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A Simple Guide to Creating a More
Extraordinary Life
by Donald Cooper, CSP
It’s so easy to get into a rut in our lives and to take our
loved ones for granted. The solution is to constantly be doing
extraordinary things—things that fit into your price range.
If you’re wealthy, “extraordinary” may be to buy a new BMW 7
Series sedan. If you’re not so rich, it may be buying an OXO-brand
vegetable peeler. Both products are beautifully designed and a joy to
use.
The point is to search out extraordinary products, people and
experiences for your life. Here are some tips to help you create a more
extraordinary life for yourself and your family.
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First, if you don’t love what you do in business, change how
you do it, or develop a plan to get out completely. There’s
almost no chance that you can have an extraordinary life if
you hate what you do, who you do it for and/or who you do it
with.
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Lose all friends who are
energy-sucking, negative or dumb, and spend more time with
positive, intelligent people of good will.
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Give back: volunteer, practice random acts of kindness, help
build a school in Guatemala or just open a door for someone.
It all helps.
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Listen to more good music and less bad news.
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Try a different wine, cheese or ice cream every week or
every month.
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Buy the biggest, best bath towels and bed linens you can
afford, and every morning you’ll feel like you just spent
the night at a Four Seasons Hotel & Resort.
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Buy and use any kitchen gadget by OXO (www.oxo.com).
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Go to a Cirque du Soleil show (www.cirquedusoleil.com), or
The Lion King play (www.disney.go.com/theatre/thelionking)
or any live theater production at least once a quarter.
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Use the alphabet to guide
in you in creating new experiences.
a) For example, every week, try a different restaurant, starting with the
letter A, then B, then C, etc. Work your way through the
alphabet. Some
will be great, some not so great, but it’s all an experience.
b) Every month, do something starting with a letter of the alphabet; for
example, starting with “picking Apples” and ending with
“going to the
Zoo”.
c) Once a month, or once or twice a year, depending on
your budget, visit
a different town, state/province or country—again
starting with A and
going sequentially through the alphabet. Get the book
1,000 Things To
Do Before You Die (www.1000things.com), and use it as a
reference
for the most special things to see and do wherever you go.
The point is to build a simple system into your life that
encourages new experiences, joy, discovery and growth.
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Schedule time for yourself and your family—just as you would
for an important client.
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Create family traditions. They’re the glue that holds
families together.
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Hug more.
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There
you have it. Some simple, doable things to create a more extraordinary
life, whatever your budget might be.
What will you do, staring this week to bring more joy, more
adventure and more new experiences to your life?
Donald Cooper, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), is an
internationally known business coach and speaker who works with
businesses on marketing, service and business excellence. He has helped
thousands of companies throughout the world redefine and reinvent their
businesses. For information on how Mr. Cooper can help your business
create, deliver and communicate value, visit
www.donaldcooper.com, e-mail
info@donaldcooper.com or call
(416) 252-3704.
To subscribe to Donald’s thought-provoking, free monthly electronic
Management Newsletter, email us at
newsletter@donaldcooper.com
or visit www.donaldcooper.com.
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