Let's end the week on a bright note. You have what it takes to be the person you were meant to be, so smile.

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There comes a time in every one's life when you question the purpose of life.  "Why am I here?" and "What am I supposed to be doing with my life?"  are two of the most commonly asked questions.  I have asked myself these two questions countless times in my life and I wish I could tell you that I always got the answer I wanted, I didn't.  But the great thing about knowing why you are here is that you have a knowing that no matter what you may be going through, in the end it will be as it needs to be and there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Today I want you to focus on all that is good in your life and take a few minutes to appreciate what you have, what you have done, and what you will do in the future.  Sure there may have been times when you have not succeeded the way you had hoped, but look at it this way, at least you tried.  That is far better then never having tried in the first place.  If I had a dollar for every time I have failed in life I would be a very, very wealthy man right now.  As it stands, I am extremely wealthy from the stand point of I know who I am, and more importantly, why I am here.  Wealth is not based on the size of your house or bank account, or how new or expensive the car you drive is.  Wealth, true wealth, is having a knowledge of what you bring to humanity, and in that, you really understand what is important in life and what is not.

As you bring this work week to an end forget about the stuff that may not have gone as hoped for or as planned and instead focus on the possibility of tomorrow.  So what if you have a dink for a boss.  Who cares if all hell broke loose at work and it was a huge mess.  Oh what's that, you need a stiff drink?  Face it, we have all been there and each of us will have to handle these situations as they occur.  My advise is let them roll off you like water off a duck's back and realize that we each need time to be away from it and forget about the garbage of the past week.  Trust me, if you are unable to let it go, then you are just going to bring it back with you on Monday morning, and we all know what type of week you are going to have when you do that, don't we?  I am constantly amazed at the employers who expect you to live work 24/7 and then they wonder why people burn out.  Do yourself a favor and if you have had the week from hell, get home, jump in the shower, and then call a friend or family member and just say "screw it" life is too short to be taken seriously and do something fun.  When it is all said and done you only bring things home with you because you want to. Trust me if you leave it at the office where it belongs, you will be doing something great for yourself not to mention the people you are going to be around.  Come on, face it, no one likes to be around a Debby Downer.

Do you remember the movie "Polyanna"?  This young girl would always try to find the good in everything.  Sure there are times in our lives when we are challenged, but with each challenge comes the opportunity for growth and understanding.  With each lousy situation is an opportunity to learn something.  These lessons are there for a reason and as soon as you can come to grips with this the sooner you can benefit from each lesson.  I have seen situations where I just knew it had calamity written all over it.  I had a choice to make, was I going to let it define me or was I going to take the bull by the horns and overcome it?  It is always better if you define the situation instead of letting the situation define what your are going to feel or go through.  Today is your opportunity to let the world see what you are made of and in doing so gain victory.

I have learned many lessons over the years but one of the most important lessons I have learned is that I have what it takes to succeed, because failure is never an option.  We fail because we give up, and we often give up because we don't think we have what it takes to get through a difficult situation. I am here to tell you that you have exactly what you need and all you need to do is realize who and what you are.  Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, when you have been knocked down for the ninety ninth time, get up and just dare number one hundred to take a stab at you.  It is time to look that monster in the face and dare it to try again.  When you have the guts to call out it's name and stare it down, well you have just about run it out of town, and that is exactly where it needs to be, high tailing it out of there because it has no power over you.

It is time to relax, have some fun and realize that tomorrow is a new day.  A day that will be filled with possibility and opportunity.  Tomorrow brings with it unlimited potential and with that unlimited potential comes unlimited joy.  If you have not felt joy in a while think how good it is going to feel when you get it back in your life.  Throw off the chains that bind you and declare that you will no longer be prisoner to what life says life has to be like.  You control how you will handle tomorrow and if you can get a handle on this then tomorrow will be a great day for you.  Have a great weekend and know that I am pulling for you.  Let me know how things go and I expect good reports from each of you. Smile and know that the best days are yet to come.

If you think its time to leave the nest, you're probably right.

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They say that timing is everything in life.  There may be days when we start something too soon, or when we wish we had done something sooner and realized that we missed an opportunity.  I have been guilty of getting bogged down in worry about the perfect time to do something.  What all that worry ultimately got me was absolutely nothing.  I was no further along my journey of discovery  then I was the day before.  If one bases all things on what others tell you is the perfect time to do something, well then, when it is all said and done who is to blame for either missteps or missed opportunities?

If you believe as I do that there is order in the Universe and that there is not much one can do to change the perfection of that order, then that leads me to believe that when the time is right to do something you will know it.   One of the tenants of my belief structure is that we are here for a reason and the timing of us being here is shear perfection.  I've been guilty of thinking I was born twenty or thirty years to early or too late.  I have learned however that me being here right now is in the perfection of the Creator of the Universe, as is you being here right now.  I need you to understand that there is a reason you were created and there is something that you are here to do.  If you cannot come to this very same conclusion then you are destined to wander around for what might seem like an eternity trying to figure out the purpose of life.  Destiny is not something you have to wish for, destiny is something that you have to believe in.  Once you understand that destiny is inside of you, then the only other thing you have to worry about is whether you will ever start to walk in it.

What is the right time to step out into your destiny?  Is there a right time?  So many people have asked me this question and my answer is always the same and it's pretty simple.  You will know the right time, because the right time will stare you down and look you smack dab in the middle of your face.  Often people miss an opportunity, but even if you go round Robin Hood's barn countless times, the opportunity will always present itself once again.  That's why we call it "Destiny".  You must believe that there is something that you were destined to do, and in that belief you will know the right time to step out in your destiny.  It took me years to get up enough courage to step out into my destiny, and now I am so thankful that I took the first step.  For lots and lots of people it is time to muster up the courage, throw off the negative words of those around you, and take the first step.  It may not come easy and it may come with bumps and bruises, but I assure you it will all be worth it when you take a leap of faith, a leap of faith that all will have to take sooner or later.

