by Motivation Expert Jim Cathcart

I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Board of Counsellors at California Lutheran University’s School of Business for many years now. Here is an article posted this week based on my recent interview with them.

Click on the article photo to access the full article

by Motivation Expert and Sales Consultant, Jim Cathcart

At a recent seminar in Santa Barbara we conducted a question and answer forum at the end.

There were some interesting questions posed. This video gives you an easy review of the answers by selecting each “Scene” and skipping ahead to the ones you want. Let us know if you’d like further information on these or any of our key topics in “Relationship Selling” or business growth.

Jim Cathcart, author, Relationship Selling
jim@cathcart.com
800-222-4883

TSTN Television Show featuring Jim Cathcart on Relationship Selling

by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart

What do you believe in? What is your “creed”? Do you live it? Really?

Below is a creed penned a generation ago by William Brownfield for the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce, the “Jaycees.” I learned, memorized and recited this creed at over 400 meetings in just a few years of intense involvement in the Jaycees. We started every meeting; national, state, district and local with the recitation of The Jaycee Creed followed by the pledge of allegiance to the American flag.

Corny? I don’t think so. But even if it seems that way to you, consider this; those who make these statements so often that they become a part of you, will also be more likely to live by them and remember them when faced with decisions and challenges. It’s like the Lord’s Prayer or the 23rd Psalm in some ways, it is the expression of not only what you believe in but also the affirmation of your desire to believe in it. We don’t ask kids to pledge the flag because they understand and mean it, we do it so that they will learn it and then later feel it. Indoctrination? Sure, but conscious, intentional, self-directed and purely voluntary self-indoctrination.

What is your personal creed? If you don’t have one, try this one on for size. I’ve never found a better one.

The Jaycee Creed

We believe:

That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;

That the brotherhood of Man transcends the sovereignty of nations;

That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise;

That government should be of laws rather than of men;

That earth’s great treasure lies in human personality; and

That service to humanity is the best work of life.

In tough times it is vital that you:

1. Know what you believe. Write it down and edit it till it’s perfect.

2. Test what you believe. If it won’t stand up to challenge or examination then it’s not a belief.

3. Live what you believe. Your beliefs always show up in your actions. Make yours reflect your highest values.

Please read this article numerous times and give serious consideration to defining your own creed. It will give you more strength, peace of mind and confidence than you might imagine. And others will see it in you and admire you for it.

Be more American.

Note: Jim Cathcart was a charter member of the Pulaski Heights, Arkansas Jaycees. Served as Chapter President, District Director, State Individual Development Chairman, and won awards in each position. He went on to serve as Executive Director of David Hale’s successful campaign for U.S. Jaycees President. A few years later Jim was hired as the Senior Program Manager for Individual Development (Leadership Training) at the U.S. Jaycees National Headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In that position he won international awards for the programs he authored: Communication Dynamics, Leadership Dynamics, and Personal Financial Planning. As program manager Jim led a team of 5 state chairmen in each state (250 individuals) at the time when the U.S. Jaycees had a total membership of 356,000. The national staff totalled nearly 100. Jim is the one who developed the first internal training curriculum for the national staff. He taught and facilitated training in: Speaking skills, Travel strategies, Effective Reading, Listening skills, Strategic planning and more. He worked there from mid 1975 through mid 1977.

by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart

Be American!

What is it that distinguishes Americans from the rest of the world? Going back to the American Revolution you will find that Alexis de Tocqueville observed, even then, that:

• Americans have the unique ability to self-organize to solve problems.
• Americans rely upon themselves and admire self-reliance in others.
• Americans reach out spontaneuosly to help others who are in need.
• Americans respect their past but build toward their future.
• Americans have deep religious faith and yet don’t deny other faiths.
• Americans mostly just want to be left alone to pursue their dreams in peace.
• Americans want to continually become more “American”.

The above is a loose paraphrasing of Tocqueville’s observations but I have observed the same patterns over my 34 years as a professional speaker & author, and my 64 years as an American.

What I’ve lived, learned and deduced from all of my studies and experiences is this:

