The Mastermind Roundtable

Obstacle or Opportunity?

2012-02-03T04:30:00.000-08:00

"What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity." ~J. Sidlow Baxter

How do you see obstacles? Do you see them as roadblocks or stumbling blocks. Roadblocks might require you to go back and then around them while stumbling blocks just knock us off course a little and then we correct our way and continue on.

Too many times, people let the obstacles in their way dictate whether or not they do or finish something. Don't let an obstacle stop you from doing what you want or need to do.

Every opportunity has obstacles that we must overcome. And every obstacle has opportunity waiting for it to be found. Do you look for the opportunity or do you just see the obstacle? Most people will say. "No, I see the opportunity," but do they really, or are they just saying that because that is what they are supposed to say?

How is you attitude today? Is it ready to find the opportunities or is it stuck on the obstacles???

Make sure that YOUR ATTITUDE is in the right frame of mind. Remember, it's YOUR CHOICE! YOU get to choose your attitude!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity."

Clarity of Mind

2012-02-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

"Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves." ~Blaise Pascal

Do you have clarity of mind? Really? Most people don't and that is their biggest challenge to getting the things they want. They aren't clear on what they really want. They say I want this or I want that and never become CRYSTAL CLEAR on what it is that they truly want. Take some time right now and think if you are Crystal Clear on what you want, because without it, you're just wasting your time.

Do you have clarity of passion? If you don't have clarity of the mind, you can't have clarity of passion. You can have passion but if it isn't clear, it isn't as white hot as it can be. Most people have some passion and they may even say it's real strong passion but imagine your passion 10 times stronger, 20 times stronger. That is what will happen when you have clarity of passion.

Work on having Clarity of Mind and Clarity of Passion today and let me know how it went and how different you felt.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves."

What Would Martin Luther King Jr. Think?

2012-02-01T05:09:00.000-08:00

"Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?" ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

What are YOU doing for others? This used to be important, 20, 30 years ago and we got away from it, but now, people are starting to realize that it is what is MOST important to almost anything. It is no longer "what can I get for myself," but "How can I serve others?"

So I ask again, what are YOU doing for others? Think about it for a while. This goes beyond what your business does for others, what are YOU DOING FOR OTHERS? And How are you doing this for others? And Why are you doing this for others?

Emerson said that "A man cannot truly help another person, without it helping himself." Do you realize that is the way the world works? When you help others, when you do for others, you end up helping yourself? We as a society have fallen into the "ME" trap. Here in the United States, it used to be US. But with political correctness, we've been divided into groups and classes.

It used to be "One for All and All for One," but we've been duped into believing that if I become part of a group, I can get what I want. What happened to the rugged individualism that made this country great? What happened to American Exceptionalism? We've thrown it away all for diversity!!!

King also said, in his "I have a dream speech," that he hoped that someday, "his children would be judged on the content of their character and not on the color of their skin." I wonder what he would say about today's society?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others?"

It IS Your Fault! Decide to Become Someone

2012-01-31T05:14:00.000-08:00

"We become what we make our minds to become. It is nobody's fault that the great majority of the people never make up their minds to become anything at all."~William James

Have you made up your mind about what you want to become? What, you haven't yet? What's stopping you? What's holding you back? Why haven't you? You can become whatever you decide you want to become. At any time and any age!

I disagree with James as far as fault of the great majority of people, because now, with everything that we have available to us to learn, to grow and to think, it IS the fault of those who never make up their minds to become something. It is their responsibility to become what they want to become. It is not the responsibility of others to tell us what we should become or do. Too many people would just rather blame someone than take responsibility for their own life...and that's too bad.

Step out of your playing small ideas and thoughts and create the life that you truly want. Decide today to become who you want to become. Don't wait another minute...Do it NOW! What are you waiting for?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"We become what we make our minds to become. It is nobody's fault that the great majority of the people never make up their minds to become anything at all."

Your Personal Philosophy?

2012-01-30T05:48:00.000-08:00

“Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out. Don't borrow someone else's plan. Develop your own philosophy and it will lead you to unique places.” ~Jim Rohn

Do you have a "Personal Philosophy" or Mission Statement for your life? Why not? According to Rohn, your personal philosophy is the determining factor in how your life turns out. Might make sense to have one...don't you think?? Do you think it might help you top have one? I do.

Make it YOUR Personal Philosophy. Don't let it be your parents, boss, teacher or who ever might want you to share or take theirs. This is YOUR Personal Philosophy and will take you to places that you have never been or even imagined.

Yesterday we spoke about how Beliefs + Behaviors = Results. These all flow from your Personal Philosophy. Your Personal Philosophy needs to be in alignment with your Beliefs and Values.

Take some time right now to create your Personal Philosophy. Well, what are you waiting for??

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out. Don't borrow someone else's plan. Develop your own philosophy and it will lead you to unique places.”

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

"Our beliefs strongly influence our behavior. They motivate us and shape what we do. Beliefs are our guiding principles, and come from many sources - upbringing, imitation of others, conclusions as a result of past traumas and repetitive experiences." ~Peter Shepherd

What are your beliefs? Really, what are your beliefs? When was the last time that you sat down and thought about them? Have you ever questioned your beliefs? What happened? Was your belief confirmed or was it proved to be false?

Beliefs influence Behavior and Behavior influences Results. How are your beliefs stopping you from getting what you want? Ya, I know, I can hear your mind saying your beliefs are helping you get what you want, right...?? Well if that was the case, you would already have what you wanted, wouldn't you. Time to examine those beliefs again!

Beliefs come from many sources, some good, some not so good. Are you letting a belief that is no longer applicable to you keep you from getting what you want? If so, it's time to re-examine that belief and make sure that it's working FOR you rather than AGAINST you.

So, what are your beliefs? And are they serving you?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Our beliefs strongly influence our behavior. They motivate us and shape what we do. Beliefs are our guiding principles, and come from many sources - upbringing, imitation of others, conclusions as a result of past traumas and repetitive experiences."

Fear of Failure, A Powerful Obstacle to Growth

2012-01-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

“We pay a heavy price for our fear of failure. It is a powerful obstacle to growth. It assures the progressive narrowing of the personality and prevents exploration and experimentation. There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling.” ~John Gardner

What is the price that YOU have paid for fear of failure? (Now, before you say there's no failure, I agree, but too many people still believe in the word) We all have paid something for that and we either learned from it or we have let it keep us from doing what we really wanted to do. Have you remained stuck because of fear? How is it holding you back? What is it keeping you from doing today? Why?

This fear assures the progressive narrowing of your personality and prevents exploration and experimentation. Is your personality narrowing? Think about that...how has your personality grown or narrowed lately? This fear also prevents exploration and experimentation. When was the last time that you went exploring? When was the last time that you experimented with your life? Never? Once, when you were a kid? Or regularly?

There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling. Somehow, we in America have been sold a bill of goods that life should be easy and without difficulty. Are you really believing that? If you are planning on learning, plan on difficulty. That's life, get used to it. Quit whining and complaining that something isn't fair and get out there and make things happen. Learn something. Teach something. Create something.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“We pay a heavy price for our fear of failure. It is a powerful obstacle to growth. It assures the progressive narrowing of the personality and prevents exploration and experimentation. There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling.”

Forgotten Past Equals Brightest Future

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

“The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.”

Have you let go of the past failures and heartaches or are you still carrying them with you? Your brightest future will not come to you until you let them go. Let them go now, today, why wait another day?

As we are getting to the end of the first month of the "year of change," are you still holding on to those past failures?

Here's the thing. You have learned from those failures and heartaches. Take the lessons and leave the rest. Leave the pain. Leave the blaming. Leave everything but the lesson you learned.

The reason that you haven't let them go yet is that you are getting some benefit out of holding on to them. Is it sympathy? Does the wallowing in your past make you feel better? What benefit are you getting out of it? You need to realize that greater benefits are waiting for you the minute you leave those failures and heartaches behind.

Do you believe in a brighter future or are you stuck in blah land? There is a brighter future for all of us, we only have to embrace it and leave those failures and heartaches behind. NOW.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.”

Be Willing to Risk Failure

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

“One of the reasons mature people stop learning is that they become less and less willing to risk failure.”~ John W. Gardner

Are you less and less willing to risk failure? Are you trying to hold on to what you have, hoping that will be enough? Have you stopped learning? 3 questions to think about today...

Have you stopped learning? Most people will say, "No, I'm a life-long learner," but are you really? Are you learning new things or just things that you know already? Think about that. I know someone who is learning to write with her opposite (left) hand, after many years of writing with her right. Now that is learning something new!!

Are you trying to hold on to what you have, hoping it will be enough? Many clients I work with are trying to hold on to the clients that they have when, if they were to let them go, they would be able to reach and take on bigger and better clients. And the tighter you try to hold something, the more it slips out of your grasp, doesn't it? Are you trying to hard to hold on?

Are you less and less willing to risk failure? When you are less willing to risk failure, your world starts getting smaller and smaller. The real world doesn't benefit in you playing small, but in you playing as big as you can! The more that you are willing to let go, the more that you allow to come into your life, but if you aren't willing to risk failure, then you are just planning on failure, without really knowing that's what you are doing.

Keep learning and be willing to risk failure...AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“One of the reasons mature people stop learning is that they become less and less willing to risk failure.”

Plan, Prepare and Expect to Win!

2012-01-23T05:37:00.000-08:00

"You were born to win, but to be a winner you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win." ~Zig Ziglar

YOU WERE BORN TO WIN!!! Do you realize that? Really? Most people just accept what they get without any thought of winning, just happy to be alive...Oh, they wish that they would win and sometimes they even win...but they don't have a winner's mindset. See, there are 3 things that you have to do to create a winner's mindset. 1. Plan 2. Prepare 3. Expect.

Sometimes we plan but most of the time we don't plan, or plan to win, because it takes some work to plan. It's said that "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Cute wording but oh so true!! Yet there we are, just going about our day without planning, and reacting to everything that comes our way. Make a plan. Plan your work and then work your plan.

Be Prepared. The Boy Scout motto that we learned as kids...but do we continue it in our daily work? No, for the most part, we just kind of wing it, don't we. What is it that you are preparing for? Anything? Your next appointment? A new sales call? NO, after a few times, we think that we can just do it without preparation. Preparation creates confidence...and confidence is what makes good things happen for you.

Expectations. I train business and sales people and always, without a doubt, when I ask them if they expected to make the sale, they reply no. Why is that? They have never been taught that expectations create your reality. In fact, when they don't make the sale, the first thing they say is "I knew it." Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy!!! They knew they couldn't make the sale, but didn't think that they could make the sale...How screwed up is that?

There are 3 things that you have to create the mindset do to win.
1. Plan 2. Prepare 3. Expect.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You were born to win, but to be a winner you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win."

If I Accept You As You Are, I Will Make You Worse!

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

“If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse; however, if I treat you as though you are what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We are often told to "accept people as they are" so as not to bring attention as to who they are. Is this good? Or do we make them worse by accepting them as they are and opposed to what they are capable of becoming? It's important to allow people to be who they are without criticism, but what if they can become so much more? Wouldn't it be our responsibility to help them become what they could become?

I'm the Grand Inquisitor and I'm also an Irritator and Goethe's quote really makes it for me, because so many people are living their lives at 50% when they could be at 80% or 90%. Are you living your life at less than it should be? Are people accepting you and not challenging you to be more? How do your friends interact with you? Are they moving you forward or keeping you where you are?

