The Challenge of DREAMING BIG

The bigger the DREAM, the bigger the CHALLENGE...that, my friend, is a fact! And, if the CHALLENGE is bigger, it must be due to the fact that the OBSTACLES are also bigger.

Now, friend, will you STILL make a decision to DREAM BIG even knowing the facts that I just presented?

A dream with no challenges is just that...a dream, and nothing more. It is only when you make the decision to begin to take the steps on the journey toward your goals and dreams that the dream becomes more than just talk.

It is only when you become more focused on your GOALS than you are on the CHALLENGES and the OBSTACLES that you begin to make progress toward reaching those goals and dreams. 

Many times people will refer to their dreams as their "destiny".  Be sure to pay close attention to the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson in the graphic below..."The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."

I have spent a good part of the past 9 years trying to provide information to help you (and myself) to understand the importance of developing and keeping a positive mindset - even after you have made such a decision as was just discussed. 

This is the last blog article that I will be writing for a while. Be sure to listen to the podcast that goes along with this topic (the iTunes and RSS Feed link are found below) to get more (and different) insight into the thoughts on this challenge that comes when you decide to dream big.

Also, be sure to check the next podcast that will be coming out next...it will be the last podcast for a while as well. Be sure to listen to it to get all of the details.

And, finally, be sure to follow along via the fan page on Facebook (link below). That is the main place that you will be able to still be in touch with me from time to time until the relaunch sometime in the future

So friends, whatever you do, always be sure to...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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Whatever You Do...KEEP MOVING FORWARD

Do not allow yourself to become discouraged and defeated - KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

Do not allow yourself to start losing ground, slipping back to where you were before - KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

Do not allow yourself to give up - Do not EVER give up - KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

Hey, listen, even if you do the whole "Two Steps Forward and One Step Back", you are STILL making progress...you are STILL moving FORWARD!

Dig in, dig deep and keep going no matter how difficult it may seem. KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

Be sure to listen to the podcast that goes along with this topic (see the iTune and RSS Feed links below) and get a lot of extra thoughts and insights to this important topic.

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

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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The Timeline for "The Final 100"

O.k. folks, I have a major announcement about my podcast and, perhaps, even my blog coming in the very near future.

I recently recorded podcast #897. Believe it or not, this is way less that I thought it would be at this point based on the beginning on March 2, 2009. Yes, it IS a great accomplishment and, yes, I am proud of this accomplishment but I have decided that it is time to make some major changes to the podcast and, again, maybe even the blog.

I will record two more "regular" podcasts (898 and 899) and then I will record #900, the first of "The Final 100". Number 900 will be a preparation podcast detailing what is going to be taking place but I will give you a quick insight here.

If you have followed me since the beginning of this year (2018) then you know that I plan to be a part of the John Maxwell Team by the end of this year. Once I do that I will begin working on putting myself into a position of doing far more in the area of public speaking, etc.

Once I get to that point (starting to speak and do other things) I will then begin the completion of "The Final 100". Once I reach #1,000 I plan to stop with the podcasts - at least in the way that I've done them for the past nine years.

How long will it take before I do podcast #901? At this point I have no idea.

What does this mean as far as this blog? Again, to be honest, I have no idea.

Here's what I DO know...you can keep up with all of this by going to the fan page on Facebook.

"The Final 100" will more or less be a "re-launch" of the podcast and maybe even the blog.

Again, you will be able to keep up with the details via the Facebook link...be sure to do so and also be sure to stop by and make a comment from time to time.

Be sure to watch for those final two episodes of the podcast and the blog articles that will go along with them!

Until next time, always be sure to...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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Be Flexible in Attaining Your Goals

I came across this graphic on a friend's Facebook page and it "spoke to me" specifically about what is going on in my life right now. You can go back a couple of articles ago and get a glimpse into what I am referring to in the article, "Are You Laying Eggs?".

Since the beginning of this year I have been very "open" about my goals for the year and how I planned to achieve those goals. You can go back to those articles and podcasts where I talk deciding what "vehicle" would be used to get me from where I was to where I wanted to be.

What if the "vehicle" that you have picked out is not doing the job of getting you where you want to go? Are you determined to stay in/with that vehicle regardless or are you flexible enough to do what needs to be done? Maybe your "vehicle" just needs a little tune up or a tweak to make some minor adjustments OR maybe your "vehicle" needs a complete overhaul or replacement.

What you do is greatly determined by your flexibility in such matters.

For me, I have decided that it is time to change the particular "vehicle" and get on my way with my journey and try to catch up since I'm behind with my goals.

