Friday, August 31, 2007

MESSAGE #151- THIS IS A VERY SAD STORY

WARNING: DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

Bill Bradley was passionate about basketball and he became an All American for Princeton University and an All Pro for the New York Knicks.

Bill Bradley was passionate about politics and became a United States Senator from the State of New Jersey.

Bill Bradley understands the relationship between passion and excellence.

From the book Values of the Game by Bill Bradley . . .

I’ve told the story a thousand times about the night in the 1970s at a post-game reception in Chicago when a man approached me and asked, “Do you really like to play basketball?”

“Yeah, more than anything else I could be doing now,” I replied.

“That’s great. You know, I once played the trumpet,” he said. “I think I know what you feel. I played in a little band. We were good. We’d play on weekends at colleges. In my last year, we had an offer to tour and make records. Everyone wanted to except me.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“My father thought it wasn’t secure enough. Well, I didn’t know,” he said. “I guess I agreed. The life is so transient. You’re always on the road. No sureness that you’ll get your next job. It just doesn’t fit into a life plan. So I went to law school and I quit playing the trumpet, except every once in a while. Now I don’t have time.”

“Do you like the law?”

“It’s okay. But it’s nothing like playing the trumpet.”

* * * * *

SOMETIMES “OKAY” ISN’T OKAY

Give Success Hotline a call at (973) 743-4690,

Rob Gilbert

Thursday, August 30, 2007

MESSAGE #150 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT M.T.E. IS IN THIS ARTICLE

To a United Pilot,
The Friendly Skies
Are a Point of Pride

Capt. Flanagan Goes to Bat
For His Harried Passengers;
Still, Some Online Skeptics
August 28, 2007; Page A1 of the Wall Street Journal

from the column

THE MIDDLE SEAT
By SCOTT MCCARTNEY

Capt. Denny Flanagan is a rare bird in today's frustration-filled air-travel world -- a pilot who goes out of his way to make flying fun for passengers.

When pets travel in cargo compartments, the United Airlines veteran snaps pictures of them with his cellphone camera, then shows owners that their animals are on board. In the air, he has flight attendants raffle off 10% discount coupons and unopened bottles of wine. He writes notes to first-class passengers and elite-level frequent fliers on the back of his business cards, addressing them by name and thanking them for their business. If flights are delayed or diverted to other cities because of storms, Capt. Flanagan tries to find a McDonald's where he can order 200 hamburgers, or a snack shop that has apples or bananas he can hand out.

[Danny Flanagan]

And when unaccompanied children are on his flights, he personally calls parents with reassuring updates. "I picked up the phone and he said, 'This is the captain from your son's flight,' " said Kenneth Klein, whose 12-year-old son was delayed by thunderstorms in Chicago last month on a trip from Los Angeles to see his grandfather in Toronto. "It was unbelievable. One of the big problems is kids sit on planes and no one tells you what's happening, and this was the exact opposite."

So unusual is the service that Capt. Flanagan has been a subject of discussion on FlyerTalk.com, an online community for road warriors.

Mark B. Lasser, a Denver advertising-sales executive, came off a Capt. Flanagan flight and posted a question on FlyerTalk.com about why the pilot had been so friendly. "I don't trust UA at all but can't figure out what the ulterior motive is," he wrote.

Others quickly came to Capt. Flanagan's defense. "I've had this pilot before -- what a great guy. He does the same thing on every flight," said a FlyerTalk regular.

Mr. Lasser says he just wishes Capt. Flanagan weren't such a rarity among United employees. "Every flight before and most flights since have been so poor in customer service that this guy really came across as representing his own standards more than the company's. He's an outlier within United," Mr. Lasser said in an interview.

UAL Corp.'s United, which ranked in the middle of the airline pack in on-time arrivals and mishandled baggage in the first half of this year and next-to-worst in consumer complaints, has supported Capt. Flanagan's efforts. The airline supplies the airplane trading-cards he hands out as passengers board, plus books, wine and discount coupons he has flight attendants give away. He goes through about 700 business cards a month, and the company reimburses him for the food he buys during prolonged delays.

"He's a great ambassador for the company," says Graham Atkinson, United's executive vice president and "Chief Customer Officer," who is leading an effort to boost customer service. He hopes more pilots and airport workers will adopt some of Capt. Flanagan's techniques such as the frequent, detailed updates he gives to customers.

Air travel isn't easy for anybody, given problems ranging from storms to mechanical breakdowns to computer snafus and lost luggage. Airline workers have endured pay cuts and fights with management; travelers have suffered poor service and unreliable flights. Capt. Flanagan tries to deal with the cheerfulness challenge -- at least on the flights he works. "I just treat everyone like it's the first flight they've ever flown," said the 56-year-old Navy veteran who lives on an Ohio farm and cuts the figure of a classic airline captain: trim and gray-haired. "The customer deserves a good travel experience," he said.

Last Tuesday morning, Capt. Flanagan was at gate C19 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport an hour before the scheduled departure of Flight 831 to San Francisco and made his first announcement about the delay before the gate agent had shown up. The time posted for departure was 8:20, but that was optimistic, Capt. Flanagan told passengers, because the Boeing 767 they would fly wouldn't land from São Paulo, Brazil, until 7:02 and then had to be emptied, cleaned, inspected and towed from the international terminal.

