Hello ,

There's been a lot of conversation in the U. S. Congress recently about “ extraordinary circumstances .” Beyond my slight irritation with their claiming a descriptive word from my book title “Living an Extraordinary Life … is my awareness that some extraordinary possibilities are opening up in my life.

Of course, I should give thanks to Congress for giving me a lead-in to promote my book which makes a great graduation gift … or a great gift for yourself or a valued friend! The revised second edition deluxe softcover is now available for purchase at

Living an Extraordinary Life (Deluxe Soft Cover Book)

Over the next few weeks I'll be traveling to give several keynote speeches, a half-day workshop on leadership with corporate executives and co-leading a seminar for a Young President's Organization Forum group. All of these opportunities stretch me a bit and I'm so excited about the chance to personally learn and grow while contributing to others – all extraordinary circumstances, I think you'll agree.

As always, please forward this message to friends and associates who might find value. They can subscribe to receive their own future issues at no charge by following this link:

http://www.extraordinarypeople.com/ezine/subscribe.htm

Be extraordinary!

Robert White

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

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In this issue:

• Feature: BE HONEST...create trust relationships
• Extraordinary Wisdom Quotes of the Month
• The Home Study Program "Living an Extraordinary Life"
• Rave Recommendation
• Extraordinary Living Action Steps

BE HONEST

Visualize some dominoes placed on their edges. The one closest is simply telling the truth. When toppled (when you're less than truthful), it hits the next one which negatively impacts the trust you generate from others. When trust is knocked down it hits relationships which, when diminished, negatively impacts your personal and professional effectiveness.

This fluid, fast moving world we've created (yes I know you might think you didn't create it but we'll get to that when we address the responsibility element!) makes trust relationships more important than ever. The ultimate source of creating powerful relationships is authenticity. Can people trust you to tell the truth as you know it and in a way they can receive it?

You must tell yourself the truth first, only then can you be honest with others. I have many “areas for improvement” – yet I've learned that one of my strengths is an ever-growing ability to develop a “selfless regard for reality.” When you were four years old, you might have gained some temporary win by fudging the truth a bit -- with yourself or others. Today, to be effective and create an extraordinary future we must learn to simply

be honest

Of course, it doesn't work to use honesty as a hammer. Feedback is much more powerful when it's honest yet delivered with compassion. The great motivational speaker Bill Gove taught that when your beloved Aunt Sue shared with you that she had lost weight, you should not say “look behind you, it's still following you.”

You say, with loving intent “Aunt Sue, you look marvelous”…. because she does.

The goal is to develop trust in your ability and that of others -- your family, your colleagues – to handle the truth. The effectiveness you create with your family, your work colleagues and your community is greatly enhanced when you express yourself honestly.

The action steps below will give you some work to do that I guarantee will further your goals and serve to deepen the quality and quantity of your relationships.

Read on!

Our theme this month is “Be Honest” so here are a few of my favorite quotes on that subject.

The "Living an Extraordinary Life"
Home Study Program

now available in CD or Audio Cassette versions

You can learn more and order on-line to begin accelerating your personal and professional growth at:the

Balance Point Online Store

Regular readers know that I'm a big fan of Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing. If part of your life is marketing, and especially if you're an independent professional, you need to learn more about this amazing resource. If you live near or can travel to New York or London this summer, there's an opportunity to learn directly from the master marketer.

Robert will be leading two "Cracking the Marketing Code" workshops in July in both New York City and London England . These will be the last workshops he'll be offering this year.

The New York Workshop will be on Sat July 16 with a special Marketing Coaching Intensive on Sun, July 17. The London Workshop will be on Sat, July 23 with a special Marketing Coaching Intensive on Sun, July 24.

Space is limited to 60 people per Workshop and 20 per Intensive so if you think you might be interested, click below for details and to make a reservation.

Robert Middleton also offers a great free weekly e zine with marketing tips plus much more information at reasonable costs.

Action Plan Marketing

Here are some suggestions for “homework” that have helped generate positive results for others. Cut, paste and print the sentences below and then “do the work” of completing them for yourself.

1. Consider your experience of any relationship where you are less than open and honest. Consider the prices you and the other party are paying as a consequence of your choices.

2. What could you do to begin a process of “coming clean”, letting that other person know that you've been withholding some communications that are important to both of you – now ….. and into your future.

3. What are the risks and rewards of continuing to be less than fully honest?

4. What are the risks and rewards of choosing to be more open and honest?

5. What would be the best environment and the best communications approach to begin creating the kind of trust that builds extraordinary relationships?

6. When am I committed to doing it? (Now works really well!)

Wishing you an Extraordinary Life and Extraordinary Organizations ,

Robert White
Balance Point International
P. O. Box 40405
Denver , CO 80204

Phone: 1-303-632-7744

E-mail: Robert@BalancePointInternational.com

http://www.BalancePointInternational.com

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