Daily Inspiration 1-14-10

"If we are ever to enjoy life,
now is the time,
not tomorrow or next year. . .
Today should always be our most wonderful day."

"The world is a great mirror.
It reflects back to you what you are.
If you are loving, if you are friendly,
if you are helpful, the world will prove loving
and friendly and helpful to you.
The world is what you are.

-- Thomas Dreier

Of the many grand lessons that I have learned well in the last few years, one of the grandest is to simply enjoy myself every day and if I can manage it, every hour of every day, constantly. Oh, stuff happens you know, and it does its best to get you off track, or at least that's the story we tell others. Truth is, we can enjoy ourselves locked up in prison. If we choose to. We can enjoy ourselves at work, if we choose to. We can enjoy ourselves wherever we are and whatever circumstances exist, if we want to. It is 100% a choice how we want to feel all the time.

I was brought up in a series of divorces where one parent is blaming the other, even trying to get the kids to take sides, spy on each other, and other TV drama. We were taught that people do things to you that make you feel bad and that they are to blame and must be accountable. Ain't it awful. Looking back on that drama so many years ago, I just have to laugh at how silly it all was and how none of it ever worked the way they wanted it to. Fortunately for me, I saw all that as the eldest child and decided I wanted none of it in my life. Great thought, but hard to follow through on. Yet, I've learned over time that it can be done.

If nothing else, I know absolutely now that I am 100% in charge of my own feelings about anything. In that, I rejoice!

Another lesson that is similar that was learned is that the world gives you back pretty much what you give out. Want more love? Give more love. Want more recognition? Give more recognition. Want more knowledge? Teach more knowledge. Want more skills? Share your skills. Whatever you feel you are lacking, just turn right around and give it away and you will be filled. Want more inspiration? Inspire others. A number of people have told me how I have helped inspire them to make positive changes in thinking and action. That's awesome. And it is not nearly as awesome as the inspiration I get out of doing it. And it's all free. Who knew?

The world reflects you. Whatever you want more of, give more of it to others. Be a servant. Serve one and then another and then hundreds or thousands. The more you serve, the greater the reward coming back, not to mention the powerful rewards going out.

Let me share a song that I wrote with you that expresses some of this. I wrote it in 1987 after meeting Nancy who became my wife shortly afterward. It is called Nancy's Eyes because it was her eyes that were mesmerizing me!

Nancy's Eyes

1st verse:

Nancy's eyes reflect the joy I feel in me.

In Nancy's face I see all I've come to be.

And in her smile, my love comes back to me

In Nancy, I see me.

Chorus:

In here I see reflections of what's inside of me.

She radiates the qualities that once I couldn't see.

Now I understand, the love she sees in me,

For I reflect the love in here she's choosing to set free.

2nd verse:

In Nancy's voice, I hear the feelings I express.

In Nancy's touch, I feel the warmth of my caress,

And in her laugh, the laughter, I possess.

It's me, that she reflects.

Just for the fun of it, I took this song and a few others and put them on My Space. Most are not pro recordings. In case you might want to hear this song, go to https://myspace.com/terryminion/music/songs.

The world reflects us as other people reflect us. Whatever we want more of or whatever we feel we are lacking, if we will give that away, we will get all we need.


I'm Never Going Back To Being Bummed.
I Now Enjoy Everyday As Wonderful--Regardless!

Spread Some Joy Today--Cheering someone up is an easy thing and costs nothing. Even so little a thing as just smiling at them may do the trick. Some are hard core and you have to do more than just smile, but oh. . .the joy in that!

Daily Inspiration 1-13-10

"The guy says, "I wish someone would come by and turn me on."
What if they don't show up?"

-- Jim Rohn

"If. . . I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me."

-- Abraham Lincoln

"The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated."

-- William James

"We increase whatever we praise.
The whole creation responds to praise, and is glad."

-- Charles Fillmore


I just love Jim Rohn's quote above. Indeed, what if they don't show up? Great question. He says, "you gotta have a better plan for your life." He's absolutely right. And William James is exactly right as well--at least in all I know personally--that we pretty much all crave appreciation. If not you, I know I do. There is absolutely nothing that fires me up more than appreciation and encouragement. It's better than money and lasts a lot longer too.

