Monday, March 30, 2009

On which side of the coin are you?

You may all know the saying that goes "there are two sides to every coin", and it is usually true.

The coin that I want to refer to today is a very tricky one, and it has to do with our ability to catch people doing things.

If when I said "Catch people" you thought about people making mistakes or embarrasing things, you are on one side of the coin. If you thought about making sure that any good action didn't go without recognition, then you belong to the other side.

The story I wanted to share with you, has many little stories inside, and it goes like this...

About 3 or 4 months back, I heard this advice "live your life looking to catch people doing things right, and let them know". I heard it on an Audiobook with three great mentors, Eric Worre, Randy Gage and Randy Schroeder.

When I heard that advice, I realize that either by genetics or by natural selection or for whatever reason, we as kids have a tremendous ability to catch people doing things wrong and then embarrasing them for it. We as kids are cruel!!! and for some reason we grow up, but that ability stays with us. Making fun of how people dress, how they walk, talk, etc. We all know those situations.

And when we stumble upon someone who actually does things right, we then say, "Well that's his/her job". Which may be true, but Wouldn't you love that people recognize you when you did "your job" right? Doesn't it feel good when they do?

Well, to continue my story, I tried to keep myself aware of this, and everytime I found someone doing things right, I told them so. Whether a waiter (tress), a steward/ess, mechanic, work colleague, you name it.

By doing so, I found out two very interesting things from this exercise: 1. People really love it! and they remember you by it, my dad did it to the lady that serves coffee at the local coffee shop, and at the following encounter, when the lady saw my dad, her eyes brightened and she did the best she could to serve "an even better" coffee this time. I did it to the lady that washes my hair at the barber shop, and now she really tries to give me a pleasant experience.

But number 2. is really something to reflect upon. All the people that I complimented, DID NOT EXPECT IT!, they were surprised to hear it, and this speaks volumes to how we interact with people everyday.

My challenge to you?, quit that ability to catch people doing things wrong, and jump to the other side of the coin, and make sure not a day goes by, that you don't let people know when they did things right. You can't go wrong! People will like you better, give you a better service and very likely, will let YOU know when you are doing things right as well.

Think about it and share your ideas. can't wait to read what you have to say!

Have a wonderful week!
Till friday

Federico Ruiz

Friday, March 27, 2009

¿Qué te saca de la cama temprano?

Hace un tiempo atrás me hicieron esa pregunta, y para ser completamente honesto, no tenía una respuesta clara en ese momento. Pero fue una manera muy interesante de plantearme ¿Qué me emociona? y generalmente las cosas que nos impulsan son las que nos hacen feliz.

Para aquellos que no me conocen bien, soy una persona nocturna. Acostarme a la 1.30am es algo común, y por supuesto levantarme temprano no es una fortaleza personal. No porque duerma mucho sino por las acostadas tarde. Pero me estoy desviando, la historia que quiero compartir con Uds. hoy me pasó hace un par de días.

Me había acostado alrededor de las 2.30am y a las 6.30am sonó mi teléfono celular... Estaba completamente profundo, y yo nunca recibo llamadas a esa hora, pero me despierto a atender el teléfono preguntándome ¿Qué será lo que pasó?, confieso que me preocupé un poco.

Resulta que era el señor que me hace las entregas de mis herramientas y mis productos.

Cuando finalmente mi cerebro pudo procesar la información, he podido sentirme que el señor era un abusador y falta de respeto por llamar a esa hora, pero en realidad sentí alegría. Estaba por recibir las herramientas con las cuales estoy construyendo mi futuro.

Total que me visto para recoger mis cosas, y mientras lo hacía me preguntaba si ¿Me hubiese sentido de la misma manera, si hubiese sido para algo que no me gusta hacer?

¿Qué tal si nuestro jefe nos despierta con una llamada en la madrugada?
¿Cómo nos sentimos cuando TENEMOS que levantarnos e ir a un sitio donde no queremos ir? ¿Es difícil no?

