I'm happy to be around.  I'm happy, privileged and  blessed to be living the life I'm living.

When I was younger, I never imagined 57 would be like this.  I thought surely I'd be my body would have given out (OK, well, it isn't quite as fit and flexible as it used to be).

I thought my mind would have atrophied.  Well, there are those moments...

Yet, all in all, I'm thrilled and blessed to be enjoying life and (hopefully) spreading the joy of living with all whom I meet.

By the way, a BIG THANKS for all of you  who voted for the title of my new book!

Here are the results:

#1 Leadership without Limits: Inspiring the Best in Yourself, Your People and Your Organization

Total votes = 99     1st choice (71)   2nd choice (28)

#2  Dream It, Do It: Inspiring the Best in Yourself, Your People and Your Organization

Total votes = 79     1st choice (43)   2nd choice (36)

#3  Dream It, Do It:  A Practical Guide for Inspired Leadership

Total votes = 66     1st choice (29)   2nd choice (37)

Plus, 26 of you submitted very creative alternates!  Thank you again!!!  We're going with #1!

She wrote that she was continually improving upon the way she approached her work: things from her attitude to the way she accomplishes her daily tasks.  She wondered about how to rise above the negativity, finger-pointing and complacency at her workplace and thought that others might be experiencing similar struggles.

I recall listening to another speaker several years ago who consulted with several large companies in the (San Francisco) Bay area.  He had been an expert Project Manager and left Corporate America to venture out on his own. 

He had built a successful business helping organizations resurrect projects that had broken-down for any number of reasons: missed milestones, ineffective communication, over-run budgets.

He shared with us that no matter what the presenting symptom propelled the executive to bring him in, it always broke down to some version of "Those idiots over there...If only those idiots would just get their act together, our lives would be so much easier."

So we're left with what my reader has already begun to practice - working on ourselves.

That really is the best strategy. Having said that, here are a few other tips that might  help you keep your sanity while the world around you is going someplace bad in a hand basket.

1. Express your concerns.  Share with your co-workers (friends, family members) how their language is impacting you. When you say things like that, I feel frustrated and sad (maybe even angry).

2.  Ask them to take their issues directly to the source of their problem.  It's hard listen to complaints about things you have no control over.  When people whine and blame, they generally are expressing (perhaps in a passive-aggressive manner) unmet needs.  By encouraging them to take their issues to someone in power, the chances of getting those needs met increase.

3.  If they persist, draw a line in the sand.  Tell them (respectfully) that you don't care to listen to that level of conversation.  I can't help you with this problem and as I mentioned before, it's frustrating and keeps me from getting my work done.  I request that you stop talking to me about ...."

4.  Tell your boss about the counterproductive behavior. Perhaps he or she can 'have a word with them' about the impact of their behavior on the team. Typically, bosses presumably have more impact and influence on employee behavior.

5.  Start looking for another job.  Transfer to a different department.  Seek out a different organization where employees feel more empowered and proactive.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

The recordings will be ready in a couple of weeks.  Order now & SAVE!

 www.MarketingMagicMarathon.com

Get More Business, Make More Money: Strategies to Grow Your Company, Women's Leadership Exchange, July 22, Tempe AZ. Visit  www.womensleadershipexchange.com to register.  Select the Tempe, AZ event.

Leadership that Transforms People & Delivers Profits and Harvesting and Valuing the Wisdom of Diversity, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Annual Conference, Pre-conference workshops. November 15- 19, San Antonio TX. WWW.IFEBP.ORG

Leadership without Limits: Inspiring the Best in Yourself, Your People and Your Organization, The Awakening Conference: A Voice for Change, May 15- 17, 2009.  Call 602.347.7799 or visit: http://theawakeningconference.com/ to register.