But, in our quest for appreciation, what if they don't show up?

Let's say you do something special that you haven't done in a while like making a special dinner for a loved one, or sprucing yourself up on the outside, or creating a romantic situation, or any number of interesting things. You probably do it mainly because you feel like it. You're motivated for some reason. You're not really looking for appreciation (so you say. . .), but yet, you are expecting a positive response. Then, it happens. They miss it completely, or they say something stupid, or they are just oblivious. Heck, it has happened to me many times.

It is so typical in those situations to feel spent, unappreciated, disappointed and other emotions. Hey, stuff happens, right? You might even feel a little silly doing it in the first place.

All you need is some appreciation. What if they don't show up?

Don't throw in the towel. You're motivated, excited and interested. Stay on that track! It's the right track. Now it is time to think a bit differently and have a better plan for your life. Here's the plan: From now on, do it for you! Don't do it for someone else expecting a return. Do it for you and if someone else responds nicely to it, that can be a side benefit, but not the goal. If they respond poorly, you don't really care because you did it for you, not them. That is a plan that will work! I guarantee it!

I love Abraham Lincoln's quote about being his own best friend. Self-esteem is of primary importance. Let me repeat that: Self-esteem is of primary importance.

Here's a good way to get started: Praise yourself! Love yourself! Pamper yourself! Be a friend to yourself. Say only good, uplifting and flattering things to yourself. It doesn't matter what any one else thinks if you think highly of yourself. If you think lowly of yourself, then it only matters what others think. Not so good for you. What if they don't show up? What if they give you crap? Let that go away.

Charles Fillmore said above that "we increase whatever we praise." Don't we know it is true. So get the praise machine dusted off and plug it in. Turn it on high and feel the breeze! We're praising now! Lifting ourselves up! Shining like a bright star! Feeling good! Get on with your shiny self! If anybody deserves it, it's you! Don't be saving it up for some rainy day. Let it all out. That bucket will never run dry. Trust me!

What if they don't show up? Indeed. We don't need them to show up. We got it going on right here, right now!

That's what I'm talkin' about!


I Am A Shining Example Of God's Creative Talent! He Only Made One Of Me! That's All Right By Me! And, He Did A Fine Job Too!

Spread Some Joy Today--Get that smile going from ear to ear. Get that look of total confidence back in your eyes. Get that worthiness back in your step. Keep that kindness in your heart. Help someone else feel better about themselves today. Just because you want to share the feeling you have. It's all about the love!

Daily Inspiration 1-12-10

"One comes to believe 

whatever one repeats 

to oneself sufficiently often, 

whether the statement be true or false. 

It comes to be 

the dominating thought in one's mind."

-- Robert Collier

I've had a few people tell me that affirmations don't work and are a waste of time. Indeed, they say that just repeating happy phrases won't change anything; that it is delusional. I've even been told that I am being brainwashed by all that self-help, positive attitude stuff and that I'm just lining the pockets of the perpetrators of the pump-me-up products.

Thank God!

Albert Einstein said, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result." He also said, "we can't solve problems using the same kind of thinking that created them." When you're finally ready for a change, you have to be ready to change. I've been ready.

Back to affirmations. Of course affirmations work. Robert Colliers says that we "come to believe anything that we repeat to ourselves sufficiently often." Brainwashing is exactly right. Tell a kid he's no good often enough and it is likely he will believe it and act accordingly. Tell a kid they are the greatest, smartest kid ever often enough and the opposite will most likely be the result. Of course they work.

The only question is, what are the things that we are repeating to ourselves? Whatever it is, that is an affirmation. Do we go over and over our mistakes beating ourselves up for making a "stupid" decision? That is another affirmation affirming something and it is something we really don't want. We can be our own worst enemy sometimes.

How about "reality?" Maybe finances are in a negative spiral and there are many words blaming or reviewing the circumstances, worrying about the future, lamenting past foolish decisions, wishing it were different than it is, and on and on. Perhaps it is being said to you and you are repeating it to yourself, either agreeing or self analyzing. All affirmations.