I know there is a tendency for some to think that their time has passed and that the opportunity to step out into something new has long since passed them by.  To those who think this, I must boldly tell you that this could not be further from the truth.  Time, believe it or not, is an illusion. It is something that we have incorrectly assigned to many things in this world.  When the time is right to step out into things, then the time will be right.  Age is not a determinant as to when someone walks in their destiny.  Some people may never walk in their destiny until late in life, it doesn't matter the when, what matters is that you do it.  As hard as it may be to believe, there is not a clock ticking and with each passing second or minute you are one second or minute past your prime.  Forget about time and know that things happen in perfect time and in perfect order.  The minute you let man's concept of time into your thinking, then that is the moment that you have brought into the equation something that needn't be there.

I am about to make a statement and if it comes across as harsh, well I guess you are just going to have to deal with that.  If you believe that time has passed you by, then I can almost bet you do not have a clear knowledge of your destiny.  In knowing your destiny,  you will also know that there are no limits on time, because quite frankly, there are no limits to the ways that God orchestrates our lives.  We cannot change the past, we have no real knowledge of the future, so why concern yourself with either?  Walk in the here and now and know that nothing will stop you from picking up your destiny and going with it.  There are open roads ahead for each of us just waiting for discovery and exploration.  There are things that need to be accomplished, and you must be willing to do your part, for you are the only one equipped to do the things you were destined to do.  Destiny is not some whimsical thing that just pops in from time to time.  Destiny is who and what you are, you cannot change it.  But then again, why would you want to?

If you always do what you always did, then you'll always get what you always got!

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I didn't have plans to write today, as I try to get a blog out on Monday, then Wednesday, and finally on Friday.  That all changed when I was hit with a thought and try as I might I could not get it out of my head, and I have learned to follow the intuition that I have been blessed with, so here it goes and my God have mercy on my soul.

It's not often, as of late that is, that I take to political commentary, but in light of what I am seeing, I thought it time to get on my soapbox and let the world know my views.  First off let me say that I am not a member of any political party.  As a matter of fact as I get a little older and find myself questioning various things that are happening in my own state as well as the nation, I am beginning to wonder what government has become and what is its real purpose.  Now there are many who will wonder what has this rant got to do with "Destiny" and I think you will see the method to my madness when it is all done.

First and foremost, I am so tired of the Power Brokers in Washington whose only purpose for being there, in my opinion, is to find of way of staying there.  You have two political parties and I can't tell you the last time I even remotely thought they were working together for something that really meant anything.  If one party says its hot outside the other will claim its cold.  You have one side saying we need to do this and on the other side of the isle it is nothing more then telling everyone else why it won't work.  Now I understand there will always be differences, but if I have to work out differences with others in order to get things done, why can't those in office find a way of doing the same thing.  We have gotten to the point where instead of the people running government we have allowed government to run the people.  I support our President, not because I agree with everything he does, but because he is our President.  You would have to be a total idiot to wish failure because that only hurts our nation, a point that has been lost on many people in Washington.  Now I did not vote for President Obama, but that doesn't mean I don"t want him to succeed.  There have been a lot of people who hold office that I never voted for, but I still want them to do what is best for the country.

I believe it is time to limit the time one can serve in Washington.  I hear people say that we need to have continuity, meaning their experience is something we can't afford to loose.  Oh is that what you call it "experience".  I call it cronyism, and quite frankly I am tired of it.  "If you wash my back, I'll wash yours."  "If you support this, I will support that."  You could throw the entire lot of them out on their collective butts, bring in a whole new crew, and we could do no worse then we are doing right now.

We have people hurting in our states and all around this nation, and I have yet to figure out why our government is unable to put their minds together to get something done that will put our great nation back on track.  Now once again I have no affiliation with any party, and quite frankly don't have any intention of having an affiliation in the future.  What I do have is disdain for those in power because in my humble opinion that is all they care about is their "power".  I know that I am not the only one who thinks this way, yet I am amazed that we continue to get the same results every election cycle because we continue to put these morons back in office.  I don't personally dislike them as people, I can't tolerate them as "leaders" and I use that term loosely, because they are not leading, but I don't dislike or hate them.  I almost kind of pity them because they have so sold themselves out that I don't think they have a way out of the mess they have put us in.

So why write this blog today?  Maybe it's to give us a sense of hope, maybe it's to make people realize that we can do better, and maybe it's time that we take steps to make sure that better happens sooner than later.  I believe there are people who are destined to lead.  They may not know it yet, but that doesn't change the fact that at some point they will be leaders.  A leader should be one who looks at others and says what can I do to help them achieve a position in life that was destined to be.  People don't need handouts, what they need is an opportunity to become what they were destined to be.  Let's get government out of the way and turn things around.  If every single person was walking in their True Destiny I dare say we would not have the problems we are having right now.  I know that may seem like a bold statement but think about it.  When one is walking in their destiny I would bet that ego would never get in the way and lets face it, ego has a lot to do with the mess we are in right now as a country.

It is time to change things, and it is time to take things back that were never intended to be taken from us.  Join me in this battle and lets see if we can't make things right, and in making things right, making them a whole lot better for everyone.

The haves and have nots; which road will you choose?

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When people talk about the haves and have nots most think about money and position, as it relates to our position in society.  I guess it won't come as any big surprise to most who have read my blog in the past that I take a different view of this.  I believe there are two distinct groups of people, the ones who have discovered their destiny and are beginning to walk in it, and those who haven't the foggiest notion of what they are supposed to be doing with their life.  There is nothing worse then feeling like life has passed you by and you are just passing time waiting to move on to your next state of being.  I have been there and I will tell you it is like being in a prison with absolutely no chance of parole.  Well, today begins a new day, with a new perspective and outlook, and if you are wise you will jump on the bandwagon that I call "True Destiny" and begin a journey with me that will change your life forever.

