Louie Schwarzberg - Gratitude

Law of the Harvest - 8th Habit

Max and Max - 8th Habit

Legacy - 8th Habit

Kyambadde Stone - 8th Habit

8th Habit - Discovery of a Character

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1115046555232704062

4 Simple Assumptions for your Life - Stephen R. Covey

4 Simple Assumptions - Stephen R. Covey

1. For the body - assume you've had a heart attack; now live accordingly.
2. For the mind - assume the half-life of your profession is two years; now prepare accordingly.
3. For the heart - assume everything you say about another, they can overhear; now speak accordingly.
4. For the spirit - assume you have a one-on-one with your Creator every quarter; now live accordingly.



http://www.amazon.ca/8th-Habit-Effectiveness-Greatness/dp/0743287932/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345657717&sr=8-1

Visual Aid for Dei Verbum - Chapter 1 - "Revelation Itself" - P.2

2. Dei Verbum - Chapter 1 - Revelation Itself

Link to text:

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html

Visual Aid to "Dei Verbum" - Preface - P.1

This visual makes explicit the intention of Dei Verbum: to lead the world to love the Word of God. It also shows the various sources of the teachings therein. Also explicit is that the entire teaching flows from Sacred Scripture, most particularly guided by 1 John 1:2-3.

Link to text:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html

13 Behaviours of a High-Trust Leader - Stephen M. R. Covey

THE 13 BEHAVIORS OF A HIGH TRUST LEADER - Stephen M. R. Covey

1.  Talk Straight

Be honest.  Tell the truth.  Let people know where you stand.  Use simple language.  Call things what they are.  Demonstrate integrity.  Don’t manipulate
people nor distort facts.  Don’t spin the truth.  Don’t leave false impressions.


2. Demonstrate Concern

Genuinely care for others.  Show you care.  Respect the dignity of every person and every role.  Treat everyone with respect, especially those who can’t
do anything for you.  Show kindness in the little things.  Don’t fake caring.
Don’t attempt to be “efficient” with people.


3.  Create Transparency

Tell the truth in a way people can verify.  Get real and genuine.  Be open and
authentic.  Err on the side of disclosure.  Operate on the premise of, “What you
see is what you get.”  Don’t have hidden agendas.  Don’t hide information.


4.  Right Wrongs

Make things right when you’re wrong.  Apologize quickly.  Make restitution
where possible.  Practice “service recoveries.”  Demonstrate personal humility.  Don’t cover things up.  Don’t let personal pride get in the way of doing
the right thing.


5.  Show Loyalty

Give credit to others.  Speak about people as if they were present.  Represent
others who aren’t there to speak for themselves.  Don’t badmouth others behind their backs.  Don’t disclose others’ private information.


6.  Deliver Results

Establish a track record of results.  Get the right things done.  Make things
happen.  Accomplish what you’re hired to do.  Be on time and within budget.
Don’t overpromise and underdeliver.  Don’t make excuses for not delivering.


7.  Get Better

Continuously improve.  Increase your capabilities.  Be a constant learner.
Develop feedback systems - both formal and informal.  Act upon the feedback
you receive.  Thank people for feedback.  Don’t consider yourself above feedback.  Don’t assume your knowledge and skills will be sufficient for tomorrow’s challenges.


8.  Confront Reality

Take issues head on, even the “undiscussables.”  Address the tough stuff
directly.  Acknowledge the unsaid.  Lead out courageously in conversation.  
Don’t skirt the real issues.  Don’t bury your head in the sand.  Confront the
reality, not the person.


9.  Clarify Expectations
Disclose and reveal expectations.  Discuss them.  Validate them.  Renegotiate
them if needed and possible.  Don’t violate expectations.  Don’t assume that
expectations are clear or shared.

10.  Practice Accountability

Hold yourself accountable.  Hold others accountable.  Take responsibility
for results.  Be clear on how you’ll communicate how you’re doing - and how
others are doing.  Don’t avoid or shirk responsibility.  Don’t blame others or
point fingers when things go wrong.


11.  Listen First
Listen before you speak.  Understand.  Diagnose.  Listen with your ears...
and your eyes and heart.  Find out what the most important behaviors are
to the people you’re working with.  Don’t assume you know what matters
most to others.  Don’t presume you have all the answers - or all the questions.

