Jon Gordon’s Blog

A Bigger Purpose

I watched Oprah as she told the story of a man who walked away from making millions at Microsoft in order to build libraries and distribute books in developing areas around the world. Other people featured on the show told Oprah similar stories of how they left their jobs to find their purpose. I began to think about all the people I meet around the world who don’t plan on leaving their jobs and yet they are burned out, tired and purpose-less.

In fact, in a recent Harris Interactive poll, 42% of those surveyed said they were burned out. Only 15% were actually energized by their jobs.

I believe these numbers are perpetuated by a misconception that in order to live a life of purpose we have to leave our jobs and go solve world hunger, feed the homeless, move to Africa or start a charity. While these are all noble causes and many are called to do these very things, for many of us our bigger purpose can be found in the here and now, in the jobs we have right under our noses. And when we find and live this purpose it will provide the ultimate fuel for a meaningful life.

We can eat all the avocado, drink all the water and do all the exercise we want but unless we live and work with purpose we’ll never be fully energized. Research shows that people who apply their strengths towards a bigger purpose beyond themselves are happier and more energized.

You may not build libraries around the world but you can find the bigger purpose in reading to your children. You may not feed the homeless every day but you can nourish your employees and customers with a smile, kind word and care. And while you may not start your own non-profit organization you can begin a charity initiative at work. After all, “charity” means “love in action.” You can make a difference every day and touch the lives of everyone you meet. While these people may not be starving because of a lack of food, you can provide them with a different kind of nourishment that will feed their souls and feed your own in the process.

I heard of a janitor who worked at NASA and even though he was sweeping floors he felt his bigger purpose was contributing to put a man on the moon. I met a bus driver who knows his purpose is to help kids stay off drugs. I met a hairstylist who saves lives by taking time to talk about life with each client. I met an administrative assistant who has become the Chief Energy Officer of her company. I know a Popeye’s Chicken employee named Edith in the Atlanta Airport who makes millions of air traveler’s smile each day. The list goes on…

Ordinary people with an extra-ordinary purpose, bigger than themselves.

In any job our purpose waits for us to find it and live it. It’s not the job we have but the energy and purpose we bring to it that matters.

I can’t tell you what your purpose should be but I can tell you that everyone of us can find a bigger purpose in the job we have. I can tell you that we can find the excitement in the mundane, the passion in the every day and the extraordinary in the ordinary. I can tell you that every job, no matter how glorious or boring it may seem, will get mundane if we let it. Purpose keeps it fresh and when we are filled with purpose, we never run out of gas.

Don’t wait until you go to Africa to start living with a mission. Don’t wait until the weekend to feed people who are hungry. Bring your mission to work, start feeding yourself with purpose today and nourish others in the process.

Join the conversation on our blog and share how you will live a bigger purpose.

Stay Positive!
-Jon

The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways

to Deal with Negativity at Work

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“Get off the complain train and read this book!” -Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and The One Minute Entrepreneur

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Encouragement

“How do you know if a man needs encouragement? If he is breathing.”
-Truett Cathy, Founder, Chick Fil A Restaurants

With so many people in the world telling us we can’t succeed, we need to hear people telling us we can. I remember my high school English teacher telling me not to apply to Cornell University because they wouldn’t accept me and even if they did I wouldn’t be able to do the work. (It’s funny that I’m a writer now). I almost didn’t apply but a few days later I saw Ivan Foldfarb, a former teacher, in the hallway and asked him about Cornell. He said, “If you get in, then you go. You can do it.” His words made all the difference. I applied, was accepted and majored in Lacrosse :).

Too often we think it’s our role to inject a dose of “reality” into someone’s life. We think it’s our job to protect people from the pain of failure and defeat. We think we must point out how bad the economy is and how horrible the job market is and how the sky is falling. We think that dreams were meant for others but not for people like you and me.

I say there are enough pessimists and “realists” in the world. The world doesn’t need more negativity and impossible thinkers. The world needs more optimists, encouragers, and inspirers. The world needs more people to speak into the hearts of others and say “I believe in you.” “Follow your passion and live your purpose.” “If you have the desire then you also have the power to make it happen.” “Keep working hard.” “You’re improving and getting better. Keep it up.” “The economy is tough but you can still grow your business.” “The job market is not great but I believe you’ll find the right job for you.” “We’ve hit a lot of obstacles but we’ll get the project finished.” “Even if you fail it will lead to something even better.” “You’re learning and growing.”

When it comes to encouragement I know that everyone of us loves working for and with people who bring out the best in ourselves. We love being around people who uplift us and make us feel great. And while we’ll always remember the negative people who told us we couldn’t accomplish something, we will always cherish and hold a special place in our heart for those who encouraged us on the road to success.