There are so many people who live in the past and because of this they have almost zero chance of ever moving into the future, their future, their destiny.  I will be the first to admit that life will bring challenges from time to time, but these challenges are nothing more than smokescreens trying to get you off course, in the hopes that you never discover who and what you are.  When I speak of destiny I am talking about that one thing that you were destined to do, and this destiny is nothing that you can change. Sure you can decide not to accept it, not something I recommend you do, but change it, not so much.  You have been placed here to accomplish something, and that something is what you have to discover.  Let me make this statement and I hope with everything in me that you hear what I am about to say.  Your destiny is not measured against anyone Else's destiny.  If you were created to be the best parent on the face of the earth then that is just as important as being the head of some multi-national corporation.  We need to get away from basing what we do against what others have done or are doing.

If you feel trapped in a career or job that brings you no satisfaction whatsoever, then I will tell you that you are not walking in your destiny. Certainly you may be rewarded with a good salary and benefits, but at what point will you decide that it's not worth it?  You can have it all in the eyes of society and in reality have nothing at all simply because you are not in the right place, your right place.  I have had more jobs over the last five or six years and I will tell you that none of them provided me with the satisfaction that I currently am experiencing by doing what I was destined to do.  You can try to sit around and fake it, but after a bit of time it will drive you crazy.  Face it, you know already if you are doing what you were intended to do.  What many people need is a kick in the pants and told to move on and experience life the way life was supposed to be.  Think about what truly would make you happy and go after it.  Don't worry what others think, after all they undoubtedly are having the same feelings as you, but they have not displayed the courage to step out into those things that they know they should be doing.

I want you to answer this very simple question, and I want you to be completely honest:  if you could be doing anything right now, what would it be?  Don't worry about training, money, or even experience, think about what would truly make you happy.  Now that you have thought about it, can you say to me that you are doing it right now?  If you are, congratulations, you are in a very small group of people who are truly happy and content with what they are doing.  If on the other hand your response is "No" then I suggest you spend a few moments thinking about it and asking yourself why not.  Most of the time the why not is because some dunderhead has told you in the past what a ridiculous notion it was or that there would be no way for you to make a living doing it.  Unfortunately you have bought into this load of hogwash and because of that have not stepped out into the things that would make you happy.  Face it your happiness is your happiness without regard to what others may think or say.  Who cares if Uncle Joe or Aunt Betty agree with you or not.   Who gives a rat's ass if what you are doing makes sense to anyone else.  They are not living your life, you are.

Challenges come and challenges go.  Spring will follow winter, and summer before fall.  You can never change these things, and you can never change the destiny that was placed in you the moment you were created.  Maybe it's time to discover what that destiny is and begin to walk in it.  You deserve to be happy just like many others are happy.  You are no different than them, no less deserving, no less righteous.  If they can walk in their destiny then so can you.  The simple question is, will you make the decision to accept your destiny or forever walk around wondering how life could be?  If you want to talk about it, get a hold of me.  I am just an email away or a phone call.  My destiny as I have said before is helping you discover your destiny.  Let's change the world and change it in a big way.

To error is human, to forgive, well that just isn't everyone's policy, now is it?

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Forgiveness, it's a hard concept sometimes, but one that needs to be conquered or down the road things will come up that will send you into a tailspin and there will be very little you can do about it.  When we think of forgiveness we often conger up thoughts of someone having done something to us and now we have to decide what to do.  Do you let it slide and move on?  Do you attempt to take your pound of flesh as retribution?  Do you bury your anger deep inside only to have it come out in the future at the most inopportune time?  Each of these scenarios play out daily in our lives, but the questions that must be asked are: who are you angry at and more importantly why are you angry?

I have a belief that it is sometimes easier to forgive someone else verses forgiving ourselves.  We have all done or said things in the past that we wish we could take back and do over.  I can't think of a single person today that is immune to this, but the thing that amazes me the most is when I see someone who is unable or at times unwilling to forgive themselves for things that may or may not have happened in their life.  We have lots of control over the things we do in our life, but we have very little control over what others may do to us.

It is in this vein that I want to talk to you today and it is my hope that you will walk away with a new lease on life and maybe for the first time lay to rest the unforgiveness you have shown toward yourself.  First and foremost: no one is perfect.  We may be perfect in our design as human beings, since the Creator of the Universe is incapable of making anything that is not perfect.  However, that perfection in our design does not always translate to the perfection that many want in their own life both in actions and deeds, and herein lies the problem.  We need to realize that mistakes will be made, whether intentional or not, and we need to be able to accept this fact. Face it, there are many things that are out of our control.  For example: you have scheduled an outdoor wedding for the summer months and on the day of this wonderful event the rain she comes.  Now you had no idea it would rain when you scheduled this event twelve months ago, but low and behold it is raining and the first thing that comes to mind is how stupid to think it would work out and you must have done something to bring this on.  Yea sure, you have the power to move weather patterns and now since it is raining you have to accept the fact that you failed and brought this on yourself. OK, time to get off your high horse and stop giving yourself credit for something you had zero influence on.

Each of us can share responsibility for things that we can control and do mess up, why add insult to injury by accepting responsibility for things you have zero control over?  Stop being a martyr and realize that things happen for a reason and why cry over spilled milk.  There are so many people in the world today who are playing the victim card.  Now just in case you think me heartless, I know that there are bad things that happen to good people.  Conversely, I also know that there are good things that happen to really bad people, and this gets others to wonder why they never get to see good things on their doorstep and this looser of an individual seems to have the Midas touch.  Let it go people and realize that you can't change what others are destined for.

