Hello,

Welcome to another issue of Appreciation in Action. Things have been full and exciting on this end with the recent release of my new book, Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation. The book reached #4 on the Amazon best seller list when it launched, is already in its third printing, and just became a National Bestseller! Thank you for your support...this initial success would not have been possible without you! If you would still like to take advantage of the exciting launch campaign and the free bonus products, feel free to visit http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/launch. I hope your fall is off to a great start. I would like to extend a special welcome to all of you who’ve recently signed up for this newsletter. As always, I feel honored to connect with each of you this way each month. Remembe r to look for all the good stuff!

With Appreciation,

It’s Not What We Know, But What We Do That Matters

How many times have you read a new book, been to a great seminar, or learned some wonderful new piece of information that inspired you, but, for a myriad of reasons (you got busy, you didn’t write it down, life got hard, etc.) you didn’t put it into action?

This is something that happens a lot for many of us. We have the best intentions, but then life gets in the way, right?

When it comes to creating real growth and lasting change in our lives – both personally and professionally – it’s not what we know, but what we do that matters. Learning new things is fun, exciting, and rewarding. However, until we figure out how to incorporate that new information into our daily lives, it does us very little good.

As I travel around the country and speak to groups of all kinds about focusing on the good stuff and the power of appreciation, there are very few people I meet who don’t see the importance of bringing more appreciation into their lives, their relationships, their families, their work groups, and more. However, many admit that while they may know that appreciation is essential, they aren’t always sure when and how to put it into action.

Here are a few simple things you can do to bring more appreciation into your life:

1. Create a daily appreciation ritual. Appreciation of yourself, others, and life is something we want to begin to do on a daily basis – like bathing, brushing our teeth, or eating. Come up with things you can do each day that allow you to focus on what you are grateful for. Write in a journal, take some quiet time alone, talk to friends about what you’re grateful for, acknowledge your spouse, your family, your co-workers, or friends, or more. What you do specifically is not as important as that you do something genuinely and regularly.
   
   
2. Look for good stuff. We always find what we look for. Whether it’s with ourselves, other people, or life in general, we want to pay attention to what we’re paying attention to. Catch people doing things right and focus on the good stuff as much as possible. If you think about, thousands of things have already gone well and fallen into place just today for you to be sitting here, reading this article. Our challenge is to pay attention to all of the good stuff.
   
   
3. When someone compliments you, say “thank you” and then SHUT YOUR MOUTH: This is one you may have heard me talk or write about before. It’s a big one for many of us. Even if you feel funny or uncomfortable when people compliment you, simply say “thank you” and then shut up. Whatever you say after that (a self-deprecating joke, an insincere complimentary response, etc.) is often a way of avoiding the appreciation or deflecting the compliment. Just like a birthday present, say “thank you” and accept the gift (compliment) that is being giving to you. The better you become at receiving compliments, the more you will get.
   
   
4. Create support around you. We all need the support of others. If we want to create a positive environment within our home, at work, or even within our own heart and mind, we can’t do it alone. Share your commitment to appreciation with others and have them hold you accountable or gently remind you when you stray. And, the more positive, appreciative people we have around us, the easier it is for us to be that way too.
   
   
5. Acknowledge people freely and generously. Make a commitment to go out of your way to let people know what you appreciate about them. We have a choice in each moment about whether or not to share our appreciation of others with them. It often takes courage on our part, but when we acknowledge other people (in a genuine way), not only do we create a win-win situation; we actually encourage more of the behavior, attitudes, or attributes that we appreciate in them. Be the person in your family, your organization, or your community that takes the lead and freely acknowledges people all the time. It’s contagious and powerful!

My New Book - Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation
As I mentioned above and most of you know, my new book, FOCUS ON THE GOOD STUFF: The Power of Appreciation, came out recently. I have been on the Oprah and Friends radio network, featured in Forbes, and have been traveling all over the country talking to people about the book and the importance of appreciation. The response continues to be remarkable and I am incredibly grateful. Thank you for your wonderful support and enthusiasm! If you would like to purchase additional copies of Focus on the Good Stuff, at a new release discount, and still be able to take advantage of the hundreds of dollars in bonus products from authors and speakers like Marianne Williamson, Jack Canfield, Jeffrey Gittomer, and others, click on the link below:
http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/launch

  A Great New Book – The Secret of Letting Go, by Guy Finley:
The Secret of Letting Go by Guy Finley reveals a new effortless way to find true success. This book shows you how to let go of everything inside you that is holding you back, which automatically unlocks positive powers that will propel your life to a bold, bright, exciting new level. When you buy copies of The Secret of Letting Go today, you'll receive over 50 bonus products from many wonderful authors and speakers, including me! Check out the link below:
http://www.secretoflettinggo.org

  Where’s Mike Robbins Speaking?
Below is a list of where I am speaking and traveling for the next two months. Some 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 and 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. And, if you know people who live in these places – feel free to let them know I will be in town. Thanks! For more detailed information about the public events, feel free to visit:
http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/publicevents.html

10/9/07 – Cleveland, OH – public event (Visible Voice Books – 7:00 PM)

10/14/07 – Walnut Creek, CA – public event (Unity – multiple times)

10/16/07 – Salt Lake City, UT – corporate event

10/17/07 – Salt Lake City, UT – public event (TBD)

10/19/07 – Des Moines, IA – corporate event

10/22/07 – Albuquerque, NM – public event (Borders Books – 7:00 PM)

10/30/07 – Los Angeles, CA – public event (Bodhi Tree Books – 7:30 PM)

10/31/07 – San Francisco, CA – corporate event

11/1/07 – San Francisco, CA – corporate event

11/2/07 – San Francisco, CA – corporate event

11/5/07 – San Francisco, CA – corporate event

11/6/07 – Walnut Creek, CA – public event (Barnes and Noble – 7:00 PM)

11/7/07 – Walnut Creek, CA – corporate event

11/9/07 – Ukiah, CA – corporate event

11/19/07 – San Francisco, CA – corporate event

11/26/07 – San Francisco, CA – corporate event

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 NBC. He is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and is a Certifi ed Speaking 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.

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