I was cleaning out some files to make more room on my hard drive and came across this poem by Jim Rohn. I thought it would make an excellent tribute to one of the greatest mentors of this century. So here it is…

“I wish for you a life of wealth,
health, and happiness; a life in which you give to
yourself the gift of patience, the virtue of reason,
the value of knowledge, and the influence of faith in
your own ability to dream about and to achieve worthy rewards.” _Jim Rohn

Do you make choices in life, or do you react to it? Below is a beautiful story of making choices. I hope it will inspire you…

We Have Two Choices

Jerry is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone asks him how he is doing, he always replies, “If I were any better, I would be twins!”

Jerry is a natural motivator. If an employee is having a bad day, Jerry is right there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Because of this attitude he has several waiters who have followed him around from restaurant to restaurant.

This really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, “What’s the deal with you? Nobody can be that positive all of the time! How do you do it?”

Jerry replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, ‘Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.’ I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.”

“Oh come on, it can’t be that easy,” I protested.

“Yes it is,” Jerry said. “Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react. You choose how people affect your day. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line is that you choose how you live your life.”

I thought about what Jerry said for a long time.

Soon thereafter, I left the area to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about Jerry when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins. Wanna see my scars?” I declined, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the

robbery took place. “The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door,” Jerry replied. “Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.”

“Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?” I asked.

Jerry continued, “The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, ‘He’s a dead man.’ I knew I needed to take action.”

“What did you do?” I asked.

“Well, there was a big, blonde nurse shouting questions at me,” said Jerry. “She asked if I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Bullets!’ Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’ ”

Jerry is alive today, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that day that we always have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

Now you have a choice: you can forget this story, or you can choose to let it make a difference in your attitude and your life.

Author unknown

They say, “Attitude is Everything.” I totally agree. Every morning when I get up I make a choice. I can make it a good day or, I can make it a bad day. It’s totally up to me and my attitude. I can greet the new day with a smile, or I can greet it with a frown. I can be negative, or, I can be positive. As I start the day, so it will surely end though.

I came across the video of Zig Ziglar below and would like to share it with you. It’s one of my favorites.

Zig Ziglar: Attitude Makes All the Difference

The Entrepreneur’s Prayer

As I awaken with the gift of yet another day and prepare for the tasks at hand, I offer up this most ardent prayer.

I pray for continued clarity of purpose so that I may hold my vision steady and keep my focus on the needs and success of others, which in turn shall bring me success.

I pray for the wisdom to epect abundance in my life, that it surrounds me and is available for the taking and to be shameless and unapologetic upon its receipt, for I deserve abundance.

I pray for a cheerful countenance, be it clear or cloudy skies and that I may radiate and infect others with my positive attitude.

I pray for the trust of others that they may recognize my sincerity and true intentions so that we may move forward together.

I pray for the strength to fend off adversity and use my desire and determination as both weapon and shield.

I pray for the courage to carry forth my convictions during the battle of business and to resist temptation to a quicker monetary result when such temptation compromises things for which I stand.

I pray that I may be used as lightning rod to collect the amazing ideas already present in the universe and when blessed with such inspiration, that I may be able to apply my talents and abilities to turn the power of thought into measurable advancement of my goals.

I pray to retain my childhood wonder so that I can recognize and revel in the small miracles of each day that others may miss.

I pray for an infinite supply of self-confidence  for it alone fortifies faith, strengthens my resolve and conquers the largest enemy I will ever face…fear.

I pray for a compassionate spirit and the patience to offer those  who seek my advice and my help, my full and undivided attention.

I pray for good health and a feeling of well being, and the continued desire to improve those areas of my physical life I may be neglecting in the name of my spiritual and entrepreneurial advancement.

I pray that today is a day of excellence and at its conclusion I can acknowledge and be grateful for the forward motion I have made and the growth I have experienced.

I pray most of all for the understanding and support of those closest to my heart, my family, that they will equate what may seem like endless hours of apparent pre-occupation with affairs of business to what is at the very core of my being, that which drives me, for once I achieve what I have set out in its fullest, I will become that more complete being I strive to be.

