WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE?
Personal Productivity--Find Hidden Time More Lessons From History
Lincoln's Log: Lincoln Is Still Alive
Quotable Quotes
Travel Notes From A Road Warrior--Boston New Orleans Del Mar, California
Resources
Feedback
PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY
*Find Hidden Time
  If you've attended a "How To Get More Out Of Every Day" seminar, you already know that I recommend looking for hidden time. Commuting time--time spent driving from one place to another--can be a rich source of otherwise unused time. A great way to use this time is to listen to books on cassette or CD.

  One TAD reader used her car to "listen" to a book that she would not ordinarily take the time to read. She did this with all the Harry Potter books while she did her daily workouts as well as during the commutes. "If not for the tapes," she says, "I would have missed the fun of knowing Harry and Ron and their adventures at Hogwarts."

LESSONS FROM HISTORY: Expect Conflict If You're A High Achiever

  Many an individual has failed to become a high achiever because he or she was too conflict-averse. Truth be told, conflict is almost certain if you intend to do something worthwhile. Show me someone who has never had opposition from anyone about anything and I will show you someone who has never accomplished anything significant.

  Reputations and fortunes are made by thinking and doing something different or doing the same thing better or in a different way. Being and doing "different" means resistance from people who are committed to old ways or other ways. Don't even think about becoming a leader if you are unable to deal with envy, criticism, sabotage, and opponents. For evidence, read any good biography of any great leader in any field. That exercise will tell you what to expect, and, if you're already a leader, reading biographies can help you understand that you are not alone when you encounter conflict.

  If you'd like to read an account of how the process works in science, read Thomas S. Kuhn's classic, "The Structure of Scientific Revolution." Kuhn demonstrated that science has progressed, not through teams of happy scientists cheerfully accumulating knowledge, but by often vain, flawed leaders fighting fierce battles with one another. That is the typical pattern for revolutions in all fields: science, politics, music, painting, architecture.

  The next issue of The Achievement Digest will contain another lesson from history.

LINCOLN'S LOG
Lincoln Is Still Alive

  President Jimmy Carter tells in his memoirs that a trip to Gettysburg and a discussion about Abraham Lincoln helped achieve a breakthrough in the Camp David negotiations.

  The Israelis and the Egyptians had reached a deadlock. President Carter suggested that all the participants take a day off and visit Gettysburg, which was just a few miles from Camp David. The ground rules forbade that they discuss the peace talks.

  Sadat, Begin, and Carter rode together with Carter sitting between the two heads of state. To Carter's surprise, the military men on both sides knew a great deal about Gettysburg because they had studied the battles in their military schools. Begin was particularly moved to be able to stand in the spot where Lincoln delivered his famous address, a speech that Begin considered "one of the best and simplest speeches ever made."

  Barriers began to come down between the two sides, and the next day negotiations resumed that eventually led to the Camp David Accords. (Jimmy Carter, "Keeping Faith. Memoirs of a President," 1982, pp. 370-372)

QUOTABLE QUOTES
*On Freedom Of Speech

  "Those who won our independence believed...that public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government. They recognized the risks to which all human institutions are subject. But they knew that order cannot be secured merely through fear of punishment for its infraction; that it is hazardous to discourage thought, hope and imagination; that fear breeds repression; that repression breeds hates; that hate menaces stable government; that the path of safety lies in the opportunity to discuss freely supposed grievances and proposed remedies; and that the fitting remedy for evil counsels is good ones. Believing in the power of reason as applied through public discussion, they eschewed silence coerced by law - the argument of force in its worst form. Recognizing the occasional tyrannies of governing majorities, they amended the Constitution so that free speech and assembly should be guaranteed."
--Justice Louis Brandeis in Whitney v. California

  "The First Amendment presupposes that right conclusions are more likely to be gathered out of a multitude of tongues, than through any kind of authoritative selection. To many this is, and always will be, folly; but we have staked upon it our all."
--Judge Learned Hand: New York Times Co. v. Sullivan

  One of my lawyer friends tells me that this was a landmark case that is cited in defamation cases today. Basically citizens can tell lies about government officials as long as they did not know they were lies and yet told them anyway.

