First Impressions: 2020

Saturday, December 12, 2020

What Do You Do to Recharge Your Battery ? by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

How do you unplug, relax. and unwind?

What makes you happy, makes you smile, and uplifts your spirit?

It was a beautiful sunny day, around 70 degrees, on Oct. 19, 2020. My husband and I took out our boat with our older son, daughter in law, and grandchild. We drove our boat to a nearby public island to walk by the water, sit in the sand and watch the birds, pelicans, seagulls, and a heron fly and swim. It was an amazing afternoon!

What do you do to recharge your battery and relax with your family?

What outing can you go on with your family to get outside and enjoy nature?

I came across a magic pill that helps clear the cobwebs of your mind, gives you more energy, improves your relationships, and even makes you look better. The pill isn’t a pill, it’s a pair of exercise shoes.

My husband likes to walk 2 miles, early in the morning, several times a week near our home. Sometimes he will see one of our neighbors and they will talk for a few minutes standing 6 feet apart! He comes home from his walk feeling invigorated!

My Dad, Dr. Robert J. Frank, a retired medical doctor, land developer, and builder exercised everyday through his mid-80’s in his home gym or at the local gym. He would say, “I’m going to the exercise parlor.” He did not like going to the gym, but said, “It keeps me flexible and moving.” He also enjoyed reading detective stories, thriving on solving problems, and enjoyed planting a garden every year. Dad said, “It was important to eat right, watch your weight, and exercise regularly at least 3 days a week at the minimum.”

We’ve all endured the experience of putting on our exercise shoes after a long period of inactivity. It’s usually at that time we are searching for something… anything… that can give us an excuse to opt out of a workout.

Even after a short exercise session, you begin reaping the benefits of working out and immediately feel the benefits of that exercise for several hours after.

Here’s a challenge for you. Schedule time this week to unplug by getting outside and enjoying some Vitamin D (or Vitamin ‘N’ for nature), and let me know how you feel!

Everything will feel better. Remind yourself, your family members, coworkers and friends to schedule some time for nature. Whether that means walking around the block, a 2 mile walk or run. Cut off your phone and observing nature.

Madeline Frank, Ph.D., is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, speaker, business owner, teacher, concert artist, and parent. She helps businesses and organizations “Tune Up their Business”. Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. Her latest book “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” is available everywhere books are sold. If you need a virtual speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com

Monday, November 9, 2020

DEALING WITH ADVERSITY THE RIGHT WAY BY MADELINE FRANK, PH.D.

2020 has demanded more out of most of us than we thought possible. Regardless of your unique circumstances; everyone was required to sharpen their creativity, flexibility, and patience skills.

We do not grow and improve with the easy times, but with the difficult times. Throughout history, men and women have persevered through adversity to reach success. Now is the time for you to use your adversity, your obstacles, your stumbling blocks as stepping stones to reach your success, (no matter how you define success)! It is only through our struggles that we grow, learn, and improve

The obstacles you face will determine your future, will reveal your character, and define you. Adversity Makes You Stronger.

1.Resilient people understand the value of thinking calmly and clearly, and asking themselves revealing questions. For example, “What valuable insights did this adversity teach me?” or “What did I learn from my mistakes?” will get you farther than saying, “Now would be a great time to freak out.”

One exercise that top leaders employ is that they don’t let challenges live in their head. They write down the details of the situation. Once a challenge has been committed to paper, it is a lot easier to separate the facts from the hysteria. This provides a solid foundation for the solutions you seek.

Accept responsibility for what happened and face every challenge head on. View the challenge, the adversity, as an opportunity to move forward to find a good solution.

“Successful people do not give up when faced with adversity, instead they have the resilience, strength of character, courage to find a way or make one.” Fred Stuvek

2. Admit your mistakes quickly and learn from them.

One common trait of every successful person I’ve ever studied is that they accept responsibility for their actions. Don’t try to weasel your way out of situations. I fully understand that 2020 has presented a unique situation that you probably had no control over; but you can control how you are setting yourself up for the future.

