What Is Your End of Year Greatness Review?

Dear Friends,

This time of the year everyone starts setting goals for the New Year, which is always a worthy endeavor. Yet a crucial step in that process is usally ignored or omitted. How can we have any energy for our new goals if we have not given ourselves any credit for what we have achieved this year?

I challenge you to take responsibility for your own greatness and to make a list of what you have accomplished this year. What are you most proud of? This could be:

Relationships
Finances
Health
Vacations
Professional Achievments
Helping Others
Charitable Work
Spiritual Progress
Or any aspect of your life important to you.

Here's the important thing: Appreciate yourself and give yourself full credit for what you have achieved this year, before rushing headlong into the new year. Standing on this appreciation platform will give you far greater strength to tackle what is before you in the new year. Enjoy!

Best wishes and blessings for the happiest of holidays!

"Building Success on Your Best"
Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D
www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com
National pioneer in positive leadership & change
Founder/CEO ITLC
Institute for Transformation Leaders, Coaches and Consultants
Co-author, Bestselling book, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom
Author of the new positive leadership book,
What You Say Is What You Get(R): The Secret Language of Great Business Results
What You Say Is What You Get(R): Your Positive Quotient PQ (TM) Questionnaire
What You Say Is What You Get(R): Your Appreciative Quotient AQ (TM) Questionnaire
What You Say Is What You Get(R): Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children of All Ages, 2 Hour 2 CD Audio Book by "Dr. Appreciation"

Coming soon!! Dr. Linne's Power Course on Intuition for Business Success!
"The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness."
Dr. Linne's Positive Power Quote

Visit our positive new blog:
http://drlinnebourget.blogspot.com

Copyright 2005-2008. All Rights Reserved.
Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

Create An Appreciative Thanksgiving - The Deepest Craving

Every year my favorite part of Thanksgiving is to go around the table after dinner and before dessert, when everyone needs a breather, and have everyone appreciate each other, out loud, in words! I started this 25 years ago when I was doing my Ph.D dissertation on appreciation. Although the academics thought I was nuts, "real people" were inspired by my work.

This Thanksgiving appreciation time transforms groups instantly by touching their hearts, saying and hearing words of appreciation. Take every opportunity to tell people you appreciate them, for we never know how long they will be with us.

Recently, a younger dear friend and colleague passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. As I grieve his loss, I have enormous sorrow but no guilt as I had told him all along what I appreciate about him. Be appreciation-wise, keep current by saying the appreciation in your heart at the time. Don't wait.

Appreciate everything good in your life this holiday season. Whatever you appreciate expands.

Appreciatively,

Dr. Linne


Copyright 2005-2008. All Rights Reserved.
Dr. Linne Bourget, M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D.

How well do you receive appreciation?

Recently, I was in a meeting where a person was called up by surprise to receive an award. His first response was "uh-oh". He meant it in a wearily negative way rather than in a funny or happy way. This made me very sad and reminded me of many times when I have seen the same dynamic in professional business groups.

Typically, when people find out they are about to receive awards or verbal recognition, they say, "uh-oh" instead of "great". What has happened in our culture to condition people so powerfully to respond with a negative when they know they are going to receive something very positive? Is it that we are not supposed to enjoy receiving appreciation? Is it that there is an epidemic of low self-esteem and people feel as though they don't deserve recognition and awards?

Considering that, as William James says, "The deepest craving in human nature is to be appreciated", what does that say about how effectively we give and receive appreciation in our culture? Without an everyday language of appreciation running rampant though our days at work and at home, how can we ever achieve self-esteem in large numbers? Only knowing our best gives us self-esteem and if we are not receiving appreciation effectively, we are not learning about our best.

Next time someone gives you appreciation or an award, make it your personal goal to enjoy it and to learn about your best, your strengths and skills. The more you know about your best, the stronger you will be professionally and personally, at work and at home. You deserve the best!

Appreciatively,

Dr. Linne

Your Words Make or Break Your Success

Hi! I'm Dr. Linne Bourget. How many times have you lost a customer or a sale by using words that put a wall between you and your customers or employees? My life mission is to provide systems and tools that make you the first choice to work with!! If you were Superman, you coulds hear me walking around my office trying out the most positive ways to discuss business so that my clients have the best advantage. Every word has enormous power--how powerful are yours?

One powerful free tip: Omitting certain everyday negative habits can transform your business relationships and income. One of these is the zinger, the put down cloaked as a joke. I hear these every day. These cause huge damage but since they are a "joke" people rarely complain. They just go away. Drop zingers and watch what changes in your meetings and your business. This tip is from my positive leadership book, What You Say Is What You Get(R): The Secret Language of Great Business Results, at whatyousayiswhatyouget.com

A word is not a word is not a word

Dear Friends,

• Do you know that every word you speak actually has an energy signature you are sending out to the world?
• What effects do your words have?
• What do you leave in your verbal wake?
• Do you have anyone in your life who will tell you?

