I took the meeting because a man I respect (Andrew Jackson of Poor Irishman Internet Marketing; “the Guy” behind my website… www.LonKieffer.com) suggested that I meet Hal to discuss my latest project; “Defending the Caregiver!”

 

He told me that Hal is a great writer!

 

I immediately applied my skeptical “mental filter” (Mental Filtering is one of Dr. David Burns’ “Ten Cognitive Distortions”) to Andrew’s suggestion. 

 

I am a writer!  Why would I want to meet a writer?  How can a writer help me?  Was screaming sound of my inner thoughts as they squeezed through my skeptical mental filter. 

 

I must be honest; all I could think of was the “Irony of Hal” not the serendipity. 

 

My first thought was of the immortal, and inhuman, HAL the fictional artificial intelligence computer from Arthur C. Clarke’s “Space Oddysey” as I envisioned how this “writer” would try and take over all of my thoughts, etc…

 

But, lately, I am trying to operate from my lighter side; I am trying to see life and career as a “Burden of Joy!” not of obligation or of expectation.

 

In essence; I am trying to listen to my own advice offered through my speaking and writing. 

 

I am trying to live with fewer expectations and with greater acceptance.  Since listening to my own advice can be difficult I am trying to employ what Clifford Kuhn, “The Laugh Doctor” calls my Humor Nature. 

 

In my own words, fewer expectations and greater acceptance is the cornerstone to A.W.E.S.O.M.E. Living!

 

So I took the meeting and learned the “Serendipity of meeting Hal!”

 

Serendipity is one of my favorite words!  In essence it means: “good fortune; making a desirable discovery by accident.”

 

I realize this meeting was on purpose; not by accident.  But bear with me; have faith.

 

As I said, I am trying to live with fewer expectations and with greater acceptance.  I am trying to allow beneficial things to simply happen as apposed to forcing them, so, given my pre-conception and my effort to overcome it; this was meeting was a purposeful accident.

 

Perhaps a better working definition for serendipity should be:  “good fortune; making a desirable discovery through acceptance.”

 

As it turns out Hal Alpiar (www.HalAlpiar.com) is an amazingly talented man who has no ego or need to step on another writer’s turf or tablet; and wants only to help (in any way possible) his clients.  Hal has a wonderfully simple philosophy.  Hal says (paraphrased), “no matter what I am specifically hired for, I believe if I can enhance any aspect of a client’s life, I have improved their business because they are their business!”

 

So, I encourage you to have fewer expectations, mentally filter less often and accept the good fortune of making desirable discoveries by accident; or on purpose! 

 

It is A.W.E.S.O.M.E!

 

I am certain Hal and I will be working together on “Defending the Caregiver!”

 

Stay tuned… and in the meantime.   Check out this offering from Hal…  “Are You Breathing?” 

 

http://halalpiar.com/published-articles/are-you-breathing-a-simple-quick-private-technique-for-managing-day-to-day-and-emergency-stress-a-magazine-article-by-hal-alpiar/

 

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Lon Kieffer, author of “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!”, Speaker, Consultant, Executive Recruiter and Expert on Workplace Culture Change and Generational Conflicts, gives seminars, keynote and plenary addresses, runs annual sales meetings, and provides Common Sense Consulting at:  www.LonKieffer.com. He can be reached at:  (302) 462-6748 or via email at:  Lon@LonKieffer.com