Today started out just like any other day. Got out of bed, when directly to the kitchen to start my morning fix... grind my Eight O'Clock Coffee beans and make the coffee. While my coffee is brewing I usually read the newspaper and by 6:30 I making my daughters lunch and by 6:50 she's off to catch the bus.

Usually around 7:00, a couple of my cats (I have four: Sam, Shadow, Karma, Bella) like to go outside and explore the fresh morning air...today was no different. Around 7:30 I heard Karma making a strange loud noise at the back door. I went to let her in and notice that she had something hanging from her mouth! It was a cute tiny Hummingbird... unfortunately it was already dead. I scolded my kitty and told her she was not going to go back outside, but later it dawned on me... this was just part of mother nature! I know that mother nature is one of the most wonderful things in this world that we get to enjoy for FREE, but it is just hard to put it into perspective when you see something so beautiful get hurt or die.

After I recooperated from this ordeal, I got on a conference call and then logged onto my emails and realized that our NEW marketing system is being launched today! Yea, I have lots of energy that I can focus on learning a new system, plus I have the BEST leaders anyone could ever ask for, if you want to see our new system, please feel free. Don't forget to leave your comments, I'd love to hear what you think.

It is early afternoon noon now, and I have finished all my work, so I am getting ready to start an xtreme workout program P90X! I'm excited but I'm not sure that my muscles are...  I be sure and let you know how it goes.

I have surrendered my LIFE to M.A.D.E. Make a Difference Every Day! and this my friend is how I'm making a difference today. I'm getting into the best phyiscal shape of my LIFE for my Family. I want to be able to run and play with my future grandkids and I want to leave a legacy for my children.

I welcome you to follow me through my LIFE journey...

SandiRenteria
http://blog.SandiRenteria.com

I recently read this great article by John C. Maxwell that really made me think...do I really know my family, best friend, teammates, my mentor?

I consider myself a Leader in training.  Most Leaders will manage a team, work with the same individuals every day, yet hardly know anything about their people!

I can certainly attest to this type of Leader from when I worked in the Corporate world, we were considered just a number! My Leader did not know anything about me, they never asked for my opinion, what I valued, they didn't know even what I was passionate about! They only cared that I got a job done. Luckily for me, I became a passionate entrepreneur!

These types of leaders have never prioritized acquainting themselves with the dreams, thoughts, hopes, opinions, and values of those they lead.

John C. Maxwell quote: "The best leaders are readers of people. They have the intuitive ability to understand others by discerning how they feel and recognizing what they sense."

Did you know that it only takes about one hour in private conversation for you to really know someone, to know what their passionate about...if you ask the right three questions?

What do you dream about?

A person's dreams are powerful revealers of passion. When a person starts to talk about their dreams, their eyes brighten, their face glows, and you can feel the excitement in their words.

My daughter and husband always share their dreams with me almost every morning...then I try and figure out why they had that type of dream. As for myself, I don't remember dreams. I think the only time I can remember them is when I eat ice cream before going to bed!

What do you cry about?  

Passion can be uncovered by peering into the hurts deep inside a human soul. The experience of pain or loss can be a formidably motivating force. When listening to a story of grief, you hear a voice thick with emotion, you see watery eyes flooded with feeling, and in that moment you glimpse the intense connections between a person's deepest pain and their greatest passion.

I know for a fact that I'm a very passionate person, when someone tells me a story (or their story) I find myself caught up in their emotions too! I even cry when I watch movies, Extreme Home Makeover, Lifetime channel, see someone get hurt, or an animal get hurt, or talking with my parents, my siblings, I geniunly care about people. I just what to fix all their hurts...have you ever felt this way?

What makes you happy?

This is always a joy for me, finding out what brings joy to someone. Joy is one of those feelings that are FREE... you can feel the joy of the sun hitting your face, you can see the joy on your child's face when they see what the Easter bunny brought, or the joy of your elderly parents when you walk in the door, or listening to an elder tell a story. Joy is a wonderful expression. I have fun hearing what makes people tick and seeing the smile that comes when they talk about where they find joy. Enjoyment is an incredible energizer to the human spirit.  

If you can uncover a person's dreams, hurts, and joys, you've discovered the central dimensions of their life.

What are you going to do to get to know someone? It's simple, ask them the three questions... you yourself will find joy and passion getting to really know someone!

This is why I have been successful as an entrepreneur... because I do get to know my business partners.

Sandi Renteria
http://blog.sandirenteria.com

I was recently struck in the head with a renewed sense of awareness and focus, of the fact that I am responsible for everything in my Life.

The truth is that nobody forces you to think, feel, or behave a certain way.  While you may not be accepted by society or even punished if you don't follow certain rules, still nobody else can "make" you do or feel anything.  You are not a victim to people or circumstances.  This is not to say that you can control all situations, undoubtedly you cannot.  But you alone are responsible for your thoughts, emotions, and actions in relation to that situation.  

Do you really want to spend your life letting other people decide how you feel? Use your own mind; make your own decisions. Be responsible for your own life.

You must stop blaming someone else for your problems...take responsibility of your own actions.

Taking responsibility for choices, actions, and direction is so powerfully important. Without taking responsibility, you'll likely look at your life as a failure. People who take complete responsibility for their lives experience joy and in-control of their circumstances.

Three Steps on How to Take Responsibility for Your Own Life

The most important aspect of taking responsibility for your life is acknowledging that your life is your responsibility. No one but YOU can Live your LIFE. You are in charge. No matter how hard you try to blame others for the events of your life, each event is the result of the choices you have made and are making. Listen to the little voice in your head. Do you hear yourself taking responsibility or placing blame?

• Listen to the voice in your head. Eliminate blame; eliminate excuses. Stop shifting responsibility for your decisions to other.
• Listen to yourself when you speck. In your conversation, do you hear yourself blame others for things that dont' go exactly as you want? Do you find yourself pointing fingers at your coworkers or the way you were brought up, your parents' influence, the amount of money you make, or your spouse? Are you making excuses for goals that you have not achieved or deadlines that you've missed? Stop blaming others.
• If you receive constructive criticism from someone you respect, that you make excuses and blame others for your actions or the outcome, take the criticism seriously. Control your defensive reaction and deepen your understanding with the respected individual.

Remember, you control your actions, so therefore you can change the outcome.

Stop looking for it to change, and remember in order for it to change you must change it. It’s not it or them it’s you! If you do not like something or the outcome of your situation; do something about it….change it!

If you don’t like where you live do something about it!  If you don’t like where you work do something about it. If you don’t like the number in your savings account do something about it, don’t just blame someone or something. Anything that you don’t like you have the power to take responsibility for changing it.

Several years ago, I found myself in this situation…I didn’t like working long hours for someone else, while someone else was raising my children. So I did something about it. I had a choice to change my situation...I choose to work from home so that I could raise my own children. I am in control of my Life, I took 100% responsibility for my life. You can to, it’s your choice.

www. blog.sandirenteria.com

Can you believe graduation season is upon us! I have received two college graduation and three high school graduation announcements.

Where has time gone?

As I start to ponder about what gift I should give, I reflected back on my college days…what could I have used.  I heard someone say that we have a choice to take something that most people dread, and change it into a motivating factor.

The alarm clock….which this person called it the “Opportunity Clock”.

When does an alarm go off? When something bad is happening! Well, waking up isn’t bad. Walking up is good! Infact, waking up is an opportunity. Each new day brings with it the opportunity to enjoy our families and other people. It enables us the opportunity to work hard, and earn a living that will enable us in turn to provide our families. (excerpt from C. Widener)

We get the opportunity each day to dream and achieve those dreams.

The conclusion is that I will get each of the new graduates an “Opportunity Clock”, with a short note, reminding them that they are 100% responsible for the choices in their life.

Follow your Dream…and Don’t Give Up! You may fall a few times, that’s OK…just get back up, dust yourself off, and try it again; until you Succeed!

I followed my dream, I always wanted to work for myself, be my own boss, work when I want, from where I want… it took me a few years, but then I got it! And I did something about it.

If you want to find out more about what I do, visit my website and be sure to fill in the box with your name and email address – I’ll even send you a FREE Marketing report.

It’s all in the outlook and attitude.

“The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.” ~Randy Pausch

Your Enthusiasm is Contagious...

You've heard the saying... "Set yourself on fire and people will come from miles away to watch you burn."You're burning with emotion and action...no wonder you're excited about achieving your dreams!

What steps are you taking to achieve your dreams? Who have you shared your story with? How many people have you shared your story with? Who will you take on this incredible journey? Who has joined you for the ride of a lifetime?

