The 4th Quarter

Here we go, the 4th quarter of 2016.

What's the "score" as it relates to your life and the plans you had for your life in 2016?

If you have paid attention to just about any sport, you have witnessed how different teams approach the 4th quarter of a game. Some approach that last quarter of the game with determination while others approach it with surrender. 

We've all likely seen teams that were defeated before the 1st quarter was even over. Even though there was plenty of time left in the game, the team had already "surrendered" and "given up" and, thus, were already defeated. 

And, at the same time, we've all likely seen those teams that, even though they were behind by a seemingly insurmountable score, continue to fight all the way through to the end of the game. And, sometimes, even beyond the "regulation" time of the game, taking it into overtime and, at times, even pulling off an incredible win. 

What's the difference? Well, although there are other factors, for the most part it is MINDSET.

What's YOUR mindset going into the 4th quarter of this year? Are you discouraged? Frustrated? Hopeful? Determined?

By the way, be sure to take a few minutes and listen to the podcast that goes along with this article. You can listen to it by clicking here or by clicking here.

Here's the thing, friend...there is still time to make progress in WHATEVER it is that you are trying to accomplish in and for your life. Don't ever forget that fact and don't ever give up! (Remember, "As long as there is breath, there is hope!")

But, also remember this...you don't HAVE to achieve all of your goals by the end of this quarter! Now, I understand that you want to finish what you set out to accomplish, but I just want you to realize that, even if you don't, you are NOT a failure! Hey, listen, when all is said and done, we're just talking about days on a calendar as opposed to life-long improvement and progression, right?

Right!

Bottom line, just don't give up. Don't surrender and keep fighting against what may seem like insurmountable odds to succeed where others have given up long ago.

Yeah, it's the 4th quarter but, friend, don't panic. If you're not where you want to be, perhaps you need to look at the "game plan" that you've been following for the first 3 quarters of this year and see what changes or "tweaks" that you may need to make and then move on BOLDLY into this 4th quarter.

But also remember, a lifetime is not made up of one year.

TODAY matters...do what you can do today (don't see yourself short), sleep easy tonight and then, if blessed with another day tomorrow, do it all over again.

Until next time, 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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Positive, Patient and Persistent

Short and to the point today.

 

I hope that all of you understand the importance of remaining POSITIVE as we go along this journey called life. You do, right?

 

Not only does it make a big difference in OUR lives, but it also makes an impact - yes, a POSITIVE impact - on those around us. Many times we may never know what our positive attitude has done for someone else that has crossed our path through the course of a day.

 

And, thought it's not always easy, I would think that most of us also understand the importance of being PATIENT even as we strive to remain positive. Seriously!

 

For me, the testing of my patience will often determine whether I keep a positive attitude or if I allow my attitude to take a negative turn. IT'S MY CHOICE. But, wow, I have always tended to be an impatient person and it is literally, a daily struggle. Yes, I am much better than I used to be but, at the same time, I have a long ways to go!

 

What about you?

 

So, maybe we can even say it this way: "Stay POSITIVE so that you can practice PATIENCE."

 

Now, here's the kicker, friend. In order for us to be successful with either remaining positive or patient, it is going to demand - yes, DEMAND - that we be PERSISTENT!

 

Attempting improvement in anything - ANYTHING - by attempting that improvement for only a short period of time will NEVER bring about that improvement. Make sense?

 

You will never achieve IMPROVEMENT in anything unless you are PERSISTENT in your pursuit of that improvement. You can't quit or give up early.

 

Nope.

 

You MUST push on even when you give like giving up. Patience, remember?

 

Remaining persistent is where many fall short and fail.

 

How determined - how PERSISTENT - are you in achieving whatever it is that you have set out to achieve in and for your life?

 

The 3 P's of Improvement: Positive, Patient, Persistent

 

You CAN accomplish what you desire through this process, friend. But don't you DARE, EVER GIVE UP.

 

Remember, as you continue to "push through" 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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The One Reason Why

We're all really good at coming up with dozens and dozens of "reasons" (excuses DISGUISED as reasons) why we can't accomplish something in our lives. And, if that's not enough, there are plenty of other people that surround us every day that are more than happy to add to that list for us.

 

We listen to all of those "reasons" (excuses DISGUISED as reasons) as to why we CAN'T and as to why something WON'T work instead of listening to the ONE reason as to why we CAN and as to why it WILL work!

 

Oh, there's more than one but I'm going to give you one MAIN reason before we're done here today.

 

We have talked a lot lately about the need to REMOVE and REPLACE those negative things and people from our lives that have devalued us, disrespected us and have thrown us nothing but left overs. We have allowed them to convince us that our worth and our value is dependent upon what THEY decide we are worth.

 

So, let's say you have decided to step out and away from this life and to move on to the life that you were created to have. You may still be standing in the same spot - frozen - afraid and believing that you CAN'T and that it WON'T work! And, likely, many - if not most - of these reasons are the exact things that you have heard and accepted for all of these years. You can't because you don't have the ability or you can't because you don't deserve it or.....

 

Or, let's say you have decided to go back to school to finally get that degree (or even high school diploma). You're in your 40's or 50's, your kids are all grown and you have decided to take that step, yet you find that you are still thinking about it and have begun to believe all of those "reasons" as to why you can't. You can't because you're older than everyone else or you can't because you're just too old and your brain won't allow you to study and remember or...

 

We could go on and on with examples but there is no need because I can almost promise that you've come up with SOMETHING that applies to you in your life RIGHT NOW - TODAY!

