NEVER GIVE UP IN LIFE

Unlike Carl Lewis and Daley Thompson, Derek Redmond is not a name that conjures up memories of Olympic gold medals. But it is Redmond who defines the essence of the human spirit.

Redmond arrived at the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona determined to win a medal in the 400. The color of the medal was meaningless; he just wanted to win one. Just one.

He had been forced to withdraw from the 400 at the 1988 Games in Seoul, only 10 minutes before the race, because of an Achilles tendon injury. He then underwent five surgeries over the next year. This was the same runner who had shattered the British 400-meter record at age 19. So when the 1992 Games arrived, this was his time, his moment, his stage, to show the world how good he was and who he was.

Derek's father Jim had accompanied him to Barcelona, just as he did for all world competitions. They were as close as a father and son could be. Inseparable, really. The best of friends. When Derek ran, it was as if his father were running right next to him.

THE MOMENT
The day of the race arrives. Father and son reminisce about what it took for Derek to get to this point. They talk about ignoring past heartbreaks, past failures. They agree that if anything bad happens, no matter what it is, Derek has to finish the race, period.

The top four finishers in each of the two semifinal heats qualify for the Olympic final. As race time approaches for the semifinal 400 heat, Jim heads up to his seat at the top of Olympic Stadium, not far from where the Olympic torch was lit just a few days earlier. He is wearing a T-shirt that reads, "Have you hugged your foot today?"

With the help of his father, an injured Derek Redmond completed his race in the 1992 Olympics.

The stadium is packed with 65,000 fans, bracing themselves for one of sport's greatest and most exciting spectacles. The race begins and Redmond breaks from the pack and quickly seizes the lead. "Keep it up, keep it up," Jim says to himself.

Down the backstretch, only 175 meters away from finishing, Redmond is a shoo-in to make the finals. Suddenly, he hears a pop. In his right hamstring. He pulls up lame, as if he had been shot.

"Oh, no," Jim says to himself. His face pales. His leg quivering, Redmond begins hopping on one leg, then slows down and falls to the track. As he lays on the track, clutching his right hamstring, a medical personnel unit runs toward him. At the same time, Jim Redmond, seeing his son in trouble, races down from the top row of the stands, sidestepping people, bumping into others. He has no credential to be on the track, but all he thinks about is getting to his son, to help him up. "I wasn't going to be stopped by anyone," he later tells the media.

On the track, Redmond realizes his dream of an Olympic medal is gone. Tears run down his face. "All I could think was, 'I'm out of the Olympics -- again,'" he would say.

As the medical crew arrives with a stretcher, Redmond tells them, "No, there's no way I'm getting on that stretcher. I'm going to finish my race."

Then, in a moment that will live forever in the minds of millions, Redmond lifts himself to his feet, ever so slowly, and starts hobbling down the track. The other runners have finished the race, with Steve Lewis of the U.S. winning the contest in 44.50. Suddenly, everyone realizes that Redmond isn't dropping out of the race by hobbling off to the side of the track. No, he is actually continuing on one leg. He's going to attempt to hobble his way to the finish line. All by himself. All in the name of pride and heart.

Slowly, the crowd, in total disbelief, rises and begins to roar. The roar gets louder and louder. Through the searing pain, Redmond hears the cheers, but "I wasn't doing it for the crowd," he would later say. "I was doing it for me. Whether people thought I was an idiot or a hero, I wanted to finish the race. I'm the one who has to live with it."

One painful step at a time, each one a little slower and more painful than the one before, his face twisted with pain and tears, Redmond limps onward, and the crowd, many in tears, cheer him on.

Suddenly, Jim Redmond finally gets to the bottom of the stands, leaps over the railing, avoids a security guard, and runs out to his son, with two security people chasing after him. "That's my son out there," he yells back to security, "and I'm going to help him."

Finally, with Derek refusing to surrender and painfully limping along the track, Jim reaches his son at the final curve, about 120 meters from the finish, and wraps his arm around his waist.

"I'm here, son," Jim says softly, hugging his boy. "We'll finish together." Derek puts his arms around his father's shoulders and sobs.

