tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20349384501753150262024-02-03T04:21:50.951-08:00Created 4 Successcreated 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-52682482508689549942015-12-19T13:53:00.000-08:002015-10-08T20:55:55.975-07:00Spring Fever, Winter Vacation & Fixating on FinancesEvery year at about this time, I break down, weak in the knees for fake trees, cheesy Christmas decorations and ample holiday cheer. Like about 40 million other people on the planet.<br />
<br />
This year, though, I have to admit that I have a bit of spring fever when it comes to my upcoming vacation, which includes sitting around and a whole lot of nothing. That makes work a bit painful, and this week one of the slowest I can remember.<br />
<br />
Anyway, one of the things I do each year is look at my finances and where I stand with my debt. One of the things I'm still paying on is my college loans. I only have one of my student loans left to pay off, since I had a <a href="http://www.nextstudent.com/consolidation_loans/consolidation_loans.asp">student loan consolidatio</a><a href="http://www.nextstudent.com/consolidation_loans/consolidation_loans.asp">n</a> several years back.<br />
<br />
More fun includes finding a fixed rate mortgage loan to replace my adjustable rate mortgage which is set to increase by several hundred dollars in January.<br />
<br />
I guess it's just my mortgage company's way of saying "Merry Christmas" to themselves.created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-52503259821005673622015-07-04T15:34:00.000-07:002015-10-08T20:56:47.149-07:00Celebrate Your Freedom to Succeed: Act as if You Can't Fail<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In celebration of the freedom that the 4th of July represents, I'd like to talk about personal freedoms of a different kind.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What if I could guarantee your success?</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's all in your thinking. Here's what I mean.</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seriously, if you knew that you absolutely, positively couldn't fail at something, what would you attempt to accomplish? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What dreams have you kept on the back burner that you would bring out if you knew that failure simply wasn't possible?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What outlandish things would you do or try under these conditions?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For most, the sky would be the limit.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Encouraging Words for Forgetting About Failure</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail." - Charles F. Kettering </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">“All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail. That is the talisman, the formula, the command of right-about-face which turns us from failure to success.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">- Dorothea Brande</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
“…Act with enthusiasm and confidence – act as if it were impossible to fail. Your beliefs become your reality, and your expectations have a direct result on the outcome of any given situation. Concentrate on your strengths, your triumphs and your successes...” - Joe Lavellecreated 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-23808526339591683572015-03-07T07:59:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:29:51.927-07:00Happiness Is for Hippies?Ok, so the title was little more than a cheap ploy to draw your attention. But, the truth of the matter is that we should all be happy and enjoy life, not just those embedded in the hippy culture, living life on their own terms.<br />
<br />
Recently, I've been thinking a lot about life balance, happiness, joy and what's important in life. Yeah, I know, money is important but it doesn't buy you happiness.<br />
<br />
If that were the case, the United States would be one of the happiest countries on the face of the earth: we have one of the wealthiest populations on the planet.<br />
<br />
In fact, when compared to other countries, we don't rank anywhere near the top in happiness: the U.S. is #23.<br />
<br />
I<span style="font-weight: bold;"> found this really cool article called "The World Map of Happiness" </span>on Guy Kawasaki's blog.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's who made the top 20:</span><br />
<ol>
<li>Denmark<br />
</li>
<li>Switzerland<br />
</li>
<li>Austria<br />
</li>
<li>Iceland<br />
</li>
<li>The Bahamas<br />
</li>
<li>Finland<br />
</li>
<li>Sweden<br />
</li>
<li>Bhutan<br />
</li>
<li>Brunei<br />
</li>
<li>Canada<br />
</li>
<li>Ireland<br />
</li>
<li>Luxembourg <br />
</li>
<li>Costa Rica<br />
</li>
<li>Malta<br />
</li>
<li>The Netherlands<br />
</li>
<li>Antigua and Barbuda <br />
</li>
<li>Malaysia<br />
</li>
<li>New Zealand <br />
</li>
<li>Norway<br />
</li>
<li>The Seychelles<br />
</li>
</ol>
Here's the actual <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/28_07_06_happiness_map.pdf" style="font-weight: bold;">World Map of Happiness Map</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">So, with all that being said:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>What is happiness? </li>
<li>How can you be content, regardless of your circumstances?</li>
<li>How do you find joy whether something good or bad happens to you?</li>
<li>What does life-balance and quality living have to do with happiness?</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">I'll address these questions in a future post...</span>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-41863388810949091632015-03-06T08:07:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:28:47.495-07:00Gratitude: Why Bother? Studies Tell the StoryPreviously I wrote about a practice I had started, listing 5 things each day that I'm thankful for. It has radically altered my life and changed my heart in ways that I couldn't have imagined; my outlook on life has become more positive, and I've become more loving, giving and understanding of others.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">For those of you out there that are "practical pragmatists," I found studies that highlight the benefits of people who are grateful and how much more they get out of life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">But first, a few quotes:</span><br />
<br />
"The best kind of giving is thanksgiving."--Chesterton<br />
<br />
"Ingratitude is the essence of vileness."--Kant<br />
<br />
"Give thanks in all things..."--The Bible<br />
<br />
