Make Things Happen

In Your Hands

2008-08-18T11:39:00.002-07:00

A long time ago, there lived a wise warrior sage in the wooded mountains. He dedicated his later years to study, training, and meditation and was known throughout the land for his wisdom. People from all walks of life came to visit him and seek his guidance. Regardless of the question, the wise sage had the correct answer. Just as his sword cut through targets, the warrior sage cut to the essence of any problem or issue. He became famous for the answers, solutions, and guidance he offered to all that sought him out.

At the base of the mountain where the warrior sage lived, there was a small village. Several young boys from this village enjoyed trekking up the mountain path to where the warrior sage would share his wisdom, answer questions, and every once in a while share a little of his physical trainings with the young boys. A game developed between the group of boys and the wise man of the mountain. The boys continually tried to think of a question that the old man could not answer, but were never successful.

One day, the prankster of the group, a boy named Toro, announced to the other boys, "I finally have a question that the old man will not be able to answer." Toro opened his hands to show the others a small Shrike he had found in a nearby nest. "We will go ask the old man if the bird in my hands is alive or dead. If he says it is dead, I will show him the little living bird. If he says it is alive, I will crush it and the bird will be dead. Either way, the old man will be wrong, and we will have finally stumped him."

The group hurried up the hill behind Toro to witness the old man's first wrong answer. As they neared the old warrior's cabin, they saw him out back practicing a form with his sword. When he saw them, he smoothly sheathed the razor sharp blade and effortlessly walked toward them noticing their eager looks. Toro stepped forward and asked, "Is the bird in my hands alive, or is it dead?"

The old warrior's eyes seemed to reflect a coldness that the boys had never seen before. They were eyes that had seen more than their share of death. At the same time, there was a compassion and tenderness in those eyes that seemed unequaled. The warrior sage looked at the mischievous Toro and softly spoke, "My son, the answer is in your hands."

This ancient story reflects on a truth that is shared by almost everyone in most situations. Almost everything that happens to you is in your hands. We are the masters of our own destinies. Our futures are up to us.

The choices and decisions you make will determine the results you achieve. You can go to the finest university, but the education you receive will be in your hands. You can seek out the greatest of martial art masters, but your training will be in your hands. You can land a job, but you success will be in your hands. Bookstores and libraries are full of books to help you learn and achieve in all areas, but reading them is in your hands.

We are responsible for our own lives. No one else is going to do it for you. You must take responsibility and realize that your life, your future, your successes, are in your hands.

An Idea from a Four Year Old

2008-08-14T09:52:00.001-07:00

Sometimes the simplest wisdom comes from the mouth's of children. Yesterday, my wife, Yi-saeng, was talking to our next door neighbor who had been feeling somewhat down after loosing her sister recently to cancer. Our neighbors treat our four year old daughter, Cosette, like one of their own grandchildren, and Cosette was playing near the two adults who were talking. They were discussing the loss of her sister and how she was feeling down a bit. Neither of them realized Cosette was listening.

Cosette reached up and tugged on Yi-saeng's clothes saying, "I have an idea." She wanted to whisper her idea into Yi-saeng's ear, but when she did so, Yi-saeng could not understand her. So she asked Cosette to tell her idea to both of them.

So Cosette then told both of them her idea, "When I miss Korea at night, I think about other things."

Such wisdom from a cute little girl. At four years old, she knows a powerful secret. We must focus on positive things to make our lives better. If we focus on the negative, on the things that make us sad, on the bad in the world, our energy and emotions become drained. When we feel like this it is hard to get off the couch. We sit and drone while watching tv or some other mindless activity while as we focus on the sad and bad of the world.

If we focus on "other things," preferably good things that motivate us toward success, we will do so much better. Focusing on the positive energizes us toward movement. Rather than sit or lay, we get up and move. We do things. We produce. We make a difference and feel better doing it.

So remember this lesson, when you miss someone or something, when you feel bad over situations or circumstances, think about other things to change your state and outlook. You'll feel better. You'll do better. You'll be better.

Be Discreet for Business Success

2008-07-31T09:43:00.002-07:00

Recently I had a client ask me questions about another client. He was a bit taken back when I would not answer his questions. He asked me, "Why Not?" He was not that satisfied with my reply that it was the same reason I would not discuss him with anyone else. I then had to tell him about the Rules of Professional Conduct that I adhere to, which includes a rule on confidentiality of information. This rule states in part that a lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent.

As an attorney, I am bound by confidentiality. I could lose my license to practice law by breaking this rule. In business, even though you are not bound by a set of professional rules of conduct, being discreet is also essential. Too many people overlook the importance of confidentiality in business.

You must remember, each time you disclose information about another person, regardless if in a meeting, around the water cooler, or at happy hour after work, the person you are telling the information to may enjoy hearing the scoop, but most likely on a deeper level don't like the act of your telling them.

If I'm sitting there telling you what Joe has been doing, you can't help but wonder what I might be telling Joe about you. When you violate confidences, it often comes back to haunt you. Unfortunately, many people learn this the hard way. This hard-won wisdom is often embarrassing and therefore the humiliating lesson sinks in. It's unnecessary though, just remember that loose lips sink ships and curb your gossiping and be discreet.

Indiscretion and breaking confidences always leads to problems. To prevent these problems, don't say anything, or put into writing anything, that you wouldn't want the person you are speaking about to hear or read. Presume that everything you say will be heard by those you are talking about. Presume everything you write will be read by all parties involved with the message. You do not need to be an attorney to keep confidences. A little discretion goes a long ways to prevent problems and ensure you are someone people trust. This trust will lead to greater success. So be discreet!

Three Keys to Greatness by Jim Rohn with a bonus on Discipline

2008-07-08T08:28:00.004-07:00

Here is a great little message from Jim Rohn:

Eight years ago I went into the studio and recorded a 56-minute video for teenagers called "Three Keys To Greatness." Although my focus was for teenagers, the principles I shared certainly apply to adults as well.

Here's a list of these three things using one to two sentences for each covered in the DVD. For your benefit here they are:

1) Setting Goals. I call it the view of the future. Most people, including kids, will pay the price if they can see the promise of the future. So we need to help our kids see a well-defined future, so they will be motivated to pay the price today to attain the rewards of tomorrow. Goals help them do this.

2) Personal Development. Simply making consistent investments in our self-education and knowledge banks pays major dividends throughout our lives. I suggest having a minimum amount of time set aside for reading books, listening to audiocassettes, attending seminars, keeping a journal and spending time with other successful people. Charlie “Tremendous’ Jones says you will be in five years the sum total of the books you read and the people you are around.

3) Financial Planning. I call it the 70/30 plan. After receiving your paycheck or paying yourself, simply setting aside 10% for saving, 10% for investing and 10% for giving, and over time this will guarantee financial independence for a teenager.

If a young person, or for that matter an adult, focused on doing these three simple things over a long period of time I believe they will be assured success!

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn

DISCIPLINE

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.

We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.

All disciplines affect each other. Mistakenly the man says, "This is the only area where I let down." Not true. Every let down affects the rest. Not to think so is naive.

Discipline is the foundation upon which all success is built. Lack of discipline inevitably leads to failure.

Discipline has within it the potential for creating future miracles.

The best time to set up a new discipline is when the idea is strong.

One discipline always leads to another discipline.

Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.

You don't have to change that much for it to make a great deal of difference. A few simple disciplines can have a major impact on how your life works out in the next 90 days, let alone in the next 12 months or the next 3 years.

