Thanks to all who wrote with compliments and suggestions to improve this monthly eZine. I want to make it better and more valuable so your feedback - and your forwarding to friends and colleagues - is much appreciated.

Balance Point seminars stress the importance of reflection, of looking within for ways of being and behaving that will produce the results you want. I've been wary of the "ten tips" or "100 ways" approach to growth and development. That said, we've learned a lot about how to create extraordinary results and this issue shares a taste of our "formula" for success.

Warm regards and Happy Holidays,

Robert

A Balance Point monthly eZine dedicated to assisting people in living extraordinary lives and creating extraordinary organizations.

We encourage you to forward this message to friends or colleagues who want to be more effective in working with people. They can subscribe to future issues and receive our free 23 page report “ Simple Truths and Enduring Values – The Eight Elements of Personal and Organizational Effectiveness,” at http://www.extraordinarypeople.com/ezine/subscribe.htm.

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In this issue:

• FEATURE: Eight Elements of Personal and Organizational Effectiveness
• Extraordinary Gifts of the Season
• Rave Recommendations from Balance Point
• Extraordinary Living Action Steps
• Acknowledgements from Robert

Over 30 years ago I purchased a personal development home study program by the late Earl Nightingale titled "Lead the Field." Those messages had a powerful influence on me and to a large extent, launched me on a path of learning and growth. Last May my adult life felt as if it had come full circle when I was invited to Nightingale Conant to record a home study program based on our Extraordinary Living Seminars.

Nightingale Conant offers the program in their catalog and on-line store (plus it is available directly from Balance Point-see below). I'm delighted to report that feedback from purchasers has been really positive for "Living an Extraordinary Life." Perhaps you'll find thus edited excerpt valuable for your continued learning and development.

I'm proud of having created companies that have contributed to the lives of over 500,000 people. Along with creating these learning experiences for others, we've learned a lot from our participants.

We noticed early on that in our seminars, some people created more value for themselves. People with similar backgrounds in education, prior success in life and ages reported vastly different outcomes.

Given that they were in the same room with the same learning design and the same Seminar Leader, what was it that created such widely varying results?

Observation and interviews revealed that how people "showed up" in the seminar made the difference. We began a process of identifying those positive "show up" qualities present in participants who grabbed the gold ring, the ones who created amazing value personally and professionally.

We identified "Five Elements for Success" which eventually grew to "Eight" and became part of every seminar's introductory remarks:

"You're here, you've paid your tuition and we assume you want the best possible result. Our experience with thousands of people demonstrates that certain 'ways of being and acting' will lead to the best possible experience for you."

The next breakthrough for Balance Point was noticing that really successful people were practicing these "Eight Elements" in our seminar AND in every aspect of their lives.

The philosophy underpinning all of this is that a powerful catalyst for increased success is increased personal confidence. Confidence, when lacking, paralyzes us; when enhanced, it empowers us to even greater accomplishment. The word itself is fascinating in its Latin
origin: con fides -- with faith. Confidence generates faith that we will succeed even in the face of contradictory evidence.

My personal experience in this regard is powerful and clear:
increased confidence is a direct result of building positive behaviors and demonstrating results. A corollary is to look at efforts to build self-esteem in young people through teaching about it. There's no evidence this has ever worked.

Self esteem, *** and confidence***, are built through successful behavior and results.

The natural question at this point is simple: "If positive behaviors and results build confidence and confidence is the precursor to being more effective, how do I generate those behaviors and results?"

After a wonderful seasonal reminder and a bit of shameless self promotion, I'll list Balance Point's Eight Elements of Personal and Organizational Effectiveness. In coming months, we'll explore each one in more depth.

Long time friend and Balance Point graduate Phil Burgess sent me the following note and offering from an anonymous source. It speaks to the challenge for all of us to connect to deeper meaning. I was inspired by it and thought you would be also:

Dear Robert:

I especially like this message about gifts.

