THE WINNING MANAGER

Putting People First

If you would like to receive your own FREE subscription click on the subscription link on the Winning Manager Newsletter page.

Home

About Dr. Rinke

Keynotes

Seminars &
Workshops

Personal
Development

Management
Development

Consulting

Executive
Coaching

Client Comments

Client List

MAKE it a
WINNING Life
Products

WINNING MANAGEMENT
Products

MAKE IT A
WINNING
LIFE eNewsletter

To Contact Us

Editor: Dr. Wolf J. Rinke
Publisher: Wolf Rinke Associates, Inc.
(c) 2006 Wolf J. Rinke
Vol. 9 No. 6, December 2006/January 2007
========================================================

Feel free to forward this eNewsletter to others.
To get your own FREE subscription click above.

IN THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY ISSUE
1. THESE ARE THE WORST OF TIMES…OR ARE THEY?
2. SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT--FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
3. A HOLIDAY STORY TO NOURISH YOUR SOUL
4. HEAR WOLF "HOWL"--I MEAN SPEAK
5. HOLIDAY HUMOR BREAK
6. ABOUT THE EDITOR
7. PRIVACY STATEMENT AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

===================================================
REALITY CHECK
===================================================
If you want to get more,
You have to give more.
--Wolf J. Rinke
Source: Make It a Winning Life, Perpetual desk calendar, Dec 25
(See section 2 for my special holiday gift to you.)

===================================================
1. THESE ARE THE WORST OF TIMES…OR ARE THEY?
===================================================
E-coli, the war in Iraq, terrorists etc. can make us believe that these holidays are the most challenging we have ever faced…or are they?

Christmas 1901: Fanatical, mobile and willing to die for their cause, "terrorists" preach that all government is a hindrance to peace and equality. Using bombs, assassinations and arson they foster fear and uncertainty and attack innocent people. The media generates hysteria and people are afraid to travel, shop and in general go about their business as usual. Terrorists? No, anarchist, and just as frightful as today's terrorists. "Anarchism is a crime against the whole human race, and all mankind should band against the anarchist," said President Theodore Roosevelt upon the assassination of President William McKinley.

Christmas 1904: Many cities passed laws against spitting. Citizens were warned not to touch someone else's clothes, lick postage stamps or lick their fingers when turning pages in a book. Newark, NJ passed an ordinance outlawing rummage sales. Why? The "great modern plague"-tuberculosis, took the lives of 150,000 people per year during the early 20th century.

Christmas 1917. "We should think careful of our manner of celebrating Christmas just now, when the darkest cloud in the world's history is hanging over us." The same writer advised that because of a shortage of food, patriotic families should serve cod for the holidays. The world was in the third year of the war that was to end all wars, World War I, and celebrating the holidays seemed downright unpatriotic.

Christmas 1932. Local charities and religious groups were delivering food and toys to poverty stricken families across the country. The federal government distributed 48 pounds of flour, five pounds of butter and six pounds of pork to thousands of hunger stricken families across the country. The great depression was ravaging America.

Christmas 1940. "We are mistaken when we compare war with 'normal life.' Life has never been normal. Even those periods which we think most tranquil … turn out, on closer inspection, to be full of crisis, alarms, difficulties, emergencies," said writer C.S. Lewis upon Germany launching its Blitzkrieg against England.

Christmas 1941. "…we can spare little time from our urgent tasks for the friendly and noble sentiments that should fill our hearts at Christmas time," said a senior military officer. Instead volunteers were asked to scan the skies for enemy planes, and the telephone company requested that people refrain from making long distance calls so that the lines could be kept open for the war effort. The attack of Pearl Harbor changed America forever.

Christmas 1946: Americans were busy building bomb shelters, warning sirens blared throughout the land and air-raid drills were routine. After the Soviet Union detonated the hydrogen bomb, Americans became obsessed with a new and overwhelming fear-the threat of radiation.

Christmas 1950. The "invisible demon" causes panic throughout the land. The nation closes public pools, parks, and movie theaters. People avoid shaking each other's hand, and are reticent to handle anything that has been touched by some one else. Polio has struck and no cure seems anywhere in sight.

The challenges we are facing this holiday season are not new nor will they be the last. What we fear today--E-coli, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorism--only seem the most serious we have ever had. And one reason--probably the most important--is that the media overwhelms us with all the news that is unfit to print. So be sure to dramatically decrease your consumption of the news. Overexposure gives you an unwarranted sense of worry, fear and anxiety.

It is important to remember that we have faced threats before and we have always conquered them. No matter how dire at the time, because of the innate nature of human nature and our incredible ability to innovate, we will conquer all. It just takes time. And what does not kill us will make us stronger. Do your part by generously giving more of yourself to others and your holiday season will be fulfilling and rewarding.
Source: Wall Street Journal, 11/26/01, pp. B1 & B4)

==================================================
2. SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT--FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
===================================================Get your holiday shopping done the easy way with this one-of-a-kind gift that will save you time and money!

