July 30, 2008
Today begins a new schedule at work - 12:00 noon to 9:00 pm - and a new surge to embed critical activities into my life.
I have no choice. The job is tough and beating me up, but diabetes is kicking my ass.
Actions I have to take at my age (54) include:
April 15, 2008
“What immediately follows is quoted from Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda: Freedom is our true nature. We are totally and completely free from everything that binds us. Please understand this. When we express this freedom we enter the spiritual path. Rules and regulations are only superficial, artificial and imposed by the society. Societal and religious morality binds us. They limit our freedom. They do not lead to spirituality.”
from: The State Versus Self-Realization
by Jeff Knaebel
www.lewrockwell.com/knaebel/knaebel16.html
Our comments:
A good discussion of what happened in Texas with the taking of children from a polygamous community and how laws lead to a lack of rights and justice.
Charles Lamm is a retired attorney and advocate for privacy and asset protection. See his Asset Protection Iron Triangle for more info, and his blog - Virtual Joe Friday - for his take on a number of issues.
February 29, 2008
This blog will be a notepad for my efforts to create a free life in 777 days. Can it be done? Of course it can. Will it be done? If I hone in on my why. And I really mean dig deep and honest.
Freedom means freedom from debt, jobs, bad relationships. I must have the money in place to take care of my daughter’s college tuition which will start right after the 777 days end. I must have money in place to travel at will.
Raw notes and ideas will be posted here. Nothing will be posted that can be used against me. Blogging is part of the discipline.
My plan - if successful - will lead to the life I want, and to a book. It incorporates 7 areas of improvement, and the critical activities in each area to make it happen.
- mental
- physical
- emotional
- spiritual
- financial
- vocational
- social
Knowing what has to be done, and doing it, are 2 different things.
September 25, 2007
Be the Goal
by Charles Lamm
External goals are the enemy, a prescription for failure. Giving your personal power away to the prison of goals guarantees defeat. Why put yourself through it?
Be the goal.
Think about all the problems you have in life that stimulate you to create goals. You even work hard to make sure your goals are measurable and have a deadline.
Few of us have not succumbed to ambitious objectives much like these:
· Lose 20 pounds before the class reunion next month.
· Become a millionaire in 5 years.
· Workout at the gym 3 times a week.
· Cut out all junk food from your diet.
· Spend 1 hour a night helping the kids with their homework.
Then, life gets in the way.
Your boss needs a proposal for your major client by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. You brew a pot of coffee, open a box of donuts, forget the gym, leave the kids to their own devices, and start to work – on your own time.
If you define success with external goals, life will assure your failure.
Be the goal.
If you are to be the financially successful, physically fit, nurturing parent you have created in your mind, no one interruption from reality can stop you from being you.
All “problems” have one common denominator – you.
Your problems do not exist without you. You and you alone are responsible for everything that happens in your life. The situation may not be your fault, but you are responsible.
How can anyone else be responsible for you?
Boss requires you to work late? It’s your responsibility.
Kids failing in school? It’s your responsibility.
Gasping for air walking up a flight of stairs? It’s your responsibility.
Allow your mind to simmer and create the solutions.
Be the goal.
—
Charles Lamm is a retired attorney and a lifelong scanner who recently discovered his “affliction”. You can read this and other articles – on a variety of topics, of course – on his blog at http://www.virtualjoefriday.com or contact him by email at focus@vitaclix.com.
September 3, 2007
In her book “Refuse to Chooseâ€, Barbara Sher fleshed her concept of scanners. Scanners are hard to define, but as the Supreme Court once said about pornography, you can recognize it when you see it – especially if it’s you.
