Inch by Inch Lifes a Cinch

"Any time a thought, a sentence, or paragraph inspires you or opens up your thinking, you need to capture it, like a butterfly in a net, and later release it into your own field of consciousness."

~Steve Chandler

With so much going on in our lives - it's so easy to get caught up in everyday things. It can lead us away from goals we've set, or the lifestyle we desire. That is why it is so important to have something that can remind you regularly of the important things in your life. A good man Mac Anderson say's, "Inch by inch, life's a cinch; and yard by yard, life is hard."

Stop for a moment, and figure out what it is that inspires and motivates you. Cling onto that, do it daily, make it a habit!

Stress-Reduction Strategies

Here are some nice stress reducing techniques we can all apply, while trying to make it in this crazy world!

Body-rythm basics - Do what's best for you by honoring your body rythmns. For example, if you're a morning person, don't waste your best productive time in coffee klatches.

Do the tough work first - If you tend to procrastinate you'll find more anguish is produced from guilt than if you had just tackled the project immediately.

Energy-gaining activities - Develop a routine of activities that give you energy rather than drain you, such as deleting, delegating or organizing.

Get up out of the chair - Energy sags quickly when sitting. Make sure you get up to move around every hour or so.

Go outside - A quick five or 10 minute rest or stroll outside does wonders to clear the mind. Breathe and be present.

Rest your eyes on the great outdoors - Being in nature reduces stress. If possible, position your desk or office so you're looking out the window. Stare out the window and visualize your favorite vacation spot.

Who ate my free lunch?

"A free lunch is only found in mousetraps."
John Capuzzi

If there is one thing just about everybody loves, it's getting something for free. Something they didn't have to work for, something they didn't have to pay for, something that's just given to them. There is just nothing like getting a freebie.

At least that's what some people think.

People will eagerly stand in line for hours to get whatever gizmo, doodad or thingamajig someone else is giving away. If it's free, gratis or on the house, they want it. And it doesn't matter how cheesy the giveaway may be. When they stumble across a free just about anything, they jump all over it. Grab it with both hands. And feel like they have really scored.

Even though they could just go out and get the item on their own, the allure of getting something for nothing is just too much for them to resist. And while they have the ability to do so much better on their own, they just have to have the freebie... because it's free.

Good grief. I'm getting a headache.

"There is no free lunch."
Milton Friedman

Why do so many people openly embrace this free lunch mentality? What drives these freebie seekers? It's got to have something to do with the feeling of getting something for nothing. Something that was handed to them, something they didn't have earn.

These individuals are so busy scrounging for free stuff they fail to uncover the magic they hold within. Consumed with getting a free ride, they never realize they can have anything they want out of life if they would just go get it themselves. Not surprisingly, they miss out on the best life has to offer.

You cannot make this same mistake.

"When I discover who I am, I'll be free."
Ralph Ellison

If you're going to live your dreams, forget about the so-called free stuff. Let it go. Don't depend on others to shower you with gifts. And don't wait for good fortune to come your way. You need to seize control of your life right now and make something happen.

That means pushing yourself to do better, be better and see better every single day.

As corny as it may sound, you have been blessed with everything you'll ever need. More than enough strength to overcome the biggest obstacles you'll ever encounter. More than enough mental tenacity and toughness to overpower the fiercest foes you'll ever face. More than enough determination to overwhelm any feelings of doubt or insecurity that come creeping in.

It's right there, ready to turn your life around; ready to bring your dreams to life.

"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time."
Thomas Jefferson

The best things in life are not freebies, but the freedoms that are frequently take for granted and oftentimes overlooked. Like your health, family, faith and beliefs. As well as the freedom to be, the freedom to see and the freedom to choose the paths you pursue in life. These are priceless possessions you need to hold close. And never let go.

The fastest way to get something is to go get it. If there's something you have always wanted to accomplish, you need to go get it. If there's something waiting for you out in the distance, you need to go and find it. You need to squeeze life with every ounce of energy you can muster, make the most of the moment at hand. And please never forget that God has blessed you with everything you'll ever need. It's right there inside of you. It's ready to make your dreams come true.

