Good Plum » Passion

Love Your Business or You’ll Hate Yourself

Elliott Kosmicki — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:02:43 +0000

Business success has many variables. One variable that is especially important is your attitude. Many challenging situations will arise over the course of your business life and a positive approach can sustain you longer than you might think.

What is a positive attitude all about? It is not just seeing the silver lining in every dark cloud, but also being able to see the possibilities in each situation. These possibilities may not always be to your liking but they could be in the best interest of the business. You don’t relish building a profile on every social networking site, but you know doing so can increase business contacts and maybe even sales.

Why do you make the tough decisions? Simply put, you love what you do. The love of money will be given serious second thoughts when sales fall like rain. How about that first grouchy unsatisfied customer? He or she will be a test of wills for anyone.

Part of going into business for yourself is to make a difference – in your life, in the world and in your family. All of these dynamics play into your attitude towards your business when things are not going so well. Is it time to pull up stakes or dig in your heels?

With the right frame of mind and a positive attitude, you will choose the latter. Tough times mean reevaluating your priorities. If you still believe in your product or service, you will do what you need to do so it doesn’t disappear. If you choose to pull up the stakes and quit, it can wear on you for years to come – you can even hate yourself for quitting while you wonder “what could’ve been if I had just stuck to it.”

Love is infectious, even in business. Your winning attitude will motivate you, staff and family to pitch in wherever they can. It might be making dinner so you can work longer hours through the week on business tasks. The trade off can be more family time on the weekends.

Staff will do what you need them to do when their efforts are appreciated. Employees who feel valued work harder and more effectively to get the job done. When you win, so do they. Keep in mind being appreciated doesn’t ALWAYS mean giving them more money either. Things like an email telling them what a good job they are doing, rewarding them with time off, and even giving them an opportunity to learn more are all great ways to show your staff you value them. This is a great idea even for your vendors. If vendors love you, you can be sure you’ll always get the best deals, delivery times, etc.

Loving what you do means that you won’t just sacrifice the business for quick fixes to problems. To remain successful, only solutions with the future in mind will do. The tough decision here could be passing up a deal that would hurt you down the road even if it temporarily increased business revenue right now.

A positive approach doesn’t make everything rosy, but it does help to make things bearable for the moment. You’ll be able to see the big picture when you open your mind. Any challenges and demands can then be met with grace and fortitude. Loving what you do plays a major role in business success and longevity.

I love what I’m doing whether I’m programming a website or talking to all of you beautiful people. :) What are you doing? Do you love it?

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Find Out Who You Really Are

Elliott Kosmicki — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:51:30 +0000

You or someone you know is probably struggling with this question right now. “Who am I,” or “What is my purpose.” The first thing to keep in mind through reading this is there is not a reason to be upset or sad about wondering who you are – no matter what your age or situation. It’s the people who never try to find out who they really are who should be embarrassed.

I’d like to start with a personal story of when I found out who I was. I’ve always been very reflective and analytical of why people do things, why I do things, where do I belong, etc. Since I was 14 – starting with “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, I’ve been reading books and listening to audios that delve into the questions many people never ask themselves. What separates one person from another in terms of success? Why can finding a passion come so easily for one, but it’s a life-long struggle for another? So many questions that may never have definitive answers – but I can tell you this much – after 16 years of personal study on the subject, some very specific things come to the surface every single time. It’s these things that you’ll hopefully find for yourself after reading this.

I was 20 years old when I moved to Los Angeles from Madison, Wisconsin. It was a warm September morning when I packed the car with enough room to fit myself in the driver’s seat, and I set out on the 20+ hour journey. Music was my passion; creating and producing electronic sounds that made people move… where better to follow my passion than to California?

Skipping forward, after 4 years and some success, I became disenchanted with my life’s passion up to that point. The rigor of production on other people’s schedules and whims was not what I considered to be fun. I spent a lot of time thinking at that point… “If it wasn’t the music I loved, what was it?” It took me months of daily meditation and consideration, but I worked out all of the little details about what I did and wrote down my feelings towards each piece. The two main things I truly loved about my process, was the creation process – and the reaction from people happily consuming that creation.

