Are you ready to leap into the New Year? Here’s how!

Last week I got together with my friend and fellow speaker, Mike Rayburn, to do some planning and goal setting for the New Year. We had a very productive two day session, discussing all aspects of business, as well as our families, fitness, and spiritual journeys. We really pushed each other to “Go for the Bold.” In other words, it isn’t enough to set safe, predictable, or easily achievable objectives. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right … and BIG.

So, you could say we “Super Sized” our goals, to the point that they were exciting, challenging, and even a bit intimidating. Then, to confirm our commitment, we shot the video you see above. It was a lot of fun to do. But also (as strange as this may sound) it made our goals and previous discussions seem more real and more achievable.

As you get ready to “Leap” into 2012, and as you envision the kind of year you want to make it, here are some ideas to keep in mind.

Into Action

1. Set goals that stretch you. Don’t stick with what is comfortable or seek to simply replicate your past success. Envision and commit to a new plan – one that makes you a bit uncomfortable and would make you ecstatic to achieve.
2. Consider all aspects of life. Think through your objectives and goals in all five of your life spheres: Work, Relationships, Health, Spiritual Growth, and Personal Interests. Develop a plan of action that will challenge you to grow multi-dimensionally, not simply in one or two areas.
3. Plan with a partner. Whether you do this with a friend, your spouse, or a business associate, having someone to hold you accountable will make a tremendous difference for both the planning process and (more importantly) the follow through effort. Choose someone who will support you, and you will support, to make sure you stay on track for success.
4. Commit, Commit Commit! You don’t have to jump off a roof into a freezing pool (in fact, in the way of a disclaimer, let me plainly state you should NOT do this. Mike and I are trained professionals with a vague idea of what we are doing.) But I KNOW there is something you can do (safely) to boldly punctuate your pact. Take action to celebrate your commitment and launch the year with excitement.

I look forward to continuing to be your friend and encourager in 2012 … and beyond!

Happy New Year!

Dan

And more fully experience and enjoy your holidays.

This time of year promises to be a “break” for us – an opportunity to relax, connect with loved ones, recharge our batteries, or deepen our faith. However, the reality can be far from our imagined or intended version of events.

For many of us, the preparations and plans (decorating, shopping, making travel arrangements, and such) become added burdens to our lives. We must suddenly handle all of our usual tasks and responsibilities AND take care of holiday “to do’s,” as well.

The downside of this is that we may lose the feeling of specialness, or the meaning and purpose behind our celebrations.

My hope and plea is that you are able to find and enjoy, in the midst of the madness, the moments that truly matter.

Space Between the Throws

The study and practice of high level juggling has taught me volumes about managing a “full pattern” of objectives. As I teach these principles, one of the points that consistently resonates with audiences is this one:
No matter how much you are handling, there still remains some space between your throws and catches.

It is in the spaces between our actions and tasks that we can experience peace, joy, and purpose. Yet, too often, the tendency is to ignore or race past the spaces in order to get to the next thing, obligation, or task. We hope that, at some point, we will have our tasks accomplished, so that we can then experience peace. Yet that moment doesn’t come or, if it does arrive, disappears like morning mist, in the heat of the moment or winds of change.

“Space” is a gift that is difficult to wrap. But it is absolutely free of charge, and yours to both experience and give away, if you can remember a few simple guidelines.

Into Action

1. Look for the Spaces – Spaces are everywhere, if you just notice them: a pause in your conversation to fully connect with someone special, a moment to take a deep breath and experience the moment, or a purposeful minute of solitude to give yourself a break. Once you start noticing and validating the “spaces” in your life, they will expand and multiply.
2. Be Present – Your full and uncompromised presence is the greatest present you can give yourself or your loved ones. “Show up” with your full self.
3. Simplify – The concept “less is more” never really caught on with marketers and retailers. Listen to the noise of what the world tells you, and you will never have enough. However, once you realize that you already have enough, the little things will take on new and wonderful significance.
4. Pace Yourself – Slow down your experience, physically and mentally. Set your own pace, instead of responding to arbitrary demands.
5. Remember the Purpose – When tempted to run frantically in another direction, reconnect to the meaning behind your intentions. If the purpose isn’t there, then release yourself from those burdens. Where there is purpose, embrace it wholeheartedly, and hang on!

Some friendly, purposeful reminders:

• Renew your relationships with friends and family.
• Deepen your faith, and give thanks for what you have.
• Celebrate the end of your year, and look forward with excitement to 2012.
• Rest. I mean, really rest. Renew your body, mind and soul. You deserve it!

From our family to yours, wishing you joyful celebrations, with room to spare!

