Blue Collar Executive: Recent Episodes
Lewis Taulbee Jr
Achieve your destiny and be successful at any level by staying rooted in a strong work ethic, determination, and integrity. My Mom and Dad were factory workers and generations before them were farmers or coal miners. My path took me in a business direction, but it was still the work ethics and values of my blue collar roots that helped me reach top executive levels. My Dad was a man of few words, but as I navigated through my career I could always find the answers I needed in the subtle things he said or did. I believe these nuggets can help anyone achieve any level of success they desire and I want to share them. I have written many of these in an unpublished book, but my gift is talking and not writing. So I am going to share them in this weekly podcast in hopes someone finds them valuable or at least entertaining. It doesn't matter what color your collar is. We all have gifts and a purpose. None more important than the other. The important thing is that we all reach our full potential and be the best we can be.
The reality is that in three generations no one will know who we were. However, what we do while we are here will have an everlasting impact.
In loving memory of Judy Marie Taulbee
In this episode I tell how my wife and I were in an unwelcome situation last week, and how we refused to allow it to rob us. Cars can always be repaired, we can make more money, but time can never be bought or made. We don't always choose our situation, but how we respond in them is our choice.
"All paths have puddles. You don't drown from falling in the water. You drown by staying in it" Lewis Taulbee
The fascinating facts about pine cones and what we can learn from them for our own lives.
"Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better" Albert Einstein
What started with a story about sharing a sandwich with Dads old coon hound has grown into something I could have never even imagined in four years:
8,842,000 plays on 6 Continents, in 62 Countries/Territories, and 1,040 Cities. A book and a series of five more in production.
This little podcast has brought me rewards far beyond any business deal I have ever made. Not a financial reward, rather an indescribable reward that floods my heart. It is proof that true success is found when you listen to your heart!
"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."
Albert Einstein
Talk is cheap and easy. We say I love you, but do we show it? When we know someone in need we say we will pray for them, but maybe God's response to us is why are you not helping them?
"Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often" Mark Twain
We say "seeing is believing", but God says "BELIEVING is seeing". He wants us to live in faith, but that can be hard sometimes. Especially when the dark clouds move in. It's in the middle of the storm when holding on to faith is the most difficult. When it seems like all hope is gone and our prayers have gone unheard. This is when we need to stand firm like an oak tree in our faith, never lose hope, and believe.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the substance of things unseen.
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. However, we can learn alot from old dogs.
In Loving Memory of Chevy
We all seek advancing technology yet we also all share a yearning for a simpler life. Technology can help us be more efficient and effective, but it can also rob us from inner peace at the same time. It is important to disconnect sometimes and enjoy the simplicities of life.
It's simple to be happy, but it is becoming more and more difficult to be simple.
Fictional novel or inspired word of God? In this episode I share the facts and why I choose the Bible as my instruction book for lifes journey.
The spirit of mankind is like a kite which rises by means of the very forces that seem to oppose its rise.
There is a growing epidemic of poor customer service. Many leaders will tell you that it is a result of the inability to staff quality employees. There is some truth to this, but they need to look in the mirror for the solution. The issue is not the employee, rather the employer. There are plenty of dedicated, hard working people to fill any company's needs. However, they have a choice and no one wants to give their loyalty and dedication where they are unappreciated and feel like what they do doesn’t matter. How can fast food chains sit next door to each other and one be fully staffed with great customer service and the other struggle to keep the doors open? I don't know the ingredients of a great chicken sandwich, but I do know the secret sauce for providing great customer service. I share that in this episode.
Systems and processes cannot replace the human element. Lewis Taulbee Jr.
If God is omnipotent, all loving, and all knowing why does he allow evil to exist? Tough question with a simple answer. I break it down in this episode.
"Darkness can only exist in the absence of light. Light can only exist in the presence of darkness."
There is no smaller package than someone wrapped up in themself.
Unwrap yourself and be the gift that keeps on giving!
