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Articles from James Mapes | Selfgrowth.com
- THE HOLLYWOOD HOLOGRAPHIC TEAM By James Mapes - by Submitted on Dec 13, 2016 from James MapesDo you think creating successful business teams is more or less important in today’s world than in the past? The reality is that it’s a collaborative world that depends on teams of people working together across time zones and continents. However, do managers and leaders really consider how ...
Views: 3061 - SPEAK UP! - by Submitted on Sep 06, 2012 from James Mapes“Public speaking is one of the best things I hate.” -Baseball great Yogi Berra You’re hyperventilating. You’re dripping perspiration. You’re legs are wobbly and you have the distinct desire to flee. What’s going on here? Are you being pursued by a pack of rabid dogs? No. You are ...
Views: 2488 - BECOME AN IMAGINATION EXPERT - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2013 from James Mapes“What you do is create a vision of what you want to be and then live into that picture as if it were already true.” -Arnold Schwarzenegger The word “imagination” has always resonated deep within my soul. In my imagination, I can go anywhere, be anyone and accomplish anything. As a child, I ...
Views: 2446(2 votes) - Seven Lessons Learned from TEDx on Giving Breakthrough Presentations by James Mapes - by Submitted on May 10, 2017 from James MapesCreating and presenting my TEDx talk was one of the greatest challenges of my career - and an ultimate learning experience. Having a solid background in acting and speaking for more than three decades gave me the belief, or so I thought, that this would be an easy task. In fact, it tested ...
Views: 2338 - SPEAK UP! - by Submitted on Sep 06, 2012 from James Mapes“Public speaking is one of the best things I hate.” -Baseball great Yogi Berra You’re hyperventilating. You’re dripping perspiration. You’re legs are wobbly and you have the distinct desire to flee. What’s going on here? Are you being pursued by a pack of rabid dogs? No. You are ...
Views: 2331 - The Paradox of Paradigms - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2012 from James Mapes“Surprise occurs the moment we realize our view of the world no longer matches reality.” -Wayne Burkan, author, WIDE ANGLE VISION Blockbuster, Eastman Kodak, and Borders - what do they all have in common? All these business giants failed, but why? Like many analysts, you could come ...
Views: 2046 - The Psychology of Fun, Play & Full Engagement - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2014 from James MapesCreativity is intelligence having fun. -Albert Einstein, physicist Do you think fun is frivolous? If so, perhaps you should think again. Pause at the end of this paragraph – just for a few seconds – to recall a very happy, joyful, engaging moment from your life. Please stop and reflect ...
Views: 1934(1 vote) - VISION FIRST - GOALS SECOND & THE POWER OF FORESIGHT - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2014 from James MapesYou are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand. - Woodrow Wilson Some time ago I ...
Views: 1908(1 vote) - Paul Newman’s “The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp” Vision Expands - by James Mapes - by Submitted on Dec 16, 2014 from James MapesPaul Newman’s “The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp” Vision Expands - by James Mapes More than two decades ago, Paul Newman had a vision of possibility with no idea how to make it a reality. As all great visions begin, he started with a “What if…” question. What if children with ...
Views: 1894 - THREE QUANTUM LEAP STRATEGIES FOR FINANCIAL SECURITY BY James Mapes - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2017 from James MapesIf you focus your attention on the lack of money, that’s what will get reinforced. Where you put your mental attention is what gets nourished. Poverty comes to the person who is emotionally and intellectually prepared for it. Prosperity is attracted to the person who is emotionally and ...
Views: 1828 - Power of Paradigms: Rethink you thinking - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2013 from James MapesThomas S. Kuhn introduced the concept of paradigms to the scientific world twenty-five years ago in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn, a scientific historian, considered paradigms a whole new way of looking at and predicting possible outcomes. He wrote that scientific paradigms are ...
Views: 1826 - FIVE STEPS TO STOP CATASTROPHIZING AND LIVE AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE by James Mapes - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2017 from James MapesDrag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it. - Mark Twain Catastrophic thinking is the imagination run amuck, worry heightened to the power of ten. It happens when we allow our emotions to dictate how and what we think. It ...
