Thursday, October 30, 2014

Watch Out for SCAMS!

 
 
I thought that I would share with you some information on a couple of SCAMS that I have come across and, yes, sadly and regrettably, got involved with. I'll explain WHY I did so and I will also explain what, in my opinion, it is about these systems that make them SCAMS to be AVOIDED AT ALL COST!

I'm going to share information on 2 separate programs that I tried and found to be scams:

1. XTREME CLOUD PROFIT or (Profit Cloud)

 
 
  Interestingly, when you try to access information on this program now you will come upon a page that will say "campaign not active".
So, in my mind, either the people behind this got their big financial reward, pulled the plug and ran with the money OR enough people complained about this scam that it got pulled.
WHY I GOT INVOLVED:
No, I did not expect to make over $700 per day as is guaranteed in the video (capture of that video on the right). My thought was, "What if it brought even a small fraction of this in for us? It's guaranteed and plain in what is promised." HINT: 100% guarantee's are absolutely worthless - always know that and do not allow that to sway your judgment thinking that they certainly can't make that promise if it isn't true.
The way it was explained DID make sense in that the person promoting this would get their share out of MY share so, hey, you would think that it would be (as is actually described in the video) in their best interest to follow through on their promises, right?
It's all promised to be free (just something like $15/for his "team" to get it all set up) and all done FOR you! Hey, with a "100% money-back guarantee" I thought, why not...what if it only brings me $700 per week or even $50 per day?
This next part is from a "so-called review" of the system (most of these are written by people promoting the product and are all usually worded almost exactly the same):
Inside Xtreme Profit Cloud
Inside Member Area of Xtreme Profit Cloud, you'd get software, videos, training material and exact step by step plan that you need to work with.
Nope. Absolutely nothing as far as software, videos or training material. A complete bust. After two days of going back and forth with their "support system" I was told (which I had already figured out) that I would have to buy traffic sources (Hey, guess what? They offer such in their back office! Convenient!) in order to drive traffic to the "website" that they had created for me (minimal site).
Oh, and by the way, you had to pay for 6 months of hosting up front which was $89.70 and, when I wanted my refund, I was told that I could get all but $14.95 back because that was for the domain name registration (which was promoted as FREE even during the sign up process).
Yeah, I know...I should have listened to my "gut" on this and never even believed that they would follow through on their guarantee. Lesson learned.
So, again, this particular campaign is apparently down and gone - at least for now. But, be aware of ANY system where you are seeing "Cloud Hosting" as part of the title. THIS is where the affiliates are getting their money. I did find a few "real" reviews of this product and that is what is agreed upon  ---- this is nothing but a "funnel" for the cloud pro hosting.
 
-----------------------------------------------------
 
2. ANYTHING with Anik Singal
 
 
This particular program by Anik Singal is "Inbox Blueprint" (that's Anik on the right). You may have seen the program advertised with a video showing 5 people that Anik took and, overnight, with his system, each was able to make over $1,000 profit.
I've seen this type of approach before and I do know that it is never as easy as it appears in the example. As a matter of fact, once inside this program, I did get access to other videos of this set up that show that, indeed, Anik helped get these people set up with some "extra cost" advertising, etc. to make it happen. You're never told how MUCH money was put in to make this happen and, even though they call the $1,000+ "profit", I'm guessing that this figure is what was made BEFORE taking out the expenses. I don't know that for sure, it's just what I think to be true.
WHY I GOT INVOLVED:
I have no real problem with the program, itself. I wanted to find a program to help me learn how to build  a list because, bottom line, anytime you see promotions "showing" you what a person did in a very short period of time, IF true, it was done through a list that this person has built up over several years.
So, does the program offer valuable material for people like me? Well, yes, I would say that it does and I actually consider myself to be a little over "beginner" when it comes to "internet marketing".
I also do think, however, that there is a LOT of hype in everything that Anik does. Even in the training videos or the "live" webinars (I'll get to that in a moment) a BIG part of the time is spent trying to upsell you to another program. Hey, he's a marketer, I get it but it gets a little old when, probably 50% of the time is spent on the upsell.
The webinars are promoted as being "live" but I do not believe that to be true at all. Why? Well, for one, there is no live "chat" screen during the webinars. You're told that this is due to Anik still trying to figure out how to bring that up. Think about that for a moment. He is supposed to be an internet marketing "guru" and he can't figure this out? Two, he REALLY played up the whole idea that, because he valued us - his students - so much, that he was even going to do some LIVE webinars while he was on his honeymoon! The problem with this is that, all you had to do was to go to his YouTube channel and see that the videos had already been recorded. They just were not accessible to the public yet.
So, those are things I didn't particularly care for, but they do not qualify this as a scam in my book.
However, what DOES qualify this as a SCAM in my book is the fact that you DO NOT get your refund back as promised!
This program is $97 per month for 3 months. Hey, I really thought that I'd likely learn enough to make more than that with this program per month so that the $97 would not be something to even worry about. They offer a "no questions asked, 60 day, money back guarantee".
Well, true, they didn't ask any questions when I asked for a refund of my initial $97 after LESS than a whole month.
That refund was supposedly granted on September 30, 2014 and today is October 30, 2014 and I have still not received my refund. I was told by their support team (that, my friend, is questionable) that the refund had been issued and that, since the card I was using was MasterCard, that it tended to take longer...maybe up to 2 weeks. It's been a month now.
As a matter of fact, I was told by support that they did their part and that there was nothing else that they could do! Are you kidding me?
So, I consider this a SCAM and would advise that you stay away from ANYTHING connected with Anik Singal.
If - by chance - I end up getting my refund I will come back to THIS article and update that information.
----------------------------------------------------------
 
