Happy Birthday to Me

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O.k., let me first of all make sure you know that this is NOT going to be a self-indulgent blog article, o.k.? O.K.! Good!

 

However, it IS about the fact that I turned 53 years old on Saturday, November 1st. Why is this significant to anyone else but me and some friends and family that are close to me? Well, it may not be significant to you in the same way that it is to those that I just mentioned but it SHOULD BE significant to you as well.

 

Why?

 

Because, regardless of when your birthday is, five years have passed by for you regardless of you age, as well! (That is, of course, unless you are a child prodigy that is only 4 years old and able to read this!).

 

For most of us, our goals are set according to: 1) New Years Resolutions or 2) a certain age in our life. Am I right? (Go ahead and say it, "Yes, Mike, you are right!").

 

I mentioned on my latest video-cast that I had several goals set for myself that I had planned to reach by the time I turned 50 (feel free to insert YOU age/number here). And, guess what? Although I have made some progress toward some of those goals, I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET!

 

I can't yell at the calendar and tell it to "SLOW DOWN! I'M NOT READY YET!" It doesn't work...have you tried it? If not, go ahead and try it...really, go ahead. You'll see I'm right about this, too!

 

(Hey, it's my birthday, I have a right to be RIGHT. Right?)

 

So, now let's start talking about what YOU (and I) are going to do about it - or what YOU (and I) ARE doing about it, o.k.?

 

We'll go there next and I'd love to get YOUR story of either success or failure in this area. Don't worry, I won't use your name  - even a first name - unless you ask me to.

 

Key point: NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!

 

So, "Happy Birthday to Me!"...now, excuse me while I go get some of that cake! And, until the next time, be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike



 

TODAY Matters 4 Youth!

TODAY Matters 4 Youth!

How old is old? That's a question with an answer that is dependent upon who it is you are asking! I'm 50 years old right now, so to me, 70 would be considered old and yet, someone that is 70 would suggest to you that anyone OLDER than them is old!

When I was a teenager, I couldn't imagine someone being 25 years old - THAT WAS OLD!

So it is when I say that today's message is for "young people" or "youth" -- what does that mean and who does that include?

I'll try to clarify it in the following way: Anyone that has the ability to understand what I'm saying (we're talking "little one's" now!) up through those that have completed college and are in the 20's...that's who I'm talking to today.

How's that?

What do I feel that this message is so important for you? Because so many people in the world will tell you that what you do right now in your life doesn't really matter! And, from what I've seen, the younger you are the more likely it is that you will hear this said.

Bottom line: THAT JUST ISN'T TRUE! It's a LIE!

Regardless of your age - no matter how young you may be - what you do TODAY MATTERS!

Now, let me clarify something else again - I'm not trying to get you to "grow up" too fast and skip your childhood or the life of a teen. Enjoy every bit of it WHILE YOU CAN!

But what I AM saying is this: no matter how young you are you can make "life-impacting" decisions TODAY!

Since I usually direct my thoughts toward adults, let mention a couple of things to you first: 1.) I am not going to "talk down" to you - regardless of your age. You need to hear this "straight"and "to the point" and that's what I am going to do. It's what I always try to do regardless of the age of my audience. 2.) Although I emphasize the fact that TODAY is all we have and that, in reality there is no such thing as tomorrow (what do you call that 24 hour period that we refer to as "tomorrow" once it arrives? "TODAY"!) we still MUST be planning for the future. Our future is NOW. I wanted to get that out there before I continue on with this discussion. There now, let's move on!

What you do today matters because you are laying the FOUNDATION - the BUILDING BLOCKS - for your future TODAY! And, just like with any building of any size, if you have a shoddy or weak foundation, that building will not be stable and it WILL come crashing down!

Here's my main point: I encourage you - I CHALLENGE YOU - to make a decision NOW - TODAY - to live a life of character!

What do I mean? I challenge you to STEP UP and ABOVE those around you and choose to live a life of honesty and honor which, in turn, is living a life of character.

Hey, don't laugh this off - what you do TODAY matters and what you do TODAY becomes a habit for your life! Really think about that!

Don't laugh it off when I challenge you to NOT CHEAT on any tests or assignments. The sad thing is that this has become so common place that many young people would look at me like I'm crazy for saying that. Really? This is what I mean by you stepping UP and ABOVE the rest!

It's not "just" about not cheating on tests or assignments, it's about living a life of TRUTH! Dedicate yourself to a life of TRUTH and you WILL "rise above the rest"! That's a promise and guarantee!

Why is this so? Because so many of your peers WON'T and DON'T live a life of truth! And you're decision to do so will set you apart and lay a solid foundation for a powerful and positive future.