The least lack of discipline starts to erode our self-esteem.

Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine:

Jim Rohn and The Success Store

All The Money In The World - Review

2008-06-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

I have always been fascinated with wealth, and have enjoyed reading about the Forbes 400 for years. "All The Money In The World: How The Forbes 400 Make - And Spend - Their Fortunes" by Peter W. Bernstein and Annalyn Swan was an extremely fascinating and enjoyable read. If you are interested in the superrich, this book paints a revealing portrait of the wealthiest of the rich and shows how they succeed, how fortunes are made in various industries, and how, once made, they are saved, enhanced, and sometimes squandered.

This thoroughly researched book provides abundant anecdotes and insights as well as compiled data in illuminating tables, sidebars, and factoids. Did you know that Bill Gates comes in as the thirteenth richest American if you converted past riches into today's dollars? (Actually 2006 dollars when the book was being researched) John D. Rockefeller's wealth would be 305.3 billion dollars when converted to 2006 dollars. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett combined don't make a third of that. Did you know that in 2006 the average net worth of 400 members without a college degree exceeded the average net worth of those with a degree by a considerable margin - $2.8 billion? That's partly due, of course, to the Gates factor. Did you know there were 97 immigrants from 34 different countries that made the Forbes list over the last twenty-five years? The book is filled with so many interesting stories and facts.

The book also shows that money is not everything. The superrich have problems just like everyone else, and sometimes those problems are at a greater scale. So while this book describes those that may seem unobtainable to most, you also realize that they are still people just like everyone else. Well, maybe not like everyone else, but they are still people.

Chapters include:

Part One: What It Takes
1. Education, Intelligence, Drive
2. Risk
3. Luck - and Timing
4. Winning Is Everything

Part Two: Making It
5. Blue - collar Billionaires
6. West Coast Money
7. Entertainment and Media
8. Beyond Wall Street

Part Three: Spending It
9. Conspicuous Consumption
10. Heirs
11. Family Feuds
12. Giving It Away
13. Power and Politics

Afterword: Money and Happiness

Appendix: The Forbes 400, 1982-2006

This is a vastly entertaining behind the scenes look at the superrich. I found it fascinating to read about those billionaires I was familiar with, but also those extremely wealthy that you never really hear about. It made me feel good to read about the money these Forbes 400 members give away to help others, and then sometimes shake my head wondering when you see what some of these people spend money on. Forget about the enormous cost of purchasing a yacht, but think about the upkeep running into tens of millions of dollars a year and you may wonder as I did why Paul Allen wants to own two of the top ten U.S. owned yachts. Octopus at 414 feet is number two, and Tatoosh at 301 feet 8 inches is number four. If you are wondering, Larry Ellison's Rising Sun at 452 feet 8 inches is number 1, and no one knows who owns number seven's Laurel at 240 feet and number nine's charter yacht Reverie at 229 feet, seven inches.

If you want to read an extremely interesting and fascinating book about wealth and those that have accumulated the most of it, read "All The Money In The World." Besides being entertained, you just might learn some insights to help you accumulate more wealth yourself. After all, you will see that if these people can do, so can you or anyone else.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.

How Do You Attract Opportunity Into Your Life? by Jim Rohn

2008-05-21T09:16:00.003-07:00

Jim Rohn is someone I have learned a lot from. His advice has prompted me to continually read, listen, watch, and study. All of us need to do everything we can to make ourselves the best we can be. Here is some great advice from Jim Rohn - Alain

How Do You Attract Opportunity Into Your Life? by Jim Rohn

Someone recently asked me the question: "How can I have more opportunities come into my life?" Good question, but I think my answer surprised them a bit. I bypassed the obvious (and necessary) points about hard work, persistence and preparation. They actually were very hard workers. And they had the great attribute of being seekers, they were on the outlook. But I felt maybe they were missing this next and most valuable point - attraction.

I always thought opportunities and success were something you went after, then I found out that I needed to turn it around. Opportunities and success are not something you go after necessarily, but something you attract - by becoming an attractive person.

That's why I teach development of skills. If you can develop your skills, keep refining all the parts of your character and yourself, your health, your relationships, etc. so that you become an attractive person to the marketplace - you'll attract opportunity. Opportunity will probably seek you out. Your reputation will probably precede you and someone will want to do business with you. All of the possibilities are there by working on the philosophy that success is something you attract.

The key is to continue making yourself a more attractive person by the skills you have, the disciplines you have, the personality you've acquired, the character and reputation you have established, the language and speech you use - all of that refinement makes you more attractive to the marketplace.

Personal development - the never-ending chance to improve not only yourself, but also to attract opportunities and affect others.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine - http://www.jimrohn.com

What Constitutes a Good Life? by Jim Rohn

2008-04-15T09:53:00.001-07:00

The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home. Here's the ultimate expression of life in my opinion, and that is living a good life. Here's what we must ask constantly, "What for me would be a good life?" And you have to keep going over and over the list. A list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation. What would constitute a good life? I've got a short list.

1) Productivity. You won't be happy if you don't produce. The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough to gather strength to get back to productivity. What's the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It's to see what you can do with it. To try your hand, other people have tried their hand; here's what they did. You try your hand to see what you can do. So part of life is productivity.

2) Good friends. Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world. Don't deny yourself the time to develop this support system. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in its benefit. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you. A few years ago I lost one of my dearest friends. He died at age 53 - heart attack. David is gone, but he was one of my very special friends. I used to say of David that if I was stuck in a foreign jail somewhere accused unduly and if they would allow me one phone call, I would call David. Why? He would come and get me. That's a friend. Somebody who would come and get you. Now we've all got casual friends. And if you called them they would say, "Hey, if you get back, call me we'll have a party." So you've got to have both, real friends and casual friends.

3) Your culture. Your language, your music, the ceremonies, the traditions, the dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. In fact it is the uniqueness of all of us that when blended together brings vitality, energy, power, influence, uniqueness and rightness to the world.

4) Spirituality. It helps to form the foundation of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach. Don't be careless about the spiritual part of your nature, it's what makes us who we are, different from animal, dogs, cats, birds and mice. Spirituality.

5) Don't miss anything. My parents taught me not to miss anything. Don't miss the game. Don't miss the performance, don't miss the movie, don't miss the show, don't miss the dance. Go to everything you possible can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and experience all you possible can. This has served me so well to this day. Just before my father died at age 93 if you were to call him at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, he wouldn't be home. He was at the rodeo, he was watching the kids play softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at church, he was somewhere every night.

Live a vital life. Here's one of the reasons why. If you live well, you will earn well. If you live well it will show in your face, it will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique and magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your personal life but also your business life. And it will give you a vitality nothing else can give.

6) Your family and the inner circle. Invest in them and they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner circle take care of the details. When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho.

So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special day. Now if I was in Israel I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, "Papa I'm in Israel." He'd say, "Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel. I'd say, "Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." Now everybody knows the story. It only took 5 - 10 minutes, but what a special day for my father, age 93.

If a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter's kiss on his face all day, he's a powerful man. If a husband walks out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around his body he's invincible all day. It's the special stuff with the inner circle that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don't miss that opportunity. Here's the greatest value. The prophet said, "There are many virtues and values, but here's the greatest, one person caring for another." There is no greater value than love. Better to live in a tent on the beach with someone you love than to live in a mansion by yourself. One person caring for another, that's one of life's greatest expressions.

