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Are you as tired of the hype and promises about how to make money from home as I am?
It seems like every other tweet is about how to make more money or gain thousands of new followers.
Has anyone ever called a the phone number that they saw on a sign that was taped to a traffic light pole about making executive money from home - I mean other than to listen to see what other people would fall for? Come on people.
Here is what I believe. People are typically good, genuine and want the best for their family and for the people that they know. People want to live a life balanced between meaningful work, loving friends and family and spending time doing things that they love during their leisure time. Is that too much to ask for? Why does earning a living take up so much effort and energy that we do not have anything left at the end of the day for the things that we are passionate about, like kids, pets, our spouse, dancing, painting, gardening or the thousands of other activities that we could do.
When did we give up dreaming about what we want to be when we grow up? I think that adults ask kids what they want to be when they grow up because the adults are looking for ideas. I spoke with a dear friend of mine earlier today and asked her what she wanted. She told me her answer, which I am going to keep private between us. Her answer is irrelevant, her feelings were critical. She was guarded, careful and did not communicate with the typical zest that I know that she is. Then I asked her if she was committed to the answer that she said. She started to cry. She said that whenever she stated what she wanted, people would judge her and make fun of her when she did not achieve it so she stopped saying what she is committed to and stopped being committed to her dream.
If I were to ask you, “What do you want?” without any direction or guidance or limitation, what would you say? Now, are your actions and activities in alignment with what you say that you want? For most of us, the answer, at least part of the time, is “no.”
TODAY, stop waiting on someone else to change you world. They are not going to. You will. You’re it, no one else. Neither your boss, spouse, kids, support person, partner, employees nor anyone else will be able to change your world like you can. You can make a MASSIVE difference TODAY. Do it. Be bold. Make the phone call you have been avoiding. Talk about the turd in the punch bowl. Come clean. Take overwhelming action TODAY! Don’t let anyone misunderstand your intentions.
Being an entrepreneur and working from home is the dream/fantasy for millions of people because people believe that it is the key for a balanced life. The key to a balanced life is choosing a balanced life. Working from home is a result, not a cause. Make a choice for what you want and commit to it and watch the world adjust.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Jim Christopherson
YouMattertoMe.com
(303) 470-0255
jimc@youmattertome.com
http://www.YouMattertoMe.com
YouMattertoMe.com Hosts “Thank the Military”
Denver, CO June 13, 2009 – YouMattertoMe.com invites people to send greeting cards of support and encouragement to our men and women in the military. A card sending event will be held on June 16, 17 and 18 so that the cards will arrive in the hands of our men and women in uniform around the world by the 4th of July.
Anyone who wants to support our men and women in uniform are encouraged to attend.
Tuesday June 16 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1450 Glenarm in Downtown Denver
Wednesday, June 17 at the Doubletree Hotel, 7801 East Orchard Rd in the Denver Tech Center
Thursday June 18 at the Omni Interlocken Hotel, 500 Interlocken Blvd in Broomfield
All events are from 7 PM to 9 PM. There is no cost to attend. YouMattertoMe.com will pay for all the cards and stamps.
If someone cannot attend in person or if the events sell out, they can attend the event online because the events will be broadcast over the Internet via a webinar. See YouMattertoMe.com for the specific webinar information.
The names and addresses of several people in the military will be provided if someone does not have an individual that they are personally connected with. People attending will be selecting the cards from the catalog of an online greeting card company which will then send real physical cards through the USPS. These are not electronic cards sent via email.
Because YouMattertoMe.com uses a greeting card company that is based online, people are asked to bring a laptop computer with wifi capabilities and have its batteries charged. If someone wants to attend and does not have a laptop, they are encouraged to come anyway and share a laptop computer with someone else. RSVP at http://www.YouMattertoMe.com. The rooms will hold ONLY 50 people each night.
For additional information on “YouMattertoMe.com Hosts “Thank the Military”, contact Jim Christopherson or visit www.YouMattertoMe.com
ABOUT <YouMattertoMe.com> - You matter to me is a movement of like-minded people who are committed to touching people’s lives, one card at a time. We celebrate the human experience, whether it is joyous or difficult in the moment.
The way that we touch people’s lives is by producing events that provide people the opportunity to send unexpected, heartfelt, meaningful greeting cards to people they love and also to people that they have never met. We believe that people expressing their love for another human being, whether that person is a family member, friend or a complete stranger is one thing that can make a difference in the world. Money should never be a reason to withhold an expression of love, so anyone who attends and sends cards at a You Matter to Me event does not pay for the cards and stamps and never will.
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Twitter, Facebook, social media - they are all ways that allow us to connect more efficiently with others and they do that well. But do they feed the hunger of real connectedness?
How many friends do you have right now that you could borrow money from? How many people would you allow in your house when it is not clean? When was the last time that your spouse, parent or good friend said, “You matter to me”? When was the last time that they heard that they matter to you? Would speaking those words to each other make a difference?
I believe it would and I watch every day how it does. I love what I do. I love being present when someone decides in a moment to be authentic, real and vulnerable to a loved one. It is miraculous and exciting to watch the courage, love and magic happen.
We all want to love and be loved. It is that simple. Politics separate nations, religion separates zealots, technology has allowed us to earn a living without opening our front door and saying hello to our neighbor. What brings people closer together is one person telling another person, “You matter to me. I love you”
“Random acts of kindness.”
I like that phrase. It makes me feel good when I hear it. Like most people, I expect, I’ve been on both sides of that experience. I have paid for tolls for the person behind me and had my breakfast paid for by another restaurant patron. It feels nice. It makes the world a little less scary and lonely. It makes me feel a little bit lighter. There is much to like about the idea.
