Month: June 2015

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Coffee & Discretionary Funds

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Building your dream requires financing and many times we think we have nothing left over to finance a dream.  After the bills are paid and emergencies arise, how do I rationalize pulling more money away from my budget? Well here is one way, identify where your money is going now. 

If you are like most of society, there is one thing you must have to make your day start off right.   For me that was coffee and pretzels.  I know not the best combination for a morning pick me up but nevertheless this was my routine.  Each morning on the way to work, I would stop and get a large coffee and a bag of rold gold pretzels.   Here was what I spent including taxes:

$1.72 + $1.49 = $3.21 a day

$3.21 × 21 = $67.41 a month

$67.41 × 12 = $808.92 a year

$808.92

$808.92

That is the amount of money I spent last year and part of this year until I evaluated where my money was going.  That evaluation saved me:

$1.72 + $1.49 = $3.21 a day

$3.21 × 21 = $67.41 a month

$269.94 for 4 months of coffee and snacks.  Four months and $269.94.  Do you know what I could have done with that money? Let’s see:
1.  Paid for my certification study guide
2.  Paid for my certification exam
3.  Paid for a night in a hotel to work on my book without distraction
4.  Upgraded to a new phone or tablet
5.  Contribute to my investments
6.  Paid for a professional association
7.  Attended a personal development training
8.  Attended a professional development training
9.  Donate to charity
10. Contribute to my emergency plan

Now I realize that $269.94 may not be a lot of money to some while to others it is like winning the lottery.  The amount of money isn’t the point. Recognizing where your money is going and identifying alternative uses for discretionary funding are the point.  Sometimes the only funding which may be available exists in your immediate environment.   The job then becomes to identify where to get the money from without putting your household in financial jeopardy.

What about you? Are there unrecognized areas of discretionary funds which can be redirected to help your personal growth?  Look around, a little extra money could be just a drink away.

Til next time,
“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like” – Will Smith

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Act Like A Success

Think Like A Success: Chapter 18

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Happy Success Monday!

Well it is here, the last chapter of “Act Like A Success, Think Like A Success.” Chapter 18 is entitled “God Blesses You to Become A Blesser”.

It is my hope that each post over the last 18 weeks has been a blessing to you. As usual I have a little sadness facing the end of another informative book.  But as all good things must, we are at the end.  I have no idea of what we will read next but I have a few books in progress on my bedside table and on my virtual table or Kindle (more on that a little later).

Chapter 18 ended with the best reminder of the purpose of success, be a blessing to others.  I remember how I felt when we were able to buy my nephew and my sister a laptop as they both entered college a few years ago.  While a laptop may not seem like a big deal to some, this gift was major for us.  Not only did it symbolize faith in their journey but it also meant that my family was in a position to be a blesser.
That is the feeling I hold to each time I think about when I envision the fulfillment of my dreams.  This is one of the many reasons for working hard and burning the midnight oil.   Now that I think about it, this was part of the lesson of Chapter 18. Be a blessing to others and work hard to keep being a blessing.  Without further commentary from me, here are my favorite quotes.

Favorite Quotes:
“..being a blessing to someone else is one of the most important principles of success.” – Steve Harvey

“When you share your blessings with someone else, you are fulfilling your purpose in this world as a human being” – Steve Harvey

“Every great moment in life is better when shared” – Steve Harvey

“When you understand how powerful giving is, you will have more to give” – Steve Harvey

“As you climb higher, you are going to have to become more of everything. The more you get, the more will be required of you. You have to take more meetings, become more articulate, and be a better manager of time” – Steve Harvey

“Success is not just about your ability to achieve, but also your ability to serve through sharing

Questions for Reflection:
1.  Consider the areas of your life in which you have experienced success. Identify 3 things that you could teach/share with others.

2.  What are some of the activities you participate in that would be boring if they were done by yourself?

3. What does Steve Harvey state happens when you understand that God blesses you to become a blesser?  How does it feel when you give something to someone you love?  Now how does it feel when you feel a need for someone you don’t know? Do you receive the same sense of gratification?

4.  What is an important part of your success?  When was the last time you gave of your time?  Gave of your knowledge? Gave of your money? 

5. What are some requirements for your continued success? How many of these are you actively excelling at?

6. What are you doing to use and share your gifts with others? Should you do more or should you get started doing something?

Til next time,
“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.” – Cicero

Weekly Wisdom

10 Quotes for Rainy Days

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It is a rainy and humid week in my area of the world with afternoon thunderstorms predicted.  With the lack of sunshine being available today, I am sharing a few uplifting quotes from my personal cheerleader. No matter the circumstances you find yourself in today, at least one of these wise statements should uplift your perspective.

1.  “People are as happy as they make up their minds to be” – Abraham Lincoln

2.  “If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves” – Thomas Edison

3.  “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

4.  “Be a friend to yourself, and others will be so too” – Thomas Fuller

5.  “Just be yourself, embrace your quirks” – Ed Sheeran

6.  “Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine” – Lord Byron

7.  “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve” – Napoleon Hill

8.  “Only dumb people try to impress smart people. Smart people just do what they do.” – Chris Rock

9.  “May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house”- George Carlin

10. “Just because I don’t care doesn’t mean I don’t understand” – Homer Simpson

Til next time,
“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and -SNAP- the job’s a game” – Julie Andrews

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Broadway Sing Off in the Airport

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One of the perks of my job is the opportunity to travel at least three times a year.  At least two times over the last year my flight has been delayed and I would truly have enjoyed the delay if I had the opportunity to witness a sing off among Broadway casts.

