Created 4 Success

Wake up & live life because it’s a beautiful day!!

2011-06-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

Our decisions determine our destiny, so choose wisely!

“It’s choice – not chance – that determines your destiny!” – Jean Nidetch
Proclamation:
“It’s choice – not chance – that determines my destiny…and I choose life!”

Choose to really live life! Begin now!

Fabulous quotes:

“Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact!” –William James

“If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed!” –David Viscott

“You can have anything you want if you will give up the belief that you can’t have it! –Robert Anthony

“If you can dream it, you can do it!” –Walt Disney

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be!” –George Sheehan

Incredibly Powerful Videos; [Total play time=34 mins]:

It’s a Beautiful Day! – U2 [4.11]

It’s a perfect day! (celebrating life!)[3.46]

You’ve Got the Music in You! (You get what you give) – New Radicals [4.38]

I’m Alive! – Celine Dion [3.38]

Life: Live it Well! [2.41]

Oh Happy Day – from Sister Act 2 [2.58]

Happy Day – Tim Hughes [3.41]

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee -- from Sister Act 2 [4.28]

Clip from “The Yes Man” (how to say ‘yes’ to life!) [2.24]

Can You Feel the Love Tonight? – by Elton John [4.02]

Inspirational Videos on Success

2011-06-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the most powerful videos I’ve found that deal with the topic of success.

As you may know, one of the most important characteristics of success is your attitude and belief in yourself, despite what’s going on around you.

Cheers—enjoy!

What drives you to succeed?

Control your thoughts for success

Succeed with a positive attitude

How to remain positive even if…

Attitude makes all the difference

If you've never failed, you've never lived!

2011-05-24T06:23:00.000-07:00

Success begins with action, regardless of the outcome, good or bad.

So, for 2010, resolve to act, and whatever you do, keep moving.

Next year you'll look back on your progress and be amazed.

Check out this video for encouragement:

My Personal Motivational Tools

2011-05-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I'd take the time to reveal exactly what I use each morning to get me going and keep me motivated on a daily basis.

This first set of tools are video clips that help me visualize who I want to be and where I want to go.

Powerful Video Clips for Changing Your Mindset:

1) Kicking Off Your Day with Passion and Purpose

2) Believing and Acting As If You Can’t Fail
(developing a positive mindset and overcoming challenges)

3) Riches and Wealth
(attracting abundance)

4) Living the Good Life (Money, by Frank Kern)

Just for Fun!

My reward:

Bose Wave Music System with multi-CD changer (website & pictures)

Bose Wave Music System (video)

My car:

Boxster Spyder Unleashed (video)

Porsche Boxter Spyder (picture)

Details and Specs (Porsche site)

My Watch:

Porsche Design Flat Six P'6340 Automatic Chronograph

More Inspiration and Visualization:
[all songs run time=35 mins]

1) "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" by Josh Groban [4.14]

Principle:

God loves me unconditionally. As I spend time with Him, He will give me all I need to become the person He has created me to be and to do the things He has called me to do.

What is my sole responsibility? To be open to Him and surrendered to His will.

2) "Hide (You Don't Have to Hide)" by Joy Williams [4.10]

Principle:
I don't need to allow fear to rule my life or protect myself from failure or pain. That's God's job. He will do it. As I rest in Him and trust in His ways, I have a peace that passes all understanding.

3) "In Christ Alone" by The NewsBoys [4.17]

Principle:

Nothing or no one can separate me from my destiny in Christ.

4) "Lord (I Don't Know)" by The NewsBoys [4.32]

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Pr 3:5-6, TNIV)

Principles:

I don't have to understand everything going on around me or why something does or doesn't happen! (Pr 3:5-6)

My Father knows -- even when I don't -- and He holds everything in His hands (He's got everything covered)!

There is not a thing that happens to me that is beyond His reach, that He hasn't allowed!

Though My Father is a good God giving good gifts to His children, He does allow painful things in my life for my own good, that He may make me more like Christ!

When I give all things over to Him at all times (especially in the midst of pain), I grow and become who He has created me to be because I am living and walking in His resurrection power! (Jn 3:30)

5) "I Believe" by Joy William [2.56]

Principle:

As I trust that God's promises are for me, and I have faith in Him and His Word, I experience the abundant life that He promises, emotionally, physically, spiritually, relationally, maritally and financially.

6) "Surrender" by Joy Williams [3.48]

Principle:
I don't worry about my future nor my past, my finances, relationships, my health or anything else. As I continue to surrender to Him in intimate relationship, He will give me what I need and tell me what I need to do and when.

7) "Letting Go" by Jeremy Camp [3.40]

God's will is to:

redeem our past
renew our present and
resurrect our future

Principles:

He will transform us according to the renewing of our minds; as we move from life in the flesh to life in the Spirit by surrendering fully to Him and His ways!
To be full of His joy and the beauty of His Holiness that equips us to accomplish His will -- to be alive in Christ and consumed with His very presence -- we are to die to self (thereby releasing the death that keeps us in bondage)!
We do this by letting go of anything and everything that separates us from Him!

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from the heart of anyone who believes in me.’” (Jn 7:38, NLT)

8) "Every Moment" by Joy Williams [3.15]

Principle:
Hold on to every moment and live life to the fullest because life is precious. Live life with no regrets and make the most of each day! ("believe and live as if you can't fail)

9) "He Reigns" by The NewsBoys [4.59]

Principle:

He is my All in All; God is all I need: "with Him I can do all things, apart from Him, I can do nothing."

10) "It Is You" by The NewsBoys [4.26]

Principle:
Through worship and by focusing my eyes on Jesus, I succeed in Christ. Everything is as it should be and everything flows naturally and effortlessly in my life in Him.

Even More Powerful Videos:

Wake Up and Live Life Because it’s a Beautiful Day!! (videos on celebrating life and living it to the fullest)

Determine Your Destiny by Choosing Your Thoughts! (videos that highlight the importance of mindset in achieving your dreams)

Believe and Receive What You Think About! (videos to build your faith, belief, and encourage you to keep going)

Videos That Will Tickle Your Funny Bone! (because humor is a healthy habit)

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What does success mean to you?

2011-04-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

For some, success may mean any of the following:

•    A high-paying job
•    Lots of money in the bank
•    Several nice cars in the garage
•    Annual vacation destinations, anywhere you want

If you thought long and hard about it, you’d probably realize that while money is nice (in fact you sure miss it when you don’t have any), it isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. That pretty much covers the four bullets above.

Now, of course there’s nothing wrong with nice things. But the fact remains that you can’t take them with you to heaven, so what is it that really matters on this side?

Here’s my list of what “success” means to me:

•    Being who I was created to be doing what I’m called to do
•    A fulfilling high paying job that I love that impacts others
•    Time freedom; the ability to do what I want with whom I want
•    Spending quality time with family and friends
•    Financial freedom that enables me to serve and give to others
•    Traveling all over the world several times a year

My advice?

What ever success means to you, make sure that you’re clear on what it is, and that it has meaning beyond the 9 to 5 grind, then go after it with all your heart.

You’d be amazed when you’re clear on success and what you want, how everything falls into place so effortlessly.

May there be joy in your journey wherever your “travels” lead you!

Believe and Receive What You Focus Your Mind On

2011-04-01T19:27:00.000-07:00

Exciting Quotes:

"What the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind of man can achieve.” –Napoleon Hill

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” –Anatole France

"Believe Big. The size of your success is determined by the size of your belief. Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success." –David J. Schwartz

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

Videos to help you laugh and take yourself less seriously (because life is meant to be fun!) [Total elapsed time=5.5mins]

Hitch movie: Life of the Party (dance scene) [1.42]

Gummy Bear Song [2.41]

Happy Feet Penguin Dance [1.07]

Videos to increase your faith, belief, and keep you motivated:
(Total elapsed time for all videos=34 minutes)

Live your life as if it were on purpose [3.47]

Walk by Faith (even when I cannot see) – Jeremy Camp [4.07]

All Things Are Possible – Hillsongs United [4.05]

I Still Believe (even when I can’t see) – Jeremy Camp [4.4]

When You Believe – Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston [4.55]

Prince of Egypt – I Believe (same song as above; movie version) [4.55]

I Gotta Believe (victory by trusting my Father) – Yolanda Adams [3.44]

Famous Failures [1.16]

Never Give Up: 1 degree makes all the difference! [3.37]

Encouraging Words

Believe and Achieve: How to Set Yourself Up for Success

2011-03-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

We are what we think about. I think Napoleon Hill said that.