I had planned to post some POSITIVE information about a few programs in this blog but, in my opinion, it is almost too long even now. So, I will post another article after this to share a few programs that I am involved in and, for the most part, I'm doing as a "free member" and am still able to make a little $$ doing.
 
One is absolutely FREE to join and do and there are others that  cost some money to really reap the benefits but, again, I'm doing as a free member for now and am still able to make a little money off of referrals and other things.
 
Anyway, I'll tell you everthing that I can about each of these so that you'll hear it from someone that is actually "in" telling you what's on "the other side" of that "join now" button!
 
Be careful! Feel free to contact me with any questions about what I've posted in this article or even if you're looking at a program that you'd like to check and see if I have any experience with (or thoughts about).
 
Until next time, be sure to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
 
Mike


 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The Key to Happiness (Part 4)


In this series we've looked at the fact that happiness cannot be found in other people or in money. I thought about doing this concluding article by adding thoughts on the fact that it also cannot be found in "stuff" but, after thinking about it, I feel that the thoughts on "money/wealth" would apply to the "stuff" that one can buy.

Just like other people or money, "toys" such as cars and houses simply can NOT bring true happiness to your life. Keep that in mind.

To conclude this series I thought I'd focus on the graphic that has been a part of each of the articles in this series. "The key to happiness is NOT having what you want. It's wanting what you have."

I'm guessing that you have heard the phrase, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" meaning that it is easy to always think something "better" is always "out there" somewhere.

This is a "tricky" thing to consider because I, for one, have written many things and said it many times through my podcast that we should always strive for something "better" in our lives. Let me clarify that for a moment: I'm not talking about stuff or replacement of relationships.

Basically I'm talking about the need to not "settle" for "whatever happens" with no desire to take advantage of your abilities and talents to improve your life. Make sense?

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The problem comes when we try to attach the thought, "I'd be happier if I could only...." to this situation. Interestingly, I came across an article from Success.com that stated the following:

6. Be happy.
"You are responsible for your own happiness. We sometimes convince ourselves that life will be better after we get a better job, make more money, get married, have a baby, or buy a bigger house. Yet the accomplishment of any of those events might not make any difference at all. There is no magic secret to happiness, but it starts in your head."
 
 
Take a look around, friend. Chances are, you are blessed beyond measure and you may be overlooking that fact. It's so easy to miss what is right in front of us. It is easy to allow us to become "blind" to what we "see" every single day. We begin to take things for granted and even begin to find things "wrong" that, in reality, don't even exist.
 
Here's a hint: This is usually due to some "lack" in YOUR life and it has nothing to do with those around you. You may be "restless" about something in your life and you may not be able to pinpoint what it is which, leads to frustration. This feeling of frustration will often grow as you begin to "pick on" your current situation (marriage, family, job, etc.) trying to place blame somewhere else.
 
DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE of moving too quickly when you feel this way. Countless people have done so and then regret making such a move. They found that the "grass" was not even as "green" on the other side of "the fence" as it was where they were before.
 
Sure, do all that you can to improve your life and the life of those that you love. But, friend, don't overlook what you have NOW! I talked about this yesterday...count your blessings! Take a long look at what you have now and be thankful.
 
Another phrase you've likely heard is, "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it!" And to that I'd add, "...and regret it!"
 
Thanks for taking the time to read the articles on this topic. As always, I also encourage you to follow along with the podcast (see the links below) and to share both the blog AND the podcasts with as many people as you can. Too, I'd love to get your feedback on the fan page on Facebook (link below).
 