I walked around for years not able to forgive myself for things that happened years ago.  Why didn't I do this when I had the chance?  Why couldn't I see that before the world came crashing down around me?  Why am I the only one who seems to be going without?  Why? Why? Why?  After a bit we all seem to sound like a broken record, but that's OK, as long as you finally realize that it is time to put an end to this nonsense.  We cannot change what happened yesterday, and we certainly have no idea what is going to transpire tomorrow, so do yourself a favor and live in the "Today".  Unforgiveness for past failures is nothing more than a noose around your neck and sooner or later you will hang yourself with it.  Let it go and move past it.  I'm not saying it is going to be easy, but what is the alternative?

If you truly believe that those things we go through are things that are put in our path to teach us something, whether it be good or bad, then what right do you have to question the perfection of the Creator of the Universe simply because it may not have worked out the way you wanted it to work out?  I have said this before that there is nothing that I would change in my life up to this point because it has taught me so many lessons and without those tough lessons I would not be the person I am today. If you can look at things as learning opportunities then you can never hold them against yourself and therefore there never has to be unforgiveness in your life again.

It is time to forgive yourself for your past and walk into the present.  If you cannot be in the present then you will never have to worry about what is going to come tomorrow, and quite frankly I can't wait for tomorrow to get here because I get to do things again and more often than not the good things I get to do are very very good.

When is enough, enough?

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I think most everyone alive today, and many who have already passed on to another plane, will, or would have told   you that they have been at the end of their rope, and didn't have a clue what to do next.  Some of these situations may have been monumental while others may have been just a bump along the road to life.  No matter what you have faced, or will face in the future, there is one inevitable truth:  those who keep moving forward, will never be stopped in their tracks.  

Situations that we face have a way of bringing to a head those things that we hold most dear.  Often we are not aware of how important things are to us until we are faced with not having them any longer and then there is nothing you would not give to have them back in your life. The question I have for you this day is this:  if things are that important to you, why are you not doing everything in your power to keep them with you?  Now there is no right or wrong answer to this question because each of you will have different observations and ideas of how to handle things when they come up.

For me, my quest to walk in my destiny is not based on the amount of money I can make, or the legacy that I might leave behind when I finally leave these earthly bounds.  My destiny is to help others discover what it is that they were created to be or do, without regard to what is in it for me.  I see so many people who are motivated by what they can get out of something.  Now I am not here to tell you that making lots of money or enjoying great success is a bad thing.  What I want you to ask yourself is why are you doing what you are doing, and what is it that you are hoping to get out of all this activity?  I guess I have come to a point in my life where I am more interested in what I can do for others verses what I can get out of it for myself.  Now not everyone will get to this point, and I dare say that very few people will look at it this way, it doesn't make it right or wrong, it is just how it is.  What do you want to succeed at?  What is important to you?  What are you willing to do to see that you get all out of life what you are hoping for?  If you are unable to answer these questions then you will never have to worry about getting there, because you will never have gotten out of the starting gate.

There is a reason people are given talents and gifts.  What someone does with those gifts and talents is totally dependent on the one who processes them.  If you feel, as many do, that the most important thing in life is building an empire as a monument to your success, then I will tell you that there will never be a time when you have truly walked in your destiny.  Sure you may have a ton of money and prestige, but in the end, will that be enough?  For those whose motivation is to continue to obtain money and stuff, just to have it,  then sadly my guess is that enough will never be enough.  If on the other hand your motivation is to enable others to obtain the peace that can only come when they are walking in their destiny, then I think that enough will be enough and you will find ways to give most of it away.

Over the next few weeks I would like to take you on a journey of discovery.  This journey may not be without its ups and downs, bumps and bruises, but it will be one that will ultimately lead you to a place where you will decide that you never want to leave it again.  This place of peace is knowing that you are on the right path and this path is one that was destined for you from the beginning of time.  Ask yourself this question: are you truly happy with your place in life right now or is there something you want to change?  If you are happy and would change nothing then I encourage you to help others get to this same point.  If on the other hand you know there has to be more to life then what you are experiencing right now, then take this journey with me.  I know what it is like to want more out of life and yet you are not quite sure how to get to this place.  I know what it is like to want something so bad and yet it seems to be just out of your reach.  You now have an advocate and my destiny is to help you become the person you were always destined to be, doing those things that will truly complete you.  It is a great time to take the first step on your journey and together we will unleash the potential that has always been in you and then success will follow you all the days of your life.

When the last trumpet sounds will you still be standing?

I like so many other New England Patriot Fans felt the agony of defeat this past weekend.  It really doesn't matter what kind of spin you put on it, the season is over, and it kind of sucks.  The question I have for each of you today is what goes on in your mind when you come face to face with the possibility of failure?  More importantly, what do you do when you are sitting right in the middle of a situation where you have no idea what to do, let alone how to get out of it? Do you pull out the white flag of surrender, or do you pull yourself up by the bootstraps and show the "never say die" attitude?

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It is so easy to look at someone else's situation and find all the reasons why or how they can get out of their predicament, but when these situations are your own, well that seems to be a horse of a different color.  There is an old saying that says "that which does not kill us makes us stronger".  This is not something I want to hear especially when I am buried in worry or fear over a current situation that has calamity written all over it.  Here in lies the truth:  surrender should never be an option and know that there is always an alternative.  Let's be real, not easy to believe when you are in the middle of a mess, but truth is truth.

I have faced more downturns in my life then I would like to admit but at the end of the day I still know that the sun is going to be out shinning somewhere tomorrow and I'll have another opportunity to take another step toward my destiny.  There have been times when I have questioned my own sanity and wondered why in the world would I want to go through what I have gone through in the hopes that things would turn around for me and I would be able to enjoy life for once.  Hope and faith is all we have at times, but it is hope and faith that will get you through any ordeal, no matter how tough or impossible it may seem.