Views: 1812 - Pushing the Pause Button on Life for Productivity & Creativity - by Submitted on Feb 20, 2013 from James Mapes“Learn to pause ... or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you.” -Doug King, Poet & Educator Imagine that you have a magic remote control so that - when life got too overwhelming or you needed to replenish your energy ...
Views: 1804 - HOW TO HACK YOUR BRAIN FOR MOTIVATION: The Power of Deadline - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2016 from James MapesI have realized and accepted the harsh fact that I sometimes keep myself busy without being productive, that is - I procrastinate. Recently, guilt has begun to creep into my consciousness and guilt in any form is unacceptable to me. So, here I am writing about how to break through ...
Views: 1800 - The Versatile Value of Visualization - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2014 from James MapesUpon reading – Seeing the Glory, as Mental Preparation for the Winter Games in the February 23, 2014, New York Times, I let out an internal whoop of joy. The validation of mental rehearsal by Olympian athletes leaves no doubt that visualization and imagery contribute enormously to athletes’ ...
Views: 1781 - HACK YOUR BRAIN WITH A LIFE COACH - by Submitted on Jul 07, 2016 from James Mapes“If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness.” -Les Brown, author, speaker “Why would I hire a life coach? I’m intelligent, aware, strong-willed and can make my own decisions without someone ...
Views: 1772 - IN PRAISE OF MAGICAL THINKING - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2015 from James MapesAfter going through a list in my mind of what to write to help people thrive in the New Year, I settled on an out-of-the-box subject – Magical Thinking. Thank goodness for magical thinking. What would we do without the possibilities of miracles? For humans, hope springs eternal. We wish. We ...
Views: 1761 - HOW TO TURN HOPELESS INTO HOPEFUL by James Mapes - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2017 from James MapesThe secret is not to give up hope. It's very hard not to because if you're really doing something worthwhile I think you will be pushed to the brink of hopelessness before you come through the other side. –George Lucas Everyone experiences emotional or physical trauma. Perhaps due to ...
Views: 1736 - How to Explode Creativity: Harness the Conscious Rider and the Subconscious Elephant - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2017 from James MapesOver many years of speaking on the power of the mind and creativity I searched for the ideal metaphor to describe the conscious and subconscious. For a short period I used Plato’s imagery in Phaedrus, in which Socrates refers to our conscious, rational self as a charioteer who is holding on to ...
Views: 1704 - HOW TO REFRAME YOUR THINKING: A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE - by Submitted on Mar 23, 2018 from James MapesSow a thought, reap an act; Sow an act, reap a habit; Sow a habit, reap a character; Sow a character, reap a destiny. --Anonymous When my doctor told me, “You need heart surgery immediately,” I thought it was the end. Of course, he was trying to communicate that a successful operation would ...
Views: 1669 - HOW TO HARNESS THE POWER OF “THE PLACEBO EFFECT” IN SIX STEPS - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2017 from James MapesYou have the power to heal your life, and you need to know that. We think so often that we are helpless, but we are not. We always have the power of our minds… Claim and consciously use your power. -Louise Hay Throughout history, events and happenings that could not be logically ...
Views: 1667 - MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION AND MALARKEY - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2014 from James Mapes‘A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.’ -Groucho Marx, comedian If I guaranteed you would lower your anxiety, calm your mind, renew, recharge, think more clearly, reduce your fear response and enhance your creativity – just by investing two five-minute ...
Views: 1640 - 3 TIPS TO IGNITE YOUR CREATIVITY - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2017 from James MapesThe future belongs to those who believe in dreams. —ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, humanitarian and diplomat A tiny speck appears on the horizon. It’s hard to see. It begins to move closer and closer. It looks like a shapeless blob, but as it moves closer, it starts to take form. The form becomes ...
Views: 1629 - HOW TO MANAGE CHANGE IN 13 STEPS - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2017 from James MapesIf you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong. —CHARLES KETTERING, inventor of the electric starter for automobiles/ Founder of the S-Kettering Foundation In my previous blog (available on my site: http://www.jamesmapes.com/insights-managing-change-by-james-mapes ) I addressed ...