Enjoy your day and, as always, be sure to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
 
Mike

6. Be happy.
You are responsible for your own happiness. We sometimes convince ourselves that life will be better after we get a better job, make more money, get married, have a baby, or buy a bigger house. Yet the accomplishment of any of those events might not make any difference at all. There is no magic secret to happiness, but it starts in your head.
- See more at: http://www.success.com/article/dont-be-an-old-grump-here-are-9-ways-to-think-young#sthash.NNcrQT5l.dpuf
6. Be happy.
You are responsible for your own happiness. We sometimes convince ourselves that life will be better after we get a better job, make more money, get married, have a baby, or buy a bigger house. Yet the accomplishment of any of those events might not make any difference at all. There is no magic secret to happiness, but it starts in your head.
- See more at: http://www.success.com/article/dont-be-an-old-grump-here-are-9-ways-to-think-young#sthash.NNcrQT5l.dpuf
6. Be happy.
You are responsible for your own happiness. We sometimes convince ourselves that life will be better after we get a better job, make more money, get married, have a baby, or buy a bigger house. Yet the accomplishment of any of those events might not make any difference at all. There is no magic secret to happiness, but it starts in your head.
- See more at: http://www.success.com/article/dont-be-an-old-grump-here-are-9-ways-to-think-young#sthash.NNcrQT5l.dpuf

 

 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The Key to Happiness (Part 3)


"Money can't buy you happiness" to which many reply, "I'd sure like to find out for myself!"

First and foremost, before we go any further, MONEY is the same as our last discussion about PEOPLE...in and of itself, money cannot "make" us happy or sad. Once again, our happiness comes from within as a part of our outlook on life and who we are.

We can, once again, look to the many lottery winners that have ended up in worse financial shape than they were BEFORE they won that huge amount of money. It's almost as if they were "cursed" instead of "blessed" when they won. The reality is that they allowed the money to control them instead of them controlling the money.

Have you not seen "famous" (that's a relative term) people who are wealthy, talk about how their wealth has brought about many problems to their life? Have you not ever heard someone in this position talk about being bored because, once they have "attained it all", they felt that there was really nothing left?

Now, before I go on, let me just say that many that feel that way are very self-centered. Sad, but true. To have been blessed with the ability to achieve that kind of wealth and to be bored and feel that there is nothing left for them is, in my opinion, selfish.

What a GREAT opportunity to change the lives of many that cannot do for themselves. In other countries around the world, yes, but also in their own country! What a great opportunity for them to "step outside of themselves" and give fully of themselves for the good of others.

From what I have gathered over the years, that kind of life is no longer boring because it is now about OTHERS.

Hey, even King Solomon, considered to be one of the wealthiest people in history, discussed his thoughts that, in the overall scheme of life, everything is "vanity" or pointless (read Ecclesiastes, chapter 1 in the Old Testament for more on that). Money or wealth is not THE answer.

So, can money or wealth be the key to happiness, even in some small way?


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Would you be happy with the idea of a "one-time" start up payment of only $18?
And, I do mean "one-time"...no further payments and no monthly charges out of your pocket!
And, what if the POTENTIAL with that small, start up cost was incredible?
and find out for yourself!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I mentioned the other day about this graphic that I had posted on the fan page on FB. Notice what it says: "The goal is not to get rich. The goal is to LIVE RICH." And, then, below that, I added the question: "What does 'living rich' mean to you?"
 
 
 "Riches" and/or "wealth" do not have to have anything to do with money. Some of the  wealthiest people on this earth do not have a very large bank account and, at the same time, some of the "poorest" people on this earth have some of the largest bank accounts.
 
Make sense?
 
So, looking at this last graphic, it IS possible to LIVE RICH and not have a lot of money just as it is to be "relationship-poor" with all the money in the world.
 
And, NO, one does not have to exist over the other. It just takes a person that can make sure that THEY have control over the money and not the other way around. When MONEY begins to control people, problems follow soon after.
 
There is NOTHING wrong with having lots of money. Much good can be done with that money. The problem comes if and when a person allows their money to control them instead of the other way around. And, at the same time, there is NOTHING wrong with not having much money at all. Some of the "wealthiest" people on earth are those who have invested in relationships and reap the harvest of having many "real" friends.
 
By the way, the Bible does NOT say that MONEY is the root of all evil. The Bible declares that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. There's a big difference there between the two concepts, friend.
 
Bottom line: You control your money or your money controls you.
 
So, in closing, it's not if you have a lot of money or not much at all. YOU are the one responsible for your ability to bless the lives of those around you and, in turn, bring about happiness (joy, contentment, pleasure) in your life.
 
Think about it and, as you do so, always be sure to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
Mike

 
 

Monday, October 27, 2014

The Key to Happiness (Part 2)


Have you taken the time to jot down your ideas on what we talked about in the last article? If not (and if you didn't read the last article) go back and spend a little time answering those questions. Doing so will help make this series personal and it will also allow you to apply these things to your own situation a lot more specifically.

ARE YOU HAPPY?

Again, if you've not done so, go back and read the last article for the introductory thoughts to what we will be talking about in this article.

