Motivation doesn't last. We wish it would, and I especially, since I'm what is termed a 'Motivational Speaker'. It's a misnomer. The truth is: no one can motivate you, and even if they could, it wouldn't last.

Though we feel good when we go to a seminar or workshop or experience a speaker who does a good 'pump up', the other side of the coin is learning what to do when the 'pump up' wears off. Just as important, it pays to understand the nature of motivation in the first place, which would leave little room for disappointment when the 'pump up' wears off and you're back to the daily grind of doing what must be done.

To me, motivation is like lighter fluid, whereas inspiration is like charcoal. When you get out the grill, you fill it with charcoal. You then pour lighter fluid over the charcoal. When you set the lighter fluid on fire, you get a big 'poof' of a flame, depending on how much lighter fluid you poured

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Communication is easy.  All you need to do is say what you mean and mean what you say. Right!  How many of us are able to truly do that?  And, when we finally do say what we intend to say, why is it that the people we say it to are not always happy to hear our words?

Whether we want to believe it or not, there definitely is an art to communicating effectively.  First, of course, we need to really know what we think, feel, believe, and want to communicate to others.  Right here, many of us run into problems.  We may have some idea about what needs to be said, but we may not be clear about how we feel and we may have no idea how the other person or persons might respond.  So, first, we have to gain clarity about our own thoughts, ideas, needs, desires, beliefs and intentions. 

Next, it is important for us to know who we are communicating with.  How does this person tend to receive and interpret information? Do they often&n

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People join a group for many different reasons.  Motivation, excitement, appropriate skill level, cooperative attitude, and desire to participate, may be lacking.  Some people join a group to "look good," to add it to their resume, because someone coerced them and they just could not say no, or because they're curious but don't intend to contribute much.  Others join a group with the intention of being a star, the boss, leading others to their own self-serving goals, or just controlling others to boost their own morale.  Some people join a group because they want to receive what that group has to offer - education, advice, money, prestige, or a sense of belonging.  Then there are the rare few who join a group to discover what they can contribute, how they can help the group to improve and expand.

Not only do people join groups for diverse and completely different reasons, they also arrive with completely different personalit

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Just imagine working for the imaginary Cooper Sterling Advertising Agency? A Creative Director is hiding a past life that started when he assumed the identity of a commanding officer who was killed next to him in a Korean War battlefield incident. A sex obsessed senior partner has suffered a heart attack while indulging in a tryst on company premises. Publication of an article/book by one of the copywriters is greeted by ridicule and personal put downs by fellow employees.  An arrogant junior employee who undermines his boss is retained on staff because of the importance of his family's connections.

Gossip and scandal seem to run the Cooper Sterling Company. The quality of product and financial health of this company seem to be of secondary importance. Is it any wonder that an employee who feels passed over has started to search for ways to bring down his boss (and perhaps the company?)

During the Vietnam war 120 officers were

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Not too long ago, I visited one of my passions:  a national chain superstore. I've visited their stores in 42 states through travel and vacation, and am always fascinated by their retail philosophy.  (Obviously, I need a life.)

On this day, I was in my car, stopped at a crosswalk, waiting on a couple to cross the street.  Instead, they walked along the side of the street, not cutting through the waiting traffic.  My car was partially hidden behind a large armored van making it's daily delivery.  I knew the couple couldn't see me waiting for them.

After a few minutes, I decided to drive through the crosswalk since it was not being used by pedestrians.  Of course, who decided to cross at the same time but the couple?!  My car is a V8 and it roared by them, taking both by surprise.  I felt bad yet could not stop without causing a traffic incident.

As I parked and headed to the store, the woman from the crosswalk jumped out

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Yes, that's right, you read that correctly. I am wishing you a happy tax season! If you can't fathom why, here is a little bit of prosperity wisdom to take the stress and worry out of this annual occasion!

In this season of giving ... to our government, I like to say that your bank account - whether it be personal or business - is like a living, breathing organism - what goes in must come back out. This keeps it healthy, cycling naturally and functioning properly.

However, instead of seeing it as a natural flow, most of us, after paying our taxes, have a tendency to contract and withhold - financially as well as physically. In other words, we see the big tax bill, feel the fear, anxiety or concern and then decide to pull back, watch our spending or limit ourselves and others over the next few months to make up for it. We lose all sense of trust or connection to the knowing that there will be more where that came from - more money, I mean!