Together, arm in arm, father and son, with 65,000 people cheering, clapping and crying, finish the race, just as they vowed they would. A couple steps from the finish line, and with the crowd in an absolute frenzy, Jim releases the grip he has on his son, so Derek could cross the finish line by himself. Then he throws his arms around Derek again, both crying, along with everyone in the stands and on TV.

"I'm the proudest father alive," he tells the press afterwards, tears in his eyes. "I'm prouder of him than I would have been if he had won the gold medal. It took a lot of guts for him to do what he did.

Set Goals for Your Business

Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network

Goal-setting is crucial to the success of any business, but is particularly important for entrepreneurs who can become distracted without focus. Goals direct actions, give you something to aim for, and can serve as a yardstick for measuring your business' success.
The way you approach goal-setting will determine whether you are able to attain your goals. Most people agree that goals are important, but less than five percent of people write down goals or have action plans for attaining them. Fear is most often the culprit. People don't like to write goals down on paper (a crucial part of goal setting) because they are afraid to commit to them. If this is your problem, try to remember that a goal can be changed at any time after you write it down. Also keep in mind that goal-setting becomes easier the more times you undertake it. When you have set goals and attained them, the power of goal setting will compel you to set more.
If you avoid goal-setting, the tips and hints below should help.

Have short-term and long-term goals

You might want to set weekly goals, quarterly goals, annual goals, and even 3-year or 5-year goals. One way to generate short-term goals is to first consider your long-term goals. Is there a certain Naira amount you want to earn or a number of clients you need to sign up by a certain time? If nothing like that comes to mind immediately, take a few minutes and think about what professional goal you would like to attain. Once you have determined long-term goals, you can work backward. If your goal is to make NGN100,000 this year, you should make a list of what it would entail to make that money. If you encounter difficulty creating your list, ask peers or friends for help. When your list is complete, break those small steps down into goals.

Make your goals specific and measurable with a deadline

"Increase my sales" is a good goal, but it's so vague that it does not provide a means by which you can judge your success. Modify your goals by making them specific. All goals should be specific (Get new clients), measurable (Get three new clients), and have a time frame (Get three new clients by November).

Don't set yourself up for failure

Make sure your goals are attainable. If you aim too high, you're dooming yourself to defeat.

Don't be lazy

On the other hand, some entrepreneurs set goals that are too easily attained. If you tend in this direction, look for ways to challenge yourself. If you usually aim to add one new client every quarter, push yourself to shoot for two or three.

Be relevant

Goals should help you attain a specific aim. Look out for goals that are just going to keep you busy, but are not appropriate to the overall success of your business. If you don't believe your goals are worthwhile, you won't make the necessary effort to achieve them.

Be patient and persistent

It your system of setting goals does not seem to be working because you are not attaining much of what you write down, do not give up. Keep setting goals for several months and you will find that your goal setting skills improve.

Review your goals constantly

Keep your weekly or other short-term goals in plain view -- by your desk, or next to your computer, for example -- so you know what you need to attain. Look at your annual goals monthly to see if you're on track. If your business' focus changes, don't be afraid to alter your goals. Flexibility is a crucial component of goal-setting.

How Do I Come Up With a Winning Business Idea?

Adapted from content excerpted from the American Express® OPEN Small Business Network

Developing large or small business ideas is a matter of creating a vision, leveraging your strengths and determining what the market needs. These three steps should get you started.

• Create a vision
• Determine what you're good at and what you like to do
• Figure out what the market needs

Create a vision
Close your eyes for a few minutes and conjure up a detailed image of what you want your life to look like in 5 years. Be as specific as possible.

• Where do you live?
• How do you spend your days?
• What kind of work do you do?
• Do you work alone or with other people?
• Who are you surrounded by?
• What do you do when you aren't working?

Don't limit yourself to these questions; create a vivid vision of yourself, touching on things that are important to you. These are all personal issues that will impact the type of business you pursue - being a city or country person; wanting to travel or sit at your computer; liking to meet people or work on the phone. This activity will help you create a foundation for choosing from small business ideas, making business decisions, and setting clear goals.
It is best to do this exercise with someone else and share your vision. If you can't, write it down to make your vision more concrete.