"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." James Allen wrote a wonderful book on that very topic expounded upon by the Bible called, "As a Man Thinketh." If you don't have it, grab a copy the first chance you get.

What you don't need for success

Smarts
Talent
Money
Privelege
Luck

While these qualities may all help, you definitely don't need any of these to be successful and accomplish your dreams.

What do you need to achieve your heart's desires?

The right mindset or attitude.

How do you get that?

By spending daily time working on it.

Consider using as the basis for improving your mindset a program I mentioned in a previous post based upon the book, "Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking: 10 Steps to Health, Wealth, and Success."

I use it and it has helped me tremendously, giving me wonderful results!

Encouraging Words to Help You Believe and Achieve

“Regardless of who you are or what you have been, you can be what you want to be.” --W. Clement Stone

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” --Napoleon Hill

Living at the Speed of Life; Except When Fate Has its Own Ideas

2011-03-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

I'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.

Life's Circumstances Can Sometimes Stop Us Dead in Our Tracks (and there's nothing we can do about it)

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...

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...

Just yesterday, one of our dogs died unexpectedly, which suprisingly devastated me.

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.

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.

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. I'm really struggling with the fact that he's gone and will never be again: 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.

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.

Funny thing was, he really was closer to my wife, yet I feel like a mess in the midst of this gut-wrenching heartache.

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.

What I do know: 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...

In Memory of our dear blessed baby Bermuda

October 12, 2010

Thank you for the joy

and glimpse of God's pure, unconditional love

that is so rare on this side of heaven!

So long my dearly favored friend...

Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking: 10 Steps to Health, Wealth, and Success

2010-09-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

My last post I revealed a fantastic resource that has helped me to set aside the time I need to work on my mindset on the way to success (Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking: 10 Steps to Health, Wealth, and Success).

I would highly encourage you to get it if you haven't already.

This book will enable you to put the principles found in Hill's highly acclaimed "Think and Grow Rich" book into practice, and get you taking action in no time.

Today I will unveil the exact 10 step process to help you become healthy, wealthy and successful (if you take action):

STEP ONE --- Take possession of your own mind with conviction (p25-34)

STEP TWO --- Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don't want (p35-46)

STEP THREE --- Live the "Golden rule" --- "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!" (p47-56)

STEP FOUR --- Eliminate all negative thoughts by "self-inspection" (p57-65)

STEP FIVE --- Be happy and make others happy (p66-76)

STEP SIX --- Form a habit of tolerance (p77-85)

STEP SEVEN --- Give yourself positive suggestions (p86-85)

STEP EIGHT --- Use your power of prayer or meditation (p96--107) 10)

STEP NINE --- Set goals! (p108-116)

STEP TEN --- Study, think and plan daily (p117-125)

Celebrate Your Freedom to Succeed: Act as if You Can't Fail

2010-07-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the freedom that the 4th of July represents, I'd like to talk about personal freedoms of a different kind.

What if I could guarantee your success?

It's all in your thinking. Here's what I mean.

Seriously, if you knew that you absolutely, positively couldn't fail at something, what would you attempt to accomplish?
What dreams have you kept on the back burner that you would bring out if you knew that failure simply wasn't possible?
What outlandish things would you do or try under these conditions?

For most, the sky would be the limit.

Encouraging Words for Forgetting About Failure

"Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail." - Charles F. Kettering

“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.”
- Dorothea Brande

“…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 Lavelle

Benjamin Franklin's 274-Year-Old Plan for Character Change

2010-06-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

You may know him as a founding father of the United States, but he was also possibly one of the pioneers of the self-help movement, years before his time.

In 1726, upon return to Philadelphia from London, England, Franklin developed a "plan" for regulating his future conduct.

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.

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.

The 13 virtues and a short description of each:
1) Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.

2) Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3) Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4) Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5) Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.

6) Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.

7) Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8) Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9) Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10) Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

11) Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

12) Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

13) Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

How to Follow Franklin's Guide

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.

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.

Franklin's Book of 13 Charts

Determine Your Destiny by Choosing Only Positive Thoughts

2010-05-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

Choose carefully the thoughts you think, because they determine your destiny:

“You become as small as your controlling desire, as great as your dominant aspiration!” –James Allen

“You become what you think about!” –Earl Nightingale

“A man is literally what he thinks!” –James Allen

“As individuals think and believe, so they are!” –Claude M. Bristol

“Whether you think you can or think you can't – you are right!” –Henry Ford

“You can do it if you believe you can!” –Napoleon Hill

“Believe that you will succeed and you will!” –Dale Carnegie

Videos to Help You Acquire a Positive, Success-Oriented Mindset:
(Total elapsed time for all videos=12 minutes)

Believe and Succeed! (incredibly powerful and inspiring!) [2.29]

The Power of Attitude by Mac Anderson [3.32]

Attitude Is The #1 Key to Success [3.08]

Control Your Thoughts for Success [.47]

You Can Choose Your Attitude: learning to dance in the rain [2.44]

Sure-Fire Success System that Never Fails

2010-04-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

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.

Mindset Matters if You Want to Make it Big

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, "Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking; 10 Steps to Health, Wealth and Success:"

"The successful person will make the time to do what's important. This includes reading and studying to develop wealth, achieving success in their particular vocation and acquiring good health.

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:

1) Condition your mind.
If you have religious training, you will find it helpful to pray for guidance. Your greatest hope lies in the power of prayer.

2) Make a plan.
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.

3) Question yourself.
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.

4) Refresh your memory.
It's imperative to check back with yourself regularly, preferably on a daily basis. Make it a point to update your permanent notebook daily."

“Goal Getting” breakthrough for those who are sick and tired of the same goal-setting crap on the market that never works for you anyway

2010-03-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

If 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.”

Let’s face it: most people never fulfill their resolutions, much less put together a program for getting them where they want to go in life.

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.

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.

Anytime you’ve got to force something, chances are, it’s not going that well for you. And that applies to reaching your goals.

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?

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!

Here’s the resource:

“Double your income doing what you love” by Raymond Aaron

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.

Good luck and let me know what you think!

The Best Of The Best: A Resource That Could Save Your Life

2010-03-04T16:22:00.000-08:00

Thank God that most people haven’t gone through what I have to get on with life.

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.

Have you ever heard the saying, “I’ve seen the enemy and he is me?”

I’ve found that I’ve got a lot of past baggage, or perceptions and beliefs that hold me back.

When you come to grasp this, you have a choice to make: should I stay or should I go?

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?

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.

Here it is:

“The New Psycho Cybernetics: a mind technology for living your life without limits”

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.
I highly recommend it.

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.

You can get yours at nightingale.com, although you could probably find it cheaper on Amazon.com.

The power of purpose: what’s yours?

2010-02-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

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.

Can you guess what that direction is?

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.

And did I mention how fulfilling it can be? Believe me it’s wonderful!

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.

Here’s my life purpose/mission/calling:

“To empower others to live with passion and purpose;
so they can be who they were created to be, and
do what they were called to do!”

You’ll notice that it’s right around 25 words, and very easy for me to remember.

If you don’t have a mission statement, don’t worry. They’re easier than you think to put together.

Nightingale Conant has this really simple tool that makes is a breeze called the Mission Statement Builder. Check it out. Why not do it today?

You’ll never know the true power of passion and purpose until you do!

Free Success Resources

2010-02-19T15:49:00.000-08:00

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)

Inspirational Videos on Achieving Your Dreams

2010-02-11T15:38:00.000-08:00

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)

Got Debt Relief?

2009-01-14T13:44:00.000-08:00

In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in a recession. And we have been since December of 2007. That fact courtesy of the U.S. government’s National Bureau of Economic Research, released a few months back.