DO NOT PLACE YOUR HAPPINESS IN THE HANDS OR LIVES OF OTHERS!

This is the main point for this article - PEOPLE can not make you happy. Let that soak in!

You may have found yourself saying (and you will hear others say it as well), "You make me so happy!" or "(Name of person) makes me SO happy!" And, on the other side, you may also say or hear, "You make me so mad!" or "(Name of person) makes me SO mad!"

I remember seeing a young man comment on a social media page, "I wish I could find the right girl to make me happy." I replied to this young man, "If that is what you are waiting for, you will be waiting a LONG time."


------------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT FROM MIKE------------------------------
Would you be happy with the idea of a "one-time" start up payment of only $18?
And, I do mean "one-time"...no further payments and no monthly charges out of your pocket!
And, what if the POTENTIAL with that small, start up cost was incredible?
and find out for yourself!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Let me clarify a little. I know that many of you don't quite understand what I'm saying here because you may be thinking, "But my spouse/kids/grandchildren/friends DO make me happy!"
 
People can bring "feelings" of happiness to your life and people can add to the component of your life that brings about happiness but NO ONE PERSON can "make" you happy or unhappy.
 
Read that again - maybe slowly and maybe more than once - and let it sink in.
 
Let's notice a few things about this idea:
     1. If a person can "make" you happy, if they leave your life either by death or by choice, are you doomed to a life of unhappiness?
     2. Is it not unfair to put this much "responsibility" for OUR happiness on others?
     3. Your happiness - created by YOU - might very well bring joy into the lives of those around you which, in turn, may create even more feelings of joy and happiness into your OWN life!
 
Now for a quick "break down" of those three points, o.k.?
 
1. Yes, I do understand that others can bring about feelings of joy and even peace into your life. Yes, this DOES add to the overall component in your life that can add to your joy, pleasure and contentment (see definition for happiness in the last article). But you can NOT rely on those people to be responsible for your own happiness.
 
Have you ever been disappointed by any of these people? Have they ever frustrated you? Discouraged you? Brought about feelings of anger in you? The answer to all of those questions is very likely to be "YES!".  So, yes, they can have an impact upon our "feelings", but they cannot - and we should not expect them to - "make us" happy or unhappy.
 
And, yes, I DO understand that the loss (either by death or other means) of having someone in your life can be heart-breaking. I understand that this kind of loss can bring about much pain and despair. Again, they made up part of the overall component of your life that brought about joy, pleasure and contentment in your life. They were a PART of your happiness.
 
But also understand that you are NOT now confined to a life of misery and unhappiness. It may be difficult, but you can and will find other areas of your life that can help fill that void in your life that will bring joy, pleasure and contentment into your life.
 
2. It IS unfair to put the responsibility of your happiness on others. Many couples fight over this and even divorce over this very thing. "But you're supposed to make me happy!" whines one to the other.  Perhaps this disillusionment came from one promising the other, "I will ALWAYS make you happy!".
 
That's a nice thought but it's an impossible promise to keep. Easy to make, impossible to keep.
 
So, on either side, it is unfair to expect someone else to be responsible for your happiness and, friend, it is unfair and unrealistic for you to think that you are responsible for the happiness of another.
 
3. WE are responsible for our own happiness. Those that have joy, pleasure and contentment as a part of their life very likely will draw others to them. Yes, others can "feed off" of that contentment and joy and, in turn, increase their own levels of those feelings and emotions.
 
Happiness must come from within. True contentment can only come from YOU and what YOU hold in your heart. Make sense? True contentment understands that others WILL disappoint us and, yes, even frustrate us but that contentment will never allow that to DESTROY us.
 
Now, don't take this the wrong way, especially if you have lost a loved one in death. I'm not trying to be "cold-hearted" about this but, it still applies, even in that situation. Here it is: True contentment and happiness comes with the understanding that your worth and value is not dependent upon another person.
 
YOU are special and YOU hold the key to understanding your true value.
 
I know that it is painful at times but, friend, it is still true.
 
So, as you go about writing down your answers to the question, "What makes me happy?", don't write down the names of others. Maybe there are things ABOUT those people that bring about the feeling of joy and happiness but that person, alone, is not responsible for your happiness.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this article and, as always, I also want to encourage you to listen to the podcast (see the links below) and to also share both with as many people as possible. You just never know when what is read or said is exactly what someone needs on a particular day.
 
Until next time, be sure to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
 
Mike
 

 

Sunday, October 26, 2014

The Key to Happiness Is...


The following is from the opening  of the United States Declaration of Independence:
 
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."
 
Although this is from a document for the United States, the following statement applies to EVERYONE, regardless of where they live: "Happiness is NOT a guarantee, nor is it a right of life!"
 
