Comments

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  Penny Abshire March 12, 2013 at 4:38pm

  BIG PTU welcome to our newest member, Sam Prindle! We're so happy you've joined us!
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  Earl Thomas March 6, 2013 at 6:34pm

  Yes Judy  he has inspired me for a long time. enjoy  seeing his videos on youtube. Working on follow-up and getting planned for networking events,
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  Judy Fossum March 3, 2013 at 8:19pm

  Here's to a great week everyone! Onward and upward!
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  Judy Fossum February 20, 2013 at 11:53am

  Hello Everyone!
  
  Hope that 2013 is treating everyone well. I have heard from several voice actors that so far it has been a good year and gratefully I can say the same.
  
  I recently finished the book, "Over the Top" by the late Zig Ziglar. It is a really good book that is worth the read and it applies to everyone and to all businesses. One of the many things I like about his books is that they are very positive (yet realistic as in you have to work hard too) and have some great quotes.
  
  Here's one that I would like to share with you all,
  
  "Motivation is the spark that lights the fire of knowledge and fuels the engine of accomplishment. It maximizes and maintains momentum." -Zig Ziglar
  
  Have a super day everyone!
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  Ken Maxon February 14, 2013 at 4:15pm

  Thanks Penny. I've spent so many of these alone, it's just another day of the week like Christmas and birthdays, lol.
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  Penny Abshire February 14, 2013 at 4:08pm

  

  Happy Sweethearts Day, my positive friends. 
  
  I know that some of you are living today without a sweetheart. If you are searching, don't fear, he or she is right around the corner!

  In the meantime, there's no rule against buying flowers, or chocolates or other yummy things for yourself! Celebrate the fact that you are a "sweetheart" to all of us here at PTU and be positive that your true love is on his or her way.

  Remember.....I love you!

  Penny
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  Penny Abshire February 4, 2013 at 12:04pm

  "How to have a Happy Day - Every Day"
  via Inc. Magazine www.inc.com
  
  Happiness is the only true measure of personal success. Making other people happy is the highest expression of success, but it's almost impossible to make others happy if you're not happy yourself.
  
  With that in mind, here are nine small changes that you can make to your daily routine that, if you're like most people, will immediately increase the amount of happiness in your life:
  
  1. Start each day with expectation.
  
  If there's any big truth about life, it's that it usually lives up to (or down to) your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought: "something wonderful is going to happen today." Guess what? You're probably right.
  
  2. Take time to plan and prioritize.
  
  The most common source of stress is the perception that you've got too much work to do. Rather than obsess about it, pick one thing that, if you get it done today, will move you closer to your highest goal and purpose in life. Then do that first.
  
  3. Give a gift to everyone you meet.
  
  I'm not talking about a formal, wrapped-up present. Your gift can be your smile, a word of thanks or encouragement, a gesture of politeness, even a friendly nod. And never pass beggars without leaving them something. Peace of mind is worth the spare change.
  
  4. Deflect partisan conversations.
  
  Arguments about politics and religion never have a "right" answer but they definitely get people all riled up over things they can't control. When such topics surface, bow out by saying something like: "Thinking about that stuff makes my head hurt."
  
  5. Assume people have good intentions.
  
  Since you can't read minds, you don't really know the "why" behind the "what" that people do. Imputing evil motives to other people's weird behaviors adds extra misery to life, while assuming good intentions leaves you open to reconciliation.
  
  6. Eat high quality food slowly.
  
  Sometimes we can't avoid scarfing something quick to keep us up and running. Even so, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an imported chocolate. Focus on it; taste it; savor it.
  
  7. Let go of your results.
  
  The big enemy of happiness is worry, which comes from focusing on events that are outside your control. Once you've taken action, there's usually nothing more you can do. Focus on the job at hand rather than some weird fantasy of what might happen.
  
  8. Turn off "background" TV.
  
  Many households leave their TVs on as "background noise" while they're doing other things. The entire point of broadcast TV is to make you dissatisfied with your life so that you'll buy more stuff. Why subliminally program yourself to be a mindless consumer?
  
  9. End each day with gratitude.
  
  Just before you go to bed, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened. It might be something as small as a making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal. Whatever it is, be grateful for that day because it will never come again.
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  Joe J Thomas January 28, 2013 at 8:15am

  When Life Gives You Rotten Lemons? Advice from Joe's Dump:

  The Positive Power of Negative Thinking

  (thanks to Penny for allowing me to post!)

  The Positive Power of Negative Thinking

  Musings about how negative thoughts/events/people can lead to positive results.
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  Penny Abshire January 8, 2013 at 4:52pm

  For those of you who do not already know, it is with a sad heart that we inform you of the passing of our dear friend and student, Barry Trussell. We know that many of you had the pleasure of learning from Barry and that many called him “friend.” He passed way as a result of complications of a severe asthma attack on November 25th. 
  
  Barry was a highly skilled voice actor, but his real love was teaching and helping others. He taught many classes on Audacity recording software and spent many hours helping people privately in their home studios.
  
  He was a happy and upbeat person who truly appreciated life. He always had a happy word of encouragement to those in need. Many of you don’t know that he was also a kidney transplant recipient. He told me recently that he had already “out-lived” that kidney and that every day of his life was a gift.
  
  It was a gift to us too, Barry. We will miss your quick, sweet, smile and your infectious laugh. Rest in peace, our dear friend.

  
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  Penny Abshire January 8, 2013 at 4:42pm

  

  A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

  
  Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.
  
  In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?"
  
  "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
  
  She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it.
  
  After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
  
  Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The granddaughter then asked. "What's the point,grandmother?"
  
  Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently.
  
  The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
  
  The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.
  
  "Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter.
  
  "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"
  
  Think of this: Which am I?
  
  Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
  
  Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?
  
  Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?
  
  Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.
  
  When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?
  
  AUTHOR UNKNOWN