•I Don't Want To Change
Sometimes situations force us to make changes. At other times, we get so tired of our current results that we initiate change. Sometimes in life we know we need to change, but just refuse to change.
Why do we fight and resist change at times?
At some point, we recognize the need for change. Perhaps we see it or someone else points it out to us. But, we all know too well that nothing changes by simply recognizing a need for change.
For example, if you are overweight then you recognize...
•Guess What Just Happened?
? Why is it that the details of something negative seem to be so vivid to people's minds, yet the details of their dreams and goals seem so vague? Let me explain.
How many times do you hear someone say to you, "Guess what just happened to me?" And of course you can't say, "I don't care; I'm not interested." And so we all usually say, "Gee, what happened?"
What happens next many times is the person telling you about something that happened that is not very pleasant. And here's the...
•Rachel's Dream
June has arrived; the year is moving very quickly. I know that's pretty silly because there are still 24 hours in a day. But as each day goes by are you getting closer to your dreams?
Have you ever noticed that as children get older many of their dreams seem to vanish? At age five or six many kids are anxious, excited and eager and have some of the wildest dreams you have ever heard of.
But slowly, over time, as they get older, those dreams just seem to slip away. And when it comes to...
•Should Some Salaries Be Illegal?
? I told my children, probably a million times as they were growing up, that life is not fair. But, does that apply to the income that movie stars and sports players earn? Some think that what they make is just not fair.
A survey taken in late March of this year revealed that a number of people not only think it is not fair to pay athletes and movie stars more than $1 million per year, they think it should be illegal. Thirty percent of those asked in a Rasmussen Reports national telephone...
•Are You Afraid Of Getting Fired?
? It seems like every day on the news you hear about the rising of the unemployment rate. Although this is a fact, this information does nothing to encourage confidence. Instead, it just breeds more fear.
According to the numbers I looked at, the highest figures since 1948 were in 1982 and 1983. For ten straight months, from September of 1982 to June of 1983, unemployment stayed above 10%. It got as high as 10.8%. But, we survived.
As a result of the numerous layoffs, many of those who are...
•What's Your Response to the Economy?
? It seems to be the big topic of the day. I talked to a couple of people last week and it wasn't long before we were talking about the economy. One individual was nervous and afraid, but the other person was peaceful and confident. We were talking about the same situation, but there were two very different responses.
When you get really honest, how you think about the current economy determines how you feel about it. But the real question is, does your response have anything to do with the...
•An Opportunity for Learning
I was talking with a friend of mine last month about home mortgage interest rates. We were discussing how low interest rates are today. Back in the 1980's he and his wife were looking to buy a home and the rates were between 18 and 20 percent!
Recently, I heard that rates are now between 4.5 and 4.9 percent. Just last week I heard someone offering a 3.9 percent rate. These recent rates are certainly a lot lower than they were in the 1980's.
Add to that the continuing number of...
•Having Some Problems?
? Have you ever noticed how easy it is to be happy and positive when things are going well? When there are no interruptions, obstacles or problems around you, it's easy to enjoy life. You might even say, "I'm feeling pretty good and everything seems to be just fine; life is great!"
But what is your reaction when something unexpected interrupts your life? What about when something unpleasant comes up? Suddenly, for many, it's not so easy to remain positive; or is it?
No one welcomes...
•Are You Afraid Of Losing Your Job?
? There are people today who are worried about losing their job. With the daily news of downsizing and company failures, many people are becoming afraid that they could become unemployed.
Recently, I have talked to a number of people who have lost their jobs. I have also been talking to people who are afraid of getting fired. There is something that I have shared with both groups.
Someone can take away your job or your current income. While that is certainly something that is very...
•Predict Your Future!
You can predict your future. You really can predict your own success or your own failure. "Nonsense!" you say? It really is true.
Consider this. If you have absolutely no control over your future, then why worry about anything? Whatever is going to happen to you is going to happen anyway, right? That's called fate. And believe it or not, that in and of itself is a prediction.
It is true; we have absolutely no control over many things in life. I cannot control the stock market, can...
•Turn Off The News!
Have you watched the news on T.V. lately? How did you feel at the end of the newscast, if you lasted through it even that long? Did you feel positive and encouraged? Not hardly!
There is no denying that we are living in some very trying times. And, along with all the news that is being reported, the newscasters have now turned into forecasters! It's not enough for them to tell what has happened, but they are now telling us what is going to happen!
Every day millions of people sit in...
•Stay Away From The Pity Parties and The Over Night Success Promises!
There are people today who have lost their savings. There are others who have lost their jobs. There are people today who are scared. There is plenty of uncertainty these days.
Despite all that is going on, I wanted to caution you about two groups to stay far away from. In fact, even during the best of times, avoid both of these groups at all costs. One group is pretty low key, while the other is loudly beating the drums.
First, stay away from any and all "pity parties." These are...
•The Secret KFC Recipe!
Recently there was a news report that Colonel Sanders's 68-year-old recipe was being secretly moved from its previous storage spot until security could be revamped. The story went on to say that only one copy of the legendary recipe exists on a single sheet of yellowed notebook paper, with the ingredients handwritten in pencil. The sheet bears the Colonel's famous signature at the bottom.
