The Foundation Has Been Laid

What a great year 2011 has been. Sure, it's had it's ups and downs, but that is just a part of life. The knowledge, experiences, and the people that have come into my life this year have helped shape what 2011 was all about. I can look back and say that there are some things that would have happened but they didn't so I'm not going to worry about it. 2011 was a year that I was able to lay an incredible foundation for all that is going to happen in 2012. I have been able to developed my mind, spirit, and soul for my passion. 2012 will be a great year to start building on that foundation and go from unknown to know, from good to great, and from practice to game day. I believe that I am exactly where I am supposed to be in life at this moment. Over the next few days I am going to take, what is for me, a huge leap of faith. I have shared my passion to become a full-time Motivational Speaker/Life Coach with just a few close friends and family. Ones that I feel I could trust with my goals, ones that would support me, and ones that wouldn't try to squash my dreams. Now, I feel like I am ready to share it with the world. I know that it will come with some criticisms and obstacles, but when a dream/passion goes from your head to your heart, it's almost impossible to extinguish that kind of fire. With the help of friends and family, we will begin to put AIAO Life Coaching on the map. I know that this will get very busy for me this next year and I am sure that there will be obstacles that will test my resolve but I am ready to take them on. Thank you to everyone for your support. I am always open to ideas and constructive criticism, without those two things, AIAO Life Coaching cannot become all that it can be. Cheers to all that 2011 was and all that 2012 will be.

Dream Big...Pursue Big...Live Big.

Success For Just Dollars

I have been wanting to share a list of all the books that I have read over the past thirteen months for a couple weeks now, so here it is. The ones with an asterisk are the ones that I will be reading again in 2012. I have discovered the power of reading during this time and believe that it is one of the most under utilized tools that we have. Many of these books I purchased at Dollar Tree, clearance sections of bookstores, a couple from Half Priced Bookstore,and a few from Amazon. The only book that I paid full retail for was Atlas Shrugged. I am a bargain shopper but I have been amazed, when I let the books find me, how they have been the right books at the right time in my life. Some I even bought months before I read them, but when I picked them up, the timing was perfect. In order to find the time and money to sit down one on one with all of these successful people, if it would even be possible, would be an almost impossible feat. I have found success for just a few dollars per book and wisdom that I can pick up at anytime. I would like to challenge everyone to read a book a month this next year.  

*Life Coaching For Dummies

*Neuro-linguistic Programming For Dummies

*The Alchemist -Paulo Coelho

Excellence: Inspiration for Achieving Your Personal Best -Edited By J. Pincott

Life Coach -Steve Tarde(Ebook)

You Have 3 Minutes: Learn the Secret of the Pitch From Trump’s Original Apprentice -Ricardo R. Bellino

Drive:The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us -Daniel Pink

Transformational Speaking: If You Want to Change the World, Tell a Better Story -Gail Larsen

Don’t Be Clueless: 7 Keys to Life in the Real World -Garry Cobb & Pat Breslin

A Boy Should Know How To Tie A Tie and Other Lessons For Succeeding In Life -Antwone Fisher

Sales Presentation Techniques(That Really Work) -Stephan Schiffman

It’s Not Over Until I Win: How to Become the Person You Always Wanted to Be-No Matter What the Obstacle -Les Brown

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference -Malcolm Gladwell

The Little Red Book of Wisdom -Mark DeMoss

*Rhinoceros Success -Scott Alexander

Advanced Rhinocerology: To Help You Through the Jungle -Scott Alexander

Wisdom to Grow On: Incredible Letters and Inspiring Advice For Getting the Most Out of Life -Charles J. Acquisto

Toy Box Leadership: Leadership Lessons From the Toys You Loved as a Child -Ron Hunter Jr. & Michael E. Waddell

How To Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Atlas Shrugged -Ayn Rand

*Happiness from the Inside Out: The Art and Science of Fulfillment -Robert Mack

Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don’t -Michael J. Losier

Secrets To Success: When You Want to Succeed as Bad as You Want to Breathe -Eric Thomas

Journey to the Impossible: Designing an Extraordinary Life -Scott Jeffrey

Step Into Your Greatness: People Don't Fail Because They Aim to High and Miss, but Because They Aim to Low and Hit -Les Brown(Audio Book)

*Make The Impossible Possible: One Man’s Journey to Change Lives -Bill Strickland


*The Passion Test:The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life Purpose -Chris & Janet Attwood


In closing I would like to thank you all who read my posts and wish you all a very wonderful Holiday season. I am expecting big things in 2012 and I hope that all of you are as well.


