• “Leadership in Motion” - by Scott V. Black, CEO
• "If I Can Understand You a Little Better..." How to Become a (Much) More Powerful Communicator
• Making a Difference - Chris Holt, Team 408
• Empower U International is Looking for Committed People to Join the Renaissance
• My Word Coach - Cleaning Fluid and Poker...

“Leadership in Motion”

By Scott V. Black

Hello Empower U Leadership Team.

I hope you are having a powerful day! This past weekend I was reminded of one of the “lies” that I hear so often: “There is a shortage of ideas.” I vehemently deny there is any truth to that statement. There is NO shortage of ideas. There is a shortage of Power. The definition of power is ACTION. The shortage is in finding people to pursue, commit, and to remember their ideas… to take action. As we say in class, “Don’t cheat yourself by dreaming with no action!”

My mission is to live my life like it matters, to leave this world a bit better, to lighten the burden of people through releasing some of the bonds that keep us from being the “George Bernard Shaw” we could have been.

A big part of this mission is accomplished through our training classes and my speaking events. Our training is very powerful, it makes people take action. I like to say, “Press the Go Button,” so that people can get out of their heads and change the patterns that keep them from taking action on their dreams.

I just finished up with team 536 in Dallas, 15 men and one woman. Boy, oh boy, were they powerful. They pressed the GO button and made it matter that they spent 2.5 days in that hotel with Mr. Black instead of with those they loved. They went from an underperforming class, to an incredibly powerful team.

How you might ask? They followed through on their commitment and they took action and stepped over the line. Once they changed their focus to what was going on in the class, what they didn’t understand, they didn’t like… and just pressed the GO button, started committing and DOING… lives were changed.

Taking ACTION!

For those that know me well, you have heard me say, “I would rather NOT dream, than dream with no action.

In the past when I have had to part company with one of our team members it is usually for their lack of action, for their lack follow through. They usually have lots of ideas. They can quote the books, they can type up great emails, they can tell me all kinds of things that I need to be doing… but they dream with no action.

Instead they wait for others to do it for them, recite the CD’s they listened to, but there is no action, no Leadership In motion. There is a reason that we have those words in our company logo, “Leadership in Motion.”

Let me ask you something today… are you dreaming with no follow through? In other words are your dreams only that… dreams, or are you “putting legs to them?”

That is one of the great opportunities of Leadership Awakening and Leadership Adventure… they put substance around our dreams. What do you want? What does it look like, sound like, feel like?

These are not just some Empower U buzz words, they are the essence of Goal Getting. Joseph Addison put it this way, "Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." What do you want? What can you do to day to get yourself closer to that?!

What Are You Hoping For?

Today I want to ask you what are you hoping for? I truly believe one of the things we do at Empower U international, what I do as the Master Trainer is I am a hope peddler. Once there is hope, there is something that is wanted, and then it is time to apply some fuel to the fire.

In our training we spark people; sometimes we shock people into life. We become the defibrillator of life for successful people… CLEAR! I see dead people, and part of my mission is to revive a dying world, dying relationships, dying dreams.

Reviving the world can only be done by taking action. When the door opens to our training the first night, most people would rather be anywhere else but there. Well let me tell you a secret… me too! Yet, I have to remind myself… IF not ME, then WHO? If not NOW, then WHEN?

One of my favorite quotes is, “Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.” John Wesley had it right; anybody can “talk the talk,” but if you want to live a life of purpose… LIVE IT, Take action.

Are you willing to “Walk the Talk?” The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. The same thing is true with our dreams. Dreams are created through actions. All the quotes are there. Bob Moab, “You can’t leave footprints in the sands of time if you are sitting on your butt, and who wants to leave butt prints in the sands of time?” You can’t steal second base with your foot on first!

Setting Yourself On Fire

Friction causes heat, friction is movement!

Norman Vincent Peale said, “Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.”

I used to have a trainer named Denver Passow. I met Denver in the mountains of Colorado when I was getting My Masters in Neuro Linguistic Programming. Denver was an outdoorsman; he was at home in the wild. Denver is one of those guys that can start a fire by rubbing two sticks together. He showed me how to do it and it blew me away.

It is a lot of work, it is a lot of effort… but it is worth it when your life is on the line. Fire brings heat, scares away animals, allows for cooking food or boiling water… it can sometimes bring LIFE.

Set yourself on fire and people will come from miles to watch you burn. They want that spark! There is a saying out there that goes something like; “I have never seen a fire, that did not start with a spark.” What sparks you?

Ideas vs. Action...

There is no shortage of ideas; there is a shortage of people willing to set themselves on fire, to take action, to LIVE IT… with Passion-Heart, Body and Soul!

