by Jim Cathcart

mage above: Space shuttle Endeavour and the STS-126 crew land at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. after completing a mission to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA TV

About an hour ago I was sitting at my desk when I felt something crash into our house. Paula called out, “Jim are you OK?” I looked outside to discover our neighbors standing in the street excitedly looking skyward. Paula joined me and we rushed out to see what it was.
My neighbor Ron announced, “It was a sonic boom. The Space Shuttle just re-entered the atmosphere and it’s headed for a landing in the desert.”
I ran to get our binoculars and the four of us stood in awe as the Shuttle and its chase plane flew over our home. It was still glowing red from the heat of re-entry.
Quite a sight to see.

Many years ago I had a penthouse office in a 13-story building in Tulsa, Oklahoma and one day I looked out the window as a huge 747 flew by at my eye-level with the Space Shuttle attached to its top. What a sight! It was less than two miles away from me and was being ferried by piggy-back to the maintenance facilities in Tulsa. Wow! Who could imagine putting a huge Shuttle on the back of an already huge airplane?

Well, that’s really the question isn’t it?
Who could imagine?

The entire concept of space flight, or just flight for that matter, started in someone’s imagination.
Everything we experience from zip lock bags to magnetic resonance imaging began in someone’s imagination. Then an important thing happened…someone decided to make the idea into a reality.
That’s when things started to change. When the idea gained the power of a person’s commitment to make it happen.

I’m awed by the amount of intellectual work and physical work required to create and operate the Space Shuttle. Not sure I can even concieve of how much energy and thought that required. But I sure do appreciate it. The discoveries that have sprung from our exploration of space are profound and legion. Most people don’t realize the value we are getting from these missions, but believe me they will be paying off for generations to come.

Every day you and I have ideas for making things better. We say, “Why don’t they just do xxxxx?” Often we see solutions that others do not. I say it is time for us to stop just having thoughts and start communicating them where they can make a difference.
So, the next time you see a solution, stop to ask yourself, “Who is involved with things like this? How could I communicate this idea to them? (Without worrying about being paid for it or getting credit.)”
Through the unselfish sharing of valuable insights you just may open some doors for yourself and others to make this world a much better place.

We have no shortage of ideas. We simply don’t communicate them well enough.
Let me know when I can help you help others make a difference.
www.cathcart.com

By Jim Cathcart 

What motivates you?

Last weekend I rode my motorcycle, a Yamaha FJR1300, from Thousand Oaks, CA to Phoenix, AZ and back. I was there to attend a conference of the National Speakers Association. I’m a past president of NSA. 

By Jim Cathcart

Last year I joined with Tom Hopkins, Tony Alessandra, Patricia Fripp and many others to contribute short video and audio messages to CanDoGo.com. This is a website that, at that time was selling training and motivation clips to be included into a company’s sales management software. The idea was to have brief idea clips from top sales trainers at your fingertips.
Well, I have some exciting news. CanDoGo is now free!

Yep, they have decided to change their revenue model and to offer their messages for free. Check them out and let me know if I can help you to further improve your own skills or motivate your team to more innovation and initiative.
Jim

Here is the message I received from Michael Norton this week:

“I want to help you win:

CanDoGo’s exclusive Expert Sales, Leadership and Motivation Advice is now free!

That’s right, free advice from Zig Ziglar to turn temporary setbacks into new successes. Free advice from Tony Parinello in reaching the Very Important Top Officer. Free advice from Dr. Tony Alessandra on building relationships and from Jill Konrath on selling to big companies. Free advice from Tom Hopkins. Free advice from Dr. Denis Waitley. Free advice from Andrea Sittig-Rolf, from Keith Rosen and from dozens of other experts.

CanDoGo offers more than 10,000 short, concise pieces of advice in video, text, and audio from over 150 of the greatest leaders, authors, speakers and motivators. Tips on leadership, motivation, sales techniques, networking, negotiation and much more, all there at your fingertips right now to achieve, succeed and thrive.
Visit the redesigned www.candogo.com. No registration required. Find what you need and plug it right into your workday. Forward the tips to your friends and family.

Everyone can benefit. Tell your friends and colleagues. Why not forward this email to them?

