Special Edition

THE LISTENING CONNECTION
--your world-wide connection to "effective-active listening"

SPECIAL EDITION EAR-OPENING CONTENTS

1) Commentary.
"Proactive Effective-Active-Listening"

2) Special: Mindcaputre Celebration Launch -- TODAY - JULY 29

3) COMING SOON!!! -- The New Ear-Opening look and direction: www.listenone.com

4) New Audiobook Formats -- including downloading to your I-Pod as great GIFT IDEAS.

1) DISCOVER ENERGIZING CHANGES PROMOTED BY EFFECTIVE-ACTIVE-LISTENING

by Greg Bauer

#1 -- Determine: What is your real purpose in life by your internally “Utilizing the Power of Effective-Active-Listening”?

#2 -- Determine: What is the most meaningful path in your life to helping others by your internally “Utilizing the Power of Effective-Active-Listening”?

#3 -- Determine: What types of individuals do you want to surround yourself with daily in order to nourish both your purpose and define your path of life by your internal Effective-Active-Listening?

#4 -- Determine: What type of relationship do you desire to have with God in carrying out your purpose on your path of life by your internal Effective-Active-Listening?

#5 -- Determine: How can you best serve others, in all aspects of your life, by your externally “Utilizing the Power of Effective-Active-Listening”?

#6 -- Determine: How are your opportunities in life going to become accomplishments in either your relationship-building, parenting, coaching, leadership, sales, management, customer service, or spiritual roles by your activating your Effective-Active-Listening?

2)Why Are Sales & Marketing Legends Raving About The NEW Book, MIND CAPTURE?

The word goes out today, Tuesday, July 29. A new book arrives during a critical moment in time when talk of recession clouds most people’s thoughts and endless Presidential election news seems to be the only thing people are being bombarded with.

A young, fresh, Gen-X disruptor, Tony Rubleski, is arriving with a different message of hope and viewpoint on marketing and sales with a new book titled, Mind Capture: How You Can Stand Out In The Age of Advertising Deficit Disorder.

Discover why over 50 TOP sales & marketing pros such as Jeffrey Gitomer, Dan Kennedy, Marty Edelston, Ron LeGrand, to Joe Vitale and John Assaraf, stars of the hit movie and #1 book ‘The Secret’ are all raving about the new MIND CAPTURE book.

http://www.MindCaptureBook.com

A huge amount of people regardless of the industry they’re in are facing several marketing headaches right now.

The marketing universe keeps getting more and more crowded and people’s attention spans are getting shorter and shorter with information overload and confusion running rampant.

Have you had enough of wasting time and money on marketing that’s not getting the job done? Are you spinning your wheels trying to make more sales? Are you pulling your hair out trying to get people to pay attention to your marketing and sales messages?

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE PERPLEXED DAY-AFTER-DAY AND SEARCHING FOR PROVEN WAYS TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS IN A WORLD DRUNK ON DATA, PRETEND GURU’S, AND ‘GET-RICH’ PREACHERS PEDDLING FOOLS GOLD BOTH ONLINE AND OFFLINE!

I could go on and on about this book. With ‘Mind Capture’ Tony’s onto something. Visit

http://www.MindCaptureGroup.com

There Are Three Big Marketing Challenges In The 21st Century That All Marketing and Sales Professionals Are Up Against.

If you’re persuading in print, via a website, on the phone or in person you must create messages and offers that address and answer the following:

1.) Attention

2.) Time

3.) Proof

Most marketing, sales and advertising messages fail to address one, two or all three of these issues with the results being painfully clear. Wasted dollars, frustration, and little if any results are sadly the norm.

IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO START GROWING YOUR BUSINESS FASTER, EASIER AND WITH LESS STRESS – IT’S YOUR CHOICE.

When you invest in yourself and your business or organization by ordering a copy of the new book, Mind Capture: How You Can Stand Out In The Age of Advertising Deficit Disorder, Tony will also throw in a laundry list of valuable resources and great people to aid you in your quest to build sales, profits and ‘Mind Capture’.

Click on www.MindCaptureGroup.com to see them all for yourself TODAY!

But don’t just take my word for it as to why so many people are buzzing about this timely and relevant new book.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to grow your organization. Order Mind Capture: How You Can Stand Out In The Age of Advertising Deficit Disorder, Today, July 29, at www.MindCaptureBook.com now – so you stand out in the age of information and advertising disorder.

Tony has successfully laid down the challenge to be met to all progressive business-oriented groups for them to rally, initiate, and put their rewarding and sales plans into action.

3)COMING SOON!!! THE NEW --- listenone.com

* Discover energizing enhancements to: www.listenone.com website

* Capture more unique ear-opening life lessons and insights.

* Fresh new envigorating opportunities for www.listenone.com raving fans

4) New Audiobook Formats -- Including downloadable to your I-Pod 
Explore / Expand Your Internal-Effective-Active-Listening Potential With These Exciting New Audiobook Options!

The Breathing Blanket -

How Attitude and Listening Prevail

NOW AVAILABLE ! ! !

CD   --   MP3 CD    --   DOWNLOADABLE DIGITAL FORMATS

NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR -- GREG BAUER

ATTENTION: SUBSCRIBERS

(1) Our focus of this Newsletter will continue and remain on techniques, skills, and attitudes toward how we better "Utilize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening" in future issues.

(2) Your ideas and suggestions as to subjects you would like to hear about in the upcoming issues of this Newsletter - The Listening Connection - pertaining to listening would really be appreciated and we would like to hear from you at gregbauer@listenone.com.

In The Spirit of Sharing With Others . . .
. . . Opportunities Become Accomplishments

©Greg Bauer (President, Greg Bauer & Associates, Inc. / DBA Listen1) Editor/Publisher 2008

· Looking forward to our sharing the next edition of The Listening Connection

September/October/November/December 2007 -- WELCOME to the Fall 2007 Edition

THE LISTENING CONNECTION
--your world-wide connection to "effective-active listening"

EAR-OPENING CONTENTS

1) Fall 2007 - Opening Commentary.
"Listen for the Silent Rewards"

2) Your INTERACTIVE DIMENSION - Your Opportunity: To Respond to this Fall 2007 Edition's Question

3) World-wide INTERACTIVE RESPONSES to our Summer 2007 Edition Questions

4) Thought Provoker -- Fall Edition.

5) New Audiobook Formats -- including downloading to your I-Pod as great GIFT IDEAS.

1) LISTEN FOR THE SILENT REWARDS

by Greg Bauer

The large dynamic gifts of life are ever abundant and the opportunities derived from these gifts surround us daily being at merely within an arm's reach away.

Are you listening for these ever-present potential silent rewards in your life as you journey along on your life's path?

Beware, for these rewards/gifts in your life will be the most dynamic in proportion to any you've ever received or thought imaginable.

Begin to actively listen for these approaching opportunities, for they are speaking to you.

These approaching dynamic and meaningful opportunities can best be illustrated in the lives of these people I had the great privilege of encountering and sharing with at a recent International Stewardship Conference:

-- David of India -- A very warm-hearted, embracing, and motivational leader whose life's desire is caring for and uplifting the people of his country to be creators and builders of their own destinies, and to support the stewardship opportunities and initiatives in their own country.

-- Daniel of Kenya -- A very enthusiastic, focused, and caring leader whose sole purpose in life is empowering and uplifting the people of his country to think and be creative as entrepreneurs in establishing a culture that builds and grows to support a self-sufficient society and supports their own abundant stewardship efforts for their own country.

-- Lesley of Haiti -- A very caring, supportive, and encouraging leader whose lifestyle is encouraging and empowering the people of his country to grow and establish themselves as self-sufficient entrepreneurs and to individually and collectively support their own country's stewardship initiatives and self-sustaining rewards.

-- Jacob of Ireland -- A very committed, compassionate, and congenial leader who continues dedicating his heart, mind, and soul to the past, present, and future of his growing institute's students and faculty and its curriculum. I really enjoyed our one-on-one sharings and learning of how his educational institute's efforts are helping in producing tomorrow's entrepreneurial and spiritual thinkers and doers of Ireland and how their efforts will support Ireland's own future stewardship developmental programs and rewards.

-- Patrick of Kenya -- A very caring and special leader whose reason for living is empowering and uplifting the people of his country while he transitions from leading one group of people to a whole new group of people in teaching and leading them in establishing their stewardship efforts and silent rewards.

Each of these individuals is blessed, gifted, and very special! Daily they envision and listen for the ever abundant large dynamic gifts of life that surround them offered up by their ever-extending caring and embracing hearts. They continually care when listening to others. Do you? How much?

Encourage yourself and begin to adapt to the lifestyle of listening for your own silent rewards.

2) YOUR INTERACTIVE DIMENSION -- YOUR OPPORTUNITY: RESPOND TO THIS EDITION'S QUESTION

BRIEFLY EXPLAIN:

How much do you really care each time that you listen to someone else?

*YOUR OPPORTUNITY -- CONNECT WITH:*

THE LISTENING CONNECTION

YES -- This is your opportunity to share any of your answers (responses) to the questions from above with our international audience of subscribers of The Listening Connection. 1) We will include your answer(s)/response(s) in our next (Winter 2007-2008) issue. 2) Our readers (subscribers) would also appreciate your providing us with your first name only, state you reside in (if in the U.S.), and your country. We are really looking forward to sharing with you new horizons in The Listening Connection being your worldwide connection to "effective-active listening". E-mail your perspectives/responses to: gregbauer@listenone.com.

3) WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE RESPONSES TO
THE SUMMER 2007 EDITION QUESTIONS:

What life-changing experiences are yet to be discovered in your life by your actively pursuing the questions in the commentary (drawn from The Breathing Blanket -- How Attitude and Listening Prevail)?

JEREMY -- WASHINGTON -- USA

Thank you for your commentary and the questions posted from your book/audiobook - The Breathing Blanket - The questions served as a great reminder for me in that lately I've become way too complacent in my thoughts, actions, and accomplishments. Yes, I'm listening to myself.

JANE -- MAINE -- USA

I found the questions to be life changing for me. After reviewing the questions from The Breathing Blanket,I found my own blanket begin to breathe more deeply and take on new life as I actively began to pursue three major new life-changing ventures in my life in the Internet world. -- My now redefined life's vocation.>

JON -- CANADA

Your "Breathing Blanket" questions were very timely. The questions you posed started to generate new questions in my own mind, heart, and soul. I began to mentally visualize 3 new symbols of hope in my future. I slowed down long enough to realize how these new symbols were the motivating catalysts that I needed to start moving forward with my projects in the biotech field, and apply them to my everyday futuristic applications. Thank you. I've since downloaded The Breathing Blanket onto my Ipod from your website.

BILL -- NORTH CAROLINA -- USA

Yes, I did. I really did slow down long enough (actually everyday for 16 focused days in a row) to focus and take a personal inventory of where I was and where I'm headed on my life's path. I spent literally hours silently listening to my thoughts, dreams, and the direction of my future. During that process, I discovered that God was by my side and I opened my ears to God's messages. Yes, I truly experienced listening to myself and listening to God. This special partnership is going to continue and is strongly supported by my dear wife, kids, employer, pastor, and friends. Fresh new positive focused ideas are emerging.

DAVE -- NEW YORK -- USA

My wife and I retreated to our get-away cabin where we haven't visited for the past 5 months. Our purpose (completely motivated by us both reading your article - "Discover Life-Changing Experiences") was to slow down, take time to listen to ourselves, collect and capture our own individual thoughts and desires, and last of all share these discoveries with each other. A great three days invested in our futures together. We've already planned to take another 3-day retreat in 6 weeks. Our minds are breathing, once again receiving oxygen.

REBA -- BRAZIL

Blessings come to those who "Listen". I read your article and the next day I heard this message in church. Our pastor was telling us of his own experience where he finally took the time to listen to a member of our church and how our pastor learned so much just by taking the time to listen. So, the next day I took your questions to our company president and he is now using your questions in helping to re-evaluate our entire company's operational and internet usage procedures. Our company president has also set aside time for each employee to stop working and focus on periodically taking a personal inventory of their tasks and relationships while at work and reevaluate their work and personal desires.

DEBBIE -- KENTUCKY -- USA

Your summer 2007 commentary's questions have really helped me in pursuing my innermost desires for my future in a most positive and creative way. I've shared my dreams with my friends and I'm now pursuing those dreams. Thank you.

BRIE -- NORWAY

I really admire the tenacity and perseverance of Kari in your article. I've made great strides in my own life in attempting to follow her lead in creating my own future.

4) FALL EDITION THOUGHT PROVOKER:

Today's Thought Provoker

5) New Audiobook Formats -- Including downloadable to your I-Pod 
Explore / Expand Your Internal-Effective-Active-Listening Potential With These Exciting New Audiobook Options!

The Breathing Blanket -

How Attitude and Listening Prevail

NOW AVAILABLE ! ! !

CD   --   MP3 CD    --   DOWNLOADABLE DIGITAL FORMATS

NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR -- GREG BAUER

*Stay posted to our website (www.listenone.com) for further action press releases regarding this international launching of these audio book formats.

ATTENTION: SUBSCRIBERS

(1) Our focus of this Newsletter will continue and remain on techniques, skills, and attitudes toward how we better "Utilize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening"™ in future issues.

(2) Your ideas and suggestions as to subjects you would like to hear about in the upcoming issues of this Newsletter - The Listening Connection - pertaining to listening would really be appreciated and we would like to hear from you at gregbauer@listenone.com.

In The Spirit of Sharing With Others . . .
. . . Opportunities Become Accomplishments

©Greg Bauer (President, Greg Bauer & Associates, Inc. / DBA Listen1) Editor/Publisher 2007

· Looking forward to our sharing the next edition of The Listening Connection

May-June-July-August 2007 -- WELCOME to the Summer 2007 Edition

THE LISTENING CONNECTION
--your world-wide connection to "effective-active listening"

EAR-OPENING CONTENTS

1) Summer 2007 - Opening Commentary.
"Discover Life-Changing Experiences"

2) Your INTERACTIVE DIMENSION - Your Opportunity: To Respond to this Edition's Question

3) World-wide INTERACTIVE RESPONSES to our March-April 2007 Edition Questions

4) Thought Provoker -- Summer Edition.

5) New Audiobook Formats -- including downloading to your I-Pod.

1) DISCOVER LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES

by Greg Bauer

Life is truly full of opportunities yet to be discovered.

Such was the case while traveling this summer where I encountered a very pleasant and upbeat individual by the name of Kari.

Kari and I passed by each other several times that sunshiny afternoon while in a tourist shopping area. Each time we passed, I noted her looking my way. During our last passing, she approached, shook by hand, introduced herself, and asked if I was Greg Bauer the author of The Breathing Blanket? I acknowledged that I was he.

Kari then proceeded to share with me how she had become an avid student of the book's questions and messages over the past year since she intially read the book. She also shared with me some of the personal life-changing experiences that have occurred in her own life as a direct result of actively pursuing her own answers to the questions posed in the contents of The Breathing Blanket.

She then wanted to share with me and identify those specific significant questions:

"How are you utilizing the motivating catalysts in your everyday activities?"

"How have you slowed down enough so that you can start to identify your motivating catalysts?

"What are your symbols of hope?"

"When was the last time you slowed down long enough to take a personal inventory of where you are on your path of life?

". . . When was the last time you listened to yourself?"

According to Kari, by her actively pursuing the answers to these questions, she has made significant strides in new dynamic directions in her life and her future aspirations in helping others.

What life-changing experiences are yet to be discovered in your life by your actively pursuing the answers to these questions?

Your life is full of opportunities yet to be discovered!

2) YOUR INTERACTIVE DIMENSION -- YOUR OPPORTUNITY: RESPOND TO THIS EDITION'S QUESTION

BRIEFLY EXPLAIN:

What life-changing experiences are yet to be discovered in your life by your actively pursuing the questions in the commentary (drawn from The Breathing Blanket -- How Attitude and Listening Prevail?

*YOUR OPPORTUNITY -- CONNECT WITH:*

THE LISTENING CONNECTION

YES -- This is your opportunity to share any of your answers (responses) to the questions from above with our international audience of subscribers of The Listening Connection. 1) We will include your answer(s)/response(s) in our next (Fall 2007) issue. 2) Our readers (subscribers) would also appreciate your providing us with your first name only, state you reside in (if in the U.S.), and your country. We are really looking forward to sharing with you new horizons in The Listening Connection being your worldwide connection to "effective-active listening". E-mail your perspectives/responses to: gregbauer@listenone.com.

3) WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE RESPONSES TO
THE MARCH-APRIL 2007 SPRING EDITION QUESTIONS:

(1) How effectively are you actually listening to others?

(2) What measure(s) is it going to take for you to better "Utilize the Power of Effective- Active-Listening"?

ANTHONY -- SWITZERLAND

I took an inventory of how many times I literally stopped listening to others speaking to me, some 46 times, over a 3-week period after reading your article. Over this 3-week period, I made a conscious and diligent effort to count the number of times, but also to record the instances where I stopped listening and possibly why these shut downs occurred. I have discovered that, for me, it is going to take a disciplined-conscious daily effort for me to stay tuned into exactly what others are trying to convey to me in discussions, conversations, and lectures.

Thank you for providing me with this ear-opening catalyst and becoming my connection to my effective-active-listening.

CLARISA -- AUSTRALIA

After reading your article and pondering over the significance of the questions you posed, I concluded that I wasn't really listening to my friends and colleagues and that is probably why they've been ignoring and avoiding me. I've made a vow to myself and to some of my closest friends that my new focus will be one of really taking an interest in others' needs, challenges, and desires. I've made the commitment. I'm pursuing a more meaningful future.

DAVE -- FLORIDA -- USA

How effectively am I actually listening to others? Wow! I found myself actually afraid to truly answer that question. It's easier to avoid the subject altogether. However, I'm taking steps to listen to others with more of an open mind and allowing new ideas to enter. I've accepted the challenge created by your question.

KAREN -- WISCONSIN -- USA

Your questions caused quite a stir in our book-reading club of 25. We've made a commitment for the next 3 months to help ourselves and each other to focus more on the spoken words each of us are trying to say. We've tuned into your archive section of your listenone.com website to try to seek out helpful listening tips to help us become better active listeners.

JIM -- MISSOURI -- USA

Your questions have prompted the leaders of our medical laboratory components firm to take a good hard look at how the people in our firm are actively listening to each other and to our customers' needs and demands. We'll be contacting you directly for follow-up guidance.

CAROL -- ILLINOIS -- USA

Thank you. Our IT firm has been trying to figure out the missing link to a complicated process for the past 4 months through e-mails and analytical processes. Our efforts kept us running into roadblocks. After reading your article and the question you posed, we decided to hold a face-to-face series of human meetings and we began to enjoy the human interaction. The missing link was found by our sitting down and really listening to each other.

