Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Free Success Resources

Over the last 15 years or so, I’ve found some particularly helpful resources on success.

The first is inspirational speaker Jack Canfield’s reading list, chalk-full of many fabulous books spanning several categories.

Next, you’ll find – in no particular order – many different inspirational classics on success, achievement, and wealth.

These are my gift to you.

Make sure you print out the ones you like, and save those you prefer to read later to your hard drive.

Enjoy!


Top Success Resources:

Jack Canfield’s reading list

“As a man thinketh”

“Acres of Diamonds”
(Dennis Waitley reading the book)




“Think and grow rich”
(The author, Napoleon Hill discussing the book's principles)

Don't Let the Bank Rob You: Success of a Different Sort

Here's a really great story I found regarding a biz owner on the "island" of England (U.K).
You know how banks charge you for everything these days? And, if you happen to be off when balancing your checkbook and you have a few checks that bounce, you get hit with $25 - $35 per check charges (even higher in England)?
Well, you don't get any grace or mercy from the bank when that happens. And it seems that both here in America as well as in England, the banks are going crazy with these charges, with little consideration for right or wrong, or even correcting their errors.

According to the Daily Mail article titled, "Customer sends bailiffs in to seize bank's computers" found at www.dailymail.co.uk, a man named Declan Purcell had a bunch of charges deducted from his account to the tune of 3,400 pounds that he thought were wrong, so he:

"decided to give one of the high street giants a taste of its own medicine. When Royal Bank of Scotland refused to refund £3,400 charges that Declan Purcell believed he was owed, he sent in the bailiffs.
Stunned customers at his branch of RBS watched as debt collectors seized four computers, two fax machines and a till filled with cash.
The branch manager was told that the items would be sold unless RBS came up with the money owed to Mr. Purcell.
Only when the manager gave an undertaking that the debt would be paid did the bailiffs leave.
Mr. Purcell said: ‘I think the bank was pretty shocked when the bailiffs went in. But my view is that this is exactly what they would have done to me.’”
Great story! Apparently, what happened was that Mr. Purcell went to court, got a judgment against the bank and then had the judgment enforced, according to the law. The Royal Bank of Scotland decided to not defend their interests and neglected to respond to any correspondence regarding settling the judgment. So, the law stepped in and the bailiffs went to collect the money owed.
Kudos to Mr. Purcell for stepping up and taking action in the face of extremely daunting odds—and prevailing! According to the article, Britain’s Office of Fair Trading is investigating the exorbitant charges that are leveled on customers for overdrafts and other practices.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Exercise This, Man...

Have you considered the importance of rest and what that does for your health and well-being.?While rest is critical, exercise is crucial. The last few months since I've been eating more healthy, I've been feeling so much better. Several weeks ago, I decided I wanted to go back to the gym and start exercising again.

Just "Do It!"

Let me just say that it's been a lot tougher than I thought. I'm not in the same trim, 7% body fat shape I was in my collegiate days. But, I will persist and I'm sure my efforts will pay off. Also, I have accountability--so I can't quit. My wife and I have entered the Body for Life Fitness Challenge (starts next week) at our chiropractor's office, so we have a system in place to help us be successful.

So, I encourage you to get back to the gym or engage in a specific, ongoing exercise regimen. It doesn't have to be anything complicated and you don't have to aspire to be a professional body builder or female model. Just get in there and "do it!" You'll be glad you did.

A Creative Way to Exercise: Wii-ercise Me, Baby!

Here's a twist on exercise that you've probably never thought of. It's mostly for the college crowd, those fanatical gamers out there, or for those looking for a good excuse NOT to go to the gym while engaging in some type of activity.

You've probably heard of "Jazzercise," which involves exercising to music in a vigorous, yet creative fashion. Well, I call this "Wii-ercise." For those of you out there that are clueless, it's basically an interactive video-game, kinda like virtual reality where you become part of the game (literally), whether its bowling, baseball or whatever.

Ok, it's not truly exercising with the goal of fitness in mind, but for those who struggle to show their faces inside the likes of a gym, it may be a good technique to move in that direction.

I found this really interesting article which outlines how to get your "Wii ON." You might want to check it out, it's a lot of fun!

Saturday, February 15, 2014

"You Deserve a Break Today!"

This last week I've been exhausted. Tired, running on empty, kind of dragging along. Definitely not operating at my best. Two weeks ago, I started taking these new supplements: a super powerful greens product and a powerful antioxident. I started feeling great, within hours of first taking it. More energy, better outlook and attitude, a greater capacity for productivity.

