"Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men." - Colossians 3:23 AMP HEARTILY: - in an enthusiastic and energetic way - with zest or gusto "I don't like the subtle infiltration of 'something for nothing' philosophies into the very hearthstone of the American family. I believe that 'Thou shalt earn the bread by the sweat of thy face' was a benediction and not a penalty. Work is the zest of life; there is joy in its pursuit." - Branch Rickey
Athletes...
Musicians...
Actors and actresses...
What do they all have in common? Some would view what they do as a frivolous activity which wastes time, a useless diversion that is done by someone who couldn't get a "real" job. The truth says otherwise. Each group provides a lesson in what it takes to achieve success if we pay attention to what they show us. Sadly, most people fail to notice. To be successful you must have... PASSION: a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something PURPOSE: the feeling of being determined to do or achieve something CONVICTION: a strong belief or opinion; the feeling of being sure that what you believe or say is true All three combined create a most powerful force called... ENERGY: the ability to be active: physical or mental strength that allows you to do things; natural enthusiasm and effort; vigorous exertion of power This energy draws people to what you do, makes them want to know more about you, causes them to stick around. Energy like this is not only attractive, it is contagious, some would even call it infectious. If I'm not mistaken, it is described these days as "going viral," and while most viruses are said to be detrimental, medically speaking, this is the type of virus you would want to catch, and definitely like to spread. "The more, the merrier," is true in this case. So the next time you see your favorite "baller," hear your favorite "crooner," (whether of voice or instrument), or watch your favorite actor or actress on the small or the silver screen, a word to the wise would be to learn the lesson they're teaching: throw your whole self into whatever you do with all your might; hold nothing back. Kindle the passion, the purpose, the conviction required to create energy that glows from within you bright enough to draw people to your side from miles around. "This is the true joy in life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being recognized as a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy... I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live... Life is no 'brief candle' to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before passing it on to future generations." - George Bernard Shaw In whatever you do, let your desire fuel your fire you to stoke a roaring blaze, lighting the path which leads to the success you seek. And don't worry about whether anyone will notice. The right people will come to watch you burn.
That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember: Keep it simple...See ya!
"This book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success." - Joshua 1:8 AMP
Just a few thoughts about success... Sometimes to be successful you need to do things that the average person is fully capable of doing, yet not willing. Success has nothing to do with popularity. Mediocre people think you are foolish, maybe even stupid for doing things that regular people don't do. They can't understand what you do, or why you do it. But that's okay, they don't have to understand. It is said that obsessed is a word used by lazy folks who want to criticize, belittle, humiliate, or put to shame the diligent ones who do whatever it takes to achieve success. They're the "it don't take all that" crowd, the ones who believe success comes by accident or entitlement, who believe excellence takes too much effort, wastes too much time. They want to reap a harvest they didn't plant from seeds they didn't sow. They have no understanding of investment, whether time talent or treasure and no clue that it's possible to expect a reward on an honest effort to the best of one's ability. They believe success is just given to people by people who "like" them, who favor them, sort of like a teacher's pet. Well, in a sense they're right: people who recognize effort...reward effort. But the ones who don't want to make an effort just don't get it. To them, it's much easier to criticize others because they don't know what others are doing, or where the results of their work may lead. But none of that matters, because they are not the ones to judge what you do. Your peace of mind and your heart's contentment does not rest with them but with you. If you know that what you're doing is right, just, valuable, and serves a worthwhile purpose, the words of critics who fail to understand your motives mean nothing at all. Seeing how their two cents isn't really worth two cents, their words unheeded will die in their throats. So do what you know is right, even if others don't understand, even if you feel a little foolish, you're not all that sure of what you're doing, or you can't make enough sense of what you do to explain it to someone else. Don't be ashamed, don't be embarrassed. To those who embrace failure as a way of life, success and what one must do to achieve it, will never make sense. The critic never counts, the ones in your life who truly matter don't mind what you do, so...
