Mike's Quotes #15: The POWER of LOVE

Love. It's not what you say, it's what you DO and BECOME. Don't just utter the word, SHOW love - BE love - SHARE love. Always.  - Mike Spillman

We've talked about it before: TALK IS CHEAP!

I'm not sure that there is any word in the English language that is "thrown around" as carelessly as the word, "love". People (men AND women) use it as a bargaining tool to get what they want. They will also use the word as a way to manipulate others around them.

Adults will say the word to their children even though their actions say otherwise.

In my opinion, the word should never be used unless it is truly MEANT.

Yes, I know that we use the word "love" to describe everything from food to our pets. But, friend, you know what I'm talking about and you know that I am referring to love that denotes a feeling of commitment, trust and purpose.

Yes, I believe that this kind of love is something that you must BECOME. This may seem like an odd concept to some but, from my experience, this is true. This kind of love is something that I have had to go through a lot of life before I fully understood what it truly meant.

For those that you say are important to you in your life, your love should never be doubted or brought into question. You LIVE it, you BREATHE it, you SHOW and SHARE it and, yes, you BECOME it.

It took me about 58 years to get there but I am so glad that I had the opportunity to "arrive" at this point in my life. It is, indeed, the POWER of LOVE.

I'd love to get your feedback by going to my FaceBook page (link below) and leaving your comments. I'd greatly appreciate it and I thank you in advance.

Whatever you do, each and every day always be sure to...

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

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #14: Just a Bump in the Road

 “The past is just a bump in the road to the future.” - Jordan Spillman (8.10)

The quote that I want to share with you today comes from my youngest son, Jordan Spillman.  

Though he is my youngest son, he is currently 28 and about to turn 29.

This quote came in the summer following his High School graduation. And, as a little bit of background, my wife had suffered a heart attack the summer before and we almost lost her. That was a very traumatic experience for us all! Since I don't know the EXACT date that he came up with the quote I'm not sure of the specifics in relation to timing, but our whole family went through a frustrating transition in August 2010. 

Without going into details, Jordan has gone through quite a few "bumps" since the time of this quote but he continues to press on. Yes, I am PROUD of him!

I know that, at the time, he had no idea what life had in store for him over the next 9.5 years but, the fact is, none of us do, right? I would say that his quote has had "skin" put on it and that it (the quote) has breathed "life" and has become more than a collection of words.

Friend, the quote is GOOD ADVICE!

Just go back to the article featuring "Quote #12" where I emphasize, once again, the fact that TODAY is truly all that we have available to us. Not the past, not the future, but TODAY.

The past is just a "bump in the road".

But those bumps can either be just a small thing or something that can actually cause you to end up in a wreck, the hospital or even dead. YIKES! All bumps are NOT created equal!

So it is with life. We ALL have our struggles and, believe me, even those that you think are "immune" to such, certainly are not. If you have yet to experience hardship in your life then, friend, it's not "if" but "when".  I'm not trying to be pessimistic. I'm simply being honest and trying to help you prepare for what WILL come to pass at some time in your life.

Two quick thoughts:
   1. What will you do when it happens?
   2. What will you do AFTER it happens?

When these "bumps" come along in your life you must decide that you will KEEP MOVING FORWARD and that you will NOT allow that "bump" to cause you to quit and give up. Yes, again, I DO understand that there can be some incredibly hard situations that can cross our path as we go through life. I'm not down playing that fact. But friend, the fact remains that we just simply cannot allow ourselves to curl up in a little ball and give up.

So, WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN IT HAPPENS? The time to decide is NOW, before that time arrives. And, if you have already experienced such things in your life then, friend, you are better prepared to handle whatever "bump" may (and likely will) come your way.

Just as importantly, we must also decide, in advance, the answer to the following question: WHAT WILL YOU DO AFTER IT HAPPENS? Remember, your PAST does NOT determine your FUTURE.

Yes, learn from the past and do all you can to not make the same mistakes again. Where there is pain, hurt and suffering, learn the lessons that are provided  through the process that you had to go through, take them to heart and move on, a better person.

But, whatever you do, do NOT allow yourself to continually LOOK BACK at the past with regret. Yes, I understand but, friend, do all that you can to do WHAT you can that may need to be done and then MOVE ON.

Do NOT be "derailed" or "side-lined". Remember that "the past is just a bump in the road to the future."