Steve Jobs said, “Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It’s best to admit them quickly and get on with improving your other innovations.”

Mark Cuban, entrepreneur said, “With every effort, I learned a lot. With every mistake and failure, not only mine, but of those around me, I learned what not to do.”

Maya Angelou said, “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. It may even be necessary to encounter the defeat, so that we can know who we are. So that we can see, oh, that happened, and I rose. I did get knocked down flat in front of the whole world, and I rose. I didn’t run away — I rose right where I’d been knocked down. And then that’s how you get to know yourself.”

3. Find humor in the situation.

“Don’t get furious; get humorously curious. Look at every challenge through the lens of curiosity.” Mike Maddock, Forbes

Paul Landraitis loves to exclaim, “Fascinating!” whenever a particularly troubling or unexpected situation arises. What’s inspiring to me is that he does so with a laugh, choosing to look at every challenge through the lens of curiosity and humor.”

Ask your friends to tell you “a few things that are ridiculously funny about this particular problem” you are facing! Listen to their answer, for truths and solutions that “you may not have considered.”

Nina Zipkin, staff writer for Entrepreneur.com wrote, “Space X’s blooper reel chronicling all of its mistakes along the way-highlighting instances of failed engine sensors, running out of hydraulic fluid, a collapsed landing leg, a radar glitch — to making aerospace history. several self-deprecating jokes (“look, that’s not an ‘explosion,’ it’s an unscheduled disassembly”) accompany footage of smoking wrecks and explosions in the sky. The score — the jaunty choice of John Philip Sousa’s The Liberty Bell ,which keen-eared comedy fans will recognize as the Monty Python theme song — is a nice touch.”

What can humor do for you during a difficult time?

Humor clears your head, releases tension, stress and allows you to refocus on the problem.

What do you want most for the outcome to be?

Is there another solution that would also work?

What roadblocks stand in your way?

Do you know of someone who has faced similar obstacles?

3 ½. Take a vacation from your problem.

William Carrier “was working on the problem of regulating humidity for a printing company and decided to give up for a while and take a vacation. While waiting on a foggy railroad platform in Pittsburg, he gazed at the mist surrounding the station and tracks, wondering how late his train was going to be.” The answer to his problem came out of the fog.

” His idea was to blow air through a fine mist that would act like a condenser, drying out the air. Since air’s moisture content varies with temperature- cold air is drier than warm-changing the temperature of the mist would also alter the humidity.” (Michael Michalko’s book “Thinkertoys“) Carrier’s invention was the air-conditioner, that combined “refrigeration and electricity”.

(Do something else, let your problem go for a while, and clear your mind. This way you will be fresh to think about it!)

Rebecca Walser summed it up best this way: ”It is in the struggle that we become strong enough to handle what comes our way. It is in the struggle that we will find and fulfill our destiny. It is in the struggle that we become our most refined, strongest, best version of ourselves.” (Rebecca Walser, Wealth Unbroken)

Adversity will come knocking at your door… repeatedly. Instead of hiding from it or chasing it away, consider viewing it as an invitation, an opportunity for you to grow from the challenge.

Monday, October 26, 2020

Blessings of Freedom & Hope in America by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

