Billy Arcement’s
News From the Swamp
Issue # 34
Bringing you ideas from The Results
Group Office
on
“Working with business leaders to produce a culture of
teamwork, productivity and profits.”
Please recommend this newsletter to a friend or associate.
For example, a “personal crisis” with our health, finances or relationships may trigger a change. Notice I underlined the word, “may.” I want to make it very clear that some of us, even when faced with a severe crisis don’t change. I’ve known a number of people who had heart surgery and swore they would give up the use of tobacco (done in a moment of severe pain) yet, within weeks of the surgery go back to this destructive habit. We’re too many pounds over weight but we refuse to change our eating habits. Our debt load is overwhelming but we continue to spend at a faster rate than the federal government. We fool ourselves into believing that we are immune to the negative results of such bad habits
This my friend calls for “a personal selling job.” We must sell ourselves on the idea that change is beneficial. If we stop tobacco use, alter our diet, and reduce the stress of heavy debt, one benefit is that we greatly expand our potential to live longer. Now, that’s a real benefit!
Make a list of all the habits that bring pain to your life. Next to each, write all the benefits you will receive if you alter the habit. Consider all the resources you need. Ask for help from others if your own wisdom lacks solutions. Develop a detailed action plan and commit to making your life better.
I
understand that it’s easier to write this than to actually do it. But the pay off for removing destructive
habits that severely impact our life is worth the price. So get your check book out and pay yourself
now or run the risk of paying a much higher price later.
During a routine physical a few months ago, my cholesterol level was 220––the highest it has ever been. A short time following the physical, I was conducting a seminar and one of the participants told me how she lowered her Cholesterol from 260 to 180 in eight weeks. That got my attention. She recommended a book, The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure, by Robert E. Kowalski. The core method described by the author is eating three bran muffins a day for eight-weeks. I bought the book. Slightly over a month ago, my wife baked the first batch of muffins. She modified the recipe a bit and, with less than one month on this regiment, a subsequent Cholesterol test determined my level to be 199. I am continuing to use the muffin intake and plan to re-check my cholesterol level in early September. I expect dramatic results.
I was so impressed with the results that I’m going to share our muffin recipe with you. Trust me, they taste great. Simultaneously to trying this, start eating more low cholesterol foods, add a little exercise and I can almost guarantee you will significantly lower your cholesterol level.
Bran Muffin Recipe
2 ¼ cups Quaker Oat Bran Hot Cereal
¼ cup brown sugar (pack well in cup)
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup skim milk or low fat milk
¾ cup concentrated frozen apple juice. (Thaw & use as is. Do not add water)
¼ cup honey
2 egg whites (slightly beat)
2 tablespoons oil
1 medium apple (Chop)
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup raisons (optional—but good if you like raisons)
Bake in muffin pan @ 425 degrees for 17 minutes. Yields 12 muffins.
Want To Help Others Change? Try Starting With Yourself!
We’ve all heard people say (or perhaps you’ve even
said it), I’m going to change my spouse, friend, enemy or employee. The truth is you cannot change anyone unless
they are a willing participant.
Forget
changing others. Start working on yourself. Begin thinking differently about the
individual. Focus on developing a
caring, non-bias, and forgiving attitude.
Forget past transgressions that may have occurred and concentrate on
what you want to happen in the future.
Talk to the individual and share your efforts and sincerely ask them to
undertake a similar mindset about you.
Establish a periodic discussion time to share your personal observations
regarding where the relationship is moving.
Candid exchanges are the only way to make progress. There is power in one-on-one exchanges that
broadens the opportunity for success.
If both
parties are willing participants, positive change can and will occur. But a most important part is to have everyone
“Let Go” of the past. You cannot saw
sawdust so quit rehashing old wounds.
The resolution is to behave differently in the future.
There is a
bit of a risk here but if you sincerely feel that unless change occurs the
relationship is doomed to fail, you really have nothing to risk by trying this
approach because failure is eminent without change occurring.
There is within each of us a hidden power that surfaces whenever we need a boost of energy to overcome life’s obstacles. It’s a four letter word, but a good one. We call it HOPE.
Hope is the magic motivator that keeps our dreams alive and our attitude positive. It is the driver of the human spirit, a builder of dreams. But the dark side of hope is often where we plant ourselves. It’s called HOPELESSNESS. When we succumb to the weight of hopelessness, we give up on our dreams. We discourage all personal initiatives.
The beauty of life is that we are always free to make the choice to turn hopelessness into hope. Each day we can choose to become better, stronger and more productive individuals.
What choice will you make––hope or hopelessness?
“Nothing
of any great consequence has ever been accomplished without discipline and a
will to change or improve.”
The Professional Speaker:
Billy blends thought provoking ideas with his “Cajun Stories”
to bring audiences a winning combination guaranteed to make your event a
success. Experience
the wit and wisdom of Billy’s messages at your next meeting.
Executive Coaching / Management Consulting: Billy is the choice of corporate
and education leaders who seek help with their own management style or who wish
to provide coaching for their management team or executives on an individual or
group basis by phone or on site. Use Billy’s problem-solving skills and vast
experience base to improve your leadership and management skills.
The School Board Strategist: Billy is one of the premier consultants to work with troubled school boards or to help with strategic planning initiatives. He is also a seasoned presenter at school board association conventions.
The Author: Billy’s
book, Searching for Success, is
making a difference in the life of people around the world. His published articles impact the way b
Call
I recently had a conversation with long-time friend, Dr. Shirley White. She is an excellent resource for a myriad of career counseling services. If you have a child searching for their destination in life, or if you are looking for help, you may want to check out her services. Shirley can be reached at info@successimages.com or by phone at 225-769-2307. Learn more her services at www.successimages.com.
Please notify
Children First! Spread the Word
Children First, my newsletter offering parenting tips, continues to grow
very nicely. If you know of an
organization or group of parents who might be interested in reading this
newsletter email me at barcement@eatel.net
and place “children” in the subject line.
The next issue goes out July 1
Value Added
Ideas
You may reprint content from
this newsletter or from past issues.
We’re also happy to provide you with articles from our archive of
previously published articles to add value to your publications. Before you do, please send an email request
to barcement@eatel.net and specify
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