Are You The Master Of Your Destiny?

"You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be."~Napoleon Hill

Yes, YOU!  You are the master of your destiny. You can direct and control your environment.  You can make your life what you want it to be!

I can hear you grumbling "but David, I've got these bills, I got these obligations, I need this or that, I have to do these things and I don't have any control over them."  WRONG!  You are right now where you are because of the choices that you have made.  Your choices, no one else's, yours.

Have you ever said anything like this?  Someday, I'm going to...write that book I've been talking about.  Pay off the debt I've accumulated.  Start the business I've been thinking about.  Lose the weight I've been complaining about.  Live the life I've dreamed about.  Guess what?  SOMEDAY NEVER COMES!

As the master of your destiny stop saying someday and start putting dates on those ideas!  I'm going to write that book starting TODAY!  I'm going to start to pay off that debt TODAY!  If you want to live the life you dreamed about stop saying it will happen someday and start living it TODAY!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference! 

"You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be."

Planting The Seed Of Success Or Failure

"Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another."~Napoleon Hill

I can always count on Hill for words of wisdom in dealing with others!  How many times has someone talked you out of doing something and later you regretted that decision?  How many times have you just blurted out something without thinking what you would plant in that other person's mind?

You have the power to plant a seed of success or a seed of failure.  Which do you choose?  I think most people would choose to plant seeds of success however they never think about it so it could go either way.  There's a think line between success and failure and what you say can move it from one side to the other.

Roy H. Williams said “I’m going to give you three reasons why this is a dangerous idea and then I’m going to give you three reasons why it’s brilliant. If the brilliant parts outweigh the dangerous parts, then this could be an idea whose time has come.”  If you think about this before you speak, maybe more people will be willing to bring their ideas to you.

Think twice before you speak because you have the power to plant a seed.  Make it a good one!

"Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another."

Who Do You Hang With? Listen To?

"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!

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."

Opportunity And Danger, Two Sides Of The Same Coin

"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/familiar 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."

Who Are You Listening To?

"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!

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."

Waiting For Others Approval?

"Waiting on others to approve a change you know you must make in your own life -- an action you must take that will likely lessen your dependency upon them, and perhaps drive them to make changes in their habitual choices -- is like hoping that a snowman looks forward to a spring thaw."~Guy Finley

Are you waiting for others to approve of your changes? Why? We so long to belong, to be accepted, to be loved...that we allow ourselves to be lost in who we are, just for acceptance. When we do that, we diminish who we are and we don't play big, we shrink and play small.

Here's the deal. Most of the people around you really don't care about you, only what you can do for them. That is why they are upset when you try to improve yourself, because you are leaving them behind and they want to keep you down with them.

Have you ever seen a bucket of crabs? One will try to get out and the others will pull him back, not let him get away. I don't know why they do that but they do...and so do people. They don't want to be left behind, so they do everything they can to keep you down with them.

Break free of those people and become who you were meant to be. Don't play small anymore, play BIG! The world will love you for it, but you might need to get new friends. While that may be a challenge, it is for the better, because who you hang around with does influence who you are. Who are you hanging with???

One of my favorite quotes is that "It's none of my business what you think of me."  You see, when I make it my business, then I change who I am to please you...looking for your approval.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Waiting on others to approve a change you know you must make in your own life -- an action you must take that will likely lessen your dependency upon them, and perhaps drive them to make changes in their habitual choices -- is like hoping that a snowman looks forward to a spring thaw."

Building The Life You Desire

"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!  Are the people that you are hanging with pushing you forward or holding you back?

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."

Danger and Opportunity

"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."

Life's Too short To Think Small

"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."

Be Your Best Self

"Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Are you yourself or a base imitator of another? Really? In a world that is constantly trying to homogenize everyone, are you who you really are down deep? Or are you playing a role that you've been assigned?

Listen to that inward voice and obey that. Listen to yourself. You can take input from others, but you need to decide who you are...and be that person. Too often we allow others to majorly influence who we are. Sometimes that works for us, sometimes it doesn't.

Do the things that you are great at, not the things for which you were never made for. Ever thought about that? The things you aren't made for? That may clear up some questions about what you should be doing. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be, not just an imitation of someone else.

Action:
Don't be an imitator, be yourself. Listen to your inner voice. do the things that you are great at.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for."

"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."

Opportunity vs. Danger

"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."

Be No Imitator

"Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Are you yourself or a base imitator of another? Really? In a world that is constantly trying to homogenize everyone, are you who you really are down deep? Or are you playing a role that you've been assigned?

