Make Things Happen

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:19:00 +0000

I hope 2009 is starting out great for you! I will be posting various reviews of products that can help you achieve more and live a better and more full life. I'll also be posting other thoughts to help you as well. I'm looking forward to making a lot of things happen in 2009 and hope you are too.

May 2009 be healthy and prosperous for all,

Alain

Stay Safe This Holiday Season

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:50:00 +0000

The holiday season is upon us. Well, if you count when stores started putting out Christmas decorations, it has been upon us for months. However, now that it is December and Thanksgiving is past, I think we can officially say it is the Holiday Season. I know my little girl is excited about decorating our tree, and we have to get it up pretty soon because she keeps reminding me that it is after Thanksgiving. (I kept telling her that we would get a tree after Thanksgiving, so guess what's on the agenda for this coming weekend, right after seeing Santa on Saturday?)

Unfortunately, someone will be mugged this holiday season, others will fall victim to theft and burglary. Someone will visit the emergency room due to a physical altercation. Someone will die behind the wheel because they decided to drive after drinking, someone else will be killed because of someone else making that same decision. We already learned of one person trampled in a rush for sale items, sadly we will learn of someone else who takes their own life from depression. A family will lose their home, and maybe lives, due to a fire set by holiday decorations. I could continue, but I've made my point.

During this holiday season, don't let a moment of carelessness or a second of stupidity turn a festive joyous occasion into a terrible tragedy. Rejoice, have fun, celebrate the holidays and bring cheer to your fellow men, women and children. Especially the children. But do so safely.

Stay aware of what you are doing and those things going on around you. Be alert to hidden dangers and take the time to ensure your holidays and not only festive and wonderful, but safe and secure as well.

Wishing you the most wonderful of seasons, and please stay safe!

Seven Steps to Success

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:25:00 +0000

Once you define what success is to you, go for it. Why wait? The only time you have is now, so make up your mind to achieve success and do it now. There are many steps to success, and depending on your definition of success and what you want to succeed in, there may be many, many more. However, these seven steps to success are universal and if you incorporate these ideas and steps into your daily life, you undoubtedly will start achieving more and be well on your ways to the success of your dreams.

1. Commit to Success. Get serious. Enough of wishing for success as you mope around doing the same things that are not working. Seriously commit to achieving your goals. Quit fooling around. If something is worth achieving, and it is what you really desire, make a commitment right now that you will do everything within your power to achieve it. Determine what success is for you. Determine what you will achieve. Commit to success and don't let anything hold you back.

2. Take Care of Yourself. You won't succeed if you are not healthy. How would you like to earn ten million dollars just in time to die of a heart attack, or watch your finances dwindle away due to health care costs? You don't have to be a fitness fanatic, but you must take excellent care of your health. Exercise, eat right, and get enough rest, which includes stress reduction activities such as mediation, yoga, Qigong, or similar practices. For some just a walk in the park will act as exercise and a stress reduction activity. You must take care of yourself to be truly successful.

3. Read to Succeed. There are so many great books out there that will help you succeed. Add to these books the numerous magazines, newspapers, and web articles and there is more than you can imagine. The key is to find quality sources that help you achieve your goals. I read 6-8 books a month. Sometimes more, sometimes a little less, depending on the length of the books I'm reading. I encourage you to do the same. Turn off the TV and read. Get up early and read. As Jim Rohn likes to say, "skip a meal, but don't skip your reading." Mix up what you read. Personally I read a lot of books on areas of law, business, self-defense, safety, and martial arts because of the work I do in those areas. I also read a lot of motivational and success related books. However, I also include novels for fun, history and political books to broaden my knowledge, exercise and fitness books, and others to numerous to name. Additionally, listen to books and audio programs. This is a great way to get more "reading" in. I am always listening to audio programs when I drive, and I've now downloaded many audio programs into my ipod to listen to at the gym. Read (and listen) to Succeed.

4. Associate with the Right People. The old saying, "if you want to be successful, do what successful people do" is true. It is also true that if you want to be successful, associate with successful people. If you associate with winners, you will win. Fly with the eagles and help each other succeed. Associate with people who motivate you to succeed, not people who bring you down. Return the favor by motivating others to reach their potential and do great things too. Don't give negativism to others, and don't hang around negative people that bring you down. Associate with the best, to be your best.

