Everybody has a point of view. These points of view are shaped by our life experiences as well as experiences of people that are close to us, not to mention the media on the peripheral. Consider these experiences to be your "glasses". The way you see the world around you is a direct reflection of what is on the inside of you. I had the opportunity this evening to learn more about this concept first hand.
I was checking in at a hotel in Tucson. As I was checking in, a guy came up beside me at the counter. He was not menacing or anything, but he was definitely in my personal space and looking directly at my ID and credit card as the front desk agent was checking me in. I reached across the counter and turned the ID and card over and asked him to step back a little. He then unleashed a torrent of comments about race and how I, as a white man, had only done that because he was black. Now, if you know me at all, you know just how ridiculous this is. I could not believe that I was being blamed for all that was wrong with this country, racially anyway, by this man. All I wanted was for some random person not to be looking over my transaction which does involve personal identification and financial records. I really could care less what color that person is. Personal space is personal space and he should have stayed out of mine.
The lesson I learned here is this. It became instantly evident that this man sees with his "race glasses". While I was seeing with my "personal space glasses". Everything this man sees has racial implications, you can be sure. Taking an instance so far out of context is the biggest sign of what type of "glasses" someone is wearing. Losing control of your emotions at the drop of a hat like that and threatening to "beat someones @$$ if they were back in college for that" is a tell tale sign of how this man in particular views his circumstances. Let us take a look at this kind of thinking:
1: Blame- He sees what is happening to him, or around him, as the fault of someone else. This person will not take responsibility for his own actions.
2: Narcissism- He thinks this is all about him. And of course, only the way he feels (which is a result of how he sees things) is important here. No other valid points of view are relevant at all, they are not even heard.
3: Racism- Somewhere in this mans past, there is a sad event that took place. He now views every situation in relation to that one (perhaps multiple) incidents from earlier in his life.
4: Incompetence- The kind of outburst displayed this evening can be partially attributed to this persons incompetence in other areas of his life. Perhaps he thinks he should be the one getting the big pay raise or whatever, just like this situation, he is incompetent in the area of emotional control. There is always somebody out-doing him.
In conclusion, try to take notice what kind of "glasses" you are wearing. If you don't like the things you are seeing, or even worse, everyone around you is running like rats from a ship away from you, it is probably time to change the glasses. It is really easy to do with a little effort. Just get into the routine of learning more about how you want to see things. In the example above, this man could take a look at some of the monumental positive changes in race relations this country has experienced in the last 2 decades alone. It's my belief that the passing of each day, people are getting negative issues of race out of their "glasses". It is less important now as it ever has been. Are there exceptions to the rule? You bet. So what, don't see the world through their glasses. Am I a bit to ahead of what is really going on out there? Maybe, but I will tell you this - race has no part of how I view people or what they do or how they do it. I don't even see the racism because I refuse to let it into my life. If you wish to eradicate racism, then refuse to see it. Simple as that.
I hope this was helpful to someone out there. I know for me, it was an invaluable lesson to learn. Whenever you talk to someone, try to figure out what kind of "glasses" they're wearing. I am a little sad for this man, he gets to wake up tomorrow and the rest of his life with those glasses on. Sad, sad, sad. Pray for that man, I know I am.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
So, What's Next?
Have you ever had an idea that you thought would be so great that its a wonder the world has gotten along so far without it? Have you had the complete process worked out in your head, from beginning to end, from start-up to the final product? It seems lighting fast, the power of that one seed of an idea. How many of those ideas have you had? How many have you made into a reality? First let me address one thing, if you haven't had "ideas" then you have got to get out of your thought routine and get some kind of creative influence in your life. "Well, I just can't think creatively." B.S.! Just like anything else, if you exercise it, it will grow. Exercise your creativity through music, drawing, painting, singing, whatever it takes. Even if you are horrible at it you can at least start. The point here is to get your mind thinking in a wider array of thoughts and ideas. If you need further help in this area you may give me a call and I'll help any way I can. Okay, now that we've handled that, let's move on to the meat of this dinner shall we? Now, you've had ideas, probably hundreds, like this and you've nothing to show for it. Do you know that God has made you a steward over all that He has given to you? Do you know He gave you those ideas? What have you done with them? Just like money or volunteering at a charity, your ideas are the expression of God's presence in your life. If you are not doing something with those gifts, then you can rest assured somebody else will pick it up and run with it. Why? God gave you freedom of choice, to do and not to do. He broadcasts ideas out that He wants accomplished until somebody feels "called" to follow it through. Now that you know this, I would expect that you will be more inclined to act on the next one. How do you act on it though? All your circumstances might tell you that you're too broke or don't have enough education or that your hair is too curly. You'd better get over yourself and get moving! Speaking of hair, have you seen Donald Trump's hair? Could you imagine that stopping him? No, I don't think so. Okay, so you may now ask "How do I make my idea into a reality?". Are you ready for this? It is going to blow your socks right off of your feet, you may even want to be near a restroom when you read this in case you make a mess! READY?................................
Simply do what's next. Maybe what is next is calling somebody who has a specific knowledge about a product type you wish to develop. Who knows for sure exactly what "next" is, I'll tell you it doesn't even matter as long as you do something towards the attainment of the realization of that idea. Start with a patent search on Google. Go to the library, you know, where they store books that you can borrow. Call the Small Business Association, talk to somebody who has experience, somebody you trust of course. The theme here is just to do what's next. There will always be a "what's next". Find out what it is and do it.