GREG -- OHIO -- USA

We are currently in the process of re-engineering a process in the bio-tech arena that has great potential for our future growth and expansion. Since reading your article, we've committed ourselves to really listening to not only each other more intently, but to working with new minds on a global basis. By our actively opening our ears to new possibilities, sound new methods are being positioned. A new attitude has emerged. We'll be in touch.

4) SUMMER THOUGHT PROVOKER:

Today's Thought Provoker

5) New Audiobook Formats -- Including downloadable to your I-Pod 
Explore / Expand Your Internal-Effective-Active-Listening Potential With These Exciting New Audiobook Options!

The Breathing Blanket -

How Attitude and Listening Prevail

NOW AVAILABLE ! ! !

CD   --   MP3 CD    --   DOWNLOADABLE DIGITAL FORMATS

NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR -- GREG BAUER

*Stay posted to our website (www.listenone.com) for further action press releases regarding this international launching of these audio book formats.

ATTENTION: SUBSCRIBERS

(1) Our focus of this Newsletter will continue and remain on techniques, skills, and attitudes toward how we better "Utilize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening"™ in future issues.

(2) Your ideas and suggestions as to subjects you would like to hear about in the upcoming issues of this Newsletter - The Listening Connection - pertaining to listening would really be appreciated and we would like to hear from you at gregbauer@listenone.com.

In The Spirit of Sharing With Others . . .
. . . Opportunities Become Accomplishments

©Greg Bauer (President, Greg Bauer & Associates, Inc. / DBA Listen1) Editor/Publisher 2007

· Looking forward to our sharing the next edition of The Listening Connection

March-April 2007 -- WELCOME

THE LISTENING CONNECTION
--your world-wide connection to "effective-active listening"

EAR-OPENING CONTENTS

1) March-April Ear-Opening Commentary.
"The Ear-Opening Eruption"

2) Your INTERACTIVE DIMENSION - Your Opportunity: To Respond to these March-April Questions of the Month

3) World-wide INTERACTIVE RESPONSES to the January-February 2007 Edition Questions

4) March-April Thought Provoker.

5) New Audiobook -- 3 Different Formats!!

1) THE EAR-OPENING ERUPTION

by Greg Bauer

"I am getting to the boiling point of fully erupting!" These were the words that exploded out of the mouth of a twelve-year-seasoned administrative assistant to the Vice President at a multi-departmental meeting of department managers that I attended. This now emboldened and confident individual took charge of the meeting and further exclaimed:

"My husband is dying of cancer! I've got better things to do with my life and with my husband during his final days that to spin my wheels here for the past two days listening to constant complaining and constant diversions from staying on the main subject at hand."

"We are getting absolutely nowhere!"

"We haven't even come close to discussing this futuristic project at hand toward meeting our client's expectations or timelines!"

Complete silence and stillness engulfed the entire room. Nobody moved. Nobody said a word. This administrative assistant and capturer-of-the-moment continued on by staring down each of these managers with direct eye-to-eye contact in complete silence.

Then she exclaimed: "This is the first time in two days that you've actually listened to somebody else beside your being so self-absorbed in your own individual demands and wishes."

The group took a 15-minute break and gave way to the air clearing. A new atmosphere of each individual actively sharing emerged and actual listening took place for the remainder of the afternoon. Initiatives were discussed and planned with actual timelines set. At the conclusion of the afternoon, one of these department managers stood up and thanked the administrative assistant for her caring words and offered strong words of support from the group for her and her husband in their days ahead.

How effectively are you actually listening to others?

What measure(s) is it going to take for you to better "Utilitize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening?"

2) YOUR INTERACTIVE DIMENSION -- YOUR OPPORTUNITY: RESPOND TO THESE MARCH-APRIL QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH.

BRIEFLY EXPLAIN:

(1) How effectively are you actually listening to others?

(2) What measure(s) is it going to take for you to better "Utilize the Power of Effective- Active-Listening"?

*YOUR OPPORTUNITY -- CONNECT WITH:*

THE LISTENING CONNECTION

YES -- This is your opportunity to share any of your answers (responses) to the questions from above with our international audience of subscribers of The Listening Connection. 1) We will include your answer(s)/response(s) in our next (May-June) issue. 2) Our readers (subscribers) would also appreciate your providing us with your first name only, state you reside in (if in the U.S.), and your country. We are really looking forward to sharing with you new horizons in The Listening Connection being your worldwide connection to "effective-active listening". E-mail your perspectives/responses to: gregbauer@listenone.com.

3) WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE RESPONSES TO
THE JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2007 EDITION QUESTIONS:

(1) What one individual has made a significant impact upon your life? How?

(2) How have you lately attempted to help another individual(or listen to another individual) without expecting to receive anything in return?

JODY -- MINNESOTA -- USA

My life today, at age 39, would probably not be the same today or have taken the direction it did without this one dynamic leader that entered my life at age 16. This motivator of human qualities and their potential was my track coach in high school. During a conversation I was having with her about life and my goals, she invited me to try out for the track team. I had no real desire to participate in any sport, including track. After about six nudgings from her to come out to the track and just try it out, I conceded to her wishes. I became more involved in the track team and actually placed 1st or 2nd at many of the meets. I'll never forget one statement that this leader of a coach repeated over and over again:

"What do you want to achieve in your life? Pursue it."

This question has reverberated in my mind at every significant turn in my life for the past many years. A visualization of her face, her expressions, and her voice appears in my mind, even today, of her asking that question. Even though she has passed on, she will continue to be very much alive in my mind and life forever. Thank you, Coach, for continually helping me to listen to myself.

TOM -- MICHIGAN -- USA

As a computer software engineer and enjoying my work immensely, I found a lacking void in my life. Thanks to a friend of mine that's a firefighter and involved with youth at risk, I now help coordinate 4 different youth at risk sports programs simultaneously 3 nights a week. These bright, smart youth are starving for adults to listen to their hopes, dreams and problems.

JOSHUA -- NORTH CAROLINA -- USA

There I was. My life was spiraling downward into a deep-dark abyss. I accepted this position and lost all hope for life and what it had to offer.

My fiancee and I had been going together for about 1 1/2 years and been engaged for about six months where we had already made specific plans for our wedding. I was driving her back home after she and I had attended an enjoyable social evening with other couples. Upon arriving at her place, at her front door, she proceeded to very calmly tell me that she was moving on with her life. She further exclaimed that she had a desire to start dating another guy she met at her office, she had a desire to also date other guys, and wanted to start exploring a new career path. She placed her engagement ring in my hand, thanked me for everything, gave me a big thank you kiss, and said good-bye, and closed the door. She closed the door on, what I thought at that time, was the final chapter of my life.

So, as I stated, there I was. Shocked, stunned, and totally devastated in this deep-dark abyss. I walked aimlessly for the next two hours. Trying to figure out, in my mind, what had just happened. I found myself standing in front of a church where I attempted to open the door and the door actually opened. I stepped forward into this dimly-lit church and took a seat about halfway up to the front. I sat there for quite a while in my numb condition. I hadn't been inside a church for at least two years. I then started asking God some questions out loud. After a while a man in street clothes appeared before me. He, with a friendly welcoming smile, shared with me that he was the pastor of this church. He asked if he could sit with me and I welcomed his company. He just sat there and said nothing. Eventually I began sharing with him what had happened to me that evening, my feelings for my now ex-fiancee, and my expectations for our now lost future together.

The gentle caring man of God shared with me these words that have served as an inspirational guiding light for me in the past many years:

"Who do you want to become in God's community here on earth?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"God is listening."

JACKIE -- TENNESSEE -- USA

After graduating from high school some 4 years ago now, I've been in the world of sales and earning a paycheck at what I knew that I didn't want to do for the rest of my life. I didn't care for our sales manager's way of conducting business and closing sales.

While sitting at a crowded coffee shop one day, a gentleman approached me and asked if I'd mind sharing my table and I agreed. Both of us were busy using our laptops. He asked what business I was in and I proceeded to spill my guts as to how much I hated my boss and what I was doing, but that it paid the bills.

After very patiently listening to all of my grief and whining, he very carefully asked -- "So, what is the next step in your life?"

I am now a hairstylist and enjoying listening to my customers.

LISA -- FLOIRDA -- USA

The idea of helping and listening to others came to me so naturally, I didn't even have to give the idea a second thought.

I am a cancer survivor. If it weren't for all of the caring and loving individuals who gave the thousands of hours towards helping and listening to me, I wouldn't be where I am today as again a contributing member of today's society. I am a living product of receiving the healing power of others really loving, caring, and listening. Thank you all.

Now it's my turn to love, care, and listen to others that are terrified, devastated, and without hope. It's my turn to share this healing power with those that have cancer and with their loved ones.

ANTHONY -- COLORADO -- USA

I am a retired school teacher, still in my fifties, energetic, and in good health. I've had no real hobbies, except for golfing occasionally. I started visiting and socializing with residents in a local retirement community and have continued to enjoy interacting with these folks for the past 8 months or so. Recently I was asked by this large community's social activities director to help her in setting up and arranging the many group activities. I accepted and really enjoy being a part of these peoples' lives.

BOB -- TEXAS -- USA

The thought never crossed my mind to do something else with my life. I was set with a career as a full-time firefighter in a larger metropolitan area. I most enjoyed helping others when a crisis struck in their lives, as related to my firefighter's lifestyle during the past 14 years.

Then, my life was thrown a curve. While at a large house fire, my life changed. I found myself on a burning floor that gave way, falling thru to the floor below, beams from the burning structure falling onto my legs, and I was trapped. My team of firefighters came to my rescue and thanks to them I am alive today. However, I lost both of my legs in this brief period of time in my life.

The next chapter opened in my life when my physical therapist asked me what I liked most about firefighting.