"Do it anyway...because in the end, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway." - Mother Teresa That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember... Keep it simple.... See ya!
"Let not yours be the merely [external] adorning with elaborate interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God." - I Peter 3: 3,4 AMP VALUE: relative worth, usefulness, or importance There's a very popular saying making the rounds these days when it comes to being successful in the everyday world. Chances are you've heard it, or even said it yourself: DRESS FOR SUCCESS Simply put, we are told that the best way to be successful is to look successful. We need to put on our best suit, look sharp, look clean, look like we have it all together, from the way we dress to the car we drive, the house we live in, to our neighbors, our jobs, our kids, careers, everything has to be a spotless veneer, polished, flawless, not a hair out of place, as some said back in the day. Now there's nothing wrong with looking good or putting your best foot forward because you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. It's important to have a great opening act, as some in the world of the stage might say. But once the opening act is over, what do you do for an encore? What about Act 2? Scene 2? What will people see when they look past your exterior? Any new car can look good on the showroom floor, but what happens when it's time to look under the hood or take it out on the road? Here's what I mean: Think of the parties you've gone to in your life: a birthday party, a bridal shower, a wedding, a baby shower, just to name a few. All these parties have one thing in common: somebody received gifts. And usually those gifts are wrapped with wrapping paper, bows, tags, ribbons, gift bags, tissue paper, you name it, anything goes when it comes to making the gift look as nice as possible when it is given to the intended recipient. But when it's time for those gifts to be opened, what happens to all that wrapping paper? That's right, it gets torn up and discarded so the receiver can see the gift inside. And while everybody "oooh's" and "aaah's" over the gift, it's off to the trash for all that wrapping paper, along with the ribbons and bows. Once the gift is revealed, all the wrappings don't mean very much anymore. The value they once had just isn't there, which reminds me of this:
You see, you can look good, smell good, even talk good (forgive my grammar if it's bad), but that will only get you in the door. Your outward appearance is merely your gift wrapping. As nice as it is, and as good as you look, eventually people will want to know you better, and the only way they can do that is to break the seal, tear off the wrapping, and see the gift you hold inside. All the pretty wrapping paper in the world cannot compare to the true value of a man or woman that the world is waiting to see and appreciate. It's not the clothes that make the man (or woman), it's the man or woman who "make" the clothes, so to speak. They are the ones who give form and substance to everything they do. The value is not the wrapping but the gift inside. If you try to get by with eloquent speech, pretending to be someone you are not, sooner or later you will drop your guard and the real you is going to be exposed, whether you like it or not. That is not to say that you'll never make mistakes; nobody's perfect, and we all stumble and fall at some point in our lives. If you haven't done so yet, just wait, your turn is coming. What you want to do instead is let people see you as you truly are, and let them know that despite your best efforts sometimes you miss the mark. It's okay, people don't relate to people who think they're flawless; they relate best to people who have the courage to acknowledge their shortcomings because we all have them. People want to find common ground, and gravitate best to those who have the courage to seek common ground with them. So, long story short, the greatest value you can offer to the people in your life, not your suit or dress, your house or car, your status, position, or even any adornments you may wear on your body, as impressive as your clothing and jewelry may be. No, the greatest value you can share with others is your very being, the real you, the genuine article. If you can do that, chances are best that you will be seen and appreciated for who you are, and you'll never have to fear someone finding out you were pretending to be someone you were never meant to be. "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not be false then to any man." - William Shakespeare "If you tell the truth you'll never have to remember what you said." - Unknown That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember... Keep it simple.... See ya!