This blog article is being published on Thanksgiving Day 2019 and I wanted to take a moment and wish you, your family and loved ones a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy every moment, cherish every moment and be thankful for even the small blessings in your life.

As you do so, always be sure to...

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

Mike

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WED: Mike's Quotes #13: Frustration Benefit?

 “If all frustration were removed from my life, 
would I recognize elation when it arrived?”

 - Mike Spillman (1.7.11)

Think about that quote for a moment. If all we ever encountered in our lives was good, happy, worry free as well as problem free, would we truly understand what a blessing that life would be?

To what would we compare? 

This is part of the problem when we try to shield our young people from any disappointment or hurt. They need to learn that life is not always fair and that, yes, at times, it just downright HURTS! They must learn to manage the loss in order to learn how to celebrate the win. 

Again, for any of you that would tend to think that I (for some reason) have never gone through tough and difficult times, you would be wrong, and wrong in a BIG way! Where do you think that quote came from? I don't remember the exact situation but, noticing the date, I can tell you that I was going through some hard times in my life.

Along with what the quote points out, you must also learn to "see" and acknowledge what is RIGHT in your world even when so much seems wrong. In other words, don't let your frustration cause you to be blinded from seeing that blessings that STILL are present in your life. 

There is an old "church song" that declares, "Count Your Many Blessings, Name them One by One". Indeed, it is vital for us to do just that even in the midst of frustration.

Understanding the quote will also help you recognize smaller, more often occurring things to celebrate! 

If you put yourself in the position that you are only elated at the HUGE gains in your life then, my friend, you will find that you will experience MORE frustration along the way. It is important that we all learn to acknowledge and celebrate the "small things" along the way. By doing so we will understand the fact that we are, indeed, truly blessed. 

A benefit to be found in frustration? Yes. 

Find SOMETHING to celebrate in your life every single day and be thankful.

I have a special treat to share with you tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day 2019. I'm actually going to share a quote from my youngest son. You don't want to miss it!

Until then, I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. And, always remember to...

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

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #12: Your Future Begins TODAY

"You plan for your FUTURE by what you do TODAY"  
- Mike Spillman (10.17.16)

If you have followed me for any length of time at all (even just last week!) then you know my emphasis on the importance of TODAY. Again, "tomorrow" doesn't even exist and you cannot go back and re-live "yesterday".

So, yeah, TODAY really DOES matter!

What you do TODAY will determine your path for your FUTURE. If you haven't done so, go back and read the very last article that I published about the need to know where you are before you can begin your journey to where you want to be.

Once you have planned out your course you must then commit to following the "path" that will take you where you want to be.

Will you?

You decide TODAY if you will or if you will not! What you do - or DON'T do - today is movement toward your future. Are you taking a step in the direction of where it is that you SAY you want to be or have you actually taken a step back or down a "different"path that will NOT take you where you want to be?

Hey, listen, I'm not here to "hold your hand" and try to make you feel good about your indecision in this area. I'm here to CHALLENGE you and to be brutally honest about your activity TODAY and what that means for your future.   

Remember, it's not what you SAY you wish to achieve, it's what you actually DO that SHOWS what you wish to achieve.  

Do NOT wait until January 1st to get started. WHY WOULD YOU? Start planning  where it is you want to be and start moving toward that goal TODAY!

Well, what are you waiting for? Get moving now and, as you do so, always be sure to...

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

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #11: Where Are YOU Going?

"You have to know WHERE YOU ARE before you can know 
how to get WHERE YOU WANT TO BE." - Mike Spillman 

Whether you use a map or use your GPS, the above quote applies as you travel. In order for you to know which route to take to get to your desired destination, you must first know where you are - your starting point.

Of course, a physical trip going from here to there is not what is being addressed in this blog article. Regardless, the same idea applies to your life and your desire to reach your "destination" of your dreams and goals. 

For example, you may desire to make $20,000 per month. In order for you to know what needs to take place, you must first know where you actually are with your current income. If you are already making $15,000 per month then you know that it won't take a lot of adjustment to make up the difference. However, if you are only making $8,000 per month, it is obvious that you will need to take different action in order to achieve your desired goal. Perhaps, like an actual, physical journey, understanding that you have further to go may simply mean a longer journey. So it would be in this example for desired income. Wouldn't you agree?

Is your goal to improve your mindset and become more positive? For one, you must get more specific than that. That's like saying, "I want to go somewhere tropical." Sure, it gets you thinking about a generalized idea but you must narrow your thoughts down in order to get more specific and to know how to actually get where it is that you want to go. Make sense?

