My Last Lecture

1
My Last Lecture

• Wednesday, April 22, 2009
• Jackson Student Center
• Anderson School of Management
• University of New Mexico
• Stacy A. Sacco, MBA
• sasacco_at_aol.com
• [phone]
• www.sasacco.com

2
Principle 1

• Develop a List of Goals
• For Your Tour

3
Mission Statement Basics

• Put it in writing
• Keep it concise and to the point
• See the big picture from above the forest
• Make it positive and forward looking
• It will change over time
• My Mission Statement
• Be the best me I can be.
• Live a life without regrets.
• Make a positive difference in others lives on a
  local and global scale.

4
YOUR Mission Statement
List three items you would include in YOUR
mission statement? 1. __________________________
____ ______________________________ 2.
______________________________
______________________________ 3.
______________________________
______________________________
5
My Wish List
This was my original list from January 1, 1980,
when I graduated from the University of Arizona.
Of the 112 items listed, I have accomplished 88
with 24 left to go. I recently updated and
revised my list to reflect my current
interests. Personal Development 1. Live a
harmonious, centered life of service making a
difference for others similar to the
character George Bailey in the movie, Its a
Wonderful Life. 2. Develop excellent
time-management skills. 3. Conquer my fears
(i.e., public-speaking, flying, heights, guns and
the ocean) 4. Develop skills to handle
arrogant, negative and selfish people (the bottom
10). 5. Develop coping skills to handle lifes
major conflicts and difficulties. 6. Spend a
day in a wheel chair to understand what a lame
person feels. 7. Spend a day blind-folded to
understand what a blind person feels. 8. Fast
for a whole day to better understand hunger. 9.
Survive in a wilderness area all alone for a
weekend. 10. Thank all of my favorite teachers
for having helped me become who I am. Family 1.
Meet and marry my soul mate. 2. Practice
being a "great" husband, manager, family member,
friend, etc. 3. Always give more than I ever
expect to receive in return from the marriage.
4. Own a home. 5. Develop a family
scrapbook or journal. 6. Cut the turkey at
Thanksgiving. 7. Be a central force in keeping
the Sacco family and related kin together. 8 .
Research my roots for several generations of
ancestors. 9. Complete a scrapbook for my
sister Sally. 10. Write a personal poem for each
of my family members. Career 1. Achieve the
position of VP Marketing at a major U.S.
corporation. 2. Own and manage my own
business. 3. Write and publish a book. 4. Run
for a government office (i.e., City Council, City
Mayor, Senator, etc.). 5. Write articles (i.e.
for the local papers, newsletters and industry
magazines). 6. Be the President of a non-profit
charitable or educational organization. 7.
Teach college. 8. Become a professional
speaker. 9. Earn and save enough money to be
able to retire and travel. 10. Keep an idea file
of the best ideas I discover.
6
YOUR Wish List

• Write down one thing you would like to accomplish
  in
• each category.
• Personal Development
• __________________________________
• Family
• __________________________________
• Career
• __________________________________
• Education
• __________________________________
• Community Service
• __________________________________
• Entertainment / Extra-Curricular
• __________________________

7
YOUR Legacy

• After you die, what would you want others to say
  about your life?
• YOUR Epitaph
• What would you want them to write on your grave
  stone?
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• YOUR Obituary
• What would you want them to write about you in
  the news?
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• YOUR Eulogy
• What would you want them to say about you at your
  funeral?
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________

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Principle 2

• Develop a Plan
• and
• Choose Your Package Tours

9
Use a Time Management System

• You need a system to schedule activities, monitor
  your
• progress, etc.
• Blackberry, Palm Pilot, etc.
• Franklin/Covey, Day Timer, Etc.
• Microsoft Outlook
• Plan YOUR Tour Backwards
• Similar to taking a plane flight, first define
  your
• desired end result and then plan all of the steps
• to achieve your objective in reverse.
• 1020 am Southwest flight departs for
  Orlando, FL
• 900 am Check in drop off luggage
• 840 am Arrive at airport - park in
  long-term parking
• 800 am Depart for airport
• 530 am Go for run, shower, dress,
  etc.
• 510 am Wake up

