Are You Your Greatest Obstacle?

Think about the top ten challenges in your life for a moment.  How long have these obstacles been in your life?  Do you have any idea when you're going to conquer them?  What's stopping you?  If you are having trouble, I know how you feel.  If your really honest with yourself, you may find the number one reason why you're not reaching your goals.  It's you.  Don't get stressed about this.  Once you identify yourself as the main obstacle, you can bust through anything in your way.  Try these ideas:

1. Stop trying to re-invent the wheel.  There are people all around you who found a way to overcome the same challenges you are dealing with.  All you have to do is follow their example.
2. Try something new.  Only a fool will do the same thing over and over while expecting different results.  If you want to unfreeze yourself, you need to experiment with new approaches to the same problems.
3. Focus.  You can't solve all your problems at the same time.  Your brain becomes so overwhelmed that you get stuck.  Forget about how big your to do list is and pick one challenge that you are going to handle.  Keep chipping away until you eliminate the obstacle in front of you.  Don't give up.
4. Pretend you already found a solution to your problem.  Imagine yourself at some future point on the other side of your obstacle.  Do you see yourself in a new body that is pounds lighter and physically fit?  Take a good look at how happy you are.  Sometimes, just seeing yourself on the other side of the problem is enough to inspire you to achieve your goals. 
5. Stop telling yourself you can't do it.  Every time your brain hears you say, "I can't do this," your brain gives up and you really can't do it.  Start telling your brain, "I'm smart enough to find a solution and strong enough to keep moving forward until I get past any and all obstacles."  Your brain is listening to everything you say and will oblige.

The good news for you is that you are capable of turning everything around right now.  You have the power to become your greatest ally instead of your greatest obstacle.  Don't forget to share your results with me.  I'm waiting to hear your positive results.  Thanks for visiting today.

Thanks, Mom, For Inspiring Me

Once I made the decision to get married and start a family, I put my head down and went to work on a rock-solid plan to build wealth.  I made all the right moves, including buying commercial property, investing on a regular schedule and keeping my expenses to a minimum.  I ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day so I could have more money to buy aggressive growth mutual funds.  Then the economy turned south and so did my investments.  No worries, I thought.  My home has a couple of hundred thousand dollars of net worth. I'll recover.  That's when my wife told me her homesickness was tearing her up on the inside and she wanted to move back home to be closer to her family.  The real estate market completely collapsed in the blink of an eye and my last remaining asset became a liability.  That's when I had my most memorable conversation ever with my mom.  Here's what she said to inspire me:

"Son, when I was fifty, I had no job, no money and no retirement account.  I decided to get busy and recover.  Today, my house is paid off, my retirement account is healthy, I'm healthy and I have everything I need.  I believe you can get through this.  Stay close to your wife and the two of you can get through anything."

"The banks aren't cooperating," I told her.  "My realtor keeps finding buyers but all they do is drag their feet.  Home prices are in a free-fall."

"Don't worry about the banks.  They're in trouble.  Keep your faith.  Feed your family.  Everything will work out.  Just follow my example," mom told me.

My mortgage company threatened to sue me for the deficiency once the short sale was approved four buyers later.  I told them I knew California real estate law and that what they were doing was illegal.  They backed off.  I sold all my remaining possessions and moved out of California.  A junk debt buyer decided to attack our family the first month we arrived in Iowa.  Instead of rolling over and letting them wipe us out, I decided to fight and force them to prove their case.  They falsely believed that because our family couldn't afford an attorney, they could get away with not following the rules of the court.  They chose to ignore our requests for proof they had a right to sue us.  The judge was not happy with their behavior and ordered the junk debt buyers to comply with our requests or face sanctions.  They filed a motion for dismissal and walked away.

I have more respect for my mother than ever.  She kept her cool when her world was unraveling.  She proved to me that when you never give up, good things happen.  Thanks, mom, for inspiring me.  I feel like I'm in one of those Allstate commercials  where they say, "you're in good hands."  Yes, I'm in good hands – God's hands.  And I trust He will guide me just as He guides my mother.  And if you need some encouragement today, take my mother's advice and keep your faith.  She's right – everything will work out.  Just put your head down and do the work.

Goliath Left the Battlefield

Final score:  David 1, Goliath 0

It's over.  Goliath surrendered.  He left the battlefield.  He weighed the high cost of facing sanctions due to his inability to play by the rules of the game and decided it wasn't worth fighting. 

If you are one of my friends who has been following our legal battle, I just want to say thank you for your support and your prayers.  Have a great day.  And don't ever give up no matter how big the giant is who is attacking you.

Do You Need Help Minimizing Your Distractions?

What's going on in your life that's causing you to lose sight of your goals?  These distractions, if they're not dealt with, can deal a serious blow to your long-term plans.  I have first-hand knowledge of this.  In Southern California, my distractions included the beach, the tennis courts, door-to-door solicitors, and numerous televised Padres and Chargers games.  With the exception of the solicitors, my list of distractions is actually loaded with fun stuff.  The problem isn't how fun the distractions are, it's what the distractions do to keep me from my important tasks.  I found a radical way to put an end to all the obstacles – I moved to Iowa.