Listen to that inward voice and obey that. Listen to yourself. You can take input from others, but you need to decide who you are...and be that person. Too often we allow others to majorly influence who we are. Sometimes that works for us, sometimes it doesn't.

Do the things that you are great at, not the things for which you were never made for. Ever thought about that? The things you aren't made for? That may clear up some questions about what you should be doing.

Action:
Don't be an imitator, be yourself. Listen to your inner voice. do the things that you are great at.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for."

Choices

"By the choices we make, by the attitudes we exhibit, we are influencing lives every day in positive or negative ways...our family, our peers, our friends, and even strangers we've never met before and will never meet again. So when you brush your teeth every morning, look in the mirror and ask yourself...'Are there things I'd like to change?'" ~Mac Anderson

What would you like to change about yourself? Anything? What are you waiting for. You can choose to make a change right now. You don't need anyone's permission and if you do, I give you permission to change what you need to change. Just because you have always done something one way, doesn't mean that you have to keep doing it that way.

Who are you influencing with your choices? Anyone? No one? You are influencing at least one person...and that's you. How is that working for you or do you believe that you don't have any choices and you are stuck?

Your choices have brought you to where you are now. Are you happy with them? If not, it's not to late to change your choices and choose new things. "It's never too late to be who you were meant to be." Who were you meant to be? Are you who you were meant to be???

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"By the choices we make, by the attitudes we exhibit, we are influencing lives every day in positive or negative ways...our family, our peers, our friends, and even strangers we've never met before and will never meet again. So when you brush your teeth every morning, look in the mirror and ask yourself...'Are there things I'd like to change?'"

Have You Made A Difference?

"You never know when someone will catch a dream from you. You never know when that little word or something you do opens the windows of the mind that seeks the light. So just in case, it could be that another's life through you might possibly change for the better, with a broader and brighter view, it seems it might be worth a try at pointing the way to the right...of course it may not matter at all...but you never know it might."

When do you know if you have made a difference? Do you ever know? How often do you think about making a difference in the lives of others? We are so busy with all of our own crap, we don't often think of others...but what would happen if someone catches their dream from you? What a wonderful thing that would be!

Do you live your life as an inspiration to others or are you so caught up in your own stuff that you forget about everyone else or simply don't have time? What will you do today to be an inspiration to others? Maybe just a smile, a wave, a sincere "hello." That may be all it takes to turn someones day around...

Hopefully this has inspired you to make a difference in someones life today. Of course, it might not matter at all...but then again, it might!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the BIG question: Is that okay? ~Jim Rohn

Read that again and ask yourself those questions about your associations. Who are you associating with and are they helping you or hindering you? Analyze those associations. Study them and make sure that they are not influencing you in a direction that you may not want to go. See, we won't let someone push us off course with a big push, but we might let little nudges move us in the opposite direction than we want to go.

It is said that your income is the average of your 5 closest associates. Does that inspire you or do you need to find new associates? Are you putting yourself in a position to be learning from others? Or are you just keeping pace, just "trying to make ends meet?"

The greatest gift you can give somebody is YOUR own personal development. Are you giving that gift or are you not working on yourself and keeping the gift? (Now, I konw some of you are saying, "Of course I'm working on myself...but are you really???)

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the BIG question: Is that okay?

Beliefs = Behavior = Results

"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?

We'll talk more about beliefs tomorrow, but until then, tell me, "What are your beliefs?"

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."

Danger and Opportunity

"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?

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.

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

The Undiscerning Mind

"The undiscerning mind is like a root of a tree-it absorbs equally all that it touches-even the poison that would kill it.”~Master Po, from Kung Fu

Your associations are the most important part of your life and business. Do you constantly evaluate them? Why not? Those associations are influencing you whether you know it or not. Are they influencing you for the better or for worse...

Here are some questions to ask yourself about your associations:
1. Who are you around?
You've got to evaluate everybody that you are around and their influence on you.

2. What are these associations doing to me or for me?
Are you listening to them? What do they have you thinking about yourself? How are you talking when you are around them? How do they make me feel?

3. Is that ok?
Maybe everyone you associate with is lifting you up, only concerned about your highest good, only looking out for your best interests. If so, that's great. Congratulations in picking the best associations, then again there might be some bad apples in that bunch. Take the time to take a second look at your associations.

It's really easy to dismiss the influence of others in our lives. Everything matters! You've got to keep checking to make sure the associations that you allow yourself to have are positive and uplifting for you.

"The undiscerning mind is like a root of a tree-it absorbs equally all that it touches-even the poison that would kill it.”