Dan

Off Balance On Purpose Theme by Dan Thurmon

Click the Arrow (or link) to Play or the Down Arrow to Download

Everybody deserves a motivational musical mantra:

a personal soundtrack that will pick you up when you are feeling down, or pump you up before your workday or big moment!

That’s why I produced this song. Not only will it provide you a motivational, musical BOOST, but it will also keep you connected to a mindset and plan of action to remain Purposeful, even in the midst of Off Balance Moments.

Enjoy it with my compliments! Load it on your iPod or smartphone, burn a CD for your car, or add it to your “favorites,” and feel free to share your comments below (including ideas for the upcoming music video).

With encouragement always,

Dan

OBOP Theme Song Lyrics

If you’re feeling overwhelmed,
Confused and out of touch.
If you’re stressed ’cause life’s a mess
And it’s too much.

You are longing for some peace, control and resolution.
May I propose a slightly unconventional solution?
You’ve been told that finding balance is the key to satisfaction,
But I suggest instead that you adopt a plan of action.

A new philosophy for you and me!

Off Balance, On Purpose
Get clear on your intentions and your dreams.
Off Balance, On Purpose
Success and happiness are closer than it seems.

Amplify your life by plugging into deeper meaning.
You’ll be prone to positivity once you are forward leaning.
It’s time to take control and make a choice
Stand up, express yourself, and share your voice!

Off Balance, On Purpose
Stretch your mind and your ability.
Off Balance, On Purpose
Initiate the changes that you see.

You’ve been told that finding balance is the key to satisfaction,
But I suggest instead that you adopt a plan of action
Embrace uncertainty. A new philosophy for you and me.

Off Balance, On Purpose
Get clear on your intentions and your dreams, yeah.
Off Balance, On Purpose
Success and happiness are closer than it seems.
Off Balance, On Purpose
Stretch your mind and your ability.
Off Balance, On Purpose.
Success and happiness are closer than it seems.

What you perceive to be a daily grind is someone else’s dream life.

We need to celebrate the struggle, as that is what makes us who we are. Here are some “gifts of the grind.”

Gifts of the Grind

• The grind helps us develop consistent action and disciplined thinking that have a huge impact over time.
• The grind stretches our abilities and makes us stronger.
• The grind offers opportunities in the form of repeated “failures” that lead to breakthroughs, often at the point of exhaustion.
• The grind teaches us about ourselves and refines our sense of purpose.
• The grind creates pain, frustration, and discomfort that help us become willing to change.

Always be your best!

It’s advice we have often heard and advice I’ve even offered during my motivational programs. The problem is, it isn’t possible. We can’t always be at our best, most positive and productive “setting,” every moment and in every encounter. Sure, that is the goal – to offer your greatest contributions. But on occasion, during stressful moments, in a weak mental state (especially while fatigued), any one of us has the potential to “lose it” and issue a less than helpful response.

However, I do think that there is one area in life where we can make one decision that will make a significant, positive, and ongoing change for the better. I’m talking about the arena of online postings.

Increasingly, we are in the habit (or forming the habit) of tweeting our thoughts, sharing our “status,” and casting our comments on other people’s lives, words, photos, and ideas. All of this activity takes place in a personal, yet very public space. And the ripple effects of our efforts easily multiply and continue beyond our view. So, as we do this, may I suggest a simple rule to guide you? Post positive.

Post Positive

The words, images, and videos, you share convey your perspective on life. Words can be charged with meanings, attitudes, and emotions. Before you click the “send,” “share,” or “post” buttons, I’m suggesting that you screen your screen, and make sure you are broadcasting positive comments, rather than critical, destructive, or negative ones.

Even in the area of humor, we can easily get ourselves into some trouble. I’ve certainly done it – in emails, texts, and online comments, humor is not always interpreted the way it is intended. When trying to be funny, we can easily miss the mark, especially when attempting to use sarcasm.

I’m not suggesting that you have to be bubbly, happy, and smiley in every instance. Be yourself. But be the best version of yourself. Why? Well, for one thing you are forming a reputation in a very public and enduring forum. Even if you think you are sending a private email to someone, your written words can be easily forwarded or posted. Follow the simple rule that if you wouldn’t want to have your mom read it (or client, spouse, son, or daughter), then don’t put it in writing and send it into cyberspace.

