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A Sampler from
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Several of our staff were discussing their favorite parts of Never Beat the Boss…, when it was suggested that a sort of "sampler" from different parts of the book be included here on the website. This will provide you a flavor of what's in store for you as you enjoy Never Beat the Boss at Horseshoes…102 Ways to Pitch Ringer after Ringer in the Game of Life. from the "Choosing the Appropriate Response" portion of the introduction… "Not being real fond of absolutes, I use the word 'always' advisedly, but let me state again that we can always control our response. The game of life, just like the game of horseshoes, is a series of choices. Other than die, we don't have to do anything. I know the old cliché about death and taxes, but you don't really have to pay taxes. And besides, if you choose not to pay them, you'll have plenty of time to finish reading Never Beat the Boss at Horseshoes… and maybe even write a couple books of your own! "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their
lives by altering their attitudes of mind."
William James, the founder of modern psychology A powerful, powerful thought! Dr. James made this observation in 1900, a period when incredible discoveries in science, flight, medicine and transportation were being made. Yet he maintains that the greatest discovery of the time was that our thoughts have the potential to change our lives. In the ensuing century we have cured 'incurable' diseases, landed on the moon, revolutionized communication, and even cloned a sheep. But do you know what? If Dr. James were alive today, he could make the same assertion again with the same degree of certainty." A bit later, in the "How Do You Stay 'Up' When You're Down in the Pits?" section, Roy asks… "So what motivates the 'Motivator?' What is it that allows some people to consistently choose a positive response to negative circumstances? How do some always seem to land on their feet when things aren't going well 'in the pits?' Is it Inspiration? Motivation? Expectation? Perspiration? Well, the answer put simply is yes, yes, yes, and yes! Charlie 'Tremendous' Jones, a remarkable professional speaker for many, many years, offers a fantastic retort to those who question the relative value of choosing positive responses to situations and always expecting the best. When someone suggests to Charlie that this positive outlook, positive approach to the game of life 'doesn't last', he says, "Neither does bathing!" Speaking of bathing, sometimes the game of horseshoes can be, literally, a dirty business. It gets dusty in the pits, it gets muddy in the pits, and it sure can get sweaty in the pits! (Oooh, don't you just love graphic word pictures?) There is no way you'd expect a bath taken before the start of what sometimes becomes a three thousand horseshoe tournament to last throughout the entire event. But if you do, be prepared to have some challenges finding a doubles partner! Why expect to go through the tournament of life without consistently refreshing your emotions, your spirit, and your attitude? Let's sample some stories from a couple of different innings… How about the very first story from Inning One, "Put It in Perspective"? The story is called "Eiffel Eyeful".
"Sometimes the only solution to a problem is that there is no solution."
M. Scott Peck The author of The Road Less Traveled has identified one of the harsh realities of life, hasn't he? Many years ago, I was told by a friend that she had pretty much eliminated the word "problem" from her life. I knew she didn't drink, hadn't killed anybody and was not a drug user, so I was most curious to find out how she did it. "Simple", she said, "It's called relabelling." She simply chose to substitute another word in many of the situations where most of us say "problem". Since learning this technique, I've been using it personally with great results. Countless others have shared with me that they have been very successfully using it as well. Those substitute words can help change your perspective. "Challenge" works well. "Issue," "concern," "situation," and "question" frequently can be used to take the edge off problematic situations. I've heard "opportunity" used frequently as well, but have some reservations about that one! For example, if someone were to say, "Oh, Roy, we've got an opportunity with this seminar participant jumping up and down in the lobby…" French author Guy de Maupassant found a most creative way to deal with a "problem" he had with the Eiffel Tower – he found it hideously ugly! Unable to change the problem, he decided to change his perspective, frequently climbing to the Tower's top, saying… …"It's the only place in Paris you can't see the damned thing!" …or this story from Inning Four, "Communicate Clearly" entitled "You Are What?" "You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourselves."
Sam Levenson There is a better-than-average chance that you may never speak to an audience of over two hundred female secretaries and executive assistants in Sao Paulo, Brazil. There is no scientific data that I'm aware of to verify this, but you'll probably agree it's true. I certainly concurred, right up to the day I agreed to do so! Friends of mine in the International Federation of Professional Speakers strongly advised that that the most important thing I could do while preparing was to establish a good rapport with my translators. "Make sure you communicate clearly, especially on any point that could be misinterpreted," they cautioned. They shared horror story examples of what had happened to many of them in the past. I heeded their advice and took the stage superbly confident that there was little likelihood of miscommunication. The topic was self-esteem and I wanted to convey the power of affirmations (self-talk). With convincing gestures and emphatic tones, I repeated, "I like myself…I like myself…I like myself." The expressions on the audience's faces told me I was connecting, that they were getting the message, or so I thought. After the presentation I learned from my hostess what was causing the bemused expressions my audience was wearing. Through translation, what two hundred Brazilian women heard was a balding, fifty-something American emphatically and exuberantly proclaiming… "I am cute…I am cute…I am cute!" Inning Nine is entitled "Accept Responsibility" and one of our favorite stories in that inning is this one called, "Human Felicity." "The circumstances that surround a man's life are not important. How that man responds to those circumstances is important. His response is the ultimate determining factor between success and failure."
Booker T. Washington Whoever invented the tee shirt would be shocked at what this once humble undergarment has become! Political affiliations, philosophies of life, declarations of age, moods of the moment, sexual persuasions and much, much more are now boldly proclaimed on this formerly utilitarian garb. I saw a tee on a young lady obviously enjoying herself in a Savannah, Georgia pub that was a true classic – "I'll have whatever the gentleman laying on the floor is having!" In its own comical way, that is one profound thought. I'm sure her intent was not to elicit meaningful introspection from her co-revelers. But, had there been a gentleman on the floor (and over the years there's doubtlessly been quite a few!), what circumstances might have led him there? And whatever they were, according to …the quotation at the beginning of this story…, they're not important. His response is. Like our imaginary imbibing buddy, you can't control everything that happens in the game of life. As the ancient scholar Croesus noted, "There's a wheel on which the affairs of men revolve, and its mechanism is such that it prevents any man from always being fortunate." In other words, you won't always pitch ringers. But when you don't, there is an option to lying on the pub's floor. Perhaps your tee could quote eighteenth century English author Dr. Samuel Johnson… …"A tavern chair (emphasis mine) is the throne of human felicity." |
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