Simply do what's next. Maybe what is next is calling somebody who has a specific knowledge about a product type you wish to develop. Who knows for sure exactly what "next" is, I'll tell you it doesn't even matter as long as you do something towards the attainment of the realization of that idea. Start with a patent search on Google. Go to the library, you know, where they store books that you can borrow. Call the Small Business Association, talk to somebody who has experience, somebody you trust of course. The theme here is just to do what's next. There will always be a "what's next". Find out what it is and do it.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
On The Level
If you want to grow in any area of your life, you will be required to look at yourself very closely. What are you going to look for? I would suggest you look for the things that stand between you and where you desire to go. If you are looking for excuses then you are missing the point. It is okay to see the excuses but, you have got to find a way to get past them. Identifying them is only the first step. Your next step is to acknowledge that you are the only one that can change it. Here is an example in my own life. I recognize that my mind tends to wonder from subject to subject and seemingly all over the place. This is valuable tool for me because it enables me to attack objectives at many different angles . . . if I remain focused. If I allow it to run rampant, without any sort of boundaries or self imposed guidelines, then I can get distracted very easily. This came up just the other day when I had an idea for a new business venture. I'd thought of all the aspects of it from the first call for the licensing that would be required to the time when I would sell it as a franchise. All of this took about 2 days of thought and planning. And for what? After all that, I came to realize that business, while it will be enormously successful, would be a massive distraction to my real objective in life. At least for now. My objective in life is more important to me than that business. All I had to do was to line it up with that objective and see if they would compliment each other. They same can be done with you. First identify what your objective is, then eliminate with extreme prejudice all that stands as a distraction to your attainment of that objective. Just make sure that your objective stands to better the lives of others. Take a look at the visual aid for a better look at what I'm trying to convey.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Living "Lesson Minded"
In life there are things happening all around us, to us, and by us. How do you look at those things? What do you see when you observe something taking place? Are you seeing whatever is happening as just an event or a circumstance? When you watch a movie, are you just being entertained or are you looking for something important to take away from it, a lesson to be learned? Here is an exercise that will add value to whatever it is that you see happening around you. Start looking for "lessons" in everything you see. For example, when you watch an interaction between two people, you will see all kinds of things that will help you to become a better person. Start with noticing who is the dominating force of that interaction. Why are they the dominating force? Is it positive or negative? What do you notice that will help you to interact with others more effectively and efficiently? Maybe you are seeing things that are turn-offs in their interaction. Make note and try avoiding such things in your next interaction. Take the good lessons with you and let them add to you. Take the bad and get rid of it from your life.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Fear part 1
Fear: (as defined on dictionary.com) 1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
I am going to break this study on fear and how it applies to your life into several parts. The first part we will examine the meaning of "fear". We know for a fact that if you do not understand the definition of a word, then you cannot use it to your advantage. When you grasp the meaning of a word, it loses it's power to control various parts of your life anonymously, as a mysterious force. Once you know, you can control, it is knowledge and it's application that will gain increase in your world. In Hosea 4:6 we learn "my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.". So, gain knowledge.
As defined above in the first paragraph, we can see that fear is an emotion. You would be wise to study on your own about how to take control of you emotions. The fear that you carry around with you in your daily life is there because some external event, suggestion, experience, or even a story that somebody shared with you. It is designed to protect you from harm. If most of what we actually fear can be looked at objectively, with solid facts to support it, with emotions set aside, we will often find that fear has no base at all for operating in our lives. It's roots are often deep in our subconscious mind and are a default setting for decisions we make every day.
Look at this example of fear controlling somebody's life, every day. In Arizona, we have more photo enforcement cameras than exist in all the rest of America. They are at all major intersections, on the freeways, on the arterial roads and even in some neighborhoods. I know a person who feared so much being caught running the red light at these intersections. That fear of getting caught running the light caused their mind to seek a solution to this problem. That solution was to speed through the intersection as fast as possible, white-knuckled and gazing at the light to ensure that it didn't turn red. Some weeks later, this person received a citation in the mail for speeding through that intersection, with some wonderful portraits and video showing the offense. Now, this person, avoids intersections with cameras at every opportunity. Routes to a fro have been changed, time to get to and fro has changed. This fear while having some kind of real foundation, through experience, is now a part of this persons life. The decision of which way to go is made before the car is even started and headed for the destination. This fear controls a part of their life everyday.
What "photo enforcement cameras" are laying out the route for your life? What do you avoid everyday and why is it that you avoid it? What fear has kept you from your real desires? I will bet with absolute certainty that you know what it is because I know what mine is. Even the act of thinking of that which we fear causes your heart to race and your mind to look for a way around it. That is a power over your life that you have got to gain control of.
I am going to break this study on fear and how it applies to your life into several parts. The first part we will examine the meaning of "fear". We know for a fact that if you do not understand the definition of a word, then you cannot use it to your advantage. When you grasp the meaning of a word, it loses it's power to control various parts of your life anonymously, as a mysterious force. Once you know, you can control, it is knowledge and it's application that will gain increase in your world. In Hosea 4:6 we learn "my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.". So, gain knowledge.
As defined above in the first paragraph, we can see that fear is an emotion. You would be wise to study on your own about how to take control of you emotions. The fear that you carry around with you in your daily life is there because some external event, suggestion, experience, or even a story that somebody shared with you. It is designed to protect you from harm. If most of what we actually fear can be looked at objectively, with solid facts to support it, with emotions set aside, we will often find that fear has no base at all for operating in our lives. It's roots are often deep in our subconscious mind and are a default setting for decisions we make every day.
Look at this example of fear controlling somebody's life, every day. In Arizona, we have more photo enforcement cameras than exist in all the rest of America. They are at all major intersections, on the freeways, on the arterial roads and even in some neighborhoods. I know a person who feared so much being caught running the red light at these intersections. That fear of getting caught running the light caused their mind to seek a solution to this problem. That solution was to speed through the intersection as fast as possible, white-knuckled and gazing at the light to ensure that it didn't turn red. Some weeks later, this person received a citation in the mail for speeding through that intersection, with some wonderful portraits and video showing the offense. Now, this person, avoids intersections with cameras at every opportunity. Routes to a fro have been changed, time to get to and fro has changed. This fear while having some kind of real foundation, through experience, is now a part of this persons life. The decision of which way to go is made before the car is even started and headed for the destination. This fear controls a part of their life everyday.
What "photo enforcement cameras" are laying out the route for your life? What do you avoid everyday and why is it that you avoid it? What fear has kept you from your real desires? I will bet with absolute certainty that you know what it is because I know what mine is. Even the act of thinking of that which we fear causes your heart to race and your mind to look for a way around it. That is a power over your life that you have got to gain control of.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Line up with God
When you communicate with God, it is by definition, the communion between two parties; you and God. It is a time when He listens to you and in turn, you listen to Him. It is also a time for Him to direct your way to make you prosperous. When you ask something of God, you had better make sure that it lines up with His will for your life and that it does not contradict what you are set out to accomplish. That is basic knowledge right there. Think of it like this; if I were trying to lose weight or get in better shape, I would be contradicting my purpose in that situation to go out and load up on a gloriously delicious Snickers ice cream bar. Does that line up with what you are trying to accomplish? God is not an enabler. He will correct you when you need correcting and reward you when obedience to Him is shown. He may not tell you directly not to have that Snickers bar but, He probably has an arched eyebrow and a puzzled look on His face. Why? It is because you know better, you know that what you are doing is outside of the parameters that are conducive to weight loss. Just like in that example, you can utilize that communion with Him to get where you need to go, where you are designed to go. When you ask, do yourself and God a favor, be specific. If you say "God, increase my territory!", He will comply but because you weren't specific, your increase was barely recognizable. Why? You gave a vague request, you got a vague return. Ask like this, "Lord, I expect that you will enlarge my territory, to bring in 7 new clients today.". That is specific, when you are specific you give God something tangible to work with. He operates out of the spiritual to create that which we see in the physical. BE SPECIFIC, I dare you.
