Category: Lunar Letter (English)

We all like to get a little extra. Getting a little bit more than we expect elicits emotions which make us feel wonderful. Giving a little extra to our clients, patients, contributors, users, friends and family generates dividends beyond our wildest imagination.

A little extra can come in the form of economic benefit as well as intention or action. “Promise a lot and deliver more” is a concept I first learned from Joel Weldon during a seminar in 1989. I have since kept the maxim close to my heart. When we deliver on our promise to provide an excellent product or service and then give a little extra, the competition, which tends to be a nightmare for others, becomes a fountain of opportunity for us.

Those who have attended my events know I often give bouncy balls to affirm my philosophy that “It’s the Bounce that Counts!” This is my little extra. It is my way of spreading my message to as many people as I can. When attendees at my seminars or conferences get back to their work places or homes bouncing a little ball, it can lead to discussions regarding my idea. I have had the immense pleasure of sharing my ideas with more than 7,000 people in various events. That means there are a lot of bouncy balls out there! I frequently encounter people who tell me, “Though I don’t remember your name, aren’t you the one with the bouncy balls?”

If it is possible to give a little extra using something of material value, then great; if not, there are still many other ways we can give a little extra.

A few examples:

Acknowledge all with a sincere smile.

Give one more idea than what is expected.

Learn and use people’s names to greet them.

Create positive expectancy by being open and understanding.

Leave or send notes telling people how important they are to us.

Use language which permits all to understand subjects with complex terminology.

Listen to what people have to say rather than constantly thinking about how we will respond.

Offer candy to customers who walk in the door telling them we would be happy to help if they so desire.

Call clients, friends and family on their birthdays, anniversaries as well as during times of trial and tribulation.

Give big meaningful hugs whenever appropriate. Personally, I need at least eight hugs a day just for maintenance!

End all encounters showing a genuine appreciation with an even bigger smile.

The sky is the limit and creativity is master. It is important to let people know how significant they are because one of our greatest necessities as human beings is to be acknowledged, to be taken into account. When we give a little extra to others, we provide an extraordinary gift.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 17

 

Plants and trees require love and affection to grow and flourish. We, too, need tender loving care from time to time. When a plant or a tree has dead branches or leaves, we prune it to properly channel its energy. Similarly, we can prune excess in our own lives to optimize our resources.

It is important to note pruning is not always necessary. In fact, pruning a healthy plant can be deadly. If we are receiving all we want and in the quantity we desire, it’s not necessary to do a thing. However, in most cases, there is some excess we can prune to create the life we desire.

What excess in your life can be pruned?

Everyone’s answer will be different; no one is exactly the same. Our habits generate or drain our power and energy. Removing a dead leaf from a plant gives it life and vitality. Likewise, pruning excesses from our lives creates space allowing us to progress and prosper.

One of the most important lessons in my life came from my mother. She told me: “Robbie, the majority of the things in life are neither good nor bad. It is the way we manage them which gives them significance. Moderation, above all, can help us enjoy more of each moment.” Moderation gives our lives balance and helps us trim excesses from our lives.

For some, their excess might be the time spent fulfilling their professional obligations. While it is important to work, it shouldn’t take 100% of our time. Our economic activity is what sustains us and allows us to enjoy our environment. Nevertheless, too much work can become a habit which takes away from other important areas of our lives.

For others, their excess may be too much time spent in recreation. In this instance, too much play without proper balance will eventually lead no play at all. To rest and recharge our batteries is as important as it is to work and produce.

How do you utilize each moment in your day?

A valuable exercise is to evaluate how we utilize each instant over the course of several days. Logging each of our activities and the time used for each is very revealing. We frequently find our time is being utilized in one, or more, excesses. One of the most frequent complaints we all hear, and sometimes say ourselves, is “I don’t have enough time for anything.”

While frequently this seems to be the case, time is the same for all and there is no one person who has more time in a day than another. Each day we are given a gift of 1,440 minutes. As with any other gift, we determine what we will do with this “present.” We can set it aside for another day or take it out and use it. While often we think we don’t have the time, we can easily take 5, 10 or 20 minutes to exercise, call a friend or do something which provides us with energy and direction during the day.

It is not time which is scarce, rather it is the “excesses” in our lives which frequently occupy our time. Pruning excess is an exercise which creates time for us to achieve what we want in life. Time marches on its never-ending path. Determining what we most desire and focusing on those activities in moderation will lead us to our objectives, allowing us to grow and flourish with love and affection, ensuring our journey will be one of intention and not one of frustration.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 16

 

Where?

