
discusses the impact of Thought Leaders in their workplaces,
communities and organizations. More info at:
http://www.9thelementgroup.com/original_think.php?id=67

One of the best ways to manage stress is to develop a positive attitude. The way you think, day in day out, affects all aspects of your life. Studies have shown that people that maintain a positive attitude, and hence a higher level of wellbeing, have lower cardiovascular risk, lower levels of stress hormones and a stronger immune system.

By listening to your “internal dialogue” you will learn to recognize your thought patterns and how they may be affecting the way you handle the stressful situations of daily living. When first tuning into your internal dialogue, you may be surprised to find that much of it is negative, for example, “I could never do that” or “What if I fail?”. Such thoughts will have a negative effect on your behaviour and can induce higher levels of stress hormones which can cause damage to the body.

Being positive does not mean pretending that everything is great all of the time. It is about being cautiously optimistic and positively realistic when things go wrong. To adopt a more positive you can try the following:

- Use positive affirmations to increase your self-esteem. A negative mindset can be very limiting.

- Focus on the good things that people have to offer instead of their bad traits.

- Get rid of all negative words in your vocabulary. Eliminate words like “can’t” “won’t” and “shouldn’t”.

- Be realistic, yet positive, rather than negative. Don’t let the fear of failure stop you.

Don’t stress over the small issues or trivialities in your life.

- Make life an adventure. Put 100% into everything you set out to do.

- Be willing to help others. By helping others, your outlook on life and sense of pride will improve.

- Take it one day at a time during the hard times. Remember the big picture and believe that tomorrow will be a better day.

- Believe in your judgement. Don’t let negative thoughts question your decision.

Thinking positively and approaching life with a positive attitude will give you the mental strength and determination to accept stress as a part of life and manage it effectively.

“…Though I fall I will rise again! When I sit in darkness, the Lord himself will be my Light…God will bring me out of my darkness into the light, and I will see his goodness” (Micah 7:8,9 TLB).

Darkness is frightening. We can’t even see shadows–God’s or ours–much less light when all is black, so our imagination catapults us into fear of the present and the future. When I read this awesome promise that the Lord Himself will be my Light, the fear of the somber present, as well as the unknown future, melted. Psalm 107:14 tells us that “[The Lord] brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.” I like to make God’s promises personal, so when our son died I claimed this particular one and told myself that God is bringing me out of this dark night of my life and He is right now breaking away these chains that bind my joy and ability to continue with life.

The promise is that when I sit in the darkness He will be there as my Light. This prompts me to think that I can’t be gadding about; that I need to stay put so that God can grant His promise. Indeed, Acts 1:4b says to “Wait for the promise of the Father.” The Apostles needed to be told this for their encouragement.

The day I finally understood this was the day that I was telling a relative about our son who had recently died. It was nothing threatening, or so I thought. Out of the blue he interrupted me and said, “Well, you don’t love your children any more than I love my children.” I was shocked at what he said. It seemed so out of place and time. I went home and prayed about it, and decided that God had a message for me in this strange reply from a relative who I thought should (this took care of my “shoulds” for others!) have understood and commiserated with me. I didn’t need another kick in the heart, so I thought. Then as I prayed for God to help me learn whatever the lesson was in this insensitive remark, God impressed on my heart that I needed to be with Him, not pouring out my grief to others. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to comprehend the depths of my personal sorrow, it was simply that they couldn’t, and I must try to understand their needs in this, as well. I’m not saying this is what others should do, that they shouldn’t share with relatives and friends; heaven forbid that I should turn out to be a Job’s comforter! I’m saying I think it is finally what God wanted me to do in my particular circumstance.

Thank You, Light in the total darkness! Thank You for being there with me even when I didn’t see You; when I couldn’t see You. And O! Father, thank You for leading me back into Your Light!

As it is in any relationship, sometimes you need to move on. If you think that your relationship with your therapist is not yielding the results that you want, then you need to find someone new. But how do you even know when it is time to move on?

If you feel like your therapist is too busy for you, or is not addressing the issues that you need to address, then maybe it is time for a new therapist. If you are not making progress, and you can’t get past minor details then it is time for a change. Or maybe the chemistry just doesn’t feel right anymore. These things can happen. How do you tell your therapist that it is time for a change though, and how do you find a new one?

Depending on your therapist and what kind of person they are, you can be honest and ask for a recommendation. They might be able to give you one. However, if you want to try and fix the relationship, that is a valid option. If they cannot give you a recommendation, then ask your psychiatrist or doctor, or go about the steps outlined in finding a therapist. Of course, now you need to start back a little bit, which can be frustrating. You will have to start over with back story and building up the relationship again. This can be hard, but if you think it is necessary then you should do it.

Most importantly, however, is you need to make these decisions on your own. Your therapy is the central part of your care. Don’t let anyone else tell you when to change or not change therapists. You need to keep control of your therapy because it is your attempt to get better. Anything less is cheating yourself.

Learn to alleviate your depression at http://www.curemydepression.com

Rudolph was just an average raindeer. Sure, he had that red nose, which was very shiny. If you had seen it, yes…. you would have said it glowed, but it was really just annoying and caused him all kinds of problems.

All of the other reindeer simply did not appreciate Ruldolph. They even went so far as to constantly make fun of him and excluded him from reindeer networking events. Even his own father, Donner, was not fully supportive of him and privately confided to his best friend, Blitzen, that he was unsure if Rudolf would amount to anything in the reindeer business.

However, Rudolph hung in there. He believed in himself and his unique abilities, even when others did not. He continued to do his job and fine tuned his flying skills.

Then one rather foggy Christmas Eve there was a problem. The fog was so thick that the boss, Santa Claus, was not sure how they were going to honor their delivery guarantees to their clients around the world.

That was when they discovered that Rudolph was not so average after all. His red nose had the technology to shine through fog and light the way. His flying skills were superb, and he got a field promotion to lead reindeer, which included a raise of more straw and hay.

Because of his tenacious attitude and the gracious manner in which he treated his fellow co-workers (he never rubbed it in that he got the top job), they were not jealous of his assent into management, but rather, very supportive of Rudolph. One might even say that they loved him and shouted out with glee, as his contributions to the company made everyone more successful in their jobs.

The whole reindeer opperation flourished thanks to Rudolph’s not quitting when faced with adversity. In the long run, he prevailed because of his “stick-to-it”philosophy.

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, He’ll Go Down In History!!!

Thom Singer is the author of “Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships” (New Year Publishing, 2005). He can be reached at http://www.thomsinger.com.