Here are a few clues to help determine if you are a scanner:
If you believe taking a tangent is the shortest distance between two points . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you can’t stand to do anything, or anyone, twice . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If focusing on only one thing is as exciting as a nap . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If your “to do†list is longer than your phone book . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you can’t commit to one checkout line at the grocery store . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you skim 6 books at once at the bookstore but never buy . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you think potential is a dirty word . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you goal list looks like a total work of fiction . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If the only way you can stick to one subject is with duct tape or superglue . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you don’t go to class reunions because you feel less successful than the class idiot . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you believe jack-of-all-trades should trump aces . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If perpetual student sounds like a perfect career . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you have every been called ditsy, Renaissance man, jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none, dilettante, flighty, dabbler, or generalist, and not in a good way . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you work at a series of job beneath your abilities . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you wonder why rich people seem so stupid, and why you are not one of them . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you feel you have a lot to offer but nowhere to offer it . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you can’t get to the most important goals in your life because you are just too damn busy . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If your last great passion seems so last month . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you change lovers more often than Julia Roberts before motherhood . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you believe that Barbara Sher should have played the Oracle in the Matrix . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If you believe in your heart you were placed on this Earth for a reason, but have no clue what that reason is . . .
~ you might be a scanner
If many of these scanner traits hit home, buy “Refuse to Choose†at your local bookstore and see for yourself. Chances are, you are in for an “aha†moment when your life finally makes sense.
Charles Lamm is a retired attorney and a lifelong scanner who recently discovered his “afflictionâ€. You can read this and other articles – on a variety of topics, of course – on his blog at www.virtualjoefriday.com or contact him by email at focus@vitaclix.com.
March 5, 2007
I often write “morning pages” as taught by Julia Cameron in the Artist’s Way. I find my life runs more smoothly when I do the pages, which she recommends in longhand. I call them snot pages because it’s like getting your head clear.
What I am going to do instead is use my many blogs as the medium for the morning pages.
Thoughts will be raw like a good blog should.
June 11, 2006
At times, especially in our roles as parents, we have to be reminded that if we talk the talk we have to be prepared to walk the walk.
——————–
Are You Walking Your Talk?
Copyright 2006 Alicia M Forest and ClientAbundance.com
When you’re deciding whether or not to hire someone or
invest in their product, doesn’t the image they project go
a long way in making you feel good about parting with your
hard-earned cash?
So, for example, if you’re looking for a nutritionist, it’s
unlikely that you’d hire the one who offers donuts in her
waiting room, right? 
Well, the same is true when YOUR potential client or
customer is making the decision whether or not to invest in
you or your offerings. If you have an image that is
congruent with your claim, you’ve made it much easier for
your prospect to say yes to you.
And living your message makes everything about building
your business with integrity and authenticity that much
easier - and more fun - too!
Here’s an example from my own client files: I was working
with a life coach who came to me because she wasn’t getting
ANY clients and was about to give up her business dream and
go back to working for someone else. Once we took a look at
what was going on in her business, it was clear to me what
the issues were.
She was trying to position herself as someone who could
help others reach their dreams, whatever they were. The
problem was she hadn’t achieved her own dream of a
successful life coaching business, which was the one that
was the most important for her to reach to get new clients!
And yes, this particular case was a bit of a catch-22. But
besides having too broad a niche (everyone has dreams!),
her marketing message was too convoluted and inconsistent,
her marketing materials were unprofessional - her business
cards were printed on her home computer - and she was using
a free email account for her business email, a big no-no if
you want to be taken seriously as a professional.
Once I explained to her (gently, of course) that it was
likely that she wasn’t attracting clients because she
wasn’t walking her talk, she immediately felt a sense of
relief. Why? Because THAT was something she could fix. Her
greatest worry was that she just wasn’t cut out to be the
life coach she dreamed of being. Not true!
So, fix it we did. And guess what? She started attracting
new clients immediately!
If you sense that this may be an issue for you as well, try
to look as objectively as you can at your own image. Or ask
a trusted friend, coach or colleague to do so. What’s the
message you’re sending? If you were your potential client,
would you work with you? That might be a little tough to
answer, but if you’re honest and admit it if you’re not
walking your talk, remember, you can fix that!