Watch The Broadway Casts Of “The Lion King” And “Aladdin” In “Pitch Perfect”-Style Airport Sing-Off http://www.fastcompany.com/3047070/the-recommender/the-broadway-casts-of-the-lion-king-and-aladdin-had-a-pitch-perfect-style-si?partner=rss

Enjoy your travels and maybe you too will be blessed to have a Broadway cast on your plane.

Til next time,
“It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.” – John Wooden

Act Like A Success

Think Like A Success: Chapter 16

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Happy Success Monday!

Welcome to Chapter 16, one more chapter and this book will be completed. I am excited to know that we have continued this journey of self edification together.  As I read Chapter 16 Life’s Magical Balance the first phrase to come to mind was “work life balance”.  I have to be honest and say I struggle with knowing what “work life balance” truly means. 

In my reality I go to work and I take care of my family.  Anything else that I want to do  fits within those parameters.  So for me this chapter was reinforcement that my reality was valid. One thing this chapter did remind me of was the importance of promoting my own health.  As you read this chapter, what thoughts came to mind for you?

Oh well, time to work out for good health.

Favorite Quotes:
“Gaining life’s riches is about more than just earning a paycheck” – Steve Harvey

“When you don’t have all your chips stacked properly, you might get good at hiding the truth from the public, your friends, and even your family” – Steve Harvey

“And we all have to find ways to bring our physical well-being closer to the top of our
priorities because without our health, we simply cannot function” – Steve Harvey

“Under no circumstances can your priorities for your home, health, or finances ever receive less than 5 percent of your attention each week” – Steve Harvey

“Treat your home and family as a SACRED priority , and make sure everyone understands what that means” – Steve Harvey

“At the end of the day, your health is your wealth” – Steve Harvey

“Stress and the pressures of our high-powered lives have the capacity to significantly damage our health and our well-being if we aren’t paying attention” – Steve Harvey

“Successful people know how to use their money wisely today and set themselves up powerfully for the future” – Steve Harvey

Questions for Reflection:
1. Take a moment and define what being truly wealthy means to you. Now add your chosen definition to your vision board.

2. What does true success look like in your life with your circumstances?

3. What does work life balance mean to you? How is it demonstrated in your life?

4. What is your personal success formula?

5. What is your definition of home?

6. What is included in your greatest hits of excuses? How can you replace them with positive?

7. Are you taking your stress into account as you plan for continued growth and prosperity?  Do you have a stress management plan?  If not, create one today.

8. What are the five financial things Steve Harvey suggests each successful person should have? How many do you utilize? Do you consider yourself a financial success?

Til next time,
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand

Uncategorized

Think Like A Success: Chapter 15

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Happy Success Monday!

One of my all time favorite quotes is “Make your haters your motivators” – Author Unknown.  I heard it once on the radio and then saw it again on a car bumper.  Ever since it has been one of my favorites.   So naturally this quote made it through out my mind as I read this chapter.

I love the title of this chapter – Healing Your Haters Through Success.  I must say this is the first time I ever considered trying to heal the people who were trying to break me down.  But it makes perfect sense – haters are like an illness that has plagued you and the only thing you can do is take time to strengthen your body to resist the illness. 

Here is my synopsis of healing haters:
Hater = illness, toxin, poison, symptom
Heal = strengthen,  restore, build up
Success = medication, treatment,  antidote

What is your synopsis of healing haters?

Favorite Quotes:
“Every time you make a decision to do more, be more want more, here comes opposition” – Steve Harvey

“You don’t have time for small people. You don’t have time for the opposition” – Steve Harvey

“A man can’t ride your back unless it’s bent” – Martin Luther King Jr

“I decided years ago that I would never give anyone the power to define who I am” – Steve Harvey

“And I make the choice every day not to let anyone’s negativity stop me from fully operating in my God-given gift” – Steve Harvey

“We have to learn to become skilled at deflecting negative energy and keeping our eyes focused on our vision” – Steve Harvey

“You are definitely going to have haters coming from the left, and haters coming from the right” – Steve Harvey

Questions for Reflection:
1. How do you react to the haters in your life? Is there another word you use to refer to haters? Does that word give you strength or fear?

2. Have you continued your climb up the ladder or have you spent time trying to kick your haters?

3. What does Steve Harvey define as the goal of a hater? Do you agree or disagree?  Why?

4. How do successful people deal with haters?  What happens when you address a hater?

5. Name 3 people who you have observed persevering under adversity? What did you learn from them?

6. Are you allowing words to impede your destiny?  How are you staying motivated in the face of negativity?

7. What are the four types of haters you need to look out for?  Which one seems to impact you the most?

As we prepare for Chapter 16, have you created a new outlook on your goals and your strategy for achieving them.   If not, that means you are on the right path.  If you have, you are also on the right path.  The answer of wrong or right can only be answered by your own self-analysis.

Til next time,
“The only cure for enemies is success” – Steve Harvey