"I want to lose some weight." Again, how much weight you want to lose will greatly determine the actions that will be needed to achieve your goal. You must also take into consideration whether or not you wish to do so in a healthy manner. All of these factors matter.

Don't wait until January 1st to start "mapping out" your course. Determine what you wish to achieve (where you want to go) and work your way back to determine what you need to do (what route you need to take) in order to get there. 

Be realistic with your expectations and be willing to make adjustments along the way. Just like a GPS will make the adjustments to your route as well as to the "time expected for arrival" so you must do with this journey, friend. 

I'm here to help any way I can and I encourage you to reach out via my Facebook page (link below) with any comments and/or questions that you may have.

STEP ONE: Be honest and determine "where you are" today and then go from there.

As you do so, whatever you do, always be sure to...

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

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #10: Direct Your Future

"It's always too late to change your past but it's never too late to change the direction of your future!" - Mike Spillman (12.31.10)

My guess is that, most people would like the opportunity to go back in time and do a few things differently. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know all the stuff about "oh, but it has made me who I am today". I get that. BUT, I still believe that most of us would like to have the opportunity to go back and do some things differently.

Correct mistakes, do better with how we raised our kids, respect our parents better and just love people more. And, my goodness, what about FINANCIAL mistake that, knowing what we do now, we might be able to avoid?

Remember, that time period that we call "tomorrow" doesn't even exist and neither does that time period that we call "yesterday". All we have is TODAY. Yes, we can learn from our past mistakes and be dedicated to not repeating them in the future but we cannot go back and undo or re-do things in the past. 

I always thought that this was an interesting phrase: "Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday." 

But here is what we CAN do, friend. We can change the direction of our future and it begins with what we do right now, TODAY! 

Yes, I understand that we are "molded" by our past but, friend, your past does NOT determine your future. What has happened in your past does not DEFINE who you are nor does it determine your future or your destiny.  

Stop making excuses. Stop whining about your past. Hey, if that offends you then you really need to ask yourself WHY it does so! Stop enabling yourself to continue living in the shadow of your past and what may have been wrong, tough or unfair.

YOU control your future. No matter what your situation and no matter what excuse (disguised as a reason) you may want to try to come up with, it all boils down to this one truth: YOU CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF YOUR FUTURE! 

And, friend, feeding your mind with information such as this is a step in the right direction. Yes, you CAN direct your path and it begins with the first step and that first step begins TODAY. 

I'd love to get some feedback from you on today's topic or on any topic that you have read or listened to via Future You University.  Be sure to listen to the podcast and watch the video (links below) to get the full scope of my thoughts for today's topic and, please, stop by my Facebook page (link below) and leave some comments.

And, 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

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Mike's Quotes #9: Rise Above and Move On

“Some people like to talk behind your back. Some people like to start rumors. Some people are up to no good. So what? Let them and you move on and LIVE your life! You don't live for them, do you?” - Mike Spillman (12.10) 

Yes, you can absolutely "control" the "atmosphere" of YOUR world. You definitely can choose who it is that you wish to spend time with on a regular basis and you can also choose what information you put into your mind that will determine your mindset.

HOWEVER, no matter how much of this type of activity we do, there are still things that we cannot control. There will STILL be information that we will see and hear that will creep into our mindset even if we did not purposely determine to access that information. 

As a matter of fact, - and it IS fact - whenever you make a decision to try to improve your positive mindset and you take action like I described in the first paragraph, people will do the things described in the quote for today. Sad, but true!

Why? For those that may be reading some of my material for the first time, I will explain it once again. Those around you don't want to be "left behind" and they don't want to see you"break away" from the "same old way" of which they prefer to be a part. Again, sad but true.

You will also notice these things because you are now focused on what is POSITIVE and you are now aware of what YOU can do to "weed out" the negativity that surrounds you every day. 

Yes, even those that you have called "friends", those that you NEVER thought would talk about you in a negative way may very well begin to do so. 

But you know what? YOU DON'T LIVE FOR THEM and the sooner you realize, understand, and accept that truth the more likely it will be that you will be able to move on toward your better and positive future!

Do NOT dwell on the, "Why are they doing that?" thoughts that will want to invade and take over your mind. Your mind cannot occupy negative and positive thoughts at the same time. You will find that, whichever you focus on the most will actually dominate your thought process.

