Why Annie Armen

30 Quotes on CONFIDENCE in Business and in Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 03:00:00 +0000

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, ‘I’m possible!’” ~Audrey Hepburn

Am I the Mountain Standing in the way of my Success

Dear Why Annie Armen Readers,

I believe with all my heart that you are magnificently created to produce brilliant results! Anything less is not part of your destiny! Refuse it, turn it away, and believe with all your heart that YOU deserve the best!

Take a chance on YOU. If you don't, who will! Believe that your challenges are truly your greatest opportunities. If your esteemed mentors can withstand and conquer their storms in life, so can you! And finally ...

No matter where you are in life, always be and do your best incessantly. Be aware of and ready to show up for the unexpected. Let go and deliver your best performance as if it was your last!   Along the way, enjoy the most exciting ride toward your destiny stamped with success, because it’s inevitable!

Now ask yourself: "Am I the mountain standing in the way of my success?"

If your answer is yes, step out of your way and forge ahead with unwavering confidence, because you can!   With that in mind, I dedicate these select 30 quotes on confidence to YOU and your loved ones!

You are meant to be, can't you see? You have a legacy, unstoppable be!

~Annie Armen
The Communications Artist

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1. "I am here for a PURPOSE and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy." ~Og Mandino

2. “Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don’t let these feelings stop them.” ~T. Harv Eker

2.   “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. “A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.” ~David Brinkley

4. “It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not.” ~Attributed to Hanoch McCarty

5. “Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.” ~Bruce Barton

6. “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” ~Edmund Hillary

7. “Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember - the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” ~Zig Ziglar

8. “Your value is the product of your thoughts. Do not miscalculate your self-worth by multiplying your insecurities.” ~Dodinsky

9. “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” ~William Shakespeare

10. “Oliver Wendell Holmes once attended a meeting in which he was the shortest man present. ‘Dr. Holmes,’ quipped a friend, ‘I should think you'd feel rather small among us big fellows.’ ‘I do,’ retorted Holmes, ‘I feel like a dime among a lot of pennies.’” ~Author Unknown

11. “Only as high as I reach can I grow,
        Only as far as I seek can I go,
        Only as deep as I look can I see,
        Only as much as I dream can I be.” ~Karen Ravn

12. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

13. “You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one." ~John Wooden

14. “To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will.” ~Sugar Ray Robinson

15. "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." ~John Wooden

16. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." ~Steve Jobs

17. “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” ~Ayn Rand

18. "Success is the result of clear goal, unshakable CONFIDENCE, proper planning, enthusiastic action and consistent persistence." ~James Caan

19. “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds CONFIDENCE and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” ~Dale Carnegie

20. “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all CONFIDENCE in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” ~Marie Curie

21. “If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.” ~T. Harv Eker

22. “Just as much as we see in others we have in ourselves.” ~William Hazlitt

23. “Knock the ‘t’ off the ‘can't.’" ~Samuel Johnson

24. “Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.” ~Mary Kay Ash

25. “Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you.” ~Jim Rohn

26. “I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn't fall down.” ~Allen H. Neuharth

27. “I am convinced all of humanity is born with more gifts than we know. Most are born geniuses and just get de-geniused rapidly.” ~Buckminster Fuller

28. “The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable.” ~Paul Tillich

29. “We are like the little branch that quivers during a storm, doubting our strength and forgetting we are the tree - deeply rooted to withstand all of life's upheavals.” ~Dodinsky

30. “Listen to your inner voice, gather your strength in quiet, find your target, aim, fire!” ~Annie Armen

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List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1.   Did you Say, Can't
2. Communicate Anyway
3. 30 Quotes on LOVE in Business and in Life
4.   30 Quotes on ACTION in Business and in Life
5.   20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life
6.   20 Quotes on PERSEVERANCE in Business and in Life
7.   20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life
8.   Write Your Way Into the New Year With Your New Book
9.   Are you Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
10. To PRO-act or to RE-act
11. AnnieBiotics

30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 May 2014 14:00:00 +0000

“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”” ~Ayn Rand

When you count all the number of times you KEEP ON GETTING UP, compared to the number of times you fell... guess which number is greater, and more importantly, a true reflection of your reality? When life knocks you down, that experience makes your triumph all worth it because you choose to stand back up and knock the challenge out of the ball park that much harder!

Whether you are at your peak, stuck, or at the bottom, may you find these select 30 Encouragement Quotes empowering, firing you up with CAN DO power to actualize your dream and thrive in business and in life! In the spirit of encouraging one another, If you have a word of encouragement to share, or favorite encouragement quotes of your own, by all means add them in the comments section below. Thank you!

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1. "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN DO." ~John Wooden

2. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~H. Jackson Brown Jr.

3. “Get going. Move forward. Aim High. Plan a takeoff. Don’t just sit on the runway and hope someone will come along and push the airplane. It simply won’t happen. Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you’ll love it up here.” ~Donald Trump

4. “A word of ENCOURAGEMENT from a teacher to a child can change a life. A word of encouragement from a spouse can save a marriage. A word of ENCOURAGEMENT from a leader can inspire a person to reach her potential.” ~John C. Maxwell

5. “Leaders must ENCOURAGE their organizations to dance to forms of music yet to be heard.” ~Warren G. Bennis

6. “Listen to the desires of your children. ENCOURAGE them and then give them the autonomy to make their own decision.” ~Denis Waitley

7. “You do not live in a vacuum nor can you harvest the better fruits of life without help and ENCOURAGEMENT from others.” ~Og Mandino

8. “Instruction does much, but ENCOURAGEMENT everything." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

9. “ENCOURAGEMENT from any source is like a drop of rain upon a parched desert.” ~Claire Gillian

10. “A word of ENCOURAGEMENT during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.” ~Author Unknown

11. “You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training, grooming, and ENCOURAGING your greatest asset.” ~Tom Hopkins

12. “I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of ENCOURAGING people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.” ~Queen Elizabeth II

13. “If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.” ~Flavia Weedn

14. “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” ~Christian D. Larson

15. “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ~Maya Angelou

16. “Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don’t look back at it too long. Mistakes are life’s way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come.” ~Og Mandino

17. “I know of no more ENCOURAGING fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” ~Henry David Thoreau

18. “One of the most beautiful gifts in the world is the gift of ENCOURAGEMENT. When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own.” ~John O'Donohue

19. “Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.” ~Doug Firebaugh

20. “If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” ~Vincent Van Gogh

21. “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

22. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” ~Arthur Ashe

23. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible' ” ~Audrey Hepburn

24. “Forget all the reasons it won’t work and believe the one reason that it will.” ~Author Unknown

25. “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive” ~Howard Thurman

26. “Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you.” ~Jim Rohn

27. You can make positive deposits in your own economy every day by reading and listening to powerful, positive, life-changing content and by associating with ENCOURAGING and hope-building people. ~Zig Ziglar

28. “It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.” ~Mae Jemison

29. “Abilities wither under faultfinding, blossom under ENCOURAGEMENT.” ~Donald A. Laird

30. “ENCOURAGEMENT adds oxygen to one's life personally, and creates a healthier culture within organizations when implemented by practice, professionally.” ~Annie Armen

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List of Articles and Quotes You May Find of Interest

The Value of Mutual Reciprocity by Referrals

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:00:00 +0000

"LOYAL customers, they don’t just come back, they don’t simply recommend you, they INSIST that their friends do business with you." ~Chip Bell, Founder Chip Bell Group

How Can I Ever Repay You?

Over the years, is there someone in your circle of influence who has inspired you, who has impacted your life in a fruitful way, whether personally or professionally? Have you expressed your deepest gratitude with words like: "How can I ever repay you” or, “I owe you big time”?. If yes, did you take action toward helping your friend grow his/her business, or did you stop there simply because you were unclear on what more you can do beyond saying, "thank you"?

Dear Why Annie Armen Readers, while it is appreciated to acknowledge, validate, and genuinely compliment a fellow friend/colleague/client for all the ways he/she has helped impact your life both personally and professionally, why stop there?

Share Your Experience With Others

After thanking someone for their help, often times you may hear a response that goes something like this: "No need to thank me. Would much prefer if you can share your experience with others." Do you know why that is?

When you choose to let others know about your positive experience from professional services rendered, that action taken on your part potentially results in your friend acquiring new business by your referral. The value of mutual reciprocity by referrals is a beautiful thing!

Now the Question Becomes, HOW?

While many of you may already be familiar with the list you are about to read below, perhaps you may find value in putting this 'friendly reminder list" to use by sharing this article with others who are looking for effective ways to refer business your way. Here below are 5 simple action steps you can take now to address the "how" factor in “How can I ever repay you?:

1. Write up a professional endorsement (preferably using your company letterhead) sharing your positive experience to generate potential referral leads for your friend. Both mail the original copy and email it to your friend as an attachment, for his/her instant use.

2. Visit your friend's social media pages online at LinkedIn, Google+, and Facebook for starters. Look for the "reviews" section. Copy and paste your endorsement there to make your shout out visible to the public to generate lead traffic toward your friend's business.

3. Do you have a blog? If your answer is no, you can create one at no cost to you by visiting either blogger.com or wordpress.com. After creating one, or if you already have a blog, you can write and publish an article about your amazing experience(s) in working with your friend, and the impact his/her guidance has had on your business, with a link to your friend's website(s). How cool is that!

Here is one example of an article I wrote referring my top 3 clients, titled "5 Days of Business".

4. VERY IMPORTANT STEP: Ask your friend to produce a letter that you can share and give to people in your extended network to make it very easy for you to refer his/her professional services to others.

5. Review your overall "contacts" base and purposefully select 5-10 potential persons and/or organizations you can reach out to, who you believe can benefit from your friend's services. Here is where you can now use the specific letter produced by your friend (refer to step #4 above) to effectively facilitate an introduction and activate the referral process.

Nothing is Ever for FREE

When you are asked for pricing for your friend's services, immediately refer them to your friend for that particular discussion, and stay clear of volunteering information like: "I was lucky... Charlie didn't charge me for anything." Why?

When you say you were rendered professional services for “free”, without your intention, you are hurting your friend's business, and you are potentially advertising false hope -- that perhaps, just perhaps he or she can also receive "free" service(s). Please stop and think about that for a moment.

The reality is, you in fact HAVE PAID into your friend's business over the years in many other ways, which has earned you that complimentary service. For example, you may have provided your friend with revenue generating ideas that have resulted in ROI for his/her business. Your friend recognizes this fact, and chooses to reciprocate complimentary services to help YOU (not potential referrals) in mutual reciprocity.

Remember, nothing is ever for FREE! Someone is always paying the price somewhere!

AnnieBiotics

The Value of Mutual Reciprocity by Business Referrals is a beautiful thing! While feeling and expressing gratitude is important, purposeful actions taken immediately thereafter to compliment your heartfelt words of gratitude go a long way, resulting in mutually loyal, fruitful relationships both personally and professionally!