One can PURSUE happiness (and, in the U.S.A., that pursuit IS a right) but that does not mean that one is guaranteed to find and possess happiness.
 
This "pursuit of happiness" is something that seems to occupy a lot of time in people's lives as well as occupying a lot of space in written material.
 
Dictionary.com defines "happiness" as:
     1. the quality or state of being happy;  2. good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.
 
This definition would cause us to have to look at the definition give for the word, "happy:
     1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person.
     2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of
         mind.

So, when considering your "pursuit of happiness", WHAT IS IT that you seek?  Is it "good fortune"? Pleasure? Contentment? Joy?

What does "happiness" mean to/for you?

There are many answers to that question but, for the most part, there is but ONE answer for YOU! Now, there may be more than one "answer" that comes to mind when you consider what this means for you but, I'm convinced, that even these other "answers" will still revolve around one central thought for you.

Why do I bring that part up? Simple. What others define as "happiness" may not be YOUR definition and it may not be what would make YOU happy.

------------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT FROM MIKE------------------------------
Would you be happy with the idea of a "one-time" start up payment of only $18?
And, I do mean "one-time"...no further payments and no monthly charges out of your pocket!
And, what if the POTENTIAL with that small, start up cost was incredible?
and find out for yourself!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
You see, too often, we find ourselves trying to "live up to" other people's ideas of happiness. Make sense? We observe others and we usually make an assumption about what it is that seems to make them happy.
 
Sometimes, those that we observe may not be as happy as we think they are! Or, if they ARE, indeed, happy, we may be completely wrong in our assumption of what it is that makes them happy.
 
HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO AS WE START THIS SERIES:
 
* I want to ask that you take the time to consider what all of this means for your life. Get out a piece of paper and jot down your thoughts so that you can come back to them later on.
 
* Specifically, would you consider yourself "happy"? Maybe even use a scale of 1 (miserable) - 10 (you couldn't be any happier!) and place yourself along that scale. I do understand that this may even change from day to the next but, overall, where would you place yourself on that scale?
 
* What do you think would make you even happier than you are now? Write it down.
 
* Do you think that most others that you know (in your circle of friends) are happier than you are?
 
* If so, what is it that you think makes them happy?
 
* Go to the FYU Fanpage on Facebook and share your thoughts and comments as we go through this series - but go ahead and start now!
 
Thanks and I look forward to sharing out thoughts together as we continue with this series on "Happiness".
 
Until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
 
Mike
 


Friday, October 24, 2014

Join Me on This Journey?

 
What Have YOU Spent $20 (U.S.) On This Week?
 
Many of you know that, from time to time, I check out different "opportunities" out there and, for the most part, I've been very disappointed in what I have found.
 
As a matter of fact, very soon I'm going to specifically mention two different "opportunities" that are flat-out scams. Yes, I will make sure you know EXACTLY what/who they are and why I say they are scams.
 
NOW THEN...
 
I've still always believed - even KNOWN - that there ARE "real" opportunities to make money and even a living doing something online. I know for a fact that there are people that do it every single day.
 
The problem is making your way through that "mine field" of all of the scams that are out there.
 
Now, let me say this up front: I do not know 100% how this opportunity I'm sharing with you in this article will turn out. I'm not going to promise anything or even suggest anything, as far as results.
 
Sound o.k. to you?
 
As a matter of fact, I'm even going to suggest to you that, when you watch the video that I have a link to below, that you not pay any attention to the "big numbers" that are presented as possibilities in the video. O.k.?
 
Here's the few things I DO want to mention to you and ask that you consider seriously:
     1. This is only a ONE TIME cost of $18 "out of pocket". You heard me right. This is not a "beginning cost" at some basic level that isn't worth two cents. (The video will explain how this works for you). Can you put more money into it? Sure you can. Some people, for example, put more $$ into it for advertising. I don't plan to do that - at least not for now - and you don't have to either. That would be 100% up to you. (That's why I have that $20 bill up at the top. Do you realize how quickly most of us spend $20?)
     2. What if it takes longer than the few weeks that is talked about in the video? WHO CARES? What if it took you a year to even reach the $100k amount, would that be o.k. with you? What if it even took two years to do that? Would that really matter to you? But, WHAT IF you were able to reach even that amount quicker than a year or two?
     3. As you'll see in the video, you're not trying to sell something or keep someone using something. It's simple and, the way I'm looking at it, THIS CAN BE A LOT OF FUN getting others involved and then watching this thing grow. LOOK AT HOW SMALL THE "RISK" IS!!!
     4. The "spill over effect" will help you fill up your spaces. Enough said about that. :)
     5. THIS IS GLOBAL! This is NOT limited to the United States so, those of you that are reading this from other countries (and I know I have a lot of people that do) should be able to participate.
     6. You don't have to "take care" of all the people that sign up under you or that get placed under you. NO BABYSITTING!
 
