Taking a Little Break - Should You?

(be sure to check out the podcast on iTunes or on the RSS feed)

Now, first let me say that there is NOT a podcast that goes along with this article. I just wanted to be sure that anyone visiting for the first time would be able to access the podcast and get introduced to my work.

Now, for the "topic" at hand. If you HAVE been following me then you know that I've been taking a little "break" for the past couple of weeks. It wasn't really planned that way - it just happened! Things happened with my schedule to where I didn't get a Friday podcast done and then my wife and I were home for our "time off" from our job and - quite honestly - I decided to do nothing but ENJOY my time off! That's right, I/we was/were on my bike as much as possible during that time off and it was AWESOME!

So, why have I not gotten back to my blog and podcast after that? Simply put - I've not really had anything to say.

Now, those of you that  REALLY know me are likely saying, "WHAT?? Since when do YOU not have anything to say?" 

I know, right?

Some may even think that it's a foolish decision that will cause me to lose followers. It's kind of like running through the dial on the radio in your car and, if nothing is playing due to "dead air" then you move on to another station. The station with "dead air" may have been in business but, at that moment, they lost a listener and the advertisers may have lost a client.

Hey - truth be known - I've lost a lot of followers when I took a break when I was out of work and I really didn't feel that I had the right mindset to share the positive information that I like to share. But, I'd rather have that happen than to "talk" with nothing to say.

I do know that one day I will need - HAVE - to rebuild my base. But, for now, I'm taking some time off and enjoying what I'm doing.

Oh, I'll never STOP doing this - I love it and I believe that God has blessed me with the personality and ability to think and share positive and encouraging information. Hey, I DO still plan to launch my own seminars and to verbally share this information all over the United States and beyond.

But, for now...I'm taking a break. And, friend, sometimes you need to do that as well. Only you can decide that for yourself. But, as for me? I'm happy with my decision and I'm enjoying my time off.

But, as someone once said in a movie..."I'll be back!" (insert foreign accent here).

Whatever you do, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike



Making Yourself Better

(be sure to check out the podcast on iTunes or on the RSS feed)

"Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better." - Jim Rohn

We've talked a LOT about the fact that we live in a world that craves "easy". A lot of people - it seems especially so with our youth - see other people being successful in many different ways and they want to have the same thing without doing anything to "earn it".

Young boys (and girls) of all ages want to become a professional athlete but aren't willing (and don't even understand how much) to put in the hours and hours and years of hard work in order for that to even be a possibility. For years now I have watched young couples get married and go immediately into a lot of debt so that they can live in as nice - if not nicer - house than their parents and have at least as nice - if not nicer - furnishings IN that house. All the while not realizing that it took their parents years in order to provide those things for themselves and their family. Thousands of people flock to Hollywood or Nashville hoping to be the next great thing. They've read stories of some that were discovered working as a waiter or a waitress or while singing on a street corner and they think that it really IS that simple and easy. They don't realize how FEW that "few" really is when compared to the thousands that seek the same fame. It's not easy so they quit and give up.

"Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better." What a great quote to have posted on the front of every high school yearbook or, better yet, diploma.

Easy is easy. Wow, that was obvious, wasn't it? But, because "easy" is so easy, ANYONE can do it and many ARE doing it. "Easy" is the job that is labeled "entry level position" and usually has the lowest hourly wage attached to it. Interestingly enough, even though ANYONE can do it, there are many that will NOT do it because it is "beneath them". They want the "management" without the hassle of WORKING their way up to that position. They want the bigger paycheck but without actually EARNING that paycheck.

Does that describe YOU? I hope not but, let's be real here, it's not just the young people in our world that follow this "easy" philosophy - many times they learned it from us in the first place!

This is the lure of the "get-rich-quick" schemes that are so prevalent today.

Now back to the diving board scenario that I have used all week long. Many will watch a skilled diver do some amazing things as they leap from that high dive and enter the water with very little splash. Yet, again, not many are willing to put in the hours of work that it took that person to develop that skill. Here's a hint - when things LOOK easy that usually means that someone has put in the time and effort to develop the skill to make it appear so!

Whatever it is that you are searching for...whatever it is that attracts you...seek to become BETTER in order to succeed rather than wish for it to be EASY. Remember, anyone can do easy. Is that what you really want? I didn't think so.