 

Are you ready to hear the ONE REASON as to why you CAN?  Are you ready to hear this ONE REASON and start NOT LISTENING to all of those so-called "reasons" as to why you can't and as to why it WON'T work?

 

Are you ready?

 

It's YOU.

 

YOU are the one reason that it WILL work! YOU are the one reason that you CAN accomplish whatever it is that you have a desire to accomplish in and with your life!

 

Yes, YOU!

 

For too long you've listened to those that have tried to convince you that YOU are the reason that you CAN'T do any of these things and, yet, I'm here to remind you of the fact that YOU are the very reason that you CAN and WILL accomplish these things!

 

Why do I say that so strongly? Because I believe strongly in what I have said before: YOU are made in the very image of God and GOD DOES NOT MAKE JUNK!

 

You are SPECIAL and of GREAT VALUE! You are remarkably made and have great talent and abilities! Yes, YOU!

 

Friend, that is THE one reason to combat all of those "reasons" that try to tell you that you can't and that "it" - whatever "it" is - WON'T work.

 

We'll talk even more about this with a quote from a great man that shared a lot of great thoughts like this...the late, Jim Rohn. Be sure to join me then but, UNTIL THAT TIME, be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike

 

 

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YOU Can Do GREAT Things!

Today is "Turn-Around Tuesday"...stop waiting and TURN YOUR life AROUND TODAY!

Today I want to continue our discussion on my "7 Daily, Powerful, Life-Changing Affirmations" that I put together back in August of 2008. Yesterday we discussed my 1st of these 7, "I am somebody special!" and, today, I'd like to continue with the second one: "I am able to accomplish great things!".

Remember, the first of these seven that I covered yesterday is the FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE on which all of the other six are based upon. Everything else comes from - and because of - this first and most important daily affirmation, "I am somebody special" and the reasoning behind it which I discusses yesterday.

Once we can at least make a move toward accepting and believing that, indeed, we ARE somebody special, then we can move on to the second of these seven, "I am able to accomplish great things!"

WHY? HOW? We can because, first and foremost, of WHO we are! Remember, we are made in the image of God and, that alone, qualifies us for greatness REGARDLESS of what kind of lives we have lived in the past! DO NOT MISS THAT POINT....even if we were mistreated in our lives as children and raised in a very negative - and even abusive - environment, we STILL have the OPPORTUNITY to turn things around and begin to live a life with a focus on the POSITIVE.

What IS "greatness"? Obviously, for some people in our world, it means achieving the very best that their chosen field has to offer whether that be President of the United States or any other top level of achievement that is available to them. But, for some of us, it may not mean anything like that.

How much money does it take for you to be "great"? How many people have to know who you are in order for you to be "great"? How many times does your name have to appear in print in order for you to be "great"? Friend, these things have absolutely NOTHING to do with "greatness"!

You achieve GREATNESS by what you do with your life every day of your life. That's right...not quite as grandiose as some would have you believe, right?

You achieve GREATNESS by being the best husband and father that you can be or the best wife and mother you can be. You achieve GREATNESS by being the best friend, employee or employer that you can be. You achieve GREATNESS by being a person of HONOR in all of the above mentioned areas!

Now, this does not mean that you CANNOT or WILL NOT achieve "greatness" in your chosen field, but don't limit yourself to that line of thinking.

Here's the KEY POINT I want to make sure you get in all of this (be sure to listen to the podcast that goes along with this topic: http://mikespillman.hipcast.com/rss/futureyouuniversity.xml (RSS feed)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-spillmans-future-you/id423660739 (iTunes) ...

...you are able to achieve GREATNESS because of WHO you are (one made in the image of God) and not because of the positive or negative that those around you have said to you in relation to who you are.

EXAMPLE: You are NOT doomed to failure just because someone may have told you that you are worthless and that you would NEVER amount to anything! But, on the other side of the spectrum, you are NOT guaranteed success just because someone told you that you were the greatest thing in the world! Now, true, it is much better and more conducive for success to have that positive feedback rather than the negative but, again, you have the ability to achieve great things in your life because of WHO YOU ARE from the start!

Do NOT sell yourself short! Do NOT listen to those that would tell you that you should settle for less! Do NOT listen to those that would tell you that you must make a choice between your chosen passion and your family in order to be a success!

God has blessed you with everything that you need in order to do and accomplish "great" things! Use that, develop that, use the good sense the Good Lord has given you to take advantage of this unbelievable age that we live in today that offers so many opportunities for success for those that are willing to step out and go for it.

Just remember, as you do so, you do so as a person of HONOR.

"I am able to accomplish great things!"

As you continue along this path, always be sure to...

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

How To Close the Gap

How To Close the Gap

Yesterday we discussed the dilemma of HOW to close the gap between where we would like to be and where we are. What do you do?

As part of yesterday's podcast and blog I mentioned an article about "myths concerning millionaires" and directed you to the posting of it on the fan page on Facebook. For those that did not find it or for those that may be accessing this article LONG after it was typed up - here is that article link:

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/110333/millionaire-myths?mod=bb-budgeting

Today I share from an article by Jim Rohn entitled, "Achieving Your Dream".

Here is the link to that article:

http://www.jimrohn.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=1284&utm_source=jrn-8_2_10&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ezines

You can read the article when you get a chance - I read the article word for word in today's podcast. Why? Because no one says it any better than the late, great Jim Rohn!

Bottom line - to get from HERE to THERE...start doing the "uncomfortable" until it becomes "comfortable". More on that in tomorrow's podcast and blog entry.

And, all along the way, be sure to...

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

Mike