Into Action

Here are some guidelines you may wish to keep in mind, in order to consistently Post Positive:

1. Celebrate greatness – applaud (or “like”) people, ideas, or instances that reflect your ideas of excellence. Amplify the positive.
2. Encourage others – Instead of commiserating with others about how bad things are, attempt to uplift and offer guidance, or at least encouragement.
3. Disagree respectfully – In heated debates, you may feel the need to share your opinion. Do so with class and respect, even if others are losing their cool.
4. Choose clever over sarcastic – Sarcasm is one of the lowest forms of humor. Plus, it’s negative, and easily misread. Instead of going for the easy laugh, be a little more thoughtful with your humor.
5. If you don’t have anything nice to say …. You know. We’ve all learned the lesson. Let’s put it to use. Don’t let the negativity of others drag you down. Rise above, and move on.

You have an important voice. Use it wisely. Craft your comments and your persona in a positive way. Extend these ideas into your “live” encounters, as well, and you will not only develop a winning, positive reputation, but also to enjoy a healthier (and more productive) reality. Positive people feel better and tend to get more of what they want. Just another reason to “plus” your perspective.

Balancing Your Life – Part 3

Dan Thurmon teaches life balance lessons while walking a 10 foot tall slack rope

Please watch the Video Presentation of this message by clicking the play button below. To watch full screen in High Definition, click the arrows in the bottom right corner, and choose 720 or 1080p. Transcript of the video follows.

Did you miss Part One in this Video Series? If so, Click Here!

To see Part Two in this Video Series, Click this Link!

Video Transcript:

The third key about balance I want to teach you today is this: Realize that you can’t make it all the way across the rope in one step. It will take many steps. It will take time. And – here’s the key – it will take many adjustments along the way. You must make adjustments about how you approach your challenge, about what you are thinking, and what you are doing.

Make Adjustments to:

• Strategies
• Ideas
• Actions

The key is that you make those adjustments confidently and consciously.

Overcompensating

Many times in life we find ourselves off course, and the tendency is to over-correct – to make a huge adjustment in the opposite direction – which may just send you off balance in a new direction, and then you’ll have to react to that situation too! It’s about making small adjustments, controlled corrections along the way, which you can do.

[Dan stands up and begins to walk the slack rope]

You can do it, if you have the proper focus and the presence of mind – a state of mind where you are managing your anxiety and stress – then you can recognize those adjustments before they become critical.

And notice, as I’m doing this, that I’m constantly making small adjustments with my free leg, with my arms and hands, and I’m taking a very deliberate approach to handling those adjustments as they are required.

These principles and keys will enable you to chart your course and, ultimately, arrive at your destination. [Dan reaches the other end of the rope.]

So remember, by managing your focus, your state of mind, and your adjustments along the way, you will be capable of handling life’s daunting challenges [Dan juggles three flaming torches atop the rope] with great success.

Stay Off Balance … On Purpose.

Balancing Your Life – Part 2

Please watch the Video Presentation of this message by clicking the play button below. To watch full screen in High Definition, click the arrows in the bottom right corner, and choose 720 or 1080p. Transcript of the video follows.

Did you miss Part One in this Video Series? If so, Click Here!

Hi, Dan Thurmon here, back with your second in our video series about Balancing Your Life. And, today, I want to talk with you about how to manage your anxiety, stress and tension when you find yourself to be … a little high strung.

When you are walking on a slack rope, ten feet off the ground, it can be very stressful, because the rope is constantly shifting, and the consequences for failure are steep … literally! And the same is true when you face difficult challenges in life! The problem is, when you become anxious or stressed, you are least capable and least confident, and those are the moments when you need to be the MOST capable and confident.

To perform at your best when it matters the most, you must Manage Your Anxiety. Here are three ways to do that, even in the midst of a daunting challenge:

First, control your breathing. It sounds simple, but when the rope starts shaking, manifesting your nervousness, the remedy is to take conscious, full breaths, and blow that tension out of your body. If you can control your breathing, you begin to move away from panic or fear and into a more resourceful state of mind.

The second key is to find your footing. On a slack rope, you are balancing with one foot in the air, and there is nothing to hold on to! It can also feel that way when you are dealing with uncertainty, or a difficult challenge in your life. But the key to managing anxiety is to find your footing – realize that you still have at least one point of solid contact, and make sure you are doing what it takes to maintain that foundation. So, focus on what you can control, not the areas where you are powerless.

The third key is to set your own pace. When you are anxious, it is usually time to slow down, not race ahead! Don’t succumb to arbitrary or unrealistic time frames. Better to get it right the first time, than to get it wrong quickly and repeatedly.

Use these three techniques to become a better balancer, and manage your stress and anxiety so you can enjoy the journey and rise to your highest performance!

“You never know who’s in your audience.”