Build your belief, tell your story.... enthusiasm is contagious!

I have built a successful team, and it all started by sharing my story everyday - you can too.

This was my next step, so what's yours?

Momentum is the Key to Your Success!

It's true that consistent activity will develop momentum. But be sure your activity is focused in a positive direction, because you can actually build positive or negative momentum based on your activity. Get busy, this will create the kind of energizing momentum that will build your business. Get distracted by people who don't believe in your dream, and you may suffer from negative momentum... and time is too short for that.

I can help you believe in, create and realize your personal dream...all through a constant plan of action that becomes the new way you approach your future. Be positive and consistent as you share your dream, and you'll create enormous momentum.

Can Change Their Lives!

Accept People Exactly Where They Are...

One of the best ways to attract more people is to meet people where they really hurt. All of us face different challenges, whether physical, financial, emotional or spiritual...but none of us have to face those challenges alone. And when you take the time and personal interest to discover what is happening in people's lives, you may just find that you can offer them hope!

Take the time to ask the questions that really matter. As questions that people can react to and share your own challenges with them, because it's likely you may have driven that same road. You may want to focus on F.O.R.M.... asking questions about Family, Occupation, Recreation and Money, because those are often the areas which people want to improve.

When you know someone is hurting, it makes it easier to show them how you can help reduce that pain. So take the time to think about the people you meet...get to know them...understand the hurt they have in their lives and share your opportunity, because you may be able to Make a Difference in a way that no one else can!

I have an extraordinary opportunity, click on opportunity to learn more...it may be just what your looking for.

"Everyone's a Star and deserves a chance to Twinkle" ~Lacey N. Collins

"The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want." ~ Ben Stein

Don't Let Distraction Get in Your Way!

The best way to reach the economic freedom you want...you must always keep your eyes on the right road. But even that road can twist and turn. You will face your own adversity or personal disappointments. Know that these are things that keep you striving for your goal - as long as you always keep your eyes on the right road!

You're not alone in having to deal with those issues, not by a long shot. But the road to your personal success is measured by the way you react to adversity and disappointment...and you don't have to let those issues become distractions that prevent you from reaching your dreams.

In reality, those issues only become distractoins when your eyes are not on your target, your goal. Time is your most precious commodity. You can always make more money but you can never make more time.Don't be distracted by the challenges you face, because all they do is steal valuable time from you.

Keep Your Eyes on The Road!

"You can learn new things at any time in your life if you're willing to be a beginner." ~Barbara Sher

Make This Your Best Day Every!

Practice Makes Perfect!

Every day is a new opportunity to drive further on your road to success. Remember, there is no speed limit on your road to economic freedom. You determine how far and wide you'll go every day. The speed of your success will be determined by you actions on a daily basis. And that means every day counts!

You can do nothing about yesterday and the only way to improve tomorrow is by what you do today. Constant improvement and personal success comes from the recognition of this little secret. Foucus on the fundamentals.

Practice the small but priceless disciplines that when added up over time result in great success. Learn more about the daily practices and action steps you can take to help you go further down the path of success. Today is the day to make the most of the positive actions that will bring you Success!

A Journey of a Thousnad Miles Starts with a Single Step...Keep Going!

You Did Your Absolute Best!

Dedication is The Key to Your Success!

The road to Success is an exciting road, one that is taking you to the economic freedom most people just dream about. It's a thrilling ride to success you can achieve not just of yourself, but for everyone you know. Now ask yourself...Have I made the best use of my time so far on the road to Success?

Remember, you can do nothing about yesterday but learn from it, and the only way to improve tomorrow is by what you do right NOW! Set your next GOALS based on the most important fundamental you know. Simple activities can lead to financial independence if you commit to it as your primary action plan. That is a very small discipline...but one that when practiced over time can create fortunes!

Your Drive to Success Begins Today... Enjoy the Ride!

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live." ~Norman Cousins

Some of us remember our childhood tips to the 5 & Dime Store. Where I grew up, they were called TG & Y stores, in eastern Oklahoma. We would spend time looking through aisles of merchandise, trying to find the few special items we could afford. At Christmas each of us five kids would get $10 each to buy gifts. It was tough, but we managed, some of the gifts that were given were homemade.

At the time, we were growing up in times where money was in short supply and the future was uncertain. Repairing our shoes and mending our pants was not out the ordinary; it was just what was done, and the youngest child was definitely the last in line. The last kid in line happens to be me, and I always got my sister's hand-me downs. Going out for dinner was only for special occasions and the movies were a treat we would look forward to.

I can remember at the beginning of a school year, my parents would purchase (2) packages of 500 sheets of notebook paper, they would ration it out to each of us kids. And yes, it was forbidden to waste on writing silly notes to our friends. Today our kids, grand kids don't even think twice about wasting paper, or using the backside of a sheet of paper!

That was more than 45 years ago. Since that time we have experienced unprecedented economic growth. For most of us, our standard of living increased, and we grew up in a culture of excess, not having to wait for anything. Instead of buying on lay-away, we used a credit card. Instead of buying used, we bought new. Instead of growing into the expensive house, we would leverage the purchase and have what we wanted, now.

The generations over the last 45 years have only had one experience, only one economy, and one life-style. It was all very good, but not realistic, and when anything is done to excess, corrections are inevitable. Today we find ourselves in the middle of a recession, something most of us have never experienced. Many of the houses that were over-leveraged are being foreclosed. Credit cards have been maxed out and bank lines of credit have been terminated. Financial situations became out of balance, and we are now in the adjustment period. Today we shop at the dollar store, looking for bargains. The car we were going to trade in will have to last a few more years. We eat at home more often and we go out for special occasions. Outside entertainment is a special treat.

This chapter in our lives with the recession has began to bond and recreate our relationships, it is forcing us to communicateagain, spend time with family and friends! Barbequing and backyard entertainment is at an all time high

Perhaps we can now understand a little better what our parents experienced. They weathered the storm, just as we will. After the dust settles, we will have a deeper appreciation and a sense of gratitude for what we have. It's all part of the balance.We can tell the future generations what we went through, but they won't understand.

Some things we just have to experience for ourselves to completely understand.

via The Prairie Rambler, February 1998

1. Life is not fair. Get used to it. The average teenager uses the phrase "It's not fair" 86 times a day.

    

2. The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as your school does. This may come as a shock.

    

3. Sorry, but you won't make $40,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone, either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a designer label.

    

4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.

    

5. Flipping burgers is not beneath dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity.

    

6. It's not your parents fault if you mess up. You're responsible! This is the flip side of "It's my life" and "You're not my boss."

    

7. Before you were born your parents were not boring. They got that way paying your bills and listening to you.

    

8. Life is not divided into semesters. And you don't get summers off. Not even spring break. You are expected to show up every day for eight hours; and you don't get a new life every 10 weeks.

    

9. Smoking does not make you look cool. Watch an 11-year-old with a butt in his mouth. That's what you look like to anyone over 20.

    

10. Your school may be "outcome-based," but life is not. In some schools, you're given as many as times as you want to get the answer right. Standards are set low enough so everyone can meet them. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life—as you will find out.

Good luck! You are going to need it—
and the harder you work, the luckier you will get.

by Michael Josephson

One of the toughest jobs in the world is being a teenager. Everything is in transition. Everything is intense—even apathy.

Kids on the brink of adulthood have to cope with inconsistencies and conflicts. The desire to be special and different clashes with the need to belong and fit in. The desire for independence collides with the aversion to self-reliance and personal responsibility.

Here are five suggestions to improve the journey through adolescence:

1. Be yourself. Don't expect anyone else to make you happy, but don't allow others to treat you badly. Hang out with people who bring out the best in you, and be the kind of person who brings out the best in others.
   
2. Don't expect too much or settle for too little. Dependability and self-reliance are the tickets to freedom and independence. Don't waste energy resisting what you have to do. Win trust by doing what you should do.
   
3. Treat responsibility as a privilege, not a penalty. The choices you make today will shape tomorrow. Every act has a consequence. Pleasure lasts for a moment, but happiness lasts much longer. Be careful; just because it feels good doesn't make it good.
   
4. Look ahead. Your life is your ship; be the captain, not a passenger. Figure out what needs to be done to improve your life and make it happen. Your attitudes are more important than your aptitudes. You can't control what happens to you, but you can control what happens in you. Don't whine, win.
   
5. Take charge of your life. Mindless conformity is a prison. Express yourself authentically and don't be afraid to stand out. But don't dress or behave in extreme ways just to be different or to prove you can. You don't need orange hair, a nose ring, or tattoos to be special. In the end, it's more important to be respected than noticed.

