Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DARE TO DREAM!

 
This is just a little teaser to get you thinking about the discussion and challenge to come...
 
11.20.12
 
DREAM...I dare you! Take a moment and write those things down that fit in the category, "WHAT IF?" and then DARE TO DREAM! Keep up with this - take steps to the point that you can then write down the fact that your "WHAT IF?" has changed over to, "IT IS!"

My wife and I came up with this idea today and PUT IT DOWN ON PAPER...awesome!
 
Now comes putting the "print into practice"!
 
 
((( SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS!!))
 

Monday, November 19, 2012

A Thankful Thanksgiving by Jim Rohn

(the following article is copied/reprinted from the Jim Rohn Newsletter)
 
 
Editor’s Note: In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November as a day for its citizens to give thanks for all that they have in their lives.
 
You may be wondering why I would call this article a Thankful Thanksgiving. Aren't all Thanksgivings thankful? Unfortunately, no. Since I had experienced more than 75 Thanksgivings, I recognize that being thankful is something that we have to work at, even on Thanksgiving.
If your home is like most, your Thanksgiving Day will be very busy, with either traveling to where you want to go or preparing your home to have others over for the day. Either way, that can be very hectic and emotionally trying, which doesn't lend itself to preparing your heart to be reflective and thankful. In fact, Thanksgiving weekend is the most traveled weekend in America. Airports are full, and don’t always provide much room for contemplation of your good fortune.
 
This means all the more that if we want to be the kind of people who are characterized by thankfulness, then we must make sure that we focus on it, and not just on Thanksgiving Day, but at all times during the year.
 
Here are a few key words as well as some thoughts that are simple and practical to apply; something you can use right away in your quest to become more thankful:
     Time. Set aside time regularly to be quiet, to reflect. We live in the fastest-paced time ever. From the moment we awake to the moment we collapse into bed, we have the opportunity to go at full speed and never slow down. If we schedule time every day in which we can be quiet and reflect, we will free our hearts and minds from the tyranny of the urgent and rushed.
     Thought. Give thought to the many blessings that you have. Living in a consumer culture, most of us are fully aware of what we do not have and how we absolutely must have "it." But how often do we reflect upon that which we already have? Take some time each day and think of one or two things you have that you may typically take for granted, and then take a moment and give thanks for those. In fact, I make it a part of my reflection time to review a list of things that I'm thankful for.
     Generosity. Be generous toward those with less and not envious of those with more. We tend to look at others who may be wealthier than ourselves and think, "I sure wish I had what he does." That kind of thinking breeds envy and jealousy rather than contentment. What can we do to break that cycle? I would suggest being generous to those who are less fortunate than yourself. Go to work at a food bank, and not just during the holidays—everybody works there then—but on a regular basis during the year. That will remind you of how good you really have it.
     Ask. Ask a friend what they are thankful for. You will be amazed at the answers you receive and you will create a meaningful bond with your friends as you focus on this powerful question.
     Acknowledge. Lastly, tell those you love how thankful you are for having them in your life. So many times we neglect to take the time to craft the words to express to those closest to us what their presence in our lives means to us. Take the opportunity of Thanksgiving Day to write them a note, or sometime during the day put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eyes and tell them. Let them know what they mean to you, and in return you'll begin to create the possibility of deeper, richer, more fulfilling relationships with those you love.
 
Of course, we should do what we can to make the most of the day we call Thanksgiving, but wouldn't it be a shame if the only time we reflected on our blessings was that one Thursday in November? And the answer is, of course! So let's do our best to be aware of the many great gifts that we have each and every day of the year. As we do so we will see our hearts soar and our minds more and more at peace as we regularly remember and remain aware of our good fortune.

On Your Mark, Get Set...


 
 
Are YOU ready? Are YOU ready to get started? Are YOU ready to get started attacking whatever it is that has been holding YOU back?
 
Why wait until "New Years" to make some "resolution" that will likely fade in a month or so? Why not start NOW taking action?
 
If you've been following along with this blog as well as my podcast and video-cast then you know that I have been talking about the fact that we must first IDENTIFY those things that are holding us back and then we must DO something about it.
 
Hopefully by now you have done the first part - IDENTIFY those things that are holding you back. If not, take the time NOW (yes, I do mean NOW) to do just that. Be open, be honest and write those things down.
 
The week after Thanksgiving (which means sometime next week) I will do my blog/podcast and maybe video-cast with the FIRST STEP to ATTACKING those roadblocks and making progress once and for all toward those things that we have always wanted to do/accomplish in our lives but have yet to actually do.
 
ARE YOU READY?
 
On your mark...
 
Get set....
 
 
Until next time (when we shout, "GO!"), be sure to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
 
Mike

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Connecting With My Podcast and Video-Cast

Hey friends, I'm thinking that many of you that follow this blog may not be aware of how to access my podcasts as well as my video casts.

For those of you that access this blog through my main site (www.FutureYouUniversity.com) then you should already be aware of how to access those valuable resources.
 
However, in case you DON'T access this blog through the site OR in case you just haven't taken the time, here's all you have to do:
 
     1. Access the main site listed above
     2. Click on the "video cast" link
     3. The videos will automatically show up on that page
     4. There are icons for iTunes and the RSS feed for the podcast
 
See? It's easy and I invite all of you to listen/watch when you get the chance.
 
 
Thanks for making Future You University part of your life!
 
 
"Be sure to make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
 
Mike

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Happy Birthday to Me


 
 
O.k., let me first of all make sure you know that this is NOT going to be a self-indulgent blog article, o.k.? O.K.! Good!
 
However, it IS about the fact that I turned 53 years old on Saturday, November 1st. Why is this significant to anyone else but me and some friends and family that are close to me? Well, it may not be significant to you in the same way that it is to those that I just mentioned but it SHOULD BE significant to you as well.
 
Why?
 
Because, regardless of when your birthday is, five years have passed by for you regardless of you age, as well! (That is, of course, unless you are a child prodigy that is only 4 years old and able to read this!).
 
For most of us, our goals are set according to: 1) New Years Resolutions or 2) a certain age in our life. Am I right? (Go ahead and say it, "Yes, Mike, you are right!").
 
I mentioned on my latest video-cast that I had several goals set for myself that I had planned to reach by the time I turned 50 (feel free to insert YOU age/number here). And, guess what? Although I have made some progress toward some of those goals, I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET!
 
I can't yell at the calendar and tell it to "SLOW DOWN! I'M NOT READY YET!" It doesn't work...have you tried it? If not, go ahead and try it...really, go ahead. You'll see I'm right about this, too!
 
(Hey, it's my birthday, I have a right to be RIGHT. Right?)
 
So, now let's start talking about what YOU (and I) are going to do about it - or what YOU (and I) ARE doing about it, o.k.?
 
We'll go there next and I'd love to get YOUR story of either success or failure in this area. Don't worry, I won't use your name  - even a first name - unless you ask me to.
 
Key point: NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!
 
So, "Happy Birthday to Me!"...now, excuse me while I go get some of that cake! And, until the next time, be sure to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)
 
Mike