To make a resolution or not!

I personally don't like the idea of New Years resolutions. I mean the idea of a day on the calendar changing your life seems a bit silly. Although a year is a good amount of time to track some larger long term goals and achieve success in some smaller ones.

The key to setting any kind of goals that stick, wether they be to achieve financial success, strengthen personal relationships or commitments to ones faith can be easiest to achieve if they are SMART goals.

• Specific

• Measurable

• Achievable

• Relevant

• Time -bound

Goals should be as specific as possible. I want to lose weight or earn more money isn't specific. How much weight? how much money? 

They should be measurable in a way that you can track your progress, on a chart or in a spreadsheet and broken down into manageable amounts. If you want to earn an extra $50,000 this year then you need to add an additional $962.00 per week to your income. How many sales will that take? how many people will you need to talk too?

You goal needs to be achievable and realistic. If you have never even earned $50,000 per year, the odds that you will increase your income by that much are against you. If you want to run a marathon, start out with a 5k first.

It needs to be relevant. How is this goal going to better your life or have an impact on others? Does it really matter to you? What if you don't hit it, how will you be affected? Are you prepared to pursue things that may seem a little out of the ordinary to achieve it?

It must be Time-Bound with a clearly defined date for achievement. This gives you a sense of urgency and helps keep you focused

Too many of us never hit our goals, not because we are failures, but because we routinely go through our days without a plan. If you have ever wondered about whether you are stuck where you are or if you will remain in the same rut your in till you die, your not alone, but you do have a choice. These tips will be a starting point.  The next thing to do is share your goals with someone close to you that can hold you accountable.

Be Courageous

No one ever enters a battlefield expecting to escape without and wounds. Even if only mental wounds, we are affected. It's impossible to go through life without experiencing some pain or misfortune. We need trials and battles to prepare ourselves for future ones that will be harder. 

The older we get, the more we are affected by what we see around us. As we become more attuned with life and the value of people, we find that things we never really noticed before are very prominent now in the everyday fabric of our existence. How is it possible that these things went unnoticed in our very recent past. Were we that blind to the plight of others? Were we really that selfish and only focused on our own gain and pleasure? The answer is probably yes, which is okay. Don't beat yourself up over it. The more important thing now is that you do notice those things around you that need attention, those people around you that need a helping hand or maybe just a word of encouragement.

Don't think that you have to make up for all the time that was lost. Don't put that pressure on yourself to try to overcome previous short comings. Just begin each day by asking yourself; what can I do today that will have a lasting impact on others? How can I make someone elses day better? This takes courage, because as we look for opportunities to help, we are affected deeply by the ones that need it. The scars of battle are worth it. Anytime you make a difference in someone's life, you will remember it for life.

Blessed In Many Ways

Sitting here in a Northwest suburb of Chicago today after a night of snow and a week of single digit temperatures, I was reflecting on how blessed I am. 

I wake up every day(a blessing in itself) in a warm home surround by people that love me, appreciate me and look to me for encouragement, guidance and friendship. Outside are elements that some less fortunate than I, have to weather on the street or in a car or maybe lucky enough to find a shelter. I open my my pantry that is always with food and my refrigerator that, although sometimes seems empty, has more than enough to get me through several days. I spend time in God's word virtually every morning so that my day starts right. I have transportation and a job and opportunities that flood my way daily to increase my wealth or maybe just increase my knowledge. The computer I'm typing on is one of three in the house and the 6th laptop I've owned. It's about the 15th computer I've owned in the past 12 years and sometimes wonder how I survived before it. (Wow, did I just type that)

I have a Church that my family and I attend without worry of government interfering with. We have the ability to get involved in hundreds of ministries and offer our time to help others where it fits in with our busy lives. We have resources to give to the Church as God asks and it never feels like a sacrifice, though it used to, before I came to the realization that everything I have is on loan to me from God and I'm just a steward of it while I am here. I try to honor Him with my choices.

People and relationships are the best blessing of all. We grow from each other. Where we are weak, others are strong and when they are weak, we are strong. Going it alone is no way to live. My aunt told me recently that she doesn't socialize much, but she believes that people that socialize a lot don't like themselves, so they need to be around others. She likes herself and enjoys to just hang out, reading, doing crossword, watching t.v., etc. I find it hard to believe that she is fulfilled like she could be with friends around to share experiences with, whether joyful or sad. 

I just thought I write about how I know I'm blessed in this time of uncertainty and maybe it might remind someone else that although they may be struggling in a tough time, they too are blessed in many areas.

You become like those you associate with

Often times I look at people and see so much potential. I see the people they surround them selves with and look at what they do with their spare time and am saddened by the reality of the potential waiting to burst out, but yet will never come.

Who we are now is based on past experiences and decisions that we have made and the influence we have received from others, but we can't dwell on the past if we want to accomplish great things. Sometimes we need to make tough choices and make some changes in the friendships we have. At least we have to rethink who we are getting advice from.

Most people wouldn't go to a person that has been divorced 3 or 4 times and ask for marital advice. But time after time, when we are thinking about going in a new direction, whether in life or business, we look to those people around us that have stayed in the same pattern they are in for years. I never understood this but I have seen it in so many individuals. 