QUIZ
What President wrote the following words when he was 16 years old?

  "I am a living paradox--deeply religious, yet not as convinced of my exact beliefs as I ought to be; wanting responsibility yet shirking it; loving the truth but often times giving way to falsity...I detest selfishness, but see it in the mirror every day...I, in my attempts to be honest, will not be the hypocrite I hate, and will own up to their ominous presence in this boy, endeavoring in such earnest to be a man.." Answer in the next issue of TAD. If you already know, send us an email with the correct answer and we'll send you a free copy of "The Inspirational Words Of Abraham Lincoln." (Offer valid only in the U.S.)

Bumper Sticker
"As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools."

TRAVEL NOTES FROM A ROAD WARRIOR
New Orleans

  I enjoyed staying at a small, new boutique hotel on St. Charles Street, just a few steps away from the French Quarter and the streetcar to the Garden District. It's the Hotel Monaco. Moderate price. Amenities include complimentary overnight shoeshine, evening wine reception, Starbucks coffee in the morning, and if you desire, a bowl with a live goldfish. 333 St. Charles, phone 866-561-0010

Del Mar, California
  Scalini is an excellent Italian restaurant just off California's Interstate 5 between LA and San Diego, just south of Encinitas. I enjoyed their Trancia di "Halibut"--baked northern Halibut with a fresh herb crust. It came with grilled white asparagus, tomato-Rosemary butter and roasted potatoes. 858-259-9944

Boston
  For many years America's airports were culinary wastelands. But they've been improving lately, and there are actually some very good airport restaurants. 
  In Boston's Logan, it's Legal Seafoods. For a chain with 28 establishments, these people take their seafood seriously. Not a place to go for people who don't like fish--there are not many other items on the menu. I particularly enjoyed the chowder and the whitefish.

RESOURCES
Training films, Videos, and DVDs
*"Ask For The Order"

  My friend Art Bauer, who reviews training videos for TAD, has just completed a remake of THE all time best-selling sales training video in the history of the industry. Called "AFTO" or "Ask For The Order," it is a how-to video on closing the sale. Art Bauer, incidentally, is the former owner of American Media, the largest video training company in the world. This video is a combination of a how-to and motivational video. A few of the inclusions--How to overcome fear and ask for the order--Tough-minded selling for closing--The four best closes, both direct and indirect... If you would like a preview of the video call EIC Incorporated at 800-473-9157.

*"Lincoln On Communication."

  Brad McRae, who's author of "The Seven Strategies of Master Presenters" calls this "One of the very best videos/DVDs ever made. It's a classic like 'Gone With The Wind.'" Running time: 60 minutes. The price of the package, which includes a DVD and the CD of the soundtrack is $99.95 US. (VHS is also available.) For TAD readers who contact us directly at achieve@achievementdigest.com, or call 404-256-5927, we'll include a trainer's guide ($10 value) plus a set of Mem-Cards ($10 value) based on the DVD at no additional cost. Also, shipping in the US is free.

FEEDBACK

  Question from a reader. "Can you forward the quote from Lincoln that Teresa Heinz Kerry quoted in her DNC Convention Speech?" Darlene Fletcher

  The quote is from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, and one of my favorites. I sometimes quote it in the Lincoln performance. "We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

One of the best evaluations Dr. Griessman has ever received:

  A middle-school student in Georgia who attended a Lincoln performance was asked on the evaluation form what he liked best about the program. He wrote: "The stories and the jokes." Then the form asked what he liked least about the program? The student wrote: "When he stopped."

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 ABOUT THE FOLLOWING

PROGRAMS:
___Lincoln-Leadership
___Personal Productivity-Time Management
___Macroforces and Trends in American Society
___Keynote Presentation ("Success and Failure: Nine Secrets That Make The Difference")