The Caring Catalyst

Who Cares - What Matters

What’s In Your Cup?

By Leave a Comment

photo

What’s in Your Cup?

It’s no lie. I love to start my day with a Grande Breve Latte from Starbucks…when you ask me what’s in my cup, the guesswork is nil to none.

It get’s tricky when we think something’s in our Cup and it really isn’t. Get’s crazier still when other’s expect that we fill their Cup with something that it really isn’t either.

It’s essential for Us and Others that we stay consistent. Why would we put Root Beer in our Starbucks Cup, or more from the ‘look of things’ give something of ourselves that “Really Isn’t?”

What’s in Your Cup? Give from the first sip to the last drop and then Refill and Repeat often! Make sure it’s All You!

The World’s a thirsty place. This round’s on You (and so are the other’s).

What’s Your STARING Frog?

By Leave a Comment

allaboutfrogtoad

Everyone has one…some may even have a whole herd or a farm of them! What Frog stares you down everyday? What’s the ONE thing you put off or maybe just postpone, ok, PROCRASTINATE!

Procrastination is the one WTF Wrestler we all tangle…some more than others, but all of us, just the same. We all seem to run from or at least put off things we see as painful or difficult. The Catch: We often bring more pain on ourselves. The Bigger Catch: Even though we know the consequences of procrastination can be severe, oh yeah…WE STILL DO IT!

There’s a very old saying that spouts, “If the first thing you do in the morning is to eat a live frog, then nothing worse can happen for the rest of the day.” What’s YOUR STARING FROG? What’s the worst thing you look forward to as you wake up? Exercising? A meeting? Paperwork? Obligations that aren’t all that pleasing?

But once…only ONCE: Eat THAT Frog! Get rid, right up front, of the one thing that Stares you down and taunts you with every second you try to avoid IT. Just ONCE, eat THAT Frog and see the energy it gives you…Makes an Extreme 5-Hour Energy drink, blush. But. . .but, you let him stare you down and it’ll put a huge straw right in your heart and suck the Life and Essence right out of it without so much as a satisfying belch.

Here’s the Deal that only you can make for yourself: JUST ONCE! Do it once and never again unless
the Frog, totally intimidated, looks down and has not the guts or the energy to even think about Staring back!

Just Once. . . .

More Than Breaking Bread

By Leave a Comment

dominos_pizza_pie

I don’t believe I’ve ever read or written any poems or prose, certainly no blog posts about Pizza. I heard something recently that now has made that possible. I recently read something from a friend of a friend talking of all things, about Pizza. Pizza goes all the way back to the ancient tradition of breaking bread and it’s one of the few foods that people still share as a group of family and friends. We gather around it, it’s circular (the symbol for eternal) and we break our share of the pizza (bread). Where as other food we have OUR OWN, our own burger, our own steak, our own plate, our own silverware. . .I’ve got to tell you, I’ve never quite thought of Pizza that way before.

Most of the time, we receive valuable offers, get updated on new products, or have pictures sensually shown us of our great food. Today, I’m simply inviting you to look at Pizza in another way, not just because we love food or might receive a great offer or get gas points by purchasing a gift card at a grocery store. No. . .just because you will have a chance to SHARE with a loved one, a family member, a friend or a group of folks around a pizza and break bread together!

Time for a Pizza? You do know it’s a lot more than just breaking bread, well, now you do!

More Sunshine

By Leave a Comment

You know what’s great about Sunshine?

Sure, it’s nice, it’s bright, it’s warm, it’s comforting and soothing. It makes for great lyrics and in moderate amounts, it’s extremely healthy.

Still, the best thing about Sunshine, especially when it has all of these benefits is simply this: MORE OF IT! A Second Dose! A few more rays just when you thought it was gone, buried behind clouds or the lateness of the day, only to show to you IT’S RAYS ARE A LOT STRONGER AND SOMETIMES MORE SURPRISING than you’ve ever imagined!

I wrote a previous blog post on the great song, BRING ME SUNSHINE performed by the Jive Aces and Alex, a member of the band, read the blog, saw the video and suggested to me how I not only might view IT better but how it is that you the Reader and better still, the SEE-er of video might be able to view it as it was intended.

You want to know what’s better than Brought Sunshine? M O R E Sunshine brought with even brighter, warmer rays.

