When someone says something less than positive about another, whether it’s conscience or intentional, whether it’s true or false, it colors perspective and can completely change the way we see one another.

It’s true in that it’s obviously one person’s point of view, but that doesn’t make it the truth. With the way we speak about others, we can create or we can destroy.
Given how hard many of us already work, and how destructive gossip can be, it’s worth bringing a great deal of awareness to how people are speaking in your business and replace it with a more productive habit…like get some work done!

Gossip: The Most Destructive Thing in Business is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

When making decisions regarding your business, never, ever give your power over to fear. It paralyzes, constricts, obstructs, stresses, and damages your business.

It starts with the misunderstanding that regarding some particular situation, you have no other option other than to stick to what you have. Whether that’s an employee who has been with you since the beginning, but no longer performing, or your marketing methods that worked great for years, but produce nothing now.

Remember this: You always have options to take action – Go for it!!!

The following is excerpted in honor of FDR’s Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933.

“This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.”

To read the full address, click here.

The Only Thing to Fear is Fear Itself is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

With even just a little Acknowledgment, you can accomplish so much like:
Praise – as in bringing attention to a job well done.
Educate – using a job well done to set a standard for everyone.
Empower – putting attention on someone for something specifically well done.

And the best thing is, if makes you feel good, it makes others feel great,
it makes productivity go up, and…it costs you nothing.

So come on, don’t be a k’vetch. Go find someone to acknowledge right now.

The 2nd Most Powerful Management Tool You Have is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

It takes courage, almost always involves some risk, and there’s almost always something you have to give up. Like being comfortable, or waiting for someone else to get it done. Or the notion that you don’t have what it takes, or you’re not the right person.

Here is a good rule of thumb: If you can see something missing, if in your view there is something amiss, if you have the ability to see that there is a problem somewhere, then you have the opportunity to do something about it. Go for it. That rare commodity we call leadership actually lives in all of us.

Some quotes from a great woman…

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

“Never depend upon institutions or government to solve any problem. All social movements are founded by, guided by, motivated and seen through by the passion of individuals.”

“We are continually faced with great opportunities which are brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.”

— Margaret Mead

You Make a Difference is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

Yet, is not every one of our lives preoccupied with this concern every single day?
Freedom to have time to yourself.
Freedom to travel where you want.
Freedom to do the things you want to.
In short, the freedom to live your life the way you want to. In honor of this year being an election year, I’ll occasionally share some of the writings of our founding fathers. I see a parallel between their wisdom for human nature and the concerns of their day, and our current day concerns in business.

THESE are the times that try mens souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value…
— by Thomas Paine – The Crisis, December 23rd 1776

(Click here to read the complete first paragraph)

Freedom – Just A Simple 7 Letter Word is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

Winston Churchill is famed for delivering the shortest commencement speech ever recorded in college history:

“Never give in. Never, never, never–in nothing great or small, large or petty–never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

Start Your Year Strong, Stay Strong is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

Enough words have been exchanged;
Now at last let me see some deeds!
While you turn compliments,
Something useful should transpire.
What use is it to speak of inspiration?
To the hesitant it never appears.
If you would be a poet,
Then take command of poetry.
You know what we require,
We want to down strong brew;
So get on with it!
What does not happen today, will not be done tomorrow,
And you should not let a day slip by,
Let resolution grasp what’s possible
and seize it boldly by the hair;
it will not get away and it labors on, because it must.

Let’s Get the Year Started is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

Now is a really good time to look at what you’re planning to make happen this year, and execute. Sure, it’s a bit crazy out there, but no matter how uncertain the future may seem, there are always opportunities. We just have to find them.

What you’re standing for and committed to can make the deciding difference in how this year turns out. Be unreasonable in the face of uncertainty, expect to have it go your way. When it comes right down to it, the ability for someone to commit and execute can likely be attributed to more achievements and breakthroughs than anything else.

Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative, (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
– W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition

2012: To Be or…Not To Be — Committed is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

There is a whole range of responses you can get when asking another for a commitment. I am not speaking about what they say, I am speaking about the mood in which the commitment is delivered, but you have to listen for that.

Moods and Attitudes can vary from very low on the scale as in annoyance or obligation, or lower, all the way up to challenge, adventure, and empowerment.

To have powerful commitments that you can count on, you need to listen for what’s driving that promise behind the words you want to hear. The most powerful commitments are when there is no gap between the speaker, the speaker’s promise, and their actions. Their experience is one of “I am that I will…”, and you know they will do everything in their power to fulfill that.

What’s driving that Commitment or Promise? is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates

There are a variety of relationships we can have to our word. Some people think it’s a complete pain to give their word, and you can hear and see that in their behavior. And some people feel empowered and supported by it.

Responses range from obligation, annoyance, or worse, to seeing it as a welcome challenge. The key is listening and coaching people where they are so they can take the next step.

Your Relationship To Your Word is a post from: Gregory Neil Associates