As you are working on referring business to your friend, let's reciprocate to you as well.

1. Who do you know who can recommend you today?
2. What type of person / company makes a good referral for you?
3. Have you produced a letter he or she can use to refer business your way?

~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:
1. How to Make Genuine Connections on LinkedIn
2. 14 Quotes on LOYALTY in Business and in Life
3. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life
4. 30 Quotes on ACTION in Business and in Life
5. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life
6. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life

7. AnnieBiotics

30 Quotes on LOVE in Business and in Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

“LOVE is your eternal, guiding light through the circle of life!” ~Annie Armen

Happy Valentine's Day from Why Annie Armen Communications! May you find these select 30 quotes on LOVE encouraging, uplifting, and nourishing, adding productive AND discerning value in your lives, both personally and professionally!

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1. "(4) LOVE is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (5) It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (7) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." ~1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Holy Bible (New International Version)

2. "I will greet this day with LOVE in my heart. ...

a. I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me!
        b. I will love the failures for they can teach me.
        c. I will love the kings for they are but human;
        d. I will love the meek for they are divine.
        e. I will love the rich for they are yet lonely;
        f.   I will love the poor for they are so many.
        g. I will love the young for the faith they hold;
        h. I will love the old for the wisdom they share.
        i.   I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness;
        j.   I will love the ugly for their souls of peace. ..." ~Og Mandino

3. “You LOVE people not for what you do for them or what they do for you. You love them for the values, the virtues, which they have achieved in their own character.” ~Ayn Rand

4. “Eventually you will come to understand that LOVE heals everything, and love is all there is.” ~Gary Zukav

5. “LOVE one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that.” ~Michael Leunig

6. “A baby is born with a need to be LOVED - and never outgrows it.” ~Frank A. Clark

7. “Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who LOVE, time is eternity.” ~Henry Van Dyke

8. “Take away LOVE and our earth is a tomb.” ~Robert Browning

9. “To be LOVED for what one is, is the greatest exception. The great majority love in others only what they lend him, their own selves, their version of him.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

10. “If you have LOVE in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it's not enough.” ~Ann Landers

11. “LOVE is not consolation. It is light.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche

12. “A LOVING heart is the truest wisdom.” ~Charles Dickens

13. “The past is behind us, LOVE is in front and all around us.” ~Terri Guillemets

14. “What the world really needs is more LOVE and less paper work”. ~Pearl Bailey

15. “A heart that LOVES is always young.” ~Greek Proverb

16. “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of LOVE, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ~Mother Theresa

17. “The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional LOVE, which includes not only others but ourselves as well.” ~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

18. “Pure LOVE is a willingness to give without a thought of receiving anything in return.” ~Peace Pilgrim

19. “I would rather have eyes that cannot see; ears that cannot hear; lips that cannot speak, than a heart that cannot LOVE.” ~Robert Tizon

20. “The moment we choose to LOVE we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom.” ~Bell Hooks

21. “LOVING kindness and compassion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference -- in our own lives and those of others.” ~Sharon Salzberg

22. “Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there's LOVE and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.” ~Ella Fitzgerald

23. “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is LOVE.” ~Sophocles

24. “LOVE many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.” ~Vincent van Gogh

25. “Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and our words into instruments of LOVE and hope.” ~Tom Head

26. “Your task is not to seek for LOVE, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ~Jalal ad-Din Rumi

27. “LOVE and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” ~Barbara De Angelis

28. “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to LOVE. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

29. “We look forward to the time when the Power of LOVE will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.” ~William E. Gladstone

30. “Through wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and unconditional LOVE, let us plant the social, cultural, educational, physical, emotional, and spiritual seeds of nourishment within children and youth, and through these efforts to ensure and bring into fruition their inborn virtues.” ~Annie Armen

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List of Articles and Quotes You may Find of Interest:

1. Do Childhood Prejudices Still get in the way of Your Success?
2. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!

3. 20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life!

4. 30 Quotes on HOPE in Business in and in Life!

5. 20 Quotes on PERSEVERANCE in Business and in Life!

6. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!

7. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!

8. New Year Message Inspired by Og Mandino

9. Celebrate the Gift of Life Because You Can!

10. To PRO-act or to RE-act?

11. AnnieBiotics

30 Quotes on HOPE in Business and in Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 18:00:00 +0000

“Turn your inner switch of HOPE, ON and thrive! Choose to make your New Year volcanic, where every opportunity dares to meet and join forces with your unstoppable abilities, powered by unwavering Faith and unshakeable HOPE!” ~Annie Armen

May you find these select 30 quotes on HOPE empowering, encouraging, and inspiring, adding productive value in your lives, both personally and professionally!

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1. “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

2. “If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.” ~Mary Pickford

3. “To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. HOPE means hoping when everything seems hopeless.” ~G.K. Chesterson

4. “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without HOPE and confidence.” ~Helen Keller

5. "HOPE is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them." ~Vincent McNabb

6. “The birds of HOPE are everywhere, listen to them sing.” ~Terri Guillemets

7. “HOPE never abandons you, you abandon it.” ~George Weinberg

8. “HOPE is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.” ~Lin Yutang

9. "HOPE is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops… at all.” ~Emily Dickinson

10. “HOPE begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.” ~Anne Lamott

11. “We always kept in our hearts the most noble, beautiful feeling that sets human beings apart: HOPE.” ~Manel Loureiro

12. “A lesson for all of us is that for every loss, there is victory, for every sadness, there is joy, and when you think you’ve lost everything, there is HOPE.” ~Geraldine Solon

13. “Because now that it’s finally morning, the shadows are beginning to fade, the shadows that have been covering my mind and my soul. Now that they’re gone, I can almost start to see the way, and it’s different from the one they’d convinced me was all I could have.” ~Vixen Phillips

14. “HOPE and reality lie in inverse proportions.” ~Jodi Picoult

15. “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.

16. “We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably broken.” ~John Green

17. “A leader is a dealer in HOPE.” ~Napoleon Bonaparte

18. “There is HOPE for the future because God has a sense of humor and we are funny to God.” ~Bill Cosby

19. “No matter how dark the moment, love and HOPE are always possible.” ~George Chakiris

20. “While there’s life, there’s HOPE.” ~Marcus Tullius Cicero

21. “HOPE is the word which God has written on the brow of every man.” ~Victor Hugo

22. “Many believe – and I believe – that I have been designated for this work by God. In spite of my old age, I do not want to give it up; I work out of love for God and I put my HOPE in Him.” ~Michelangelo

23. “The capacity for HOPE is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started.” ~Norman Cousins

24. “There is no medicine like HOPE, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.” ~Orison Swett Marden

25. “Expect to have HOPE rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.” ~Sarah Ban Breathnach

26. “HOPE is tenacious. It goes on living and working when science has dealt it what should be its deathblow.” ~Paul Laurence Dunbar

27. “Where HOPE would otherwise become hopelessness, it becomes faith.” ~Robert Brault

28. "When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you're slamming the door in the face of God." ~Charles L. Allen

29. “HOPE is faith holding out its hand in the dark.” ~George Iles

30. “Once you choose HOPE, anything's possible.” ~Christopher Reeve

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Write Your Way Into the New Year with Your New Book!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 11:00:00 +0000

"Please think about your legacy, because you’re writing it every day." ~Gary Vaynerchuck

Where are You Currently With Your Book?

"A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit." ~Richard Bach

1. Are you at a point in your career and life where you are ready to write a book?

2. Do you have an idea for your book, and are looking for guidance on how to start?

3. Do you already have written material, and are seeking for direction with an authentic edge along with organization, strategy, and structured format?

4. Do you already have a completed book (as far as content is concerned) and are in need of directional guidance? Perhaps finding yourself overwhelmed with critical decisions to make concerning:

   a. Self-publishing vs. Publishing
   b. Softcover (paperback) vs. Hardcover vs. eBook
   c. Distribution (local, nationwide, international/foreign rights)
   d. Packaging (positioning and design) and Printing
   e. Representation (re-packaging, brand development worldwide)

f. Sales (Combination of distribution, promotion, representation, marketing and time)

g. Marketing and Promotion, just to name a few.

5. Do you find yourself stuck in a place where fear, anxiety, and doubts are your biggest challenges in the way of your writing endeavors, ready to break out of your shell?

If your answer is “YES” to any one of the questions above, we have tremendous news for you!

WAAC Announcement!

"There's a difference between interest and COMMITMENT. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're COMMITTED TO DOING something, you accept no excuses; only results." ~Kenneth Blanchard

We are proud to announce that Motivational Press has joined forces with Why Annie Armen Communications (WAAC) to address all your book writing needs as your one stop, writing and publication goto source! Together, we are committed to ensure your written legacy to the world because we care!

About Motivational Press

With over 75 top best-selling titles in the past two years alone, Motivational Press is the leading publisher of non-fiction titles worldwide. Specializing in business, self-help, health and wellness, finance, and leadership, Motivational Press has quickly become a renowned leader in publishing, distribution, marketing, and promotions for their authors.

In the words of Justin Sachs, CEO of Motivational Press:

"Nothing is more powerful to one's clients nor empowering to oneself than to have a book. There's almost this magical aurora that an author gets that transforms their credibility, skyrockets their visibility, and enhances their overall success."

Common Flaw in Self-Publishing

“It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t. ” ~Martin Van Buren

According to an article in Forbes, written by Suw Charman-Anderson, “If there’s a common flaw in self-publishing, it’s that too many books are published too soon. Experienced voices across the publishing world continually advise self-publishers to get help with editing, and not just copyediting but story editing too.”

Forbes contributor then continues on by asking two poignant questions:

1. "Do you really want, in five or ten years time, to look back on your early work and cringe? More to the point,

2. Do you really want your first act of publishing to result in the irreversible blotting of your copybook with your potential fans?"

Referring back to Martin Van Buren's quote above, better to get the job done right head on than having to explain why you didn't later when you had the choice. By investing your three valuable assets of time, energy, and finances in doing the job right from the start, you will be gaining and generating time, energy, and revenues in the long-term. Equally important, you will be recognized and respected for stellar work, as opposed to "your name being married permanently, to sub-standard work which doesn’t show off your talents to their best" (the text in quotes is taken from Forbes article referenced above).

