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What is an "emotional trigger?" Simply put, it's a deliberate act that can stir your emotions and change the way you feel. It can be a very powerful and effective technique if you understand how and when to use it.

Different triggers will work for different people. Your main trigger might be a love letter from your spouse, a card from your child, or a passage from your favorite book. Your triggers are personal, as unique as you are.

One of my most powerful triggers is music...words and sounds that speak to my soul and affect the way I feel. I've created a special tape that I use if I sense my attitude heading in the wrong direction. On this tape are three songs, and each has a very personal meaning. I'll get in the car, put in the tape, turn it up as loud as my eardrums can manage, and then...sing along. And by the way, even if you can't sing (and I definitely can't), singing along is key, because hearing and expressing the words has a "double barrel" effect on attitude.

Try it. Make your own personal tape or CD to stir your soul when stirring is needed. Here's one important key, however...use it sparingly, only when you need it, or it will lose its effect.

A bellman made my day recently. After checking into an Atlanta hotel, Sam (his name was on his badge) picked up my two bags, gave a big smile, and said, "Isn't it a gorgeous day today?" I nodded and said, "Sure is."

He then said, "I just spent the entire weekend with my two grandkids, and I can't remember when I've had more fun. Aren't kids great?" I nodded again, and said, "They are special," and then I added, "Sam, it seems like you're having a great day." He then looked up with a grin I'll never forget and said, "Mr. Anderson, every day above ground is a great day!"

I walked into my room feeling recharged by Sam's enthusiasm. It was obvious that he had chosen to live life to the fullest, and given the opportunity to touch someone's life in a positive way, my bet is that he took it, every time.

Every day we all have that same opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others. We can choose to mope about our lot in life, or we can decide to live in awe, touching hearts along the way.

Ah, yes...we all know ducks who make lots of noise, quacking and complaining about their problems in life. And then there are eagles who go about their business and consistently soar above the crowd. Thanks, Sam, for soaring into my life.

Leo Tolstoy said, "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."

If I had read that quote 25 years ago, it would have meant little to me, but today I have a few "business battle scars" that could have easily been avoided had I listened to what Tolstoy said.

A few years ago, I had a speaking engagement in Hawaii. I arrived about midnight and a driver met me at the airport to take me to my hotel. He was young man with a real passion for life. On the way to the hotel, he shared his love for surfing. I asked him if it was dangerous and he said, "Very dangerous, if you don't know what you're doing."

He said that many people drown when a large wave takes them under and instincts tell them to fight to get back to the surface. The key, he said is to do just the opposite; let your body go limp and the currents will bring you to the surface.

As a leader there are times to act, and there are times to wait for the right answers to surface. Remember the quote from a very wise man...Benjamin Franklin,

"He that can have patience can have what he will."

Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit." How true that is! If we make good habits, they invariably make us.

In the fall of 1996 I received a phone call from an unforgettable young man. He introduced himself as Matt Ghaffari, and went on to tell me that a few months earlier he had won the silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling during the 1996 Summer Olympics. He said he wanted to stop by while he was in Chicago, and I said, "No problem. I'd like to meet you."

A few hours later my receptionist called saying my guest had arrived. I walked to the lobby and there he was...6'4" tall and 286 pounds of solid muscle. He had a huge smile on his face as we walked back to my office.

When we sat down, he said, "Mr. Anderson, I've come to thank you because you and your company have made a difference in my life." Then he reached into his left pocket and pulled out a green felt cloth, which he then opened. And there it was, his silver medal. It was beautiful! Then he reached into his right pocket and emptied the contents onto my desk. Amid his change was one of the brass medallions that we had created at Successories with the words "Expect To Win."

He said, "Mr. Anderson, I've had that medallion in my pocket every day for three years. For the past four years I've worked ten hours a day, six days a week to train my body to be an Olympic champion. But I knew the difference in winning and losing was not going to be training my body; it was going to be training my mind to think positive, powerful thoughts...to believe I could do it. And the products you've created at Successories have helped me to think like a champion."

You see, winners like Matt Ghaffari are never complacent. That is why they're winners. They understand the power of discipline. They understand one of my favorite laws in life- you cannot get what you've never had unless you're willing to do what you've never done.

Are you willing to make the sacrifices required to make your dreams come true?

Jim Cathart is a friend and a great speaker. To manage your energy, Jim feels you need to find the pace at which you perform best. This is the "zone" at which you are most creative, unstressed, happy, and productive. He defines the "zones" as follows:

• Above The Zone: First you experience stress and frustration, then anxiety, and finally burnout. At this level you are overwhelming yourself with too many things to accomplish at one time. Lighten up a bit to get back on track.
• In The Zone: You are at your best. Not stressed, going with the flow of work naturally, productive and self assured, challenged but not overwhelmed, motivated and able to roll with problems.
• Below The Zone: First you experience boredom, then apathy, and finally depression. You feel useless and artificial; self-esteem suffers. Bite off more and take greated challenges to get back on track.

Finally, protecting and replensihing your emotional energy is critical for every leader. Mira Kirshenbaum, in her book The Emotional Energy Factor, offers a refreshing, down-to-earth approach:

First you plug the leaks: learn to recognize what drains your energy...life situations, toxic people, or habits such as worry, indecision, or guilt. Second, you identify what fills your tank - pleasure, solitude, anticipation, or fun - and give yourself more.