Wisdom from Pope Francis

Wisdom from Pope Francis

The purpose of the 7 Daily Nuggets is to teach us what we need to know to live a prosperous life; the things that we may not have learned or are not currently learning in church, school, home or at work. Let’s apply what we learn here and share these nuggets with others. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Pope Francis is a Pope from the people for the people. His recent visit to Brazil to emphasize the value faith in our youth has been outstanding. It is believed that 4 million people from around the world gathered in Rio’s famous Copacabana beach.

Here is my English translation from a Portuguese post on my Facebook wall posted couple days ago.

10 Life Lessons from Pope Francis:

1.    Travel light through life. Don’t carry baggage.

2.    Give importance to values. Honesty, goodness, truth, …

  

3.    Cultivate personal relationships. Relate with several people, get out of the comfort zone.

4.    Be out on the streets. Blending with the people makes things clear and humanizing.

5.    Be common and extraordinary. Be part of work, leisure, church groups, with discretion.

6.    Cultivate the differences. Live with professionals from other areas, of other religions, …

  

7.    Value the family. Give priority to closeness of family members.

8.    Do not be ashamed of being humble. Renounce being known for the titles you have.

9.    Recognize your faults. Everybody sins, even the Pope sins, be more compassionate with yourself.

10. Take care of your friends. Friendship is a transforming relationship, of profound engagement requiring attention and giving. 

(Special report from Epoca magazine, issue No. 791)

The mind works like a parachute, only when it is open.

Now you know so apply what you know!

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Wisdom of Wisdom - Part 1

Words of Wisdom from the Ages

The purpose of the 7 Daily Nuggets is to teach us what we need to know to live a prosperous life; the things that we may not have learned or are not currently learning in church, school, home or at work. Let’s apply what we learn here and share these nuggets with others. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Let’s take to heart the words of wisdom from those that lived before us.

1.    Perspective.  There is no such thing as security in life, only opportunity. There is good in the world if we take the time to find it. Your treasure is buried deep inside you. Don't die and be buried with your treasure still buried in you.

2.    Personal Growth. If we want to grow and get better during our lives we must not only accept criticism but also insist on getting it. That way there is always room to improve. Let your dreams grow faster than your growth.

  

3.    Self-talk. Say something positive to yourself last thing at night and first thing in the morning. If you don’t have something positive to say, read the book PRICELESS, by yours truly.

4.    Life. Life is not fair, face reality and deal with it. Be prepared to pay full price for success; it is well worth it.

5.    Failure. We all feel the pain from failure but only the wise learn from it. Fail all the way to success. Double your rate of failure and watch what happens.

6.    Time. Spend more time planning your life than your vacations. Spend more time reading than watching TV. Spend more time listening to audio books than listening to music or talk radio. Spend more time on your life scorecard than on your sports team scorecard. Time is the most valuable non-renewable resource we have; don’t waste it.

7.    Success. The cost of true success is always more than money can buy. The cost is hidden in hard work, courage, discipline, and persistence. True success has to be earned. 

Now you know so apply what you know!

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Personalities and temperaments

Leveraging Personalities and Temperaments

The purpose of the 7 Daily Nuggets is to teach us what we need to know to live a prosperous life; the things that we may not have learned or are not currently learning in church, school, home or at work. Let’s apply what we learn here and share these nuggets with others. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Have you thought about using your personality towards living a virtuous life?

Use your temperament as a gift to serve others.

1.    Sanguines. The popular, inspiring, and flamboyant. You don’t need to be the center of attention all the time. People like you anyway; they can see and know who you are. Put your zeal to a great cause.

2.    Cholerics. The drivers and go-getters. Stop thinking the world is full of dumb people. Quit bulldozing people and start loving and serving them.

3.    Melancholies. You don’t need all the details to get going. Don’t be so cautious about the future. Things will be revealed to you as you go forward. We know you are smart.