Monday, June 8, 2009
"Who do you say I am?"
Matthew 16:13-20
Peter's Confession of Christ
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
I have always taken this scripture to mean that Christ is revealing his true self to his desciples. I still believe that is the case but, I have learned something new about this familiar scripture. Remember, His word is alive, it breathes life into any situation or circumstance that you are in. Jesus is calling, challenging, on Peter to declare who he believes that he is. Peter knew exactly who Jesus was, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.". This scripture is for you, right now, where you are at. Who do you say that Jesus is? Is He truly the Son of the living God in your life? Is he the key to the kingdom of heaven in your life? Perhaps he is somebody you meet with on Sunday morning at "Club Church" and forget about after brunch at Elmer's with the family. Jesus can only meet you where you are at, where your faith is at. If your faith only allows him to bless your food then that is all you will get. If your faith in Him is strong enough to move mountains in your life, then that is what you get. What I am trying to say is, Jesus will meet you at whatever level your faith is at. He will not go too far past it, because you wouldn't believe it anyway. This is the manifestation of reaping and sowing at it's pinnacle. You sow faith, he increases the reaping of that fruit in your life. When you rely on your faith in him, you are giving up "self" in order for God to work in your life. He can't work in your life if you are in the way all the time mucking up the process with "self". You are a tool for God to use, not the other way around. Exercise your faith in Him and just like a muscle, that exercise will cause it to grow into a more powerful force in your life.
I pray that you've gained something for your life by reading this, I know I did by writing it. I also pray that only the true word of God would shine from all that I write and the rest would be washed away, that only the truth would remain.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Force your mind to think!
This is a passage from the book Law Of Success by Napoleon Hill. Every time I read from it I gain something of value. Please read, learn, imagine, and enjoy!
Force your mind to think! Proceed by combining old ideas into new plans. Every great invention and every outstanding business or industrial achievement that you can name is, in final analysis, but the application of a combination of plans and ideas that have been used before, in some other manner.
Back of the beating hammer
By which the steel is wrought,
Back of the workshop's clamor
The seeker may find the Thought;
The thought that is ever Master
Of iron and steam and steel,
That rises above disaster
And tramples it under heel.
The drudge may fret and tinker
Or labor with lusty blows,
But back of him stands the Thinker,
The clear-eyed man who knows;
For into each plow or saber,
Each piece and part and whole,
Must go the brains of labor,
Which gives the work a soul.
Back of the motor's humming,
Back of the bells that ring,
Back of the hammer's drumming,
Back of the cranes that swing,
There is the Eye which scans them,
Watching through stress and strain,
There is the Mind which plans them-
Back of the brawn, the Brain.
Might of the roaring boiler,
Force of the engine's thrust,
Strength of the sweating toiler,
Greatly in these we trust;
But back of them stands the schemer,
The Thinker who drives things through,
Back of the job the Dreamer
Who's making the dream come true.
- Berton Braley
Force your mind to think! Proceed by combining old ideas into new plans. Every great invention and every outstanding business or industrial achievement that you can name is, in final analysis, but the application of a combination of plans and ideas that have been used before, in some other manner.
Back of the beating hammer
By which the steel is wrought,
Back of the workshop's clamor
The seeker may find the Thought;
The thought that is ever Master
Of iron and steam and steel,
That rises above disaster
And tramples it under heel.
The drudge may fret and tinker
Or labor with lusty blows,
But back of him stands the Thinker,
The clear-eyed man who knows;
For into each plow or saber,
Each piece and part and whole,
Must go the brains of labor,
Which gives the work a soul.
Back of the motor's humming,
Back of the bells that ring,
Back of the hammer's drumming,
Back of the cranes that swing,
There is the Eye which scans them,
Watching through stress and strain,
There is the Mind which plans them-
Back of the brawn, the Brain.
Might of the roaring boiler,
Force of the engine's thrust,
Strength of the sweating toiler,
Greatly in these we trust;
But back of them stands the schemer,
The Thinker who drives things through,
Back of the job the Dreamer
Who's making the dream come true.
- Berton Braley
Thursday, April 9, 2009
"Nothing is more tragic-or more common-than mental inertia. For every ten people who are physically lazy there are ten thousand others with stagnant minds. And stagnant minds are the breeding places of fear." Napoleon Hill, Law of Success
I cannot speak for anybody but myself on this idea. This one makes me extremely uncomfortable, not only on its face, but by the trailing thoughts that follow it.
I tend to believe that in general, people want much from life. I believe that they think about it often. I believe they try to do the right thing, right now. The problem is this- all they are doing is thinking about it. Usually they are not thinking good things about it either. It will tend to have a negative bent to it. Their usually is only a shortsighted vision for what is ahead. Test yourself by asking one simple question. I challenge you to be completely honest with yourself. You don't need to tell anybody of course, it is a question with an answer that will reveal your true thinking on much that takes place in your life. Your first reaction is your answer, the more you try to make excuses for why that is your answer, the more you try to blame outside influences, the deeper the roots of that particular nerve are.
That question is this: "What is your first reaction when you hear the word money?".
If you cringe in horror then you are in lack. The fear of not enough has taken root in your life to the extent that it affects every single area of it. You will never have enough to even catch up if you keep thinking this way. This shows up in all areas of your life from the car you drive to the people you call your friends to the relationship you have with God. Pull your head out of that deep dark place and look around. When you have an idea for something that you feel could be of benefit to someone, write it down. Then after that, write down the next step to make that idea a reality. Then do that next step. Wash, rinse, repeat. You will change your thought over time, not over night. Keep doing it!
Maybe you feel that you have enough, you are comfortable where you are on the income scale. Things are going pretty well. You have the things you need plus a little more and you are fine with that. Along with that comes very little drive or desire to accomplish anything else. This is where routine becomes a way of life, you show up every day to work and can't remember the drive there, you autonomously fix up dinner for the family and connect to the TV in the living room to watch other people live great and exciting lives. You probably feel stagnant. If that is you, then you may have a tougher time than the person suffering from lack. You need to find a desire to change from your comfortable habitat to an environment where you are uncomfortable with the stagnation in your life in order to grow toward your desire.
What if you think this way? I see money as a tool to get what I truly desire in life. It will help me accomplish something in my life that I could not do without it. I have plenty of ideas, businesses and projects in place that I don't worry about money on a limited scale. I desire to have changed the lives of millions and I realize that millions of people will not be changed or made better by my being broke and harboring a lack mentality. I am thinking of what I want people to say at the end of my life and I behave, act and think accordingly.