Here are some clues in case you missed them:

Millions of jobs lost and layoffs looming nationwide
Skyrocketing unemployment hitting record levels not seen in 25 years
Thousands struggling to pay overwhelming credit card debt while they try to keep afloat financially
Millions declaring bankruptcy at alarming levels and growing
Home equity tanking beyond belief, and millions upside down on their mortgages
Rampant foreclosures glutting the market, forcing thousands to abandon their homes

We got suckered—or did we?

My wife and I like thousands of other homeowners took the bait when it came to a low-interest home equity loan.

Yeah, we went for it. But, payback’s not so fun—especially when your payment more than doubles. Our Adjustable Rate Mortgage, or ARM, went up over $400 when the rate adjusted.

Where are we supposed to come up with the extra money?

Naturally, we just assumed that we could Refi later and get a fixed rate. Our mortgage broker (who made 2.5 points or $2,500 off us) assured us this was the case.

Ooops! I guess no one could foresee the future, even with credit flowing freely and home values hitting the stratosphere in many states.

Since nobody’s lending money now unless you have a stellar credit score of around 800, you’re out of luck. That means we have few options.

And that sucks. Big time.

Try ‘Mods’

If you’re like us and you got jacked when your ARM payment went up, or if you’re struggling to make payments on your home loan, you may want to go for something called a loan modification.

A few months back mods were pretty much unheard of. Now, with so many people unable to keep up on their payments, walking away from their homes or allowing them to go into foreclosure, mods have become more popular.

I don’t know much about them, but basically, you pay a company that will work with your lender to restructure your loan by reducing your monthly payments or eliminate the principle on your loan.

Yeah, it costs, but the way I figure it is if they can knock $250-$275 a month off my monthly, it’s well worth it. Inside of a year, I will have saved well over the fee (whatever it is), be able to get back on my feet financially, and keep my home.

Wipe Out Your Debt

Perhaps you’re one of the few lucky people able to refinance your home before the market tanked, or you’re somehow even on your mortgage. (Not upside down like the rest of us). Sweet.

But you may still be struggling under a ton of debt. You may want to check out your options to get rid of your debt. I don’t know what will work for you, but you may try consumer credit counseling.

In this program, your counselor with work with your creditors to eliminate interest charges and/or fees and negotiate lower payments. We did this for a while once we stopped using our credit cards. This option is also easiest on your credit score, I believe.

Settle for Pennies

You may instead try debt relief. This was the route we ended up going, since we were less patient and wanted to get rid of our debts ASAP.

Basically what happens here is that you are assigned a debt negotiator that works with your creditors and offers a lump sum to settle each of your debts. Often, they can settle for pennies on the dollar, sometimes eliminating 40% or more of your debt outright.

The trick here is that you have to save up funds so you have the money to settle once your creditors agree to a specific figure.

I realize there aren’t any easy answers here when dealing with your debt. I’m a firm believer in paying what you owe (although I think paying thousands in interest and fees is a rip off and ridiculous).

While these programs may not be for everyone, I know that these methods work. We’re living proof.

TESTING...

2009-01-07T15:05:00.001-08:00

TEST test

World Wide Web Marketing Discovered by NextStudent?

2008-02-26T13:38:00.000-08:00

Let's be honest. You got had. Titlebait strikes again.

Marketing on the web wasn't in fact founded, created or even stumbled upon by NextStudent.

No, that came along long before we were ever around to help students find great student loans and give some of the best customer service in the industry.

Here's some truth for you, though: NextStudent Web Marketing is the hippest, coolest, smartest, bestest place on the planet to work.

That is, if you like crazy, random outbursts, blogs that push the envelope, and characters that are more fit for fiction novels than the typically stodgy corporate workplace.

Spring Fever, Winter Vacation & Fixating on Finances

2007-12-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

Every 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.

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.

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 student loan consolidatio n several years back.

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.

I guess it's just my mortgage company's way of saying "Merry Christmas" to themselves.

Crazy Creative Finds Inspiration at NextStudent

2007-09-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

Who hates their job? Pretty much everyone I know. Except those crazies I work with at NextStudent, a Student Loan Company. And, me too of course, if the boss of me, Chris Hooley is reading this.

Never a dull day on the job. Talk about entertainment value. If I'm stuck and just don't have the ability to write another word, I turn to the guys to take my mind off of things.

Our social media specialists, seo dude, affiliate mktg girl, web page gurus--when I sit and listen to their banter and lives--everything just takes on a different hue and I forget I'm even at work.

Then I go deep inside myself and find that I have the ability to write again after all.

Who Wants to Be a Superhero?

2007-06-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys, I haven’t been blogging for a while in case you haven't noticed.

Life is kinda crazy with a lot of stuff going on. Recently, I became the Copy Team at NextStudent. Two people have moved on, so we are actively looking for a NextStudent Copyeditor and two NextStudent Copywriters.

So, if you or anyone you know are great at your craft and have proven skills that generate results, get in touch with me.

‘Til next time!

In the meantime, I'm a one-man team, looking for capable friends...

Perfectly Positive Pollyanna Get's Real

2007-03-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

Last night I was thinking about the big disconnect between my desires and where I really am. For me there's this huge gaping valley that at times seems impossible to traverse.

Here's what I mean:

I want to be positive but I tend to be critical and judgemental.
I want to be happy but don't always seem to have the best attitude.
I want to be unaffected by my circumstances, but tend toward frustration.

Now I understand that life isn't perfect and that we are all our own biggest critics, yet it would be wise to include a lot of grace in the mix. Not only when dealing with others, but also when dealing with ourselves. I think it would go a long way.

Anyway, I found this great article by David Leonhardt entitled simply "Happiness" that really encouraged my heart-it adjusted my perspective in a way that I desperately needed.

His website is: www.thehappyguy.com and you can get his "Daily Dose of Happiness" email, where I got this piece. I've taken the liberty of emphasizing key points.

"Happiness

Are you happy every day? Are you happy every hour? Are you happy every minute? Me neither.

Happiness is not about wearing a 24/7 grin across your face. Happiness is about being comfortable with who you are and where you are, and feeling that your life is good.

There is room for frustration in happiness.
There is no room for being ruled by frustration.

There is room for sadness in happiness.
There is no room for being ruled by sadness.

There is room for anger in happiness.
There is no room for being ruled by anger."

What a refreshing perspective!

Choices That Change Your Life, Guaranteed

2007-03-08T07:37:00.000-08:00

Years ago I kind of just floated through life, without a whole lot of direction. It was commonplace for me to be swayed by my circumstances, and my attitude reflected what I was going through. My outlook was generally pessimistic and the words out of my mouth usually reflected a cynical disposition.

More recently, though, I have realized that:

I can't CONTROL my circumstances.
However, I can control HOW I RESPOND to circumstances.
My attitude and outlook on life shape my circumstances.
So, I can make choices that shape my attitude that gets me THROUGH circumstances.

My desire is to be joyful, happy and peaceful at all times. You, too, can make these choices that will change your life.

Though I'm not perfect and no one is, you can strive toward these ideals and watch your life be transformed. (I know this sounds simplistic and borderline "cheesy," but I encourage you to try it).

Daily, in everything you do, as difficult as it is, choose:

1) Gratitude. Keep your heart open and be thankful for everything that comes your way. That doesn't mean you have to like it, only accept it and stop forcing things to go the way you want. You'll find that life is a lot easier.

2) To be happy. Regardless of your circumstances, make a decision to remain happy. No one or nothing can steal your happiness unless YOU ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN.

3) To be joyful. Make a decision to focus on what is good and right with the world, instead of being obsessed with the bad, evil or wrong in society. This doesn't mean ignoring these things or becoming a positive pollyanna, but what you focus on is usually what you get.

4) To operate out of rest: Strive to function out of a place of contentment and acceptance, peace & faith, knowing that all things are working for your good. Repeat to yourself, "I no longer struggle but naturally attract those things in life that I want and need, and walk in the miraculous daily."

Happiness Is for Hippies?

2007-03-07T07:59:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

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.

In fact, when compared to other countries, we don't rank anywhere near the top in happiness: the U.S. is #23.

I found this really cool article called "The World Map of Happiness" on Guy Kawasaki's blog, http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/02/the_world_map_o.html.

