The Art of Joyful Learning

I am in the constant pursuit of "What's Next..." for me in my life. I ran across some great questions in my notes from 2004. I hope you enjoy them and find this useful. I know it was for me.

• What do you want your life to look like and feel like?
• What do you value most?
• What is important to you?
• What would you like to say about your life after it's too late to change?
• What do you hope to be said in your eulogy?
• How do you want to DO LIFE on a daily basis?
• What do you daydream about?
• What do you think about when walking to the refrigerator?
• When you were a kid, what did you want do when you grew up?
• Of all the things you have done, what has given you the most pleasure?
• If money wasn't a factor, what would you do for a career?
• If money wasn't a factor, what would you do in your life?
• What is missing from your life?
• Removing every single obstacle, what are your life dreams?

Have a great Thanksgiving! I love this picture of this kid!

What's in your BAG?

What's in your BAG?

B lessings

A chievements

G oals

Everyday, you should set time aside to really intentionally think about what's in your BAG!

Make a list. Write them down. Think about your BAG. Plan your BAG.

Also, thanks for coming to my new website. Thank you to all the folks at Astonish Designs. Obviously, they do A+ work plus they are great folks to work with. Call Stephanie today and talk about your website presence. (866-981-7483 )

Happiness

Think about your happiness. We all have a strong desire for happiness in 4 critical areas.

1. Happy Relationships
2. Interesting and Inspiring Work
3. Financial Independence and Peace
4. Good Health

Examine each one of these today and apply it to you. Then make goals for increases in each area. And finally, take pro-active steps each day to move forward in each of these areas. In other words, DO SOMETHING DAILY! to move the ball forward. There is too much chatter and not enough action and consequently, most folks are not moving forward. To move the ball, we need to take action.

• Define your action steps and then DO THEM!

Galveston

Speaking today in Galveston TX on motivating people to move forward after IKE.

Driving in last night, I was hit on the head with a fryn pan reminder of being Thankful for what I have.... at all times. Just when we want to have a "pity party" for ourselves, we need to step back and be Thankful for all we have. I was reminded that people would trade my problems in a second for their problems.

Simply; be Thankful. And be intentional about being Thankful. It's so easy just to say the words but really thinking on it and letting it sink in is a whole different story.

I haven't posted in awhile due to SOMETHING BIG HAPPENING:

Look for my new WEBSITE anyday!

Chris

Beaumont

In Beaumont TX today teaching a motivational course on Re-Building after the hurricane.

A couple points in this message that we all need to be reminded of:

1. Your work matters!
2. You can make a difference.

Most days, we just go through the motions and simply just "live". We don't take time to think about the difference that we can make. We don't take time to intentionally think about the people that we can impact. Why? It can be scary and overwhelming.

Stop and contemplate about those two points today. Make your work not just ordinary but rather extraordinary (especially the ordinary things...take those ordinary things and make them extraordinary.) Intentionally connect with people today and make a difference in their world. And this is not hard....smile at someone; laugh with a co-worker; buy someone you don't know a cup of coffee; love up your kids extra today; tell your spouse thank-you. (Kelly, Thank-You for who you are and all you do!)

Veterans Day Tribute 2008

For the men and women that keep my family free....Thank You!

Chris Tapken
Austin TX

The Girl Effect

Now, read the story below and contribute to Baby Sarah!

Baby Sarah can change this world!

Have an life changing weekend!
Chris

Baby Sarah

Kelly has organized and is taking a bunch of baby stuff to MLF for Baby Sarah!

For all those who helped...Thank You!

If you have baby stuff that you can contribute for Baby Sarah, contact Kelly at 512.291.7771

Yeah Baby Sarah!

Branding: Never Run out of Juice!

Brands that run out of juice, are Dead!

In today's marketplace, it's critical that your name and your brand are chic and unique! Be hip and trendy. Be fresh and innovative. Be "in" and get that "It" factor about you and your business!

Then once you have it, make sure you never lose it. Think about the following that had "It" and now have run out of juice. Total losers.

• Boxing
• General Motors (Chevy)
• Pony shoes
• Atari
• Dr. Martens
• I've fallen and can't get up
• Swatch
• Hard Rock Cafe
• Planet Hollywood
• Starter
• Atkins diet
• Jenny Craig

Look at your brand today. Be intentional about your branding! Get experts involved!

50 Certainties #47...Do it now Mindset

WOW Companies and WOW producers have a Do It Now Mindset!

#47 on the list of things to do in the marketplace today is having a Do It Now Mindset.

Having the right mental attitude and thought process is a huge competitive advantage; now more than ever. Those that think Win + NOW = Success! The people thriving in today's marketplace think NOW.

• Now Action
• Now Win
• Now Sell
• Now Grow
• Now Buy
• Now Spend
• Now Hire
• Now Promote
• Now Add
• Now Love
• Now Grace
• Now Increases

Why wait? Why stall? Why put off? Why procrastinate?

WOW companies just add a NOT! Why NOT?

Do it now mindset! Get it NOW!