That statement has long been one of my life mottos. And it is so true – we are surrounded by people and opportunities that are unknown until we take action. I am constantly reminded of this when I meet someone at an event, on an airplane, or at some other location. Sometimes, a spontaneous conversation uncovers a mutually shared friend or experience. Other times, these “chance” encounters lead to new business opportunities. And then there are times when you end up with a really cool story to tell.

Last week I had three events in three different cities: Orlando, Houston, Tampa. Because they occurred in that order, I flew to Houston on Tuesday, spoke Wednesday morning at the George Brown Convention Center for my client (Entelec), and headed back to the airport to catch another flight to Florida.

After clearing security, I found myself with an hour to spare before boarding. Great news, as I was famished, having eaten only some bites of cantaloupe that morning.

I grabbed a steak salad from the Mexican restaurant in the food court, and took a seat at the end of a long, community table. Truthfully, I wasn’t really in the mood to talk to anyone, still processing the program I delivered, and changing mental gears for the next leg of the adventure.

After about two minutes, a man in his late 60s-early 70s plopped down his bag and suit coat on the seat across from mine, then sat down in the next chair. He shot me a friendly glance and a nod, then was joined by a younger man who sat immediately to my left, across from the older gentleman. They started eating their burgers. I immediately thought to myself, “Hey, that guy looks just like Donald Rumsfeld.”

But it couldn’t be. Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense under both Gerald Ford and George Bush, would not be eating in the Houston airport food court. He’d probably be flying on a private jet, touring the country to promote his new, best selling book, Known and Unknown. So, I didn’t say anything. I just sat and (I must confess) eaves dropped on the conversation. The two talked about their next destination and mentioned something about “when we return to Washington…”

Could it be? Should I say something and risk looking like an idiot, or risk exposing the man when he might prefer to be unrecognized? All these thoughts swirled in my mind. But, at last, I realized that I couldn’t stand not knowing. And I spoke up, saying, “Excuse me, sir. So sorry to interrupt, but I just have to say you look amazingly like Donald Rumsfeld.”

He looked at me, smiled said, “You know, I get that all the time. Because I AM Donald Rumsfeld.”

To that, I responded, “No kidding. Well, Sir, what an honor it is to dine with you today.” He laughed at my reference to our less-than-glamorous surroundings.

We were quickly into a conversation. I thanked him for his service, and for his book. Although I hadn’t read the 800 page tome, I was familiar enough with it to ask some questions. Then he asked me about my speaking presentations, and my book. Turns out Rumsfeld was a former gymnast, himself, and, in fact a unicyclist! He reminisced about that, and I encouraged him to pick it up again. “At 74, I’m not so sure about that,” he told me. “But Joyce and I just got some new bicycles, and we are enjoying riding together.”

Mostly, the three of us (including the Rumsfeld’s assistant, Brice) talked about life. Rumsfeld liked the idea behind Off Balance On Purpose, and told me that he has compiled throughout his lifetime a list of “Rumsfeld’s Rules,” a 30 page book of quotes and life lessons he lives by and shares with his staff. Brice will be sending me a copy, with his Rumsfeld’s permission to use them however I want in my presentations and books. Pretty cool stuff.

After about 15 minutes, we went our separate ways, to our respective flights. I couldn’t help but smile at the fortuitous encounter. And I can’t help but wonder just how many interesting connections and opportunities go unrealized, because we are not paying attention, or not willing to start a conversation.

I’m glad I looked up from my salad last Wednesday.

Part 1 – Elevate your Focus to Navigate Uncertainty

Please watch the Video Presentation of this message by clicking the play button below. To watch full screen in High Definition, click the arrows in the bottom right corner, and choose 720 or 1080p. Transcript of the video follows.

This is the first part in a series of three video segments teaching the principles of effective balance from atop a ten foot high “slack rope.”

Begin Transcript

Do you want to know the secret to balancing your life? Hi, I’m Dan Thurmon, author of the book Off Balance On Purpose, and today I’m up here in the trees hanging out with the birds, and we are going to talk about the secrets for effect balance in life and, in particular, on this slack rope. [Dan stands atop the slack rope, ten feet in the air.]

I believe that this represents the kind of challenges many of us face in our lives. So we are going to use this as an illustration for what we can do to become better balancers. You see, that’s the thing. You’ll never attain the “perfect balance,” a state of perfect where everything in your life has “evened out.” That’s because we are always in transition. We are always learning and growing and changing … and that’s a good thing.

But the question is, how do you envision your path and then take the steps necessary in order to move forward? And the first step is very simple: Don’t look down! If you stare down at the rope, which many people do when they are trying this for the first time, you will immediately head toward the ground.