10
Concern vs. Control
We each have a Circle of Concern filled with
those things we worry about each day. Within
this circle, we have areas we can directly
Control or indirectly Influence. Youll be most
effective when you focus on those things you can
control or influence rather than those things you
cannot. Choose carefully!
Concern
Influence
Control
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The Boiled Frog Phenomenon

• Sitting comfortably in a caldron of water, a frog
  can be boiled to death by slowly bringing the
  water to a boil at a rate of increase just below
  the frogs threshold of noticeable difference.
  Like the frog, we sometimes fail to notice a
  change in our environment and are unable to move
  when the need to move is greatest. So are you
  sitting in a pot of boiling water and not aware
  of it?
• What are you putting up with?
• Are you going along to get along with
  others?
• Are you letting others define you?
• Are you working on someone elses list instead
  of
• your own?
• Are you settling?
• Do you feel limited in your choices?
• Do you react most of the time, wouldnt you
  rather
• be proactive and be on top of things?
• Do you feel like a rudderless ship adrift in
  an ocean
• of change?
• Are you living in your past or future but not
  now?
• Are you living in your comfort zone and not
  trying
• new things and new solutions to old problems?

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A Week in YOUR Life

• Typical Focused on Passion
• _________________________________________________
  ________________________
• Activity
  Maintenance Passion Total Maintenance
  Passion Total
• Sleep 56 0 56
  49 0 49
• Work 50 0 50
  0 50 50
• Eating 14 0 14
  7 0
  7
• Television 14
  0 14
  0 7 7
• Communication - Phone 7
  0 7 0
  14 14
• Transportation - Commute 7
  0 7 2
  5 7
• Personal Hygiene - Shower 7
  0 7 5
  0 5
• Chores - Repairs 7
  0 7 5
  0 5
• Activities related to your Passion 0
  6 6 0
  24 24
• __________________________________________________
  ________________________
• Total Hours 162
  6 168 68
  100 168
• 
  96 4 100 40
  60 100
• How to Maximize Your Time and Align Your Life
  With Your Passion

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Principle 3

• Emulate the Best People, Best Products, Best
  Companies, Etc. That
• You Find on Your Tour

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Become the Best YOU
Make a list of the 10 attributes and/or personal
characteristics of the most successful people
youve met, your heroes, mentors, or people
youve read about. Attributes / Personal
Characteristics Rating 1.
_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 2.
_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 3.
_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 4.
_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 5.
_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 6.
_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 7.
_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 8.
_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 9.
_______________________ 1 2 3 4 5
10._______________________ 1 2 3 4 5 Now
rate yourself in terms of how well you exhibit
these attributes on a scale of 1-5, 1 -
Opportunity to Learn to 5 Done. Based on
your scores, develop a list of steps to take to
be this ideal successful person.
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Mastering My Life

• I have a vision of the person Id like to be
  someone who is strong and in control of his life
  resilient, proactive, and tough-minded. I have
  never met any one person to use as a model, but
  if I did, they would rise above every criticism
  or failure, and not crumble under pressure or run
  away from any conflict they would be their own
  person and embody the following characteristics
•  
• I know who I am
• I have a defined mission in the larger context of
  the universe and goals that I want to achieve.
• I know my strengths (gifts) and weaknesses
  (fears, limitations).
• I accept myself as I am without any changes, I am
  perfect just the way I am as a spiritual being.
• Sure I have things I need to improve, but in a
  larger sense Im doing okaythank you very much.
• I dont need anyone else to validate my self
  worth or approve my actions.
•  
• I have forgiven myself
• I recognize that the only way to get ahead is to
  try, and in trying I will make mistakes and that
• this process is essential to learning and
  growing.
• I am free of the past and dont feel guilt or
  remorse, or have regrets about a road not taken.
• I dont harbor any ill feelings or anger for
  another Im beyond that and have replaced my
• wanting them to do this or that, or be this or
  that, with unconditional love.
• I see things from a long-term perspective, and
  recognize that I am on planet Earth at most about
• 5,200 weeks (100 years) I judge my actions
  within the context of a process and their
  relative
• importance in terms of the time or stage in my
  life when such and such occurred.
•  