I thought about that question for a week and asked that question of myself.

I responded back to her about a week later -- "I like to help others in crisis."

Since then, my family and I have moved several states away. I help others in life-transitions with a non-profit agency in getting their lives back on track.

Looking forward -- leaving the past to take care of itself.

4) MARCH - APRIL THOUGHT PROVOKER:

Today's Thought Provoker

5) New Audiobook Released...  
Explore / Expand Your Internal-Effective-Active-Listening Potential With These Exciting New Audiobook Options!

The Breathing Blanket

NOW AVAILABLE ! ! !

CD   --   MP3 CD    --   DOWNLOADABLE DIGITAL FORMATS

NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR -- GREG BAUER

*Stay posted to our website (www.listenone.com) for further action press releases regarding this international launching of these audio book formats.

ATTENTION: SUBSCRIBERS

(1) Our focus of this Newsletter will continue and remain on techniques, skills, and attitudes toward how we better "Utilize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening"™ in future issues.

(2) Your ideas and suggestions as to subjects you would like to hear about in the upcoming issues of this Newsletter - The Listening Connection - pertaining to listening would really be appreciated and we would like to hear from you at gregbauer@listenone.com.

In The Spirit of Sharing With Others . . .
. . . Opportunities Become Accomplishments

©Greg Bauer (President, Greg Bauer & Associates, Inc. / DBA Listen1) Editor/Publisher 2007

· Looking forward to our sharing the next edition of The Listening Connection

January-February 2007 -- WELCOME

THE LISTENING CONNECTION
--your world-wide connection to "effective-active listening"

EAR-OPENING CONTENTS

1) January-February Ear-Opening Commentary.
"Discover Life's Real Rewards"

2) Your INTERACTIVE DIMENSION - Your Opportunity: To Respond to these January-February Questions of the Month

3) World-wide INTERACTIVE RESPONSES to the November-December 2006 Edition Questions

4) January-February Thought Provoker.

5) New Audiobook Released!!

1) Discover Life's Real Rewards

by Greg Bauer

The real rewards in life evolve from our relentless, patient, and yet persistent initiatives in our helping others in all aspects of our lives while interacting with their lives.

I was reminded of this life-giving (God-given) perspective. In a very humbling, surprised, and delightful encounter. I recently experienced this encounter while my wife and I were waiting to be seated at a local restaurant for dinner.

Upon my turning around, a very charming, confident, and smiling woman was approaching me, stood right in front of me, and our eyes locked onto each other's in a face-to-face encounter.

A long pause ensued and I vaguely recognized her face.

She then proceeded to enthusiastically tell me that without my help and assistance she would not be in her life where she is today.

A brief pause . . .

She then began to elaborate on the details surrounding her opening statement and that is when I definitely knew who Colleen was and how our life paths crossed.

She then very confidently proceeded to share with me how the two years of Communications (Speech) Courses that she took from me as her instructor in high school had allowed her to succeed in her present pursuits in life. Now some 35 years later she is happily married with four grown sons. She has now been an ICU nurse for many years at a large local hospital where she heads up that department's efforts. Throughout the years she has established many critical programs and a special expertise in this medical area. So much so that she is repeatedly asked to give presentations, nationally, about her unique program and expertise.

She told the group that she was dining with that she would catch up with them as soon as she was through thanking me.

She continued to thank me for providing her with the confidence it takes to speak before others, the skills and mindset it takes to put together a great presentation, confidently deliver a meaningful presentation, and be able to do all of this in a profession/mission in life that she loves in her pursuit to listen to and help others.

I was very humbled and honored by this encounter and how I (amongst many other individuals in her life) could be of service to help her and her helping others on her path of life.

Colleen, may God continue to bless you and your pursuits in helping others on their paths of life.

The real rewards in life are discovered and evolve from our relentless, patient, and yet persistent initiatives in our helping and listening to others in all aspects of our lives while actively interacting with their lives.

What a wonderful dynamic world we live in where opportunities abound as a direct result of people listening to and helping each other.

2) YOUR INTERACTIVE DIMENSION -- YOUR OPPORTUNITY: RESPOND TO THESE JANUARY-FEBRUARY QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH.

BRIEFLY EXPLAIN:

(1) What one individual has made a significant impact upon your life? How?

(2) How have you lately attempted to help another individual(or listen to another individual) without expecting to receive anything in return?

*YOUR OPPORTUNITY -- CONNECT WITH:*

THE LISTENING CONNECTION

YES -- This is your opportunity to share any of your answers (responses) to the questions from above with our international audience of subscribers of The Listening Connection. 1) We will include your answer(s)/response(s) in our next (March-April) issue. 2) Our readers (subscribers) would also appreciate your providing us with your first name only, state you reside in (if in the U.S.), and your country. We are really looking forward to sharing with you new horizons in The Listening Connection being your worldwide connection to "effective-active listening". E-mail your perspectives/responses to: gregbauer@listenone.com.

3) WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE RESPONSES TO
THE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2006 EDITION QUESTIONS:

How much do you really care about and truly have to actively listen to every individual that you encounter daily?

How self-absorbed have you become in your own world and all of it's outcomes?

AL -- NEW ENGLAND STATES -- USA

I recently had an earth-shaking experience that really reminded of how important listening is in my life.

I've been in the IT world for about 8 years as a support technician overseeing the on-going technical operations of our cleints' equipment. Anytime a problem occurs I am usually notified online, respond back, ask further questions, and receive responses all online from our clients. If I have to physically be at the clients' offices I'm there in their slower off hours as to not interrupt their operations. So you see, I have very little face-to-face human encounter with our cleints. I've begun to comfortably settle into a lifestyle of communicating (e-mailing) on my job some 8-10 hours per day - six days a week. I began to enjoy this way of communicating with others in all of the other aspects of my life, including people at our church, our friends, our two kids away at college in California and North Carolina, relatives, and even my own parents all the way across the country in Oregon.

Then one day my sister e-mailed me from Oregon and stated that our mother became critically ill with pneumonia and was in the hospital. We continued to e-mail each other for the next two days and then my sister called me on the phone (a method I seldom now use to communicate) and she exclaimed:

"I don't feel any emotion, heartfelt caring, or your presence in your flat unemotional words of your e-mails. I'm missing you, big brother, where are you? Is this how you communicate with everybody? I need you!"

My digital tracts came to a screeching halt.

We agreed to start exclusively communicating over the phone daily about mother's condition and other matters in the future. I even ended up flying out to see my mother, sister, and other family members as our mother was being released from the hospital.

I thank my sister for reminding me of how important everyday face-to-face and even voice-to-voice contacts really are in all aspects of our lives.

JANET -- NEBRASKA -- USA

Thank you for sharing your commentary on people-partnering-connections. Your article prompted me to reflect back on the many people that I encountered in this past year at work, socially, and even my own family members.

I'm actually quite embarrassed by my reflections. For the most part, my communications with these individuals centered around my getting things done -- my accomplishing my own initiatives. I did not take the time to really make each of these individuals a part of my on-going efforts. I did not create any meaningful/long-term partnerships with anyone. I did not even take the time or effort to really grow my relationship with my husband of 14 years.

I've prayed about my self-centered lifestyle and have committed to take a more genuine interest in each individual I come in contact with daily.

For one, I go beyond the customary -- Hello! How are you?

I stop, slow down, look them in the eyes, and actually take a sincere interest in their responses. I take the focus off of me and make every effort to keep it off of me. For two, I take extra steps to involve them and their input in final outcomes. So far, my attempts at partnering with others for the long term has been very rewarding.

Thank you! I'm now back in the people business and enjoying life.

WILLIAM -- MASSACHUSETTS -- USA

The world around me is completely self-absorbed. Everyone is very much interested and focused on how they can get ahead in the world, how fast that can happen, and how rapidly they can start reaping the rewards (mostly financial and corporate ladder drive).

And the description above describes me to a tee. I truly enjoy this fast-paced, high-energy lifestyle.

Then it happened, I got a very bad cold and then the flu set in and my world came to a sudden standstill. I could not get out of bed for any period of time or even keep my eyes open for almost a week. A week of self-reflection set in.

For the first time in many years I began to ponder on what are the most valuable aspects of my life. I began to realize that I needed to start enjoying the journey -- my journey -- of life. I needed to begin listening to and enjoying the dynamic moments as they occur more in a state of slow motion.

It's been about six months since my week of self-reflection. I've really grown. Life is richer and more dynamic in so many ways.

My daily hour-long walks along the coast have provided me with the opportunity to think and develop my thinking to renew my relationship with God.

My taking time to listen to others has provided me with opportunities to develop new relationships with individuals who really care about others -- a unique value-added dimension to my journey of endless opportunities.

BETH -- ILLINOIS -- USA

Yes, I am in the people business, or at least that is the business that I'm supposed to be in.

I arrange, set up, and coordinate all of the adult programs that take place in our church on a monthly basis. I have to arrange, promote, and deal with the many details months in advance of each program and/or event. Month after month I've become so bogged down with details that I can't think straight anymore. After all, I'm supposed to be helping to nourish people both spiritually and pragmatically. I've been praying for assistance -- an intervention.

Then your commentary appeared on my computer screen. I read it once - twice - three times. I said to myself - "This is it - People".

Ever since reading and better understanding your commentary I've begun to listen to and activate others' suggestions much more so and share more and more details in getting them done with many volunteer church members. These volunteers have enjoyed their experiences so much that they have asked for other details of other projects they could help work on.

Coming in contact with each volunteer's heart, mind, and soul is becoming as significant a dimension as the actual program or event itself.

