WOW Word-Of-the-Week #342: Conscientious
February 22, 2011 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #342: Conscientious
Conscientious – characterized by extreme care and great effort.
Are you a conscientious person? Would your customers, members, guests, clients, or family say that you well organized? Would they say that you are responsible? How about prudent?
The cover of this week’s Sunday Parade Magazine read, “THE SECRETS TO A LONG LIFE 
Do you have what it takes to go the distance?” The article written by Howard S. Friedman, PH.D & Leslie R. Martin, PH.D goes on to say, “Thanks to the findings in a surprising new book, The Longevity Project, you can finally learn why some people make it to a very old age and others don’t.”
The article featured 6 myths of living longer. They used research dating from 1921 conducted by Lewis Terman, a Stanford University psychologist who was interested in discovering the sources of intellectual leadership. The myth that I found most interesting was #3.
“YOU CAN WORRY YOURSELF TO DEATH. Actually, the opposite is true: Terman’s study clearly revealed that the best predictor of longevity in children was conscientiousness – being prudent, well organized, even somewhat obsessive. The same was true later in life. Adults who were thrifty, persistent, detail-oriented, and responsible lived the longest.”
“One of the most obvious explanations is that conscientious people do more to protect their health – for example, wearing seat belts or following doctors’ orders – and engage in fewer risky activities, like smoking, drinking to excess, abusing drugs, or driving too fast. They are not necessarily risk-averse, but they tend to be sensible in evaluating how far to push the envelope. ”
“Having this trait leads people into happier marriages, better friendships, and healthier work situations. That’s right: Conscientious people create long-life pathways for themselves. And you aren’t locked into – or out of – this trait. One Terman subject who lived to an old age scored very low in conscientiousness as a youngster. As an adult, he found a job he liked and had a very solid marriage. He became conscientious – and reaped the rewards.”
This week’s focus is being conscientious if you’d like to live longer. Are you persistent? Are you detail-oriented? Do you always wear your seat belt? Do you tend to be sensible in evaluating how far to push the envelope?
Reader Responses
“Love it, want the book…..thanks!!” – Bev
“I won’t go long into details but I recently changed careers from one where I cared for everyone but myself to one where I am caring for others and myself. I now have my dignity back because I am taking care of myself and that makes all the difference. I just wanted to tell you great job and you were right on the money with this Word of the Week for sure. Keep up the great work!” – Brian
“Great word. Throughout my young academic life I was called “conscientious” by teachers, family members and friends. I dotted the i’s, crossed the t’s and stayed on top of those aspects of my life that required me to be accountable and responsible. As with everything else in life, it is habit-forming. I have carried it into my adult life, especially in relation to my children. Both of my girls are conscientious. The nine-year-old is organized and has a place for everything in her room. My two-year-old is a stickler for following through on every task and putting things away when she is finished with them. If her routine is disturbed, she becomes upset. My wife is more conscientious than I am. She reminds me of things that I forget. Kristen reminds me of putting on my seatbelt and not to speed. She not only is very organized, but Kristen has a lot of common sense. So, I am very fortunate. We are also conscientious about sending thank you notes to people who have remembered our birthdays. We have taught this to both girls as well. As conscientious as we are, we do notice those who are not. And it is disappointing. But we call can’t be conscientious. Thanks again, Susan. Have a great weekend. Take care.” – “Warrior” Joe
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #341: Opportunity
February 15, 2011 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #341: Opportunity
Opportunity – a favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances.
Are you able to view a problem as an opportunities? Do you see the glass as half empty or half full?
Last week’s WOW generated lots of positive feedback. Bob, whom I met in Cabo San Lucas in 2002, had this to say, “My favorite definition of luck is that luck is preparedness meeting opportunity. My friend Mark Porter, a professional poker player, once told me, ‘You can’t count on luck. You must try to align yourself with the universal flow of random odds.'”
Cabo San Lucas
“I DO believe that what goes around comes around, that you reap what you sow, that if you do good things that good things happen to you, that what you think about is what shows up in your life, that we need to spend less time thinking about what we don’t want in our life and more time thinking about what we do want, and that you can change your thinking and change your life in an instant.”
“The ‘luckiest thing’ that ever happened to me was meeting my future wife in the middle of nowhere in a jungle on a beach, not speaking the same language and from very different cultures, hooking up together, and staying happily married since then.”