"A noble person is mindful and thankful of the favors he receives from others."--the Buddha<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why it pays to be grateful:<br /></span><span style="font-size: 85%;">" Consider that recent academic studies have shown: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 85%;">People who describe themselves as feeling grateful to others and either to God or to creation in general tend to have higher vitality and more optimism, suffer less stress, and experience fewer episodes of clinical depression than the population as a whole. These results hold even when researchers factor out such things as age, health, and income, equalizing for the fact that the young, the well-to-do, or the hale and hearty might have "more to be grateful for."<br /></span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: 85%;">Grateful people tend to be less materialistic than the population as a whole and to suffer less anxiety about status or the accumulation of possessions. Partly because of this, they are more likely to describe themselves as happy or satisfied in life.<br /></span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: 85%;">In an experiment with college students, those who kept a "gratitude journal," a weekly record of things they should feel grateful for, achieved better physical health, were more optimistic, exercised more regularly, and described themselves as happier than a control group of students who kept no journals but had the same overall measures of health, optimism, and exercise when the experiment began. (Researchers use frequency of exercise as a barometer for general well-being because it is an objective measure that links to subjective qualities; people who exercise three or more times per week tend to have better indicators of well-being, even when health conditions that affect the ability to exercise are factored out.)<br /></span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: 85%;">Grateful people are more spiritually aware and more likely to appreciate the interconnectedness of all life, regardless of whether they belong to specific religions."</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>[I got this from the article, "Rx for Life: Gratitude (Why every day should be a day of thanksgiving)" by Gregg Easterbrook, found on <a href="http://www.beliefnet.com/story/51/story_5111_2.html">www.beliefnet.com.] </a>Check it out if you get a chance.<br />
<br />
So, you see, it pays to be grateful--literally! I'm glad that the world of mainstream psychology and people in general are beginning to see the wonderful benefits of "giving thanks daily" or being grateful in your own way.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Here is an article </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">about being grateful you might find interesting:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rx for Life: Gratitude</span><br />
<a href="http://www.beliefnet.com/story/51/story_5111.html">www.beliefnet.com/story/51/story_5111.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-1825509716788880882015-03-05T08:34:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:26:35.181-07:00FUNday Monday Videos: The "Happy Dance"What follows is the 2nd installment of "FUNday Monday Videos," to help you kick your week off right and bring a smile to your face...<br />
<br />
This video chronicles the travels of Matt Harding who starting in 2003, traveled the world, doing a silly, funny dance in each country that he visited.<br />
<br />
See the positivity blog, <a href="http://www.positivityblog.com/">www.positivityblog.com</a> for more info.<br />
<br />
I give you "The Happy Dance:"<br />
<br />
<object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bNF_P281Uu4"></param>
<param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param>
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bNF_P281Uu4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-35662412099033201912015-03-02T07:32:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:25:43.948-07:00Getting Things Done While Maintaining Your SanityI know some people who are so organized that every piece of their life is planned, down to the last detail. To me that's a little overboard. But, a few tools to help you maintain balance and bring order can certainly be helpful. It has been for me...<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Recently, I found a couple of tools that have really helped me keep my priorities in front of me and get things done.<br /><br />1) Joe's Goals; <a href="http://www.joesgoals.com/">www.joesgoals.com/:</a><br /></span>This is a great, FREE easy to use resource. Not for your "To Do" List but instead for routine tasks or priorities, like:<br />
<ul>
<li>working out at the gym 6 times/week</li>
<li>eating 6 meals a day at specified times</li>
<li>going to the chiropractor twice per week</li>
<li>date night</li>
</ul>
Joe's Goals allows you to check off the items you accomplished and those you did not, giving you a daily, weekly and monthly score to track your progress. And, its very easy to use.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Vitalist; <a href="http://www.vitalist.com/">www.vitalist.com</a>:</span><br />
<br />
Granted there are tons of tools out there that help you "Get Things Done" (GTD), but I found one that works well, with a minimum of headaches. Here's why I like Vitalist:<br />
<ul>
<li>IT'S FREE</li>
<li>easy to use, intuitive interface</li>
<li>allows you to drop your list onto your Google/Yahoo page, so its right in front of you</li>
<li>integrates into your Google calendar</li>
<li>many features like the ability to add notes, due dates, put off until "someday," ticklers, etc.</li>
<li>separate lists by context for work projects, home tasks, biz stuff, etc.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">If neither of these appeal to you, go to this website where you'll find tons of stuff to help you streamline your life:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">3) "Big List of Online Productivity Tools:"<br /><br /> </span><a href="http://lifedev.net/big-list-of-online-productivity-tools/">http://lifedev.net/big-list-of-online-productivity-tools/ </a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-70974222925483798052015-02-28T16:17:00.000-08:002015-10-08T20:56:11.626-07:00The power of purpose: what’s yours?Though this may not always be the case, when you’re in touch with your calling, know your life purpose, or live your life knowing that you have a mission, in general, you tend to live your life in a certain direction.<br />
<br />
Can you guess what that direction is?<br />
<br />
Naturally; most things in your life tend to align around your purpose in life, as long as you know what it is, live consciously, and make at least a bit of effort to move in that direction.<br />
<br />
And did I mention how fulfilling it can be? Believe me it’s wonderful!<br />
<br />
A few years back, I revealed what my life purpose is. Fast forward a bit, and you’ll notice that I’ve modified it a bit, so that I now feel it resonates with me.<br />
<br />
<b>Here’s my life purpose/mission/calling:</b><br />
<br />
“To empower others to live with passion and purpose;<br />
so they can be who they were created to be, and<br />
do what they were called to do!”<br />
<br />
<br />
You’ll notice that it’s right around 25 words, and very easy for me to remember.<br />
<br />
If you don’t have a mission statement, don’t worry. They’re easier than you think to put together.<br />
<br />
Nightingale Conant has this really simple tool that makes is a breeze called the <a href="http://www.nightingale.com/mission_select.aspx?promo=INTBAx139v1#start">Mission Statement Builder</a>. Check it out. Why not do it today?<br />
<br />
You’ll never know the true power of passion and purpose until you do!created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-4775367163923136302015-02-26T07:51:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:23:56.501-07:00FUNday Monday Videos KickoffThis weekend I was stumbling around, looking at online videos and came up with this idea:<br />
<br />
A lot of people may struggle to get up Monday morning to face another week of work.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">To combat that and help you kick your week off right, bringing a smile to your face at the beginning of your week when u need it most, I present to you: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">FUNday Monday Videos</span><br />
<br />
They're silly, they're fun and who knows, they might make you laugh. But they'll definitely change your frame of mind, if you let it.<br />
<br />