Today I want to encourage you to be an encourager. So often the difference between success and failure is belief. And so often that belief is instilled in us by someone who encouraged us. Today decide to be that person who instills a positive belief in someone who needs to hear your encouraging words. Uplift someone who is feeling down. Fuel your team with your positive energy. Rally others to focus on what is possible rather than what seems impossible. Share encouragement. It matters and we all need it.

Join the conversation here on our blog and share how you will encourage others or how others have encouraged you.

Stay Positive!

-Jon

www.JonGordon.com | www.NoComplainingRule.com | www.TheEnergyBus.com

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In the News

A few recent news articles featuring The No Complaining Rule: 

Eliminating negativity can change the culture of a business
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

MarketWatch TV
Watch video of Jon discussing The No Complaining Rule on Market Watch, a subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Business Books: Making the workplace a gripe-free zone

Article from Reuters, also featured on Forbes.com and a number of other business sites.

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Top 10 Thoughts

I’ve been in Maine with my wife and kids and the experience has inspired a number of ideas and thoughts about business, life and family travel. In last week’s newsletter I included my top 5 thoughts from the trip. Well, after more traveling, bike rides, fishing attempts, sunsets and a few family fights I have 5 more to share with you.

Click here to read 1-5 thoughts in last week’s newsletter.

Here are my next five.

6. There Will Be Ups and Downs - We biked a 6 mile path around Eagle Lake in Acadia National park. The first part of the ride was all uphill which wasn’t easy for my kids, ages 8 and 10. Jade cried because her legs hurt. Cole had to stop several times because he was tired. My wife and I invoked The No Complaining Rule with them but honestly it didn’t work. They kept complaining and crying but to their credit they didn’t give up. We finally reached the top and took a short break before enjoying a nice 5 minute coast downhill. Laughter, smiles and joy filled cheers once again filled the air. However, when we reached the bottom we still had to navigate a series of small hills and challenging climbs before reaching the finish line. The kids were frustrated, exhausted and yet I could tell they felt good about their accomplishment. The ride, I told them, is a lot like life. It’s not going to be easy. To get to the top you have to work hard. There will be many painful moments and ups and downs. But if you are facing an uphill climb you can expect a downhill coast to be in your future. And if you are enjoying a downhill coast also expect more challenging uphill climbs. Life, like a bike ride is a series of ups and downs. The key is to stay positive during the climb, enjoy the ride downhill and always be ready to face new challenges.

7. Don’t Settle - When we arrived at our hotel in Bar Harbor we realized we had clearly chosen the wrong hotel. While on a walk that night we walked into a beautiful hotel right on the harbor. “They won’t have room,” I said. Yes, I was being negative. “Let’s just ask,” my wife responded. Turned out they not only had room, they were able to offer rooms at a lower price then the hotel where we were originally booked. www.TheHarborsidehotel.com was amazing and everyone there was filled with positive energy. I learned to not settle for less, expect more and always ask. We asked and it made all the difference.

8. Fish Where the Fish Are - After my children’s successful fishing experience in Kennebunkport (last weeks newsletter “you catch more fish being positive”) they were determined to fish again in Bar Harbor. But after many failed attempts we learned that there weren’t many fish in Bar Harbor due to the waters being over fished. So we decided to catch crabs instead. I told them you could be the best fisherman in the world and have the best fishing pole but if you are fishing in the wrong place they won’t do you any good. What a great business lesson!

9. Families Fight - Like all families my family fights. My kids fight with each other. My wife and I fight and we fight with our kids. I’ve realized it’s not about whether you fight or not but rather how you fight and whether you are a “real” family. This goes for teams at work too. Real families and real teams at work fight but they have a bond of love and trust that prevents the fighting from destroying the core. They fight, they make up and they move on. In fact, if you are a “real” family and “real” team, conflict often leads to growth. On the other hand, if you don’t have love and trust then fighting and conflict can actually destroy the family and team. Fighting exposes the deeper wounds revealing the lack of love and trust that exists. With fighting, remember that the core of love and trust must be more powerful than the issue causing the fight.

10. Enjoy More Moments - In The Energy Bus I wrote “We act like we are going to live forever, but instead we need to find forever in the timeless moment.” I heard of a study where they asked a group of 95 year olds if they could live their life all over again what they would do differently. The number one thing they said was that they would enjoy more moments. More sunrises and sunsets. Remember to enjoy the moments. It’s all we have. Here’s a moment I had the last day of our trip. Share your moments here on our blog.

Stay Positive!