5. Listen and Communicate Clearly. As an attorney and mediator, I have seen so many problems that would never have grown to where I had to be involved if the parties had just listened to each other and communicated with each other in a clear and professional manner. There are many resources out there on listening and communicating. I encourage you to include some of these resources into your reading and audio program listening lists. The better you listen to people and the more clearly you communicate, the more successful you will become.

6. Enjoy the Journey. What is the purpose of being successful if you don't enjoy the journey? I just watched "Everyone Says I Love You" the other day on the IFC channel. I remember the movie from seeing it in the movie theater while living in Korea and it has a great cast. So I had it on as I was doing some paperwork. There is a song called "Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)" sung by a bunch of dancing ghosts in the movie. None of us really know how much time we have, and we are constantly reminded of this with the passing of people who we are surprised die so early. So enjoy what you are doing. Success is worthless if you are not enjoying the journey.

7. Do It Now! What are you waiting for? We just acknowledged that we don't know how much time we have. Stop procrastinating! Nike says "Just Do It" which I think is one of the best ad campaigns of all time, but I'll tell you to "Just Do It Now!" Create a sense of urgency to your success. After all, we want to enjoy success as we are enjoying the journey. So why wait? Do it now! Don't let fear hold you back. Don't let laziness keep you from doing those things that will lead to your success. Success is yours, do it now!

Here's to Your Success!

Alain

Thank You Veterans!

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:32:00 +0000

I've always been associated with Veterans. My grandfather landed on two beaches in WWII. He brought home two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star from that war. My father spent twenty-two years in the Air Force, with two tours in Vietnam. My father's current wife spent four years in the U.S. Navy. I spent four years in the Army with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. I've known many men and women throughout my life that have served in the Armed Forces. Many have been good friends. Because of my time in the service, and my relationship with so many others who served, I know of the sacrifices made by everyone who dons a uniform and commits to serving our country.

On this special day, set aside for our Veterans, I want to thank each and every person who ever served, who is serving now, and who will serve in the future. The sacrifices made by our Veterans have been great, and all of us owe those that served.

Thank You Veterans!

Alain

In Memory of Charlie "Tremendous" Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:19:00 +0000

It is with great sadness that I note the passing of one of the true legends and pioneers of the professional speaking world in America. Charlie "Tremendous" Jones passed away on October 16th.

He was always fun to listen to, and presented powerful messages. He was a strong advocate of reading. One of my favorite quotes of his was, "You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read."

Instead of giving business cards to people, Charlie "Tremendous" Jones used to give books to people with his name and contact information inside. We lost a great speaker and a great person. In Charlie's honor, why don't you start reading new book today.

- Alain

What If Everything is a Top Priority?

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:54:00 +0000

We hear it all the time, "You must prioritize." Or maybe it is, "Set your priorities for the day." How about, "Do your top priorities first." Well, what do you do when everything is a top priority?

Stop, take a deep breath, calm down and remember, not everything has the same importance. That's reality. I hear some people saying right now, "No, reality is EVERYTHING is a top priority!"

Not really. Everything is not a top priority. We must all learn to distinguish which things are more important and how to prioritize the things we must attend to. We can, and we must decide which things are more important. Distinguishing which things have priority for the day will reduce stress and enable you to focus on what is really important.

You CAN'T do it all! No one can. That is why setting priorities is so important and why everyone tells you that you must set them. Therefore, once you have made your list of "to dos" in whatever system you have chosen for yourself, you need to ask yourself a few questions. First ask, "What really must be done today?" Then ask, "What can wait till another time?" Also ask yourself, "What items on this list advance me toward my goals the most?" Asking these questions will help you sort through the myriad of things you have scheduled and placed on your "to do" list. These questions will help you realize what really is a top priority and what really isn't.

Evaluate the consequences of not doing an item. Evaluate the consequences of doing the item at a later time. If you are having difficulties establishing priorities, you may want to ask someone else. At work, a fellow employee may be able to assist you with what is important. If your boss gave you multiple tasks, ask your boss to help prioritize them. At home, your spouse or a friend may be helpful in assisting you with determining what is really important and what should be a priority.

Not long ago a fellow writer and I were discussing various projects we each had going and we helped each other prioritize some of our numerous projects. Nothing says you have to go it alone. Get some help when needed.