Each of us are on this planet for a reason, and there is something that you are supposed to do with the time you have.  Was it fate that put you here right now, or do you believe that there is a plan for your life and your task is to figure out what that plan is?  I would have to go with the latter and if that is the case then I would have to believe that what was destined from the beginning is what is going to show up sooner or later.  The key is to have that intestinal fortitude to say "I'm still standing" and "give it your best shot."  I love it when someone will tell me of the things they have come through because it gives me pause to think that if it can work for them then it can work for me.  Ladies and Gentlemen I am here to tell you, that if it can work for me then it will work for you.  Each of us has a strength of purpose, because each of us has a purpose for being here.  You might not know what that purpose is just yet, but that doesn't mean you don't have one.

Surround yourself with people who will speak truth to you and not just blow smoke up your skirt. Certainly there is the possibility that they will tell you something you don't want to hear, but it will be something that you need to hear.  In this journey we call life it is impossible to do everything by yourself, but then again, why would you want to?  When times get tough isn't it nice to know there is someone you can always count on?  If you don't have that someone then maybe it's because you haven't allowed them into your life yet.  Open the door and invite them in and see if the support and love they show to you does not change your life in a mighty and powerful way.

Never give up, never say never, and know that your best days are still to come.  If you need a hand let me know.  I am willing to help anyone who is searching for their destiny, because helping one discover their purpose in life is what I was created to do.  You can't do it alone, and now you have a partner if you want one.  John Wooden once said, "Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give on you."  It is time to take the next step, and when you do, your journey will begin.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

I was thinking about my post today and I wasn't quite sure what inspiration was going to come to me so I took some time to flip through my latest manuscript.  The title to my upcoming book is, The 40 Greatest Lessons of Life, and I want to share with you something, that when you can grasp it, will change your life forever.  Now this may seem like a bold statement, but boldness is something we all need and when you learn the fine art of personal boldness, you will unleash possibilities that you may have long thought lost.

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First and foremost:  Beauty is and will always be in the eye of the beholder.  My question to you this fine day is how do you see yourself when you look in the mirror?  What is reflected back at you when you see yourself?  When I speak of beauty I am not talking about the surface beauty that we have, but rather the inner beauty that will last forever without regard to the normal aging process we all go through nor the seemingly droopy effect that gravity has on our physical bodies.

If you are forever looking for validation from others you are going to find yourself on the loosing end of the battle because people for the most part are more interested in themselves then they are interested in you.  Now I am not saying that there will never be someone in your life that will be there to help you out, speak life to you, and be there to pick you up when you fall down and go "boom".  What I am saying is that you need to be your greatest supporter and in that support you need to know who you are, what you are, and gain an acceptance of the calling on your life.  There is a major point I make in my book and I would be remiss if I didn't bring it to light at this moment.  If you cannot see the inner beauty in you, then it really doesn't matter what is reflected back to you in the mirror.  If you cannot see that you have a purpose and you are equipped to accomplish that purpose it doesn't matter how many supportive words people speak to you.  If you cannot accept that you are special and deserving of the bounty afforded others, then you will never get to partake in the bounty.

It took me years to realize that I had been given a great gift.  I could lay on my bed at night crying out for the answers but until I could accept certain things it didn't matter what others were saying to me.  I know I have a gift for speaking and motivating.  Now this knowledge did not come to me because someone thought I would be good at it, or because I was taught how to do it.  This knowledge came to me because I took the time to dig deep and figure out what I wanted to do, what I was destined to do, and what I equipped to do.  We need to forget what others expect, what others desire, and what others demand, and follow your heart.  You can have all the success in the world, with a corner executive office, nice home, car, and money, and if you are not doing what you were created to do, there will be an emptiness in you that will never be filled.  That emptiness will be multiplied a hundred fold when you look into your own mirror and yet the reflection that comes back to you is unrecognizable.

Being true to self is the only option you have.  If one is going to be true to self then you have to start out by loving who you are, what you are, and why you are the way you are.  Quit trying to be something you are not simply because someone says you should be.  You were put here on this earth for a reason and you have been given the traits you need to get those things accomplished.  Why worry about what others think, when it's you who has been chosen and not someone else?  When you look into your own mirror you should see your own heart and what is in your heart.  You should see the good in you and the good you can do for others.  You should see a reflection that will never change, without regard to the aging process or the results of gravity over the years.  Your true image will never change in the mirror because who you really are will never change.  Your destiny is what you were created for and unless you figure out what it is, the image you see in the mirror will be just that, an image.  Look deep inside and see what I know is in you.  Let the inner beauty dictate the outer beauty, and when you can do that, well let's just say, the reflection in the mirror will be a masterpiece the likes the world has never seen.

Intention: The power to change your life forever! It's not "I think I can," it is knowing you will.

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Oh for those care free days when all I had to worry about was I going to have enough money to put gas in my car so I could go out on a date on Friday.  Albeit, when I was thinking this way gas was only thirty five cents a gallon and I could fill up my 76 Honda for about four bucks.  Things have gotten a little more expensive since then and far more complex, but what was truth back then is still the same truth that will look you in the face and tell you to forget about the bad and focus on the good.

If one can never see good, I will bet you all the money in the world that you will never experience it.  Today I want to give you a tool, that when used correctly, will change everything about you and the challenges you either face or dread.  This tool is simple to understand, yet far too often hard to implement, but that is because for many, the simple things in life will confound the wise.