Do you cringe or have a fearful response? Is lack the dominating thought about money in your life? Do you immediately feel inadequate or undervalued in what you earn? Is there never enough money each week? Perhaps it's the other way, maybe you feel that you have plenty, more than you need. This would be a comfortable place to be I think. And, maybe you are the 1%'er who thinks a little bit differently. Do you think that money comes easy, there is plenty of it, do you see the opportunity to produce it everywhere you look? Chances are, if you are that person, you have a hard time keeping up with your mind and it's ideas.
In any case, you will need to identify what your reaction is. Then you need to decide if you really want something different. After that, you will be required to act. I said all that to get to this point here. If you have a stagnant mind, you will need to change it. You need to exercise your mind and it will grow. Just like muscle, it can be trained to get by and just hold you up or you could be some kind of ripped phenom that accomplishes all it sets out to do. You decide.
I cannot speak for anybody but myself on this idea. This one makes me extremely uncomfortable, not only on its face, but by the trailing thoughts that follow it.
I tend to believe that in general, people want much from life. I believe that they think about it often. I believe they try to do the right thing, right now. The problem is this- all they are doing is thinking about it. Usually they are not thinking good things about it either. It will tend to have a negative bent to it. Their usually is only a shortsighted vision for what is ahead. Test yourself by asking one simple question. I challenge you to be completely honest with yourself. You don't need to tell anybody of course, it is a question with an answer that will reveal your true thinking on much that takes place in your life. Your first reaction is your answer, the more you try to make excuses for why that is your answer, the more you try to blame outside influences, the deeper the roots of that particular nerve are.
That question is this: "What is your first reaction when you hear the word money?".
If you cringe in horror then you are in lack. The fear of not enough has taken root in your life to the extent that it affects every single area of it. You will never have enough to even catch up if you keep thinking this way. This shows up in all areas of your life from the car you drive to the people you call your friends to the relationship you have with God. Pull your head out of that deep dark place and look around. When you have an idea for something that you feel could be of benefit to someone, write it down. Then after that, write down the next step to make that idea a reality. Then do that next step. Wash, rinse, repeat. You will change your thought over time, not over night. Keep doing it!
Maybe you feel that you have enough, you are comfortable where you are on the income scale. Things are going pretty well. You have the things you need plus a little more and you are fine with that. Along with that comes very little drive or desire to accomplish anything else. This is where routine becomes a way of life, you show up every day to work and can't remember the drive there, you autonomously fix up dinner for the family and connect to the TV in the living room to watch other people live great and exciting lives. You probably feel stagnant. If that is you, then you may have a tougher time than the person suffering from lack. You need to find a desire to change from your comfortable habitat to an environment where you are uncomfortable with the stagnation in your life in order to grow toward your desire.
What if you think this way? I see money as a tool to get what I truly desire in life. It will help me accomplish something in my life that I could not do without it. I have plenty of ideas, businesses and projects in place that I don't worry about money on a limited scale. I desire to have changed the lives of millions and I realize that millions of people will not be changed or made better by my being broke and harboring a lack mentality. I am thinking of what I want people to say at the end of my life and I behave, act and think accordingly.
Do you cringe or have a fearful response? Is lack the dominating thought about money in your life? Do you immediately feel inadequate or undervalued in what you earn? Is there never enough money each week? Perhaps it's the other way, maybe you feel that you have plenty, more than you need. This would be a comfortable place to be I think. And, maybe you are the 1%'er who thinks a little bit differently. Do you think that money comes easy, there is plenty of it, do you see the opportunity to produce it everywhere you look? Chances are, if you are that person, you have a hard time keeping up with your mind and it's ideas.
In any case, you will need to identify what your reaction is. Then you need to decide if you really want something different. After that, you will be required to act. I said all that to get to this point here. If you have a stagnant mind, you will need to change it. You need to exercise your mind and it will grow. Just like muscle, it can be trained to get by and just hold you up or you could be some kind of ripped phenom that accomplishes all it sets out to do. You decide.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Put the blinders on.
"A real leader cannot be slandered or damaged by lies of the envious, because all such attempts serve only to turn the spotlight on the leader's ability, and real ability always finds a generous following. Attempts to destroy real Leadership is love's labor lost, because that which deserves to live, lives!" Napoleon Hill, Law of Success
If you are truly on a path towards greatness, or achieving some definite aim, you will have to be guarded against all the negative things that people will say or do to you. Most people want to "protect" you from the pain of a great failure, it is their aim to keep you safe. At least that is what they tell themselves and sometimes what you tell yourself. The sad reality of this is that their fear has it's roots firmly planted in envy. They want you to stay exactly where you are, exactly where they are. They fear that if they can't do it why should you be able too. People like the idea of people succeeding and getting ahead but only after it has already happened. They like to look back and say "I knew they could do it.". That is rarely displayed while you are in the process of succeeding. You would probably hear words like risky, dangerous, foolish, and whatever else you can think of to try and demean the efforts of another. Henry Ford is one of the greatest example of this. He was told over and over again that he would never amount to anything and that stupid "horseless buggy" would never be created much less marketed and sold. Thank God he kept focused on what he was doing, could you imagine where we would be today without his vision.
If you are blessed enough to be able to lead people in any endeavor, you must be unshakable in your resolve to complete the clearly stated objective. People will follow a true leader with these qualities to the ends of the earth. You can bet that envy and jealousy of others will try to stumble their giant steps only to be trampled on like so much of their own broken dreams. So, do what you know in your heart to be true and just, the right people will notice and they will follow.
If you are truly on a path towards greatness, or achieving some definite aim, you will have to be guarded against all the negative things that people will say or do to you. Most people want to "protect" you from the pain of a great failure, it is their aim to keep you safe. At least that is what they tell themselves and sometimes what you tell yourself. The sad reality of this is that their fear has it's roots firmly planted in envy. They want you to stay exactly where you are, exactly where they are. They fear that if they can't do it why should you be able too. People like the idea of people succeeding and getting ahead but only after it has already happened. They like to look back and say "I knew they could do it.". That is rarely displayed while you are in the process of succeeding. You would probably hear words like risky, dangerous, foolish, and whatever else you can think of to try and demean the efforts of another. Henry Ford is one of the greatest example of this. He was told over and over again that he would never amount to anything and that stupid "horseless buggy" would never be created much less marketed and sold. Thank God he kept focused on what he was doing, could you imagine where we would be today without his vision.