So, what did I do? I started working harder, staying up later so I could get more done and sacrificed my sleep. Now I'm paying for it.

I recently found this study on the Slacker News website, "New Study Finds More Naps Mean A Healthier Heart," (http://www.channel3000.com/health/10989723/detail.html) that said that it's great to take short naps during the day and that it may help your heart.

I've also heard that it's great to take a day of rest each week. I know that when I've tried it, it's had a huge impact on my health, outlook and emotional well-being.

Since most of us can ill afford to take that 30 minute snooze during the day, and it's even more difficult to take an entire day off and rest, I figure that somehow we can take some type of break where we just "do nothing more than enjoy or appreciate life."

I found this website that has some really beautiful images and sayings to encourage you to take that time. So, today or whenever you get the chance, take 10-15 minutes and check it out. Then, perhaps set up a daily time where you do nothing more than relax, recharge and renew your focus, whatever that looks like for you. Enjoy!

Here's that website: http://beinglive.com/win101/phwinspire501k.htm

Friday, February 14, 2014

What’s Love Got to Do With It?

I was surfing Amazon.com earlier today and checked out their survey which asked, “do you think…”: Love is in the air? OR Love stinks?
Here are the results:
Amazon Love Meter
45.1% of those who voted think that love is in the air.
54.9% think that love stinks.
So for those of you who are down on the day, I apologize for this post. For those of you who want to spread the love and have someone you care about, here are a few tidbits that may help.
Gifts that are a really bad idea:
Looking for just the right movie to get you and yours in the right frame of mind for this evening? Try these ideas and see where the night takes you.
Movies To Get You and Your Date “In the Mood” (along with memorable quote):
  • Jerry Maguire: "You had me at 'hello.'"
  • The Big Easy: "If I can't have you, can I at least have my gator?"
  • Flirting: "Football. It's a form of mating ritual."
  • Body Heat: "You aren't too smart. I like that in a man."
  • Secretary: "Who's to say that love needs to be soft and gentle?"
  • Say Anything: "I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen."
Relationships Are That Important
Perhaps you’re desperate. You’ve waited until the last minute to buy the flowers (all the local shops are out of roses), or make your dinner reservations (her favorite is booked). Don’t panic, you’re in luck. The least you could do is find a card and write something meaningful.
Then, spend a little time on this site to get some ideas: http://www.theromantic.com/stories/valentines/main.htm
Who knows? Maybe you can still save the day and take your romance to the next level.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

"Like a Candle in the Wind:" Anna Nicole Smith & Your Health

Just the other day I found this great website, www.realage.com, that allows you to take this great test to see where you stand health-wise. Granted, it’s a gimmick, but it makes sense. I took it and when all the dust cleared, I was actually 6 years younger health-wise than my actual age. I attribute this to the fact that I’ve lost significant weight after my appendectomy a while ago, and have kept it off through a healthy diet and exercise.

Think on how important it is to do everything you can do to remain healthy. I realize I need to stick to my exercise and aerobics regimen, and to eat nutritious foods, at least a good deal of the time.
Ask yourself:
  1. How do you feel? Are you operating at your optimum? When you wake up are you ready to go or do you already have that headache and flagging energy that drags throughout your day?
  2. Where do you want to be? Are you satisfied with your health, productivity, physical-emotional-spiritual balance or would you like to make improvements?
  3. Are you willing to change? If you’re happy where you are, great! If you would like to make improvements, start small. Maybe you could begin by taking the test at www.realage.com. Yes, it’s a bit long, but it’s also very comprehensive. This could be just the jumpstart or catalyst to start you on your way to a “new you!”
  4. What are some easy, simple things you could do that would have an impact on your health? Ideas: get to bed earlier, cut out those triple cheeseburgers and super large fries at Wendy’s, walk twice a week, etc.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

"Crack That Whip:" Developing a Personal Motivation Plan

It's funny, but I never was motivated by force or threats, and my guess is that most people aren't either. A while ago, I had this life "coach" whose idea of motivation was harassing, pushing and nagging me to action. Did it work? Well, let's just say that the relationship lasted for less than two weeks.
I call this the "push" method of motivation/management. You see this in may top-heavy corporations that have an authoritarian management structure, and whose employees are basically told what to do.

Later, I hired a life coach who encouraged and supported me in such a way that I found my own personal system that motivated me and moved me to growth.
This is the "pull" method of motivation/management. It allows people to discover their gifts and skills and work in areas in which they can make the most significant contribution to their company or business. You will generally find this in companies that are smaller organizations whose management encourages ideas, creativity and autonomy and whose managers are confident visionaries.

