"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." *--Anais Nin

"People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society."  *-- Vince Lombardi

"The future of civilization depends on our overcoming the meaninglessness and hopelessness that characterizes 
the thoughts of men today."  * -- Albert Schweitzer

---

As we look at bringing your business to the next level, I ask you a very important question: do you have a vision—a Technicolor snapshot in your mind of what your ideal life looks like? If not, create one. Not a goal; goals come later. Visions are more powerful than goals because visions have an emotional component. When you see a picture, it evokes emotion—involving your heart, not just your head. This is far more powerful than only writing down an idea.

For example, if you were to say, "I want a bigger house," that is a good goal. However, that simple statement by itself is not significant—not strong enough to get you to figure out everything you need to do, to support you through sacrifice, to get you to take risks, to have you learn new skills to overcome your "friends" telling you to forget about it.

If, instead, you create a compelling vision in which you see yourself standing in front of your yellow house with a two-car garage on a sunny street lined with trees, with a rose garden in front and a lemon tree and hammock in the back, and with a chef’s kitchen and master bedroom with a view of the ocean, you now have an idea that is not only in your head; it is in your heart, too. That is where the motivation happens; that is where your desire lives, and that is where you will connect with your internal power—the power that will pull you through all the challenges you have to address to create your compelling vision.

Do not let the busyness and immediate needs of your life prevent you from stopping to create what you want your life to look like at this time next year.

Follow these steps to create your compelling vision, and watch it work for you.

• Get clear about your compelling vision. Write it down on paper; be specific, use visual language.
• Share it with someone else. Ask them if they can see the snapshot. If they cannot, you are being too vague.
• Read your vision every day and continue to clarify it when new ideas come in.
• Create a physical image—a drawing, a real photograph, or a collage—that represents your vision. Put that vision where you will see it every day.
• Create an action plan to realize your vision, and take even some small action every day.
• Get the help you need. You do not have to do it alone.

(Average) To be, or Not to be

You know, "Average". To me average is having a focus that's on just doing enough to meet the standard. Average is showing up for work, or school or that interview or meeting at precisely.......
 

Performance Arts and Self-Esteem

Ballerinas are especially vulnerable to this problem of attaching self-esteem to one’s performances because you are judged by how you look and how well you perform. However, society sends........
 

The Trouble Tree - Don't Bring Your Trouble Home

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work..........