There is no smaller package than a man wrapped up in himself. We have become a society of self absorbed people. We are quick to complain or criticize others if it disrupts our agenda. However, we don't always know what that person may be going through. We are all in this world together sharing the same struggles, so instead of being quick to point fingers we should be reaching a helping hand.
"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" Jesus
They say when we first enter Heaven we will see a replay of our lives. Well there will be a lot of laughing when they roll mine! This is a 100% true story of one of my brilliant ideas gone bad!
"Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat... Never take yourself too seriously."
Og Mandino
We are all just tourists here in this big ole Airbnb we call Earth. This is not a permanent residence for any of us, so we don't have time to stay in on cloudy days. We need to make the best of everyday rain or shine!
Two words that can be arranged to hold opposite meanings. Making Resolutions and setting goals are important, but we must take action on Day One and not One Day.
"Today is only one day in all the days that ever be, but what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today"
Ernest Hemingway
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house EVERY creature was stirring even the DOG! In this episode I share a Santa attempt that went bad, VERY BAD, but in the end was a successful mission delivering joy on Christmas morning.
Money can always be made, material things can always be gotten, but lost time can never be recovered. In 20 years the only one who will remember that you worked late is your family. A company will use your livelihood to balance their books. It is up to you to use your time to balance your life!
Life was not designed to give us what we need. It was designed to give us what we deserve. We don’t reap a harvest in the fall because we want it, we reap a harvest in the fall because we plant the seeds in the spring and work diligently to grow it.
“We reap what we sow”
Ever have a near death experience? Bet you have and didn't even know it! That's the best kind to have. Think of the sleepless nights, heart palpitations and antacids we avoided. Most of the stress and anxiety in our lives comes from things outside of our control, but in reality we are not really in control of most things. We all have guardian Angels watching over us 24/7. Most of the time, they have a thankless job because we don't even know when they take action to protect us. Think about how great life would be if we could have the same faith about stresses we see or imagine in front of us that we have for the dangers we never see.
Have you ever wondered why a dandelion is considered an annoyance to a well kept lawn? They are the brightest spot of a yard, but it doesn't fit in with the million blades of grass so we consider them a nuisance and try to eliminate them everytime they pop up. Many people do the same thing in society and criticize anyone who doesn't fit the mold or goes outside of the lines. We expect everyone to fit in as blades of grass, but beneath the curtain we are all as unique as a dandelion.
“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” Margaret Mead
If you could write a letter to your younger self what would you say? Would you offer caution and give directions for detours around the tough times? I would not because it is those challenging times that made us who we are and built our character. If we knew all of the difficulties and heartbreaks that lie in our paths ahead, we would never make the journey. Life is hard, but worth living!
Listen to full episode at: https://bluecollarexecutive.buzzsprout.com/
If you could write a letter to your younger self what would you say? Would you offer caution and give directions for detours around the tough times? I would not because it is those challenging times that made us who we are and built our character. If we knew all of the difficulties and heartbreaks that lie in our paths ahead, we would never make the journey. Life is hard, but worth living!
3 years, 75 episodes, 6,440,000 plays, 890 US cities, 55 counties and we’re just getting started! Please join me in this episode as I celebrate with an RC Cola, Moon Pie, and some life perspectives.
Most people tiptoe through life to make it safely to death. The sad reality is that they will never reach their true destiny or achieve their dreams. Therefore by not taking risks we are risking more.
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."T. S. Eliot
Many spend their entire life searching for the answers never realizing they were always just 12 inches away.
"At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want." Lao Tzu
Many who achieved fame have struggled with maintaining an image that is not their true being at heart. This creates an inner conflict that has led to drug abuse, mental illness, and even death. It's not only the famous. With the inception of social media it is becoming more of an issue. This is a major contributor to the increase in anxiety, depression, and drug use in our young generation.