PRESENCE: - the fact of being in a particular place - the area that is close to someone - the fact or condition of being available to be used or considered "Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My victorious [right] hand of rightness and justice. For I, the Lord God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you." - Isaiah 41:10,13 AMP I remember a time several years ago when a friend's mother passed away. I was home from college for summer break and went to see him, just to see how he and his family were coping with their loss. I had meant to express my condolences, but as the evening wore on we sat in the living room for a few minutes, talking about nothing in particular. I couldn't think of anything to say; to be honest, I didn't think anything I could say or do would help very much. His family was grieving because their loved one was gone. How could I ever hope to make a difference? I thought. But as I got up to leave, he shook my hand and thanked me for coming by. It was then that I realized I had done something for him. He didn't need me to say anything. I didn't need to do anything for him either. All he needed was for me to be present to let him know he had my support during a most difficult time in his life. All I had to do for him was show up, be there for a few minutes so he could unburden his heart any way he needed to, and let him know I had his back. That's all that was necessary, and he let me know he appreciated me for doing so. Now we may not know anyone who is going through such a tough time emotionally, as the loss of a loved one, but there are still many of us who know people in our lives who have needs, and we overextend ourselves in an effort to provide for them what we think they need, only to later discover that they don't need nearly as much from us as we think they do. If you're a parent you can relate to what I'm saying. Sometimes we parents tie ourselves up in knots, stressing out over what we think our children need, bending over backward to make sure they have everything we can possibly provide for them. And then we find out, much to our surprise, they didn't want or need nearly as much as we thought they did. We get hung up on presents when all our children want is our PRESENCE. In my experience, when my children were babies, more often than not they would get upset if I left them in a room by themselves (like bedtime for instance) because they wanted was to know that I was around. If I was in the room with them and they were secure in the knowledge that I was there, they had no problem falling asleep, and staying asleep. It's true with any relationship you have, business or personal: we all relate best to people they can count on to be around, even if they're not physically present, safe in the knowledge that their presence is a factor. More than anything, people don't want to know if you are able, they want to know if you are AVAILABLE. They want to know that whatever they do, wherever they go, they are not alone. As the saying goes, "no man is an island," and it is true in any area of life. People want to know that whenever they need leadership and guidance, they can find it. Yes, it is true that like baby eagles one day they will need to leave the nest, but they want to know there is someone who is willing to show them how to spread their wings, to set an example they can follow so they'll be ready to soar when their time comes. As children learning to ride our bicycles we had tricycles, then training wheels, and then we were able to take the training wheels off and ride our bikes, fully capable of keeping our balance all by ourselves. That type of guidance isn't always needed, but it's good to know it's there. "I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel like you're all alone." - Robin Williams Never take for granted the power you have to influence someone's life for good. You can make a positive impact in the lives of every person whose path you cross. A kind word in their hearts can do more for their lives than a full tank of gas can do for your car. "I can live for two months on a good compliment." - Mark Twain "A life is not important, except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson When all is said and done, it is not any gift or talent you possess that will impress the people in your life. It is your presence that will mean the most to them, and your presence alone which will make the biggest impact. "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou Don't just be present in their lives, be a presence. Make an impact, make a difference. And when you do, people will remember you with gratitude because this is how you made them feel:
That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember: Keep it simple.... See ya!