And here's the very best part of the whole deal. It's completely, totally 100% free.

The Bottom Line: Instead of looking for a hand-out, why don't you get busy getting what you want?

(article found at www.motivational-inspirational-corner.com)

Ambition by Colin Powell

This is a great short little story Retired Gen. Colin Powell mentioned in Success Magazine. We all can apply this someway or another in our lives.

At one army base where he was stationed, "there was a second lieutenant who wanted to be a general. He bugged everyone, asking, 'How do I become a general?' He saw a general at the officers club and asked him, 'How do I become a general?'"

Powell says the general told the young officer he should study all the time, show courage and take care of his troops. "And the young officer said, 'And that's how I become a general?'

"And the general said, 'No, that's how you become a first lieutenant.'"

The takeaway message: Don't get ahead of yourself. Put in the necessary hard work every step of the way.

A Good Leader...

Below are some guidelines of being a good Leader. Very powerful, You will want to remember these. Print them off, write them down, hang them up. Enjoy!!!

• Accepts responsibility and takes it seriously.
• Seeks out and listens to others, but makes up his or her own mind.
• Wants to leave the world better than he or she finds it.
• Has a genuine interest in others: their joys, sorrows, hopes, hurts, needs and fears.
• Learns from the past, but focuses on the future.
• Aims to be of service to others.
• Expects the best from others, as from him or herself.
• Learns from role models, but knows who he or she is.
• Knows the power of yes and no and when to say so.
• Knows how to set goals and pursue them.
• Is dedicated to his or her work and achieving goals.
• Is not deterred by detractors or naysayers.

(By Robert Stuberg- entrepreneur, speaker, consultant and best-selling author of many books, including The 12 Life Secrets)

How did Arnold Palmer become the richest athlete in the world? Take heed to his "strokes of genius", he is clothed with success.

1. Live your life with integrity. People should respect what you do and what you say.
2. It is more important to build a brand than to build a course. And police your brand daily.
3. "I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win."
4. Learn something from every course you play.
5. Welcome competition from people you admire.
6. "success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character."
7. Focus on: "concentration, confidence, competitive urge, capacity for enjoyment."
8. "It's a funny thing, the more I practice the luckier I get."
9. "The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done."

Power and Influence - Colin Powell

The following is a list of rules from Colin Powell to achieve power and influence:

1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad; then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It CAN be DONE!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.
8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain Calm. Be kind.
11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
    

Colin Powell forged a reputation of integrity to become one of the nation's most respected leaders.

(source: My American Journey, autobiography written with Joseph E. Persico)

Me2everyone - Could be the best Business Venture of 2009

Wow! Could this really be true? A new social network that will give you free shares for becoming a member and spreading the word? Our extensive research points to yes. After just a half a day since signing up, we have thousands of shares already credited to our account.

So what is it? The website is me2everyone.com, here is some information of what exactly it will do - me2everyone is going to be a cool new virtual world where you can meet friends, chat, shop, play, watch videos, create an art gallery, open a virtual newspaper, play the free inworld lottery and make money from your own online store! You and everyone you know make the decisions, shape the world, create real incomes and share in the profits. It’s a new place where you meet new people or invite your friends. Learn new skills or expand your business. Find the love of your life or help the planet.

Their goal is to be the number one most visited site within a few years. The best part about it is we are at the groundbreaking level right now. It's not going live for another few weeks, which gives you plenty of time to gain the edge. Also, it's completely 100% free, and it takes a total of 3 minutes max to sign up.

The interface is very clean, and very organized. Once you sign up, you will have your own "account page" where you can view news feeds of what is going on with the groundbreaking, see all of your referrals and how many shares you have accumulated. Plus they give you an email message you can paste and copy to send to all of your friends and family.

Our recommendation is to look into this right now. This could very well be the best business decision of 2009. So what are you waiting for?! Get started now! Click the link to get going http://www.me2everyone.com

Good Luck with getting your shares rocking!

THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared.
Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic.

"Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He
pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his
wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very
noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Turning Knowledge into Power

10 Actions You Can Take Right Now

1. Get Fresh: if you find yourself following procedures because you've "always done it that way," it's time for a change. List three practices that ned revamping and write down the goals you intend to achieve by doing so, as well as action steps to make them happen.
2. Who Do You Know?: list 100 of your acquaintances and sincerely deepen your relationship with them.
3. Scale Down: treat your weight like your business, hard work equals results. Step off the bandwagon of the "miracle" cure.
4. Figure This: circle back to a setback in your life and write down three things you learned by overcoming it.
5. e=mc2: Albert Einstein's curiosity made him one of the greatest physicists of all time. List four things you've always wondered about; now feed your brain by researching answers online.
6. Never Too Late: do you have a dream that's lived only in your head? Write down six specific steps to move your dream closer to reality
7. Be a Standout: think about your brand/business/service and jot down five ways to make it more compelling to your customers.
8. Making Connections: find five friends or colleagues who can introduce you to a potential new client. Every new person you meet can turn into a new opportunity.
9. Listen Up: list your top three customers, as well as three pieces of information about each of them.(do you need to hone your listening skills?)
10. Staying Bullish When It's a Bear: list five ways you can reap opportunities during these times of change.

Be the one who acts! These actions can turn your life/career/business around.
(taken from the March edition of Success magazine.)

Six Things to Avoid: A Diet Plan For Real People Living in the Real World

Here is a great plan for helping your body feel awesome. Message Motivator is not just about mental motivational boosts, but also living a healthy lifestyle that in return boosts your self-confidence. Follow these "not to do" things, to eliminate foods/beverages that can destroy one's self-confidence. Enjoy!

In the book The Best Life Diet Cookbook, Bob Greene gives us "real" people a "real" lifestyle plan of things to avoid:

• Alcohol. (it slows up your metabolism)
• Full-calorie soda. (these are best left out of the diet entirely. Once you can find a better alternative, you'll never go back to drinking soda)
• Anything with trans fat. (the good news about this one is that food processors and manufacturers get the message that trans fat is bad, and many have eliminated it from products on grocery store shelves)
• Fried foods. (these have to come off the table-whether you're on the road or eating at home...)
• White Bread. (people who give up white bread miss it at first but then gravitate to the whole-grain and whole-wheat breads eventually liking those better.)
• High-fat milk and yogurt. (these are easy to replace with low-fat yogurts and 1 percent, skim milk or soy milks.)

Follow these six things of what not to do, and watch how fast you will start seeing results!

10 Steps to Sales Success

In the Book The Greatest Salesman in the World - Og Mandino lays out 10 steps (leather scrolls containing secrets to the art of selling) that will drastically improve sales' skills through a young lad from Biblical times.

1- I will form good habits and become their slave. (Shed the old skin and start anew)

2-I will greet this day with love in my heart. (Love is the single most important quality for success, Mandino writes.)

3- I will persist until I succeed. (the prizes of life are awarded at the end of the trek.)

4- I am nature's greatest miracle. (I am here for a purpose, and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not shrink to a grain of sand.)

5- I will live this day as if it is my last. (Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has yet to come - make today your best day!)

6- Today I will be master of my emotions. (Moods come and go, but if your mood is negative, the day may be a failure. Bring joy and enthusiasm to every room)

7- I will laugh at the world. (Remember in hard times you have the unique ability to laugh. Don't take yourself too seriously.)

8- Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold. (setting goals will multiply your value exponentially. Never will I be of concern that my goals are too high, for is it not better to aim my spear at the moon and strike only an eagle than to aim my spear at the eagle and strike only a rock?)

9- I will act now. (Action is the food and drink that will nourish my success.)

10- I will pray for guidance. (Every good salesman should seek the advice of a higher power. He suggests praying only for guidance and never for material things)