So make sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what you do. May you truly live the kind of life that will bring the fruit and rewards that you desire.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine - http://www.jimrohn.com

How to Handle 1,000 Things at Once by Don Aslett - review

2008-04-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

"How to Handle 1,000 Things at Once" by Don Aslett is an enjoyable book full of practical strategies and suggestions for personal management skills. This book will help you handle yourself and your domestic responsibilities. Aslett writes that "the biggest management challenges in life are not in the boardroom, but the living room. Yes, at home, where we have to deal with and juggle family and friends, near and far, schoolwork, shopping, cleaning, home maintenance, car maintenance, yard care, finances, health, grooming, community and church activities, and service. Even pursuing our own and our children's favorite sports and hobbies, taking a hassle free vacation, and pet care - it's all management."

Aslett contends that it is at home and in personal life where 90% of management is needed. In this book, he sets out to help the reader manage this real business, the business of home, self, family, and friends. And I believe that anyone who reads this book and implements some if not all of Aslett's strategies and suggestions will undoubtedly find they are handling more things at once, maybe even 1,000 or more.

If you are familiar with Aslett's style, you will know that his is a blend of humor, cartoon illustrations, and direct no nonsense get to it advice for being productive. I personally have enjoyed every one of his books I've read, and think he is right on with most of his suggestions. I say most, because I still wear button down collars at times, and I remember in his book "How to Have a 48 Hour Day" also published as "Done" (great book by the way) he suggested not wearing button down collar shirts to save time. J

Anyway, as I said, I have really enjoyed all of the books of his that I have read, and I plan on picking up a couple others this year to read too. And hopefully he will continue writing a lot more.

This book has 12 chapters, each full of practical advice for getting more done and managing the home life:

1. Meet the Manager - You!
2. On Target - YOUR Target
3. Tackling the "To-Do's"
4. When? A Word to the Wise!
5. Every Manager Needs a Crystal Ball
6. Secrets of Master Managers
7. Mastering Those "Home Matters"
8. The Big Three: Junk, Help, & Money
9. The Only Time Expert - You
10. TOOLS - Bigger? Better? Or Bummers?
11. Common Mistakes of Home Managers
12. Staying Out of Problems

The reality is we each have 24 hours a day. No more, no less. If you don't have the money to hire people to manage the daily necessities we all must have done, you will have more time for the productive and enjoyable things in life if you manage the daily tasks with more efficiency. (and even if you do have the money to hire people to do some of your daily chores, you will still be left with many personal and home things to manage) So, the best thing to achieve time to do the fun things or the special things you want to accomplish is to handle the 1,000 things that need to be done in the most practical and efficient way possible. Reading this book will give you a lot of doable strategies to help you with your home and personal management and the motivation to fuel your productivity into overdrive.

"How to Handle 1,000 Things At Once" is humorous and informative, and the advice might just spill over into your work life and make you more productive and successful there too.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author, speaker
Hard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks, Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and The Lock On Joint Locking series, and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer

The Miracle of Personal Development by Jim Rohn

2008-04-02T14:48:00.001-07:00

Some great advice from Jim Rohn - Alain

The Miracle of Personal Development by Jim Rohn

One day Mr. Shoaff said, "Jim, if you want to be wealthy and happy, learn this lesson well: Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job."

Since that time I've been working on my own personal development. And I must admit that this has been the most challenging assignment of all. This business of personal development lasts a lifetime.

You see, what you become is far more important than what you get. The important question to ask on the job is not, "What am I getting?" Instead, you should ask, "What am I becoming?" Getting and becoming are like Siamese twins: What you become directly influences what you get. Think of it this way: Most of what you have today you have attracted by becoming the person you are today.

I've also found that income rarely exceeds personal development. Sometimes income takes a lucky jump, but unless you learn to handle the responsibilities that come with it, it will usually shrink back to the amount you can handle.

If someone hands you a million dollars, you'd better hurry up and become a millionaire. A very rich man once said, "If you took all the money in the world and divided it equally among everybody, it would soon be back in the same pockets it was before."

It is hard to keep that which has not been obtained through personal development.

So here's the great axiom of life:

--TO HAVE MORE THAN YOU'VE GOT, BECOME MORE THAN YOU ARE--

This is where you should focus most of your attention. Otherwise, you just might have to contend with the axiom of not changing, which is:

--UNLESS YOU CHANGE HOW YOU ARE, YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE WHAT YOU'VE GOT--

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine - http://www.jimrohn.com

Great Expectations by Clarence Bass - review

2008-03-22T22:44:00.002-07:00

You know I advocate healthy eating and exercise. You will never make the most happen if you don't take care of your health. Clarence Bass has been a pioneer in the health and fitness realm. Here is a review of his newest book, one I highly recommend.

At seventy years of age, Clarence Bass continues to set and achieve physical goals that would challenge many people half or even a third his age. It's the challenge that Bass enjoys and has kept him training for all these decades. "Great Expectations" is his newest book, and in it he shares wisdom that he has gained not only through study of fitness and health, but by applying his study to his own life and using his body as an experiment in health, fitness and longevity.

One of the things I particularly like about Clarence is his complete honesty and willingness to share not only his triumphs but his difficulties as well. I thought it was courageous to discuss his medical conditions with such blunt honesty and openness. Learning about how he underwent hip replacement, and reading about his tale of the catheter where enlightening in that while I hope I never have to undergo either, I recognize that as we age we all will face different health concerns and knowing that by keeping ourselves in good physical condition we can better cope and overcome these difficulties. Clarence's telling of how he overcame his medical difficulties, including showing the scar from him hip replacement on the cover of the book, will undoubtedly encourage others to overcome and triumph over their own difficulties regardless of their age.

Another thing I really like about all of Clarence's books, this one included, is that he not only shares resources, but the practical ways he incorporates his research into his training and lifestyle and then encourages the reader to make healthy training and eating their own. Not to copy exactly what he does, but to take the principles that he teaches and make the training and eating habits that will ensure your own success. I also enjoy the stores and examples he shared by others, especially Dan Sawyer's advice in the last chapter.

It is also interesting to see how Clarence's training has changed over the years. This is a natural progression. As all of us age and go through different periods regarding our physical goals, our training will change as well. I really like that Clarence writes about what he does, and why; what he has changed, and why.

Here is a little of what you will learn in this book:

Chapter 1: Great Expectations. Learn about attitude, expectations, and the competitive edge among other mental elements of training.

Chapter 2: Overcoming. This is the chapter where Clarence tells of his medical problems. He shares his stories and experiences so that you can learn that your fitness level will impact your outcome, you can learn that you are in charge, and that the ultimate responsibility to help yourself resides with you.

Chapter 3: Take It Off, Keep It Off. Learn about metabolism, exercise, fat loss and eating.

Chapter 4: Exercise for Life. Learn about exercise including strength training and aerobic exercise.

Chapter 5: About Training. This chapter covers concepts such as overload and rest, training frequency, slow lifting, balance and more.

Chapter 6: About Diet (Not Dieting). An excellent overview of healthy eating. I also like how Clarence tells you things that he eats and why. The section on every meal counting is also very important to know.

Chapter 7: Eating for the Peak. Throughout the years, photos of Clarence at his peaks have been extremely motivating. The photos of him at 70 still inspire. Many half or even a third his age would like to look that good. In this chapter he explains how he prepares for peaking.

Chapter 8: Training for the Peak. Bass continues with his advice on peaking by sharing how he trains for peaking as well.

Chapter 9: Motivation and Change. Clarence says you should plan for success and start with motivation. Good chapter with advice not only from Clarence but some great words from Dan Sawyer as well to help you get and stay motivated toward healthy living.