The world does not benefit from you playing small and if we accept you as you are, we may be not allowing you to become who you might be. I would hate that...so I'll go on Questioning and Irritating. I'm ok with you not liking me because I irritate you. It means that you are thinking about something and that will challenge you and get you out of your familiar zone (comfort zone) and allow you to grow.

"It's never too late to be who you might have been."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse; however, if I treat you as though you are what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that.”

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

"Look and listen, feel and know. What you sincerely seek will come within your reach, if you simply allow it and see it. Opportunity rarely looks the way you thought it would. Open your heart and open your mind to recognize it." ~Ralph Marston

Each day, coming your way, is a fast-flowing stream of seemingly random events. Somewhere within them are the ones you asked for. There are no coincidences. We get exactly what we ask for. What are you asking for? Anything?

For each dream you have, life gives you the possibilities for achieving that dream. Your job is to see those possibilities and to act on them. Too often, we are bogged down in our thinking and we can't see the possibilities that are right in front of us. What are you prepared to see?

When you wish to go new places, you must accept that the road will be unfamiliar. Go with what feels right, even though it feels a little uncomfortable. Allow yourself to be taken out of your comfort zone...that's where you will find growth.

When you think about your "comfort zone" it's really not comfortable, is it? I like to call it your "familiar zone." Because you are familiar with the pain. And the pain you know is always more prefered than the pain we don't know (or at least what we imagine)

What you seek is coming to you. See it and have the faith to fully live it. Don't allow fear to keep you from what you seek and what you want. What you seek is coming to you. Be prepared to see it!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Look and listen, feel and know. What you sincerely seek will come within your reach, if you simply allow it and see it. Opportunity rarely looks the way you thought it would. Open your heart and open your mind to recognize it."

Think Anew

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.” ~Abraham Lincoln

Albert Einstein said that "you can't solve a problem at the same level of thinking that it was created at." You need to "think anew and act anew." Take a look at Lincolns quote...it's almost as if he was talking about today!!

"The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion." Sound or feel familiar? Are you having difficulty in these times? Are you rising to meet the occasion? Or are you just "doing the best you can?" Unfortunately, most people are only doing the "best they can," not really rising to meet the occasion. Or setting the occasion to only be "they best they can."

"Think anew." When was the last time that you thought anew? Most people haven't had a new or original thought in years. Break out of your familiar zone(comfort zone) and THINK NEW THOUGHTS!!! Growth only happens when you leave your familiar zone (comfort zone).

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.”

What Are You Prepared To See?

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

“People only see what they are prepared to see.”~Ralph Waldo Emerson

What are you prepared to see? Are you prepared to see great things or are you only prepared to see average things, or worse yet, only seeing bad things? Why do you think that is? What is preventing you from seeing what you really want to see?

You have seen and done things up until now. You have brought yourself to where you are now. Are you where you want to be? If not, it might be because you aren't prepared to see what is in store for you.

Are you expanding your vision? Opening not just your eyes, but also your mind? They say that "when you see it, you will believe it," but I would say that in addition to that, "when you believe it, you will see it." What are you ready to believe?

John Wooden said “There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.” Remember, you choose what you will see.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“People only see what they are prepared to see.”

Creating Your Own Mediocrity?

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

“Believe that you are the one who creates your success, that you are the one who creates your mediocrity, and that you are the one creating your struggle around money and success.”~ T. Harv Eker

I know that you believe that you create your success, but do you believe that you also create your mediocrity? Well guess what? Hate to break it to ya, but YOU DO! Too often we blame others, parents, teachers, spouses, the economy, when it is our responsibility, our choices, our decisions.

Don't give your power away by blaming others, because that is what you are doing. Take responsibility for you actions and create the life that you want. Your "personal brand" should be all yours, not someone elses. John Burroughs said "A man can get discouraged many times, but he is not a failure until he begins to blame somebody else and stops trying."

You are in charge of EVERYTHING that happens in your life. EVERYTHING. Take back you power today, right now, this moment. You create your success, you create your mediocrity. It is your choice!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Believe that you are the one who creates your success, that you are the one who creates your mediocrity, and that you are the one creating your struggle around money and success.”

Have You Made Up Your Mind Yet?

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

"We become what we make our minds to become. It is nobody's fault that the great majority of the people never make up their minds to become anything at all."~William James

Have you made up your mind about what you want to become? What, you haven't yet? What's stopping you? What's holding you back? Why haven't you? You can become whatever you decide you want to become. At any time and any age!

I disagree with James as far as fault of the great majority of people, because now, with everything that we have available to us to learn, to grow and to think, it IS the fault of those who never make up their minds to become something. It IS their responsibility to become what they want to become. It is NOT the responsibility of others to tell us what we should become or do. Now, it may be the responsibility of those of us who understand this to teach those who don't realize that it is their choice. It is up to them!

Step out of your playing small ideas and thoughts and create the life that you truly want. Decide today to become who you want to become. Don't wait another minute...Do it NOW! What are you waiting for? Permission? I give you permission!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"We become what we make our minds to become. It is nobody's fault that the great majority of the people never make up their minds to become anything at all."

What Are You Focusing on?

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

"Focus is not a 'business only' thing. Each person has only twenty-four hours per day, and how we spend those hours shows what's important in our lives. The question we must ask ourselves is...Are we focusing on what really matters?" ~Mac Anderson

Focus. What do you focus on? Whatever it is, it's important to you. Is it important to the world or anyone else? Does it matter? What does your focusing tell you about what's important to you?

Mike Murdock said "The secret to your future is hidden in your daily routine." Is what you are focusing on a routine or something that really matters. Is it just a habit or a time waster?

Steve Jobs said "Focus means saying no to the hundred other good ideas." A real interesting way to look at things, isn't it. Most people see focus as what you focus ON rather than what you don't focus on.

How are you spending your days? Are you focusing on what matters?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"Focus is not a 'business only' thing. Each person has only twenty-four hours per day, and how we spend those hours shows what's important in our lives. The question we must ask ourselves is...Are we focusing on what really matters?"

Will You Die With Your Music Still In You?

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

“Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Are you getting ready to live? Stop it and LIVE NOW! Before you know it, time runs out...Tomorrow is promised to no one, yet we act like we have all the time in the world to do the things we really want to do...and we keep putting them off.

Don't let your time run out with music still in you. Do the things you have always wanted to do. Don't let circumstances dictate that you can't do what you want to do. It is your choice to either do it or stay "getting ready to live."

Robert Orben said "Time flies. It's up to you to be the navigator." See, we are in control of how we spend our days. Here are the numbers. You have 1440 minutes per day and 86,400 seconds per day that melt away, always. Are you investing your time or are you wasting it? It's your choice!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.”

Have You Embraced Mediocrity?

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

"Mediocrity is a form of madness, a dream embraced by the masses because it makes just getting by an acceptable -- sometimes applauded -- social art form." ~Guy Finley

Have you embraced mediocrity? Really? Are you excellent in every thing? Do you always strive to be the best that you can be, or do you sometimes slack off...just a little?

We have become a society that makes getting by an art form. Working for the man, doing enough to not get fired, but not going all out to stand above the crowd. Too many people are playing small. The world is not served by your playing small...PLAY BIG!!!

Look at the things you do. What are you an expert at? What are you good at? Where have you settled on being mediocre? I'm sure there are not any places that you would say you are terrible, so let's make mediocre as the bottom rung.

How can you move out of mediocrity? Do you even want to? Or does that frighten you too much? You were meant for so much more, go for it!!!

Let's take a look at settling. One of my favorite quotes says "The place for what you want is currently occupied by what you have settled for." Is that you? Have you settled on mediocrity? I sure hope not...

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Mediocrity is a form of madness, a dream embraced by the masses because it makes just getting by an acceptable -- sometimes applauded -- social art form."

Failure Should Be Our Teacher

2012-01-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

"Failure shouldbe our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay not defeat. It is atemporary detour, not a dead end." ~Denis Waitley

When did failure start being something to beavoided? As far back as I can remember, it was always something to be avoidedas opposed to being something to view as experience and learned from. Mostpeople view failure as a dead end rather than a temporary detour.

Thomas Watson, founder of IBM said "If youwant to succeed, fail faster." What a great way to look at things! Failureis OK!!! In fact, the best way to deal with failure is to re-frame it as delayor a temporary detour or just as a learning experience.

Don't be afraid to fail. Henry Ford said"Failure allows you to begin again more intelligently." Nice, failureallows you to being again more intelligently! Start now. Fail your way tosuccess.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end."

Your Most Important Job: Be You!

2012-01-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

"Your most important job is to be you. There are contributions you can make, and gifts you have to give, that no one else can duplicate." Ralph Marston

You have a perspective that is unique and valuable. No on else has your unique viewpoint! No one else has the same valuable insights that you have. Share the insights and energy that come from that perspective.

You have feelings and longings that flow from the core of who you are. Express those feelings and fulfill those longings in your own special way. The world is waiting to hear those feelings and longings. Don't deprive the world of that opportunity to learnfrom you because if you don't bring it to the world, the world will never see it!

There is great treasure in your authenticity. Your authenticity is what brings the world to your doorstep. There are beautiful possibilities that spring from the genuine person you are. Don't hide them, let us all share in those possibilities.

Through you, life experiences itself in a way that is unique and special. If you don't share it with the world, that unique and special experience dies with you, never to be shared. Don't cheat the world from your uniqueness!

Use this opportunity to make a difference in a way that only you can do.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Your most important job is to be you. There are contributions you can make, and gifts you have to give, that no one else can duplicate."

Are You Living Your Life Backwards?

2012-01-05T09:40:00.000-08:00

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."~ Margaret Young

Are you living your life backwards? Our society kind of pushes us to live it backwards doesn't it. We are constantly bombarded with ads that tell us that if we just buy this product, we will get what we want. Buy more products and you will be happy! Easy, right? NOT!! See, happiness doesn't come from things, it comes from who you are and what makes you tick.

First, you must be who you really are. Are you who you really are or are you playing a role that you created or someone gave you? WHO ARE YOU??? Really, who are you...down deep. Are you doing what you were created to do? Are you sure? Most people aren't, they are just playing a role, just existing...really, just taking up space.

Most people live their lives in a Have-Do-Be mentality when they need to be living from a Be-Do-Have mentality. Before you can Do and Have, you need to Be. Who are you???

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."

Life Shapes Itself To Meet Our Expectations!

2012-01-04T04:57:00.000-08:00

"Life... It tends to respond to our outlook, to shape itself to meet our expectations." ~ Richard M. DeVos

What are your expectations? Are they for your dreams or are they just enough to get by? Unfortunately, we have been taught to not expect too much because if we don't get it, we will be disappointed. We were taught that by well meaning people but guess what? You can't protect people from disappointment!! It's part of life and it allows us to grow. But most people keep their expectations low.

As a Sales Trainer, I always ask my students when they go to meet a client, if they expect to make a sale. Most of them say no. My answer to them is "Why bother going?" You create your reality with your expectations so always be expecting the best. Sure, you might be disappointed some times but more often than not, you will be rewarded for your expectations!