-Jon

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Top 5 Thoughts

This past week I’ve been in Maine with my wife and kids. It’s our first time in this beautiful state and the experience has inspired a number of ideas and thoughts about business, life and family travel. I’ve been jotting them down on my Blackberry. Here are my top 5 so far:

1. Don’t Give Up - Because of a flight delay we only had 5 minutes to make our connecting flight in the Philadelphia airport to Portland, Maine. Everyone said we would miss it. Picture me, my wife and two kids ages 10 and 8 sprinting through the airport. Oh yeah, we also had to take a shuttle bus to the terminal! We asked the woman working the shuttle station to call the gate and tell them we were coming. She called and then said, “the plane is leaving… you won’t make it.” When our shuttle arrived we sprinted again to the gate. Lucky for us, our friend Jane Rollingson, who was also going to Maine, was able to make it to the plane before us. She had to check her luggage at the gate (small plane) and so this stopped the plane from leaving. When we arrived there was a big window where we could see the pilots and they could see us. The gate door was shut and the jetway was pulled back. We waved to the US Airways pilots and they waved back. A few tension filled minutes later as sweat poured down our faces they gave us a thumbs up sign and we were allowed to board the plane. Later I found out the other flights to Maine were all booked. Miraculously our luggage also made it in time. My kids learned a valuable lesson… Keep running and never give up!

2. A Lemonade Stand Can Tell You A Lot About the Economy - In the village of Kennebunkport the girl working the stand said last year at this time she was selling 300 lemonades per shift. Today she sold just 10. She said the cost of gas is really hurting tourism.

3. You Catch More Fish Being Positive - My son loves fishing. Me, I love fishing for people but know nothing about catching fish. So we went fishing with a fisherman named Steve Brettell, who it turns out was also a positive energy expert. He told us, if you are positive you will catch more fish. He notices this all the time. My kids who were being negative changed their attitude and it worked. We caught a lot of fish.

4. Don’t Leave Fish to Find Fish - Steve told us these wise words that apply to more than fishing. If you have something good make the most of it.

5. People, Not Views, Make the Difference - We stayed at a hotel in Kennebunkport for a few days. It was a wonderful hotel that had an amazing view of the ocean. Unfortunately we only encountered several people on the staff who shared positive energy. We loved the hotel but didn’t leave there with a great feeling. We thought about how much better the experience could have been if the staff were trained to be as nice as the view. Hotels need to focus as much on their people as they do their beauty and landscaping. People make the difference.

Join the conversation and share your comments on these 5 thoughts here.

Stay Positive!

-Jon

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Thank You - NCR #13

Thank you!! With your help The No Complaining Rule was lucky #13 on the national business book best selling list last week. Thank you for sharing the book with your co-workers, clients and family. I also appreciate all the people who came to see me on the NCR Tour. It was a joy to meet so many of you.

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Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity

With the mortgage meltdown, floods in the Midwest, $4 a gallon for gas, food prices, the economy, famine, war in Iraq, etc., many would agree that there is a lot of negativity in the world and certainly a lot to complain about. And yet, while traveling the country this past month, ironically for the No Complaining Rule Tour, I met a number of people who inspired me with the positive ways they were dealing with the negativity in their life. In spite of their circumstances they chose to view their situation with a positive perspective… which so often makes all the difference. Since we all could benefit from their example, here are 5 positive ways to deal with negativity.

1. Find the Gift - Richard Bach said every problem has a gift for you in its hands. One woman came up to me and said that because of the cost of gas her family is driving less and as a result they are spending more time at home and having dinner together more often. She said this “negative” situation has been very “positive” for her family. Another person said he is taking the bus to work instead of driving and as a result he has met a lot of interesting people.

2. Look at the Bright Side - One gentlemen joked that because of the cost of gas he now has a great excuse to not drive and see his negative relatives.

3. Zoom Focus - It doesn’t matter what the pundits say on television. It doesn’t matter what Joe and Sally in your office are doing. It doesn’t matter who is playing office politics. All that matters is what you do every day to grow yourself and your business. Focus on being positive and taking positive action every day. Be like the real estate agent who told me that he doesn’t focus on what the news and newspapers say. He focuses on what he can do every day to be successful. He focuses on marketing his business, taking care of his clients, and building loyal relationships. What things do you need to Zoom Focus on?

4. Focus on the Opportunity Not the Challenge - Behind every innovation and solution is a story about someone who said there has to be a better way. I bet Henry Ford was walking behind a horse when he had the idea for his automobile. History shows us that a lot of people and a lot of companies make a lot of money during recessions. The key is to find the opportunity. Where is the market heading? What do people want and need? What will they want in the future? Now is a great time to build a positive team with great talent. Now is the time to gain market share while so many give up. Now is a great time to determine who is on your bus and who is off your bus. Now is the time to be indispensable to your company and demonstrate how valuable you are.