Enjoy, and best wishes on your road to success!

Michael Norton

Founder and CEO, CanDoGo

By Jim Cathcart

Once on a plane my seatmate asked what I did for a living. When I told him I was a motivational speaker he replied, “I don’t believe in motivation because it doesn’t last.” The flight attendant standing nearby said, “Neither does a bath but it’s still a good idea now and then.”

Of course motivation doesn’t last. Nor does eating, emotion, exercise or scores of other things. But they still have value for us.
Motivation needs to be intelligently done. It’s not about just generating energy around an idea or getting “pumped up” about something. Motivation is about acting on motives.

Motive + Action = Motivation

Simple motivation is merely generating enthusiasm. It is occasionally useful and effective but hardly lasting or of strategic value. Intelligent Motivation, on the other hand, is determining what is important, identifying what action is needed and doing what is necessary to generate and sustain that action.
Our new Cathcart Institute, inc. by-line is:
Intelligent Motivation
for a Challenging World.

At a recent convention I attended the cocktail reception the night before my keynote speech. Upon learning that I was the next morning’s speaker a man challenged me with this request, “Since you’re our ‘Motivational Speaker’ how about motivating me?” I smiled and asked, “To do what?” He replied, “I don’t know, just motivate me.” I playfully replied, “I could do that but then I’d have to bill you.” Then I went on to point out that without a clear Motive there can be no motivation.
We must have something worthwhile to act toward and we need to be careful and intentional in selecting our targets. I teach people how to determine what matters to them and how to identify ways to get themselves to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done even when they don’t feel like doing it and to still do it very well.
Allow me to repeat that: Self-Motivation is when people Get themselves to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done whether they feel like it or not and still do it very well.
Let’s agree that if a person is not “motivated” to do good work then they probably won’t do it. And if a person has no self-driven motive for excellent performance then they will have to be continually motivated by others. Motivation is absolutely essential to the success of any endeavor. We’ve trivialized it for far too long. It matters and it is urgent, not optional.
In a business where there isn’t much self-motivation the leaders can never rest because they are the only ones holding things together. Conversely, where the people have been taught how to become and stay motivated the leaders can loosen their grip on supervision and focus on the highest payoff activities for their own talents. The more self-motivated your people become the easier it will be to lead them.
Let’s also be intelligent about identifying which goals to pursue and our motives for doing so. Then let’s select the best actions to take and the strategies for sustaining those actions.

Intelligent Motivation(tm):
is determining what is important,
identifying what action is needed and
doing what is necessary to generate and
sustain that action. 

When you or your team need some Intelligent Motivation please give us a call, we’d love to work with you.
www.cathcart.com
800 222 4883

Intelligent Motivation for a Challenging World – Webinar with Jim Cathcart

Do you or your team need some Intelligent Motivation? Simple motivation is merely generating enthusiasm. It is occasionally useful and effective but hardly lasting or of strategic value. Intelligent Motivation, on the other hand, is determining what is important, identifying what action is needed and doing what is necessary to generate and sustain that action.

Jim Cathcart, Intelligent Motivation for a Challenging World

If you need “Intelligent Motivation” then you need to be on our upcoming webinar, hosted by David Bush, CEO and Founder of eLifePlans.com as he is joined by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart. He is the founder and President of Cathcart Institute, Inc. and one of the most widely recognized professional speakers in the world.

During this 1 hour webinar Jim will speak on how:
- Motivation needs to be intelligently done
- Motivation is about acting on motives
- To determine what matters to you
- To identify ways to get yourself to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done

If a person is not “motivated” to do good work then they probably won’t do it. And if a person has no self-driven motive for excellent performance then they will have to be continually motivated by others. If this sounds like you or your team, you need to be on this webinar!

Jim is known worldwide for his ability to engage, inspire and motivate an audience. He has worked as a corporate executive, training director, entrepreneur, psychological researcher, meeting planner and association executive. He has managed people, products and payrolls for over 32 years. He has also researched and field tested his methods through 3 decades of speaking and training before 2,600 audiences in virtualy every discipline.

Title: Intelligent Motivation for a Challenging World with Jim Cathcart
Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.3.9 (Panther®) or newer

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/198519712