Determine what you're good at and what you like to do
It's often useful to look inside yourself to figure out what you like and dislike, and where your talents lie. It's one thing to come up with a winning business idea. It's another to come up with one that fits your skill set and interests you. Your business has to keep you excited so you can thrive over the long haul.
One of the best ways to do this is to make three separate lists:
List 1: What you're good at
Everyone is good at something and many skills can be the foundation for a business. You might be naturally organized or have a knack for fixing things. You may be so used to your skills that they don't immediately come to mind, so assemble this list by observing yourself for a few weeks with an eye out for your aptitudes and by asking people who know you well for their impressions of what you excel at.
List 2: Skills you've acquired over the years
Whether or not you've worked in a conventional environment, you no doubt have accumulated many. Write down all the work responsibilities you've had; think about the varied tasks you know how to complete. Make sure this list is complete -- there should be at least 10 distinct items.
List 3: Things you like to do
List the things you enjoy doing. This may not be as easy as it sounds. This list should be at least 10 items long. Stretch beyond your hobbies and interests that spring to mind immediately. If you're stymied, ask people who have known you for a long time -- particularly people who knew you as a kid -- what they have seen you doing when you're happiest.
Keep these three lists in an accessible place (for instance on your desk) for several weeks, and when small business ideas come to you, jot them down in the proper category. Ask people who know you well for their input or to help you jog your memory.

Figure out what the market needs
So far, you've been looking inward to come up with your business idea. Now its time to look outward to discover an unfilled need that you can meet with your product or service.
There are plenty of "Top 10" or "Hot New" business lists out there. These may stimulate some ideas, but the best business ideas will come from you and will be based on who you are and what the market is looking for. So while you're doing your soul searching and list making, put up your antenna and look out for business opportunities.

FIVE (5) LESSON OF SUCCESS I LEARN FROM MY AQUARIUM

By: Jeff ( Admin & Author, My Super Charged Life Blog)

Want to succeed? Follow the lessons I learned while starting my freshwater aquarium and you will be well on your way to a brighter future.
“The only true wisdom is knowing that you know nothing,” quipped Socrates.
Nothing is exactly what I knew about taking care of an aquarium six months ago.
I had a lot to learn to create an environment where success was possible.  Little did I know that, along the way, my aquarium would highlight some very important life lessons that extend well beyond the fish tank.

5 Important Lessons for Success

In life and aquariums, you must be very intentional to be successful.  You can’t haphazardly throw things together and expect it all to work out.
If you do, you’ll likely wake up one day to a mess.
On the other hand, you’ll never make any progress if you don’t get started.  You may make some mistakes along the way, but that’s how you gain the experience necessary to succeed.
Here are the five lessons my aquarium taught me about success in life:

1.  Patience Rules the Day

The most important thing to understand when starting a new aquarium is the nitrogen cycle.  You can’t go down to the pet store, buy an aquarium and a few fish, go home, fill it with water and expect success.  It just doesn’t work that way.
A successful aquarium start-up takes plenty of patience.  If you get the cart in front of the horse, you (or your fish) will soon regret it.
The same goes for success in life.  You can’t expect too much too soon.  You must practice patience.
There is a natural rhythm and order to achieving success.  I’ve written about the Law of the Harvest before.  You simply can’t ignore the nitrogen cycle in a fish tank and you can’t ignore the Law of the Harvest in life.  Those that take the time to understand this (and abide by it) have a much greater chance of success.

2.  You Must Get Along Well with Others

Not all fish are compatible tank mates.  Some will nip and harass other fish to death – literally.
If you want a successful aquarium, you must find fish that can get along well with others in tight quarters.
In the same way, if you want to be successful in life, you must be able to start and maintain successful relationships at home and at work.

That’s why “works well with others” was on your  Kindergarten report card.  It is something you must learn to do well before anything else will go right for you.

Your success in life is largely dependent on who you surround yourself with.  Make good choices.

3.  A Little Education Goes a Long Way

I have made a lot of mistakes so far with my aquarium (and in life).  But, the one thing I did right was to buy and read a great beginner’s book on freshwater aquariums  before I purchased a single thing. I learned all kinds of important details that helped me get started on the right foot with my tank and so I can sustain my success.
Similarly, I believe a good education will take you a long way toward success in life. However, I don’t think all your education has to come from brick and mortar schools.
Jim Rohn said, “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”  This is so true.  You are responsible for your education.  You choose what you learn and how much you learn.  The resources are available.  It is up to you to dive in.
You can never stop learning.  You are capable of so much more than what you’ve achieved so far in life.  Make an education plan for yourself and get going on what’s next for you.

