Every now and then I’m reminded of how something which started small can become big. Remember when the “smiley face” first got introduced to the marketplace? It consisted of a large, bright yellow circle with two, black dots for eyes and a curved black line for a smile. That’s it! And now, years later that same smiley face appears everywhere and is recognized worldwide! While I don’t expect my suggestion to become an international phenomenon, I can’t help but wonder, what if my idea really did “take off”? What if each of us willingly made just a slight shift in how we communicate to one another and it impacted Atlanta?

Here goes. Beginning today, instead of telling people to “Have a nice day”, I’m suggesting we say, “Create a great day.” I’ve been practicing over the last couple of weeks. People are  surprised. They smile. They say, “Thank you.” “I will.” “You do the same.” The shift from “hoping” one’s day will go well to “doing” something to make that happen places control where it  needs to be – ours! For us to create a “great day” requires action. When we become the playwrights, the producers, and the directors of our own lives we determine its journey. That’s what’s so exciting!WE create what WE want. WE orchestrate the day. NOTHING is left to chance.

Like any habit switching from what we’re used to saying to something new takes effort. The question becomes, what will YOUR life look like when you decide to “create great days” instead of having “nice ones”? Share the idea and create a great day every day starting today!

My mother often said, “The older you get, the faster the time.” As with most things, Mom was right. As you read this, do you find it hard to believe that its 9 years have passed since Y2K? Remember the crisis mentality that hadhalf the population stockpiling food and water and hoarding cash? All this just in case a computer glitch wiped out our electronics-dependent society. As it turned out, like continued as normal.

As with every New Year, people are pompelled to review and reflect on their accomplishments, unmet goals and the blessings and challenges they experienced. Personally speaking, I can remember being determined to make every year in the new millennium more memorable, productive and better than the last. What about you?

Where are you right now in the plans, resolutions and commitments you made for 2008? Did you enroll in a class that you have postponed until now? Have you announced to yourself and to everyone who cares about you that this year your health is your top priority.  Will you join a gym? Have you jotted down your goals? What about the book you have been meaning to write? Maybe this is the year you leave an unrewarding job to venture out on your own? Make plans to update your will. Do you have one? Is one of your goals to add more balance to your life, creating more time for family, friends and yourself?

The bottom line is that every day we make choices, deciding on the direction we want for our lives. A year from now we will be revisiting the outcomes of our choices; I encourage you to choose carefully. Say “Yes” to your health, to personal and professional development and to spending more time with family and friends. Engage in meaningful work – make a difference in your community – volunteer. If you need someone to help you be accountable, I welcome hearing from you. Together, we can make 2009 the best year ever. I welcome your comments. Bonnie Ross-Parker www.BonnieRossParker.com

By Elizabeth Gordon

You often hear about entrepreneurs getting lucky – getting on Oprah or selling their business for $50 million to a big conglomerate. When you hear these stories of seeming overnight success, it makes you think, “Wow, they are sooo lucky.” But what sometimes appears to be luck is actually the result of a well laid plan and strategy that is finally coming to fruition. Every time you hear the story of an entrepreneur’s big win, you are probably not going to hear about the 100 times before that they failed, but trust me, they did.

What allowed them to eventually get to their big win? They didn’t beat themselves up after they failed, nor did they let it make them fearful of taking future risks. Instead, they viewed each small failure as simply a stepping-stone on the path to success. The good news is you can improve your luck. When you recognize that there is no such thing as “the overnight success story” and instead make the goal of each day to move the ball one step closer to your goal, you’ll increase your odds every day. If so-called good luck is really just persistence, creativity and determination that have finally paid off, there are some ways to stack the deck in your favor.   Continue Reading »

Every time you share your ideas you bring value to others. Ideas come in many forms. They can be as simple as a suggestion, create clarity out of confusion, or give insight that is transformational. Your ideas are a reflection of who you are, how you think, what you feel, and what you’ve learned from your own experiences.

Willingness to share ideas is powerful. There is no way of assessing the impact we have on someone else by offering them our point of view. Each of us is unique. Our experiences are unique. Our perspectives are unique. No one has traveled your road, been faced with your specific challenges, or possesses your knowledge. You are uniquely qualified to be you. Your ideas matter.

This is part of the series “Personally Speaking: Volume 1“ to purchase the entire series click here.