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16 AMP STINGY: - not generous: sparing or scant in using, giving, or spending - meanly scanty or small GENEROUS: - characterized by a noble or kindly spirit - showing kindness and concern for others I've heard it said that the reason many people suffer in relationships because they fail to communicate. I respectfully disagree. The way I see it, there's plenty of communication going on these days. Just look at the explosion of social media, all the different outlets where people can voice their opinions, make themselves heard. While it is true these tools have great potential for getting a message across, they can also be a two-edged sword, a help, and a hindrance, a blessing, and a curse. Why do I say this? Because it seems like everybody these days wants to get attention, put in their two cents, bask in the glow of their fifteen minutes of fame, but very few people want to give attention, much less pay attention to anyone else. Like I told my kids when they were little, God gave them two ears and only one mouth, for one very specific reason, because it's more important to hear than to be heard, to listen than to be listened to. As I said before, there is plenty of communication going on, but there's something missing. People cannot find any common ground, because, for all their talk, they don't do one very important thing: CONNECT: - to become joined - to have or establish a friendly relationship marked by harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity - to place or establish in relationship Face it, folks, communication is overrated if building a connection is not part of the game plan. People are willing to connect with people they know they can relate to, people that can relate to them, right where they are, because they know what it's like to walk in one another's shoes. All your eloquent speech is a waste of breath if you cannot get people to join their heart with yours. They want to know you're genuine, that there are no hidden agendas, no ulterior motives. If they can't find common ground with you, or if they feel in any way like you're playing some sort of "bait and switch" game with their emotions, you can forget about establishing any kind of meaningful relationship with them. That is why I started this article with the definitions of stingy and generous. You must decide whether or not you're willing to share your heart with others, because your heart is the real you. People want to connect from one heart to another. If they perceive that you are reaching out to them with your heart, they will gladly reach out to you with theirs. You cannot pull the wool over people's eyes for very long; they'll see right through your ruse. Maybe you can obscure their vision for a time, but the true motives of your heart will be revealed, for better or worse. "For there is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come out into the open." - Luke 8:17 AMP This is true whether you're building a relationship, building a family, even building a business. You will connect best with those who know your heart is big, you have a kind, generous spirit, and you are willing to give from your heart and receive with your heart as well. Whatever you send out, comes right back to you. So turn on your heartlight, and let others know what your heart is like. Be generous, not stingy with your light everywhere you go, and you will connect with people who appreciate your glow. "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped." - Proverbs 11: 24-25 MSG That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember: Keep it simple... See ya!
"You can have everything in life you want if you just help other people get what they want." - Zig Ziglar WANT: something that is desired NEED: necessary duty; something one is bound to do My children taught me some very interesting lessons when they were little. I found out I never had trouble getting them to do what I asked them to do, as long as I talked with them about what they wanted first. Once I did that, getting their cooperation was much easier. I found out they wanted to do something fun, so I told them all they had to do to get what they wanted was take care of their responsibilities first, whether it was yard work, their schoolwork, housework, or anything else they needed to do. Instead of treating their duties like chores, I made a game of it, knowing how much my kids like competition. I told them the winner could get to choose what kind of fun they wanted to have: video games, movies, mini golf, bowling, bookstore, a trip to the mall, or anything else we could think of that was fun for them (and for me too, I admit it). Now I'm not saying they did everything they were supposed to do in a flash (they were little kids, after all...telling them to hurry through a task and not make any mistakes is unrealistic) but they did what they were asked to do with enthusiasm, knowing there was an incentive waiting for them, something that interested them. With a reward in front of them, doing the needed work wasn't such a big deal. Dealing with my children reminds me of many business opportunity meetings I attended in the past. Each presentation I saw had one thing in common: speakers shared with the audience some goal or dream they wanted to achieve in their lives: getting out of debt, spending more with their families, having extra money to save or invest, or improving their lifestyle. They told their story, how they were stuck in a rut, doing what they needed to do, having all kinds of pressure on their shoulders, feeling trapped, desperately seeking a way out, when they learned about an opportunity that changed their lives. That is what I wanted to know, that someone else went through the same thing I was experiencing, found a way out of their trouble, and was willing to help find my way out, too. Needs were never mentioned; people already know what they need; it's what they want that's most important to them: they want more money, and they want more time. Every day they wear themselves out, working jobs they don't like, chasing money in the hope that they can get enough of it to meet their needs and satisfy their wants, only to fail, over and over again. There's just too much month at the end of their money. Every month. They understood people are tired of running on treadmills; they don't want more of the same. People are tired of the endless cycle of frustration. They want something different in their lives. They want a change. That's why they spoke about dreams and goals. They talked about the possibility of helping others find ways to achieve their dreams and goals. They also realize that what Zig Ziglar said is true, that people really don't care what you know until they know that you care. They want to know that you can relate to them, that you know what it's like to walk in their shoes, and that you care enough to show them how to flip the script on their lives for the better. So if your goal is to connect with people, I suggest you let them know from the start that you know how they feel because you've stood where they now stand. Tell them your story, tell them how you walked a few miles in their shoes, that you know what it feels like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Tell them how you what you did to change your life, and show them you can help them change theirs. Ask them about their goals and dreams. They may need to dust their dreams off so they can remember what it feels like to dream, so offer them a dust rag and some polish, if you have to. Show them you remember what it was like to walk in their shoes. If you can do that, and you let them know you can help them make the changes they want to make in their lives, it's more than likely they'll be willing to learn what it's like to walk in yours. "Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves." - James M. Barrie "There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up." - John Andrew Holmes "Don't look to become a person of success, look instead to become a person of value." - Albert Einstein "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember: Keep it simple... See ya!