Here's who made the top 20:

Denmark
Switzerland
Austria
Iceland
The Bahamas
Finland
Sweden
Bhutan
Brunei
Canada
Ireland
Luxembourg
Costa Rica
Malta
The Netherlands
Antigua and Barbuda
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
The Seychelles

Here's the actual World Map of Happiness Map

So, with all that being said:

What is happiness?
How can you be content, regardless of your circumstances?
How do you find joy whether something good or bad happens to you?
What does life-balance and quality living have to do with happiness?

I'll address these questions in a future post...

Gratitude: Why Bother? Studies Tell the Story

2007-03-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

Back in February 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.

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.

But first, a few quotes:

"The best kind of giving is thanksgiving."--Chesterton

"Ingratitude is the essence of vileness."--Kant

"Give thanks in all things..."--The Bible

"A noble person is mindful and thankful of the favors he receives from others."--the Buddha

Why it pays to be grateful:

" Consider that recent academic studies have shown:

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."
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.
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.)
Grateful people are more spiritually aware and more likely to appreciate the interconnectedness of all life, regardless of whether they belong to specific religions."

[I got this from the article, "Rx for Life: Gratitude (Why every day should be a day of thanksgiving)" by Gregg Easterbrook, found on www.beliefnet.com.] Check it out if you get a chance.

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.

Here are some articles about being grateful you might find interesting:

1) Rx for Life: Gratitude
www.beliefnet.com/story/51/story_5111.html

2) Boost Your Health With a Dose of Gratitude:
www.webmd.com

3) Gratitude at work:
http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/064/gratitude.html

4) Start Your Gratitude journal:
http://www.touchpointcoaching.com/newsletters/3mc_02.htm

5) Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness:
http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/labs/emmons/

FUNday Monday Videos: The "Happy Dance"

2007-03-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

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...

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.

See the positivity blog, www.positivityblog.com for more info.

I give you "The Happy Dance:"

Getting Things Done While Maintaining Your Sanity

2007-03-02T07:32:00.000-08:00

I 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...

Recently, I found a couple of tools that have really helped me keep my priorities in front of me and get things done.

1) Joe's Goals; www.joesgoals.com/:

This is a great, FREE easy to use resource. Not for your "To Do" List but instead for routine tasks or priorities, like:

working out at the gym 6 times/week
eating 6 meals a day at specified times
going to the chiropractor twice per week
date night

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.

2) Vitalist; www.vitalist.com:

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:

IT'S FREE
easy to use, intuitive interface
allows you to drop your list onto your Google/Yahoo page, so its right in front of you
integrates into your Google calendar
many features like the ability to add notes, due dates, put off until "someday," ticklers, etc.
separate lists by context for work projects, home tasks, biz stuff, etc.

If neither of these appeal to you, go to this website where you'll find tons of stuff to help you streamline your life:

3) "Big List of Online Productivity Tools:"

http://lifedev.net/big-list-of-online-productivity-tools/

Loving Your Mistakes: Are You Nuts?

2007-02-28T07:40:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, everyone makes mistakes and "failure" is part of life's experience.

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...

Anyway, It hit home for me.

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.

The article really touched my heart and got through to me. Here are some key things I learned:

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.
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).
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.
When I "go with the flow," accepting all that comes my way instead of fighting it, I am more peaceful, happy and content.

Here's the article (it's a bit long, but I think worth the read):

"Can You Love Those 'Mistakes'?"
Judith Sherven, Ph.D. & Jim Sniechowski, Ph.D

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.

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?

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.

Well, it didn't. So what she ended up with was a pretty runny mix.

She told Jim about her experiment and then served him what was kind of like stew and sort of like soup.

Jim started calling it "stoup." Lamb stoup.

Now "stoup" is part of our intimate history and an endearment that will be with us for a
long time.

And then another time Jim used an antique piano stool he'd bought for Judith as a step stool
to fix a window blind. Oops! The mahogany seat cracked and it now wobbled when Judith
sat on it to do her make-up.

At first she couldn't understand what had caused the damage, but then she put two and
two together -- and voila! -- she'd solved the puzzle.

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.

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
much Jim's behavior is motivated by love.

And, just like with "stoup," the cracked piano stool is also part of our family's romantic lore.

How can you see your foibles as simply human, sometimes pretty funny, sometimes a lot of aggravation, but just human . . .

AND love your humanity while you fix the problem as well as you can?

On the other hand, how can you get creatively generous . . .and make the most loving tribute out of your sweetheart's mistakes?

After all, they're just "mistakes."

And you can be so wonderfully fabulous when you open your heart.

Just remember that even you can be a goof up from time to time . . . and then you can give
the gift of your heartfelt humor and understanding!

So love those mistakes!

******************
NOTE: Reprinting of this article in newspapers, newsletters,
ezines, and blogs is allowed as long as proper author
credits and, if published online, a link is provided back to
http://www.fearofbeingfabulous.com
******************

SuccessTools: Inkless Printer for Cell Phones

2007-02-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

As if we need another resource so we can work and play 24-7-365...

Available in late 2007, a company related to Polaroid called Zinc Imaging has developed a hand-held printer that integrates with cell phones and digital cameras.

Apparently, the printer does away with ink by changing the color of the paper when heat is applied. Don't ask me how it works, or how they fit the paper in the mini-printer, but its really cool.

And in the future, my guess is that they will eventually integrate NEARLY EVERYTHING: expect a phone/camera/video/printer/computer hybrid. Then we can be REALLY successful, if you aren't already. (A little humor here).

For more info check out this link.

FUNday Monday Videos Kickoff

2007-02-26T07:51:00.000-08:00

This weekend I was stumbling around, looking at online videos and came up with this idea:

A lot of people may struggle to get up Monday morning to face another week of work.

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:

FUNday Monday Videos

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.

This one is called "The Gummy Bear Dance." Enjoy!

Sidenote: 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.

Not What It Appears: New Student Loan Bills Threaten Education

2007-02-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

Education is one of the cornerstones of our country. Not only are we one of the wealthiest countries on earth, we are also one of the most educated. But, I wonder how long that will last. While I believe greatly in creativity, ingenuity and entrepreneurial ventures, education plays a key part in success. I know it has for me.

Recently, however, the democratic congress has introduced student loan legislation that is not only detrimental to our educational system, but hazardous to the long-term wealth of our graduates.

Though college students may appear to be winning "the student loan wars," with increases in the Pell Grant Awards and other considerations, the costs may be too great. My hope is that by informing people we can avoid a disaster in the making. My intention here is not to invoke fear, but to bring awareness that leads to action and the ultimate defeat of these detrimental bills.

Here's a blog that gives you a clear picture of what's going on and what is really at stake.

Character & Integrity Prevails, In The Long Run

2007-02-22T07:55:00.000-08:00

Hollywood 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.

But is it really? Whatever happened to character? Integrity? Honesty?

Anyone ever heard of the saying, "what goes around, comes around? 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.

Here's a really uplifting story I read the other day. 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?

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:

"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."

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.

Now, in my book, that's the definition of character: what you do and how you act when no one's looking. That's the true you. If only more of us would follow his example more often, what a different world we might live in...

Oh, and here's the link for the article so you can read it yourself.

Your Ideal Life: "You Can Do It!"

2007-02-21T07:54:00.000-08:00

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.

1. Ask yourself these questions to help you figure it out:

What are your passions, dreams and desires?
What do you find yourself naturally doing, that people gravitate towards you for?
What do your currently do that you love? (for work, play, fun)
What would you do if you didn't get paid for it (ok, make that "not paid much")?
How can you live "your ideal life," doing what you love to do, being who you were created to be?

2. Write out the answers to these questions, then think of what your "ideal" would be in each of the following areas of your life:

career/work
health
financial
spiritual
relationships
personal growth

3. Now, focus your vision a little bit more by writing out what your "ideal" would be in each area. 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.

4. Select the dream/area that is most meaningful to you, and read it every day out loud. 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.

5. Commit to doing this 5 days of the week for a month. 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.

One example is when I put together my vision of my ideal client when I was working in the real estate field.

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.

I encourage you to get started today, and then start expecting the miraculous to come your way each day!