Just 4 words separate the most successful people in the world from those who struggle to just get by: Expect More ~ Execute Better. Are you expecting more and executing better? Sounds simple, but it's not easy. You have to train your brain to expect more and you also have to work on executing better. Those 4 words are what separate the most successful people from those who are struggling. Expect More ~ Execute Better. Start expecting more NOW!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Life... It tends to respond to our outlook, to shape itself to meet our expectations."

Has Your Comfort Zone Taken Over?

2012-01-03T05:41:00.000-08:00

“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.” ~Denis Waitley

How often are you out of your comfort zone? Really? Think about it because I would bet that you are in it more than you think. What is your creative vision for your life? Does your creative vision allow you to feel comfortable outside of your comfort zone? If you are stuck in your comfort zone then you aren't growing. And if you aren't growing, you are shrinking. There is no middle ground, no status quo, no staying the same.

Peter McWilliams said “To the degree we're not living our dreams, our comfort zone has more control of us than we have over ourselves.” Has your comfort zone taken over your dreams and your life? Too often we don't even realize it until it's too late. Well, it's not too late! GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!! START LIVING YOUR DREAMS! NOW! What are you waiting for?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference

“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.”

Focus Means Saying No!

2012-01-02T06:23:00.000-08:00

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas." ~Steve Jobs

Wow!! Do you get the wisdom in that? As small business owners, it seems that we are always looking for the next whiz-bang thing that can take our company to greater heights...SQUIRREL!!! But Jobs is telling us to let them go. He is telling you to stop chasing the squirrel.

Did you know that Apple had the IPad ready for production 5 years ago? But Jobs kept it on the shelf until the IPhone was solid and all the apps built for it would then work on the IPad. Talk about saying no to a good idea. It really wasn't a no, but a not yet. Let go of the hundred good ideas and concentrate on only a few.

When Michelangelo was asked about his sculpture of "David" he said "He was there already, I just had to take away everything that didn't belong there." Think about your business. Have you taken away everything that doesn't belong there or do you have some chiseling to do? I would bet that you have some chiseling to do. What are you waiting for? Get chiseling!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas."

New Possibilities and Probabilities

2011-12-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

"There are always plenty of possibilities, with new ones being born every moment. On a regular basis, pick a new possibility and explore it fully. Turn down a road you've never traveled before, and find out what's there. Be curious, and let your curiosity lead you in the direction of new discoveries.

Step out of your comfort zone once each week and create over 50 additional opportunities for excitement, challenge and possibility each year. What a great goal or resolution!

Inject some fresh, new experiences into your life. Challenge yourself and add richness to your life by stepping outside your regular routine. Surprise your senses with things you've never experienced before. Wake up your spirit by uncovering previously hidden treasures in your world.

The good things in your life are yours now because there was a time when you chose to find them. Explore some new possibilities, and there is much new value you can find."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

2011-12-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

"The moment of enlightenment is when a person's dreams of possibilities become images of probabilities"~Vic Braden

What are your dreams? Do you allow them to grow or do you stomp them down so you don't really have to think about them? Do you think about them hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly? Do you do more than think about them? Do you take action that brings them one step closer to probability?

Most people will say, "Sure, I have dreams. They are over there, in the 3rd drawer of my desk." That's not having a dream, that's really not even having a wish, because you aren't working towards it at all. That's just having one to say that you have one...

What is keeping you from going after your dream? Fear? Money? Family? Why are you not going after your dream? If you think about all the reasons you are not going after your dream, are any of those excuses valid, true? You may be convincing yourself that that they are valid but isn't that just another story you're telling yourself...so that you don't have to really reach for them???

Forget 'enlightenment.' When your dreams of possibilities become images of probabilities, how do you feel? I'm sure you've felt that way before. It feels GREAT! It makes you feel that you can do anything. Remember that feeling. And keep chasing your dreams!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The moment of enlightenment is when a person's dreams of possibilities become images of probabilities"

The Secret to Your Future? Your Daily Routine!

2011-12-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine."~Mike Murdoch

How does your routine change? Or does it always go a certain way and you are just hoping for different results? Einstein called that insanity.

If our future is hidden in our daily routine, how would you change yours? What would you stop doing and what would you do instead? Why? Oh, you realize that what you're doing isn't working, but just haven't changed it yet...hmmm. Why?

You know that you want to achieve more but you just can't put your finger on what to do...

Start with analyzing your daily routine. See what you are doing that no longer serves any purpose for you and replace it with something that does serve you. The more things you do that serve you, the better chance you will have of creating the future that you want.

Maybe it's something as simple as making coffee at home instead of paying $5 bucks for Starbucks, or maybe it something as difficult as getting up an hour earlier to work out or take a walk. Maybe it's something as difficult as not eating those donuts or maybe it's something as easy as spending an hour reading more about how to improve your networking...(maybe those should be turned around...).

Analyze your daily routine and make sure that everything you do is serving you. Not anyone else, but you.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine."

Learned Optimism Is Not Just Positive Thinking!

2011-12-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

“Learned optimism is not a rediscovery of the ‘power of positive thinking.’...Changing the destructive thing you say to yourself when you experience the setbacks that life deals all of us is the central skill of optimism.”~Martin Seligman

Have you learned optimism or are you just faking it. Learned optimism is the best thing that you could do for yourself and your self-talk. It is not just the power of positive thinking, it is much deeper than that.

Would you like to change the destructive things you say to yourself? Would you hang around a friend/person who talked to you the way you talk to yourself? Think about that for a minute...Would you? I used to until I realized that I didn't need that kind of self talk and I could change my habits of thinking.

The central skill of optimism (not polly-anna ish thoughts) is changing the destructive things we say to ourselves when things go wrong. Try it sometime and see the difference that it makes.

You can change the habit of your thinking, RIGHT NOW!! DO IT!!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!
“Learned optimism is not a rediscovery of the ‘power of positive thinking.’...Changing the destructive thing you say to yourself when you experience the setbacks that life deals all of us is the central skill of optimism.”

Passion and Choice

2011-12-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

“The essential conditions of everything you do must be choice and passion.” ~ Nadia Boulange

The essential conditions of everything you do must be...choice. Do you realize that you are now where you are because of your choices? No one elses, no outside interference, no other reason that your choices. It's not your parents fault, your teachers fault, not even your spouses fault. IT'S YOUR FAULT. Accept that responsibility! Here's the great news though, you can right now choose to make new choices, better choices, the ones that will bring you to where you want to be!

The essential conditions of everything you do must be...passion. Mason Cooley said “Passion crashes into obstacles; Reason peers around them.” Are you so passionate about what you do that you crash into obstacles as opposed to avoiding them? Sometimes I'm that passionate. Some people are that passionate. It comes down to "How you do anything will be how you do everything." Will you do the little things with as much passion as the big things? The great thing is that right now, I can choose to be more passionate. I can choose to be passionate about the little things, I can start to crash into obstacles...and so can you. Are you ready to join me???

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“The essential conditions of everything you do must be choice and passion.”

Life is Best When It Is Shared

2011-12-25T07:37:00.000-08:00

"Life is best when it is shared. At no time is that more
evident than on Christmas day.

All the various customs and traditions of the season serve
to bring people together in a spirit of joy and celebration.
It's a powerful reminder of how good it can feel to connect
with others in a genuine, personal and heartfelt way.

Though we have many differences, we also have much in
common. Though there is great value in our diversity, that
value exists because we are able to connect with each other
in ways that are positive and fulfilling.

Even the most accomplished, self-sufficient, independent
people have an inherent desire to share life's experience
with others. Though there is much we can accomplish as
individuals, there is far, far more that we can experience
by connecting and cooperating with each other.

This is a special, beautiful day. It is made even more
beautiful by the opportunity to share with others.

On this day, and every day, live the joy and share the joy.
Celebrate the connections that give life so much meaning and
richness."~Ralph Marston

"Life is best when it is shared. At no time is that more
evident than on Christmas day.

Use Your Imagination to Develop the Human Spirit!

2011-12-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

"You can view (running a business) as not just a job but as an honorable livelihood where you can, by using your imagination, develop the human spirit."~ Anita Roddick
How do you view what you do for business? Is it just a way to "pay the bills?" Is it just something that you fell into and stayed there? Is it what someone told you that you would be good at so you did it? Or do you view it as a way to "develop the human spirit?" What a great way to look at the work that you do. Keep on developing the human spirit.

Sir Richard Steele said "People spend their lives in the service of their passions instead of employing their passions in the service of their lives." Think about that...spending your life in service to your passions as opposed to employing those passion in the service of others. In any business, if you are not serving your customers, they won't be staying around.

What is your passion and how do you use it in the service of others?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You can view (running a business) as not just a job but as an honorable livelihood where you can, by using your imagination, develop the human spirit."~ Anita Roddick

You Definitely Have A Choice!

2011-12-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

"You may not be able to control the events that occur during the day, especially those events that are unexpected and challenging. But, you definitely have a choice whether you are going to allow these events to ruin your day, and how you are going to face these challenges." ~Barry Gottlieb
Do you ever get up "on the wrong side of the bed?" Ever had a "bad hair day?" How do you handle them? Do you let them ruin your day or do you change your mindset before leaving the house? You do have a choice in how you respond to those events. Be sure to exercise that choice. Don't stay stuck in that negativity.

Stephen Covey said "If you start to think the problem is 'out there,' stop yourself. That thought is the problem." Too often we get caught up in thinking the problem is 'out there' when it is really with us. Realize that you are in control of your life, no one else is. It will be your choice to either react or respond. Reaction is without thought. Response requires thought. Always respond, never react.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You may not be able to control the events that occur during the day, especially those events that are unexpected and challenging. But, you definitely have a choice whether you are going to allow these events to ruin your day, and how you are going to face these challenges."

Think In Unlimited Ways

2011-12-21T05:06:00.000-08:00

"Embrace fully your capacity to create, to think in unlimited ways, and to pursue everything that you have been wanting. Be flexible, open and willing to let the new come to you. "This can be the most prosperous, and creative time of your life."~Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer

Have you embraced your capacity to CREATE? Have you learned to think in UNLIMITED ways? Are you pursuing EVERYTHING you have been wanting? Why not??? You have an unlimited capacity to create (even though that art teacher in 7th grade said you couldn't). How many people believed the teacher that said something like that about your creativity? Don't believe it! We ALL have the ability to create.

Are you pursuing everything you have been wanting? Too many people put off what they truly want, thinking that they need to wait for good the good things they want. Now is the time to go after what you want. There's no need to wait. Go for it NOW!

Have you learned to think in unlimited ways? Really?? Many people have learned one way to think and that's the only way they think. Don't get stuck in that trap. There are many ways to think, you just need to get out of your own brain. Learn to think differently. Challenge you thinking. Expand your mind.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference

Danger and Opportunity

2011-12-20T05:03:00.000-08:00

"Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity. Wherever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable. They go together."~Earl Nightingale

Are you stuck looking at the danger instead of the opportunity? Or do you only see opportunity and not the danger?

It all depends on your perceptions. Because "the reality of life is that your perceptions - right or wrong - influence everything else you do." Do you realize that? Your perceptions influence everything else that you do...So what are your perceptions? When was the last time that you examined your perceptions?

Have you ever examined them or do you just go about your day having them and reacting to them? If you have examined them, how often to you go back and examine them again? this needs to be a constant examination, but most of us prefer to just live life without thought or examination.

