Powerful Principles of Personal Growth

Proactive Leadership

Truly speaking the title of this article is somewhat of a paradox since the true definition of leadership requires that you be proactive. I included it however because in this article, it is imperative that you understand the difference if you are going to get the point; most people don’t. I apologize if I’ve already offended you; however, I promise you will understand if you’re brave enough to continue. 

If you are pressed for time, be sure to print this article out for reading at a later time. It is more than 2,500 words long so settle in for an interesting read – Jasmine Green Tea anyone? 
  

First, let’s define leadership. 

In classic Dean L. Forbes style, first, here’s the dictionary’s definition… 

Leadership – to provide guidance; give direction or issue orders; a position of authority and power 

Once again the dictionary fails us miserably in providing an adequate definition for such an important part of our existence – no wonder most fail at it abysmally. 

Here’s the Dean L. Forbes definition… 

Leadership – the courage to make decisions grounded in correct principle and to act in accordance with your values regardless of popular practice and with the primary purpose of serving others 

This to me is a more encompassing definition of leadership – true and authentic leadership.

 

Why Proactive Leadership?

True leadership requires that you be proactive; I added it in the title because it is important that you understand what it will take to be an effective leader – one that makes a difference. 

In order to be a proactive leader you must endeavor to take responsibility for all your deeds. In other words, neither people nor circumstances affect your response and if they do you accept the responsibility of allowing the occurrence. Responsibility is a discipline that all true leaders understand well – they recognize the vastness of it and act accordingly. 

The point is that when you are proactive you know that while you have no control over others or the circumstances around you – you do control you. You control what you think and how you act. Regardless of the stimuli, a proactive leader knows that he/she is free to choose his/her response rather than simply reacting. Reactive people are influenced by everything that acts upon them – proactive people influence actions. 

To put it in simple terms, if someone gives you the finger, you may choose to reciprocate in kind or you can just as easily ignore the gesture. This is what is known as being the bigger person. You can be proactive or reactive – just know that true leaders are proactive.

 

Self-leadership

Before you can lead anyone else, you must first master leading yourself. If you do not know where you are going or what your purpose is, how can you lead others? 

Purpose, plan and action in that order are how you self-lead. Without this sequence nothing will get done; you will not move forward and your dreams and goals will become mere fantasies. Self-leadership also requires that you are proactive; you do not wait for others or circumstances to move you – you are the mover. You move others and influence the circumstances around you in order to achieve the results you desire. 

In order to lead yourself effectively, you must be crystal clear about your intentions and why you intend them. You must value principles and be diligent in executing your plans. 

Here’s a jumpstart guideline to help you develop good habits in self-leadership. 

Develop a Personal Mission Statement

A personal mission statement is crucial in helping you identify you innermost values and goals. It serves as the compass guiding you on your journey ensuring that you remain on track. It is like the blueprint of a house. 

Before the first nail is driven – before the first beam is staked into the ground – a blueprint must be drawn. If not, the builders will not know where to put the big walk-in closet or the man-room with all the sports memorabilia. The point is that you need to know your mission – your purpose before you can begin to lay plans to achieve it. 

There is a reason elite teams like the Navy Seals, Rangers and the 300 are so successful at what they do. They all know the mission and each man knows exactly what he is expected to do and how it must be done to achieve the desired result. Effective self-leadership demands the same level of commitment and diligence in order to achieve at the highest level of your potential. 

Make plans and evaluate them often

Once you have a mission – a blueprint – you must make plans to execute it. You must now prioritize each stage of your plan in a manner that you believe will garner the greatest success. Based on your mission, you must plan your next moves; decide what resources and tools you need and also who are the people you need to contact to make it happen. All these things are an important part of the planning phase. 

Surely, depending on other elements beyond your control, you may need to change your plans. This is why you must evaluate your plans often – at monthly intervals perhaps. You can always change your plans if necessary to achieve the results you desire so long as your mission remains the same. Your mission should only change if it no longer represents your value system. 