Why?

How?

These are questions which can guide us to what we most desire. Answering these questions is necessary for individuals and organizations to get “On our Mark, Get Set and Go!” They define direction and provide impetus to go forward decisively.

Where are we going and is this really where we want to go? This is the first question we should ask. On a personal level, we often intuitively know the answer. If we are truly happy with our situation, we can continue in the same direction. If we are not headed where we want to be, it is important to first define what we really want. It could be something material or emotional which needs to be modified. It is different for every one and each person’s answer will be unique. Yogi Berra expresses this thought wonderfully: “If we don’t know where we are going, we will end up someplace else!” In order to eliminate ending up “someplace else,” it’s crucial to “Get on our Mark.”

The viability of a company depends on the path it is taking. Without direction an organization will soon become yesterday’s news and the owners, as well as the employees, will be adversely affected. While it is normally the directors and owners who define the mission, all who work there give it body and soul. Unless everyone works for a common good, all will end up doing something else because the organization will not survive.

With “Our Mark” defined, we can clarify the reason we should take this route. Why should we change our direction if we are not achieving what we desire? A burning desire will lead us to “Get Set” and drive toward the destiny we choose. For people and organizations a strong “why” is fundamental. We are incredibly creative and have an amazing capability to do what needs to be done when we have a fire which burns inside our belly. A company which emanates a strong “why” has associates, rather than employees, and they work to achieve something much bigger than simply making a sale or generating an invoice. A strong “why” creates magic which leads individuals and organizations to overcome challenges.

Being “On our Mark and Set to Go” we can determine how we are going to get there. How can we achieve the results we want? In many cases it’s simple, though not always easy. If we want to lose weight, we need to eat less and exercise more. If we want to enhance our emotional state, we need to change the patterns we use to evaluate what happens to us. If we want to increase income by obtaining and maintaining the people we serve, we need to provide better service and enhance quality. An organization with employees who all look after their own interests needs a common thread which weaves its people into the strong fabric of a team.

While the answers we give in life are important, they are not nearly as important as the questions we ask. Our interpretation of reality depends on our perspective and our ability to ask questions which will lead us in the right direction. Individuals and organizations go forward based on the questions they ask themselves. When we improve our ability to ask powerful questions we get “On our Mark, Set and Ready to Go” to achieve all we desire.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 15

 

Most of us have a favorite number. In my case the number is 8. In some way, shape, form or another it repeats itself in my life in many different ways. Similarly, I’m convinced if my favorite number were some other number, the same thing would happen.

Our mind creates our reality and we become what we think about. At this time, the number 8 has once again manifested itself into my reality. We are in the eighth month of the year 2008 and this Lunar Letter is #64 (8 x 8). Five years ago I began writing the Lunar Letter and what started as a spark of interest has become a habit which allows me to literally touch thousands of people every month.

The Olympics in Beijing started on 8/8/2008 at 8:08 PM. The number 8 for the Chinese is their lucky number and it signifies prosperity. Telephone numbers and license plates which contain many 8’s are frequently sold for a lot of money. In spite of the intense heat in China during early August, the Chinese decided to initiate the Olympics on this date because of the importance of the number 8 in their culture.

Another event which highlights the importance of 8 in my life right now is that I have just published my third book which is titled, 44 in a Row, 44 to Go. The book expresses my desire to live to be a healthy and energetic 88 year-old. Though I don’t know for sure if I will get there, I now have it as a guiding force. By reading these words you now know it as well. I have no other recourse than to do my best to keep my word.

Often it is the small things which make a huge difference in our lives: making a phone call, attending a conference, or taking time to meet with a friend. These events, little though they may seem, can be the start of something great. For this reason, it isn’t what we know rather what we do with what we know which is most important.

Any number, as such, really doesn’t have much significance. It is when we give a number power that it becomes important. The same thing happens with our thoughts. We have thousands of thoughts every day. The majority of them come and go without greatly influencing our lives. When we give importance to our ideas and thoughts we can go far with them.

Instead of letting time pass, we can pass time thinking about what we can do to more fully enjoy this marvelous journey. Life is not always as wonderful as we would like it to be. Nevertheless, we can begin to see what is wonderful in our own surroundings. Life is incredible and becomes interesting when we take time to observe the little things which together create this reality we call life.

May your life be full of crazy 8’s. May it be replete with the same luck and prosperity the Chinese give to the number 8. Coincidentally, if you knock an 8 on its side and hook it up with another 8, you have two infinity signs which are intertwined. For you, my Lunar Letter friend, I wish you infinity of bouncing back from the most difficult circumstances.