12. Keep Commitments

Say what you’re going to do.  Then do what you say you’re going to do.
Make commitments carefully and keep them at all costs.  Keep commitments
the symbol of your honor.  Don’t break confidences.  Don’t attempt to “PR”
your way out of a commitment you’ve broken.


13.  Extend Trust 

Demonstrate a propensity to trust.  Extend trust abundantly to those who
have earned your trust.  Extend trust conditionally to those who are earning
your trust.  Learn how to appropriately extend trust to others based on the
situation, risk, and credibility of the people involved.  Don’t withhold trust
because there is risk involved.


http://www.amazon.ca/SPEED-Trust-Thing-Changes-Everything/dp/1416549005/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345618380&sr=1-1

pdf of the 13 behaviours
http://www.coveylink.com/documents/13-Behaviors-Handout-CoveyLink.pdf

Smart Trust - Stephen M. R. Covey, Greg Link

Smart Trust - Stephen M. R. Covey, Greg Link
Creating Prosperity, Energy, and Joy in a Low-Trust World

The Great Paradox

-There is a crisis of trust in the world

-Trust changes prosperity
-Trust affects speed and cost of business:
-Trust ↓  =  Speed ↓  +  Cost ↑
-Trust ↑  =  Speed ↑  +  Cost ↓

-Trust changes energy
-Trust increases the engagement and innovation of an organization

-Trust changes joy
-Trust quantitatively changes prosperity; trust qualitatively changes energy and joy

↓ Trust  =  ↓ Prosperity  +  ↓ Energy  +  ↓ Joy
↑ Trust  =  ↑ Prosperity  +  ↑ Energy  +  ↑ Joy

-Trust is a principle of power
-We need a renaissance of trust in the midst of this crisis.

Blind Trust or Distrust

-It all depends on how you were conditioned to see things.
-Do you blindly trust others? You can get burned!
-Do you distrust others? You are missing out on the great benefits of trusting!
-We are often familiar with trusting another and then getting burned. As a result of this, we often turn to distrust to avoid the pain.
-We often forget the great benefits of trusting another (in family, business, marriage, etc...)

The Third Alternative: "Smart Trust"

Smart trust analysis involves analyzing 3 important variables
1. Opportunity - What you are trusting someone else with
2. Risk - The level of risk involved
3. Credibility - The character and competence of the people involved


GIVEN: YOU ARE ALREADY CREDIBLE AND WORTHY OF TRUST!

Propensity to Trust increases as you move upward
Analysis increases as you move to the right

<><><><><><><><><><>

5 Actions to Smart Trust

1. Choose to believe in trust

-Create the foundational paradigm out of which all other trust-building behaviours flow.
     a. Believe that people are worthy of trust
     b. Believe that most people can be trusted
     c. Believe that extending trust is a better way to lead

Trust as Management philosophy:
"Youth + freedom + transparency + new model + the general public's benefit + belief in trust = the Miracle of Google" (Dr. Kai-Fu Lee)

You must decide to believe in trust!

2. Start with Self

-Focus first on developing the character and competence -- the credibility -- that enable them to trust themselves and to also give others a person -- or a team, organization, or country -- they can trust.

-Credibility is a function of character and competence: it is easier for people to trust you if you are a person of character and you are competent in your area .

-Do I trust myself?
-Do I give others a person they can trust?
-Give employees a leader they can trust
-Give players and fans a coach they could trust
-Give patients a doctor they can trust
-Give a community a leader it can trust
-Give society a business.thought leader they can trust
-Give the world a non-profit leader it can trust
-Give children a parent they can trust
-Start with self to create trust
-You can't talk yourself out of a problem you behaved yourself into. The only way out is to behave your way out.

3. Declare your intent... and assume positive intent in others

-Signal goals and intended actions -- both what and why -- clearly in advance and generally assume that others also have good intent and want to be worthy of trust.