The main reason to evaluate your plan is to ensure that it is in line with your values, adheres to correct principles and on track to achieving your goal. Value your mission but do not marry the plan otherwise it may blind you. Focus on the results you want to achieve and then make sure that your plans get you there. Even if you have to change your plans mid-stride, you will feel comfortable doing it if you are not attached to it. 

There is no substitute for a well-laid plan; all true leaders plan. There are none who do not. If you fail to plan, then you must also plan to fail. In fact, true leaders are almost always planning. 

Take action

Unless you act on your plans, nothing will happen – you will achieve nothing. You must act on your plans; you must execute each step on the way to fulfilling your purpose – your mission. 

You need to function like a guided missile. Its guidance system tells it what its purpose is; its programming tells it where it’s going; however that missile will not have fulfilled its purpose until it reaches its target. To do that, it must take flight – not stopping until it has reached its destination. This has to be you and you must commit to taking action consistently. 

Don’t sit on the sidelines waiting for everything to be perfect before you make a move for if you do you will be waiting for eternity. Taking action and making mistakes is the only way you will learn what it takes to move forward. Still waters may run deep but if you can’t “hang 10” you’ll never ride the waves. So what if you fall off the board a few times – the more you practice the better you will become. If you are waiting for perfection then you should know that practice is the only thing that makes perfect – or at least comes closest. 

Execute around priorities

Remember to put first things first and execute your plans by priority. Prioritize your actions by level of stages and importance. If you know that you must execute item A before item D can be the best, then make certain you do not skip item A. If you fail to prioritize your actions you will end up with what I like to refer to as “Scatter Brain Syndrome” or SBS. 

It is vital that you learn how to prioritize. It is the best way to avoid the “activity trap.” So many people suffer from the proverbial activity trap of being very busy but getting nowhere fast. This is because they are not prioritizing so they are just doing and acting without a guidance system. Yes you have to take action; however, acting out of sequence is just as bad if not worse than no action at all because it wastes valuable energy while achieving sub-par or no results. 

All true leaders understand the value of priority power and they use it consistently to help them stay on track and keep their actions in line with the mission.

 

Leading Others

Remember the paramount purpose of leadership – to serve others. This is the responsibility that all true leaders accept. If you are not aiming to serve others you cannot lead effectively. 

Neither your position nor station in life can ever make you an effective leader regardless of what the documents say. Leadership comes first from within and then influences the people and circumstances around you. This is why it is imperative that you first master self-leadership before leading others. 

In order to lead others effectively, you must know where you are going and have the vision to convey the mission clearly to those that would follow. People do not truly follow titles and positions; they follow those who represent values within them. They follow people they trust, people who show they care about them and their dreams. 

True leaders know that their success lie in those they help find success – in growing others. This is the path of the proactive leader – others. 

Here’s a jumpstart guideline to help you develop good habits in leading others. 

Put people first

Above all else true leaders always put people first. Everything else is secondary for there are no greater connections than the ones formed between people. You put people first because in the people is where you will find the greatest wealth of progress and creativity. When empowered, people can produce at levels we still have not seen or imagined possible. 

Without others, you cannot achieve at your full potential; without people, no company can rise to the pinnacle of excellence. Without others, no idea can change the world. We all need each other and that’s why you must always put people first. 

Feed the four quadrants

This goes hand-in-hand with putting people first. When you put people first, you can then take the necessary steps to make sure that you feed the four quadrants of people – the mind, body, heart and spirit. True leaders understand that they must always look to nourish people in these four areas in order to help them reach their full potential. 

Too often, I have seen companies that treat their employees like machines rather than people. They expect them to function like robots rather than the creative beings that they are. They do not involve them in the creation of the mission or purpose, yet they expect them to honor it. This usually leads to employees who are disgruntled and who feel like they have no real value. There are not many things worse that living a life without real purpose – most human beings want – need that. 

