MY THURSDAY THOUGHT FOR THE - Do you know the difference between knowledge and wisdom?  First of all – most people say a hundred times a day – I know this, and I know that – blah blah blah.  Trust me very little of what you think you know is really true.  I’d love to ask a politician, a weather person or physician this simple question when they say anything - how do you know that?  And you know what they would say – they would just give me more reasons or opinions to validate their words.  It’s simple folks - knowing is superficial and temporary – wisdom blends a degree of knowledge with, experience, information, insight, discernment, education, and history.  Much of what you think you know and act as if you know is nothing but conjecture or your opinion. What we thought we knew about travel, medicine, technology, etc. 2000 years ago is a lot different than what we know today.  And what we will know 100 years from today will be a lot different than what is true today.  Here’s the basic problem – most people become attached to what they think they know is true and then they let it define them. I’ll close with a quick question – in the past several years have you changed an opinion about anything because of new information, experience or education?  I rest my case.

I know it’s not Thursday yet but I couldn’t resist sharing the following early. There are two fundamental human emotions – fear & love.  All other emotions are offshoots of these two.  During difficult and uncertain times, it is important to know which emotion drives your behavior, choices, and decisions.  Let’s start with fear.  Here are the basic causes of fear; the need for control, low self-esteem, ignorance, early conditioned environment, a lack of self-belief, a lack of certain skills or resources to handle uncertainty, emotional immaturity, high ego dominance, a lack of faith and trust in God, the fear of rejection and self-doubt.  Here are a few of the contributors to the emotion of love; service to others, compassion, guidance, respect, charity, understanding, concern, and self-sacrifice. I’ll leave you with a quick question – during these times of uncertainty and difficulty which actions are dominating your behavior?

During challenging times each of us can help others in a personal way. I have decided to offer everyone my latest book, "Life's Simple Truths", as a totally free downloaded pdf file. Keep in mind it's not a book but a 365 day journal that requires a few minutes of effort and contemplation each day. FYI - if you are not a spiritual person you won't like it or benefit from it so don't request it. If you want additional info about it just go to my website - www.timconnor.com. Again - no obligation, no continued promotion, I won't store your email address etc. etc. I just want to do my small part to help those who I can during these difficult times. To request it - just send me a message to; timspeaks4u@gmail.com with "free book" in the subject line and it will be sent to you the same day. Share it with others if you feel it might help them. Be safe everyone.

MY THURSDAY THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Do you live by the 100% rule? Do you even know what it is? Or, you could care less? It’s simple, really. I’ll apply it in just two life areas in this message. Do you take 100% full responsibility for every area of your life regardless of outcomes or consequences? Not sure? Have you ever blamed, or finger pointed at anybody else for any life circumstance or situation? Have you ever complained about anything? If yes to either you don’t pass the 100% rule. Come on Tim, if that’s the basics of the rule no one will ever pass no one is perfect. You might be surprised how many people take 100% responsibility for every area of their life. One more quick one if you are not sure how about your career or business have you ever not taken 100% responsibility for any mistake, failure or poor action or decision? Again if yes you failed. So, Tim, what’s your point with this message, we all screw up at something sooner or later. You are missing the point I’m not saying you have not passed if you fail at anything or if you have not succeeded. I’m just asking you if you have the maturity, courage to live by the 100% rule taking full responsibility for life outcomes either positive, or negative? A question which group do you think is more successful in life?

MY THURSDAY THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – Everything and everyone in your life is in your life as a teacher. Failure, success, adversity, customers, children, etc. are all teachers. They are here to teach us – not about them or it but about ourselves. For example, my kids were in my life to teach me what I needed to learn about me – patience, courage, tolerance not just for me to teach them. Failure wants me to learn faith. Success wants me to learn to avoid arrogance and ego. The list is endless. Guess what, if a teacher (person or circumstance) comes into our lives to teach us a lesson and we fail to learn it from them – life will keep sending us more teachers; more; relationships, failures, problems, and opportunities, etc. until we get it. Once we learn the current lessons life will then send us new teachers to teach us new stuff – but remember – it’s always about teaching us stuff about us and what we need to learn about ourselves on how to handle life, overcome weaknesses and grow. The teachers keep coming, the learning never ends, and we can either learn and grow or resist and stay stuck. What are some of the teachers in your life trying to teach you about you now? What is the current situation with the virus trying to teach you about you? A new lesson or a repeating one?

MY THURSDAY THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – I know it’s just Monday but I’m out of town speaking all week. Ever regretted not spending enough time with a spouse, child, employee or customer?  It’s a common issue.  And why? We say we are just too busy with work, travel, errands or a million other reasons but what’s the real reason we fail to spend adequate time with others that are important in our life?  Let me be clear - it’s not a time issue but one of intent.  A quick example.  Last week a friend didn’t respond to a text I sent them in the mid-morning asking a simple question that would require a simple yes or no response.  Noon the next day I got an answer.  Keep in mind I am not a control freak, impatient or lack an understanding that people have more important things to do other than responding to my emails, texts or phone calls.  The answer was yes. But I asked why it took 36 hours to respond.  “I am really busy.” How long does it take to type three letters into your phone and hit send?  The second response was “I needed to think about it before I answered.”  The question I asked was “Can we spend some time together this week?”  Folks, the issue is not the time it takes to be with someone, call them or answer them – it’s your intent. There is real or honest intent and then there is stated intent.  If people don’t do what they promised or said they would do their stated intent didn’t matter – they were just words – it was their real intent all along not to do what they said. It’s what I call “the set-up”.