Living a life of character means that, because you life a life of TRUTH, when you speak people believe you. Think about how important that really is.

If your habit has been to lie about big things or small, how do you get anyone to believe you when you really ARE telling them the truth?

Understand this: some people may appear to be "making it" in the word by living a life of dishonesty and lies - you can see it around you each and every day - but that is a facade, a "false appearance" and you need to dedicate yourself to NOT be lured away by false appearances.

People that live this kind of life will encourage you to take the path of least resistance! Instead of dedicating and disciplining yourself to WORK at an honest job, they will try to lure you away with the "false appearance" of money and wealth.

I know that the lure is strong for some of you. But I want to CHALLENGE you to STAND UP and STAND ABOVE the rest! You CAN do it if you set your mind to it and I will do all I can to encourage you along the way.

And, you know what? There are many more people just like me out there that are waiting and willing to HELP YOU ACHIEVE this life of character!

The habits that you form TODAY will shape all of your "tomorrows". Regardless of your age!

THIS CHOICE IS NOT EASY and the life that comes from choosing to live a life of character is not always easy either!

One last thought - You may think that those that live a life based on dishonesty and lies have a lot of things that you desire such as popularity, friends, money and lots of "stuff". But I encourage you to look again and look very closely.

Those that live this kind of life really have NO true friends. Those people that you see following them and surrounding them will stab them in the back (both figuratively and literally) at their first opportunity. Those that live this kind of life can never really be at peace for they are always "watching their back" due to what I just said about those that surround them. When that "stuff" is gone - so are the so-called "friends".

Choose a life of character - regardless of your age. You attract those that are like you! Usually this is worded that you become like those you hang around and this is true. However, I want to turn it around and use it to show the power that YOU have in and with your life!

When you choose to live a life of character you will attract others that are drawn to this type of life and decision.

When can you begin this process? When you can you take the first step of this journey?

TODAY! Right now.

And, YES, YOU CAN! Never doubt that.

Contact me at any time via the information that you can find on my website (http://www.FutureYouUniversity.com) - I'd love to hear from you.

And, as you go through each day always remember to...

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

Mike

A Sneak Peek at an Upcoming Topic

(next week, as a matter of fact!)

I wanted to give you a "heads up" on something that I will be discussing on my podcast as well as posting on my blog entries next week. I'm not sure how many episodes/entries will be involved - we'll just "play that by ear".

But, for sure, on Monday, January 18th, I will be talking about some things that have been in the headlines - especially in the sports world - recently.

No, this won't be "sports commentary" - that's not what this is about. I won't even be naming the names of the people involved even though you will be very familiar with some of the stories.

But I guess here's what has caused me to decide to talk about some of these things:

STUPID DECISIONS CAN RUIN A LIFE!

It doesn't mean that your life has to be ruined for ever. It doesn't mean that a person cannot have a successful and productive life AFTER being involved in some stupid decisions (aren't we all glad for that?).

But it just seems that lately - by lately, I mean even over the past 5 or 6 years - there have been so many young men involved in making really stupid decisions that will impact them for many years to come, if not for the rest of their lives.

Here's what I ask of you in advance - LISTEN TO THE PODCAST(S)! Then, if you feel it worth sharing I really ask that you share it with some young people that you know - perhaps even your own children.

Just think about the impact that you can help me have - you and me together - by sharing this information with just one or even two young people that you know (yes, even young adults!). Especially when you consider the possibility of several of you doing this and then not knowing what they may do with it or who they may share it with.

Remember the ripples on the pond?

So, be sure to join me for this "at-least-one-day" special podcast. I have a feeling it will spill over into more than one day.

As always, thanks for being here!

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

Mike

SYMPTOMS of the FEAR of GETTING OLD

No, I'm not talking about "signs that you're getting old" such as:
- Your back goes out more than you do
- Everything hurts and what doesn't hurt doesn't work.
- The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bifocals.
- You feel like the morning after and you haven't been anywhere.
- Your little black book contains only names that end in M.D.
- You look forward to a dull evening
- You sit in a rocking chair and can't get it going.
- Your knees buckle, and your belt won't.
- Your Pacemaker makes the garage doors go up when you see a pretty girl.
- The little old gray haired lady you helped across the street is your wife.
- You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there.

O.k., o.k....that's enough of that. But MAYBE you were able to smile a little bit even if you ARE worried about getting older. Hey, listen friend - getting older is just part of life. Do you REALLY want to live forever? Really? Think about that.