This is why as a leader, you must nourish the four quadrants of the people in any way you can. Feed their mind, body, heart and spirit and you will awaken extremely high levels of creativity, ingenuity and innovation within them. This is called “cherishing the goose.” 

Focus on results

It is important that you pay attention to details; however, you must not get caught up in the minutia of things. How a result is achieved is not as important as the result itself. So long as the results were met through right actions, the how doesn’t really matter at all. If your values are in tact, focus on the results. 

Too many people are overly concerned with process and procedure – these are guides and nothing more. There are always other ways – better ways of doing things. What matters most is the result. 

Managers often get caught up in doing the right thing by following procedure and doing exactly as they are told no matter what. When the plan fails, the lame response is usually, “I was only doing my job” or “that’s the way they wanted me to do it.” 

Leaders on the other hand do the right things. They do not get tangled in the web of procedure; rather they promote creativity and innovation in order to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. The shorter and more effective the road to the results are – the better. 

This does not mean that you promote anarchy and break the rules every chance you get. It simply means that you remove the fear from the people by letting them know that you value innovation and creativity. You let them know that they should not be afraid to share new ideas because you value their voice. After all as a true leader, this is what you are supposed to do – help others find their voice. 

Value principles

If you do nothing else as a leader, make sure you value principles. Principles are universal truths that are unchanging. They do not break or waver – they simply are. If you value principles and endeavor to live by them, you will always be able to make good decisions. Others will undoubtedly respect your tenacity and resolve. 

Principles should be the backbone of every decision you make. This way your judgment will not be clouded by emotion. When you make decisions based on natural laws, you will always achieve the right results. For instance, there is a universal law that says, you reap more than what you sow; this is true in all cases. The more good you do, the more good will come back to you which means that the reverse is also true. 

Have you ever noticed that the more you are down, the more the universe seems to work to keep you down? And, the more you are up, the more the universe seems to work to keep you up? 

These are all natural laws in action every second of every day and it doesn’t matter what we do, they will simply exist. People and circumstances may change; however, principles do not. This is why you must value principles.

 

Where do leaders come from?

Everywhere and Anywhere! 

True leaders are not born or made; rather they emerge. Leaders can come from any walk of life; any color, creed or station. We all have the ability to become leaders; in fact we need more leaders than ever before in history. 

By the (Dean L. Forbes) definition of leadership, anyone with the will to act can become a leader. It does not matter who you are, where you’re from or what you do, leadership is yours if you choose it. 

Of course, this begs the answer to another question – one I frequently get. Can anyone truly be a leader?

Well for starters let me say that while all leaders are followers, not all followers are leaders. Not everyone wants to lead and that’s ok – happy following – no hard feelings. The other side to this is that many want to lead but only few will really become true leaders. Many are called – few are chosen. I know it’s a cliché but it is true.

In my personal opinion, I think that any person who lives a purpose-driven life can be a leader. In fact, if you live a life of purpose, you are obviously doing something right in your personal leadership – self-leadership. Unfortunately, purpose-driven people are in the minority on planet earth last time I checked. I’m no math whiz but I think you can figure this one out.

 

A final thought

This article is by no means an attempt to explain to you all the characteristics necessary to be a leader – that’s just too much for one article. The goal rather is simply to put true leadership in perspective for you – to provide you with proper context. 

Too often people misconstrue what true leadership is. I wrote this article to help you distinguish leadership from management. The goal is to point you in the right direction in developing true leadership habits. I want to help you understand that proactive leaders lead a life of significant difference. They make significant differences and they embrace differences significantly. 

My question is, what kind of leader do you want to be?

 

Killer Series: Top 7 Sales Killers

Whether you know it or not, we are all in the business of sales. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, we all sell a products and/or services. One thing is for certain – we all sell ourselves. It could be to family, friends, colleagues and/or customers – it doesn’t matter – we all sell ourselves daily. 

