Influence (positive) is a valuable currency at home, at work, at the bank etc. Manipulation is a form of influence. "Do this, or I will not be your customer any more". However, it does not result in long term influence. Being nice is another form of manipulation (perhaps you don't agree, and that's ok) Surely connecting with people by being genuinely interested in them is the best pathway to influence How do you increase your influence?

So, it could be the long line at the grocery store, the handyman who doesn't show up on time/or atall, the promise a friend didn't, or the irresponsibility of a family member. I know I used to (and still sometimes fall in the same trap) get annoyed over these types of situations. Now, I know I can't control everything that happens around me, but of course, how I respond is very important. How do you respond in these situations?

What about your current season—busy, slow, rebuilding, growing—are you thankful for right now?

Think about your day. There are probably a lot of to do's and obligations. Pick one, and tell us about how it could be just a "great" opportunity to accomplish something that perhaps you hadn't thought about earlier?

Should we get rid of this word from the dictionary? Bad habits are not easy to break. Good habits are tough to form Is it all about starting small, and making slow progress? What do you do?