It was almost that simple! I remember vividly the night all of this realization rushed into my head. I sat outside next to a gas fire pit and a beautiful kidney-shaped pool in a million-dollar Los Angeles home, just looking at the notes I had jotted over the last months… and crying. It was the single most emotional experience of my life – for a couple of reasons. One, the flood of negative emotion regarding my sadness over realizing that music wasn’t my true passion (or maybe growing out of that passion), and two, the flood of positivity that came from the success of figuring out what really made me happy. I still had one big problem though… if I knew that creation and making people smile were the two things I needed out of life to be happy – what in the world was I going to do?

The next process for me, with all of the emotional stuff aside, was a time of logical planning and consideration that moved me in the right direction. I was able to set aside any preconceived ideas of what I wanted, and envisioned myself simply feeling creative and making people smile. Some interesting things started occurring.

First, I started dabbling more in web design and programming – something I used to do out of necessity – and self-taught myself everything I needed to know to physically build a website. Second, I began looking (and finding) the creative aspect in almost anything I did… from having a relationship, to driving, to watching a movie… almost all of it became an enjoyable process for me. The things I was doing and creating were absolutely making people around me smile.

After moving back to Madison, I was able to spend much more time with family – that, I didn’t know before, was a big part missing from my life. I found a job at a music company that happened to do all it’s business on the web… starting in sales and marketing and then, because of my new passion for web design, was able to move into a web development role.

I found a tool (that I now love sharing with everyone) that allows me to be creative by making and mailing greeting cards online — and the reaction I get back from people is nothing short of amazing.

I started Good Plum as a creative outlet for the knowledge and passion I have about personal development, productivity, and attracting success into your life. I’m able to share this creativity with people across the world and love receiving emails and comments from people appreciating it.

Another 4 years have gone by since I found out who I really was, but back then I wouldn’t have been able to tell you I want to write (I don’t even like writing that much) or I’ll start a web site, or be a web programmer… All I knew is what I wanted to feel, envisioned myself having that feeling every day, and let the universe show me the way.

Now, do I think I’m going to write Good Plum forever? No. But I do know that this site is going to lead to bigger and better things – both for me, and everyone involved – you included! I’ve found an outlet that allows me to create articles, products, and more that can affect the lives of people around the world. What could possibly be better than that?

AN OUTLINE TO FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE

1.) Stop suffering. Many people are in your shoes trying to find what they want out of life… and it’s a good thing! The people who never think of this are the ones who should be worried. If you don’t truly believe you’ll find your way through this – you may never do it. You need to believe in yourself first.
a.) Read books like Life on Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life

2.) Outline your life as you know it today. Write down every little thing you do during an average week, month, and year. When you have that list, go through and make notes on how each of those things makes you feel. Go with your gut reaction – it’s almost always right. Don’t worry if the answer surprises you and don’t fret if you don’t have an immediate reaction… just move on.

3.) Study your list daily. Look for patterns that might evolve from your notes about things that make you feel great. Is it when you helped someone? When you cooked? When you read a great book? Went shopping? All of these things are important for the next step.

4.) Break down your list into the top 10 positive things and the top 10 negative things. Take the list of 10 negatives, look at it hard so you remember and know 100% what you don’t like in your life, and then get rid of the list. From now on, you’re not going to think about what you don’t like, only what you absolutely LOVE.

5.) Take your top 10 list, and whiddle that down to 5, and then 3. These 3 things are the most important things to you in your life – write them on an index card and look at them daily. Imagine yourself feeling these emotions when you look at them. Close your eyes and think about how it feels to do and feel the things on your list.

6.) Keep experiencing your top 3. It’s that important. Live them, breathe them, know them and how they make you feel every second of the day.

7.) Open yourself to the opportunities that present themselves to you. Don’t pigeon-toe yourself into trying to figure out exactly what you need to do… just say yes and jump on the opportunities that present themselves to you. If you’re doing number 6 everyday, this will start happening sooner than you think.