If you are blessed enough to be able to lead people in any endeavor, you must be unshakable in your resolve to complete the clearly stated objective. People will follow a true leader with these qualities to the ends of the earth. You can bet that envy and jealousy of others will try to stumble their giant steps only to be trampled on like so much of their own broken dreams. So, do what you know in your heart to be true and just, the right people will notice and they will follow.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Living Intentionally
"Is what you are intentional or accidental?" The E-Myth, by Michael Gerber.
I know that who and what we are is more than what we do for a living. I also know that what we do for a living affects every area of our lives whether we realize it or not. It has great impact on who and what we are. If what you are doing for a living is not raising you up, then it's dragging you down. There is no stagnation, it's either up or down, always in motion. It doesn't even matter the size of the paycheck, it hangs upon the feeling of reaching for your calling in life. If you have a calling in life you are, at the very least, started in moving toward it. Providing that the calling is strong enough in you, your actions will line up toward the attainment of that purpose. If you don't have a calling on your life, you are letting life live you, you are living accidentally.
If you are serious about who and what you want to be then start with this very simple exercise. Write down the names of 5 people whom you admire. List the attributes in them you really admire. You are using at least 5 people because no 1 living person can have it all, nobody is a complete package. Now, take 30 minutes a day and read those attributes aloud as if to say "I am (Bold, Courageous, Loving, Kind, Attentive, Ambitious . . .)". You are reading it out loud because "Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God". If you aren't hearing it, the vibration of your voice is not energy. When you speak aloud, you are creating some form of energy that God can use in your life, it affects your mind then your actions. The end.
I know that who and what we are is more than what we do for a living. I also know that what we do for a living affects every area of our lives whether we realize it or not. It has great impact on who and what we are. If what you are doing for a living is not raising you up, then it's dragging you down. There is no stagnation, it's either up or down, always in motion. It doesn't even matter the size of the paycheck, it hangs upon the feeling of reaching for your calling in life. If you have a calling in life you are, at the very least, started in moving toward it. Providing that the calling is strong enough in you, your actions will line up toward the attainment of that purpose. If you don't have a calling on your life, you are letting life live you, you are living accidentally.
If you are serious about who and what you want to be then start with this very simple exercise. Write down the names of 5 people whom you admire. List the attributes in them you really admire. You are using at least 5 people because no 1 living person can have it all, nobody is a complete package. Now, take 30 minutes a day and read those attributes aloud as if to say "I am (Bold, Courageous, Loving, Kind, Attentive, Ambitious . . .)". You are reading it out loud because "Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God". If you aren't hearing it, the vibration of your voice is not energy. When you speak aloud, you are creating some form of energy that God can use in your life, it affects your mind then your actions. The end.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Choo-Choo!!
"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Will Rogers
I can't believe how simple this little number is, yet, we often fail to recognize it's truth as it affects our lives. You may be getting things lined up in your life, you might already have things lined up, or maybe you've just thought about lining things up. In any case, the next step is to get moving, to apply some action to your plan. Hit the streets with your ideas and test the waters. It is through that action that all progress is made. If there is no action then that great idea you had has dwindled from a mighty oak to a weak little dandelion. You'll notice that there are more dandelions in the world than there are mighty oaks. Whatever your idea, put action to it. Try it and you will see great results from your effort. Most people are busy trying to get through to next week, try thinking about breaking through next week, to the destiny that you know belongs to you. After all, you are on the right track now aren't you?
I can't believe how simple this little number is, yet, we often fail to recognize it's truth as it affects our lives. You may be getting things lined up in your life, you might already have things lined up, or maybe you've just thought about lining things up. In any case, the next step is to get moving, to apply some action to your plan. Hit the streets with your ideas and test the waters. It is through that action that all progress is made. If there is no action then that great idea you had has dwindled from a mighty oak to a weak little dandelion. You'll notice that there are more dandelions in the world than there are mighty oaks. Whatever your idea, put action to it. Try it and you will see great results from your effort. Most people are busy trying to get through to next week, try thinking about breaking through next week, to the destiny that you know belongs to you. After all, you are on the right track now aren't you?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Relationships, what do you think?
"You will reap what you sow." By somebody who wrote it down and published it.
Good stuff here. This little phrase packs a real punch if you look at an aspect of your life that is in shambles. I will not pretend to know what that is for you but, if you're honest with yourself then you are the only one that needs to know anyway. Here is an example of what I mean. A man, lets call him Alfonso, is complaining all the time about how nobody invites him out to do anything . . . ever. To Alfonso, this is because everybody else is blind to just how much fun he really is, everybody just doesn't see his genius. What Alfonso doesn't see is this, he has not opened up the door for people to invite him to do anything. This is his day; he wakes up and immediately turns on the TV to some of the worst news anybody could possibly hear or watch, setting the tone for his day on the negative. He listens intently at how wrong everything is and shakes his head in a disapproving manner while brushing his teeth. Next, Alfonso gets into the car for his commute to hell, I mean his job, where he turns on some horribly "edgy" morning show where they are doing a "Battle of the Sexes" topic. Now that he's listened to that, he hates women. Finally he gets to work where he treats everybody like they are the terrorists he saw on the news this morning blowing up a crowded train depot somewhere in the middle east. Lunch time comes and he just wants to be alone for a half hour so, he goes to his car and eats his egg salad sandwich and grumbles about all the idiots he works with. He goes back to work after lunch and pretty much works to get through to the end of the day. Now, the commute back home is upon him. He gets to sit on the freeway for an hour with everybody else who has had a day just like his, an awful experience that he dreads even more about tomorrow. Finally, he is home. Home is his palace, Alfonso goes inside and is quick to lock the door and shut the blinds so that the evil that is out there can't get in. He grabs bite to eat, for one of course. Then our friend, Alfonso, paces the living room waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for one of his co-workers to ask him to go watch a much anticipated scrapbooking competition that is happening downtown. Alas, Alfonso is disappointed again. He knew that all his friends are just too busy with family, soccer games and church to pay any attention to him. He reasons with himself that there is nothing he can do about it so he walks over to the Walgreen's and picks up some Wild Turkey, comes home and gets plowed and falls asleep under the heavy weight of the world closing in on him. Then, he gets to do it again tomorrow.
Let's look at why he has not been invited to anything by anyone.
1. The first thing he hears in the morning is bad news. This puts him in a bad mood because everything is going off a cliff. He has yet to leave the house and it's all falling apart.