But I think I like the idea of “intentional acts of kindness” a bit better. Intentional kindness doesn’t have to be random or anonymous or even completely selfless. And because of that, it has the ability to be far more impactful on someone’s life. Corporations can intentionally choose to operate in integrity and treat their employees with respect and empower them with authority. That kindness makes a difference. Parents can read a story to their young children as they fall asleep if for no other reason than because the kids like it. That intentional kindness makes a lasting difference.
A random act of kindness is leaving a $100 bill on a grocery store shelf and trusting that the person that finds it is the right and perfect person to do so. It doesn’t consider the moral dilemma that that person will go through of whether to turn in the money or accept it. It also doesn’t consider whether the person who finds it even needs the money. An intentional act of kindness, on the other hand, is placing the $100 bill in an envelope with a note saying that this is a gift and to please accept it in love. Then placing that envelope in the basket of an individual that looks like they could use the money.
Extreme Edition, Home Edition is a TV show that is successful because it is so carefully planned. A spectacular house cannot be built, decorated and furnished in 7 days without extraordinary planning and cooperation. People’s lives are changed and neighborhoods healed because of the intentional kindness.
Can you be intentionally kind? Yes, it is simply a choice to do so. Plan something, think it through and do it. Think of what someone needs and give it to them. It’s not hard. It just takes a decision to do so.
Today I posted the story called “Butterflies from Brian”. Traci sent the card that she did because she was prompted to do so. She had an internal tugging that told her to send the card to Brian’s mom. Listening to that prompting and acting on it are what changed Brian’s mom’s life forever. Traci knew Brian’s mom. Sending the card was not random. It was thoughtful, planned and carefully worded. It was one simple act of intentional kindness.
If your intentional act of kindness is sending a card, pour your heart out through what you say. Love the person who is receiving it while you think about your message. Imagine them in your mind and connect with them. Spend some time and say things that will be meaningful, thoughtful and loving. Right now, there is someone that is coming to mind that you could send an unexpected card to. Buy the card TODAY and send it TODAY. Don’t put it off. Don’t ignore the prompting. There are few things more powerful than someone saying, “You matter to me.”
Tonight was the final episode for American Idol. I didn’t watch it. But more importantly, I don’t know and don’t care who won. America is struggling through tough times. Thousands of people have lost their homes, their business, their jobs and more are on the way. General Motors and Chrysler are severing their ties with hundreds of dealerships. These cuts hurt family owned businesses, some of whom having been serving their communities for decades. It also hurts their sales people, technicians and so many others who earn a living at these businesses.
Now I am not a gloom and doom person. Quite the contrary. I am hopeful, optimistic and believe in myself and in the people around me even when there is no outward reason to do so. Isn’t this the essence of faith? People and their communities of friends, family and support are what is important. Who won a dancing contest or a singing contest is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
The two TV shows that best describe, in my opinion, what is most important in life are The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie. These two shows didn’t have the luxury of special effects, fancy lighting, voting by cell phone or other modern things to sparkle and hide the characters. There was no MTV or electronics back in the day to disguise the fact that some people had a hard time that day. All that existed were communities. People knew each other and needed each other.What life was about back then is what life is about today - connecting with other people in real, authentic and genuine ways.
 Duchess was tiny back then. Isn’t this what it is really about? I moved to Denver in 1992. In 1998, I took a look at my life and realized that at 34 years old I was still living in an apartment and knew only 3 more people than I knew 6 years earlier when I moved to town. I had no church community, no school chums, no good friends and no girlfriend. I was as lonely as I ever was. I remember having that revelation slowly grow on me and finally decided to do something about it.
So, I bought a dog. I did this simply because I believed that people who had a life typically had a dog. My puppy was a cocker spaniel that I called Duchess. Her name fit her. She was a symbol for me to grow up. I did. I moved to a house, started going to church and soon found myself in love with Pam, my future wife. Life is not perfect for me, not by a long shot. But I am no longer lonely. I have dear friends, a church community, incredible neighbors and a wife that loves me so much it humbles me. A community of people that care and are willing to tell me that I am Ok, that I am important to them and who are willing to support me in my own decisions is a mighty powerful foundation to build a life on.
Good night John Boy.
www.twitter.com/youmattertome
I watched “Extreme Makeover, Home Edition” on TV last night and was moved like I always am when I see that show. How great would it be to be a part of something that changes people’s lives so profoundly as rebuilding their home and giving people strength and hope for a better tomorrow. I believe that most people who see that show would love to participate in that experience and be able to give someone a new home, even and maybe especially those who need a new home. I believe that most people have a real desire to make a difference.
Well, I am not a carpenter and cannot design a house or build a patio (my wife can attest to my lack of skill during my DIY home repair projects), but I can tell someone that they matter, and that they are important. I can tell someone, “I am sorry.” or “I was thinking about you today and wanted you to know that every time I do, I am filled with joy.” or “I am so proud to call you my brother. I love you.”
It is my hope and commitment that people who find out about what we are doing here on You Matter to Me want to join the movement and make a difference in the world.
www.twitter.com/youmattertome
You matter to me (YMTM) is growing. We just did our third public event and the response has been tremendous. I deeply believe that people want to be kind and helpful to others and make a difference in the world. Simply inviting people to send an unexpected, heartfelt card to someone makes them slow down and realize how much others mean to them. Last night, a man in his 50s or so told me at the end of the night that he sent a card to his son that he hadn’t spoken to in about 20 years. Wow.
www.twitter.com/youmattertome
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be silent when people pray to win a game.
control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.
be compassionate when someone says they have a fear of flying.
keep from laughing when parents are afraid to send their kids to camp.
keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.
control his frustration when a coworker whines about his coffee being cold.
remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.
be civil to people who complain about their jobs.
walk away when someone complains that they only get 2 weeks of vacation.
be forgiving when someone complains about how much their baby cries.