So, sure. I want positive, pump-me-up stuff and frankly, I'm happy as heck to pay the people who took the trouble to produce the product. I get plenty of negative stuff everywhere I look, so the more positive stuff I can accumulate, the better. How else do you change where you're at? It certainly isn't the same thinking that got you there and it for sure isn't repeating the problem over and over again.

Time for some better affirmations. Maybe it's time to repeat them all day long for however long it takes. See it the way you want it and state it as if it is there now. It isn't necessarily easy to change, but it certainly is available to those who will simply reach out for it.

Join the club! I've joined and it is awesome!


I Am Smart, Handsome, Healthy, Successful and Happy!

Spread Some Joy Today--"I am" is probably the most powerful statement you can make. Fill in the blank the way you want it for everything in your life.

Daily Inspiration 1-11-10

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

-- William Shakespeare


"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment that you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get."

-- Matthew 7, The Bible

Of all the many thousands quotes I have ever seen, none is more powerful to me in my life than the one by William Shakespeare above. And I was thinking this morning of virtually every world problem that has ever existed has at the root of the matter, judgement between opposites and shading, whether good or bad; right or wrong; loving or hating; and the whole of the spectrum of comparison. It is most difficult to imagine, yet to attempt to live, a life without judgement. Yet, what a life it would be!

I have been working on this theme in earnest for several years now and I admit progress is evident, and the ideal is still desired and on the horizon. It has been difficult for me to change. It is also an exciting challenge. Indeed, the more I move toward this ideal, the more love and compassion I experience. What a concept!

It is also great fun. As I see something and my trained "reaction" is to judge the event, person, or circumstance, I catch and remind myself of "The Way." The Way has helped me so much to learn and grow rather than react:

The Way

There is only

Your Way
My Way
and
Their Way

There is no only way, just a way.

As I remind myself of The Way each and every day, I get better and more humble as well. Each way is a way. If I accept this, I get along nicely. Sure, I have a way. I always have a way (my opinions, my learned skills, knowledge gathered) that I could share. Yet the most important thing I've needed to realize is that it is only a way, not the way.

Each way will bring a result. That is true and certain. Not judging the result is equally important. The result is just the result. A much better question than is it good or bad, right or wrong, would be to ask if the results are what is desired? If not, another way might bring the desired results, yet it doesn't judge the way or the result as we are used to.

This takes me to blame. When I blame, I am judging. As I choose that I am "right," I can much more easily claim another to be "wrong" and thereby blame them for their wrongness by virtue of my righteousness. Of course, many of us blame ourselves for things as well as others. My experience is that blaming others or ourselves doesn't help anything.

Very interesting stuff. . .

Today I Will Use 'The Way' Throughout The Day.

Spread Some Joy Today--Share your calm confidence with everyone you interact with today. Let your heartlight be seen from a distance. Share your cheerful kindness.

Daily Inspiration 1-10-10

"The two things I did learn were that you are as powerful and strong as you allow yourself to be, and that the most difficult part of any endeavor is taking the first step, making the first decision."

-- Robyn Davidson

"My mother taught me very early to believe I could achieve any accomplishment I wanted to. The first was to walk without braces."

-- Wilma Rudolph


Sometimes I hear people say the can't do something. It is only lack of confidence in their own ability. Here is a short inspirational piece from Wikipedia:

"Wilma Rudolph was born prematurely at 4.5 lbs., with 19 brothers and sisters, and caught "infantile paralysis" (caused by the polio virus) as a very young child. She recovered, but wore a brace on her left leg and foot which had become twisted as a result. By the time she was twelve years old, she had also survived scarlet fever, whooping cough, chicken pox and measles. Her family drove her regularly from Clarksville, Tennessee to Nashville, Tennessee for treatments to straighten her twisted leg.

Wilma Rudolph at the finish line during 50 yard dash at track meet in Madison Square Garden, 1961

In 1952, 12-year-old Wilma Rudolph finally achieved her dream of shedding her handicap and becoming like other children. Wilma's older sister was on a basketball team, and Wilma vowed to follow in her footsteps. While in high school, Wilma was on the basketball team when she was spotted by Tennessee State track and field coach Edward S. Temple. Being discovered by Temple was a major break for a young athlete. The day he saw the tenth grader for the first time, he knew he had found a natural athlete. Wilma had already gained some track experience on Burt High School's track team two years before, mostly as a way to keep busy between basketball seasons.

