WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE?
  QUOTABLE QUOTES
  LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM HISTORY
  LINCOLN'S LOG
  TRAVEL NOTES FROM A ROAD WARRIOR--SAN FRANCISCO, BOSTON, ATLANTA
  VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH
  FEEDBACK

QUOTABLE QUOTES

***HAPPINESS

"What matters--all that matters, really--is the will to happiness, a kind of enormous, ever-present consciousness." --Albert Camus, A Happy Death

***AMBITION "In the well-adjusted personality, ambition lies always close to the surface, ready to stir to life at the caress of hope." --Michael Young, The Rise of Meritocracy

***IMAGINATION "Most of the good things civilization has achieved are the result of somebody's seeing, in his mind's eye, how to do something better, or make something better. Without imagination an executive cannot foresee the good things the future may hold. Without imagination he is not able to put himself in another man's place, which he must do." --Cason J. Callaway, What Is An Executive? (Cason J. Callaway was co-founder of Georgia's famed Callaway Gardens.)

***WISDOM "There comes a time--it is the beginning of manhood or womanhood--when one realizes that adventure is as humdrum as routine unless one assimilates it, unless one relates it to a central core which grows up within and gives it contour and significance. Raw experience is empty...it is not what one does, but in a manifold sense, what one realizes, that keeps existence from being mundane and trivial." --Lewis Mumford

***BUMPER STICKERS OBSERVED

The Truly Educated Never Graduate

Enlighten Up

God Give Me Strength To Deal With All The Idiots Who Cross My Path

667 Neighbor Of The Beast

Heck Is For People Who Believe In Gosh

LEADERSHIP LESSONS

***DON'T SCATTER YOUR FORCE

From time to time there are individuals who manage to become highly accomplished in more than just one field. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Napoleon are famous examples. But the general rule is focus or fail whether you're planning your career or planning your day.

A sales representative who spent many years calling on some of the most successful people in the cosmetics field told me that the good executives had one characteristic in common: focus. "When you meet with them, after the pleasantries are over and they turn to the business at hand, they do not look to the right or the left until it is done."

It's the story of the laser applied to human endeavor. Lasers can pierce the hardest substances because all the waves of energy are in phase with one another. They aren't scattered. They don't randomly bounce against one another.  They aren't scattered. They don't randomly bounce against once

Physicists call this "coherent" light.

To excel as a leader, find ways to be laser-like. Create chunks of time when all you do is focus on one thing for a morning, afternoon, an entire day, an entire week. In my own work, I designate certain days as writing days, and that's virtually all I do that day. Voice mail picks up my messages, which I screen at intervals, and I answer only the urgent ones.

One of the most productive people I know begins her designated day two hours early to get a jump on the project and see just how much can be accomplished. She says she's usually so excited that she can't sleep anyway, and she knows that the lost sleep won't matter much.

Thomas Edison was asked by author Theodore Dreiser, "What is the first requisite for success?" Edison replied: "The ability to apply your mental and physical energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary." Henry Ford once stated, "I had plenty of time because I never left my business. I do not believe a man can ever leave his business. He ought to think of it by day and dream of it by night."

LINCOLN'S LOG

***DEDICATION "If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference."

(For more authentic Lincoln quotes, see "The Words Lincoln Lived By." To order, use this link http://www.achievementdigest.com/thewordslincolnlivedby.html

***Abraham Lincoln (aka Gene Griessman) will be the guest of Ira Fistell on KABC 790 TALK RADIO on Saturday night, March 19 for two entire hours from 9-11 pm Pacific time. He has been a guest on this show for six years. KABC is a powerful Los Angeles station that can be heard all over the Southland. You will be able to call in during the show. You can also listen live on the Internet. The link is http://www.kabc.com/showdj.asp?DJID=7826

BOOK NOTES

***"The Scoop On Media Interviews: How To be A Respected Resource Reporters and Producers Love" by Marilynn T. Mobley (Atlanta, GA: Acorn Publishing Company, 2004)

Here are several important ideas from Part Five: "Control the Interview With Magic Phrases." You don't just want to follow along and answer whatever questions are asked. Instead guide the reporter by using proven techniques such as flagging, counting down, or bridging.

Certain phrases can "flag" the reporter that what you're about to say is important. Example: "I've talked about a lot of things but it boils down to these three things..."

Another technique is counting down. State the number of points you want to make, as in the previous example. Interviewers will usually let you make all the points, at least briefly, if you pre-number them.

Still another technique is bridging. "You can't control the questions that are asked but you can control how you respond," Mobley says. A great bridge phrase is, "Let me put all this in perspective..."

To order this book, contact Marilynn T. Mobley at marilynnmobley@cs.com or call 404-486-4492.

CAVEAT EMPTOR

***Have you received an email that looks like a message from a major corporation warning you that your credit information needs to be updated immediately? Most of us have. I get a lot of them. Often the message looks authentic, complete with company logo, etc.

Beware. If you respond to it, the thieves who run the site may steal your credit information, or worse, your identity.

How can you spot the fraudulent email request? Here's good advice from Forbes, October 4, 2004. One. Does it contain misspelled words and grammatical errors? Two. Does it requires immediate attention, and warn of dire consequences? Three. Does the header to the link read "http", not "https"? "S" stands for "secure." Any legitimate site that requests financial information will be secure. Four. Does the page make reference to the home page? If not, call the organization to find out if the request is legitimate.

TRAVEL NOTES FROM A ROAD WARRIOR

***San Francisco Area  Alta Mira Hotel and Restaurant in Sausalito, California. (Alta Mira means "high view" in Spanish.) Negotiation-expert Bob Gibson introduced me to this lovely spot where we had a memorable breakfast of Eggs Benedict and good coffee on the patio. Breathtaking view of the Bay.