KAY -- MICHIGAN -- USA

My boss sent me off to a convention in another state to represent our company at a display/sales booth for three days. I was expected to socialize with potential clients and briefly familiarize them with our product line. My boss's benchmark was for me to return with 150 names, phone numbers, and tentative products of interest for our telemarketing team to follow up on, followed by our team of closers.

I had a great time, met a number of individuals, discussed their needs, and reviewed several possible solutions by their using our products. I was very pleased with my results of 3 days and returned with 55 solid prospects' names.

However, the next day after my return from this convention, my boss literally exploded into a raging ball of fire over my bringing back so few leads. He raged and fumed over this matter for a week and let everyone in the company know how displeased he was with my performance.

I personally followed up with 5 of them the following week, and closed with all 5 of those prospects with immediate multiple-product orders. I carefully listened to the prospects' needs, took a personal interest in each person (prospect), carefully evaluated their situation with their help, and made recommendations they resoundingly accepted.

The next week, one of the people of the five companies I did business with called into our company for some follow up tech-support advice. This new customer (the person - one of that firm's VPs) caught wind of my boss's displeasure with my performance at the convention through his conversation with not only our tech support, but also a phone call he placed to our shipping department.

The next thing I know, I'm receiving a phone call from this VP that I met and is now a customer. He asked me about what he had heard in the wind about my boss's displeasure over my performance at the convention. I confirmed his findings.

Then the next thing I know, this VP is offering me a sales position with his company with a much larger base salary, with no ceilings on possible future commissions, and a much more positive and energetic atmosphere to grow in for the future. He then added, for me to take off the next ten days and take a well-deserved vacation with pay before starting my new position.

I enthusiastically accepted.

I have now been at my new position for two months and enjoy being in the flourishing people business -- not the numbers business.

4) JANUARY-FEBRUARY THOUGHT PROVOKER:

Today's Thought Provoker

5) New Audiobook Released...  
Explore / Expand Your Internal-Effective-Active-Listening Potential With These Exciting New Audiobook Options!

The Breathing Blanket

NOW AVAILABLE ! ! !

CD   --   MP3 CD    --   DOWNLOADABLE DIGITAL FORMATS

NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR -- GREG BAUER

*Stay posted to our website (www.listenone.com) for further action press releases regarding this international launching of these audio book formats.

ATTENTION: SUBSCRIBERS

(1) Our focus of this Newsletter will continue and remain on techniques, skills, and attitudes toward how we better "Utilize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening"™ in future issues.

(2) Your ideas and suggestions as to subjects you would like to hear about in the upcoming issues of this Newsletter - The Listening Connection - pertaining to listening would really be appreciated and we would like to hear from you at gregbauer@listenone.com.

In The Spirit of Sharing With Others . . .
. . . Opportunities Become Accomplishments

©Greg Bauer (President, Greg Bauer & Associates, Inc. / DBA Listen1) Editor/Publisher 2007

· Looking forward to our sharing the next edition of The Listening Connection

November-December 2006 -- WELCOME

THE LISTENING CONNECTION
--your world-wide connection to "effective-active listening"

EAR-OPENING CONTENTS

1)November-December Ear-Opening Commentary.
"The Univeral People Partnering Connection Perspective"

2) Your INTERACTIVE DIMENSION - Your Opportunity: To Respond to these November-December Questions of the Month

3) World-wide INTERACTIVE RESPONSES to the September-October 2006 Edition Questions

4) November-December Thought Provoker.
Discover New Audio Book Promotions -- The Breathing Blanket

5) Ear-Opening Holiday Package Combo Close-out Special!!
Gifts of Hope and Inspiration

1) The Universal People Partnering Connection Perspective

by Greg Bauer

How much as human beings do we really care about our other fellow human beings individually?

How much do you really care about each and every individual that you encounter daily?

When listening to your heart, mind, and soul concerning the above two questions, what conclusions have you already drawn?

How self-absorbed have you become in your own world and it's outcomes?

The very term "customer service" has become a worn out phrase that no longer achieves its expectations or even its definition.

Yes, a customer is the most important person in any business and is stated as such by many a business and/or orgnaization.

Yes, a customer is not dependent on us. We as a company or organization are dependent on the customer.

Yes, a customer desires the most courteous attention we can provide that customer.

Yes, this customer is the lifeblood of our business and every other business.

The term "customer service" is in no way connected with what the customer really wants or desires and it's outcomes. The notion of "customer service" is derived from the manufacturer, producer, or service provider in hopes that they have a product or service that will somehow meet somebody's needs (in part) out there in the world. The service or product is generated from a self-promoted initiative or perspective, (an ego-money driven perspective), not from a genuiine heart-to-heart/one human being to another perspective.

- This outdated way of looking at and practicing "customer service" is in a large part why 80% of the new businesses started every year fail.

- This is also the case in a big way why very large and successful companies find themselves, their services, and/or their products to be no longer (or less) desired by the nation (world) at large.

- This is also the case, in a big way, why these same large companies are abandoning the very employees that helped build their companies with misguided and unbalanced (customer service) visionary initiatives.

- This is also the case, in a big way, why "customer service" and customer satisfaction is at its lowest ever here in the U.S.

Thus emerges a dynamic world perspective: "THE UNIVERAL PEOPLE PARTNERING CONNECTION PERSPECTIVE".

This perspective is not new.

This perspective has been practiced for decades internationally.

This perspective draws long-term customer loyalty driven by constantly improving quality meeting individual customer-perceived expectations and desires collectively.

This perspective draws employee loyalty and longevity with a commitment to meet these indivdiual customer-perceived expectations and desires.

This "UNIVERSAL PEOPLE PARTNERING CONNECTION PERSPECTIVE" involves a 24/7 "effective-active-listening" lifestyle by 100% of the individuals involved in a bond sealed by a lifelong commitment to dedicating their hearts, minds, and souls to 100% CUSTOMER SATISAFACTION.

- EACH INDIVDIUAL PARTNER (CONSUMER)

- EACH INDIVDIUAL PARTNER (EMPLOYEE)

- EACH INDIVDIUAL PARTNER (EACH PORTION OF THE COMPANY)

- EACH INDIVDIUAL PARTNER (THE WORLD MARKET)

The mind frame becomes a 24/7 culture in individuals, households, community activities, and in all aspects of their working life.

Separate conversations I recently had with two individiuals within a week's time prompted me to share and write today's commentary.

One of these individuals is my very successful grown son who has had much success in the business world. The other individual is an American-born nun, who has lived her life as a nun for the past 30 years in Italy, while she was visiting her parents and friends back here in the States.

In private conversations I had with both within the same week, I asked both of them:

"What is the most VALUABLE aspect of what you do in your life's work/profession?"

Both responded without any hesitation:

"I am in the PEOPLE BUSINESS! PEOPLE ARE MY LIFE!"

WOW! I found the same exact responses from these two different individuals from such different and diverse worlds to be quite profound.

Ear-Opener #8 -- Learn to set your sights on coming in contact with each individual's heart, mind, and soul that you encounter daily. Practice, daily, to take a much more sincere interest in each person.

Yes, this is going to require that the pace of your lifestyle slow down a bit.

Yes, this is also going to require long periods of time where you are going to have to set your ego-driven efforts aside.

Yes, this is going to require that you are going to be broadening your world perspectives through others' eyes and their vision.

The path to this "UNIVERSAL PEOPLE PARTNERING CONNECTION PERSPECTIVE" starts with you. -- Yes, you!

Think about this factor of life. You come in contact with 10-20-30 or more individuals per week. How you engage in your verbal and listening exchanges impacts these individuals' lives and their future exchanges with others. They will inevitably impact 100's of individuals in the way they will impact how they will impact their methods in the way they will perform in future encounters.

Yes, it all begins with you!

The path to 24/7 "UNIVERSAL PEOPLE PARTNERING CONNECTION PERSPECTIVE" begins with you.

2) YOUR INTERACTIVE DIMENSION -- YOUR OPPORTUNITY: RESPOND TO THESE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH.

BRIEFLY EXPLAIN:

(1) How much do you really care about and truly have to actively listen to every individual that you encounter daily?

(2) How self-absorbed have you become in your own world and all of it's outcomes?

*YOUR OPPORTUNITY -- CONNECT WITH:*

THE LISTENING CONNECTION

YES -- This is your opportunity to share any of your answers (responses) to the questions from above with our international audience of subscribers of The Listening Connection. 1) We will include your answer(s)/response(s) in our next (January-February) issue. 2) Our readers (subscribers) would also appreciate your providing us with your first name only, state you reside in (if in the U.S.), and your country. We are really looking forward to sharing with you new horizons in The Listening Connection being your worldwide connection to "effective-active listening". E-mail your perspectives/responses to: gregbauer@listenone.com.

3) WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE RESPONSES TO
THE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2006 EDITION QUESTIONS:

(1) What is your typical resonse/reaction to a person who complains and complains and complains?

(2) What steps have you taken recently to control your own complaining and also to control your exposure to external complaining elements?

ABBEY -- ILLINOIS -- USA

About eight months ago I severed ties with a group of long-time friends that I've had since 2nd grade in elementary school. We grew up together, shared in many adventures during our growing years, shared in the birth of our children together, and had coffee once or twice a week together. However, in the past two years our coffees have turned into totally negative moaning, whining, and complaining sessions. This type of negative attitude and negative thinking began to enter all of the aspects of my life. Something had to change.

I quit attending these coffees -- cold turkey.

I signed up for, attended, and became involved in two different energizing self-help courses at the local university.

I also began enthusiasticlaly going to a coffee held every other week with several of my fellow students that I met and got to know at these self-help courses. Our discussions, for the most part, pertain to positive subjects and futuristic positive thinking.