I’ve already written an pretty insightful article on the 7 ways to add killer value to anything so I thought it appropriate to also make sure that you understand the flip side – what absolutely can kill your efforts to add killer value. The fact is that we are all killers – the only thing you need to figure out is which type of killer you are. Ultimately, you get to choose the type of killer you want to be. 

Whether you believe you are a killer or not – read on – by the end of the article I think you will have gotten a clear picture in your head.

Following are my best insights on the elements that undoubtedly will kill a sale. The information is derived from my years of experience in marketing, sales and training and developing people from all walks of life. 

These are the Top 7 Sales Killers.

 

#1 – Assumption

The moment you assume anything at all about a situation or a person, you’ve basically killed the sale before it has even started. Once you assume you make an ass-et out of you. 

If the desired result is to make the sale – add value to the situation or person – you won’t be able to achieve that outcome effectively if you’ve already decided you know-it-all. All preconceived notions must go out the window and you must come to the table with a clean slate. Your only goal should be to add value and create a new customer. 

Whether you’re selling a product or service or simply starting a new relationship wherein you’re selling yourself – any assumptions will defeat your purpose. It will rob you and everyone involved or the relationship’s full potential.

 

#2 – Cluelessness

 This goes without saying; people don’t buy from individuals who have no clue what they are talking about. If you don’t know your product or service and you don’t know what the customer wants or needs, you’re clueless and in there eyes – USELESS! 

Before you attempt to make any sale, make sure you have all your information – your facts – straight. It is also crucial that you know the most relevant information about your customer. This way you can relate to him/her better – this is a key element in adding value. Simply put – you’d better know your stuff or end up getting stuffed. 

In short – GET A CLUE!

 

#3 – Judgment

Judgment is the brother of Assumption because it limits your range. It creates barriers to the sale when you come with preconceptions of any kind. Judgment though also takes another form that can be detrimental to a sale. 

If your customers happen to use your competitor’s product or service and you bash your competitor, they will see that as a judgment – like you’re bashing them. Instead of judging, try overcoming the competitor’s product or service by offering more, better or faster service. Show your customers why doing business with you will benefit them more. 

Any judgment of your customers or the products they use will diminish your standing in their eyes no matter how good your intentions are. You will not only lose the sale but most probably a customer for life.

 

#4 – Insincerity

If your heart is not in the right place, how can you act in the best interest of your customers? Authenticity goes a long way in forging strong bonds of loyalty and respect. Insincerity will eventually rare its ugly head and that will seal your fate and kill the sale with that customer. 

The fact is that, people don’t care what you think until they know that you care. Unless you have your customers’ best interest at heart don’t bother attempting the sale. Even if you make one or two sales to one customer as a sheep in wolves’ clothing – your deeds will soon come to roost and your reputation will suffer dire consequences.

 

#5 – Indifference

Indifference is about the lack of conviction in the products or services you offer. If you don’t believe in yourself or what you do, why should your customers? If you waiver or blow from one stance to the next without rhyme or reason, your customers will be wary and leery of your motives.

When it comes to being a killer salesperson, you cannot afford to be neutral; one of the reasons top sales people do so well is that they are able to rally others to a cause. Your ability to do that will be significantly hampered if you are indifferent and your customers won’t be able to trust your word.

 

Why should people do business with you? If your answer on one hand is six and half dozen on the next – you aren’t saying much. That position is weak and only shows that you don’t really care either way so long as you make a buck. The sale will die a fast and painful death because of your lack of conviction. 

You may have heard the saying before “If you stand for nothing, you will most certainly fall for anything.” That’s no joke – you will undoubtedly kill the sale if you are indifferent.

 

#6 – Dishonesty

If judgment is the brother of assumption, then Dishonesty is the sister of Insincerity. These two go hand-in-hand; from the moment you are insincere, more than likely, you are also dishonest. Once this demon is discovered, there will be no sale – EVER! 