There is one thing that everyone should include on their list. Make yourself your top priority! On airplanes, they tell you in case of an emergency, to put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others. You must take care of yourself first in order to help anyone else. You must make time for yourself. This includes a variety of things to keep you healthy and sane. Exercise, proper nutrition, relaxation and stress reducing activities need to be included in your schedule. If you don't make yourself a priority, sooner or later you will burn out and everything will be affected negatively. So while everything is not a top priority, YOU are. Treat yourself as such, and distinguish which of your other activities need your immediate attention and you will be in better control of your time and your life.

Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn and Chris Widener - A review

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:02:00 +0000

Jim Rohn has been imparting wisdom and sharing his success philosophies and principles for over thirty years. Chris Widener is a rather newcomer to the field of personal development compared with Rohn, but he has also shared the stage with some impressive people sharing his wisdom through speaking and writing. Now these two personal development professionals have teamed up to write a short little novel that contains a tremendous amount of wisdom in twelve secrets of success.

The book,titled "Twelve Pillars," is short, only 120 pages, and very easy to read. It is a story of a young man named Michael. After his car breaks down, Michael meets an old man named Charlie. Charlie teaches Michael about the twelve Pillars of Success. The Pillars, or lessons, are very simple, but that does not mean they are not extremely powerful. If you really take what Rohn and Widener are teaching through this story to heart, you will undoubtedly achieve more and live a more productive and happy life. You will live a life that is much more fulfilling and be rewarded with more meaningful relationships.

Just because the lessons are simple, does not mean they are necessarily simple to incorporate into your life. However, if you have this little book there to remind you and keep you on track, you will surely become a more successful person.

I really enjoyed the story and I'm sure I'll read it again and again each time I need a quick boost and reminder of those things to focus on. It is such a quick read with so powerful a message, I'd encourage everyone to read it more than once. Let the lessons these two teach sink in and make sure you act upon them.

Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn and Chris Widener will surely inspire you to take your life to the next level and beyond. It will challenge and encourage you to become the best that you can be. All you need to do is read it, learn from it, and take action on the twelve pillars of success.

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.

A Reminder to Take Time for What's Important

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:57:00 +0000

Yesterday a friend shared the news that a relative of his just died of a heart attack, and he was himself a heart surgeon, taking up that career because of his father's death by heart attack. The thing that hit home, yet again, was he was only 41. I'm 41!

I say yet again because my wife's brother-in-law died a couple years ago, and he was in his early 40s as well. In the last few years, there have been a number of people my age who have passed away from this or that. I'm sure everyone can think of people they know that have left too soon.

What are we learning from it?

How often have we made promises to ourselves to do something, only to have time slip away until it is too late? Have you ever meant to get a hold of someone only to then hear the news that they have passed on? Do you have any regrets such as, "I wish I would have . . . before they died." I know I do. And there is not a thing I can do about those past regrets. I wish like heck that I would have done a few things, called a few people, said thanks or I love you to certain individuals before it became too late. Alas, I can't go back. None of us can.

However, we can look forward! We can take the time right now to LIVE and not just let life pass us by. Take the time to say thank you to those people you have been meaning to contact. Make time to say I love you to those you care about, especially those you don't communicate with that often. Reach out and mend those strained relationships before it is too late. Determine what is important in your life and get to it.

Each and every time a friend or acquaintance dies, I am reminded of my own mortality. It motivates me to get busy and work toward accomplishing the goals I've set for myself, and to make time for things that are really important. I still don't do as good of a job as I'd like. There are still people I have not talked to for way too long that I need to look up and reconnect with. There are still times that I don't do what I have determined is important.

Another death. Another reminder of my and everyone else's mortality. Another reminder that there are things I want to accomplish and people I want to thank, connect with, and tell them how much I care about them. Another reminder that they won't be around forever, and that we never know just when they will leave. Another reminder that I don't have all the time in the world, because I won't be around forever either, and we never know just how much time we have left.

I don't know about you, but I think I'll look up an old friend this week and make sure I connect with them. I'm going to spend some extra time with my little girl this week and help her with something she wants to do. I'm going to go out of my way to say thanks to someone before the week is through. I'm going to tell at least five people this week how much they mean to me. And I'm going to attempt to remember this on a continual basis without the reminders that seem to come all too often.