This one is called "The Gummy Bear Dance." Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<embed flashvars="m=1273966950&type=video" height="346" src="http://lads.myspace.com/videos/vplayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="430"></embed><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sidenote:</span> Since beginning my new job a few months back at NEXTSTUDENT I have to say that I love it and look forward to Mondays and what I do. Honestly, my NextStudent job is the first job that I can say this about.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<br /></h3>
created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-42148902957162054982015-02-22T07:55:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:19:49.105-07:00Character & Integrity Prevails, In The Long RunHollywood portrays the successful business person as doing "whatever it takes" to succeed, with little regard for morals, honesty or integrity. Whatever shortcut, conniving scheme, manipulative trick that will get that person to the top, make them millions or achieve their goals is considered acceptable.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">But is it really? Whatever happened to character? Integrity? Honesty?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Anyone ever heard of the saying, "what goes around, comes around?</span> I think some people call it karma. Others call it the law of attraction. Whatever you call it, it "bites back," even if you don't believe it will. Now, I don't mean this in a graceless, legalistic or harsh manner. It's just a law of nature that I've seen play out many times in my own life.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's a really uplifting story I read the other day. </span>You know how the movies most often portray cops as dishonest, amoral,"on the take," or more interested in racking up tickets to meet his/her monthly revenue quota than serving others?<br />
<br />
Well, this article, "Cop who ticketed himself reaps praise" may seem a little silly or even ridiculous at first glance, but it speaks volumes when it comes to character. Here's what happened, according to the article:<br />
<br />
"Chief Dick Knoebel drove past a stopped school bus with its lights flashing in September, then wrote himself a ticket for $235 and docked himself four points on his driving record."<br /><br />Most police officers would have blown it off or outright ignored the flagrant violation. But this guy, Chief Dick Knoebel "did the right thing," even when no one was looking.<br /><br />Now, in my book, <span style="font-weight: bold;">that's the definition of character: what you do and how you act when no one's looking. That's the true you. </span>If only more of us would follow his example more often, what a different world we might live in...<br />
Oh, and here's the <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SELF_TICKETING_CHIEF?SITE=FLPEJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">link for the article </a>so you can read it yourself.created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-36241263409224867222015-02-21T07:54:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:19:38.559-07:00Your Ideal Life: "You Can Do It!"<div class="MsoNormal">
What is it that you want out of life? Here is a simple process to put you on the path to achieving your dreams. The key is imagination, repetition and perseverance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><b>Ask yourself these questions to help you figure it out:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">What are your passions, dreams and desires? <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">What do you find yourself naturally doing, that people gravitate towards you for?<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">What do your currently do that you love? (for work, play, fun)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">What would you do if you didn't get paid for it (ok, make that "not paid much")? <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">How can you live "your ideal life," doing what you love to do, being who you were created to be?<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Write out the answers to these questions, then think of what your "ideal" would be in each of the following areas of your life:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">career/work</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">health</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">financial</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">spiritual</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">relationships</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">personal growth<o:p><br /></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Now, focus your vision a little bit more by writing out what your "ideal" would be in each area. </b>When you are writing up your “ideals” or dreams, write a vivid,engaging description as if it has already happened. The more details the better. Make it something that gets you really excited and motivates you to move forward. Use present tense, for example: “I am a full-time entrepreneur, doing what I love daily…” Then add specifics.<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Select the dream/area that is most meaningful to you, and read it every day out loud.</b> Do it first thing in the morning & then in the evening, before you go to sleep. When you read it, do so with emotion and passion. Perhaps you can close your eyes and pause after each sentence, picturing yourself living your dream.<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 10pt;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Commit to doing this 5 days of the week for a month.</b> You will find that you’re naturally getting excited about your dreams and making them a reality in your life. I’ve done this several times and have had incredible results.<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One example is when I put together my vision of my ideal client when I was working in the real estate field.<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I met with my potential client, I showed him what I had been envisioning/praying for (I typed it out) and compared it to the description of what he was looking for. He was both incredulous and excited. “Talk about synchronicity,” he said. And we decided to work together on the spot.<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I encourage you to get started today, and then start expecting the miraculous to come your way each day!</div>
created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-86269981937070186492015-02-20T11:51:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:19:29.676-07:00$50K in 2 days: figure the oddsHow'd you like to make twice the median salary of an American in just two days?<br />
<br />
It can be done. What's interesting is HOW it happened in this story.<br />
<br />
This airline pilot didn't have anything particularly special going for him that I'm aware of. He wasn't involved in network marketing, didn't play the stock market, and it had nothing to do with gambling in the futures or options markets, or any other crazy scheme or idea.<br />
<br />
The key component here is LUCK. You see, Mr. Raymond Snouffer Jr. won the lottery. Twice. Two days in a row. According to lottery officials, the odds of that happening were "incalcuable." I'd say.<br />
<br />
Congratulations, Mr. Snouffer! We don't know how you pulled it off.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">I guess this remarkable feat just goes to show you that no matter what your situation, you can always have hope in the miraculous and get it. </span><br />
<br />
Now, I'm not advocating that everyone invest their life savings in the "big one" (lottery that is) and hope that they will somehow make millions.<br />
<br />
I'm simply pointing out that whatever your dreams and desires are , however unlikely it may seem that you will achieve them, move forward with hope and faith. Someday, you will see them fulfilled. As with the man who won the lottery two days in a row, stranger things have happened!<br />