Ahora imagínense ¿Cómo se sentirían si tuviesen que pararse tempranito después de un trasnocho, pero para irse de Vacaciones? Hmmm ésta no duele tanto ¿verdad?

La idea que les quiero dejar hoy, es que tenemos la oportunidad de medir si amamos lo que hacemos, sólo observando como nos sentimos cuando nos paramos de la cama. Si nos sentimos con suerte de vivir un nuevo día y orgullosos de las cosas que haremos durante el día entonces lo sabremos. Si podemos sacar fuerzas y una sonrisa se nos pone en la boca con tan sólo pensar en ello, entonces sabremos.

¿Cómo se sienten cuando se paran de la cama?

Reflexionen su respuesta y vean si hay ajustes que hacer o quizá ver como hacer para que sea mejor aún!

Que tengan un feliz fin de semana!!

Federico Ruiz

What gets you off the bed early?

Sometime ago I was asked this question, and to be perfectly honest I didn't have an answer right away. But it was a pretty good way to ask what excites you? and usually what drives us, also makes us happy.

For those of you who don't know me, I am a night person, going to bed at 1.30am is not uncommon. Obviously getting off the bed early is not necessarily a strong suit of mine, not because I sleep a lot but because I go to sleep late. Ok, but the story I wanted to share with you today is about something that happened just 2 days ago.

I had gone to bed around 2.30am, and at 6.30am, my cell phone rang... I was really asleep, and I never get calls at that time of day, so I picked up the phone imagining, What could've possible happened? I admit I was a little worried.

Turns out it was the delivery guy, the guy that brings me my Business Tools and my Products.

When I realized it was him, I could've felt like he was abussive and disrespectful, for calling me at that time, but it turns out I felt joy. I was receiving the tools I need to keep on building my future.

Now, after I received my stuff, I wonder if I would have felt the same way, were it something I didn't want to do?

What if your boss calls you and wakes you up in the middle of the night?
How do you feel, when you HAVE to wake up to go somewhere you don't want to go? It's hard isn't it?

Now consider the time when you had to wake up really early to start your vacations? It doesn't hurt as bad!

The point I am trying to make today, is that we can tell if we are doing what we really love doing, if when we get out of the bed, we feel lucky to have a new day, proud of the tasks that are coming our way during the day. We gather strength just by thinking about it and a grin shows up in our face.

How do yo feel when you get out of bed?
Reflect on your answer and then have a serious meeting with yourself, to either change it or make it even better!

Have a wonderful weekend and see you on Monday!

Federico Ruiz

Monday, March 23, 2009

Se han dado cuenta que la mayoría de las cosas de la vida empiezan con "T"?

Ante todo espero que todos hayan tenido un fin de semana espectacular, y si no fue así, pues han debido!!! No vayan a perder el próximo! (O este día por ejemplo)

En fin, durante el fin de semana me puse a revisar sobre esas cosas que más queremos y buscamos en nuestras vidas, y quedé sorprendido que todas empezaran por "T"

¿Qué cosas estaban en mi lista?

Libertad, Familia, Felicidad, Relaciones, Amigos, Amor, Fe, Dinero, Risas y muchas más, y queda claro que todas empiezan por "Tí".

Nuestra vida es como una gran pantalla de cine que refleja lo que cada uno de nosotros (El proyector) muestra.

Si pudieras conectarte a un lente proyector y ponerlo en el cine, ¿Irías a ver esa película?, ¿Sería clase A o Clase D?

Si la película que reflejamos es excelente, estoy seguro que la sala de cine estará llena de espectadores, algunos de ellos, te ayudarán en el futuro a hacer una película aún mejor, para otros servirá de fuente de inspiración. Ahora, si la sala está vacía, creo que es hora que revisemos el guión y comencemos a hacer una película mejor.