I can hear you saying, 'An examination was something we had to take in school, I'm done with that stuff.' If that's the case, then there will be no growth, no stretching beyond where you are now. You'll get to stay in your comfort zone and simply react to life rather than responding to life.

Take another look at your perceptions and make sure that they work for you rather than against you.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity. Wherever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable. They go together."

Your Greatest Power! Being Present!

2011-12-19T05:13:00.000-08:00

"What's the good of dragging up sufferings which are over,of being unhappy now just because you were then." ~Seneca

Your greatest power is always in the present moment. When you re-live past misery in the present you are committing an act of violence against yourself. When misery from the past enters your consciousness you have the power to choose how to view it. What choice do you make?

Here are a couple of self confronting questions to bring you into the present: "What am I trying to accomplish today?" "What one thing am I not doing --that if I did do, would greatly improve my life six months from now? Think ahead, not behind.

Take some time and answer those questions. I know that the answers will give you the direction and power to make it happen.

Finally, two thoughts to take with you today. Your greatest power is ALWAYS in the present moment and the choice is YOURS to make.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"What's the good of dragging up sufferings which are over,of being unhappy now just because you were then."

Stop Dealing In The Negative

2011-12-16T06:21:00.000-08:00

“People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong... Why not see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?”- Thich Nhat Hanh

Is that you? Dealing too much in the negative? Most people like to think that they are positive people but think about it. How much time do you spend thinking about what you have or can do versus thinking about what you DON'T have and what you CAN"T DO???Our brains naturally go to the negative and it is a trained mind that can flip that switch from the negative to the positive. Is your mind trained? I hope so.

Here's the thing...it's kind of like golf, you can never master it and you need to constantly work on it. Are you constantly working on your positive thinking?

One way to do that is through gratitude. The more you are grateful, the more things you see to be grateful for? Melody Beattie said "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more." Wow, how powerful is that?!? It turns what we have into enough, and more!! It is the Law of Attraction at work. The more we focus on gratitude, the more things we have to be grateful for.
What are you grateful for today?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong... Why not see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?”

"I Already Know That!"

2011-12-15T16:36:00.000-08:00

"It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning." ~ Claude Bernard

I hear people all the time that say "I already know that." Those are the worst words ever put together if you are interested in growing and learning. What happens in your brain is that when you say that or even think that, learning stops. Your brain actually limits learning from taking place because of your thoughts. That is the worst thing that can happen to anyone, they stop learning.

What have you learned this week? Anything? Most people stop learning as soon as they get out of school. Sure, they learn how to do a job, but once in that job, learning stops. If you are interested in growing your business, spend 30 minutes a day learning more about your industry, who you sell to, why they buy from you and what makes you different from all the other people that do the same thing you do.

Keep learning new things. Keep stretching your horizons and getting out of your comfort zone. It is there that real growth and learning takes place. Join us tomorrow and keep learning new things. We will be Creating Your Success Plan for 2012!
https://www.facebook.com/events/194805070605030/

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning." ~ Claude Bernard

I hear people all the time that say "I already know that." Those are the worst words ever put together if you are interested in growing and learning. What happens in your brain is that when you say that or even think that, learning stops. Your brain actually limits learning from taking place because of your thoughts. That is the worst thing that can happen to anyone, they stop learning.

What have you learned this week? Anything? Most people stop learning as soon as they get out of school. Sure, they learn how to do a job, but once in that job, learning stops. If you are interested in growing your business, spend 30 minutes a day learning more about your industry, who you sell to, why they buy from you and what makes you different from all the other people that do the same thing you do.

Keep learning new things. Keep stretching your horizons and getting out of your comfort zone. It is there that real growth and learning takes place. Join us tomorrow and keep learning new things. We will be Creating Your Success Plan for 2012!
https://www.facebook.com/events/194805070605030/

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

Make No Little Plans

2011-12-14T05:04:00.000-08:00

“Make no little plans. They have no Magic to stir Men's blood.”~Daniel H. Burnham

How big are your plans? Are they real big or are they just normal size? Why? I work with clients and ask them to come up with a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) and usually, without fail, they come up with a goal that is reachable with a little more effort, but not one that would require too much work to achieve.

Average plans will not cause you to do whatever you need to do to accomplish it. You will quit on average plans because your reason for doing it doesn't stir your soul...oh, sure, it stirs your soul you say...right. Be honest with yourself.

The world is waiting for you to play big, not small. Your average plans will keep you right where you are...average. I suppose that you could say that in being mediocre, you are always at your best...but that's a backhanded compliment that's not worthy of you. Do you realize that you are worthy of playing big? Yes, YOU are worthy to play big, so show the world what you are here to show the world. Don't hide behind anything, step out and claim your greatness!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Make no little plans. They have no Magic to stir Men's blood.”

Bring the Future Into the Present

2011-12-13T05:20:00.000-08:00

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now”~Alan Lakein

Do you have your plan for success for 2012? Is it written down? Really?? Only 3% of people have their plans written down. Only 3%!! There are a lot of reasons that people won't write their goals down but it's my belief that the main reason is that people don't want to have to take responsibility for the plans that they make. Why? Fear of failure, of letting themselves down, fear of success, change. Take your pick. Which one is it for you?

Most people don't plan,they just react. Is your life and business organized or is it scattered? Have you planned for your success or do you just think that it will happen? When you make a plan, you cultivate optimism. You'll feel that you are growing in a meaningful direction which will help you rise above day-to-day setbacks and deal with all those reasons why you haven't planned.

If you haven't Created Your Success Plan for 2012, it's not too late. Join us this Friday.
https://www.facebook.com/events/194805070605030/

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now”

Planning Your Life or Just Your Vacation?

2011-12-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

"I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they do their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.”~Jim Rohn

How true is that statement? If you don't have a plan for your life, someone else will, and guess what? They really don't care about you!!

Most people spend more time planning their vacations than planning their work and personal life. Jim also said "You should never start your day until you've finished it on paper." I'm sure that he would allow for PDA's or mobile tech stuff as well. But the question is, 'How often to you start your day with no idea of what is in store for you?

I started planning my day the night before a long time ago and it's amazing how during sleep, answers and thoughts leading to issues that were to be faced that day would come to me. I don't know how it works, I just know that it works.

If you haven't started planning your days, what are you waiting for? Permission? I GIVE YOU PERMISSION! If you have not put your plan together for success in 2012, join us on Friday. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
http://www.facebook.com/events/194805070605030/

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they do their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.”

Plans, Laid in Advance

2011-12-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

"When plans are laid in advance, it is surprising how often the circumstances fit in with them."~Sir William Osler

Have you created your Success Plan for 2012? Really? Is it written down? Only 3% of all people have a plan that is written down. So, are you part of the 3% or part of the 97%? To learn tricks to making your plan one that will allow the circumstances fit them, join us on Friday December 16th. See https://www.facebook.com/events/194805070605030/

It shouldn't be surprising how often the circumstances fit in with the plans you make (and write down). We create what we think about, so it only makes sense that when we have planned, the circumstances fit like they were meant to. A lot of people tell me that they don't have to write down their plans, because they have them in their head. The problem with that is that sometimes you don't remember things. When you have your plan written down and in a place where you can see it, it reminds you of what you want as opposed to thinking about what you don't want, which is what most of us do.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said "To map out a course and follow it to some end requires courage." It does require courage because when you make a plan, you then become accountable to working on the plan. Most people are not willing to become accountable...even to their own goals and plans.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"When plans are laid in advance, it is surprising how often the circumstances fit in with them."

YES, Everything You Do Matters!

2011-12-07T05:10:00.000-08:00

"How far forward would we need to go in your life to show the difference you make? There are generations yet unborn whose very lives will be shifted and shaped by the moves you make and the actions you take today. And tomorrow. And the next day. And the next.

EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DO MATTERS.

You have been created as one of a kind. On the planet Earth, there has never been one like you…and there never will be again. Your spirit, your thoughts and feelings, you ability to reason and act all exist in no one else. The rarities that make you special are no mere accident or quirk of fate.

YOU HAVE BEEN CREATED IN ORDER THAT YOU MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

YOU HAVE WITHIN YOU THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

Know that your actions cannot be hoarded, saved for later, or selectively used.

By your hand, millions – billions – of lives will be altered, caught up in a chain of events begun by you this day.

The very beating of your heart has meaning and purpose.
Your actions have value far greater than silver or gold.

Your life…And what you do with it today…MATTERS FOREVER."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

Thank you, Andy Andrews!

Life is About Creating Yourself

2011-12-06T05:34:00.000-08:00

"Some self-confronting questions: 'Where do I want to be at any given time? What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be? What's the first, small step I can take to get moving?' "~George A. Ford

If you ask these questions of yourself, they can be intimidating, scary and challenging. Here's part of the key in answering them...you must have total clarity of what you want and where you want to be. See, must of us have a general idea of what we want, but not a crystal-clear vision of what we want. “If you are clear about what you want, the world responds with clarity."

"What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be?" Ask and ANSWER that question now. Oh, you can think about it, but until you seriously ask yourself that question, you will never be able to get to where you want to be. It takes steps. Figure out what steps you need to take to get you started towards where you want to be. You don't have to see the whole path, just get started.

George Bernard Shaw said "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." Start creating the life that you want, NOW. Remember, it's your choice, no one elses. Stop looking and start creating. It all starts with your thoughts!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

The Amount of Work is the Same

2011-12-05T06:59:00.000-08:00

"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same." ~Carlos Castaneda

What are you emphasizing? Are you spending your time on things that matter or things that don't matter? Most people start out working on the things that matter and then are distracted and end up emphasizing the wrong stuff. Then we end up miserable because we don't understand that we are concentrating on things that don't matter. What is it that you are emphasizing?

What are you concentrating on? What you want or what you don't want. Unfortunately, we spend way too much time thinking about what we don't want and that only brings more of what we don't want. Focus on what you want!

Susyn Reeve said "When you focus your attention on the people, places, things and activities that you bring you pleasure - pleasure is what you experience." This is part of the reason that we need to doing something that gives us pleasure for our jobs. 75% of workers today HATE their jobs! Is that you? I hope not, because it is a choice. Your choice! You don't have to stay in that job, it's your choice to stay or leave.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same."

We've Become A Fantasy Nation

2011-12-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."~Albert Einstein

Wow, even back then, Albert got it! Think about our society today and how many ways we have done this...

Our government schools train people to be factory workers, robots, all with the same viewpoint. "When everybody is thinking the same thing, no one is thinking." Yet that is the way we are teaching children today, still. We stifle creativity out of kids, make them sit still and memorize answers so they can pass a test that tells us how "smart" they are.

Think about that for a while...

Our society celebrates celebrities simply for being a celebrity. I mean really, how has Paris Hilton affected your life? Really? What about the Kardashians? Why are they celebrities? What about all these "reality shows?" Reality??? They are the farthest thing from reality!

Maybe we've become the "Fantasy Nation." Remember Fantasy Island with Ricardo Montolban and Herve Velasquez? We've become Fantasy Island on steroids, we are the Fantasy Nation. Let's go back to when people were celebrated for their accomplishments, not vilified!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."

Are You Responsible For Your Thoughts?

2011-12-02T09:59:00.000-08:00

"If we are not responsible for the thoughts that pass our doors, we are at least responsible for those we admit and entertain." ~Charles Newcomb

We cannot control thoughts that just pop into our mind. We can control those thoughts and decide if they are of value and allow them to stay in our minds. The challenge is that it takes discipline to make sure that we only allow the thoughts that will benefit us and block out those that can be negative for us. Another challenge is tothink about the things that we want and not what we don't want. Thinking...it's hard work!