Here's what I always wonder about "stories" similar to this that you may read in a book or watch in a movie. If that person doesn't age then how come they're always older than a baby? See what I mean? What age would be THE age that you'd wish to stay forever?

Nope, not me! I remember when I was a teenager I'd hear people say, "These are the best years of your life!" and I would think - "Then shoot me now!"

But, for now, in keeping with today's podcast, let's notice the symptoms of the fear of getting older as is mentioned in chapter 15 of Napoleon Hill's classic, "Think & Grow Rich".

1. The tendency to slow down and develop an inferiority complex at the age of mental maturity - falsely believing one's self to be "slipping" because of age.
Wow, do YOU ever do that? Do you ever begin to feel that you "can't keep up" because of your age? And what IS that age when that happens for/to you? Perhaps in your job you have this fear amplified due to the "younger" people that are out to "take over" (perhaps that is in your own mind?). Remember, YOU have the advantage in experience and, hopefully, wisdom! "Book-learning" isn't everything and you know that!

2. The habit of speaking apologetically of one's self as "being old" merely because one has reached the age of forty, or fifty, instead of reversing the rule and expressing the gratitude for having reached the age of wisdom and understanding.
Do you fall into this trap?Again, as is often said, "age is just a number". Now, I know that you DO age as you get older, but the idea behind that little saying is also expressed in this one - "You are as old/young as you feel!". Isn't that true? Why should we allow a number which simply states how long we have been alive dictate how we act and feel? There is simply no reason for it at all. Again, it is a mindset which we CAN control - it is up to YOU!

3. The habit of killing off initiative, imagination and self-reliance by falsely believing one's self too old to exercise these qualities.
Do you know how many men and women reach their greatest achievements after the ages of 40 or 50? Do some research on that. Check and see what the ages were of some of our greatest inventors. Don't get caught up in the thought and idea that it is only the "young" that have the ability to be creative or to take initiative. Sure, there are plenty of them out there and they get a lot of attention - but I can promise you that there are MANY "older" men and women that are accomplishing great and mighty things. I mentioned Jack Lalanne in my podcast today and the article about him in a recent edition of Success magazine. If you want to read some amazing information about what this man accomplished at ages that most would be content to sit in a rocking chair, then check out the link that will take you to that article:
http://www.successmagazine.com/founding-father-of-fitness/PARAMS/article/684

4. The habit of the man or woman of forty dressing with the aim of trying to appear much younger, and affecting mannerisms of youth; thereby inspiring ridicule by both friends and strangers.
Now, I understand what Mr. Hill is saying here, but I will share with you some opposing thoughts in a moment. But, let's address this first. To me, one thing that we can notice is that things have definitely changed since the time that this book was written. Sure, many still struggle with the idea that they are "old" at the age of forty. However, for the most part, it seems to me as if that number has been pushed "upward" by quite a few years. But, let's address the thought here. Yes, I have seen men and women that were trying to look much younger than they were and what they actually accomplished was simply looking ridiculous (a form of the word "ridicule" used by Mr. Hill). Perhaps it's the man that goes through his "mid-life crisis" and dons a ridiculous looking hair piece, buys a fancy, convertible sports car and begins to hang out at clubs frequented by people 20 - 30 years younger than he. (By the way, I have nothing against hair pieces! But I think you know what I mean.) OR perhaps it is the lady that drastically changes her whole wardrobe to try to dress like those much younger than she as well as hanging out at the same type clubs mentioned above.
Here's my take on all of this. DRESS IN A WAY THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY! Don't try to dress so that you "look younger" than you are or don't try to dress so that you are dressed "age appropriately". See what I mean? When we do that we are allowing others to decide for us how we should or shouldn't dress. Society - for whatever reason - seems to be a little easier on males in this respect than they are on females. I have noticed over the years that a lot of people would tell women that, when they reach a certain age (perhaps 40?) then their hair should be worn a certain way, the length of the hem of their dress should be a certain length and on and on it goes. I have seen many women look MUCH OLDER than they actually were due to this fact. WHY?

BE YOU! Today is the only day that you have at your disposal. Disposal. Think about that for a second! It cannot be recycled. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. So, how will YOU choose to live your day. Will you live in fear of the fact that this one day does, indeed, make you one day older? Why not live today enjoying it for what it has to offer and for what YOU can "squeeze" out of it and do not worry about your age?

Remember this: "TODAY is the TOMORROW that you worried about YESTERDAY!"

So, again, it's today and, in my opinion, you should celebrate who you are TODAY as well as celebrate this stage of your life - REGARDLESS of the number attached to it.

Live. Love. Laugh.

And, as always....

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

Mike