$50K in 2 days: figure the odds

2007-02-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

How'd you like to make twice the median salary of an American in just two days?

It can be done. What's interesting is HOW it happened in this story.

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.

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.

Congratulations, Mr. Snouffer! We don't know how you pulled it off.

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.

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.

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!

I found this story, "‘Virtually incalculable’ odds: Minnesota man wins $25,000 lottery two days in a row," on the MSNBC site, www.msnbc.com.

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

2007-02-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

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.

Exercise This, Man...

2007-02-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I spoke about 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!

"You Deserve a Break Today!"

2007-02-15T07:55:00.000-08:00

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

What’s Love Got to Do With It?

2007-02-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

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:

“Do I look like a people person?” T-shirt.
The book, “You on a Diet.”
A giant ant farm.
“Why You're Dumb, Sick & Broke...And How to Get Smart, Healthy & Rich!” book by Randy Gage.
“Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School.”

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.

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

2007-02-13T07:51:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, Feb. 9th we were shocked by the death of Anna Nicole Smith. She was a cultural icon of sorts, who in recent years rocked the world of reality TV addicts and made an impression on people that couldn't easily be forgotten, whether you liked her or not.

What most people don't know is that the day before, Rosie O'Donnell on her live TV show "The View," expressed her concerns and fears about Anna Nicole Smith's health. The next day the former Playboy model was dead. She was only 39--the same age as me. It was a little close to home. Honestly, I didn't follow her exploits and didn't lose sleep over her reality TV show appearances. But, her passing was sad none the less.

With the average life expectancy of Americans hovering somewhere north of age 70, Anna Nicole Smith had at least another 30 years left, as averages go. It made me realize not only the obvious--how precious life is--but also how crucial our health is to living life to the fullest.

What’s Your Real Age?

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.

When I heard of the fact that Anna Nicole Smith had died, it made me think how important it is to do everything I can do to remain healthy. It solidified my commitment of sticking to my exercise and aerobics regimen, and to eat nutritious foods, at least a good deal of the time.

Ask yourself:

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?
Where do you want to be? Are you satisfied with your health, productivity, physical-emotional-spiritual balance or would you like to make improvements?
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!”
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.

"Crack That Whip:" Developing a Personal Motivation Plan

2007-02-12T08:17:00.000-08:00

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.

We All Live on a Yellow Submarine

2007-02-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

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."

Successful Failure: the Path to Achievement

2007-02-08T08:10:00.000-08:00

I just love it when I find stories where someone has become enormously successful then failed.

Not that I relish someone else's bad fortune. Most of the time, these snippets provide long-term motivation and inspiration that transcends cliches and hollow platitudes. That's because so much of the time these entrepreneurs bounce back quite remarkably, having learned a huge lesson that puts them back in the game, usually more successful and profitable than ever.

Here's an article that is particularly meaningful to me: www.secretsofsuccess.com. It's the story of a guy who is involved in the field of adult education. This is an industry that is close to my heart, since I work as a copywriter at a company called NextStudent, an organization that assists students in planning for and financing their college education.

Anyway, check it out. Hope you find it as powerful as I did!

Growing Pains: Not So Easy

2007-02-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

Last week I came across this article about YouTube. In 2006 alone it grew by 1,972%. Pretty phenomenal, even unbelievable. Check the article out here. With social networking sites like MySpace, LinkedIn, FaceBook and others growing like wildfire, it caused me to examine my own life and my personal growth.

January has come and gone--which means that most peoples' New Year's Resolutions have largely done the same. I personally don't believe in resolutions, and never set any since by nature, they seem to be self-defeating.

But my bottom line is to challenge you today regarding where you're at and where you're growing (going).

Ask yourself these questions:

Are you safely entrenched in your comfort zone and determined to stay there? (That's ok if you are).
Or, are you doing new things, things you may not be comfortable with, including going after your dreams?
Are you at least taking daily "baby steps" that stretch you?
Have you set up a plan for 2007?
If so, how's that going for you? If not, are you stuck?
What are some things that you'd like to accomplish this year, realistically?

In a later post, I will address motivation and a way to accomplish your dreams that flies in the face of conventional wisdom. It's contrary to what most of the "self-help gurus" have been preaching for years.

But the wild thing is that it works--and it has absolutely nothing to do with goals!

You are the Author of Your Circumstances

2007-02-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

Just the other day, I discovered that one of the Internet's most renowned marketers, Dr. Joe Vitale (www.mrfire.com), just had surgery. He's the guy that came up with the 'hypnotic writing/marketing' concept. Apparently he has just recovered from an appendectomy. Since that's something I went through a while ago, what he shared brought back a string of memories--both somewhat pleasant--and unpleasant.

Check out his blog here: http://www.mrfire.blogspot.com/, starting with his Feb. 3rd entry.

In case you don't know, Joe is the author of "The Attractor Factor" (www.amazon.com) and tons of other books, and most recently is part of the "Secret" video that's been sweeping the Internet. The book/video highlights the Law of Attraction, with the main idea being that you draw to yourself that which you most think about or speak about. I probably don't do it justice, so check out the Secret website and blog.

The reason I mention all this is that he brings up a really good point. He basically says that somehow he subconsciously brought his burst appendix for me:

to start eating more healthy foods
to get in better shape
to start living out my dreams
to radically think about changing my life and doing it now

Ok, so I get it. What I probably relate to even more is the whole attraction thing. I'm not into any new age stuff, but I know that this "attraction stuff" works, whether you believe in it or not.

As I mentioned the other day, several years ago I was a bitter, angry pessimistic individual who had pretty much only negative on my mind. Those words flowed out of my mouth and my cynical, sarcastic, negative nature began to consume me. As I look back, I can see now that what I believed and spoke out of my mouth is exactly what I received (or attracted). Now that I've stopped dwelling on the negative, have started replacing my misbeliefs and started to have a positive, optimistic outlook, my life has drastically changed for the better.

The Art of Letting Go: Success with a Twist

2007-02-05T07:18:00.000-08:00

You've gotta watch out for what you wish for ('cuz you very often get it). Today my heart is full of joy, hope and peace. And that doesn't come easy for me. I think I'm finally starting to learn something...

You Try Running Through a Brick Wall at 100mph: It Hurts

All my life, I've been one of these overly serious, stressed types who always tries to "make things happen," regardless of circumstances and others around me. I guess I just naively believed that I could bend the will of the universe to my own. Or, help others' will align with my own. Whatever. For most of you out there, this probably isn't any big newsflash, but I've come to a very rude awakening in the last few years. It just doesn't work. That is, just going after what you want, who cares about what anyone else thinks.

No matter how hard I tried, even with a healthy dose of willpower, determination and perseverance, things didn't always turn out the way I wanted. It drove me crazy and caused a lot of frustration, anger and lack of peace in my life.

The Art of Letting Go: Works Wonders--But Not So Easy

There have been a lot of books and courses on the internet in the last several years on this topic. One of the most well known is Hale Dwoskin's The Sedona Method (www.SedonaMethod.com), recommended by Jack Canfield, author of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series of books. In the Sedona Method, Hale focuses on something called 'the release technique,' which basically teaches you to let go.

There's a popular, well-known saying that goes, "Let go, let God." Alcoholics Anonymous popularized the Serenity Prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." (I think I got that one right). In any case, these sayings, and a myriad of courses, books and probably most importantly, life circumstances have helped me to just 'go with the flow.'

Before I endure unwarranted ridicule, I want to be clear here. What I mean is, you don't have to just go through life like a limp rag, a victim of your circumstances and allowing people to take advantage of you. No. But consider this, why not try something different and watch how the stress in your life just disapears? It might surprise you.

When something comes up that upsets you, bothers you or isn't (at 1st glance) in your best interest, go through these simple steps:

Simply accept the circumstance. Say to yourself, "Though I may not like this ___ (circumstance), I accept it since I know that something good will come out of it."
"I choose to release this ___ (circumstance) right now and be at peace." Or, if you prefer, "God, I give this ___(circumstance) over to you now, and I receive your peace."
"I give thanks for this ___ (circumstance) and am open to receiving the good that will come to me through it." Or, "God I thank you for what you've allowed to occur here, and I thank you for the good that will come out of it in my life."