Metacognition = Thinking about what we think about. It's challenging but you can do it. You just need to practice your thinking. When was the last time you practiced your thinking...thought so.

Henry James said "Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives." This is so true. Realize that the better you get at thinking, the better things will go for you. But it just doesn't happen, you need to work at it. Daily.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"If we are not responsible for the thoughts that pass our doors, we are at least responsible for those we admit and entertain."

Your Expectations

2011-12-01T11:56:00.000-08:00

“Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on your own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.”~Denis Waitley

What are your expectations? Or better yet, what are your intentions? Have you ever thought of them seriously or are they something you think about in passing? Unfortunately, most people just think about them in passing. What would happen to your life and business if you always had great expectations and intentions?

What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.” And the universe bring about. We've all heard about "what we resist, persists." And we also know that what we focus on we bring about. So, wouldn't it make sense to start having great expectations and intentions? People say, 'don't have high expectations, you will only be disappointed.' So what of that? Have you never dealt with disappointment before? It's not fun, but it's part of life. Get over it!

Don't let your limitations be part of your expectations! You can create your expectations without limitations. Do it NOW!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on your own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.”

Are You Selling Yourself Short?

2011-11-30T05:03:00.000-08:00

"The story of the human race is the story of men and women selling themselves short."~ Abraham Maslow

I see this every day. People dragging themselves to jobs they hate because they sell themselves short as to what they really could do. They are stuck in life and afraid to break out. They sell themselves short as to what they could do or accomplish if they only decided to. How many people do you know that are selling themselves short...way too many!

It's said that 80% of people hate their jobs. Is this you? Why are you still there? Do something about it, either change how you feel about your job or get a new one!

Dr. Seuss said “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Don't ever let anyone make you believe that you cannot do anything you want to. You can steer yourself in any direction YOU CHOOSE! It's YOUR choice, no one elses.

Stop selling yourself short...NOW! It's YOUR choice!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference

"The story of the human race is the story of men and women selling themselves short."

The Time Will Never Be "Just Right"

2011-11-29T05:15:00.000-08:00

"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along." ~Napoleon Hill

Are you waiting? If you are, what are you waiting for? Why? "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life! But there was always some obstacle, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business." Are you dealing with the obstacles and not allowing life to begin? It's real easy for us to do and we get caught up in dealing with things that before you know it, another year has passed.

What is getting in the way for you? Do you need to make a change? Don't allow those things to keep you from living the life that you want.

Start now with whatever you have. Stop waiting for whatever you think you need and just do it. Better tools will come along the way. START NOW! As Goethe said there is boldness in beginning!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."

Inside You is Good News!

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!” ~Anne Frank

YES. Inside you, right now is good news. You don't realize how great you can be, what you can accomplish, what your potential is! You are the Undiscovered Country! Don't fear it, find it! Create it! Be it! The only thing holding your greatness back is YOU. Do you realize that? Sure you say, but I've got to do this and that, the economy sucks and the boss hates me. SO WHAT? You are the one in charge of you, no one else is. You get to decide what to do and who to become, only you!

Marjorie Brody said "Never allow others to define your potential." Too many of us have allowed others to define our potential...our teachers, parents, friends, whoever. Don't let them, only you can define your potential and what you can become. And it's never too late to become who you were meant to be. So start right now!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!”

Are You Grateful?

2011-11-23T05:14:00.000-08:00

"Gratitude is not only the greatest virtue, but parent of all other virtues" ~Marcus Tullius Cicero

Are you grateful and thankful? Why?? or Why not? How often are you thankful?

We forget in our "microwave society" to be grateful and thankful because we are so busy. Then the holidays come around and we put our 'gratefulness' mask on and we remember that this is the way we should always be. Or maybe we really are grateful and it's not just a mask, but after the holidays, we slip back into our regular thought patterns...

Cicero, 2200 years ago laid it out for us. Not only "the greatest virtue, but parent of all others!" Do your other virtues grow from gratefulness? They should. He is saying that we can have no other virtues unless we first have thankfulness.

For those of us who live in the United States, we forget how great we have it here. We are in the top 3% for income and possessions. Even those who don't have a lot, or have lost a job, even the homeless and the "Occupy" crowd are better off than 97% of the rest of the world! If that isn't enough to make you grateful, you need to have your head examined...by a witch doctor in Africa!

Take some time this week and write down all the things that you are grateful for, especially those things that we take for granted...Like running water and indoor plumbing, like a roof over our heads, like transportation (even if its not a BMW or Mercedes).

"Gratefulness is not only the greatest virtue, but parent of all other virtues"

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Gratitude is not only the greatest virtue, but parent of all other virtues"

Your Life: Anticipation or Apprehension?

2011-11-22T05:44:00.000-08:00

"The reason why most people face the future with apprehension instead of anticipation is because they don’t have it well designed."~Jim Rohn

Are you facing the future with apprehension? It could be because you haven't really been specific in the design of your life. You might have an idea of where you want to go but without specifics, you end up sidetracked and going down the wrong roads, chasing the wrong things.

It's important to realize that we get to choose the design of our life, no one else does. And even if they have a plan for you, it's not much of a plan.

Jim Rohn also said "If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much." It will always be that way. You have to choose what you want and then go after it.

Look to the future with anticipation and design your own life plan. It's no one else's responsibility other than yours. Do it now!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The reason why most people face the future with apprehension instead of anticipation is because they don’t have it well designed."

What's Your Extraordinary Project?

2011-11-21T06:46:00.000-08:00

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations and your consciousness expands in every direction. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.~Patanjali

Are you inspired by some great purpose? Some extraordinary project? What is it? Or are you not really inspired at all and have no extraordinary projects to work on?? If you don't know or can't say what your great purpose is, that's ok. It's never to late to find your purpose, your extraordinary project. The key is to be searching within yourself to find it. It will not be outside of you. You already have it.

Here's what happens when you do find your great purpose...Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be. Dominant forces, faculties and talents become alive! Have you ever experienced that? It's so cool when it does. The other thing that happens is that you discover yourself to be a far greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be! When you find that purpose, all that negative self-talk disappears.

Challenge yourself this week to make sure that you are inspired by your great purpose. I dare you!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations and your consciousness expands in every direction. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.

There Are No Limitations!

2011-11-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge” ~Napoleon Hill

What limitations are you accepting and acknowledging? How often do we talk ourselves out of doing the thing we want because of our supposed limitations? Too often, we are our worst critic and we constantly sabotage our efforts because we don't think that we deserve it.

Richard Bach said “Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours.” How often are you arguing for your limitations? Stop doing that. Now!! Start being who you were meant to be. Stop living life at less than you were designed to live it. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge”

Be A First-Rate Version of Yourself

2011-11-17T05:54:00.000-08:00

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”~Judy Garland

Are you a first rate version of yourself or are you a second rate version of someone else? Really, think about it! My feeling is that we start out as trying to imitate someone (a second rate version) and sometimes we break away from that, but sometimes we are stuck in it because we are never able to be as good as the original. What do you think?

While it's good to have role models and people that we can follow, it's imperative that we become who we were meant to be. To bring our unique gift to the world, for the world will never see it unless we each bring it. Too many people have shrunk from who they could have been and are just living to survive or until their "ship comes in." Guess what? That ship is never coming. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be.

Terry Josephson said “Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities” That's the challenge for us today and from now on. Think in terms of YOUR possibilities! Wow, do you see how empowering that is? Your possibilities are limitless! You do realize that, don't you?

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."

Afraid of Going Too Far?

2011-11-16T04:55:00.000-08:00

“We must never be afraid to go too far, for success lies just beyond.” ~Marcel Proust

Are you afraid to go too far? A lot of people are. They are not content where they are at but fear making a change that could bring them success. So they settle for what they have. Are you settling for what you have so that you can stay safe in your comfort zone? Success lies just beyond your comfort zone! Too many people in their comfort zone who don't want to be there stay there either out of fear or by settling and not taking a chance.

Max Du Pree said "In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining who we are." Wow, "We cannot become what we need to be by remaining who we are!" How powerful is that? Do you realize this? It's called GROWTH! And it takes us out of our comfort zone and allows us to become what we need to become.

If you are serious about becoming successful you will need to do two things:
1) Not be afraid of going too far, and
2) Not remaining who you are. That is your challenge for today and from now on!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“We must never be afraid to go too far, for success lies just beyond.”

Are You Unwilling to Improve?

2011-11-15T05:12:00.001-08:00

"Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound." ~James Allen

Wow, was Allen right about that!! But I would want to make a slight change to his quote. I would say that people are willing to improve themselves, but they are unwilling to do the work involved in improving themselves. In our society, we want instant answers, instant riches, instant health and most of us are unwilling to do what we KNOW we should do to get those things. Just give me a pill...

For every person who climbs the ladder of success, there are a hundred still waiting for the elevator to show up. Are you a stair climber or are you waiting for the elevator? Be a stair climber. Make things happen, take action, improve your circumstances, improve yourself.

Take a moment today to improve yourself. Then do it every day. You will be amazed at your growth and the positive change it will make for you and your business.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound."

Are You Interested or Committed?

2011-11-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

Are you interested or committed?

Most people are interested in their business. Oh, they will say that they are committed to their business but the proof is right there in front of them. Here's the difference between being interested and being committed. If you are interested, you will do what you can do. If you are committed, you will do what you have to do. There's a huge difference between the two. Think about that...

What do you HAVE to do in your business or in your life? Do you stretch yourself to do what you have to do or do you only do what you can do? Brian Tracy said “Make a total commitment to your company, your job, your career and your life. Uncommitted people have no future.” Wow, "Uncommitted people have no future."

Realize that it's never too late to make a commitment to your business and your life. Your past does not dictate your future. It's your choice, always.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

Are you interested or committed?

Focus on the Solution

2011-11-11T07:16:00.000-08:00

"Perceptual blindness sheds much light on why we miss obvious solutions. By focusing on one thing (a problem), we miss something else (a solution)."~Michael McMillan

Another success killer is focusing on the problem rather than the solution. It is a learned behavior to focus on the solution, because our brain just wants to focus on the problem. Yes, you need to look at the problem, but only long enough to start to come up with solutions to that problem. Once you have a few solutions to work on, focus on the solutions!

What we focus on expands and unless we work on metacognition (thinking about what we think about) our focus will not be strong enough to stay on the solutions...our minds will drift back to the problem.

A good thing to work on is when you bring problems up at your work, at home or wherever, in addition to talking about the problem. bring a solution to the discussion. By bringing a solution to the problem, it allows the mind to search for other solutions instead of going back to the problem.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Perceptual blindness sheds much light on why we miss obvious solutions. By focusing on one thing (a problem), we miss something else (a solution)."

Twin Killers: Impatience and Greed

2011-11-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

"The twin killers of success are impatience and greed."

In our current microwave society, we have become impatient, about most everything! If the computer doesn't load fast enough, we complain. If someone ahead of us at a light doesn't go as soon as its green, we get mad. As soon as the power goes out, we are on the phone to APS, demanding to know when the power will come back on. As one of the killers of success, our impatience keeps us from being present in the moment.