While attending Burt High School, Rudolph became a basketball star, setting state records for scoring and leading her team to the state championship. By the time she was 16, she earned a berth on the U.S. Olympic track and field team and came home from the 1956 Melbourne Games with an Olympic bronze medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay.

At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome she won three Olympic titles; the 100 m, 200 m and the 4 × 100 m relay. As the temperature climbed toward 110 degrees, 80,000 spectators jammed the Stadio Olimpico. Rudolph ran the 100-meter dash in an impressive 11 seconds flat. However the time was not credited as a world record because it was wind-aided. She also won the 200-meter dash in 23.2 seconds, a new Olympic record. After these twin triumphs, she was being hailed throughout the world as "the fastest woman in history". Finally, on September 11, 1960, she combined with Tennessee State teammates Martha Hudson, Lucinda Williams and Barbara Jones to win the 400-meter relay in 44.5 seconds, setting a world record. Rudolph had a special, personal reason to hope for victory-to pay tribute to Jesse Owens, the celebrated American athlete who had been her inspiration, also the star of the 1936 Summyer Olympics, held in Berlin, Germany. Rudolph sprinted in the Drake Relays in Des Moines, IA and won first place.

Rudolph retired from track competition in 1962 after winning two races at a U.S.-Soviet meet."

You can do anything you set your mind to.


I Can, Can. Yes, I Can Can. You Know I Can, Can. I Am.

Spread Some Joy Today--Inspire someone with your confidence and your smile. It will inspire you more than them.

Daily Inspiration 1-9-10

"False friends are worse than open enemies."

-- Proverbs

"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away."

-- Raymond Hull

"We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others
that in the end we become disguised to ourselves."

-- Francois Duc de La Rochefoucauld


Did you ever know someone that you work with perhaps that is fairly nice to you, yet you just know in your heart that they would not hesitate to bring you down? Maybe it is even someone at church that you find has been talking you down to others. Not a good feeling, is it? Do we do any of that ourselves?

Ever find yourself talking others down to someone or a few people? Maybe it's the stupid boss who hasn't got a clue, or that other person who is such a thorn in your side. Or maybe you have listened to others doing this.

I have to admit, that I have been a party to all of that in the past and I've even been quite brutal about it with some. In recent years, I have mellowed greatly. Ask yourself this question: If they (the group or person you are talking with), are talking down this person and that person all the time, what might they be saying about you when they are talking with others? I'll never forget as a sales manager at a dealership, I called the service writers office on the intercom (remember those?) and he answered a question that thought that I clicked off. Then the service manager came into the room with the service writer and just went on and on about what an idiot I was and said it out in no uncertain terms. I got an earful about me.

Another thing that has really stuck with me is a quote from Abraham Lincoln: "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better." I have found this quote to be so helpful to me. It has really opened my eyes and my heart to learn to love some previously challenging people. You know what? I found they were just wonderful people. You know what else? I find that 99% are wonderful people. All trying and doing and failing and succeeding and living and working, and having many of the same fears.

We have learned to not be ourselves--especially in a business environment. I now go away from that and do my absolute best to just be as much me as I can and that will just have to do. I have no fear of losing a job since I have confidence in my abilities and value, so that helps me be more comfortable. I also avoid as much as possible talking down about others. I want to uplift others. If someone is in charge and they are not doing what I would do, that is just another way to do it. When you judge that what they do is right or wrong, there is the biggest problem, I've found. It's just another way and if you were in charge it would be done another way. It's sort of like personalities. We each have one and no two are alike.

Let's all let our love out rather than keep it hidden. This alone will change the world--especially your world.


I'm Building Up Myself And Others At The Same Time. We Can All Be Larger And More Loving.

Spread Some Joy Today--When someone starts talking others down, try changing the subject or saying something different. If that doesn't work, excuse yourself and walk quickly away. There is nothing to gain staying there except an earfull.