<br />
I found this story, <span style="font-size: 100%;">"‘Virtually incalculable’ odds: </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Minnesota man wins $25,000 lottery two days in a row," </span>on the MSNBC site, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17190964/">www.msnbc.com.</a>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-69809061925418396922015-02-20T07:40:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:25:01.490-07:00Loving Your Mistakes: Are You Nuts?I know, I know, everyone makes mistakes and "failure" is part of life's experience.<br />
<br />
What follows is an article I found that is really powerful, for the simple lesson it contains: its about loving your mistakes and accepting yourself and others in the process. And yes, its pretty transparent, even personal...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Anyway, It hit home for me.<br /></span>As difficult as this is to say, I can be very judgmental of myself and others, in particular with my wonderful wife. Granted, we all make mistakes and have faults, but some tend to let these things slide while others are more like me (as embarrassing as this is) and can sometimes not be too forgiving.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The article really touched my heart and got through to me. Here are some key things I learned:</span><br />
<ol>
<li>When my wife forgets or makes mistakes, whatever, I can simply accept it, realizing that she's only human, and that's part of the special someone that she is.</li>
<li>I can recognize that forgetfulness or follow-through is not her strength and love her for who she is and not judge her for who she's not (more like me).</li>
<li>As I am more compassionate and understanding of others, their actions and who they are, things seem to occur naturally when I don't force it. Things fall into place in an almost miraculous manner.</li>
<li>When I "go with the flow," accepting all that comes my way instead of fighting it, I am more peaceful, happy and content.</li>
</ol>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's the article (it's a bit long, but I think worth the read):<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 85%;">"Can You Love Those 'Mistakes'?"</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Judith Sherven, Ph.D. & Jim Sniechowski, Ph.D</span><br /><br />It's so easy to feel embarrassed and humiliated by the dumb stuff we all do. You've no doubt tried to hide the evidence that would expose you. And every one of us has lied to cover up our mishaps.<br /><br />But what about turning moments that might be thought of as mistakes into just another aspect of your ability to be fabulous at accepting all of who you are . . . who you really are . . .and incorporating your ditzy, addle-brained professor stuff into your intimate family history?<br /><br />The other day Judith decided she would make lamb stew. But she didn't have any flour to thicken her concoction. So she thought by mashing up some of the cooked potatoes and putting that into the mix it would do the job.<br /><br />Well, it didn't. So what she ended up with was a pretty runny mix.<br /><br />She told Jim about her experiment and then served him what was kind of like stew and sort of like soup.<br /><br />Jim started calling it "stoup." Lamb stoup.<br /><br />Now "stoup" is part of our intimate history and an endearment that will be with us for a<br />long time.<br /><br />And then another time Jim used an antique piano stool he'd bought for Judith as a step stool<br />to fix a window blind. Oops! The mahogany seat cracked and it now wobbled when Judith<br />sat on it to do her make-up.<br /><br />At first she couldn't understand what had caused the damage, but then she put two and<br />two together -- and voila! -- she'd solved the puzzle.<br /><br />Now, she had to reconcile her anger at the broken piano stool with her compassion for Jim's naivete about how delicate some things can be.<br /><br />The answer -- to remember that it all came from love -- both the gift of the stool and the crack that happened while Jim was lovingly fixing the blind. So she decided to get it fixed so it won't wobble anymore but keep the crack -- because every time she sees the crack she sees how<br />much Jim's behavior is motivated by love.<br /><br />And, just like with "stoup," the cracked piano stool is also part of our family's romantic lore.<br /><br />How can you see your foibles as simply human, sometimes pretty funny, sometimes a lot of aggravation, but just human . . .<br /><br />AND love your humanity while you fix the problem as well as you can?<br /><br />On the other hand, how can you get creatively generous . . .and make the most loving tribute out of your sweetheart's mistakes?<br /><br />After all, they're just "mistakes."<br /><br />And you can be so wonderfully fabulous when you open your heart.<br /><br />Just remember that even you can be a goof up from time to time . . . and then you can give<br />the gift of your heartfelt humor and understanding!<br /><br />So love those mistakes!<br /><br />******************<br />NOTE: Reprinting of this article in newspapers, newsletters,<br />ezines, and blogs is allowed as long as proper author<br />credits and, if published online, a link is provided back to<br /><a href="http://www.fearofbeingfabulous.com/" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" target="_blank">http://www.fearofbeingfabulous<wbr></wbr>.com</a><br />******************</span><script><!-- D(["mb","family history?<br /><br />The other day Judith decided she would make lamb<br />stew. But she didn\'t have any flour to thicken her<br />concoction. So she thought by mashing up some<br />of the cooked potatoes and putting that into<br />the mix it would do the job.<br /><br />Well, it didn\'t. So what she ended up with was a<br />pretty runny mix.<br /><br />She told Jim about her experiment and then served<br />him what was kind of like stew and sort of like soup.<br /><br />Jim started calling it "stoup." Lamb stoup.<br /><br />Now "stoup" is part of our intimate history<br />and an endearment that will be with us for a<br />long time.<br /><br />And then another time Jim used an antique<br />piano stool he\'d bought for Judith as a step stool<br />to fix a window blind. Oops! The mahogany<br />seat cracked and it now wobbled when Judith<br />sat on it to do her make-up.<br /><br />At first she couldn\'t understand what had<br />caused the damage, but then she put two and<br />two together -- and voila! -- she\'d solved the puzzle.<br /><br />Now, she had to reconcile her anger at the broken<br />piano stool with her compassion for Jim\'s naivete about<br />how delicate some things can be.<br /><br />The answer -- to remember that it all came from love --<br />both the gift of the stool and the crack that happened while Jim<br />was lovingly fixing the blind. So she decided to<br />get it fixed so it won\'t wobble anymore but keep the<br />crack -- because every time she sees the crack she sees how<br />much Jim\'s behavior is motivated by love.<br /><br />And, just like with "stoup," the cracked piano stool<br />is also part of our family\'s romantic lore.<br /><br />How can you see your foibles as simply human, sometimes<br />pretty funny, sometimes a lot of aggravation, but just human . . .<br /><br />AND love your humanity while you fix the problem as well<br />as you can?<br /><br />On the other hand, how can you get creatively generous . . .<br />and make the most loving tribute out of your<br />",1] ); //</script><br />