Trying to be anything other than who God made us to be will cause struggle and rob us from the great joys of life.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
I often receive requests to read poems, letters, and even eulogies. However, I have never received one that touched me as this poem did. It was sent to me anonymously and was exactly what I personally needed. I did my very best to honor the beautiful words and hope it fills your heart as it did mine.
No matter what your beliefs are, none can deny there is a greater power within us, around us, and beyond us. When asked who he was, Jesus simply answered "I am". Not I was, or I will be, but I am. Because he is the same yesterday, today and forever. This assurance of knowing that I am not in this journey alone gives me great comfort and joy.
On August 7, 1971, the poem “I Am There” was famously carried to the moon by Apollo 15 astronauts James B. Irwin, David R. Scott, and Alfred M. Worden. Stored in a microfilm file, the poem was intended to be left there for future space explorations.
Many people will go to a job that they don't like tomorrow because it's what they did yesterday. The only difference is that they will be two days older and have two days less to achieve their dreams.
Yesterday ended last night. Make a move today that will put you a step closer to your goals tomorrow.
Many people use New Year's Day as a new beginning for improving areas of their life. The sad fact is 43% fail before February, and almost one out of four quit within the first week of setting their New Year’s resolution. Most people quit before the end of January, and only 9% see their resolutions through until succession.
So, why do we set these lofty annual goals for ourselves? We should make every day New "Day" Day! We don't know what tomorrow holds, but we have an opportunity to improve the quality of our lives everyday that we wake up. If we focus more on the beauty of today and worry less about the troubles of tomorrow we will achieve our resolutions 100%.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I may never know the true meaning of success, but I do know that it cannot be bought.
“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.” Albert Einstein
We all have different opinions, thoughts, and ideas of how to get from point A to point B. In the end, the only thing that matters is that we get there. It is okay to be passionate about our perspective, but it is not okay to judge or be critical of those with opposing views. In the words of the great Charlie Brown can’t we all just get along?!!!
“We can agree to disagree, but we don’t need to be disagreeable.”John Wooden
The only thing about a man that is a man is his mind. Everything else can be found in a pig or a horse. Archibald Mcleash
Life can be challenging and to succeed we must get a little dirt on us sometimes. The determining factor between success and failure is whether we allow the dirt to bury us or provide nutrients for us to grow.
“If you’re going through hell, keep going,” is a quote attributed to Winston Churchill that has wisdom beyond its short appearance. Recognizing that it might currently feel like hell, but there is a future beyond it, helps us remember that pain is fleeting. It won’t be here forever, but neither will we, so keep going. Unfortunately, many of us extend our stay because our we continue to struggle for control of things that are not within our power. It is when we are in our lowest valleys that we are better to let go and put our faith in the hands of someone who can drive us out.
On July 6, 2022 to a tornado ripped through my hometown and left a devastating aftermath in it's wake. It tore apart structures, but it also brought the hearts of a community together. I have seen the human spirt rally like I have never seen before. People didn’t cry victim, rather they immediately rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Reaching out and helping one another. There were no judgements or discrimination, just a genuine outpouring of care and love for the fellow human being.
The storm was dark and strong, but it could not extinguish the light in the heart of GOSHEN OHIO!
We live in the greatest nation on earth, but she can only retain that greatness if we continue the things that made her great: Trusting God for guidance, staying true to the constitution that our forefathers gave us, and always pledging our allegiance.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!
We all have dreams and they are as unique to us as our fingerprints and DNA. We are born with them in our heart and will die with them. God placed them there, but the choice to manifest them and share with the world is ours.
Be a day dream believer and chase your dreams! We are all chasing something in this life, so it might as well be our dreams!
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Harriet Tubman
Life is full of circumstances outside of our control, but how we handle those circumstances is always 100% within our control. We are not affected by what we know or what happens to us, rather we are affected by how we feel about what we know and how we choose to handle it. If we live our life with great expectations that is what we will get. If we live our life in despair that is what we will get. Every aspect of our life is gauged by our attitude. Choose to be happy in spite of life's challenges!