One day, you’ll wake up to discover that you’re doing things that you love. You don’t dread work, because your work is what you love. You simply don’t waste your time doing things you hate – because they’re not who you are.

You’ve found out who you are! Even if sometimes it feels like you don’t know exactly what to do, you have a secure feeling knowing that whatever you need will present itself to you as long as you’re practicing the one law they don’t teach in schools – the law of attraction. You reap what you sew. You’re envisioning yourself feeling and doing the things you love daily and this will affect everything that comes into your life from this day forward. Congratulations!

Do you have a story about finding out who you are? Are you looking for yourself? Let us know!

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What Are You Passionate About? [Discovery]

Simone Walker — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:15:53 +0000

In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We commit ourselves to our responsibilities, obligations, and expectations, but we often do so at the expense of our dreams, aspirations, and goals. Our society and our lives are demanding, leaving us with little time and energy to focus on what may seem like selfish or even childish dreams. However, without fulfilling those inner desires we end up loosing an important part of ourselves.

There are several self-help articles about how to make one happier and more fulfilled. But it all starts with realizing your true passion. What motivates you? What makes you smile? Or even, when you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

Finding that thing that makes you want to get out of bed every morning, that thing that makes you whistle while you work, is the first step in finding happiness. Too often, we look outside of ourselves to find something to make our lives a little better. We seek more money, a new car or house, a better relationship—and all the while we neglect our true needs.

The dutiful son or daughter who gives up dreams of acting to attend college and get a “real job” will eventually conform to those expectations. But will he or she be happy sitting behind a desk day in and day out? The doting mother who gives up finishing her Master’s degree to take care of the kids will love her children with all her heart and provide them with all their needs and wants. But will she really find solace in mommy and me groups and story time at the local library? The caring husband who sets aside his hobby of collecting model trains because it is viewed as childish will eventually forget the dust covered trains in the attic. But will his passion for tinkering with the shiny trains be placated by repairing the broken dishwasher and changing the oil in his wife’s car? We often agree to what is expected of us and drown out the voice inside our head and hearts. But the truth is… you don’t have to be irresponsible or unreasonable to fulfill your passion.

Discovering your passion may actually be difficult if it’s been dormant for an extended period of time. It may have even changed. To answer the question, what are you passionate about, may require that you spend time and energy seriously considering your likes and dislikes. Think back to your youth and the things that interested you as a child or teenager. Think about projects or hobbies you worked on that left you exhilarated. Write in your journal or look through past journal entries and find the pattern of things that leave you feeling better about your day. If you listen to your heart, the answer will reveal itself rivaled by little else.

Once you discover your passion, pursue it! For some, it may be scary to step outside of the norm and onto a path less traveled. But personal growth only happens when we extend ourselves beyond our usual boundaries. You don’t have to neglect your responsibilities to pursue your passion. It may simply be to take an art class at a local community center or you may find that you wish to switch careers and become a graphic designer. Determine what you are passionate about and then find ways to embrace it.

Discovering and living your passion is more rewarding than the raise your boss will give you or the new outfit you bought last week. Material success cannot compare to the feeling of accomplishing a personal goal or living out a dream. When you take the time to fulfill your own desires you will be rewarded with a sense of pride and inner peace.

Do not let another moment pass you by before you take the time to think, what am I passionate about? What unfulfilled dreams do I still have and how can I achieve them? Take this moment to sit back and remember what makes you smile. When you take away all the expectations and obligations, who are you? Find your true self and be your true self. Pursue your passion with passion.

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Living Your Reality

Elliott Roberts — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:46:36 +0000

After a long day when you go to bed, right before sleeping, what is the last thing in your mind?

When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you think of? It totally depends on what you do and who you are. For most of us, those last and first thoughts are related directly to what is a problem in our lives. For a mother might be things like what to cook tomorrow, how to cope with teenager hormones and moods, or perhaps, how to pay for that gift that is really out of the budget.

For so many people, those last and first thoughts are directly related to their jobs. Many are worried of loosing that income, even though they can’t stand working there. Many are working extra hard to get that promotion, to improve their performance, to be in a better situation.