4.  Experts Are Priceless

Despite my efforts to educate myself on how to successfully operate an aquarium, my tank would be a disaster if it weren’t for “The Fish Lady”.  That’s what she calls herself. She’s an expert.  She has the experience that I lack.
Education is one thing.  Experience is another.  Experts with experience are priceless. They’ve learned the hard way and are usually very willing to share their wisdom with you.
You need an expert to mentor and guide you.  Probably more than one.  Do not ignore this lesson!  It could be a fatal mistake.
Find yourself a few experts to learn from and follow them.  It will make your journey to success so much easier.

5.  Persistence Pays Off

Finally, my latest hobby has reinforced that persistence pays off.
I’ve had some discouraging setbacks with my aquarium.  I’ll admit that I contemplated giving up a couple of times, but in the end I stuck it out and now I have a beautiful tank that I enjoy on a daily basis.
That’s the way it is with success (in anything).  You have to give yourself permission to make some mistakes and to work through them.  You have to be willing to pay the price to move from novice to barely competent to confident and eventually…you’ll be the expert.  Stick it out until you realize your dream.


These five lessons all work together to carry you to success.  They are building blocks that stack one upon another. Use them to construct your future.  One that is full of success, achievement and enjoyment.

MAKING YOUR LIFE COUNT FOR SOMETHING WHORTHWHILE

Many people feel what they do is meaningless.  They go through the motions like robots, but their hearts aren’t really in it.  They don’t see the significance in their lives.  Do you ever feel this way?

It is paramount that we find and commit ourselves to a worthwhile cause as a part of making your life count.  It is only when we feel our lives have a higher purpose that we are truly experiencing all that life has to offer. 

Real joy in life comes from serving a cause that we feel is worthy of our time and energy.  Are you living your calling?

There are many reasons to find and commit yourself to a cause, but here are the five that I will like to share with you.

1.  Serving a great cause makes us feel happy and valuable

That is happiness: to be dissolved into something complete and great.
~ Willa Cather

A part of living life to the fullest is being happy.  A big part of happiness is knowing that your life has meaning and purpose.  It is knowing that you are a valuable person.

When we go to the effort to find and serve a meaningful cause, we are happier.  We get a deep sense of satisfaction that our lives matter.

Our life gets used up anyway.  Why not make it count for something worthwhile?

2.  Investing in a great cause is investing in ourselves

Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.
~ George Elliot

Serving a significant cause makes us into a better person.  There is no way around this. 

Giving yourself to a bigger purpose makes you grow.  It stretches you and helps you to see the real miracles that happen around us every day.  The challenge and fulfillment you experience will enrich you in ways that you can’t even imagine!

This kind of smart living helps us to get our minds off our own little, petty problems for awhile.  It puts things into perspective and causes us to be more grateful for all the blessings in our lives.  It opens our eyes to see the greatness all around us.

3.  Pouring ourselves out for a great cause will lead us to authenticity

Life is a promise; fulfill it.
~ Mother Theresa

We are all endowed with unique gifts and talents.  Discovering your place in a great cause is like finding a huge missing piece of yourself.  You are not complete without it.

The more you unpack your purpose in life, the closer you get to the real you.  All the less than honest parts of yourself tend to dissolve.  They fade away because they are no longer needed.

This is a process that occurs over time, but it can’t really begin until you start to see who you really are.  Following your heart is the first step in this great journey to fulfill the promise you were created to fulfill.

4.  Making your life count will give you a clear purpose in life

The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose
~ Richard Leider

Many of us wander through life aimlessly.  We fail to establish goals.  We bounce around like a pinball from one thing to the next.  As Thoreau points out, we go to the grave with the song still in us.

However, once you identify and pursue a valuable cause, it is like your internal GPS kicks in.  Your vision for the future begins to take shape and you feel emboldened.  There is no longer a lack of clear direction.  Your life has purpose.

This purpose becomes a driving force.  It is the inner energy source that propels you upward and onward tirelessly.  Purpose is refreshing, rejuvenating and exhilarating!