It won't surprise you to learn that I'm not a proponent of the victim mentality. I believe strongly that the life you and I are living right now is the life we've created. It's based on the decisions and the choices we've made over the years. We're simply living with the consequences of those choices.

Peter Drucker said: "The best way to get the future we want is to create it." If you're genuinely interested in improving your current circumstances, start thinking of what you'll have to do to get the results you want. The reality is you're in charge of what you say and what you think. You decide what goes into your mind by the choices of what you watch, what you read and the people you associate with.

In order to be successful, or to improve performance and productivity in any area of life, all you need to do is act in ways that produce more of what you want. Life gives feedback. All we have to do is pay attention.

Don't like your work environment?

What did you do to create it?

What can you do to change it?

Not happy with your current physical condition?

What did you do to create it?

What can you do to change it?

Not happy with your relationship with ________ ?

What did you do to create it?

What can you do to change it?

Success and failure both leave clues. We can play the blame game all day long or we can accept the fact that the common denominator in our success or failure is US! Don't like your current reality? Pick up a mirror and meet the one person who can change it.

If your ready to change your future, you just may want to join us! Click here to find out more.

"Don't go through Life, grow through Life." ~ Eric Butterworth

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voicings Publ.

Business students at a large university were assigned the task of interviewing a cross-section of the local community and submit a report on the experience.

One student was less than enthusiastic about the assignment. "I considered it to be a complete waste of time," he said, "until I asked a farmer in his late 70s, ‘How much education have you had?’ He answered, ‘Well, I had six years of schoolin` and seventy-two years of learnin`.’"

Schoolin`and learnin` (acquiring knowledge and acquiring wisdom) are not the same. In our present day society, we seem to have little or no time in our busy schedules for practicing the pursuit of wisdom through serious, uninterrupted, quiet reflection on the mystery of life: who we are and what we ought to be doing with our lives. We are crippled in our search for wisdom by a society which insists on describing success as the ability to acquire knowledge and to skillfully apply that knowledge to the pursuit of personal gain.

…As we acquire knowledge at breakneck speed, are we wise enough to realize the need to slow down, and seriously reflect on how to handle it? Are we wise enough to know what to do with it? Are we wise enough to use it to uplift the human spirit and to better our human relationships? Are we wise enough to apply our learnin` to our schoolin`?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voicings Publ.

Business students at a large university were assigned the task of interviewing a cross-section of the local community and submit a report on the experience.

One student was less than enthusiastic about the assignment. "I considered it to be a complete waste of time," he said, "until I asked a farmer in his late 70s, ‘How much education have you had?’ He answered, ‘Well, I had six years of schoolin` and seventy-two years of learnin`.’"

Schoolin`and learnin` (acquiring knowledge and acquiring wisdom) are not the same. In our present day society, we seem to have little or no time in our busy schedules for practicing the pursuit of wisdom through serious, uninterrupted, quiet reflection on the mystery of life: who we are and what we ought to be doing with our lives. We are crippled in our search for wisdom by a society which insists on describing success as the ability to acquire knowledge and to skillfully apply that knowledge to the pursuit of personal gain.

…As we acquire knowledge at breakneck speed, are we wise enough to realize the need to slow down, and seriously reflect on how to handle it? Are we wise enough to know what to do with it? Are we wise enough to use it to uplift the human spirit and to better our human relationships? Are we wise enough to apply our learnin` to our schoolin`?

Faith & Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Source Unknown

There was an old man who operated a rowboat for ferrying passengers between an island and the mainland. One day a passenger noticed that he had painted on one oar the word "Works," and on the other oar the word "Faith." Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this.

The old man replied, "I will show you," dropping one oar, rowing only with the oar named "Works." Of course, the boat just went around in circles. Then he switched oars, picking up "Faith" and dropping "Works." And the little rowboat went around in circles again—this time in the opposite direction.

After this demonstration, the old man picked up both oars "Faith" and "Works," and rowing with both oars together swiftly coursed over the water. He looked at the passenger and said, "You see, that is the way it is in life as well as in rowing a boat. You got to keep both oars in the water, otherwise, you’ll just go in circles."

Focus on the Task at Hand
by Max Lucado

Life is tough enough as it is. It's even tougher when we're headed in the wrong direction.

One of the incredible abilities of Jesus was to stay on target. His life never got off track. Not once do we find him walking down the wrong side of the fairway. He had no money, no computers, no jets, no administrative assistants or staff; yet Jesus did what many of us fail to do. He kept his life on course.

As Jesus looked across the horizon of his future, he could see many targets. Many flags were flapping in the wind, each of which he could have pursued. He could have been a political revolutionary. He could have been a national leader. He could have been content to be a teacher and educate minds or to be a physician and heal bodies. But in the end he chose to be a Savior and save souls.

Anyone near Christ for any length of time heard it from Jesus himself. "The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them" (Luke 19:10). "The Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people" (Mark 10:45).

The heart of Christ was relentlessly focused on one task. The day he left the carpentry shop of Nazareth he had one ultimate aim--the cross of Calvary. He was so focused that his final words were, "It is finished" (John 19:30).

How could Jesus say he was finished? There were still the hungry to feed, the sick to heal, the untaught to instruct, and the unloved to love. How could he say he was finished? Simple. He had completed his designated task. His commission was fulfilled. The painter could set aside his brush, the sculptor lay down his chisel, the writer put away his pen. The job was done.

Wouldn't you love to be able to say the same? Wouldn't you love to look back on your life and know you had done what you were called to do?

by Chris Widener

Destiny. What a powerful word. And the great thing about it? Everyone has one! You have a destiny! Another great thing about destiny? We have a significant role in shaping our own destiny! In essence, you can choose your date with destiny - powerful!

Your destiny is the dream that lies within you of your desired and preferred future. And the things that we choose each day are what lead us to that destiny: Our actions, our words, our attitudes, and our relationships. They all add up to develop and shape that date on which we will reach our destiny.

Here are some thoughts to think about as you work on shaping your Date with Destiny:

The Mental Question: Do you believe that you can achieve a life of abundance?

The frank truth is that many people simply do not believe that they can achieve what lies in their heart. Success is for someone else, a better person, or a smarter person. This is not true and is perhaps the greatest obstacle we face on the journey to our destiny. If we are to achieve the abundance in life we must first believe we can, or face our own continual self-sabotage of what a college professor of mine called "stinkin'-thinkin."

Here is the truth:

• It doesn't matter what your intelligence is.
• It doesn't matter what your current resources are.
• It doesn't matter what you currently earn.
• It doesn't matter what family you came from.

Nothing in your current circumstances matters in whether or not you can achieve your destiny! Nothing! Now, your current state may make it a longer or harder journey than someone else, but the possibility is always there no matter what your current circumstances are.

And that is the message we need to continually tell ourselves. "I can do it." Not "I can't do it."

Clear vision. Do you have one of your destiny? Here are some questions to determine whether or not your vision is clear.

• Can you describe it in intricate detail?
• Can you "see" it?
• Can you "feel" it?
• Can you "hear" it?

Here are a couple of illustrations.

Perhaps you came from a dysfunctional family and your dream is to have great moments with your family. Let's start with a Thanksgiving meal. Can you see each person there? What are they wearing? Are they smiling? What is the conversation? Can you hear the laughter? Can you experience the joy? Can you smell the turkey? Can you see people hugging each other and saying "This was wonderful," as they leave?

Another scenario: Your company. Can you see the large building you are in? Can you see the workers? Can you feel the positive attitude they have as they carry out their work? Can you experience the excitement as you get the quarterly results? Can you see yourself handing out healthy bonuses that bring pleasant surprises to your employees?

This is where it begins. A clear vision of your destiny.

Consider your resources. Are you aware of the resources you will need in order to set your date with destiny? Do you know how you will go about getting them? What are your natural gifts and talents that you have? How can you best utilize them in achieving your destiny?

What is your current level of resources?

•         Money?
•         Time?
•         Emotional health?
•         Help from others such as friends, family, employees or volunteers?

What will be your needed future level of resources? And have you developed a plan to achieve this level?

The last thing I would encourage you to do is fix a date in the future that you believe you could be living your destiny by. A real date. What this enables you to do is then begin to work backwards in setting goals to move you along the way, providing you with future points to strive for and an evaluation point to reflect upon.

Here are the points again:

• Answer the mental question: Do I really believe?
• Develop a clear vision.
• Consider the resources needed.
• Set a date with destiny.
• Develop a plan to get there.

-- Chris Widener

Give a daily gift to others and to yourself.