Where is your family from and why did they come to America?
Have you ever visited the communist countries of China, Russia, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, or Vietnam?
I've had the honor of traveling to many parts of the world, and fell in love with the people of nearly every country. My heart broke for those who were unable to enjoy the freedoms of choice and self direction that Americans take for granted every day.
What do you do for a living? Whether you are a doctor, teacher, mechanic, IT person, or full time parent; I would imagine you chose that path for your life because you enjoyed certain aspects of that work, and you are able to be compensated for it.
What if you had no say in the direction of your life, and your future was solely dictated to you by the government?
I cannot think of a faster way to snuff out the spark of life in one's eyes than completely removing their own agency from their lives. Unfortunately, that is what happens in communist/socialist countries.
Do you want to move there permanently and give up your American freedoms and opportunities?
Do you want to make America into another China, Russia, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, or Vietnam?
Your candidate for President in America should have 2 objectives:
1) Dedication to growing the stability and strength of their country.
2) The candidate should commit to protect and defend their citizens' rights.
Why do people leave a country?
-Fear of safety for themselves and their family from violence.
- Fear of persecution for their beliefs.
- Extraordinary poverty and no opportunities for changing it.
- Government corruption and overreach that stifles individual choices and growth and forces conformity.
Are you and your family looking to import where they came from to America?
What are the differences between their home country and America?
Your candidate for President in America should have 2 objectives?
1) Be dedicated to growing the stability and strength of their country.
2) The candidate should commit to protect and defend their citizens' rights.
Get the facts, think carefully before you act and vote for President of the United States on Nov. 3, 2020!
I have enjoyed visiting, teaching, and performing on my violin and viola throughout the world. This includes communist countries. I have always been happy and delighted to come back home to America and our many blessings and freedoms! It is a true eye opener to see how fortunate we are in America.
We have many opportunities here to start a business, choose the work we would like to do, to own property, pray as we choose, protect our rights to free speech, protect ourselves and our home and property, the right to think and share our thoughts with others.
We have good sanitation, plumbing, drinkable running water, electricity with bathrooms that work which allow you to wash your hands with soap and water to keep bacteria and sickness from running through entire cities.
After visiting these foreign places, I was always so grateful for the blessings and freedoms of living and working in America.
"In Communism the government owns all property and pays its citizens equally. Citizens own nothing. The government chooses your work and tells you what to do. They own you! There is no free will!"
Communism/Socialism is frequently thought of in academic and media circles as an "everything is free because it is a right". There is no freedom when you depend on the government to dictate what you deserve.
The American Revolution has stood the test of time because we are reminded that our freedoms come from God, not man.
Communism removes all your rights, your property, your opportunities, your choices, and your freedoms. This includes thinking, worship, association.
Birds Eye View on Communism in Russia:
The movie, Moscow on the Hudson" (1984) was written and directed by Paul Mazursky and starred Robin Williams, as Vladimir Ivanoff, a saxophonist with the Moscow Circus who is performing and visiting in New York City. He decides to defect while shopping at Bloomingdale's in New York City. Director Mazursky said the idea for the film came from his own grandfather emigrating to the United States from Russia.
He says, "Most Russians, are just trying to survive. Yet, all Russians who leave their country, leave behind something they treasure and love. It's a terrible conflict for them, so the act of bravery is overwhelming."
The film opens with Vladimir in Russia living "in a crowded apartment with his extended family." Then "he stands in line for hours to buy toilet paper and shoes." It takes so long to buy the toilet paper and shoes that he's late to rehearsal. Boris, the communist party member, KGB,
"criticizes Vladimir for being late to rehearsal and suggests Vladimir may miss the approaching trip to the United States.". Vladimir immediately hands over to Boris, the shoes from the store that made him late. After rehearsal Vladimir goes with his friend to buy gasoline for his car from a "black market dealer."
After Vladimir defects he has several American citizens who have immediately agreed to help him. They give him a place to stay with their family, assist him in finding work, and a recent American citizen from Cuba who his lawyer.
Blessings of America: America is not perfect, but it is our last beacon of hope!
America was built on Judeo/Christian values, law and order, righteousness, capitalism, entrepreneurship, and free markets. America is a land of opportunities. Our United States Constitution protects our freedoms. The framers of our Constitution were wise enough to realize that our unalienable rights did not come from government or man; they came from God. They were also wise enough to create the Constitution and Bill of Rights to be exclusionary (explaining what Government cannot do, rather than all the things it could do).