10 Writing Nuggets to Help You Stay on Track

1. “Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.” ~Og Mandino

2. “A writer writes not because he is educated but because he is driven by the need to communicate. Behind the need to communicate is the need to share. Behind the need to share is the need to be understood.” ~Leo Rosten

3. "Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.” ~John Jakes

4. "Details make stories human, and the more human a story can be, the better. …The first draft of anything is sh*t." ~Ernest Hemingway

5. “A vocabulary of truth and simplicity will be of service throughout your life.” ~Winston Churchill

6. “To get the truth, you want to get your own heart to pound while you write.” ~Robert McKee

7. "Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you've got to say, and say it hot." ~D.H. Lawrence

8. “You can sit there, tense and worried, freezing the creative energies, or you can start writing something. It doesn't matter what. In five or ten minutes, the imagination will heat, the tightness will fade, and a certain spirit and rhythm will take over.” ~Leonard Bernstein

9. "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~Toni Morrison

10. "Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read." ~Leo Burnett

AnnieBiotics Message

"Apprehend your vision and work relentlessly toward making it a reality. WHY? Only when your vision manifests in tangible form, is when you can set your vision free to the world, and leave your legacy to positively impact future generations to come." ~Annie Armen -- Founder, Why Annie Armen Communications

Who do you Know who Needs a Book in 2014

Do Childhood Prejudices Still get in the way of Your Success?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 10:30:00 +0000

"The chief cause of human error is to be found in prejudices picked up in childhood." ~Descartes

Can You Relate?

I kindly invite you to take a moment with me to think about all the potential scientists, scholars, poets, composers, gifted musicians, educators, and like professionals we have lost over the years. Contributing factors leading to cause of death include (and are not limited to) childhood neglect, lack of communication | encouragement | confidence | validation growing up, lack of parental leadership as one, destructive labeling of kids, abuse whether mentally | emotionally | physically, and bullying. At the very root of all these contributing factors lies LOVE -- more specifically -- dimmed to no LOVE!

Now, think about adults (kids all grown up yet carrying that scarred child within) who walk through life broken on the inside. He or she believes they do not deserve the best that life can offer. Such adults live their lives carrying at times unbearable inner scars and fears; in essence becoming their own worst enemy, pursuing life and business decisions with doubts, indecisiveness, guilt, self-hatred, lack of confidence, lack of self respect, hopelessness, helplessness ... functioning without purpose, without vision, without joy, without any kind of Faith, completely oblivious and apathetic to "WHY" he or she is here on earth.

Painfully sad, isn't it?

On the flip side, you read about childhood and adult success stories. How did they manage to breakthrough their unique challenges and eventually succeed?

So what is the difference between these children? Why do only a few make it while many struggle through business and life? One can't help but wonder if childhood prejudices still persist and get in the way of success. If so, why does one choose to allow for it to persist in their adult years? Ultimately, at the end of the day, we can choose to overcome such prejudices, push forward and thrive, yes?

Remember: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Just over 13 years ago, when I first started producing my television program in Los Angeles, I came across a simple yet uniquely profound poem titled, "Two Children", written by my favorite author -- "Unknown". It goes something like this:

Two Children

"Same family,
Same neighborhood,
Same school,
Same stress,

Same neglect,
Same abuse,
Sullen, withdrawn,
One shrinks,
The other grows,
Warm, popular.
One finds nourishment, the other hardens.

What is the difference?

One found a caring adult,
The other did not,
One was encouraged,
The other was not,
One was expected to succeed,
The other was assumed to fail.
One pops back, one stays down.
Both are children.
Both are the future." ~Unknown

AnnieBiotics®

“Through wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and unconditional love, let us plant the social, cultural, educational, physical, emotional, and spiritual seeds of nourishment within children and youth, and through these efforts to ensure and bring into fruition their inborn virtues.” ~Annie Armen

+++++++++++++++++++

Call me with any questions and/or concerns related to speaking topics on bullying, emotional scarring and abuse, family relationship dynamics, toxic communication red flags, and more. Let me know if I can help you perceptively address and bridge communication gaps where needed to create an atmosphere of ongoing encouragement and empowerment to heighten collective trust, open communication, respect, confidence, and enthusiasm.

30 Quotes on ACTION in Business and in Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Dear Why Annie Armen Readers,

May you find these select 30 quotes on ACTION empowering, encouraging, and inspiring, adding productive value in your lives, both personally and professionally!

++++++++++++++++++

1. "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has Faith but does not have WORKS? Can Faith save him?" ~James 2:14, Holy Bible (New King James Version | Faith Without Works is Dead)

2. “My dreams are worthless, my plans are dust, my goals are impossible. All are of no value unless they are followed by action. I WILL ACT NOW!” ~Og Mandino

3. “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. ACTION breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” ~Dale Carnegie

4. “Thinking will not overcome fear but ACTION will.” ~W. Clement Stone

5. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~H. Jackson Brown Jr.

6. "Be everywhere, DO everything, and never fail to astonish the customer." ~Macy's Motto

7. "Success is the result of clear goal, unshakable confidence, proper planning, enthusiastic ACTION and consistent persistence." ~James Caan

8. “ACTION is the foundational key to all success.” ~Pablo Picasso

9. “The few who DO are the envy of the many who only watch.” ~Jim Rohn

10. "Don`t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of PERFORMANCE to meet your expectations." ~Ralph Marston

11. “Virtue is more clearly shown in the performance of fine ACTIONS than in the non-performance of base ones.” ~Aristotle

12. "Don't live down to expectations. Go out there and DO something remarkable." ~Wendy Wasserstein

13. "The key to overcome worry is to take ACTION and you can't take action if you sit around and mope about it or stay in bed using up valuable time that could be dedicated to resolving whatever is bothering you." ~Byron Pulsifer

14. "Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your DOING it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." ~Earl Nightingale

15. “I don’t wait for moods. You ACCOMPLISH nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.” ~Pearl S. Buck

16. “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent DOING nothing.” ~George Bernard Shaw

17. “What you DO speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

18. “An ounce of DOING things is worth a pound of theorizing.” ~Wallace Wattles

19. “To think is easy. To ACT is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

20. “There are costs and risks to a program of ACTION, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” ~John F. Kennedy

21. “Vision without action is just a dream, action without vision just passes the time, vision with ACTION can change the world” ~Nelson Mandela

22. "Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others MAKE IT HAPPEN." ~Michael Jordan

23. “Look for your choices, pick the best one, then GO WITH IT.” ~Pat Riley

24. “Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are DOING the impossible.” ~Francis of Assisi

25. "Trust only MOVEMENT. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement." ~Alfred Adler

26. “You always have to GIVE 100%, because if you don’t someone, somewhere will give 100% and they will beat you when you meet.” ~Charles Edward “Ed” Macauley

27. “Be as great in ACT as you have been in thought.” ~William Shakespeare

28. "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN DO." ~John Wooden

29. “I've always believed that if you PUT IN THE WORK, the results will come. I don't do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results.” ~Michael Jordan

30. "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." ~Theodore Roosevelt

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List of Articles and Quotes You may Find of Interest:
1. Did you Say, Can't
2. 20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life
3. 20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life
4. 20 Quotes on PERSEVERANCE in Business and in Life
5. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life
6. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life
7. 30 Quotes on CONFIDENCE in Business and in Life
8. Write Your way Into the New Year With Your New Book
9. Are you Leaving Your Authentic Mark?
10. To PRO-act or to RE-act?
11. AnnieBiotics

Celebrate the Gift of LIFE Because you can!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:00:00 +0000

“For me and my family personally, September 11 was a reminder that LIFE is fleeting, impermanent, and uncertain. Therefore, we must make use of every moment and nurture it with affection, tenderness, beauty, creativity, and laughter.” -Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Loss, Survival, Courage, Conviction and LOVE!

I remember I had just arrived in Cairo, Egypt (first trip) when all of us watched news footage of the twin towers go down while at Cairo airport. At that time, flew out of New York straight to Cairo, Egypt to speak at an event, and then this life-shattering news! To date, I thank God daily for being given the gift of life as my life could have ended right then and there in the event of a flight delay.

In honor of those we lost and their surviving loved ones, let's remember that LIFE is a gift, a privilege! When we value the gift of life, that action alone is our commitment to not let their deaths go in vain; our commitment to purpose LIVING in the now with love and gratitude, because we can!

So dear friend, celebrate the gift of LIFE, because you can!

Would you like to take this moment to express what's in your heart and mind, as we remember September 11 together?

GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!
~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:
1. 30 Quotes on LOVE in Business and in Life!
2. 30 Quotes on HOPE in Business and in Life!
3. 20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life!
5. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
6. 20 Quotes on VALUES in Business and in Life!
7. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
8. 20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life!
9. Are you Leaving Your Authentic Mark?
10. To PRO-act or to RE-act?
11. Did you say Can't?
12. AnnieBiotics

Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 08:45:00 +0000

IMITATION IS NOT A FORM OF FLATTERY!

"Each and every one of you has something unique to offer to this world. Cave not into duplication and cloning of what others say or do, no matter how great! Imitation is NOT a form of flattery, but rather an insult to the real deal that resides in you waiting to surface!" ~Annie Armen, Communications Artist

Questions to WHY Annie Armen Readers

"AUTHENTICITY is the alignment of head, mouth, heart, and feet - thinking, saying, feeling, and doing the same thing - consistently. This builds trust, and followers love leaders they can trust." ~Lance Secretan

1. Do you have something in your heart and mind, an idea, a thought, a vision you have been wondering about for the longest time?

2. Throughout the day, does this idea continue to surface back in waves into the forefront of your mind and heart?

3. Throughout the year, does this idea keep reappearing at the most unexpected, not to mention inconvenient times when your concentration and focus is critical toward executing a particular task, as if it was haunting you?

4. Do you find yourself setting this idea aside with the honest intention of dealing with it later? How's that working for you so far?

5. When your idea re-surfaces, do you in fact embrace it and take action on it? OR

6. Do you say to yourself, "Man... this other person, I love their idea so much more. Besides, who would even give my idea a second thought, much less take it seriously. Not only that, it will take too much time and money, and forget it... who am I kidding..."

7. Do you end up sharing your authentic idea with a handful of people you believe are trustworthy, just to see if their feedback aligns with your original gut instincts and feelings?

8. What is their reaction? Do you receive encouraging feedback, such as: "Wow... you have a great idea! You better jump on that before somebody else grabs it." OR

9. Does their reaction go something like this: “Better stick to your day job, man. Life is tough, and would hate to see you lose everything on an idea. When you make more money and become somebody, may be then you might have a shot.”

10. Suddenly that one day is now here, and you wake up only to find out that your original idea has been implemented by another with a slight twist. How do you "honestly" feel in that very moment? Do you regret your reactionary choices of not listening to your inner voice against your better judgment, while allowing others to infect you with their seeds of doubt and fear? Better yet, what are you PRO-actively choosing to do about that now?

ARMOR UP with Timeless Wisdom

Along your journey, purpose awareness at all times because:

1. "When everybody tells you that you are being idealistic or impractical, consider the possibility that everybody could be wrong about what is right for you." ~Gilbert Kaplan

2. "TIME is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." ~Carl Sandburg

3. "As your success grows, you will soon discover that there are others who would delight in pulling you down from your perch." ~Og Mandino

4. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~H. Jackson Brown Jr.

5. “If one moment of fear can give birth to failure, then one moment of FAITH can reverse it!” ~Annie Armen

As you armor up with timeless wisdom ...

