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Share Your Think Strong Thoughts - A Community of Strong Thinkers
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Think Strong Message Board
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Welcome to the Think Strong message board!
We want you to tell us how you define thinking strong. And also feel free to make suggestions about what you want from your Think Strong on-line community. We're growing and evolving everyday...come along and Think Strong!
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Posting to this message board means you agree to follow the above outlined rules (subject to change). Posts violating these rules (subject to change) will be deleted.
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| JRinOC August 1, 2009, 5:00 am |
| It amazes me how easily people are loosing it and how they see others that are not, yet they are not trying to stop their spiral. I'm challenging myself every day to seek out those that are not in "negative town" but it is a colossal task, yet one I am up for |
| Eric Hoffberg May 22, 2009, 11:04 am |
We go through our journey in life, we find opportunities to “win” and we contend with moments that don’t go as well as we hoped. We have ups and we have downs. We can feel strong and energized to do great things and other days we feel something less than “into it.” This is how life goes. As we grow and learn we recognize time and time again that we need to make the choice to focus on what we can control, do something about that, and try to stop stressing about what we don’t control.
I would think that at this point in your life journey you’ve grasped the understanding that adversity plays no favorites; challenges and obstacles are a part of every season; they’re a part of life. What we control is not whether or not we will have to deal with challenges to overcome, but quite simply how prepared we are when the challenge confronts us. Adversity plays no favorites, but mental toughness knows no boundaries. We can all choose to respond to what happens to us with a productive mind-set. But the kicker is that we have to build up our capacity to respond productively. When the going gets tough we don’t respond like a champion without having put some work into being ready for those moments.
The foundational perspective of THINK STRONG is the acceptance that we do not control the circumstances, but we do control our thoughts. It always comes back to how it is that you’re going to choose to think.
There are 5 key points that I want to make about controlling what can be controlled.
1. You control how present you are in any given moment.
2. You control how prepared you are, how physically and mentally ready you are.
3. You control two different aspects of dialogue – how you speak to others and how you manage your internal dialogue, your self–talk.
4. You control how ambitious you are about working hard, the sacrifice of time you’re willing to make so that you can reap the reward of extra effort. You control the way you push yourself to your limits so that you heighten your level of conditioning and useable stamina is created. You control your dedication to developing skills through repetition and the persistence levels you commit to regarding self-improvement. You control your choice to be ambitious to learn.
5. You control how effectively you respond mentally to the challenging circumstances that occur. You control how distracted you become by things you don’t control. You have control over your ability to THINK STRONG.
The Breakdown of the 5 Key Points
1. Being present and living in the moment
You can control your commitment to live in the moment. Your capacity to learn and improve relates directly to the attention that you give to what is happening in each moment. If you are on a conference call then give full focus to being on the conference call. If you are in a sales or team meeting then be productive and active in that meeting. Don’t waste time thinking about something other than what is happening now – live in each moment.
Be clear about this concept: You do control the way you pay attention!
The more you learn to live in the moment, the better you will be when there is pressure to contend with. Taking ownership of training yourself to be present and in the moment clearly brings an edge to your mindset when you are in the midst of “in game” tension. Pressure becomes less of a factor for people who have trained themselves to live in the moment.
2. Physically and mentally ready
Take control of being ready physically, soulfully and mentally every time you hit the “playing fields” that are yours. Be proud that you’re always ready to contribute the best version of you. Be prepared; it shows respect.
How ready you are to hit the “playing fields” that are yours is something you can control, so control it. Do you have your mind prepared for the tasks that are yours to complete? Do you have a solid routine established in preparation for your “game day?” You don’t control what happens in your work environment but you do control how ready you’ll be. You don’t control how prepared your competition is but you do control how prepared you can be. Everyone recognizes the fact that preparation is something to control, but few do enough about it. Key point: Be more serious about taking control of your readiness.
3. Dialogue
You control the words you use in your own head and with the people around you. You control your self-talk. Are you saying productive things to yourself? Are you saying enough? Are you saying too much?
When you talk to others, particularly with those close to you, are you saying things that sound like the words of a winner? Are you saying things that represent your mental toughness or do you sound like someone who feels overwhelmed or not fully engaged?
Great leaders in all walks of have life have full command of the words they use. Anyone can be that type of person, that type of leader. Be in command of the way you talk to others. Be in even greater command of how you talk to yourself. It’s all a matter of choice. Make the choice to control your external and internal words. They have impact, so control them in your favor.
4. Ambition
You have to take control and ownership of your desire to work hard at the tasks that are yours. You control your work ethic. It sounds so cliché, but if it’s true that what you put into something is what you get out of it, then put in a great effort and demonstrate that effort with a work ethic that makes you proud and is admired by others.