The very freedoms that most of us take for granted like the pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom to petition the government to right wrongs are what make this country great. It is also why this great nation of ours is a magnet for people from all over the world who answer the "battle-cry of their souls to be free by seeking citizenship."
Your candidate for President in America should have 2 objectives?
1) Dedication to growing the stability and strength of their country.
2) The candidate should commit to protect and defend their citizens' rights.
What is Kristallnacht?
Kristallnacht, (also called the Night of Broken Glass). On November 9-10, 1938, Pogroms, violent riots, (attacks, looting, arson, mass arrests, and death) were carried out against the Jews by SA paramilitary forces (storm troopers) and civilians throughout Nazi Germany, Austria, the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Slovak, Bohemia, Poland, and Moravia. These rioters destroyed, attacked, looted, and demolished Jewish businesses, homes, schools, hospitals, and Synagogues with sledgehammers. After the attacks smashed glass was left on the streets.
"British historian Martin Gilbert wrote that no event in the history of German Jews between 1933 and 1945 was so widely reported as it was happening, and the accounts from foreign journalists working in Germany sent shockwaves around the world."
The Times of London observed on November 11,1938: "No foreign propagandist bent upon blackening Germany before the world could outdo the tale of burnings and beatings, of blackguardly assaults on defenseless and innocent people, which disgraced that country yesterday."
Communism is total government control. Breaking down of law and order, looting destruction, arson, death. Pogroms, Kristallnacht, eradicating statues (erasing history), inculcating the young, (brain washing), no accountability, against independent thinking, against self-reliance, against family values, against religion, against human spirit. Tramples on constitution. Takes all your rights and freedoms away.
Where is my family from?
My family is from Russia and Hungary where there were no rights, no choices, no opportunities, no free speech, no right to a fair trial. You did what the government officials told them to do. There was no freedom of expression. No owning of property. There was no choice in anything. The government decided what your career would be. When you argued to try and protect yourself, they would throw you in prison and kill you.
America is the only place you can go from rags to riches. In other countries if you were born poor you stay that way for life. Mark J. Quann, author, said in 2017, "Immigrants Are Four Times More Likely to Become Millionaires in America."
How many immigrants arrive in the United States each year? "More than 1 million immigrants arrive in the U.S. each year. In 2017, the top country of origin for new immigrants coming into the U.S. was India, with 126,000 people, followed by Mexico (124,000), China (121,000) and Cuba (41,000)." https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/17/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/
Ages 18 or Older: What if what you are being told is Not 100% true? Do you question what you are told and seek to check the truth? Do you educate yourself? Are you accountable for your actions? What is your goal or dream?
Only in America will you be given the opportunity to choose your dream and work for it!
Rebecca Walser, expert author of "Wealth Unbroken", says, In America "you are empowered to take control of your life, your destiny, and that is something billions of people do not have."
Communist China in 2016 had a population of 1.4 billion. "Their citizens had only an average per capita disposable income of $3,469 in 2016." Compare this "to 320 million Americans who had $43,536 per capita disposable annual income that same year." (Walser, Wealth Unbroken)
Your candidate for President in America should have 2 objectives?
1) Be dedicated to growing the stability and strength of their country.
2) The candidate should commit to protect and defend their citizens' rights.
Why have so many millions of people come to America? America is Not Perfect, but it has opportunities and amazing possibilities that communism does not have!!!!!
These immigrants from Russia, China, Laos, and other countries who have become citizens of America are "Not begging" to go back to the countries they have escaped from!
These 5 plus months of the pandemic and being homebound has brought stress and anxiety to America with civil unrest, rioting, looting, and murder. This is a reminder of pogroms in Russia and Kristallnacht, (Night of Broken Glass) in Nazi Germany, Austria, the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Slovak, Bohemia, Poland, and Moravia.
Think and get the true facts, before you vote for President of the United States on Nov 3, 2020!
Your candidate for President in America should have 2 objectives?
1) Be dedicated to growing the stability and strength of their country.
2) The candidate should commit to protect and defend their citizens' rights.
Remember what President Ronald Reagan said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction... It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."
Think and get the true facts before you vote on Nov. 3, 2020.
Do you want to keep your rights and privileges in America or give them up?
Madeline Frank, Ph.D., is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, speaker, business owner, teacher, concert artist, and parent. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Business". Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. Her latest book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget" is available everywhere books are sold. If you need a virtual speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com

