Invitation For Greatness

I have been told many things are impossible.  I have been told not to take risks.  I have been told to follow the rules. 

I want to challenge the impossible and to discover if there are limits.

I want to take risks, so if I fail, I will know the bitter from the sweet.

I want to protest the rules, because progress never came from following them.

As human beings we ALL have a divine responsibility to use and develop our talents.

Some talents may seem more glamorous than others, but believe me when I say that all talents have a purpose.

One talent from a single individual will only get us one space further; we need the cumulative effort from everyone in order to make a real difference.

The future would be so intensely bright if everyone understood this concept that no one would ever need to doubt or be afraid of tomorrow.

Remember…

Failure is not an excuse to quit.

Happiness is a state of mind.

Dedication is the best metal exercise.

Motivation is a paced marathon.

Difficulty is an invitation for greatness.

5 Reasons why mowing your lawn is good for you

1.       Perfect time to ponder: If you have ever mowed a lawn, you sometimes find yourself day dreaming or in deep thought.  This is a good thing.  Your mind is like a big muscle and its needs to be exercised in order to function at its highest level.  I bet many good ideas have come from ordinary men just mowing their lawn.

2.       Let you creative side loose and mow however you want (figure 8’s or circles): A lot of us think of mowing the lawn as a chore.  Well, why not make it interesting?  Next time you mow the lawn try something new like figure eights, or if you really want to get crazy you should write your name.  Heck, why not?  You will find your creative side starts to take a hold of your brain.  When that happens your riding lawn mower might transform into a 200 MPH NASCAR.

3.       Could teach you to be a perfectionist: I guess if you’re already a perfectionist this already applies to you, but if you’re not and you want to be this is perfect for you.  Your lawn has a lot of imperfection, so this should be interesting.  Image an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.   

4.       Being outside can inspire you in many different ways: It could maybe inspire you to create the first fresh cut grass perfume, or maybe you could start a lawn cutting business that makes custom designs in people’s yards.  Your lawn could be a metaphor of your life, when your life starts to look out of control, it probably is.

5.       It teaches you Gratitude: I have seen people cut their grass with machetes, so the next time you’re on your riding lawn mower and your mad because you doing a chore just remember at least you have a lawn mower…and a yard.

How to think of good ideas

How do you think of good ideas? Well its simple really, think of something that is missing from the everyday equation.  Your idea could really be worth a million bucks but how do you transform the tingling neurotransmitters in your brain and actually start to construct something successful?

 First, a good idea can always be better.  For example, if your idea is a boat, make sure you know where everything is and how it works.  Once you understand how to drive and steer the boat grab your scuba gear and go exploring.  There could be a whole new industry just waiting to be discovered.  You should understand the core of your market but you can always find new ways to innovate and ways change the status quo. 

Be inspired by nature.  Go outside and enjoy Mother Nature.  She has plenty of ways to help you cultivate good ideas.  Whether you’re hiking in the forest, walking in the desert or swimming in the ocean, nature has colors and shapes that can’t be replicated or found in our daily life.  Those types of things get your brain juices flowing and can give us the extra boost we need to get to the next level.

Have an open mind.  Most people have a stressful life, unfortunately that’s just the way life operates.  The good part about stress is that it stretches your mind and makes you think.  Once you learn to eat stress for breakfast and open your mind completely to let everything in, your brain can work at connecting the dots of ideas instead of being tainted by your brains stress level.  A happy brain is a happening brain.

Quantity over quality.  It’s good practice to think of as many ideas and variations as possible.  Having too many options will never hurt you.  Even if some of your ideas are far-fetched, just remember someone has to be the dreamer, which leads me to the importance of dreams.

Dreams come true.  If I were you I would keep a note pad next to my bed just in case my subconscious wanted to send me message.  I understand that some messages can come as dinosaurs, or endless falling, but some good ones can get through.  Remember quantity over quality.  I would place all these ideas in to an ideas folder and if you ever need any inspiration you can always look through your folder.

Conclusion: Ideas can come from anywhere; the trick is to be ready to receive them.  If you only learn one thing from this article it should be to clear all the clutter from your mind so that you can be inspired.

Future Frame of Mind

How often do you think about the future?  I don’t mean future a week away, I mean years.  I guess that would depend on how excited you are about that future, or maybe if you feel you have a bright future you are more likely to contemplate it.  The future is important.  The future holds endless hope, discovery and wonder.  It can drive a person crazy or it can drive them to the top.  Everyone wonders what the future is going to be like, and everyone hopes it’s better than the past.  One thing holds true about the future, we (in the present) will make the future great, or we will not. It is up to us to maintain the view of endless ambition. 

In recent post I have referred myself as a dreamer and opportunist; I say that only because I will work every day at making this world a better place.  If I don’t try, who will?  Can one person make the difference and change the world?  Honestly, you will never know unless you try.  Not knowing the future is our biggest adventure.  

This is the challenge to whoever reads this post (however few it may be); I want you to promote dreams, empower people, think beyond, and push further then your limits. Please don’t let up till you have completed your work, accomplished your goals and represented success in all its forms.  If we are going to make the best possible future, it’s going to starts with you.

Becoming Your Best

For the past 7 years I have been actively looking for the perfect recipe for success.  I’m not talking about success measured in dollars and cents, but in growth, progression and creativity.  In the process of looking for the right ingredients, I came across someone who was taking a class about meditation.  He told me that he was trying to put his mind, body and spirit in sync.  Even though I have heard this before, this time it really hit me.  I previously thought that the mind was the source of humanity’s power. What I have seen is that this is not entirely true.  At different times in my life I have focused on strengthening just one of those traits at a time.  When I served a full time mission in Mexico, I learned to be in tune with my spiritual side.  When I got home I participated in college sports (track and field).  I focused on my body and was by far in the best physical shape of my life.    I was then on my last year of my International Business Degree and I had to focus a lot on using my mind to pass my classes.  I had to be new and innovative; I used strategy as my ally and took all my assignments as serious as if it was my business.  I felt as if my mind was released from a lifetime of mediocrity.   I had 2 years to focus purely on my spiritual side, 3 years to focus purely on the physical side, and another 2 years to liberate my mind.  What I didn't know was that I needed to fuse these 3 aspects of my life in order to balance and increase my own growth.  I would not be allowed to be my very best until this union was completed. 

Let the Ideas Flow

I would like to consider myself a dreamer, opportunist, and entrepreneur.  I tend to have a lot of energy and I am very optimistic about the future.   I have listed 4 ways to help people who are having a tough time coming up with new and innovative ideas(this is the condensed version).

First, fully and deeply understand that nothing is impossible.  Napoleon Hill says it best “Who told you it couldn't be done, and what great achievements has he performed that qualified him to set up limitations for you?”  

Second, think as if you had unlimited resources (money, talent, etc…).  If money was not an issue, what would you try and accomplish?  When you have your idea and vision start working on it piece by piece not as a whole.

Third, instead of thinking outside the box, try creating your own.  Let people try and think outside your box.  

 Last of all, talk to someone (try someone with an optimistic view).  Share your ideas, hopes and dreams with people.  Inject others with the possibilities and opportunities that life gives.  The more people carrying around a mind for endless hope for the future, the better it will be.