A treasure since the 1880s, Alta Mira is a short drive from the Golden Gate Bridge. (415-332-1350)

***Boston Area    Quincy Market. Several years ago I wrote that Quincy Market's food court contains the raw flavors of the new America: Irish, Italian, English, Chinese, Greek, Thai, Mexican, and Japanese. Today it is still a happy space where the best of many cultures meet and mingle. On a beautiful afternoon, I sipped a frappuccino and listened to street performers play traditional music from the Andes. The parking is overpriced. The food is inexpensive. The experience is priceless.

***Atlanta Area    Chequers (near Perimeter Mall) One of my favorite restaurants. The specialties are their fish dishes and steak. In fact it has the feel of a New York fish restaurant. I am particularly fond of their clam chowder, sea bass, and crab cakes. The crab cakes are served Maryland style--lumps of crab with no filler. The Sunday buffet is excellent and modestly priced. (236 Perimeter Center Pkwy Northeast; Atlanta, Georgia 30346-1402; 770.391.9383)

RESOURCES FOR YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH

***FEATURED RESOURCE   99 WAYS TO GET MORE OUT OF EVERY DAY

It's not enough for you to be a good time manager. The people around you may be undoing all your good work through wasteful activities and needless interruptions. Begin to change the culture of your office or organization by sharing this powerful tool with your people.

You can download "99 Ways" and print it for your organization in B&W or with stunning color graphics. To reinforce what your people see on the printed pages, order the companion CD. http://www.achievementdigest.com/99waystogetmoreCD.html

Here's a sample from "99 Ways"--an excerpt from Tip No. 17. "USE THE SALAMI TECHNIQUE. This idea does not have an elegant name but it can be very effective. The Salami Technique involves cutting something large into bite-sized pieces. Perhaps you've been putting off doing something important because your mind keeps telling you it's too big.

Analyze the project to see if it can be sub-divided into bite-sized tasks. Then create separate file folders for the components that you identify. And keep in mind that work done on any part of the project, no matter how small the part, is word done on all the project."

***OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES

***THE WORDS LINCOLN LIVED BY" A quote book you'll use for the rest of your life. http://www.achievementdigest.com/thewordslincolnlivedby.html

***"LINCOLN ON COMMUNICATION" DVD-CD This DVD release is widely used as a training film for leadership and communication programs. www.achievementdigest.com/lincoln%20on%20communication.html

***"AN EVENING WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN" Video of "Lincoln Live" performed before huge audience. www.achievementdigest.com/aneveningwithabrahamlincoln.html

***"LESSONS FROM LEGENDS" CD AUDIOBOOK A famous keynote based on exclusive interviews with celebrites performed before a live audience. www.achievementdigest.com/productorderform.html

***"THE DIVERSITY CREED" POSTER www.achievementdigest.com/productorderform.html

***"THE POWER OF WORDS" POSTER www.achievementdigest.com/productorderform.html

***SHOPPING CART If your website needs a shopping cart so that your customers can use their credit card to purchase your products and services, take a look at Kickstart. It's the one that I use, and I recommend it highly. To get information, click http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/default.asp?pr=31&id=60231

FEEDBACK

***IMPORTANT NEW EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY. "Dear Dr. Griessman, I believe that many of your readers will be interested a new program we are offering at American College. It's an accredited Master of Science in Management (MSM) program with an emphasis on leadership. What makes it appealing to your readers is its unique delivery schedule that allows a busy professional to complete the program in one year. The program consists of two, one-week residential periods at The American College in Bryn Mawr, PA and six, six-week distance courses.

The program is designed with all ten courses in leadership targeted for professionals who hold any of the following types of positions in the financial services industry broadly defined: President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Regional Vice President, Division CEO, Senior Vice President, Managing Partner, Executive Level Director and Home Office Division Leader.

I will be happy to provide information and answers to questions. (Peter.Dean@TheAmericanCollege.edu) I enjoy your publication." Peter Dean, Ph.D.

***"We really enjoyed your performance on Saturday at the Carter Library and Museum. My kids told everyone we came in contact with during the rest of the weekend. My wife Gerri is not a history fan but told everyone about your performance. My only wish is that if I were not home schooling I would be your campaign manager. It is such an enriching thing that you do for people. In our fast-paced and need-it-now world, it is so refreshing to hear about how this man lived his life and handled the things around him. Please keep sending your e-mails--I love them. Keep up the great work--our world needs more people like you! God Bless" Jack McEntee

***The Lincoln presentation at the Carter Library was truly wonderful! Your delivery was mesmerizing. The people in the audience were really into it. We are going to spread the word, and next year, if you do it again, we'll bring some friends with us. Toshi Kii, Ph.D. Georgia State University

***I had the opportunity to read Time Tactics of Very Successful People when it was first published. I am constantly referring to it and using it as a reference. Thank you for an excellent book and resource." Lou Sartori

IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN PLANNING AN UPCOMING MEETING, SALES CONFERENCE, CUSTOMER-APPRECIATION EVENT OR SEMINAR, PLEASE TYPE "YES" BESIDE THE ITEM/S BELOW AND RETURN THIS EMAIL IN ORDER TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:

___"Lincoln Live" "Lincoln The CEO" "Lincoln For Leaders"

___Personal Productivity-Time Management "How To Get More Out Of Every Day"

___Keynote Presentation ("Lessons From Legends" "Success and Failure: Nine Secrets That Make The Difference")

___How To Do Business With Americans (This is a new presentation based on a new book and a keynote that I'll be delivering to a four-nation conference in Lima, Peru later this year. For overseas businesspeople and for organizations with a multi-national workforce. Let us know if you're interested.)