Daily Inspiration 1-8-10

"What counts can't always be counted;
what can be counted doesn't always count."

-- Albert Einstein

"It's good to have money and the things money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things money can't buy."

-- George Horace Lormier

"To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right."

-- Confucius


One of my very favorite quotes is the Albert Einstein quote above, "what counts can't always be counted; what can be counted doesn't always count." You might write that on a little card and carry it around for a week or so and read it often to let it just settle in nicely. It is such a lovely quote and so powerfully true.

This morning, I am relating that quote to business. For the past 38 years, I have been involved in sales and sales management and those things for most people are all about numbers. Numbers of sales, gross profits, commissions, monthly and annual projections, market share, are just a few of the numbers that come to mind. It seems much of the time as if it is all about what did you do today to put some numbers on the board. No numbers, equals a bad day. Some numbers, equals an okay day. Good numbers, equals a good day. Even if the boss isn't on you about the numbers today, you're on yourself about the numbers because you've been trained so well how important the numbers are.

"What can be counted, doesn't always count."

Here's one example of what I mean by that statement. You're working in sales for a business and you're selling as best you can. The company you work for cares a lot about the numbers. They are spending the money to move the numbers up by advertising and hiring the people. They are sincere about moving the numbers, but, they don't have a larger vision of what they want to do. They want more customers every day to bring in more sales and more profits, but they don't take care of the customers they have. There is no vision or plan for dealing with this. Many of the customers become disgruntled with the company for their lack of caring for their needs and wants. And it goes on every day just like the day before.

"What counts can't always be counted."

This is obviously how a lot of companies go out of business. They don't see a big enough picture and see how some things are so important, though they may not be seen that way today. It is like a small leak in a boat that goes unnoticed and unrepaired until the boat sinks.

Can we relate that to our personal lives? Do we smile at at others and act as if we care about them, love them, are glad to see them? Or, are they just there every day and that is the norm? Do we compliment them and uplift them with encouraging thoughts? Or, do we complain to them about what's not right today and how many things are not right in the world? Do we hug them as if we love them? Or, is it a glance as we move past them?

There is joy in every moment of every day that is available for the accepting of it. Joy is not something you receive from an event or situation, it is something you create out of thin air. Accepting it is powerful enough, but what is the best is sharing it with every one you meet, every day, every where. It counts better than any numbers could.


I'm Throwing Away My Calculator! I Count Differently Now! I Even Use My Fingers and Hands!

Spread Some Joy Today--When you get to work today, sit quietly for a few moments and think of something that makes you smile with your whole face. Hold that thought. Feel that thought. That's a bit of joy. Now share it by having that smile when you greet others today. Find something to compliment them on. People love compliments.

Daily Inspiration 1-7-10

"If we study the lives of great men and women carefully and unemotionally we find that, invariably, greatness was developed, tested and revealed through the darker periods of their lives. One of the largest tributaries of the river of greatness is always the stream of adversity."

-- Cavett Robert

"Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true."

-- Cinderella


Everyone has adversity in one way or another. There is plenty of it to go around. All you have to do is pick up any newspaper anywhere in the world, or listen to any news report on TV anywhere in the world, or listen to what many people talk about to each other, and it should then be clear to you that there is plenty of adversity to go around. What you will also find, if you step outside and look in, is that the vast majority of people "react" to these events or issues.

In my study of great people, the main difference is that they "respond" to adversity, they have learned that reacting is not helpful for what they are trying to achieve. There is a world of difference between reacting and responding--it's like the difference between a pinball and a bullet. Thomas Edison tried 10,000 different things to create the electric light bulb and if he had reacted to each event, I dare say he would not have gotten past ten. It could only be responding that would allow him to go on so long.

The other thing that is very clear in studying these people is their absolute tenacity in achieving their dreams and goals. They are rather like ants. They find an obstacle, and go around, go over, do whatever it takes to get where they were going. That tenacity only comes from belief. They believe they will succeed and they do. They don't let little things like bankruptcy, or impending doom (sound so ominous. . .) dissuade them from their target. That makes adversity seem like child's play!