-Declaring intent has two sides: What and Why. Declare your intent and tell why you declare it.
-Declaring intent accelerates the building of trust and trust multiplies performance
-The motive that best builds trust is caring; the motive that destroys trust is self-interest
-The agenda that best builds trust is mutual benefit; the agenda that destroys trust is "win at all costs"
-Declare intent through purpose, mission, vision, and values.
-Make the creation of trust an explicit objective

4. Do what you say you are going to do

-Follow through and act to carry out your declared intent; walk your talk!

Say/Do Combinations:
1. Low Say/Low Do = Underpromise & Underdeliver
2. High Say/Low Do = Overpromise & Underdeliver
3. Low Say/High Do = Underpromise & Overdeliver
4. High Say/High Do = Promise & Deliver/Overdeliver

-"SayDoCo" = "Say what you'll do; Do what you say; Communicate if you find you can't" (Alan Fine)
-"make/keep/repeat"
-We judge ourselves by our intent; others judge us by our actions

5. Lead out in extending trust to others

-Be the first to extend trust and initiate the upward virtuous cycle that leads to prosperity, energy, and joy.

Extending Smart Trust is smart because:
     a. Extending Smart Trust produces results
     b. Extending Smart Trust increases trust
     c. Extending Smart Trust generates reciprocity
-Extend Smart Trust to others (use the Smart Trust Matrix)
-Create a Smart Trust Culture

You can implement all the 5 actions to Smart Trust in your daily life with others. Start now and create a renaissance of trust in society, at home, at work.


http://www.amazon.ca/Smart-Trust-Creating-Prosperity-Low-Trust/dp/1451651457/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345609249&sr=8-1

Smart Trust - Stephen M. R. Covey, Greg Link

Smart Trust - Stephen M. R. Covey, Greg Link
Creating prosperity, energy, and joy in a low-trust world

5 Actions to Smart Trust

1. Choose to believe in trust
2. Start with self
3. Declare your intent... and assume positive intent in others
4. Do what you say you are going to do
5. Lead out in extending trust to others


http://www.amazon.ca/Smart-Trust-Creating-Prosperity-Low-Trust/dp/1451651457/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345609249&sr=8-1

How to Profit from One's Faults - PART 2 - Joseph Tissot

How to Profit from One's Faults - PART 2 - Joseph Tissot

2. Our faults do not upset us
a. Effects of sorrow


"Sorrow that is according to God produces penance that surely leads to salvation, whereas the sorrow that is according to the world produces death."
---(2 Cor 7:10)

"True enough, it [sorrow] produces more bad effects than good; for it only has two good effects, namely compassion and repentance. But it has six evil effects, namely, anxiety, sloth, wrath, jealousy, envy and impatience."
---Joseph Tissot

b. The slow pace of progress

"Why do birds and animals remain entrapped in their nets? Because when they have entered tham, they get nervous, they flounder about in an unorganized way. And this makes them increasingly entangled... If we fall into the net of our imperfections, we will not escape from them if we get flustered. We will, on the contrary, entangle ourselves even more."
---St. Francis de Sales, Spiritual Works

"The slow pace of our perfection has to be borne with patience, provided that on our part we always do whatever we can to continue advancing."
---St. Francis de Sales, Talk 10, On obedience

"It is a good thing to repent with a repentance both strong and calm, both constant and serene; but not one which upsets us, causes disquiet or discourages us."
---St. Francis de Sales, Treatise on the love of God, 10, 7

c. Being patient, not anxious

"Do not be over-concerned by the outbursts of your self-love, which, doubtless, are frequent. They will never become dangerous if, without getting annoyed with yourself because they are a nuisance, without becoming perplexed because they are so many, you serenely say, "No!" Move on, with simplicity. Do not be so anxious for peace of spirit -- then you will acquire it."
---St. Francis de Sales, Letter to a Mother Superior of the Visitation, 756

"Be patient with the whole world, but, above all, with yourself. I want to tell you not to lose your serenity because of your imperfections, and always have the zest to raise yourself up. It gives me joy to see that each day you begin again. There is no better way to finish life well than to return to the starting point always, and not ever to think that we have done enough."
---St. Francis de Sales, Letter to a lady, 185

d. True and false humility - their fruits

"With true humility, when the soul recognizes evil it becomes sad with a sorrow which is not accompanied by disquiet and agitation. It produces neither darkness nor dryness in spirit, but rather the opposite -- consolation. The soul is afflicted because it had offended God; but on the other hand, it dilates in the hope of his mercy. It has the light to feel ashamed, and to praise God who has suffered so much. Furthermore, in false humility which is given by the devil, there is no light for any good thing. It seems as though God has put fire and sword to everything. This is one of the most pernicious, subtle and cunning inventions of the devil which I have known."
---St. Teresa of Avila, Vie escrite par elle-meme, 30

