Category Archives: Leadership and Change

Only Requests and Promises Produce Action

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(Part 1 of article)

I had some choices; I could waste time regretting losing the opportunity for that last meeting I’d canceled.  I could feel remorse for even thinking about changing the meeting again.  But, in honoring Vaughn, I made a promise in the future to keep my commitments.  I wanted to say, “Try,” but Vaughn didn’t like the word, “Try.”  He said that we spend most of our lives making declarations and assertions.  He believed that neither of these produced action.  Only action produces change.  He taught that it is only through requests and promises that we change, produce, or make a difference.

Acknowledge Yourself and Others

Vaughn challenged us to acknowledge those people in our lives that matter everyday, to spend a couple of minutes looking into their eyes and letting them know how much they mean to us.  He even encouraged us to acknowledge our own selves while we were looking into another person’s eyes.  “Eyes are the windows to the soul,” Right?  Vaughn promised that we would make remarkable changes in our lives if we would also look into the other person’s eyes and let them be our mirror.  While looking in another person’s eyes, we are to acknowledge our own selves, saying what was affirming, real, and loving.  My friend Vaughn, was so organized and productive that he had his life planned out for the next 20 years.  He wanted to live to be 140.  I don’t think he made it to age sixty.  But his influence can live for 140 years.

Like Vaughn,  your influence can also last 140 years if you learn to look for the good in the next person you meet and tell them the beauty you see in them.  And, if you want to really transform the world, make it a habit.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

This Is Your Sign to GO!

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go after your dreamsOn the crowded highway of life, you’ll get run over if you just stand still on the freeway. Sure you can move off onto the shoulder where the disabled cars are, but you can’t stay there forever and expect to reach your desired destination. If you stay on the shoulder too long, you’ll get ticketed, towed, or vandalized.

And, so it is in life. You’ve got to keep moving to keep growing, for to stop growing is to die.   I’m not saying to not take time to pray, meditate, plan, and be guided. That’s should be a habit.  I’ve pulled off on the shoulder of the highway of life many times to regroup and get my reference points clear, but then you’ve got to get back in the driver’s seat and get moving.  Don’t worry about how far off your destination is.  Don’t spend time worrying about how you will get there or what detours or roadblocks you might encounter.  Just have faith and get moving.   Do not despise your humble beginnings or small steps.  Remember, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” or in our analogy, one mile.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

You Are Here But Where Is That?

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You are here!  Most people are familiar with the maps in most malls  that show you where you are now or the GPS maps that have the red star showing you where you are going.  You must find where you are now and then locate your destination before you can figure out in which direction you need to go.

What Are Your Reference Points?

Reference points are critical to getting to any destination in life and you need at least three: 1) A Destination, 2) A Starting Point, and 3) A Plan.  You are here and you are on your way somewhere!  But where; do you know?  One of my favorite songs of all time is Diana Ross’s ‘Mahogany’ from ‘Lady Sings the Blues.’  The lyrics that always motivate me to be aware and proactive are:  “Do you know where you’re going to?  Do you like the things that life is showing you?  Do you know? Now looking back at all the past, we let so many dreams just slip through our hands.”  The words make me realize that time is precious and  that if we idle too long in indecision, fear,  and doubt that we can lose out.  What dreams are slipping through your hands right now?  Do you know?  Click to continue reading about ‘Where Are You Going?’

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

Too Busy? So What! Ten Tips to Get What You Want

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Okay, so you don’t have the time looking at your calendar.  But who does?  If it’s something we really want to do, we can and will find the time.  Where will you find the time, you ask? On your calendar!  Just decide what’s on your calendar that is less important or less urgent than the goal you want to focus on now!  And, don’t worry if your schedule is tight, some of my best work has been done under pressure.  In fact all of my six books were only completed when I gave myself an urgent deadline.  There seems to be some power in making a request urgent, otherwise it keeps getting put off waiting for the perfect time.

There Is No Perfect Time- Only Now!

Go on, commit and set a date.  It gets the juices going.  So, get busy realizing your goals.  You’re probably familiar with the adage, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person.”  Busy people get things done because they HAVE to schedule their time.  Last year this time I was busy  and had plans for the next day.   But then, I got a request from a client the night before to put together some training for teaching a course in Hawaii.  The request had everything it needed to peak my  interest. The only challenge was that I had to put the info together in less than 24 hours.  It was clearly an urgent request.  Did I get it done, You betcha!

  1. Decide what you want.  Make sure it’s something that you’re interested in doing.  If you don’t whole-heartedly commit, you’ll find yourself procrastinating more.  Just make a decision and commitment.
  1. Create a plan of action.  You might want to consult with others, get info, and do some prep work.  Your pre-planning work will help you to set a realistic date that you can commit to.
  2. Decide when you want to realize your goal and SET YOUR COMPLETION DATE!  Put it on your calendar.  Remember you can always change the date, but you’ll never hit a target if you don’t have one.
  3. Tell folks. Have people in your court to remind, encourage, and support you.
  4. Schedule your individual tasks too.  Put them on your calendar.  Take them seriously.
  5. Begin immediately to do something every single day that will move you closer to your goal.
  6. Cross off each completed task.  This self-satisfaction will keep you moving.
  7. Decide on a specific amount of time you will work on that project each day. 30 minutes? 1 hour? 2 hours?  Then set your timer and stay on it until you’ve worked the agreed upon amount of time.
  8. Focus!- Limit distractions.  Set yourself up for success.
  9. Finish- Keep at it until you’ve reach your goal.  Now reward yourself.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

The Power of A Date

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Want to achieve a specific goal by a specific time? Then put a date on it.  The more urgent the date, the greater chances that you will achieve it. Most of you are aware of my desire to have my own television show.  Since the Oprah competition last year, I have been taking classes in field production, studio technician, Finalcut Pro Editing,  and studio production.  After the competition ended, I immediately signed up for the next class and have been taking them for the past year.  I decided that I wanted to launch my show in September.  Deciding to do something is not enough.  I had decided last year, but just yesterday I filled out the final paperwork,  and selected a date for my first show on the local cable MCM Channel 19.  The date is September 24, 2011.  Although I had been preparing for years, it finally felt real when I set the date.  I told them that when the Oprah people call, I’ll have to bow out.  So, even though I’m on hold for a part on OWN network, I’m proceeding on with my own plan.

Go on, Commit and Set A Date.

So what do you want to accomplish? Is it important?  Does it excite you?  You can keep hoping and wishing or you can set a date.  Just setting the date gets the juices going.  So, get busy now realizing your goals.  You’re probably familiar with the adage, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person.”  Busy people get things done because they HAVE to schedule their time.  I was busy yesterday and had plans for today.   But then, I got a request from a client last night to put together some training for teaching a course in Hawaii in August.  The request had everything it needed to peak my  interest. The only challenge was that I had to put the info together in less than 24 hours.  It was clearly an urgent request.  Did I get it done? You betcha!  Click to read about 10 Tips I Learned About Getting Things Done!

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.