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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Don't Waste It!





Another Level





Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Soaking Change





My Existence





GOT 2 GIVE IT UP





"FAIL UR" WAY 2 VICTORY





CRY, CRY, BABY!





Monday, November 24, 2014

Stand In the Light





3 Things To Do While You Wait

I’ve never been a patient man.  I’ve become one and I’ve learned to be more patient.  In fact, I’m still learning how to be more patient.  What about you?  Are you a patient person?  You’ll have to be as you stand in lines this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Uh oh.  I just called you out.  No, not like that.  Remember, I don’t front on y’all.  I just do my best to challenge you and make you think.  Let’s be real though.  Some of you know you’ll be in line on one of those days if not all three of them.  You’ll be there attempting to save BIG DOLLAR$!  Right?  I understand.  See, I know the importance of whisking yourself away from Thanksgiving dinner with your loved ones on Thursday night or getting in line at 3am to save $50 on a laptop.  What’s that?  The ad said they were practically giving them away?  Got it.  Ok.  I’ll tell you what.  If you believe that, then I’ve also got a magic lamp for you to rub.  You can rub it while you’re waiting.  And that’s the question.  What do you do while you’re waiting?  Whether it’s a Black Friday line, DMV, or grocery store line, what do you do while you wait?  Here’s a few things to help you endure your time in line.

Smile.  Remember, you chose to be in line.  No one told you to get up before the chickens to get that crockpot, Xbox, Samsung Smart TV or the G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu grip.  You made a choice.  So, while you’re there, smile.  A lot.  You’re going to need every bit of happiness that you can muster, so do it.  Folk around you could use a warm smile too.  Yes, even if they don’t smile back.  As hard as it is to smile through adversity, do it anyway.  I remember a time when I felt as though God had forgotten about me and my prayers and needs.  It was a very tough time in my life.  I’d say, “Lord, where are you?!  I need You!”  In truth, He was—and is--with me all the time, but I wanted an immediate fix to my situation.  Any guesses on what His reply was?  I’ll tell you.  He directed me to 1 Thessalonians 5.18 which says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  Not what I wanted to hear, but it was what I needed to hear and know.  I had to learn to smile while I waited.  So, remember to smile while you’re waiting in line this week and from now on when things get hard.  Yes, it’ll be hard to do sometimes, but at some point, you’ve got to make a choice.  You can live in the mess, hurt, funk, junk, and pain, or you can move on and smile as you’re doing so.  Take Kirk’s advice and just smile.


Have faith.  Yes, even when you’re in line for that new PS4 game, have faith.  That’s why you’re up so early anyway, right?  Because you have faith that the game will be there just for you!  I get it.  However, I’m asking you to have faith in the process.  Because sometimes, you’ll find yourself doubting if things are going to turn out the way you’d like.  Truth be told, things are going to turn out the way they need to.  You’ve just got to see and get what’s in it for you.  Uh oh.  I just said something there.  Back to the main point.  You’re in line, because someone has asked for something because they have faith in you.  I know 74.2% of you just fell out of your favorite chair!  Yes, they have faith in you!   Just as you have or should have faith in what you’ve asked God to do for you, your loved ones, your business, and folk and situations here at home and around the world.  There’s no coincidence in Matthew 7.7.  Ask. Seek.  Knock.  Look at the first letter in each word.  Put them together and what do they spell?  ASK!  Just cooked your noodle, didn’t I?  So ask and have faith while you wait.  The process is designed to build up and strengthen your faith anyway.  While you’re standing in line this week and from now on in your life, dig in and increase your faith and change your thinking all the more by believing. 

Do something.  No, don’t talk, text, or play games on your smart phone.  I’m going to ask you to do something radical.  Talk to people.  Hello?  Are you still there?  Oh.  You are.  I wasn’t sure, because it got mighty quiet in your section.  No, you’re not dreaming and yes, I said it.  Talk. To. People.  You remember them, right?  You live with ‘em.   You’re married and related to ‘em.  You work with ‘em.  Yes, human beings.  You’re in line and will be for a while.  Use your time wisely.  I’m not asking you to become BFFs with them, but I’m asking you to talk to them.  Yes, even if they don’t talk back.  Here’s the thing about that.  Most folk will talk back to you.  Oh, the horror!  I know.  I’m overcooking your grits.  You’ll live.  Put your phones and tablets and phablets away and talk to other human beings.  For some of you this will be a new experience, because your teenagers haven’t spoken a coherent sentence to you in months.  It’s ok.  They’ll come around.  In the meantime, you’ve got plenty of time while you’re waiting in line for that Doc McStuffins doll to sharpen your communication skills.  So, don’t just wait in line lookin’ all tight-faced and angry like Grumpy Cat.  While you’re waiting, do something.  Smile.  Have faith.  You do realize that all of these are action terms, don’t you?  Some require more work than others, but they all require some level of work.  Guess what?  You’re more than up to the task!  Do something!  You’re alive, so be alive!  Connect with the folk around you as you wait this week and beyond.  You never know when you’ll be meeting someone who can help you or better than that, someone that you can help.  And isn’t that what life is all about? 