--><script><!-- D(["mb","sweetheart\'s mistakes?<br /><br />After all, they\'re just "mistakes."<br /><br />And you can be so wonderfully fabulous when you<br />open your heart.<br /><br />Just remember that even you can be a goof up<br />from time to time . . . and then you can give<br />the gift of your heartfelt humor and understanding!<br /><br />So love those mistakes!<br /><br />******************<br />NOTE: Reprinting of this article in newspapers, newsletters,<br />ezines, and blogs is allowed as long as proper author<br />credits and, if published online, a link is provided back to<br /><a>http://www.fearofbeingfabulous<wbr>.com</a><br />******************<br /><br />If you\'re ready for more romance, real romance, all you have to do<br />is get your copy of our eye-opening, life changing<br />beautifully packaged 2-CD program<br /><br />"Keeping Romance Alive."<br /><br />Get yours now at:<br /><a>http://www.judithandjim.com<wbr>/keepingromancealive</a><br /><br />*******************<br /><br />TELL YOUR FRIENDS<br />Be sure to tell your friends to sign up for our one-a-day<br /> "Gift of Love" inspirational relationship messages at<br /><a>http://www.judithandjim.com<wbr>/openingtolove</a><br /><br />*********************<br /><br />PS -- If you haven\'t signed up for our<br />Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous" tips go to:<br /><br /><a>http://www.fearofbeingfabulous<wbr>.com</a><br /><br />AND be sure to tell your friends to get in on<br />these life-changing new ideas as well.<br /><br />______________________________<wbr>",1] ); //</script>--><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-68981939502305131112015-02-01T12:39:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:23:45.278-07:00$75,000 a Minute? I'd Say You're Doing WellEarlier today I came across this article on <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/01/news/companies/exxon/index.htm?eref=rss_topstories">CNNmoney.com</a>.<br />
<br />
Earning $75,000 a minute f just seems plain wrong. Or maybe unfair. Perhaps something I'd like to do--tomorrow maybe. And no, it's not The Donald. But if I was making that much, I think I'd be set for life--at least for the next several months or so.<br />
<br />
Who's making that kind of bank? The billion dollar Exxon Corp. Apparently, they set the record for U.S. corporations last year. Incredible!<br />
<br />
But really, how much money does any one person need? Though money doesn't buy happiness, it certainly helps for living life right.<br />
<br />
I found this other article on the <a href="http://www.secretsofsuccess.com/">www.secretsofsuccess.com </a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>website the other day. I hesitated to share it only because it gives quite a different perspective on money than I'm used to. But with an open mind I read on. Of particular interest was the 5 tips the author had on distributing your wealth.<br />
<br />
Check it out, you might learn something. I know I did.<br />
<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/01/news/companies/exxon/index.htm?eref=rss_topstories"><br /></a>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-60668916654265687992015-01-12T09:08:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:22:59.419-07:00What Difference Does It Make?<span style="font-weight: bold;">Did you take the test? What did you think? What were your TRUE COLORS?</span><br />
<br />
What I've found the more I've explored my personality and what makes me tick is that the better I know myself, generally the more happy, content and productive I am. It may sound strange, but it can have more of an impact than you think.<br />
<br />
Now, if you don't like the test, no sweat, there are many more out there, many of which can be found on the internet or in the "Cool Books" listed on the left hand column of the page.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Here's how understanding your personality make-up may help you:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>with accepting yourself as the unique individual that you are</li>
<li>in finding a career that matches your personality and brings you joy, energy and purpose</li>
<li>communicate with others in a way that is meaningful and productive, both socially and at work</li>
<li>find your "ideal mate," someone who respects you for who you are and enjoys your company</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">If you want to find out more about your colors, go here:<br /></span><a href="http://www.truecolors.org/color_meanings.html">http://www.truecolors.org/color_meanings.html</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />So, if you haven't already, here's where you can take the test:</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.truecolorstest.com/True-Colors-Personality-Test.html">http://www.truecolorstest.com/True-Colors-Personality-Test.html</a><br /><br />Let me know what you find out and how it works for you.created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-60374114227902972822015-01-12T08:47:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:22:45.725-07:00Who Are You--Do You Have a Clue?Right on the heals of yesterday's post where I pondered the question of "who's better than who?" comes something really close to my heart.<br />
<br />
As I've said before, I believe that <span style="font-style: italic;">success really comes down to authenticity or being true to yourself by doing what you love to do.</span> I call this the "true you living" process. My vision of success can be summarized as follows:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">"... being who you were created to be while doing what you were called to do...</span><br />
<br />
The first step in being truly successful begins with figuring out "who you are." Granted, we can never know the complete, perfect and truest answer to this question, but we can certainly take a stab at it.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">I found this really cool personality test called TRUE COLORS. </span><br />
<br />
It's loosely based upon Meyers-Briggs and separates people's personalities into four different colors. The beauty of this thing is that it enables you to better understand your whole world, in a sense. Who you are, how you think, and how you interact with others, for starters.<br />
<br />
It's only 5 questions and takes about two minutes. (I thought the test was really fun and don't even know the person who owns the site). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Check it out, you'll like it. </span>Here's the link:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.truecolorstest.com/True-Colors-Personality-Test.html">http://www.truecolorstest.com/True-Colors-Personality-Test.html</a>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-13999415144886279042015-01-11T07:53:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:22:14.526-07:00I'm Better Than You (according to who?)Ok, I only sorta believe that. Before you shut me down, let me explain.<br />
<ul>
<li>Should we take our cues about who we are from other people or their opinions? </li>
<li>If someone makes more money or is more gifted in an area, is that person really "better than us"?</li>
<li>What indicates that we are a successful?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">I know this is deep, but hang with me.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>I would hope that my friend is better than me in certain areas, like his job. If he wasn't, then either I or someone else would have it, right? The same is true of me with what I do. In essence, we have all been given certain gifts, skills and abilities. Things we do naturally, with little effort, that we could almost do in our sleep.<br />
<br />
I would offer, then, that we are all "better" or uniquely gifted (whatever) than others in this respect.<br />
<br />
