Friday, July 25, 2008

Fly the Friendly Skies

So here we are at the end of July (almost) and what a time we have all had traveling. I have slept at O'hare, missed flights, lost my luggage and even then - I love this life. I showed up in Dallas for a session with no suitcase, made a quick trip to the local Walmart - and voila - a new look for me at least.

The reason I am writing about this is the attitudes I encountered during some of my issues this week on the road. On Wednesday evening - July 23rd O'hare had a lot of problems - a majority of flights were cancelled on all airlines due to bad storms on the East Coast and Hurricane Dolly in Texas. Oh well...we move on. Well not for everyone - I went to The Red Carpet Club and witnessed the most awful behavior from the well travel executives. Grown men yelling at the Red Carpet Associates - demanding things way beyond their control. Are you kidding me? So I did what I do best - made friends with the ladies at the counter and not only got my self a room (which they don't give for weather issues) but upgraded on my next flight.

Please understand me - I too get tired and cranky sometimes. But taking it out on the people that work for the airlines is crazy. Let's stop the airline bashing and recognize that without them, we don't travel!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

July in London

Summer is here and I am in London working - raining, cold and not even close to the summer weather I left in California. I started to complain about it and then looked around at the people on the train yesterday in Central London. All wrapped up in their coats, rain boots and umbrella's and still laughing, eating ice cream and not even noticing the rain. What is it about happy people that can turn anything around?

I thought about this as I rode back toward my hotel. Then it dawned on me. People in general are really very nice - it is just hard sometimes to see everyone that way.

So today, I want you to stop and see the world through different eyes. Smile at the grumpiest person you meet today - whether at work, the bank, the store or on the airplane. Try it! Don't think that I am crazy. I have tried this the past few days, and I have gotten 100% compliance. Each grumpy person I look at and smile, ends up smiling back at me. Now I want you to be honest with yourself - you may have to look in the mirror and smile at yourself before you can try this on others.

You and I both know that the attitude you put into life reflects in the attitude you get from life. So today is the start of something special - YOU! Focus on yourself for a while. What makes you happy? What can you do differently at work? How can you face someone at work who is negative and let them know that you don't appreciate it? How can you change something at home to be more positive? And finally - when will you finally realize that it is all about YOU? You personally have the ability to make these changes. No one can make them for you. Start smiling, start laughing, start living and start today!