“It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” Dale Carnegie
Growing up I was always confused when I heard the pastor talk about staying humble and striving to be all God created us to be. Seemed to be a contradiction. However, I have learned that staying humble doesn’t mean staying poor, weak, or meek. Actually, it has nothing to do with the amount of success or wealth one achieves, rather it has everything to do with modesty that comes from understanding our place in the larger order of things. Always knowing that no amount of success or riches could ever make us more or less than our fellow women and man.
"The most difficult thing about being humble is not being able to brag about it" George Patton Jr.
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, not a lack of resources, but rather lack of will.
We have a growing culture in which a sense of entitlement is being instilled instead of a strong work ethic. We were all created to be productive for one another. Being lazy is not only the key ingredient for personal failure, but it is also disrespectful to those around you.
Life is too short to be lazy!
Greatness is not a rare magical thing that is only given to a chosen few. Greatness exists in all of us! Unfortunately, we often suppress it because we either don’t recognize it or we allow our environment to convince us that we cannot achieve it. If we seek greatness, it will find us, and we just need to open the door and BE GREAT!
“Surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself” Zig Ziglar
The essence of life cannot be found in the minutes, hours, or days that we have. We all have a different amount of time and it isn't given to us for consumption, but for contribution. As we look back at our journey, we will not see time, rather only the moments that we made along the way. These are the steppingstones along our path that we leave for others to remember us by and follow.
Life is series of moments and the quality of attention we give each one determines the quality of our lives. We often miss cherished moments due to the fast pace of daily living. It is important to slow down and remember how precious it is to live and love.
The true definition of success is happiness and contentment. This is what we all seek and it is right under our nose in every moment. We struggle to find it because we have been conditioned to subconsciously always be in the next moment and discrediting the present one. As if the next moment is more important than the one we are in. The secret to achieving this can be learned from farmers and old dogs.......
If you are angry, you are focused on yesterday. If you are worried, you are focused on tomorrow. If you want true peace and contentment focus on today.
God gave every one of us gifts, hopes, and desires. However, he left it up to us to open and use them. He didn’t hide them. They are right there in plain mindsight. Our minds are the most powerful tools we have. We can achieve great success if we put our mind to it or we can accomplish nothing if we put our mind to it. The choice is ours! I choose to unwrap every gift and pursue my dreams until I reach the last step of my journey.
"I may not be able to change the world I see around me, but I can change what I see within me." John C. Maxwell
It’s okay to be broken! We all have brokenness, but we sometimes create more distress, sadness, and hurt for ourselves trying to hide it. It’s okay to show others the chinks in our armor. When we do we will not only help ourselves but may be surprised how we help others around us.
Let the world know the true you with your light shining through all the broken pieces.
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” Rumi
If you have chickens, you know that a critter in the area is a literal real concern. However, this can also be true metaphorically for every aspect of life. My Dad taught me this at a young age. We didn’t have chickens and I had never seen (or smelled) a weasel. However, I knew exactly what he was talking about and this parable has helped me throughout my journey.
Our instinct is one of our greatest gifts, but also one of the easiest things to ignore. When we really want something or someone we often suppress what our heart is telling us and when we do this it ends in regret 100% of the time! So, when we smell or feel something isn’t right, IT'S NOT and we should lock up our chickens!
"The best advice you will ever get comes from your instinct "
50 episodes! WOW! I have learned so much doing these and the responses I receive truly touch my heart. This was intended to be about business success, but that changed during the first episode. I just share experiences that I have had along my journey and it is such an awesome feeling when someone says they were inspired or it helped them in some way. I have never done anything more rewarding in my life!
I can sum up all 50 episodes in four words: Hard work – Faith – Gratefulness – Grace. That is the guaranteed formula to be successful in business or any aspect of your life.
For this episode I thought it would be fun to reflect on some of the messages and answer a few questions that I receive. If you look closely at the podcast cover photo you will see a moon pie. When I started these, I said I would eat that pie at 50 episodes. Well it’s a little crumbly now, but I opened it up and accompanied it with an RC Cola (of course) and turned on the mic. Lets go!