My family and I visited Ephesis last year, where St. John took Mary, The mother of Jesus, following the crucifixion. Later St. John was exiled to the island of Patmos. By the time he returned to Ephesis, he was a celebrity of sorts. People came from all over to see him and to listen.

When a group came, John liked to give a little sermon. But often he Was too weak. When he was too weak, his aides would prop him up and he would give the sign of the cross and say just three words: "Love each other. Love each other. Love each other."

As I read the words in the Eight Gifts, I thought, "These small acts must be the kinds of things John had in mind when he said, 'Love each other.'"

Phil Burgess

Eight Gifts that Don't Cost A Cent

1) THE GIFT OF LISTENING...
But you must REALLY listen.
No interrupting, no daydreaming,
no planning your response.
Just listening.

2) THE GIFT OF AFFECTION...
Be generous with appropriate hugs,
kisses, pats on the back, and handholds.
Let these small actions demonstrate the
love you have for family and friends.

3. THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER...
Clip cartoons.
Share articles and funny stories.
Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

4) THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE...
It can be a simple
"Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet.
A brief, handwritten note may be remembered
for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

5) THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT...
A simple and sincere, "You look great in red,"
"You did a super job," or "That was a wonderful meal"
can make someone's day.

6) THE GIFT OF A FAVOR...
Every day, go out of your way
to do something kind.

7) THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE...
There are times when we want nothing better
than to be left alone.
Be sensitive to those times and give
the gift of solitude to others.

8) THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION...
The easiest way to feel good is
to extend a kind word to someone.
Really, it's not that hard to say,
"Hello" or "Thank You."

If you're looking for a small and wonderful gift for a special someone or to bring with you to the hosts of a holiday party, I highly recommend "What is Spirit - Messages from the Heart" by Lexie Brockway Potamkin with art by Peter Max. It's available from your local bookseller or your favorite on-line resource.

Rate yourself on how you're doing with each of these Eight Elements and you'll have a snapshot of where in your life you're doing well and where you need some improvement.

1. DECIDE clearly, specifically and positively what you want

"Between two stools one sits on the ground."
French Proverb

BE HONEST: -- with your self and with others

"The truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it; ignorance may
deride it; malice may distort it; but there it is."
Sir Winston Churchill

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY - own your whole life "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in the world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want
and if they can't find them, make them."
George Bernard Shaw

EXPRESS YOURSELF

"One who never asks either knows everything or nothing."
Malcolm Forbes

TAKE RISKS - exit your comfort zone

"If you think you can-or you think you can't you're probably right!"
Henry Ford

PARTICIPATE 100% in your own life

"I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty."
John D. Rockefeller

CREATE PARTNERSHIP - generate win--win relationships

"A single arrow is easily broken, but not three in a bundle."
Japanese Proverb

COMMIT YOURSELF

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."
Helen Keller

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Perhaps like you, this has been a challenging year for me. I've once again launched a new company with all the ups and downs that includes. And again perhaps like you, I am grateful to so many people who've made such a positive difference in my life this past year.

So...a sincere thank you to my Partners in creating Balance Point, Dianna Lynn, Dennis Becker, Greg Goldfogel, Kristal Steeves, Tom Nelson, Tom Weaver, Judy Raysford, Veronica Thomas, Michael Cushman, Sharon Ganske, Laurie Riley, Connie Buetow, Chad Hart, Michelle Spann and many more too numerous to mention.

Thanks also to friends of the heart and spirit who have made such a huge contribution to me in 2002: Bill Johnson, Doak Jacoway, Alan Parisse, Jimmy Kloberdanz, Lantz Welch, Kenny Fischer and Doug Belscher.

Wishing you an Extraordinary Life and Extraordinary Organizations,

Robert

Robert White
Balance Point

P. O. Box 40405
Denver , CO 80204
Phone: 1-425-803-0303
E-mail: Robert@BalancePointInternational.com

http://www.BalancePointInternational.com

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