It goes without saying that in order to build a circle of loyal customers; they must be able to trust you. You must always act in their best interest, say what you mean and do what you say you will do. If you falter on this priority, your sales are doomed. 

Surely, you may be able to make a few sales through your dishonesty but again – this will eventually catch up to you. The longer it takes to come back to you, the more severe the consequences will be to your business and to your reputation. Your reputation is all you have; it takes time to build a really good one; however, you can easily destroy it in the blink of an eye.

Once you have been dishonest and your deception has been discovered, you will be hard pressed to find your road back to your former self. Not only will you have killed this sale but also jeopardized future sales as well. What can I say – word gets around fast.

 

#7 – Doubt

If you don’t believe it, why should anyone else? It is a very simple concept; without your belief in your product or service, you cannot be an effective salesperson. You will never be a top performer when you come from a place of doubt and disbelief. 

Customers see through this thin wall very quickly and just as quickly they will take their business elsewhere. Doubt shakes the ground you walk on and causes those around you to feel insecure. If I do not feel that my assets will be protected by you or that you even know how, I won’t do business with you.

Don’t sell or offer any product or service you would not use or give to your family to use. This is a great way to benchmark the products and services with which you align yourself. 

Confidence and belief is of utmost importance when it comes to making the sale; you must be able to stand by what you say and do and be prepared to back it up. There is no substitute for confidence and belief and once you exude that your customers will feel it too. Either way - it’s contagious.

 

There you have it…

These are the top 7 sales killers. What kind of killer are you? One who kills the sale or one who adds killer value? I suggest you figure it out before your next sales pitch. 

 

Killer Series: 7 Ways to Add Killer Value to any Product or Service

If you ever wonder why some people are so good at what they do or how some of the top sales people are making the numbers everyday, this is an article you need to read. Top performers have all mastered one thing – How to add Killer Value to their product or service. 

There is a zoo in Denver that had a dilemma when it was just about ready to open its gates to the public. The management realized that the cost of removing the exotic animal waste from the property was not only going to be astronomical but also leave a big footprint on the environment. Determined to find a better way, the leader of this team charged the entire management team to figure out the best way to reduce the cost of this liability as well as make a smaller footprint on the environment. 

No small feat if you asked me. 

Nonetheless, the team went to work brainstorming ideas on how to make this happen. By the time the zoo opened, they had devised a plan and implemented what I believe was the most awesome solution. 

At this Denver zoo today, you can buy garden manure called Zoop; I’ll let you guess which 2 words make up “Zoop.” Essentially, rather than paying exorbitant amounts of money to hall away the waste and create all sorts of toxins in the environment, the management decided to simply package the waste in the form of manure to be sold as fertilizer to anyone with a garden. Needless to say, the lines are frequently out the door with patrons purchasing Zoop in droves. 

Another zoo in Kansas City, MO repeated this same idea opting to call their product Zoo Manoo. Either way, this is definitely high on the scale of adding killer value. 

The point is that if you can add value to animal poop, you can definitely add value to anything. 

The goal of this article is to provide you with a step-by-step guide to adding killer value to your product or service, assuming of course that people want or need it. 

You may categorize them differently; however, there are basically 7 ways you can add Killer Value to any product or service. The ability to implement any one or a combination of these ideas will instantly improve the value of anything. 
  

#1 – Bigger

Bigger refers to quantity; you can always do more of or make it bigger than the competition. If you want to outdo the other guy, creating a bigger fanfare or doing more of the same will instantly add value. In this case size does matter and people appreciate it. There is a reason why those “All You Can Eat” restaurants do so well. It’s not about the portion you get; it’s about the value it adds knowing that you can eat to your heart’s content for a very reasonable price. 