We have always been taught to put others first and to never be the center of attention. That is good advice, but we should not suppress our true selves to do so. We now have a generation that is being taught to choose one side and hate the other. In doing this we create an avatar for what we feel we need to be successful or accepted. However, our need for acceptance can actually make us invisible.
We will never find true love, peace, and happiness until we step out from behind the character we portray. It is scary to take our shield down and allow others to see us for who we are because we fear rejection. Some may reject us, but our true friends and family will love us just the way we are. The most daring and most meaningful approach to life is being who we truly are! Dare to let your true light shine!
Don't change so people to like you. Be yourself and the right people will love you.
Sometimes the most difficult part of moving forward is letting go of what is behind us. This can be a loved one, a job we lost, or a home we thought we would live in forever. As we go throughout our life we will encounter people, places, and things that are necessary for a part of our path and others that will be with us for the entire journey. While we may not understand the reason for the ones we lose, we must keep moving forward. We can never reach our destiny if we keep looking for what is behind us.
It is difficult to let go sometimes, but we cannot grow new roses if we use all of our water on dead plants. So, let go of the past and focus on the garden you are growing today!
“Don’t worry about people from your past there’s a reason why they didn’t make it to your future” Adam Lindsay Gordon
A mountain goat and an elk were in a forest with many Aspen trees. The elk was eating the fresh delicious leaves to its heart's content, but the goat was too short to reach the lowest branches and had to settle for whatever fell to the ground. The goat thought to himself "lifes not fair". That evening a bad storm blew in and the goat sought shelter in a nearby cave. The elk was too large for the cave and had to stand out and endure the cold pounding rain and wind. As it looked at the goat cozied up in the dry cave it thought "life is not fair".
As humans it is sometimes easy to feel that we are not getting a fair shake compared to others around us. We can always look around and find someone with seemingly more than us and others with seemingly more struggles than us. The fact is, we were all created equal and given unique gifts and purposes. However, if we waste time comparing our lives to others we can lose focus of our own journey and never reach our full potential. Life is fair if we focus on what is within us and not our environment.
“If life is unfair with everyone, doesn’t that make life fair?”—Thabang Gideon Magaola
When my daughter was approaching her teen years, I did a remake of a Jimmy Dean song and put it on her phone for her ears only. That was many years and phones ago, so I am sure it is now lost in a cloud somewhere. Today is my her birthday and I am out of town. So since I can't be there to sing happy birthday to her, I did the only thing I knew to do. I made a podcast for her! Haha If you have listened to any of my episodes you know that I just speak what is on my heart. Well with my baby girl turning 23 today, this was certainly on my heart so I just poured it out. She will probably think this is a cheesy "Dad move" to post my birthday wishes in a podcast and for me that is just one more reason to do it! Aggravating her is still my favorite thing to do, but I really am so proud to be her Dad! I hesitated to post it publicly, but felt it fits the podcast category of inspirational and I am sure many can relate. Especially if you're a Dad.
This is the second episode that I have done on this subject and I could do many more because fear is one of the greatest motivators for success. Fear also kills more dreams than failure does. When we come face to face with what scares us we can choose to retreat to our safe place or rise up and conquer our ambitions.
Contrary to popular belief fear is not the absence of faith rather fear requires us to step up in our faith and push through. That is the formula for success!
“Do one thing every day that scares you”Eleanor Roosevelt
There are no rules for being a Dad. All we can do is offer our best advice, unconditional love, and LOTS of prayers! In this episode I share a little reminiscing about my Dad and a little perspective from being a Dad.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!
How many times do we hear the phrase "they say"? It is used as a confirmation of facts or to demonstrate a point all the time. However, the "they" in that phrase is no longer a reliable source. When my Grandmother said "they say" to give advice about children she was referring to experienced Mothers or medical professionals. Unfortunately, today the most common source for “they” is social media which is unreliable at best because the root is likely some athlete, celebrity, or politician that are clueless on the subject.
