SOAPBOX of the week: America, the HUMAN dream takes hope, honesty, hard work

“The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It gives human beings a sense of destination and the energy to get started.”  – Norman Cousins, political journalist & world peace advocate

Ponder the tragedies and tough times you’ve witnessed and weathered.  For some, it’s pocked with divorce, disease, joblessness, legal drama and family battles.  For all, though, it includes the fall-out of 9-11, the epidemic of cancer, the corrosion of our environments, the collapse of our economy.  The far-reaching emissions of these evils nearly suffocate us to helplessness, leaving an impossible-to-fix aftermath.  Ah, but up from the rubble comes a survivor, proving yet again the human spirit is indefinitely indefinable, unyielding and awe-inspiring!  But with the unifying power of hope cometh the echoing call for hard work to rebuild, reboot and reclaim.  It takes discipline to lean down wants and buckle-down for the battle of needs.  It means being radically transparent in communication, which takes asking, sharing, voicing for the greater good.  It means preparing for new ideas, alternatives and eventual growth, which takes resourcefulness of all our surroundings.  And it means trusting that seeds already planted will net positive change… and that takes courage.  Know that generations have done this for us countless times; now it’s our time, folks, to dig ourselves out, and return the favor.

Copyright 2000-2009 by Kimberlie Dykeman
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.
A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to
LIVESTRONG.

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SOAPBOX of the week: Elbow-greased excellence

“Practice is the best of all instructors.”  – Publius Syrus, writer

Any coach, parent, authority figure, guru –or gas station attendant, for that matter- could bless you, with information to do something, get somewhere, or fix a problem.  As a perpetual student of life, you waste gobs of time sifting through data that ties you to the classroom and demands further analysis.  Meanwhile, the meat-n-potatoes real world waits as you put your experiential life on hold.  Folks, gathering info doesn’t equate to learning, nor will it yield the wisdom that comes from getting your hands dirty.  Only one thing will.  Practice.  Applied trial and error reveals your weaknesses and strengths and delivers the celebration of self-discovery.  In the end, you wear the hat of both student and teacher…and it looks good on you.

Copyright 2000-2009 by Kimberlie Dykeman
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.
A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to
LIVESTRONG.

CHECK OUT NEW SOAPBOX inc offerings 

SOAPBOX of the week: reflection resurrection

 “Hindsight is 20/20.”     – Anonymous

No doubt, someone’s Mom coined this phrase…and she deserves to wear “The Crown of Common Sense”!  But whoever first shared this golden nugget of wisdom with you probably saw you stomp on it in youthful rebellion.  And yet a jillion times you’ve caught yourself shaking your foolish head, wishing you’d listened to your gut, screaming “Yes”, “No”, or “RUN!”  Well, that which doesn’t kill ya, only makes you stronger.  So, review your past, rethink your future, and refresh your promise to finding and following the truth within.  Tough to swallow?  Well, probably.  But remember, Mom’s always right.

Copyright 2000-2009 by Kimberlie Dykeman
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.
A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to
LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week: check your ego

“There’s one thing we ought to let folks find out for themselves, and that’s how great we are.”     – Kin Hubbard, cartoonist & journalist
   
Remember, as a child, feeling as though you could do absolutely anything?  Make yourself invisible, be an Olympic athlete, own a huge company, morph into a superhero, make a million dollars, be president someday.  Indeed, as the list grew daily, so did the volume, of your voice to ready the world for your coming!  That self-proclaimed omnipotence ensures your drive to succeed still to this day.  But tread carefully upon the trail of self-confidence; for left unchecked, unyielding conviction can wander out of control, undermine your natural gifts, instigate judgment and jealousy and leave you jaded and lonely.  Practice humility to combat the barbs.  And when tempted to broadcast your greatness, choose to beam it instead.

Copyright 2000-2009 by Kimberlie Dykeman
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.
A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to
LIVESTRONG.

Looking for a cutting-edge speaker?  SOAPBOX® Motivation for the 21st Century

SOAPBOX of the week: the enlightenment of failure

“Failure: A man who has blundered but who is not able to cash in on the experience.”     – Elbert Hubbard, writer and publisher

Celebrating success is an important practice.  It reinforces self-image and provides an ignition sequence for more victories.  But it’s equally necessary to recognize failures…because the lessons learned are launch pads for even more satisfying achievements.  That said, take a closer look at your last flop:  Did you have a clear vision of what you wanted?  A plan?  Did you ask for help to stay on track?  Did you expect a miracle in record time…and then become deflated at your lack of skills and resources.  Or procrastinate and overanalyze yourself into quitting?  If your answers define a full-fledged failure…GREAT!  Knowing why and how you bombed is the secret to tilting the cause and effect scale in your favor…to profit from another success.

Copyright 2000-2009 by Kimberlie Dykeman
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.
A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to
LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week:real honest-to-goodness performance

 

“The whole motivation for any performer is “Look at me, Ma!”     – Lenny Bruce, comedien and satirist

All the world’s a stage, and front-n-center is your biggest fan – Mom.  Right?  Well, more times than not, it’s actually YOU who is the devoted admirer, seeking endorsement, whatever it takes!  It’s one of the simple truths that threads through to connect us all… athletes, musicians, artists, students, business folks, you name it.   But setting aside Mom’s pat on the head and proud smile, wouldn’t you also want her approval of how you earned your success?  If you’re eager to boast the achievements…are you equally willing to reveal the journey?  ‘Cause, if you weren’t authentic in your communicating, fair in your negotiating, or ethical in your fulfillment…regardless of what you tell her, you both fail.  After all, Moms always find out the real truth in our stories…and we have to live with it ‘til she does. SO be motivated to perform like a champ, but also be driven to take the honorable route.  Both of you will have a heckofalot more to smile about in the end.

Copyright 2000-2009 by Kimberlie Dykeman
Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.
A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to
LIVESTRONG.