The EIG Newsletter
Volume 1: Number 6: November/December 2001
Welcome to the latest edition of the EIG (Empowerment International Group) personal and professional development newsletter. This newsletter is published every two months and is FREE of charge for recipients. The goal is to give you thought provoking articles, interesting stories and information.
This international edition goes out to subscribers in Canada, United States, Great Britain, India, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, South Africa, Hong Kong, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Israel, Holland, Spain, Brazil, Iceland, Italy, Zimbabwe, France, Jordan, Pakistan, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Nigeria. Please let us know if you are from a country other than the above and we will gladly add it to our list.
Thank you for your tremendous support, encouragement and wonderful feedback. We are truly honored by your comments and really appreciate them. Thank you also for your interest in Charles' professional speaking and for passing on and recommending the newsletter to family, friends, and colleagues to read. Our subscriber list, thanks to you, has grown amazingly.
Visit our website: www.cmarcus.com
Recent Events
The Bayview Post City magazine in Toronto, Canada saluted Charles in its October 2001 edition as a local hero for helping others conquer challenges by overcoming his own. He was also noted for his volunteer work in the community.
Since the last newsletter, the world was rocked by the terrible and tragic events of September 11. Our hearts and sympathy go out to our American neighbors and friends during these very difficult times.
In This Edition
Life Lessons From Andy Rooney
From the lovable essayist and featured commentator on the 60 Minutes Television Program in the United States.
I've learned that money does not buy class.
I've learned that when you are in love it shows.
I've learned that being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned that you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be loved and appreciated.
I've learned that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I've learned that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am myself.
I've learned that life is tough and to survive and thrive you have to be tougher.
I've learned that a smile is an inexpensive way of improving your looks.
I've learned that the best way to give advice is only in two circumstances: when it is requested, and when it is life threatening.
I've learned that everyone wants to climb the mountain, but all that happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.
The End.
I would also like to add some of my personal life lessons:
I've learned that no matter how serious your life is or requires you to be, there is still a need to lighten up and laugh, especially at yourself.
I've learned that with time a broken heart can be healed and you can learn to love and trust again.
I've learned that we are all looking to be appreciated, recognized and respected and that people are also looking for that from us every day.
What life lessons do you have to add? Make a list, have fun with it, learn and grow from it. Put the list up somewhere where you can see it every day. Set aside quality time every week to go over the list and add to it. This is a very simple but powerful exercise.
A Person of Courage: Christopher Reeves
In May, 1995, Christopher Reeves, acclaimed movie star renowned for his role in the movie "Superman", was riding at the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association Horse Trails in Virginia, USA. The horse he was riding balked at a rail jump, pitched him forward where he landed, head first. His injuries, which were life-threatening, left the actor paralyzed from the neck down, unable to use any of his limbs or even breath without the help of a respirator.
Awakening for the first time, immobilized in a hospital bed, unable to breath without a machine pumping his lungs, Christopher looked into the eyes of his beloved wife, Dana, and said, "Maybe we should just let me go." In that critical moment, with the choice of life or death in the balance, she unhesitatingly responded: "You're still you, and I love you."
Since the accident, Christopher Reeves has become an activist for people with spinal cord injuries, raising millions of dollars for research to find a cure and bringing awareness to the public at large.
He chooses to have an incredibly positive attitude and belief in himself and in life. The doctors have told him he will never walk again. His response is: "It's not a matter of IF I will walk again, it is just a matter of WHEN and HOW."
One wonderful story I heard about Christopher comes from when he was initially recovering in hospital. He received thousands of cards, messages, and gifts from people from all over the world. One stood out from the rest. It was a large, framed picture of the first successful Apollo Shuttle Mission to the moon. All the astronauts and mission crew had signed the picture; underneath were the words: "To Christopher, We found that nothing is impossible."
Christopher Reeves is an example of courage and inspiration, a true hero to so many people around the world. He chooses to see his challenges and obstacles not as an excuse for failure but as a reason to succeed. He is also brave enough to show his vulnerability which makes him even more real to so many people.
Thank-you Superman.
What inspiration can you take from Christopher? What challenges and obstacles are you facing in your own life? Do you see those challenges and obstacles as an excuse to fail or as a tremendous opportunity to succeed? We each face a choice everyday, to show defeat or to show strength. Which do you choose?
Recommended Reading
Climb Your Stairway to Happiness: The 9 Habits of Maximum Happiness by David Leonhardt
This book is filled with much wisdom on maximizing happiness in your life through wonderful stories and humor. It is well laid out and a very easy read. David challenges his reader throughout the book with exercises and a pop quiz. The quotes are original, different and refreshing. Highly recommended.
The Invisible Touch by Harry Beckwith
I previously previewed Harry Beckwith's best selling book "Selling the Invisible". This follow-up book is just as good, if not better in my opinion. The author explains the four keys to modern marketing and explores further the world of the service businesses, revealing how these companies can attract and keep clients. No wonder Harry Beckwith is one of America's leading marketing experts.
Endless Referrals by Bob Burg
Using this book, thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs have turned casual contacts into solid sales opportunities. This is a well written and practical book with fine examples for the reader to follow. Content rich, this book has something for the novice marketer as well as for the experienced one.
Quotes
"I find it fascinating that people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change." Jim Rohn
"Leaders think and talk about solutions. Followers think and talk about problems." Brian Tracy
"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." Vince T. Lombardi
Services
Charles Marcus is a professional speaker and trainer. He works internationally with corporations and associations, helping them increase performance, morale, and productivity. For more information on how Charles can add value to your upcoming conference or event, please contact his office as indicated below.
Charles is also available for telephone consultations on business, customer service, sales skills, communications skills and all areas of personal development. For further information on how this service can work for you, please contact him directly
To Book Charles for your important 2002 or 2003 conference or event please contact:
Charles Marcus
The Empowerment International Group
72 Willesden Road, Toronto, Ontario CANADA M2H 1V7
Telephone: 416-490-6744
Fax: 416-490-6344
Email: charles@cmarcus.com
Website: www.cmarcus.com
Copyright 2001 Charles M. Marcus: All rights worldwide reserved
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Charles Marcus is a professional speaker, trainer and writer. To subscribe to his FREE personal and professional development newsletter, please send an email to charles@cmarcus.com with the word SUBSCRIBE. An electronic copy will be sent out to you every two months. For more information on how Charles and his programs can benefit your group, please call 416-490-6744, email charles@cmarcus.com or visit his website: www.cmarcus.com
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