Photo Courtesy of Eli Christman
That is a pretty straightforward question. If someone walked up to you and handed you $10 with the stipulation you had to make someone’s life better with it what could you do? What would you do?
See It As It Is
January 15, 2014
Photo Courtesy of Carnie Lewis
One of the important lessons I learned from Tony Robbins was to see things as they are but not worse than they are. We tend to take inconveniences and problems and blow them out of proportion to make them larger than life. Some do this to get attention and have significance while others do it to give themselves certainty that they can be a topic of conversation.
Whenever you are affected by any kind of difficult situation ask yourself:
* How bad is it really?
* What is the worst possible outcome that can occur with this situation?
* If that outcome happens, what am I going to do about it?
When you speak to others about your situation keep these things in mind. Tell them how it really is – not what you imagine it is going to be or the story you have told yourself about it. It will lower your stress/anxiety and give you a plan of action should the worst possible outcome actually happen.
First Monday of 2014
January 6, 2014
Photo Courtesy of Eva-Lotta Lamm
WAKE UP! It’s the first Monday of 2014! Today is the start of a new week in a new month in a new year. If you don’t get up and get started today then when will you?
If you have not started working on your 2014 goals today is the perfect day to get at it. Do at least one thing that gets you closer to achieving one of your goals today. Get up an hour early tomorrow and do it again. Then do it again. Then do it again. Keep it up and you will be knocking the goals down in no time!
Some people say they hate Mondays. I think it is better the embrace them as a new start! Today is your day. Own it.
Question to Ponder:
What is something you did today to get one step closer to achieving a goal? Leave a comment below with your answer.
Books of 2013
December 31, 2013
Photo courtesy of David Weekly
It is said most people read less than one non-fiction book per year. Last year I read 24 after a challenge from Jon Acuff and his Finish Year challenge. After that I set a goal for 40 in 2013 and managed to do over 50! I want to challenge everyone out there to read just one book a month for 2014 and make it an education year for you!
Here is a list of books that I completed over the course of 2013. Nothing is here for endorsement. You can check out the 2012 books here.
Books
**Books includes traditional books, ebooks, and audio books.**
The Nerdist Way: How to Reach the Next Level (In Real Life) by Chris Hardwick
No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline by Brian Tracy
To Sell Is Human by Dan Pink
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future… by Michael J. Fox
Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis
Do The Work by Steven Pressfield
Read This Before Our Next Meeting by Al Pittampalli
Start With Why by Simon Sinek
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
More Than Enough by Dave Ramsey
The 7 Golden Rules of Milton Hershey by Greg Rothman
Steve Jobs: A Memoir by Walter Isaacson
Drive by Dan Pink
Days Like These by Kristian Anderson
Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado
How to Deliver a TED Talk by Jeremy Donovan
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Love No Matter What by Brenda Garrison
The Science of Fear by Daniel Gardner
The Price of Leadership by Charlie “Tremendous” Jones
How to Say It: Creating Complete Customer Satisfaction by Jack Griffin
Is College Worth It? by William J. Bennett and David Wilezol
Attachment by Amir Levine
Start. by Jon Acuff
Keep Your Eye on the Marshmallow by Joachim de Posada
Start Something by Earl Woods
Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson
Tell Your Time by Amy Lynn Andrews
The Small Business Lifecycle by Charlie Gilkey
The Barefoot Executive by Carrie Wilkerson
Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
Wishes Fulfilled by Dr. Wayne Dyer
Boundaries For Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud
Aligning With Your Core Values by Tim Brownson
Start A Freedom Business by Colin Wright
Whale Done! by Ken Blanchard
Mastering Evernote by Brandon Collins
Platform by Michael Hyatt
Life Coaching Activities and Powerful Questions by Phyllis Reardon
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
I Dare You by William H. Danforth
The Tapping Solution by Nick Ortner
E Squared by Pam Grout
How Do You Kill 11 Million People? Why the Truth Matters More Than You Think by Andy Andrews
Notes from a Friend by Tony Robbins
20,000 Days and Counting by Robert Smith
Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
Don’t Hesitate – Meditate by Tim Brownson
Play Your Bigger Game by Rick Tamlyn
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Did You Make Progress?
December 11, 2013
Photo Courtesy of Christian Lambert.
2013 is just about to wrap up in a few weeks. I think it was a most excellent year full of some life accomplishments that I am thrilled to have brought to fruition with help of many others. Now, my question to you is, did you make progress?
Making progress isn’t about completing a goal. Taking a few steps toward a goal, a want, a dream or desire is making progress. Two steps forward and one back is still a step ahead of the game. Don’t be afraid of the one back. The one back isn’t a failure; just a course correction.
Change is going to happen all the time whether you want it to or not. Progress, on the other hand, is something you have to work towards. I hope you made progress this year and are ready to do amazing things next year.
What kind of progress did you make in 2013?