He tried to lighten the mood, using a joke he tells before every flight. "I almost forgot to tell you, this is my first flight," Capt. Flanagan said. Wary eyes looked up from newspapers and BlackBerrys through a long pause, before he added, "today."

Capt. Flanagan mingled in the lounge answering questions and using his cellphone to call United operations officials to ask about connections to Asia and to cities on the West Coast.

Ajoke Odumosu, a track star at the University of South Alabama who was on her way to Osaka, Japan, for a world-championship competition, realized that when she began her trip with US Airways Group Inc., her luggage had been checked only as far as San Francisco. With the delay, there wouldn't be time to retrieve it and recheck it for Japan.

Capt. Flanagan called Chicago and learned that the luggage was already in metal containers ready for loading on the 767, and couldn't be retagged. He called San Francisco and found a manager who agreed to pull Ms. Odumosu's bags aside and retag them for Osaka. In all, he spent 15 minutes on the problem.

"I was glad he went out of his way, which he didn't have to do," Ms. Odumosu said.

Once the plane was ready for boarding, Capt. Flanagan passed out cards with information about the Boeing 767. On every flight, he signs two of the cards on the back and, if there is wine left over from first class, he announces that passengers with his signature have won bottles of wine.

When the movie ended, flight attendants passed out napkins and passengers were invited to write notes about experiences on United -- good or bad. Fifteen were selected to receive a coupon for a 10% discount on a future United flight, and Capt. Flanagan posts the passengers' notes in crew rooms or sends them on to airport managers when they raise specific issues.

Randall Levelle of Morgantown, W.Va., and his family were flying to San Francisco because his father-in-law had just died. Capt. Flanagan invited Mr. Levelle's three children into the cockpit during boarding.

"If other folks in the airline industry had the same attitude, it would go a long way to mitigating some of the negative stuff that has come about in the last four or five years," Mr. Levelle said.


Wednesday, August 29, 2007

MESSAGE #149 - I AM PSYCHIC AND I CAN PROVE IT!

If you’re about to take on a difficult task or project, here are my

TWO PREDICTIONS

Before I get to the predictions, let’s talk about what is difficult.

What’s difficult???

Well, it’s different for each one of us.

What is easy for some of us, may be difficult for others.

What’s difficult for you?

. Graduating from college?

. Sticking to a diet?

. Exercising every day?

. Getting that promotion?

. Stopping smoking?

OK, here are my two predictions about doing something difficult . . .

Prediction #1: It will be difficult.

Prediction #2: IT WILL BE WORTH IT!

Here’s some psychic advice: When you find that Prediction #1 is coming true -- make sure to remember Prediction #2!

Your trusty psychic,

Rob Gilbert

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

MESSAGE #148 - PASSION WINS!

Passion is everything.

-- David Copperfield, magician

Diane Geppi-Aikens was an incredibly passionate coach. As women’s lacrosse coach at Loyola (MD), she preached passion and she won.

She didn’t let anything get in the way of her passion for coaching lacrosse.

She was diagnosed with brain cancer in her early 30s. She coached her last eight years despite the cancer.

Sometimes from a wheel chair.

Always in pain.

And she won.

She died at the age of 40.

In the book Lucky Every Day: The Wisdom of Diane Geppii-Aikens, author Chip Silverman wrote . . .

She made us close our eyes and hear the singers she was passionate about: Roberta Flack and Aretha Franklin.

“Listen to the joy in their voices,” urged Diane.

“It’s not the words or the music. They sing with such great passion, such heart and soul. You can feel how the singers love what they’re doing. It’s not just a job to them. If you want to excel at anything, you must be passionate. Otherwise, why waste your time?

Passion wins.

Monday, August 27, 2007

MESSAGE #147 - ADVICE FROM ASTRONAUTS

#1. ASTRONAUT ALAN BEAN

The most important quality I have noticed in successful people is that they have a dream.

They want to be someone or something.

They want to have something.

They want to go somewhere.

THEY THINK AND WORK TOWARD THAT DREAM EVERY DAY.

I often ask people who tell me their dream, “What did you do today to move closer to your dream?”

Eighty-five percent didn’t do anything.

They are planning to do something next week; they’re just too busy today.

These 85 percent will probably never see their dream come true.

Ask yourself the same question: “What have I done today to make my dream come true?”

If the answer is “nothing specific,” then you will never make it unless you

change your ways.

-- from Work Smart Not Hard by Alan Bean

#2. ASTRONAUT JAMES P. DUTTON

“It started in the eighth grade when the school librarian kind of coerced me into writing to NASA to find out how to become an astronaut.”

#3. ASTRONAUT JAMES A. LOWELL

There are people who make things happen.

There are people who watch things happen.

And there are people who wonder, “What happened?”

To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

MESSAGE #146 - IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE – READ THIS!

N.M.W.

There is a big difference between being interested in achieving a special goal and being committed to it.

Committed people stick to their agreements.

People merely interested in a goal have some reason for not achieving it -- the time’s not right or the plan was not good to begin with.

The sales rep who merely hopes for improved sales, the factory foreman who only tries to increase production are defeated before they begin.