5.  Persevering in making your life count will make the world a better place

Each small task of everyday is part of the total harmony of the universe.
~ St. Theresa of Lisieux

What do you want to be remembered for once you are gone?  What will be your legacy?  What will your children and family recall about you?

I have personally pondered these questions and I believe the answers are an important part of living life to the fullest.  It is important to make a positive mark on this world.

I want to leave this world just a little bit better than I found it for the next generation.  I want to be a part of the solution instead of a part of the problem.  I want to finish my life and know that I used it wisely.  I want to know I pursued smart living.

Find a way to make your life count for something

There are a number of ways to do this, but you have to start somewhere.  Here are some suggestions on how you can begin to make your life count for something.

1. Brainstorm possible causes – Start by examining your heart and asking yourself some questions.  What’s important to you?  What do you value?  What are you passionate about?

Here are some ideas to help you get going:

- Raising your family and children

- Helping the poor here and abroad

- Volunteering to improve your community

- Teaching people an important skill or concept

2. Decide how to get involved – What are your talents and how could you apply them to benefit a cause that you are passionate about?  What can you do?  It could be just about anything.  Are you good with computers, accounting, research, fund-raising, organizing events, construction, vehicle maintenance or writing?  Any of these talents and a million others are needed in all kinds of great causes.  Decide how you can help and then get started!
3. Make your life count – Find an organization or group of people that are already doing things to further the cause that you are passionate about and join them.  Don’t be shy about getting involved.  Assert yourself and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you become one of them!

Make your life count!  Get involved in a worthwhile cause so you can find significance and the real you.  Don’t waste another minute feeling unimportant and aimless!  Your life is too important of a thing to waste!

MOST VALUABLE ACHIEVEMENT

Most of the highest achievers in this world are people you’ve never heard of. Because achievement is much more than amassing fame or material wealth.
Achievement is living fully in a way that is meaningful to you and in line with the values you feel most deeply. Achievement is expressing the unique purpose that is at the center of your being.
Achievement does not require the approval, permission or recognition of anyone else. Achievement is following the desires of your most authentic self, not merely satisfying the shallow impulses of your ego.
The vast majority of achievements that come to life every day are quiet and peaceful and immensely fulfilling. Do not confuse true achievement with meaningless spectacles that make a lot of noise but have no lasting value.
In the smallest moments there is the potential for great achievement. For what true achievement is, is living with purpose and love, with thankfulness and joy.
Remember always that achievement is more than merely constructing great edifices. The most valuable achievement is building a meaningful life that makes a positive contribution.

MAKING LIFE UNIQUE AND WORTHWHILE

Now the key to make life really unique and worthwhile is to share.  Sharing has a certain unique magic of its own.  Here’s what I learned about sharing ideas:

If you share an idea with ten different people, they get to hear it once, and you get to hear it ten times.  So here’s part of self-interest for yourself– getting you even better prepared for the future.  Share ideas.  Share with your family, share with the people around you, share with other employees, share with your colleagues.

When one person shares with another, two things happen.  The audience could be transformed, and so could the speaker.  If you share with someone else, they could be transformed.  You may have dropped in at the right time.  This may be their moment.  They’ve got three numbers dialed into the lock already, and if you say it well and say it right you’ll be the fourth number that they can dial into the lock of their personal experience and the door will come open and there’s opportunity they never saw before.  The person who hears could be transformed.

But here’s what else is exciting.  The person who speaks could be transformed.  Guess what we’re all looking for–transformation for our new life.  The new life tomorrow, the new life this month, the new life next year, the new life this year.

The caterpillar one day says, “I think I was made for more than this crawling on the ground.”  So the caterpillar climbs the tree, attached himself to a leaf and spins the cocoon.  Who knows what disciplined effort it takes to spin a cocoon.  But something inside the caterpillar says, “I was designed for something more than being just a caterpillar.”

And then when the cocoon is ready and it opens up, out comes a butterfly that flies away, maybe singing, “I believe I can fly!  I believe I can touch the sky!  I used to be a caterpillar on the ground, now I fly.”

I’m asking you to go through such a metamorphosis.  I’m asking you often to go through a period where you say, “New skills, new things are waiting for me,” and part of this will come if you’ll translate for other people what you feel in your heart and in your soul.  As awkward as your language might be at first, don’t hesitate to do it.