5. Be a Positive Influence on Others - I received an email from Ruthanne in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She wrote:

“As you are probably aware, we were recently hit with a 500 year flood. My neighborhood was impacted the worst and most of our homes, mine included, are a total loss. People tell me I have been the most positive person they know who was directly impacted by the flood. I don’t have a lot of time today (first day back at work in 2 wks) to tell you all the positive things that have been going on in our city and in my life, but I will be writing an article when this is all over with. I did want to say though that I have not complained throughout all the devastating catastrophe because of the knowledge I learned both from your seminar, books and newsletters.”

Ruthanne could have chosen to wallow in self pity and negativity but instead she chose to deal with her negative situation by being a positive influence on others. Think about how many people she is positively impacting in her community. Now think about the positive influence you can have on people at work, in your community and at home.

Every day simply ask yourself “How can I be a positive influence where I am, right now?”

Share how you will be a positive influence, leave a comment here.

Stay Positive!

-Jon

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No Complaining Rule Bonus Gifts

The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work, is now officially available online and at bookstores nationwide. In celebration, we have put together a special offer that includes over 30 bonus gifts from me and many other bestselling authors when you buy the book today!

Click Here for details.

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Turn Complaints into Solutions

Despite the title, The No Complaining Rule, the goal is not to eliminate all complaining. Just mindless complaining that negatively impacts our health and happiness and sabotages our individual and team success. And the bigger goal is to turn complaints into solutions and positive actions. After all, every complaint represents an opportunity to turn something negative into a positive.

While the title of my new book may make some think that I want to stifle complaining, in actuality, my approach is that people, teams and organization need to befriend complaining and make it work for us rather than against us.

Instead of letting complaining generate negative energy, we can use it for a positive purpose. We can use our own complaints as a “signal” or “sign,” letting us know we are on the negative road and then in the next moment we can take a detour to get on the positive road. Every complaint has an opposite. Each time we catch ourselves complaining, we can say, “Okay, I don’t like this or I’m not happy about this. So then, what do I want? What will make me happy? What thought will bring me peace instead of frustration? What positive actions can I take to rectify this complaint? What solution will address this problem?”

We can use complaining as a catalyst for positive change and positive action in our own lives, at work, and in the world. The key is to turn complaints into solutions. In this spirit try this exercise.

1. Take a blank sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle.

2. On the left side write down your complaints about your life, your career, your work, and whatever else that irks you.

3. On the right side next to each complaint write a solution or positive action you will take to address the complaint.

4. Take Action

5. Note that some might say that certain complaints are beyond their control, such as $4 a gallon for gas. In this case, really think about it and decide if there is something you can do to take action. We have more influence than we think. Often we just need to take action.

6. For your team there is a team action plan in the back of The No Complaining Rule.

Share your complaints, solutions and commitment to action here on this blog.

Stay Positive!

-Jon Gordon

www.JonGordon.com

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“Have to” or “Get to”

Who knew that two simple words could change one’s mindset, perspective and approach to work and life? Just two words have the potential to enhance joy, productivity, performance and change a complaining voice to an appreciative heart.

So often we say things like, “I have to take the kids to practice.” “I have to go to this meeting.” “I have to finish this project.” “I have to go to work today.” “I have to take care of this customer.” “I have to share this new information with my team.” “I have to see my family this weekend.”

We act as if we don’t have a choice. As if we are imprisoned by a paycheck and the expectations of a world that forces us to do thing we don’t want to do. But in reality we do have a choice. We can choose our attitude and our actions. We can choose how we view our life and work. We can realize that every day is a gift. It’s not about what we have to do. It’s about what we get to do.

We get to live this life while so many like Tim Russert and my Mom have left this world far too early. We get to drive in traffic while so many are too sick to drive a car. We get to go to a job while so many are unemployed. We get to raise our children even if they drive us nuts at times. We get to interact with our employees and customers and make a difference in their life. We get to use our gifts and talents to make a product or provide a service. We get to eat three meals a day while millions of people are starving. We get to work on projects, answer phone calls, serve customers, participate in meetings, design, create, share, sell, lead and suit up every day for the game of life.

Yes there will be challenges and life isn’t easy but each day we wake up we get another opportunity to make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today. We get to uplift, inspire, encourage, and impact others. We get to live this life. Let’s make the most of it by remembering that life is a gift not an obligation.

To read more about “Get to” or “Have to,” read The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work.

Join the conversation and share your “Have to” or “Get to” thoughts here.

Stay Positive!

-Jon

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