Is it possible to not only accept adversity as a given, and welcome adversity as a tool, but also to be thankful and grateful for adversity as a blessing? Well, follow that path and you will soon see a completely different life. Imagine what it might be like. Practice it. It's becoming on you.


I'm Turning Mountains Into Molehills. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Here's a concept that is hard at first, but gets easier as you go and produces the most fantastic results: Anticipate adversity, embrace change, and believe right through it all.

Daily Inspiration 1-6-10

"It is not the critic that counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement. And at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

-- Theodore Roosevelt

Love that message . . .


I'm Doing. Going For It. Becoming. To Heck With What Others Think. Come On, Let's Roll!

Spread Some Joy Today--You don't see it often, but you can tell someone who has great confidence. You can see it in their face and their demeanor. It has an unmistakeable effect on others. That's now how you are not affecting others! Ain't it cool?

Daily Inspiration 1-5-10

"If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind."

-- Seneca

"Those who cannot tell what they desire or expect still sigh and struggle with indefinite thoughts and vast wishes."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I had never considered that I might actually "plan" to do any of the things I do for the last time. I've always figured I'll die while I'm still doing what I love doing. When folks say they've heard I'm retired, I say with mock surprise, "Retired! Friend, you weren't listening! I said I was reFIRED! I'm not gonna ease up, shut up, let up, or give up until I'm taken up! Matter of fact, I'm just getting warmed up!"

-- Zig Ziglar
(At age 82, from his latest book, Embrace the Struggle, 2009)

Goals is one of those words that people have heard so many times, they hardly acknowledge it. It is also something that so many have done so little with. I have been one of those who has had some goals, and a lot of time had no real goals. I like the way Ralph Waldo Emerson put it about how they "still sigh and struggle with indefinite thoughts and vast wishes." I have had plenty of vast wishes in my time.

This is also true: the times when I really got things done was when I had a definite aim and a focus. That's essentially what a goal is except that most people think of a goal as having a time line or deadline. I think that is most people's problem with goal setting--the time table.

The active ingredient is really the desire; the knowing what is truly wanted and that desire will translate into action with a focus on that desire, and if that focus is maintained, the goal is a foregone conclusion. The time frame is of no material interest except as a way of keeping score on the path toward the desire. It is also not nearly as important as it is made out to be. That should make it easier on everyone.

The most important aspect of goals to me relates to Zig Ziglar's quote from his latest book. It is doing what you love. It is what drives him. It is what gives him joy and energy. It is a passion for him. With that, it is a really hard thing to not do it.

Every time I have lost my spark; my drive, my goals, I remember this quotation that I have always loved from Jack London: "I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."

To that I say, Yes and Amen! Or should I say, "Goooooaaaaaallllll!"


I'm ReFIRED! Got The Goals Goin' On!

Spread Some Joy Today--Share some of your boundless enthusiasm with everyone you meet today. There is nothing so contagious and joyful! You have the power to change yourself and others will want some of that too.

Daily Inspiration 1-4-10

"'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
'I don't much care where--' said Alice.
'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat"

-- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

"If you don't know where you are going,
you will probably end up somewhere else."

-- Laurence J Peter


Starts Tomorrow!

Today's CTS Daily Inspiration could lead to a lifelong world of inspiration through goals. I want to share an email I received from Darren Hardy with you. Darren Hardy is the person behind the reintroduction of Success magazine and what an awesome job he has done making it a thousand times better than it ever was in the past.

He is a very successful entrepreneur and the more I hear of him, the more I like. He has developed a program of 16 lessons, two per week for 8 weeks on setting and achieving goals. I have not seen this ahead of time, since he hasn't given it; however, based on what I do know about Darren Hardy, it should be well worth all of our time and energy.

So, I highly recommend following the link, watching the explanation video and then registering for this program. Did I mention it is FREE? It's FREE! Here's a copy of the email I received:



Designing the Best 10 Years of Your Life:

Your Personal Strategic Plan for Achieving Lifelong Goals
by Darren Hardy


Starting January, the 5th, 2010


Before we get started next week I wanted to share with you a personal message of WHY I am doing this program... And why for FREE (I always like to know someone's motivation)... And a little bit more about HOW it will work.