But what can drive you to be a better worker if you don’t like what you do?

That’s the reality that brings you down. You need the money to support yourself, to support your family, to pay for the mortgage, to pay for the bills, and yet you daydream about having a different job, better paid, a job that makes you happy.

There’s a song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young that says: “If you can’t be with the one you love, Love the one you’re with.” To fall in love with something you don’t like already is very difficult! But if you give it a try, maybe then you will start liking what you do.

The trick is to enjoy what you do, to take your job as a hobby, and then you will never “work” again, simply because you enjoy it so much, it is not a “job” anymore. To make money doing something you love, is the ideal situation for every human being.

Of course not everybody can be the official taster at Hershey’s Chocolate Factory, or testers for mattress and comfortable chairs. But if there is something in your life that gives you satisfaction, something you really enjoy and you are good at, why not try to make that special thing your main income?

Accepting your reality means sacrifices, means doing things that might not be what you wish. But don’t give up your dreams. Try to find an outlet, and make your reality a life worth living. After all, happiness is not a destination… It’s a journey.

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The Absolute Power of Positive Attitude

Erin McKellar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:23:17 +0000

I am going to ask you to something very weird right now. First of all, I want you to listen to your thoughts. Now tell me, what thoughts fill your head? Would you label them as positive, or negative?

Now let’s say you are walking down the street with these thoughts. Do you think anyone who would meet you would be able to tell you what’s on your mind?

The answer to number one is up to you. But, the answer number two can be pretty generic. Although people will not be able to tell you exactly what you think, they will more or less have an idea of how you are feeling.

Here’s another question. When you enter a party filled with friends, do they all fall silent as if something terrible had happened? Or does everybody there perk up as if waiting for something exciting to happen?

You know what? The answer to all these depends on your frame of mind.

Thoughts are very powerful. They affect your general attitude. The attitude you carry reflects on your appearance, too – unless, of course, you are a great actor.

And it doesn’t end there. Your attitude can also affect people around you.

The type of attitude you carry depends on you. It can be either positive or negative.

Positive thoughts have a filling effect. They are admittedly invigorating. Plus, the people around the person carrying positive thoughts are usually energized by this type of attitude.

Negative thoughts on the other hand have a sapping effect on other people. Aside from making you look gloomy and sad, negative thoughts can turn a festive gathering into a funeral wake.

A positive attitude attracts people, while a negative attitude repels them. People tend to shy away from those who carry a negative attitude.

We can also define attitude as the way of looking at the world. If you choose to focus on the negative things in the world, more or less you have a negative attitude brewing up. However, if you choose to focus on the positive things, you are more likely carry a positive attitude.

You have much to gain from a very positive attitude. For one, studies have shown that a positive attitude promotes better health. Those with this kind of attitude also have more friends. projecting a positive attitude also helps one to handle stress and problems better than those who have a negative attitude.

A positive attitude begins with a healthy self-image. If you will love the way you are and are satisfied, confident, and self-assured, you also make others are around feel the same way.

A negative attitude, on the other hand, has, of course, an opposite effect. So, carrying a negative attitude has a twofold drawback. You feel bad about yourself, and you make others feel the same way.

If you want to have a positive attitude, you have to feature healthy thoughts. This is probably very hard to do nowadays since, all around us, the media feeds us nothing but negative thoughts. A study shows that for every 14 things a parent says to his or her child, only one is positive. This is truly a saddening thought.

If you want a healthier outlook in life, you need to think happy thoughts, and you have to hear positive things as well. So, what can you do? Well, for starters, you could see a funny movie, you could play with children, spend some time telling jokes with friends. All these activities fill you with positive stimuli, which in turn promotes positive attitude.

Although it is impossible to keep ourselves from the negative things around us, you can still carry a positive attitude by focusing on the good things, the positive things in life.

And this positive attitude you now carry can be of benefit to other people. Sometimes when other people feel down, the thing people mostly do is try to give them advice. But sometimes, all they need is somebody to sit by them, and listen to them. If you have a positive attitude you may be able to cheer them up without even having to say anything.