It is for these things I pray, for I am an entrepreneur.

By Ilka Flood

Just like you are what you eat you also are what you think.
If you are thinking about debt and how on earth to pay your
bills that’s exactly what you get more of. More bills and more debt.

Turn it around and think of abundance. Create vivid pictures in
your mind of what you would do if you had no money worries.

What would your life look like? What house would you live in?
Be as specific as you possibly can. What would it look like?
Picture every room, the floors, the carpet, the furniture, the
pictures on the wall. Imagine your beautiful back yard with
flowers and trees. Just gorgeous. Imagine your family and
friends on your new deck having a good time at your grill party.

What car would you drive? What model? What color. Imagine
the smell of the leather seats. Close your eyes. Can you see
it parked in the drive way of your brand new house?

Picture yourself eating out at a very expensive restaurant. Pick
your favorite entree from the menu without scanning the right column.

Where would you go for vacation? Picture yourself already there.

Next time you feel blue and discouraged find a quiet place and
think about what your life would be like without money worries.

You think anyway…might as well think BIG!

1. Broke People think everything is too good to be true.
Successful think that getting a job sounds too bad to be true.

2. Broke People give up when things don’t go their way; a few disappointments and they are onto something else, saying things like “it wasn’t for me.”
Successful People work harder and become more determined when things go bad, and understand that you have to take the bad with the good to make it.

3. Broke Peopl always have an excuse.
Successful people say “it’s my fault” and refuse to make excuses.

4. Broke People think that not getting what they want is OK.
Successful people are disgusted at the thought of not getting what they want and will do whatever it takes.

5. Broke People always have to talk it over with their broke friends to make sure no one will make fun of them if they make a decision.
Successful people think for themselves and could care less what their broke friends think.

6. Broke people are never coachable and teachable.
Successful People are always learning, even when the money starts coming in.  They never stop learning from those who were there first.

7. Broke People are scared of others.
Successful People trust in others and know that other people are crucial for their success.

8. Broke People are always procrastinating; they would rather talk about it, read about it, think about it, but never seem to do anything.
Successful people hate doing anything but getting it done.

9. Broke People are glad when the day is over.
Successful People love when the day begins.

10. Broke People think rich people are lucky.
Success People put themselves into a position to be “lucky,” and then work hard to make the “luck” show up.

11. Broke People work by the hour.
Successful People work by the month.

12. Broke People want to know that after 1 hour of work they have something to show for it.
Successful People find broke people who think this way and make them their employees.

13. Broke People get excited they just got hired.
Successful People think it’s interesting that someone could be fooled that easily.  They’re amazed that broke people never consider that they are selling themselves at wholesale while the Successful Person is reaping the retail rewards.

14. Broke People complain a lot.
Successful People are thankful that no one shot at them today, they didn’t have to fight in a war, and that they don’t have a job.

15. Broke People are too concerned about what other people are doing.
Successful People are only concerned about what they can be doing to get more done.

16. Broke people think that if no one is doing something, it must suck.
Successful people think that if no one is doing something, it means more money for them.

17. Broke people think that if everyone (all 200 people at a meeting or on a conference call) are all doing the same thing, it must be saturated.
Successful people think that broke people who think that way aren’t too bright.

18. Broke people think it is OK for other people to live where they want to live, drive what they want to drive, and do what they want to do.  Broke people are OK with the fact that they can’t do these things.
Rich people get sick just thinking about being average.

19. Broke people think that other people’s opinions are worth more than their dreams.  Rich people know that their dreams are worth more than other people’s opinions

Moral of the story:  To be successful, find out what unsuccessful people do, read, watch and think…..and don’t read what they read, watch what they watch, do what they do or think how they think!

(Author unknown)

This landed in my mailbox this morning. A chapter out of “Think and Grow Rich.” Can you relate? I can…Not very proud of it, but, yes…I can.