2. He treats everybody around him like crap. Nobody would invite an a-hole to anything.
3. He blames his problem on everybody else, he has yet to realize that he is the antisocial one.
4. He expects the SAME thing to happen tomorrow.
Now, let us run through Alfonso's day after he reads this blog posting. Alfonso wakes up in the morning and he's not hung over from drinking himself stupid the night before. Quite the contrary, he decides to skip the news and heads directly for some positive and uplifting music on his IPod to play while he gets ready for work. Alfonso, is feeling great and looking great, especially now that he is wearing a smile on his face. He gets in the car for his opportunity to go to a job that nearly 10% of Americans who are out of work would love to have. He stops by the Krispy Kreme and grabs box of doughnuts for the office. He makes his way by the cubicles of some of his co-workers and makes the greeting and lets them know that he has Krispy Kremes in the break room. He asks a little about their previous evening and gains an insight on what they are interested in. Maybe, Alfonso will have an interest in that same area and he can invite them to go participate in that activity next week. It's lunch time now and he goes into the lunch room and eats this time. He makes some small talk with those in the room, talking about the weather (people love talking about weather, why? Who knows?) and other current events. After lunch he goes and gets his work all finished up and sets up the workday for tomorrow. It's time for the commute home now. This time, instead of listening to some drivetime idiot DJ on the radio, he puts in "The DNA of Relationships" by Scot Anderson. He is tuning his mind to building relationships. On the way home, he gets a call from a co-worker, Heavy D. Heavy D asks him if he would like to come over and play some "Left 4 Dead" on the XBox 360. Alfonso agrees that it's a great idea and swings by the Little Ceasar's Pizza and grabs 12 boxes of pizza for $8.00. His evening is set and all is changed in Alfonso's world because he realized one very important thing.
He cannot blame others for what is his problem. He decides that it is his problem and then makes corrections to his behavior and actions. Alfonso has owned his situation, he has not blamed others and camped out on that mindset. He made changes in himself to grow. So can you.
Good stuff here. This little phrase packs a real punch if you look at an aspect of your life that is in shambles. I will not pretend to know what that is for you but, if you're honest with yourself then you are the only one that needs to know anyway. Here is an example of what I mean. A man, lets call him Alfonso, is complaining all the time about how nobody invites him out to do anything . . . ever. To Alfonso, this is because everybody else is blind to just how much fun he really is, everybody just doesn't see his genius. What Alfonso doesn't see is this, he has not opened up the door for people to invite him to do anything. This is his day; he wakes up and immediately turns on the TV to some of the worst news anybody could possibly hear or watch, setting the tone for his day on the negative. He listens intently at how wrong everything is and shakes his head in a disapproving manner while brushing his teeth. Next, Alfonso gets into the car for his commute to hell, I mean his job, where he turns on some horribly "edgy" morning show where they are doing a "Battle of the Sexes" topic. Now that he's listened to that, he hates women. Finally he gets to work where he treats everybody like they are the terrorists he saw on the news this morning blowing up a crowded train depot somewhere in the middle east. Lunch time comes and he just wants to be alone for a half hour so, he goes to his car and eats his egg salad sandwich and grumbles about all the idiots he works with. He goes back to work after lunch and pretty much works to get through to the end of the day. Now, the commute back home is upon him. He gets to sit on the freeway for an hour with everybody else who has had a day just like his, an awful experience that he dreads even more about tomorrow. Finally, he is home. Home is his palace, Alfonso goes inside and is quick to lock the door and shut the blinds so that the evil that is out there can't get in. He grabs bite to eat, for one of course. Then our friend, Alfonso, paces the living room waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for one of his co-workers to ask him to go watch a much anticipated scrapbooking competition that is happening downtown. Alas, Alfonso is disappointed again. He knew that all his friends are just too busy with family, soccer games and church to pay any attention to him. He reasons with himself that there is nothing he can do about it so he walks over to the Walgreen's and picks up some Wild Turkey, comes home and gets plowed and falls asleep under the heavy weight of the world closing in on him. Then, he gets to do it again tomorrow.
Let's look at why he has not been invited to anything by anyone.
1. The first thing he hears in the morning is bad news. This puts him in a bad mood because everything is going off a cliff. He has yet to leave the house and it's all falling apart.
2. He treats everybody around him like crap. Nobody would invite an a-hole to anything.
3. He blames his problem on everybody else, he has yet to realize that he is the antisocial one.
4. He expects the SAME thing to happen tomorrow.
Now, let us run through Alfonso's day after he reads this blog posting. Alfonso wakes up in the morning and he's not hung over from drinking himself stupid the night before. Quite the contrary, he decides to skip the news and heads directly for some positive and uplifting music on his IPod to play while he gets ready for work. Alfonso, is feeling great and looking great, especially now that he is wearing a smile on his face. He gets in the car for his opportunity to go to a job that nearly 10% of Americans who are out of work would love to have. He stops by the Krispy Kreme and grabs box of doughnuts for the office. He makes his way by the cubicles of some of his co-workers and makes the greeting and lets them know that he has Krispy Kremes in the break room. He asks a little about their previous evening and gains an insight on what they are interested in. Maybe, Alfonso will have an interest in that same area and he can invite them to go participate in that activity next week. It's lunch time now and he goes into the lunch room and eats this time. He makes some small talk with those in the room, talking about the weather (people love talking about weather, why? Who knows?) and other current events. After lunch he goes and gets his work all finished up and sets up the workday for tomorrow. It's time for the commute home now. This time, instead of listening to some drivetime idiot DJ on the radio, he puts in "The DNA of Relationships" by Scot Anderson. He is tuning his mind to building relationships. On the way home, he gets a call from a co-worker, Heavy D. Heavy D asks him if he would like to come over and play some "Left 4 Dead" on the XBox 360. Alfonso agrees that it's a great idea and swings by the Little Ceasar's Pizza and grabs 12 boxes of pizza for $8.00. His evening is set and all is changed in Alfonso's world because he realized one very important thing.
He cannot blame others for what is his problem. He decides that it is his problem and then makes corrections to his behavior and actions. Alfonso has owned his situation, he has not blamed others and camped out on that mindset. He made changes in himself to grow. So can you.
Monday, February 16, 2009
That IS in my job description.