The Power of Intention is the one thing that you have going for you and it is the single most important thing you may ever learn in your life.  Without the ability to set the intention you will be pulled and tossed around like those little dust balls that stay under your bed and no matter how hard you try to sweep them up they seem to elude the dust pan.  Intention is feeling and knowing that what you desire is yours.  We have a tendency to think that we have to go through so much pain and suffering in the hopes that when we come out from it we will have that period of peace we want and need.  Man's greatest failing is that we have been conditioned to think, since birth mind you, that life will be full of struggles, set-backs, and challenges so get used to it.  To that I say blow it out your pie-hole.  Forget about what man says you have to go through and listen to your heart and follow it.

We often find ourselves in situations that we have put ourselves into.  We have created our own self-fulfilling prophesy.  "Oh I just know today is going to suck." or "I just knew I wouldn't have enough money."  There are a million and one things that we speak, claim, or profess, but no matter what we say we are directing what is going to come about in our lives.  If you can watch what comes out of your mouth and take that fraction of a second to decide if it is worth putting it out there to the universe, you just might see things change for you, and change in a big way.  I will tell you that I have learned these lessons the hard way and given the choice between peace and tranquility or pain and suffering, I think I will choose the peace.  Will you make this shift in thinking over night?  Probably not, face it you have been dealing with negativity all of your life.  However, if you never make an attempt I can assure you that you will be in the same place twenty years from now.

Successful people feel success, speak success, and think success.  Those that fail are the ones who are unable to see any good in things and quite often speak negative about virtually everything in life.  Is it any wonder that the walls seem to collapse on them all the time.  I have written extensively on the Power of Intention, and due to space and time constraints can't to do justice to it now.  Let me suggest that you pick up Dr. Wayne Dyer's book, The Power of Intention, it is a phenomenal book and it will change your life as it has changed mine.  I have learned to hold captive those thoughts that are counter productive to what I want to accomplish or to what I am believing for.  I have caught myself speaking negative and in mid sentence have stopped.  Now I am not perfect and there are times when thoughts and words do come forth that are not positive or enriching.  I do my best, but alas I am human and will screw it up from time to time.  The point is to become aware of what you are thinking and saying.  No one is ever going to be perfect, but at least give it a chance.

I know the Power of Intention and I will tell you that had it now been for this in my life I would not be doing what I am doing now.  If you believe there is a destiny inside of you, and if it is your desire to walk in that destiny, then I suggest you keep the words "I think I can" out of your vocabulary and instead substitute it for "I know I can."  This tiny little shift in your thinking and speaking will open up avenues that you may not have known existed.  The challenge has been issued and now you must make the decision to accept it or continue on a path that will lead to no where.

Life can be a challenge, but why make it more challenging because you have not learned to speak positive messages to yourself and the rest of the world.  Give it a shot, and let me know how it goes.  I am here to talk about it and together we will get you on your way to experiencing your True Destiny.

Behind every storm cloud is a silver lining

I was thinking back on some of the many lessons I have learned over my lifetime, and I have come to the conclusion that there is very little that I would change.  Sure we have a tendency to want to relive parts of our life, but I think that is something that comes natural to most everyone.  I have wondered what life would be like right now had I not done some of the things I have done in the past and what would I be like now if I had the opportunity to have a "Do Over"?  I think back to my early Twenties and wonder where I would be if I had zigged instead of zagged?  If I had studied something else in college or done something different in terms of employment?  When I spread out the canvass of my life I can see why things have happened the way they have happened and I am thankful that I've gotten to this point in my life knowing and experiencing the things that I have gone through.

I have said this many times in the past and I believe it now more than ever before: things happen for a reason and each trial or set-back is a learning experience.  Now there have been times when I have been in the middle of a crisis or mental melt down, but through it all I have come out better for it.  I can't sit here and say that it has been all good times, but even at my darkest moment I had a faith that said that tomorrow would be different and that I would live to fight another day.  I have been at the end of my rope and quite frankly would have done pretty much anything to end it all and be at peace, or at least what my conception of peace was at the moment.  There is one salient truth in this life and that truth is that each of us are here for a reason and much of what you go through in life is to get you to a point where you have an understanding of what that reason is.  I have grown so much over the last few years and even though I would have given everything I owned away to escape some of the pain I have gone through, I can honestly say that it has all been worth it.

No one ever said that life would be simple and anyone who says that they have never encountered a set-back or defeat is not living in truth.  How one handles a set-back or defeat is in large measure going to be predicated on how you see yourself and if you realize that there is a purpose for you being here.  Those who quit at the first sign of conflict or those who simply question the "why" probably have never fully grasped the reason for their being here.  I know this may sound like some mystical mumbo jumbo, but in reality those who know who they are and why they are here are the ones who can see past any smokescreen.

I was out and about the other day running some errands and just enjoying some time to relax and had no real agenda for the day, and don't you know that not having an agenda for a day is sometimes something that we all need.  As I was out and about on my day I took some time to just observe others that were out and about with their day.  I often wonder if these people are dealing with the same struggles that I am going through?  Do they get up in the morning ready to take on the day or do they wish they could stay tucked away in their nice warm bed hoping to escape the drudgery of the day that is certainly waiting for them?  As I said before we all have struggles.  We all have those times when we want to hole up in bed and not come out for fear that our worst expectations will certainly come to pass on this day.  I am just as guilty as anyone when it comes to dealing with less than desired situations and truth be told if I could bury them deep in the ground and never have to deal with them I would.  Alas, that is not living and the sooner you tackle these things head on the sooner you can take that step toward freedom.  We must learn that things do happen to teach us something, and teach us they will.  Well maybe attempt to teach us is a better way of putting it, because there are some out there who will continue to avoid life's lessons at all cost.

