Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

Little used success strategy

Friday, May 18th, 2012

 

I love when legendary business philosopher, the late Jim Rohn used to say, “Success is easy! What can I say? It's hard? How can it be hard, when you live in America?” I always chuckled when he said that, because it's counter intuitive to what most people believe.

 

Most people believe success is hard, or that you have to break some rule or law, or hurt others to become successful. Wrong. Success is easy…. once you learn about and harness the laws and principles of success.

 

Wallace D. Wattles, best-selling author of The Science of Getting Rich said it best when he said, “There is a science of getting rich, and it is an exact science, like algebra or arithmetic. There are certain laws which govern the process of acquiring riches, and once those laws are learned and obeyed by any man (or woman), he will get rich with (more…)

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

Monday, December 26th, 2011

 

This morning, I was reading the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, and “got” something I've never gotten before. It had a very profound effect on me, and thought I'd pass it along.

 

As the story goes, a man woke early in the morning to go hire workers for his vineyard. The first men he hired agreed to work for one penny per day. After those workers had been laboring for 3 hours, the man observed there were many still unemployed and standing around idle in the marketplace.  He hires the men and tells them to work in his vineyard and he would pay them what was right.

 

3 hours later, he hires more who were idle in the market, and 3 hours after that he hires some more, telling each to go work in his vineyard and he would pay them what was right.

 

At the 11th hour, he went again into the marketplace and saw that there were (more…)

The Power of Commitment

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

 

A couple of days ago, I posted an article titled, The Power of Decision. Apparently, it struck it nerve because it's been “Liked” on Facebook more than 100 times in less than 48 hours. So, while we have some mental momentum going, I thought I'd post the follow up to that article, which is The Power of Commitment.

 

Decision and commitment are twin sisters. On one side of the coin you have decision. On the other is commitment. One without the other is useless. What good is it to make a decision that you are not committed to seeing out? And what good is it to commit to something you've not yet decided on?

There have been many things said about the power of commitment. Books have been written, and quotes have been coined on the topic by the dozens. One of my favorite quotes on commitment comes from Jeff Olson, author of the Slight Edge. He teaches, “Commitment is doing the thing you said you would do long after the mood you said it in has left you.” It's so easy to get exited in the moment, but the real test is what you do when you're in the trenches taking enemy fire. Persisting in spite of any obstacle, insurmountable or other wise, is what commitment is all about.

 

Motivational speaker and author Zig Ziglar once said, “Most people are committed like a Kamikaze pilot on his 39th mission.”

 

That one gets a smile out of me every time.

 

My favorite quote on commitment is below. (more…)

The Power of Decision

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

 

Most people never succeed in life, because most people never decide to succeed in life. They never make up their minds, with passion and certainty, and claim success! They never, like the Founders of the greatest nation on earth, made a declaration of their own independence from poverty and or mediocrity and the tyranny of control! Many just go through life living in silent despair, hoping that someday, things will get better. So sad… and such a waste of Life.

 

Surely, you want success or you wouldn't be reading this article. But have you decided that you will be successful, not matter what? No matter the cost? No matter the sacrifice? No matter the toil and the labor and the physical and emotional challenges involved? Success is forever hidden from the man or woman who fails to decide their own positive destiny.

 

The Founding Fathers of the United States of America made a bold Declaration of Independence from Britain.  This was not an announcement. It was not an affirmation. It was a powerful Declaration resulting from a fearless decision that would alter the history of the world…forever.

 

These men decided that they would in deed pay the price for sovereignty and freedom and success and independence. They decided long before they were in combat with “the enemy,” that they would (more…)

How to Get What You Want

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Last Friday I was driving down town in Salt Lake City, when I noticed a mother and daughter walking on the side walk holding hands. Mom looked to be in her mid thirties and daughter was around 9 or so.

 

The girl noticed a balloon tied to a fence outside a used car dealership. Imediately she jerked lose from her mothers grasp, ran to the balloon, grabbed the string, shoved it in her mouth and was making a hard core attempt at snapping the line with her teeth, before her mother grabbed her again and made her let go of the balloon and string.

 

I laughed out loud. What a maniac! I thought to myself. She looked like a rabid crazy person.

 

As I continued driving, I realized that little girl wasn't an out of control mini-maniac. She was merely going after what she wanted, in a way that you and I used to go after what we wanted before we became “too cool.” She saw something she wanted. She didn't think about it. She just went after it. She didn't ask for opinions. She didn't care what anyone thought. And, she was willing to break away from the safety of her mothers grasp.  (more…)

America’s First Female Self-Made Millionaire.

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

 

The following story is about America's first FEMALE self made millionaire, Madam C. J. Walker.

 

Born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867 on a Delta, Louisiana plantation, this daughter of former slaves transformed herself from an uneducated farm laborer and laundress into one of the twentieth century’s most successful, self-made women entrepreneurs.

 

Orphaned at age seven, she often said, “I got my start by giving myself a start.” She and her older sister, Louvenia, survived by working in the cotton fields of Delta and nearby Vicksburg, Mississippi. At 14, she married Moses McWilliams to escape abuse from her cruel brother-in-law, Jesse Powell. (more…)

Are You a Hero to Anyone

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

 

Each Sunday, I try to do personal interviews with my boys. I have them come down to my office and we just talk. This past Sunday I was visiting with my 5 year old son Zion. We were just finishing our interview and were about to pray together and race up stairs to eat dinner when, out of the blue he said…

 

“Dad, if you die, I'll miss you.” Then he turned away and tried to hide the fact that he had started crying. It was so tender, and so sweet.

 

It reminded me of a video I posted on my old blog several years ago. It will make you cry and cause you to ask yourself, am I making a difference in anyones life. I hope you are. And if you're not, today's a great day to start. Please share and comment below. Enjoy the vid.