Value Exchange and the "average" bully...

I have had a heavy issue upon my heart today and it has to do with many things that change in a person's life, and how they deal with those changes. Some would say that other people are "Wrong" or "Stupid" or they can not believe that a person could feel that way. Negative, Positive, Elitist or otherwise.

 We all have a limited stay on this planet which is a blessing that has been given to us to do with what we wish. I want to start out talking about value.  In Wisconsin lately there have been attitudes flaring, and many angry people talking about our Governor and saying he is a bully, and calling him other names. Many people are saying that he is "ruining everything" and that he is "not being fair".  Be that as it may, the reaction to anything is always in the approach.  Zig Ziglar once said, it isn't the direction of the wind, but the set of the sail. How we respond to things shows what type of person we are. Now don't go off on me saying I support what he is doing because I am asking everyone to take a look at themselves and how they are reacting.  Look into the facts, not the media hype. I am not aware of all the facts, nor to I claim to be even reasonably informed. I have loved ones who will be affected by these governor decisions, but it is not within my sphere of influence to affect the outcome of this new legislation. The winds are always changing, it is how you react to the changing of the wind that determines your future.

It seems that most people are attacking teachers for their salaries and saying that they are not worth what they are paid. It seems like the argument about teachers making a salary of according to someone I know $66,000/year. Now I don't think personally that "average" teachers make that. I was also told that most teachers drive Escalades and live in huge houses.  I'm not sure if I agree with that either. I have seen people that receive government support that drive Cadillacs, Chrysler 300's and other high end vehicles that can't afford them.  The only point I am trying to make here is that we should all look at the facts and not start targeting specific jobs and name calling them.  We all make choices, they choose to teach. I know personally my parents spent thousands of dollars on school supplies that they needed that the district couldn't provide for them. Maybe if they wouldn't have contributed to that they would both be driving Escalades instead of Toyotas. (Toyotas are great cars by the way)

OK, so then the next part of my thoughts, I believe that people choose to pay for what they pay for via a fair exchange for value. Basic marketing principle is that the price of anything purchased is what the average person is willing to give up in exchange for that product or service. Some people are willing to give up around $250.00 a month for cable TV/Internet/Phone service. Some people choose to give up $500/Month to drive a nice car. Others choose to give up $200/month for leadership materials that benefit them in their life. What is the price you are willing to pay for your future?

A $500/Month lease on a vehicle for 60 months equates to $30,000. At the end of that 60 months you own nothing. Watching television has an opportunity cost as well as a hefty price tag some people spend $250/Month for television. Let's say you move out at age 18 and subscribe to this service until you are 65 that is 47 years so if you do the math $141,000 spent on entertainment and communication from home. WOW! $3000.00 a year on entertainment (Just at home) that takes time away from friends, family, hobbies and generally doesn't do good things for your health.

I am not saying that it is wrong to have television, I am just asking you to consider the value you are exchanging for television. What are you giving up? $3000.00 a year will get you a nice little vacation with your significant other. 

Most people will react negatively to an attitude like this. Why are you taking away my television? How am i supposed to find out what happens on Gray's Anatomy? Who is winning American Idol? Do these outcomes weigh heavily on your heart? Is this something that in the grand scheme of things, when you are at the end of your life. When the final moment comes will you look back and say, "I am glad I never missed an episode of Survivor, I am a better human being because of it."

The "average" bully is someone who makes you reconsider a decision you have made. Let's say you wanted to go on a diet.  You lay out a game plan for yourself that you are going to eat more of certain things and less of others and that you are going to exercise. You are excited about this, you are going to get back down to your fighting weight!  Then on Monday with a smile on your face and determination in your heart you step into work. You confess you your best work buddy (Who is not at his fighting weight) that you are going to make a lifestyle change. He scoffs and says that it is too hard to do that, so why bother. Then to further his encouragement of you the next few days are filled with "How's your salad fitness boy, you don't look like you are losing any weight yet!" "Told you that wouldn't work, gosh your stupid." The "average" bully can always be counted on to stay average.

I hope this has offered some insight for you, and added some value to your day.

Passion... WOW WHAT A FEELING!

Wow, today was a day. I had the pleasure of sitting down with someone else who made me think of how I must have been in the beginning of my journey in leadership. God was reminding me to listen and respect other people, their beliefs and to learn about them before talking to them.

That is the context for this blog. I admit, I sometimes get complacent and do not stay focused on my dream. I would say that is because I am human, but that is just an excuse for not being focused. I had my dream challenged today, for the first time in a long time, someone was trying to take it from me and tempt me with the almighty dollar away from my purpose.  I attempt to seal off my compartment with positive messages and positive people, but it is not airtight yet.