But for people who have made the decision to achieve – the commitment to achieve – there are no such things as mumbled excuses.

Their goals are finessed and single-mindedly pursued.

If you really want to get something done, decide to do it, and commit to your commitment.

And your objectives will soon become your accomplishments.

-- Dr. Ken Blanchard, author and speaker

* * * * *

Once upon a time there was a chicken and a pig who were very good friends.

They lived in a town that had a great deal of poverty. Many residents rarely ate three meals a day.

The compassionate chicken wanted to help these people, so one day she approached her good friend the pig and said, “I have an idea how you and I could help these poor people get a great breakfast.”

“What could we do?” questioned the pig.

“Well, I could give the eggs I lay and you could make some of your big body into ham so that we could give the people a great ham and eggs breakfast,” the chicken explained.

“I understand your concern,” answered the wise pig, “but what is just a donation for you is a total commitment for me!”

-- from Gilbert on Greatness by you know who

P.S. N.M.W. = No Matter What

Saturday, August 25, 2007

MESSAGE #145 - CONGRATULATIONS KEVIN AND FRED!

You don’t know who Kevin and Fred are?

Well if you don’t, you haven’t been calling Success Hotline (973-743-4690).

We’ve been following Kevin and Fred and their trip to Tanzania and their conquest of Mount Kilimanjaro.

CALL TODAY because you’ll hear something remarkable.

Some thoughts about Kevin and Fred’s Africa Adventure . . .

HOW TO DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY

STAGE #1: First it will seem impossible.

STAGE #2: Then it will become difficult.

STAGE #3: Finally, with persistence, it will get done.

* * * * *

MASTER ONE MOUNTAIN

The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by the mountain

he is inspired by it.

The persistent winner is not discouraged by a problem

he is challenged by it.

Mountains are created to be conquered.

Adversities are designed to be defeated.

Problems are sent to be solved.

It is better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills.

-- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994), journalist

* * * * *

HOW TO TELL IF YOU’RE A WARRIOR

The basic difference between an ordinary person and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge whereas an ordinary person takes everything as a blessing or a curse.

-- Carlos Castaneda 1931-1998, writer

Friday, August 24, 2007

MESSAGE #144 - POEMS

I’d rather be a Could-Be

If I cannot be an Are;

Because a Could-Be is a May-Be

Who might be reaching for a star.

I’d rather be a Has-Been

Than a Might-Have-Been by far,

For a Might-Have-Been has never been

But a Has-Been was once an Are!

-- Milton Berle (1908-2002), Comedian

* * * * *

Before I can sell John Jones

What John Jones buys,

I must see the world

Through John Jones’s eyes.

* * * * *

THE WORLD’S SHORTEST BUSINESS POEM

Hired.

Tired.

Fired.

* * * * *

PROBLEMS

For every problem

Under the sun,

There is a solution

Or there is none.

If there’s a solution

Go and find it.

If there isn’t,

Never mind it.


Thursday, August 23, 2007

MESSAGE #143 - AMAZING! SPECTACULAR!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!

DEDICATION: Thank you Professor Kaaren Finberg for sharing this with all of us.

After watching this video five times in a row, I had three thoughts:

#1. Notice that there is NO MARGIN FOR ERROR.

#2. Imagine how many times he failed BEFORE he got it perfect.

#3. And he did get it perfect!

Click here to be amazed . . . .

Oh, one more thing . . . be careful about you think is impossible . . . because right now you’re going to see the impossible become possible.

After you watch this, click here to leave your comments. Please!


Wednesday, August 22, 2007

MESSAGE #142 - 284 WORDS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it will achieve.

Dream great dreams and make them come true.

Do it now.

You are unique. In all the history of the world there has never been anyone else exactly like you. In all the infinity to come, there will never be another you.

Never affirm self-limitations.

What you believe yourself to be – you are.

To accomplish great things, you must not only act, you also must dream.

To accomplish great things, you must not only plan, you also must believe.

Yes, you can!

Believing is magic.

You can always do better than your best.

You have no idea of what you can do until you try.

Nothing will come of nothing.

If you don’t go out on the limb,

you’re never going to get the fruit.

There is no failure except in no longer trying.

Hazy goals produce hazy results.

Clearly define your goals --
write them down, make a plan for achieving them, set a deadline, visualize your results, and go after them.

Don’t look back unless you want to go that way.

Defeat may test you, but it need not stop you.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try another way.

For every obstacle, there is a solution.

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

The greatest mistake you will ever make is giving up.

Wishing by itself will not bring success, but

planning, persistence, and a burning desire will.

There is a gold mine within you from which you can extract all the necessary ingredients.

Success is an attitude.

Get yours right.

It is astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

MESSAGE #141 - WHAT NOAH’S ARK CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT LIFE

1. Make sure you don’t miss the boat.

2. Remember: We’re all in the same boat.

3. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.

4. Stay in shape. When you’re 600 years old, someone really important may ask you to do something really big.

5. Don’t listen to critics: Do what you have to do when you have to do it NO MATTER WHAT.

6. Build your future on high ground.

7. For safety’s sake -- travel in pairs.

8. Speed isn’t always essential. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

9. When you’re stressed – float!

10. Remember, the ark was built by amateurs -- the Titanic by professionals.

11. No matter how great the storm, when you’re with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting!

12. Don’t invite the woodpeckers!

Monday, August 20, 2007

MESSAGE #140 - IF YOU ONLY READ ONE THING IN THIS ENTIRE BLOG - READ THIS!!!