Most of us do not realize on a moment to moment basis what energy our words leave behind, and what others are likely to do or not do as a result of our words. The research from Dr. Emoto of Japan, featured in the movie "What the Bleep Do We Know?", makes it clear that our words actually affect the structure of water. Positive words (love, gratitude) produce a beautiful crystalline structure, whereas negative words (you fool) produce brown muddy water where the structure has broken down completely. Remember that our bodies are over 70% water. Your words literally impact your own health and that of everyone who hears them. For health and for great business results, choose positive words! You will live longer, be healthier, and have more success! Make it a great day!

Dr. Linne Bourget

"Building Success on Your Best"
Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D
www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com
National pioneer in positive leadership & change
Founder/CEO ITLC
Institute for Transformation Leaders, Coaches and Consultants
Co-author, Bestselling book, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom
Author of the new positive leadership book,
What You Say Is What You Get(R): The Secret Language of Great Business Results
What You Say Is What You Get(R): Your Positive Quotient PQ (TM) Questionnaire
What You Say Is What You Get(R): Your Appreciative Quotient AQ (TM) Questionnaire
What You Say Is What You Get(R): Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children of All Ages,
2 Hour 2 CD Audio Book by "Dr. Appreciation"

"The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness."
Dr. Linne's Positive Power Quote

A word is not a word is not a word

Dear Friends,

Every word you say makes or breaks your success! How much money is your leadership style costing you? Take heart! Our language system has helped thousands of clients build better results with this leadership skill. So can you! I created this system and clients' feedback honed it to a high shine. At whatyousayiswhatyouget.com, Dr. Linne’s books, positive leadership seminars, consulting, and executive coaching give you proven, easy rubber-meets-the-road tools for faster, better, easier results.

Every word you speak has great power - is the the type of power you want?

Dear Friends,
Just back from a nice cool vacation in Seattle and am dragging in the AZ heat. But soon it will be lovely.

Do you know how powerfully your words affect others and your business results? One of the most powerful examples in recent memory demonstrates this:

I recently met a mortgage banker from a large corporation, a very bright, positive, fun person. We met at a business event and as we had interests in common, had a sandwich afterward. During that conversation, he asked me how old I was, already a major no-no. When I said I don't discuss age, he replied dramatically, "I can find out on the computer." This raised not one but two red flags. 1. Would he misuse his professional position to spy on me against my wishes? 2. What was going on psychologically that he would threaten this and be this rude?

As my world is all about collaborative rather than unilateral power, he did two things very quickly.
1. As I was not certain about his ethics, I could not risk my reputation and refer business to him even though I know many people doing real estate transactions and he is very creative in solving customer problems. This cost him money.
2. He totally took himself out of the running for a dating relationship, which he clearly wanted. This was a blessing for me, as I was protected, although of course disappointed, from getting hurt further down the road. Anyone who would make such a threat right off the bat is nowhere near the level of strength I have and need in a husband.

How about you? What effect do your words have? How willing are people to do business with you when they meet you?

If you have stories of how positive words have brought you more business success, please post them below!

For over 20 years I have worked with client leaders on this issue and now the Master Positive Leadership Language System is available to you for only $19.95 in my book, What You Say Is What You Get(R): The Secret Language of Great Business Results. Visit us at whatyousayiswhatyouget.com and find out more!

Wishing you words of success and happiness!

Warmly,
Dr. Linne

The deepest human craving

Dear Friends, "The deepest craving in human nature is to be appreciated." - William James

Are you receiving enough appreciation to know your own greatness?
Are you giving appreciation effectively?

In my pre-dissertation research, hundreds of people told me that they were not receiving nearly enough appreciation, yet they were hesitant to be the first one to start giving appreciation. I called this "the silence cycle", and my dissertation was the first to compare different forms of positive feedback to see what was more effective.

Over the years of working with clients, I learned that it takes about a dozen powerful guidelines to do a really great credible, meaningful job of delivering positive feedback. The two I emphasized in my dissertation were showing enthusiasm and being specific. Both have turned out to be extremely powerful requirements for effective appreciation.

How specific is your positive feedback?
How well do you show enthusiasm when giving it?

Being aware of these two skills can help you create better relationships at work and at home.

Make it an appreciative day!

Appreciatively,

Dr. Linne

"Building Success on Your Best"
Linne Bourget M.A. M.B.A. Ph. D
www.whatyousayiswhatyouget.com
National pioneer in positive leadership & change
Founder/CEO ITLC
Institute for Transformation Leaders, Coaches and Consultants
Co-author, Bestselling book, Wake Up, Live the Life You Love - Finding Personal Freedom
Author of the new positive leadership book,
What You Say Is What You Get(R): The Secret Language of Great Business Results
What You Say Is What You Get(R): Your Positive Quotient PQ (TM) Questionnaire
What You Say Is What You Get(R): Your Appreciative Quotient AQ (TM) Questionnaire
What You Say Is What You Get(R): Secrets of Powerful Appreciation for Parents and Children of All Ages,
2 Hour 2 CD Audio Book by "Dr. Appreciation"

"The greatest challenge is taking complete responsibility for your own greatness."
Dr. Linne's Positive Power Quote