"Pretenders look the part, talk the part and claim the part, but fall short of fulfilling the part. Players have a servant's mindset. Pretenders have a selfish mindset. Players are mission conscious. Pretenders are position conscious. Players can deliver the goods. Pretenders promise the goods. Players love to see others succeed. Pretenders are only interested in their own success."
"Pretending to be real is a lot more exhausting than just being real."
-- John C. Maxwell
John Maxwell nails the difference between being authentic or being a fake. In life you should under promise and over perform. So the conclusion is clear. Don't be a Pretender be for Real!
-- John Duffy
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Thought for the Day - No Victims Only Volunteers
"Being Proactive is about taking control and ownership of your life. It is not about laying blame or justifying, which is what victims do. There are no victims, only volunteers."
-- Keith J Cunningham
I love the statement there are no victims only volunteers. Now of course like all things in life there are exceptions to this and this is not to say there are not situations where people truly are victims. The purpose of the statement is to point out that many times in life people choose yes choose to play victim instead of empowering themselves to take an alternative action or course of behaviour. The point is to be proactive and take full control of your life. Yes there are many circumstances in life outside of our control but we have a choice and control over how we respond to to it. So choose to not volunteer to be a victim in life...
John Duffy
-- Keith J Cunningham
I love the statement there are no victims only volunteers. Now of course like all things in life there are exceptions to this and this is not to say there are not situations where people truly are victims. The purpose of the statement is to point out that many times in life people choose yes choose to play victim instead of empowering themselves to take an alternative action or course of behaviour. The point is to be proactive and take full control of your life. Yes there are many circumstances in life outside of our control but we have a choice and control over how we respond to to it. So choose to not volunteer to be a victim in life...
John Duffy
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Thought for the Day - Power Thinking
"The difference between “power thinking” and “positive” thinking is slight but profound. To me, people use positive thinking to pretend that everything is rosy, when they really believe that it’s not. With power thinking, we understand that everything is neutral, that nothing has meaning except for the meaning we give it, and that we are going to make up a story and give something it’s meaning."
--T. Harv Eker
I like the thinking behind this distinction. Others have called it "Possibility Thinking" which I like as well. wasn't much a fan of Positive Thinking when too often it seemed to be nothing more than wishful thinking. I have to admit that I find a lot of New Age stuff rather aire fairy and not grounded in reality. My background growing up in poverty in the South Bronx definitely grounded me in reality. So what I like about T Harv's insight is the reality is things happen and are indeed neutral and we give them meaning and we make up stories to process and deal with reality. So if we are story makers why not make up an empowered meaning and a possibility story. I believe it helps to make a realistic assessment of where you are even if the reality is worse than you like. Once you have that reality based assessment you can set goals and take massive actions to achieve your desired results.
John Duffy
--T. Harv Eker
I like the thinking behind this distinction. Others have called it "Possibility Thinking" which I like as well. wasn't much a fan of Positive Thinking when too often it seemed to be nothing more than wishful thinking. I have to admit that I find a lot of New Age stuff rather aire fairy and not grounded in reality. My background growing up in poverty in the South Bronx definitely grounded me in reality. So what I like about T Harv's insight is the reality is things happen and are indeed neutral and we give them meaning and we make up stories to process and deal with reality. So if we are story makers why not make up an empowered meaning and a possibility story. I believe it helps to make a realistic assessment of where you are even if the reality is worse than you like. Once you have that reality based assessment you can set goals and take massive actions to achieve your desired results.
John Duffy
Monday, July 11, 2011
Thought for the Day - Bitter or Better
"You can choose to be bitter or you can chose to be better. Which choice are you making today?"
-- Author Unknown
Ain't it true when someone hurts you or something doesn't go our way we choose to get bitter and carry the hurt and bitterness with us. What would happen if you choose instead to respond by getting better? I'm sure you know the answer.
John Duffy
-- Author Unknown
Ain't it true when someone hurts you or something doesn't go our way we choose to get bitter and carry the hurt and bitterness with us. What would happen if you choose instead to respond by getting better? I'm sure you know the answer.
John Duffy
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Friday, July 08, 2011
Thought for the Day - Leaders Inspire
"If you’re not inspiring those around you, you’re not Leading. You’re following."
-- Robin Sharma
No matter what business or endeavor you are in if you are a leader your role is to inspire people to be the best they can be. The way to truly inspire is to have your actions match your words and to lead by example.
John Duffy
-- Robin Sharma
No matter what business or endeavor you are in if you are a leader your role is to inspire people to be the best they can be. The way to truly inspire is to have your actions match your words and to lead by example.
John Duffy
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Thought for the Day - Set a Baseline Standard
"If you don't set a baseline standard for what you'll accept in life, you'll find it's easy to slip into behaviors and attitudes or a quality of life that's far below what you deserve."
--Tony Robbins
This is crucial but easier said than done. I just put this in front of me to look at every day to remind my self where I am slacking and falling down. In some areas of my life I have set this and surpassed it but in others not so good. So I am going to re-look at ht different areas of my life and set a higher standard and a new baseline....
John Duffy
--Tony Robbins
This is crucial but easier said than done. I just put this in front of me to look at every day to remind my self where I am slacking and falling down. In some areas of my life I have set this and surpassed it but in others not so good. So I am going to re-look at ht different areas of my life and set a higher standard and a new baseline....
