Here it is - your May issue of Take Charge Success
Strategies!

###########################################

Volume 7, Number 5 23 May 2007

Publisher: GoalMinds, Inc.
http://www.goalminds.com

Copyright 2007 Jo Condrill All rights reserved.
###########################################

Welcome to our many new subscribers. Thank you for joining
us. Thanks to our continuing readers, too. You are
receiving this newsletter either because you signed up for
it or someone has forwarded it to you.
To unsubscribe, see below.

=================================================

We welcome your comments or suggestions.
To leave an audio comment, please call
(214) 615-6505 ext 5392
To Email Mail to: jocondrill@sbcglobal.net

===========================================

"Our true rewards in life will depend on the quality and
amount of contribution we make." -- Denis Waitley, Author,
Seeds of Greatness

===========================================
IN THIS ISSUE:
===========================================

1. Military Appreciation
2. Memorial Day Memory
3. Should You Form a Strategic Alliance?

===========================================

Legislation in the U.S. Senate in 1999 designated May as
National Military Appreciation Month. This legislation tells
our servicemembers that their country has set aside an
entire month to honor, remember and appreciate them.

Sometimes a simple "Thank you" is appropriate. "Thank you"
is easy to say and it means a lot to the person who is being
thanked. Used by leaders, it encourages people to follow
them.

Sometimes, it is more thoughtful to be creative in
expressing appreciation. It's just good business.
Here are some suggestions for thanking people at work, in
the military, at home, and in the community.

1. When you say "Thank you" tell the person specifically
what it is you appreciate and why you appreciate it. "Thank
you for being in the military so I don't have to be." "Thank
you for serving our country in uniform so we can enjoy
freedom from fear."

2. Send an e-mail note. When I sent a thank you note to my
staff in the Pentagon, the energy level shot way up.

3. Send a hand-written thank you note. These are especially
appreciated because so few of us take time to write and mail
notes.

4. Place an unexpected phone call just to say "Thank you."
Connecting verbally adds warmth to your appreciation even if
you reach voice mail.

5. Present a small certificate. Half-page certificates take
up less space if displayed and are as meaningful as full
sized certificates. They tend to draw attention because they
are different. If you have kids, let them draw a thank you
card.

6. Give a single flower from your garden, flowerpot, or
florist, with a verbal "Thank you" or a note.

7. Put a candy bar or piece of fruit on the desk of the
person to be thanked, with or without a note. (Be sure the
person is not on vacation!)

8. Bake some cookies. Ask the volunteers at a military
hospital if they would accept and distribute this gift.

9. Say something nice about the recipient of your thanks to
someone else when the person you appreciate can overhear
you. This is especially powerful in a business setting.

10. For special occasions, present a US flag that has flown
over the Capitol. It is a unique, reasonably priced item
which few people own. A certificate of authenticity is
provided in honor of any special occasion you designate.
Call your congressman's office and ask for it. If you don't
have a local contact, call 202 224-3121 and ask for your
congressman or congresswoman by name. When you reach that
person's office, ask to purchase a flag. They'll know what
to do!

==========================

Pick out a thank you card and Xerox will
print it; it will be sent to a soldier who is currently
serving in Iraq. http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home.html You
can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of
the armed services. (Don't overlook the celebrities' cards.)

==========================

"What you have chosen to do for your country by devoting
your life to the srvice of your country is the greatest
contribution that any man [person] can make."
--John F. Kennedy, Address to a graduating class, U.S.
Naval Academy, June 6, 1961

==========================

2. Memorial Day Memory

==========================

It was another bright sunshiny day in Los Angeles, but the
man standing outside the airport waiting for a shuttle bus
looked like rain. I could almost feel his sadness.

"It was 10 degrees when I left home in West Virginia this
morning,” he said after we were comfortably seated in the
van. “There must have been snow or ice,” I replied. Then,
for no reason, added, “I lived in northern Virginia for 16
years and I love the snow. I worked in the Pentagon. Are you
visiting relatives here?” “No, I treat myself to one trip
out here every year to see a ball game.”

Then suddenly he was talking about returning from Vietnam,
landing at the airport in San Bernardino, and getting on a
bus to go to Camp Pendleton. He was in the Marine Corps then
and he couldn’t understand why people were calling them
names and throwing things at the troops. He was looking
straight ahead, but cast a quick glance in my direction.
“Things I can’t even mention in public.” That hurt so bad,
when he got to his room, he cried. “I tried to understand,”
he said. “It’s a free country and they could protest. But
why the insults? We didn’t do anything wrong. I still think
of it sometimes and when it gets so bad I can’t stand it, I
go for a walk in the woods. And I cry.”

I told him that I’d written the logistics support plan for
the burial of the unknown serviceman from Vietnam. He turned
to look at me and was very still. Then he reached over and
put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it slightly. “Then
you know what I’m talking about, don’t you.” I nodded,
thinking of other Vietnam Vets who had shared similar
sentiments. I asked if he had ever visited the Vietnam
Memorial in Washington, DC. “Oh, no,” he said and sat
quietly. His mouth moved and his lips were moist, but he
didn’t say anything. I could see the torment in his face. It
was too hard to do.

He told of his mother and father passing away. “I buried
them,” he said, “and I cried. I won’t go to funerals any
more. I send wreaths, and cards, but I don’t want to cry
again.” I asked him about the facilities for veterans in
West Virginia. "They have fine facilities," he said. “The
psychologists have encouraged me to go in and talk to them.
But if I do that, it dishonors the Corps. It makes us look
less than honorable, don’t you think?” I told him it was
okay to get help and that it seemed like he had found a way
to cope. “When the first President Bush said the parade for
the military coming home from the Gulf War was for all of
us, that helped a lot. I thought ‘Finally, we’re getting a
welcome home.’”