Be ambitious about making the extra effort that it takes to separate yourself from the "average players". Be willing to sacrifice. Prioritize the sacrifices you are willing to make. This attitude is something that you can control. Take full control of the effort that you make to develop your skills. Be ambitious each and every day to contribute a really productive effort to your quest for triumph. Be ambitious about being proud of your work ethic.
Good work habits help develop an internal toughness and a self-confident attitude that will sustain you through every adversity and temporary discouragement.
Paul J. Fleyer – American Author
5. Response
You control how you respond... and of all the things that you do control this is the one that you are going to want to be most proud of. The rest of what we’ve described as your “controllables” all lead up to your ability to be in command when it’s time to respond to the challenges that will confront you.
Everyone can develop a high level capacity for responding productively to the challenges that occur. There isn’t a special gene or a secret formula that prepares a person to respond in an efficient and productive way when the going gets tough.
It’s a question of discipline and commitment. It’s a question of desire. Do you want to be mentally tough? Are you actually excited to face adversity because it gives you the chance to demonstrate that you don’t lose yourself in the tough times? Can you be the person that will always rise above, that will choose to never let down no matter what? |
| Jacob Finkbiner February 11, 2009, 3:31 pm |
| When I hear the words THINK STRONG I immediately put a smile on. So many people in the world today give in to all the negative influences and feel so weighed down. If you adopt THINK STRONG into your mind and your life like I have, nothing and nobody can touch you. I am truly excited about the potential that this has in store, and I hope that it becomes a huge part of many peoples lives. |
| eric hoffberg February 11, 2009, 11:16 am |
Focusing on "How We Roll"
Have you considered the spirit of your workplace? Good, now you have. You just did, right? And I'll bet you already were.
What's the energy like right now at work? Are you taking on enough ownership for the energy that exists?
Are you a postive factor ?
Do you have a sense of "how you roll" and what it is that you're known for?
Last question: Would one of the things that people admire about you be that you can focus and stay composed under pressure, that you see things clearly and cleanly, and that no matter the circumstance you seem to always choose an attitude that's helpful to everyone? Or maybe this is a better way to ask the question: Are you contributing both steadiness and inspiration to the environment you work within so that people feel invigirated by your rather than burdened by you?
If you're answering yes to these questions then you are a star that we can all build our teams around. Awesome that you're steppin up.
Lets think for a moment now about this: Essentially if you're in the midst of a career you understand that:
* There is always a task at hand for us to focus on.
* Our job responsibilities require us to complete the task.
* Our tasks are ours to own.
Those three bullets don't necessarily simplify things perfectly but you get the point.. At the end of the day it all adds up to our choice to take ownership of how we handle our tasks; we have to have a way of doing things. This is why there needs to be a "how you roll."
A friend of mine wrote me a note earlier today and in the note were these words:
Years ago I worked for a very large well known corporation. I was new to the company and sought some business advice from a very successful and respected manager who ranked several layers above my direct supervisor. He told me something that has stuck with me ever since. He suggested I complete every one of my tasks and responsibilities as if I own the business. Everything a business owner does, every detail of how a business owner performs directly affects the business owner’s profitability… from the choice of using large paper clips or small paper clips to choosing air travel with direct flights or layover itinerary. If you can make these choices as if you are the business owner you are setting an example for others to follow. You are developing a spirit of ownership that can be contagious!
These thoughts provide us wiith a simple reminder. To me, its make your life at work about what you want it to be, but be certain to texture things with the same sort of respect you'd have if the whole thing were all yours. The truth is that the journey of life is all yours. Manage it like you own it. Handle your tasks in a way that makes you proud of "how you roll" and in a way that provides good spirit to the entire workplace that is yours to be a part of.
Someone who has mastered the "spirit of ownership" has a clear vision for what they want to accomplish. They aren’t waiting for someone else to make great things happen. They understand that their effort and their thought can make great things happen. They develop a strong sense of desire to get where they are going. Their work ethic is strong. They honor and respect their craft. They are deserving of their success and the success of others.
They are the spirit of their workplace.
And therein is one of the key aspects of taking ownership of your tasks right now. Take ownership of the spirit that is created each and every day. Don't be a cheerleader, but consider the fact that your spirit, how you engage in your tasks, "how you roll", has everything to do with the energy of the entire work envirnment that is yours and your teammates. Know that your thoughts and energy make a big difference. It isn't just what you say; its how you think and how you energize.
Take pride in being mentally tough. Be known for that. People that are mentally tough are a rock for others to lean on and to follow. “Mental Toughness” is the discipline of focusing on what matters most – the task at hand - and the “art” of embracing only the thoughts that will elevate your concentration and your performance.
Great leadership in 09 is going to not just come form people with great job titles. It comes from anyone that is going to step up and demostrate to others that they have a way of thinking about things and therefore a way of doing things that will not be broken because of chaos and uncertainty.
