Monday, April 29, 2013

Spring into Action!

Last weekend I had the amazing opportunity to be a speaker at the “Living By Design” Spring Social that was hosted by a really positive organization called EBG (Empowering Brilliant Generations). The theme and title of my speech was “Spring in to Action” so this morning I want to share that message with you…

I started off my presentation with a brand new copy of my book, “Monday Morning Motivation” in my hand. I then said, “This is free and it has some money in it. Come and get it.”  Only two people made a move. I gave it to the young lady who made it to me first and I asked her to open it up and tell us what was inside. She shared that there was a crisp $20 bill inside as well as an inscription that read, “When you believe you most certainly receive. ;)”  I then gauged the audience to see who thought that I was just joking, or that it was a trick, or that there really wasn’t any money in the book. Several people raised their hands.

How often do we miss opportunities because we do not believe?

How often do we miss opportunities because we fail to spring into action?

A year and a half ago I got into real estate investing because a friend told me that houses were selling in Detroit for $500. He didn’t have to tell me twice. As I saved money and prepared to make my investments I studied real estate, attended events and talked with people about my plan.Several people said that all of the houses would be crap. Many people did not believe. Others believed but did not take action. A little over a year later, I acquired eight properties with sixteen units among them, fixed several of them up and placed six tenants. Of course there were challenges, but I was able to realize a long term dream and goal that I had by simply believing and then springing into action.

At the end 2007 I sprang into action when I left my full time job. Just recently I learned that that period of time was probably the worst time ever to walk away from a job…

“The hemorrhaging of American jobs accelerated at a record pace at the end of 2008, bringing the year’s total job loses to 2.6 million or the highest level in more than six decades.” –CNNMoney.com New York

How dare I walk away from a job at a time when so many people who wanted their jobs were losing them?

I did that because I believe that sometimes you just have to commit and THEN figure the rest out. The action of commitment in itself often opens up many doors and opportunities that would not exist without first making that decision.  If we try to figure things out first, we will find a million excuses and reasons to get out of making that decision or taking that step toward our dreams and goals. This is why I encourage you to make the commitment first, and then allow things to fall into place.

In order to spring into action, I suggest a certain process.Let’s think about the season of Spring. Rain, gardens, plants, and flowers and new beginnings are often associated with this season. So let’s apply this to our life when it comes to the preparation for springing into action…

Picture a big lot or field of vacant land. It is more than likely over grown with weeds. People have dumped  trash and debris there. It is really not the ideal space for planting initially. Therefore the first step is to…

Clear the field
What do you need to clear out of your life before you can move forward? Is it a habit, a belief, a person, job, or a fear? Is there someone you need to forgive…yourself perhaps?
Next we must…

Plant the Seeds
What type of seeds do you need to plant in the field that is your life? Do you need to save, invest, write a book, apply for a job, or audition for something?
Finally we must…

Tend to the Field
If you clear the field and plant the seeds but don’t tend to it, what will happen? Eventually people, or bugs and rodents will eat your fruit, walk all over your flowers, throw in junk and trash…or weeds will grow and take over.
Taking into account what you cleared out and what you planted, what will you need to do to maintain and tend to your field?

During each of the phases of preparation for springing into action I had the people in the audience think about it, write it down and discuss it with a partner. After this I did something with them that I am going to do with you right now…

I have a request that may seem a little unreasonable, BUT in order to get something different, sometimes you have to take away all of the reasons why you can’t, won’t or don’t do things.

Now that you have this working plan, take the next 5 minutes to actually “Spring into Action.” RIGHT NOW I want you to call, email or text someone that you’ve wanted to do business with, someone you need to forgive,someone that you need to ask forgiveness of. If it is someone that has passed away, write them a letter. Take and action RIGHT NOW and be BOLD with it! Ready…Set…GO!

For those of you who actually did it, I want you to post a comment below and share what you did and what happened…

When you spring into action you will find more joy,prosperity and freedom than you can imagine.

Don’t let the action stop here. As you go throughout the rest of your day, week, month and year let the momentum lead you. The past and the future do not really exist because the past is gone and the future may never come…so all that you truly have is this moment…life is right now…and right now…and right now…

SPRING INTO ACTION!

Monday, April 8, 2013

Change Your Story



One day while watching motivational speaker Tony Robbins, I heard him mention a concept that sparked my interest. He talked about the stories that we tell ourselves. I found it interesting, but I wasn’t completely clear on it, so it didn’t really stick. Then, about a month ago I went to an intense personal development experience that took place over a weekend. We spent almost twelve hours each day really digging deep inside of our ourselves to identify what barriers were holding us back from where we truly wanted to be in our lives.

One of the main things that stood out to me in this seminar what that they brought up this concept about stories again. This time it stuck. The basic idea is that when something happens in our life, instead of looking at it for what it is…something that happened, we attach our interpretation or story to it. The problem occurs when that story that we created, which is not the truth, becomes our reality. 

Let me share my story with you….

Here is what happened: My mother and father got a divorce. My father moved away.

Here is the story that I created: If my father left, he must not love me.

Here is how that story affected my life when I allowed it to become my reality: If my father can leave me, anyone else can leave me, so when it comes to relationships let me leave them before they leave me, or hurt them before they hurt me.

All that actually happened was that my parents got a divorce and my father moved away. Everything else that I created was not the truth, yet I allowed it to become my reality and as a result my relationships and the quality of my life has suffered…until that weekend last month when I finally woke up and saw myself clearly for the first time. And finally…I was able to let that story go. I wrote my father a letter asking for his forgiveness and letting him know that I love him and that he is a great father. I’ve never told him that he was a great father before.

I wrote letters and had discussions with the last two men that I had a relationship with, taking responsibility for the role that I played in the challenges that occurred in those relationships. I also asked for their forgiveness.

And now…I am free.

Free to live, to love, to laugh, to enjoy and experience life to the fullest!


What is your story?

Let it go so you can live.