"Great Expectations" is an excellent addition to anyone's health and fitness bookshelf. It is motivating and informative. In fact, if you only had room for a few health and fitness books, Clarence's "Lean For Life," "Challenge Yourself," and "Great Expectation" should be on the short list. These three books together provide such a wealth of information and are extremely motivating to see how Clarence and his wife Carol have lived these principles and the success they have achieved because of their healthy lifestyle.

On pages 145-146, Clarence states that some people in their 20s didn't relate to his writings in Muscle & Fitness back in the 80s, but now that he is older and they are in their 40s, they relate to his message more. Perhaps they can follow in his footsteps by benefiting from his methods and example. Personally, I always enjoyed his columns in M&F back then. But now in my 40s, I relate even more to the messages in his last three books - the ones I mentioned above. And yes, I will use some of his methods and use him as an example to live healthy for the next three decades. And then, when I'm in my 70s, I'll read about how Clarence continued to train till 100 to motivate me to train another 30 years.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author, speaker
Hard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks, Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and The Lock On Joint Locking series, and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer

The Wealthy Barber review

2008-02-25T23:45:00.000-07:00

"The Wealthy Barber: Everyone's Common-Sense Guide to Becoming Financially Independent" by David Chilton is an enjoyable read that introduces basic personal-finance habits that can lead to wealth if practiced and implemented as taught.

The lessons are taught in story fashion by a "wealthy barber" named Roy to a few disciples over a few weeks of visits. The lessons are basic, but that does not mean they are not important. In fact, for many people, these basics are all they will need to better their finances while preparing for a better financial future. This book will not prepare you to become the next Warren Buffet, nor will you be a market genius. There are many more things you can learn on this subject as well, but this book is a nice little primer. Some of the dialog between the characters is a bit corny, if not irritating, but then you can also look at it and laugh at Chilton's use of light humor to teach important topics.

As I mentioned, the lessons are basic, but they are sound. The strategy of paying yourself at least ten percent of your pay first is not new, and is taught in many ways by many people. That does not make it less important, and most people would be better off if they implemented it. I also liked that there was discussion on wills, life insurance, and responsibility. Pointing out that some people do not need certain types of insurance is as important as pointing out that some people do.

We have all heard that social security may not be around in the future. And those receiving only social security now are barely making due. It is in all of our best interests to plan for retirement. The lessons taught in this book serve as a good reminder of things we should be doing and looking at, and hopefully will encourage many people to start planning and seek out more information on this important topic.

While "The Wealthy Barber" won't teach you the path toward the Forbes 400 list, it does provide some excellent basic advice on personal finance. Considering the debt that many have, combined with the lack of savings, compounded by the dim outlook for social security, following the advice of this simple little book could make a huge difference in many people's financial futures. I recommend it highly for anyone that needs a head start on planning for their future. I also recommend it for those that want a quick enjoyable read on some basic financial strategies to motivate you to learn more.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author, speaker
Hard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks, Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and The Lock On Joint Locking series, and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer

The Leadership Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Tony Alessandra

2008-02-20T11:08:00.002-07:00

President's Day, February 18, was also my birthday this year. I celebrated by spending time with my family. In honor of this day, I'd like to share an article by Tony Alessandra on Abraham Lincoln. I'm sure you will gain some valuable insights from Tony's article. - Alain

Abraham Lincoln really was born in a log cabin. The fact that he went on to become President -- and to lead the country through the most difficult period of its history -- is truly remarkable. It's even more amazing when you consider what it took to be an important leader in the middle of the nineteenth century. Although we hear a lot about people like Lincoln or Andrew Jackson or Ulysses S. Grant -- people who came from nothing to wield great power -- these were most definitely the exceptions who proved the rule. And the rule was, most successful people started out with all the advantages.

Financially, it was much harder to get rich a hundred and fifty years ago than it is today -- and if you failed, it was much harder to get back on your feet. There was no safety net from the government or from anywhere else to make sure that you didn't go hungry. In those days, it was every man for himself.

With that in mind, let's look for a minute at some of the things that Lincoln faced and overcame. You've probably seen lists similar to this, describing Lincoln's failures, but I'd like to go through it again in order to make some important points, which we'll take up immediately after the list. As you're listening to this list, I'd like you also to think of setbacks you've faced in your own life, and how you responded to them.

In 1832, Lincoln was working in a general store in Illinois when he decided to run for the state legislature. But the election was some months away, and before it took place the general store went bankrupt and Lincoln was out of a job. So he joined the army and served three months. When he got out, it was almost time for the election -- which he lost.

Then, with a partner, Lincoln opened a new general store. His partner embezzled from the business, and the store went broke. And shortly thereafter the partner died, leaving Lincoln with debts that took several years to pay off.

In 1834, Lincoln ran again for the state legislature, and this time he won. He was even elected to three more terms of two years each. During this period, however, Lincoln also suffered some severe emotional problems. Today he would have been categorized as clinically depressed.
By 1836, Lincoln had become a licensed attorney. At that time, a law degree was not required to pass the bar exam, and Lincoln had been studying on his own for years. He later became a circuit-riding lawyer, traveling from county to county in Illinois to plead cases in different jurisdictions. He was one of the most diligent of all the lawyers doing this kind of work, and between 1849 and 1860 he missed only two court sessions on the circuit.

In 1838, he was defeated in an attempt to become Speaker of the Illinois legislature, and in 1843 he was defeated in an attempt to win nomination for Congress. In 1846 he was elected to Congress, but in 1848 he had to leave because his party had a policy of limiting terms. In 1854, he was defeated in a run for the U.S. Senate. In 1856, he lost the nomination for Vice President, and in 1858 he was again defeated in a race for the Senate. Yet in spite of all these setbacks, in 1860 he was elected President of the United States.

What can we learn about leadership from looking at this chronology? To me, the most remarkable thing is how every time Lincoln failed at something, he was soon trying for something even bigger. When he loses his seat in the state legislature, he runs for the national congress. When he loses a bid for the Senate, he tries to become vice president -- and when he loses the Senate race again, he winds up President of the whole country.

Lincoln saw himself as a leader long before anyone else did -- and this is the first key to his leadership genius. He may have failed many times, but somehow he always failed upward. He was propelled by a sense of mission, and he was willing and able to do whatever it took to get that great mission accomplished.

From the very first, Lincoln saw himself as the savior of the country. Not just as a successful lawyer or a judge or the owner of a general store. To him, all those things were way stations on the way to something much bigger and more important. Lincoln saw himself as a leader long before he was one. In fact, he saw himself as the leader, right from the first. This wasn't arrogance or empty ambition. It was a sense of ultimate purpose in service of a worthy cause.

How can you bring that sense of mission into your own life? What are your big, worthy dreams? Are there are goals that you recognized from the first, which you've continued to pursue no matter what setbacks have intervened? If that's the case, then you're already a leadership genius -- you've already mastered the art of leading your life in the direction you want it to go.
On the other hand, you may be one of the many people who have put aside any ideas about changing the country or the world. That's fine -- but I do want to repeat the question I asked a moment ago: What are your big, worthy dreams? And I want to emphasize worthy.

Having a big car or a boat doesn't count. Those things are great, but can you see the difference between wanting material success and wanting to make a truly big difference in the world, the way Lincoln did? It's the difference between just being successful for your own sake, in very conventional terms -- and being a leadership genius, not just for yourself, but for other people too. In Lincoln's case, it was for all people.