Join me again tomorrow as I finish out this week's articles featuring quotes by the late Jim Rohn. But, until then, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day!"

Mike

MORE Than Promised!

(be sure to check out the podcast on iTunes or on the RSS feed)

How many times have you heard the phrase, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!" And, yet, even though we've heard that often and even though we know it to be true we still often fall for the hype found is so many promises, especially those connected with "opportunities" to make money!

What about the promises and claims that YOU make? Are you still trying to convince YOURSELF that these "too-good-to-be-true" promises are actually valid by repeating those empty claims to yourself? How's that workin' out for ya'?

We've all heard them, right? "Become a millionaire by devoting only 20 minutes a day!" "Make money overnight WHILE YOU SLEEP!" And on and on it goes.

I'll be honest in telling you that I - yes, that's right...me - have fallen for some of these in the past but, hopefully, I've learned better along the way. I have actually come across a few - VERY few- that will tell it like it is and make sure that you understand that it is a HARD and LONG process that will take TIME and a LOT of effort!

Why don't more just go ahead and tell the truth? Because, usually, the TRUTH IS HARD! Who wants hard? Go back to yesterday's podcast about how too many of us are looking for what is EASY instead of what will help us to grow and apply that to today's thoughts.

Listen to what Jim Rohn had to say on this type of thought:

"Better understated than overstated. Let people be surprised that it was more than you promised and easier than you said."- Jim Rohn



Too many in this world OVER promise and UNDER deliver while people like Mr. Rohn emphasize the opposite... the need to UNDER promise and then OVER deliver.

Businesses that catch on to this philosophy thrive. Why? Because they let their customers know that they will go ABOVE and BEYOND anything that they have said and/or promised along the way. Those that want to "cut people short" may exist but, in my opinion, they will never thrive. Remember, it's always easier and far less expensive to keep a REPEAT customer than to have to always be finding new ones.

This applies to how we present ourselves as well. If you have to TELL people how smart, wise, good-looking, humorous, caring, etc. that you are then, well, there's a bit of a problem there! I couldn't think of the name of the song when I was recording the podcast for this topic but I remember it now..."I'm Sexy and I Know It". I'm around a group of teens right now that seem to like to sing this song...especially the guys (it's a male that sings the song, too). I've told them several times, "If you have to tell someone you are - YOU AIN'T!"

Wouldn't you agree?

Let people be surprised instead of disappointed. Don't brag. Show by doing.

I remember watching a television show when I was a kid entitled, "The Guns of Will Sonnett" and Walter Brennan was one of the stars. If I remember right he had something he would say quite often on the episodes of this show. "No brag. Just fact." In other words, what he was saying was NOT bragging, it was just a fact.

Facts are proven to be facts by evidence. Fools fear proof.

Now for the diving board scenario that I've been using all week long. Which would be better - to tell everyone how you can do a 2 1/2 gainer when you don't even know how to dog padde OR to get on the high dive and not make any claims at all. Let me help you out here - MAKE NO CLAIMS and surprise the heck out of everyone! Remember, the fool fears proof and, in this scenario, the fool is going to make all kinds of excuses as to why they won't even JUMP!

So, as you live your life and perhaps even work at expanding your business opportunity OR even just as you live your life...always try to remember to deliver MORE than promised. What a nice surprise for those around you.

Be sure to join me tomorrow for another great quote by the late Jim Rohn. Until then, whatever you do, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Skip the EZ Button!

(be sure to check out the podcast on iTunes or on the RSS feed)

"Don't just read the easy stuff. You may be entertained by it, but you will never grow from it."  - Jim Rohn

We live in  a "make it as easy as possible" world! Hey, I have to admit that I get impatient with the microwave! We have some marvelous appliances and other gadgets in our homes that, indeed, make life easier. And,  no, I'm not "bashing" the fact that we have these things in our lives.

However, in a world where you can call anyone in the world and get information from all over the world in the palm of your hand, we have become to expect this type of ease in all areas of our lives. Wouldn't you agree?

We have "instant" EVERYTHING and, that being so, why not have "instant success"? Isn't this what we see advertised with so many "opportunities" out there? "Retire in 6 months with only 1 hour a day!" - EASY!  "Learn to make MILLIONS while you sleep!" - EASY!