We no longer appreciate delayed gratification. There was a study done with children and they told the kids that they could have a candy bar right away, but if they would wait for 10 minutes, they would get two. What do you think happened? You're right, most of the kids took the candy and didn't wait for the second one. As one of the twin killers of success, impatience has become a major problem. And it's getting worse.

Here's a suggestion. How long should you try? Until. Until. Until it is finished, until you can't go on any more, until it can no longer help you. Jim Rohn said "Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you’ve signed up for a season, see it through. You don’t have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through." See it through.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The twin killers of success are impatience and greed."

Spot the Really Important Things

2011-11-09T04:57:00.000-08:00

“80/20 thinking requires, and with practice enables, us to spot the few really important things that are happening and ignore the mass of unimportant things. It teaches us to see the wood for the trees.”~Richard Koch

80/20 thinking. Have you ever done it? Really? For how long? A couple of minutes? Most of us are steeped in the "mass of unimportant things" and never get to 80/20 thinking. You all know Pareto's Principle, but when have you applied it to your thinking? Our challenge is to get away from the "mass of unimportant things" and start concentrating on the 20% of important things. Imagine what you could come up with if you spent time thinking about the important things. Our brain will naturally want to go to what is normal and known. It will take a while to get to that 20% but is it worth it!!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.” Too often we put the things that matter least in front of the things that matter most. Brian Tracy has a saying, he says "Eat the frog first." Think of what's most important and take care of that stuff first and the easy stuff will get done.

Action:
Spend some time thinking about the important 20% and what it means to you. Then do what matters most first! It's a winning combination.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“80/20 thinking requires, and with practice enables, us to spot the few really important things that are happening and ignore the mass of unimportant things. It teaches us to see the wood for the trees.”

Set Your Sights High

2011-11-08T05:26:00.000-08:00

"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way."~Eileen Caddy

I know that you set your sights high, but are they set the higher the better or are they just set high enough? High enough that it will challenge you a little, but not to much. Not a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), just high enough. Do you expect wonderful things to happen RIGHT NOW??? Every expects wonderful things to happen someday. Here's the problem...someday never comes! There's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday. There's no SOMEDAY!

What are you allowing yourself to be stopped by? Only you can stop you. Anais Nin said "We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." Whatever is holding you back is in you, not in outer circumstances. We see things as we are!

Most people don't set their sights high enough and don't expect wonderful things to happen. Don't be part of the most people crowd. Don't allow others limited perception of you to define you. Only YOU can define YOU!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way."

Limiting Your Choices

2011-11-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise."~Robert Fritz

Do you limit your choices to what seems possible or reasonable? Really?? When I ask people what their BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is, they usually answer with something seems possible (20% increase in business) or reasonable. That is not a BHAG! That is a compromise and most people will compromise on what they want.

Why do we do that? Our mind defaults to the negative and so it's difficult for us to create things that seem unreasonable. But reasonable men have never changed the world, only those who were unreasonable made the impossible, possible.

Jeffrey Gitomer said "Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you." This is so true. You are the only thing that is stopping you. It's not the economy, not your spouse or friends, not anything but you...think about that.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise."

Are You Giving Enough?

2011-11-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

"If you are not GETTING what you want out of life, maybe you're not GIVING enough to it."

What do you think? Are you giving enough to get what you want out of life? What are you willing to pay to get what you want? Money, time, extra effort? Before you can get what you want, you need to determine what you are willing to pay to get it. Some people decide that they don't want to pay the price to get what they want and they settle for what they can get. I hope that's not you!

Think about your business. Are you giving it enough to get what you want? Or are you only giving enough to make ends meet, keep the boss happy, pay the bills? Think about it. Maybe you aren't giving it what you need to give it to be really successful. Here's the thing about this. You don't have to answer the question...your results have already answered the question for you! You will have results or you will have excuses.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said "The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common." Take a look at what you are giving. See the miraculous, and if you don't see the miraculous, look again until you see it. And if you don't see it then, maybe you aren't giving it enough...

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"If you are not GETTING what you want out of life, maybe you're not GIVING enough to it."

Stop Settling NOW!

2011-11-03T07:51:00.000-07:00

"It is a very funny thing about life, if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it."~W. Somerset Maugham

Here's our challenge, we too often accept anything rather than refusing to accept anything but the best. It comes down to our choices. We have been taught to take what we can get rather than what we want. We're told that "that's the best that you can do, you better take it," and we believe those well-meaning people. So we accept things that are less than the best in our lives.

What would happen the next time you come to this choice and you say "No, I will only accept the best and I'm not settling this time!" Do you think that things might change for you? Do you think that maybe you will get the best or does you mind quickly tell you that "you're not worthy," " you shouldn't have the best" or "you don't deserve it?" DON'T LISTEN TO YOUR DOUBTING THOUGHTS!! You ARE worthy! You SHOULD have the best! You DO deserve it! We ALL do.

Action:
Stop settling NOW. A favorite quote of mine is that "The place for what you want is currently occupied by what you settled for." STOP SETTLING NOW!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"It is a very funny thing about life, if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it."

Gratitude Unlocks the Fullness of Life

2011-11-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie

Are you grateful? Not just because it's the day before Thanksgiving, but are you grateful for EVERYTHING that happens to you in your life? Many people aren't. Look at the quote again and all the good things that gratitude does for us...you would think we would live perpetually in gratitude...but we don't.

It takes work to be grateful. It's not our natural thought pattern. It's a challenge to our normal way of thinking. But it's worth it! Gratitude is a vibration that's one of the highest vibrations that we can have. Gratitude allows the Law of Attraction to work almost effortlessly in our lives.

William Faulkner said “Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and
discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” You can't keep gratitude bottled up, you must discharge it. It's a great cycle, produce - discharge, produce again - discharge again. The more you discharge, the more you will have to be grateful for!

Action:
Make today a gratitude day and have gratitude for EVERYTHING that happens today. Feel that vibrational high and stay there as long as you can! Produce gratitude and then discharge it, over and over.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

For Granted and With No Gratitude

2011-11-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” ~ G. K. Chesterton

Do you take things for granted or with gratitude? I hate to say it, but most people take things we have here in America for granted. And then we are only grateful on holidays, for a short time and then we go back to taking things for granted.

Do you realize how lucky we have it here in America? 50% of the world's population doesn't have running water or indoor plumbing. If you live in America, no matter what your economic situation, you are part of the top 3% of wealthy people in the world. In fact, to those OCCUPY PEOPLE, YOU ARE THE 1%!!!

William Faulkner said“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” If you don't show your gratitude, it's like having a present and never taking the wrapping paper off.

Action:
Start taking things with gratitude and not for granted. Start to realize that we who were born here or have come here are the luckiest people on earth. Start showing your gratitude, produce it and discharge it!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”

Stop Merely Surviving the Day

2011-10-31T07:01:00.000-07:00

"A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine."~Og Mandino

Are you frittering away your precious hours? Really? Are you sure? I think most of us have gotten real good at frittering...What could you be doing RIGHT NOW to create the things you want in your life?

"You have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine." Do you realize that? You do have the ability to accomplish so much. But you might need to make a slight change. What could that change be? It will be different for everybody but you need to decide what it is...no one else will be able to tell you.

Jim Rohn said "Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced every day." What are your simple disciplines? Do you know what they are? If you don't, ask...otherwise you will be practicing the wrong ones and not getting what you want.

Action:
Stop frittering away your precious time. Figure out what that small change is and make it RIGHT AWAY! Decide what your simple disciplines are and start practicing them every day.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine."

Is Time Your Most Valuable Asset?

2011-10-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

"Think highly enough of yourself to make wise and effective use of this day. Remember that every moment you fill is your own, precious, irreplaceable time."~Ralph Marston

Are you making wise and effective use of your time? Today? If not, then you don't think highly enough about yourself. You get to choose. Taking action or procrastination. Making wise and effective use of the day or wasting the day.

Every moment is yours to fill. It's your choice what to do with it. No one else can make you do anything that you don't want to. It comes back to your choice of thinking highly enough about yourself or not. Do you think highly enough about yourself or are you allowing others to dictate your time? Don't let them, it's your choice.

John Randolph said "Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions." How true that is. Think about that. We own 24 hours a day. Are you spending it or wasting it? Think about how easy it is to blow 15 minutes every couple of hours. It could add up to 3 or 4 hours a day that we fritter away and lose forever. Do you value time as your most valuable possession? Most people don't.

Action:
Start making wise and effective use of your time...TODAY!! It's your choice to use your time in the way you see as best. Make sure that you are choosing well. Start treating time as your greatest possession!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Think highly enough of yourself to make wise and effective use of this day. Remember that every moment you fill is your own, precious, irreplaceable time."

Greatness Is Expected From You!

2011-10-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

“We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” ~Marie Curie

Here's the challenge; we've been told too many times that we are not worthy, that we suck, we're stupid, that we can't do something great. And guess what? We have believed it!!! The shame isn't on the people who told us that, because well-intentioned people think they are telling us that for our own good. They are trying to protect us from something. It could have been our parents, teachers, friends or our co-workers. NO, the shame is on us for believing them!! Stop believing them RIGHT NOW!!

We were all gifted by the creator to do something great for the world, to impact others. If you don't, the world will never see what you were meant to bring it. Don't let others stop you from doing what you are gifted to do.

John Steinbeck said "It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him." Well, greatness is required from YOU! And guess what? I'm expecting to see it from you!!

Action:
Start now to stop listening to those who don't support you and put you down. Don't let them get in your head anymore. Know that others (ME) are expecting GREATNESS from YOU! You were created to be GREAT. Just go out and do it!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.”

Mindless Wishing

2011-10-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

"Stop the mindless wishing that things would be different. Rather than wasting time and emotional and spiritual energy in explaining why we don't have what we want, we can start to pursue other ways to get it."~Greg Anderson

Mindless wishing. What a great phrase!! That's what most of us do, Mindless wishing. I ask people about their goals and if they are written down. Sometimes they say, "Oh, I don't need to write them down, I have them in my head. I think about them all the time. Sorry, as Anderson says, that's just Mindless wishing.

Stop wasting time and emotional and spiritual energy in explaining why we don't have what we want. What is past is past and there is no use in creating a story why we didn't reach what we want. The key is to realize that right now, you can start finding other ways to get what you want! There are always more ways to do things that we originally think. Stretch your mind, think new thoughts, create new ways.

Action:
Write down your goals. Write down your goals. Write down your goals. Stop the Mindless wishing and start finding a new way to reach your goals!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Stop the mindless wishing that things would be different. Rather than wasting time and emotional and spiritual energy in explaining why we don't have what we want, we can start to pursue other ways to get it."

What Do You Create in Between Your Ears?

2011-10-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

"The most expensive piece of real estate is the six inches between your right and left ear. It's what you create in that area that determines your wealth. We are only really limited by our mind."~ Dr. Dolf de Roos

Location, location, location! Isn't that what they always say? Well, that location is in between your ears! I was at an event this weekend and one of the people that I was speaking to said, "Oh, I already know that, that won't work here." Wow, talk about wasting that real estate called your brain! Whenever you say those terrible words, "I already know that" or "I know that" learning stops. Your brain shuts down. Never use those words...it only hurts you!