To your enemy, Forgiveness.

To an opponent, Tolerance.

To a friend, Your Heart.

To a customer, Service.

To all, Charity.

To every child, a Good Example.

To yourself, Respect.

by Jim Rohn

We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Maybe some of our fears are brought on by your own experiences, by what someone has told you, by what you've read in the papers. Some fears are valid, like walking alone in a bad part of town at two o'clock in the morning. But once you learn to avoid that situation, you won't need to live in fear of it.

Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy our ambitions. Fear can destroy fortunes. Fear can destroy relationships. Fear, if left unchecked, can destroy our lives. Fear is one of the many enemies lurking inside us.

Let me tell you about five of the other enemies we face from within. The first enemy that you've got to destroy before it destroys you is indifference. What a tragic disease this is. "Ho-hum, let it slide. I'll just drift along." Here's one problem with drifting: you can't drift your way to the top of the mountain.

The second enemy we face is indecision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity and enterprise. It will steal your chances for a better future. Take a sword to this enemy.

The third enemy inside is doubt. Sure, there's room for healthy skepticism. You can't believe everything. But you also can't let doubt take over. Many people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt the government, doubt the possibilities and doubt the opportunities. Worse of all, they doubt themselves. I'm telling you, doubt will destroy your life and your chances of success. It will empty both your bank account and your heart. Doubt is an enemy. Go after it. Get rid of it.

The fourth enemy within is worry. We've all got to worry some. Just don't let it conquer you. Instead, let it alarm you. Worry can be useful. If you step off the curb in New York City and a taxi is coming, you've got to worry. But you can't let worry loose like a mad dog that drives you into a small corner. Here's what you've got to do with your worries: drive them into a small corner. Whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it. Whatever is pushing on you, you've got to push back.

The fifth interior enemy is over-caution. It is the timid approach to life. Timidity is not a virtue; it's an illness. If you let it go, it'll conquer you. Timid people don't get promoted. They don't advance and grow and become powerful in the marketplace. You've got to avoid over-caution.

Do battle with the enemy. Do battle with your fears. Build your courage to fight what's holding you back, what's keeping you from your goals and dreams. Be courageous in your life and in your pursuit of the things you want and the person you want to become.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing,

Windows that need cleaning,

And gutters that need fixing

Because it means I have a home….

I am thankful for the piles of

Laundry and ironing because

It means my loved ones are nearby.

Did you Know?

Idaho (ID, US-ID) Idaho’s Hell’s Canyon is the deepest river gorge in America – even deeper than the Grand Canyon. Carved by the great Snake River, Hell’s Canyon plunges more than 8,000 feet.

Humans may have been present in the Idaho area as long as 14,500 years ago. Excavations at Wilson Butte Cave near Twin Falls in 1959 revealed evidence of human activity, including arrowheads that rank among the oldest dated artifacts in North America.

The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in the 48 contiguous states – 2.3 million acres of rugged, unspoiled back country.

Five of history’s pioneer trails, including the Oregon Trail and the California Trail, cross Southern Idaho Wagon ruts are still visible all along the rugged terrain.

In the late 1800s, there were several sightings of strange creatures in Bear Lake (on the Idaho/Utah border). The Bear Lake Monster causes residents and visitors to Idaho to question whether they are in Idaho or Scotland.  The serpent-like monsters were up to 90 feet in length, could move faster than running horses, and were witnessed by several different people. To this day, there are still those who refuse to night fish on the lake.

The world's first alpine skiing chairlift was (and still is) located in Sun Valley. Built by Union Pacific Railroad engineers, it was designed after a banana-boat loading device. The 1936 fee: 25 cents per ride.

A person may not be seen in public without a smile on their face in Pocatello, Idaho.

In Idaho, it’s against the law for anyone over the age of 88 to ride a motorcycle.

In Idaho, riding a merry-go-round on Sundays is considered a crime!

Shoshone Falls (212 feet), near Twin Falls, Idaho, drops 52 feet further than Niagara Falls.

Appropriately named the “Gem State,” Idaho produces 72 types of precious and semi-precious stones, some of which can be found nowhere else in the world.

Did you know that Idaho has a seaport? The Port of Lewiston allows the exportation of millions of bushels of grain down the Snake and Columbia Rivers for overseas shipment.

One of the largest diamonds ever found in the United States, nearly 20 carats, was discovered near McCall, Idaho.

Idahois the only state that was possibly named as the result of a hoax (the so-called "Idahoax") although this is disputed. The exact origin of the name remains a mystery

Idaho Origin of Name:   An invented name whose meaning is unknown.

Idaho Motto:  Esto perpetua (Let it be perpetual) May it Endure Forever

Idaho Nickname:  Gem State

Capital City: Boise

State Area:   83,574 square miles

State Population:    1,523,816 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:   July 3, 1890, 43^rd state

Major Industries:  Food processing, lumber and wood product, machinery, chemical products, paper products, silver and other mining, tourism.

Agriculture: Cattle, potatoes, dairy products, wheat, sugar beets, barley.

State Environments:  Mountains, Plains

State Bird:   Mountain Bluebird

State Tree:   Western White Pine

State Flower:    Syringa

State Horse:   Appaloosa

State Gem:   Idaho Star Garnet

State Song:   "Here We Have Idaho"

Elevation: Highest Point – Borah Peak 12,662 feet
Lowest Point – Snake River 710 ft 

Time Zone: North of Salmon River Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Remainder Mountain: UTC-7/-6

Average Annual Rainfall: 11.71 inches

It takes time to build a corporate work of art. It takes time to build a life. And it takes time to develop and grow. So give yourself, your enterprise, and your family the time they deserve and the time they require.

Americans are incredibly impatient. Someone once said that the shortest period of time in America is the time between when the light turns green and when you hear the first horn honk.

The twin killers of success are impatience and greed.

How long should you try? Until.

Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you've signed up for a season, see it through. You don't have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through.

 written by Jim Rohn

Illinois (IL, Ill, US-IL) Illinois claims it is the birthplace of the ice cream sundae. In the 1890s, it was illegal to sell ice cream sodas on Sunday. Drug stores started to sell ice cream with syrup instead, calling them sundaes.

The first Aquarium opened in Chicago, in 1893.

The world’s first Skyscraper was built in Chicago, in 1885.

The first Mormon Temple in Illinois was constructed in Nauvoo.

The Sears Tower in Chicago is the tallest building on the North American continent.

Metropolis the home of Superman really exists in Southern Illinois.

Des Plaines is home to the first McDonald's.

Dixon is the boyhood home of President Ronald Reagan.

The round Silo for farm storage of silage was first constructed on a farm in Spring Grove.

In Mount Pulaski, Illinois, it is illegal for boys (and only boys) to hurl snowballs at trees. Girls are allowed to do that however.

The world's largest cookie and cracker factory, where Nabisco made 16 billion Oreo cookies in 1995, is located in Chicago.

Illinois Origin of Name:  Illinois comes from the word Illini, a confederation of the Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Michigamea, Moingwena, Peoria and Tamaroa Indian tribes. Algonquin for “tribe of superior men”.

Illinois Motto:   State Sovereignty, National Union

Illinois Nickname:   Prairie State

Capital City:   Springfield

State Area:   57,918 square miles

State Population:   12,901,563 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 3, 1818, 21^st state

Major Industries:   Agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, rye, sorghum), cattle, manufacturing, mining.

State Environments:  Plains, Prairies

State Bird:   Cardinal

State Tree:   White Oak

State Flower:   Illinois Native (purple) Violet

State Mammal:   White-tailed Deer

State Song:   “Illinois”

Elevation: Highest Point – Charles Mound 1,235 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Mississippi River 279 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: Central UTC-6/-5

Average Annual Rainfall: 33.34 inches

It's not about doing one thing 100% better - it's a matter of doing 100 things, 1% better each day. ~BJ Gallagher

by Jim Rohn

Parents, leaders, employers, teachers and volunteers have you discovered one of the great positive mysteries of life? Here it is - All life seems to wish to reward its benefactor.

If you become the benefactor, you will receive these incredible rewards. If you are the benefactor to the garden, the flowers seem to bloom and say, "Look at me. Look how bright and beautiful I am because you took care of me. I wish to reward you by being beautiful, lovely, spectacular."

Your own children, if you become their benefactor, they want to reward you with their progress. I taught my daughters how to swim. And my daughters would say, as they were about to dive, "Daddy, daddy watch, watch, look, look, watch" as if to say; 'look what you have created here, you've spent the time with me and now look at me. This is the payoff. ‘Watch me dive." I was their benefactor.