As always, I truly and sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read this.  Share it with your friends and families this week.  They can also subscribe to receive my posts by going to: 



Also, if you or they are interested in more uplifting and encouraging messages, the link below contains audio clips similar to what you just read.



If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, have a great time with friends and families!  Be thankful this week and always.




Thursday, November 20, 2014

Cheerful Receivers





Who Ya Wit?!





The Power of One





If





Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Webinar: Start A Fire! (Let Your Light Shine)





Sunday, November 9, 2014

At The Movies Pt. 4

Dear Readers, how are you?  Are you ready?  This week's movie is a favorite of many.  Even if you're not a sports fan.  Uh oh.  Did I just tip my hand?  It's ok.  Let's get after it.  Have you ever had a bad attitude?  Of course you haven't.  Not you.  No.  Never.  Seriously.  We all have.  How about this.  Have you ever been around anyone with a bad attitude?  No.  Fun.  And finally, have you ever been led by anyone with a bad attitude?  Yep.  That one really takes the cake.  It might be the worstest (Hey, I make up words) of all!  What if I told you that the attitude of a leader will infiltrate, infect, affect, and thereby causing bad effects for the followers of the leader?  That would be wack!  Well, in this week's movie, Remember the Titans, that's exactly what happened.

C'mon.  Y'all know the scene.  The Titans are taking a break from or have just finished one of Head Coach Herman Boone's grueling and grinding football practices.  Just in case you've never seen the movie, take a gander at the scene in the clip below.



Wow. How's that for a powerful scene? Did it speak to you? Of course it did. Even if it was for the one thousandth time. "Attitude reflects leadership, Captain." Now ain't that the truth?  Gerry and Julius covered things so well, I don't have much else to add.  I know.  I know.  You're sad and disappointed.  It's ok.  I've still got something for you!  Ready?  Here we go.

1.   Check Your Attitude.  Uh oh.  You didn't expect me to come out blasting huh.  You know me by now.  This is what I do from time to time.  Anyway, it's your attitude that needs to be checked.  You're concerned about the speck of dust in someone else's eye while there's a beam in yours.  I've got a word for you.  Stop it.  Mind your business.  Check yourself.  Get yourself together.  Fix your stank attitude.  Then maybe someone wouldn't mind being led by you.  Tough words?  Not hardly.  In the days, weeks, and months to come, you'll get tougher words from me.  This is tame and light.  One last time.  Check Your Attitude.

2.   It Starts With You.  You're the leader, right?  That's why you're reading this.  You're a leader or you desire to lead.  The right way.  Just like Julius said to Bertier.  Correct though he may be, young Julius should take his own advice.  He may not have been a captain, but he was definitely a leader on that team.  Y'all know how I feel about titles and getting stuck on formal authority.  Yes, there's a place for both as it pertains to structure and the like in organizations.  I get it.  Some organizations put too much focus and emphasis on both.  Often, the real leaders, the ones who folk are really following?  They have no titles.  No formal authority.  They're names aren't listed in the managerial hierarchy.  But they're the ones everyone runs to.  They are you.  How do I know you so well?  Because I was you.  I was you during my time in Corporate America.  With and without a formal title.  I know both sides.  It's how I know that It Starts With You.  

You really wanna be a leader who's respected?  A leader who folk will follow even when you don't have any authority?  A leader who's loved?  Yes, I said it.  Loved.  A leader who gets it?  You really wanna be that kind of a leader?  If you do, it's easy.  I'm going to tell you how.  Ready?  Here we go.  If that's the kind of leader you desire to be, you must die.  Uh oh.  I just said something and 89.2% of you just ran out the door.  