John Duffy
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Thought for the Day - Carve Your Blessings in Stone
"Learn to write your hurts in the sand and carve your blessings in stone.."
-- Author Unkown
Very powerful advice on how to live your life. Just like the waves will erase what you write in the sand find a way to let the hurts disappear. Instead focus on your blessings and live every day grateful for all you have. If you do this you will discover more blessings in your life than you thought.
John Duffy
-- Author Unkown
Very powerful advice on how to live your life. Just like the waves will erase what you write in the sand find a way to let the hurts disappear. Instead focus on your blessings and live every day grateful for all you have. If you do this you will discover more blessings in your life than you thought.
John Duffy
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Thought for the Day - You Gotta Sweat
“Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get.”
-- Ray Kroc
There is no get rich quick, there is no something for nothing, there is no way to get to the top of the mountain without climbing. You gotta sweat. You got to put in the work.
John Duffy
-- Ray Kroc
There is no get rich quick, there is no something for nothing, there is no way to get to the top of the mountain without climbing. You gotta sweat. You got to put in the work.
John Duffy
Monday, July 04, 2011
Happy 4th of July
The song "American Heart" resonates very deeply for me.
"I’m American made
I got American parts"...
I was born in the Bronx, the son of two Irish immigrants who came to America in 1928 during the Great Depression to find the American Dream and they gave it to me.
I can say that I became a proud Born Again American on September 11, 2001.
"‘Cause a mother can always find her child
Even when that child don’t know he’s lost"...
And yes I was lost for many, many years searching for a Utopia and rejecting and not appreciating America but thankfully I found my way back home.
And today I can say unequivocally I am a believer and a champion of American Exceptionalism and the American Dream.
"But I say I still believe in
The greatest Liberator, Innovator, Cultivator
Freedom knows..."
This July 4th we can celebrate the bringing of justice to Osama bin Laden but more importantly we can celebrate all that is great about America and all that unites us. So I can say in the words of "American Heart"
"I’m American made
I got American parts
Got American faith
In America’s heart
Go on raise the flag
I got stars in my eyes
I’m in love with her
And I won’t apologize"
Happy July 4th. Let Freedom Ring......
John Duffy
Thought for the Day -Heroes Live Up to Their Responsibilities
"A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom."
— Bob Dylan
This Veteran's Day remember those heroes who put it on the line every day for us.
John Duffy
— Bob Dylan
This Veteran's Day remember those heroes who put it on the line every day for us.
John Duffy
Gary Sinise and Lt Dan's Band for the Common Good- Movie opens today July 4th
www.ltdanbandmovie.com
The movie "Lt Dan's Band opens today July 4th. I saw it at a pre-screening at the USC military social work program and highly recommend you download it.
1 out of every $4 per download will benefit Gary's new foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation whose mission is to serve and honor those who serve our nation and their families. Check out the article and you can register for the July 4th premiere at
This July 4th remember those that serve and make a donation to organizations that give back to the Veterans. Here are a few deserving organizations...
Gary Sinise Foundation
http://www.garysinisefoundation.org/
Gary Sinise Foundation on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/GarySiniseFoundation?sk=app_190322544333196
Operation Gratitude
http://www.opgratitude.com/index.php
Wounded Warrior Project
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
Fisher House
http://www.fisherhouse.org/
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Friday, July 01, 2011
Thought for the Day - Take Action, Take Massive Action
"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."
-- Conrad Hilton
And they don't stop taking action. Sometimes the best solution is to take massive action. I know there were many times I didn't know the answers but I kept trying stuff, experimenting and taking action to I got a result I wanted. Just Do It...,
John Duffy
-- Conrad Hilton
And they don't stop taking action. Sometimes the best solution is to take massive action. I know there were many times I didn't know the answers but I kept trying stuff, experimenting and taking action to I got a result I wanted. Just Do It...,
John Duffy
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Thought for the Day - Solutions, Solutions, Solutions
"Positive thinkers think and talk continually about solutions, and negative thinkers continually talk and think about problems. Keep your mind solution-focused rather than problem- focused."
---Brian Tracy
Or as I like to say, "Okay you told me the problem now what's the solution?" Solutions, SolutIons, Solutions....
John Duffy
---Brian Tracy
Or as I like to say, "Okay you told me the problem now what's the solution?" Solutions, SolutIons, Solutions....
John Duffy
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thought for the Day - Trust Your Own Instinct
"Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else's."
~Billy Wilder
The funny thing is most of my mistakes I have made in life were when I didn't trust my instinct or overroad it.
John Duffy
~Billy Wilder
The funny thing is most of my mistakes I have made in life were when I didn't trust my instinct or overroad it.
John Duffy
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Thought for the Day - Strain Your Potential
"I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy."
— Og Mandino
What a powerful way to live your life. This is something I need to keep reminding myself of daily. I can do more, be more, contribute more, achieve more, demand more and live more.
John Duffy
— Og Mandino
What a powerful way to live your life. This is something I need to keep reminding myself of daily. I can do more, be more, contribute more, achieve more, demand more and live more.
John Duffy
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thought for the Day - Make Your Circumstances
"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them."
-- George Bernard Shaw
We are a result of the choices we make in life. The goal is to keep making better choices...
John Duffy
-- George Bernard Shaw
We are a result of the choices we make in life. The goal is to keep making better choices...
John Duffy
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