An elderly Cherokee Native American was talking to his teenage grandson about life.

He said, “There is a fight going on inside of me between two wolves. One wolf stands for fear, anger, sorrow, resentment, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, inferiority, and ego. The other wolf stands for joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, empathy, compassion, and faith.”

He looked the teenager right in the eyes and said, “This same fight is going on inside on you too.”

The grandson thought for a while and asked, “Which wolf will win?”

The wise elder simply replied, “The wolf that you feed.”


Sunday, August 19, 2007

MESSAGE #139 - SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES (Part II)

“I have a road map. If you follow it, you’ll be successful.”

-- Coach Bob Hurley

The world’s greatest basketball coach isn’t making millions of dollars working for a big university or NBA franchise with an impressive 15,000 seat arena. The world’s greatest basketball coach is making a mere $6,800 a year coaching at a small parochial high school that doesn’t even have its own gym!

The world’s greatest basketball coach could easily command a fee of $15,000 to $20,000 per speaking engagement. But, in March of 2005, the world’s greatest basketball coach came to Montclair State University to speak to the students in my sport psychology class for free.

It was one of the greatest moments in my 28 year career at M.S.U.!

Who is the world’s greatest basketball coach?

Bob Hurley of St. Anthony High School in Jersey City. Want his credentials? Since taking over as head boys basketball coach in 1972, he has led his teams to over 900 victories, 22 state titles and two national championships, plus, five of his players became first-round NBA draft picks. Every single one of his players, except for one, has attended college and over 100 have received college scholarships. This means, on average, every single year three seniors have received scholarships for basketball.

Success leaves clues.

If you watch successful people closely, listen to them, and study them -- you will discover these clues.

Here are just some of the clues Coach Hurley left behind when he spoke to my class . . .

CLUE #1: A BIG HEART. If you want to play for Hurley you’d better have a big heart -- not physiologically but emotionally. The coach said, “I don’t think you’re ever going to be good at something if it’s only like, not love. If you’re going to be really good at something, you have to love it, not just like it. ‘Like’ is OK for intramurals. If you want to be great, you have to give up things, you have to put things aside and focus on putting a lot of time in.”

CLUE #2: NO GOLF CLUBS. When asked how he’s managed to be so successful, Coach Hurley said, “I don’t have any hobbies.” When the coach goes on vacation, he goes somewhere to coach basketball,

CLUE #3: AN INSATIABLE APPETITE. One of Coach Hurley’s former players told me that at basketball clinics the big-time coaches come in, do their sessions, get their paychecks and leave. Not Coach Hurley. He comes early, stays to the end, and attends as many sessions as he can. With all his experience and success, he’s still insatiably hungry for more knowledge.

CLUE #4: BOXES FULL OF NOTES. The coach is an obsessive note-taker. In the Hurley household, you’ll find a closet filled with boxes of notes about basketball drills, strategy, etc. He embodies the old saying, “The weakest ink is better than the strongest memory.”

CLUE #5: A FIST. One of the coach’s most compelling illustrations was when he raised his right hand in the air and closed his fingers together into a fist. Coach Hurley sees his job as turning five weak little fingers into one strong fist. Every season he takes five individual players and makes them into one cohesive team unit. Hurley said, “It’s not about individual stuff. It’s team. It’s team. It’s team.” His teams demonstrate that T.E.A.M. = T.E.A.M. Together Everyone Achieves More if there’s a Total Effort from All Members.

CLUE #6. WANT MORE CLUES??? Read The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball’s Most Improbable Dynasty written by Adrian Wojnarowski and published by Gotham Books.

Thank you Coach . . .

Rob Gilbert

Saturday, August 18, 2007

MESSAGE #138 - SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES

Pat Summit, women’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee, is the winningest Divison I college basketball coach of all time. She has won more games than any other women’s coach. She has won more than any other men’s coach. She has won more than anyone!

Whenever you find someone that successful, be a detective because

Success leaves clues.

In Pat Summit’s case, you don’t have to be that good a detective because she’ll tell you her success secrets.

Here they are . . .

COACH PAT SUMMIT’S

DEFINITE DOZEN SYSTEM FOR SUCCESS

1. Respect yourself and others.

2. Take full responsibility.

3. Develop and demonstrate loyalty.

4. Learn to be a great communicator.

5. Discipline yourself so no one else has to.

6. Make hard work your passion.

7. Don’t just work hard, work smart.

8. Put the team before yourself.

9. Make winning an attitude.

10. Be a competitor.

11. Change is a must.

12. Handle success like you handle failure.

* * * * * * *

Now that we know what to do – the challenge is to do what we know.

Give Success Hotline a call today (973) 743-4690 . . .

Rob Gilbert

Friday, August 17, 2007

MESSAGE #137 - A RIDDLE

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed – you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great people and, alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a person.

You may run me for profit or run me for ruin – it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet.

Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

WHO AM I???

For the answer scroll down . . .

.

.

.

.


