motivational-speaker-susan-young

In the hit movie, __ay It Forward,_ a middle school child dreams of how he can change the world by being the catalyst for kindness. He begins his __ocial experiment_ by performing a selfless act of kindness, and so begins the domino effect. As each consecutive person receives an act of kindness they, in turn, do something nice for another. The kindness becomes contagious and changes hundreds of lives for the better. Think of the global impact we could make if more people would make it their mission to simply pay if forward by BEING NICE.

Take the initiative with deliberate steps to be a polite person:1. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.2. Reciprocate a thoughtful word or a good deed in kind.3. Say "excuse me" when you bump into someone, unintentionally violate someone__ space, or need to get someone__ attention.4. Apologize when you__e made a mistake or are in the wrong.5. Live by the "Golden Rule" and treat others the way you would like to be treated.6. When dining at home or in a restaurant, wait until everyone is served before eating your meal.7. Acknowledge notable events like birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries.8. Reply to invitations, regardless of whether you will be able to attend. 9. Acknowledge and show gratitude for gifts and gestures of hospitality.10. Put things back where they belong. Leave the world a better place than how you found it.

To cultivate bravery and courage, try something new for the first time. Take a chance. Stretch beyond your familiar limits by taking risks that move you out of your old mindset and into a new perspective. Once accomplished, trying something new bolsters your confidence and boosts your ability to be brave.

Every one of us, at some time or another, has allowed fear to prevent us from living our best possible life. The first step in conquering our fears is to identify and confront them. Among the most common are:_ Failure_ Success_ Being rejected_ Looking stupid_ Financial insecurity_ Falling on your face_ Being vulnerable_ Appearing weak or unhealthy_ Exposing your secrets_ Being alone or unloved_ Upsetting the status quo_ Disappointing others

Social orientation can be used to your advantage to make a great first impression; however, it can also backfire when we violate the boundaries of someone else__ personal space. Awareness of space, orientation, and proximity is a powerful tool for your relationship toolbox.

High fives and fist bumps have become the popular alternatives to traditional handshakes, especially among the younger generations. As a new social norm, they are used as a greeting, an approval, an acknowledgement, a celebration, and a gesture of understanding. High fives and fist bumps are also viewed as a healthier alternative to traditional handshakes because they don__ spread germs.

Being brave is not for the light-hearted. Bravery takes fortitude__he very act of bravery prevents anyone from knowing you were ever afraid in the first place.

The Art of Action explores specific action steps you can take for personal and professional transformation. Start by taking the initiative to be kind, courageous, and polite.

You already know the difference between being a gracious person versus a rude one.

It is unimpressive to interrupt another person while they are talking. Interrupting someone in mid-sentence demonstrates that your focus is on yourself, not the person talking. I had a friend who used a humorous retort whenever someone would interrupt him. He would graciously, albeit sarcastically, say, ____ sorry, I didn__ mean to speak while you were interrupting._ It always got a laugh, yet he was cleverly letting the intruder know of his infraction without being too confrontational.

I was once hired by an organization to deliver a workshop on networking. The goal was to provide their engineers with tools and strategies for expanding their circles of influence__o foster innovation, collaboration, and teambuilding. One of the engineers raised her hand in the middle of the program and bluntly said, ____ happy with the people in my life and don__ care to add any more._ I respect and appreciate her position and have sometimes felt the same way.But, as long as we are alive, we will meet, greet, and interact with new people. Even if we are not inviting them into our personal lives, being socially brave will open new doors which may have remained closed otherwise.

Ernest Hemingway was a champion of the common man. He once said, __here is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man. True nobility is being superior to your former self.

Become a __ood finder_ and seek to acknowledge the best you see in others.

Stepping out and stepping up can be an intimidating experience, especially in social situations where the outcomes are unpredictable and uncertain. Have you ever been reluctant to . . . _ Say "no?"_ Request help?_ Ask for a raise?_ Stand up to a bully?_ Talk about tough topics?_ Confront a friend or spouse?_ Speak up and share your opinion?_ Begin a conversation with a stranger?_ Deliver a presentation or speak in public?_ Talk about the __hite elephant_ in the room?_ Befriend people who are much different than you?_ Make sales calls because you don__ want to be rejected?_ Approach a new group of people at a networking event?_ Go to an event by yourself where you did not know anyone?

If you like the relationship results you have been getting and don__ see any need for improvement, your status quo may actually be your sweet spot for comfort and contentment. That is a wonderful place to be.However, if you are like most of us, staying stuck in your status quo may prevent you from striving, thriving, and growing in your relationship possibilities.

Fear is the number one reason why people do not take action. The divine irony is that most of the fears we experience are self-generated and born out of our own imaginings, hence the acronym False Evidence Appearing Real.

To cultivate bravery and courage, get involved in a cause you are passionate about.Serving a vision bigger than yourself changes your focus from self-doubt to whatever action is necessary for the vision to succeed. __hen in doubt, take it out.

ASK YOURSELF: Are you presenting yourself in the best of all lights, online and off, and demonstrating the dignity of good manners? Make sure of it! If not, it may come back to haunt you.