I have found that all life wishes to respond to the benefactor. The ones who give their time, give their effort, give their patience, give their ideas, the benefit of their experience. Whatever has benefited from that, wishes to respond. The crop wishes to grow. The child wishes to show you how much progress they've made.

And remember that whatever you move towards tends to move towards you. Just as when you move toward education, and education starts to seek you out. Or when you move toward progress and progress seems to want to now embrace you. You will find that, just as predictably, as you move towards helping those in your care they will wish to repay you with their own success and accomplishments.

~Jim Rohn

by Brian Tracy

Decide How to React
It is not what happens to you that counts. It is how you react to what happens to you, especially when you have unexpected problems of any kind.

Here are four things you can do to assure that your attitude is the very best it can be, under all circumstances.

Focus on the Future
First, whatever challenges you face, focus on the future rather than on the past. Instead of worrying about who did what and who is to blame, focus on where you want to be and what you want to do. Get a clear mental image of your ideal successful future, and then take whatever action you can to begin moving in that direction. Get your mind, your thoughts, and your mental images on the future.

Think About the Future
Second, whenever you’re faced with a difficulty, focus on the solution rather than on the problem. Think and talk about the ideal solution to the obstacle or setback, rather than wasting time rehashing and reflecting on the problem.

Solutions are inherently positive, whereas problems are inherently negative. The instant that you begin thinking in terms of solutions, you become a positive and constructive human being.

Look for the Good
Third, assume that something good is hidden within each difficulty or challenge. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, a major proponent of positive thinking, once said, “Whenever God wants to give us a gift, he wraps it up in a problem." The bigger the gift you have coming, the bigger the problem you will receive. But the wonderful thing is that if you look for the gift, you will always find it.

Seek the Valuable Lesson
Fourth, assume that whatever situation you are facing at the moment is exactly the right situation you need to ultimately be successful. This situation has been sent to you to help you learn something, to help you become better, to help you expand and grow.

Decide to Be Positive
A Positive Mental Attitude is indispensable to your success. You can be as positive as you want to be if you will simply think about the future, focus on the solution and look for the good. If you do what other successful people do, if you use your mind to exert mental control over the situation, you will be positive and cheerful most of the time. And you will reap the benefits enjoyed by all successful people.

Action Exercises
Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action:

First, become solution-oriented with every difficulty you face. Make a habit of looking for the answers to your questions, the solutions to your problems.

Second, seek for the valuable lesson in every adversity. Make a list of every idea or insight you can gain from every setback or difficulty.

Third, think on paper. Take some time to write out every detail of the problem, and then take the most logical next step to solve it.

-- Brian Tracy

"The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does." ~unknown

So many people believe that success
is reaching a certain accomplishment
or attaining a certain status or
possessions. They believe that
the end result will be the reward
they are working towards.

The true gift, the reward, is the
journey.The path you are on is
your opportunity for true success
and fulfillment.

Often times people never receive the
reward because they are completely
unaware of it. Then they get to the
end and gain the accomplishment, status
or possession and they still feel
unfulfilled. The reason that happens
is because the real gift was who you
have been becoming on your journey.

Don't take your journey for granted or
be resentful about it. The journey,
the path you are on, can be so beautiful.
Stop, breathe, and be present in this moment.
In this moment feel absolute gratitude.

When you appreciate this moment in time and
focus on absolute gratitude, you will experience
your bliss. Move forward on your amazing journey
in a state of joy, gratitude and inner peace.

Pay attention to who you have become on your
journey and embrace your incredible transformations.

written by Ryan Pearson
Personal Empowerment Coach

Did you Know?

Indiana

Did you Know?

Indiana (IN, Ind., US-IN) There were a lot of firsts in Indiana. The first professional baseball game in 1871 and the first long-distance automobile race, Indianapolis 500, was in 1911, with a car that went 75 mph. The latest winner averages 167 mph.

During WWII the P-47 fighter-plane was manufactured in Evansville at Republic Aviation.

Marcella Gruelle of Indianapolis created the Raggedy Ann doll in 1914.

Santa Claus, Indiana receives over one half million letters and requests at Christmas time.

Historic Parke County has 32 covered bridges and is the Covered Bridge Capital of the world.

More than 100 species of trees are native to Indiana. Before the pioneer's arrive more than 80% of Indiana was covered with forest. Now only 17% of the state is considered forested.

Although Indiana means, "Land of the Indians" there are fewer than 8,000 Native Americans living in the state today.

Many Mennonite and Amish live on the farmland of Northeastern Indiana. One of the United States largest Mennonite congregations is in Bern. According to Amish ordnung (rules) they are forbidden to drive cars, use electricity, or go to public places of entertainment.

Indianapolis grocer Gilbert Van Camp discovered his customers enjoyed an old family recipe for pork and beans in tomato sauce. He opened up a canning company and Van Camp's Pork and Beans became an American staple.

Before public schools families pitched in to build log schoolhouse and each student's family paid a few dollars toward the teacher’s salaries.

Indiana Origin of Name:   Indiana is a word that refers to the local Indians. Meaning “land of Indians”

Indiana Motto:   “The Crossroads of America”

Indiana Nickname:   Hoosier State

Capital City:   Indianapolis

State Area:   36,420 square miles

State Population:   6,376,792 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 11, 1816, 19^th state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat), manufacturing, mining (coal, limestone), steel-making

State Environments:  Plains

State Bird:   Cardinal

State Tree:   Tulip Tree

State Flower:   Peony

State Stone:  Limestone

State Song:   “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away”, by Paul Dresser

Elevation: Highest Point – Hoosier Hill, Wayne County 1,257 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Ohio River and mouth of Wabash River, Posey County 320 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: 80 counties Eastern UTC-5/-4
12 counties in Evansville and Gary Metro Areas Central UTC-6/-5

Average Annual Rainfall: 33.34 inches

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful fathers out there. I enjoyed reading this short story by one of my favorite motivation speakers "Jim Rohn". I hope you enjoy it too.

"Invest in your family and they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner circle take care of the details. When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho. So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special day. Now if I was in Israel, I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, 'Papa I'm in Israel.' He'd say, 'Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?' He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel. I'd say, 'Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean.' He'd say, 'Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean.' Now everybody knows the story. It only took 5 - 10 minutes, but what a special day for my father, age 93." -- Jim Rohn

by Jim Rohn

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.

We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.

All disciplines affect each other. Mistakenly the man says, "This is the only area where I let down." Not true. Every let down affects the rest. Not to think so is naive.

Discipline is the foundation upon which all success is built. Lack of discipline inevitably leads to failure.

Discipline has within it the potential for creating future miracles.

The best time to set up a new discipline is when the idea is strong.

One discipline always leads to another discipline.

Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.

You don't have to change that much for it to make a great deal of difference. A few simple disciplines can have a major impact on how your life works out in the next 90 days, let alone in the next 12 months or the next 3 years.

The least lack of discipline starts to erode our self-esteem.

I took a Leap of Faith and it PAID off last night, see for yourself. Click Here

Did you Know?

Iowa (IA, Ind., US-IA)  Dubbed by Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Iowa is home to the most crooked street in the world. Snake Alley in the city of Burlington is a winding hillside street that manages to pack five half-curves and two quarter-curves in a switchback design into just 275 feet.

If you like corn, you’ll love Iowa. About one-fifth of the country’s corn comes from Iowa’s rich farm lands.

Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the United States. More than 99 percent of Iowa’s citizens can read.

Iowa gets more tornadoes than any other state. A tornado is a mighty twisting windstorm. At the center of the storm, the wind can travel as fast as 300 miles per hour.

Strawberry Point is the home of the world’s largest strawberry.

Can’t decide between a chocolate bar and ice cream? Get both! The “Eskimo Pie” – a chocolate-covered ice cream bar was invented in Iowa by Onawa native Chris Nelson.

Elk Horn is the largest Danish settlement in the United States.

Kalona is the largest Amish community west of the Mississippi River.

Fenlon Place Elevator in Dubuque is the world’s steepest and shortest railway.

Wright County has the highest percentage of grade-A topsoil in the nation.

Quaker Oats, in Cedar Rapids, is the largest cereal company in the world.

Cornell College is the only school in the nation to have its entire campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Born Marion Robert Morrison (aka John Wayne) in Winterset on May 26, 1907 was the son of a pharmacist and grew up to become one of Hollywood’s most popular movie stars.

The town of Fort Atkinson was the site of the only fort ever built by the U.S. government to protect one Indian tribe from another.

Campers and motor homes are manufactured in Winnebago County. They’re called Winnebago’s.

Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are 100% formed by water. Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Iowa is the only state that starts with two vowels.

Iowa Origin of Name:  From the Iowa River which was named after the Ioway, French word for the Bah-kho-je Indian tribe that lived in the area.

Iowa Motto:  Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.

Iowa Nickname:   Hawkeye State

Capital City:   Des Moines

State Area:   56,276 square miles

State Population:   3,002,555 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 28, 1846, 29^th state

Major Industries:  agriculture (corn, soybeans, hogs, pigs), food manufacturing, insurance

State Environments:  Plains, Prairie

State Bird:   Eastern Goldfinch (aka Wild Canary)

State Tree:   Oak

State Flower:   Wild Rose

State Stone:  Geode

State Song:   “Song of Iowa”

Elevation: Highest Point – Hawkeye Point in Osceola County in northwestern Iowa 1,670 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Where the Mississippi River and Des Moines River meet; 480 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: Central UTC-6/DST-5

Average Annual Rainfall:   34.71 inches

by Denis Waitley

By re-energizing and renewing yourself frequently, you will avoid burnout and become much more motivated and productive. Don’t keep your nose to the grindstone for years and wait for retirement to travel. Balance and consistency are the keys. Enjoy the process, not just the result. Don’t fight the passing of time. Don’t fear it, squander it, or try to hide from it under a superficial cosmetic veil of fads and indulgences. Life and time go together. Do enjoy each phase of life. Do make the most of each day, and draw maximum joy from each moment.

Many people today are concerned with quality time – time generally defined in part as that spent on recreation, personal pursuits, time with children, spouses and friends. While I certainly believe quality time is important, I believe two other aspects of time are equally important.

First, one must also spend quantity time. The average father spends less than 30 minutes each week in direct one-on-one communication with each of his children. How can we possibly expect good family relationships with so little communication?

Second, one must spend regular time. Many supervisors and company presidents go for weeks, even months, without seeing many of their employees. There’s no substitute for regular meetings and open forums in which managers and team members can share ideas.

Time has a dual structure. On one hand, we live our daily routines meeting present contingencies as they arise. On the other hand, our most ambitious goals and desires need time so that they can be assembled and cemented. A long-term goal connects pieces of time into one block. These blocks can be imagined and projected into the future as we do when we set goals for ourselves. Or, these blocks of time can be created in retrospect as we do when we look back at what we’ve accomplished.

It’s not in the image of our big dreams that we run the risk of losing our focus and motivation. It’s the drudgery and routine of our daily lives that present the greatest danger to our hopes for achievement. Good time management means that you maximize the daily return on the energy and mental effort you expend.

Ways to maximize your time productivity:

• Write down in one place all the important contacts you have and all of your goals and priorities. Make a back up copy, preferably on CD, DVD or Zip disc. Write down every commitment you make at the time you make it.

• Stop wasting the first hour of your workday. Having the chat and first cup of coffee, reading the paper, and socializing are the three costliest opening exercises that lower productivity.

• Do one thing well at a time. It takes time to start and stop work on each activity. Stay with a task until it is completed.

• Don’t open unimportant mail. More than a fourth of the mail you receive can be tossed before you open or read it, and that includes e-mail.

• Handle each piece of paper only once and never more than twice. Don’t set aside anything without taking action. Carry work, reading material, audiotapes and your laptop computer with you everywhere you go. Convert down time into uplink time.

• Spend twenty minutes at the beginning of each week and ten minutes at the beginning of each day planning your to do list.

• Set aside personal relaxation time during the day. Don’t work during lunch. It’s neither noble nor nutritional to skip important energy input and stress-relieving time. Throughout the day, ask yourself, “What’s the best use of my time right now?” As the day grows short, focus on projects you can least afford to leave undone.

• And as we said at the beginning of this message, take vacations often, mini-vacations of two or three days, and leave your work at home. The harder you work, the more you need to balance your exercise and leisure time.

Action Idea: Plan a relaxing 3-day vacation within the next three months without taking any business work with you. Reserve it on your calendar this week.

-- Denis Waitley

"Showing a profit means touching something and leaving it better than you found it." -- Jim Rohn

Five Success Keys

We could probably have an interesting discussion on the definition of success. The one I favor was authored by Earl Nightingale, more than fifty years ago: "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal."

I really like that definition because it takes money out of the equation unless it's your specific ideal. It says that the stay-at-home Mom is a success if she's staying home because she wants to. It says that a teacher, or a carpenter, or a Starbucks barista is a success if they are doing what they want to do instead of what they have to do.

Regardless of the field in which one is successful, there are criteria or keys for success that apply to every endeavor. Here are five of those Keys:

Essentials for Success and Achievement

1. Taking Personal Responsibility

Successful people don't play the blame game. They don't blame the government, the economy, their boss, their spouse, the traffic or anything else for the challenges they face or the obstacles the encounter. They take responsibility for their own behavior and figure out a way to deal with life's difficulties, which, by the way, are common to us all.

2. Seek Wisdom vs. Information

Napoleon Hill is famous for saying: "We become what we think about." You see he, and others before him, understood that our thoughts and our thinking will shape our behavior. The ideas you develop will one day manifest themselves in future behavior, so guard carefully what you think about and dwell on. Seek wisdom instead of information. Always be on the lookout for wise people and wisdom literature to help shape your thinking - and future actions.

3. Be a Person of Action

"The only measure of what you believe is what you do." Ashley Montagu coined those words over a century ago but the truth of that statement will stand forever. Success and achievement in any endeavor are the result of doing what needs to be done at the earliest possible opportunity. Do the most important things first!

4. Choose Joy Over Happiness

Happiness is often associated with circumstances. If I'm in a good place and things are going well, I'm happy. If things aren't going so well, I'm not.

Joy, on the other hand, starts with being at peace with ourselves. It's being comfortable in our own skin and understanding that, in most cases, "this too shall pass." The ups and downs of life are inevitable and experienced by everyone. Joy overrides unpleasant circumstances.

5. Stay Focused on Your Vision

Two essentials for success and achievement are vision and focus. Having a very clear vision of what we want to accomplish puts us in the top five percent of the marketplace and our competition. Staying focused on the vision and doing those things that move us to fulfilling our vision are what take us over the top.

Taking Stock

1. Are you taking personal responsibility for your success and achievement?
2. Do you have a friend or mentor you can trust to inject a little wisdom in your life from time to time?
3. Are you a person of action? Are you doing the most important things first?
4. Is your focus on joy or happiness?
5. Is your eye on your vision or your circumstances?

After I read this, it really helped me have a clear vision of my goal. With a clear vision I can accomplish anything I choose. My my friends and mentor, Les Taylor wrote these "Five Success Keys".

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.

I will push you onwards or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed - you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great people and, alas, of all failures, as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a person. You may run me for a profit or run me for ruin - it makes not difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

I am HABIT!

by Chris Widener

Sometimes success is found through the things that you don't do. Here are some ideas for what we shouldn't do.

Don't say "I can't." There are two words that we don't allow in the Widener household - I can't. The fact is that most of what we say that we can't do can actually be done, if only we put our mind to it. My mother taught me from an early age that if someone else had already done it, I could too. And if no one else had already done it, I could certainly be the first! Good advice!

Practical application: When you are up against a problem, and you are tempted to say "I can't," begin to think of all of those who have already done it. When you see how many already have, you'll be encouraged. For instance, if you want to write a book but think, "I can't get this published," you should take a trip to the local Barnes and Noble. Walk through and ask yourself if your book wouldn't be better than even just one of the books that is already been published and stocked. You will find yourself saying, "Surely I can!"

Don't give up. If you are going to achieve anything in life, you are going to get knocked down along the way. Those who succeed are those who get back up and forge ahead. My oldest child was in gymnastics and one day on the way to practice we were talking about determination. I am convinced that more often than not, success lies on the other side of the river hardship. Determination and a "don't give up" attitude will see us through the hard times and onto victory!

Practical application: The next time you feel like the wind has gone from your sails, and you feel like quitting, take awhile to rethink the situation. Remind yourself again why you started out in the first place. Remind yourself of how you will feel when you get there. Then, reassert yourself and set a goal of another month (or whatever time frame is needed). In one of my ventures, early on I was weary and felt like giving up. Instead, I kept telling myself, just show up for one more week. Good news - it worked!

Don't get discouraged. Discouragement is an attitude. Instead of going to the depths of the dumps, tell yourself you are going to do great. Choose to be courageous! One of the greatest powers we have been given as humans is the ability to choose our attitude. All people experience hard circumstances. Yet some say to themselves that they will learn from them and forge ahead a better person. These people, who do not allow themselves to get discouraged, are those who become successful.