El reto del día es el siguiente:

Vamos a ver quien se gana el Oscar!!!

El reto empezó ya!!

Para todos una feliz semana y nos re-encontramos el viernes!

Federico Ruiz

Have you noticed that most things in life start with "U"?

First I hope everyone had a blast this weekend, and if you didn't you should have!! So don't miss the next one! (Or any day for that matter)

Anyway, during the weekend I did some sorting regarding the things we want and cherish most in life, and was amazed at how they all began with "U".

What were those things? well, in my list were:

Freedom, Family, Happiness, Relationships, Friends, Love, Faith, Money, Laughter and many more, and as you can clearly see they all start with YOU.

Our life is like a big screen that reflects what we (The projector) beams out.

If you had a lens projecting out what is inside you, would you go see that movie? Would it be rated G or R?

If the movie we put out is awesome I can guarantee you that the room will be filled with viewers, and some of those viewers will help you create an even better movie, for some of those your movie will be a source of inspiration. Now, if your room is empty, is perhaps time to check your own movie and maybe create a better one.

Here is today's challenge for you...

Let's see who wins the Oscars!

It´s on!!!

Have a wonderful week and see you on Friday!

Federico Ruiz

Friday, March 20, 2009

La Mejor carrera universitaria del Mundo!!!

Debido a que hoy es viernes y no vemos el momento de entrarle de frente al fin de semana, la historia de hoy no es muy filosófica (O si?), sin embargo necesita que usemos nuestra imaginación. Sólo nos va a tomar 5 minutos.

Muchos de nosotros, ya nos hemos graduado de la universidad, o quizá estudiamos una carrera técnica, y muchos otros simplemente formamos parte de ese "colegio de la vida". En fin este artículo funciona para todo el mundo.

Bueno imagínense entonces que recién nos estamos graduando del Colegio, y estamos buscando que carrera vamos a perseguir con el fin de pasar los próximos 5 años de nuestras vidas aprendiendo nuevas habilidades con el fin de "convertirnos" en ingenieros, doctores, administradores, economistas, mecánicos, en fin cualquier ocupación; y mientras estamos revisando los diferentes pénsum de las carreras, nos conseguimos con una que le ofrece algo diferente a sus estudiantes, algo que simplemente pensabas era imposible.

Los detalles son algo como esto:

Inscripción: Muy Baja desde $250 (Sólo un ejemplo!)
Mensualidad: Desde $150 al mes.

Objetivo Principal: LIBERTAD
Objetivos Específicos: Desarrollar habilidades de liderazgo y de trato de las personas, con el fin de formar parte del equipo de profesores de la universidad.

Equipo de Profesores: Ud puede escoger el profesor que Ud quiera en cualquier parte del mundo, el cual está dispuesto a enseñarle de manera gratuita, si Ud. está realmente dispuesto a escucharlo.

Exámenes: Ud diseña y evalúa sus propios exámenes. Mientras más difícil sea el examen que Ud. mismo se diseñó, llegará con mayor velocidad a la fecha de graduación. El programa de evaluación es continua y se sugiere que se haga al menos una evaluación semanal. La mayoría de los exámenes consta sobre la habilidad del estudiante para comunicarle a sus familiares y amigos sobre qué trata el programa universitario.

¿Qué obtiene mediante la participación en el programa?:
  • La universidad le reconoce a todos los estudiantes que hayan sobresalido en su habilidad de explicar el programa con bonos en efectivo.
  • Entre los programas principales está el programa de salud y bienestar personal, que consiste en llevar al estudiante a una condición de excelente salud.
  • Los estudiantes de los últimos 3 años deben compartir con los nuevos sus experiencias de manera recurrente, y la pasantía consistirá en enseñar a los nuevos estudiantes. (Preparadurías)
  • Al completar el programa, inmediatamente después de la graduación se le garantiza al estudiante la libertad que siempre soñó, desde lo financiero, de tiempo y de preocupaciones por el resto de su vida.
No se requiere ningún tipo de examen de admisión o pre-requisitos, lo único que necesita es simplemente el deseo de completar el programa.