Here’s what sharing does–it makes room for more.  Key question, if this glass is full of water can it hold any more?  If the glass is full of water, can it hold any more?  And the answer is yes, yes, if you pour some out.  So jot that down.  If you want more, you’ve got to pour out what you’ve got, then you have the opportunity to receive more.

Now, unlike the glass that remains the same size when you pour some out; not so in consciousness human beings.  Your capacity will increase the more you share.  You’ll get bigger and bigger and bigger.

Now why the self-interest wish to be bigger?  Here’s why:  to hold more of the next experience.  Some people can’t hold much happiness because they’re too small, their thinking is too small, their activity is too small, they’re too small in their ability to share, they’re just too small.  Can’t hold much, they’re too small.

But the bigger you get, the more you will receive.  When happiness is poured out, you’ll get more.  When joy is poured out on the nation, you’ll get more.  When bounty is poured out from the economy, you will get more, if you share what you’ve got and become bigger and bigger and bigger.

Now some people are not only small, they have their glass turned upside down.  It’s hard to get anything in.  But if you come to every situation with an open mind, an open consciousness, ready to receive, I promise you will find the people that will share with you, and that will accept what you share with them.

(from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine – http://www.jimrohn.com)

The Value of Sacrifices in a Relationship

When уоu love somеоnе and you have thеіr bеѕt interest аt heart, you mаy bе willing tо sacrifice sоmе оf whаt уоu wаnt іn order tо give уоur loved оnе what thеу want.
It's common fоr spouses tо make sacrifices fоr оne anоther and parents tо sacrifice for thеіr children. It's important tо learn thе vаlue of sacrifices еven though thеy mау nоt be pleasant.
Mаny experts feel thаt thе willingness to set aѕidе onе's оwn desires for the benefit оf anоthеr іs а good thing. It shows true love and commitment whеn уоu can put уоur partner's nееdѕ ahead of уour оwn desires.
Yоur Attitude Tоwаrd Sacrifices
Sоmе women feel theу've made tоо manу sacrifices for thеir partners. They mаy hаvе gіvеn uр thеіr dream to hold а certaіn job оr put off gоіng tо school. At fіrst the sacrifice mаy havе bееn fоr thе partner's benefit, but then came children. Thе sacrifices continued untіl thе dream theу оncе had merеly faded аwаy.
Whаt's wrong wіth this picture? Wаs thе woman the оnly onе whо made sacrifices for thе relationship and thе family? Iѕ ѕhе uѕing hеr choices аs excuses fоr not pursuing dreams when ѕhе соuld've ѕtіll dоnе ѕо?
How you view sacrifice iѕ whаt matters! You сan ѕее thе sacrifices you make аѕ а choice for what reаllу matters, rathеr thаn somethіng that yоu hаve to give uр.
If yоu're committed tо your relationship, іt's poѕѕіblе you wоn't evеn ѕeе уour willingness to give ѕоmеthіng uр for уour partner's benefit aѕ a sacrifice аt аll!
Make Good Choices in Your Sacrifices
Yоu wаnt tо bе sure, hоwеver, thаt уоu make sacrifices for good reasons аnd thаt your partner аlѕo sacrifices fоr уоu. Marriages аnd partnerships аre supposed to bе for the benefit of bоth partners. Thereforе, sacrifices muѕt gо both ways.
It's important thаt yоu nevеr feel like уou're forced to make a sacrifice. It muѕt be somеthing that уоu do willingly, wіth nо regrets.
In addition, yоur sacrifices ѕhоuld nеvеr compromise your morals or personal values. Thеѕе types оf sacrifices will most сertaіnly leave уou wіth regret аnd feelings оf guilt. Unfоrtunаtеlу, thе partner who would ask yоu to compromise уour values may not thе bеѕt partner fоr уou.
Values such аs thеse shоuld nеver be compromised fоr someone еlsе:
* Honesty. If уоu feel yоu'rе bеing asked tо sacrifice honesty tо hеlр a loved оne out, explain whу thiѕ iѕ а sacrifice уоu саnnоt make.
* Loyalty. Loyalty іs part of who you аrе, deep on thе inside, аnd giving that uр would meаn giving uр a part of уоurself. Agreeing to dо sо wоuld оnlу sour thе relationship further dоwn the road.
* Faithfulness. What do yоu dо if yоu find out yоur partner has cheated? If fidelity іѕ a valuе уоu hold dear, it's unlіkеlу thе relationship wіll survive. It's рossiblе, hоwеvеr, tо learn tо forgive, but it maу be morе difficult to learn to trust аgaіn.
Anу relationship уоu enter into іѕ gоіng to require ѕоme give аnd tаkе bу еасh partner. Be wіlling to sacrifice, choose wisely in уоur sacrifices, аnd уour relationship wіll thrive!