John Assaraf said "Here's the problem. Most people are thinking about what they don't want, and they're wondering why it shows up over and over again." This same person went on to tell me how terrible the economy was, etc, etc, etc. The truth is, I know 3 or 4 people in her industry that are doing great in this "terrible" economy. But she would have none of that, because she knew already that this economy is what is keeping her down. I walked away shaking my head and feeling sorry for her. She keeps thinking about what she doesn't want and getting more of it!!

Action:
Remember, what you create in between your ears will dictate your wealth. You have complete control over that, no one else does and not even outside forces that we might want to blame for our troubles (like the economy). Start thinking about what you WANT rather than what you DON'T want. It's a challenge, but you can do it.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The most expensive piece of real estate is the six inches between your right and left ear. It's what you create in that area that determines your wealth. We are only really limited by our mind."

Most Responsive to Change

2011-10-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."~Charles Darwin

How responsive are you to change? REALLY? Or are you just saying that you are responsive to change? Most people are afraid to step out of their comfort zones and make changes. They like to stay "safe" in their little area and not venture out. Here's the sad thing about them; they are not safe, they just think that they are safe.

Think about this, Richard Bach said “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly." What would happen if the caterpillar didn't make his cocoon because he was scared? Or if once he made it, he didn't want to come out of it. It's safe, warm and a great place to be. Well then, why are you still stuck in your cocoon? What's stopping you from breaking out and becoming that beautiful butterfly?

Action:
Stop relying on your strength or intelligence and really be responsive to change. Change will create exactly what you want. Step out of your cocoon or comfort zone and become what you were meant to become.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."

Release the Familiar and Seemingly Secure

2011-10-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting and in change there is power."~Alan Cohen

Have you released the familiar and seemingly secure? Really? Most people stay in their comfort zone and never release the familiar, thinking that they are secure in their comfort zone. Here's the challenge. When you are in your comfort zone, you are not staying level but you are shrinking, getting smaller. There is no security in what is no longer meaningful, but we hold on tight to those things and hope that they will become meaningful again. I hate to tell you but they will most likely NOT become meaningful again.

Max De Pree said "In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining who we are." We cannot remain who we are to be meaningful to the world. You can't continue to play small, you need to play as BIG as you've been created to be!

Action:
Realize that there is no security in what is no longer meaningful. You also cannot become who you were meant to be by staying as you are now. There is power in change! Be prepared to make that change.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting and in change there is power."

Who Are You Listening To?

2011-10-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

"Think big and don't listen to people who tell you it can't be done. Life's too short to think small."~Tim Ferriss

How many times did you have a great idea and you told someone about it and they said "You can't do that," "You're stupid," "Why waste your time?" and you listened to them? Don't listen to the naysayers or those that want to keep you where you are. There's an interesting story about a bucket of crabs that describes this perfectly; when one of the crabs starts to climb out, the other crabs reach up and pull him back down. That's what those well meaning people are doing to you.

Napoleon Hill said "Deliberately seek the company of people who influence you to think and act on building the life you desire." Hang out with people who only want the best for you, who constantly are lifting you up and not smashing your dreams. Hang with people who will help your dreams come true!

Action:
Look at who is influencing you and who you are hanging with. If they aren't lifting you up, they are pulling you down. Notice that and make a change. It will positively affect your future.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Think big and don't listen to people who tell you it can't be done. Life's too short to think small."

Life, A Series of Experiences

2011-10-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

"Life is a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks which we endure help us in our marching onward." ~Henry Ford

Life is a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger. What a wonderful way to look at it. Neither good nor bad, but just experiences. It is not until we judge the experience that we place it in the good or bad category. But that is wrong thinking on our part. They are only experiences and we need to see and understand that. We can choose to look at those experiences as good or bad but we are only telling ourselves a story of what we have experienced. Learn from the experience but look at them as just that...experiences.

Do you realize that each experience makes us bigger? We sometimes think that some experiences make us smaller but that's not really the case. Each experience makes us bigger. You were meant to play bigger, you were meant to bring you talent and abilities to the world.

Action:
Allow each experience to make you bigger. If you don't bring the world your talent, no one else will and that talent will be lost forever. Claim your uniqueness!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Life is a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks which we endure help us in our marching onward."

Willing To Look At Things Differently?

2011-10-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

“One very important aspect of motivation is the willingness to stop and to look at things that no one else has bothered to look at. This simple process of focusing on things that are normally taken for granted is a powerful source of creativity.” ~Edward de Bono

How willing are you at looking at things that no one else has bothered to look at? Are you willing to ask the question why do we do this that way? I hope so because it leads to the expansion of your mind and ideas. Think about that...the expansion of your mind. Are you willing to expand your mind or are you set in your ways and you "already know how to do that?"

Einstein said “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” Yet every day, we try to solve the problems that come our way without changing the level of thinking that created them. Are you guilty of this? I know that I am sometimes, but most of the time, I will try to add to my knowledge to deal with the problem that I created. Books, articles and mentors help.

Action:
Motivation...Every action, positive and negative comes from our motivation. Choose wisely, make that motivation a positive one. ASK! Always Seek Knowledge. Expand your mind daily!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“One very important aspect of motivation is the willingness to stop and to look at things that no one else has bothered to look at. This simple process of focusing on things that are normally taken for granted is a powerful source of creativity.”

Compete In The Present

2011-10-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

“People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present. I’ve got my faults, but living in the past is not one of them. There’s no future in it.” -Sparky Anderson

Are you afraid of competing in the present? Are you living in your past? As Sparky said, "there's no future in it." The key is to always be present. Don't live in the past and don't spend a lot of time in the future, stay in the present.

Robert Collier said "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." That's the key, day in and day out. It doesn't say anything about yesterday or tomorrow, but day in and day out. Live for today, work for today, for today may be all you ever get. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is too far away.

Action:
Be present today. Stop living in the past and stop living in the future. Today is the only time you can live, so be present today. Repeat your disciplines day in and day out and at the end of the day, let it go, it's done, it's gone.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

Responsible For Your Thoughts?

2011-10-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

"If we are not responsible for the thoughts that pass our doors, we are at least responsible for those we admit and entertain." ~Charles Newcomb

What thoughts are you admitting and entertaining? Have you ever thought about what you are thinking about? Start now, because if you don't, you will never understand why you can't seem to get what you want.

It's true that there are thoughts that just pop into our brain but the key is to maintain your "brain garden" free from those negative thoughts and bad weeds. Once they enter your thought pattern make sure that you weed them out so they can't plant in your brain.

What are you doing about what you aren't doing? Anything? Are you learning something new? Are you being coached or mentored by someone? Or are you doing nothing about what you aren't doing???

Action:
Keep weeding your "brain garden" minute by minute. It might be a hassle to start but you will benefit from it immediately. Start doing something about what you aren't doing.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"If we are not responsible for the thoughts that pass our doors, we are at least responsible for those we admit and entertain."

Your History Is NOT Your Future!

2011-10-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

"To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future be totally unlike your past. Your history is not your destiny."~Alan Cohen

You do realize that your past does not equal your future, right? Right?? Just because you haven't done something doesn't mean that you can't do it now. This is an attitude to have...choose to have this attitude.

Here's another great attitude to have. Anthony D'Angelo said "If you have time to whine and complain about something, then you have the time to do something about it." If you complain about anything, then you do have the time to do something about it. Unfortunately, too many people have become victims and all they can do is whine and complain. Don't let that be you!

Action:
Don't allow your past to affect your future. You can become what you want to become. Stop complaining and whining and start changing the things that you are complaining about.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future be totally unlike your past. Your history is not your destiny."

The Last of Human Freedoms

2011-10-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”~Viktor E. Frankl

The last of the human freedoms..."to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances." That means a new economy, a lousy boss, a bad relationship, any set of circumstances! It is your CHOICE!!! And only yours!

You get to choose your own way. It's not dictated by anyone other than you...unless you give someone else that power. A lot of people have given their power away to someone else. Don't let that be you!

Shakespeare said “Make not your thoughts your prisons.” Are you a prisoner of your thoughts? Think about that. What thoughts are hold you back, holding you prisoner? When you examine those thoughts, you will find that there is no truth to the thoughts that are holding you prisoner. It's just a story that you are telling yourself so it becomes a story that you live.

Action:
Know and realize that no circumstance can dictate your attitude to you. You are the only one who can choose your attitudes. Take today to examine the thoughts that are holding you prisoner. After analyzing them realize that you don't need them anymore. Make a prison-break in your mind!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

How Is Your Attitude

2011-10-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

"Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force."~Tom Blandi

How is your attitude? I know, I know, I can hear you now..."My attitude is great," right? Really?? Most people don't think about their attitude and think that it is always great. But it's NOT! This is one area of your life that you can change and control and it will only cost you a little discipline.

Anthony de Mello said "What you are aware of you are in control of; what you are not aware of is in control of you." Start being aware of your attitude, towards your work, your play, all the time. When you are aware, you are in control. Attitude...the only thing that we can truly control!

Action:
Be more aware of your attitude and how you project it to the world. Take time to think about it to make sure that it is the way that you want it to be. Don't let others choose your attitude for you!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force."

Never Underestiamte the Power of Belief

2011-10-10T06:48:00.000-07:00

"Never underestimate the power of belief when it comes to fulfilling your dreams. I can say with no hesitation that every person I've ever met who has achieved any degree of success has one thing in common: they believed with all their heart they could do it." ~Mac Anderson

What is your belief when it comes to fulfilling your dreams? Do you believe that you can do it or are they just dreams? Unfortunately, to most people, they simply are dreams of what could have been, or what should have been or what would have been. It's so sad to see people bringing their past into their future!

Think about the successful people that you know. Did they lack belief in their dreams? I bet not...so what about you? What are you waiting for? What do you believe about your dreams? Do you believe that you can accomplish them? I hope so.

W.C. Fields said “Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.” That attitude that he was talking about is all about belief!

Action:
"It's never too late to become who you were meant to become." Stop waiting! Believe! Take Action! Become who you were meant to be!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Never underestimate the power of belief when it comes to fulfilling your dreams. I can say with no hesitation that every person I've ever met who has achieved any degree of success has one thing in common: they believed with all their heart they could do it."

Think First, Act Afterward

2011-10-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

“Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don't control what you think, you can't control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.” ~Napoleon Hill

Mastery of your thoughts. How often do you control what you think about? How often do you think about what you are thinking about? It's called Metacognition and we need to do more of it. Most people just go about their lives without really thinking. The challenge is to really think about what you think about.

"Self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.” Think first and act afterward. What a novel concept! Thinking and responding rather than not thinking and then reacting.

Pat Riley said “Discipline is not a nasty word.” He is so right.

Action:
Think and respond rather than reacting. Take today to think about what you think about. It might enlighten you to as to why some things keep happening to you. Work on Self-Discipline.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don't control what you think, you can't control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.”

What You Think You're Not!

2011-10-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

"It's not what you are that holds you back, it's what you think you're not."
~ Denis Waitley

Are you thinking that what holds you back is who you are? That's not what is holding you back. What is holding you back is thinking that you are not enough, thinking that you need to become more. All you really need to do is to find who you think you're not inside of you! We each have been created uniquely, and each of us has something special to bring to the world.

Are you bringing your uniqueness to the world? Here's the sad part if you aren't. The world will never see what you were meant to bring to it because you are the only one who was given that special gift to give the world. The gift you were meant to bring to the world can only be brought by you.