For the rest of you, here's the deal.  You've got to die to the junk, funk, mess, and stuff you've been carrying that never belonged to you and was never a part of you.  You've got to die to bad, old habits and ways.  Bad, old habits and ways of doing things and thinking.  Sound hard?  It is.  Sound like it will be very well worth it?  It will be.  As long as you sell out to it.  Completely.  How on earth do you expect anyone else to buy-in if you don't buy-in?  The real and authentic you is lurking around in there somewhere.  Find her.  Dust her off.  Look to have her redeemed.

When you're ready.  I'm talking really, really, really ready.  That's when your new attitude (Yes, I just went all 1984 Patti LaBelle on you.) will be reflected throughout every level of your team, organization, and--watch this--your life.  That's when you'll be ready to Start A Fire.      


Join me on my webinar, Start A Fire on Nov. 10, 2014, I'll teach you: 

- How to start your fire

- Purpose is fuel

- The importance of quick hits


You’ll also receive:


SPECIAL ACCESS to the EXCLUSIVE RECORDING! 
- LIFE-ENRICHING, insider leadership tips!
- EXCLUSIVE PRICING for January 2015 training: Fit In ‘15!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!  

SPACE IS LIMITED AND GOING FAST!


BECAUSE IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE TO START YOUR FIRE!
  

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHY THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON ON EARTH IS THE HUMAN SOUL ON FIRE! 

   

Webinar: Start A Fire!

Registration: http://startafire14.eventbrite.com

Date(s): Nov 10, 17, 24, & Dec. 1

Time: 7.00 PM—8.30 PM EST

                 

Sunday, November 2, 2014

3 Reasons Why You Need To Look But Not Live In Your Rear View Mirror

We've all heard it,  y'all.  People have said to us, "Don't look back.  Look forward."  "Things in your rear view mirror are behind you.  Leave them there."  We've heard those phrases and more.  We've said them.  I know I have.  And those are true statements.  Today, I contend that the rear view mirrors of our lives have something for us.  But before we really begin, let me be clear about something.  There are some things that happened to us that we do need to leave in the past and don't dwell on them.  Cool?  Cool.  Here's what I'm saying today.  Our rear views often teach us how not to rip our rears.  It's one of the reasons we need to look but not live in our rear view mirrors.  Here are three more reasons.


1. It doesn't matter.  It's in the past.  Remember that?  That's what Rafiki said to Simba.  He was talking about the negative things that happened in Simba's life and those he'd done.  I'll add to that and say that we should see our successes the same way.  Celebrate them at the time they happen.  Enjoy them.  Revel in them even.  If you get caught or stuck still living in them in the present, you are and/or will find yourself in big trouble.

2. Success is still available today.  And tomorrow.  And...  I'll stop, because I know y'all hear and understand me.  There are new successes waiting for you to create them.  It's why you work as hard as you do.  No, you're not working for the sole purpose of success.  You work as hard as you do because it drives you.  Again, not success.  Your it.  And I'll let you in on a lil' secret.  Y'all listening?  Good.  When you succeed, you succeed.  When you fail, you succeed.  You learn a lot from both, but even more from your failures.  That's where you find our much about and build your character and resolve.  

3. Fond memories of the things and people that touched our lives in great and major ways.  Remember those for encouragement.  For growth.  The things and people can't be separated.  That is, there's usually someone or a group of folk who are there with us when those memories are being made.  Those folk helped us.  They loved us.  They corrected and lovingly disciplined us.  They cared for us.  It's why remember and hold so dear what they did for us.  How they made us feel.

So look back once in a while.  Because some of the objects that are closer than they appear just may be worth you taking a quick glance in your rear view mirror.



Because you now understand the importance of looking forward, you're excited and eager as a beaver to learn more about how to do this.  When you join me on my new webinar, Start A Fire! on Nov. 10, 2014, I'll teach you: 


- How to start your fire

- Purpose is fuel

- The importance of quick hits



You’ll also receive:

SPECIAL ACCESS to the EXCLUSIVE RECORDING! 
- LIFE-ENRICHING, insider leadership tips!
- EXCLUSIVE PRICING for January 2015 training: Fit In ‘15!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!  

SPACE IS LIMITED AND GOING FAST!


Because it's never too early or too late to start your fire!
  

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHY THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON ON EARTH IS THE HUMAN SOUL ON FIRE! 

   

Webinar: Start A Fire!

Registration: http://startafire14.eventbrite.com

Date(s): Nov 10, 17, 24, & Dec. 1

Time: 7.00 PM—8.30 PM EST

At The Movies Pt. 3

Dear Readers, how y'all doing today?  I know you're ready for part three of my At The Movies series, so let's get crackin'!  

