Its been a while since I last blogged…2011 was a year of tremendous change for me. Some good, some not so good.  My sister had gotten seriously ill the year before, and I had literally put most of my life on hold to be with her.  She passed away on Thanksgiving morning, 2011.  I am trying to stay positive during such a difficult time so I am grateful for the time that we had  together.  Although it was way too short, we had an amazing connection the last couple of years.  I will treasure those moments forever.

On a positive note, during that same year, my life took a different path as I completed my 200 hr. certification to become a Yoga Teacher.  I am so thankful for having my yoga practice because it is what helped keep me from loosing my mind and stay grounded during this difficult time.

So after the new year, now 2012, I had been teaching my students about it being a new year, time for new beginnings, and most importantly, taking the time to slow down.  Unfortunately I was not hearing my own words that I was sharing with my classes, so one day after leaving class while I was rushing around with errands, I lost my wallet! I lost it all, credit cards, license & registration, etc.  Thankfully there was nothing irreplaceable in the wallet, but I must admit, it was a huge inconvenience.   I took it as a really big life lesson and heard the message loud and clear.  I wasn’t taking the time to slow down in life, so life stepped in and hit me over the head so I would stop and listen.   How ironic that the two weeks before this incident, I had been trying to get a message across to my students about the importance of slowing down in life.  I wonder if the message I was sharing was for my students or was it actually meant for me.

So, I am again sending this message out to you, to make a conscious effort to slow down in life.  We are all so busy trying to squeeze 25 + hours into a 24 hour day.  Sometimes I’m so busy, but often, I can’t seem to remember what I did the day before.  We now have so many electronics in our lives that are supposed to make life more manageable, but I think it is all making life more complicated.  We are in constant contact because of  our cell phones, and then get so lost in time on the internet.  We then have to rush around  completing  the tasks that didn’t get done because we were surfing the net.

The generation I grew up with didn’t have all these electronics, but the younger generation doesn’t know it any other way.  It used to be relaxing to go for a drive, and now we can’t seem to get away from the stress of worrying or avoiding someone who is lost in a phone conversation while they are driving.

So please, as difficult as it seems, lets all make a conscious effort to slow down in our lives.  When we are so busy, we miss the lessons that life is trying to teach us.

I’m sure you heard the saying…’Stop And Smell The Roses‘.  We often don’t take a moment to stop and smell how beautiful they actually smell…maybe we should!

Remember…life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but…by how many moments that take our breath away!

Namaste,

The Holidays are upon us once again…oh how fast time flies!!

It feels like it was just a few weeks ago that I was packing away all my outdoor furniture for the winter.

So now, with a  new year new approaching, its a time for new beginnings.  Stop and reflect on all that you have to be grateful for.

There is no better way to attract the ‘positive‘ into your life, than having an ‘Attitude of Gratitude‘.

In fact…

…if you sit down and start a list of all that you have to be grateful for, you will most likely be amazed at how long the list becomes.

Too many people dwell on how much they don’t have.

If you learn to stop those negative thoughts dead in their track…

…turn a negative into a positive,

…you will begin to attract the love, peace and happiness that so many are longing for in their lives.

Remember the laws of the universe…

…like attracts like!!

Make it a goal for the new year to work on changing thoughts of

‘Oh if I only had…’

to…

‘I am so grateful that I have…’

Negative or Positive thoughts are simply that…thoughts!

Most people believe that their thoughts control them and they become prisoners of their own mind and emotions.

I want to share a secret with you…

…you can control you thoughts. It just takes practice and persistence.  But  aren’t most things that are worth while in life??

Once you train your mind to find the positive in every situation, you will begin to feel lighter and happier.  Carrying around all those negative feelings is  like  carrying around thousand pound rocks all day long, day after day.

So here’s what I’m asking from you today…

I want you to go, right now, and grab a pen and a piece of paper.

Sit down and start jotting down everything, big and small, that you are grateful for in your life.  You don’t have to complete it in one sitting…keep adding to it as new thoughts pop into your head.

Be sure to keep the list where you can always read it.

Now, when you awake each day, think about all the good that is in your life.  Fill your mind, all day long, with beautiful thoughts.