Think about your life in terms of a mission - a great purpose that inspires you to leadership -- first leadership of yourself, and then of others. If you've identified that purpose, the next step is thinking practically and realistically about how you're going to bring it about. And sometimes the practical side has to be dealt with first, in order to make the larger purpose feasible.

Is there anything about yourself that you suspect might disqualify you from being an effective leader? What are they? How can you turn these perceived weaknesses into your strengths? It's tempting to think that our leaders should be without weaknesses, but that's by no means the truth. Leaders should not be without weaknesses that they're unaware of. Leaders should not be out of touch with what's going on in their minds and hearts. That awareness in itself is much more important than what challenges it reveals. These are questions that will take more than a few minutes to answer -- but I urge you to reflect on them to improve your leadership genius.

Here's to more insight,
Tony Alessandra

Reproduced with permission from the Ron White Ezine. To subscribe to Ron White's Ezine, go to http://www.memoryinamonth.com or send an email with Join in the subject to ronwhite@yoursuccessstore.com Copyright 2008 All rights reserved worldwide.

Getting Rich Your Own Way by Brian Tracy - a review

2008-02-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

Getting Rich Your Own Way by Brian Tracy is a solid text on succeeding in your financial matters. With the advice Tracy gives in this book, the reader can create a road map to financial success. With some hard work and sweat, the reader can achieve success from that road map.

Over the years, I've enjoyed many of Tracy's books and audio programs. I've also enjoyed seeing him speak on dvds a time or two as well. I found this book especially insightful into what it takes to achieve fortunes, or as the title says, get rich.

Do not misstate this book for some get rich quick scheme. In fact, Tracy states that it may take patience and it will certainly take effort. But if you have the right attitude and are willing to do what it takes, Tracy's advice and guidance in this book will help you along your way to riches beyond what you currently have obtained.

The book starts with a very motivating introduction where Tracy covers topics such as the difference between success and failure, starting with nothing, how you can do it, the differences between rich and poor and the encouragement that you can learn what you need to learn.

The book then has ten chapters that cover the following topics:

1. Learn How to Become Rich: Why people don't become rich, five ways to stay poor, five ways to become rich, definition of wealth, find a need and fill it, big fortunes and small ideas, one idea is all you need, maximize your assets, and become a no-limit person.

2. Become a Money Magnet: Change your thinking, change your life, all causation is mental, expect the best, become a living magnet, as within, so without, the laws are neutral, what you put in determines what you get back, negative thinking drives money away, think like the rich think, settle in for the long haul, learn what you need to learn, the great truth, you will see it when you believe it, resolve to pay the price, not for everyone, get serious, take charge of yourself, you must want it badly enough, your reasons why, make your goals specific, think long-term, give yourself a raise, the magic of visualization, control you inner dialogue, practice affirmations, you can do it, feed your mind with mental protein, get around the right people, sleep on it, imagine your ideal life, the golden hour, million-dollar habits, the rudder of the day.

3. Invest for Success: The financial planning school, invest the way the wealthy invest, your own business, income-producing real estate, land held for development, liquid investments, stocks and bonds, investment alternatives available to you, where to put your money conservatively, investing in the stock market, mutual fund investing, different ways to invest, and guard your money carefully.

4. Start with Nothing: The golden chain, the statistics are dreadful, four steps to financial success, five ways to become wealthy, the starting point of riches, pay yourself first, work hard and save your money, attract the money you want, starting with nothing, pleasure and pain, the wedge strategy for financial success, don't lose money, strategies of the wealthy, change your personality, the truth about entrepreneurship, reasons for business failure, business success is predictable, get on-the-job experience, learn while you earn, five keys to business success, use your job as a springboard, do your research, practice the 10/90 rule, study successful companies, five rules for entrepreneurship, network marketing opportunities, money in your mailbox, get wired, start small, trade time for experience, seven steps to business success, be action-oriented, take a chance, and seven steps to financial independence.

5. Build Your Own Business: The failure rate is high, seven principles for business success, the factor of three, questions you must ask and answer to succeed in business, the great marketing questions, getting into the game, test your idea before you invest, fast, cheap market research, test-market your product or service, how to build a profitable business, and business opportunities are everywhere.

6. Market and Sell Anything: Marketing and sales defined, the marketing mix, five rules for selling anything, anywhere, five questions you must answer, selling your product or service, multiple ways to sell, start small, grow slowly, master the art of selling, control the revenues, opportunity gap analysis, getting free publicity, opportunities everywhere, and just do it.

7. Get the Money You Need: Ignorance holds you back, lack of money, money is available everywhere, determinants of credit, choosing the ideal business for you, and you can start today.

8. Think and Grow Rich: You are a potential genius, why creativity is so important, use more of your intelligence, multiply your results, as within, so without, stimulate your thinking, the qualities of genius, thinking more creatively, ways to get rich your own way, clarity is essential, and evaluating your ideas.

9. Learn From the Best: Copy the best in your business, qualities of the great ones, think like a champion, follow the leaders, the qualities of leadership, find your own acres of diamonds, become an apprentice, rent or buy the knowledge you need, ask for advice, study successful companies, and learn by trial and error.

10. Lead the Field: Three pathways, the common denominators, secrets of health, wealth, and happiness, put your career onto the fast track, and become a no-limit person.

As you can see, this book covers a lot of area. And not ever area may apply to your situation, but I'm sure you will find advice and suggestions by Tracy that if applied will better your financial future. Additionally, the ideas presented in this book may help you think of things you have never thought of before, or maybe in ways you haven't thought of yet. Most of all, the motivation and practical advice found in this book should get you working toward your financial goals so you can live a better life and enjoy more than before.

Additionally, this book is not the be all and end all regarding the above topics. But it gives a good overview and it will point out the areas that will help you most and you can then find resources that go deeper into the topics that you most need to learn. This is an excellent introduction to wealth, and contains many proven strategies for success. The only thing is that you have to act on the information provided, and if you do, you can't help but be more successful.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author, speaker Hard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks, Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and The Lock On Joint Locking series, and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer

Decide to be Rich, Excellent and Healthy

2008-01-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

I read the following quote today:

"If you have not consciously made the decision to be rich, excellent, and healthy, then you have unconsciously made the decision to be poor, mediocre and unhealthy." - Wallace D. Wattles, self-help author

Let's take a look at what Wattles was saying. I don't think anyone would consciously decide to be poor, mediocre and unhealthy. But isn't that what we are doing if we don't decide not to be?

I think Wattles is right. We must consciously decide to excel. We must decide we will make the most with what we have. We must decide to be rich. We must decide to be excellent. We must decide to be healthy. We must decide to prosper. First comes a thought and then comes the decision.

Next comes one of the most important ingredients. We must ACT on those decisions. Sure, we can decide to be rich. But are we ACTING on that decision? We must do the things to increase our fortunes. We can decide to be healthy. But are we ACTING on that decision? Are we exercising and eating healthy?

So yes, I agree with Wattles, we must consciously decide to be the best we can be in all areas. Then we must ACT and make those things happen!

Decide right now to be your best and then immediately do something to make that happen!

Trump 101: The Way to Success

2008-01-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

One of my goals this year is to write a lot more reviews, so here is one I recently wrote:

Trump 101: The Way to Success is a quick book to read, and worth the time it takes to learn the simple but direct lessons Donald Trump and Meredith McIver included in this little gem.