May the bounce be forever with you!

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 14

A burning desire is the best way to achieve our objectives and convert our dreams into reality.

Why do we get up every day?

What is it that makes us do what we do?

If the answer to these questions is clear and concise, more than likely we have a well-defined burning desire which will serve as a compass to achieve our objectives. On the contrary, if the answer is hesitant and lacks a strong “why,” we can begin to define our burning desire.

For those who have followed my writing, you know the idea of a burning desire is one I integrate into much of my work. I first came across the idea of a Burning Desire about 20 years ago when I read Napoleon Hill’s classic book Think and Grow Rich. As is the case with so many things, the idea started first as a seed which sparked my interest. As I read the book again some years later, the idea began to take form as a sprout which poked its head through the ground.

On December 13th, 2001, the idea expanded further and the roots which would give stability and form to my burning desire began to take hold in the soil which through my life experience was at last fertile enough to foster the growth of the seed which was planted many years before.

Napoleon Hill’s work is the culmination of years of interviews with the most successful people of his time. In a nutshell, he suggests we first determine exactly what it is we desire and then decide what we are willing to give in return, since there is no such thing as “something” for “nothing.” An exact date and definite plan to achieve our desire should be followed by immediate action to put the “pedal to the metal,” so to speak. Finally, he suggests writing out a clear, concise statement of our burning desire accompanied with reading the statement aloud twice a day to integrate the idea into our being.

When we define our burning desire, we create the best road to achieve all we want in life. While our goals and objectives are often “things,” a burning desire is usually “something” which relates to being useful to others.

It is important to take time to reflect upon and define our burning desire. When we lack a clearly defined objective, any road will take us to our destiny. Too frequently we arrive at unwanted places and spaces because we have not invested the time to define our direction. Creating and believing in our burning desire is the most important step to assure a life full of intention and intensity.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 13

The thoughts permeating our being throughout the day drive our destiny. The phrase, “Another day, another dollar and we holler,” indicates we are working hard to earn a small amount of money. In the streets and hallways of offices throughout the world this, and similar phrases, are uttered thousands of times per day as people ask, “How was your day?” Though, “Another day, another dollar and we holler,” sounds nice and rhymes wonderfully, the subliminal message it sends is devastating.

“Hollering” in joy or in pain each time we make another dollar isn’t particularly inspiring unless we happen to be a professional yodeler. While earning a living is not always easy, neither should it be so difficult. Millions of people survive daily. They are involved in a wide array of different economic activities and few die as a direct result. It is true and unfortunate many do die of hunger; they, however, are not normally the people who are working and “hollering” as they make another dollar.

Working all day for a dollar or for one unit of any currency in the world isn’t very encouraging! If we are going to work hard all day long, we should be better paid.

“It’s just a saying,” you may be thinking. While it is just a saying, as with so many other “small” things in life, in the long run these thoughts have a huge impact on our destiny. A dripping faucet doesn’t cause much damage in a matter of minutes; over the course of an entire day, it can flood a house and be extremely destructive.

Similarly, the words we use and think about daily create our reality. Deciding to face a “challenge” is much different from suffering through a “problem.” Giving something “our best shot” is not the same as “trying” to do a good job. Saying our spouse is a wonderful person “but” has many problems isn’t even close to saying our spouse is a wonderful person “and” can improve every day in every way.

A Chinese proverb tells us, “Words are the keys to the heart.” It is the small things we say and do in life which make a tremendous difference leading us to all our heart desires. Our path is frequently the result of incidents which at the time seem relatively insignificant. When we feed our mind with powerful words creating the world we want, we achieve what others only dream about.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 12

 

Daily we face a vast array of decisions. Differentiating between doing what is “right” and “wrong” is a matter of perception and not always easy. Often our biggest challenge is to take action and do something. In making these decisions we can keep in mind our actions affect many, near and far.

Our instincts have one objective, to reproduce and continue to exist. Frequently, we believe our desire to put ourselves ahead of others is necessary for our survival. The lion in the jungle standing to the side and lets the other lions eat first won’t last for very long. He will soon be history. Though we may view our circumstances as our own special jungles, we are not lions nor do we live in the lion’s jungle!

As human beings, we have marvelous minds which allow us to analyze and think of alternative actions. People who think only of themselves may achieve much at the expense of others, though they are likely to lead barren lackluster lives.