"Never, in the history of the world, has there been such abundant opportunity as there is now for the person who is willing to serve before trying to collect." Napoleon Hill, Law of Success
If you realize the importance of this statement and begin applying it, everything else will fall into place shortly thereafter. This might mean going to work and doing more work than your paid for. Yes, it's time to remove "That's not in my job description, I'm not doing that." from your vocabulary and mindset. If that is the way you think, your advancement will always be limited to a level far below your ability. Do you think that anybody who is truly a success in all areas of life is concerned with making sure they get paid that half an hour of over-time? I will tell you the answer to that is definitely NO. They know, without a doubt, if they consistantly do more than what is required, they will get noticed. Take this example, I have an employee who was originally brought on to do very basic tasks and only for a few days which included taking away the trash, opening boxes and things like that. After only a couple of days, his work ethic and willingness to do everything I needed him to do, I kept him on. He put in long hours, which of course he was paid extra for, he paid attention to what was going on and never once said "that's not what I was hired for.". Instead of letting him go at the end of those few days, I put him into a position where his skills could be used continually, where he could excel and make more for himself. Even more will be coming his way, I am sure of it.
Maybe, when you apply this to your life, you'll get a promotion where you work. It might even be from another company, or a company you can start on your own. In any case, you have got to make this a way of life for you. It is worth it.
Where in your life can you do more than what is asked? Is it at work, at home, at church? Decide to do more, decide that doing more than what your paid for IS part of your mindset. What do you have to lose? The worst that'll probably happen is you will survive the currently trendy "downsizing and streamlining". Sounds like it's worth it to me.
If you realize the importance of this statement and begin applying it, everything else will fall into place shortly thereafter. This might mean going to work and doing more work than your paid for. Yes, it's time to remove "That's not in my job description, I'm not doing that." from your vocabulary and mindset. If that is the way you think, your advancement will always be limited to a level far below your ability. Do you think that anybody who is truly a success in all areas of life is concerned with making sure they get paid that half an hour of over-time? I will tell you the answer to that is definitely NO. They know, without a doubt, if they consistantly do more than what is required, they will get noticed. Take this example, I have an employee who was originally brought on to do very basic tasks and only for a few days which included taking away the trash, opening boxes and things like that. After only a couple of days, his work ethic and willingness to do everything I needed him to do, I kept him on. He put in long hours, which of course he was paid extra for, he paid attention to what was going on and never once said "that's not what I was hired for.". Instead of letting him go at the end of those few days, I put him into a position where his skills could be used continually, where he could excel and make more for himself. Even more will be coming his way, I am sure of it.
Maybe, when you apply this to your life, you'll get a promotion where you work. It might even be from another company, or a company you can start on your own. In any case, you have got to make this a way of life for you. It is worth it.
Where in your life can you do more than what is asked? Is it at work, at home, at church? Decide to do more, decide that doing more than what your paid for IS part of your mindset. What do you have to lose? The worst that'll probably happen is you will survive the currently trendy "downsizing and streamlining". Sounds like it's worth it to me.
Friday, February 6, 2009
A unique investment opportunity
Investing in general is not something that most people apply any action too. They think that it's too risky, it's not for them or they'll get to it later. I believe that there are a couple of forces at work here. One is FEAR. They fear that if they step out and invest in something they will lose it all. Two is lack of knowledge. They simply don't know, so they don't invest. Let's look at what investing really is. It is defined as: the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value. There are many ways to invest so the investment world seems overwhelming. I want to focus attention on only one, that is you. What does it mean to invest in yourself? It means that you begin to understand yourself and how you work. You then can identify areas in which you excel and areas you can improve. If you invest in your personal growth, your knowledge base will grow and you will grow the world around you. Take the direct sales industry for example. For little cash investment, you are in business. The big investment comes in pouring life into it so that it will grow and flourish. The best way is to be committed to the process, to know that the business is designed for you to build it at any rate you like. This means that you have to "own it". Just like you would own any other business, it's success is defined by your success. If you started a lemonade stand it would be wise for you to research everything there is to know about operating a lemonade stand. The next step should be obvious, put it into action! Do not deviate from the plan to grow that lemonade stand. It is an extension of you, it is yours, you own it. Just do not give up on it. Continue doing the basics that bring in the cash and you will gain success. Could you imagine buying a McDonald's and after a slow month your sales are down. Do you just throw in the towel and say "Well, I figured it would turn out this way. People just aren't buying Big Mac's anymore."? NO, NO, NO, NO! Realize that the problem might just be something that you are doing or not doing. What you should do is look at successful McDonald's and do what they are doing. Copy them, there is no reason to start off being a pioneer if you have a successful example you can emulate. Get over yourself and move into success. Invest in yourself, learn about one area of investment today. Just look up something that interests you, it could be stocks, real estate, narcotics. Whatever, just study it until you can at least understand the language that is used. Start today.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Who cares?
This one is so simple and basic it should be one of the first decisions you make today. The act is simple and the results could change the lives of many people. Today, I want you to do something nice for somebody that could not possibly pay you back. See, it sounds so simple you're probably saying to yourself "Self, that can't be it. It must be something more than that. I know, he's saying I need to give away my car or something ridiculous like that.". No, I'm not saying that at all, unless that's what you are called to do. Just make it a point to do something nice for somebody today. This will set your mind in a positive mode because you begin to put others first. Maybe you hold the door for a senile elderly woman on a rascal-scooter at the grocery store who, in passing by you screams at you "That sign right in front of your face says exit, you can't come in this way!". Yes, this has happened, and you know what? I still laugh my #$@ off when I think about it. See, it probably did nothing for her but it sure taught me a funny lesson, one that I'll carry with me for a long time. Anyway, just look for someone to do something for. It could be a warm smile (some of you will have to try really hard at this one- fake it till you make it!), buy someone a Spark and Thermoplus, say something nice about them. For those of us who have a tendency to be somewhat "detached", I would suggest that you sincerely ask somebody "How are you today?" and listen intently for their answer, it is a return gift to you. People will share their whole lives with a kind ear. Who cares if you do all these things? You never know what the person on the receiving end of your giving is going through, it could change their life. So, who cares? We do, go care about somebody today.
Monday, February 2, 2009
What are you looking for?
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for." John Lubbock
I love this statement, it really makes you think about what it is that you're seeing. Just like you can easily look at a tree and tell what kind it is by it's fruit, you can tell what a person's mindset is by the fruit of their lives. I'm sure that you have some kind of fruit in your life, we all do. Is it good fruit, like a nice big and juicy pear? Or, is it like that of a Vietnamese durian fruit? Do you know that the durian fruit smells like stinky socks and is banned in public places like subways and malls? The flavor is supposed to be fantastic but, I will not be bringing that kind of fruit into my life. Okay, I got a little off track there. Anyways, take a moment, look around you. What kind of things do you see? Do you like those things? If you do, great! If not, make a decision to look for something different. If you see friends that are awful people, look for friends that are great people. If you see that you have a crappy job, maybe you ought to look for a great job. You WILL get that which you look for. Here is an example of exactly what I mean. At the beginning of last year I projected an exact dollar amount that I figured I'd earn that year in my business. I ended up being only $196 off. Not bad, especially considering that I did not once look at how I was coming along throughout the year. It just ended up right where I had projected it. It was an experiment that took a full year to complete and the results spoke for themselves. You can bet that I am looking for much bigger results for this year. What are you looking for . . . . really?