"To be humiliated by one's own miseries [...] is a good thing and a few people understand it. To become agitated and to lose patience is something which the whole world does, because self-love plays a major part in this kind of disquiet."
---J.J. Allemand

"There are two classes of pride:
1. The one that is satisfied with itself - This is the one which is more usual and less dangerous.
2. The other is the one which is discontented with itself, because it expects a lot of itself and feels cheated in its hope. This second kind of pride is more subtle and more dangerous."
---Frederick Ozanam

e. Gentle treatment for the heart

"Do not torment your heart although it has, in some way, deviated. Take hold of it and return it gently to the straight and narrow."
---St. Francis de Sales, Letter to a nun, 261

"If you have some frustration, do not react; but without losing sight of it, humiliate yourself serenely before God and try to recover the serenity of your spirit. Tell your soul: "Forward! We have taken a wrong step. Let us go ahead slowly and carefully." And every time you fall, do the same."
---St. Francis de Sales, Letter to a lady, 151

"However, if anyone finds that his heart is not sufficiently moved by this mild manner of correction, he may use a sharp, severe reproach and rebuke so as to excite it to a deeper sorrow. This must be on condition that after he has curbed and chided his heart in this rough way, he encloses all his grief and anger with sweet, consoling confidence in God..." (cf Ps 42:5,6)
---St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, 3,9

f. Venial and mortal sin

"It is not necessary to add that in all this advice, so full of love, there should be no word which allows the soul to fall asleep in sin."
---Joseph Tissot

"One day when I was fortunate enough to speak to him on spiritual matters, I told him that venial sins, even if they were small, caused a certain disquiet and perturbation in the heart. I had hardly finished speaking when he replied: "Forgive me, but although we should detest venial sins they ought not to perturb us. For disquiet caused by self-love which is irritated by the work it has to do to practice the virtues and because each day we have to begin again. On the other hand, dissatisfaction is an effect of grace which inspires an aversion to everything which displeases our Creator.""
---Fr. La Riviere, Life of Blessed Francis de Sales, 3, 9

Our faults do not upset us


http://www.amazon.com/Profit-Your-Faults-Joseph-Tissot/dp/1594170134/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345269249&sr=8-1&keywords=profit+faults+tissot

The 4 Principles of the Knights of Columbus (COMPLETE VERSION)

The 4 Principles of the Knights of Columbus

Our Principles

All the good works we do are informed by our four core principles:

Charity - Our Catholic faith teaches us to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Members of the Knights of Columbus show love for their neighbors by conducting food drives and donating the food to local soup kitchens and food pantries, by volunteering at Special Olympics, and by supporting, both spiritually and materially, mothers who choose life for their babies. Knights recognize that our mission, and our faith in God, compels us to action. There is no better way to experience love and compassion than by helping those in need, a call we answer every day.

Unity – None of us is as good as all of us. Members of the Knights of Columbus all know that – together – we can accomplish far more than any of us could individually. So we stick together…we support one another. That doesn’t mean that we always agree or that there is never a difference of opinion. It does mean that – as a Knight of Columbus – you can count on the support and encouragement of your brother Knights as you work to make life better in your parish and community.

Fraternity – The Venerable Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, in large part, to provide assistance to the widows and children left behind when the family breadwinner died – often prematurely. The Order’s top-rated insurance program continues to do this today, as do individual Knights, who last year gave more than 10 million hours of their time to assist sick and/or disabled members and their families. In the Knights of Columbus, we watch out for and take care of one another.