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Principle 4

• Track Your Progress
• And
• Celebrate Your Successes

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Assess Yourself

• The Clean Sweep Self Assessment test helps you
• examine 4 major areas of your life and begin the
• process of developing a plan to make your life
  more
• complete, healthy and balanced
• Physical Environment
• Well-Being
• Money
• Relationships
• Check each item that is true or if it doesnt
  apply to
• you. The goal is to check all boxes. The items
  you
• havent check are the ones you need to work on.
• Completing this process may take 30 or 360 days.
  It
• doesnt matter how long, what matters is that you
  are
• moving forward and making progress. Check back
• once a year for maintenance.
• Source Thomas J. Leonard, Coach, Houston, TX
  www.thomasleonard.com

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PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT True Statement q My
personal files, papers, and receipts are
neatly filed away. q My car is in excellent
condition. (Doesnt need mechanical
work, repairs, cleaning or replacing) q
My home is neat and clean. (Vacuumed,
closets clean, desk and tables clear,
furniture in good repair, windows clean) q My
appliances, machinery, and equipment
work well. (Refrigerator, toaster, snow-
blower, water heater, toys) q My clothes are
well pressed, clean and make me look
great. (No wrinkles, baskets of
laundry, torn, out-of-date or ill-fitting
clothes) q My plants and animals are
healthy. (Fed, watered, getting light
and love) q My bed/bedroom lets me have the
best sleep possible. (Firm bed, light,
air) q I live in a home/apartment that I
love. q I surround myself with beautiful
things. q I live in the geographic area of my
choice. q There is ample and healthy lighting
around me. q I consistently have
adequate time, space and freedom in my
life. q I am not damaged by my environment. q
I am tolerating anything about my home
or work environment. q My work environment
is productive and inspiring.
(Synergistic, ample tools, and
resources no undue pressure) q I recycle. q
I use non ozone-depleting products. q I
surround myself with music which makes
my life more enjoyable. q My bed is made
daily. q I dont injure myself, fall or bump
into things. q People feel
comfortable in my home. q I drink purified
water. q I have nothing around the house or
in storage that I do not need. q I
am consistently early or easily on time. ____
Number of True (25 Max)
WELL-BEING True Statement q I rarely use
caffeine. (Chocolate, coffee, colas,
teas) less than 3 times per week, total.
q I rarely eat sugar. (Less than 3 times per
week.) q I rarely watch television.
(Less than 5 hours per week.) q I
rarely drink alcohol. (Less than 2 drinks
per week.) q My teeth and gums are healthy.
(Have seen dentist in last 6 months.) q
My cholesterol count is healthful. q I
have had a complete physical exam in
the past 3 years. q I do not smoke tobacco
or other substances. q I do not use
illegal drugs or misuse prescribed
medications. q I have had a complete eye
exam within the past two years.
(Glaucoma check, vision test) q My
weight is within my ideal range. q My nails
are healthy and look good. q I dont rush or
use adrenaline to get the job done. q
I have a rewarding life beyond my work
or profession. q I have something to look
forward to virtually every day. q
I have no habits which I find to be
unacceptable. q I am aware of the physical
or emotional problems or conditions I
have, and I am now fully taking care of
all of them. q I consistently take evenings,