If positive attitude is really great, why do people choose to adopt a negative attitude instead? One who carries a negative attitude may be actually sending a signal for attention. Before you get me wrong, feeling sad, angry, or gloomy is not wrong itself. But dwelling on these thoughts for far too long is not healthy either. There is a time to mourn.

As always, if you are beset by troubles, even in your darkest hour, focus on the good things in life, you will always have hope. Problems become something you can overcome.

You do not have much to lose by adopting a healthy, positive attitude. Studies show that such an attitude actually retards aging, makes you healthier, helps you develop a better stress coping mechanism, and has a very positive effect on all the people you meet every day. So, what’s not to like about a positive attitude? Adopt one today.

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7 Steps to Positive Thinking

Erin McKellar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:40:00 +0000

I’m sure you have a bright idea hidden somewhere in the back of your mind that you just can’t wait to test out. Of course you’re not the only one with the bright idea. So what motivates you to churn those creative, or even inspiring juices to its utmost flavor?

It’s always best to set up a personal goal where you can accomplish the most in record time, maybe like mowing the lawn in an hour before the big game on TV. A correct and positive attitude in whatever you do will make things easier, and even enjoyable.

Here are some tips to make it through the week even if you’re just sitting in your favorite couch. An idea takes time to form in your head and is always at work while you are busy sitting.

Having a bit of positive thinking can help you realize things that are never thought possible. Thinking big is indeed the American Way and that what made our country prosperous.

1. Take passionate action towards living your life by design. Talk is cheap. Action = deposits in the bank of a passionately authentic future. Without it, passion is void.

This is a perfect example where dreams are made of where you start by tinkering with your mind, then with your hands. And if the idea weakens, you can always go back to it later until you finish it.

2. Commit to yourself as well as those you love to create powerfully a life you can love. Instead of reacting, commit to creating from your heart and soul, out of love rather than fear. The American Dream will always be there, but a dream will still be a dream without motion. Be amazed as the transformation begins.

3. Recognize and embrace the thought that each moment is perfect regardless of its outcome. Every time you hit on something that may appear too extreme, why not give it a shot and see if it will work. You will be surprised to see of there are other ways to get the task done in time. If you are not pleased with the outcome, decide to use that moment to learn from and make the appropriate shift.

4. Dwell completely in a place of gratitude. Learn to utilize what you have in your hands and make use of it in the most constructive way. Slipping into neediness will become less of a habit when you repeatedly shift towards gratitude, away from poverty consciousness.

5. Use a Passion Formula of Recognize/Reevaluate/Restore in place of the Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda whirlwind. The former is based in increased knowledge and abundance while the latter focuses on scarcity and lack. As you face people or tasks that may seem harder than scaling the summit of the Himalayas, allow yourself to realize that the task is just as important as giving out orders to your subordinates. You would rather be richly passionate!

6. Keep humor at the forefront of thought, laughing at and with yourself when possible. You may find yourself quite entertaining when you loosen up! I am yet to see a comedian ever go hungry even though his jokes are as ‘old as great-grandma’. Life has so much to offer to allow you to mope around in self pity. Humor is very attractive, very passionate: life-giving.

7. Believe that you are the architect of your destiny. No one can take your passionate future from you except for you! Create your life authentically. As long as there’s still breath in your body, there is no end to how much you can accomplish in a lifetime. The concept of thinking big is all about enjoying your work, which would lead to celebrate a discovery that is born within your hands. Watch everything flow into place with perfect, passionate precision.

It’s interesting how people get wallowed up by something trivial as learning to use a computer, when nowadays that top computer companies are manufacturing software that even the kids can do it. I don’t mean to be condescending, but that’s the idea of not having any positive thinking in your life-you’ll just end up as a dim bulb in a dark corner. So instead of subjecting yourself to what you will be doomed for, make your path by taking the first step with a positive attitude.