YOU control that. No matter what goes on around you and no matter what "they" say or do, YOU are the one that controls the impact of such actions on your mind and your life.

My advice? RISE ABOVE and MOVE ON. 

Yes, this definitely fits the "easier said than done" category but, friend, you CAN - and MUST - do this. Move on and don't look back.

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

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

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #8: Are YOU Tough?

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going but, you know what? 
Sometimes it's TOUGH to GET GOING!” - Mike Spillman (12.10)

My guess is that we have all heard the saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!" Am I right?  Hey, it's a good saying full of power and challenge!

But, you know what? Even for the "tough", sometimes it's just plain old TOUGH to GET GOING! 

It really doesn't matter who you are, what you do for a living, where you live or any other factor that you want to come up with...we all face this truth from time to time.   

So, what do you do when it's tough to get going?

YOU GET GOING ANYWAY!

Hey listen, I understand that it really IS tough to get going at times and I also understand that it's really easy to just sit down and avoid whatever it is that is making it so tough to get going. I get that, I really do.

I would even say that, from time to time, there's nothing wrong with taking a break and catching your breath but, friend, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T STAY THERE TOO LONG! 

No matter how you feel or how tough it may seem, you MUST get back up and get going...this is an absolute must! You can't send out invitations to your own personal pity party and then eat all of the pity party cake when no one else shows up!

GET UP AND GET GOING, REGARDLESS! 

Are you "tough enough" to do that?  I'm going to answer that for you...YES, YOU ARE!

Now, get going and don't look back. And, 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

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Mike's Quotes #7: You Can't Stay Here!

“Staying where you are will never get you where you want to be.” - Mike Spillman (8.10)

This article - just like the podcast and video-cast - will be short and to the point! Seriously, there's not a whole lot that needs to be said about today's quote.

When you read the quote it can come across as quite simple but, as I have said many times before, "Often, the profound can be found in the simple!"

Whatever area it is in your life in which you want to improve, this truth is absolute: "Staying where you are will never get you where you want to be." 

All kids are different but, many times a child will want to jump off the side of a pool or maybe even want to jump off of a diving board. They really WANT to do that but, at the same time, the comfort and safety of where they are (on the side of the pool or standing on that diving board) will often control them to the point of them never actually jumping in.

Then, many times, once they finally do so they can't wait to do it again because they found out that the JOY of "jumping in" was greater than the fear that initially kept them on the side lines.  

Now sure, they don't think of it in those terms but that's exactly what has taken place. Now I have to point out (many of you are probably already thinking this about one of your children) that some children are like one of my sons who wouldn't even wait for you to get in position before he would jump! He just knew that you would be there, one way or the other! He really knew no fear when it came to doing things like that.

Listen, when we make plans to "step out" into something that we wish to accomplish in and for our lives, it can be quite daunting, can't it? People around us may even say, "Just jump!" but, as you and I both know, it's often easier said than done.

But, remember, "staying where you are will never get you where you want to be".  

Don't look around at me, friend because I'll tell you, "You can't stay here!". 

Yes, prepare the best you can but, sooner or later, you will just have to "jump in" and swim. Oh, but the JOY that you may very well experience once you do so. 

I'd love to hear from you. Stop by my page on FaceBook (link below) and say, "hi" and let me know where you are from and how long you have been a part of Future You University. Also feel free to leave comments about this article or others. And, as I often remind you, be sure to also listen to the podcast and watch the video in order to get the "full impact" of today's topic.

And, 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

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Mike's Quotes #6: DECISIONS and CHOICES

"Every Decision is a CHOICE. Every CHOICE Makes a STATEMENT." (11/02/19) 

As you can tell by the date, this is one of my most recent quotes that I wanted to share with you. Believe it or not, as is often the case, I had not planned anything out nor had I sat down to brainstorm with the purpose of "coming up" with some new quotes.

Nope! Many times my quotes will come from an article I've written or just from a thought that comes to mind. Sometimes that thought is spurred by something that I see or hear like a sign or something that someone else says that makes me think. And then, like the quote above, they just come to me as a response during an conversational exchange with someone.

After I said this to the person that I was talking with I thought, "Wow! That was pretty good! I need to be sure to write that one down!" And, I did. 

Think about what is stated in this quote and, I do believe that you will agree with the statement and also be challenged by this quote. 

Too often we don't consider the impact of our choices and our decisions. As a matter of fact, we seldom put much thought into the fact that EVERY DECISION IS A CHOICE.  