Create a Tangible Footprint on Earth

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” ~Herman Melville

If you have an idea that has been haunting you for the longest time, pick yourself up, SEIZE your idea, OWN IT, and DO something about it NOW, without hesitation! In doing so, you are creating a tangible footprint on earth. In doing so, you are leaving YOUR mark, your AUTHENTIC mark -- a mark that will OUTLIVE you!

BE YOU!

"A leader will find it difficult to articulate a coherent vision unless it expresses his core values, his basic identity….one must first embark on the formidable journey of self-discovery in order to create a vision with AUTHENTIC soul." ~Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

1. BE YOU! BE true to your mind and heart; synchronize!

2. BELIEVE that YOUR authentic ideas, YOUR authentic vision will be a great gift to this world! Otherwise, how sad and -- YES, SELFISH -- if you choose to deprive us all of the real deal that resides in you!

3. Work toward making genuine connections through life both personally and professionally, on a mutual foundation called, LOYALTY!

4. BE genuine in your approach when communicating with others. Why? The more genuine you are in your approach, the words you choose when marketing your stuff without sounding like others, desired/ideal clients WILL catch on and WILL contact you for business!

5. ACHIEVE a lasting impact, because you can!

Your Take-Away

"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." ~Oscar Wilde

When you choose to imitate what others do or say, thinking you will make it in the marketplace just as they have, you will reap temporary results, depriving yourself of long-term success. Is that what you really want?

Here is the key: Live your dream by doing it as opposed to talking about it -- no matter how long it takes, and no matter what anybody else says -- because YOU believe in it with all your heart, mind and soul; at the end of the day, THAT is all that matters! When your creation is that authentic, that pure, believe this -- you just killed the word competition out of its existence.

Authenticity is a gift, and each of you are blessed with this gift. BE YOU, EMBRACE IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT AND SHINE!

Now, Dare I Ask ...

Are YOU leaving your Authentic Mark?

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss educational training opportunities where we can tactically and strategically address areas of concern as it pertains to implementing authentic communication in your business model / marketing endeavors to help grow your business, please feel free to drop me a line.

~Annie Armen
Communications Artist

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1. Did You Say, Can't?
2. To PRO-act or to RE-act?
3. 30 Quotes on ACTION in Business and in Life!
4. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
5. 20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life!
6. 30 Quotes on CONFIDENCE in Business and in Life!
7. 20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life!
8. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!
9. How to Make Genuine Connections on LinkedIn
10. Write Your way Into the New Year With Your New Book!
11. AnnieBiotics

30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 13:40:00 +0000

Dear Why Annie Armen Readers,

May you find these select 30 quotes on COMMITMENT empowering, encouraging, and inspiring, adding productive value in your lives, both personally and professionally!

++++++++++++++++++

1. “COMMITMENT means staying LOYAL to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you!” ~Author Unknown

2. “Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events not of words. Trust movement." ~Alfred Adler

3. "There's a difference between interest and COMMITMENT. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're COMMITTED TO DOING something, you accept no excuses; only results." ~Kenneth Blanchard

4. "It was character that got us out of bed, COMMITMENT that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” ~Zig Ziglar

5. “COMMITMENT is the enemy of resistance, for it is the serious promise to press on, to get up, no matter how many times you are knocked down.” ~David McNally

6. “Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them day after day.” ~Arthur Gordon

7. “Losers make promises they often break. Winners make COMMITMENTS they always keep.” ~Denis Waitley

8. ”Unless COMMITMENT is made, there are only promises and hopes... but no plans.” ~Peter F. Drucker

9. “COMMITMENT in the face of conflict produces character.” ~Author Unknown

10. “The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise occurred. ... Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

11. ”Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and COMMITMENT to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” ~Mario Andretti

12. "The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. COMMITMENT is healthiest when it is not without doubt but in spite of doubt." ~Rollo May

13. "The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their COMMITMENT to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." ~Vince Lombardi

14. "Without involvement, there is no COMMITMENT. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it." ~Stephen Covey

15. “COMMITMENT is a language that success understands very clearly. Without it, the closest a person can get to the manifestation of their dream is the imagination of living their dream.” ~Edmond Mbiaka

16. ”Strategy is all about COMMITMENT. If what you're doing isn't irrevocable, then you don't have a strategy -- because anyone can do it... I've always wanted to treat life like I was an invading army and there was no turning back." ~Troy Tyler

17. "Do the thing and you will be given the power." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

18. “A man that is fully COMMITTED to his dream will never be a stranger to success in the future.” ~Edmond Mbiaka

19. “The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance under the prompting of a brave, determined spirit.” ~Mark Twain

20. “COMMITMENT is taking the first step, even if it means falling the rest of the way down.” ~Wes Fessler

21. “There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the COMMITMENT of others.” ~John Adams

22. “I was able to see what I wanted to do, I could see the opportunity, even when others could not, and I stay COMMITTED to doing it and doing it well, no matter what.” ~Magic Johnson

23. “Any man's life will be filled with constant and unexpected encouragement if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day.” ~Booker T. Washington

24. “You can become instantly successful with a simple thought, but long-lasting and pronounced success comes to those who renew their COMMITMENT to a mindset of abundance every minute of every hour of every day.” ~Bryant McGill

25. “COMMITMENT unlocks the doors of imagination, allows vision, and gives us the right stuff to turn our dream into reality.” ~James Womack

26. “There are only two options regarding COMMITMENT, you're either in or you're out. There's no such thing as life in between.” ~Pat Riley

27. “You can be anything you want to be, if only you believe with sufficient conviction and act in accordance with your faith; for whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” ~Napoleon Hill

28. “When work, COMMITMENT, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible.” ~Francois de La Rochefoucauld

29. “He who is most slow in making a promise is the most faithful in performance of it.” ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau

30. “It's always too early to quit.” ~Norman Vincent Peale

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List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:
1. Did You Say, Can't?
2. 30 Quotes on ACTION in Business and in Life!
3. 20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life!
4. 20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life!
5. 14 Quotes on LOYALTY in Business and in Life!
6. 20 Quotes on PERSEVERANCE in Business and in Life!
7. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
8. 30 Quotes on LOVE in Business and in Life!
9. To PRO-act or to RE-act -- is That the Question or Your Choice?
10. Write Your way Into the New Year With Your New Book!
11. AnnieBiotics

Grab a Cup of Courage and Just Ask!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:00:00 +0000

"Assumptions ARE barriers to effective communication, both at home and in the workplace." ~Annie Armen

ASSUME NOTHING!

Recently, I was asked this question: “Annie, what can I do to achieve, maintain, and sustain a drama free environment both at home and at work?”

Great question! Short answer, as a starting point: ASSUME NOTHING!

When lack of communication is in the air, rather than waiting, over thinking, wondering, doubting and/or assuming for the best or for the worst, preserve your good energy and sanity, grab a cup of courage as opposed to a cup of coffee, and just ASK!

If you’re looking to achieve and maintain a drama free environment, it first begins with YOU! Communicate clearly what it is you want, and don’t stop there!

Be certain that all parties present are on the same sheet of music with you, with a mutually clear understanding of what has been discussed, and what is expected. Leave no room for doubts and assumptions!

Here is a checklist I prescribe to my clients that works without fail:

1. Proactively encourage questions to improve open communication,
2. Aimfully terminate doubts and assumptions to establish clear communication,
3. Mindfully lay out your expectations from the get go to exemplify and evoke trusted communication.

Easier said than done? Without a doubt! However, tremendously doable when fully committed! When you implement this checklist consistently over time, you will then “protectively” enjoy a drama free environment with those you choose to share your space with, whether in business or in life!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Reality Check

Any organization which lacks in trust will soon discover they will lack in funds down the road, negatively impacting their performance, productivity and bottom-line. Building trust within an environment where communication is scarce, preferential, fragmented, or just shattered presents a complex challenge. Therefore, an experienced communications consultant/advisor can be invaluable toward bridging those gaps of misunderstandings, tensions, unintended consequences, and lingering internal divisions to evoke collective trust, maximize performance, and generate desired ROI.

Call us with any communication related concerns and/or questions. Together we’ll explore favorable service deliverables tailored to your business needs and expectations. We look forward to serving you!

~Annie Armen
The Communications Artist

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:
1. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?
2. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!
3. Are you Working With a Resistant Employee?
4. How to Make Genuine Connections on LinkedIn
5. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!
6. 20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life!
7. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
8. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
9. AnnieBiotics

How to Make Genuine Connections on LinkedIn

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:50:00 +0000

"The first ingredient in conversation is TRUTH; the next GOOD SENSE; the third good HUMOR; and the fourth, WIT." ~Sir William Temple

The Protocols of Meaningful Connection
"Annie Armen, during her webinar brought something important to the surface that in retrospect might be obvious, yet due to the simple button-push mentality in LinkedIn (and other social networks) may not be so obvious: The protocols of meaningful connection. Would you ‘invite’ a stranger to personally connect with you based on only a business card or an advertising flyer? Would you ‘accept’ an invitation for a personal relationship from a stranger based on the same? Essentially, Annie has pointed out that the ‘invite/accept’ simplistic button-push process may be tantamount to only superficiality, not benefit.

Annie emphasizes that the quality of connection would bring increased viability and benefit over the quantity of merely superficial connections, and she clearly instructs how to achieve that quality in LinkedIn through the processes she utilizes.

My impression was that the thread of ‘communication’ in the way Annie Armen expresses it, could be a great ‘corporate seminar’ series. Kudos Annie, and thank you!”

~ Michael W. King, Ph.D.
Board Certified Coach
Consulting Psychologist

The Importance of Authentic Communication

“Annie delivered a well-structured, visually interesting and thought-provoking webinar, in her own unique style. Excellent points on how ‘not to’ connect on LinkedIn followed by the best ways to do it to gain quality connections.

She highly emphasized about the importance of communicating authentically when making genuine connections on LinkedIn, which made me think about how to offer help to networkers without sounding robotic.

Overall very informative and interesting. Bring on more WAAC Webinars,
Annie Armen!”

~John McGrann
CEO at Drive Social Media
___________________________________

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss educational training opportunities where we can tactically and strategically address areas of concern as it pertains to implementing authentic communication in your business model / marketing endeavors with impact, please feel free to drop me a line.

