Bruce D Schneider's Blog

Memorial Day, a time to remember the past and look forward to the future.

These days, I'm wondering how many people actually know the meaning behind Memorial Day. Perhaps to some, the significance of it is that they get a day off from work. But the day has deep meaning in remembering the efforts of the veterans who fought for a cause so that we can live the way we choose.

Would you die for the cause you believe in? By choice or by draft, many have, and we really need to thank them for fighting for the cause of freedom. But what else? Is the purpose of this holiday limited to remembering and honoring the past? I don't believe so. I think that we can all look at our "causes," the things we believe in with heart and soul, and see these past heroes as a reminder to move forward, even in the face of danger.

The path to the future isn't already paved for you in the forest; it's often painstakingly carved out by each of us, one step at a time. Unlike our veterans, perhaps you don't have to risk your life to create one worth living, but then again, without taking positive action to create the life you want, you'll probably just follow someone else's path at best, or sit around and wait for a fulfilling life to come to you.

This Memorial Day offers you the opportunity to reflect, and also to proactively step forward towards the life you want. We are all soldiers in life, and to create the future you desire, it takes soldiering: with passion, courage, and fortitude.

Bad Mood? Great Opportunity!

Someone wrote me this week to ask me how he could get out of a bad mood. First of all, it’s important to recognize that “good” and “bad” are judgments, and that, in fact, all of life’s experiences are valuable and offer us insights and lessons.

So next time you’re in a “bad” mood, try “owning” the discontent, meaning, be OK with the way you're feeling and don’t have the need to change it right away. Feelings are our creation, and our choice. When you realize that you chose to be upset, then you can live with that decision until you are ready to choose something else.

Ask yourself what caused your mood, and explore what you can learn from it.

Then, once you are ready, realize what you are gaining from being upset is not worth the cost, and so, either speak about your upset with someone, or write a journal entry about it, or choose another way of processing that helps you put it behind you and move on.

"I Am the River" Inspirational Video -- a Must See

Debuted as part of iPEC's new Life Potentials Training, "I Am the River" is an inspirational video that shows that we all have a choice as to how we approach life. Watch, be inspired, remember who you truly are, and don't wait to bring your potential to life.

At one time or another, we each wonder who we really are. This video will help you remember.

Click here to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8YrhfAXC64

Knowing What’s Important in Life

I love this story and believe it illustrates a limiting belief that many people have that happiness is something that comes when they earn it.

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."

The American then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more

fish?"

The Mexican said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."

The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life.

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat: With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor; eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to

Mexico City

, then

Los Angeles

and eventually

New York

where you will run your ever-expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15 to 20 years."

"But what then?" asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions?...Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with  your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings  where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.

So my question to you is... how often do you take the time to appreciate what you have, now and know how important that is?

iPEC Coaching

Bruce D Schneider, Founder

www.iPECcoaching.com

Edison’s failure

Failure is a judgment about how things were “supposed” to go. Having a fear of failure is an assumption that, miraculously, one can create something without any trial and effort.

Edison created thousands of successful ways NOT to make a light bulb until one worked. He never gave up and neither should you. The thing Edison lacked was fear of failure, or, for that matter, a belief in failure!

When thinking of a task or challenge, try to shift the fear to excitement in knowing that the only possible failure is not trying.

Bruce D Schneider, Founder
iPEC Coach Training
www.IPECcoaching.com

We all lead, either by choice or default.The question isn't whether or not you are a leader, it's how well you lead. Newly released! Energy Leadership: Transforming Your Workplace and Your Life From the Core.

Formula 409

I’ll bet very few people know that the name of the product Formula 409 was derived from the number of attempts to get it to work correctly. That’s right, it was the 409^th attempt!

People who are the most successful in life-mastery, and, therefore, the most fulfilled, are those who passionately approach everything they do in life. The rewards are not just financial, but more about a feeling of purpose. This feeling of purpose is one of our greatest available gifts in this world.

No matter what you are doing, do it with as much passion as you can muster, and who knows what you might accomplish? Perhaps we’ll be seeing from one of you Formula 410!

iPEC Coaching
Bruce D Schneider, President
www.IPECcoaching.com

We all lead, either by choice or default.The question isn't whether or not you are a leader, it's how well you lead. Newly released! Energy Leadership: Transforming Your Workplace and Your Life From the Core.

A Wonderful Holiday Gift

Most likely, if you’re reading this you are a deep thinker who isn’t satisfied with just going through the motions in life. You want more out of life: more knowledge, consciousness, peace, and love. And you are not alone. You may be very surprised to find out that your friends have some of the same thoughts as you.

Try an experiment: Share something deep and personal about you with someone you wouldn’t normally do so, and see where the conversation goes. Sharing ourselves deeply offers us more of something very important in our lives – intimate relationships – that help us enjoy a most remarkable gift this holiday season—the gift of each other.

Bruce D Schneider, MCC, www.iPECcoaching.com