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Passionate Love

Erin McKellar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:02:22 +0000

Passion is a burning emotion, a strong feeling or a desire that is deep within your soul. When you have found the perfect man/woman you will be passionately in love. You will want to spend every moment with your lover. That empty space inside that you tried to hide for so long will be filled with the passion of desire. Every inch of your being longs to be with your lover. It is as though, for a moment, you have been trapped in a world that is so far away from reality. Everything feels so surreal and you need the security of knowing this love will last.

Driving in your car you listen to ballads on the radio certain they were written for you. You try to concentrate on the mundane things of life when in reality your thoughts are embraced in the flesh of your lover. You wonder when the alarm clock will wake you up from this surreal world that has become your reality. Friends remark on how lapsidaisical you have been and you blush. Silently knowing the reason why you forgot to phone your friend last night. Your days are filled with dreams of your loved one. Rather like those cartoon bubbles that capture the thoughts of cartoon characters. You hope that nobody can see your thoughts of steamy embraces and passionate love sessions.

Times away from your loved one leaves you with a desperate longing to be back in each others embrace. You feel a strong sexual desire to experience each others flesh. You make love passionately and eagerly. Of course, it is more than this, much more. You meet each other on the same wave level and feel as though you have known each other all your life. Could this man/woman be the one you have been looking for, for so long? This is true love. Unlike any other relationships you’ve experienced before. You have found your soul mate.

Your love is obsessive it fills every part of your being. Friends start to notice that the strange behaviour you’ve been showing is due to your new love interest. If allowed to blossom and flourish then you will experience heights of intimacy and closeness you have never experienced before. If this love lasts past the first few months of honeymoon stage you might start to settle down and begin to think of the future together. Passion is when you can hide from your lover no longer. Passion is a feeling you cannot escape because it is too strong to hide from and too proud to admit defeat. Passion is like a fire constantly burning it gets hotter and hotter until you can no longer stand the heat and you collapse in each others arms.

When you have a passionate love you often only think of the one you love. Everything revolves around that person. You talk about them day and night. You lose sleep over them and when you do sleep you dream of them. You cannot eat and you are not happy until you are with them. This is the passionate love I am talking about. Passionate love makes you high without drugs. Passionate love is powerful and strong it cannot be broken. Passionate love lasts a lifetime.

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What Are You Passionate About? [The Test]

Guest Author — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:24:36 +0000

Do you have a passion in your life?

Something that every spare moment you spend doing, reading about, studying? Maybe your passion is skiing. Or rescuing greyhounds. Learning about Ancient Egypt.

Your passion might be going to the desert, spending time with your family, being a multi-millionaire or making quilts or wooden clocks. It might be a career, a cause, a hobby.

It doesn’t really matter what your passion is as long as you’re honoring it and doing it. If you are, then you’re one of the lucky people on this earth.

Many people don’t even know what they want, don’t know what their passion is.

Are you frustrated a lot? Feeling overwhelmed and at odds with the world? Do you feel life is a struggle, always uphill yet you’re going downhill fast?

Chances are, it’s because you’re not in alignment with your passions.

Because, you see, when you’re in alignment with your passions, the whole world tends to flow. Doors open mysteriously. People are placed in your path who can help you get you what you want. You’re in the right place at the right time. Always. Life just flows.

Is your life flowing? Or are you maybe wondering if you’re in alignment with your passions? Or even just wondering what passions you might have and how to figure out what they are?

Janet Attwood has developed a simple, fun, easy-to-take test to see where your passions lay.

Even if you think you know what your passions are, once you take this test, you may just be surprised!

Results from this test let you know whether or not you’re in line with your passions. Lots of people are spending all their time on things not even remotely related to their passions. No wonder they’re struggling and things aren’t flowing.

This simple test can get you on the road to what you want, your desires, your passions.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motivational-articles/what-are-you-passionate-about-201267.html

About the Author:
The author, Mollie Manuell, took this test and was astonished with the results. She was quite dismayed to realize she was not spending hardly any time at all on things she was passionate about. After taking this test, she is now on the road to living a life where her passions come first. You can, too. Click here for more information.