So, anyway, I'd love it if you'd at least take a look. Ask me questions and I'll do the best I can to answer them but, if you watch carefully, I think you'll find most questions answered.
 
Are you ready to have some FUN while having the possibility to actually make some real money online? Then, after you've watched the video, sign up with me and we'll ride this train together!
 
Here's the link...remember, WHAT IF?
 


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

The Other Side of Fear


I hope that, through this discussion over the past few articles and podcasts, you've come to realize how important it is to face, fight and move past fear so that you can move forward with your life.
 
Fear robs us of joy, peace and promise.
 
JOY:
By being paralyzed by fear, we often worry about things that never even happen. We've discussed that fact in the past few articles but it still can be a problem  When we fail to reach out and experience love and new experiences we miss out on many things that can bring joy to our lives.
Stop allowing fear to rob your life of joy!
 
PEACE:
Fear and worry cannot co-exist with peace. Guess what is on the "other side" of fear and worry? PEACE! When you stop fearing the worst, you begin to expect the best. When you stop wasting time with worry you begin to enjoy your time, filled with peace.
Stop allowing fear to rob your life of peace!
 
PROMISE:
Facing, fighting and removing fear from your life will allow you to step out into the hope of PROMISE. The promise of something better. The promise of life free from worry and full of joy and peace. The promise of enriched relationships in all areas of your life.
Remember, fear is a liar and there is no joy, peace hope or promise in a lie. Stop living (if you can call it that) a life full of fear and begin to LIVE LIFE as it was meant to be.
Stop allowing fear to rob your life of promise!
 
Here's the kicker: some of you - even as you read the last three paragraphs - are still doubting this to be true for you. You are still fearful with thoughts of, "That all sounds good, Mike, but what if this is not true for me?" That is FEAR speaking to you and through you, friend.
 
STOP LISTENING TO FEAR, STOP "LIVING" FEAR once and for all!
 
Just imagine what you will find on "the other side" of fear.
 
Take that step and find out, friend. You'll be glad that you did and those around you will be glad as well.
 
Thank you for spending this time with me. I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts on this series, especially with you putting your comments on the fan page on Facebook (click here or the link below).
 
Until next time, whatever you do, as you face, fight and conquer fear, be sure to...

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

Mike
 
 
 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

If You Were Not Afraid


If you weren't afraid of ANYTHING - and I mean ANYTHING - what would you do?

Really, take a moment and give that question some serious thought. Why? Because, as I've been discussing in the past couple of articles, FEAR keeps us from experiencing so many things IN our life as well as keeping us from enjoying so MUCH of our life.

Take a look at your relationships or at the relationships that you wish that you had. What if you weren't afraid? What if you weren't afraid of getting hurt? (The only way to "not get hurt" is to not connect with people and, friend, that hurts, too!). Are you afraid of loving "too much"? What if you lost that fear and you began to love without fear? What would happen? What could be?

Take a look at your job. What if you weren't afraid of being taken advantage of? What if you weren't afraid of messing up? What if, instead, you did your best - without fear or worry - and you just worked as "the best you" that you could. I wonder what might happen? What if you weren't afraid of others "getting ahead" or getting the credit? What if you just became the person that did their best, without fear?

What if opportunity presented itself in that job and you weren't afraid to take that next step? What if you believed strongly enough in you and your abilities that - without fear - you began to believe in yourself as much as the one that offered you the promotion? What might be possible?

What if you were no longer afraid to pursue your dreams? What if you were no longer afraid of failing? What if you were no longer afraid of someone saying, "I told you so" if you did fail?

Again, what if you begin to believe in yourself and stopped being afraid to do so?

How would you live? Would your life improve? Would your attitude improve?

Just imagine how your relationships - ALL of your relationships - would improve and become more meaningful.

Just imagine.

Life without fear.

Think about that. Dream about that. Brainstorm about that. Write it down and dare - without fear - to take action.

What if you did? What if you do?

What will happen WHEN you do?

There are more questions than statements in this article. But, friend, it is because your freedom - TRUE freedom - depends on your answer to that one, all important question...

"What would you do if you weren't afraid?"

I'd love to get your thoughts on that. Leave them here or on the FYU fanpage on Facebook.

Dare to live, friend, dare to live.

And, as you do so, always be sure to...

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

Mike
 


Monday, October 20, 2014

Fear is a Liar


False Evidence Appearing Real

Have you ever been afraid of something that didn't even exist? Have you ever spent time being fearful of something that, later on, you found wasn't anything to be afraid of in the first place?
 
If you haven't done so, read the last blog article...it "sets the stage" for this week's series.
 
Now, using the example I used about "the boogie man" from when we were kids, you will understand how "fear" can really create a "realistic" belief. Yet, it is only imagination appearing real.
 