This simple exercise has worked wonders in my life. Granted, I still struggle, but I am amazed at how wonderfully life unfolds when you no longer force it to happen! Oh, and the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits aren't bad either.

Gratitude Attitude Works Wonders

2007-02-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

I call it "5 I'M T4." What it is: every day I spend just a few minutes writing out 5 things I'm thankful for. Now, it doesn't have to be anything earth-shattering. The key is just to get into the habit of doing it--in order to generate the attitude of THANKSGIVING in your heart.

I know it sounds weird, but little else has helped me with my attitude to this extent. Not affirmations, positive books or much else.

I've been doing it now (again) for almost a month. Every time I stop, then start, I'm literally amazed at what a difference it makes in my life.

Here's what happens with me:

I have a better outlook on life, when my nature is to be sceptical and cynical.
I am more open to receiving good things or blessings, from both people and in circumstances.
I expect good things to happen and they just "naturally" work out.
I am more positive and confident.
I am less focused on my insecurities and more interested in helping others.

I encourage you to give it a whirl. Try it for three weeks, on weekdays (give yourself a break on the weekends so you look forward to it). That way you'll establish a habit that may radically change your life for the best!

$75,000 a Minute? I'd Say You're Doing Well

2007-02-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

Earlier today I came across this article on CNNmoney.com.

Earning $75,000 a minute for all of 2006 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.

Who's making that kind of bank? The billion dollar Exxon Corp. Apparently, they set the record for U.S. corporations last year. Incredible!

But really, how much money does any one person need? Though money doesn't buy happiness, it certainly helps for living life right.

I found this other article on the www.secretsofsuccess.com 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.

Check it out, you might learn something. I know I did.

Entrepreneurs R Us: The Future of Biz

2007-01-31T08:14:00.000-08:00

Back in 2002, Daniel H. Pink wrote the book, "Free Agent Nation" (www.amazon.com). No, its not about pro athletes or those that get them the lucrative deals and movie star lifestyles. It has to do with a subtle shift in the workforce, a definition of "employment" that goes beyond the traditional corporate culture to one of "working for yourself."

A "free agent" according to Pink includes entrepreneurs, consultants, contract/1099 individuals, temps or basically anyone who approaches work as their own microbusiness. Many authors such as Robert Kiyosaki in his Rich Dad-Poor Dad book series in his E/B/S/I model hint at this type of individual, which has only recently become much more prevalent in society.

Just look around you. A lot of people I know in the corporate world are involved in a side venture, or something they do in their spare time for either fun or money or both.

In the blog from Success Magazine entitled "What will the business of the future look like? Like YOU" by Andrea Mondello found at http://www.successmagazine.com/blogs.php , the author outlines several interesting small biz trends, culled from a study released last week from Intuit and the Institute For the Future. To summarize: Entrepreneurship goes mainstream.

Check out the article. Then, challenge yourself to think of what you love to do and how you could turn your hobby into a sideline biz that generates income. And who knows where it could go from there--the sky's the limit!

Exercise & Nutrition as Blackmail

2007-01-30T07:35:00.000-08:00

Ok, I didn't really get blackmailed, but it felt like a set-up nonetheless. As it goes, my wife and I were at our chiropractor and she's like, "oh, yeah, they're having the 'body for life' thing tonight. Let's stay." I'm an avid planner and my next step was food--I was starving. So, during the presentation I went and grabbed something.

And, actually, I'm so excited that we will be eating more healthy and exercising, together! I believe that we'll feel better in no time and look back on this commitment as something that was life-changing, positioning us to live out our lives, the way we want. This can happen to you, as well, if you make the decision. I encourage you to consider it. (Better health & nutrition, that is).

Now, I want to set the record straight. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Body for Life Challenge, it's a national contest where people compete for prizes and money, to see who can put together the best physique, have the greatest weight loss and achieve the most results over a 3 month period. Check it out: www.bodyforlife.com.

Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Balance: Living the Life of Your Dreams

If you've always wanted to be a competitive bodybuilder or achieve that body that others would die for, go for it. For me, I have modest goals: I just want to feel better (all the time). That way, I can live the life of my dreams, with no limits. For me (as I mentioned in a previous post), that lifestyle encompasses physical, emotional and spiritual health--what I refer to as life-balance. And really, I'm just getting started.

At present, I'm a "apprehensive exerciser" at best, since over the last few years I've struggled with my health. But that is about to change. Honestly, it's been years since I've consistently been to the gym and decided to eat healthy as a lifestyle. So, I face this with mixed emotions, if not somewhat muted excitement.

Oh and thanx to diynaturally at http://diynaturally.wordpress.com/ who got me thinking in the right direction. Then, before I knew it--it all came together--and here I am (gulllppp!)

Selling Dehydrated Water-What Gives?

2007-01-29T08:39:00.000-08:00

I came across this website that sells, get this, dehydrated water. Check out: www.buydehydratedwater.com

It's a great site, with very interesting content and I got a kick out of it. Apparently they put a lot of work into it and it appears that they’ve been around since 2000.

What I want to know is, are they really making money at it? Or is it just a fun side venture that someone does for “kicks and giggles?”

It just goes to show you, you can set up a business based on virtually any concept and make a go of it. It might work--and if it does--look out! Talk about unlikely products…

Go After Your Dreams (funnier things have happened!)

So, whatever your dreams--no matter how outlandish they are--go for it and don’t ever let go! Who knows, you may end up doing something you really love and making a lot of money at it.

Healthy Eating Is Hip...& It Helps

2007-01-26T09:19:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks (3 in fact) I've been eating healthier than I ever have in my entire life. I've gone vegan, well, vegetarian, at least for the most part. I don't know how people do it. But before you congratulate me, I have to admit It's something I've done out of necessity. No chicken, beef, pork, sodas, dairy, etc. It's been mostly a vegetable diet and I've gone virtually crazy coming up with tasty dishes that fit the bill.

The bottom line: I've lost almost 17 pounds. The health people I talk to say that it has a lot to do with cutting out the sodas. AMAZING! Also, I've been concentrating on taking great vitamins and other supplements.

I believe that physical health is a key component in success.

A balanced life is comprised of equal parts physical, emotional and spiritual health. If you don't have the physical, it's almost impossible to get the emotional and spiritual together. (more on this in a later post)

Here's a special reach out to the "BetterMeister" at www.iambetterthanu.com. He's been doing his own brand of health: largely cutting out sodas and drinking tea instead, for starters. Also, taking vitamins, well in his words, "manamins," in case anyone's wondering.

I know I'm definitely feeling better. The only negative: I no longer have jeans that fit.

For more info on health-related stuff, organic whatever, or basically anything that's "good for you," check out: www.diynaturally.wordpress.com. You might learn something--I know I did.

Success Storyz: Selling Snow on Ebay

2007-01-25T08:44:00.000-08:00

I found this little tidbit that truly points out that if you're creative and imaginative, you can accomplish whatever it is you want.

It takes place back in December with a Colorado couple. The story goes that Mary & Jim Walker needed money to purchase a snowblower and had the zany idea of selling snow on eBay to pay for it.

Well, it sold, believe it or not! A Connecticut firefighter had the winning bid for 3 organic Colorado snowballs. Here's where it got serious. The couple had no idea how they were going to ship the snow, without having it melt. They considered dry-ice, but were saved the trouble when Frontier Airlines heard about them and offered to fly them free, round trip to Connecticut to deliver the snowballs in person.

A great story. An even greater illustration of my belief that no matter what the situation, there is always a solution or a way through, if you persist and have faith.

So, wherever you are and whatever it is that you want to do, BE YOURSELF and PURSUE YOUR DREAMS at all costs!

Final Jeopardy & Nerves of Steel

2007-01-24T08:18:00.000-08:00

Last night I had my life coach final.

If successful, upon graduation I would become a Professional Certified Life Purpose & Career Coach with a Life Coach designation. Hours of preparation, studying and coaching went into this. If you're in school or have been, you know the drill.