Random Acts Journal
November 13, 2013
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer
It is a time for thanks and with that in mind we are coming up on the season of kindness. A time when people generally are more giving of their money, resources, and time. However, we often forget about the numerous acts if kindness around us daily.
How often do we take for granted something as simple as another driver letting us in front of them when we are trying to get into a street? This, in its truest form, is an act if kindness. They didn’t have to let you through but they took a moment to do so anyway.
Think about these everyday acts of kindness. Get a small notebook from the dollar store and carry it with you for just seven days. Each time you witness something nice being done whether for you or another person write it in your notebook. At the end if the week tally up your number. I think you will be presently surprised by just how high the number is.
Challenge: Whatever number you ended up with I want to challenge you to do the same number of random acts of kindness over the next 30 days. These can be simple gestures of saying hi to a stranger or buying someone’s meal in line behind you. Change the world one kind act at a time.
Tappa Tappa Tappa
November 6, 2013
Photo Courtesy of Josef Grunig.
Catch the reference in the title? Yep, you rock!
Anyway, I wanted to write a quick blog about something I recently found. It is called EFT, Emotional Freedom Techniques, or, more currently, tapping. It is a concept that has been around for about 20 years and has recently gained some popularity.
In tapping, you tap on your meridian points to help alleviate pain and stress. I will tell you up front it feels a little strange to even try this at first. However, the more research I have done the more I find people who have benefited from the technique.
I have included a video below that shows you how to do it. Watch the video, research, and determine if this is something for you. You need to determine for yourself if you will benefit. I wanted to put it out there for my tribe because of the benefit I have found people getting from it.
If you give it a shot let me know in the comments below what you think. I will add it to my ongoing research.
Carry and Capture
October 30, 2013
Photo Courtesy of Alexandre Dulaunoy
Carry a notebook always.
I hope that was plain enough. Why you ask? In order to capture your thoughts and memories in a moment. How many times have you been sitting somewhere and an incredibly awesome idea hits you? You promise yourself that you are going to remember it. Two days later you have this nagging feeling like there was something important that you should have remembered and you just can’t figure out what it is.
I have either small blank cards, my pocket notebook, or my phone with me. Even at night there are a few notebooks and a pen sitting on the table beside me. There is always something around me that allows me to capture what I am thinking when an idea strikes. Many of the blogs that I write come from these moments. I’ll be driving down the road and a title will hit me. As soon as I stop I hit the record button on my Evernote app and do a voice recording. It syncs and when I sit down to do my writing I can listen to the recording easily.
If I am writing in my notebook I do a regular checks of it to see what I need to take care of. I use a hard covered Moleskine pocket notebook. They are very durable and don’t bend easily.
Regardless of the method you use make sure you have something on you where you can capture your thoughts at the moment. When inspiration strikes you will be ready. Maybe it is that million dollar idea or that book you want to write that all comes in that moment when you are not expecting it. Always expect it.
Resolve to Quit
October 23, 2013
It may seem early to you that I am already talking about resolutions. However, right now is the time you should be setting your goals for at least the first three months of 2014 and have a pretty good idea of what your major goals are for the year.
That being said I think it is time a lot of people give up a big habit. It isn’t smoking or dieting. I believe it is time to give up the resolutions and move on to creating breakthroughs and goals. You have heard but it’s time to really start setting goals and letting the resolutions fall by the wayside.
Studies show that 88% of people drop their resolutions by the end of January. These big plans we have for ourselves and they only survive for four weeks? I think there is something going on here. That something is no real plan or target.
In order to succeed at something you have to have a specific measurable goal to shoot for. Zig Ziglar said it best when he talked about the best archer in the world can’t hit the target blind folded. In order to accomplish anything you have to know exactly what you are trying to accomplish. Once you get this anything is truly possible!
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If you haven’t heard yet you can check out my new program called New Year New Me! It is to help out with turning your resolutions into goals and doing it with liked minded people through teleseminars, one on one coaching, and group mastermind calls. For more information you can visit http://www.newyearnew.me
Are You Getting the Role You Want?
October 16, 2013
Photo Courtesy of wetwebwork.
A few weeks ago I wrote about casting your own life and auditioning people for it. After I published it I received a message from my magician friend Basil. He mentioned that we are always trying to be cast ourselves in our dream role and that we never know which small part we are given by someone else might take us to our next level.
I loved his thinking here. Not only are we auditioning other people they are auditioning us. We want to play a role in their life because we want them to play one in ours.
Next time you run into a stranger treat them with dignity and respect. Whether it is a customer in your business or someone you are running into randomly during the day, you never know what that person may hold for you or how much power and help you can give to them.
Several years ago I was selling a camera to a gentleman. I took time with him and answered his questions. I made sure he had all the information he needed to make a good decision. Immediately after finishing the man hands me his business card and tells me if I was ever looking for a job to give him a call. While I never took him up on that offer what if that card would have opened to doors to one of my dreams?