This vet is not angry or bitter. He is dealing with vivid
memories of his fellow Americans turning on him and his
buddies. He seems to still be trying to reconcile his role
in preserving our freedoms with having those freedoms turned
against him. And when it gets to be more than he can stand,
he walks in the woods and he cries. “You understand, don’t
you?”

When the shuttle pulled up to my place, he stepped down and
offered his hand to help me out. He held on, looked me in
the eyes, and said, “Thank you for being there for him at
the burial.”

We Americans all need to be there for military men and women
of today and the veterans who served in times past. That's
the least we can do to preserve our freedoms. God bless
America.

==========================================

"The essence of genius is spontaneity
and instinct." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

==========================================

3. Should You be Part of a MasterMind Group?

=========================================

Major corporations worldwide have formed strategic alliances
to improve their competitive edge in the global economy.
Companies like Pfizer, MCI Worldcom, and Motorola form
alliances for specific projects or purposes to accomplish a
short or long-term goal. These alliances allow a merging of
talents, assets, and skills. They may lead to partnerships
and mergers but often form to complete a single project. You
may not be the "partner of choice" for these giants, but you
can capitalize on this business strategy for long-term
growth.

Knowledge is Power. Sharing knowledge sounds good, but how
can you implement such a strategy? Won’t someone steal your
ideas? Won’t you be embarrassed to share problems?

Begin by focusing on an exchange of ideas with trusted
associates. Trust is an essential key to a successful master
mind group. When forming a strategic alliance carefully
select the people who will participate. You need individuals
with varying talents. For example, if you do not have a
large company, a good mix might include a financial planner,
a marketing expert, an information management specialist, a
salesperson, and a consultant.

The phenomenon of this alliance is, in part, cumulative
wisdom and knowledge. Those in the group draw upon their
unique experiences and specialized knowledge to help each
other in a spirit of perfect harmony. When each can draw
upon the collective brainpower of the group, he or she is
greatly strengthened.

Add to this the spiritual dimension, or the force of
synergism, and you see the added value of a strategic
alliance. It is this exchange of information and ideas in a
trusting environment that sometimes leads to magical,
inspirational breakthroughs.

Objectives

Alliances are formed for any number of reasons. If you are a
trainer or consultant, you may want to get fresh ideas for
sources of capital, to expand your network, to break into
new markets or to reach personal goals. The goals of those
in an alliance must be clear at the outset. The group may
focus on individual or joint objectives, such as developing
a specific product or program, increasing sales, or
developing certain individual skills. The commitment level
of its members will greatly affect the success of the group.

Benefits

The potential benefits of participating in a strategic
alliance are enormous. At the very least, you will have

--A safe environment for sharing ideas
--Other minds focused for a period of time on your
specific innovative ideas or challenges
--A shortened learning curve when engaged in new
ventures such as writing a book and getting it
published.

Results often take time and effort. The alliance is not a
quick-fix solution to business problems. Remaining focused
on objectives, and persisting in the face of challenges are
key elements of the process.

Develop a sense of anticipation; expect to get results.
Participation in a strategic alliance will lead to increased
self-confidence and "know how." When a joint venture or
partnership results, sound management practices, including
record keeping, should be instituted immediately.

Borrow from the giants like Pfiser, MCI Worldcom, and
Motorola. Start where you are now; join forces with other
forward-thinking individuals who can add to your knowledge
base. Use the force of a strategic alliance to claim the
competitive edge. Ultimately, the result may be the
realization of your dream.

=====================================

I encourage everyone to reach out, find a MASTERMIND GROUP
or form one. See for yourself how it provides stimulating
new ideas and know how. You will find The Mastermind Manual
ebook helpful in creating such a group. In it Mark Sanborn,
CSP, Past President of the National Speakers Association,
tells of some of his experiences with a MasterMind Group.
Sheryl Roush, author of Heart of a Woman, CEO off
SparkleTudes, tells how she belongs to groups with different
focuses: spiritual and business. And Jim Whelan, MBA,
tells of mastermind groups in his consulting business.
http://www.mastermindmanual.com

Another source of mastermind materials is Mastermind Income
Generator. http://tinyurl.com/yvxgez

==============================
If you want to take charge of your life, take the next
step..
Do you need guidance and support? Then you need 'Take
Charge of Your Life: Dare to pursue Your Dreams' by Jo
Condrill In her mini-course, she guides you through each
step and never leaves you dangling. After one step is
complete, you will know exactly what your next step is, and
through her sound guidance, you know how to take the next
step with confidence.
Http://GoalMinds.com/takecharge.html

===========================================
Thanks for being with us. We welcome you to be a guest
author. Please email your suggestion to
jocondrill@sbcglobal.net You will get full credit if we run
your article. Please tell your friends about this
newsletter and recommend that they sign up. To subscribe
just type SUBSCRIBE in an email to jocondrill@sbcglobal.net
or go to http://www.goalminds.com and sign up there. If you
do not wish to receive future issues, please unsubscribe by
going to the end of the newsletter and clicking on
Unsubscribe

-----------------------------------------------

Privacy statement http://www.goalminds.com/Privacy1.html
################################################
GoalMinds,Inc. Http://www.goalminds.com
P. O. Box 100903 San Antonio, TX 78201
Phone: 210 595-1340
jocondrill@sbcglobal.net
http://www.selfpublishingbooks.net
http://www.book-tour-guide.com
http://www.jocondrill.com