It is important for us to ensure our "they" is a reliable source before repeating it because when we say it we become the "they" for anyone listening.
“I no longer listen to what people say, I just watch what they do. Behavior never lies.”Winston Churchill
It is easy to reflect on our life and see where we are or where we have been. We can do that by simply looking at our shadow as it projects our every move. However, it can never project our next move because that is only in our thoughts. So if we don't like where our shadow sits we can change it, but it has to start in our mind. A poor mind will give a poor life while a positive mind will give a rich life.
"You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you." James Allen
In life people will betray us. The key is not allowing the betrayal to stop us, rather to grow from it and know that God will make everything a blessing if we believe.
“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”― Abraham Lincoln
In this episode I share a true story about a man named Bob. While I only knew Bob for a few years and have not spoken to him in more than 25 years he had one of the biggest impacts in my career. He believed in me when I didn’t and challenged me to always pursue new adventures. I have shared this story with many young people over the year who are not sure what path they want to take.
It is okay to TRY new things. It’s okay to be afraid and you don’t need to have everything figured out. Jump in, mess up, start over or try something else. Embrace the experience and have no regrets!
“It’s better to look back on life and say, “I can’t believe I did that.” than to look back and say: “I wish I did that.” – Unknown
Society defines neighbor as someone living next door just like Facebook defines a friend as someone your connected to. However, just like a friendship is much more than "liking" each other status", being neighborly is more than keeping your dog out of the next door lawn. The fact is a neighbor is not the person residing in the house next to ours, rather our neighbor is whoever is next to us in any moment. This may be a friend, loved one, or stranger.
"When we look for what's best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we're doing what God does, so in appreciating our neighbor, we're participating in something truly sacred."Fred Rogers
While the mask has taken away our ability to share a smile in passing, we can still allow our joy to shine through the windows of our soul. Our eyes light our way and can never be deceiving.
A face can be carved into stone with any facial expression such as a smile, anger, or sadness, but only the eyes can emit our true inner feelings, emotions, and character.
We can fake a smile, but the eyes are not made of one way glass and can never lie.
This is a lesson I learned as a boy trying to keep up with Dad in the woods on a dark night while racoon hunting.
Whether you are leading, teaching, or helping a friend in need you cannot do it by walking in front or behind them. You can only help them to see the path by walking along beside them.
"If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way"Nichiren
There is so much power in our words. We can use them to inspire or to destroy, to lift up or tear down. Words are like a loaded gun. Once we pull the trigger we cannot catch the bullet and put it back into the barrel. So the most important thing we can do is always be aware of the impact our words will have on the person they are aimed at before we pull the trigger.
"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world" Robin Williams
As Christmas approaches, it can be easy to get distracted by all the shopping, the decorating, the baking, and the celebrating. Many even see this as added stress to their already too busy life. We can so quickly forget that the true reason for the celebration in this season is the birth of our Savior, Jesus, which brought peace, joy, hope, and goodwill for us all! This is certainly what we all need right now! The good news is that the Christmas Spirit does not hide. It is right in our hearts, but we have to take the time for it.
May you find everything you want under the tree, but most importantly may you find CHRISTMAS!
"Off to one side sits a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him–and so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.” Max Lucado
Tis the season for merry wishes and I have great news! Wishes can come true! However, it requires action beyond the blowing of a birthday candle or tossing of a coin into a fountain. A wish without action will always only be a wish. If we wish for an apple tree to be in our backyard it will never just appear no matter how many shooting stars we wish upon, but if we plant the seed and nourish it our wish will come true.
So as you think about what you wish for in life, consider what is within your abilities to achieve it. You may just find that you hold the power to make your wishes and the wishes of others come true.
