Monday Morning MOJO 8/27/07

Good Morning MOJO,

Every time you see them you try and avoid them like the plague because they are just so negative and draining. To them everything is a crisis…everyone and everything is out to get them. Nothing works and everything that is not going right in their world is someone else’s fault…never theirs. They never smile and they always seem to find the negative in everything and everybody…never the positive. Anytime there is a small setback, it is like the world is coming to an end. They treat life like it is a WIN/LOSE game…and trust me, there is no such thing. Whenever someone wins and someone loses, both lose. Does this type of person sound familiar…do you know people like this? I sure do.

Then there are those people you love being around because for what ever reason they just have this positive energy about them which makes you feel good. They are always fired up, have a smile on their face and having a good time. When there are small set backs, they seem to find the positive side or don’t even acknowledge it…they just keep moving forward as if it is an expected part of the process. They are the ones who keep their emotions under control…they don’t yell, they don’t scream, they don’t attack, they don’t fight and they don’t blame. Now don’t get me wrong, they are passionate and fired up. They just don’t fight it…they seem to always find a way to use the flow to their advantage. They aren’t pushing…they seem to be getting pulled through life. They are WIN/WIN people…always looking for ways that they can WIN, but so can everyone else.

The interesting thing about these two different types of people is that the positive ones almost always seem to win in all the equities of their life…Personally, Professionally, Business, Health…you name it. They actually say people who smile and laugh a lot…the positive ones live longer and are much healthier and happier. The negative ones always seem to look unhealthy and anxious…they seem to struggle in business and in their relationships…they look run down.

So, my question to you is which one are you? Be honest. Is your energy good energy or bad energy? Fired up energy or draining energy? If you asked those around you to describe your energy, what would they say? Fired up and infectious or exhausting and draining. Are you positive or negative? Do you fight life or do you use those people and things around you to propel you to success.

It is a choice…another one of those small choices I write about every Monday morning. It is the cumulative affect of all those small choices that will get you are looking for in life.

Make it a GREAT week!!!!

"There are people who strictly deprive themselves of each and every eatable, drinkable, and smokable which has in any way acquired a shady reputation. They pay this price for health. And health is all they get for it."

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder
Regional President
Direct: 408.342.3001
Fax: 408.904.7762
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

Monday Morning MOJO 8/20/07

Good Morning MOJO,

Here is a great question…Where will you be in ten years from now if you keep going the way you are going? Reflect for a moment on last week and ask yourself this question…”if I do exactly what I did last week, every week for the next 10 years where will I be personally…professionally…spiritually…in my relationships with those I love and care about the most…how will my health be…what will my bank account look like in 10 years from today?

So many people fail to realize that success at anything in life is the result of little successes achieved over a very long period of time. Truly successful people are long-term thinkers. They know that they must build upon each achievement and constantly learn new and better ways of doing things. A regular review of your progress is essential part of goal setting. A goal is a little more than a wish unless it has a timetable for completion. Make sure your plan for you life includes short, medium and long term goals. Revise your goals as things change…check them off when they are completed and set new bigger goals for yourself as you grow. And take time to reflect often to make sure you are on the right track.

Make it a GREAT week!!!!

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

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder
Regional President
Direct: 408.342.3001
Fax: 408.904.7762
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

Monday Morning MOJO 8/13/07

Good Morning MOJO,

It has been a year almost to the day since my cousin Amy passed away from breast cancer at the age of 41. Here is a MOJO I wrote a year ago flying home from her funeral. Thought it was worth sharing again…

I got home on Saturday night from one of the most emotionally draining experiences of my life. I attended and did a reading at the funeral of my 41 year old cousin, Amy. She was beautiful and healthy…living the American dream in Salt Lake City…married to a great guy, raising her 2 beautiful daughters (12 and 14) when it all happened 16 months ago. In the words of her daughter: “It was a clear blue spring day…Well, at least outside…Inside it was raining…The feeling of sadness and disbelief…All this just from some bad news…Not just regular bad news…But the kind where your life can fall Apart in just two simple minutes…Watching her whisper, “it’s cancer.” Shock…Anger…Fear. …Hearing the light sob, “Just never lose faith”…Nobody knows what it’s like…Until it happens to them…and with a mom you see things differently…You look at the mountains and see Pure beauty. …and seeing her smile…That’s everything to me…I appreciate life so much…Looking at the stars and hearing her say, “I love you more than all of the stars in the Sky”…Just looking back at how it used to be and how it could have been…How it’s going to be without her by my side…It will never be the same.”