Just because the chapters are short, does not mean they don't contain some valuable advice. Some of it seems to be common sense to many people, but then we must remember that sometimes common sense is not as common as we would like. A short reminder of certain principles or strategies for success can be motivating and the prompting needed to get up and succeed.

One criticism some may have with this book is the promoting of Trump University. I actually believe this is a hidden lesson one can learn. Right up front in the introduction Trump states that a purpose of the book is to introduce the reader to Trump University, so you should not be surprised that there are plugs for Trump University programs. One thing Donald Trump does phenomenally is promote. He promotes himself, his businesses, and other businesses, products and causes that he believes in like no other. This is an important lesson!

Regarding the chapters and the lessons Donald Trump shares in this book, they are all simple and direct, but very important. Following all or some of the advice in this book will doubt help a person increase their levels of success. These chapter lessons include:

1. Don't Waste Your Life On Work You Don't Love: Passion Will Help You Do Better.
2. Set the Bar High: Make People OOH and AAH.
3. Think Trump Scale: Bigger is Better
4. Tough It Out: Be Persistent
5. Without Knowledge, You Don't Stand A Chance: Gain and Use Information To Your Advantage
6. You're Fired! Words No One Wants to Hear - Or Say
7. The Proof Is In The Doing: Learn By Doing and Taking Risks
8. Your Gut Is Your Best Advisor: Listen To Your Instincts
9. Personalize Your Pitch: Know Who You're Addressing
10. Surround Yourself With Beauty: Enhance Every Aspect Of Your Life
11. Negotiate to Win: Use Diplomacy
12. Think On Your Feet: It's The Fast Track To Success
13. Work With People You Like: It Sure Beats Working With Enemies
14. Where There's A Will, There's A Win: Think Positively
15. Swim Against The Tide: The Comfort Zone Can Pull You Under
16. Money Is Not Always The Bottom Line: It Can Be a Scorecard, Not the Final Score
17. Learning Is Exciting: Each New Project Is An Adventure
18. See the Whole Picture: But Be Prepared For the Picture to Change
19. Wait For the Right Pitch: Business Success Is All About Patience and Timing
20. Avoid Fixed Patterns: Be Open and Flexible
21. Speed Kills - The Competition: Get Right To The Point
22. Do More - Always Do More: Constantly Try To Top Yourself
23. Leaders Set The Pace: Find Your Working Tempo
24. Results Matter More Than Routes: Let People Follow Their Own Paths
25. Approach Your Work As An Art Form: Work Brilliantly
26. Keep Your Mind In The Game: Pay Attention and Stay Focused
27. It Takes Courage To Persist: Business Pressures Never Stop
28. Join The Explorers' Club: Learn About the Mysteries of Life
29. Confidence Is a Magnet: It Will Draw People To You
30. Keep Your Momentum Rolling: But Never Lose Control
31. Is the Problem a Blip or a Catastrophe? Expect Problems and Keep Moving Forward
32. Reach Within To Rise Above: But Temper Your Reach With Reality
33. Concentrate on the Target, Not on the Weapon: Focus On What Matters Most

It is pretty obvious with the chapter titles as to what the lessons of each chapter are. And as I stated, the chapters are short and quick to read, but they do contain pearls of wisdom. I found the book very easy to read and enjoyable as Trump illustrated the lessons with his own personal experiences. Trump also included sections on a week of his life, as he has done in other books. I enjoyed reading these as well, and the week he included was the week his son was born, so you know it was a special week for The Donald.

Overall, I recommend this book as a quick, easy, motivational read with some direct and practical advice on success. If you do more than just read the book, that is follow some of the advice that is given, you will increase the successes of your life.

A Kick In the Pants for the New Year - A review of Think Big And Kick Ass by Donald Trump and Bill Zanker

2008-01-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season!

To start the year out right and make 2008 great, here is a good motivational book to check out. I found my copy under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning and enjoyed it very much. Good motivation to kick off the new year thinking big.

General George S. Patton, Jr. was one of our greatest WWII generals, and I couldn't help but think of one of his basic principles when reading this book: "Grab 'em by the nose and kick 'em in the pants." That is exactly what Donald Trump and Bill Zanker did with Think Big And Kick Ass In Business And Life.

Anyone who has visited my website knows that I am a fan of Donald Trump and the reality show The Apprentice. I have received many favorable comments on my "Lessons From The Apprentice." I have also enjoyed all of Trump's books, and Think Big And Kick Ass is one I thoroughly enjoyed. It grabs you by the nose and kicks you in the pants with motivating stories and lessons. It is direct, easy to read, and contains many useful tidbits of advice. IF a person ACTS on the advice given by Trump and Zanker, they no doubt would benefit and achieve increased success. I personally have followed similar strategies such as presented in this book, and they have helped me obtain a level of success. I plan on taking the advice from Think Big And Kick Ass to jump start my year and make 2008 great. I think each of us should strive to do better each and every passing year. So do Trump and Zanker, so read this book and start thinking bigger and kicking more ass in business and life than you have ever done before.

The chapters and lessons presented start with Trump illustrating the key points with examples from his life and dealings, and then end with a segment by Zanker where he shares some of his story and how he took The Learning Annex to the multimillion dollar company it is today. While I enjoyed Trumps section a bit more, I thought Zanker was right on the money with many of the points he made as well, and his story is quite motivating in itself. I think the combination of both men's examples made the book much better than if it only contained stories from one of them.

Chapters include: 1. Do You Have What It Takes?: where the reader can take a short quiz that is obvious and illustrates success principles. (I'll give you a hint – if you are not answering d for every quiz answer, start thinking bigger and kick it up a notch); 2. Passion, Passion, Passion!: Trump is always talking about being passionate about what you are doing. This chapter will motivate you to find your passion and love what you do; 3. Basic Instincts: Great lesson on keeping your word, and learn to go with your gut; 4. Creating Luck: Trump believes in luck, but he also believes that the harder you work the luckier you will get; 5. Fear Factor: The world is brutal. Practical advice on not only surviving, but excelling; 6. Revenge: Trump is extremely loyal to those he is friends with, but you don't want to cross him. Some of his advice is when somebody screws you, screw them back in spades. This message is a good combination of when to forgive and when to go for the jugular with those that deserve it; 7. Big Mo: how to build momentum and keep it up; 8. Never Take Your Eye Off The Ball: You must learn to focus and success won't be easy. Take your work seriously and stay flexibly focused and you'll succeed; 9. I Love You, Sign This: This is chapter on prenuptial agreements, which Trump endorses 100%. I was recently listening to Brian Tracy and he was discussing prenups in just the opposite vein. As an attorney, I have drafted prenups for clients, however, I don't agree with Trump that they should be drafted for every marriage. Situations dictate and I personally think this was the weakest chapter of the book; 10. Think Big And Kick Ass In Business And Life: A chapter on what else - Thinking Big! Great ending chapter to motivate you to do even more than you are doing.

After those chapters is an Appendix that includes an interesting section of questions and answers by Donald Trump from Learning Annex Wealth Expos. There is also a suggested reading list. I've read many of the books on the list, but found a few that I want to read in the near future. There are also a bunch of testimonials that I could have done without, and some promotional things for The Learning Annex.

Overall I really enjoyed this quick read. It was motivational and just the thing to kick start 2008. I thank my wife and daughter for putting it under the Christmas tree for me.

Toys For Tots

2007-12-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

I want to point out a group that has been making things happen on many fronts, and at this time of year, for the last 60 years, they have been making things happen for many boys and girls with their Toys for Tots program.