4.    Phlegmatics. You are so supportive of others. Don’t wait for a crisis to learn how to lead. You know more than you think. You can lead by using your strength of being cool and collected during a crisis.

5.    Introverts. Use your quiet and contemplative side to make connections with others. Speak your mind. Most people are not good mind readers.

6.    Extroverts. Use your gifts of gab and smarts for creative solutions. Lead with love. Take time to listen to what is not being said. Ask great questions then listen.

7.    Task maniacs.  You are the list people. Stop adding items to the list so you can cross them off. Add more things to your list that make a difference to the lives of others. It is also ok to do things that are not on your list. You will get a high return on your investment.

Imagine if we used our strengths to get along better with one another. Imagine leveraging our strengths to build better communities.  We are not animals but we sure can learn from them in order to have:

Ø The strength of a lion.

Ø The patience of a turtle.

Ø The serenity of a butterfly.

Ø The determination of an ant.

Ø The bravery of a tiger.

Ø The courage of an eagle.

Ø The wisdom of an awl.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Either … Or …Options – Choose Wisely

Either … Or …Options – Choose Wisely

The purpose of the 7 Daily Nuggets is to teach us what we need to know to live a prosperous life; the things that we may not have learned or are not currently learning in church, school, home or at work. Let’s apply what we learn here and share these nuggets with others. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

We are the product of our many small decisions. Often in life we get to crossroads ask ourselves which way to go? Some are straight forward choices but others are more difficult to recognize and decide. Sometimes we swim with the current and sometimes we chose to swim against the current. Either way, our choices can become turning points in lives. We are the product of our own choices. 

Here are the 7 nuggets on options:

1.    Technology. Either leverage technology or technology will leverage you.

2.    Money. Master money or money will master you.

3.    Nature. Lean from nature or nature will teach you a lesson.

4.    Discipline. Disciplined yourself or God will do a better job.

5.    Life. Choose the harder life early on or life will get harder and harder.

6.    Security. Chase freedom or you could live in bondage.

7.    Education. Participate in the new economic are, the entrepreneurial age to be self-educated or wealth will ignore you.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Success is managed frustration

Success is managed frustration

The purpose of the 7 Daily Nuggets is to teach us what we need to know to live a prosperous life; the things that we may not have learned or are not currently learning in church, school, home or at work. Let’s apply what we learn here and share these nuggets with others. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

How fast do you get up after each fall?

If time and money are the most valuable resources why do we waste them?

Are you a picture of success?

Here are the 7 nuggets that help us to overcome:

1.    Excuses. If we argue with our excuses we get to keep them. Turn excuses into reasons for doing something meaningful. Turn rejection into positive energy.

2.    Leadership. The size of our leadership is equal to the size of what gets us upset. We can all lead because all of us can serve. Never give up on people hungry for a better life. Leadership is the sum of the many small acts of service performed under the name of love.

3.    Dreams. Never let obstacles stop you from chasing your dreams. Our habits hold us back. Everything we want lies just outside our comfort zone. No dreams, no life. No struggle, no victory. No vision, no hunger.

4.    Change. If we don’t change something, nothing will ever change in our lives. Change is the only constant in our lives. Embrace and lead change.

Get up quicker after each fall.

5.    Caring. Caring is more important than knowing so care more than you know. Care more about your followers’ future than your own comfort.

6.    Success. Success is built in the cracks of time between the chunks of work we do to pay for our bills. Wealth is always built after hours while others are being entertained. Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.

7.    Priorities. We always find the time and money for the things that are important in our lives. You are the most important investment in your life. If you are not investing at least 3% of your income in you, you are falling behind.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

7 Things to Accomplish in Life

7 Things to Accomplish in Life

The purpose of the 7 Daily Nuggets is to teach us what we need to know to live a prosperous life; the things that we may not have learned or are not currently learning in church, school, home or at work. Let’s apply what we learn here and share these nuggets with others. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Time is our most precious resource. We are all here for a short time. Let’s make a life instead of just making a living. We all aspire to accomplish great things like owning our own home; doing the work we love, helping those in need in your community, change the world, etc.