Patriotism – Members of the Knights of Columbus, be they Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Cubans, Filipinos, Poles, or Dominicans, are patriotic citizens. We are proud of our devotion to God and country, and believe in standing up for both. Whether it’s in public or private, the Knights remind the world that Catholics support their nations and are amongst the greatest citizens.

http://www.kofc.org/en/index.html

How to Profit from One's Faults - PART 1 - Joseph Tissot

How to Profit from One's Faults - Joseph Tissot

1. Our failings do not surprise us
    a. imperfections and defects are always with us
       
"You live, according to what you tell me, with a thousand imperfections. It is true, my sister; but do you not try incessantly to make them die? What is certain is that as long as we live weighed down and oppressed by such a corruptible body as we have, there will always be something in us that falters.... Isn't it generally true that no saint could become so holy had he not always been subject to imperfections?"
---St. Francis de Sales, Sermon on the First Sunday of Lent
 
   b. Self-love remains with us

"Self-love can be changed in ourselves, but it never dies... Just as the motionless fox appears to be asleep and then suddenly leaps upon its prey, we too must be vigilant and be prepared to defend ourselves against the attacks of self-love with care and patience. And if it does happen sometimes to wound us, the injury will heal if we retract what it made us say, or undo what it made us do."
---St. Francis de Sales, Letter 333, Blaise collection

Only in heaven will the cure be permanent. "Therefore, we must be patient on earth. "We ought, therefore, to resign ourselves to living, in the words of a celebrated ascetic, as "incurable spirits" in this world."
---Joseph Tissot

   c. Knowledge of self is vital

We need practical knowledge of our weaknesses.
"One has, then, to be patient, and not try to banish in one short day the many evil habits we have acquired in our life as a result of the lack of care we have taken of our spiritual health."
---St. Francis de Sales, Letter 795

"Although through our weakness we shall experience many falls, we ought not to be troubled in any way."
---St. Francis de Sales, Letter to a Lady

   d. Frontline soldiers also get wounded

"Is it such a great marvel to discover that we slip up sometimes?"
---St. Francis de Sales, Talk 3, On firmness

"You may ask me what you ought to do in order to strengthen your bond with God in such a way that nothing can loosen it or sever you from Him? Two things are needed for this: to die, and to be saved. After that there will be no more separation, and your spirit will be indissolubly bound and united to God."
---St. Francis de Sales, Talk 9, On modesty

"When a soldier in battle is wounded and gives ground a little, no one is so unreasonable or so ill-versed in military matters as to believe that such behaviour is criminal. Only those are invulnerable who are far behind the lines and do not fight. Those who launch themselves forward bravely in assault against the enemy are the ones taking a hammering."
---St. John Chrysostom, Ad Theod. laps., Lib 1, n. 1

   e. Mortal sins should not surprise us

"Here below, there is no call for surprise [at even mortal sin], just as when there is none when we see wine escape from a cask that has been broached."
---Joseph Tissot

   f. Understanding

"If we knew well what we were, instead of being surprised at seeing ourselves fallen, we would be surprised how we could even stand."
---St. Francis de Sales, Letter 53

"When your heart sinks, raise it gently, humbling yourself quietly in God's presence with the knowledge of your misery, without surprise at your fall, for it is no cause for marvelling that sickness may make us ill, that weakness tends to diminish our strength, and that misery will cause us to be wretched. But hate with all your heart the offence you have committed against God, and, filled with courage and confidence in his mercy, get back on board to resume the voyage to Virtue which you had abandoned."
---St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life

Our failings do not surprise us


http://www.amazon.com/Profit-Your-Faults-Joseph-Tissot/dp/1594170134/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345269249&sr=8-1&keywords=profit+faults+tissot

Formulas of Catholic Doctrine

Formulas of Catholic Doctrine

4 Principles of the Knights of Columbus

4 Principles of the Knights of Columbus

All the good works we do are informed by our four core principles:

1. Charity
2. Unity
3. Fraternity
4. Patriotism

http://www.kofc.org/en/about/principles/index.html

http://www.kofc.org/en/

Mother Teresa on Cheerfulness

Mother teaches that:


Joy is prayer, joy is strength,
joy is love,
a net by which to catch souls.

God loves a cheerful giver;
he gives most who gives with joy.

The best way to show your gratitude
to God and to people is to
accept everything with joy.

A sister filled with joy is like
the sunshine of God's love,
the hope of eternal happiness,
the flame of burning love.

Never let anything so fill you with
sorrow as to make you forget
the joy of the risen Christ.