Well, all of us were nervous and under a lot of pressure. We had to answer a series of questions orally and then coach someone "on the spot." When it came my turn to be tested, I thought I'd try a little humor and answered my first question exactly opposite of what we'd been taught. I thought it was obvious...

DEAD SILENCE. Then I said that I was just kidding. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief and started laughing. It broke the ice and put everyone at ease.

Throughout this entire process, I learned many lessons. Chief amongst these include:

Despite how I felt physically, I could persevere, overcome and be successful.
I had a lot more ability/capacity than I gave myself credit for when it came to accomplishing things.
What I set my mind to I can do, in spite of appearances.
Fears are deceptive and rarely have merit or basis in fact.
I have the power to choose: my responses, my mindset, my thoughts and beliefs.

So, my encouragement to you is to go for your dreams and desires, persevere in the process and before you know it, you'll be past your comfort zone and into a whole new world!

EndNote: We all passed except one person and will be certified by the end of February or sooner!

Change Your Thinking--Change Your Life

2007-01-23T07:26:00.000-08:00

I was just talking to a good friend last night about affirmations. In an earlier post I mentioned the tie-in with beliefs and success or accomplishments.

For me and a lot of other people into the self-help movement, lasting change is a bit of a challenge. How many motivational seminars have you been to? How many positive books have you read? I've read tons of stuff on personal growth, success and change. I've even attended a few powerful seminars, to boot. By all means, continue to do this--but don't stop there.

The bottom line?

It doesn't seem to last. In other words, you've read that book, attended that life-changing seminar and it fades in a few days, for most. You're motivated, excited and enthusiastic about the changes you're going to make and what you're going to do, then reality hits again. And your back to where you were. Why?

I personally believe it comes down to application. A lot of people including myself struggle with that. The reason they do is that their deep-seeded personal beliefs get in their way, and basically prohibit them from making the change. I know, I've been there.

As I mentioned last week, if you believe you don't deserve to make good money, chances are you won't. Your subconscious mind will work to ensure that that's the case.

The Answer

Being an avid researcher and always looking for tools that help, I stumbled upon something pretty fantastic. It's a meditation technique where you use headphones while listening to CDs. It only takes about 30 minutes a day and it's painless. But the results are out of this world! Really.

There are thousands of people already enjoying wonderful changes in their lives as a result and there's tons of in-depth scientific research backing it.

Here's What It Does:
(& it's not some new age garbage either, but applied science)

Using music and pc-generated signals, it puts your brain into an alpha-beta-theta state.
It relaxes and de-stresses you as it slows you way down.
You can record your own personal affirmations and have them embedded on this CD.

Why it works...

As I've said, affirmations are great, but you have to do them a certain way to make them work. Here's how they do. By putting your brain into a meditative state and playing your affirmations in this manner, you're bypassing your conscious mind where your beliefs reside, and literally creating new beliefs or pathways in the brain.

I know, I know, it sounds weird, maybe scary, but it works!

Check out this link where they do a better job of explaining the whole process. (I've been a client for years but don't profit by my relationship with them):

www.centerpointe.com

Honestly, there are few tools out there that are as powerful as this one! So, check it out--you'll be glad you did.

Do It To It!

2007-01-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

"Just do it!" Nike's familiar slogan sounds great in theory. However in terms of personal application, practically speaking it may not fly.

I know for me, I like to understand and know why I'm doing something, so blind action is not usually my strongpoint.

For others, its easy to just get something done by an act of sheer willpower. Still, there are others who seem defeated before they even start. And they don't understand why. On the surface, many people have great goals and desires, but when it comes right down to it, they're stuck. They have significant blocks that keep them from achieving the success they desire and living the life they want.

The reason? Subconscious beliefs. I touched on this in an earlier post. These types of beliefs aren't easy to change, though it is possible.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote the book, The Power of Positive Thinking. Honestly, it was the first thing that made sense to me in the midst of all the other self-improvement books out there. But it was incomplete. I tried thinking positively. I attempted affirmations and reading positive books--none of it really took--nor had the lasting affect I was going for.

Most everyone knows of Napolean Hill, who wrote Think and Grow Rich. He has this great quote that goes like this: "Whatever your mind can conceive and believe it can achieve." Now this makes sense to me--focus on the word believe.

If in the deepest part of who you are, you do not really believe you deserve success or money or whatever, its never going to happen for you, regardless of how hard you try.

Why?

Because your subconscious is busy making sure your circumstances match your beliefs, whether you know it or not.

So, what do you do? What works? I stumbled upon something that is a surefire method to lasting change. I'll let you in on it in my next post.

Fear Failing Forward

2007-01-15T08:07:00.000-08:00

FEARS can immobilize, paralyze and keep you stuck. Forget about how unrealistic they are or that they may not make any sense at all--to anyone but you. Fear can keep you from achieving your potential and stretching outside your comfort zone into someone you desire to become or doing something you've wanted to do for a long time.

Fear can be gut-wrenching, sickening and depressing. It is also one of the most LIMITING BELIEFS someone can have.

But don't give in to the pressure or the LIE that is holding you back, whatever that may be. Be courageous and stand up to it--believe me, in time you'll be glad you did. And, I realize it won't be easy. Doing great things usually isn't.

Someone once said that F.E.A.R. stands for: False Evidence Appearing Real. Nothing could be more true. When you internalize this and walk in it, you will find freedom to become who you desire to be and do things you never thought you could do.

Here's an encouraging snippet from Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Speech. I hope you find it uplifting and that it helps to move you forward. (Let me know what you think or if you have anything to share regarding this post.)

Our Greatest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest far is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

You were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within you. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Attitude Matters--How's Yours?

2007-01-14T14:36:00.000-08:00

This is your second helping from my toolbox of favorite quotes.

We started with "Destiny," to kinda give you the big picture, now I'll give you a few from "Attitude." My experience has been that you can have the world's greatest goals and "shoot-for-the-moon" aspirations, but if your attitude STINKS, then it's not likely you'll get where you want to go.

The foundation of your attitude is your BELIEFS, which is something everyone must look at along the road to success, if they don't want to lose everything (or everyone) along the way. I'll spend some time covering this later.

Attitude:

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."--William James

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life."--John Homer Miller

"You are searching for the magic key that will unlock the door to the source of power; and yet you have the key in your own hands, and you may make use of it the moment you learn to control your thoughts."--Napoleon Hill

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."--Proverbs 23:7 (Amplified version)

Food for Thought (or quotes to live by)

2007-01-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

This weekend I was going thru some old stuff and found some of my long-lost quotes, dear to my heart.

Over the next few weeks, I'll talk about these more in-depth. I'll hit on what they mean to me and how they can serve as reminders to keep us moving along the signposts of life in the pursuit of our goals, dreams and desires.

They are especially helpful when you hit a snag, become discouraged or things take a turn for the worse--when there's not much else you can do.

And oh, yeah. Scripture works well too. By this I mean verses from the Bible. More on that later.

But, for now, here are some of my favorites:

Destiny

"We become what we think about. Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy."--Kierkegaard

"Concentrate on where you want to go not on what you fear."--Anthony Robbins

"It's a funning thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."--W. Somerset Maugham

"To love what you do and can feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?"--Katherine Jackson

Got any earth-moving quotes or sayings that have rocked your world? Let me know.

What Difference Does It Make?

2007-01-12T09:08:00.000-08:00

Did you take the test? What did you think? What were your TRUE COLORS?

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.

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.

Here's how understanding your personality make-up may help you:

with accepting yourself as the unique individual that you are
in finding a career that matches your personality and brings you joy, energy and purpose
communicate with others in a way that is meaningful and productive, both socially and at work
find your "ideal mate," someone who respects you for who you are and enjoys your company

If you want to find out more about your colors, go here:

http://www.truecolors.org/color_meanings.html

So, if you haven't already, here's where you can take the test:

http://www.truecolorstest.com/True-Colors-Personality-Test.html

Let me know what you find out and how it works for you.

Who Are You--Do You Have a Clue?

2007-01-12T08:47:00.000-08:00

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.

As I've said before, I believe that success really comes down to authenticity or being true to yourself by doing what you love to do. I call this the "true you living" process. My vision of success can be summarized as follows:

"... being who you were created to be while doing what you were called to do...