Many people receive acclaim or monetary rewards for effectively utilizing their gifts and doing what they do naturally. This is the fruit of their efforts and indicates how well they have used what they have.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">I would say that we are successful when we are doing what we love to do while being who we are created to be. What do you think?</span><br />
<br />
Case in point: Mother Theresa. She lived in abject poverty serving others. She adhered to the religious belief that "putting others before yourself" (or being last--allowing others to be 'better' than you) was a good thing.<br />
<br />
Was she successful? Are others better than her? Are you? What say you, BetterMeister?<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-28962180556519349502014-06-17T14:57:00.000-07:002015-10-08T20:54:55.144-07:00Benjamin Franklin's 274-Year-Old Plan for Character Change<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may know him as a founding father of the United States, but <b>he was also possibly <u>one of the pioneers of the self-help movement</u>, years before his time.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1726, upon return to Philadelphia from London, England, Franklin developed a "plan" for regulating his future conduct.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His plan consisted of 13 virtues, one of which he focused on for the week and evaluated himself as to his performance on a daily basis. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since he spent one week on each of the virtues, he was able to concentrate on each virtue four times per year, and utilized a small chart (see link below) to track his progress.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The 13 virtues and a short description of each:</span></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1)<b> Temperance:</b> Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) <b>Silence:</b> Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3) <b>Order:</b> Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4) <b>Resolution:</b> Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5) <b>Frugality:</b> Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6) <b>Industry:</b> Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7) <b>Sincerity:</b> Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8) <b>Justice:</b> Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9) <b>Moderation:</b> Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10) <b>Cleanliness:</b> Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
11) <b>Chastity:</b> Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
12) <b>Tranquility:</b> Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">13) <b>Humility:</b> Imitate Jesus and Socrates.</span> <br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How to Follow Franklin's Guide</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Use the guide below to track how well you do in adhering to Franklin's virtues or striving to improve your character. Alternately, create your own set of virtues or character traits you want to improve. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each column of the chart below stands for a day of the week. At the end of the day, evaluate your progress by putting a dot, an "x" or the number of times you failed to adhere to each virture.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.knowledgehouse.info/Ben%20Franklin%27s%2013%20Virtues%20Chart.pdf">Franklin's Book of 13 Charts</a></b></span>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-91012928283914369882014-05-10T19:02:00.000-07:002015-10-08T20:54:44.101-07:00Determine Your Destiny by Choosing Only Positive Thoughts<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Choose carefully the thoughts you think, because they determine your destiny:</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“You become as small as your controlling desire, as great as your dominant aspiration!” </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">–James Allen</span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“You become what you think about!” –Earl Nightingale</span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“A man is literally what he thinks!” –James Allen</span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“As individuals think and believe, so they are!” –Claude M. Bristol</span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Whether you think you can or think you can't – you are right!” –Henry Ford</span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“You can do it if you believe you can!” –Napoleon Hill</span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Believe that you will succeed and you will!” –Dale Carnegie</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Videos to Help You Acquire a Positive, Success-Oriented Mindset:</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Total elapsed time for all videos=12 minutes)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Believe and Succeed! (incredibly powerful and inspiring!)</b> [2.29]<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OpECBDzOITE&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>The Power of Attitude by Mac Anderso</b>n [3.32]<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wkffx_NbzEg&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Attitude Is The #1 Key to Success</b> [3.08]<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ovWMeoz9ejY&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Control Your Thoughts for Success</b> [.47]<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2eyf6bLGkkg&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>You Can Choose Your Attitude: learning to dance in the rain</b> [2.44]<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X89rZkKBnPU&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param>
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</span>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-68733831608607083072014-04-22T09:14:00.000-07:002015-10-08T20:54:19.722-07:00Sure-Fire Success System that Never Fails<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently, I've come to realize that the most important ingredient that you must have if you want to succeed is a positive attitude or mindset.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Mindset Matters if You Want to Make it Big</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While, in the past, I've given grudging acknowledgement to this principle, it wasn't until the last three weeks that I had a revelation that has literally changed my life. What I learned can best be summarized in the following points I found in a book, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Napoleon-Hills-Keys-Positive-Thinking/dp/0937539856/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279729249&sr=1-2">Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking</a>; 10 Steps to Health, Wealth and Success:"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<u><b>The successful person will make the time to do what's important.</b></u> This includes reading and studying to develop wealth, achieving success in their particular vocation and acquiring good health.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