Yes! Every single decision is a choice. 

Now, I'm not going to try to give an example of every single thing that I can think of to illustrate this fact, but I will try to share a few. YOU think further on this and apply this thought in your own life and see how many decisions that you make (or have made) that, indeed, indicated a choice that was to be made.  

Let's start at the beginning of your day and talk about setting your alarm. You have a decision to make - what time do you want to set your alarm - and, you have a choice as to what time you want that alarm to be set. As a matter of fact, you first have a decision (and choice) as to whether you even want to set that alarm in the first place!

Do you want to set the alarm at a time that will allow you plenty of time to get ready for work (or whatever it is you have planned for your day) and even sit and enjoy a cup of coffee without feeling rushed OR do you want to set that alarm in a way that will allow you "just enough" time to get things done so that you can hop in your car and rush off to work? 

It's a decision and that decision involves a choice and, friend, that choice - and EVERY choice - makes a STATEMENT! 

Think about this: Let's say that you have made a commitment (decision) to get up earlier and work out before you head out to the office. You have decided (another decision) that you need to get up 45 minutes earlier than usual in order to get this done and still get to work on time. 

Got it?

What you actually DECIDE to do indicates that you have made a CHOICE about how important that decision to work out really is to you, wouldn't you agree? WHAT YOU  HAVE CHOSEN TO DO makes a STATEMENT about your true commitment to working out. 

Got it? 

My goodness, as we approach the end of 2019 and as people get ready to dust off their continuously recycled "New Year's Resolutions" we will see a LOT of this taking place. 

WORDS are not decisions and they don't even truly indicate that a choice has been made. ACTION demonstrates a decision and a choice that has been made. What you actually DO makes a STATEMENT about what you truly believe and how important something truly is to you. 

Go back and look at last week's topic of "Price Vs. Value" and see if this does not apply...IT DOES! 

You see, if you say that you love your spouse or your children and that they are very important to you then, you show by your decisions and choices what you truly believe. Your ACTIONS will make a STATEMENT about what really is true. You can say whatever you want and try to justify it any way you want but, friend, the truth is the truth and EVERY DECISION involves a CHOICE and EVERY CHOICE makes a STATEMENT.

There is no way around that truth. 

Hey, be sure to listen to the podcast and to also watch the video on this topic. I know that I will be recording those separately, which means that there will be three "versions" of today's topic and I encourage you to access all three so that you can get the full scope of my thoughts on today's topic.

Thanks again for taking time to join me today and, 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

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Mike's Quotes #5

Sometimes, parts of life really stinks! That's when it's necessary to work hard to find the parts of your life that "smell better" than the stink!

This would be one of those quotes that I did just to have a little fun while, at the same time, still sharing a very important point. And, though I don't know exactly when I made that quote or what was going on in my life at the time, chances are I was experiencing some difficulties in my life that would cause me to think that, indeed, sometimes "parts of life really stinks!".

Hey, let's be honest here, I don't believe that there is one individual on this planet today (or even anytime in the past) that, at some time, hasn't experienced those days, weeks, months or maybe even longer, that just seemed to "stink".  THAT IS A PART OF LIFE AND LIVING!

But, you know what? Even when you experience one of those periods of time in your life, it is important to take a good, close look at the things in your life that "smell better than the stink".

It is true that, when we struggle in some areas of our life, ALL of our life seems to be a mess. But friend, that simply is NOT the case! 

Depression has a way of making EVERYTHING look as if it could not get any worse.  Depression has a way of putting everything on the same level in your life which, during depression, is all negative.

That is why is so important to continually feed your mind (and your soul) good, powerful and positive information, DAILY.  It's also important, if at all possible, to find someone of the same mindset (positive, NOT negative) that will help you as you help them keep these things in mind.

NOTICE: I am not saying that, by doing so, you will never struggle with bad times and even depression. I'm simply saying that it will definitely help you and, yes, possibly even prevent you from getting into a depression.

You've heard the phrase, "You have to stop and smell the roses", right? That's what I'm talking about in today's quote. You must continually (daily) FOCUS on what is good and what is right in your life. You must acknowledge on a DAILY basis what it is in your life for which you have to be thankful.

Again, depression seems to block your ability to do so. Whatever you do, do NOT go through depression alone. Yes, not many people will understand or even believe that you can't find anything good for which to be thankful. But, there will be someone out there that may have even gone through it themselves and understand.