Many have heard me say this before, but there are certain things that bear repeating and this is one of those things: you can't avoid the lessons in life that you are destined to learn.  You can run from them, you can hide from them, and you can even ignore them, but at the end of the day, you are still going to have to deal with them.  Looking at those things we face each day should be looked at not as an obstacle that you will never get around or over, but rather as an opportunity to teach you something that you are going to need later on in life.  I don't care how old you are, we will be learning lessons until the day we die, so you might as well accept that fact and get on with it.  Some of these lessons may appear as dark, black, ominous thunderclouds, but behind them is the "Silver Lining" that is just waiting for you to discover it.  Lessons learned are lessons that you would do well to hold on to and reflect upon.  Sure some of them come with associated pain and suffering, but the pain and suffering one might go through to learn the lesson is nothing compared to the pain and suffering you will go through if you refuse to learn from these lessons and then find yourself having to go through the same old thing time and time again.

I have lived the "Should have", "Could have", and "Would have" syndrome, and each time I come to the same conclusion, better to have lived it once, then go through it time and time again.  Take the challenges as they come, and work through them.  Look at life as one big lesson and know that from this lesson you will be on your way to being the person you were destined to be.  If you are always thinking that the glass is half empty, then you will always be looking for a silver lining, that in reality you really don't believe in.  If on the other hand the glass is always half full, well then you will have given yourself the upper hand in pretty much anything that life might throw at you and when it is all said and done, you will have learned a very valuable lesson.

Life's lessons, as painful as they might be from time to time, have always been, and will always be, designed to equip you with all you need to be the person you were designed to be.  Don't run from these lessons, rather embrace them and realize that goodness can come from bad situations.  Today is a day to learn, and in this you will be equipped to become the person that the rest of the world needs.

Some days you're the windshield, and some days you're the bug!

Ever have one of those days when things just seemed out of whack?  I want to start out today by saying that I am going to get up on my soapbox, and to some you may get irritated, but others may see this as a breath of fresh air, and if you do, then feel free to pass on my sentiments to anyone you come in contact with today.  I am in the midst of trying to get a new job, times being what they are that is no easy task.  As I have tried to navigate through the countless job sites and job postings, I have come to the conclusion that things suck right about now.  I don't mean things suck because I have yet to find the perfect job, things suck right now because companies have lost touch with what is really important and what is not.

I know that in Corporate America, and when I say corporate I mean the workplace in general, many companies have focused on the bottom line, that being profits.  Now I am a Capitalist, and I believe that capitalism is the only system that will ultimately outlast every other system out there.  I do however think that we have taken this to the extreme, and we have done it without regard to how we treat or see those who work along side of us each day.  I wrote a book not long ago called, The Rebirth of the American Workplace, in this work I tried to spell out many of the mistakes that businesses in general are making, and regrettably continue to make.  I am not here to beat up on every business out there, but that being said, I am tired of what I see and it is time to spell out some of the crap that workers are having to contend with.

Let me say that my belief says that inside each person is a destiny, whether they ever discover it is another issue, but inside each of us is something that we were destined to accomplish in this life.  I see countless people who go through their day hating life, hating their job, and otherwise being miserable.  The question I have for those people is why?  When will enough be enough and when will you finally come to the realization that life is far to short to allow others to dictate what you should have, what you should do and how you should do it?  How great would each day be if when you get up in the morning you say to yourself how blessed you are to be doing the one thing that brings joy to you beyond measure?  How great would it be if when you got up in the morning all you could think about is all the lives you will touch with your infectious smile and joy?  How great would it be if you could find a way to help others get to the very place you are in and you would not trade this place for all the riches in the world?  This is a place that is achievable, and this is the very place we should each strive to get to.  Herein lies the problem:  most companies don't have a clue as to the importance of this, nor do they much care if anyone ever gets there.  Sure there are companies out there who will give you lip service and tell you that there is a fine line when it comes to family/work balance, but when it is all said and done it is nothing more than just that, "Lip Service".  I'm here to tell you that things need to change, or there will be a day when it all comes toppling down and we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

I have had numerous job interviews over the last few years and I am saddened to say that there has not been a single one of them that ever asked me the really important question, that being, "What can we do for you?"  The interview has always, and regrettably will probably never change, been about only what you can do for a company.  Now I am not saying that this is not important, after all they will be paying you for what you do, but work is a two-way street although many companies have forgotten this very important fact.  Just once I would like a company to ask me what is important to me and what do I need to get out of this job.  How can one ever make a good decision about accepting a job if they do not have an idea of what is in it for them besides the weekly pay check.  Truth be told we all have to work to make money, but money is not the only thing that is important and the sooner you realize this the sooner you may stand up and demand what you need.

Now I know there will be those who think that I have gone off the deep end thinking that a company is there to service me instead of me working my tail off so that the profit sheet can show the share holders what they expect to see.  Let me fill you in on a little secret: if you are not interviewing the company at the same time they are interviewing you then you are setting yourself up for the same results you have had for other employers you have worked for in the past.  It is time to stop the madness and finally take what is your just reward.  We have so been conditioned to accept the status- quo that we have forgotten how to fight for what is rightly ours.

During my most recent job search I have had to take some time to determine what I want, what I am willing to accept, and most importantly why am I beating myself up over companies who don't give a damn whether I get the job or not.  They have a position to fill and once that is done they have done their part for God and Country.  When is the last time you felt that a company really cared about what made you tick?  I mean when was the last time someone in management ever sat you down and asked what the company could do for you to make things better or to help you achieve a dream you had?  Sadly to say this does not happen that often and if it were to happen they could knock you over with a feather you would be so shocked.