In the case of adding killer value, BIGGER can definitely be a good thing

#2 – Better

Obviously it would add value to your product or service if you can do it better than everyone else. Whatever it is that you sell or whatever service you provide, consistently seeking ways to do it better will instantly set you apart from the rest of the pack. Better is about quality and research shows that most people will gravitate to other people and companies if they know for certain that the quality is better. 

Certainly many decisions are based on price; however, for the most part people will value quality over price especially if the product or service is within their budget. 

Don’t misconstrue the point here; I’m not saying that people will go out and drop their Honda to buy a Mercedes – not at all. I am saying however, that people will most likely purchase a Honda Accord versus a Chevy Malibu just based on quality. These cars are both in the same class; however, Honda is definitely known for producing a better quality car. 

#3 – Faster

Speed is definitely a plus in adding killer value; the faster you can provide something, the better. People love instant gratification so if you can find a way to deliver your product or service faster than the other guy, you’re golden – your customers will love you for it. 

Of course, your quality cannot suffer for the sake of faster delivery; otherwise, your purpose will be defeated. 

Adding killer value with speed simply means that you are able to deliver the same or better quality product or service at a faster rate than your competition. Now that’s killer value! 

#4 – Innovate

Why you? How are you uniquely different from the other guy and why should I give you my business? This is what it means to innovate; you must find a way to deliver your product or service differently.

This is where creativity comes in; innovation is how you stay ahead of the pack. When you consistently seek new ways to improve your product or service, the value is immediately recognized. You are definitely in a top class when you are able to do this consistently and successfully. 

#5 – Niche

Killer value is instant if you can find a niche and then figure out how to tailor your product or service to fit that niche. Keep in mind that the niche needs to be big enough to sustain your growth; however, once you have identified such a space in the market, you can easily begin to add value. 

People love to feel special therefore exclusivity of any kind can carry extremely high value. Just like the Denver Zoo found a niche in exotic animal waste, you can also find a lucrative niche in your market. The fact is that any animal waste can be processed to be used as fertilizer; however, exotic animal waste is more appealing to a certain group and you have to visit the Denver Zoo to get your own ration of Zoop! 

That is definitely a niche and adds killer value using several of the killer ways mentioned in this article.

 

#6 – Personality

You can always add killer value by making your product or service more fun or more serious or more creative depending on your target audience. If it’s more fun to do or to use, many people will recognize that as instant value. 

Chucky Cheese has made a significant impact in making children’s party’s more fun! You simply show up with all the children, eat the foods they provide and enjoy the fun activities available all for a reasonable price. The best part is they do all the work including the clean up which we all hate. If that’s not adding killer value, I don’t know what is. 

It may seem simple but, it really does work. Why do you think Chucky Cheese has been so successful? 

Whenever we entertain at home, the clean up is always the most dreaded part. Each time we do, we always wish we had someone else to take care of that part especially…
       

#7 – Relatable

If you can make your product or service more relevant to your target, you can add instant value. The more you can resonate with your customers, the better. Identity is important and one of the most valuable things that any service provider or manufacturer can do is to find ways to relate to their customers. 

When you deliver your product or service in a way that speaks to the identity of your customers, killer value is instantaneous. 

Here’s the skinny…

If you manufacture a product or provide a service where you are unable to implement one or a combination of these strategies, perhaps it’s time to consider selling or doing something else. If killer value ca be added to exotic animal waste (POOP), you can add killer value to just about anything.

Don’t be lazy – your customers deserve better and until you recognize that – you don’t deserve more no matter what you think. 

You have either heard me say it or read it in my articles – to achieve killer success, all you have to do is to find a way to create and distribute value to others through your gifts and talents. 

It is a simple concept to grasp so start grasping. I didn’t say it was easy to do – just simple to grasp. If it were easy, everyone would do it – but then that would be boring and make for a dull world. The truth is I wish everyone would do it but the fact is only 1% will. 

Where do you fall?   