One of the great things about our training is that it sets people on fire with enthusiasm and passion. People leave our training “on fire,” but they must take those ideas, those feelings and do something about it. The fire will burn down unless it is maintained.

How have you been maintaining your fire since your Awakening, since your Adventure? I challenge all of you to take out your workbook from Leadership Awakening, re-read your journal entries, re-read your action steps, re-read your eulogy… who am I, what do I want… remind yourself. Take out your leadership Adventure manual; remind yourself how you chose to live… Scott Black LIVES! Successful people remember and they take action. That is why we call it, “Leadership in Motion.”

The “Secret” of Success

Joseph Addison also said, “There's no secret about success. Did you ever know a successful man who didn't tell you about it?” Success breeds success.

So I want to tell you about some of my successes so you can see that we are LIVING it, here at Empower U International.

This is not just an assignment… I have a dream. I have shared those dreams and I want to share with you some of the progress towards reaching them, not for any other reason than to show you that we can all accomplish more than we think possible or feasible, realistic… but we can’t do it unless we take action. The last part of the pattern of success is LIVE IT!

The Renaissance here at EUI has been under way for the last 4 months. These are not just words, some dreams, a few fluffy quotes but real action that we are taking and things we are putting in place to help take our Mission to the world. That mission is to “Raise the Bar” and impact this world, to help inspire others to live a life of Passion, Vision, Focus, Commitment, Purpose with a team of other like minded individuals.

These are not just words, not just fodder for some book, class or articles but truly committed to following through on the ideas so they become reality. So let me share with you three pieces of the vision that we are taking action on… thus, Creating It.

Here are some examples:

• A picture is worth a thousand words! 
  
  Here is a picture of the cover of my next book. This is a great opportunity to reach and let people know about Empower U. The only person on this cover that most people won’t know is me.
  
  I am submitting a chapter for this book along with Stephen Covey, Brian Tracy, Ken Blanchard and eleven other successful people in their field.
  
  Due out early next year, my chapter is, “The Pattern of Success.” I will be connected with fans of these “Leadership Gurus.” This will put Empower U in front of people that are “raving fans” of theirs and then VIOLA, people that never knew we existed… will know!
  
  You can see a larger image of this cover by clicking the picture above. View the press release for the book by clicking here.
• The HBS Corporate Retreat Center.
  
  It has been a dream of mine for the last 10 years to have a retreat center where people could come and alter their lives in a positive way.
  
  Those who have been through Leadership Awakening in a hotel have experienced a “low budget” version of what I want to accomplish. Those who experienced our Leadership training in Fernley at the old HBS Ranch will tell you how special it was.
  
  How many words is a picture again? That is right, 1,000. Since we speak at 120-160 words per minute, one picture is about 8 Minutes of non stop dialog.
  
  I had one of our Marketing guys, Joe Vasquez, start laying out the retreat center. It is rough, and yet it is real because we've put it down on paper.
  
  Now I need to raise 3 million to build it… but this picture is stirring me up to the point that I have to build it, it is pulling me…Once I can see it, then it becomes real. Want it. Create it. Live it!
  
  Click the picture above to see a full sized image of the planned retreat center.
• Transforming Corporate Culture South of the Border
  
  I have shared with the Empower U Leadership team my dream to become the Mexican Deming.
  
  On the surface this is a dream that seems impossible for many reasons. I am not Mexican. I don’t yet speak the language fluently… there are a lot of reasons why this might seem silly.
  
  However silly has never been a disqualifier for dreaming. It is not easy either, and if you are looking for easy, then you are not looking at the right dreams. Remember the words of Teddy Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." (my emphasis)

Did you notice all the effort, all the action that is required to live those words?

I am studying Spanish everyday that I am home. I have been using Rosetta Stone software when I am at home. When I am on the road I use my daughter, Faith’s, Nintendo DS and do “My Spanish Coach.”

If you check the schedule you will see; November 6-8th, Monterrey, Mexico. This is our first open enrollment class in the heart of Mexico. I am stepping out on a limb and I am getting help taking action to make it happen. Leadership in Motion!

More Leadership in Motion

We are also expanding our team with new team members Larry Johnson and Marylina Justice. Marylina is a graduate of Leadership Awakening and Leadership Adventure. She is working in the corporate office. When you call the office in Texas, Marylina is probably the one to answer the phone. Say hi and welcome her aboard.

Larry just went through Leadership Awakening with team 536. He is an enrollment officer, helping me to put “butts in chairs.” His job is to help our graduates put other graduates around them. What good is the best training in the world if nobody is there to experience it?! Larry has a great heart and he is committed to being a Leader Under Construction!

Leadership in Motion is not just a tag line in our logo; it is a requirement for Becoming Your Dreams.

Today I ask you to take a look at your life and see where you might be leaving “butt prints in the sands of time.” Hey, this is your life! El tiempo es ahora! The time is Now.