Please view my video message below:


CLICK HERE TO WATCH

----------------------------------------------------------

Taking Charge Of Our Lives! I Love It!

Spread Some Joy Today--Share this offer with your friends. What if it changed their life? What if it changed yours? No need to wonder. I'm confident that it will. There is nothing but joy in that!

Daily Inspiration 1-3-10

"I've come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy."

-- Anthony Robbins

"See things as you would have them be instead of as they are."

-- Robert Collier

"Picture yourself vividly as winning, and that alone will contribute immeasurably to success."

-- Harry Emerson Fosdick

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

-- Albert Einstein

We have so many opportunities to learn and to do. Sometimes we do things that don't work out, and sometimes they stick in our thinking a long time into the future. They need not. You can change the outcome in your mind and leave it as a success instead of the way it was.

A long time back in late 1979, I started a business full time. I opened a musical instrument store. It ended up that my wife and I both worked the store full time, giving up our previous incomes and relying on the store to take care of that loss. The store did well, and grew. Of course, growing has a cost, so we got through, but struggle was a word that described much of the process. After a year and a half, I gave up. There is more to that part of the story, but we sold everything off, paid everyone and came away with a little left. It didn't fail, I gave up. Quitting was the only failure.

The main problem was that I didn't have a big enough vision of the business. I thought I did, but I didn't. I know this now because I looked back and have made it a thorough success of it now by changing my thinking and making different and more effective and productive decisions. This is a really good and fun way to change your thoughts of past events: relive them, but revamp them! So, today, I went back and did it differently and I got a much improved and different result. Essentially, I repaired the memory.

Before, I only wanted to be in the store and run it. Truth is, that means I bought a job. That's not necessarily bad, there are hundreds of thousands of businesses that do that. Now, going back and changing, I have hired a manager to run the store, while I supervise periodically and keep it growing while I do what I need to do to move forward. I take less for myself, but I now can multiply my efforts over and over again. Now it is like a separate entity whereas in the past I was so closely tied to it, there was no separation. And now, it is a chain of successful stores.

Sure it isn't what actually happened in the past, but it sure is a great way to learn from it instead of feeling crappy about it, don't you think? Heck, you can do this with any memory of events or circumstances in your past. Make it the way you want it. Forget reality and make your own, and do it well.

The reason I share this is that it is all in how we think about things. It isn't what we're doing or what is happening to us, or around us. It is how we think about those things.

Do we see opportunities or do we see the lack of them? Do we see a business growing as an entity, or do we see ourselves doing a business? Do we stop short of success? Do we learn from what we call mistakes?

If not business, I know these same thoughts apply to every thing else we do. How we think about what we do is everything. It has everything to do with what we do in the future as well.

I see hope, opportunity, love, success, abundance, joy. It's the way those words make me feel. They make me feel good. That's as good a reason as I need.


This Time I Won't Stop. I Will Expand My Thinking!

Spread Some Joy Today--Who can you encourage today? It is the sweetest thing to receive. It costs you pretty much nothing but thought energy. Let's spend it lavishly since you're a Billionaire in thought energy! You have more than you could ever need.

Daily Inspiration 1-2-10

[re: Mickey Mouse]
"He popped out of my mind onto a drawing pad 20 years ago
on a train ride from Manhattan to Hollywood
at a time when business fortunes of my brother Roy and myself
were at lowest ebb and disaster seemed right around the corner."

-- Walt Disney

"Everything depends on the way we look at things. . .
The hopeful man sees success where others see failure,
sunshine where others see shadows and storm."

--Orison Swett Marden

"There is no such thing as a problem without a gift. . .
You seek problems because you need their gifts."

-- Richard Bach


I'll bet that if you kept a good, detailed diary over a long period that you would find that every problem brought you a blessing. Of course, they don't look or feel that way at the beginning or while we are experiencing them, but after the dust is settled, the benefit can be clearly seen. It has been said that everyone has 20/20 hindsight. What most of us could really use is 20/20 foresight so we could see the benefit up front and it would make it so much better dealing with the problem. Or, so we think. Truly, we may not have nearly the motivation knowing the outcome up front.