Fortunately, there is another way to achieve our desire. This includes fame, fortune, relationships and anything else, be it emotional or material. The key is to be useful to others because when we help others get what they want, we eventually get what we want.

Let’s look at the analogy of a boomerang. We throw it and it comes back to us. While this works in theory, for those who have actually thrown a boomerang, it doesn’t always work in practice. If we don’t know how to use the boomerang, the results can be quite unexpected. If we throw it poorly, we can break a window or hit somebody in the head. When we learn how to work the boomerang, we can improve our results.

In many cases we give “good” or “bad” without realizing what we are doing. It is simply part of our daily activity and not intended as “good” or “bad.” In this case, the boomerang we throw will likely arrive someplace unknown because we are unaware of what we are doing.

As time passes, we grow in mind, body, spirit and experience. It is then when we often give “good” or “bad,” fully aware of our actions, though not necessarily the consequences. We know, for example, if we pick up our trash after an outing in the park, others who come after us will find the place nice and clean. Likewise, we know if we do not pick up our trash, those who come later will find the place disagreeable and dirty. While this is not always the case and some don’t think twice about leaving trash, they aren’t necessarily doing it to be bad, often they are simply unaware of the consequences of what they are doing.

We are all human and we all make mistakes. If only we could prevent the havoc we create. It is the evil we commit consciously which is ultimately the most damaging. When we know we are doing wrong, the boomerang will go its course and eventually return to deliver its devastating blow.

Similarly, it is possible to do the right thing without knowing it’s right. In this case, we throw the boomerang and the positive effect falls on someone without our intention. Better yet is to do the right thing intentionally because the boomerang will positively affect those in its path before returning to us with sensational results.

Doing the right thing rarely costs money or resources and it can be something as simple as a smile. The results on own lives and those of others multiply and compound exponentially. Throwing a boomerang full of positive energy and spirit regularly is the best way to achieve the results we desire.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 11

We all have a special gift which can lead to more productivity and happiness. Finding this gift is not always easy. For many, finding this gift can take an entire lifetime. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to move toward this end because when we find it, we will be happier and become more useful to ourselves and to others.

My book A Special Gift examines this phenomenon and through the eyes of its main character proposes a path to find our own special gift. One of the characters in the book is named “Pacheco.” He is a security guard who loses his job and, as a result, evaluates what he does and how he does it. This analysis leads him to find his own special gift.

When I was about to publish the book, I was talking to the security guard in my building and asked him, “What is your name?” He answered with a smile, “Pacheco, like the security guard on the television show here in Venezuela!” We both laughed. As a result of this conversation, we became friends and I changed the name of one of my characters in A Special Gift from Pedro to Pacheco.

While the Pacheco in my book had to change his profession to find his special gift, this isn’t always the case! In fact, the Pacheco I know does his job extraordinarily well and if he hasn’t found his special gift, he is well on his way. It is precisely this path which is most important. As Facundo Cabral says, “The path tends to be more exciting than the destination, if indeed it is possible to get anywhere at all.” My friend Pacheco shows by his actions and his attitude this is the case. The other day I asked him, “What’s up? What are you doing?” He answered with a smile, “I’m doing the ‘Pacheco,’ ” again referencing the television character here in Venezuela. He is always aware of what is going on without passing the limit which invades privacy.

How many people in the world do their jobs just to get a monthly paycheck? There are millions! The worst part of this sad truth is that the negative attitude many project is evident in everything they do.

We all know people who love life and do their jobs spectacularly, as well as others who are sick of life and are terrible in what they do. So, what’s the difference? What can we do to be one in a million rather than just another in the masses?

We can look for something which drives us with passion, something which lights a fire in our belly and gives us a reason to get up every day with the energy and enthusiasm we need to face difficulties, which no doubt will come. Life is not a problem to be resolved, rather a challenge to be faced.

When we think about the events bringing pride and joy to our lives, they are generally those which initially seemed to be obstacles with no solution. When we overcome these hurdles with tenacity and perseverance, they become the roots which form the foundation of our existence.

Most important isn’t what we do, rather how we do it. To find our special gift it isn’t necessary to change our work or start anew. The best we can do is find a way to implement our special gift in what we are presently doing. All organizations need people who are valuable and productive to aid them in achieving their objectives. Often one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is, “Will I be part of the problem or part of the solution?”

We can look at the world with the curiosity of a child and find our own special gift. This enables us to fully enjoy this incredible journey we call life and live with more intensity. This passion leads us to boldly take hold of each moment because each is gone in an instant and there is no better time to “Do the Pacheco” than right now.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 10