The key to making your private time pay off is to challenge yourself. Explore new worlds and philosophies that cast a new light on your situation. There are countless ways to do this. Let's look at four basic ones:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1) Condition your mind.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have religious training, you will find it helpful to pray for guidance. Your greatest hope lies in the power of prayer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2) Make a plan.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a good practice to think in terms of yourself, your family, your vocation and whatever else is of interest to you. Have specific objectives and time limits to achieve them. You can have more than one definite purpose as long as it's not in conflict with any other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>3) Question yourself.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Consider the many possibilities at which you can arrive. Then, decide which is most desirable. Write down the questions you asked yourself and your responses in a permanent notebook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>4) Refresh your memory.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's imperative to check back with yourself regularly, preferably on a daily basis. Make it a point to update your permanent notebook daily."</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span>created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-71164577343994631302014-03-15T16:24:00.000-07:002015-10-08T20:54:30.637-07:00“Goal Getting” breakthrough for those who are sick and tired of the same goal-setting crap on the market that never works for you anywayIf you’re anything like me, by now you’re long over your New Year’s resolutions. They’re probably long forgotten or embarrassingly shoved in the corner. After all, “out of sight is out of mind.” <br />
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Let’s face it: <b>most people never fulfill their resolutions, much less put together a program for getting them where they want to go in life. </b><br />
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And for those that do (put together goals, that is), most of the time they fall far short. It’s been my experience that for those who never reach their goals (despite writing them down), it’s not their fault.<br />
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You can breathe a sigh of relief. Honestly, much of the achievement/goal setting stuff on the market is utterly worthless, in my opinion. That’s largely because these goal setting programs depend on willpower and sheer effort just to get something done, and this runs contrary to human nature.<br />
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Anytime you’ve got to force something, chances are, it’s not going that well for you. And that applies to reaching your goals.<br />
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<b>What if I could turn you on to a system so radically different that it could literally change your mind about going after your dreams and believing that it’s possible for you to reach them?</b><br />
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Last year I discovered an incredible new system that felt so natural to me that I got really excited. And the funny thing? I’m actually using it on a weekly basis, and for the first time, I not only believe I’m achieving my dreams and goals, but I actually am!<br />
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<b>Here’s the resource:</b><br />
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<i><b>“Double your income doing what you love” </b></i>by Raymond Aaron<br />
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It’s a book you can pick up on Amazon.com. Once you’ve finished the book, you can go to the author’s website and download, and then complete his intuitive, easy-to-complete forms.<br />
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Good luck and let me know what you think!created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-35483167977963759802014-03-13T16:17:00.000-07:002015-10-08T20:52:54.213-07:00Living at the Speed of Life; Except When Fate Has its Own IdeasI've not posted in the last few months because I've literally been "living at the speed of life;" going 100 mph trying to get up costume blogs before Halloween and now other WordPress blogs for the Christmas season promoting Amazon products.<br />
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<b>Life's Circumstances Can Sometimes Stop Us Dead in Our Tracks (and there's nothing we can do about it)</b><br />
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For me, its never been about money but quality of life and achieving my dreams while I help others achieve theirs. The problem with that can be when you get a singular focus by concentrating on production...<br />
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The other day something happened which caused me to realize that nothing is more important in my life than those you care about. And you if don't spend that quality time consistently, regardless of what chaos is brewing all around you, you may not get that chance again...<br />
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<u><b>J</b><b>ust yesterday, one of our dogs died unexpectedly, which suprisingly devastated me.</b></u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQiYs4p0lUqPY-7ya88zJi5fzIzKIR6HwE_fhMdJMZHmy6s8T1gBQq-ksCXYH9j__TI_RJM22FfBYtb2EE2DPuVDCfKtn8co0fv3dIZinC1TZ7mZN4iRZpe9SBGV3KX7NajSYLUH0Ogby/s1600/Beautiful+Bermuda+10-12-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQiYs4p0lUqPY-7ya88zJi5fzIzKIR6HwE_fhMdJMZHmy6s8T1gBQq-ksCXYH9j__TI_RJM22FfBYtb2EE2DPuVDCfKtn8co0fv3dIZinC1TZ7mZN4iRZpe9SBGV3KX7NajSYLUH0Ogby/s320/Beautiful+Bermuda+10-12-10.jpg" width="65" /></a></div>
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I work out of the home. I found him by the living room couch right before lunch, in the midst of a heart-wrenching seizure, moments before he stopped breathing. I rushed his poor, limp body to the vet's in a panic, where they could not revive him.<br />
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His name was Bermuda, a beautiful, joyful, always-happy and perky American eskimo mix, who seemed to alway have this amazing "James Dean" smile on his face and brought joy to everyone he came into contact with. My wife and I rescued him from the Rodeo fires up north here in Arizona and he was always such a happy, fun, upbeat dog. Just last week took him to the vet and then a few days later, our little sweetie was gone. <i><b><br />
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He was our little angel, a gift from God for a time, and had such a sweet spirit, full of God's life, light and unconditional love. <u>I'm really struggling with the fact that he's gone and will never be again</u>: </b></i><b>we will never playfully pursue him down the halls in a game of hide and seek, never have him "popping up in the air" right before we feed him, never experience the contentedness of his company, the warmness of his gentle embrace nor any of the darling, endearing qualities that made him uniquely him. </b><br />
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Last night I awoke out of a dead sleep, wondering where he was, looking for him under the bed, hoping to catch a glimpse of him at the foot of our bed or at his favorite place in the hallway...and then, tearfully I knew that he was gone, forever. For that I feel sorta silly.<br />
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Funny thing was, he really was closer to my wife, yet I feel like a mess in the midst of this gut-wrenching heartache.<br />
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I suppose it would be best to celebrate his life and all that he was to us and not dwell on the sorrow of his suffering or passing...I don't know.<br />
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<b>What I do know:</b> never, ever hesitate to tell someone or your favorite furry friend that you love them, as funny as that may be. Actions speak just as loud as words and sometimes last longer. The point is to take the time to do something -- anything -- so that you live life with no regrets...<br />