weekends, and holidays off and take at
least two weeks of vacation each year.
q I have been tested for the AIDS
antibody. q I use well-made sunglasses. q
I do not suffer. q I floss daily. q I
walk or exercise at least three times per
week. q I hear well. ____ Number of True
(25 Max)
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RELATIONSHIPS True Statement q I have told
my parents, in the last 3 months, that
I love them. q I get along well with my
sibling(s). q I get along well with my
coworkers/ clients. q I get along
well with my manager/staff. q There is no
one who I would dread or feel
uncomfortable running across. (In the
street, at an airport or party) q I put
people first and results second. q I have
let go of the relationships which drag
me down or damage me. (Let go means to
end, walk away from, declare complete,
no longer attached to) q I have communicated
or attempted to communicate with
everyone who I have damaged, injured or
seriously upset, even if it wasnt fully
my fault. q I do not gossip or talk about
others. q I have a circle of friends/family
who love and appreciate me for who I
am, more than just what I do for them.
q I tell people how they can satisfy me. q
I am fully caught up with letters and calls. q
I always tell the truth, no matter what. q
I receive enough love from people
around me to feel good. q I have fully
forgiven those people who have
hurt/damaged me, intentional or not. q I am a
person of his/her word people can count
on me. q I quickly correct miscommunications
and misunderstandings when they do
occur. q I live life on my terms, not by the
rules or preferences of others. q I
am complete with past loves or spouses. q I
am in tune with my wants and needs and
get them taken care of. q I do not judge or
criticize others. q I do not take
personally the things that people say
to me. q I have a best friend or soul mate.
q I make requests rather than complain. q
I spend time with people who dont try
to change me. ____ Number of True (25 Max)
MONEY True Statement q I currently save at
least 10 of my income. q I pay my
bills on time, virtually always. q My income
source/revenue base is stable and
predictable. q I know how much I must have
to be minimally financially independent
and I have a plan to get there. q I
have returned or made-good-on any money
I borrowed. q I have written agreements and
am current with payments to individuals
or companies to whom I owe money. q
I have 6 months living expenses in a
money market-type account. q I live on a
weekly budget which allows me to save
and not suffer. q All my tax returns have
been filed and all my taxes have been
paid. q I currently live well, within my
means. q I have excellent medical insurance.
q My assets (car, home, possessions,
treasures) are well-insured. q I have a
financial plan for the next year. q I have
no legal clouds hanging over me. q My will is
up-to-date and accurate. q Any parking
tickets, alimony or child support are
paid and current. q My investments do not
keep me awake at night. q I know
how much I am worth. q I am on a
career/professional/business track which
is or will soon be financially and
personally rewarding. q My earnings are
commensurate with the effort I put into
my job. q I have no loose ends at work.
q I am in a relationship with people who
can assist in my career/professional
development. q I rarely miss work due to
illness. q I am putting aside enough money
each month to reach financial
independence. q My earnings outpace
inflation, consistently. ____ Number
of True (25 Max)
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Principle 5