In time, you will not want to let your mind think any other way because it feels…oh so good!!

Having an Attitude of Gratitude is the only way to think!

Today, I want you to know…

…I  am sincerely grateful for you reading and sharing my posts.  I also want you to know that I appreciate you.  

You know when you come across things in life that just move you?  Well, this is one of them.  My brother shared this amazing video with me and I, in turn, want to share it with all of you. 

It has to do with recognizing the 3 types of friends we all encounter in our lifetime.  Its about seeing the character of a person and not getting fooled by whats on the outside.  

You know the saying…

‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’. 

Well, this video takes that saying to a whole new level.  

You may want to watch it a few times to really grasp the message.  Its so powerful and oh so true.

After you watch it, really think about the people that you have in your life…

…are they feeding you energy or…

… are you feeding them and then, in the end…

…you’re left feeling completely drained? 

I believe we also run into the same types of people in business. 

There is a personal to business connection that can be applied here because we are all searching for mentors in life to ‘feed us’ and some of those mentors may even lead us to a path of greatness. 

But, there are too many people out there that are in disguise just looking to take you for a ride.  Don’t be fooled…

Watch the video now and definitely leave me your comments and thoughts on this one!

Click here to view the embedded video.

As we continue on our journey called ‘life’, it will undoubtedly be filled with peaks and valleys, or maybe better known as the ups and downs of life.

Unfortunately…

…our journey will not be all peaks,

And thank goodness…

… it won’t be all valleys either, but both are equally important to our growth.

I choose to write about this topic because I feel I am in one of those valleys right now.  My sister became extremely ill about a month ago, and I have not been able to focus on much of anything else since.  But as all things in life…everything happens for a reason.

While trying to make sense of it all, I came across an awesome book called…

…“Peaks and Valleys: Making Good and Bad Times Work For You — At Work and In Life” by bestselling author Spencer Johnson.

It never ceases to amaze me…

…how we find, what we need to find, at precisely that right moment!

The book is a story about a young man who lives unhappily in a valley.  He meets a wise old man who lives on a peak and over time, it changes his work and life forever.

At first, the young man doesn’t realize he’s talking with one of the most peaceful and successful people in the world. The old man tells him that all our lives are chock full of peaks and valleys.

He compares it to our heartbeat. “Like a healthy heartbeat, your personal Peaks and Valleys are an essential part of a normal, healthy life.”

Through a series of conversations and experiences that occur up on peaks and down in valleys, the young man comes to make some startling discoveries.

Over time,he comes to understand how he can use the old man’s extraordinary principles and practical tools in good and bad times, and becomes a more calm and successful person.

He also learns how important are the Plateaus we experience in life…

… they are times of healthy rest when you take stock of what is happening and pause to think about what to do next. Peaks and Valleys are not just the good and bad times that happen to you, they are also how you feel inside and react to outside events.

There is a very powerful insight that the author shares…

“If you make your decisions based on the truth, you’re going to come out in very good shape.”

You will know when its the truth as you will feel a sense of calmness and energy.  It must be the actual truth, not just an illusion of it.

My message to you is to go with the flow.  Don’t fight what life is handing you at any given moment.  There is a reason for all life’s challenges and triumphs.  Its ok if you need to stop along the way.  Just keep your mind open, so when the path eventually appears, you will take its guidance in leading you on your way.

I allow myself to face the challenges I am presented.  As trying as they may be sometimes, I always keep the faith that I will find my path. 

You must learn to do the same.  Some paths are longer than others, but follow the truth and you will always find your way. 

Eventually…

… you will be sitting high upon the next peak and enjoying the view 

If you are a newbie to Internet marketing or have been acquiring knowledge for some time now, either way…

…jumping into action, is the only way you will become successful.

You don’t need to wait until you have ‘learned it all’, because let me tell you…

…you will never ‘know it all’. 

Learning is an ongoing process, especially in this business.  Technology is constantly changing and advancing.and unless you keep up with the times, you will  be at a disadvantage to your competition.

If you are just getting started with your online career, and as you learn a new skill, put it into action right away.  Sure you might fail once or twice, but learn as you grow.  You will never know what you are capable of  until you try.  Don’t get caught up in the cycle of fear and procrastination because it can stop you dead in your tracks.

Another thing you need to keep in mind as you are putting your knowledge into action is…

…don’t get sidetracked and overwhelmed. 

It is so easy to do in this business because of the speed that technology is advancing.

Choose a platform on which to grow your business and then keep your blinders on.  Keep the main thing the main thing.  Keep your eyes on the goal.  Learn all you can about that particular platform and while doing so, put it into action and test the waters.  Don’t move onto another platform until you learn to master one.  

I’m sure you have heard the saying, ‘Jack of all trades, Master of none…’.  Don’t let that be you.   

You can have all the knowledge in the world, but without putting it into action, you really have nothing at all.

Sure you are going to feel uncomfortable at first, sure you are going to feel uneasy and unsure.  All successful people do!  But they don’t let that stop them.  Why?

Because along the way, they have developed one of the most important pieces to a successful business and you must do the same!

You must develop your mindset and know where you are going!  This is what will keep you on track and moving forward when the waters get rough. 

So my friend, what are you waiting for??  Go get into action!!

If you found value in this post, please share it will your fellow marketers using the social buttons above and below this post.   I’m sure they will appreciate you for it.  I know I will

As always, I love to hear your thoughts, so please leave me a comment in the section below.

This post has not much to do with marketing and personal development, or does it?  You be the judge. 

I find this story to be absolutely fascinating!  

I know we all wonder what happens after we are gone.  Is reincarnation a possibility?  No one really knows for sure, so today…

… I want to give you all some food for thought.  This video is the actual news broadcast that was aired on one of the News Channels.   From a young age of 2, this boy started to share  Exact Facts about the life he lived before.  Watch this video and feel the hair stand on the back of your neck as you get lost in the thought of…

…is it possible?

Click here to view the embedded video.

I find comfort in believing that the soul lives on…

… how about you?  

I surely would love to know your thoughts about this!  Be sure to leave me a comment below.

Share this incredible story with your  friends using the social buttons above and below this post.

My friend David A. Haines shared a video he found on a friends blog and I want to do the same.  The subject is about enjoying and being happy with the simple things in life.  I found it so incredibly inspiring and felt an overwhelming need to share it with all of you.  Please take a moment and watch the video at the end of this post.    It just might change how you view life.

The video is called ‘ Life Is Like A Cup Of Coffee’

It tells of a very wise professor and his analogy of how life is like a cup of coffee…and let me tell you, it will make each one of you who watch it, rethink your priorities.

I believe…

…if we can be completely content with the simple things in life, we will then be able to appreciate much more, the finer things in life if we are blessed to have them sent our way.   When we are content, we will not feel a need  to have a bigger house, more expensive cars or whatever other materialistic things we think we must chase after to feel more successful.   Just appreciate what you have now and you then will gain a new appreciation for …

…the special gifts you may be blessed with in the future. 

Its all about having an attitude of gratitude and the universe will extend its hand to help those that help themselves…

Click here to view the embedded video.

So ask yourself…

…do you really enjoy the simple things in life?

Please share this, using the social buttons, so others can learn from its powerful message!

Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know if you found this video as inspiring as I did.

I choose to write a post about this topic because it is such an important part to our success…

…whether it be in life or business. 

This is a short post with a strong message, and I’m blessed to be writing this from beautiful, sunny Aruba.  

As I was lying in a lounge chair staring at the incredible ocean, I got lost in my thoughts.  I started to reflect on things that are going on in my life and I want to suggest you do the same. 

I’m not saying to fly to Aruba, what I am saying is take some time when you need to and go find a place where you can be alone, relax and let your mind be free.  

Maybe go sit by the beach or a lake… 

…or something as simple as going to the park and listening to the birds talking can do incredible things for the soul.   

As you move forward, lifes challenges can be so draining, and part of being successful means knowing when to step back, take a break and…

…re-charge your mind, body, and soul.

Certain things that weren’t clear before, will suddenly become crystal clear.  If you are struggling at a crossroad in your life, learning to quiet your mind and really listen to what it is telling you…

… you will find an answer. 

We all make sure that we re-charge our cell phones, our ipads, our computers, or what ever it is that keeps us connected, don’t we?