“I also don’t believe in accidents. Everything happens to you for a reason. To struggle against the moment is to struggle against the Universe. Your job is to deal with your emotional reaction, and with as much clarity as you can muster, observe what is happening to you and figure out the lesson you are supposed to be learning.”
“If you can train yourself to perceive the seeming ‘problems’ and ‘challenges’ you are experiencing as ‘opportunities’ to learn something new or gain an insight, you will make yourself ‘failsafe.’ Our greatest enemies are our greatest teachers. I think Casteneda said that. ‘Enemies’ can be difficult experiences as well as people. But difficult times can lead to a lot of personal growth. If you ‘prepare’ yourself with this attitude, you will encounter plenty of ‘opportunities’ that you can convert to ‘LUCK.'”
I totally agree! This week focus on how many favorable situations you find yourself in. Can you do as Bob and figure out what the lesson is that you are supposed to be learning? Do you think as we mature and have more experiences that we are better able to see the opportunity?
Reader Responses
“The most difficult aspect of turning problems into opportunities is getting out of ourselves. We tend to get caught up in why something bad is happening to ME right now instead of looking for the silver lining in the cloud. But that is human nature. We claim that we are good people and bad things should not happen to us. Many times when caught up in that moment we don’t step back to look at the problem or situation. When we do, and take our time to analyze what it is we are going through, it is then we figure out what is going on. Sometimes, the message or opportunity does not present itself until later. Usually that is the time we are prepared to take advantage of the opportunity. It really is difficult to have the perspective needed when we remain inside the picture frame and can’t see. This is something we need to learn. Some of us, but unfortunately many of us do not. Thank you, Susan. Keep up the great work. – “Warrior” Joe
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #340: Lucky
February 9, 2011 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #340: Lucky
Lucky – to experience good fortune.
Do you consider yourself to be a lucky person? Do good things happen to you? Do you believe in Karma? What goes around comes around?
I consider myself to be a lucky person. I always get good parking spots. If you have ever attended one of my programs you’ve probably heard about my “Parking Fairy.” She is in my car with me at all times!
I have a great cartoon clipping that reads, “Good luck is being in the right place at the right time with enough money.” There are many more great quotes. Do you have a favorite one?
When my purse was stolen in Namibia in October, what I didn’t tell you was that I believed I would get it back. When I returned from my tour later that day sure enough my purse was at the front desk. The bad news was it was completely empty. The only thing of value was my prescription sunglasses. I said, “It serves those little thieves right. They are of no use and worthless to them.” Then I thought, “They will pitch them in a trash can.” And so I took off and starting digging through the trash cans in the six block downtown area where the thieves had been spotted. I kept thinking to myself, “I am a lucky person and I will find my sunglasses.” And sure enough after ten trash cans I found them. Would you have done that?
As much as I think I am lucky, lately I seem to be very unlucky when it comes to technology/computer products. I bought my first Dell computer in 1995 and have continued to only buy Dells. In 2008 I bought a new laptop and had problems immediately. Over the course of two years I have had all of my software reinstalled three times (at great cost to me) and finally even all the hardware was replaced. When it still didn’t work (and after hours and hours on the phone) Dell finally replaced it with a new laptop. Only problem is, the replacement (not even a year old) is a lemon too!
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” – Chinese Proverb
So now I am waiting for my new Sony to arrive. (Don’t even get me started on HP printers!) Is it me or are the products that were so reliable just not made to the same standards?
Then as I was all ready to send this to you it appears now my router is bad. So I have had no internet which is why this is so late. Thank goodness for Starbucks!
This week I want to hear your lucky stories. When was the last time you experienced good fortune? Do you get good parking spots too? Do you have good Karma?