“The more genuine you are in your approach, the ‘words’ you choose when marketing your stuff without sounding like others, desired/ideal clients WILL catch on and WILL contact you for business!” ~Annie Armen, Communications Artist

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1. Communicate Anyway
2. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!
3. Are you Working With a Resistant Employee?
4. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?
5. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!
6. 14 Quotes on LOYALTY in Business and in Life!
7. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
8. Did You Say, Can't?
9. Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
10. AnnieBiotics

20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Dear Why Annie Armen Readers,

May you find these select 20 quotes on GO FOR IT together with wisdom AnnieBiotics® toward the end of this article empowering, adding productive value in your lives, both personally and professionally!
_________________________

1.   "When everybody tells you that you are being idealistic or impractical, consider the possibility that everybody could be wrong about what is right for you." ~Gilbert Kaplan

2.   If you've got doubters and player haters lining up to create a detour around what you have been called to do, that only means one thing -- YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU NEED TO BE! With insane courage, GO FOR IT! ~Annie Armen

3.   "Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." ~Theodore Roosevelt

4.   "Discoveries are often made by not following instructions, by going off the main road, by trying the untried." ~Frank Tyger, in Forbes

5.   "If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise." ~Robert Fritz

6.   "RISK MORE than others think is safe. CARE MORE than others think is wise. DREAM MORE than others think is practical. EXPECT MORE than others think is possible. " ~Cadet Maxim

7.   "To be a successful entrepreneur one needs a vision of greatness for one's work. If we dream extravagantly we will be inspired to forge a reality beyond the straight jacket of practicalities. There is a profound connection between art and enterprise which allows businesses to overcome the limitations of their existing visions." ~Sir Ernest Hall

8.   "If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade." ~Tom Peters

9.   "Do not let your fire go out ... Do not let the Hero in your soul perish ... Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours." ~Ayn Rand

10. "Test fast, fail fast, adjust fast." ~Tom Peters

11. “Winners know that today is the day that counts. Today is the time to live with class, with confidence, with courage and with character. Today is the day to achieve greatness, if only in small things. The real winners in life know that success is a skill and they practice every day so that when the big challenges and extraordinary opportunities arrive, they are prepared.” ~Dr.Phillip Humbert

12. "Vision is not enough. It must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs.” ~Vaclav Havel

13. "Peak performers want more than merely to win the next game. They see all the way to the championship. They have a long-range goal that inspires commitment and action." ~Charles Garfield

14. "No is a word on your path to Yes. Don't give up too soon. Not even if well-meaning parents, relatives, friends, and colleagues tell you to get a real job. Your dreams are your real job" ~Joyce Spizer

15. "You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true." ~Richard Bach

16. "Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication." ~Gail Devers

17. "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

18. "I tell you the truth, if you have FAITH as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move." ~The Bible, Matthew 17:20

19. "When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, NEVER GIVE UP THEN, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

20. "The difference between try and triumph is a little umph" ~Author Unknown

Wisdom AnnieBiotics:

1. "Often times, minds and hearts are at war… thinking one thing, feeling another, leading to RE-actionary choices. Therefore, it is critical to

Purpose Awareness at ALL Times
Stay alert when in your “comfort zone” – blind spot.
Maintain balance between mind and heart. Only when the two are in accord, you are ready to PRO-act, make sound decisions and aim for the long-term win!" ~Annie Armen

2. During your journey of climbing up your highest mountain, whatever that mountain may be for you, always remember to: "Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none." ~William Shakespeare

Let's Make 2013 Your GO FOR IT Year!

If we can be of any help toward actualizing your vision with top performance that sets you apart from the pack, by all means give us a call. Together we'll strategize and commit toward making that happen!

In the mean time, did you find this article helpful?

~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1.   Did You Say, Can't?
2.   30 Quotes on HOPE in Business and in Life!
3.   30 Quotes on ACTION in Business and in Life!
4.   20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life!
5.   30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
6.   30 Quotes on CONFIDENCE in Business and in Life!
7.   20 Quotes on PERSEVERANCE in Business and in Life!
8.   30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
9.   TO PRO-act or to RE-act -- is That the Question or Your Choice?
10.   Write Your way Into the New Year With Your New Book!
11. Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
12. AnnieBiotics

5 Days of Business

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:30:00 +0000

12 Days Before Christmas

On the 1st day of Business, Don Farrell trains on loyalty: Ethical Theft shall set you free.

On the 2nd day of Business we plan strategically: 2 ROI Books, 1 Ethical Theft, with The Hurricane we broadcast globally.

On the 3rd day of Business Dr. Group phones in to say: 3 Green Products for sale, 2 ROI Books, 1 Ethical Theft, with The Hurricane we broadcast globally.

On the 4th day of Business, John McGrann chimes in to say: I’m here for social media consultancy for 3 Green Products for sale, 2 ROI Books,1 Ethical Theft, with The Hurricane we broadcast globally.

On the 5th day of Business -- INCOMING -- 5 telesales rings! 4 social media points, 3 Green Products for sale, 2 ROI Books, 1 Ethical Theft and here we’re doing business with glee!

AnnieBiotics -- LOYALTY!

"LOYAL customers, they don’t just come back, they don’t simply recommend you, they insist that their friends do business with you." ~Chip Bell, Founder Chip Bell Group

Why Annie Armen Friends: I not only HIGHLY recommend the following list of 3 companies below for ALL your business needs, I insist that my friends call them FIRST before making any decision(s) with other alternatives. Mention my name as your referral source, and be amazed on how LOYALTY works!

1. Fresh Revenues, Inc. – Don Farrell, Founder | Chief Cultivating Officer
2. Global Healing Center –Dr. Edward Group III, Founder | CEO
3. Drive Social Media – John McGrann, Founder | CEO

If you have any questions and we can be of any help, do not hesitate to drop us a line. Please be as specific as possible with what you are looking for, and what you are looking to accomplish.

Again, the 3 companies above… with absolute, mutually EARNED loyalty and trust, I will proudly stake my entire reputation on the line, and challenge any other company who can approach me and say they can do better than my top 3 listed!

Be Blessed throughout Christmas and here’s to looking forward to a promising, hope-filled, prosperous New Year TOGETHER!

~Annie Armen

List of Quotes and Articles You May Find of Interest:
1. 12 Quotes on Christmas
2. 8 New Year Quotes -- Inspired by Og Mandino
3. 14 Quotes on LOYALTY in Business and in Life
4. 20 Quotes on Communication in Business and in Life
5. Ethical Theft -- How to Steal Business From The Competition
6. Is Your Business and Home Environment Toxic
7. Generate Revenues Using Social Media
8. The Hurricane Immune Power Pack
9. Impact Your Bottom-line
10. The Value of Mutual Reciprocity by Referrals

Did you say Can't?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 23:30:00 +0000

“Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I CAN choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I CAN choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself.” ~Walter Inglis Anderson

I've Fallen and I CAN Get up!

When you count all the number of times you KEEP ON GETTING UP, compared to the number of times you fell... guess which number is greater, and more importantly, a true reflection of your reality?

'Tis the season to flip the deception of -- "I've fallen, and I can't get up" -- and wake up to a more realistic tune of -- "I've fallen and I did, CAN, and will get up"!

When you CHOOSE to target your focus on all the times you KEEP ON GETTING UP, did you know that your inner levels of energy, confidence, attitude, gratitude, hope, Faith, love, and courage start walking with you? Remember, at the end of the day, the power within you is unstoppable when you CHOOSE to tap into it!

AnnieBiotics -- Tap Into Your CAN DO Power Within!

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." ~John Wooden

1. In order to activate your CAN DO power, you must first realize that CAN is solely your CHOICE to make:
-- You can CHOOSE to listen to the word, CAN.
-- You can CHOOSE to act on the word, CAN.
-- You can CHOOSE to flip that deception of “can’t” and walk forward with courage and confidence by tapping into your CAN DO power within, to achieve your most desired goals in life, and more importantly -- to live the life YOU want and value!

2. To sustain and thrive with CAN DO power, very important to re-evaluate, assess, and consider pruning off dead weight in your personal and professional lives. By no means is this an easy process, and does take an “investment” of your time toward living the life YOU want, as YOU envision it.

3. Especially During the Holidays -- If you know of someone, or have a friend who is really looking to kick a bad habit out the door (regardless of what that bad habit is... whether it be smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc...) and occasionally slips while taking steps forward... Please don't give up hope on him or her. Reach out your hand and help him/her up with love and support, reminding and encouraging them that they have CAN DO power within to guide them through and out to victory!

Are you a Walking Miracle Amongst us?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0000

... to move forward in FAITH and live, or to not move at all, and be left paralyzed by fear? What would you choose?

Dear friend...

What I'm about to share with you is a short excerpt taken from my chapter in a new, much anticipated, collaborative business book scheduled for launch around the corner... Stay tuned for announcements ahead...

In the interim, however ... Why share this excerpt?

September 23, 2004

September 23, 2004 is forever etched in my heart, mind, soul, and Spirit as God's Miracle for this day, that particular moment, not only defied all logic and science, but more importantly... served and continues to serve its undeniable purpose to HIS glory! Today I AM ALIVE, a walking testament that practicing FAITH is real, and produces results far beyond anything the human mind alone can ever conceive, much less comprehend... no matter how brilliant.

On this night, right after I produced a LIVE radio program with noted guest professionals, I was driving back to Los Angeles from San Diego. It was only 45 minutes into my drive, when suddenly, an animal ran onto and across the freeway. I immediately slammed on the brakes, which led to my car spinning out of control in the middle of the freeway, flying through the rails, to the other side of the median. Thankfully, at that moment, the highway was pretty clear, no one was injured, and there was no collision with any vehicle. Dad (God) in Heaven was definitely watching over all the drivers and me on the freeway.

Of course, I could have avoided this predicament had I simply hit the animal and kept on going. Instead, I chose to swerve and miss it. Was this an unwise choice on my part? Absolutely, without a doubt! However, as we all know, much easier said than done!

The reality is... when you actually face that kind of an emergency, it’s amazing what you end up finding yourself doing contrary to what you know is best. One truly never knows until in that given instance what he or she is going to do … and such was definitely my experience.

Fast Forwarding ...

In the officer’s words: “I just can’t believe you are standing there without a scratch on you, and ALIVE. Not 10 minutes from here, there was another car crash, but nothing like what’s happened to you. I had to call the ambulance because the guy was in bad shape. Your car is completely crunched, tires and parts scattered a mile away, car in smokes, windows smashed into a million pieces, and not a scratch on you. How did you manage to get out of the vehicle? It’s virtually impossible! Can’t even open the doors! You are a walking miracle! ... If I didn’t see this with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it!”

Personal Message

Yesterday, marked my 8 year anniversary of celebrating LIFE since this horrific incident. The picture you see above... (pausing for a moment)... I kept this one picture in one of my old hard drives, saved under a name completely unrelated, and locked away in a storage. This year, I decided I was going to dig up this picture, look straight into its eye, and share it publicly for the first time. WHY?

Imagine for one second, where what you are experiencing truly feels like you’re having your last gulp of air on earth. In that very instant when about to enter the jaws of death, you choose to take action with Faith, while believing you’ve already received the impossible – life!

Dear friends, such was my personal and Spiritual experience; I am here to communicate with you, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my physical existence today is tangible proof that practicing Faith is real (details written in my chapter), both in business and in life!

AnnieBiotics®

“Who is of so little Faith that in a moment of great disaster or heartbreak has not called to his God? Confront another with dark horror and his mouth will say, ‘My God’ … My life need not be filled with religion in order for me to recognize this greatest mystery of nature.” ~Og Mandino, Best Selling Author, The Greatest Salesman in the World

Are you a Walking Miracle Amongst us?