Changing your location may remove some obstacles, however, unless you develop the necessary discipline to minimize your distractions, you will find yourself distracted even when you're living in the middle of the corn fields.  Here's what you need to do if you're having trouble with distractions in your life:

1. Write down a list of specific goals.
2. Prioritize the list.
3. Focus on the list every morning when you wake up.
4. At the end of the day, read over the list.  If you missed something, ask yourself why.
5. Resolve to eliminate whatever distractions are keeping you from achieving your goals when your new day begins tomorrow.

You need to promise yourself you are stronger than your distractions.  Decide today that your goals are worth completing.  Disconnect your TV if it's preventing you from getting your important work done.  Put your cell phone away when you're working on a big project.  You can do this.  Have a great day.

What Happens When You Share?

The last time I visited my cousin, Mark Mulligan, he invited my family to be guests at a house concert about one hundred miles away from my new hometown.  We chatted during a break and he told me about a book he was writing, The Three Miracles.  It was great to see him so happy up on the stage, doing what he does best – singing and entertaining.  He wouldn't let me pay for the concert.  Mulligans can be stubborn when it comes to picking up the tab.  It's like facing a UFC fighter who refuses to submit.  Instead of getting in a fight about paying for the concert, I found a way to turn it into a win-win situation.  I used my entertainment budget to purchase a Mulligan's Island tee-shirt and a couple of Mark's CD's.  Knowing the shelf life of my shirts, this is a great investment on my end.  And I get to hear Mark's music year-round.

My cousin did it again.  Last week I sent him an email congratulating him about his book and told him I couldn't wait to read it.  Before I could order my personal copy, he emailed me back and told me the book was already on its way.  I walked over to the post office first thing in the morning yesterday to pick up my copy.  The outside temperature was in the teens and the wind was howling.  I didn't care.  All I could think about was spending my day off in front of a warm fireplace reading my cousin's book.  What a joy it was to read his story.  My phone started beeping at me the moment I flipped to page seventy-four.  It was one of Mark's brothers.  He was reading the book at the same time.  What an experience.  I was reading Mark's story and texting with my cousin who was one of the characters in The Three Miracles.  Talk about a 3D reading experience!  Mark was already pushing all my emotional hot buttons as if we were on some sort of rickety roller coaster with no brakes and suddenly my cousin John was sitting next to me just in time for another big plunge.

The ride came to a conclusion shortly after supper.  My wife noticed the excitement on my face and hollered, "Don't share anything, I'm reading the book next."

"You're gonna love this book, honey," I told her, "Mark is sharing from the heart."

That begs the question, "what happens when you share?"

All I can say is that the world changes when you share.  Connectivity happens like some kind of chemical reaction when the right ingredients are mixed together.  Hope rises like an early morning sunrise.  Endorphins are released into your body.  You feel different.  You feel good.

Are you interested in having your own roller coaster experience?  I recommend you click here to visit my cousin's website and order a copy of his new book.  Take a look at his schedule.  When he's in your area, go check him out.  Tell him his crazy caveman cousin sent you.  And please don't get into a fight with him about which of us is crazier.  I own all the rights to this category.

10 Reasons To Be Happy Today

Would you like some great news?  Yesterday ended.  It's over.  Go ahead and stop thinking about all the things that went wrong in your life yesterday.  I give you permission.  Instead of looking backwards at all your troubles, concentrate on these ten ideas for today:

1. You have the power to make someone else happy today with your smile, your warm welcome or maybe your phone call or text message.
2. What you do today can change the world.
3. You can get through anything if you deal with it one day at a time.  
4. You have unlimited choices in front of you right now in this moment.  Your happiness comes from making great choices, one at a time, throughout this day.
5. Once you realize how much potential this day has, you will gain a sense of direction for how you use this day.
6. Negative people will avoid you.  They are repulsed by happy people who thrive in all circumstances.  This is a great reason to be happy.  Your happiness is like insect repellant.  Spray it on liberally and you will feel like you're on a picnic with no ants to bother you.
7. Make a list of all the things in your life you're thankful for.  The longer your list, the more happiness you will experience.
8. Today is your opportunity to make adjustments.  Decide today that you're going to do something better today than you did yesterday.  Don't overwhelm yourself.  Just pick one area of your life you want to improve and watch your self-confidence soar.
9. The value of today is not measured by how much you take, but how much you give.  Find something to give today – your time, your talent, or your treasure.  Giving is the fastest way to enhance your happiness.
10. Remember you are a reflection of an all powerful, all loving God.  He created you in His own image.  He loves you perfectly, just the way you are.  If you want to be truly happy, invite Him to share this day with you.

I have a day off from my day job today.  I let our youngest son borrow the car so he could drive to school.  Even though it's only 15º degrees out, I'm planning on a brisk walk to the post office to pick up a book I'm planning on reading today.  My cousin, Mark Mulligan, sent me a copy of his book, The Three Miracles.  I already know I'm going to love reading it because the author is one of the happiest people I know and he's sharing his story of love and faith with the world.  I recommend you order a copy today.  Have a great day.  Be happy.

Nothing Can Stop God's Plans For You

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:38-39

This Bible verse is one of my all-time favorites.  When I find myself under attack from the dark side, I focus on this verse.  I remind myself who wins.  The race has already been decided.  There is absolutely nothing that can keep us from God's love.  Think about that for a moment.

If you're struggling today to discover what God's plans are for you, why not just ask God to show you the way?  He knows all your worries.  He knows your weaknesses.  Turn your troubles over to Him and be confident that He will work everything out.  Have a great day.