Grant Thorpe Life Coach

The Fine Art Of The Handshake

By Michael D. Johnson at http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_D._Johnson

Your handshake says a lot about you. It can convey confidence, warmth, and honesty, or it can signal weakness, uncertainty, and disinterest.

Either way, it sends a subtle yet powerful message about who you are, that is not lost on prospective buyers. Use these pointers to make sure your handshake sends the right signals, and creates a good impression with prospects and customers.

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New ‘Happy’ Video Released

A new happy video…

Pain in the assets: generation Y’s lost years

Author: Mark Coultan
Date: November 7, 2007
Publication: Sydney Morning Herald

It’s an integral part of being a parent: you make sacrifices to give your children the best chance to succeed in life. And there is an expectation that each succeeding generation will take those chances and be happier, better educated and better off. But university education delays entry to the workforce, which could account for the relative drop in income that Morgan found for this age group.

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Getting out of your own way

I want to discuss how you can get out of our own way, after all one of the main obstacles between you and the big money is often yourself.

There are only two fears you are born with, the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling? Both these fears are an ancient defence against the most basic of threats.

Every other fear you have is learnt. Unfortunately the flip side of this – is that most of the fears you have also been taught to you – by well meaning friends and family members. Because what they believe to be true is their reality and they simply pass that on to you.

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‘Happy As’ Video click here to view

Birthdays! It’s ‘Uniquely’ all about You!

Without doubt one of the most important days of the year is your birthday! It’s uniquely all about you!

In our family we have 5 extra statutory holidays each year, that’s because we recognise how important birthdays are and we make sure we all take the day off for each family member’s birthday! No one goes to school or work and we celebrate that person birthday in style.

As a sideline, that means over the next 20 years – I may end up having 100 more days off – than you?

But back to the topic, why are birthdays so special to forming relationships? Well it’s because almost no one remembers birthdays? But when you do you get yourself right into a very special category of people! And if you remember someone birthday consistently you will form a very special bond in just a few years.

However to remember someone’s birthday you have to first know when their birthday is? So how do you find out the birthdays of people you know?

My first technique is quite obvious and that is to just ask them. Now children love to tell you when their birthday is, the day, the month and the year, they are proud of their age and will even divide the year up into segments to tell you they are 7 and three quarters old right now.

Older people, especially after say about age 28, are far more reluctant to share the year they are born in, and that actually doesn’t matter. Because to remember their birthday each year the only two facts you need to know are the day and the month.

So when you ask them ask just for that. Like “I was wondering when your birthday is, what day and month where you born in’, you will be surprised how quickly they respond with the details. Everyone secretly likes to think they may receive an extra birthday wish, card or phone call on the day!

Other techniques are to ask someone else who knows them? Or if is a client or customer, you may make it part of a form that they fill in?

And of course pay attention, often people will tell you what they have been up to that week and often it will be a celebration of theirs or someone else’s birthday.

I make a point of asking everyone I meet, not right up front but closer to the end of the conversation, and if they have given me their business card I will just take a quick note of the day and month and write it on the back as soon as I have left the meeting.

The most important thing is to have a system to remind you off the birthdays as they come up. I use Plaxo, it’s a free service which keeps your address book up to date, and will give you a 7 day reminder of upcoming birthdays , which gives you plenty of time to arrange a gift or a card.

I also use Plaxo premium which will allow me to send an e-card to anyone in the world on the day of their birthday. A sure fire way to ensure no one is forgotten!

The other thing I love to do is call people on their birthday and sing them happy birthday over the phone! At any age everyone loves to hear that song, ‘Happy Birthday to you’!

And of course the more Birthday greetings you send out the more you will surely receive in return! If you want to you can post a comment here with your name and birthday, and email address… I will send you a card next birthday, I promise!

Some people have no idea whats going on around them…..

It’s all about them!

The Cycle of Life for many ???????

The best things in life aren’t things…..

Be cheerful. Strive to be Happy