ANSWER:

I AM HABIT!


Thursday, August 16, 2007

MESSAGE #136 - DO NOT BE LIKE ROB GILBERT!

I hoped you watched yesterday’s video. I’ve watched it at least ten times.

Way back when I was in college I was on the wrestling team. Now that I look back I can’t say I was really a wrestler. I couldn’t have been much more INTO IT. (See Messages #129 - 134)

One wrestler I really admired was the great Dan Gable from Iowa State. Gable was really INTO IT.

He went onto win an Olympic gold medal in 1972 and had a spectacular coaching career at the University of Iowa.

Gable was superstar and I wasn’t.

What was there difference between Dan Gable and Rob Gilbert?

Oh, there were many . . . but looking back now . . . I think the #1 biggest difference between the two of us was this:

Dan Gable knew the difference between physical fatigue and psychological fatigue and I didn’t.

Psychological fatigue hits you well before physical fatigue.

Psychological fatigue is false.

Physical fatigue is real.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FATIGUE = You think you are out of gas.

PHYSICAL FATIGUE = You are really out of gas. Your gas tank is totally empty.

Rob Gilbert stopped when he was psychologically fatigued.

Dan Gable stopped when he was physically fatigued.

Most people are like I was. We never ever get to physical fatigue. We stop when we’re psychologically fatigued.

Here’s the key question: Are you going to fight through the psychological fatigue?

Are you going to fight through it?

Yesterday’s video vividly showed the difference between psychological and physical fatigue.

If you want to be a champion, you have to fight through it. You have to push yourself.

You have to be a Dan Gable.

I love this quote from former world heavyweight boxing champion James J. Corbett (1866-1933) . . .

Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring, fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round -- remembering that the man who always fights one round is never whipped.

“Feel the fatigue and do it anyway.”

Fight through it,

Rob Gilbert

P.S. Oh, one last thing . . .

“After the first period,the more skilled wrestler is
winning.
After the second period,the better conditioned wrestler is
winning.
After the third period,the wrestler with the most heart is
winning.”

--Dan Gable, Olympic Champion

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

MESSAGE #135 - DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO UNTIL YOU FEEL LIKE QUITTING!

Today’s message is especially dedicated to
THE GREAT
GARY J. PRITCHARD of
Golden Goal Youth Soccer Tournament Park.


PREDICTION: Some time today you’re going to feel like quitting.

You’re going to feel like quitting your diet so you can eat that piece of pizza.
You’re going to feel like quitting work early so you can go home.
You’re going to feel like quitting keeping some commitment so you can take the easy way out.

DO NOT TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT.

JUST FOR TODAYDON’T QUIT!

IT’S ALL RIGHT TO FEEL LIKE QUITTING.

IT’S NOT ALL RIGHT TO QUIT.

DON’T QUIT . . . KEEP GOING!

Still feel like quitting? That’s OK because I’m going to bring out the heavy artillery.

DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO UNTIL YOU’RE RIGHT ON THE VERGE OF QUITTING.

DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO UNTIL THAT URGE TO QUIT IS SO GREAT THAT IT’S OVERWHELMING.

DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO UNTIL YOU FEEL TOTALLY HOPELESS.

For a drug that will get you back on track . . . click here.

Don’t quit n.m.w.,

Rob Gilbert

P.S. Oh, one last thing . . .

“The pain is temporarythe pride is forever.”


Tuesday, August 14, 2007

MESSAGE #134 - THE FINAL EXAM

The last five messages have been about “The Most Important Decision You’ll Ever Make.”

Just to review . . . the most important decision you’ll ever make:

ARE YOU GOING TO BE:

IN

it

or

INTO

it?

Here’s your final . . .

Are you going to be IN IT or INTO IT?

Are you going to HAVE A CHILD or BE A MOM OR A DAD?

Are you going to GO TO SCHOOL or BE A STUDENT?

Are you going to PLAY TENNIS or BE A TENNIS PLAYER?

Are you going to BE IN A PLAY or BE AN ACTOR?

Are you going to PLAY AN INSTRUMENT or BE A MUSICIAN?

Are you going to BE MARRIED or BE A HUSBAND OR WIFE?

Are you going to JUST HEAR or REALLY LISTEN?

Are you going to PLAY A SPORT or BE AN ATHLETE?

Are you going to GIVE A TALK or BE A SPEAKER?

Are you going to COOK or BE A CHEF?

Are you going to PLANT FLOWERS or BE A GARDENER?

Are you going to WRITE or BE A WRITER?

Are you going to SELL THINGS or BE A SALESPERSON?

Are you going to be an ORDER TAKER or an ORDER GETTER?

Are you going to HAVE A JOB or HAVE A CAREER?

Are you going to CURSE THE DARKNESS or LIGHT A CANDLE?

Are you going to MAKE PROMISES or KEEP COMMITMENTS?

Are you going to TRY or DO?

Are you going to HOLD BACK or GO ALL OUT?

Are you going to COUNT THE DAYS or MAKE THE DAYS COUNT? (Thanks to Ed Agresta.)

Are you going to be a SPECTATOR or a PARTICIPANT?

Are you going to SET YOUR LIMITS or STRETCH YOUR LIMITS?

Are you going to be IN IT or INTO IT?