I love this statement, it really makes you think about what it is that you're seeing. Just like you can easily look at a tree and tell what kind it is by it's fruit, you can tell what a person's mindset is by the fruit of their lives. I'm sure that you have some kind of fruit in your life, we all do. Is it good fruit, like a nice big and juicy pear? Or, is it like that of a Vietnamese durian fruit? Do you know that the durian fruit smells like stinky socks and is banned in public places like subways and malls? The flavor is supposed to be fantastic but, I will not be bringing that kind of fruit into my life. Okay, I got a little off track there. Anyways, take a moment, look around you. What kind of things do you see? Do you like those things? If you do, great! If not, make a decision to look for something different. If you see friends that are awful people, look for friends that are great people. If you see that you have a crappy job, maybe you ought to look for a great job. You WILL get that which you look for. Here is an example of exactly what I mean. At the beginning of last year I projected an exact dollar amount that I figured I'd earn that year in my business. I ended up being only $196 off. Not bad, especially considering that I did not once look at how I was coming along throughout the year. It just ended up right where I had projected it. It was an experiment that took a full year to complete and the results spoke for themselves. You can bet that I am looking for much bigger results for this year. What are you looking for . . . . really?
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Wait upon The Lord? How long should I wait?
Isaiah 40:31 (The Message)
27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.
What does your mind immediately tell you about the red words in this scripture? What is the first thought that pops into your mind when you read "wait upon God"? Is that thought actually keeping you in one spot, physically waiting for God to do something? What if you looked at the meaning and context of the word "wait" in this particular case. That word could easily be substituted here with "serve". Now, read it like this "But those who serve God get fresh strength.". Why would God give you fresh strength, have you spread your wings and soar like eagles, run and not get tired, walk and not lag behind? Probably because you are not just standing there "waiting" for God to do something. God is always on the move, He is always moving forward. Clearly He has a vision of where He wants to go. To get there, He needs you to be in action, to be on the move, to serve Him. Depending on your calling, that could mean any number of things. I am called to help in the financing of God's kingdom, to be spread to all the nations of the world. I cannot do that unless I try to keep up with God. That requires tons of action, neverending growth, learning of new processes, knowledge of how money is made, and yes, constant renewal from God. Ever notice that He is always ahead of you? If you keep on trying to keep up with God, you will never have to "wait" for Him to do anything, ever. He will make sure you have something to do. So, step-out! Put one foot in front of the other and then pretty soon you'll be walking with God. Soon enough, that walk will turn into a jog. Before you know it you'll be running your race! That might sound exhausting but remember, God will give you fresh strength.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Who is in control here anyway?
"The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself." Mark Caine
A lot can be said about whatever situation, or environment in this case, that we are in. There is only one root cause that can explain why you are in that situation and how you got there in the first place. This root is split into only two parts. Part one is called "external locus of control", which means that you believe so strongly that everything around you is in control of you. You are a result of the outside forces. A great example is found right now in this economy. Is this bad economy ruining your home-life, your thought-life, your relationships with others, how about your giving? Part two is called "internal locus of control". This is where people who are successful in any area of life camp out. They, unlike the external types, control their surroundings and what happens in their life. Nothing just happens to them. They are not just letting things happen and run a muck in their life. This person will look at this economy in particular and see nothing but opportunity. For example, this person would know that prices on houses are down compared to the actual value of the house. That means it's on sale. Rents, however, are on a bit of an incline. They see that they can buy this property at a discount with very little investment of their own money and rent it out for more than the mortgage, taxes and insurance combined. Then, when the market comes up again, and it will, they can sell it and make even more profit. The same goes with many small businesses that are shutting their doors. All this person will do is go on craigslist and he could be in a new business by the end of the day. They make more money, because they decide to. They make a better home-life because they decide to. They give more because they decide to. They set things up according to the results they want to achieve.
In the words of the great Bill Cosby, "I said all that to say this. . .". If you are going to get anything you want in life, you have got to believe in your core that you are in control of everything that goes on in your life. Remember, things don't just happen to you anymore, you happen to things.
A lot can be said about whatever situation, or environment in this case, that we are in. There is only one root cause that can explain why you are in that situation and how you got there in the first place. This root is split into only two parts. Part one is called "external locus of control", which means that you believe so strongly that everything around you is in control of you. You are a result of the outside forces. A great example is found right now in this economy. Is this bad economy ruining your home-life, your thought-life, your relationships with others, how about your giving? Part two is called "internal locus of control". This is where people who are successful in any area of life camp out. They, unlike the external types, control their surroundings and what happens in their life. Nothing just happens to them. They are not just letting things happen and run a muck in their life. This person will look at this economy in particular and see nothing but opportunity. For example, this person would know that prices on houses are down compared to the actual value of the house. That means it's on sale. Rents, however, are on a bit of an incline. They see that they can buy this property at a discount with very little investment of their own money and rent it out for more than the mortgage, taxes and insurance combined. Then, when the market comes up again, and it will, they can sell it and make even more profit. The same goes with many small businesses that are shutting their doors. All this person will do is go on craigslist and he could be in a new business by the end of the day. They make more money, because they decide to. They make a better home-life because they decide to. They give more because they decide to. They set things up according to the results they want to achieve.
In the words of the great Bill Cosby, "I said all that to say this. . .". If you are going to get anything you want in life, you have got to believe in your core that you are in control of everything that goes on in your life. Remember, things don't just happen to you anymore, you happen to things.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Increase Addict Introduction
Greetings and salutations to you all! I would like to welcome you to the very first of what might be the best thing to ever happen, to anyone, anywhere, ever. Okay, I may be trafficking a little bit of hyperbole there but, who doesn't. There will be massive nuggets of insight, observation, and yes, lots and lots of trial and error. My intent here is to display my growth as a person, an entrepreneur, a husband, a friend, a leader, a servant, and most of all, an example of God's glory in my life. You will undoubtedly witness my flaws as well as strengths. I pray that this would be a benefit to you, to know that it ain't just you out there trying to grow. After all, this is called "Increase Addict" for reason. That reason is to share with you my march of increase. Let me define the word "Increase" for you here: to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity). Psalms 115:14 says "The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.". If you are willing to read my blog, I would hope that you are interested in increase in every area of your life. I will follow one path here, and that is the path of increase. You can expect this blog to be updated daily.
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