Why not our minds?

How far would you get if you didn’t take time to put gas in your car or have it serviced from time to time?

Well, the same is true for our minds!

Find peace within yourself and learn that it’s OK to take a break once in a while. 

Now don’t take this as advice to run away from your problems, it’s quite the contrary. 

Learning to take some time for yourself will make you better equipped at handling all that life throws at you. 

You will come back with more clarity, and more energy than you had before ready to take on life.

I would love to hear about how you recharge so leave me a comment below.

Also…

…be sure to help me share this message!

To ReCharging our Mind, Body and Soul!

I’m sure you have heard it many times before…

…The Fortune Is IN The List.

You are growing your list, and so,

you expect the money to be rolling in with each new subscription added.  But its not, and you can’t understand why because you thought…

… if I grow my list, I’ll become very rich.

Let me say it again, ‘The Fortune Is IN The List’.

Just  growing a list doesn’t automatically create you an income. 

A list is something that needs to be nurtured, to be handled with care, so that one day, yes, it can make you very rich.

What a list does do, is it gives you an opportunity to create relationships with those people that, over time, will grow to trust you and trust what you are offering.

I want to ask you a few questions…

Are you communicating with your list on (at least) a weekly basis via e-mails?  If not, why?  If you can communicate with your list more, then do so.  It will only benefit you in the long run.  One way to accomplish this is with an AutoResponder, if you don’t have one working for you, I highly recommend you get one, ASAP!

Are you offering your list real value, OR…

…are you trying to pitch them on a regular basis, about products or services they should buy from you,  or opportunities they should join you on?   

If so, let me tell you my friend, that’s a sure way to loose them.  You can forget about making any money from your list if that’s the strategy you are using.  Not only are you doing a dis-service to the people on your list, you are hurting your own reputation!  

Why not try using the 80/20 rule when working your list… 

…Offer your list real, true value 80% of the time, and the other 20% of the time, you can offer your list the products or services you’re selling!

If you handle your list correctly, they will be forever loyal and follow you till the end of your marketing career!

So remember…

…The Fortune is not just having a list, it is IN the list!

Help me spread the good word by using the social buttons above or below this post!

I appreciate you taking the time to visit my site!  Leave me a comment and let me know you stopped by!

To Your Success,

So, you want to be an entrepreneur…

…you have all these big dreams about how you want your life to be, high hopes of accomplishing all the goals you have set for yourself, how you want to live a life of financial freedom, of creating your destiny and controlling your life instead of it controlling you, and then…

…in creeps the big, huge, ugly, controlling ‘F’ word.  

FEAR!

Fear of…

… failing, of not saying the right thing, of not accomplishing your goals, of looking stupid, of doing or thinking different than others, of falling flat on your face, of what others might say, of being wrong, of feeling insecure, of loosing, of doubting yourself…

… fear of taking a chance because you don’t know what the outcome will be!

You started out with the best of intentions, and then somehow, it grabs hold of you…

…mind, body, and soul.  You didn’t even see it coming.

Sometimes, it can be paralyzing, stopping you dead in your tracks!  This huge, ugly word will keep you from being who you are… if you let it!

We’ve all shaken hands with the unwanted feeling at one time or another.   Some stay stuck in its vicious cycle , others, can push it away.  Why?

Because they have wrapped their minds around…

…doing things no matter what!

Don’t ever think for a second that the people who look like they have it all together, never experience that ugly feeling of fear.  You are dead wrong!  Everyone does, they just have learned how to not let it control who they are.

Be who you are, be true to yourself, hold your head up high. 

Sometimes you will fail, sometimes you will look foolish, sometimes you will feel so unsure of yourself, but…

… if you stay true to who you are, and push thur the fears,

I can promise you…

…you will be all the more better of a person for having done so!

You must never stop being who you are for any one or anything…especially because of fear. 

I can also promise you this, you will miss out on so much of life if…

… you let yourself be controlled by it.

So…

Never stop being who you are because of Fear!

Help me spread the word!  Lets help others who let fear control them.  Share this post with others so they can learn how to NOT let fear control them.   You can use the buttons above or below this post.

To Being Who You Are,