Here’s the most important question . . .

Are you going to JUST LIVE or are you going to BE TRULY ALIVE?

Want more???

Call Success Hotline at (973) 743-4690,

Dr. Rob Gilbert

P.S. Oh, one last thing . . .

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs.

Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do it.

Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

- Howard Thurman (1900-1981), American theologian, educator & civil rights leader


Monday, August 13, 2007

MESSAGE #133 - PART V: THE PROBLEM WITH PROBLEMS

This is the fifth and final installment in the special series, “The Most Important Decision You’ll Ever Make.”

“If you have a pulse, you have a problem.” -- Oprah

One thing we all have in common is problems.

The interesting thing about problems is:

The problem isn’t the problem . . .

how you handle the problem – that’s the problem.

You have a decision to make when you have a problem:

Are you going to get frustrated or fascinated?

Frustration makes things worse.

Fascination makes things work.

Thomas Edison failed at his first 10,000 attempts to invent the light bulb.

When asked how he dealt with 10,000 failures, Edison said, “I didn’t fail 10,000 times, I learned 10,000 ways how not to invent a light bulb.”

If Edison got frustrated that would have led to failure. He got fascinated and that led to breakthroughs.

The most important decision you’ll ever make is:

ARE YOU GOING TO BE:

IN IT

OR

INTO IT?

The most important decision you’ll ever make when dealing with a problem is:

ARE YOU GOING TO GET:

FRUSTRATED

OR

FASCINATED?

Frustration = IN

FASCINATION = INTO

“FASCINATION” beats “FRUSTRATION” every single time.

“INTO” beats “IN” every single time.

Get fascinated not frustrated because if you’re fascinated you’ll be “INTO IT!”

Rob Gilbert


MESSAGE #132 - NO MATTER WHAT

This is the fourth installment in the special series, “The Most Important Decision You’ll Ever Make.”

It was Mr. D’Amato’s 95th birthday.

As he did every year on his birthday, he went to his doctor for a physical.

After the routine examination, the doctor went over the results.

“Mr. D’Amato, you’re in better shape than I am and I’m half your age. What’s your secret?”

“Well Doc, I walk five miles every day.”

“You walk five miles every single day?”

“I’ve walked every single day for 50 years?”

“Fifty years??? Mr. D’Amato what do you do when it rains?”

“I put on a rain coat.”

Anyone can stay motivated for five minutes.

But how many people can stay motivated for five days, five weeks, five months or five years?

Mr. D’Amato stayed motivated for 50 years!

That’s being “INTO IT!”

Being “INTO IT” means that you do it n.m.w.

N.M.W. = No Matter What

Rob Gilbert

Saturday, August 11, 2007

MESSAGE #131 - A MASTER OF BEING “INTO IT”

This is the third installment in the special series, “The Most Important Decision You’ll Ever Make.”

The most important decision you’ll ever make is:

ARE YOU GOING TO BE:

IN IT

OR

INTO IT?


THE QUESTION:
IF YOU THINK IT’S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO BE “INTO IT”. . . JUST IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE TO COMPETE AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS “INTO IT” IF YOU’RE NOT!

THE FORMULA:
INTO = PHYSICAL + MENTAL + EMOTIONAL

THE QUOTE:
Painters paint with their hands. (physical)
Artists paint with their hands and minds. (physical + mental)
But masters paint with their hand and minds through their hearts. (physical + mental + emotional)

THE VIDEO:
If you want to see a “master of being INTO IT” . . . click here

Friday, August 10, 2007

MESAGE #130 - -- PART II: THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL PREPOSITION

This is the second installment in the special series, “The Most Important Decision You’ll Ever Make.”

The most important decision you’ll ever make is:

ARE YOU GOING TO BE:
IN IT
OR
INTO IT?

The world’s most power preposition is “INTO.”

You’ve heard the old saying, “You only get out of something what you put into it.”

As a professor, I see the truth of this statement every day. Every person on my class roster is “in” school. This means they’ve registered for courses and they’ve paid their tuition. But the sad fact is that even though all of them are “in” school, very few of them are “into” school. Most of them are “in” a major, but very few of them are “into” their major. Many of them are “in” clubs, student government, and sports, but very few of them are “into” these activities.

The difference between success and failure in school or in anything else is the difference between these two words:

IN VS. INTO

“In” means you show up physically.

“Into” means that you’re totally absorbed -- physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The following quote describes the “into” quality best . . .

Painters paint with their hands.
Artists paint with their hands and minds.
But masters paint with their hands and minds through their hearts.

Just because you go to class does not necessarily mean that you’re a student.
Just because you can sing a song does not necessarily mean that you’re a singer.
Just because you sell something does not necessarily mean that you’re a salesperson.
Just because you’re IN a profession does not necessarily mean that you’re a professional.

Successful students, singers, salespeople and other professionals have developed the skill of being absorbed physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Being IN something doesn’t mean you’ll get anything OUT OF it. The only way you’ll ever get anything OUT OF it is if you are totally INTO it.

Thanks for reading,

Rob Gilbert

Thursday, August 9, 2007

MESSAGE #129 - PART I: THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU’LL EVER MAKE

This is the first installment of a five-part series on a concept that will change your life.

