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

Second-Class Citizenship

The definition of a second-class citizen is a person considered inferior in status or rights in comparison with some others. I believe that many of us have been a second-class citizen at some point in our lives or might even feel like they are one right now. I know that I have been a second-class citizen at times in my life. I have been poor, homeless, worked what some would consider menial jobs, and have lived in a trailer(mobile home) more than once. One, if not more, of these could classify me as a second-class citizen at different times in my life. I know that there are many other factors that could cause someone to be considered a second-class citizen but none of these are what I would like for you to take into consideration.

When we deprive ourselves our birthright of being happy and living up to our fullest potential as a human being, aren't we really relegating ourselves to second-class citizenship? It's not that we are inferior, but we place ourselves in an inferior situation when we ignore our happiness and passions in life. We are capable of far more that what we allow ourselves to accomplish. Some are afraid of failure, some success, and still others are plain lazy. I understand that it's easier to just ignore what our heart wants, especially when it will take work to make it happen. With time, that nagging feeling of accomplishing what it is that you have always wanted to do will subside, but it will never completely go away. From time to time, your heart will remind you of the "what if's" of what your life could be like. It will remind you that you are not a second-class citizen, but a first-class human being, with a hidden passion that needs to be fulfilled. No one can accomplish your dreams and goals but you and no one can make you completely happy but you. 

It's time to turn in your second-class citizenship card and go after that which has caused you many restless nights.

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

Laying On A Nail

The story goes, that one day a man was taking a walk and passed by a house with some people sitting on the porch talking. As he walked by he noticed that there was a dog laying on the porch as well that was moaning and groaning. The man decided to ask the man on the porch, "Why is your dog moaning and groaning?" The man replied, "Because he's laying on a nail." "Well why won't he get off?", the man asked. He answers, "Because it's not hurting bad enough to get off, just bad enough to moan and groan."

How many times in our lives have we been like that dog? The situations that we find ourselves in aren't bad enough to take action to correct, but we have no problem complaining about them. I believe that if we are not willing to take the actions to correct the nail(s) in our lives, that we should stop complaining about them. We have a job that we don't like, our kids are acting up, the dishwasher is broken, our coworkers and or mate aren't being supportive of us, and the list goes on and on of what we complain about on a daily basis. Stop wasting your time and energy on the stuff that you aren't willing to fix. It just brings you down and those around you. If it's something that is out of your control, then just walk away from that nail in your life. No need to concern yourself with it, like all the drama that others want to force you to listen to and take their side on. 

I have had and still do have nails in my life but I stopped concerning myself with them and I have done everything that I can to move away from the things that I don't like in my life. It's amazing how, when I concern myself with what I can do about the situations that I have control over, how the little things that used to bother me so much really don't matter anymore. I have learned to stop moaning and groaning about the nails in my life by getting up, moving, and concerning myself with the good things in my life. I would implore you to just try this for the next week. Every time that a situation in your life becomes uncomfortable and you want to moan and groan about it, get up and move you, if possible, and more importantly your thoughts, to what makes you happy.


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

Somthing So Simple Meant So Much

As many of you know, I have spent the last eleven months working on me and preparing myself to accomplish my passions and dreams. Twenty plus books and hours of motivational/educational videos and CD's to help me get my mind and spirit in line with who I want to be as a person and where I need to be in my professional life. I have had the opportunity to meet some great new friends, speak to two High School classes, share my vision with several individuals, and learn a lot about myself along the way. I have taken most of the negatives out of my life, those that I have control over, and replaced them with the the positive stuff that I need.

The past eleven months haven't been completely easy. I have had many days filled with self-doubt, fear, impatience, and wanting to quit. There have been many days that I questioned if this is really what I wanted to even do. Giving up would be easier, and just go on on the career path that I have been doing for the past nineteen years. I make good money, I know what I am doing, and I've been doing it so long that it's not really work anymore, it's more like a habit. But I realize that giving up on my passion would mean that I would be giving up on a certain amount of happiness and fulfilling what I believe to be my true calling in life. Those two things are not something that I am willing to risk. I have played it safe long enough, time for me to step out and take a risk.

We live in in society of instant gratification but I understand that I didn't get to my current place in life overnight, so it will take some time to get out of it. It's going to take some time for me to start reaping the benefits of my efforts. A couple of days ago I received and email from a friend of mine, telling me that "he reads a lot of my posts on Facebook and that it has encouraged him to follow his dream no matter the obstacle." Now this may seem like something small and not much of a reward for eleven months of work to most people but this meant the world to me. It encouraged me to continue down the path that I have started down towards my passions in life no matter what obstacles I may encounter. The rewards will come from out of nowhere and when you least expect them. I'm not sure what 2012 has in store for me, but I do know that as long as I stay true to my passions and dreams happiness will follow.

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

It's Ok To Be Selfish

I am sure that most of us consider ourselves to be unselfish people. We give of ourselves when and where we can. We especially go out of our way for family and close friends. We help people move, we give to our favorite charities, we donate our time to helping those in need, and we even send encouraging messages to those hurting. These are the kinds of action that we should do for others without expecting something in return and these are very unselfish acts.

All of this is well and good but we need to be more selfish. It doesn't mean that we stop doing those things that I have mentioned, but it means that we need to work on our own happiness. We get so caught up in all of the dramas of everyday life that we neglect ourselves. When struggles happen in life we get so worked up over them that we begin to forget about being happy. When our focus is not on ourselves and what makes us happy we are then less effective in helping others not to mention that fact that is begins to effect those closest to us without even saying a word. 

The lack of happiness triggers depression and what good are you to those who mean the most to you if you are depressed? We have become society of rush, rush, rush, that we put our own needs aside for the sake of others. But what good are we when we are less than 100%? I can personally testify that what I am saying is true. I made a decision almost a year ago that I was going to work on me and what makes me happy because I know that if I am happy I am of more value to those around me. Sure, I have still had my tough times, but it's a process and it takes time to reprogram your brain to pursue your happiness. Figure out what makes you happy in life and go after that. When we direct our thoughts and actions toward what makes us happy, the struggles in life will fight to get the attention that they were used to. The struggles will start to seem like the "small things" and we all know not to "sweat the small things."

What we are and who we become are all products of our thoughts and actions. If you are in an unhappy relationship, unhappy with your job, unhappy with your car or home stop dwelling on it. Turn your attention to what is making you happy and things will start turning around for you. Remember that you didn't get in this rut overnight and you won't get out overnight. But trust me on this, the results far out weigh the effort.

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