The Ultimate Investment

Have you been conditioned to think being successful is hard?  Do you believe that following a complicated path, being highly educated, or having money is required for happiness and success?  That’s wrong; dead wrong.  Success -- true success -- doesn't depend on any of these.  Real success depends on who you are, what you do, and a belief in your own abilities.  Sound easy?  It is.  But most don't get it.  Your aptitude for achievement is already built-in.  Throughout your life it's been covered over with learned attitudes and beliefs that are self defeating.  From an early age you learned from parents, teachers,   >> [Read the rest of the post]

A group of businessmen got together with a vision.  They had an idea that could change the world.  They brainstormed, planned, drafted, structured, hired a consultant, hired a sales organization, made up a presentation, and then started to sell their product. They met with industry leaders, they met with country leaders.  They met with bankers, they met with contractors.  Most of all, they met with themselves and planned, and planned and planned. The idea was beautiful in its simplicity, elegant in its design, awesome in its potential.  The technology existed in different parts.  They were blending it all into something new, something   >> [Read the rest of the post]

Benny, Ed, and Sherrie had an idea that they could make money by trading and selling used video games.  They only had two problems.  First, they didn't have a great deal of money, and second, they didn't know the first thing about starting a business. Finally, they were able to scrape together $1000.00 (which is all they could afford), and buy some used equipment.  They set up shop on a pushcart in a regional mall.  It took them just three months to make their first $30,000.00.  At the end of their first year, their good idea turned into $150,000.00 and two locations.    >> [Read the rest of the post]

The 80-20 Rule can reduce stress and ease workload while improving profitability, income and quality of life. Simply stated it’s that 80 percent of your success comes from only 20 percent of your efforts.  80 percent of your production comes from only 20 percent of your work.  80 percent of your returns are produced by 20 percent of your investments.  80 percent of your life is taken up by 20 percent of your tasks. Think about this for a moment.  Examine your life and see if this isn’t approximately true. This also means 80 percent of your problems come from only 20 percent   >> [Read the rest of the post]

Life can be like baseball.  It’s a game you play to win.  It’s a team sport with rules.  There are stats and scores and different strategies.  And then there’s the opposing team who’s also trying to win. When the other team is at bat, they can score.  You’re on defense.  You have to watch everything closely in order to counter their strategy.  Everyone around you has to pull their weight and so do you.  You’re interdependent.  When you’ve surrounded yourself with a good team, each highly skilled at their positions, you’re more apt to win. When your team is at bat, you’re   >> [Read the rest of the post]

The Old Mule ~author unknown~ Once upon a time a farmer owned an old mule who tripped and fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule braying and was unable to figure out how to bring up the old animal. It grieved him that he could not pull the animal out. He’d been a good worker around the farm. Although the farmer sympathized with the mule, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened. He had them help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and quietly put him out of his misery. At first,   >> [Read the rest of the post]

I just spent several days with a group of youth 14 to 18 years old pushing handcarts through a wilderness area, re enacting in a small way the migration of early handcart pioneers from the Midwest to the western United States. The trails we traversed were rugged and steep, the weather hot and the effort required arduous, especially for me, who spends most of my time behind a desk.   The youth were assigned to ‘families’ of about 6 kids and two adults.  The kids put their food, bedding, water, and all that they needed for 3 days into the back of those   >> [Read the rest of the post]

Are you a contributor or a critic?  Below is a segment of a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States at the Sorbonne in Paris on the 23rd of April 1910: “Critics are worth absolutely nothing: all they do is point an accusing finger at the moment the strong suffer a defeat, or when they commit a mistake. True credit goes to those who are in the arena, their faces covered in dust and sweat and blood, fighting on bravely. “True credit goes to the one who makes mistakes, who fails but little by little gets things right, because   >> [Read the rest of the post]

Feeling overwhelmed?  Don’t have time to accomplish everything?  Always stressed?  Give that up.  Below are 6 ways you can find balance in life and feel less stress: 

1.  Make time for pondering and reflection each day.  Use this time to get yourself together, to think through what is really important in life – your priorities.  Review your goals, short and long term, and assess where you are in their achievement.
2. Realistically plan and prioritize your day.  Don’t try to get too much done.  Leave time for spur of the moment items (but remember #3 below).  Then focus on one task at a time. 

A young friend of mine was taking night classes working on his Master’s Degree.  It was hard balancing a full time job, a family, and a grueling educational program.  At times he’d be tired and say “I hope this is all going to be worth it.” One day, he was filled with enthusiasm.  He seemed a new man brimming with intensity.  Then he explained why. The night before one of his college professors had talked about his personal philosophy.  It had resonated with my friend, and once he’d told me what he’d heard, I could see why. His professor had said, “You each   >> [Read the rest of the post]