I recently saw the movie Yes Man starring Jim Carrey. Without giving away too much, I would like to say that I found the movie very entertaining and, actually, quite thought provoking. I included the trailer to give you the premise of the movie, watch it here: Yes Man Trailer
As you just saw, Jim Carrey’s character, Carl Allen, is a chronic “no man”. Almost every request that he gets- whether it is for a bank loan, an invitation out with his friends, a sales opportunity- he turns down. He almost seems to enjoy saying no, and he therefore feels disappointed with where he is at in life. However, at a conference Carl accepts the challenge to become a “yes man”. Every request that comes his way he must respond, “yes”. You can imagine all of the situations, good and bad, he gets himself into with that promise!
I think that, for some, we get into that mindset when everything is “no”, and we need something to shake us out of that complacency. On the other hand, some of us have a chronic “yes man/woman” attitude… when someone asks us to do something, we cannot help but say “yes”. As I am sure you can agree, sometimes that attitude can really take away from the things that we are supposed to do. Brian Tracy, author of Eat That Frog!, has this to say about that special word:
One of the most powerful of all words in time management is the word no! Say it politely. Say it clearly so that there are no misunderstandings. Say it regularly as a normal part of your time management vocabulary.
Say no to anything that is not a high-value use of your time and your life. Say no graciously but firmly to avoid disagreeing to something against your will. Say it early and say it often. Remember that you have no spare time. As we say, “Your dance card is full.”
For you to do something new, you must complete or stop doing something old. Getting in requires getting out. Picking up means putting down. Creative procrastination is the act of thoughtfully and deliberately deciding upon the exact things you are not going to do right now, if ever.
So, I think what we can take away is to say “yes” to new and exciting experiences that will stretch you… and “no” to those tasks that take away from your priorities. What should you be saying “no” to today?
Eat That Frog! with FREE DVD
Lombardi! Perhaps no single word in the English language communicates such strong visions
of excellence, discipline, commitment, and of course, winning. The Lombardi philosophy,
however, transcends football. He had the unique ability to articulate the fundamentals of
success for football, business and life unlike any leader. Enjoy
this three minute inspirational movie that shares Lombardi’s keys to success in an
unforgettable way with vintage photos, great Lombardi quotes, and the rare audio segments
from Lombardi giving his famous speech … What It Takes To Be #1.
What it Takes to Be #1 with Audio CD and FREE DVD
A shot of inspiration…do you ever need one? I know I do!
So here’s our weekend gift to you… a link to my inspirational book and movie page. You can watch one or come back to watch all … the choice is yours. Each takes about 3 minutes.
But don’t forget to pay it forward by sending this inspirational link to friends, family and co-workers.
Just click on any cover to watch after clicking here. Just click here to watch a movie or to check the details to purchase one of all books,
 The Second Mile – $ 15.95 The Second Mile will help you experience in your heart and mind the powerful truth that you can live above “the norm” to accomplish things that change the world for others—and in your own life! Drawn from a few short words delivered on a hillside by the Greatest Teacher who ever lived, author Paula Fox has crafted one of her trademark poetic narratives that will capture and entertain your imagination—and teach the seven simple principles of walking the second mile: generosity, humility, kindness, gratitude, excellence, choice, and victory. This book is the roadmap for experiencing new levels of purpose and joy in your life. |
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