Now is time to take action, the time to press the go button on your dreams. If not you, then who… if not now, then when? If up until now you have fallen down, or forgotten the commitments, the dreams… then… pick yourself up, dust yourself off and hit it again. It is time to blow the dust off those dreams and take the first step.

I just have one question for you… What do you want?

Remember…
When you live your life like it matters-It Does!

With Passion-HBS

Scott V. Black

"If I Can Understand You a Little Better..."

How To Become a (Much) More Powerful Communicator

People who can communicate more effectively are in a position to accomplish more and dramatically speed their success.

That's why the greatest leaders are and have always been the greatest communicators. They get promoted more quickly and they're always among the highest paid people in any field.

What does it take to achieve this level of communication excellence?

There are two kinds of communication that make powerful communicators stand out from the crowd. Simply put, these are the communications we have with others and the communication we have with ourselves, our inner dialogue or self-talk.

When we can master both of these our communication becomes highly congruent - people respond more favorably to our ideas and we get more done.

The Tools of Communication

When you want to improve your communication skills, there are highly effective tools available for improving both internal and external communication.

One of these, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), is based on understanding and using the extraordinary impact words have on our nervous system. By understanding how this connection works, we can effectively use our words to change behavior in ourselves and others.

Another powerful tool for communication excellence is what's referred to as Emotional Intelligence or EQ. This is different from the more commonly known IQ in that it isn't based on how well we think, but on how well we understand ourselves and others.

EQ might be summed up in the question, "If I can understand you a little better, and you can understand me a little better, doesn't it make sense we are in a position to have a better relationship?" And of course, powerful relationships open doors that would otherwise remain closed.

How Can You Learn These Skills?

Empower U International is offering their most powerful communication class, EQ: Communicating with Power this coming September. Usually this course is only offered by private invitation. However this September's class is open to public enrollment.

This will be a rare opportunity for anyone who wants to take their communication skills to a higher level of effectiveness. Based on NLP and another powerful model of understanding ourselves and others, the class will give you the ability to communicate more effectively and get more accomplished than ever before.

Here are the details:

Class Dates:
September 19-21, 2008 - Friday Evening through Sunday Afternoon

Class Location:
Dallas, Texas

What To Do Next

Enroll by contacting the Dallas office. Call (817) 478-1858.

Making a Difference - Chris Holt, Team 408

Oh my goodness! What an AWESOME DAY, WHAT AN AWESOME YEAR!! I have been putting my plans and commitments into action.

I recently got deeply involved in a 'Habitat for Humanity' project that will be going on in my community. My office was contacted by the contractor that was helping 'Habitat' to produce documents for three lots in a very large development in woodland and Bill put it up as a decision for the office whether we would donate our time.

I immediately saw it as my time to seize the moment. I was so energized by the opportunity to get in on this project. I am currently working as one of the "project leaders" and my managers have decided it would be a good time for me to work on some tweaking the design. WOW!! What a wonderful journey!

My office will see the construction documents all the way through to pulling the permit. I have also volunteered my time to help build the houses. This is really going to be a time for me to get SO MUCH new experience, all the while helping families to make their dreams a reality.

WOW! I can't even put into words the excitement and jubilation I am feeling every day!

Empower U International is Looking for Committed People to Join the Renaissance

Make an Even Bigger Difference

If you'd like to make a powerful difference in the world, we may have the opportunity for you. We're looking for people to fill two positions:

1. Enrollment Officer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to help prospective students understand more about our classes by answering their questions and helping them enrolled in class. You'll learn a time-tested and highly effective sales process as well as work with motivated and empowered people helping make the world a better place one person at a time.
2. We're also looking for part-time trainers who will commit to one weekend a month in exchange for becoming a powerful trainer using our proprietary teaching techniques. You'll learn by doing in actual class situations and be part of making a powerful difference in the lives of those in class.

If you're ready to step over the line and join the Empower U International Renaissance, call the Dallas office at (817) 478-1858.

My Word Coach

Can you figure it out?

We commonly use words and phrases that have old meanings. Often we aren't even aware of where those words came from.

Twice a month we'll be giving you a hint about word and a phrase and ask you to guess what the word or phrase is. Of course we'll be giving you the answers, but do yourself a favor and see if you can get the answer before clicking on the link.

Have fun!

Question #1: Temple workers in the ancient Libyan temple of Ammon used an odd solution to clean clothes. The Romans called the liquid, made of camel dung and urine, "the salt of Ammon." Today you can still buy this liquid for cleaning. What is it called?

Question #2: Poker players start each hand by putting an ante in the pot. From this practice comes today's phrase that means to state your opinion. What is the phrase?

See the answers by clicking here.