1. Today Matters
Dr. John C. Maxwell

2. Today Often Falls to Pieces…
What is the Missing Piece?

3. Today’s Impact on Tomorrow
We believe success is impossible – so we criticize it
We believe success is mystical – so we search for it
We believe success comes from luck – so we hope for it

4. Today’s Impact on Tomorrow
We believe success is productivity – so we work for it
We believe success comes from an opportunity – so we wait for it
We believe success comes from leverage – so we power up for it

5. Today’s Impact on Tomorrow
We believe success comes from connections – so we network for it
We believe success comes from recognition – so we strive for it
We believe success is an event – so we schedule it

6. Today Matters We over-exaggerate yesterday We overestimate tomorrow
We underestimate today

7. Successful people make right decisions early and manage those decisions daily.

8. Today Can Become a Masterpiece

9. The Advantage of Today You are preparing for something
Preparation today gives confidence tomorrow
Preparation today gives success tomorrow

10. Making a Masterpiece
Good DECISIONS today will give you a better tomorrow
The DISCIPLINES you practice today will give you a better tomorrow

11. The First Step Toward Success
Start with yourself
Start early
Start small
Start now

12. Make Your Decisions a Reality
Review your decisions and ask yourself, “which good decisions have I already made?”
Identify the decisions you still must make
Choose one of those decisions and determine to make it this week

13. Make Your Decisions a Reality
Learn the disciplines that go with each decision
Repeat the process until you’ve mastered the “daily dozen”

14. Today’s ATTITUDE Gives Me Possibilities

15. Attitude Makes a Difference
Your attitude at the beginning of a task affects its outcome more than anything else
Your attitude toward others often determines their attitude toward you
Your attitude can give you a winner’s perspective

16. Attitude Makes a Difference
Your attitude – not your achievements – gives you happiness
Your attitude is contagious

17. Changing Your Attitude
Take responsibility for your attitude
Decide to change your bad attitude areas
Think, act, talk, and conduct yourself like the person you want to become
Place a high value on people
Develop a high appreciation for life

18. Managing Your Attitude
Recognize that your attitude need daily adjustment
Find something positive in everything
Find someone positive in every situation

19. Managing Your Attitude
Say something positive in every conversation
Remove negative words from your vocabulary
Express gratitude to others daily

20. Today’s PRIORITIES Give Me Focus

21. Why Priorities Matter Time is our most precious commodity
We cannot change time, only our priorities
We cannot do everything
We choose our life by how we spend time
Priorities help us to choose wisely

22. Principles of Priority
What is required of me?
What gives me the a return?
What gives me the greatest reward?

23. Identify Your Strengths
Trial and error
The counsel of others
Personality tests
Personal experience

24. Manage the Discipline of Priorities
Evaluate priorities daily
Plan your time carefully
Follow your plan
Delegate whenever possible
Invest in the right people daily

25. Today’s HEALTH Gives Me Strength

26. Reasons Why Health Matters
Your health impacts you emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually
Health often determines quality as well as quantity of life
It’s easier to maintain good health than to regain it

27. Healthy Guidelines Have a purpose worth living for Do work you enjoy
Find your pace
Accept your personal worth
Laugh

28. The Battle to Stay Healthy
Eat right
Exercise
Handle stress effectively

29. Today’s FAMILY Gives Me Stability

30. Reasons Why Family Matters
A safe haven in a storm
A photo album of memories
A crucible of character
A mirror revealing the truth
A treasure chest of relationships

31. Communication & Caring for Your Family
Determine your priorities
Decide on your philosophy
Develop your problem-solving strategy

32. Managing the Disciplines of Family
Put your family on your calendar first
Create and maintain family traditions
Find ways to spend time together
Keep your marriage healthy first
Express appreciation for each other
Resolve conflict as quickly as possible

33. Today’s THINKING Gives Me an Advantage

34. Why Thinking Matters Today
Good thinking precedes good results
Good thinking increases your value
Poor thinkers are slaves to their surroundings

35. Practice & Develop Good Thinking
Understand that great thinking comes from good thinking
Recognize there are many kinds of thinking
Maximize your strengths and staff your weaknesses

36. The Discipline of Thinking
Find a place to think
Set aside think time every day
Find a process that works for you
Capture your thoughts
Put your thoughts into action quickly
Try to improve your thinking every day

37. Today’s COMMITMENT Gives Me Tenacity

38. Why Commitment Matters
Commitment can change your life
Commitment helps you overcome many of life’s obstacles
Your commitment will be tested every day

39. The Discipline of Commitment
Expect commitment to be a struggle
Don’t rely on talent alone
Focus on choices, not conditions
Be single-minded
Do what’s right even when you don’t feel like it

40. Today’s FINANCES Give Me Options

41. Why Finances Matter Money won’t make you happy
Debt will make you unhappy
Having a financial margin gives you options

42. The Discipline of Finances
Become a good earner
Be grateful every day
Don’t compare yourself to others
Give as much as you can

43. Today’s FAITH Gives Me Peace

44. Why Faith Matters Today
Faith gives me a divine perspective today
Faith gives me health today
Faith gives me strength for today
Faith gives me resilience today

45. Daily Decisions Regarding Faith
We already have faith…the important choice is where we place it
Understand that faith is often birthed out of difficulties
A faith that hasn’t been tested can’t be trusted

46. Managing the Discipline of Faith
Embrace the value of faith
Put God in the picture
Associate with people of faith
Explore and deepen your faith

47. Today’s RELATIONSHIPS Give Me Fulfillment

48. Why Relationships Matter Today
Life’s greatest experiences involve other people
You’ll enjoy life more if you like people
You’ll get farther in life if people like you
People are any organization’s most appreciable asset

49. Initiate & Invest in Relationships Daily
Place a high value on people
Learn to understand people
Give respect freely but expect to earn it from others
Commit yourself to adding value to others

50. Building Relationships
Put others first
Don’t carry emotional baggage
Give time to your most valuable relationships
Serve others gladly
Express love and appreciation often

51. Today’s GENEROSITY Gives Me Significance

52. Why Generosity Matters Today
Giving turns your focus outward
Giving adds value to others
Giving helps the giver

53. Plan for & Model Generosity Daily
Give others your money
Give others yourself
“Greatness is not defined by what a person receives, but by what that person gives.”

54. Managing the Discipline of Generosity
Don’t wait for prosperity to become generous
Find a reason to give every day
Find people to receive every day

55. Today’s VALUES Give Me Direction

56. Deciding to Embrace & Practice Values
Create a list of good values
Embrace those good values
Make a decision to live those values daily

57. Managing the Discipline of Values
Articulate & embrace your values daily
Compare your values to your practices daily
Live out your values regardless of your feelings
Evaluate each day in light of your values

58. Today’s GROWTH Gives Me Potential

59. Misconceptions About Growth
Growth is automatic
Growth comes from information
Growth comes from experience

60. Why Growth Matters Today
Gifting without growth leads to ineffectiveness
Growth prevents personal & professional stagnation
Your personal growth impacts your organization’s growth
Only through continuous improvement can you reach your potential

61. Decide to Experience Growth Daily
Answer the question: What is my potential?
Make a commitment to change
Set growth goals
Learn to enjoy the journey
Put yourself in a growth environment

62. Managing the Discipline of Growth
Make it your goal to grow in some way every day
Have a time and plan to grow
File what you learn
Apply what you learn