Inscríbete hoy! / (Fin del brochure)

Si Uds. hubiesen visto una carrera como ésta en ese momento ¿les hubiese llamado la atención participar?
Inclusive si ya hoy en día estás graduado, ¿estarías dispuesto a "Volver a clases" o como postgrado?

En mi caso particular, yo soy ingeniero, y DECIDÍ convertirme en ingeniero cuando estaba aún en el colegio. Luego conseguí mi cupo en la universidad y aunque hubo momentos difíciles, YO SIEMPRE SUPE que iba a ser ingeniero, no importa cuanto tiempo me tomara, ni las dificultades, ni las horas de estudio que había que poner para lograrlo.

Estaba dispuesto a hacerlo y lo logré!

La única diferencia está, en que cuando terminé estaba realmente en el principio. Tenía nuevas herramientas, pero el camino estaba aún delante de mí.

En esta universidad, mientras vas aprendiendo, también vas caminando el camino, y cuando te gradúas, eres LIBRE.

En esa universidad estoy yo hoy, y no veo el día cuando me ponga la toga y el birrete de graduación!

Nos vemos en el acto de graduación!


Hasta el Lunes! Feliz Fin de semana!

Federico Ruiz

The Best University/College Major ever!

Since today is friday, and we can't wait to plunge into the weekend, today's story needs you use your imagination a little... It will only take you about 5 minutes.

Many of us, have either gone to college/university, some of us have decided for a technical career, and some of us, have gone to the school of life. All walks of life apply perfectly so in summary I am talking to everybody out there.

Anyway, imagine just for a minute, that when you graduated High School and you were sorting over where would you go to school next and spend the next five years of your life learning new skills, new tools and "becoming" an engineer, CPA, CFA, mechanic, Doctor, Teacher, you suddenly come across one major/career, that offers its students something different, that until that day you thought was impossible.

The details, look like this.

Sign Up Fee: Very Low (from $250) (This is just an example!)
Monthly Fee: From $150 a month.

Main Objective: FREEDOM

Objectives: To develop leadership and people skills, so current students can qualify to be part of the teaching staff.

Teaching Staff: You can choose the teacher you want anywhere in the world and they will be willing to teach you for free, if you are really willing to pay attention.

Testing: You design and answer your own tests, the harder you are willing to put yourself to the test the sooner you can accomplish graduation day. To complete the program the ideal testing cycle is at least once a week. Most test consist in how effectively you are able to tell you friends and family what your major is about.

What do you get by participating in this program:
  • The university will recognize those students who are better able to communicate the University's objectives with cash bonuses.
  • One of the main programs of the University includes getting your health and wellness to the best possible shape.
  • Sophomores and above are required to offer their experiences to freshmen students on a regular basis, and their internship will consist of teaching the new students.
  • By fully completing this program, as soon as you graduate you are guaranteed to enjoy all the freedom you ever wanted, financially, time and worry-wise.
There are no previous tests or qualifications, all you need is your desire to participate.

Sign Up Today. (End of the brochure)

If you saw a major at a university, that offered something like this would you be willing to participate?
Even if you already graduated, would you be willing to go "Back to School"?

In my particular case, I am an engineer, and I DECIDED to become and engineer while still in High School. Then I got into Engineering and even though it was not easy sometimes, I ALWAYS KNEW I was going to be an engineer, no matter how long it took me, no matter how many hours of study I had to go through.

I was willing to do it, and I did it!
The only difference is that when I finished school, that was actually the beginning. I had the tools, but road was still ahead of me.

In this university, by going through school you are already walking down the road to freedom, and when you graduate, you are free.

That's the university I am in, and I can't wait until I graduate.

See you at Prom Night!

Until Monday!

Federico Ruiz