Celebrate the Gift of Life Because You Can! Please share your miracle in the comments section below, for what you tangibly communicate here in writing, will uplift, empower, inspire and even help save a life.

~Annie Armen

20 Quotes on PERSEVERANCE in Business and in Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:45:00 +0000

Dear Why Annie Armen Readers,

May you find these select 20 quotes on PERSEVERANCE purposeful and empowering, adding productive value in your lives, both personally and professionally!

Once you’ve had an opportunity to read through all 20 quotes, please take a moment to share your thoughts (in the comments section) to the question posted at the end of this article. Thank You...
__________________

1. “Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.” ~Jacob A. Riis

2. "How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success?" ~Elbert Hubbard

3. “The first requisite for success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.” ~Thomas A. Edison

4. "Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done right." ~Walt Disney

5. "KEEP ON GOING, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down." ~Charles Kettering

6. "Patience and PERSEVERANCE have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." ~John Quincy Adams

7. "Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance." ~Samuel Johnson

8. "Peak performers want more than merely to win the next game. They see all the way to the championship. They have a long-range goal that inspires commitment and action." ~Charles Garfield

9. "PERSEVERANCE is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." ~Newt Gingrich

10. "Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius." ~Georges-Louis Leclerc

11. "Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines." ~Robert Schuller

12. "With ordinary talent and extraordinary PERSEVERANCE, all things are attainable." ~Thomas Foxwell Buxton

13. "Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." ~Earl Nightingale

14. "I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to PERSEVERE and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." ~Christopher Reeve

15. "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." ~Michael Jordan

16. "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." ~Thomas Edison

17. “Through PERSEVERANCE many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.” ~Benjamin Disraeli

18. "There is no royal road to anything. One thing at a time, all things in succession. That which grows fast withers as rapidly; that which grows slowly endures." ~J.G. Holland

19. "Patience and TENACITY of purpose are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness." ~Thomas Henry Huxley

20. “Never stop pedaling to power your dreams." ~Terri Guillemets
__________________

Question for Why Annie Armen Readers:

What methods or techniques do you use to develop perseverance to achieve your long-term goals?

Look forward to reading your comments!

~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:
1. Did You Say, Can't?
2. 30 Quotes on ACTION in Business and in Life!
3. 20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life!
4. 20 Quotes on COURAGE in Business and in Life!
5. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
6. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
7. Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
8. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?
9. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!
10. AnnieBiotics

To PRO-act or to RE-act – is that the Question or Your Choice?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:30:00 +0000

“WEAK is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions. STRONG is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.” ~Og Mandino, Author of The Greatest Salesman in the World

Whether in business or in life, one guarantee we can all bank on in our daily lives is tackling challenges as we forge ahead through life’s unexpected, at times off beat twists and turns, with extreme spikes ranging from “chill to thrill” or vice versa, all in a matter of seconds, and at times in just a second! What is MOST critical during such moments is to purpose awareness, and immediately wake up to the reality that whether you are in your best (thrill) or in your worst (chill) situation, YOU hold the key to two choices -- to PRO-act or to RE-act!

9 RED FLAG “Pollutants” to Watch out for

Way passed the wondering phase of whether “that” is a mere question… To PRO-act or to RE-act – THAT is your choice!

In no particular order, 9 RED FLAG “Pollutants” to watch out for, that when given even the slightest attention and/or acknowledgment whether intrinsically or when communicating with another openly, what you are in effect doing is allowing these toxic “pollutants” to infect your 9 purifying “soul’utions (see below), triggering your choice to RE-act when making decisions:

1. Fear
2. Hate
3. Hopelessness
4. Regret
5. Revenge
6. Ignorance
7. Ego (when self is above service; false, destructive pride)
8. Lies
9. Laziness

Bottom-line, when you choose to give your ears to any one of the 9 "pollutants" referenced above, then in the words of Og Mandino, you are “permitting your thoughts to control your actions". Let's backtrack.. when you permit your emotions to influence your thoughts, now your infected thoughts have the green light to control your actions. In doing so, you are choosing to RE-act to any given situation, at which point -- achieving less than favorable outcomes is only inevitable (and that’s stating it mildly).

Purpose Awareness at ALL Times!

Intentionally hitting the REWIND button here for a moment to repeat these words from earlier: What is MOST critical during such instances is to purpose awareness, and immediately wake up to the reality that whether you are in your best (thrill) or in your worst (chill) situation, YOU hold the key to two choices -- to PRO-act or to RE-act! Dear friend, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to purpose awareness at ALL times, particularly during times of vulnerability, mixed emotions, confusion, hurt feelings, betrayals … in essence when you feel like you are at your worst, in a dark place or space whether personally or professionally.

Equally if not MORE critical, is to purpose awareness during times when you are in your comfort zone, where you are feeling you are at your best, perhaps even feeling overly confident, dare I say greedy, too proud, and the like. Sound familiar?

9 Purifying “SOUL”utions -- Your Protective Armor

Whether in business or in life, remember that extreme spikes of “chill” and “thrill” happen when you least expect it, sometimes within seconds, other times within a second. So again… purpose awareness at ALL times, and stay alert when you are in the “comfort” zone, or rather what I like to call – the “blind spot”.

That said… in no particular order … your protective armor of 9 Purifying “SOUL”utions to trigger your choice to PRO-act and kick toxic “pollutants” out the door, without a moment’s mercy are:

1. Faith
2. Love
3. Hope
4. Gratitude
5. Forgiveness
6. Wisdom
7. Humility

8. Honesty
9. Diligence

3 Take-Aways

“The bigger rewards in life are a direct result of those finer details mastered through life." ~ Annie Armen

Without a doubt, this is a continuous, cleansing / purifying process and takes daily practice, for knowledge alone is never enough! What is worth noting here is maintaining “balance” between mind and heart … making sure both are working in harmony to accomplish set goals and objectives with satisfaction and success!

Often times, minds and hearts are at war… thinking one thing, feeling another, leading to RE-actionary choices. Therefore, in order to “OUT with the pollution, and IN with the ‘soul’ution™” PRO-actively, 3 take-aways to remember:

1. Purpose Awareness at ALL Times
2. Stay alert when in your “comfort zone” – blind spot.
3. Maintain balance between mind and heart. Only when the two are in accord, you are ready to PRO-act, make sound decisions and aim for the long-term win!

Did you find this article helpful?

~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1. 30 Quotes on LOVE in Business and in Life!
2. 30 Quotes on HOPE in Business and in Life!
3. 20 Quotes on VALUES in Business and in Life!

4. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
5. 30 Quotes on ACTION in Business and in Life!

6. Are you Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
7. Are you Working With a Resistant Employee?

8. Grab a cup of Courage and Just Ask!
9. Celebrate the Gift of Life Because You Can!
10. Did You Say, Can't?
11. AnnieBiotics

Do you Know What you Will do With a Square Inch?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:00:00 +0000

“Faith consists in believing
when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.” ~Voltaire

Do you Know What you Will do With a Square Inch?

WOW! Have you ever been in a one-to-one, profoundly invigorating business meeting, where time just flew on by mercilessly, and all you wanted to do was stop the clock and capture every second if at all possible? Such was the case for both John Richardson and me during Father’s Day Weekend, and with his blessing, only select highlights are now written...

Here I am, sitting across this business professional on our first meet only to find myself completely intoxicated with his gift of wisdom, for he was communicating from planet EXTRA-ordinary! I was humbled, honored, and in awe to say the least, that he was seeking my advice on a complex, delicate communications issue. In truth, we both skipped through all the typical business questions one can think of, or come up with under the sun that takes place during a first meet, let alone the 10th meet … and mutually zoomed right into the heart of the matter, with intellectual attack!

Fast forwarding ... Once the consulting portion of our conversation was fulfilled, generally in that given instance, both parties tend to dash off to their next respective meetings to follow through with their plans and commitments for the day in a timely manner. Dear friend that was definitely not the case here! In fact, quite the opposite happened! We respectfully asked for a mutual pause in our conversation, only to pick up our phones, and rearrange our schedules without hesitation in unexplainable synchronicity. Of course, neither of us knew the other was going to take that action. Amazing how Faith works in business and in life when we choose to practice it, free of logical reasoning (refer to steps 1, 2, and 3 below).

After That 5 Second, Reflective Pause ...

Moving along… Various topics surfaced as our communications took more profound turns followed by purposeful detours. One of the highlights that I will remember for a lifetime was this one question John asked:

"Annie... as our seconds go by fast, do you know what you will do with a square inch?"

Holy smokes!!! Closed my eyes for a 5 second, reflective pause...

Opened my eyes and answered …

"John … hoping not to disappoint … if there is a specific answer to your question, then I truly do not know, and more than willing to learn, believing you will be willing to teach me. If the answer is more of a Spiritual nature… then Spiritually in pure Faith, I pray for guidance to make wise (more so than right) choices for the seconds of today, and thank God in Faith for preparing my actions toward His Plans “already” in motion, to wisely and responsibly take on His assigned square inches for tomorrow. If I may give you a more direct answer, it comes down to this: The fact that I am blessed in the now with this rare opportunity to learn from you and in that process, if I may dare gain a nugget from your bank of wisdom to equip myself for the future, then in this moment John Richardson,... That's what I'm doing with a square inch."

Our 5 Minute, Positively Paralyzing Mutual Silence ...

Immediately following my response, was our mutual, 5 minute, positively paralyzing silence. The wheels of our thoughts were turning, as though we were both playing a mental chess game, yet not so.

Let’s hit the PAUSE button here for a moment… What just happened? Was this your expected, professional one-to-one business meeting?

Speaking both personally and professionally: In all the years I have had the privilege to communicate and work with top leaders across the spectrum of professional industries, if I may respectfully and gracefully respond by saying ... HECK NO! Although we were in a restaurant, conversing with one another very much in the present, It genuinely felt like we were communicating from a future era, sharing innovative visions, thoughts, concepts, ideas as mere appetizers to what has yet to be experienced, taught, and learned in the business world today!

To say this was an enLIGHTNING jolt of an event we had the fortune to experience, is an understatement! It was one of those RARE, once in a lifetime, unprecedented meetings, serving as a foreshadowing of what is to come, yet a seed planted in the now to provoke two choices: FAITH and ACTION!

Allow me to backtrack here for a moment and briefly expand upon the values of Faith and Action in this manner. In order for the seed to take root for a purpose to be fulfilled in the future, THAT choice is up to you and me. To activate that choice, it will take pure FAITH with ACTION:

1. Faith to embrace the unknown (what you cannot see)
2. Faith to believe that what is to come is ALREADY there!
3. Faith to act on that choice, without resorting to logical reasoning.