“FIFTY-FIVE” FAMOUS ALIBIS

By Old Man IF

People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be air-tight alibis to explain away their own lack of achievement.

Some of these alibis are clever, and a few of them are justifiable by the facts. But alibis cannot be used for money. The world wants to know only one thing-HAVE YOU ACHIEVED SUCCESS?

A character analyst compiled a list of the most commonly used alibis. As you read the list, examine yourself carefully, and determine how many of these alibis, if any, are your own property. Remember, too, the philosophy presented in this book makes every one of these alibis obsolete.

IF I didn’t have a wife and family . . .

IF I had enough “pull” . . .

IF I had money . . .

IF I had a good education . . .

IF I could get a job . . .

IF I had good health . . .

IF I only had time . . .

IF times were better . . .

IF other people understood me . . .

IF conditions around me were only different . . .

IF I could live my life over again . . .

IF I did not fear what “THEY” would say . . .

IF I had been given a chance . . .

IF I now had a chance . . .

IF other people didn’t “have it in for me” . . .

IF nothing happens to stop me . . .

IF I were only younger . . .

IF I could only do what I want . . .

IF I had been born rich . . .

IF I could meet “the right people” . . .

IF I had the talent that some people have . . .

IF I dared assert myself . . .

IF I only had embraced past opportunities . . .

IF people didn’t get on my nerves . . .

IF I didn’t have to keep house and look after the children. . .

IF I could save some money . . .

IF the boss only appreciated me . . .

IF I only had somebody to help me . . .

IF my family understood me . . .

IF I lived in a big city . . .

IF I could just get started . . .

IF I were only FREE . . .

IF I had the personality of some people . . .

IF I were not so fat . . .

IF my talents were known . . .

IF I could just get a “break” . . .

IF I could only get out of debt . . .

IF I hadn’t failed  . . .

IF I only knew how . . .

IF everybody didn’t oppose me . . .

IF I didn’t have so many worries . . .

IF I could marry the right person . . .

IF people weren’t so dumb . . .

IF my family were not so extravagant . . .

IF I were sure of myself . . .

IF luck were not against me . . .

IF I had not been born under the wrong star . . .

IF it were not true that “what is to be will be” . . .

IF I did not have to work so hard . . .

IF I hadn’t lost my money . . .

IF I lived in a different neighborhood . . .

IF I didn’t have a “past” . . .

IF I only had a business of my own . . .

IF other people would only listen to me . . .

IF  * * * and this is the greatest of them all * * * I had the courage to see myself as I really am, I would find out what is wrong with me, and correct it, then I might have a chance to profit by my mistakes and learn something from the experience of others, for I know that there is something WRONG with me, or I would now be where I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I had spent more time analyzing my weaknesses, and less time building alibis to cover them.

Building alibis with which to explain away failure is a national pastime. The habit is as old as the human race, and is fatal to success!  Why do people cling to their pet alibis? The answer is obvious. They defend their alibis because THEY CREATE them! A man’s alibi is the child of his own imagination. It is human nature to defend one’s own brain-child.

Building alibis is a deeply rooted habit. Habits are difficult to break, especially when they provide justification for something we do. Plato had this truth in mind when he said, “The first and best victory is to conquer self. To be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile.”

Another philosopher had the same thought in mind when he said, “It was a great surprise to me when I discovered that most of the ugliness I saw in others, was but a reflection of my own nature.”

“It has always been a mystery to me,” said Elbert Hubbard, “why people spend so much time deliberately fooling themselves by creating alibis to cover their weaknesses. If used differently, this same time would be sufficient to cure the weakness, then no alibis would be needed.”

In parting, I would remind you that “Life is a checkerboard, and the player opposite you is TIME. If you hesitate before moving, or neglect to move promptly, your men will be wiped off the board by TIME. You are playing against a partner who will not tolerate INDECISION!”