What’s the most important decision that you’ll ever make?

Is it where you will go to school?
Is it what job you should take?
Is it whom you will marry?

All these decisions are important. Maybe even life-changing, but none of these decisions is the #1 most important decision you’ll ever make.

Did you ever realize that there’s a BIG difference between just going to school and being a student?

Did you ever realize that there’s a BIG difference between just playing a sport and being an athlete.

Did you ever realize that there’s a BIG difference between just singing a song and being a singer?

WHAT’S THE POINT???

The most important decision you’ll ever make is:

ARE YOU GOING TO BE:
IN IT
OR
INTO IT?

Are you going to be in school or INTO school?
Are you going to be in your job or INTO your job?
Are you going to be in a relationship or INTO your relationship?

If you’re “in school” – you’re enrolled.
If you’re “into school” – you’re involved.

If you’re “in a job” – you have a boss.
If you’re “into your job” – you are a boss.

If you’re “in a relationship” – you’re headed for trouble.
If you’re “into a relationship” – you’re happy.

If you can decide to be more into it right now – you’ve taken your first step on your road to success.

Absolutely . . . positively . . . guaranteed!!!

“INTO IT” athletes are winners, champions, and gold medalists.

The most “into it” performance I have ever seen in the Olympics was by two British ice dancers named Torvill and Dean.

If you want to see what INTO IT looks like . . . click here . . .

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

MESSAGE #128 - MY SUNDAY MORNING DRUG

Many Sunday mornings I wake up totally unmotivated.

I wait for the feeling of lethargy to pass.

It doesn’t.

Then I remember my secret weapon – Dr. Robert Schuller.

I’ve been watching Reverend Schuller and his “Hour of Power” for years. Once I even heard him preach in person at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California.

Reverend Schuller is a gifted clergyman and he is also one of the world’s greatest motivational speakers.

Dr. Schuller coined the term “possibility thinker.”

So if some Sunday morning . . . you wake up totally unmotivated and the feeling doesn’t pass . . . turn on the “Hour of Power.” I guarantee you’ll hear a great motivational sermon.

Here’s a creed from Reverend Schuller that I love . . .

THE POSSIBILITY’S THINKERS CREED

When faced with a mountain,
I WILL NOT QUIT!
I will keep on striving
until
I climb over,
find a pass through,
tunnel underneath,
or
simply stay
and
turn the mountain
into a gold mine
with God’s help!

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

MESSAGE #127 - MY WISH FOR YOU

Let’s keep it really simple . . .

There are only two types of people in the world:

#1. Those who do.
#2. Those who don’t.

The difference is “those who do” – DO.
And “those who don’t” – DON’T.

YOUR JOB: Be a “do-er” not a “don’t-er.”

DOERS DO!

I hope you do.

There are only two types of people who go to a dance:

#1. Those who dance.
#2. Those who sit it out.

Who do you think has more fun?

I hope you dance.

Right now if you don’t feel like dancing . . . WATCH THIS . . .


Monday, August 6, 2007

MESSAGE #126 - A MEDIOCRE MESSAGE

Today’s message is OK. It’s good but not great.

Here’s where you come in – your contribution can make it GREAT.

By the time you get to the end of this list, you’ll have a lot of ideas of what you can add to improve the list.

Contribute as many as you like!

The most destructive habit: WORRY

The greatest joy: GIVING

The greatest loss: LOSS OF SELF-RESPECT

The most satisfying work: HELPING OTHERS

The ugliest personality trait: SELFISHNESS

The most endangered species: DEDICATED LEADERS

The greatest natural resource: OUR YOUTH

The greatest “shot in the arm”: ENCOURAGEMENT

The greatest problem to overcome: FEAR

The most effective sleeping pill: PEACE OF MIND

The most crippling symptom of failure: EXCUSES

The most powerful force in life: LOVE

The most dangerous pariah: A GOSSIPER

The world’s most incredible computer: THE HUMAN BRAIN

The worst thing to be without: HOPE

The deadliest weapon: THE TONGUE

The two most power-filled words: “I CAN.”

The greatest asset: FAITH

The most worthless emotion: SELF-PITY

The most beautiful attire: A SMILE

The most prized possession: INTEGRITY

The most powerful channel of communication: PRAYER

The most contagious spirit: ENTHUSIASM

This spaced reserved for: YOUR CONTRIBUTION

Now it’s your turn. Ready . . . Set . . . Click

Thanks,

Rob Gilbert

Sunday, August 5, 2007

MESSAGE #125 - THE ULTIMATE SECRET OF MOTIVATION

The carnival was in town again. As always, there were rides and games and food, but this year there was a special added attraction -- a strongman.

Hundreds of people were at his show. He bent steel with his bare hands. He smashed bricks with his forearm. He arm-wrestled all comers. But for the grand finale, he simply squeezed a lemon.

All the juice from the lemon dripped onto the stage.

Then he made a brazen offer. “I’ll give $10,000.00 to anyone who can squeeze just one more drop from this lemon. Who’ll be first?”

Two high school football players with bulging biceps jumped up on stage. They squeezed and squeezed and squeezed . . . but not even a trace of a drop.

Several other huge men tried it . . . nothing.

Then the strongman said, “Time for one more. Who will it be?”