My husband has commented several times now on how I've become much more energetic, results-oriented, and cheery about reaching out to others.

Even I like the new me much better.

TERRENCE -- VIRGINIA -- USA

For the past ten years I've made every effort to avoid encountering, being around, and building friendships with whining, complaining, negative people.

For you see, something had to change in my life after growing up in a house with a constantly whining/complaining mother and father who would verbally beat up each other, and a brother and sister who were going nowhere in life and always complaining about their failures to others.

At age 18, when I went off to college out of state, I made a vow to myself that I would forever close the door on my negative and complaining past.

Today I make every effort to surround myself with positive-minded friends and business acquaintances. My wife and I daily help each other to reinforce each other's postiive mindframe.

I'm enjoying the journey in making things happen.

MARIA -- OHIO -- USA

Complaining had become a way of life at my workplace.

It seemed like everytime I turned around somebody was unhappy and/or complaining either during work hours, on breaks, and especially during lunch.

I got so tired of listening to this negative vibrating tone that I've found a quiet unoccupied office during my breaks and lunch hours to read positive-motivating books or write positive letters of interest to my friends out of state.

I decided to move forward with my life and leave my co-workers to their own self-destruction.

MIKE -- WISCONSIN -- USA

You would think that in this world of e-mails and instant-messaging that the people driving the momentum of this futuristic highway of communicating would be positive, forward-thinking, and constructive in their expressing and conveying of knowledge and productivity.

Not the case. Proper grammer, completing entire thoughts, proper corporate reopresentation, proper and correct corporate expressions of ethics and values, and proper conveyance of one's attitude, emotions, and feelings have been thrown out the windows and increasingly continue to go unchecked.

I truly believe that the next step for corporations in their using this superhighway of communicating needs to be in formulating a separate department to double check all e-mails for any and all inconsistencies before releasing these electronically- generated communications to the world at large. Keep in mind that the future of each corporation lies in the computer, cell phone, palm pilot held by each of it's employees representing their destiny.

Scarey isnt' it? Especially with all of the whining and complaining that goes on daily on this superhighway by corporate people.

SUE -- OREGON -- USA

It's really very simple. I've become much more relaxed, focused, and accomplishing much more in the past year by simply not watching any news on TV (I hardly watch any TV anymore) or listen to any news on the radio.

I've eliminated a large majority of my exposure to complaining and whining by tuning out the news (media) in my life.

I've also found myself spending that once wasted time in positively encouraging the lives of the ones I love and even with those I've yet to meet in life.

JON -- AUSTRALIA

Whining and complaining never gets anything accomplished.

Whining and complaining merely increases one's aging process and decreases one's life expectancy.

DEBORAH -- PENNSYLVANIA -- USA

One's heart never heals by whining and complaining.

God has a plan for each of us, only if we listen long and focused enough to find out what that plan really is and how to pursue that plan.

4) NOVEMBER-DECEMBER THOUGHT PROVOKER:
EXPLORE/EXPAND YOUR POTENTIAL WITH THESE NEW AUDIOBOOK OPTIONS!

Early 2007 Availability in
CD -- MP3 -- IPod FORMAT

Narrated by the Author -- Greg Bauer

* Stay posted to our website (www.listenone.com) for pre-launch advance ordering opportunities and details including:
How you can be one of the FIRST "50" to pre-order your CD of The Breathing Blanket and receive a yet-to-be announced complimentary-bonus help source.

* Also, stay posted to our website (www.listenone.com) for further developmental updates, action press releases, and future motivating promotions about our audiobook formats.

Today's Thought Provoker
as revealed in an article
from: The Director's Heart (From: Bi-monthly newsletter PastorCare (Website) -- The Great Lakes Region)
By: John W. Smith, M.Div., D.Min. -- Regional Director

I had breakfast recently with Greg Bauer, one of the most positive, joyful, and engaging people I've ever met. His book, The Breathing Blanket: How Attitude and Listening Prevail, is his story and is available through his website: www.listenone.com.

As the survivor of a near fatal drunk-driver crash at the age of two, Greg has overcome life-long physical challenges and learned that everyone has the potential to create accomplishments from crisis.

Greg's physical pain was intolerable, but he chose to pursue his dreams, hopes, and aspriations. In spite of monumental roadblocks, his abundant positive attitude helped him rise above his circumstances and do what others thought to be impossible. Unlike many of us, Greg refused to avert his eyes from pain but chose, instead, to look it directly in the face and confront it.

I invest my life with pastors and their families who have been deeply hurt. God has given me the compassion to come alongside them in the midst of suffering and to gently encourage them to develop an "I can do it" attitude like Greg.

Through the years, Greg has forgiven the drunk driver who robbed him of his physical health. Pastors and wounded church members need to walk similar paths of forgiveness and move forward to find the peace, joy, and purpose that God desires for each of us.

Continuing to learn the art of forgivenesss from the Master,
John W. Smith

5) Ear-Opening Package Special

The Breathing Blanket (book)
GREG BAUER – AUTHOR – VICTIM AND SURVIVOR OF A NEAR-DEATH DRUNK-DRIVING CRASH EXPERIENCE REVEALS IN HIS RECENTLY RELEASED INSPIRATIONAL BOOK – THE BREATHING BLANKET – HOW YOU CAN DISCOVER AN “I CAN DO IT” ATTITUDE BY INTERNALLY “UTILIZING THE POWER OF EFFECTIVE-ACTIVE- LISTENING”.

Celebrate Selling the Consultative Relationship Way (book)
Greg Bauer -- "The Guru of Listening" -- Co-Author
Opportunities in your personal life and corporate life are created by actively promoting and practicing relationship building and active listening efforts. This book reveals ways to establish and build relationships in customer service, management, sales, networking and self-promotion in the 21st century.

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ATTENTION: SUBSCRIBERS

(1) Our focus of this Newsletter will continue and remain on techniques, skills, and attitudes toward how we better "Utilize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening"™ in future issues.

(2) Your ideas and suggestions as to subjects you would like to hear about in the upcoming issues of this Newsletter - The Listening Connection - pertaining to listening would really be appreciated and we would like to hear from you at gregbauer@listenone.com.

In The Spirit of Sharing With Others . . .
. . . Opportunities Become Accomplishments™

©Greg Bauer (President, Greg Bauer & Associates, Inc. / DBA Listen1) Editor/Publisher 2006

· Looking forward to our sharing the next edition of The Listening Connection

September-October 2006 -- WELCOME

THE LISTENING CONNECTION
--your world-wide connection to "effective-active listening"

EAR-OPENING CONTENTS

1)September-October Ear-Opening Commentary.
"Please! Stop the Complaining and Whining"

2) Your INTERACTIVE DIMENSION - Your Opportunity: To Respond to these September-October Questions of the Month

3) World-wide INTERACTIVE RESPONSES to the July-August 2006 Edition Questions

4) September-October Thought Provoker.

5) Ear-Opening Holiday Package Special!!
Gifts of Hope and Inspiration

1) Please! Stop the Complaining and Whining!

by Greg Bauer

1. Enjoy Living!

2. Enjoy working at your position!

3. Enjoy confronting and working with the challenges at hand!

4. Enjoy building relationships on a 24/7 basis!

5. Enjoy living your 24/7 lifestyle as being an innovator of solutions!

6. Celebrate being flexible and the rewards derived!

7. Celebrate moments of conflict, disagreement, and even defeat as moments of opportuntiies to grow, develop, and reach out for improvement 24/7!

These are the top items for improving the vision, goals, and culture that a very vibrant and personable President/CEO of a mid-size midwestern company recently shared with me in a private session.

Note: 1) Notice how this list of top items of improvements and refinements did not directly include anything about their products and/or services.

2) Notice how this list did strongly encourage and include a strong definite enhancement of their people and company culture. Also notice the strong emphasis on how these enhancements occur in each employee's 24/7 lifestyle. Not just at work.

Later that day, this President had called a pre-scheduled mandatory meeting where the agenda had one subject on it and one focus only -- "The Refinement of our Company Culture." I felt honored and privileged to be invited and in attendance as an observer at this meeting of vice presidents and management leaders.

This fired up President started this session by stating his commitment to beginning to live this newly-upgraded enhanced lifestyle today. He emphasized each of the 7 components listed above, elaborated on the importance of each, and how important the simultaneous and collective practice of all of these components was crucial to the wellness and future growth of the company. Every team member got the message which became evident when the message received a unanimous standing ovation.

Then the President of this now very committed team unveiled the key element to how this formula for enhancement was going to be achieved:

"We are going to eliminate any and all complaining from our company's cultural lifestyle on a 24/7 basis. We will: STOP THE COMPLAINING AND WHINING!"

That day Ear-Openers 4, 5, 6, and 7 emerged and were further developed:

(Note: Ear-Openers 1, 2, and 3 are covered in the July-August edition.)

Ear-Opener #4 -- At any level in any company or association, anyone criticizing anybody or issue will no longer express any judgment or opinion without supporting the statement with a positive (proactive) solution(s).

Ear-Opener #5 -- Stop complaining (yourself) to any and all people and groups, and begin to be known and recognized as a person that offers viable constructive solutions 24/7.

Ear-Opener #6 -- Becoming a person that is respected and emulated by all for your genuine sincerity in your abiltiies to offer constructive solutions and celebrate constructive input from others in finalzing conclusions in helping to serve others. Begin to "actively listen" to what you are going to say and what you actually say. Ask yourself: "How are my statements going to impact others and the task at hand -- constructively or destructively?" Be approachable.