Yesterday, Cosette and I took a bag of toys down to our local Marine recruiting station to donate. As we were leaving the house, Cosette said we would be like Santa Clause, but we should use the door, and not the chimney. I told her we would give them to the Marines and they would help find the boys and girls to give them too. She helped me carry the toys in to give to the Marines. It is not only nice to give, but to teach her about giving.

As a former Airborne Army Sniper, I know how important it is to have a mission, goals, and objectives. This is one of the reasons I teach these things.

Here are the mission, goal, and objectives for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program as listed on their official website: http://www.toysfortots.org/

MISSION: The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

GOAL:The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable natural resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

Please take the time this year to donate to this wonderful program.

I'd like to extend a very big thanks to everyone involved, everyone who donates, and especially those in uniform who are making it happen.

Becoming As Little Children

2007-11-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

What do you think when you see certain people? Do we sometimes forget that people are people, and not realize why some people are the way they are? Here is a little story that has been shared on the Internet that may give a different perspective on things.

Becoming As Little Children
by: Author Unknown

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.

His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there." Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.

Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo." Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's. Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder.

The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift. You see, m'am, I never saw my child grow up. My wife and son were taken from me in an automobile accident when they were both too young. I was never able to get over it."

Something to think about this season of giving....

Alain

Special thanks to Healthy Wealthy nWise Chronicles for being one of the sources that shares this story. www.healthywealthynwise.com

Giving Thanks

2007-11-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this article two days before Thanksgiving and a day after our first big snow storm of the year. My stiff muscles tell me that the hour and a half of shoveling I did yesterday morning before work was the first time I've used a couple muscle groups in a while. "Snowstorm knocks out power for thousands" read the headlines in the local paper this morning. Our house was one of them because I was wondering yesterday as I shoveled if I'd have to shave by flashlight when I finished.

With my back a little stiff, but clean shaven because our power did come back on, and in fact came back on while I was shoveling yesterday so I was able to comfortably shave yesterday too, I ponder the upcoming holiday.

Thanksgiving is just two days away. It is a holiday when we are supposed to be thankful. I sometimes wonder if people actually are thankful on Thanksgiving. Or is it just a day to cram our mouths full of anything and everything we can reach on the table in front of us as we plan the next day's shopping. After all, the experts tell us we must plan our Black Friday shopping if we want the best deals. I saw an article yesterday suggesting that you pick the store with the early bird special you want to line up at and send your spouse or others to various other places so your divide and conquer plan can yield the best after Thanksgiving bargains.

Many people, myself included, will most likely have a very busy Thanksgiving. People will be traveling or hectically preparing their homes and meals for company that will be coming over. The traveling, preparing, orchestrating the meal, dealing with clashing personalities of friends and family, cleaning up, and then preparing for the rest of the weekend, which we can't miss because after all, there are only so many more shopping days till Christmas and heaven forbid we miss the best sales, can all be physically and emotionally trying. With all of this going on, when will we take time to be thankful? After all, being thankful is something that most of us have to work at, even during the holiday that is supposed to remind us of this important act.

I think many, if not all, of us would like to be characterized as the kind of person who is thankful. Why then don't we focus on it? We should be thankful many times during the year, not just Thanksgiving, but if we can take a few moments right now during the holiday, it would be a good start.

I could start by being thankful that I am physically able to shovel snow for an hour and a half, or that I have a drive way to shovel. I am thankful that our power came back on yesterday morning, because the article in this morning's paper provided that many people were without power all day yesterday and into the night again. Wow, these are just little tiny things to be thankful for that happened in the last twenty-four hours. What if I stop and think about the real important things I am thankful for? What are you thankful for?

If you want to be more thankful, and I am suggesting that we all should be more thankful, you must set aside time to reflect on those things to give thanks for. In our fast paced life, if we don't stop and take the opportunity to give thanks and reflect on those things we are thankful for our days, weeks, months, and years will fly past and we will miss giving thanks and being thankful and then it will be too late.

During that time of reflecting, ask yourself what you can be thankful for. Don't bemoan about those things you want, but rather look to what you already have. Many of us take a lot of things for granted. Give thought to your blessings and be thankful. And if you are thankful for other people in your life, tell them. Tell friends and family, those you love and care about, how much they mean and that you are thankful for having them in your life.

Take a few moments this Thanksgiving holiday to be thankful. Be sure to take the time to let others know how thankful you are to have them. Take the time to visit them, call them, or write them a note. Make sure they know what they mean to you.

Once you have started this habit on Thanksgiving, wouldn't it be a shame if you were only thankful one Thursday every November? Why not be thankful more often? Many of us have much more good fortune than we think about. We often focus on the negative and forget the blessings. Let's all remember to count those blessings and give thanks. Let's all be more thankful. Not just this Thanksgiving, but throughout all of our years.

Wishing you the Happiest of Thanksgivings and the warmest of thoughts throughout the year!

Lose Fat to Increase the Quality of Life

2007-11-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

Recently, there was a study that basically said that being over weight might not be as bad as some people believe. I have a couple problems with this study.

It focused on mortality and death,not enjoyment of life. What about people who have excess fat, and due to that excess fat, have to take medications, and so on to help them live longer. What about people who have excess fat, and due to that excess fat, they don't enjoy life as much.

Okay, here is one of my biases, but I believe it. When you are healthy and don't have excess fat, you can better enjoy life. Period. I've seen people who can barely walk across the street because of being so out of shape. And I'm not addressing legitimate medical problems that can lead to gaining weight. I'm focusing here on people that the only problem has been lack of exercise and over eating junk that leads to being over fat. I say over fat, because over weight, going just by what the scale says is not accurate, and I'll address that next.

Being over fat makes it hard to do a lot of things. That leads to what I believe a less enjoyable life. Now maybe it is because I enjoy active things. I love taking long hikes in the woods, and when my daughter Cosette can't walk anymore, I carry her. I was glad that I could carry Cosette from where we turned in the stroller at Disneyland to the tram and then to the car. (And for those that have never been there, that is quite a distance to carry a 40 pound little girl who is completely out due to along day at the park - a day at the park that you have been walking all day at too) Many people who are out of shape could not do this. I see people who are over fat struggling with things at times, simple things that people that are not that out of shape don't have problems with. I think people get the point.

So while the study talked about mortality, what about quality of life? I still firmly believe that lowering a person's body fat and increasing energy through an exercise program and healthy eating improves the quality of life. (We don't even need to get into the studies that show people with excess fat don't make a much in the work force, lose out jobs, etc. - and even risk the chance of getting fired by Denny Crane for those of you that saw the most recent Boston Legal)

So while you might not die. I still think it is vital to reduce excess body fat for quality of life reasons. Why live long if you can't do things, etc. I also don't like BMI that much because it focuses on weight and not fat. Now, I'll be the first to admit that during law school I gained some pounds. I've taken most of them off, but still would like to lose a couple more. And the weight I gained in law school was FAT. No doubt about it. However, back when I was younger, in the Army, they used some height/weight charts similar to the BMI charts. Every time I was measured, I was too heavy for my height. If you fail these tests, they put you on the Fat Man program. (I forget the real name, but we called it the fat man program) On that program, if you did not get your weight to standards, you could get booted out of the Army. Anyway, I and a few others that lifted a lot were always overweight by the charts. That I maxed every PT test and so on didn't matter. According to the charts, I was overweight. The good news is that the Army realized those charts were just a starting point. Those that were overweight by the charts had to then be tested for body fat levels. Anyone over 20% for men headed to the fat man program. I usually came in at 9-10 percent back then. For those that don't know, that is pretty good and what many athletes fall into. Marathon runners and bodybuilders at time of competition will be down lower than that. I forget, but Clarence Bass got down to under 4 percent or so at times, and that is super low. You MUST have some fat to live. You cannot be at 0 percent. And those super low numbers can be unhealthy if you try to maintain for a long time. So that is why I don't like BMI that much. It is an okay general standard for many "average" people. If you are tall, have extra muscle from exercising, etc. it screws up the results.