News flash: "I RULE MONEY, MONEY DOESN'T RULE ME!" If money was all that I wanted and I was willing to give up my time with my awesome wife, great friends and family for a few bucks, what kind of person would that make me? A GREEDY PERSON! I understand earning a living, paying bills and helping out Uncle Sam, I am not contending that, but is it a life?

'We were meant to live for so much more, but we lost ourselves...' - Switchfoot.

What were you created to do?  I believe I was created to make things happen, to do things that aren't supposed to be done because someone doesn't think they are "Good" or they don't match up with what the herd wants. It seems to me people only resent the wealthy because they aren't.  A lot of people will go out of their way to put down someone who "has more" than they do. 'They should share their money with me, they are a doctor so they should give me some money.' Would you know what to do with it anyway? I am not speaking from an elevated platform, but merely take a harsh tone to drive a point. Victims of the world, wait for it.... GET OVER IT! YUCK! Get out there and follow your passion!  You might not be what you want tomorrow, but you can achieve part of what you want.

If you want to be a writer, do me a favor, do one thing today that makes you feel like a writer. Do one thing that you know a writer does on a daily basis. ENVISION in your mind what life would be like to be a bestselling author. What does your average day look like? Are you on a promotional tour signing books for people dressed up as your characters? Are you passed out in the sun on a beach somewhere with your laptop in the sand next to you? Get some passion, get some drive and take one small step.

Read "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson. APPLY WHAT YOU READ!

My passion in life is to have fun and do the things that I would like to do, have the time to explore the planet I have been allowed to grace with my presence. I cherish this gift every day. I am working on being more grateful every day. I am saying "Thank You" to God, my wife, my family, my community, everything I have, am and will be. I am the most blessed person that I spend all of my time with. My journey has been rough at times and amazing at times.  Everywhere I go; there I am, so I better love myself.

Love thy neighbor as thy self. You have to love you first.

Passion, it is what drives me!

"Until you give yourself to some great cause, you haven't begun to fully live." - John Mason

Thank you for honoring me with your time.

Spiritual fufillment...

It has been quite an interesting time for me lately. I can not think of another way to open this blog post up. I have been doing quite a lot of reading in the last couple of months on certain authors from the past. Neville Goddard, Dale Carnegie and many others and it seems there is a recurring theme. You attract what you are.

I began this journey with a completely different mindset, that I needed to look to others to find what I needed and to provide them with what they needed. What did they need? All different types of people, all different needs right? That is what I thought too, until I discovered that they are 'people' and I'm a 'people' too.

Listening to a Spencer Johnson recording the universe sent to me during a swing by the thrift store last week he talked about a $alesperson. We sell to people and since we are people, in-order-to figure out what they want we need to think, what do we want? Satisfaction with our purchases, a brighter future, happiness and excitement.  The purpose of sales is not to reach into the other person's wallet and get money, or to create a need to fill, that is a common peddler. The purpose was not to benefit me directly, but rather a win-win scenario where we both walk away from the transaction feeling fufilled, happy and excited. We all love to buy stuff, but we hate to be sold into buying stuff.

When asked why then it was sales PERSON instead of salesMAN, it is because it is good to remember that there is a person on the other side of every transaction. Then why start it with a dollar sign? We all have to have money to survive, in this modern time unless you are a mountain man (Who lives off the fat of the land in a far remote place where you wouldn't send your worst enemy) you need money.

This is the basic jist of the recording I listened to, but it certainly got my mind thinking about a lot of other things. In the leadership development business we are looking for partners. People that would like different results in their life and we can direct them to information through books/CD's and association with a group of like-minded people that are interested in similar things. A group of aspiring leaders that will go out of their way to help you succeed.

Sometimes we get too excited we have someone and as one of my mentors Steve Morgan says, we try to hit the ball and then drag Bernie around the bases.

This is a very difficult thing to do, and this will burn a person out quickly. If you start managing all of your neighbor's flocks of sheep, soon you will be overwhelmed. I believe I am an instrument of God that is placed here to help light people's torches and guide them to truth and fufillment in their lives. NOTICE, I didn't say TEACH them TRUTH and GIVE them fufillment. That is their journey, but I will be there to love and support them along the way.

Thank you and may you have an awe-inspiring day!

The Top 5... Reading a renewed passion...

I am blessed to be involved with some phenomenal people, and I thank God everyday for that blessing. That being said I am also blessed by many mentors past an present through the power of reading. WOW!  Thinking back over the last year of 2010 I can only imagine what I was like on December 15, 2009. Reading back to some of my journal entries, OUCH!

All through the aid of books, audios and association I have managed to unconsciously and consciously learn and grow. I have become a work in progress and have given up my know-it-all, show-it-all and owe-it-all perspective. I am humbled everyday by wisdom from Dale Carnegie, Frank Bettger, L Ron Hubbard, Les Giblin, Robert Kiyosaki amongst others.