Practical application: Find the most positive person you can and take them to lunch. Make sure they are someone who believes in you already. If nobody else, get your mother - she will always believe in you! When you get them out to lunch, tell them that you are discouraged and in need of some encouragement. If you have picked the right person, they will do the rest. Chances are, they will even do some follow-up calls with you. And by all means, pick up the tab for lunch.

Don't be a lone ranger. Anybody who has achieved greatness has done it with the help of many others who bought into the vision and pushed the cart. The most famous and accomplished achievers in the world all had a cast of others who helped them along. You may not be able to name Tony Stewart's pit crew, but they were there. Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has an awesome front line to protect him, but I can't name one of them. If the greats need others, then so do we. The sooner we realize that we need others, the quicker we will achieve our dreams.

Practical application: Sit down and write down the answers to the following questions: What partners do I already have? What ways are they already helping me? What ways could they help me? Who are potential partners who would make me better? What workers do I already have? What ways are they already helping me? What ways could they help me? How many more workers will I need to achieve my dreams? How will I go about gaining them?

Don't accept anything less than excellence. Good gets along, excellence succeeds. Have you ever heard anyone say of the greats "Yeah, they were pretty good." No! They were excellent! We should never, under any circumstances, accept less than excellence. We should constantly be striving to better ourselves, our situations, our relationships, and the people around us, helping them to become excellent.

Practical application: First, evaluate. Is ______________ excellent? Second, determine what would qualify as excellent. It would be excellent when ____________ is true. Third, set a course, step-by-step, toward excellence.

Remember, when it comes to the above - Just don't do it!

-- Chris Widener

Here's a great reminder, in the days leading up to Father's Day, of where our priorities should be. It's by noted personal achievement expert and my friend, Denis Waitley. Enjoy!

Be Committed to Keeping Your Personal and Professional Life in Balance by Denis Waitley

It is so important to be living in prime time, rather than watching TV in prime time. On your way to success make certain you grow friendships, not just bank and mutual fund accounts. Life is a collection of memories, not of material things. The Egyptian pharaohs were buried with all their treasures, and were mummified in hopes that they could enjoy their bounty in the next life. But we are only caretakers of possessions. There is a big difference between standard of living and quality of life. Standard of living is based on income earned. Quality of life is the enjoyment of the millions of minutes in between accomplishments.

Having money is only one aspect of wealth. To the sick person, wealth is health. To the lonely person, wealth is someone to talk to and share with. To the estranged person, wealth is hearing words of love and forgiveness.

Borrowing the free verse style from Brother Jeremiah’s classic poem, I’d Pick More Daisies, here are a few things I’d do, the second time around.

I’d laugh at my misfortunes more. Spend more time counting my blessings than my blemishes. Spend more time playing with my children and grandchildren and less time watching performers in the arena. More time enjoying what I have, less time thinking about the things I don’t have. If I could live my life again, I’d walk in the rain more without an umbrella and listen less to weather reports. I’d spend more time looking at trees and climbing them, less time flipping through magazines made from dead trees. I’d spend more time fully involved in the present moment, less time remembering and anticipating. I’d smile more, frown less.

And most of all I’d be more spontaneous and active, less hesitant and subdued. When some spur of the moment idea came up to go hiking, playing Frisbee, coloring Easter eggs, singing in a chorus, going kayaking, or watching an eclipse, I’d be less likely to sit in my chair objecting, “It’s not in our plan.”

I’d be inclined to jump up and run out the door next time and say, “Yes, we can!” Although I can’t live my life again, I’m still going to live the new way every day any way. I’ll never have all the moments I’ve missed, but I do have all the time remaining.

Action Idea – Choose one activity this month that you really want to engage in, but that you have been putting off because it isn’t a priority. Schedule that activity in your planner, as if it were a “must do” business or financial commitment. When you have done it, while you are still feeling good, schedule one for next month, and do it as long as you live.

-- Denis Waitley

by Luann Prater

This is a great story and I can't tell you how many times I have seen children try to catch those soapy bubbles in their mouths and then make a face when they realize that the bubbles taste like soap!

"Look grandma, this makes super-duper bubbles!" my grandson squealed.  The new bubble gun I bought him at Cracker Barrel was indeed a marvel at propelling hundreds of soapy spheres at the touch of a button.  He entertained himself for hours, shooting bubbles then chasing them across the yard.

At some point he decided catching them in his mouth might be fun, to which I warned it might make him sick.  Grandpa chimed in, "That bubble might go down in your tummy and get bigger and bigger!"  Matt stopped in his tracks, fixated on my husband, and replied, "Is that what happened to you grandpa?"  This four-year old comment made me chuckle and then ponder.

What does God see when He looks at me?  Does He see a wide-eyed child who simply believes Him?  I'm afraid that innocent, uncomplicated girl got lost. And I don't think I'm alone in this.  Simple faith is a rare find. 

In this information age, the journey for knowledge has become the driving force in our society.  As Dragnet's Sgt. Joe Friday always said, "Just the facts, ma'am."  Faith gets pushed aside in exchange for internet wisdom.  If you haven't been bitten by the know-it-all mentality, you simply haven't let your fingers do the walking across your keyboard!  Do you want to find out how to build a house, take apart an engine, or stay up on the latest news?  Google it.  You can instantly become an expert in almost in field!  So if God tells me to, "Go," my first instinct is to research the web for direction, instead of trusting His voice. 

During a concert performance recently, our church choir wore costumes from Bible times.  It struck me as I watched and saw only their faces showing, how each one had a childlike image. No one out-dressed the other.  No one was thinner or heavier.  No hair was perfectly styled. They all had rosy cheeks, bright smiles and joy in their eyes.  The prevailing trait we find in children - innocence - shone through.  I found myself wondering if that is what God sees when He looks at us, simple children.

When we come to Jesus it is critical to come like a child, innocent and amazed.  My grandson simply believed his grandpa.  When was the last time you simply believed God?  No analyzing the situation.  No studying alternative theories.  Plain and simple, childlike trust in the One who created the heavens, the earth and you.

Today, I want to focus on coming to Him as a child.  I want to stop the grown-up worry and gaze lovingly into His Word.  Today, I want to enjoy being "the least among you all" so I can spend time with the greatest, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities." ~William Arthur Ward

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ~The Declaration of Independence

by Waldo Waldman

December 21, 1998, was a brisk winter day in Saudi Arabia. I was stationed on my first combat deployment, flying missions enforcing the Iraqi southern no-fly zone.

I was scheduled to take off on only the fourth combat sortie of my career, inexperienced and quite nervous. It was a mission I'll never forget.

I was flying that day with my flight lead Lt. Col. "Hos" Hyatt, the commander of the 79th Fighter Squadron Tigers. Our "2 ship" of F-16s were charged with "sanitizing" the airspace of any enemy aircraft that might be crossing the restricted area. It could have been a routine patrol – or not.

Suddenly, our radios blared with an urgent call from the radar ground controller, "Viper flight, you've got a MIG-23 150 miles off your nose headed south…hostile, hostile!"

This meant the MIG had crossed the no fly zone and was headed towards us and the fuel tankers we were in charge of protecting. A split second later, my headset erupted with a call from Hos.

"Viper flight, COMMIT, COMMIT!"

Almost unconsciously, I pushed up my throttle to afterburner and started to climb as I struggled to stay in perfect formation with Hos. There was no turning back. We were going after that MIG.

With those two words, "Commit, Commit," my destiny was set in motion that day. No time to think – there was simply time to react. I was trained for that moment and my instantaneous choice was really quite clear: it was time to "commit."

My heart raced. The intensity was beyond words. Quite frankly, there was a part of me that asked, "Am I ready to do this? Will I get shot at? What if my engine fails?"

In the moment, doubt crept in.

But deep down, I knew I was ready and I was mentally and emotionally prepared. Otherwise, I had no business being in that jet. Aborting that mission was not an option – period. I had a job to do. All of my military training boiled down to this one moment and I simply had to trust my wingman, stay in position, and execute the briefed plan. It was time to act.

That moment may have come in the extreme of combat, but it was really no different than the "call to duty" we all face in everyday life and business.

Do you have the discipline and training to commit to action in your life - to "push it up" and go after your target with confidence? Perhaps it's the challenge of raising a family, a new job opportunity, going for a promotion, embarking on a fitness regimen or a "serious" diet, or the trust and rigors that come from a relationship. The actions you take once you commit will determine the quality of your outcome.

If you're not ready to commit, no problem. Perhaps it's not the right time, or you just need more time.