Specifically, I'm still going to be in the insurance business but I'm just doing it with a different company (yes, again) and a different approach.

Here's the deal - for me and for you...I can't be worried about what other people think in the matter. DO YOU HEAR ME?

Hey listen, I know for a fact that there are some people that look at me and think I'm just "hopping around" form one thing to another. And, yes, to some extent I have done that but, what they don't know is my reason and purpose for doing so. And I cannot concern myself with that!

I (and you in your own journey) must do what I feel is the best move for me and my purpose and goals in and for my life. And I must be FLEXIBLE in doing so.

How flexible are YOU in reaching your goal? Again, make sure you are CLEAR on what that goal is but, at the same time, be flexible in the process of reaching that goal.

Be sure to take a listen to the podcast on iTunes or on the RSS Feed and get more insight to this topic.

Also, when you listen to the podcast on this topic, you will find me discussing my future plans for the podcast. You can find this starting around the 4 minute mark. Go there to hear the details about another example of flexibility in this process.

You can actually also read more about this in my next article. It won't be long, just an explanation on what I plan to be doing with the podcast. Be sure to check it out.

 And, whatever you do along the way, always be sure to...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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PASSION or BOREDOM?

Right off, I want to tell you to be sure to listen to the podcast HERE so that you can get even more thoughts and discussion on today's topic. Don't miss it!

I think most of you reading this would agree with what Vincent Van Gogh said in the graphic above: "I would rather die of passion than of boredom."

But what does that mean for you? What comes to mind when you think of living a life of "passion"? Does it mean to live a careless life or a carefree life? Does it mean to live a life without rules or a life where you make the rules? Does it mean that, if you don't "love" what you are doing then your life is not of value? Does it mean that your passion brings value to your life regardless of what you are doing?

Some are completely satisfied to live what I may consider to be a "boring life". I - and you - must be careful about judging someone in such a situation because they may be living the life that they have always wanted...even if it "looks" boring to you or me.

As I put this article together, I am 58 years old (YOUNG!) and I still believe that I am living a life of passion or, the way I like to look at it, a life of PURPOSE.

Simply put, for me that means that, regardless of what I'm doing (whether what I would prefer to be doing or not) I still have a passion - or a PURPOSE - in what I want and plan to achieve. I don't think I will ever be in a position to where I decide to be satisfied with less than I know I can be and do.

Make sense?

What about you? My biggest fear for myself - and for you - is to allow myself to get to a point where I "settle for less" because it is easier. THAT IS NOT PASSION!

Again, be sure to listen to the podcast and please, feel free to leave your comments on the fan page on Facebook (click the link below). I'd love to hear from you.

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

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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Are You "Laying Eggs"?

Apparently, the phrase, "laid an egg", meaning something bad happened or was done poorly is attributed to it's use when Variety had it in October 1929: "Wall Street Lays An Egg."

But, why was laying an egg used in a derogatory way? 

Other things that I came across suggest that an egg resembles the number zero - 0. We even hear the phrase "goose egg" to describe something that comes back as "0".

So, when one "lays an egg", it is not something that is a positive thing but, instead, something negative.

But, in nature, the laying of an egg will often result in LIFE!

I took the above picture in my backyard this afternoon after seeing a female blue bird come out of the bird house. I had noticed both the male and female spending time around the bird house but did not know that she had already laid eggs until I took this picture. 

Will EVERY egg hatch? I don't know but it is not unusual for some not to produce life. But, even at that, birds laying eggs and the baby birds that will soon be born are all a part of the "new life" that comes with Spring.

So, what does this have to do with you and me? Let me know if you relate to what I'm about to describe. Lately (as in the past month and a half) I feel as if I've been "laying eggs" when it comes to my business. It has not gone as well as I would have liked and I feel that I'm just not getting anywhere. 

Have you been there? Are you in that type of situation now?

But taking this picture today reminded me that "laying an egg" can also be something POSITIVE that can bring NEW LIFE into the world. Maybe - just maybe - I've gone through the eggs that aren't going to hatch and now - NOW - something good is about to happen with the eggs that remain!

Does that make sense to you? Does that speak to you or to someone that you know that may need to hear this message?

Oh, and by the way, even those eggs that don't hatch (I'm thinking chicken eggs now) still produce something positive in that they supply nourishment as food! So, even allow your disappointments - those eggs that didn't hatch - to serve as a source of nourishment for you in that you know you are learning something along the way and each "bad egg" brings you closer to the ones that will produce something positive in and for your life!

Be sure to click on one of the links below to listen to the podcast for additional thoughts on this topic and, whatever you do, until next time...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

YouTube