What are some great ideas for forming your personal motivational plan?
Probably the most important thing to remember is to ENJOY YOURSELF. Don’t make this a boring, legalistic chore that you look forward to as much as getting your teeth pulled at the dentist’s. Have fun with it!
Here are some suggestions:
  • Write out your list of your dreams, goals and desires. When you know what you want, you have a target to move toward. Most people (97%) don't bother and thus wander aimlessly across the landscape of life. Go ahead, dream a little—you’re entitled.
  • Put together some type of tracking system, or some way to know how you’re doing and review it on a daily basis. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy and this certainly can be lighthearted and fun. (On a later post, I’ll share some great online tools for doing this—and it takes just minutes a day to do!)
  • Exercise regularly and watch your nutrition. When I first started this I wasn’t happy. I cut out many foods temporarily like beef and other stuff I liked, and I felt deprived. But I kept at it. And in only a few weeks, I felt better than I’ve felt in years, I’m sleeping better, have great energy and my productivity has increased by a factor of three or more. Persist for a bit and you’ll get the rewards.
  • Find your spiritual center. I don’t mean go out and join the latest cult or become “so heavenly that you do no earthly good.” However, research has shown that there are significant benefits for those who attend church, pray and read the Bible, amongst other spiritual practices. These include: oftentimes longer life, healing more quickly from illness and diseases, and overall better outlook/attitude on life.
  • Associate with positive people and images. This may seem unnecessary for some. Yet, I can say that when I stopped watching horror movies, associating with those who did nothing but complain, and started focusing on the positive things in life and the possibilities instead of the negative, my life changed in a huge way.
  • Set aside a time each week where you can review your progress and plan for the next. You’d be amazed at what this simple process can do for you. You’ll gain an appreciation for all you accomplish and before you know it, you will see your dreams materializing before your very eyes.
  • Get together on a regular basis with a group where you can share your dreams and progress. Some people call this a "mastermind" group. Whatever you call it, it’s a forum where you can get with others and be accountable. You can share your progress toward your goals, your struggles in getting there and get feedback along the way.
If you have any comments or anything that’s worked great for you, please share it with us.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Inspirational Videos on Achieving Your Dreams

Despite the world being in a recession or depression, and gloomy circumstances all around, you can still choose to be happy.

Perhaps you – like me – have taken a negative circumstance (think job loss, losing your home, pay reduction, etc) and turned it around.

Now is an especially perfect time to consider doing what you’ve always wanted to do.


Think about your passions, dreams and desires.

•    What are they?
•    What could you do now that would move you in that direction?
•    What lemons in your life could you turn into lemonade?



Hopefully, these videos will encourage you and get your juices flowing…


How to be happy all the time (or at least as much as is reasonable!):




Believe in yourself (even if no one else will):





Follow your dreams:




Never, never, never quit (even if you feel like giving up)

Sunday, February 9, 2014

We All Live on a Yellow Submarine

Vacations in outer space? Hotel Atlantis, underwater? Get real.

All this talk about success makes me tired. I guess I yearn for a true vacation where I can just sit still, doing nothing. We all need to kick back, relax and re-charge for an extended period of time. And during the week, what about taking one day and having that day be your "do nothing" day. Go ahead, give yourself a break. You need it. And your body desperately deserves it.

This week I came across an article in Business 2.o Magazine touting underwater real estate (www.cnnmoney.com). Fascinating stuff, check out my excerpts below. What it impressed upon me was that we all need to slow down from time to time and relax. Take a vacation at least once a year. Take mini-vacations each week by resting on one day of your hectic schedule. You get the idea...

Anyway, here are the goods on these two underwater hotels. And by the way, with real estate prices being sky high and land in relatively short (limited) supply, kudos go to the developers. These guys obviously have the creativity and brain power to think outside the box. Also, it illustrates the ingenuity of the human spirit, even if it's based on the profit motive.

From the article:
  • "Hydropolis, a $500 million-plus, 220-room hotel under development near Dubai in the Persian Gulf. Billed as the world's first underwater hotel, the Hydropolis will be located, if all goes according to plan, 60 feet below sea level and cost $1,500 a night.
  • Poseidon Mystery Island, a $200 million development off the coast of Fiji. When it opens in mid-2008, the hotel will be much smaller than Hydropolis and almost twice as expensive to visit. But it does boast something you don't get in Dubai: 24-hour views of one of the world's liveliest coral reefs."