Success Initiatives Blog

     Two simple words that can change the course of our relationships with others. Not just those close and personal relationships, but every interaction we have with random strangers too. All people deserve our kindness, not because it makes us better but because it might be just what they need to get through their day or even make them better.      One of the biggest concerns is that we are raising a culture that thinks of kindness as a weakness, when it couldn't be further from the truth. All great things begin with a positive intent . We should encourage a kind heart and love for others.      Our purpose should be to serve as role model for others, especially the younger generations that might not have the opportunity to experience kindness as frequently as they should. Whether young or old, everyone can be made different by an act of kindness. Sometimes it's a gift, a card, a helpful hand, a word, or even just smile that sa...

Your connections are your connections, to the world!! The people that you surround yourself with really do connect you to the world.  People are either making you better or making you less than you are.  The people that you choose to be around are boosting your mood, or robbing your energy.  They are increasing your knowledge, or dropping your IQ by association.  They are causing you misery, or giving you bliss.  You choose.    Choosing to be around positive people has been shown to boost your mood.  Simply sitting with, or conversing with positive people has the ability to elevate anyone out of the depths of most negative funks. A deep conversation with someone about positive topics can make you smarter.  Positive people just want to communicate in an educated and fun manner.  And Happiness?  Well, positive people look for and surround themselves with other happy people.  Just watch Shawn Achor describe how "happiness a...

I've spent some time the last few weeks thinking about the word failure.  It's such a common word, and lately even a social media trend, #epicfail.  Terrible. I have benefited greatly by practicing and teaching the replacement of negative words with positive words.  As I pondered the word failure, I realized it did not really need a replacement word.  I realized it wasn't even much of a word.  The more I reflected on previous "failures", I really was left thinking about the experience and education I had gained from events previously labeled as failures.  We really have experiences of learning with opportunities to better ourselves. We have all been made better through the education and experience gained after moments that did not turn out as expected.  After reflecting on these moments, we reassess our expectations, readjust our steps, and eventually end up with a successful outcome.  Eliminating that so called "...