Shine your positive light

Does the world around you seem too hectic and frenzied? Then your best response is to be extra calm, peaceful and patient.
Does the world around you seem too greedy and selfish? That’s your opportunity to be extra loving, giving and sincerely compassionate.
Does the world around you seem too confusing and aimless? Then choose to be extra focused and purposeful.
The world outside reflects back to you the energy you give it. If you don’t like what you see, you have every opportunity to change it by changing the way you are.
When you’re a beacon in the darkness, your light will shine for a long, long way. When you’re the difference that makes the difference, your efforts will bring abundant fruit.
If things around you seem to be at their worst, that’s when you can accomplish the most by being your best. Shine your positive light in the face of negativity, and you will change your world.

WE REAP WHAT WE SOW

I welcome you all to a new dawn!

How do you want your harvest to look like this year? Are you setting goals or resolutions you would like to achieve this year? It takes a keen understanding of the Law of the Harvest that states, “We Reap What We Sow”, in order to achieve our goals.

This is the time of year where many of us are dreaming of what we want to accomplish in the next 365 days. 

We desire a better life, but in the process we often fail to recognize and correctly utilize the timeless principles necessary to get us where we want to go.

This is a perfect opportunity to review the Law of the Harvest and how it applies toward achieving our goals, whatever they may be. These aren’t just theories.  They are the time-tested truths that are the keys to achieving your goals.

Illustration of this law

A farmer that desires a bounty of corn has to do many things just right to be able to sink his teeth into a fresh, juicy ear after harvest.  He has to:

• Carefully prepare the soil.
• Plant the seed correctly at the proper time.
• Guard the tender new plants against weeds and pestilence.
• Water faithfully.
• Fertilize in just the right amount.
• And eventually gather his harvest, but not too late or too early.

A good farmer knows that he doesn’t have full control over the process.  He can’t direct the weather or the growth of the corn.  He just does his best to work within the system of nature. He also knows he can’t rush the process.  There is a time for planting, a time for care and growth and a time for harvesting.  Any deviance from the natural cycle will result in a less than stellar result.

Furthermore, the farmer knows he has to plant the right kind of seed to get the crop he wants.  He can’t plant thistle seeds and expect corn to grow.  This is ridiculous.  He knows he will reap exactly what he sows.

This is the Law of the Harvest.  It is a law of nature and from it we can collect a lot of valuable information that will help us achieve our goals in life.

 Ten (10) Lessons From the Law of the Harvest

Correctly applying the Law of the Harvest will mean the difference between success and failure.  It is extremely powerful and applies across the board in life.

Here are some of the most important lessons we can learn about reaping what we sow:

1. We have to know what we want before we begin.

The Law of the Harvest says we have to begin our endeavors knowing exactly what we want in the end.  You have to prepare properly and plant the right seeds to reap the expected harvest. 

Write down your goals plainly and clearly.  Refer to them often to keep you on track.  Be specific about what you hope to accomplish.  The better you define your goals, the more likely you are to achieve them.  Paint a clear picture in your mind of what your life will look like once you reach success.  Focus and reflect on this picture often to achieve it.

2. We have to be adequately prepared before we even start.

Some goals require a good deal of preparation before they are even plausible.  We might have to go to school or complete some training in order to become qualified.  Don’t try to skip this part of the process.  It will almost surely lead to failure.

The farmer can’t just go out and throw seed on unprepared soil.  There is a lot of work that has to be done before he can even put the seeds in the ground.  It is unrealistic to expect success before we prepare adequately.