——————————
Alicia M Forest, MBA, Multiple Streams Queen & Coachâ„¢,founder of http://www.ClientAbundance.com , and creator of “21 Easy & Essential Steps to Online Success Systemâ„¢, teaches self-employed service professionals how to attract more clients, create profit-making products and services, make more sales, and ultimately live the life they desire and deserve. For FREE tips on how to create abundance in your business, visit http://www.ClientAbundance.com
——————–
Final Thoughts:
If you don’t walk the talk, you feel like a fraud, and your entire life suffers.
January 16, 2006
15 simple changes that will energize your life!
1. Stop drinking sodas and start drinking more water or sparkling water instead. Visit www.PentaWater.com for a personal Hydration Calculator. Visit www.Enzy.com to learn how to make your water a whole foods power house with greens.
2. When you feel stressed take 10 deep breaths. Focus on your breathing.
3. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. It’s as easy as a walk around the block.
4. Drink Green Tea instead of Coffee.
5. Sleep at least 8 hours a night.
6. Stay away from Hydrogenated Oils. Read the ingredients on the back of products you buy in the supermarket. See www.Drweil.com for more information on healthy eating.
7. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
8. Do one thing special for yourself every day.
9. Eat fruits with your breakfast and eat vegetables with your lunch and dinner.
10. Say a prayer or affirmation before you go to bed and when you wake up.
11. Read one inspirational book a month and/or my free weekly energy email tip newsletter. Sign up at www.JonGordon.com.
12. Listen to your favorite song whenever you need a pick-me-up.
13. Eat breakfast. It will increase your energy and productivity at work.
14. Don’t be too busy for lunch. Researchers agree that performance scores plunge when people miss lunch.
15. Take short breaks throughout the day. Get up from your chair and take a little walk. Stop looking at the computer screen. Stretch. Go get a cold drink of water. Short breaks help you refocus and reenergize.
———————–
Republished by permission. Visit Jon at his website: www.JonGordon.com for more information.
How to Become Super Rich
Copyright 2006 Daniel N Brown
Most people think that being rich has to do with having a
whole lot of money. On the contrary, being rich involves a
whole lot more than just having money.
If a person has their basic needs met, like having food,
clothes, and shelter, plus good health, good relationships,
and enough income to cover their living expenses, then they
are already rich.
If a person has all those things and are also doing
something that brings them great joy, then they are super
rich!
Most people in America are rich, but not super rich. How
can a person who is rich become super rich? I believe the
answer is for every individual person to understand what
God designed them to do.
Everyone has a purpose in life, and most people agree with
that. Unfortunately, many people don’t know what their
purpose is.
Every person knows what they are good at and what they are
not good at. The reason many people are confused is, is
that they equate their purpose with earning income.
Success in life is not only about income, but enjoying and
loving life. If you love God and keep Him first in your
life He will be sure you have enough income, as long as you
do your part, which is to be willing to work.
A person must absolutely do what they love do to! If you
love to paint, then paint. If you love to play guitar, then
play guitar. You may say you don’t have any talent. That’s
ridiculous. Everyone can do something well. Pray about it.
Jesus said to, “Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek, and
you shall find; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you”
(Matthew 7:7).
Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do
with all your might.†When you do what you love to do with
all your might you will discover how much more you will
enjoy your life.
—————————————————-
Daniel N. Brown is an entrepreneur and teacher of biblical
success principles. Get his FREE report, “How to Receive
from God” when you sign up for his FREE weekly newsletter.
www.SecretPlaceOnline.com
January 3, 2006
Nurturing the Vision
Copyright 2006 So-lu’shunz Management Services
Live more powerfully & more significantly – the journey
begins today!
PURPOSE is what you’re created for. MISSION is what you’re
meant to do about it. VISIONS are the evidence, and GOALS
are the means of achievement.
If you’ve been following along with us as we explore living
more powerfully and significantly by harnessing the process
of understanding your MISSION, creating vibrant VISIONS and
designing on-target GOALS, then you are probably well on
your way to the realization of one or more visions by now.