But, if you really are committed to take action in your life, then you better have the discipline to do what it takes to commit with confidence and foster that level of trust others can count on.

True commitment only exists when it is aligned with action. Action that is based on disciplined preparation, laser sharp focus, and most of all – courage, the sort of courage that says even though you may get "shot at" – you will carry on regardless! This is the reality of flying fighters in combat, and it is also the reality of leading a life of passion that is based on commitment and action.

Bottom line, before you commit to anything, you have to risk getting "shot at." You have to be willing to work and sacrifice. Let's face it, it's not easy to commit. If it were, everybody would be doing it!

So, here's the wingtip: The ability to face our fears, harness courage, and commit to action when the stakes are high is made a lot easier when we act in service to others. More importantly, when we have a trusted partner on our wing backing us up, it gives us courage to press on.

Hos was on my wing. Who is on yours?

-- Waldo Waldman

 by Jim Rohn
(Excerpted from Week Six of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan)

One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams. Think of it: We can look deep within our hearts and dream of a better situation for ourselves and our families; dream of better financial lives and better emotional or physical lives; certainly dream of better spiritual lives. But what makes this even more powerful is that we have also been given the ability to not only dream but to pursue those dreams and not only to pursue them, but the cognitive ability to actually lay out a plan and strategies (setting goals) to achieve those dreams. Powerful! And that is what we will discuss in detail this week: How to dream dreams and establish goals to get those dreams.

What are your dreams and goals? This isn't what you already have or what you have done, but what you want. Have you ever really sat down and thought through your life values and decided what you really want? Have you ever taken the time to truly reflect, to listen quietly to your heart, to see what dreams live within you? Your dreams are there. Everyone has them. They may live right on the surface, or they may be buried deep from years of others telling you they were foolish, but they are there.

So how do we know what our dreams are? This is an interesting process and it relates primarily to the art of listening. This is not listening to others; it is listening to yourself. If we listen to others, we hear their plans and dreams (and many will try to put their plans and dreams on us). If we listen to others, we can never be fulfilled. We will only chase elusive dreams that are not rooted deep within us. No, we must listen to our own hearts.

Let's take a look at some practical steps/thoughts on hearing from our hearts on what our dreams are:

Take time to be quiet. This is something that we don't do enough in this busy world of ours. We rush, rush, rush, and we are constantly listening to noise all around us. The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own dreams! Schedule some quiet "dream time" this week. No other people. No cell phone. No computer. Just you, a pad, a pen, and your thoughts.

Think about what really thrills you. When you are quiet, think about those things that really get your blood moving. What would you LOVE to do, either for fun or for a living? What would you love to accomplish? What would you try if you were guaranteed to succeed? What big thoughts move your heart into a state of excitement and joy? When you answer these questions you will feel Great and you will be in the "dream zone." It is only when we get to this point that we experience what Our dreams are!

Write down all of your dreams as you have them. Don't think of any as too outlandish or foolish - remember, you're dreaming! Let the thoughts fly and take careful record.

Now, prioritize those dreams. Which are most important? Which are most feasible? Which would you love to do the most? Put them in the order in which you will actually try to attain them. Remember, we are always moving toward action, not just dreaming.

Here is the big picture: Life is too short to not pursue your dreams. Someday your life will near its end and all you will be able to do is look backwards. You can reflect with joy or regret. Those who dream, who set goals and act on them to live out their dreams are those who live lives of joy and have a sense of peace when they near the end of their lives. They have finished well, for themselves and for their families.

Remember: These are the dreams and goals that are born out of your heart and mind. These are the goals that are unique to you and come from who you were created to be and gifted to become. Your specific goals are what you want to attain because they are what will make your life joyful and bring your family's life into congruence with what you want it to be.

Jim Rohn

This Week's Jumpstart

An early Happy 4th of July wish to all of my U.S. readers! And for those around the world, I wish you freedom. When you look up the word freedom in the dictionary, you'll find many definitions, but the one I like best says: The capacity to exercise choice; free will.

What's your definition of freedom? Time freedom, financial freedom? Isn't it interesting, though, that in order for you to experience or gain freedom you must sacrifice something? Perhaps I should frame it another way, with other words -- discipline or choice. Jim Rohn says discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. So let me ask you... What results have you accomplished and are you satisfied with your results?

If so, congratulations! If not, what simple disciplines or "choices" can you make that will make a world of difference in your accomplishments?

That's something to think about this week. But don't just stop at thinking! Act! You have the ability and the skills to create more freedom for whatever it is you want in your life!

-- Denis Waitley

"A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd." ~ James Crook

Great Commentary:
I love quotes that are counter-intuitive because many times "counter-intuitive" is what works best in this world. This is especially true in leadership. If you think about it, there are only two options in life: Go with the crowd or against it. Those who will lead in this life must often start against the crowd and lead forcefully until the crowd sees the results and changes their direction. If you just go with the crowd, you are just part of the crowd. Even if you are going with the crowd but out in front of the crowd, that doesn't mean you are leading. It just means you are faster than the rest of the crowd! That means you're just better at being average - and that isn't what you want your life to be!

Action Point:
Think about your life. Are you going with the crowd or against it? Are you willing to lead by turning your back on the crowd? Take a step today to differentiate yourself from the crowd - and begin your journey toward success and leadership!

All mankind is divided into three classes:

• those that are immoveable
• those that are moveable
• and those that move

~Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Which one are you?

Just remember all people are different, and so are their style of decision making. One style is not superior over another, it is all about how analysis your decision.

If you want to be a leader, you need to be able to lead effectively, and you need to be able to make good decisions.

When making a decision you are simply choosing from among alternatives based on your values and preferences, you are not making a choice between right and wrong.

Being more productive and performing at a higher level requires mastering several skills. One of the most important is effective decision making – emphasis on effective. Her are a few pointers you might find helpful:

Make sure you have the facts

You wouldn’t dive into a pool of water without first knowing the depth, so it’s wise not to jump into a quick decision before gathering a little background data. Who? What? Where? When? How? Asking a few of these types of questions can help in gathering the information you need to make a good decision. Poor decisions are usually the result of making an emotional decision before you have the facts. Parents – heads up!

Think outcome – from the outset

A good place to give some thought to the desired outcome of a situation is before a final decision is made. When faced with a problem, think about the best case scenario for the outcome and try to work toward that end as you process through the issue(s).

Avoid making snap decisions. It is ok to move fast on the reversible ones, but move slowly on the non-reversible.

Choose advisers wisely

Be careful not to allow yourself to be overly influenced by another’s perspective on the issue. While it’s important to get feedback from others, be discerning with regard to personal agendas that may be involved.

Consult those who will be affected by and who will have to implement your decision. Input from these people not only helps supply you with information and help in making the decision. It will begin to produce the acceptance necessary in the implementers because they feel that they are part of the decision making process.

Develop a decision making model

Create a model by which you make all key decisions and stick by it as various challenges avail themselves. Making key decision the same way every time will improve the quality of the decision immensely.

It is always wise to write your ideals on a piece of paper – when written down you can always see it clearer!

Track the results

One all key decisions, carefully monitor the results to make sure the decision was sound. Closely monitoring a decision allows you to make timely adjustments. It will also afford you the opportunity to study the effectiveness of your decision of your decision making process.

Never make decisions that are NOT yours to make!

Influence/Association
by Jim Rohn

There are two parts to influence: First, influence is powerful; and second, influence is subtle. You wouldn't let someone push you off course, but you might let someone nudge you off course and not even realize it.

We need a variety of input and influence and voices. You cannot get all the answers to life and business from one person or from one source.

Attitude is greatly shaped by influence and association.

Don't spend most of your time on the voices that don't count. Tune out the shallow voices so that you will have more time to tune in the valuable ones.

"No" puts distance between you and the wrong influence.

You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me?  What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay?

Don't join an easy crowd; you won't grow. Go where the expectations and the demands to perform are high.

Some people you can afford to spend a few minutes with, but not a few hours.

Get around people who have something of value to share with you. Their impact will continue to have a significant effect on your life long after they have departed.

___________

Since reading this short article by Jim Rohn... I realized that I had adopted this philosophy a few years ago. It was a process that was a first hard, because I had to disassociate myself from friends in my life that I loved. I still love them, but I don't spend large amounts of time with them. It has changed my attitude and my outlook on life.

I suggest if you have individuals in your life that are negative and naysayers - you should start detaching yourself from them. You will be amazed at your attitude and outlook!

Remember, Attitude is Everything!

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." ~Robert Brault

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ~The Declaration of Independence