3.  There is a proper time to sow seeds of change.

Timing is everything.  Farmers spend a lot of energy trying to discern exactly when to plant their crop.  Bad timing often results in disaster.  The climate has to be right for the seeds to take root and to thrive.

Often, we get an idea and then immediately try to implement it without giving any thought to the environment around us.  Taking some time on the front-end to do proper research and evaluate how our ideas might be received can save us a lot of heartache.

4.  There is a right way and a wrong way to sow seed.

Planting is a careful operation that must be done just right for the seed to flourish.  It must be planted deep enough, but not too deep.  There must be proper spacing between seeds and they must be sown in the right kind of soil.  Farmers are very careful to be sure their crop goes in the ground correctly to optimize the results.

In the same way, we have to be careful about how we launch our new ventures.  Our efforts can die if they don’t get off to a good start.  Plan exactly how to start your march toward your goals to maximize your chance of success.  A good start often leads to a good finish.

5.  Many things will come and try to rob us of our harvest.

Negativity, doubt and external forces will be obstacles to our success.  Things seldom go exactly as planned without any opposition.  It is how you deal with these challenges that will determine the outcome of your effort.  Be ready and expect to have to guard your endeavor from these thieves!

Farmers know they’ll have to deal with pests, drought, freezing temperatures and many other hindrances to have a successful harvest.  If they ignore these attacks, then the battle will be lost.  They know that every season presents its own unique set of barriers that must be overcome.  Get ready to defend your sprouts!

6.  It takes a lot of diligent work to realize a good harvest.

Don’t underestimate the task at hand.  Any goal worth setting is going to require a great deal of work to bring it to fruition.  Many people start out strong at first, but fizzle out before they reach the finish line.  Thomas Edison said, “There is no substitute for hard work.”

Farmers know that Mr. Edison was right.  They are up before dawn and don’t come in until after sunset.  They rest after the harvest is in the barn.  We should expect to do the same.

7.  Our effort may require a little outside assistance.

Modern farmers use fertilizer and pesticides to assist their crops in growing to peak maturity.  These aides help to protect the plants during their critical phases of growth and they ultimately increase what is gathered at harvest.

We shouldn’t ignore the need for similar assistance with our goals.  We often fail because we try to go it alone.  Don’t be afraid to talk to others about how they succeeded.  Also, bringing in an expert to help with critical phases of your endeavor can really help.

8.  We can’t force it and achieve the results we want.

There are no shortcuts!  If you’ve made it this far in my list, then you must really want to succeed.  Your enthusiasm makes you vulnerable to trying to speed things up.  Don’t let yourself be sweet-talked into selling out to a shortcut.  If it sounds too good to be true, then it is.  Always use this as a filter to protect you from scams.

Farmers know that there is a season for planting, growing and harvesting.  They are each separate and distinct from one another.  They also know that you can’t rush or force nature.  She is going to work at her natural pace.  This same thing applies to our undertakings as well.  Don’t try to force things to happen out of sequence or before the proper time.

9.  We will reap a bigger harvest than we sow.

If you’ve ever planted a garden, then you know you can expect a much larger harvest than what was sown.  A farmer puts a handful of seeds in the ground and gets back baskets full of corn.  He is patient and attentive to the natural process because he understands this lesson.

We have to believe this too so we can remain committed to our goals.  Again, picture in your mind the best possible outcome from your endeavor.  Yes, it will take a lot of work, but the rewards will be worth it!  Be able to summon up this positive picture in your mind when the going gets tough.  The harvest will be worth the effort!

10.  The harvest comes at the proper time.

The farmer waits.  He knows that even though he can’t see his plants growing beneath the soil that they will soon sprout.  He has realistic expectations for when the harvest will occur.  This helps him from becoming impatient and giving up.  Can you imagine if he walked away too soon?  He’d miss everything!

We too must have proper timelines defined for our goals.  You can’t expect too much, too soon.  If you do, then you’ll become disillusioned.  Set milestones at proper intervals to gauge your progress.  You can always adjust your sights along the way.  This will help ensure you don’t give up before the harvest season has arrived!

There are many helpful lessons we can gather from the Law of the Harvest.  We will be much happier with our results if we apply this valuable wisdom to the accomplishment of our set goals for the year.  

We really do reap what we sow!

 MEET YOU AT THE TOP!!!