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
No matter how dark our skies get or how difficult the storms sometimes are to weather we can always find reasons to be thankful. Staying thankful for our blessings is so very important for our lives, but it is as important to always give thanks to the Blesser. So this Thanksgiving as we reflect on WHAT we have to be thankful for let's remember to say thank you to WHO gave it to us! Remember no matter how little we have or how hard life can get we can always give our word, a smile, and a grateful heart.
"We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives."John F. Kennedy
HAVE A WONDEFRUL THANKSGIVING!
To succeed in great things, we must push ourselves outside of our comfort zone. However, it is more important to not lose our way back into our comfort zone. When our world seems to go crazy and we are bombarded by outside elements we need to know where to find internal comfort. Life is tough, we will all get knocked to our knees sometimes. It is in those moments that all we can do is seek comfort to sooth our soul. The good news is that we do not have to look far. We will not find it on the internet, social media, or TV. We cannot buy it or trade for it on the stock market. Just like everything essential to our lives we can find it right inside of us when the world around us is silent. We can seek shelter in the arms of others, but nobody can bring peace to us but ourselves. That is our “COMFORT ZONE”.
“You’ll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart”George Michael
When we think about who we are we often think about our what. What we have, what we do for a career, or what we believe in. However, if we want to feel a passion for all we do and know we are contributing to something bigger than ourselves, we need to know our WHY. Once we understand our WHY, we can clearly articulate what makes us feel fulfilled and to better understand what drives us to our natural best. When we can do that, we will have a point of reference for everything we do and we will be able to make more intentional choices for our business, career, and life. When we know the WHY we can work with purpose, on purpose.
“There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why”
William Barclay
Secrets carry great power. The key is knowing when to contain that power and when to free it. Some secrets can destroy if told while others can destroy if not told. Some secrets can be of great benefit if untold while others can be a great benefit if told. All secrets are dark and vanish immediately in light. It is just a matter of knowing when to flip the switch.
“Love never grows when it is kept locked in our hearts. Love will only find its fulfillment when it finds its way out and dwells in the heart of that person destined to keep it”Unknown
Why do bad things happen? Why do good things happen? Bottom line is that things happen that are beyond our control or comprehension. Accepting that things happen is difficult....Accepting that we may never know the reason is faith.
“sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” Marilyn Monroe
We will never manifest our greatness if we settle for a participation ribbon in life. We must always continue to strive for the trophy. Our character is not defined in our success or title, rather it is built from our wins and losses. We should grow stronger in both by always winning with dignity and never accepting a loss as the final result. Winning gives us joy and losing gives us wisdom.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston S. Churchill
In this social media world we live in, it is so easy to feel the grass may be greener for someone else. The fact is that it may be in that moment of their post. Maybe they got a new car, new job, lost some weight, or are celebrating something. However, before you go running out of your gate looking for greener pastures, remember everything is temporary and all grass withers from time to time. Have you ever thought theirs may be a little greener because they have provided more TLC? Nothing great comes without working for it. So instead of being envious of someone else's green lawn, we should try a little water and nurturing in our own. We may be surprised at the beauty we find in our own backyard.
"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough" Oprah Winfrey
There are times in our lives that we must stand. Stand for our beliefs, stand for our rights, or stand for others. The most difficult time to stand is after getting knocked down. We may have no idea what to do next, but it is in that moment that we have two choices: We can choose to stay down or we can stand. This is the true test of our character and to succeed in life we must always stand up and overcome whatever adversity knocked us down.
“I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen” Martin Luther
You will never know the true strength of the person in the mirror until you see them under pressure. Pressure can burst pipes, but it can also bring greatness into the light. Without challenges we can't grow stronger, so push through them and earn your greatness!
When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressurePeter Marshall
We can learn from the footprints that follow us from our first step until our last. We shouldn't keep walking in circles or repeatedly stumbling over the same obstacles. If we take the time to stop and visualize our past footprints we are far better prepared to step into a successful path forward.
