Think about, for the first 18 years of your life, you don’t really choose much. Where you live, who you live with, and what classes you take are all pretty much chosen for you. And although you do have some control over your status, your status is more of a reflection from attributes given to you such as looks, smarts, athleticism, and personality.

Loyalty, Trust, Culture, these are all aspect that relate closely to Emotional Intelligence and the choices you should make regarding our New Economy, and the only way to improve upon these aspects is by changing the way you think. I’m not certain you realize just how difficult of a task that really is.

While during it’s time, the Motorola Micro TAC played it’s role, it now is a reminder that, like technology, our style of communication must evolve. Compared with our new economy, this phone now lacks: Transparency, Efficiency & Emotion. A Vintage Style of Communication.

Ironically, this level one leader is the most common type of leader in our world today. It is the approach taken by most managers in the workforce. Why? Not sure exactly, maybe it’s because motivation has never really been taught? May it’s based on a fear of speaking to groups?

Or maybe it’s because the organization that these managers work for, are so busy going through the motions and focusing on the BOTTOM LINE, that they don’t leave any room for motivation and creative thinking.

What was described in the situation with the heart attack would be classified as an Extreme Circumstance. Other examples of this might include an alcoholic quits drinking because of a near death collision, a husband hits his wife causing her to leave, an employee gets fired causes him to seek a new career. All of these are extreme circumstance that fuel a determination or resolve for change.

The message that churches are no longer the largest building in town came off somewhat as a finger being pointed at the people and their materialistic values. And while I’m certain there is some truth to that, it’s only fair that churches take a bit of the blame based on their inability to change.

The confrontation between Rome and Hannibal reminds me of when Charlie Sheen was going through his confrontation with the lead writer for “Two and Half Men,” Chuck Lorre. At the time, I remember hearing a radio personality talk about what a bad idea it is get into a war of words with a writer because of their unparalleled ability to control a conversation and leave you looking foolish.

The reason people find such difficulty in letting go of places, jobs and people has to do with the difficulty found in change. The difficulty in letting go of what’s familiar. The difficulty of stepping into the unknown.

“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 intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

~ Steve Jobs

How would you rate choice and control in your life? It's a tough question because more often than not, we don’t even realize when we have given our choices away to fear. We assume that nobody enjoys going to work...that everyone is burdened by a down economy...that no managers are motivational...that no companies empower their employees and that change is difficult for everyone! You're naive if that is your thinking and there is nothing more crippling to a person’s enjoyment for life than the absence of choice and control.