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<b>In Memory of our dear blessed baby Bermuda</b></div>
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<b>October 12, 2010</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNKRgqQc9vAjhwefvDCz8cv-y3IW96_oyyHELERY37ZRxM4ALbxwsKuFHOhQ-9affwHh4ALusaptLdOpDxnbBoB8bCzxHEbUPuDVmoWOti1T2UNF-DXPEcpdNitztDGd8K_2-Gu3lku4c/s1600/Beautiful+Bermuda+10-12-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNKRgqQc9vAjhwefvDCz8cv-y3IW96_oyyHELERY37ZRxM4ALbxwsKuFHOhQ-9affwHh4ALusaptLdOpDxnbBoB8bCzxHEbUPuDVmoWOti1T2UNF-DXPEcpdNitztDGd8K_2-Gu3lku4c/s320/Beautiful+Bermuda+10-12-10.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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Thank you for the joy </div>
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and glimpse of God's pure, unconditional love</div>
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that is so rare on this side of heaven!</div>
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<i>So long my dearly favored friend...</i></div>
created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-56252307370937582412014-03-04T16:22:00.000-08:002015-10-08T20:54:00.580-07:00The Best Of The Best: A Resource That Could Save Your LifeThank God that most people haven’t gone through what I have to get on with life.<br />
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What I mean by that is this: over time, I slowly came to realize that the biggest roadblock to success in my life is me. That’s the painful truth.<br />
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<b>Have you ever heard the saying, “I’ve seen the enemy and he is me?” </b><br />
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I’ve found that I’ve got a lot of past baggage, or perceptions and beliefs that hold me back.<br />
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When you come to grasp this, you have a choice to make: should I stay or should I go?<br />
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In other words, do I choose to remain where I’m at, or do I choose to face my beliefs and get to work, so I can move on with my life?<br />
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For those of you who are at that place where they want to “get unstuck,” and have discovered that few, if any things have worked for you, I’ve got a resource that has literally been a lifesaver. And no, I don’t benefit in any way by mentioning it to you.<br />
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<b>Here it is: </b><br />
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<i><b>“The New Psycho Cybernetics: a mind technology for living your life without limits”</b></i><br />
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Keep an open mind, as many of you may not be too comfortable with self-help resources out there, even if it may turn your life around. I encourage you to try it. If you’re not comfortable buying the CD set, I believe Amazon.com has the book for a fraction of the retail cover price. <br />
I highly recommend it. <br />
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I don’t say this lightly, as I’ve got a ton of self-help resources, and would say that most similar items aren’t on par or nearly as helpful as this CD set & guidebook has been for me. Be prepared for some deep, practical, hands on change coming your way if you choose to go this route.<br />
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You can get yours at nightingale.com, although you could probably find it cheaper on Amazon.com.created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-76019221793276640012014-02-19T15:49:00.000-08:002015-10-08T20:53:23.320-07:00Free Success ResourcesOver the last 15 years or so, I’ve found some particularly helpful resources on success. <br />
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The first is inspirational speaker Jack Canfield’s reading list, chalk-full of many fabulous books spanning several categories.<br />
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Next, you’ll find – in no particular order – many different inspirational classics on success, achievement, and wealth.<br />
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These are my gift to you.<br />
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Make sure you print out the ones you like, and save those you prefer to read later to your hard drive.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<b>Top Success Resources:</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.jackcanfield.com/pdf/JackCanfieldsReadingList.pdf">Jack Canfield’s reading list</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/0304spiritpsych/030405thinketh/030405.Thinketh.pdf">“As a man thinketh”</a><br />
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<a href="http://talebooks.com/images/bs/63.pdf"><b>“Acres of Diamonds”</b></a><br />
(Dennis Waitley reading the book)<br />
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<a href="http://www.2ezbiz.org/TGR.pdf">“Think and grow rich”</a><br />
(The author, Napoleon Hill discussing the book's principles) <br />
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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 <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>)?<br />
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.<br /><br />According to the <i>Daily Mail </i>article titled, "Customer sends bailiffs in to seize bank's computers" found at<b> <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=430129&in_page_id=1770">www.dailymail.co.uk</a>, </b>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:<br /><br />"decided to give one of the high street giants a taste of its own medicine. When Royal Bank of <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region></st1:place> refused to refund £3,400 charges that Declan Purcell believed he was owed, he sent in the bailiffs. <br />
Stunned customers at his branch of RBS watched as debt collectors seized four computers, two fax machines and a till filled with cash. <br />
The branch manager was told that the items would be sold unless RBS came up with the money owed to Mr. Purcell. <br />
Only when the manager gave an undertaking that the debt would be paid did the bailiffs leave. <br />
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.’” <br />
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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 <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> 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.<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Kudos to Mr. Purcell for stepping up and taking action in the face of extremely daunting odds—and prevailing! According to the article, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s Office of Fair Trading is investigating the exorbitant charges that are leveled on customers for overdrafts and other practices.</div>
created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034938450175315026.post-67482798266254759462014-02-16T10:40:00.000-08:002015-10-08T21:18:08.207-07:00Exercise 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.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Just "Do It!"</span><br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Creative Way to Exercise: Wii-ercise Me, Baby!</span><br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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I found this really interesting article which outlines <a href="http://www.nextstudent.com/NextPath/nextPath-Online/Wii-Party-in-College-Dorm.asp">how to get your "Wii ON."</a> You might want to check it out, it's a lot of fun!created 4 successhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16852245739744291142noreply@blogger.com0