Ear-Opener #7 -- Practice to identify any and all approaching complaining and whining by "actively listening" for any indication of ever receiving any constructive solultions. Simply ask this potentially complaining individual: "What constructive solutions do you have to offer?" If their resonse is: "I don't have one" or "None", simply and politely offer to meet with them at a future time when they have developed and are ready to share a positive, proactive, and constructive solution.

Since the meeting, I've shared this mindset and visionary thought patterns (that were presented by this vibrant President) with other top business executives, several ministers, some healtcare professionals, some community leaders, athletic coaches, and some business developers that were participants in workshops and consultations where I've presented and conferred.

They all agreed and strongly supported that complaining and whining and even being exposed to this devastating pollutant becomes a roadblock to:

-- creativity occurring
-- visionary thinking
-- progressing forward
-- building strong and vibrant relationships
-- establishing credibility
-- maintaining believability and trust
-- achieving future accomplishments
-- and to your improving your (and/or your group's) effective-active listening abilities.

One other significant part of this life changing practice involves your commitment to listen and reveal to yourself and to discover where you are being exposed to a complaining mindset and culture externally:

-- People on the telephone / cell phone / e-mails
-- Friends, relatives, and confidants
-- People involved in your leisure-time activites
-- People involved in your religious and community activities
-- Your spouse
-- Your children
-- People in the mall, shopping centers, grocery store
-- Media / news exposure -- radio / tv / internet
-- Your work environment: People internal and external

* Determine your levels of exposure to complaining and whining and immediately begin to control your degree of exposure.

* Activate the elements for improving and enhancing your (or your organization's) lifestyle 24/7 and immediately begin to initiate the practice of:

-- STOP THE COMPLAINING AND WHINING --

Begin to realize the many newly unleashed benefits derived from your enhanced ability to "Utilize the Power of Effective-Active Listening" by drastically reducing the "complaining" portion of your 24/7 lifestyle.

2) YOUR INTERACTIVE DIMENSION -- YOUR OPPORTUNITY: RESPOND TO THESE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH.

BRIEFLY EXPLAIN:

(1) What is your typical resonse/reaction to a person who complains and complains and complains?

(2) What steps have you taken recently to control your own complaining and also to control your exposure to external complaining elements?

*YOUR OPPORTUNITY -- CONNECT WITH:*

THE LISTENING CONNECTION

YES -- This is your opportunity to share any of your answers (responses) to the questions from above with our international audience of subscribers of The Listening Connection. 1) We will include your answer(s)/response(s) in our next (November-December) issue. 2) Our readers (subscribers) would also appreciate your providing us with your first name only, state you reside in (if in the U.S.), and your country. We are really looking forward to sharing with you new horizons in The Listening Connection being your worldwide connection to "effective-active listening". E-mail your perspectives/responses to: gregbauer@listenone.com.

3) WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE RESPONSES TO
THE JULY-AUGUST 2006 EDITION QUESTIONS:

(1) What prompted you to accept the challenge posed in this July issue and begin to intertwine ear-openers 1, 2, and 3 in everyday lifestyle?

(2) What attributes have you discovered by your accepting and practicing ear-openers 1, 2, and 3 as part of your newly founded life skills?

JEFF -- ILLINOIS -- USA

I did accept your challenge to review and apply the ear-openers in my life. However, it took me a couple of days until my coming around to total acceptance, because many different facets were already going so well in my life:

-- Having a job/career that I really like and I just got promoted.
-- Having a beautiful and supportive girlfriend
-- Having a healthy lifestyle -- eating well / working out
-- Etc.

However, what I didn't have was a way that led my energies and expectations to reach uncharted dimensions.

That's when I started to really look at how I was helping others on a day-by-day basis, how I was really leading a life of living my convictions, and how I really was more of an interrupter, both consciously and sub-consciously, when listening to my friends and co-workers.

So far, I've found by my just being aware of these attributes my life is richer with even more focus on others rather than me.

LINDA -- NEW YORK -- USA

Thank you for sharing those life-enhancing ear-openers (1-2-3) with us in "The Listening Connection". My husband and I have taken to practicing and integrating the dimensions and characteristics into our lifes.

Our 5-year marriage has been rejuvenateed by our focusing more on each others' needs and not on me during the past 30 days. It works! We've also found that this practice has carried over into our work and already been received with rewarding results.

We are both looking forward to partaking in your future ear-openers and their challenges.

KAREN -- OHIO -- USA

By using your ear-openers, my life has become much more tolerable at work.

My boss has been a tough individual to work with in the past year. She's encountered certain work-related over-bearing challenges along with personal family conflicts.

I began to implement ear-opener 1, 2, and 3 into my approach whenever directly or indirectly encountering her.

I constantly shift the point of conversation to her and off of "me".

I try to keep my focus of attention on specific items and not keep changing my mind just to meet everybody's expectations, especially in talking with her.

I'm holding back and not interrupting her with my off-the-cuff not thought-thru remarks.

My boss is actually starting to confide in me

Thank you --"The Listening Connection".

TERRI -- COLORADO -- USA

I must admit, ear-opener #3 knocked me over upon reading and receiving it's message.

My profession of being in advertising and marketing has called me to come up with new and exciting ideas all the time. So, whenever encounterinng others I'm constantly spouting off with this or that idea.

This timely "Listening Connection" article hit me hard - head on. #'s 1 and 2 also apply in this situation. However #3 really made me think. My thoughts and ideas that I've been expressing to others have sounded not well thought thru and with very little depth as mere "INTERRUPTERS". I confirmed my feelings with 4 of my close friends and/or challenges.

My major focus is no longer on me, but on how significant others' ideas are and how their ideas can enhance our advertising and marketing efforts.

My focus is now properly on "others".

JIM -- CALIFORNIA -- USA

Six months ago I left a company as a top level manager. During the past two years, before my resigning, I was receiving directions from many different directions within this company that were leading us nowhere with mixed-confused messages / inconsistent messages / and messages drawing our team(s) to incorrect dead-end conclusions.

It began to visibly appear to all the workers and foremen that each top level management person admired their own individual ideas so much that no compromising was occurring and each was trying to run the company and projects that pleased their individual desires.

Projects were delayed many times, disloyalty and mistrust set into the minds of every worker, and exiting customers were leaving us with jobs that were eventually completed by other companies

Yes, six months ago I left a company that had shakey and inconsistent footings, wavering all over the board with its ideas and determinations, and was dramatically suffering from a wildly-speading epidemic of "The Me Factor".

I've now relocated several states away with a company that really collectively values all employee input and draws concise and sound decisions for and with its customers.

TOM -- MINNESOTA -- USA

A church group that I've belonged to for the past 10 years became a very enjoyable spirit and life-fulfilling event once a month for both myself and the other members.

About 10 months ago, a new member in the community joined our church and shortly after joined in our monthly small group sessions.

The next thing we knew, this new member began to dominate the sessions by constantly expressing personal viewpoints and insisting that we all needed to adopt this person's personal agenda.

Also, this new member also made sure that others' viewpoints weren't to be heard or adopted. This person would constantly interrupt people and not allow them to finish their statement.

Several of us individually adressed this issue and this person's unusual behavior to the pastor. The pastor stated that he would talk with that person. However, this person had become a very large donor to the church in the past 3 months. The pastor was unable to reason with this person, and so this long-standing and spiritual group, concerned mainly about helping others, was forced to disband.

The "Me Factor" of one individual destroyed this caring group and its life-giving caring efforts.

Several of us that were long-time members continue to pray over this matter.

SUE -- WASHINGTON -- USA

I've committed my life to helping others, dedicated and concered about others' concerns and issues, and completely loyal to those I serve daily.

The "Me" Factor has not been a part of my life for the past 12 years and continues to be most rewarding when I am serving God and others.

I really enjoy helping others succeed and, in turn, watching those same indivduals help others to succeed and grow.

My happiness is generated by my abundantly helping and serving others to grow, prosper, work thru the challenges, take the next step, and in their sharing their rewards with others.

I'm inspired by your messages put forth in your book - The Breathing Blanket -- and by your messages of "serving others first" in The Listening Connection editions. Thank you.

4) SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER THOUGHT PROVOKER

-- Norman Vincent Peale
The Power of Positive Thinking

5) Ear-Opening Package Special

The Breathing Blanket (book)
GREG BAUER – AUTHOR – VICTIM AND SURVIVOR OF A NEAR-DEATH DRUNK-DRIVING CRASH EXPERIENCE REVEALS IN HIS RECENTLY RELEASED INSPIRATIONAL BOOK – THE BREATHING BLANKET – HOW YOU CAN DISCOVER AN “I CAN DO IT” ATTITUDE BY INTERNALLY “UTILIZING THE POWER OF EFFECTIVE-ACTIVE- LISTENING”.

Celebrate Selling the Consultative Relationship Way (book)
Greg Bauer -- "The Guru of Listening" -- Co-Author
Opportunities in your personal life and corporate life are created by actively promoting and practicing relationship building and active listening efforts. This book reveals ways to establish and build relationships in customer service, management, sales, networking and self-promotion in the 21st century.

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ATTENTION: SUBSCRIBERS

(1) Our focus of this Newsletter will continue and remain on techniques, skills, and attitudes toward how we better "Utilize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening"™ in future issues.

(2) Your ideas and suggestions as to subjects you would like to hear about in the upcoming issues of this Newsletter - The Listening Connection - pertaining to listening would really be appreciated and we would like to hear from you at gregbauer@listenone.com.