For those who may have hit a snag or become somewhat bogged
down in the process, don’t give up! You covered a great
deal of ground already! You’ve discovered and recorded
your purpose and mission. If not, I urge you to refer back
to “Discovering Your Life Purpose†and “Keys to Discovering
Your Personal Mission†for the first steps in the process.
You’ve learned that as a visionary you are charged with
exercising your imagination. And finally, separating the
visionaries from the dreamers, you crossed over into
designing as you put your nose to the grindstone and began
to draft real life goals to bring it all to pass.
But you’ve probably discovered – there’s a price to pay.
Nothing grows without nurturing, tender care and
encouragement, essential to any healthy development. In
the old argument of nature vs. nurture I am personally a
proponent of nurture. Just as you would never leave a
child you’ve birthed to grow uncared for, the visions you
are creating need to be tended.
Though not an issue during the dream stage of the process,
once you embark on the design of on-target goals (see
article, “Designing On-Target Goalsâ€) you must be on guard.
If you’ve moved on from dreaming to designing, you’re
learning that it requires dedication, energy, and sometimes
the willingness to forego creature comforts. You’ve pulled
out all your resources and contacts and done your research.
But now you may be stuck somewhere along the way. You’ve
laid it on the line and you’re exhausted and discouraged –
sound familiar?
When progress is slow and the going gets tough, here are
some simple suggestions to infuse the process with a dose
of TLC and get you back in the game again.
1. Return to the Vision. Put aside your calculations,
projections, and spreadsheets and revisit the vision. Set
aside time to step into it once more and move around. Now
that you’ve actually begun the work of designing goals,
your vision will feel even more compelling to you. Take
your time and get comfortable in there.
Bring your senses into the exercise. If your vision
involves a location, see colors, feel surfaces, smell the
air. Leave nothing uncovered in making your vision real to
you. When the vision once again assumes urgency and you
are again accountable only to the birthing of it, you are
ready to return to goal design.
2. Remember Why. Return to your journal and revisit your
notes. Remind yourself why you are engaged in this
process. Begin with your Mission Statement. Remember this
is the hub of the wheel and without passion for your
Mission, nothing else will have relevance.
Then look at your list of Visions and remember why you
chose this one over the rest. Perhaps you will find you
chose the wrong vision to begin with and you may need to
table this one for another time. Regain your perspective.
3. Don’t Become Entangled in the Goals. Though they are
labor intensive, goals are simply the means to an end.
They are merely the stepping stones to the destination –
guard against allowing them to overpower you. While
extremely important as catalysts, work at keeping them in
perspective or you risk being plowed under at this point.
4. Refresh Yourself. Allow yourself the luxury of basking
in your milestones. There is no better way to nurture the
vision than to nurture the visionary. After all, the
vision is about you and your future, whether it involves an
organized closet or a change in career.
5. Change Your Focus. If you’re stuck on your goals,
revisit your picture of success and failure, celebrating
your successes and refocusing away from any failures.
6. Talk about the Vision – keep it alive. There is no
better way to stay enthusiastic than to talk about your
passion and no better way to stay passionate than to talk
about your vision. Make the language of your vision an
active part of your vocabulary. If you need to learn a new
terminology or a new language, do so and infiltrate your
speech with it. If you’re beginning a new career or
pursuing a degree, begin to refer to yourself in the
associated terminology.
However you choose to nurture your vision and keep it
vital, don’t ever give up your dreams. Your methods might
need tweaking and your timing adjusting, but don’t ever
stop dreaming. You are ultimately responsible for keeping
your passion level high.
Above all else, remember that you have something to offer
the world that only you can offer – the world is waiting!
Victory does not necessarily belong to the best. It
belongs to the most persistent.
—————————————————-
Karin Syren, CTACC is a Life & Leadership Coach
specializing in the EffectivenessCoaching process. She
works with leaders at all levels to increase their personal
and professional effectiveness by guiding them through the
process of learning to live powerful and significant lives.
If you want to discover what makes you unique and how to
form your future around it, and live more effectively as a
result, join Karin for Discovering Your Purpose, a free
teleclass. Register at www.solushunz.com
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