In the workplace today we have abdicated our rightful place of expecting to be treated fairly and with respect, because god forbid you should rock the boat and upset management's apple cart.  We have decided what we will put up with because we have to earn a pay check to pay the rent, the mortgage, or the tuition bill.  We have accepted being sat on, spoken rudely to, and otherwise made to feel like we were the ones at fault for the lousy work environment we are in.  I look forward to the day when I start my own company and as the head of this company put the focus on what I can do for each person that works with me.  If you want to recession proof any company then start by taking care of those who you expect to take care of you.  Have you ever wondered why so many people are leaving the mainstream workplace to go out on their own?  They are tired of being kicked about and never receiving their just reward.  If you think that paying them a weekly pay check is doing them a favor then you have no right owning or running a business.  I know that may sound mean spirited, but lets face it, we owe our livelihood to those who work and sweat each day in our companies and the sooner you realize this the sooner you may make some much needed changes.

My mission in life is to teach others that life is more than just a nine to five job, five days a week.  When is the last time you could say to yourself that you were working to live and that you are not just living to work?  I know people who will get up on a Monday morning already wishing that it was Friday.  You have to know that the week is going to bite when you begin it this way.  Ladies and Gentlemen it is time to break out of the way we have always operated and begin to realize that you have a right to happiness, not only in what you do, but how you do it.  It is time to come to the conclusion that what has always been doesn't have to stay that way.  If you are sick and tired of being on the other end of the "what have you done for me today" mentality, then might I suggest you think long and hard on what will make you happy and go after it.  At the end of the day, you are the only one who can make the choice.  Do you stay in a place that only provides you a means of survival, or do you decide that life is more important and that your own dreams are more important?  To many this may be a day to break free from the rat race we call "expectations" and move forward in those things that you know you should be doing but as of yet have not stepped out into them.

If this resonates with you let me know, and if you need help to make the shift, well then get ahold of me and lets chat.  No one deserves to be held captive by the ignorant mentality that many companies display today.  My desire is that everyone find their destiny and begin to walk in it.  Until the next time, keep your chin up and know that greatness begins with acceptance, and that is accepting the greatness that resides in each of us.

You have not because you ask not. You ask not because you don't believe!

To say that time flies by quicker than poop through a goose is an understatement.  After taking a break for sometime, it is now time again to get on the bandwagon and start doing what I do best, and that is provide others with a sense that all things are possible, and if you are going to make it, you need to see yourself making it.  I have taken the last two years to write more, having just finished my sixth manuscript.  Throughout the writing process I have come to the startling conclusion that the vast majority of people out there are working to survive, and they are not doing what they do because they love it.

I have come to realize that life is far too short to be taken for granted, and even more important, life is far to important, as each will find out at some time, to let things go and never figure out what will make you truly happy and fulfilled.  It is for this reason that I have resurrected True Destiny, and now with what time I have left, dedicate myself to getting out the message that if its worth having, it's worth working for, and if you are going to work, well you might as well enjoy the daylights out of it.

I have been round Robin Hood's barn more times then I would like to admit over the last two years.  I have learned some valuable lessons and I hope that what I have gone through over the last 24 months will be something that you can learn from, and in doing so, escape some of the pitfalls that I have found myself in.

I have a very dear friend who has become a mentor of sorts.  She has a wealth of knowledge and I have found myself leaning on her abilities because I don't have all the answers. I will say that coming to a place where you realize that you cannot do it all alone is a humbling place to be, but it is a place that each of us will have to get to someday, if for no other reason than to protect your own sanity.  I have come to understand that each of us has something to offer humanity.  The question that arises is what are you going to do with that one thing that you are supposed to do?  Many people will go to their graves never attempting anything at all, this is in large measure because they fear failure, and that fear keeps them frozen from accomplishing anything.  Others will have tried in the past, and some will fail, and because of one tiny setback, they will place their dreams in a drawer and never look at them again. We need to pick up our dreams again, and in doing so place yourself on a path that will lead each of us to our own promised land.

I have failed in the past, and there is no doubt that failure will want to raise its ugly head again in the future, but the one thing I will not do is quit.  It is time to set the intention, decide what you want and then go after it will all that you have inside of you.  The simple fact is this:  we do not ask for things because we doubt that "things" are for us.  To echo the title, we have not because we ask not, and we ask not because we simply do not believe.  Well my friends, its time to stop the madness and make the determination that what you want is just as important as what others want, and if you are ever going to be truly happy, you need to find those one or two things that will bring happiness into your life and go after it as if there were no tomorrows.

We all know it's a new year.  The past is past, and the future is truly what you make of it.  Simply because the previous year may not have ended the way you wanted or thought it would, is not reason to simply write-off the next year.  Everything we go through ultimately teaches us something. Many times those lessons were difficult and others were just what we needed.  Truth be told every lesson we learn in life is needed whether we want to acknowledge it or not.  As we enter into this new period why not take a look at what you know to be true and discard the rest.  Your dreams, your desire, your destiny, is all that you need and the sooner you are able to accept this, the sooner you can step out into your "True Destiny".  I encourage each of you to take some time and think on those things that will truly bring happiness into your life and go after them.

If what I bring to you this year, and every year here after, is a knowing that you can achieve all you hope to achieve, then I will have done what I was designed to do in this life.  My goal is to leave this planet knowing that I have brought something to humanity that humanity needed.  I need your help, and you may need mine, but the bottom line is that we need each other.  Yes my dear friend, it is time to step out and accomplish those things that may have been buried for years, but it doesn't mean it's too late to step out into them.  Do yourself, and those around a favor, and set aside past failures, past hurts, and past fears, and do the one thing that you have dreamt about doing all your life.  What you do today will affect others down the road in ways you can't even imagine right now.

I leave you with my favorite quote of all time.  It comes from John Wooden:  "You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."  Step out and do for others and see if the world doesn't open up to you, and then your dreams will be right in front of you.

Until we meet again remember, there is a destiny in each of us.  We each have a "True Destiny" and now it is time for you to discover yours.