Monday, September 7, 2020

CREATING A VIRTUAL MASTERMIND by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

How can starting a virtual mastermind group help you?

High achievers long ago realized they needed to tap into the knowledge and experience of other people to solve problems and reach new levels of growth.

One of the greatest examples of tapping into the experience of others begins with Benjamin Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of the U.S. and the only one to sign all four key documents establishing the U.S. He was also a printer, author, philosopher, politician, statesman, diplomat, scientist, economist, and inventor.

Background:

Benjamin Franklin wasn’t born the oldest sibling with over-achiever traits, many of us see today. He was the 15th of 17 children. Ben’s father wasn’t a college graduate; he made soap and candles. He was a tradesman.

The most foundational trait he passed on to his children was his love of reading. Benjamin’s mother realized that while their home was crowded and noisy, she was committed to making it a healthy and happy home.

At the age of 8, Benjamin’s father sent him to South Grammar School, later called the “Boston Latin” school, preparing young Benjamin to be a minister. Two years later, Josiah ran out of money and brought Benjamin home to work with him in the candle making business.

Apprenticed at 12 to a printer:

Benjamin, loved to read and learn. He would borrow books from his friends. From these books he taught himself grammar, philosophy, and arithmetic. Every time he saved a little money he would purchase books to read and learn from. His friends also loved to read books and they regularly studied the books and discussed them.

When Benjamin was 12 years of age, Josiah had him apprenticed to his older son, James who was a printer. The apprenticeship was signed for 7 years. (Yes… at the age of 12!)

“New England Courant”:

James Franklin began his “New England Courant” newspaper in Boston in 1721 when his brother Benjamin was 15. It was the third paper in Boston. James’ and his friends wrote articles, opinions, news of the day, advertisements, and other information.

The beginning of Benjamin’s Writing Career:

Benjamin began writing articles and asked his brother James to publish them in his newspaper. James refused! So, Benjamin, 16, under the pen name Silence Dogood, (wrote as the Widow Dogood, a 40-year-old widow). Benjamin put his letters under James’ door every two weeks.

Benjamin Franklin at 16 became the printer & publisher of his brother’s “New -England Courant”. James had written an article against the government and was put in jail. The next year, Benjamin Franklin, 17, became for the second time, printer and publisher of his brother’s “Courant” newspaper. James, this time, wrote an article “mocking religion”. Once more the court made the decision to jail him. James escaped out of town.

By September 1723, Benjamin Franklin had had enough of his brother’s “abuse and strict control”. He escaped by traveling to New York and later Philadelphia looking for a new opportunity in the printing business. He worked several different jobs during this time.

Birth of Benjamin Franklin’s Junto Club in Philadelphia:

At 21, Benjamin Franklin founded the Junto Club, a weekly discussion group of 12 men. Another name later given to his “Junto Club” was “Leather Apron Club”.

Benjamin decided tradesmen should have the opportunity of an education just as the wealthy people who were able to send their children to be educated at colleges/ universities.

The difference to him was reading books, learning from them, and discussing them with others who loved reading, learning, improving themselves, and discussing what they read. He thought that this would be a great equalizer. (Today we call it a “think tank, a mastermind” group.)

What questions should you ask your prospective members of your Master Mind or Junto?

What 4 questions did Benjamin Franklin ask his prospective Junto Club members “to qualify” them as a member?

“Each person was also asked to stand up, and lay their hand on their heart, and answer the following questions”: (Updated to 21st Century English)

1) “Do you feel “any disrespect” for any of our members?” Answer. I do not.

2. “Do you “sincerely declare” that you love mankind; no matter what profession or religion?” Answer. I do.

3. “Should anyone be harmed in body, name or goods, for their opinions or their religion?” Answer. No.

4. “Do you love the truth, and will you endeavor to find, receive, and communicate it to others?” Answer. Yes.