All of this comes from a scarcity mentality driven by fear. You may perceive it as something else - "reality," responsibility, circumstances. It isn't. It is simply fear. And let's really get down to it. Your reality is what you make it. So, do you want your reality to be a relationship with money driven by fear? If your reality is what you make it, what might you make it instead?

Remember, your bank account is like a living organism - what you take in must also cycle back out, just like breathing. So, you can shift your current money reality right now by looking at it this way - the more you cycled out - exhaled, the more room you are making to take in a bigger breath the next time.

So this tax season ... if you owed, you earned. If you owed big, you earned bigger!

Just take a moment to let that idea really sink in.

Now, regardless of your opinion about taxes, having to pay them and how our government chooses to spend these funds, money is simply an energy, an energy that responds to how we feel about it.

If you grumble or feel fear or experience lack or scarcity, that is the vibration you are creating around money and that is what you will attract. What would you prefer to attract? I know what I prefer and, in that spirit, I always write "Thank You!" on every check I write to the state and the federal government each year. (I will always wonder what the reaction is to this little expression of appreciation on the other end!)

You see, I choose to relate to my taxes as a privilege for receiving so much prosperity rather than a necessary evil or consequence for having earned money. I choose to come from and focus on gratitude. Your reality is what you make it and what you put your focus
on E - X - P - A - N - D - S!

So don't fret the taxes. They are a part of life, a part of the bigger picture and natural cycle of things. See this time of year as a celebration of what you've accomplished, a financial Spring cleaning of sorts and a preparation - a making room for - the arrival of the ever-increasing prosperity and abundance that is now coming your way!

So, Happy Tax Season!

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Hillary Harris is a Prosperity Coach, Intuitive Strategist and Transformational Speaker with over 10 years as a catalyst for inspiring people toward their dreams, illuminating their passions and purpose, and a model for attracting and achieving abundance and success ... effortlessly! 

For more information about how you can hire Hillary to speak for your organization or event, facilitate your training or coach you to deeper awareness and greater heights, contact MVP Seminars.

 Knowing when and how to say "no" is a constant battle for many people. This becomes especially difficult for business professionals who are looking to please and impress higher-ups. Almost from birth, the world has conditioned us to do what others ask without question for any number of reasons. We, too often, get pushed and pulled in all sorts of awkward directions that had not been on our intended agenda due to the inability to confidently speak that singular two-letter word.

Why do we allow ourselves to be ruled by people or things that make us uncomfortable? Does going the extra mile for that prospect result in cognitive dissonance in regards to your own morals? Is the undue stress caused by bending over backward for an overbearing manager worth the possible reward? What value does inviting such negativity into our lives really afford us?

Just say "NO".

Saying "no" is a very reasonable response to any request no matter how big or small. If you can't do what is being asked or even just don't want to, it is truly okay to say "no".  No further explanation is required. The fact that you don't want to is more than enough reason. If you are a person that has trouble saying "no" outright then respond by saying "I'll consider it and get back to you". This is alright too. It is much better to give no commitment at all than to commit to something you didn't want to do in the first place.  Mastering the art of delegation is another way to lessen the burden of being so agreeable.  Don't be afraid to request help from others of similar competence.  By delegating tasks that you are either unwilling or unable to perform, you can focus your attention on matters that are more pressing or important to you.

There is so much additional stress that develops when a person attempts to perform a task unwillingly. Think about times when you have worked at something you truly enjoyed. How easy was it for you to complete the task successfully? Now think about a time when you have agreed to a task that was not really your cup of tea but you just couldn't say "no". Did you give the task your complete 100%? Was the task completed and completed on schedule? How did you feel during the process?

Saying "no" firmly and asserting your position can give you power beyond your wildest dreams. Speaking "no" is to overcome your fear of rejection. It is to embrace independence. It is to get in touch with your true values. What do you stand for? How do you want to live your day? Saying "no" gives you back the control over how and with whom your time and energy is spent. So where does one begin? By just choosing the positive power of saying "NO".

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© 2006 by Niquenya D. Fulbright-All Rights Reserved.

About the Author:

Niquenya D. Fulbright is a Chicago area executive life coach, professional speaker and corporate trainer with over 10 years experience specializing in motivating small business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, and individuals in a career or life transition to use their innate abilities to master their goals and achieve successes beyond their wildest dreams. Contact MVP Seminars to secure Niquenya for your next big event or training session.