I think suit manufacturers follow similar guidelines. I cannot go buy a suit either. I need a 46 Jacket. Most suits have a 6-7 inch drop. So pants that comewith a 46 jacket come with 38-42 inch pants. Way too big for me. Last time I was being measured at a nice clothing store the guy told me to quit lifting weights or to stick with sports coats and Blazers. (The store did not sell separates)

Bottom line: We should all strive to exercise and eat reasonably, keep our body fat levels reasonable, and stay in shape in order to not only live longer, but to be able to enjoy the quality of life that comes with being fit and healthy.

Yours in Health and Fitness,

Alain

Where do You Go For Your Intellectual Feast? by Jim Rohn

2007-10-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

I've posted here and mention often when speaking that I am an avid reader. Here is a great little article and some additional quotes about books and reading that I firmly believe in. Take Jim Rohn's advice! - Alain

Where do You Go For Your Intellectual Feast? by Jim Rohn (excerpted from Leading an Inspired Life)

Pity the man who has a favorite restaurant, but not a favorite author. He's picked out a favorite place to feed his body, but he doesn't have a favorite place to feed his mind!

Why would this be? Have you heard about the accelerated learning curve? From birth, up until the time we are about eighteen, our learning curve is dramatic, and our capacity to learn during this period is just staggering. We learn a tremendous amount very fast. We learn language, culture, history, science, mathematics... everything!

For some people, the accelerated learning process will continue on. But for most, it levels off when they get their first job. If there are no more exams to take, if there's no demand to get out paper and pencil, why read any more books? Of course, you will learn some things through experience. Just getting out there - sometimes doing it wrong and sometimes doing it right - you will learn.

Can you imagine what would happen if you kept up an accelerated learning curve all the rest of your life? Can you imagine what you could learn to do, the skills you could develop, the capacities you could have? Here's what I'm asking you to do: be that unusual person who keeps up his learning curve and develops an appetite for always trying to find good ideas.

One way to feed your mind and educate your philosophy is through the writings of influential people. Maybe you can't meet the person, but you can read his or her books. Churchill is gone, but we still have his books. Aristotle is gone, but we still have his ideas. Search libraries for books and programs. Search magazines. Search documentaries. They are full of opportunities for intellectual feasting.

In addition to reading and listening, you also need a chance to do some talking and sharing. I have some people in my life who help me with important life questions, who assist me in refining my own philosophy, weighing my values and pondering questions about success and lifestyle.

We all need association with people of substance to provide influence concerning major issues such as society, money, enterprise, family, government, love, friendship, culture, taste, opportunity, and community. Philosophy is mostly influenced by ideas, ideas are mostly influenced by education, and education is mostly influenced by the people with whom we associate.

One of the great fortunes of my life was to be around Mr. Shoaff those five years. During that time he shared with me at dinner, during airline flights, at business conferences, in private conversations and in groups. He gave me many ideas that enabled me to make small daily adjustments in my philosophy and activities. Those daily changes, some very slight, but very important, soon added up to weighty sums.

A big part of the lesson was having Mr. Shoaff repeat the ideas over and over. You just can't hear the fundamentals of life philosophy too often. They are the greatest form of nutrition, the building blocks for a well-developed mind.

I'm asking that you feed your mind just as you do your body. Feed it with good ideas, wherever they can be found. Always be on the lookout for a good idea - a business idea, a product idea, a service idea, an idea for personal improvement. Every new idea will help to refine your philosophy. Your philosophy will guide your life, and your life will unfold with distinction and pleasure.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn
Books/Library/Reading

Miss a meal if you have to, but don't miss a book.

Some people claim that it is okay to read trashy novels because sometimes you can find something valuable in them. You can also find a crust of bread in a garbage can, if you search long enough, but there is a better way.

Most homes valued at over $250,000 have a library. That should tell us something.

Everything you need for your better future and success has already been written. And guess what? It's all available. All you have to do is go to the library. And there's probably a library in every neighborhood.

Some people read so little they have rickets of the mind.

I now have one of the better libraries. I admit that I haven't read everything in my library, but I feel smarter just walking in it.

Don't just read the easy stuff. You may entertained by it, but you will never grow from it.

The book you don't read won't help.

Books are easy to find and easy to buy. A paperback these days only costs six or seven dollars. You can borrow that from your kids!

It isn't what the book costs; it's what it will cost if you don't read it.

Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine. For more of Jim Rohn's great wisdom, check out his link in the blog links.

Time Quotes

2007-10-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it , but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back."
- Harvey Mackay

"Time has a way of getting away from us, because we never have a grip on it during the day..."
- Doug Firebaugh

"Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time."
- Jim Rohn

"When you kill time, you kill your opportunities for success."
- Denis Waitley

"Time is a finite resource and we all place infinite demands on it. I view time as an opportunity, as a chance to make choices about how I spend that resource -- because it is our choice. And that's something people often forget."
- Maggie Wilderotter

"The quality of life is the quality of your time management."
- Brian Tracy

"Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use."
- Earl Nightingale

Use your time to Make Things Happen! - Alain

Goals

2007-10-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

Setting goals is one of the very best ways to help you achieve what you want. To motivate us, goals must have purpose and direction. Sometimes people set goals without thinking about their reasons for wanting to attain them. So to ensure our goals have purpose and direction, we need to also look at our intentions. One way to think about this would be to look at goals as the plans you pencil in each day and intentions as the reason you pull out the pencil in the first place.

So when setting goals we want to set goals that take us in the direction of our intentions. Therefore, we must set specific goals. Take exercise for an example. Rather than just saying you want to look better or feel better, determine what you specifically want to accomplish. Do you want to lose 10 pounds? 20 pounds? Do you want to run a six minute mile? A five minute mile? An eight minute mile? Do you want to bench press 300 pounds? 350 pounds? What is the specific result you want to achieve?

There are many goal-setting resources available. There are books, tape and CD programs, on-line courses, and live seminars that focus on goal setting. Many of them are very similar. It is not so important as to which program of goal setting you follow as it is that you set goals and achieve them.

If you want to make things happen, you must determine what you want to make happen, set that goal, and go for it!

New Negotiation Articles

2007-10-03T23:05:00.000-07:00

I have posted five new Negotiation Articles in the articles section under Make Things Happen at www.burrese.com

The new articles are from my monthly columms for The Montana Lawyer magazine and include:

Negotiation Success is in the Planning

Listen Up

Assumptions

What Makes a Good Negotiator?

Strategy vs. Tactics

I hope you enjoy the articles and that they help with your negotiations and making things happen.

All the best,

Alain

Take One Step

2007-09-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

Identify one step, even if it is just a small one, that you have been putting off that would help you make something you want happen. Then take action on that step this week! Tell a friend to help you keep your commitment. Make that person hold you accountable to following through. Taking the first step can be powerful and will assist you in taking the next step, and then the next, and so on. Pretty soon you'll have made things happen. Taking the first step is an important element of achieving personal and professional success. So take that step and make things happen!