Views: 1627 - EIGHT STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL BRANDING by James Mapes - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2017 from James MapesWhy brand yourself? For one primary reason. Branding shines a light on you and your business. Branding reveals the essence of who you are and what you offer. Your brand separates you from the crowd. Branding is mandatory for any entrepreneur’s company to be noticed, respected, in demand and ...
Views: 1591(1 vote) - The Positive Power of Movies on the World By James Mapes - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2016 from James MapesRecently, the Critics’ Choice Awards were televised and, the Golden Globe nominations were announced. I am fascinated because I LOVE movies. They have been a staple part of my life since my earliest childhood. Films have entertained, influenced, informed, educated and ignited my ...
Views: 1587 - DUMP THE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS AND ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2017 from James MapesYou may be whatever you resolve to be. Determine to be something in the world, and you will be something. “I cannot” never accomplished anything; “I will do” has wrought wonders. -George Gissing – English novelist and teacher How many times have you broken your New Year’s ...
Views: 1572 - Tell a Story - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2011 from James MapesThose who do not have power over the story that dominates their lives, the power to retell it, rethink it, deconstruct it, joke about it, and change it as times change, truly are powerless, because they cannot think new thoughts. —Salman Rushdie Stories are the creative conversion of life ...
Views: 1568 - 11 TRAITS FOR LIVING AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2017 from James Mapes“All men should strive to learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why.” —James Thurber, “The Shore and the Sea” In my new web-enhanced book - with 21 coaching video clips - IMAGINE THAT! Igniting Your Brain for Creativity & Peak Performance, you learn how to fire up ...
Views: 1548 - IGNITE YOUR IMAAGINATION FOR EMPATETIC LISTENING - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2016 from James MapesIt is the obvious which is so difficult to see most of the time. People say 'It's as plain as the nose on your face.' But how much of the nose on your face can you see, unless someone holds a mirror up to you?” ― Isaac Asimov, I, Robot The key to successful coaching is also the secret to ...
Views: 1548 - Communicate to mute the dark side of the imagination - by Submitted on Oct 02, 2014 from James MapesThe single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. -George Bernard Shaw, playwright Communication is the glue that holds relationships together. So, the question is – Do you believe that you communicate often enough and in the right way to create and ...
Views: 1491 - Insights: Managing Change - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2017 from James MapesInsights: Managing Change Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future. —IRVING JANUS, GroupThink Clasp your hands together as demonstrated in the diagram below: Now take your hands apart and clasp them back ...
Views: 1488(1 vote) - Harness the “Wild Child” of your Imagination - by Submitted on May 21, 2015 from James MapesWhat is the imagination? It’s elusive. Mark Twain said, “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” And, Albert Einstein wrote, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” The imagination is like a rambunctious, slightly crazy, ...
Views: 1469 - How to Adjust Your Attitude - by Submitted on Aug 03, 2018 from James Mapes“A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.” -Patricia Neal, American actress How does your attitude meter read? Do you generally have a good attitude towards life, expecting the best and tossing aside the garbage that inevitably comes ...
Views: 1468 - 9 STRATEGIES GUARANTEED TO REDUCE HOLIDAY ANXIETY AND KEEP YOU SANE - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2017 from James MapesIt never fails that when the holiday season rolls around, stress and anxiety rear their ugly head. Apply these 9 strategies and keep your sanity: 1. Let go of guilt and… Don’t "Should” On Yourself Guilt, guilt, guilt is…the most devious of fears because underneath it all, we are afraid ...
Views: 1466 - The Subconscious Rules! - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2015 from James MapesWithout question, your subconscious rules your conscious choices and has its own set of rules. Rule #1: The subconscious does not think in the traditional sense but reacts out of the brains primitive fight or flight programming. Rule #2: The subconscious moves us towards what gives ...
Views: 1463 - Harness the “Wild Child” of your Imagination - by Submitted on May 21, 2015 from James MapesWhat is the imagination? It’s elusive. Mark Twain said, “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” And, Albert Einstein wrote, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” The imagination is like a rambunctious, slightly crazy, ...
