Welcome to another issue of Appreciation in Action. Happy spring! I hope that you and those around you are enjoying this beautiful time of the year. It has been a while since I last sent out one of these newsletters. Life has been wonderful on this end! Lots of “good stuff” to focus on for me and my family - new baby girl on the way (due in August), new book deal (release date, spring 2009), and much more!

In the next month or two my plan is to start sending out issues of my e-zine more often (every other week or so). We hope you enjoy them and share them with others.

If you take a moment right now to think about all of the amazing things in your life and the incredible people around you, you'll notice so much good stuff. We all have a great deal to appreciate if and when we take the time to do so. I am honored to connect with you periodically this way. Have a good one…

With Appreciation,

Be The Change

Do you ever find yourself thinking or speaking about how things or other people should be? If so, you're not alone. Most of us spend and waste a lot of time and energy thinking about, judging, and talking about people and situations we have very little control over. Even worse, we often do or say things that are completely hypocritical or contradictory - like complain about negative people, judge people for being judgmental, get angry about the anger of others, and more.

One of Gandhi's most famous quotes is, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." As simple as this is to understand, it's not so easy to put into practice. It's often much easier to be self righteous and opinionated than it is to be kind and compassionate. However, as we all know and have all experienced, real change in our own lives and in our personal experiences can only come from within us.

What if instead of getting annoyed with our boss for being "demanding," we chose to be more forgiving? What if instead of getting upset with our spouse for being "selfish," we chose instead to be more loving? What if instead of judging others for being "wrong," we chose instead to find what is right about them?

While life is not simply an either-or, right-or-wrong phenomenon, we each have a choice in every moment, situation, and relationship about what we look for, focus on, and ultimately how we show up. Most of us are pretty good at noticing what's "missing" from situations or what's "wrong" with other people. When we notice this, however, we have an opportunity to provide what we think is truly needed - if we have the courage, as Gandhi challenges us, to BE THE CHANGE.

As we begin to practice this challenge and step up to this responsibility, we realize that any and every situation, relationship, or group we are a part of can change in the way we want it to - if we are willing to take the lead, go first, and BE the change we wish to see.

Pick a situation or relationship in your life that is currently challenging for you. Think of what "change" you want with this person or situation. Pick three or more things you can do or say today that will allow you to "be the change" with regards to this. Have fun and watch things change before your very eyes!

Great New Book - Gravitational Marketing:
Would you like to attract more customers without cold-calling, prospecting, or hard-selling? Check out "Gravitational Marketing: The Science of Attracting Customers" a new book that reveals a low cost, highly effective yet easy to implement technique for attracting a steady stream of customers. This is a must read for any entrepreneur, business owner, or sales professional. Order the book today and get access to tons of free gifts from Jeffrey Gitomer, Larry Winget, Bob Burg, Jon Gordon, David Meerman Scott, me and tons more!
http://www.gravitybook.com/gifts/

Spring Promotion for Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation:
We have an exciting spring promotion for my book, Focus on the Good Stuff. In addition to getting discounted copies of the book, you will also receive hundreds of dollars in bonus products from authors and speakers like Marianne Williamson, Jack Canfield, Jeffrey Gitomer, and about 25 others. For details, click on the link below:
http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/holiday

Media Exposure for Focus on the Good Stuff:
I am so grateful to have been on ABC News, the Oprah and Friends radio network, featured in Forbes, Ladies Home Journal, and the Washington Post. All total, I have been on more than 100 radio and TV stations throughout North America talking to people about my book and the importance of appreciation. To check out some of my recent TV and radio clips, as well as some wonderful print articles, click on:
http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/media.html

Where I'm Speaking:
Below is a list of where I am speaking and traveling for the next few months. Most of these events are for my corporate or organizational clients (i.e. not open to the public). Others of them, in bold text below, are at bookstores, churches, or other pubic venues which anyone can attend. If you live in any of these cities, I would love to see you at one of my public events. If you know people who live in these places - feel free to let them know I will be in town. And, if you (or anyone else you know) works for an organization in one of these places and would like to connect with me about speaking for your group while I am in town, feel free to contact me anytime. Thanks! For more detailed infor mation about the public events, feel free to visit:
http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/publicevents.html

3/25/08 - San Francisco, CA

3/27/08 - San Jose, CA

3/30/08 - Corte Madera, CA - public event (GGCSL, 10:00 AM)

4/1/08 - San Francisco, CA

4/5/08 - Walnut Creek, CA

4/8/08 - Concord, CA - public event (Concord Chamber, noon)

4/9/08 - South San Francisco, CA

4/11/08 - San Antonio, TX

4/15/08 - Novato, CA

4/21/08 - Pittsburgh, PA

4/23/08 - San Francisco, CA

4/25/08 - San Francisco, CA

4/29/08 - Clearwater, FL

5/5/08 - Portland, OR

5/7/08 - South San Francisco, CA

5/15/08 - San Francisco, CA

5/17/08 - Boston, MA

5/20/08 - Fort Worth, TX

5/22/08 - San Francisco, CA

5/25/08 - San Francisco, CA - public event (Unity Church, 9:00 & 11:00 AM)

5/29/08 - San Francisco, CA

5/30/08 - Los Angeles, CA

Again, for more detailed information about my public events, feel free to visit: http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/publicevents.html

About Mike Robbins

Mike Robbins is an expert in success, teamwork, and the power of appreciation. As a former professional baseball player and Internet advertising sales executive, as well as a life-long student of personal development, Mike brings a varied and impressive background to the clients with whom he works. Through his keynotes, seminars, writing, and consulting, Mike empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to be more productive, appreciative, and successful. He is the author of the audio program, The Power of Appreciation, a contributing author of Chicken Soup for the Single Parent's Soul, and the author of the new best selling book, Focus on the Good Stuff (Hardcover, Jossey-Bass/Wiley). Mike has been featured in Forbes, on the Oprah and Friends radio network, and on ABC News. He is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and is a Certified Sp eaking Professional (CSP), NSA's highest earned designation. Mike lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Michelle and their young daughter Samantha.

Feel free to contact Mike for more information about his speaking and coaching programs, as well as his books and products.

You may forward your copy of this e-zine to anyone you think might enjoy it. Please keep the broadcast intact, including contact and copyright information. Thanks!

"Hi! Live your life with joy...like me! Thanks for reading my daddy's e-zine."

- Samantha Benoit Robbins

For more photos of Samantha click here!

Copyright ©
Mike Robbins
Phone: (925) 825-2319