It's a great way to say thanks to all the people who support you all year long--team members, co-workers, friends and family. It is a universal gift that everyone will LOVE. It will keep on giving for years to come! Plus it's inexpensive! There is no other gift quite like it! What is it? It's my "Make It a Winning Life Perpetual Desk Calendar"

This unique perpetual calendar provides words of inspiration and wisdom every day of the year! PLUS easy to apply action steps to help make the message a reality! Best of all at the end of the year, turn it over and use it again, and again. Truly a unique gift that keeps on giving ... forever!

PLUS in the spirit of the holidays I will include my latest book Don't Oil the Squeaky Wheel and 19 Other Contrarian Ways to Improve Your Leadership Effectiveness, McGraw Hill Price $14.95 absolutely FREE, with orders of 4 or more calendars.

** 4 Calendars plus my latest book for ONLY $30.00 **
Regular Price $51.80+$14.95 for the book. You SAVE $36.75

You risk absolutely nothing! If for any reason the calendars are not everything you expected, send them back to me and I will give you your money back. The book is yours to keep!

Log onto www.wolfrinke.com/holiday06.html or call 800-828-9653. Mention this ad when ordering by phone! Offer expires 1/15/2007.

===================================================
3. A HOLIDAY STORY TO NOURISH YOUR SOUL
===================================================
A very rich father wanted to have his young son gain an appreciation of how wealthy they were and so he had him stay with a very poor farmer and his family for the summer.

On their trip home from the farm the father asked his son what he had learned from his visit with the poor people. The son answered:

"I learned that we have one pet and they have many.
We have a big pool and they have a pond and a stream with many waterfalls.
We have lights that illuminate our house and they have so many stars that I couldn't even count them all.
We have a manicured yard and they have beautiful green fields and meadows as far as the eye can see.
We have servants who serve us and they serve each other.
Our food comes in plastic wrappers and theirs comes fresh from the garden.
We have air conditioning that keeps us cool and they have a beautiful mountain breeze that does the same.
We have TV to entertain us and they play games with one another.
We have a security system to protect us and they have friends and neighbors that are happy to help any time there is a need."

The son concluded by saying: "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor WE are."

At this special time of the year be thankful for all you have, instead of fretting about what you don't have. Make the most of the holidays, and remember: If it does not breathe it's not important.

===================================================
4. HEAR WOLF "HOWL"--I MEAN SPEAK
===================================================
These full day seminars maybe open to you if your company is a member of the Institute of Management Studies (IMS). Contact the chairperson for specifics.

Winning Management: Building a Peak Performance Workplace
3/27/07, Toronto, Can, Mark Jesty, Toronto@ims-online.com
4/4/07, Columbus, OH, Wes Mirick, Columbus@ims-online.com
6/5/07 Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, Mike Godwin, Dallas@ims-online.com
6/7/07 Pittsburgh, PA, Maury Burgwin, mburgwin@ims-online.com

Don't Oil the Squeaky Wheel: Innovative Strategies to Improve Leadership Effectiveness.
10/11/07, Seattle, WA, Bill Woods, Seattle@ims-online.com
12/11/07 Hartford, CT, Art Muldowney, Connecticut@ims-online.com

NOTE: I have other "in-house" presentations scheduled in the U.S.A., Canada and Europe. Please let me know if you are interested to preview me or bring me into your organization at reduced expenses when I'm scheduled to be in your area. That way we can let you know when I'm coming your way!

===================================================
5. HOLIDAY HUMOR BREAK
===================================================
An elderly man in Florida calls his son in Philadelphia. The father says to his son, "I hate to tell you, but we've got some troubles at home. Your mother and I can't stand each other anymore, and we're getting a divorce.

I've had it! I want to live out the rest of my years in peace. I'm telling you now, so you and your family won't go into shock later when I move out."

He hangs up, and the son immediately talks to his wife. The son calls back, and says to his father, "Don't do ANYTHING until we get there! We'll be there Saturday night, that way we can spend the holidays with you."

The father agrees. He hangs up the phone and hollers to his wife, "Okay, honey, they're coming for Christmas. Now, what are we going to tell them for your birthday?"

===================================================
6. ABOUT THE EDITOR
===================================================
Dr. Wolf J. Rinke, CSP is a highly effective management consultant and executive coach who specializes in building peak performance organizations, teams and individuals. He is the author of 14 books including "Don't Oil the Squeaky Wheel and 19 Other Contrarian Ways to Improve Your Leadership Effectiveness" and "Winning Management: 6 Fail-Safe Strategies for Building High-Performance Organizations" available at www.WolfRinke.com. Wolf is also an internationally recognized management/leadership keynote speaker and seminar leader who delivers customized presentations that combine story telling, humor and motivation with specific "how to" action strategies that participants can apply immediately to improve their management and leadership effectiveness. You can preview a live demo at www.WolfRinke.com.
To take advantage of Dr. Rinke's services contact us at 800-828-9653 or WolfRinke@aol.com

===================================================
7. PRIVACY STATEMENT AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
===================================================
We will not make your name or e-mail address available to anyone. Period!

If this was forwarded to you and you would like to receive your own FREE subscription click at the top of the page..