With this movie quote, I'm gonna take y'all back.  What's that, ma'am?  "Eric, how far back are we going?"  Way back!  And for the song associated with it--those who know me best know that there's always a song--I'm taking you back even further!  Alright, now here we go.  


Character 1: "Do you always carry a guitar?"
Character 2: "It's my future."
Character 1: "Sure of yourself, aren't you?"
Character 2: "Yeah.  Aren't you?"

Any guesses on what movie this comes from?  "Walk The Line?"  No, but that's a great guess!  Anymore guesses?  No?  Ok.  I'll help you out a bit.  The title of the movie was also a hit single in 1958 and a #1 hit nearly years later in 1987.  Give up?  Alright, I'll tell you.  The movie is...  La Bamba!  Of course, that's also the song I mentioned earlier.  It tells the story of Richard Steven Valenzuela, who was best known as Ritchie Valens.  The movie tells the story of Ritchie, his family, and his rise to fame.  I dig flicks about singers and musicians, of which Ritchie was both.  Check it out if you haven't seen it.  Now let's move deeper into this week's topic.

The conversation above takes place between Ritchie and the love of his life, Donna Ludwig.  They're taking a stroll and as always, Ritchie has his guitar slung over his shoulder.  

Donna: "Sure of yourself, aren't you?"
Ritchie: "Yeah.  Aren't you?"

Wow.  His reply is golden.  Just think on it for a minute.  He's not being cocky or brash.  He's not being arrogant.  He's exuding confidence.  Supreme confidence.  In his skills.  In his future.  In himself.  It's simple, profound, and solid.  He's a self-aware and self-assured cat, daddy-o.  But here's the thing that you don't see.  His very strong and firm beliefs have deep roots.  You don't see how deeply he truly believes in himself.  However, if you read the statement again and think on it, you just might get it.

That's the kind of belief that you need to have.  Believe in yourself.  In spite of what you see or hear, believe in yourself.  Don't listen to That Stuff, Those Things, Them Folk.  Believe in yourself.  In your skills.  In your abilities.  In your talents.  In the work you've put in.  (Uh oh.  I just said something there.  Please don't miss it.).  In what God has put in you (Uh oh.  I just said something else.  Definitely don't miss that one!).  Believe.

Take some time.  Step away from things and build up your belief in you.  Be like Michael Jordan.  MJ said that he always wanted to be the one to take the last shot, because he always believed that it was going in.  I won't get all deep into sports analogies, but I'll say this.  You've got to be willing and ready to take the last shot, if you will, knowing and believing that it will go in.  And for the times that it doesn't, what do you do?  The next time there's an opportunity to take the last shot, shoot it.  Keep shooting.  By the way, you know another reason he wanted to take the last shot?  Because he'd put in the very hard work (some of y'all just ran away weeping) that helped ensure that he'd make the shot more often than not.  He prepared.  He practiced.  He got good.  I know that last one is bad grammar, but it needs to be said just like that, because that's what you need to do.  You need to get good.  When you do, that's when you'll begin to trust yourself to take the last shot.  It's when folk will call on you to take the last shot.  It's when you'll be trusted to do so.  

So the next time anyone says to you what Donna said to Ritchie, now you know how to reply.  And you'll know why you're replying that way.  Because you've put the hard work in.  Because you believe in you.  You'll know that even if you miss the last shot, you'll be back.  Ready to take the next last shot and all the others thereafter.  Because that's how you roll.  It's who you are.  Because you believe.      

And when you believe?  That's when you know that it's fire-startin' time!     

To learn more about what you need to do to be ready to take the last shot and start your fire, join me on my new webinar, Start A Fire! on November 10, 2014 at 7.00 PM EST.  During this special call, I'll teach you:

- How to set up your fire
- Tending your fire 
- Equipment needed for the fire  



You’ll also receive:

- SPECIAL ACCESS to the EXCLUSIVE RECORDING! 
- LIFE-ENRICHING, insider leadership tips!
EXCLUSIVE PRICING for January 2015 training: Fit In ‘15!


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!  SPACE IS LIMITED AND GOING FAST! 

REGISTER NOW!  BECAUSE IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE TO START YOUR FIRE!  


CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHY THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON ON EARTH IS THE HUMAN SOUL ON FIRE! 

   
Webinar: Start A Fire!
Registration: http://startafire14.eventbrite.com
Date(s): Nov 10, 17, 24, & Dec. 1
Time: 7.00 PM—8.30 PM EST