Now... let’s hit the PLAY button. After our 5 minute, positively paralyzing, mutual silence…John chuckles and says: “Annie Armen … now I know why my friend said these words to me. John, brace yourself, you met your match. Prepare to be blown away by a human hurricane after having just one chat. Make it count! You want this lady in your corner for the impossible projects you have in mind down the road.”

Just the rose color blush I needed on my face after hearing those words, when in truth... it was I who was blown away! Later, toward the end of our conversation, John said something that I just had to write down and pay it forward, in essence ... to plant this seed in your minds and hearts. Let me tell you… it’s one that will have me thinking "on purpose" for a long time:

"There are more square inches in one square mile, than there are seconds in a century. You can see your whole life if you equate one square inch to one second." ~John Richardson

+++++++++++++++++++++

Dear friend, do you know what you will do with a square inch? Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and share your thoughts to this very profound enigma …

~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1. 20 Quotes on Communication in Business and in Life!
2. 14 Quotes on Loyalty in Business and in Life!

3. When did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?

4. When you Hear the Words, "I am a Life Coach" -- What Thoughts Come to Mind?

5. What is Your Definition of a Perfect Partnership in Business?

6. Communicate Anyway

7. AnnieBiotics®

Stealing Business From Your Competition -- Ethical or Unethical?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:30:00 +0000

All content for this post is taken from Fresh Revenues Website, and from articles
written by Don Farrell -- Chief Cultivating Officer at Fresh Revenues, Inc., Author of Ethical Theft

"If you can steal from your competition, then they deserve to lose it. If someone steals from you, then shame on you....you deserve it. Same goes for employees too." ~Don Farrell, Chief Cultivating Officer at Fresh Revenues, Inc., Author of Ethical Theft

Hypothetical #1:
You are on an airplane and you strike up a conversation with the person next to you. She is the decision maker of a company that buys your competitor’s products and services. You have such a great exchange during the flight that she asks you for your card and gives you the opportunity to bid for their business. You do and you win the account. Ethical or unethical way to liberate business from your competition? (For answers, see content references below)

Hypothetical #2
... you have been unsuccessful for quite some time now at trying to get into see a large prospective client. You read in the paper that they are having a meeting at a local hotel and in fact, your competition is sponsoring the meeting. You know that most meetings have an AM and PM coffee break. You know that the AM break usually occurs at around 10:30-11. Sure enough, you see as you enter the meeting room area of this hotel that your potential client has people milling all around talking to one another over coffee. You don’t know who is in charge, so you walk up to the nearest person with a name tag on, and you pardon the interruption. You ask them who is in charge and he points to another gentleman and says, “John Rogers over there is the VP of Operations … he’s the main man.” You get close to Mr. Rogers and you wait for a break in his conversation and you approach him saying “ … Mr. Rogers, my name is David Hall (hand him your card) and I know that this is not the time nor place for this conversation, but I would like to speak with you about doing business with my firm … can we set something up for later this week after this meeting has concluded?” Ethical or not? (For answers, see content references below)

Ethical vs. Unethical … What is Right and Wrong When it Comes to Stealing Business?

"The deciding differentiator in how you drive loyalty lies within your greatest asset....your people." ~Don Farrell

Simply put, nobody is a good enough salesperson to come in and take a client of yours if they are loyal to you and your company. Period. If they are able to take your business then you did not deserve it. Same with your good employees who leave you for your competition.

So What is Ethical? It is easier to define unethical so let’s do that one … not doing all you can within the limits of the law to provide for your employees. End of story! So now, think for a moment or two, how many times did you not pull out all the stops to acquire and account from the competition. In doing so, how many people did you let down?

A Salute to Industry
... story from my book titled Ethical Theft ... "A Salute to Industry". I would approach our top six clients and tell them that we have been thanking them for far too long now and it was high time we helped them improve their profits as well. I would explain that we wanted to dedicate a space in our hotel for them to advertise their products and services. We would calculate how many guests would walk past their exhibit over the course of a month and the number would be quite impressive....it even surprised us when we first calculated it. So for 30 days there would stand an attractive display behind velvet ropes, a sign telling our guests who this client is and how they can contact them if they wanted to hear from them.

At the end of the month when it was time to take their display down for the next client, we would have a cocktail and hors d' oeuvres party around their display. We would take an 8X10 photo of the event and mount it in an attractive frame and mount it on the wall where the display would be for posterity. We would also send a similar photo to that company for their use (public relations, company newsletter, annual financial statements). We were in essence thanking them for their business by helping to provide them with business as well. Now, for the remaining six months of the year we would ask POTENTIAL clients to advertise their "wares" in this Salute to Industry area. We would have a reception around their display at the end of thirty days and they would see a wall with pictures of our happy existing clients. We would now be on a fast track to liberating more business.

What was normally dead space in our hotel became a real profit and social center of attraction. I would sometimes be passing by that area and see an unknown guest looking at it and picking up a brochure to learn more about that company. I would approach them and tell them who I was and tell them the cool things about our clients or hopeful client's product or service. A real person having a real conversation with a real person who had real interest. How cool is that?

Ethical Theft -- The Book!
If you are looking to laugh, think and wonder how far you or your competition would be willing to go to acquire business, Ethical Theft is the book for you! One recent review states: "Don Farrell has a take on business ethics that may shock some, but in light of current economic times, it is a pragmatic and sensible approach. If you want to do your best for yourself, your staff and your bottom-line, then you need to read this book."

Need tools that will help distance yourself from your competition forever? How about coming up with a compelling tactical plan to maximize revenues? If your answer is "yes", contact Don Farrell today and set up a one-to-one chat to explore service deliverables tailored to your needs! ... Be sure to mention -- Referred by Annie Armen for that special, extra attention!

Fresh Revenues, Inc.
435 South Front Street, Suite 208
Memphis, TN 38103
(office) 855-256-1751

Content References
1. How to Create Loyal Clients and in Doing so Steal From Your Competition
2. Ethical Theft: How to Steal Business From Your Competition

3. Fresh Revenues

Did you find this article helpful for your business?

Please post your comments below... we look forward to reading your feedback.

~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1. Communicate Anyway
2. 14 Quotes on LOYALTY in Business and in Life!
3. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
4. Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
5. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!
6. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?
7. What is Your Definition of a Perfect Partnership in Business?

8. Are you Working With a Resistant Employee?

9. AnnieBiotics®

Are you Working With a Resistant Employee?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0000

"You can't expect your employees to exceed the expectations of your customers if you don't exceed the employees' expectations of management." ~Howard Schultz, Chairman and CEO of Starbucks

Are you Working With a Resistant Employee?
The episode illustrated below dates several years back...
With client's permission to share for general value...

Client asks, “Annie, any insights on how to deal with a resistant employee, particularly a persistent one?”

In that moment, I chose to respond with a silent pause followed by a quick chuckle...

Client: "Oh no... why do I get the feeling I need to sit down for this one?"

Me: "Interesting choice word ... deal... Have you looked into the WHY factor to better understand the root cause of his resistance?"

Client: "I haven't personally, but from what I understand, the manager has, and he has advised me that it is in the company's best interest to terminate this particular employee."

Me: "Well, it appears you have your answer on what to do from one of your trusted hires ... the manager ... unless I am missing something here?"

Client: "Annie ... look... something's not adding up here ... and any insights from you will be helpful."

Me: "Fair enough... You mentioned that something's not adding up here... May I ask what that is?"

Client: "Can you stop by my office tomorrow afternoon? Will share details with you then..."

Me: "Done! Tomorrow afternoon it is!"

It was just over a year ago, when I addressed a similar inquiry on video... (you can hear it below).

To Deal or to Embrace?

Are you choosing to deal with a "resistant employee" by terminating his/her employment, simply because that is what you were told by his/her supervisor? OR, are you choosing to embrace the challenging, perhaps delicate situation through effective communication with tact, fairness, and character?

Insight #1: Drawing from my professional experience with culture building endeavors, a "resistant employee" -- 9 times out of 10 -- tends to be a direct reflection of the individual(s) who is/are in the position of leading the team. Therefore, prior to making any final, reactionary decisions, which include employee termination, it is very important for the decision maker to proactively and openly embrace the dilemma from all angles (just as my client did). A great starting point would be to reflect upon his or her own past and present choices followed by actions. Were there any unintended consequences that may have occurred along the way, leading up to the question, "Annie, any insights on how to deal with a 'resistant employee', particularly a persistent one?”

When Hidden Agendas get in the way

Insight #2: There is resistance, and then there is resistance! When a team leader slacks off, what is an employee to do? Is it in the company's best interest for the employee to remain idle and do nothing? In other words, if an employee decides to step up to the plate and take necessary action to meet the required sales quota for the week that impacts company bottom-line, does that make him or her a "resistant" employee? (Note: The employee took the above described initiative -- after having gone to his/her manager asking for permission to help, although beyond the scope of his/her duties. In this particular scenario, the manager said "no", that he had everything under control, when in fact, he did not).

Here is an unfortunate reality that I have come across repeatedly, especially in the corporate world. Such rare employees who may be tagged as "resistant" are actually the "committed" ones who are loyal and are effecting constructive change for the overall success of the company. Unless there is a Communications Specialist on board to help facilitate and bridge gaps of uncertainty and unhealthy confusion ... their voice only carries so far, and their productive actions seldom get reported positively much less accurately, and rarely reach the ears of the top decision makers for proper acknowledgments and future promotions. Instead what I have found is, these exceptional employees get shafted due to "EGO"-s at play, who exercise their authority to protect their own hidden agendas, always at the price of the company.

Where Does a Business Owner go From Here?

If you are a business owner looking to build, establish and sustain a healthier working environment across all levels within your company, speaking from 20+ years of experience in working with leaders from various industries, any business owner should include a Communications Specialist on their team of "trusted" advisors and consultants to help bridge any potential gaps of misunderstandings, tensions, and unintended consequences to achieve desired productivity, performance, loyalty, trust, and ROI results with enthusiasm, commitment and impact! When you find the right Communications Specialist, you will discover that he or she will be critically instrumental in the success of your business.

Did you find this article helpful?

~Annie Armen

Related Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1. Communicate Anyway
2. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!
3. 14 Quotes on LOYALTY in Business and in Life!
4. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
5. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!
6. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?

7. What is Your Definition of a Perfect Partnership in Business?

8. Stealing Business From Your Competition -- Ethical or Unethical?

9. AnnieBiotics®

20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:45:00 +0000

Dear Why Annie Armen Readers,

May you find these select 20 quotes on COMMUNICATION purposeful and empowering, adding productive value in your lives, both personally and professionally!

Once you’ve had an opportunity to read through all 20 quotes, please take a moment to share your thoughts (in the comments section below) to the question posted at the end of this article. Thank You...