Those words clawed their way into my brain, it felt as though someone had walked up and ripped the blinders from my eyes and forced me, again, to take a cold, hard look at the ultimate truth none of us really wants to know or admit...

...the truth that, strangely, has the power to wake us up and make us live before it's too late.

"Amy is gone," the truth told me quietly, "and you will, too, and so will all the people you love and everyone else...it's just a matter of time. So tell me, given that...are you doing what you want to do right now with your life? Or are you putting off living your hopes and dreams because you think there'll always be tomorrow? If my cousin were here she’d tell you different... she'd say there'll come a time when tomorrow doesn't show up, and you're wasting your time if you're not loving and laughing and enjoying your days now, while you can."

And that leaves you with a choice.

You can punch the "delete" key and dump this message because you find the whole "death" thing "too depressing"...

...or you can let it be the force that finally pushes you over the line and into the life you want. Because that's what it takes for most of us...something so strong it carries us past our fears and doubts and the terrors that come when we think about finally doing the things we've been dreaming about for soooo long.

Yea, I know it's scary to think about dying, especially given the nonsense we've been brainwashed into believing about where we might end up.

But you know, I think it's even more scary for most people to think about living......and getting out of their old box, the one they really don't like, and getting on with living the life they really want.

But that doesn't have to be you.

Think about Amy this morning, and know this about her...she had a great life, doing the things she loved…with the people she loved...and she'd want you to do the same.

I know...you can't, it's "just not possible!", I just don't understand, you've got obligations, responsibilities, the economy's in the crapper, and "My God man, I can't just DO what I want! I've got a job, bills, yada yada yada..."

Tell that to the engineer when the time comes...because we're all on a train outta here. Could be tonight, or the in the afternoon a week from Tuesday or three years from now.

I don't know...all I know is the days are passing fast...and now is the time to do what you know you need to do.

Don't put if off. Or you may just be too late.

We will miss you Amy!!!!!

Make it a GREAT week!!!!!

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

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder
Regional President
Direct: 408.342.3001
Fax: 408.904.7762
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com

Monday Morning MOJO 8/6/07

Good Morning MOJO,

Do you want to know where the answers are to what you want in life? Look in the mirror….there is the answer.

“Let me tell you what you need to do…”

“You are doing it wrong…”

“It will never work…”

“You need to do it this way…”

“My life would sure be better if they would…”

“I would be successful if they didn’t…”

“The market is just too tough…”

“It’s the schools fault my kids…”

“It’s my company’s fault I am not…”

“It’s my spouse’s fault we aren’t…”

The list could go on and on forever and ever.

They are always trying to coach others on how to do it rather than taking their own advice and doing it themselves. They aren’t taking action to make their life, their job, or their situation better…they would rather spend time telling you what to do, because otherwise they would actually have to do something…be accountable…be exposed. They are typically the same ones who when things are not going their way, or when things are going wrong, don’t want to accept personal responsibility. They are always looking out for the answers/reasons and for something or someone to blame. Of course when there is a success, they are the first to stand on the podium and make sure everyone knows “I did it”, but when there is a setback or failure they are always in the back making sure everyone knows “I didn’t do it” or “it’s because of them” or “it’s not my fault”.

I think one of the most important keys to success at anything in life is the ability to accept personal and/or professional responsibility for your success’s as well and your setbacks and failures. I have had the privilege in my life to spend time with some pretty amazing and successful people, and one of the things I have notice about them is that one of their biggest strengths is their ability to admit and accept their weaknesses. It is this ability to admit those weaknesses, not only to themselves but those around them…it is actually their strength to admit their weaknesses and not feel vulnerable by admitting them to themselves and others, which make them strong. And, until you are strong enough to acknowledge your weaknesses and do something about them, you will never be able to truly get what you want in life…you have to accept personal responsibility. The other interesting thing I have noticed about those people I respect the most…those with the most balance in life…those who are winning in all areas, is that they tend to be always pushing their successes back to those who support them, while at the same time accepting responsibility when there are set backs and things aren’t going right.

The best thing we all can do is carry a mirror around with us in our pocket at all times. Then, when you are looking for the reason things aren’t going the way you want or you aren’t getting what you want it life, look into it. Most of the time, there is the answer. The great news is because you are the answer; you can actually do something about changing it if you choose to.

Make it a GREAT week!!!!!

We must be willing to choose the path of character over the path of compromise!!!!

Tom Tognoli
COO, Founder
Regional President
Direct: 408.342.3001
Fax: 408.904.7762
Email: TTognoli@InteroRealEstate.com
Website: www.InteroRealEstate.com