If we are going to make a change in our life, it requires effort and surrounding ourselves with new people of influence. Find someone that has changed for the positive in any area and they will tell you that someone helped them through it all, that without that person they would have failed miserably. Look around at the people you associate with. Are they constantly learning and researching new ideas, expanding their minds and keeping up with new technology. Are they looking to have a positive impact on the people around them or are they filled with unending sarcasm and belittling of anyone that tries to change or make a difference.

I remember a story of an old man and a young boy walking down the beach early in the morning. the tide had receded and there were many young starfish left on the beach, that would die once the sun rose high enough and got hot enough to dry them out. The young boy, was throwing the little starfish back into the ocean as they walked down the beach and at one point the old man said, "I know you're trying to help, but look ahead down the beach, there are hundreds maybe thousands that are washed up on the shore. What your doing isn't making a bit of difference." The boy looked at him as he threw another one back in the ocean and said " i made a difference to that one" and he smiled and continued.

Are you hanging around with people that think change is to hard and things will never get better, or our you surrounding yourself with people that have eyes of a child and think anything is possible. 

 Jesus said; "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, will never enter it"

It takes faith to believe in what we can not see. Have faith and seek out people that are looking to make a difference and you will be amazed at how you too, will accomplish what you want.

Fighting Recessions with Success In Network Marketing

Success in network marketing often times gets a bad rap. Usually by those who signed up for something expecting a get rich quick plan. They never invested the time needed or purchased the tools necessary to succeed. This is usually the fault of the person that got them started, because they themselves, either didn't know what they were doing, or they just didn't duplicate the system well.

Success in network marketing has been around for over 50 years in companies like Amway, Avon, Herbalife and Nutrilite. They have paved the way for hundreds and thousands of newcomers. Many have gone by the wayside by failing to meet FTC regulations and being shut down for running illegal pyramids. This is why a lot of people won't even talk to you when you mention networking marketing. But there are many companies that are above board and have created many millionaires. If you look, you can find them.

During recessions, people are looking for additional sources of income and are looking to not invest the thousands or tens of thousands needed to buy a traditional franchise or start up something from scratch. You can get started and have success in network marketing companies for a minimal registration fee and usually only a few hundred dollars will get you off to a fast start.

If done right, your start up costs should be recouped in the first month or two. Then you are already earning actual profits. Try that with a traditional business with overhead from rent, product procurement, advertising and staffing your establishment with reliable help. (Not gonna happen)

Network marketing is truly recession proof. You can work from home, learn and train others on the internet with webinars and conference calls, you don't have to drive around looking for customers and your advertising comes from word of mouth. If you have a viable product, a good compensation plan and can follow the system through duplication, you will have success. The key is to do a few things each day and teach a few people to do the same. In a short time you have many people doing and teaching others to do the same.

If it gets too complicated or there is too much to teach and you can't be there for everyone, your business will be doomed.

Keep it simple!

What does it take to succeed today?

Things aren't much different today than in the past when it comes to success. 

First off, you need a dream, something beyond your normal everyday desires, something that feels out of reach, but still within reach if you put forth the effort. 

People today don't dream as much as in the past. We are so used to getting everything we want and many feel entitled to the same things that those who worked hard for have. Without dreams, there is just hopelessness, a feeling that we are just trying to get through the day without having to work to hard or have anyone depend on us for anything.  That is not a life.

Second, we need to understand that if we don't change what we are doing, we can't expect to see a difference. The definition of insanity: "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". How often do you hear people say, I've tried making changes but it's too hard to stick to it. Of course it is. Ask anyone that's ever tried to lose weight. Andy Stanley once talked about change and said "Change is hard, it's supposed to be". Where did we ever get the idea that to improve ourselves or our lifestyle, wasn't going to require effort and a lot of it. It requires daily self-talk and accountability to others that care about you, to help you along. Look at addicts, they need a support group and daily reminders of why they are making the change. Pictures of loved ones that have been hurt are a reminder of why they need to stop living the way they have.

We need to have pictures to remind us of what we are shooting for and who is going to benefit by this dream of ours. I'll tell you a secret, if you are the only benefactor, find a new dream. Life isn't about you all by yourself. Paint others in your dreams and they will come about quicker than if you are just dreaming of the next THING you can buy for yourself. Nothing is wrong with nice stuff, but if that's all you can think of, you need to broaden your mind.

Third, once you have your dream and know what you need to do, you need to do it. A little effort consistently is better then a lot of effort in chunks. Do something everyday.

Fourth, find someone that has accomplished what you desire and find out what they did to get there and follow the leader. Someone, somewhere has done something similar to what you are hoping to do. Find out as much as you can and duplicate their pattern for success. No says it's all up to you, learn from others that have failed and persevered.

Fifth, everyday read from a good book, listen to a positive audio CD, or better yet hang out with positive successful people. Nothing beats a personal mentor that you can work with to share your dreams and come up with a game plan and hold yourself accountable to.