PARADOX: - a principle contrary to received opinion - a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true
I remember two important times in my life when I learned to do something for the first time: ride a bike, and give a speech. I say both are important because I learned a very important lesson from both experiences. Let me explain. When I got on the bike I was unsteady and unsure, but also excited. I fell the first few times but I gained confidence because with each try I kept my balance a little bit longer without falling, until I finally was able to ride up and down the block on my own. At first, I was scared, but when I saw I could ride and keep my balance I felt free as a bird. I was on top of the world and I felt like nothing could stop me. Mission accomplished. When I gave my first speech you probably thought I was excited, right? Uh...no. I wasn't excited at all, I was scared stupid, second-guessing just what I was doing, and kicking my own butt for taking the plunge when I felt so unsure of myself. I remember how I felt when I went out to the front of the room to speak. I wasn't nervous, I was petrified with fear. My heart was pounding, my palms sweaty, my voice trembling, my knees knocked. I stammered and struggled the entire time (I didn't think those five minutes would ever end!) and when I finished, I was applauded; people told me I did a great job. They congratulated me for a successful speech. (I thought, Huh? What are you talking about?) I thought they confused me with someone else. I felt like a failure and here they were patting me on the back. Something didn't add up. In both cases I succeeded, but here's the funny thing: learning to ride a bike wasn't nearly as big a struggle as learning to speak in public. Riding a bike was a piece of cake compared to giving a speech. I couldn't understand why. After giving it some thought, I realized that my expectations were different. Nobody judged me if I couldn't ride a bike; it was just something I learned to do through trial and error. But when I stood in front of a podium I thought I was "supposed" to have it all figured out in advance. My level of expectation was different, which is why I thought I "should" have known enough about giving a speech to keep myself from not being in control of the situation. I was way too hard on myself. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had forgotten what it was like to be truly successful. I thought I had to look successful. I thought I had to have everything already figured out. I thought I had to do things right the first time, every time, all the time. I thought I could never make a mistake, that I couldn't afford to fail. I thought I could never admit a setback for fear of looking foolish. As it turned out, I had it all backward. I forgot what it was like to enjoy success like I did when I learned to ride my first bike. Success has nothing to do with looking as if you've already arrived. Success is about trying, falling down, getting back up, and trying again until you get it right. It is a journey of constant improvement, not a single place on the map of your life where you can say you've arrived. Success is not about how you look on the outside, it's about letting the true you come out. Success means developing your gifts and talents in those moments when you're unsure of yourself, when you're unsteady, not in command, when you don't know if you'll stand or fall, or whether you'll walk on stage to an ovation or be greeted by the chirping silence of crickets:
So you stumble and fall...so what? Don't be so hard on yourself. Everybody who is able to walk today has experienced the same thing. They learned to "SUCK" before they learned to SUCCEED. Everyone who enjoys success knows you must start by failing forward. You crawl before you walk, and walk before you run. It's the paradox of success: as we fall down, we learn to get up...and as we learn how to fall, we gain the confidence to stand tall.
That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember: Keep it simple.... See ya!