Reader Responses
“I feel so lucky when I met you !! You are an inspiration to me. My first lesson I learned from you was at the Thursday Club in 2002. I continue to learn from you each time
we are together.” – Katie
“I have a good Karma story to share. One night I was playing black jack at a Vegas casino. The dealer paid me twice. I handed back the $5.00 chip and told her that she already paid me. She was very thankful that I was honest with her. On the next deal, I was dealt a black jack. Everyone at the table remarked on the Karma for my honesty.” Sylvia
“I was pick-pocketed in Mexico City in 1983 and lost everything. My girl friend had a visa and a little cash so that was lucky. After 4 or 5 weeks passed I received a brown envelope for the us consulate in Mexico city with my wallet and everything was in it except money that was double lucky!” – Ken
“I lived in NY and wanted to move to California – suddenly there was an ad in The New York Times it said “looking for good legal secretaries – interviews will be at the Sherry Netherlands.” I answered the ad, got the job. They did not pay my way out there but I had a job when I arrived – Thank you Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. We would say Bashert or Kismet or fate!!! I also want to thank you for your response I did not expect it but I do think it is generational that parent who survived the depression did not praise as so many people have agreed with me. Keep the good work going.” – Isabelle
“You know next month will feature the “Luck of the Irish?” In fact, the NCAA Basketball Tournament begins on St. Patrick’s Day! The late Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey once said that “Luck is the residue of design.” In other words, after intelligence and effort have been expended luck can come into play. I don’t necessarily rely on luck, because that would mean whatever success I am trying attain in my endeavors would appear out of my hands in some kind of random manner. That being said, I still believe in karma. Our attitudes and personalities are part of a personal aura we exude during our day-to-day living. The positive vibes we put out into the universe bring people closer to us. And, we all need each other in one way or another. So, whether it is the Luck of the Irish or Instant Karma, it is the actions that we take and the responsibility we take for our lives that can lead to good vibrations or good things happening to us. I’m picking up good vibrations! Before you know it, I could become a Beach Boy! Now, I have had situations in my life where things have gone my way when I least expected it. In college I won a dorm lottery to get the room I wanted. When I applied to graduate school, I was accepted to the last opening at Medill in1984. I don’t know if those really involved luck, or as you would say being in the right place at the right time. So, in that sense circumstance plays a part. I liked your parking fairy story. A few weeks ago I had to take a train into Chicago for jury duty. My wife warned me ahead of time that I needed money to park in garage where she parks her car every day. Since I was in a little bit of a rush and did not have money for parking, I pulled onto the roof of the garage and parked at the far end. Hoping that my car would not be noticed. Needless to say my wife was upset. But I told her I was willing to take the chance and would pay the fine if I was ticketed. When I returned later that afternoon, there was NO TICKET on my windshield. My wife was relieved. One more parking story. The man whose biography I authored, Coach Al McGuire, was riding in a rental car with CBS color commentator Bill Raftery. Bill told me that there were empty coffee cups and papers scattered in the back seat. It was pretty much a mess. As they arrived at Coach McGuire’s speaking engagement in downtown Chicago, they could not find a parkings space. After a couple of trips around the block, he pulled into an illegal space. Coach Al reached into the back seat for a piece of paper and a pen. In large letters he wrote: CLERGY and placed it on the driver’s dashboard under the windshielf. When Bill and Coach Al returned to the car, there was NO TICKET on the windshield. So, maybe that is the luck of the Irish.” – “Warrior” Joe
“I just love fortune cookies. We have a Panda Express within walking distance at work and here are some of the ones I’ve kept: “You Will Be Coming Into A Fortune.” “You Are The Key To Your Own Success.” Or how about this one, “Today Will be Lucky and Memorable for You.” These fortunes are on my computer so I can look at them every day. And do you know what? After I opened the one “today will be lucky and memorable for you…” It was lucky and memorable for me. This was the day I was told that I was to be promoted to a higher paying position. I put on it “It sure was on 04/08/2010.” I don’t know where luck comes from, or why only some people have it and some people don’t. All I know is… if I’m lucky enough to have it, I definitely cherish it and thank the good Lord above for allowing me to be the lucky one.” – Linda
“I have a parking fairy too! I always get the spot I want as I park as far away from everyone and the building to get some fresh air and exercise. Luck is in the eye of the beholder. Jack Nicklaus said, “I’ve never had a lucky shot in my life. I’ve made hole in ones and they aren’t luck. If you’re aiming for it and it goes in, it’s not luck, its skill.” Are you lucky if you win the Powerball? Only if you win and you didn’t buy a ticket? Karma is self fulfillment also, treat others nice and chances are they’ll treat you nice. Give and you receive by giving. Have a nice day!” – Kevin