• Give it Back Better
• Than you Got it

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Give it Back Better Than You Got it
Several years ago, I attended an Awards Dinner at
Pepperdine University and was blessed to be able
to spend a few minutes one-on-one with the
keynote speaker Jack Kemp. At that time, Mr.
Kemp was running for the Presidency of the United
States. In answering the many questions I asked
about what a political life was like, he told
me the following The problem with politicians
is that they dont realize what their true role
is when I was a young man, I borrowed a friends
car to venture out on my first date. When I
returned the car, I made sure to wash it, fill it
up with gas, and repair the rearview mirror which
had been broken for a very long time. I gave the
car back better than I got it. Thats the
problem with our politicians today in many ways,
we put our goodwill, our tax dollars, and our
government in their hands and they dont always
give it back better than they got it. We need to
hold them to that standard. His words struck
home for me. In a sense, Ive been given many
roles in my life as a husband, a son, a brother,
a manager and having been given those
opportunities I now ask myself did I give it
back better than I got it? Did I make it
better, whether my family, my employer, or my
community? How about you?
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In Search of the Great Secrets of the
UniverseWritten on a wall I found when touring
Washington, DC
Life's most persistent and urgent question is
What are you doing for others - Martin Luther
King, Jr. You have to be honest with people.
You have to have great respect for yourself. If
you see something that is not right, you must do
something about it. - Anne Wauneka What is
important is that one be capable of love. It is
perhaps the only glimpse that we are permitted of
eternity. - Helen Hayes Whether for the
individual or for the nation, self is best served
by transcending self. - Senator Frank Moss I
will unite with anyone to do good, but with no
one to do harm. - Fredrick Douglass Only a
life lived for others is a life worthwhile. -
Albert Einstein There is a land of the living
and a land of the dead the bridge is love, the
only survival, the only meaning. - Thornton
Wilder So many gods, so many creeds, so many
paths while just the art of being kind is all
the world needs. - Ella Wheeler Wilcox There
is a destiny that makes us brothers. No one goes
his way alone. What we send into the lives of
others comes back into our own. - Edwin
Markham There is joy in transcending self to
serve others. - Mother Teresa Great men are
they who see that the spiritual is stronger than
any material force and that thought rules the
world. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Nothing we do
ever stands by itself. If it is good, it will
serve some good purpose in the future. If it is
evil, it may haunt us and handicap our efforts in
unimagined ways. - Eleanor Roosevelt When one
reaches out to help another, he touches the face
of God. - Walt Whitman We can only survive
when we have a goal --- a passionate purpose
which bears upon the public interest. - Margaret
E. Kuhn Progress comes from caring more about
what needs to be done than about who gets the
credit. - Dorothy Height Have I done any good
in the world today? Have I cheered up the sad
and made someone feel good? If not, I have
failed indeed. - Esther Peterson Love is the
ultimate and highest goal to which one can
aspire. The salvation of humanity is through
love and in love. - Victor Frankl We make a
living by what we get. We make a life by what we
give. - Sir Winston Churchill Each of us has
within us a Mother Teresa and a Hitler. It is up
to us to choose what we want to be. - Elisabeth
Kubler-Ross Caring Institute, 320 A Street NE,
Washington, DC 20002, [phone]
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Additional Resources
- Balancing Your Life Setting Personal Goals,
Paul Stevens - Create a Life That Tickles Your
Soul Finding Peace, Passion, Purpose,
Susanne Willis Zoglio Ph.D. - Daily
Plan-It The Pursuit of Goals, Chris Mackey -
Discover Your Passion An Intuitive Search to
Find Your Purpose in Life, Gail Cassidy -
Finding Your Own North Star Claiming the Life
You Were Meant to Live, Martha Nibley Beck -
First, Break All the Rules What the Worlds
Greatest Managers Do Differently, Marcus
Buckingham and Curt Coffman - Goal Setting
(Worksmart series), Susan B. Wilson - Goal
Setting 101 How to Set and Achieve a Goal!,
Gary Ryan Blair - High Performance Goal Setting,
Beverly Potter - If Not Now, When? Reclaiming
Ourselves at Midlife, Stephanie Marston -
Intentional Change, John Stephenson Ph.D. -
Life-Design Living Your Life by Choice Instead
of Chance, Peggy James Vaughan - Life Mapping,
Bill Cohen - Living Your Best Life Work, Home,
Balance, Destiny, Laura Berman Fortgang - Make
Success Measurable!, Douglas K. Smith - Making
Every Day Count Daily Readings, Pamela Espeland
and Elizabeth Verdick - Motivation and Goal
Setting How to Set and Achieve Goals, Jim
Cairo - Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus
Buckingham, Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D. - Personal
Performance Contracts Setting Realistic Goals,
Roger Fritz and Michael Crisp - Plan Your Work
Work Your Plan, James R. Sherman, Ph.D. -
Setting Personal Goals, Laura Bissonette - Seven
Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey -
Stretching Lessons The Daring That Starts From
Within, Sue Bender - Super Self - Doubling Your
Personal Effectiveness, Charles J. Givens -
Taming Time How Do You Eat an Elephant?, Gary
Kroehnert - The Artists Way, A Spiritual Path
to Higher Creativity, Julia Cameron - The Magic
Lamp Goal Setting for People Who Hate Setting
Goals, Keith Ellis - The Magic of Believing,
Claude Bristol - The Myths Realities of Goal
Setting, Gary Ryan Blair - The New Dynamics of
Goal Setting, Denis Waitley - The Ten
Commandments of Goal Setting, Gary Ryan Blair -
What Do You Really Want? How to Set a Goal and
Go For It!, Beverly K. Bachel - Whats Next?
Women Redefining Their Dreams in the Prime of
Life, Rena Pederson and R. Lee Smith
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