Our blessings should be used for a purpose not just our pleasures. We are all here to live, to love, and to leave a legacy. What is your legacy going to be? What are you going to be remembered by?

Make your own bucket list and keep on expanding it until your last day. Start filling the bucket with large stones first, then the small stones, then the pebbles, then the sand, and finally the water.  Live by your priorities not your obligations.

Here are 7 large stones to get you thinking about filling your own bucket (*):

1.      Plant a forest. Leave places where you have been better than you found them. Provide shade for someone yet to be born.

2.      Raise a child. Know the meaning of life. Give and receive love.

  

3.      Write a book. Written account for posterity. Contribute to society.

4.      Grow a garden.  Grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers and give to others. Learn and teach the law of the farm. Apply successful principles. Learn and teach life skills to younger generations. Know the value of farm work.

  

5.      Have own library. Have 1,000 books. Become self-educated. Leave hand written notes on the edges of book pages. Become what you read.

6.      Travel inside four continents. Appreciate beauty and learn how others live. Exchange stories. Learn their language and eat their food.

7.      Bring someone to faith. Leave the ripple effect in motion. Save a soul.

*I have been blessed by having accomplished all of the above.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Who is competing for your ears?

The purpose of the 7 Daily Nuggets is to teach us what we need to know to live a prosperous life; the things that we may not have learned or are not currently learning in church, school, home or at work. Let’s apply what we learn here and share these nuggets with others. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Who is influencing you and who are you influencing?

What are your sources of information?

What is your leadership effectiveness?

What is limiting your leadership ability?

Here are today's nuggets for us to think about:

1.      We are who we attract. What are you projecting into others? We are all free to choose to forgive and to love.

2.      Be a team player. Would others want to play in your team? Is your record attractive to them? Serve others first if you want to be served.

  

3.      Our results become effective when we do. What are you feeding your subconscious mind? Feed the elephant good food.

4.      Be clear about your wants. All we ever want lies just outside our comfort zone. You will never hit a target you don’t have.

5.      Know the basis of your leadership. Are your weaknesses holding you back? Are you moving towards leadership and entrepreneurship or management and optimizing? Never share your fears with those you are influencing.

6.      Know where you are learning from. Are you learning from a broad and deep source of associates? Show your courage to those you trust.

  

7.      Earn your rewards. Do you have the skills set to merit the rewards you want? The rewards in life will find the leader in you.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Change is the only constant in life

The purpose of the 7 Daily Nuggets is to teach us what we need to know to live a prosperous life; the things that we may not have learned or are not currently learning in church, school, home or at work. Let’s apply these FUN-damentals nuggets and share these nuggets with others. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Are you changing with change?  

Change is difficult; that’s why most people don’t want to change.

What are the steps to survive and to prosper with change?

1.      Decide to change and act on it.  No one can change us but ourselves. Imagine the prize of a better you. Peace is the prize. Be a learner through self-discovery.

2.      Fill your mind with beauty and fun. Find love in your life. Learn to be lovable. Fill your mind with the beauty all around you. The time to smell the roses.

  

3.      Master your financial life. Yes, money is important. Money follows excellence. Imagine a life without money worries.

4.      Be peaceful. Be a peaceful warrior. Be a freedom fighter. It takes changing and growing to be a peaceful fighter. It takes a whole new level of thinking to leave with peace and war.

5.      Master change. Be a master of embracing and leading change. Have the mental toughness to lead change and lead those that resist change.

6.      Create a culture. Set the state and lead a culture of change makers and trend setters. Be the change you want others to be. Be a friend to have friends. Love the unlovable. Find greatness in others and give them grace; be on their side as they learn and grow.

  

7.      Be a rascal. We can only make a difference by being different. Lead others to the truth. In our uniqueness we find our greatness.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)