We'll talk more about these types of ideas of "EASY" in the next day or so, but for now, let's turn to this same idea that we find when it comes to reading, listening or absorbing quality material.

Again, I know this doesn't apply to ALL young people today but, from my continued experience working with teens, it applies to a LOT of young people...they don't want to be challenged in any way at all. When was the last time that you tried to get a teen to actually READ or LISTEN to something that wasn't animated or part of some video game OR some lame television show?



When was the last time YOU spent time reading or listening to something that actually had value? If you were not following along a couple of weeks ago when I did the series on TIME then be sure to go back and discover how much time you waste each day and how much of that time can be "re-purposed" for something more productive!

There's nothing wrong with some mindless entertainment from time to time but, just like eating a few sweets from time to time, you CANNOT make your diet contain large quantities of either of these examples. Garbage in, garbage out, remember?

As Mr. Rohn emphasized, some things are entertaining but they do NOTHING to help us grow. When was the last time that YOU were challenged and, as a result, you grew?

Have you ever worked out? Have you ever started a routine that involved running, walking, weights or all of the above? When you first begin it is DIFFICULT because your body is being CHALLENGED to do something that is not as EASY as what you have been doing = NOTHING! However, with time and consistency, your body begins to adapt to the challenge and you begin to accomplish more and more as you do so. Your muscles begin to "grow" due to the RESISTANCE (not the easy way out, right?) that they have faced.

NO RESISTANCE = NO GROWTH!

Now, let's go back to the diving board scenario I talked about yesterday. Perhaps you still find yourself standing on the edge of that diving board looking down at the water...waiting...thinking...talking about what you WILL do but still standing and waiting. Perhaps you have seen someone else do it and it LOOKED easy or someone else TOLD you that it was easy. Oh, by the way, I'm talking about the HIGH DIVE, not the low one that pretty much anyone will jump from.

When you get to the edge of the HIGH diving board it suddenly looks different than it did watching someone that knew what they were doing, doesn't it? Maybe now you realize that the reason it looked so easy was because they put HOURS and HOURS of work into their skill. They didn't quit the first time they stood where you are now.

Sure, you can jump now. You may get lucky and not even hurt yourself but, at the same time, you just may do a "belly-buster" or, worse yet, a FACE-buster! And, if you do, you have a choice to make...quit or learn how to improve and then WORK at getting better.

Skip the "EZ BUTTON" and go for the growth! You'll be glad you did.

Be sure to join me tomorrow for another great quote from Jim Rohn and, until then, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Jim Rohn Quote on DISCIPLINE

(be sure to check out the podcast on iTunes or on the RSS feed)

Today I will begin a new series based on quotes from one of my favorite speakers, the late Jim Rohn. I've included the banner below so that you can easily access the materials available from this great man that has touched thousands - if not millions - of lives in a powerful and positive way.

I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to hear Mr. Rohn while he was still alive and, on more than one occasion! He is not the kind of guy that would jump up and down, talk loudly and run all over the stage. He wasn't very animated but when he spoke, you listened! I've often used the phrase, "grandfatherly" to describe my opinion on his style and I loved hearing him every time I could. I also enjoy listening to him even today via mp3's and other listening methods available.

If you EVER have the chance to hear one of "the greats" then you need to be sure that you take advantage of the opportunity. You'll be glad you did.

So, here's the quote we are starting with today:

"Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion." - Jim Rohn

In other words, DON'T FOOL YOURSELF into thinking that just because you "say it" (affirm it) means it will be. I've talked about this before when I've discussed Napoleon Hill being misquoted and misrepresented by those that say, "If you can believe it, you can achieve it!" Yes, that was PART of what he said. However, most people apparently never took the time to READ the book, "Think and Grow Rich", since they never include how much he talked about the importance of ACTION tied in with this whole thing.

You can "affirm" anything you want as often, as enthusiastically and as loudly as you want but, without discipline... YOU'RE NUTS if you think it will actually amount to anything!

So, take a look at yourself and see if you are still standing at the end of the diving board PLANNING to jump. Are you? I'll be using this analogy all week long but, for now, just get that image in your mind and see if that is YOU still standing there...waiting..affirming..planning...talking...but still there in the same spot.

Be sure to join me tomorrow as I continue this series with another great quote from this great man, Jim Rohn. Until then, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike