My wife Brenda is involved with a number of different groups on social media and in one of the groups there was a challenge to share “three truths”.  They wanted basic core truths that each person lives by. This morning I thought I’d share my basic truths and I’d love to hear yours.

1. I’m here to help others. I know I’m not telling you anything new here but life is tough at times. At some point, each of us is going to stumble and fall. I believe that I’m here to help others through this crazy ride and get to the other side.
2. I’m here to make a difference. I believe that there’s something big I’m supposed to do, to make a difference, to leave the world better off than I found it. I also know the ONLY thing stopping me from achieving this is my fear and insecurities. Too many go to their graves with their dreams and music still in them and I refuse to join their ranks.
3. I’m supposed to...

When you start down the road of growth towards your GREATNESS, it’s easy to think that things are going to get better and better. And they do, your life does get better, but it’s not a straight climb up to the peak of your potential. On an intellectual level, you can understand and agree with that statement and still you’re surprised when, after all your hard work and effort, there are valleys on the road to your peak.

You see there are seasons all around us besides just the weather. Economies, relationships, businesses, and even your health have seasons and it is wise to be mindful of them. You need to look no further back than this past recession to see just how many people were genuinely surprised and unprepared for the “winter” of the economy.

As I have stepped back and become aware of the seasons all around, I came across some tips for dealing with the seasons in a way that will help you progress quickly to your greatness. My favorite is the ...

If you’re starting the day thinking, “Same Stuff, Different Day”, then I hope you had an awesome yesterday because that’s what you’re going to get today. As Benjamin Franklin so wisely put it, “If you do tomorrow what you did today, you’ll get tomorrow what you got today.”Instead of seeing today as just another boring and tedious day, you need to see it as a new beginning.

Today really is a gift that is taken for granted way too often. I guarantee you that there will come a morning that you won’t be a part of. Don’t squander your today because that’s what your life is made of. Today is a chance to do better, to become more, to see more, and to experience more. Today is a chance to care, to serve, and to make a difference. Today is a magical do over and the beauty of it is today happens every 24 hours! 

To help you maximize the opportunities that each today brings, you need to be looking for...

How many times have you caught yourself saying, “l didn’t get to it today, I’ll do it tomorrow.”? A lot I’m willing to wager. If I’m not careful, I find myself doing it too. Why is this a big deal? Because when you put off what you could do today you’re making excuses, creating stress, and living a life less than you’re capable of and designed to live. That’s the danger of tomorrow.

The past is gone and nothing you think, do, or say can bring it back. All you can do is realize that the life you have today is a result of decisions you’ve made in the past. More importantly though, you need to know that your past doesn’t have anything to do with your future. If you don’t like your current circumstances and want to make tomorrow better, all you have to do is make different choices today. Wielding the power of choice and taking action NOW makes you feel more in control, and reduces stress because...

You’re going to die. In fact, every day that you get up brings you one day closer to your inevitable end. Talking or thinking about death is avoided at all costs and you waste your days like they’re never going to end. I’m guilty of this too. I’m reading a great book right now called Living Forward by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy which is all about living a life of intention.

Going through life one day at a time creates a focus on the activities of the day while losing sight of impact you want your life to have. They and others have talked about living intentionally for many years. Michael Gerber talks about “COD or Cash Out Day” in his awesome book, The E-Myth. Stephen Covey references it in his great book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People when he talks about “Beginning with the end in mind”. The true currencies of life are relationships and experiences; they’re...

I once read a quote that really got me thinking by Andrew Carnegie that said, “Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best.” This quote dug into my brain like a tick. I mulled it over and over. Over the years, what’s driven me to do the things I did? My answers were revealing and I think they’ll help you too.

• Acceptance. I was looking for acceptance. I wanted to fit in and belong. I wanted people to like me so I did things that I thought would get them to do just that.
• Approval. I was looking for approval. I wanted to be validated by others. This is where my self-worth and self-esteem came from.
• Appreciated. I wanted to be appreciated. I wanted others to recognize the contributions I made. This made me feel valuable.
• Impress. I wanted to impress people with my knowledge and ability. I wanted to show off what I could do others couldn’t because it made me feel important.
• Prove. I wanted...

Some of the truest things are said in movies and shows. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Borg famously state, “Resistance is futile”. I’ve been on an intense quest to better understand who I am today and who I want to become. I realize that the bridge between these two points is my ability to set goals, change my habits with ones that better serve me, and to discipline myself to consistently do the work. I’ve seen some successes and I’ve seen some disappointments. Last year I set a goal to lose 100 pounds. By September, I was down 60 pounds and then derailed myself and I’ve gained 40 of it back.

I’ve learned some lessons going through this that I know will help me ultimately succeed, not only on this goal but on any goal that I choose for myself that I’d like to share with you over the coming days. My hope is my lessons will help you to become and achieve whatever dreams you have. The best teacher isn’t...

Falling down is a given. Feelings of disappointment, lack, inadequacy, and doubt in your life at times are a given. Thoughts of giving up are a given. Tears shed are a given.

Getting up and pushing through those feelings is a choice. And it’s the most powerful choice of all. After all, they’re just feelings. They don’t determine who you or I become unless we let them. The greatest battle you’ll ever have isn’t with a customer or a competitor; it’ll be with yourself.

When you’ve been knocked down, what you do next is the true measure of who you are and who you’ll become. Get up, dust yourself off, clench your jaw, and push forward. Always push forward.

Never give up on your dream. Never give up on yourself. Never give up; period. Do this and you’ll show the world just how AMAZING you are!

For most people, life has its ups and downs based on the circumstances they’re going through. The quality of life they have is based on what’s happening to them. When they’re going through a low point, they’re blaming others or their circumstances for their current situation. They sit there waiting for their circumstances to improve so they’re life can get better. They’re playing the victim. They’re the passenger in this vehicle called life and circumstance is the driver. Don’t be like most people. Realize that your life can be better than this with one simple mindset change. All you have to do is to accept complete and total responsibility for where you’re at.

You know that where you are now is the result of decisions you’ve made in the past. Taking responsibility isn’t about placing blame because the act of blaming is an exercise in futility. Taking responsibility is all about owning where you’re at which then...

Have you ever stopped and thought about what your expectations are for your life? It’s an exercise worth doing because you’ll most likely find that you’re thinking negatively, expecting little, and feel you’re being abused by people, circumstance, and life in general. The easiest way to find this out is to listen to the words you use. Your words are a HUGE indicator of your mindset. It’s true, everything that goes into your eyes and ears eventually comes out your mouth and hands.

Your expectations create your outlook on life, your outlook creates your attitude, your attitude determines how you see and filter the world around you, which creates your actions, which create your results, which confirm and reinforce your outlook on life. So, your words and actions are both an output of your outlook but they also feed and strengthen your outlook without you even being aware of it.

By listening to the words you use, it’ll give you a real...