I didn't mean for this to turn into a discussion about depression but I understand that it is REAL and I want to address that part of the "life stinks" scenario.

By no means is this an exhaustive list but, at the same time, here are a few things to pay attention to and to actually do when "parts of life begin to stink":
     1. Begin the habit NOW, before you find yourself in that situation, of putting positive information into your mind and soul on a DAILY basis. If you are already "down", do it anyway!
     2. Do NOT spend time around people that will help you focus on what is WRONG in your life. Yes, it is true that "misery loves company" but friend, you MUST break away from that if you wish to survive.
     3. Just like #1, begin the habit NOW of giving thanks DAILY for the things in your life that are good. (Hey, if you have a roof over your head, you are far better off than many in our world and even in our own country).
    4. Begin NOW noticing the things that tend to put you down that negative path. Pay attention to yourself and how you "feel" and how you "react" to things in your life. Either make a mental note or actually make an actual note of these things and then TAKE ACTION based on what you have discovered. For me, I know that there are a few things that are absolute "MUST HAVES" in my daily activity in order for me to remain positive.
          a. I MUST be involved in daily, positive activity. That's one reason I have gotten back on track of doing a daily blog, podcast and video.
          b. I MUST have purposeful, daily activity in my life that often does NOT include the items listed in point "a".
          c. I MUST physically "get out of the house". This is a big one for me. Since I do a lot of work from home it is easy for me to find myself having gone through two or three days with out ever getting out of the house. BIG MISTAKE for me! Even if it's just a walk around the block or even sitting in the back yard with my dog, I MUST make sure that I get out of the house and it's even better if I make sure that I do this on a daily basis.

What does/will YOUR list look like? Friend, it is of major importance that you make this list for yourself so, do NOT put this off and plan to do it later!!

Bottom line: Yes, there will be times in your life when life "stinks". But, even if it REALLY stinks you STILL have the ability - and choice - to find and be thankful for all of the good things that are in your life.

Feel free to connect with me through my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/FutureYouUniversity  - if you would like to discuss this further. If not me, find SOMEONE.

Thanks for joining me again today and, 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

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Mike's Quotes #4

"If you want to quit because you feel defeated then you are defeated even before you quit." - Mike Spillman (4.8.2010)

As always, I want to encourage you to go  back and read the last article that discusses the importance of having PASSION in your life. Why would I bring that up at the very start of this article? Because, if one is living a life without passion, it becomes EASY to give up and quit!

PASSION gives you PURPOSE! And, as I have discussed recently, it is vital for each of us to be involved in daily, PURPOSEFUL activity that moves us forward, closer to reaching our goals and dreams. 

Do you see how all of this works together?

Developing and maintaining a positive mindset is VITAL in having passion and purpose in our lives which, in turn, helps us to NOT give up and/or quit.

Listen, I do understand that there are times that each of us feels defeated! I don't mean to suggest (in the above quote) that if we ever feel defeated than we might as well quit. NO! Not at all. 

But, if you allow yourself to wallow around in your self-pity party long enough, you will stop doing what it takes to maintain that positive mindset and you may very well feel defeated enough to want to quit. But, pay attention: WANTING to quit and actually QUITTING are two different things!

If you are ready to "wave the white flag" of surrender just because you FEEL defeated, then friend, you are already defeated!

You MUST fight through that! I can promise you that even those that you would hold in high regard in the field of "positive thinking" and/or "personal development" have gone through and STILL go through times of discouragement and feelings of defeat. 

The difference lies in the fact of what one does when those times come. Those that refuse to dwell on these negative thoughts will also see what needs to be learned from this temporary set back and then, friend, THEY MOVE ON into their future!

"As long as there is breath, there is HOPE!" - Mike Spillman

Do not ever forget that truth. Do not ever give in to your doubts and fears. Do NOT give in to temporary feelings of defeat. RISE above the "feelings" and take ACTION to redirect your steps. Move on BOLDLY into your future, a future of promise and hope!

Get it? Got it? GOOD! 

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

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Mike's Quotes #3

“Living a life without passion is not living life!” - Mike Spillman (3.23.10)

I don't remember all of the details but I do remember that, whenever I first posted that quote - maybe on Facebook? - I had one person say something negative about it. Again, I don't remember all of the specifics and even what they said but, to be honest, my first thought was, "What? How could ANY one have anything bad to say about that quote?"