A small, middle-aged woman raised her hand and asked if she could try.

“Sure you can, ma’am. Come on down.” As he welcomed her onto the stage, there were snickers from the crowd.

The woman grabbed the lemon and held it up in front of her. More snickers.

With total focus and determination she squeezed and squeezed and squeezed . . . and one little drop fell onto the stage. The audience gasped and then broke into wild applause.

Then the huge strongman put his arm around the little woman and said, “Ma’am, I’ve done hundreds of shows just like this one, and thousands of people have tried for the money, but you’re the only one ever to win it. How in the world did you do it?”

“Well,” the woman said, “when you have a husband who’s sick in bed and can’t work and you have eight mouths to feed and you have to pinch every penny, squeezing a lemon for $10,000 ain’t too hard.”

THE ULTIMATE SECRET OF MOTIVATION:

IF YOU HAVE A BIG ENOUGH
WHY
YOU’LL ALWAYS FIND THE
HOW!

What are your why’s???

Thanks for reading . . .

Rob Gilbert

Saturday, August 4, 2007

MESSAGE #124 - I’LL BET YOU’RE GOING TO SING ALONG . . .

Whenever I hear this song I feel better.

I hope it does the same for you . . .


Friday, August 3, 2007

MESSAGE #123 - THINKING OF QUITTING??? READ THIS ...

DON’T QUIT

Is that
what you
want to do?
Quit?
Anybody can
do that.
Takes no talent.
Takes no guts.
It’s exactly
what your
adversaries
hope
you will do.
Get your
facts straight.
Know what
you’re talking
about.
And keep going.
In the 1948
Presidential election,
the nation’s leading
political reporters
all predicted
Harry Truman
would lose.
He won.
Winston Churchill
said,
“Never give in.”
“Never. Never.”
Sir Winston stuck
his chin out
and wouldn’t quit.
Try sticking out
your chin.
Don’t give up.
Ever.

This message was
originally published
in the
Wall Street Journal
by United Technologies
Corporation in 1981.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

MESSAGE #122 - THE POWER OF A PENNY

“If you don’t stretch your limits -- you’ll set your limits.”

If you have a penny and I have a penny and we exchange pennies -- you still have a penny and I still have a penny. But, if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange ideas -- now you have two ideas and I have two ideas. Today’s blog will give you an idea about pennies.

WARNING: Once you read today’s message, you will never look at a penny the same way again.

Once upon a time, Grandpa was walking into town with his 8-year-old grandson. Suddenly Grandpa stopped, bent down, and picked up a penny. His grandson asked, “Grandpa, what are you doing?”

“I’m picking up a penny,” Grandpa replied.

“Why are you doing that?”

“This is going to make me rich.”

“Grandpa, picking up a penny isn’t going to make you rich.”

The grandfather said, “You’re right! Picking up a penny isn’t going to make me rich, but the habit will.”

Now the grandson was confused, “Grandpa, you could pick up pennies every day for the rest of your life and it’s never going to make you rich.”

Grandpa explained, “You’re right again! Did you ever notice that whenever you’re walking around, you often see pennies on the ground? Most people won’t take the time to stop, bend down, and pick up a penny. Every time I see a penny, I’m reminded that I have an opportunity to do things that other people are not willing to do. If I can make a habit of doing that in my business, that habit will make me rich. So, every time I see a penny, it’s a reminder that I need to do the things that other people are not willing to do.”

You may not realize it, but implanted in this article is a hypnotic suggestion -- from now on, whenever you see a penny on the ground, even if you don’t pick it up, you’re going to be reminded of the fact that you must do things that other people are not willing to do. Each time you’re reminded of this, it will become virtually impossible for you not to pick up that penny.

Absolutely, positively, guaranteed!!!

Starting right now, all those pennies you’ll see on the ground, are carrying a suggestion for you. It’s a reminder that will lead you to success because if you’re willing to do things other people are not willing to do, you’ll get things other people will never ever get.

So whether you want to get standing ovations on Broadway or score touchdowns in the NFL or become governor of your state -- or become rich like Grandpa -- it all starts with a penny! You’ll see one of those pennies today, I guarantee it.

Want to get motivated to do things that other people are not willing to do? Call Dr. Gilbert’s Success Hotline at (973) 743-4690. Three-minute recorded motivational messages are available 24/7/365. There’s a new message every morning at 7:30.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

MESSAGE #121 - THIS IS THE PERFECT MESSAGE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW!

Way back in the early 1980's United Technologies Corporation ran a series of thought-provoking advertisements in the Wall Street Journal.

This one was my favorite. . .

DON’T BE AFRAID
TO FAIL

You’ve failed
many times,
although you may not
remember.
You fell down
the first time
you tried to walk.
You almost drowned
the first time
you tried to
swim, didn’t you?
Did you hit the
ball the first time
you swung a bat?
Heavy hitters,
the ones who hit the
most home runs,
also strik
out a lot.
R.H. Macy
failed seven
times before his
store in New York
caught on.
English novelist
John Creasey got
753 rejection slips
Before he published
564 books.
Babe Ruth struck out
1,330 times,
but he also hit
714 home runs.
Don’t worry about
failure.
Worry about the
chances you miss
when you don’t
even try.