Ready, Set, Organize! - A Review by Alain Burrese

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:31:00 +0000

"Ready, Set, Organize! A Workbook for the Organizationally Challenged" by Pipi Campbell Peterson with Mary Campbell is just what it claims to be, a book of useful, entertaining, and quick advice for work and home.

If you are unorganized, you don't want to read a huge length text on what you need to do. After all, time is something you are most likely short of, that is part of the problem! One thing I really liked about "Ready, Set, Organize!" is that it was a quick read. Being disorganized wastes time. This book takes no time at all to gain advice that you can put to use now.

If you like lists, you will especially like "Ready, Set, Organize!" The book contains numerous list and charts to assist you with your planning and organizing. While you could just fill them in, I would recommend photo copying the pages and keep the book where you can make additional copies as needed. Or, you may wish you use the forms and lists in the text as guides to make you own on the computer so you can print them out when needed, or even keep your planning on the computer entirely.

The book is organized with nine chapters divided into three parts. Each chapter is simple, to the point, and relevant to get you organized right away. Part One focuses on taking the time to find time. It is the planning before the organizing. This is a very important step. If you are someone who already writes out your priorities, your mission, and your goals, this part might not be as beneficial. There are more complete texts on these topics. However, if you have never completed exercises such as these, do them. This is a great little primer to start. Chapter one gets you thinking about what your priorities are, how you use your time, and determining what your goals and objectives are. Chapter two then goes into determining what you want to accomplish with annual, monthly, and daily agendas. This leads to the third chapter which focuses on using a planner to organize your days.

Part Two focuses on your stuff. Chapter four gets you looking at what kind of belonging you have and what places you have to store them. And just like the rests of the book, there are lists and ideas to help you along. Chapter five covers a problem that many people seem to have with their clothes. No room to keep them all! If your clothes are unorganized this chapter will help! Chapter six goes into one of the biggest areas of clutter for just about everyone. The paper chase. Short chapter on creating files from piles. There are entire books on this topic, so if you need more help it is out there. But this chapter will give you a good start, and may be all you need.

Part Three focuses on organizing your household. Chapter seven will help you organize your home office, both for personal and business activities. Chapter eight has suggestions and ideas on organizing children's stuff and how you can get them to assist you with the organization. If you have kids, there are some good tips here. Chapter nine is the last chapter and it teaches you how to organize personal and family records, personal property, financial information and your final wishes. Most of this chapter is forms and worksheets to assist you in organizing. Photocopy them or use them as guides and you'll be able to get your things in order.

Read this book and get organized today. It is a quick read with loads of practical advice. It contains numerous lists and worksheets to assist you. If you really want to succeed in life and get the most out of your time, being organized is a must. This book will help you get started and more importantly, keep you on track.

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.

Create Your Own Future - a review

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:41:00 +0000

"Create Your Own Future: How to Master the 12 Critical Factors of Unlimited Success" by Brian Tracy is one of his numerous titles full of practical advice on succeeding in not only your career, but life.

I enjoy Tracy's works due to the solid practical advice he imparts through his products. However, sometimes his books can be a bit dry compared to some of the other books on the same topics. Nonetheless, if you implement the lessons Tracey teaches you will increase your success.

Another criticism would be that sometimes the material in Tracey's books overlap, and if you have read a lot of his books, you find some of the same things just presented a little bit differently. While you can criticize this, you can also look at it as a way to reinforce the information to ensure you learn and implement the strategies to succeed.

With that said, I did enjoy Create Your Own Future and found it to contain some valuable lessons. These lessons include:

1. Your Potential is Unlimited. Tracey advises you on how to take control of your mind and learn to unlock the powers to attract whatever you want for your life.

2. Clarity Is Critical. This chapter teaches the reader how to be clear about the things the reader wants to achieve and to determine what kind of person they want to become.

3. Knowledge Is Power. You must learn, and Tracey shows you how to become an expert in your field. It takes work, but it will be worth it. I could not agree with Tracey more, you must read and take courses to stay ahead of your competitors.

4. Mastery Is Magical. This chapter focuses on resolving to be excellent at what you do. Tracey offers advice on how to develop your skills and resolve to be in the top 10 of your field.