Some called it a great publicity stunt; the story reported that the piece of paper was being moved to...
•I Finally Got My Revenge!
It took me six months. The anger and betrayal was finally satisfied on that humid day in June...or was it? It was the day I finally got my revenge. It happened over thirty years ago.
Six months earlier, I accepted a job in Florida. My new bride of eight months and I moved to the beautiful panhandle of the Sunshine State. It was a modest increase in pay from where I was before.
We lived three blocks from the beach and paid one hundred dollars a month to rent a one bedroom house. I was...
•August Resolution #1: Take Action!
This morning I was reviewing my goals for this year. I needed to do some revisions and make some changes. I do this on a regular basis.
Normally people think about their "resolutions" in late December, or, on New Year's Day. They write down their goals for the upcoming year. Many times these goals are referred to as "resolutions." But when August rolls around, for many people, their goals and resolutions have been long since forgotten.
People abandon their resolutions because they either...
•Finding Your Passion
It is not uncommon to hear statements like, "I am doing what I love and I have never been happier!" Or, "If your job is doing what you love you'll never work another day in your life!" You even hear, "I am living my passion and making more money than I ever have!"
I read that a recent study showed that over 65% of the people polled have no idea what their life's passion is! And yet, we hear it all the time that we should live our passion. Why then does it seem so hard to define it?
Passion...
•Dream Stealers
Living here in Arizona, we have about five months of very hot weather. People who visit during that time have a hard time just going from the house to the car. Day after day of triple digit temperatures are absolutely unbearable to them.
The opposite was true when we lived in Minnesota. When people visited during the long sub zero seasons, being outdoors for only a minute or two was just too much for them.
Our environment affects us. People who live in a dirty environment are more...
•Why Settle?
? Sometimes people say things like, "Well, my life isn't what I'd really like for it to be, but I guess its good enough; I'm getting by." They are settling and accepting life as it is with no anticipation for the future.
Settling for where things are today indicates a lack of belief in your potential. And sadly, many people simply allow their potential to lie dormant for a lifetime. They do that for a number of reasons.
Some people have had so many disappointments in their life that they...
•Who Says You Can't?
? A couple of years ago I was the emcee at an event and introduced Rocky Bleier, the keynote speaker. Rocky is a wonderful man, full of life and enthusiasm, and he gave a very inspiring presentation. I really enjoyed it.
A statement in his presentation video caught my attention more than anything else during that whole morning meeting.
You see, shortly after being drafted by the Pittsburg Steelers in 1968, Rocky was also drafted by The United States Army. A year later, while serving in...
•Have You Reached Your Limits?
? How much potential do we really have? Is there a point in life when we can just say, "I've reached my limits, that's all I can do?" Or, can we continue to grow?
I heard a couple of weeks ago about Marion Jacobson, who just published her second children's book. So, what's so unusual about that? Plenty of people write books. Yes, and lots of people want to write a book, but never do.
Marion finished her second book at the tender age of 85.
Verne Oliver joined the Gilder Foundation as...
•Stop Looking Back!
Getting ready to drive off in my wife's car the other day, I checked and adjusted her mirrors. I first adjusted the side mirrors and then finally the rearview mirror. And suddenly, it dawned on me. Ever notice how much smaller the rearview mirror is than the windshield?
Of course I realize that this is not some startling new discovery. Anyone who drives knows that the rearview mirror is much, much smaller than the windshield for very obvious reasons.
But as I sat there before I drove off,...
•Overcoming Discouragement
Dean Forrest was 33 years old and had five children when the accident happened. He would later become my father-in-law.
In 1963, Dean was involved in a very serious accident at work involving liquid ammonia. He saved two of his co-workers, but was badly burned. He spent the next two years in and out of the hospital and contracted pneumonia 18 times.
Finally, in 1965, he was told to move to a dryer climate, but the Doctor warned my future mother-in-law to be prepared. He told her that Dean...
•Where Is Your Life Going?
? Is your life all that you desire it to be right now? Where do you want your life to go? One of the biggest things that will hinder you from reaching your goals and dreams is to focus on your current situation.
Have you ever stopped to consider that your current situation right now in your life is simply your current situation? And most people will think, act, react, and respond because of how they see themselves right now.
Some who desire to bring their life to a new and better level many...
•Don't Save For A Rainy Day!
Have you ever noticed that positive people attract positive things into their lives? Perhaps you've also observed that negative people attract negative things into their lives. What you focus your mind on, you will bring into your life. That's why I don't believe in saving money for a "rainy day."
Many times you hear people say things like, "I'm saving money for a rainy day," or, "I'm putting money aside in case of an emergency."
But how does that thinking affect your mind? Your mind is...
•Getting Things Done
Getting Things Done Sometimes with all the things that you need to do right now, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed. Add to that the list of things that you want to accomplish someday in the future. This may include projects you've been putting off, books you've been meaning to read, classes you've thought of taking, or other things. How will you get it all accomplished?
Let's start first with all of the things that need to be done today or this week. Can you quickly name...
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