My post from yesterday talked about the “WHY.” Here’s another one. I hope it inspires you…

Who said the road to the top was going to be easy? Heck no, it’s definitely not. Au contraire mon ami. It’s actually pretty tough and only the strong will get there. Only the strong, the dedicated, the ones who know their real WHY will reach the top because those are the ones that will not quit until they get there.

Success doesn’t come without hard work. It doesn’t come without commitment either. Nor does it come without drive and determination. You have to overcome incredible obsticals sometimes and you may even have to give up things that are very precious to you in order to reach your final goal and get what you really want.

There will be many heartaches and many rough spots. You will feel like quitting many times, but it will be your WHY that will keep you  going.

If you have dream, if you know exactly what you want out of life, don’t let go of it until you achieve it. Don’t let anyone cloud your vision, don’t let anyone talk you out of it or steer you into another direction. Hang on tightly. Keep your dream alive and don’t quit until you are there. You may have to swim through a sea of no’s. You may have to overcome many obstacles. But you will get there at the end if you don’t give up.

Rocky is one of my favorite movies, but I didn’t know the story behind it until just now. I didn’t know about the unbelievable obstacles Sly, Sylvester Stallone had to overcome until the movie was made. Listen to Tony Robbins tell the story about “Rocky.” It will truly inspire you.

Click here to watch and listen to the story of “Rocky.”

If you want something bad enough … go get it!

When I was in grade school in Germany I wanted to take an English language class that was offered as an extra curriculum class. (Back then English and French weren’t part of the curriculum like they are now.) The Beatles just started to get real popular and I wanted to understand what they were singing. Since I had to have the permission of my teacher to take that class I went to ask her if she would allow me to go. Here’s what she told me, “Ilka,” she said, “I’m sorry but I can’t give you permission to take that class. Your grades in German are so bad you will never make it. You’ll never learn English. You can’t even speak German properly.” (Well, who at the age of 10 really does?)

I was crushed. Twice a week my friends would take “Walter & Connie” classes and I couldn’t go with them. So I saved up the money for the audio lessons – they came in the old 45 records back then – and taught myself. After I had the basics down I started translating Beatles songs with the help of a dictionary. And after that, I bought every English language book I could find in the bookstores of my hometown. I looked up the words I didn’t know in my dictionary and just kept going.  With each and every book I got better. That teacher couldn’t stop me. I was bound and determined to learn English … and I did! What’s funny is, that years later when I met my husband (he was stationed in my hometown), he had me spell-check his letters to his mom before he mailed them home.

Here’s a video of a few people you might know that didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer either. They tackled that thing that couldn’t be done and they did it!

“If you never failed you never lived”

P.S. Also see my post below … “It couldn’t be done”

A Poem by Edgar A. Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

By Changing Your Thinking,
You change your beliefs;

When you change your beliefs,
You change your expectations;

When you change your expectations,
You change your attitude;

When you change your attitude,
You change your behavior;

When you change your behavior,
You change your performance;

When you change your performance;
You Change Your Life!

Author unknown

1. Passion is the key to resolve. You must know why you are starting your home-based business. You must know exactly what you want and what price you are willing pay to get it.
2. Resolve simply means doing whatever it takes to be successful and sticking with it even after your initial enthusiasm has worn away. Knowing why you are doing your business is the ky to passion, and the only way to maintain your resolve.
3. Self-discipline is extremely important in your new business. The #1 reason for not achieving success in any business is a lack of self-discipline. No matter what business you choose to pursue you will have to take daily action if you want to build a large and profitable business. If you do a little each day, you may be surprised at how much you can accomplish and how easy it really is to succeed.
4. Patience is a must. Rome wasn’t built in a day! While we are able to make money quickly with our opportunities, the big money that comes with teaching, training and mentoring others will take time. It is important to realize that, from time to time, not all things will happen as you expect. Some things will happen more quickly and some more slowly. Success WILL happen if you are patient and persistent. When it does, it will come so quickly you will wonder where it has always been!
5. Persistence is the most important overall key to success. If you are frustrated because things you have tried in the past didn’t work, don’t be. You need to remember that success is a process!

   Original author unknown.