Here's the attitude you need to have. Joan of Arc said "I'm not afraid... I was BORN for this!" You were born to bring your uniqueness to the world. Don't be afraid. Start now.

Action:
Realize that you have everything you will ever need to bring your uniqueness to the world inside of you already. Your don't have to learn something new, you just need to release what's inside of you.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"It's not what you are that holds you back, it's what you think you're not."

Give Yourself Permission!

2011-10-05T06:07:00.000-07:00

"We need to give ourselves permission to act out our dreams and visions, not look for more sensations, more phenomena, but live our strongest dreams -- even if it takes a lifetime."~ Vijali Hamilton

Have you given yourself permission to act out your dreams and visions? Really? Most people are waiting for someone else to give them permission. If you are waiting, here it is: I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO ACT OUT YOUR DREAMS!! See, that wasn't so hard, was it? You have been given permission.

Are you looking for more sensations and more phenomena? SQUIRREL!!!!
See, most of us are too busy adding on, looking for more and more when the best thing to do is take things that don't work away, instead of just adding to what we do. When what we have all works for us, it allows us to live our strongest dreams.

Action:
Give yourself permission or take the permission that I bequeath to you. Act out your dreams and visions. Take things away that don't work for you anymore.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"We need to give ourselves permission to act out our dreams and visions, not look for more sensations, more phenomena, but live our strongest dreams -- even if it takes a lifetime."

Make A Deep Mental Path

2011-10-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."~Henry David Thoreau

What kind of deep mental paths are you creating? Are you allowing them to dominate your life? Research has found that we have about 60 thousand thoughts per day...and 85% of those thoughts are NEGATIVE! They also found that out of those 60k thoughts, 80% were the same thoughts that you had yesterday!

Peace Pilgrim said "If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought." Wow, NEVER think another negative thought! It's interesting that to develop your mind with positive thoughts it take work and work, while our brain goes to the negative so much easier. Think about the last time you had a "What if" thought. Was it positive or negative? Most people's "what ifs' are always negative. What if you could make them positive?

Action:
Challenge yourself to think NEW thoughts every day. Don't get caught in the never-ending loop of old, negative thoughts. Make your "what ifs" positive. It really can be that easy.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."

Adjust Your Actions, Not Your Goals!

2011-10-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the actions."~Confucius

Are you doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result? Albert Einstein called that insanity, but that is exactly what many people do because of two reasons: 1) They don't know any better, or 2) Fear. Which one is holding you back?

Do you not know any better? If so, there's good news! You can learn anything new right now. You don't have to wait. There are people who can help you get to where you want to get. But...it's going to require something of you. The ability to ask for help! Most of us won't do that or can't do that. Do men ever ask for directions? Do you have the ability to ask for help?

The second reason is fear! The people who are afraid are the people who scream the loudest that they don't need help or that they are doing fine and that they have no fear. Fear is not something that you get rid of, like bad food. Fear needs to be managed because it is always there, a big part of our brain. And the better we manage our fears, the better we become.

Erica Jong said “And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more." Are you risking even more because you don't risk anything?

Action:
Manage your fears today and adjust your actions to help you reach your goals. It might be just a slight change that makes all the difference in the world...because there are no small changes. Take a risk...today!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the actions."

What's Left to Take Away?

2011-09-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

"Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." ~Antoine de Saint Exupery

Wow, what a different way to look at things. We are so used to adding more and more things to make it work, but according to Exupery, he says that perfection is achieved when there is nothing left to take away.

Michelangelo always said that his famous "David" was inside the marble all the time and all he needed to do was take away the excess. What are you adding vs. what can you take away to make things perfect? Think about that, take away the excess and you will be left with the most important stuff. Too often we add and add rather than take away.

Action:
Look at everything that you do. Stop adding to what you do. What can you take away? Look for your perfection in the taking away rather than the adding.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

Make Things Happen, Today!

2011-09-29T05:36:00.000-07:00

"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened." ~John M. Richardson Jr.

Which one are you??? I know, you are one of those who make it happen, right? But really, do you make it happen or do you just say that you do? It's real easy to say, but much harder to do and when things get hard, we tend to not do them. Because it's too hard or will take too long or we are not committed to doing it, so we don't. Then we just let life happen to us.

Here's the thing about letting things happen to you. If you don't have a plan, you will have to be a part of someone elses plan. And guess what, their plan doesn't have much for you. I hope that you aren't one of the ones who just wonder what happened. Everything happens for a reason.

Action:
Go about today and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! Don't go through this day just letting it happen to you. Create the life that you've always wanted.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened."

Your Dreams and "Someday"

2011-09-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

"Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away." ~ Tom Clancy

How real is your dream? Do you allow yourself to dream or do you put it on the back burner so that you can deal with your responsibilities? Are you more concerned with your duties than your dream? Now, don't get me wrong, your duties are important, but not as important as your dream! Are you putting off your dream until "someday?" Here's a little secret...someday never comes!

Only you can take your dream away from you. No one else can. Do you realize that or have you let others take your dream away? I sure hope not, but if you have, you can reclaim your dream right now. Just do it! Right now! Your dream is your choice. Make sure that you choose well.

Action:
Take one step toward your dream today. That's all it takes, is one step a day. Soon you will so close to your dream that you will be able to touch it and feel it! Remember, someday never comes!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away."

Stop Listening to Your Negative Self

2011-09-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

“Want to overcome discouragement? Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself.”

Are you listening to yourself and not talking to yourself? It's a real easy trap to fall into. And we often listen ourselves out of opportunities, don't we. Have you name your little voice? Mine is Ziggy, for Sigmund Freud and the comic Ziggy. That make it easy to talk to and make it either stop or at least tone down the noise.

Your brain is NOT your friend. It is designed to keep you safe and to challenge anything new or different. How can you grow unless you try new or different things? You need to constantly ask questions and challenge how you think. Can you do that? It is difficult, but I believe that you can.

Action:
Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself. You will be in a better frame of mind and even more productive!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Want to overcome discouragement? Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself.”

Say YES to Your Adventure!

2011-09-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.” ~Joseph Campbell

Are you ready to say a hearty YES to your adventure? Really? Then, what are you waiting for? Permission? OK, I give you permission to say a hearty YES to your adventure. Now, what are you waiting for?

Oh, you need to let go of yesterday, right? The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday. You may not have known it, but you need to let go of the past if you are every going to move forward. Are you ready to let go of the past and live in the present?

Action:
Start leaving the past in the past so you can live in the present and move into your future. The future that you create. The future of your dreams. "It's never too late to be who you were meant to be."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.”

Thnking of You...NOT!

2011-09-23T06:51:00.000-07:00

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do."~Eleanor Roosevelt

I just love this quote! Read it again. Now, think about how many times you didn't do something because of what other people thought about what you were going to do Guess what? They weren't thinking about you!

Think about when you meet someone and tell them what you do for business. Guess what? They don't care about what you do for business. What they care about is what you can do for THEM!! That is the only time people really think about you...when you can show them how you can help them! It's all about them. Never forget that.

A favorite quote of mine is "It's none of my business what you think of me." See, because when I care about what you think about me, I change who I am to fit what you think about me.

Action:
Realize that most people are NOT thinking about you. What they do care about is what you can do for them! So don't run your life based on other people's thoughts.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do."

Turn A Problem Into A Opportunity

2011-09-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."~Joseph Sugarman

This is so true...the problem is that we focus so much on the problem that we can't see the opportunity. A long time ago, one of my first mentors told me, "don't come to me with a problem unless you also have a solution." That's always stayed with me. Do you think like that? What would happen to you if you did?

Why do people do business with you? Because you solve a problem for them, that's why. We are all looking for our problems to be solved for us. Those who can solve the problems are rewarded, not those who can't or only see the problem.

Action:
Stop focusing on the problem and start focusing on solutions! Analyze the problem but then search for opportunities. Don't stay focused on the problem, only the opportunities.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."

Questions Are The Answer!

2011-09-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

"Some self-confronting questions: 'Where do I want to be at any given time? How am I going to get there? What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be? ... What's the first, small step I can take to get moving?'"
~George A. Ford

Questions are the answer! When was the last time you asked yourself these self confronting questions? Have you ever asked them? Most people just go through life without ever asking these questions and don't know why they do what they do, other than to pay the bills. Without asking these questions, you will never be who you were meant to be, never become the person who can change the world with your unique talents...all because you stayed safe by not asking those self-confronting questions.

Stop playing small!! Be who you were meant to be! Bring your unique talents to the world, because if you don't, the world will never see them. Each of you were meant to bring something great to the world, why are you keeping it to yourself??

Action:
Ask yourself those questions and more. Challenge your perception of who you are and who you are becoming. Be who you were meant to be.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Some self-confronting questions: 'Where do I want to be at any given time? How am I going to get there? What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be? ... What's the first, small step I can take to get moving?'"

Do You Control Your Destiny? YES!

2011-09-20T06:43:00.001-07:00

"Understanding that we control our own destiny is the key to our success in life. Simply put, when we decide how we want our life to be we must take responsibility and move forward." ~Mac Anderson

Do you realize that? YOU control your own destiny! It's not controlled by the economy, your boss, your spouse, your parents...YOU control your own destiny!! The challenge is knowing what you want it to look like and being specific! Most people really don't know what they want. They want to be "rich." To be "happy." What do those things mean?? Nothing to your brain. You need to be specific in knowing what you want and why you want it.

Why do you want to be "rich?" And what does "rich" mean to you? Put a number on that. Say, "I want to make $750k a year!" Your mind can get around that. Now, why do you want to make $750k a year? The whys will be your driving force when you slow down or are depressed or not feeling excited about what you are doing.

Action:
Be specific about what you want out of life. Real specific. Realize that it's your choice...no one elses, only yours.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference

"Understanding that we control our own destiny is the key to our success in life. Simply put, when we decide how we want our life to be we must take responsibility and move forward."

Limitations to Overcome

2011-09-19T06:40:00.001-07:00

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome."~Helen Keller

What is limiting you now? Why are you letting it limit you? Most of our limitations come from our own mind. Is that what is limiting you today? Why?

Samuel Johnson said "Adversity has ever been considered the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself." Are you becoming acquainted with yourself? Who are you becoming?

Our lives are based on overcoming our limitations and dealing with adversity. How are you doing? Really? It's important to realize that we are never face with a problem that we can't deal with or overcome...unless we choose to not deal with it or not overcome it. Dig deep, find that limitation and adversity overcoming button within you. It's your choice, no one elses.

Action:
Find your overcoming button within you, if you already haven't. When was the last time you needed to use it...you might be needing it now.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome."

Attached To Your Burdens?

2011-09-16T05:50:00.000-07:00

"People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them."~George Bernard Shaw

Are you attached to your burdens? Sometimes we grow to accept our burdens and then don't get rid of them, but keep them attached to us. Is that you? Are you keeping that burden attached to you?

"Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable."~Theodore N. Vail

Are you allowing those imaginary difficulties to keep you down? "Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable." Yes, real difficulties CAN be overcome. It's the trash in your head that is unconquerable. Wow, it all comes back to what we think. "No thought lives in your mind rent-free." What are you paying for the thoughts that you have? Is it costing you or are you getting a return on your investment for what you think?

Action:
Realize that the biggest problems that you will face today are the imaginary ones, not the real ones. Lose you attachment to your burdens. It's your choice!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them."