In The Spirit of Sharing With Others . . .
. . . Opportunities Become Accomplishments™

©Greg Bauer (President, Greg Bauer & Associates, Inc. / DBA Listen1) Editor/Publisher 2006

· Looking forward to our sharing the next edition of The Listening Connection

July-August 2006 -- WELCOME

THE LISTENING CONNECTION
--your world-wide connection to "effective-active listening"

EAR-OPENING CONTENTS

1)July-August Ear-Opening Commentary.
"Listening - Ear-Opening Opportunities to our Futures"

2) Your INTERACTIVE DIMENSION - Your Opportunity: To Respond to these July-August Questions of the Month

3) World-wide INTERACTIVE RESPONSES to the June 2006 Edition Questions

4) July-August Thought Provoker.

5) Ear-Opening Limited Package Special!!
Gifts of Hope and Inspiration

1) Listening: Ear-Opening Opportunities to Our Futures

by Greg Bauer

Do you really care about your future?

How much do you really care about your future?

Let's be Honest!

Oh, I can see most of you at this point frantically looking for the quickest way to click me out-of-sight and out-of mind.

You know who you are. Yes - that's right, those of you saying to yourself "This sounds like too much work with way too much involvement on my part to tune in and take an active roll in really participating and actively learning to listen for the signs that will determine the outcomes of my future."

Our journey will NOT be for the faint-of-heart or the weak-of-mind whether you are a business leader, community leader, national/international leader or politician, entrepreneur, religious leader, a person that works with or amongst other individuals, a spouse, a parent, or an individual that is desiring to make a difference.

Warning! The faint-of-heart and weak-of-mind need not read any further. You won't be able to tolerate the excitement generated from the positive-life-benefits that you will encounter. Yes, you have permission to click off now.

For those of you that are determined, motivated, and ready to take the responsibility for growing and creating your own dynamic future and overcoming the pitfalls endured, let's continue on in pursuing our "ear-opening opportunities to our futures" together.

How many ear-opening life experiences are you missing out on that could lend themselves to opening new doors of opportunity and development for your company, your organization, your community, your relationships, your family, and yourself by your better focusing on, knowing how, practicing, and utilizing the power of effective-active-listening as being a much larger part of your daily lifestyles?

Now, be very honest with yourself in answering each one of the questions posed above. Be very honest with yourself in your evaluation process of yourself in each of the above-mentioned areas of your life, especially pertaining to your active-listening efforts.

The following ear-openers, if used daily, could significantly help launch your goals, desires, and people skills into new uncharted dimensions:

Ear-opener #1 -- All efforts focused on how they help others by your eliminating the "me" factor from your lifestyle and daily activities. People are attentive, committed, and loyal to those individuals who are interested and dedicated to helping them, their projects, and their causes.

Ear-opener #2 -- Be consistent, dedicated, and unwavering in all of your thoughts, expressions, and ideas. -- Walk your talk -- People have a tendency to believe a person and/or organization that doesn't keep dramatically changing their/its mind, ideas, and convictions.

Ear-opener #3 -- Become the attentive-active listener -- Don't become known as "The Interrupter." Interrupters are oftentimes ignored and their points of view are not taken seriously because others perceive that their thoughts and ideas were derived from a reactionary perspective rather than that of a proactive perspective.

Now, we need to revert our way to thinking back to the initial question posed:

How much do you really care about your future?

Today is the best time for you to start intertwining ear-openers 1, 2, and 3 into your daily lifestyle for the next 41 days. You will begin to recognize the rewards and benefits that you so deserve and feel the enduring energies derived from your efforts.

2) YOUR INTERACTIVE DIMENSION -- YOUR OPPORTUNITY: RESPOND TO THESE JULY-AUGUST QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH.

BRIEFLY EXPLAIN:

(1) What prompted you to accept the challenge posed in this July issue and begin to intertwine ear-openers 1, 2, and 3 in everyday lifestyle?

(2) What attributes have you discovered by your accepting and practicing ear-openers 1, 2, and 3 as part of your newly founded life skills?

*YOUR OPPORTUNITY -- CONNECT WITH:*

THE LISTENING CONNECTION

YES -- This is your opportunity to share any of your answers (responses) to the questions from above with our international audience of subscribers of The Listening Connection. 1) We will include your answer(s)/response(s) in our next (SEPTEMBER) issue. 2) Our readers (subscribers) would also appreciate your providing us with your first name only, state you reside in (if in the U.S.), and your country. We are really looking forward to sharing with you new horizons in The Listening Connection being your worldwide connection to "effective-active listening". E-mail your perspectives/responses to: gregbauer@listenone.com.

3) WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE RESPONSES TO
THE JUNE 2006 EDITION QUESTIONS:

(1) Share with us some of the symptoms/signs of your not "utilizing the power of effective-active listening" from all aspects of your life:

- At work?

- At Home?

- At Play?

- ___________________?

(2) What is it going to take for you to alter your perspectives to make the commitment to better "utilize the power of effective-active listening in your daily course of life?

Responses to the June questions 1 and 2:

JAMES -- MICHIGAN -- USA

My work environment in manufacturing was in a rushed-hurried pattern. The expected speed from drawings to completion of the finished product was increased dramatically over the past two years. These new deadlines had created an atmosphere where mistakes occur more frequently and in some cases projects are started all over again from start to finish. Along the way (during the past two years) we had been forced to sharpen our listening skills dramatically in order to keep up with corporate and customer demands.

However, about four months ago, a team of six of us began listening to and viewing the big picture. We concluded that these, now faster than ever, expectations were beginning to compromise the quality of our finished products and the long-term satisfaction of new and already-established customers. We took our thoughts and findings that were derived from our persistent listening efforts, to the corporate V.P.s and managers. After their reviewing of our findings, they concluded that we should cut back on speed and place more emphasis on the long-term quality of the finished product. We've also been making great strides toward our not having to do steps over and over again and have totally eliminated doing projects all over again. Our working environment has changed our major focus always being on speed and has shifted to our major emphasis being constantly focused on quality. Our team of 6 gives credit to our sharpening our listening abilities and skills to meet the quality demands of the future.

BRYCE -- PENNSYLVANIA -- USA

Yes, listening is a vital necessity of life as I shockingly began to realize some 6 to 8 months ago as I was beginning to develop relationships with an entire new connected group of, what I thought were, new friends.

On the surface, they appeared to be friendly. They claimed to have some like interests that seemed to coincide with mine. They also, on the surface, seemed to share in many of the beliefs that were very important to me as I was preparing to graduate from college next year and enter the corporate marketplace.

As time progressed, I began to really listen to tidbits of conversations that this already-connected group was having amongst themselves. I didn't like what I was hearing, and the more I kept listening, the more my inner listening voice was telling me to sever ties with all members of this group before they sucked me in, took control of my beliefs, and possibly destroyed my future. My intuition was correct and corroborated my many other students and even some trusted faculty members.

Thank you for reminding me of just how vital listening is to everyone's future. Yes, I've made two new friends since and we're all very supportive in listening and sharing honestly with each other in focusing on the big picture.

ELIZABETH -- WASHINGTON -- USA

My life has been very hectic, especially in the past 3 years, as I've been attempting to balance a growing number of activities that include: being a caring wife, being a good supportive mom to 4, 7, and 10-year old loving children, completing a master's degree program, teaching elementary school students fulltime, being the committee chair for our church's biggest fund raising event, heading up several new regional teaching initiatives, and dealing with our 6-year old's ongoing physical therapy.

Listen! When?

Your commentary is so perfect and so timely in my life. I'm starting my own self-awareness and self-preservation listening program. I've started to take two 5-10 minute blocks of time twice a day to listen to myself and collect my thoughts. It's time for me to rearrange, relabel, and eliminate some of my life elements. I've placed my husband and kids back on top of my list.

DAVID -- TENNESSEE -- USA

It became very apparent during the past 2 years, at my place of employment at a manufacturing plant, that something was going terribly wrong with our entire operation. Once the general manager, of the past 2 years, was fired and eliminated then all operations proceeded ahead at a very rapid pace.

Some examples of his destructive behavior included:

(1) His positioning of all projects and their accomplishments so that he always took the entire credit for their success and would eventually lead to his promotion to be one of the VPs in the home office.

(2) His expressing a great amount of impatience with managers, engineers, and foremen, and never hearing a supportive word from him to anyone. His reputation became known far and wide.

(3) His reputation also became known as being a reactionary leader and one that kept losing control of the big picture.

We all now have come to the conclusion that listening is so very important to our operation and its future.

This brings to mind, with all the world conflicts we keep hearing about on the media, how much do all the world governments and their leaders realize how listening is a vital necessity of all our lives?

WINNEY -- MAINE -- USA

We were living in the Midwest when our then 7 year old son who was badly injured as a passenger in a serious car accident.

Over 2 years have passed and our son has been continuously receiving very supportive physical therapy. However, when the accident first occurred, the doctors, nurses, specialists, and therapists were providing tons of help and advice. My husband and I were listening, taking it all in, making decisions, and all proceeding ahead with the mending and helping of our son.

However, about 2 months into this whole process, our very bright 7 year old son posed some profound questions to myself, my husband, and the doctor while we were all in the room together: "What happened to me? Why did this happen to me? Does anyone care what I think? Does God know? When can I play with my friends?"

Time has passed and those profound questions still stick out in my mind almost every time I see our optimistic son. Ever since that "ear-opening" encounter we had with our son, we've made it a top priority to involve him in all of the decision-making efforts in his rehabilitation process. We've empowered him.

We put a check on our reactionary behaviors, took the focus off ourselves, and learned to have a greater amount of patience through our son's example.

Your "Listening Connection" commentaries are an affirmation of our real life experience and its teachings. Thank you.

P.S. -- We h