In Benjamin Franklin’s Memoirs he wrote “I had formed most of my ingenious acquaintance into a club of mutual improvement, which we called the Junto; we met on Friday evenings. The rules that I drew up required that every member, in his turn, should produce one or more queries on any point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy, to be discuss’d by the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his own writing, on any subject he pleased.”

It was agreed to have “12” members who “were tradesmen and artisans”. The Junto Club continued for 38 years. When they saw a problem, a need, they found a solution. Education began by starting the first Public Libraries in 1731. From their Junto members personal libraries, they would gather books for the first lending library in Philadelphia. Learning through reading, educating everyone no matter what their financial circumstance. Education to Benjamin Franklin was the great equalizer.

After fires killed people, destroyed homes, and businesses, Benjamin and his Junto members began in 1736 in Philadelphia the Union Fire Company, a volunteer fire department. They also began a Volunteer Militia to protect and secure the colony.

Where they saw a need, a solution would follow.

In 1749, Benjamin Franklin involved some of his Junto members in designing the University of Pennsylvania and in 1751, the Pennsylvania Hospitalwas founded by Benjamin Franklin and his Junto. When Benjamin Franklin saw a need he worked to find a solution leading the way with his Junto members. Team work at its best!

Here are 3 things for you to consider when forming your mastermind:

1. Identify the values of your mastermind. Will it be a business roundtable? Bible study? Marriage strengthening? You decide.

2. Limit your group to 6 people. Any bigger than that and it is impossible to manage.

3. Understand that part of the mastermind is holding others accountable. Be prepared to give and take accountability.

So, who would you like to have in your virtual mastermind and what would your criteria be?

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Plant Seeds of Greatness With The Right Words by Madeline Frank, Ph.D

Babies begin life with a blank page of endless opportunities. We should all be selective about the words we write in the book of a child’s life. Will we write words of encouragement, love, and compassion; or will we plaster the pages with hate, limitation, and resentment?

Have you ever heard someone announce loudly my child is a terrible two-year-old?

Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker and author says, “instead of saying the “terrible twos” say they are the terrific twos, the tremendous threes, the fantastic fours, the fabulous fives, the super sixes, the sensational sevens. And guess where his or her self-image is because we believe that? That’s right, he or she will have a healthy self-image because that input has been enforced and reinforced.”

Words have power! Always start by saying something positive to yourself and others.

How can you do this?

1) Take a second to Stop and Think before you speak.

2) Say something positive and motivating.

3) Tell them you care about them, believe in them, and love them.

Choose your words wisely.

If the President of the company you work for came over and complimented you with a smile on his or her face and said, “If you keep working like this you’ll be President of the Company one day!”

Would you be encouraged and inspired to work harder for your boss, the President of your company?

Of course you would!

Positive words of recognition, inspiration, and encouragement make better employees!

Jim Sundberg played for the Texas Rangers and later for the world champion Kansas City Royals as a catcher. As a child in Fresno, California his father would watch him play baseball and said to him, “One of these days, you’re going to grow up and be a Major League ballplayer.”

Jim said, “My Dad planted in my mind what I would be in the future.” He planted words of belief, hope, and care!

His father planted the seed in his mind when he was a child!

Jim Sundberg and Bill Glass, all American football player and NFL star were leading a prison ministry in one of the prisons. During a break, Jim said to Bill, “You know, I’m so glad I didn’t grow up and disappoint my dad.”

Nearby a prisoner was standing close to them and said, “Well, you know what? I really didn’t grow up and disappoint my dad. I’m exactly where he said I was going to be.”

When Jim Sundberg was a child his father planted the seed in his mind that he would be a great ball player!

The prisoner’s father when he was a child planted in his mind what he would become.

Your words have power. Choose them carefully!

How can you choose your words wisely?

1) Take a second and stop and think carefully before you speak!

2) Say something positive and motivating.

3) Tell them you care about them and love them.

Plant good seeds of hope and positive encouraging words!

Thomas Edison at 7 was a poor student in school and the teacher called him “addled”. (Scrambled) His mother was a trained teacher and decided to remove him from the school to teach him at home. Mrs. Edison changed the picture of how Thomas saw himself!