Dream Big...Pursue Big...Live Big!!!

Stepping Out

I have been pursuing my passion for just over a year now. I have been feeding and nurturing it with great care. I am sure that there are things that I could have done better but I don't regret where I am in my pursuit. I believe that I am where I am supposed to be in this journey. This past year has had it's ups and downs, but I was open enough to allow my passion to show me what all it can and will become. Doubts have crept in and even thoughts of giving up. I have also had those days where I felt like nothing can stop me from accomplishing all that I was destined to do. Thankfully, I have have had way more days of determination than those of doubt. 

I know that I was born with my destiny and passion already alive within me. But, due to my choices I have had to wait until the time was right for it to be revealed to me. I'm not sure of the exact moment or situation that caused me to realized what I was destined to do, but I am now very clear what it is that I am to do with my life.

I know that my next step could be my hardest so far. You see, I have protected my passion and dreams from most of my friends and family. I know that I will need help along the way, but I was afraid of what others might say. So, I have probably been overly protective of my passion at times. I believe that, to some extent, I needed to protect it. Mentally and spiritually my passion needed time to mature and take root within me, to the point where it wouldn't be easily shaken. I now feel that the time is almost here for me to share with the whole world where it is I am going. I know that opening myself up like this will attract the cynics and critics. I understand that their words and actions could hamper my progress. Many of their concerns will be well founded in "being realistic" and their concern for me and my family. To those who honestly have me and my family in their best interests, I appreciate and thank you for your concern. More importantly, this will also open new doors for me. Every successful person, has had some help along the way, from sources that they never thought of. Now is the time for my passion to really take flight.


Dream Big...Pursue Big...Live Big
 

The Road Not Traveled

The road on the right looks close, the one on the left looks really muddy from all the recent rain, and there is no way to turn around. So, I guess the I will have to go forward, onto the four-lane Interstate that is well paved, has a 70 MPH speed limit, and plenty of traffic. Left, right, or forward will all get me to the same place, the end of my life. You see, on the road of life we will be faced with this type of decision many times over. Going forward means that you will follow the status quo. You will live your life, like many other, among the people who have given up on their dreams in exchange for being comfortable. Personally, I have traveled this road a lot and it's easy and pretty safe travel. To be honest, I've enjoyed the time that I have traveled this road. It didn't require a whole lot of effort and I could use cruise control most of the time. Sure, I haven't achieved everything that I could have, but who needs that headache? The more you achieve, the more that is expected of you. Plus, I have a good job that I can move up in, I make pretty good money, I have a nice home and car, and a family that loves and supports me. What or why ask for more out of life? Because the road that looks to muddy or the one that seems closed is the one that is not travelled in my life. Because that is the road that my heart and spirit tells me that I should be on. At almost 40 years old, many would say why now and isn't it to late in life? Many before you have tried and failed miserably at chasing their dreams. But that's the point, that was them and that was their dreams. It's time that I take the road not travelled in my life. I am willing to take on the struggles and hardships that will inevitably happen. When your dream moves from your head to your heart, there is no stopping you. So I salute those of you who have decided to travel the road in your life that has not been travelled and those of you who are now making that decision.You will face criticism, doubts, hardships, and maybe even lose some friends and family along the way. The road not traveled will test you like you have never been tested before in your life. It will cause you the do things that you have never done and will force you to be good at things that you never saw as one of your strengths. But, that road will also give you happiness like you have never felt, inner peace like you none other before, and a sense of worth that only that it can.

Now I know that this metaphor is probably a little redundant and played out but for those of you who really know me, I speak what is on my heart. I know that the seeds of inspiration, that I share, will never go without being harvested when they are read by an individual with an open mind and heart.

Dream Big...Pursue Big...Live Big