Archive for the ‘Personal Development’ Category

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…)

My Gift To You

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

 

 

The Holidays are here and I wanted to give you a gift.

 

Here's a couple of audio tracks from one of my CDs. They are really good! (Am I allowed to say that if I made them?) :)

 

As we approach the new year, millions of people are hoping to do better in 2012 than they did in 2011, and these audios will help you with that. Enjoy! (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…)

The Day I Went Blind

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

Several years ago while I was taking a shower, all of sudden, everything went dark. I couldn’t see anything. The panic which followed was pretty intense as you can imagine. I thought I had just gone blind. But within seconds, my sight returned.

 

This phenomenon has never been explained or diagnosed. For someone who has sight, I can’t imagine how terrible it would be to be blind. But worse than being blind, would be being blind and deaf. This is how Hellen Keller lived her life… blind and deaf.

 

Though she accomplished more in her life than billions on the planet who both see and hear, some continued to have compassion on her, seeing her as some poor, unfortunate disabled person, while seeing themselves as whole and complete. As the story goes, one such person asked her what, in her opinion, would be worse than being blind. Her answer was simple. (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…)

The Power of Words Video

Monday, April 18th, 2011

 

My brother in law sent this to me. I liked it and thought I'd share. Words are powerful, especially when tied together in a way that moves the hearts of men. I'd love it if you would share how you feel (below) after watching this video. And please pass it on.

 



Whatchu Talkin Bout Willis

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

As a kid, one of my favorite TV programs to watch was Different Strokes. The main character was young Arnold Jackson played by the recently deceased Gary Coleman. Any time Arnold’s older brother Willis said anything Arnold didn’t want to hear, Arnold would say his famous line, “Whatchu Talkin’ ‘Bout Willis?” I always laughed when he said that. But now looking back, its a good question. So let me ask you, what are you talking about?

 

Your words are powerful. They have life-force. Said another way, your words have the power to bring themselves to life.

 

In the beginning, we’re told, was the WORD, and the WORD was with God and as a matter of fact  (more…)

Success and Babies

Monday, March 21st, 2011

From conception to birth, there is a gestation period, the time it takes for the baby to develop. For a mouse, the gestation period is 3 weeks. Humans, 40 weeks. And for elephants it's 92 weeks from beginning to end.

 

Just like babies, there is a gestation period that must pass from the time we conceive an idea or a goal, to the time we realize it. The health of your success hinges upon proper gestation. Yes, you can cut corners or cheat the system, but this will produce sickly success, which will be short lived. (more…)

Full Disclosure

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

My blog is 7 months old now. It's being read in 71 countries. And, thousands of people have opted into my free One Minute Mentoring program. Things are going great, and I want to thank you for your support and sincerely hope I am bringing value into your life.

 

Over the course of the last 7 months, some of you have inquired about who I “really am.” :) And in full disclosure, I thought I'd answer that question in today's post.

 

But before I do, I want to tell you a story. (more…)