Denny Strecker's Blog

Student Appreciation Day

Denny Strecker — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:53:46 +0000

Saturday July 18th is Student Appreciation Day.

We have scheduled a variety of seminars and students are welcome to register for as many as they wish.

This is our way of saying, "Thank you. We value our relationship."

Your Legacy

Denny Strecker — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:00:03 +0000

Is your life worth living? Of course it is. Then, it’s also worth
recording. Your journal; your notes; your photographs;
your videos; your library…

These are the things of value that you will leave behind to
those you love.

"WOW! That’s what Grandpa was like when he was my age!"… That
is a tremendous legacy.

And, start your archive now. This lesson is hard to catch up on if
you fall behind.

On Vision…

Denny Strecker — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:56:50 +0000

"I can zero in on a vision of where I want to be in the future. I can see it so clearly in front of me, when I daydream, it’s almost a reality. Then I get this easy feeling, and I don’t have to be uptight to get there because I already feel like I’m there…that it’s just a matter of time."

"I set a goal, visualized it very clearly, then created the drive, the hunger for turning it into a reality. There’s a kind of joy in that kind of ambition in having a vision in front of you. With that kind of joy,
discipline isn’t difficult or negative or grim."

"You love doing what you have to do…going to the gym, working hard on the set. Even when pain is part of reaching your goal, and it usually is, you can accept that, too."

- Arnold Schwarzenegger

The First Day of the Rest of Their Lives

Denny Strecker — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:45:19 +0000

My sister got married last Saturday. It was a fantastic celebration of the joining of two families. 500 of their closest family and friends gathered to eat, drink and be merry. There was no expense spared – entire hall was rented out, musicians playing classical music as you entered, DJ for dancing, Frank Sinatra tribute singer, Belly Dancer, great food and beautiful flowers and decorations everywhere.

The best part of the evening for me came at the end of the night. First, we made it a point to make sure that anyone who was not fit to drive did not. Keys were taken and given to someone who was cleared to drive to make sure everyone made it home safe.

As we were cleaning up, I overheard people saying that all of the center pieces were going to be thrown away if people did not take them. They were such beautiful flowers that I could not let them just get tossed into the trash. I knew just what to do – I jumped into action and collected close to a dozen bouquets and put them in our vehicle. The next morning I called the local nursing home and asked if I could drop off the flowers for them to enjoy.

The woman on the phone was surprised and said, “Certainly.”

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the senior citizens and staff was priceless. It only took me 30 minutes to deliver the flowers – nothing in comparison to the smiles and joy on the senior citizens faces seeing all of the beautiful arrangements.

Which got me to thinking, “Why can’t we do this all the time?”

I have started to work on a program that will pick up flowers from anyone’s wedding and deliver them to a local nursing home the next day.

My point in telling you this is not to say, “Hey! Look at me!!”

It is meant to show you that if we all just take a few minutes out of our day, and think about a way to improve the lives of those people around us, the entire human race would benefit.

What are you doing today to make our planet a better place?

Riches Through Creative Thinking…

Denny Strecker — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:39:59 +0000

When solving problems after you have exhausted the normal means of coming up with the solution, think in terms of unorthodox methods. Vary your thinking and try to solve the problems by creating something completely new and irrelevant. Come into the problem through the "back door".

Research and curiosity go hand in hand in solving the toughest problems. Quite often the answer is so simple, it is not obvious to us. Use an organized plan to work with and record the results logically so you will have a format to follow and a basis for review as you proceed to create something new or solve an "unsolvable" problem.

Creating new programs or products by association is another method of thinking. You first think of an object which is similar or adjacent to the subject item, then continue the "chain" of associated thoughts until new and useful programs or products emerge as ideas. Relate these ideas to the subject item by trial and error or by analysis of all the variables involved.

Plain old fashioned "daydreaming" is another method of creative thinking. Make up a fantastic story in your mind and try to visualize (dream) your way to a successful conclusion based on what results
you are trying to achieve.

Consider all the alternatives to what you’re trying to come up with. Gather together and analyze all the data you can find about the subject. If you get into a rut, leave it lie. Go to some other aspect of the puzzle.

Come back to it later. Quite often as you progress it will suddenly appear, bright and clear. When it does, write it all down so you won’t lose it as your mind drifts to the next step.

Complete one step at a time. By breaking it down to size you can solve it in segments. Don’t try to override your mistakes. Recognize them and bury them so they will help, not hinder, your progress
toward your creative goal.

Don’t further confuse the issue by doing so much study and research that there are too many roads to take.

Give, First

Denny Strecker — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:51:55 +0000

"I’d do a better job if they’d pay me more."

"I’d treat my wife better if she were nicer to me."

That’s not how it works. If you say to the fireplace, "Give me some heat…and I’ll gladly put some firewood in," …you can see how ridiculous this sounds.

To be better paid; better appreciated; better thought of…give, first.

The rewards come later.

Got a Problem? Don’t Fix It!

Denny Strecker — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:57:18 +0000

Well, of course you have to fix it. But when you fix it, make sure you fix the situation that caused it.

You’ve got a problem. Your car breaks down. You’ve got to get it fixed.

But the real problem is that you don’t pay attention to the regular maintenance of your automobile. That’s why it’s broken.

Or, you had a fight with your sister. It’s a problem that needs to be fixed. But the real problem is that you are often neglectful of your relationship with her.

Fix the real problem…the one that caused the current situation…and life will become a lot easier.

The Five People You Hang Around Most

Denny Strecker — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:06:17 +0000

Do the people you hang around with go to ball games?

Chances are, you will, too. Are they avid church goers? You will find
yourself in a pew, sitting next to them.

Do they overeat? Are they involved in charity work? Are they fashion
conscious? Do they speak critically of others?

Pay attention to who you spend the most time with. You will become
the average of the five people you hang around with most.

This same rule applies to your children. Be careful to watch who they spend their time with as they will learn how to act from that group.

You Go Forward

Denny Strecker — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:28:24 +0000

When you decide to excel, sometimes you will find yourself leaving one crowd of acquaintances and colleagues and joining another.

If you hang around with people who do not care to do well academically and you decide to become a straight "A" student…you may find yourself leaving the old crowd behind.

Does this mean you have to abandon your acquaintances and co-workers to get ahead? Not at all. However, it is a natural thing to move from one group to another as you pursue your goals.

Avoid this: some people cheat themselves out of fulfilling their dreams because they are afraid to leave the comfort zone of their acquaintances.

Local Children Learn Kindness is the Ultimate Self Defense

Denny Strecker — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:36:07 +0000

Here is a link to our newest Press Release about our Acts of Kindness Challenge.

If you would like to join our team, please contact me for more information.