"What footprint do you want to be known for? It's the legacy and the journey that you're on. Trust in yourself. Trust in the passion you have inside yourself" Drew Waters
It is more important than ever to be a light in the darkness. Don't absorb the lights of others, rather reflect it and make the world a brighter place.
"As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way." Mary Anne Radmacher
Be confident, but don't be arrogant. Be kind, but don't be a doormat. Humility is the fine line between these. It is as simple as always being grateful for what we have and recognizing that we ALL have equal value. So always treat others as equals and never allow anyone to treat you as less. Stay humble!
"To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness"Benjamin Franklin
We all have the choice of reaching our destiny or dieing a dreamer. The easiest thing to do is not succeed. It takes courage to succeed. Taking the first step into the unknown is the scariest part, but that may just be the first step toward a wonderful destiny.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” ~ Walt Disney
When standing at a crossroad wondering which way to go, the most important thing is that we GO. Each direction has its own risk and rewards and it can be very difficult to decide sometimes, but the only wrong decision is to not move at all.
Listen to your heart because the answer is already in it!
If we believe everything we think, we are fooling ourselves. However, if we understand the amazing impact of our thinking and the thoughts of others we can create great success.
In this world of unreliable and conflicting news media, it is very important that we gather facts and form our own truth.
“It is not disbelief that is dangerous to our society, it is belief” - George Bernard Shaw
What we see is not what we're looking at, rather it’s where we’re looking from. It’s called our perspective and we all have our own individual perspective based on who we are and where we came from.
Perspective is the only thing greater than the facts themselves. With a slight change in our perspective we can greatly change the outcome of anything and have far more success in business and all aspects of our lives.
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.” ― Alphonse Karr
It is in the little things that we find the essence for all our accomplishments in business and in life. We should always celebrate the big things, but appreciate every little moment that got us there. When we look back on our journey it will be the little things that we will be most grateful for.
The little things are THE determining keys between success or failure in business, relationships, or any aspect of our life. So take time for The Little Things!
Every aspect of our lives have seasons. Recognizing these and being aware of our current season will help us understand where we are and what is coming. Sow in the planting season, relax in the resting season, endure in the tough seasons, and be prosperous in the harvest season!
Commitment is staying focused no matter what the circumstances or challenges. Nothing is more important in the world today then staying committed to God, our families, and each other.
"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen field of endeavor"Vince Lombardi
To be truly successful learn how to be HAPPY first and success will be the result of your happiness.
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow" Helen Keller
The four letter word C-A-N-T is one of the most useless words in our vocabulary. It is defined in Webster’s dictionary as "to talk hypocritically". We will never reach our destination if we allow this word to be a road block. However, if we learn to eliminate it we can achieve more that anyone ever thought possible.
Tell me I can't and then watch me work twice as hard to prove you wrong!
The current pandemic has exposed the true colors of many large corporations and people. It's important that we look through the surface of reputation and see the true character of people we trust. Knowing the difference is a key for growing success while staying true to our ethics and morals.
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. Abe Lincoln
Success occurs when opportunity meets preperation. However, opportunity don’t wait for the unprepared. So be ready for opportunity to knock on your door tomorrow by preparing today!
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”.Ben Franklin
Every success in our lives begin in our imagination, dreams, and visions. We are only limited when we do not allow ourselves to use them. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it. – William Arthur Ward
We choose what we drive, but determining what drives us can be difficult. However, pin pointing and understanding those drivers is a critical key for success. Don't be driven in circles or in the wrong direction. Keep your eye on your destination!
The one looking at you in the mirror every morning is the hardest person you will ever motivate. One of the hardest part of doing anything is starting it, but taking that first step is critical to achieve success in all your lifes aspirations.
Without Love we can never find true success or happiness. Love is the key to all we do and who we are.
Some of the best advice Dad ever gave me. We all have a choice in life. We can lounge in the pasture all day, or we can choose to be the Good Horse and experience so much more in life. Always choose to be the good horse!