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.

I found this really cool personality test called TRUE COLORS.

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.

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). Check it out, you'll like it. Here's the link:

http://www.truecolorstest.com/True-Colors-Personality-Test.html

I'm Better Than You (according to who?)

2007-01-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, I only sorta believe that. Before you shut me down, let me explain.

I work with this slighty off-the-wall guy named Jeff at www.NextStudent.com. He created this blog, www.iambetterthanu.com where he banters on about ludicrous ideas of why he's better than others, including God.

Don't be offended and take it all with a grain of salt. It's meant to be humorous, really. (I'll let you know when God makes it known that he's highly delusional).

When I asked him the question, "Why are you better than me?" he responded, "I just am." So, we can't give him points for playground oration or the ability to back his argument with sound logic.

But it got me thinking.

Should we take our cues about who we are from other people or their opinions?
If someone makes more money or is more gifted in an area, is that person really "better than us"?
What indicates that we are a successful?

I know this is deep, but hang with me.

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.

I would offer, then, that we are all "better" or uniquely gifted (whatever) than others in this respect.

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.

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?

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.

Was she successful? Are others better than her? Are you? What say you, BetterMeister?

What It's Like to Be Superman...

2007-01-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

Life ever thrown you a curve ball?

Man, sometimes it's really strange. Not that I'm old or anything, but I remember when I was younger. Ok, just two years ago really. No problems I couldn't handle, everything going great, my health was fine and life was grand.

And then BOOM! Suddenly I realized that I wasn't God. Or Superman either.

I know that this wasn't any major revelation. But what I mean is that I suddenly understood that it just wasn't really possible for me to control everything and have it go my way. Always.

And then a week ago another subtle reminder. Enough already.

I was in ER again with the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced. Friends called it "male child-birth." If that's really the case, it's a wonder we have population growth. I discovered to my joy and amazement I had kidney stones. In a word, wonderful! But I won't further burden you with this fun.

Anyone else have similar experiences that changed you somehow? Let me know.

The bottom line--what did I learn? I don't know yet, I'll keep you posted. I just know that these last few years have been a blow to my self-confidence and belief in myself.

I've begun to have much more compassion and understanding with others. I think they call that grace. My perspective on life has also changed drastically.

What I think is important these days is completely different than even 5 years ago. And yes, I'm not nearly as cocky, self-sure or thinking of myself as someone who can do anything and everything all the time.

Can you relate? What's your story?

Dreams on Tap?

2006-12-31T16:45:00.000-08:00

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that things changed drastically post op.

It was a drag attempting to recover. Finding myself out of breath just going out to the car. Or what about not feeling physically or mentally at the top of my game any longer? Talk about struggling. Yeah, it shook me up. That's the understatement of the year.

But, I had plenty of time to think about life and what I REALLY WANTED TO DO and why I hadn't actually just done it. Then I could start moving in that direction.

Anybody else out there relate? Had a similar experience? Let me know--post it here. And perhaps we can encourage each other...

Or tell us about your dreams and what you've always wanted to do but for whatever reason just haven't started down that road yet--maybe we could help each other. Who knows?

Either way, as 2006 slips into the past and another year takes it's place, may you find the time to consider if you're "doing what you love while being who you are" as you look forward to 2007. (More on that later)

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

Spicy Schezwuan: Got Religion?

2006-12-29T14:14:00.000-08:00

A little over a year ago, I had quite the moving experience.

But it's not what you think. I'm talking about my gut. I ate at my usual neighborhood chinese joint, ordering my fav kungpao chicken. Only this time around it didn't agree with me. Two days later I woke up to the fact that I probably didn't have food poisoning, but something much more serious.

Hours later I was screaming in pain having never thought anyone outside a mother giving birth to twins could experience such unbelievable agony. After enduring the impossible--you know--the frightening wait in the ER not knowing what was going on, they finally gave me the good news.

"You were hours away from being dead." No joke. Not exactly my favorite memory. I was told that I needed emergency surgery cuz my appendix had burst. I was a mess inside and felt like it.

Since I'm here writing this you've probably gathered I made it thru.

And I have to say that as horrible as everything was (go ahead...YOU try sucking gourmet hospital food thru an IV or getting pain meds from Nazi Nurse), I had what I would term a "religious experience." Don't be afraid, I'm not a religious nut and it was actually pretty cool.

What I discovered was how precious life was and how little time we all have to live out our dreams.

Whatever that looks like for you, do you really know how much time you have to GET IT DONE? Probably not.

I know it was a huge wake-up call for me and as weird as this sounds, I'm glad it happened. I wouldn't have gotten back on track if it didn't.

Created 4 Success

Wake up & live life because it’s a beautiful day!!

Inspirational Videos on Success

If you've never failed, you've never lived!

My Personal Motivational Tools

Wake Up and Live Life Because it’s a Beautiful Day!! (videos on celebrating life and living it to the fullest)Determine Your Destiny by Choosing Your Thoughts! (videos that highlight the importance of mindset in achieving your dreams)

Believe and Receive What You Think About! (videos to build your faith, belief, and encourage you to keep going)

Videos That Will Tickle Your Funny Bone! (because humor is a healthy habit)

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--links

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--links

What does success mean to you?

Believe and Receive What You Focus Your Mind On

Believe and Achieve: How to Set Yourself Up for Success

Living at the Speed of Life; Except When Fate Has its Own Ideas

Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking: 10 Steps to Health, Wealth, and Success

Celebrate Your Freedom to Succeed: Act as if You Can't Fail

Benjamin Franklin's 274-Year-Old Plan for Character Change

Determine Your Destiny by Choosing Only Positive Thoughts

Sure-Fire Success System that Never Fails

“Goal Getting” breakthrough for those who are sick and tired of the same goal-setting crap on the market that never works for you anyway

The Best Of The Best: A Resource That Could Save Your Life

The power of purpose: what’s yours?

Free Success Resources

Inspirational Videos on Achieving Your Dreams

Got Debt Relief?

TESTING...

World Wide Web Marketing Discovered by NextStudent?

Spring Fever, Winter Vacation & Fixating on Finances

Crazy Creative Finds Inspiration at NextStudent

Who Wants to Be a Superhero?

Perfectly Positive Pollyanna Get's Real

Choices That Change Your Life, Guaranteed

Happiness Is for Hippies?

Gratitude: Why Bother? Studies Tell the Story

FUNday Monday Videos: The "Happy Dance"

Getting Things Done While Maintaining Your Sanity

Loving Your Mistakes: Are You Nuts?

SuccessTools: Inkless Printer for Cell Phones

FUNday Monday Videos Kickoff

Not What It Appears: New Student Loan Bills Threaten Education

Character & Integrity Prevails, In The Long Run

Your Ideal Life: "You Can Do It!"

$50K in 2 days: figure the odds

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

Exercise This, Man...

"You Deserve a Break Today!"

What’s Love Got to Do With It?

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

"Crack That Whip:" Developing a Personal Motivation Plan

We All Live on a Yellow Submarine

Successful Failure: the Path to Achievement

Growing Pains: Not So Easy

You are the Author of Your Circumstances

The Art of Letting Go: Success with a Twist

Gratitude Attitude Works Wonders

$75,000 a Minute? I'd Say You're Doing Well

Entrepreneurs R Us: The Future of Biz

Exercise & Nutrition as Blackmail

Selling Dehydrated Water-What Gives?

Healthy Eating Is Hip...& It Helps

Success Storyz: Selling Snow on Ebay

Final Jeopardy & Nerves of Steel

Change Your Thinking--Change Your Life

Do It To It!

Fear Failing Forward

Attitude Matters--How's Yours?

Food for Thought (or quotes to live by)

What Difference Does It Make?

Who Are You--Do You Have a Clue?

I'm Better Than You (according to who?)

What It's Like to Be Superman...

Dreams on Tap?

Spicy Schezwuan: Got Religion?

Wake Up and Live Life Because it’s a Beautiful Day!! (videos on celebrating life and living it to the fullest)

Determine Your Destiny by Choosing Your Thoughts! (videos that highlight the importance of mindset in achieving your dreams)