THINK STRONG - make the choice to be proud of the way you think about things. Be somone that decides every day that there is a style of thought - victim thinking, blame, regret and chaos - that’s not allowed in your mindset. Its not "how you roll" and it isn't good for the spirit that those around you need to feel. Take ownership of your choice to THINK STRONG thoughts; be someone who creates a stronger energy for others to leverage. Contribute. |
| Dina Lieber February 11, 2009, 1:17 am |
| When I consider the the words "think strong," I think of the God-given power of my mind. I believe that we have been given the choice to think, respond and act according to our free-will. The power of my thoughts are a portal of who I am internally and externally. I cannot control this world, I cannot control the thoughts or actions of others. Through thinking and praying strong, negative outside influences have no hook in me. |
| ericadmin February 4, 2009, 12:43 pm |
Be “Who” and “What” you admire
If I’m going to be of good use to those that are counting on me I need to pay more attention to how I’m thinking and to who I’m being, than I do to the chaos and pressure of today’s circumstances. If I can focus on the best version of me, then I have a chance at aligning my thoughts with what’s important in life, rather than aligning it with worry and angst. Worry and angst won’t elevate my performance in life. Worry and angst don’t bring out the best version of me. My responsibility is to think the thoughts that bring me to my highest level – I own the best version of me.
I feel compelled to think productive thoughts now more than ever. It’s good for me. If my thoughts are focused on being the best version of me that I can be, then I can help others be the best version that they can be. I have a heightened sense of urgency. It’s good for others too. Thinking strong feels like the right thing to do, especially now because of all the chaos and uncertainty in the world. I feel like I need to do my part. I can make a difference.
I feel good because I have embraced the concept that the one thing I can control is “who I am being”. This is the first step.. It gives me clarity. But before I can become the best version of me I must define the qualities that I want to admire in myself. I need to be clear about what I admire in others so I can define what I want others to admire in me. I need to know what those qualities of character are, right? I need clarity. I know that my thoughts need to be aligned with the “who and what” I want to be admired for. I own that choice. I’m good with that.
I feel like I should be able to easily articulate what I want to be admired for. If I can articulate it then I can live it. If I can live it, I elevate the chance to be the best version of me. If I can’t articulate it, with some level of ease, the chances are that I’m not really living my life at quite the level I’m capable of. If being more clear about what I want to be admired for brings me an edge, some momentum, some clarity, I’m In!
The idea is to keep it simple while understanding clearly what matters to me most. This isn’t complex but at the same time I don’t take this lightly. It’s really important.
Thoughts For You:
What do you want to admire about yourself? What do you want your colleagues, teammates, clients, customers, friends, family and community to admire about you? Make a list. Be specific.
Live your list and you may begin to recognize a gap from where you are today to where you want to be.. The great thing about this exercise is that it can be continuous and ongoing, forever. Our awareness of admirable attributes in ourselves will become sharper as we develop our mental toughness, so stay with it. You have a continuously evolving list to aspire to. Your viewpoint of you might start to look more like this:
I can be steady and composed if I know what I want to be admired for because I can think thoughts that fit with that quest. I can respond productively when the tough times seem really intense and I get myself back on point faster if I know what I want to be admired for.
I have an understanding of what I want to be admired for – an understanding that I have more than one version of me within me and that I know what the best version of me looks and feels like.
My character is intact. I know what I want to be admired for and I don’t lose my grasp of those qualities when pressure and intensity exist. |
| i'mthinkingstrong! February 4, 2009, 12:14 pm |
| Thanks for the "Strengthenizer" Eric! This is a great excercise and was very timely today! Keep em coming! |
| I'mthinkingstrong! February 2, 2009, 5:41 pm |
| I hired Coach Hoff to be my corporate coach about 3 months ago. Being in the mortgage business I've seen my income drop nearly 70%. I went from having a very bright future to where I felt that my window was closed. In short I had lost my confidence, my swager and my hope. Hoff helped me to start thinking about not just surviving but attacking my current situation. To acknowledge what was happening and create a plan for what I wanted to do. How I could become a better leader, not just a better manager. My outlook has taken a 180 and and I'm feeling optomistic about life, and work. I'm looking forward to where "think strong" goes. I'm In! |
| hockeyislife January 13, 2009, 2:29 pm |
| Hope Eric is planning on doing a blog for Think Strong |
| panthersfan January 13, 2009, 2:27 pm |
| Hey guys, glad to see this finally getting off the ground! I've been doing my best to "Think Strong" since becoming a victim of the latest round of Charlotte banking layoffs. I've got a couple interviews lined up, but I haven't been on the market in awhile. Anyway, I keep reminding myself that this too will pass. Whenever I feel like moping, I start scanning the job boards and following up with contacts for potential job leads. Keep rooting for me! |
| strongthinkerincharlotte January 13, 2009, 1:54 pm |
| I'll be excited to see the Think Strong Web site later this year...I hope you're planning on setting up a community, so all of us practicing Think Strong can share our stories! |
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