Views: 1458 - Communicate to mute the dark side of the imagination - by Submitted on Oct 02, 2014 from James MapesThe single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. -George Bernard Shaw, playwright Communication is the glue that holds relationships together. So, the question is – Do you believe that you communicate often enough and in the right way to create and ...
Views: 1450 - In Praise of Entrepreneurs, Persistence and a Gourmet Food Truck - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from James Mapes“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and ...
Views: 1448(1 vote) - The Subconscious Rules! - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2015 from James MapesWithout question, your subconscious rules your conscious choices and has its own set of rules. Rule #1: The subconscious does not think in the traditional sense but reacts out of the brains primitive fight or flight programming. Rule #2: The subconscious moves us towards what gives ...
Views: 1425 - 7 SUREFIRE STRATEGIES TO REDUCE HOLIDAY ANXIETY AND KEEP YOUR SANITY By James Mapes - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2016 from James MapesLet's strip away the rose-colored glasses, let go of guilt and do a reality check. For many people the holiday season can feel like anything but a celebration. If one isn’t careful, the Christmas season can turn people into frenetic, anxious, and crazy - holiday survivalists. Below are 7 ...
Views: 1418 - HOW TO EXPLODE YOUR CREATIVITY: THE CYCLE OF DISCOVERY - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2017 from James MapesAs long as you’re green, you’re growing; as soon as you’re ripe, you start to rot. —RAY KROC, founder of McDonald’s Learning is a never-ending cyclical process of discovery. We uncover possibilities within ourselves, transform them into reality, and discover new possibilities again. ...
Views: 1406 - NINE KEYS TO ACHIEVE BREAKTHROUGH COMMUNICATION (PART 1)) - by Submitted on Jan 29, 2019 from James MapesAs a gift for the holidays and for the New Year, I want to give you something I consider far more important than achieving resolutions. When you master successful communication, you have the principal tool for building exceptional relationships. The dictionary defines communication as “a ...
Views: 1404 - The Subconscious Rules! - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2015 from James MapesWithout question, your subconscious rules your conscious choices and has its own set of rules. Rule #1: The subconscious does not think in the traditional sense but reacts out of the brains primitive fight or flight programming. Rule #2: The subconscious moves us towards what gives ...
Views: 1361 - TAKING A QUANTUM LEAP OF FAITH: FIRE WALKING - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2017 from James MapesGet action. Do things; be sane, don’t fritter away your time . . . take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action. —THEODORE ROOSEVELT, twenty-sixth president of the United States In 1973, on an eighty-nine-day cruise around the world, I met a very special person. He was Bruce ...
Views: 1360 - How to create high-performance, super-charged teams - by Submitted on Dec 17, 2016 from James MapesMy previous blog explored the value of creating a team model based on the makeup of a hologram. A short recap: What happens when a hologram is cut or divided or cut into a number of pieces? Amazingly, each piece contains the information of the whole from a slightly different perspective. ...
Views: 1349 - The Selfish Act of Kindness by James Mapes - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2017 from James Mapes“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt Are you a kind person? Do you like to be treated with kindness? Why should you be kind? What if I told you that ...
Views: 1345 - How to create your own “Power Master Mind Group” - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2017 from James MapesA must-read book: Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. Someone gave it to me as a joke, but it was a catalyst that changed my life. Being rich took on a whole new meaning for me. It went far beyond the accumulation of money and material possessions. Hill spoke of being rich in experience, ...
Views: 1330 - HOW TO ”LET GO” …OF THE ROPE (Part 1) - by Submitted on Aug 03, 2018 from James Mapes“In the beginning, it is difficult letting go. But as you get into the swing of it, you will feel lighter and fresher and better able to see what you really need. That is what I imagine spring cleaning is truly about.” —SUSAN JEFFERS, END THE STRUGGLE AND DANCE WITH LIFE FYI: (The ...
Views: 1329 - STEPS TO FIRE UP YOUR IMAGINATION, TAKE RISKS AND GROW By James Mapes - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2016 from James MapesRisk taking is a subjective experience. One person’s risk may be another’s hobby. Sometimes risk is forced on you. Your mate of 20 years suddenly demands a divorce, or your job is terminated after thirty years. Imposed risks are often perceived as negative. Sometimes taking a risk involves ...
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