[ Introduction ] [ More About Bo ] [ Book Excerpts ] [ Quotes ]
[ An Interview with Bo ] [ Hi-res Photos ] [ Radio Interviews ]
[ Download PR kit in Adobe Acrobat Format ]
Using Humor Effectively
“Besides just making other people happy and feel good, humor can be used to make light of an otherwise awkward situation, and ease both tension and ill feelings while building rapport. In a speaking or writing situation, humor can keep an audience interested in what you have to say, thus helping you become a better communicator. If popularity is one of your goals, then humor is a very effective tool. It is difficult to not like someone who makes you laugh.”
Determination Is A Must
“If the ‘how to’ achieving success had to be summed up in just one single word, that word would be perseverance. It is the one characteristic shared by all successful people throughout history. Perseverance is the true essence of success.”
Power Of Choice
“Where we are today is a result of choices we have made in our past: choices as minor as what to have for breakfast to choosing what we want to do for a living. Each of us was born with the gift of freewill and we have the right to choose our destiny by a series of lifelong decisions. Accept responsibility for who you are and where you are today and understand that with the exception of some external forces, you are where you are because of the choices you have made. Choice is always present and always yours.”
Words Make A Difference
“The words that come out of your mouth and go through your head have an incredible effect on your actions and behavior. The subconscious mind is known for gravitating toward what you focus on. The same effect holds true for simply saying or thinking of words or expressions. For example, ‘It can’t be done’ is a very powerful statement that stops your mind from presenting you with a solution of how it can be done. The results of rephrasing that statement to ‘How can it be done?’ are nothing short of amazing.”
Separating Performance From Performer
“When you do something dumb, idiotic, or stupid, realize that it was your performance or what you did, that deserves the criticism and not you. If you want to successful in parenting and raise kids with high self-esteem, be a successful coach with a confident team, a respected manager with confident employees or if you want success yourself, remember and practice this one simple rule of criticism: always separate the performance from the performer.”
What Holds You Back?
“’I would rather devote myself to love and/or family than the pursuit of success.’” This is my favorite one. Someone, sometime got it in their mind that one has to choose between love and success. It seems like Hollywood is a big believer in this one as well. Do you know the movie about the guy who is very successful in his work, but then has to choose between love and work, then chooses love and lives happily ever after? There are HUNDREDS of movies with this exact theme. Success does not come at the expense of love and family. Love and family are actually a huge part of success. Problems arise when one neglects love and family in order to achieve something besides success, like riches and fame. Success is about finding balance, not abandoning your goals.”
Luck
“Each of us has the ability to create our own good luck- or bad luck for that matter. First of all, you must BELIEVE that you control your destiny. The luck you have experienced in your life and the luck you will experience has much to do with you. Although we cannot have good luck all the time, using the laws of averages and probability, we can certainly tip the scale of good luck and fortune on our side. You can have more doors opened for you, and experience more of the things that everybody refers to as ‘luck.’”
Don’t Complain
“There are two main reasons why one should neither criticize nor complain. First, criticism causes the person being criticized to feel resentment. When you criticize another’s actions or behaviors, especially in a negative way, it arouses feelings of anger and resentment in most people. This resentment is one of the most powerful relationship-killers there is. Second, criticism causes the person being criticized to justify his or her actions. It is a natural response for one to become defensive when being criticized. The most common form of defense is justification. When one justifies one’s actions, they are convincing themselves that they are right. This brings them further from resolution.”
Harness The Power Of Frustration
“There are two primary ways to harness the power of frustration and use it as positive energy. The first way is to release the frustration physically. Frustration is a powerful motivator for exercise. Running, lifting weights, and especially hitting a heavy bag are ways to release the frustration while burning calories and getting in shape. This is the sometimes-agonizing process of changing actions and behaviors, searching for alternatives, and just pure perseverance. However, it is this process that led to many of the greatest achievements in history.”
The Good Old Days Are Now
“It has been said that happiness consists of living each day as if it were the first day of your honeymoon and the last day of your vacation. Happiness is meant to enjoy now, not someday in the future when the economy improves, you meet the right person, you own a home, the kids grow up, you get a promotion, your business takes off, or you retire. These are the “good old days” so allow yourself to be happy today, right now.”
Having A Specific Purpose
"Very often people never set goals for the same reason some people never find true love -- they are 'waiting' for that perfect someone (or perfect whatever in the case of goals). Rarely do people know exactly what they want and it is even less common for people to know their ultimate goal in life."
Always Look For Opportunity
"To act on opportunity, you must be flexible, open-minded, motivated and willing to take risks. You must choose which opportunities you will take action on while passing on less promising opportunities. As an active opportunity seeker, this will be your most difficult task since letting go of a good opportunity is not easy. You need to balance out your opportunities and be decisive on which ones you will pursue, which ones you will delegate, and which ones you will bypass."