5. Attitude Is Everything. This is obvious, but still so many people are not positive. Take Tracy's advice and think and talk positively and don't think or talk about negative things or things you don't want.

6. Relationships Are Essential. Learn how to expand your network and improve relationships in all parts of your life.

7. Money Matters. Tracey teaches the basic but time tested formula of how to save and strategies to build wealth.

8. You Are a Genius. You don't need Tracy to tell you this, but his advice on unlocking your creativity will help you achieve more.

9. Results Determine Rewards. Take Tracy's advice and concentrate single mindedly on getting the most important results possible in everything you do and you will undoubtedly create more success in your life as you create the future of your dreams.

10. Seize The Day. You don't need Tracy to tell you this if you are reading a book on success. But he still offers great advice on being action oriented. This chapter will help you make things happen every day.

11. Character Counts. Why succeed and create a future if you are not a good person? I agree with Tracy that character counts and that the better a person you are on the inside, the more success you will obtain.

12. Fortune Favors the Brave. You must have courage and persistence to succeed. Tracy helps you resolve in advance that you will never give up.

These twelve factors, combined will assist you in becoming a positive, future focused, energetic, likable, talented, skilled, intelligent, and optimistic person who will undoubtedly succeed.

I do believe that each of us has the power to create our own futures. Brian Tracy offers a lot of practical advice on how to do just that. Add this book to your success library and more importantly, incorporate the 12 principles into your daily life and your future will be one that you create.

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.

Olympian Discipline and Determination

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:02:00 +0000

I'll admit, I watched more TV in the last couple of weeks than normal. With the closing of the Olympic Games last night in Beijing, China, the number of hours in front of the TV will drastically decline. It was amazing to watch the world's best athletes competing for Gold and seeing the triumphant taking the stand to listen to their national anthems from the winner's platform. The dedication and determination of those peak performers is motivational to me as I'm sure it is to many others who cheered our modern day Olympians on to victory.

However, I was not only motivated by those who won Gold. In fact, each and every athlete who competed in Beijing was motivational. Just to make it to the Olympics took tremendous determination and dedication to their sport. Yes I watched in eager anticipation each time Michael Phelps dove into the pool and streaked toward his record gold medal accomplishment. I also held my breath as Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukini performed their balance beam routines taking home the Gold and Silver medals. I was glad they both took home Golds and Silvers. And who couldn't marvel at Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh's impressive accomplishment. But I also applauded those that took silver and bronze medals and those that didn't place but still gave their all at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

Can you imagine going to bed with the thought, "We swam faster today than anyone in the world had ever swum, but still only came in fifth . . . " That's what the Sweden team members were thinking after the Men's 4 X 100 meter freestyle relay.

In fact, sometimes it is those that don't win the medals, that don't stand in the victory circle that can be most motivating. Why? Because they gave their all, and even without having a medal or the title Olympic Champion, they know inside what they did. They know what it took to get there. They can still hold their heads high knowing the sacrifices they made and the discipline it took. They are still Olympians. They are still champions in life.

Dedicating yourself to a positive goal and disciplining yourself to do everything in your power to achieve that goal makes you a champion in life. It really isn't standing on the winner's platform, but the journey of training, competing, and living that makes a person who they are.

If you have a dream, you must be determined to achieve it. You must discipline yourself to work towards it. You must pay the price. Your goal does not have to be an athletic accomplishment such as the Olympics. It can be anything. But no matter what it is, you must possess the Olympian's focus, the Olympian's obsession, and the Olympian's willpower to overcome all distractions and obstacles to make it to the games. You might not win the medal, but if you make it to the games, you will be a winner.

People all over the world have just set their sights on competing in the next Olympic Games of 2012 in London. As I write this on August 25th, 2008 there are only 1,432 days to go until those games start. Use the accomplishments of all of the Olympians to motivate you toward greater success. What will you accomplish in the next 1,432 days? What are you doing today to bring you closer to your goals? Olympians are training and doing those things to take them to London. Are you doing the things that will enable you to achieve your goals? Find your purpose and passion and specify those goals you will seek with Olympian determination. Then take action toward achieving greatness!

In Your Hands

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:39:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:52:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:43:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:28:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:31:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:16:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:53:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:22:00 +0000

"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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:48:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:44:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:45:00 +0000

"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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:08:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:15:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Alain) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:46:00 +0000

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!