• What makes us unique is that, unlike other countries and cultures, we put self-reliance first. We make it clear from birth that the “American Dream” is to make your own way, own your own home, choose and master your own craft, and become a source of strength for others in need. We don’t want our government to take care of us, we’ll do that ourselves. Just protect our Freedom from agressors who would take it away.
• We believe in the goodness of mankind. We assume that you are “innocent until proven guilty”, and that you, you personally, are endowed by our Creator with certain rights that cannot be taken from you and you cannot even give them away: your right to Life, Freedom and to Choose and Pursue your own dreams. In America you do not have the freedom to sell yourself into slavery or take your own life. These rights come from God and it is wrong for us to give them away.
• Americans are the most generous people in the history of the world. We give money, support and supplies even to our enemies in times of war if they are stricken by a natural disaster or deeply weakened. Look at our outpouring of support to Iran when the earthquake hurt them a few years ago, the tsunami relief we provided in Indonesia, and our support of Africa. Nobody anywhere has ever equaled the personal generosity of Americans.
• We honor our ancestors but move on. Our focus is building a better tomorrow while learning from and respecting our past. Where some cultures assume that the best was behind them, we assume that the best is yet to be.
• We believe in God. Check the numbers. In excess of 90% of Americans believe in God. But, unlike other cultures, we let you choose how to express your faith. Jewish, Muslim and Christian practices are allowed side by side without any feeling that one faith threatens the others. Even Christianity has many branches and variations, all of which are accepted by the others. In America it is even OK to be an Atheist without persecution. The Church is separate from the State but most all of us have a church. It is just that our churches in America have no say in how we run our state. (Contrast that with Iran or other countries where their leaders are deified and have god-like power over others.)
• Americans have no interest in dominating the world. What we want most for others is what we want for ourselves: the freedom to do as we wish. In Iraq we helped them recapture their freedom and determine how to run their country, we didn’t try to run it for them. After World War II we helped Europe and Japan rebuild their countries and run them their own way (as long as they stopped interfering with others’ freedom.) We just want people to leave each other alone except when help is needed.
• Americans learn and speak English, at least American English. We want to be Americans, not hypenated-americans. Our country allows the Polish, Irish, Italian, African, English, Chinese, Japanese, Native American, Latino and all other groups who have been oppressed over the years to become fully American and accepted as equals, without having to deny or denounce their heritage. In fact, we celebrate each heritage nationwide. But first and foremost, we are Americans.

What is the mountain you want to climb? What skills, knowledge, attitudes and relationships will you need in order to achieve it? I encourage you to pursue YOUR dreams and to make the most of yourself. BE all that you can be! Become worth more to the world by developing your talents and sharing your skills with others. Most of all become self-reliant. Take care of yourself and your family. Not through government support or union entitlements, but through planning, working, learning and sharing so that you have more to give.

I admire people who struggle to make their own way. I love being American and I want you to achieve the American Dream. Be More American!

by Motivation Expert, Jim Cathcart

Our economy is in the worst shape it’s been in during our lifetimes, and it is for SURE that continuing the current patterns of spending and entitlement will rapidly make it worse. Much much worse. We are in peril folks. If you caught your teenager opening charge accounts, buying things and making withdrawals, and never increasing his or her income to pay off the debts, what would you do?

How long would you wait, giving them the benefit of the doubt, before you stepped in and demanded, “This has to stop!”? Even if the youth was giving away all the items and funds you’d still intervene because good intentions do not justify reckless actions.

That’s where our government has taken us since 2007. We’ve had a leadership team in Congress and The White House (plus all of their appointees who make policy and incur debts) who have tried their counter-intuitive policies and practices long enough to PROVE that they don’t work. It’s clear that the income has to increase. Now!

Taking more income from the productive citizens (taxation) does not increase income. It simply moves it between accounts. Income increases only when production of valuable goods and services increases. We must create items of value that others are willing to pay for. When we do this it generates jobs, profits and cash flow that shows up in every other aspect of the economy. Taxation reduces income, eliminates jobs and punishes those who were productive.

We are not talking about “The Rich” vs “The Workers” here. We’re simply talking about Behavioral Economics. The value of certain actions vs other actions. When people produce valuable goods and services (independent people not government workers who are paid through taxes and fees) then others buy them and the economy comes alive. Tell a kid with a roadside lemonade stand that they don’t get to keep most of the money they earn and you’ll soon find them watching TV again instead of standing in the weather hawking their lemonade.

Profit is the reward for taking the heat, enduring the work and taking the risks. If you tell people that their profit is limited (through taxation and regulation) then their effort will be limited too. Production stops when profit drops.

Please get out and vote in this election. If you are a person who thinks before acting, then please vote.

?  But what if I don’t know who to vote for? Ask people you trust, do some homework and make your best guess. It is better that you participate than that you leave it all up to others. Be a contributor not a victim.

?  But what if I don’t like the two candidates? Then vote for the one who represents the party or point of view that is closest to yours. Don’t let your adversary win just because you ally is imperfect. Vote Conservative or Progressive instead of looking for a perfect candidate.

?  But I don’t trust any of them to do the right thing. Then vote the incumbents out of office and give someone else a chance. Remember: someone is going to win anyway. Why not help nudge things in the best direction?

It is you duty to vote and it is a blessing to be able to vote. The Iraqi’s took such pride in voting after years of oppression that they proudly displayed their purple fingers showing they had participated in choosing their leaders. Many did this at risk of their own life. In the early days of Colonial America our founding fathers did the same thing; they put their lives at risk in order to win our freedom. Please honor their sacrifices by casting your votes.

So that you will know: My personal position is Conservative. I know that these principles work. And though I don’t know and trust all the candidates on my side of the election, I’d much rather elect them than those who’ve spent us into this abyss. Those who took over Congress in 2007 and The White House shortly thereafter have proven that they don’t know how to get us back to prosperity and freedom. Let’s give them a much deserved vacation, even retirement. Go vote!