Looking back, I could give you a long list of problems I went through finding blessings on the other side. One thing that I have changed recently is making all the difference in how those problems feel. It's all about the feeling, isn't it? Many times, it feels unpleasant (saying it kindly) to deal with problems or to experience certain circumstances. The thing I changed is how I look at them. I see them and welcome them now as learning experiences and frankly, as blessings. I know absolutely that I am going to be better, things will be better and I will feel better afterward, so I have chosen to feel good about them up front. I tell you this: it makes all the difference in the world what they feel like. No more being unhappy about them, putting up with it, dealing with it, complaining about them. Now, I praise them, look forward to them and even get excited about them. Of course, I am a work in progress, so it does get easier and better as I move forward.

What is really interesting is to look at other people and watch them go through what I used to go through. It's like watching someone smoking. I think, "man, I'm so glad I don't do that any more!" It is empowering and energizing and affirming.

Another interesting thing is to read about others like the Walt Disney quote above. I know that was a very long time ago, but look where he and his brother were and where their lives and where the little company went. It went off the charts! It became a world wide mega business and is still growing even 43 years after Walt Disney's death in 1966. Matter of fact, it grew many times the size it was when he died. That is a powerful legacy.

Think of what can be done when you believe in yourself and know that you are going to do something special. Persistence, vision, tenacity, hope, faith, joy, laughter, confidence, dream are words that come to mind.

What was that problem again?


I Enjoy The Journey and See Opportunity Everywhere!

Spread Some Joy Today--Try thinking differently just for today. Pretend that money is not an object of concern. You're at a party and someone important asks what you do and why you do it. You answer, "________________________ . . ."

Daily Inspiration 1-1-10

"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business."

-- Henry Ford

"A job is something you do for money. A career is something you do because you have an inner calling to do it. You want to do it. You love doing it. You're excited when you do it. And you'd do it even if you were paid nothing beyond food and the basics. You'd do it because it's your life."

-- Denis Waitley

"You reach a point where you don't work for money."

--Walt Disney


I think most people get this concept of not working for money, but a very small number ever experience it for themselves.

I was consulting with an auto dealer and had a meeting with their entire management staff (a large gathering. . .). I asked them what the company goals were. They had two: One was to be profitable, and the other was to be in a special dealer group acknowledged by the factory. I said that those goals were way too small and that those goals did not motivate anyone in the store except a very few senior executives. I said that the goal must be much more grand than this and that it has to appeal to the people who do the work.

They weren't very pleased with me at that meeting, but the truth is that their goals had no draw. I am certain that it didn't even motivate the managers, let alone the rest of the employees. A goal to be profitable is almost meaningless to an employee, though it may mean a great deal to an owner. That's why it isn't big enough. It includes very few. As Henry Ford said so eloquently, "a business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business." Henry Ford had extremely grand goals and visions of his enterprises.

How big is your dream for your business? How big is your dream for yourself? Napoleon Hill said it well: "A goal is a dream with a deadline." Does your goal have drawing power? Does it get you out of bed in the morning, raring to go? It will if you love doing it.

I've had very few jobs in my life. Mainly it has been a career. Most of it I have loved doing even when it challenged me to do something I've never done, and I've grown immensely as a result. And now in the last three years, I have such a passion for what I do that I can hardly stand it and it challenges me almost every day. Some of what I do makes no money at all at the moment, but it doesn't matter a bit. It is all part of the joy of doing it and knowing where I am going with it. I tell you that is a powerful and exciting place to be.

Even if you are in a position that is not exactly where you want to be or working for someone who isn't the greatest, you can find that passion within you and you can work yourself right through it toward what you really want. In Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, he says to decide what you want and work right where you are giving everything you have to it with all your power of focus, and things will begin to change for you. Oh, the hope in that! (By the way, if you haven't read this book, I highly recommend to get it immediately! It is a book worth serious study.)




I Work Because I Love To Do It!

Spread Some Joy Today--Close your eyes. Imagine what it would be like if everyone at your place of employment absolutely loved doing what they do. How would they look? How would they talk? How would they interact with each other and customers? Got it? Okay, now pretend you are one of them. Just for today. . .