Fear often brings about the "What If" syndrome, but only on the negative side. FEAR causes us to ask, "What if it doesn't work?" "What if I get turned down? "What if I get rejected?" "What if it doesn't turn out the way I want?" "What if I fail?"
 
FAITH (belief), on the other hand, asks these same questions with a positive view. FAITH causes us to ask, "What if it DOES work?" "What if I they say 'yes'?" "What if I get accepted?" "What if it DOES turn out the way I want?" "What if I succeed?"
 
Fueled by negativity, our minds tend to look at the down side of events and possibilities. Fear causes us to worry about and focus on results that, often, never even happen.
 
If we could just understand and KNOW that FEAR IS A LIAR then, perhaps, we might move forward with more confidence.
 
Again, even if you DO take two steps forward and one step back, you are still AHEAD of where you were when you started!
 
Do not allow fear - FALSE FEAR - keep you from living and experiencing all that life has to offer. We were not made to be afraid, friend, we were made to CONQUER fear and move forward!
 
So, yes, FACE YOUR FEAR and you may find that there was not anything to fear in the first place!
 
Life was meant to be LIVED, not FEARED so, friend, now is the time to get going.

Hey, be sure to listen to the podcast on today's topic by clicking on one of the podcast links below. And, if you would, please be sure to share this article along with the podcast. Thanks!
 
Here's to your FACING and DEFEATING fear! And, as you do so, whatever you do, be sure to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
 
Mike

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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Fighting Fear


Do you remember being afraid of "something" in the dark when you were a kid?
 
 I remember times when I couldn't even hardly move in my bed because I was so afraid of what I THOUGHT was "out there. As a matter of fact, I even tried to not breathe as much as possible and had the covers over my head even though I was sweating furiously.
 
I also remember a time when I was out in the woods on our property and found a "creature" crawling up my leg. I didn't know what it was but, it scared me so badly that all I could do was stand still and start screaming. I was "paralyzed"! All it turned out to be was a locust but, hey, I didn't know what it was and I was afraid.
 
I am afraid of heights and that fear also, literally, paralyzes me to the point that I can not move.
 
Can you relate to any of the things that I've shared with you so far?

So, you see, the paralyzing force of fear is not something that we necessarily outgrow as adults. Even in areas besides the physical (like the fear of heights), we can struggle with and have the need to FIGHT FEAR.

It may be the fear of failure, the fear of disappointment, the fear of success, the fear of commitment, or a variety of other fears that we may still face today.

In the next three articles we are going to take a look at the need to FIGHT FEAR and see it for what it really is as well as what "can be" once we get past this fear.

We will take a short journey so that we can "see" what's on the "other side" of fear. And, as it says in the graphic above, "You'll like what's on the other side!".

Until then, why not make a list of the things that hold you  back. You may not want to admit it but, many times, we are held back because FEAR has paralyzed us in our tracks. Go ahead, brainstorm and make a list. Be honest with yourself as you make this list so that you can make some progress as we go through this series.

Be sure to share this with as many people as possible so that they, too, can begin to face fear and enjoy the benefits of getting to the "other side" of fear.

Until then, always be sure to...

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

Mike
 

 
 

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

FINANCES: It's Up to Me


Your ability to work well with others as well as encourage and uplift them will have a direct impact on your financial future.
 
Read that again and let it sink in.
 
Yes, I know that there are some rare instances where someone does something, someway, somehow to where they have no real connection with anyone else at all. Again, notice the word, "rare".
 
For the most of us, we must deal with people on a daily basis and it's not always an easy thing to do, is it? But it's something that the wise figure out and use to their advantage and those that don't, will likely come up a little short.
 
If you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read the previous three blog articles that led up to this one. They all "stacked" upon each other and built on each other, leading us to this final thought of this series.
 
The bottom line (and main thought) is this: In ALL of these areas it is important to realize, "If it's to be, it's up to me."
 
Hey listen, if you want to be like everyone else and plod along through life - miserable - like most others seem to be then, friend, just cruise along and make no real effort to improve yourself and you will achieve exactly that.
 
But YOU - yes, YOU - desire more than that for your life! Just the fact that you are reading this blog sets you apart from the majority of others. That's true! Most people that you know will not take the time to read an article like this, much less on a regular basis.
 
Because you desire more for your life and because you understand that, this, by itself, will set you apart from the majority of those around you, YOU will make the effort to actually take the time to pay attention to, and to care about and for those that you spend time with each day.
 
This begins at home with your family and spills over with your close friends and into the workplace among your coworkers. And, yes, this even applies to those that you come into contact with while out and about at the grocery store or a local restaurant.
 
How you treat people MATTERS and YOU are one that knows this, understands this and does what is necessary to IMPROVE this in your daily activities.
 