And in life we often look down at our challenges – down at our negative situations – down at the immediacy of what is happening and what we think is important, instead of looking up and outward to grasp the whole situation and understand what is really necessary. Only with that longer range viewpoint can we begin to take the necessary steps to move forward.

[Dan pushes off from the tree and begins walking atop the ever-moving slack rope.]

Notice even while I am walking I am looking forward, not down to where my foot is in contact with the rope. I feel for it to get a sense of security and alignment, but then I move forward with my vision fixed ahead of me. That is the only way to effectively move forward. If you look down [Dan looks down at this feet and the rope, and loses control and composure.] Woah! [He "falls" to the ground, landing on his feet.] Immediately, you are going to fall off of the rope, and you will be in big trouble.

So, the first lesson is to manage your focus, to:

1. Raise your vision above your challenges.
2. Set a higher course for your life, in terms of your goals and objectives, and to
3. Keep your focus fixed down the path.

To be continued…

Dan

And Harness the Computing Power of Your Brain

IF you are frightened about the uncertainty in your future:

IF you find yourself repeatedly facing difficult situations:

IF you are wasting valuable time and brain power on seemingly simple or unimportant tasks:

THEN, it may be time to rewrite your code.

“Code” is a computer term for the instructions, rules, and commands in the language of programming. Computers do only what programmers tell them to, and these instructions (lines of code), depending on their effectiveness, can enable excellence or create recurring problems. And the exact same is true for you.

The human brain is the most magnificent, elegant, and powerful of all computers known to mankind. And the instructions, rules, ideas, and pursuits we program, consciously and unconsciously, determine our eventual “output,” in terms of life experience.

While modern computers are incredibly fast and can calculate and multi-task far better than we can, our brains remain superior. Your brain, you see, is ever changing, learning, interpreting your environment, and capable of the amazing act of imagination.

Also, your neural “operating system” is continuously being upgraded, based upon your circumstances, experience, education, and desires. When you harness your “thought machine” toward a particular purpose, you can become unstoppable.

But in order to do that, you need to learn to rewrite the code, that is, the software that drives your noggin. You must “program” yourself for success. Assume your rightful role of chief programmer. You will be influenced by other people and circumstances. You may be conditioned by past experiences. But you can overwrite your code with new commands, if you will seize control and do so, deliberately.

IF/THEN Commands

In 1982, when I was 14 years old, my dad brought home from work a modern day miracle: the IBM PC. This machine covered his entire desk, and was slow as mud, but it introduced me to the dawning age of Information Technology via a monochrome green version of “Space Invaders” and the BASIC programming language (an acronym which stands for Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code).

One of the most useful of all computer instructions, I discovered, was the “IF/THEN Command.” It is self explanatory, meaning that you tell the machine IF you encounter this input, set of circumstances, or problem, THEN this is what I want you to do next – or, here is how you handle it. It’s like writing a rule that will apply to future situations and challenges.

Now, here’s the cool part. Because we are creative – capable of imagination – we can write IF/THEN rules for our lives. Essentially, you make a conscious decision and tell your brain:

IF I face this type of situation (again, or for the first time), THEN here is how I will handle it.

This simple line of code, or self-executed command, is amazingly useful when applied to:

• Time-saving habits
• Rudimentary tasks
• Performance standards
• Recurring decisions
• Scenario planning for the future

This is also how we shape our personal judgement. At some point we decide how we will process a certain type of situation or influence. We write a rule for the way we will handle it. These rules accumulate, and will remain in place, shaping our lives, until we consciously remove or rewrite them.

Into Action

1. Turn Uncertainty into Opportunity. As you plan for your future (career path, financial situation, relationship status, parenting situation, or whatever it may be) imagine not one, but multiple options, or scenarios. Develop alternate plans of action, depending upon how circumstances unfold.
2. Handle a Recurring Task. Consider a situation you have encountered more than once, and construct a plan for how you will handle it, should it happen again. This will empower you to anticipate, recognize, and handle future challenges with more effectiveness and less hardship.
3. Resolve a Dilemma. If you have been bombarded by challenge after challenge, each one distracting you from your desired path, then you may need to deal with a larger decision or question. This could be a process, a moral judgement, or an ambiguous direction. Recognize the issue, than develop an IF/THEN rule to handle it now and in the future.

If you don’t like the output you are getting in life, you may need to reexamine how you processed the thoughts and actions that led you to that experience. Chances are, it is not a “one time only” event. You will be confronted with the same or similar circumstances in the future. The great news is you can, right now, upgrade your mental software and set in place a new and better way to deal with it.

Be bold. Rewrite your code.