What a blessing to have someone who has had such wonderful experience in their life to share it. It's not theory, it's results based teaching with philosophies and principles to add to your life immediately. It is also feels like those tricksters edit their books and then put them back on your shelf. Reading is the fundamental habit I have been developing and continue to develop. What an awesome habit to have.

Plug into whomever has and continues to generate the results you desire, living or dead.

I appreciate all of those wonderful people that have helped and influenced me throughout my life.

I am a humble student, and I am ready for the instructor...

God Bless

Bringing faith back... It was once ours...

Sitting around tonight at a business launch brought me back to the days of creation. The elements to create a dynasty.  Thank you to my mentor Nick, Chris and Mike for your inspiration.

To think back to the days of the dark basements, and hidden rooms where the Declaration of Independence was conceived and placed into ink on paper that came to be one of the most famous documents ever written.  They drew a line in the sand and went "all in"! They didn't send a anonymous letter to the British Government saying "A certain someone", "To Whom it may concern". They sent a message that here was the line and cross it and we will strike back.

I am not trying to compare myself, or my fellow "business launchers" to the founding fathers of this country, but there was a certain feel to the room that made me recognize this meetings importance. Call it the hunch or gut feeling that I am trying to get more in touch with. There were four men in that room aspiring for greatness. To better their families for generations, to be in the history books, where my great, great, great grandson can look at that book and tell his friends, "That is the man who drew a line in the sand." "He was part of an organization that changed the face of the United States of America!"

It has been too long since I have felt the importance and the hop in my step to make a difference. It is time for me to stop thinking about Saturday night, and start grooming this society for generations to come. It is time to lead this country into the next economic time. STOP WHINING AND START WINNING!

When is the last time you stood for something? Is a Flat Screen TV from Wal-Mart and Friday Fish Fry the most important event of your week? What about the moment you pass by someone on the street that doesn't have a flat screen TV, do you look down upon them in shame and utter "get a job"? Abe Lincoln said summarizing 'Most men die from the neck up at 25, then wait until 65 to be buried.'

Are you that mighty to not at the very least offer a hand up to that son of God. They might not be homeless, they might have just given up on life. God sends you to them to show them a new way of life, a new direction, a way to give them a new label. Do you follow that hunch? Or do you go home and watch the television and say, "Ah, he'll figure it out".

I have been the man that walked by the person in need, stayed silent when I should have spoken. Laughed when I should have helped. No more...

Moving forward... God Honors commitment...

Times can get tough, and when you are down on the ground being kicked, it seems like another person is always willing to help kick you while you are down. Life is rough, but it doesn't have to be.

When all feels like it is hopeless, and then a bill collector calls and tells you, "you are worthless". Man life just doesn't feel like living anymore. It has gotten so hard that you may have to sacrifice more than ever before for your dream. It feels easier to give up and say, "I never really wanted to be out of debt anyway", or "It is just too hard to do that, I want my job back."

All I have to say is: "NEVER GIVE UP!!!" As I was reading the Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki this morning this line jumped out at me. "Rich Dad said, you can quit at anytime, why quit now?"

That sentence has sparked a new life inside of me, new hope for others. Don't quit! If you do quit, you quit to what? The US Dept of Labor, 45 year plan?

Live your dreams, God will find a way to get you through it. Pray and make him a partner in your life.

Thank you.

Questions as you begin the journey....

This is my first blog post. Thank you to the inspiration of God, my wife and my mentors, I am starting a blog.

I want the blog to be about you, the reader. I do not have any original ideas, just ideas that have shaped and developed my life over the last 32 years. I have been all over this great country, Canada and Mexico. I love this land, I love to travel.  What do you love to do? Where do you want to go? Have you ever left the state, city that you grew up in? Have you dared to travel the unknown roads of other states, countries?

Does just thinking about travel make you excited? Does it make you nauseous?

What do you want out of this life? This is the only shot you have... Do you want to be chasing the almighty dollar, watching the big screen play someone else's dreams? Believe in the fact that one guy has 20 women who want to marry him? What are you doing today? What is your spouse doing today?  What are you doing to make a difference today?  Who's life are you impacting?

Although these questions may not be important to you, yet.  When you begin to exit the "Rat Race" of thinking and begin to see that you only get a limited time in this planet, it really starts to alter your thinking toward a lot of things.

Think about those things now. What do you want to be? A better wife/husband, cook, son/daughter, man/woman, thinker, marketer, teacher, chiropractor? It's your choice everyday when you wake up.

Or you can stay busy, as Thoreau said .."Its not enough to be busy, so to are the ants..."

Do you love you? Love your neighbor as thyself...  If you don't love yourself, how do you give love to others?

Get busy loving yourself and others...