And, YES, this DOES have a direct impact upon your paycheck and your opportunities. I strongly say to you that THIS IS A FACT!
 
Do you want to become indispensable in your workplace? Then do these things that I have shared with you in the past few articles and your job will be SAFE. Not only will it be safe but you will likely find more and more opportunity offered to you in that company because of these important qualities.
 
I'd love to get your thoughts and feedback on this series or on anything that I share with you. Have you seen this to be true in your own life or have you noticed this in others? Let me know, I'd love to hear about it and look forward to your input.

Until next time, friend, whatever you do, always be sure to...

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

Mike
 

 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

JOBS/CAREER: It's Up to Me


Your "people skills" DO matter when it comes to getting a job and working with others. Oh, I know that there are some jobs where you might be 100% secluded from any interaction with anyone else but, let's face it, those jobs are rare. And, the simple fact that you are reading this blog tells me that you would not want that type of job anyway.
 
That just wouldn't be you.
 
So, again, when considering opportunities for jobs and careers for your life, you should take hope and feel some excitement understanding that this process is not "left up in the air" out of your control. Nope, using the phrase for this series, when it comes to this area of your life, it applies: "If it's to be, it's up to me!"
 
I mentioned in the previous two articles in this series that these will all build off of each other. That means that this particular segment on jobs and careers is feeding off of the last feature - RELATIONSHIPS.
 
If you find that you have been through several jobs in a short (or shorter than might be "normal") period of time, please stop and ask yourself this question: "What was the problem?" Answer that as honestly as you can and maybe even write that down. Be specific for each of the past four or five jobs that you have had.
 
Now then, after you have done that, look at all of those jobs and then write down the ONE, COMMON DENOMINATOR for all of those jobs. More than likely, you will discover that one, common denominator to be YOU.
 
Yes, you.
 
I'm not saying that you are the problem 100% of the time, o.k.? However, I AM saying that you (me and everyone reading this) are the biggest part of the problem more than you may want to admit.
 
I mean, really, who wants to admit THAT?
 
How well we work with others plays a BIG part on our job opportunities as well as our career opportunities.
 
It's also up to you when it comes to doing what it is that needs to be done in order to "qualify" for that job or career. If it requires a degree, then it is up to YOU to make that happen. It if it requires a certain skill level that can only come by experience, then it is up to YOU to do whatever you have to do to gain that experience.
 
No one else can do that for you, right?
 
Too many want a job or career that will bring them LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY without any specialized degree or experience.
 
Sorry friend, that's a fairy tale like we discussed in our last series on opportunities.
 
IT'S UP TO ME! Stop waiting, stop making excuses, stop wishing.
 
If it's going to be - YOU are the one that has to do what it takes.
 
And you DO have the ability to do whatever it takes.
 
You have the ability but, do you have the DESIRE and DETERMINATION to make it a reality?
 
I can't answer that one for you.
 
But, going back to my emphasis on RELATIONSHIPS, friend, you don't have to do this all alone. That doesn't mean that someone else will do it for you, but others may be able to help direct you in the right direction or get you started on the right path.
 
We all can use a little help from our friends. Always.
 
Next, we will conclude this short series by talking about how all of this ties into our financial future.
 
Read, apply, and share.
 
And, until the next time, continue to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
 
Mike
 
 


Monday, October 13, 2014

RELATIONSHIPS: It's Up to Me


In discussing the fact that our future is dependent upon us ("If it's to be, it's up to me"), I also pointed out that this future - OUR future - is greatly dependent upon our RELATIONSHIPS.
 
As a matter of fact, this whole series will "spin off" off of what we do with our RELATIONSHIPS.
 
That being said, I obviously believe that relationships matter. I believe that they matter to the point that, pretty much everything that we encounter and undertake, is connected to our relationships.
 
How we treat people says a lot about "who" we are, wouldn't you agree? The ability to treat others with honor and respect - regardless of their social standing or what they may be able to do for us - is an ability that every employer is looking for in those that they want working for their company.
 
If you are married and, especially if you have children, these relationships SHOULD matter to the point of greatly influencing what you do, why you do it and how you approach it. Too, having "solid" relationships in this area will do wonders for your "well-being" and mindset as you go to the workplace to do your job.
 
Your relationships with your coworkers will greatly determine your upward movement in the company for which you work. Those in charge will take notice of those that have the ability to work as a team and with a team, AS a team member. They will also notice that you understand the importance of the team and that you are not as focused on your own personal achievement.
 
Even your relationships with those that you come across away from you job matters in this way. How? It is a reflection of how you treat others...plain and simple.
 
Friend, you can't fake this stuff! You may need to work on yourself to make this a natural part of "who" you are, but it can be done.
 
Appreciate others. Encourage others. Build others up and see what happens.
 
And, as you do so, always be sure to...
 
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
 
Mike