Thomas Edison many years later said, “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me, and I felt I had someone to live for, someone I must not disappoint.”

Plant positive words (seeds) of success in your children, in your students, in your family members, and your employees and they will work harder and happier for you!

A positive word of encouragement can help change anyone’s destiny.

Choose your words “wisely”.

My favorite saying is “every student is a gem in the raw.” Start with that thought and work with your students. Believe that each of your students, on the first day of school, wants to learn your course and desires to learn.

As a teacher my greatest joy is to see a student realize their potential and work towards their goal. One day, I received a call from a mother of a high school student. She said, “My husband’s employer recommended you as a violin teacher for my son. I would prefer a man to teach him, but will give you a try. My son is lazy and stupid.”

I replied, “Please do not talk that way about your son in front of him or to others.”

I agreed to teach her son, if she would say “only encouraging words” to him.

At our first violin lesson a young man with multi colored hair, an earring, and strange looking clothes walked into the room. His head was down and he looked unhappy.

We began to work on scales, his solo piece, and the orchestra audition materials for the state orchestra auditions. He was a remarkably talented young violinist and I told him so during our first lesson and all the lessons that followed. My honest sincere words to him inspired and motivated him to do his best work.

At his next violin lesson, a completely different young man eagerly walked up to my classroom. He had his head up, he wore a smile, and was neatly dressed. Because I was investing in him and his potential, he began to take pride in himself and his work. Each week I saw a transformation in him.

It was our fifth week of lessons, our final lesson before the state orchestra auditions. I told him how beautiful his playing was and what a good job he would do on the audition. Preparation makes all the difference! “The honest sincere words that I spoke to him made him blossom like a flower.”

A few days after the audition he called and said with great pride and a smile in his voice, “I am the Concertmaster of the orchestra. I won first place out of over 40 people trying out.”

I congratulated him and told him how proud of him I was and that I knew he would win because of his "hard work and determination”.

His Mother called and said, “Even though you are a woman, you did a good job with him!”

This young man’s picture of himself had changed. Because of the positive inspiring words of encouragement, I gave him each week, and his hard work he began to believe in his abilities! He graduated high school at the top of his class and went on to college.

The picture of how you see yourself is so important!

Words have power.

Many years ago, I received a call from a mother with a 6-year-old boy who was failing out of first grade. She said he is “lazy and stupid”. I immediately asked her to not say that to him ever again. She should say “positive encouraging things” to him!

She brought him over with the violin she had rented and I smiled at him and showed him how to hold the violin and bow, how to read the musical notes on the score, and where to put his fingers on the violin to play his first piece of music. Each step of the way I told him what a good job he was doing. I told him what a smart intelligent young man he was.

I asked his Mom what usually happens after school. She said, “he plays video games and watches TV.”

I said, “Have him practice his violin for twenty minutes after school each day and then have him do his homework for school with Mozart Symphonies playing softly in the background.

After his work is complete he can for 20 minutes play a video game or watch TV.

Each week he gained confidence in himself as he practiced his violin each day, took violin lessons, and improved in doing his school work. He began bringing in his spelling words for his tests to his violin lesson to go over the most difficult one or two words on his list. We would incorporate them into his violin lesson.

Each week I would tell him how well he was playing and his smile lit up the room. After three months his Mom said he is becoming a wonderful student! After a year he was the most positive, motivated, handsome and happy young fellow looking forward to second grade.

What 3 things can you do to say positive words to others?

1) Take a second to Stop and Think before you speak.

2) Say something positive and motivating.

3) Tell them you care about them and love them.

The picture of how you see yourself is so important!

Words have power. Think before you say something to another person.

Make sure the words you speak to others make them feel appreciated and valued.

Always say something positive and uplifting to others.

Words of praise last a life time and so do negative words.

Which words would motivate you to work harder?

Positive encouraging words!

Step back before you speak and choose your words carefully!

Choose words that are Positive and motivating! Show respect and love!

First Impressions