A huge SHOUT OUT to Alex and the Jive Aces. . .let this be yet another opportunity for you to enjoy their GIFT, and more, a better, more enriched, way to be inspired to not only to Share your own Sunshine, but to throw in a few extra illuminated and Warmed rays to some unexpected person living in a Black & White World, begging for the Color you promise just by Showing UP!

Get your SQUINT ON as you reach for those Sunglasses that don’t so much Block, but let in THAT warm Light so much needed by ALL. . . .

Hearing What I Didn’t Say

By Leave a Comment

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it

deosn’t mttaer

inwaht

oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt

tihng is taht the frist

and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be

a total mses and

you

can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae

the huamn mnid

deos not
raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh?

Except, you’ve probably seen this before and the point still is pretty resounding, isn’t it?

We all know what we say, but we honestly don’t know what’s heard or applied. Sometimes a “Hmmmmmm,” or a “Uhhhhh-huh,” is the most profound thing we could say or hear. . .especially if it allows another to say what WE didn’t hear!

Listen. . .again!

Bring Me Sunshine

By Leave a Comment

I am often asked to do Team-Building, which in may ways, is just telling folks what they already know, what they know they know, what they bet their lives that they know, but for the life of themselves, never act like they actually know.

Often, what I actually do is just hold the mirror in front of them–very steady–so that they can actually not so much just take a quick glance, but an actual LONG LOOK at who they are, Right Now!

I ask, who has the Best Job in this room?

I wait and listen for the answers, always hoping for that ONE who says: “I DO!”

That’s the answer we should all be answering, isn’t it?  I mean, if we don’t have the best job in our agency, our office, our department, well–WHO?

I have been a fan of The Jive Aces ever since I’ve seen this YouTube Video: BRING ME SUNSHINE.

It’s us, isn’t it?  WE bring the Sunshine, the color to so many living in a dull, black&white world.  That should always be our intention, our goal, the never-say-end-till-it-happens-affirmation, right?  Well the good news is you don’t have to attempt it, or put it as a goal or even a priority or number one Intention: JUST DO IT–better than Nike’s favorite way of putting things.

Bring Me Sunshine.

Hey, it won’t hurt to throw in a pair of Sunglasses, either!

BE ALL to ALL. . .Every time!  Bring Me Sunshine. . .be the reason I squint and reach for a fan because of the abundance of warmth. . .BRING ME SUNSHINE. . .Bring IT not when you’re ready to Give IT. . .but when it’s NEEDED!

Bring Me Sunshine–NOW!

Rearview Mirror Living

By Leave a Comment

photo

Did you ever wonder why the Rear view Mirror in your car is about 100 times smaller than your windshield?

Asking the question SHOUTS the answer, doesn’t it?

We’re meant to LOOK AHEAD and NOT BEHIND.  It’s always significant that we take quick glances at what’s behind us, maybe even following us–But, we are not going THAT way!  If you try driving straight ahead by looking behind, would you please ALERT everyone, because it’s not going to end well for you or any of us.

Yes…glance, DO NOT GAWK, Behind often, quickly but keep your eyes where they need to be–ahead, always to what’s in front of you, to where you need to be heading!

And reaching your nearest Horizons, glance quickly back, remember, log the lesson, and look for the next Horizon out there inviting you Forward!

Meet me there. . . .

The TEST

By Leave a Comment

Just the word alone: T E S T  strikes severe Fear into the heart, doesn’t it?

But what kind of TEST are we talking about?  Pop Quiz?  Finals?  Mid-Term?  Or just a simple Stick-your-foot-in-the-water-to-see-how-cold-it-is-TEST?

Psssst…Every day is filled with all kinds of Tests and maybe the ones that are the most brutal are the ones we don’t even recognize as tests at all.

What if they’ve all been passed even before the taking?

Hey, is that question really on The Test?

CROSS TRAINING

By Leave a Comment

There’s always. . .ALL WAYS more to Life than just one way to do anything.  It’s the ultimate way to disprove the biggest lie ever told: YOU HAVE A PURPOSE!  Uhhh, No you don’t.  YOU HAVE A REASON! Uhhh, Negative.  YOU HAVE A DESTINY! Uhh, That’s a Crock of something you don’t want sitting around in your kitchen.  YOU HAVE A MEANING!  Uhh, Never.  LIES…each and every one!  They’re P L U R A L–not singular!

There’s always more to Life than just one way to do anything. . .Go ahead. . .go Risky. . .take another road, open another door, pick up the phone on the Fourth Ring.  Be open to the Alternatives and Live!

Professional Speaker, Author, Assurance Man