 

Top 10 Reasons to Bury the Hatchet

If you ever had a dispute or disagreement with someone then you understand the tremendous amount of energy it takes to sustain it. There are a myriad of reasons why disagreements happen; the real challenge is how we handle it when they do.

 

For a long time I used to think it was just fine to have an on-going dispute or disagreement with someone as long as I believed I was in the right. There were times when it felt good to stick it to the other guy any chance I got.

 

What I have learned since that time though is that, it does you or anyone else no good when you give life to disputes and disagreements. Even when you feel good about sticking it to the other guy, the exact opposite is true – it feels better to forgive. It takes an enormous amount of energy to continue to dislike someone or sustain a dispute with someone.

 

As the hatchet gets sharper, the more you have to do to keep from getting cut. You have to consistently watch your back for fear of what the other party might do. Why let a dispute or your dislike for someone else rob you of your power? We have the power to choose to let it go and yet so many of us still refuse to bury the hatchet no matter who gets hurt.

 

Imagine this hatchet in the center of your life guiding and directing your decisions; where to eat, where to sleep, where to simply be. Is this over the top? I think not. I’m sure you’ve seen this in one form or another. One person says “I’m not coming to your party if she’s going to be there.” How ridiculous is that? Or, “I’m not going to eat at that restaurant again because he’s always in there.” My goodness – that doesn’t sound like anything I want to be a part of. It takes way too much energy that I could be putting to better use.

 

Aside from this rant though, following are the top 10 reasons you should bury the hatchet – if you have one sharpening that is. Otherwise, you can still read or print this article and give it to someone you know need it; and I know that you at least know someone who needs it.

 

I will start at #10 and work my way to the #1 reason to bury the hatchet. Here goes…

 

#10 - You’re Not a Total Moron

Sorry but only a total moron would continue to believe that there is any benefit in a protracted dispute. What’s the point of keeping the hatchet on the table if it becomes the centerpiece of your life?

 

This is inevitably what happens when you don’t bury the hatchet; you think more about that situation than you do anything else. You place such high value on this negative situation that it envelops your whole life and pretty soon it’s all you live for. If a silly hatchet is all you have to live for, you might as well go in peace right now because you’re already dead.

#9 - Better Health

OK, so you’re not buying that you’re total moron for keeping the hatchet alive – fine! How about you bury the hatchet to preserve your health? It is a proven fact that negativity drives you to the grave even faster. With a negative situation like this in your life, your health will continue to deteriorate.

 

This type of high stress is known to compound the effects of almost all diseases and medical conditions. Sickness and disease are negative things and therefore they attract more negativity. So, unless you want to give sickness and disease a helping hand in killing you – bury the hatchet.

 

#8 - Not Worth It

How could it be when all it gets you is more stress? What is the hatchet worth? Neither party derives any benefits from it; the only thing that keeps growing is the negative energy in your life. Thanks but NO THANKS!

 

#7 - Too Hard

This is way too hard a thing to sustain with no benefits coming to you. Imagine having to continuously fuel your spirit with hate and disdain for someone else. Imagine feeling like smiling and fighting your facial muscles to do the exact opposite.

 

The tremendous amount of energy that it takes to sharpen the hatchet could be directed in so many more valuable ways. This hatchet stuff to me is just too hard and certainly not the smartest way to live.

 

#6 - The Boomerang Effect

Universal and unchanging natural law says that you reap what you sow. The more of it you sow the more of it you will reap. Sow the seeds of sour grapes and reap – that’s right – SOUR GRAPES.

 

It amazes me that individuals who continue down this path also continue to believe that one day they will get different – and even more asinine – better results than they’ve gotten before. All the while they are simply putting out more and more of the same negative energy. Perhaps you should go back and read #10 because if you don’t understand the law of belief – you’re in big trouble.

 

The fact is that you will only get out what you put in… do you really want to put your energy into sharpening the hatchet or putting it away?