Believe me, I didn't dwell on that thought for long because I realized (and still do) that NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO that is a move in a positive direction, there will ALWAYS be someone that will do something to "tear it down" and, in their minds, tear YOU down.

And, from what I can tell about such people, these people usually are living a life void of passion! And, that being true (and I do believe that it is), they cannot handle you - or anyone else - experiencing and/or expressing the passion that is in their own life. 

People that live their lives without passion are MISERABLE people. Period! Is being miserable a way to live your life? Absolutely not! Now then, I rest my case. 

O.k., I'm just kidding but, at the same time, I do believe that I have already made my point for the day. "Living a life without passion is not living life!"

Listen, that doesn't mean that you have to be involved in some sort of big "movement" and that your passion has to be something that is going to change the whole wide world. But (and don't miss this point), chances are, your passion - whatever it may be - likely IS changing someone's world. 

I believe that, if you really think about your passion(s) in your life, you will find that other's have benefited from that passion. From what I have seen, a person's passion usually has to be shared with others...it just seems to be the way that it is.

BE SURE to listen to the podcast and watch the video on this. Believe me, I took a whole different direction with this article than what I discussed there, so be sure to check those out. 

Also, be sure to join me as I discuss another of my quotes that focuses on  the idea, "DON'T QUIT!"

Enjoy thinking about those passions and how they impact those around and, until next time, always be sure to... 

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

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #2

 "Value is not a price tag. One places value on something by how they treat that item. This is true whether it be of cars, clothes, pets or people. YOU determine how valuable it is to you." - Mike Spillman (8.2.09)

Please make sure that you take the time to listen to the podcast AND also watch the video broadcast on today's topic (see links below). Yes it is on the same topic but, I don't follow a script which means that there is always additional material in each of these.

You likely make decisions just about every day as far as to whether or not "price" and "value" are the same to and for you. Think about it for a moment.

My guess is that there have been times in your life where you have looked at a price tag and decided that the particular item was not worth the price listed on that tag. For whatever reason, you decided that the "value" was not equal to the listed price. 

And, there have likely been times that you have paid MORE than what you normally would because you PLACED A HIGHER VALUE on a particular item. It could be because you desperately needed that product or item. It could be that you had a sentimental attachment to the item but, regardless, the price tag did not determine the VALUE of that item for you. 

As my quote points out, "whether it be of cars, clothes, pets or people", you SHOW how valuable these things are to you. 

It's not what you SAY about the value of something in your life, friend. It's proven by your ACTIONS...how you "treat" those things in your life. 

You simply cannot say that you love your spouse and cheat on them, lie to them and talk badly about them! You cannot say that you love your children and then show, by your actions, that just about anything and everything is more important to you rather than spending time with them. 

These are harsh truths but, friend, they ARE truths!

And, by the way, this also applies to your "dreams" and what you say that you want to achieve. Let's be brutally honest here...talk is cheap, but those things that are truly valuable to you will require you to invest time, effort and even money at times. TRUTH!

One final point: YOU are valuable! Think long and hard about that and consider whether or not you really believe that about yourself. How do you know? How do you treat yourself? How do you talk to yourself and about yourself? How do you care for yourself?

VALUE IS SHOWN.

Be sure to join me next time as I discuss the importance of PASSION in and for our lives. And, until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...

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

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #1

Several years ago, when I was first introduced to the late Jim Rohn, I came across a "book of quotes" that he had and I thought it was pretty cool. By the way, I had the chance to hear him speak on several occasions before his death, which is a lesson in and of itself. (Take advantage of opportunities NOW!) Anyway, I remember thinking to myself, "One day, I'm going to have my very own 'Book of Quotes'." As a matter of fact, I remember telling that to a lady that was my sponsor in the MLM company that I was involved in at the time.

So, long story being made just a little bit longer, I started "saving" some of my quotes with that expressed purpose in mind And, now, I've decided to share some of my quotes through my blog articles and, I begin with today's quote:

"What we believe determines GREATLY what we achieve." 

Though it is rather close to the phrase, "If you believe it, you can achieve it!" it actually states something more "encompassing". 

By the way, the quote, "If you believe it, you can achieve it!" is taken from the teachings of Napoleon Hill in the book, "Think and Grow Rich". However, if you actually take the time to read what Mr. Hill actually says about that thought, you will find that he CLEARLY emphasizes the need for ACTION in that formula! He makes it pretty clear that, without action, belief will get you nowhere.

