AUGUST 2018

Business Tips:

READING

Reading was not my favorite thing to do. I would have rather been outside, playing ball, watching TV, playing video games, even working……rather than reading a book.

I started hanging out with people that were avid readers. Not only were they much smarter and more knowledgeable…….but they made more money than I did. So early on in life, I tried to emulate those that I wanted to be like. In that time, it was about how to make more money. It was also the quickest way to get smarter. I was speeding up the process of making mistakes because I was able to learn from others in advance of making mistakes on my own. I had found a shortcut. I soon found out that it would change my life. The money came……but the knowledge is the only thing from the experience that is truly irreplaceable.

If you want to change your life. Start reading. Learn how to read, not just putting letters together, but ask someone how to study a book, how to apply it, and what to do next.

Leaders are readers.

In The Prince, Machiavelli offered the following advice:  “A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.”

Seneca, writing on the same subject, said, “Men who have made these discoveries before us are not our masters, but our guides.”

“When we read, the other person thinks for us: we merely repeat their mental process.”

Mortimer Adler believed that reading is a conversation between you and the author. 

It’s important to take time to think about what we’re reading and not merely assume the thoughts of the author. We need to digest, synthesize, and organize the thoughts of others if we are to understand. This is the grunt work of thinking. It’s how we acquire wisdom.

https://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/books/40-famous-authors-on-reading/96577

Personal Tips:

GIFT OF PROBLEMS

·       “When we can learn from our own problems, we begin to deal with life. When we can learn from other people’s problems, we begin to master life.”

·       One must learn to welcome problems and to learn from them

·       If we are not allowed to deal with small problems, we will be destroyed by slightly larger ones. When we come to understand this, we live our lives not avoiding problems, but welcoming them as challenges that will strengthen us so that we can be victorious in the future.” 

·       Problems can only be avoided by exercising good judgment. ― Jim Stovall, The Ultimate Gift

·       “I finally know that joy does not come from avoiding a problem or having someone else deal with it for you. Joy comes from overcoming a problem or simply learning to live with it while being joyful.” ― Jim Stovall, The Ultimate Gift

Life Skills:

Faith, Family, Fitness, Finances, Friends, Fun, Following, Freedom; we call these the 8F’s in life. Many of these categories can tell one where their priorities are in life by measuring the time one would spend in one of the above categories. I know we don’t have it all figured out, but we have a lot of great sources that speak into these items and we welcome your comments. Please feel free to drop us a line concerning any of them.

The Five Core Needs of Life- The first need is for security—Who can I trust? 

What can you do to develop security? Here are 6 thoughts:

·       A secure self: I am master of all that is me (body, mind, spirit) and can take care of myself.

·       Security with others: There are people in my world who will protect me when needed. Do I treat them right?

·       A secure world: The world is a safe place that I can explore with confidence and free from fear. If it is not, create every effort to change the environment to one that is conducive to being secure.

·       Build trust – trust is like a bank account with deposits and withdrawals, each time you use it, you can either create security depending on what you do next. Make a long-term effort for yourself, others, and the world being able to trust you

·       Recognize your uniqueness – God created you unique – when you find out why – you become secure in your existence and your purpose to fulfill

·       Be consistent – each time you drop the ball is a chance for trust and security to flee your grasp – keep it up, create amazing consistent habits in your life

The second, identity—Who am I? ; The third, belonging—Who wants me? ; The fourth is for purpose—Why am I alive? ; and the fifth, competence—What do I do well? 

Notable quotes: They are italicized above.

Something I want you to know:

Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: the future can be better than the present, and I have the power to make it so.

Never believe you are above or below anyone. Keep a humble spirit.