 

#5 - Forgiveness

Showing forgiveness is one of the purest forms of humanity. Many people misunderstand the true purpose of forgiving someone. They refuse to do it because they have decided that the other person does not deserve their forgiveness. The truth is that forgiveness is not for the forgiven – it is for the person who forgives. You cannot get past something or let go of a transgression against you unless you are willing to forgive the person who committed it.

 

Forgiving someone for having done you wrong clears your conscience and gives you room to grow; to be a better person. Not forgiving someone who has done you wrong only serves to fester negative emotion that undoubtedly do you physical, mental, emotional and spiritual harm.

 

Forgiveness is infinitely better than blame – I guarantee it!

 

#4 - The Ultimate Power

When you continue to despise those who rise against you, they rob you of your ultimate power – CHOICE. In all things we have the power to choose. Each time we allow a person or situation to dictate how we behave, we relinquish that power.

 

Who is in charge of you? Is it you or is it this person or situation for which you continuously sharpen your hatchet?

 

You will always be without your ultimate power if you continue to act only when others act upon you – that is just a reaction. Any MORON can do that consistently. It takes true self-leadership to make your own choices; to behave in a manner that is in line with your values.

 

Bury the hatchet or concede to giving up your power to choose.

 

#3 - Effective Self-leadership

With hatchets flying all over the place, you will never be able to lead yourself or anyone else effectively. Your emotions will always get the best of you and you will become a reactor that simply acts only when acted upon.

 

If you don’t care about being a leader in your own life then so be it – continue down your path of self-destruction. Just don’t ever wonder why things never go your way or why you can’t seem to overcome your shortcomings. The proof as they say is in the pudding – you reap what you sow so just deal with it.

 

If you don’t want to lead you can always play follow the leader and let your pettiness and pride lead you in a constant state of downward spiral. Good luck with that!

 

#2 - Unhappy

There is no way you can achieve true and complete happiness when there is hate in your heart. If you despise others and are content to remain in conflict then your life will be in a constant state of conflict and discontent. If you constantly deny yourself and others of who you truly are in the interest of preserving and sharpening your hatchet, how can you ever be happy?

 

Happiness comes from within which means that you must seek out the best in yourself and share that with the world. When you spread negativity, negativity will come back to you. Over and over, negativity will show up in your life as long as you continue to sharpen the hatchet. Just release and let it go and your happiness will immediately increase.

 

#1 – Live by the Hatchet – Die by the Hatchet

Well isn’t this the quintessential cliché? Perhaps; however, it is undoubtedly true. Sooner or later, if you continue to sharpen the hatchet you will get cut. It may not cut you directly but perhaps someone you love will reap the wrath of the nasty seeds you’ve sown.

 

Don’t under-estimate the power of karma – sins of the father often visit upon the son. Sure, tragic things happen to good people everyday; however, they are not remembered for that tragedy – they are remembered for how they lived. When the hatchet turns on you, all people will remember is how you lived; they will think that you died in the same manner, deservedly so.

 

What’s the point?

If you’re still asking this question, start reading again from the top. Sure, this whole article may be considered subjective and I am sure that someone else could come up with another 10 reasons why you should bury the hatchet.

 

The point is that there is no good reason to keep sharpening one; it only robs you and the rest of the world of your true self; your greatness.

 

Continuing in this negative quest means that you are either too stupid to realize your folly or I’m mistaken and you are a total moron. Now, there is very little I can do to help you if you’re just stupid but I already know that stupid people don’t visit my website. That leaves MORON and for that there is a cure. Get off your ass; stop whining about what someone else did to you and stop feeling sorry for yourself. It’s just plain pathetic!

 

If you happen to see things differently than someone else – no big deal – just agree to disagree and move on. That’s called choice. Taking it any further in terms of malice, unfriendliness and despite is just plain moronic and a waste of time. 

You know what else is a waste of time? Writing one more word trying to convince you why you should bury the hatchet – that’s a colossal waste of my time and yours. So on that note…