__________________

1.     “Assumptions are barriers to effective COMMUNICATION both at home and in the work place.” ~Annie Armen

2.     “The single biggest problem in COMMUNICATION is the illusion that it has taken place.” ~George Bernard Shaw

3.     “COMMUNICATION - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success.” ~Paul J. Meyer

4.   “Good COMMUNICATION does not mean that you have to speak in perfectly formed sentences and paragraphs. It isn't about slickness. Simple and clear go a long way.” ~John Kotter

5. “The most important thing in COMMUNICATION is to hear what isn't being said.” ~Peter Drucker

6.     “The real art of CONVERSATION is not only to say the right thing at the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” ~Dorothy Nevill

7.     “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ~Epictetus

8.     “The most important things are the hardest to say, because WORDS diminish them.” ~Stephen King

9.     “Every criticism, judgment, diagnosis, and expression of anger is the tragic EXPRESSION of an unmet need.” ~Marshall Rosenberg

10.    "Developing excellent COMMUNICATION skills is absolutely essential to effective leadership. The leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others. If a leader can't get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn't even matter." ~Gilbert Amelio, President and CEO of National Semiconductor Corp.

11.    "Precision of COMMUNICATION is important, more important than ever, in our era of hair trigger balances, when a false or misunderstood word may create as much disaster as a sudden thoughtless act." ~James Thurber

12.    “Strategic COMMUNICATION is at the core of effective leadership. Through a leader's use of verbal and written symbols employees are motivated or deflated, informed or confused, productive or apathetic. A leader's ability to carve off the verbal fat and get to the meat of an issue, idea or plan will find success at every turn.” ~Reed Markham, PhD

13. “COMMUNICATE through what you love when words fail." ~Annie Armen

14. “COMMUNICATION does not depend on syntax, or eloquence, or rhetoric, or articulation but on the emotional context in which the message is being heard. People can only hear you when they are moving toward you, and they are not likely to when your words are pursuing them.” ~Edwin H. Friedman

15. “Deep LISTENING is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand.” ~Sue Patton Thoele

16. “COMMUNICATION works for those who work at it.” ~John Powell

17. “COMMUNICATION can't always follow the top-down model. With the fluidity of information in business today, leaders need to be masterful listeners; they need to be able to receive as well as send.” ~Joseph Badaracco

18. “COMMUNICATION leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing.” ~Rollo May

19. “When lack of COMMUNICATION is in the air, assume nothing! Rather than waiting, over thinking, wondering, doubting and/or assuming for the best or for the worst, preserve your good energy and sanity, grab a cup of courage as opposed to a cup of coffee, and just ASK!” ~Annie Armen

20. “A good CONVERSATIONALIST is not one who remembers what was said, but says what someone wants to remember.” ~John Mason Brown

__________________

Let's Get Together and Talk:

Call me with any questions and/or concerns related to speaking topics on bridging the communication gap across cultural divides. Together, we’ll work toward creating an inspired, productive atmosphere, oxygenated with ongoing encouragement and empowerment to heighten collective trust, open communication, respect, confidence, and enthusiasm, impacting your bottom-line. If I can help you achieve that and more, what value would that bring to your organization?

~Annie Armen

Related Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1.   Grab a Cup of COURAGE and Just Ask!
2.   30 Quotes on CONFIDENCE in Business and in Life!
3.   30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
4.   30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
5.   Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
6.   That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!
7.   Are you Working With a Resistant Employee?
8.   When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?

9. Write Your way Into the New Year With Your New Book!
10. How to Make Genuine Connections on LinkedIn
11. Communicate Anyway
12. AnnieBiotics

Has Media put a Spell on you? -- Tribute to Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:30:00 +0000

“I don't like it when they [media critics] see me as this little person who doesn't know what to do with herself -- like I have no idea what I want, like I'm just a puppet . . . . That's demeaning to me, because that ain't how it is, and it never was.” ~Whitney Houston (August 09, 1963 – February 11, 2012)

"Speculate to break the one you hate. Circulate the lie you confiscate. Assassinate and mutilate as the hounding media in hysteria..." ~Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)

Has Media put a Spell on you? Dedicating this article to music giants -- Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Etta James and various others, who have paid a price, unknown to ALL of us, in order to remain authentic to their vision, to their calling as true, "non-conforming" artists!

The music industry and the world has suffered a tragic loss when an authentic artist has come and gone... Therefore, it is so important that we, as human beings, do not take the role of judges, but rather choose to practice compassion and respect for the timeless legacy each has left behind!

"Just because you read it in a magazine, or see it on the TV screen, don't make it factual!" ~Michael Jackson

Dear friends, before you allow media to put a spell on you, please read the lyrics below to Michael Jackson's song called, Tabloid Junkie, taken from his "HIStory" album. Regardless of what you and I may think or believe we know ... artists who are in the public eye day in and day out, are the ones who genuinely KNOW what they speak of out of real, everyday experiences!

Therefore, if one is curious and looking for truth... I find it important to show our respect to artists by reviewing ALL sides of the stories reported... including especially, hearing the artist's music and reading through their lyrics. This is the least we can do, not only as compassionate, understanding human beings, but also as beings of intelligence.

Lyrics to Michael Jackson's Song, Tabloid Junkie (HIStory Album)
Michael's message will live on!

"Speculate to break the one you hate
Circulate the lie you confiscate
Assassinate and mutilate
As the hounding media in hysteria
Who's the next for you to resurrect
JFK exposed the CIA
Truth be told the grassy knoll
As the blackmail story in all your glory

It's slander
You say it's not a sword
But with your pen you torture men
You'd crucify the Lord
And you don't have to read it, read it
And you don't have to eat it, eat it
To buy it is to feed it, feed it
So why do we keep foolin' ourselves

Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Though everybody wants to read all about it
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual, actual
They say he's homosexual

In the hood
Frame him if you could
Shoot to kill
To blame him if you will
If he dies sympathize
Such false witnesses
Damn self righteousness
In the black
Stab me in the back
In the face
To lie and shame the race
Heroine and Marilyn
As the headline stories of
All your glory

It's slander
With the words you use
You're a parasite in black and white
Do anything for news
And you don't go and buy it, buy it
And they won't glorify it, 'fy it
To read it sanctifies it, 'fies it
Then why do we keep foolin' ourselves
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Everybody wants to read all about it
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
See, but everybody wants to believe all about it

Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
See, but everybody wants to believe all about it
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual, actual
She's blonde and she's bisexual

Scandal
With the words you use
You're a parasite in black and white
Do anything for news
And you don't go and buy it, buy it
And they won't glorify it, 'fy it
To read it sanctifies it, 'fies it
Why do we keep foolin' ourselves
Slander
You say it's not a sin
But with your pen you torture men
Then why do we keep foolin' ourselves

Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Though everybody wants to read all about it
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
See, but everybody wants to read all about it

Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual, actual
You're so damn dis-respectable"
________________________

With love and respect to all fellow musicians and artists, who work tirelessly to create music for the world! ~Annie Armen

Communicate Anyway!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." ~Oscar Wilde
(I dedicate this piece to my International Circle of Clients, Colleagues, Artists, and Friends ... Personal Message further below)

When Does Real, Mutual "Communication" Occur?

"The most important thing in 'communication' is hearing what isn't being said."
~Peter Drucker

Allow me to paint the picture in this manner...

Imagine for a moment you are at a concert where various classical pianists are about to perform. The first pianist (Pianist #1) plays with all his heart and soul. From the moment he strikes the ivory keys with a dissonant chord, the conflicting sound heard, sends chills up your spine leaving you fully engaged, in a state of mystery and intrigue.

Then, when the tension eases into melodic harmony, you can feel and instantly relate to the various emotional layers and undertones within his heart, as he opens his soul to you through his music and takes you on a personal journey with him, "communicating" feelings of happiness, sadness, intense passion, anger, loneliness, and sudden moments of silence, by applying purposeful dynamics through crescendos, decrescendos, pianissimos, and fortes -- leaving you on the edge, as you storm through intrinsic emotions, glued to your seat, with anticipation for what's next.

At that moment, you feel as though you are watching a movie, where YOU are the main actor/actress, emotionally experiencing moments of your life flashing by. Has this happened to you?

Continuing... with this particular performer, you are so in tune with his playing, that your ears, eyes, mind, heart, spirit, soul, and body are completely connected with every note played, as if he is speaking directly from your core being ...as if you and the pianist are mutually "communicating" as one in the same -- exciting, real, meaningful, memorable, and timeless! Dear friend... when was the last time you experienced real, mutual "communication" like this, whether personally, musically, or professionally?

So you ask yourself, "How can that be? How can a complete stranger know what you are feeling within, and be able to 'communicate' your feelings through his music without ever having met you?"

When Pianist #1 ends his performance, you then find yourself unable to let go, loudly applauding for an encore, while feeling disappointed within that the music, in essence your personal story was interrupted, much like conversations left unfinished.

However, there is nothing you can do... the next performer is already walking up the stage...

Pianist #2, unlike the first performer, technically plays by the script in perfection, without missing a note ... without missing a beat... almost like a human machine ... however, without soulful feeling. You can appreciate his work in mind, but completely find yourself disconnected in heart, and perhaps even confused. In other words, as a listener, you can hear the notes being played... much like hearing and watching a technical Powerpoint presentation during a seminar for example, but you are unable to feel, relate to, and connect with the music, with the performer's heart, with the composer's purpose behind the composition. Is there real, mutual "communication" here?

Now .... Rewinding Back to the Original Question
When does real, mutual "communication" occur?

Answer: When the message shared is felt by both the recipient(s) and the composer relating his/her piece! Meaning... when words -- whether written, spoken, or sung (much like musical notes played as illustrated above by Pianist #1) -- are genuinely "communicated" with relatable feelings of love, comfort, trust, compassion, respect, and sincerity, nourishing one's mind AND heart, while transcending all cultural barriers ... THAT is when real, mutual "communication" occurs, leaving a lasting, purposeful impact , both in business and in life!

Personal Message to my International Circle of Clients, Colleagues, Artists, and Friends With all my Heart:

THANK YOU for doing your best everyday to try and communicate in English with me in private messages on Facebook as well as in professional messages shared on Linkedin... a language that is not your mother tongue. YOU have my utmost respect for Communicating Anyway! NEVER, EVER apologize to me for your spelling mistakes and such. Are you kidding me? It is I who should apologize to YOU for not trying hard enough to communicate with you in your language!

I appreciate you more than words can express... Grateful to you for making my life, and the lives of fellow Americans easier with your committed efforts!

As Dr. Seuss says, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter, don't mind."

Bottom-line: It takes TWO hands to clap to the symphony of life, so Communicate Anyway! Just because you are unable to technically speak in a particular language, does not mean you are unable to "communicate" with a person who does and is ready to listen with intent and heart!

Always Remember to:
"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." ~Oscar Wilde

Be empowered to Communicate Anyway,
~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest:

1. Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
2. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
3. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!
4. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
5. 30 Quotes on CONFIDENCE in Business and in Life!
6. 20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life!
7. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?

8. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!

9. Write Your way Into the New Year With Your New Book!

10. Did You Say, Can't?
11. AnnieBiotics