Do you “wonder how you” let fear and desire influence you?

Every day media headlines are laced with stories of sensationalism that evoke fear. Politicians use fear tactics to garner support. Simply put, fear is a tool used to manipulate and influence people. Why? It plays into our human survival instinct.

On the other hand, advertisers use tactics that prey on desire. You want to feel better, be richer, smell better, or drive a car that makes you feel good and turns the neighbors green with envy. That is also part of human survival tool kit.

Do you “wonder how you” create reality or how reality is created for you?

According to my Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 1991, reality is a noun that is:

1. the state or quality of being real
2. resemblance of being real
3. a real thing or fact
4. real things, facts, or events taken as a whole

In my world, reality has to do with two things: interpretation and agreement.

Do you “wonder how you” benefit as the one and onlytrue leader of your life? Today I’ll focus on three benefits of growing a Leadership Garden®, especially when it comes to Internet Marketing. I’ll share the lessons I learned while studying and practicing how to market to you on-line:

1. No one can truly know my pain, solve my problems, make me rich, or hold the key to my happiness and success - but me. Given what I stand for and wrote in my book, this wasn't a revelation as much as an embarrassing kind of a "duh" moment.

2. I began to choose what I learned, who I followed, and how I would grow my career and business with integrity to my unique purpose and aim.

3. I regained my power to create what I desire by taking full responsibility for my thoughts, feelings, and actions and the results that I produced - good, bad, or indifferent.

We are now in the “information age” and sellers are making big money marketing information products on the Internet. For every problem you have, there are hundreds of experts eager to draw you into a sales funnel with free offers. I call this the “expert guru" sales funnel trap.

So what’s the problem? Nothing - unless you are unaware of the techniques used and manage yourself and pocketbook accordingly.

I watched Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. His campaign rhetoric “change” and “yes we can” interests me a great deal, but maybe not for the same reason as others. There is no question he has the ability to inspire masses and spark hope in the heart, mind, or spirit of the American people.

I observed closely as he eloquently referred to America’s Promise and laid out his plan. When he emphatically stated, “Enough!" I couldn’t agree more, but enough of what?

Now my passion was evoked and I wondered how long we will go on thinking real change will occur by electing a new leader? What needs to change is not the leader in power, though that is a very good idea in the moment, but to change the world view of leadership that abdicates power and responsibilty for your life to the circumstances or a person in a particular position. Worse yet, that great leadership is the innate ability of only a chosen few.

When Senator Obama said, “This campaign is not about me, it’s about you.” I nodded my head. The door opened to ask the "Big WHY - REAL Change" questions. 

Do you “wonder how you” break the rules?

Children are our future leaders is a backwards statement. In April, I shared the birth of my granddaughter, Makenna Nan and, in June, our second new leader sprouted – Parker Dean. There is no doubt in my mind these babies and our other grandchildren are leading the way in their parents’ home and mine today. Every time I look in their bright little eyes I wonder what leadership greatness waits to sprout in their heart, mind, and spirit as they grow up?

I recently ran across an internet article 6 Rules Grandparents Love to Break! The last paragraph made me chuckle and think, ". . . As grandparents you realize that you drove your kids nuts for absolutely no good reason." It reminded me of the parallel I see between parenting and leadership rules.