Now, look at my quote that I shared and you will see that, what I describe through my quote, covers "both sides of the spectrum" whether it be POSITIVE or NEGATIVE belief!

If you believe that you can - AND you take action - then, more than likely you can. And, of course, if you believe that you can't then, well...you'll be right in that thought as well. What's that quote that I heard once before? "Whether you believe you can or you can't, you'll be right!" I don't know that it is an exact quote but, you get the point, right? 

The STRENGTH of your belief will determine whether or not you actually take action as well as what KIND of action you take. What is your PURPOSE? PASSION? What is your "WHY"? 

Now, there's one thing more that I want to point out - we must be somewhat realistic in what it is that we believe we can accomplish. I know, I know, I can hear some of you now, but let me explain. 

I just turned 60 years old last week and if I had a "dream", a "goal" or even a "belief" that I was going to be a starter in the NBA then, friend, I would be greatly disappointed! Right? I mean, c'mon people, let's get REAL here! BUT, if I decided that I wanted to be closely connected - in SOME way - with an NBA team then, I can take action and make that a reality in some way! 

This is something that we MUST teach our children, friend! Don't mislead them by telling them that they can do "anything" that they want to do. I get it, I really do but, at the same time, it's important that, at some time, we help them look at different options, different "angles" for what it is that they want to achieve in their life. I hope that makes sense.

Bottom line: We MUST take daily, purposeful action to help build and protect our positive mindset so that we can achieve some POSITIVE due to the fact that we have a POSITIVE belief system about who we are and what we can accomplish. 

And, as you take those daily steps, always be sure to...

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

Mike

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Opportunity to Grow

This article will conclude the series for this week, addressing the question of "WHEN do I/we need to get started on taking action?"

And, throughout the week, the answer has been, "NOW!'

 As was discussed in the last article, it is sometimes difficult to "get off of the fence" when we face a future that involves "the unknown" or that is full of the "what if's?".  

 

 THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES and SET BACKS! 

Take the advice of Simon T. Bailey as stated above, and look at CHANGE as an OPPORTUNITY TO GROW!

Change IS inevitable but that does not mean that it is something that we cannot handle or control. Sure, if we look at change as a "dirty word" and as an enemy, or foe, then we will face change timidly and full of fear.

However, if we understand that change can, indeed, be considered our "friend" because it will give us the opportunity to grow, then we can actually begin to face change without fear or hesitation!

Too often, when facing change, many people will simply give up and/or run back to their comfort zone. BUT THAT IS NOT YOU....is it?

Remember, because you ARE unique and because you "see" things and look at things in a way like no one else, YOU can see the opportunity where others see only a wall and a reason to retreat.

So, stop hitting that "snooze button" for your life, dedicate yourself to DAILY growth and activity, take steps TODAY to begin to turn those dreams into reality, once and for all get off of that fence by making a decision to MOVE FORWARD and, friend, DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE CHANGE THAT YOU WILL FACE.

Feel the breeze of freedom as you begin to step into the reality of your better future!

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

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

Mike

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Get Off the Fence!

If you are going to make the decision to start taking ACTION in order to turn your dreams into REALITY and not just "talk", then it will be imperative for you to "get off the fence".

I love the way that Gloria Mayfield Banks described going from the "want to lane" to the "GOT TO lane". The strength of your purpose or your "why" will determine if you actually make that move from one "lane" to the other.

"Sitting on a fence" indicates a person that cannot decide which way that they want to go. They are not on one side or the other but, rather, they are in the middle - on the fence - making no decision either way.

WHAT A MISERABLE WAY TO LIVE! 

Yes, stepping off of that "fence" into a future of some unknowns can be scary! Yes, there are a lot of "what if's" that can - and will - come to mind as you consider doing so. Yes, there will be challenges and there WILL be roadblocks and obstacles.

But, listen, if you're not going to move forward then go ahead and get off of the fence and go back and retreat into the comfort zone. How has that worked out for you?

If your "why" and your purpose is big enough and strong enough, you will NEVER find happiness going back. You will only find and feel fulfillment by moving FORWARD! 

For you, there is only ONE WAY and that way is forward, into your positive future. 

Will there be changes in and for your life? ABSOLUTELY! 

Join me in the next article as we discuss the fact that CHANGE is an opportunity to grow and, until then, whatever you do, always be sure to... 

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

Mike

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