I’m a Christian guy and I have no problem telling the world that I am. I am also a wise man and I understand that people will do strange things all in the name of Religion. I believe that there is huge difference between religion (AKA Traditionalism) and Christianity. In fact I wrote a book about it. If you would like to read it, click here. They’re Just People
My message today is not to push my products. I want to get your opinion on the subject with a few simple questions.

1) What type of behavior have you seen in the religious community that has caused you to abandon the gift that was place inside of you?
2) Do you hold the church accountable for the level of your success?

3) Do you have a true respect for religion?

There are no right or wrong answers, just opinions. Talk to me, I’m looking forward to hear what others have to say.

In my personal opinion companies have lulled people into a false sense of prosperity by giving them a job with benefits. Don’t get me wrong a good job with benefits is a wonderful thing but with a good job comes complacency. Having a good job is like being imprisoned. If you are the type of person who is willing to stretch further and reach higher. Far too often people plan their future based on the time it will take them to retire. I hear it all the time. People tell me if they could only get to their 30-year anniversary date then they finally are able to leave the company.

To my knowledge there has never been a legitimate employer that has forced an employee stay. However, companies can make your stay very enticing by sweetening the pot every once and a while. They offer raises additional weeks of vacation. In my personal opinion, this is nothing more than prison with benefits. Why would I make such a profound statement? Maybe it is because I know that there is so much more out there. I know that living out one’s life sitting behind a cubicle or showing up everyday doing the same job is a slow road to nowhere.

But why would I call a job a prison with benefits? Look at it this way. People in prison earn a small wage they receive good time credits and if they are model prisoners they get to spend time in a halfway house. Which is still prison but with liberties. The whole time all the prisoner wants to do is bide his or her time so they can finally leave prison. The sole purpose of being imprisoned is to take away your freedom. Being lock into a 30-year job has the same effect.

Once again I am not saying that having a good job is a bad thing. I am just saying that true freedom is being able to make your own decisions. It is being able to earn a wage based on what you are worth, not based on what your company thinks you are worth. Live life, be free and learn to explore try to explore new possibilities or you can wait until your 30 years are over so you can finally be free. The choice is yours.

I love the sound of music but what does a true music lover do, once the music stops? They hit replay and let the music play again, and again and again. This compulsive behavior may be annoying to some but for the true music lover it satisfies the need. The true music lover never wants the music to stop.

What does playing music over and over have to do with anything? Nothing really but the analogy has something to do with everything. It has to do with continuation, it has to do with momentum, and it has to do with duplication.

I have seen this all too often, people have the slight bit of success and in less than 90 days they stop. They indicate that trying to repeat what they have done in the past is too difficult. They find every excuse in the book to quit. Even worst then those who want to quit are those who gloat in their past successes. I had a good friend who could run like a jackrabbit in high school. He won all types of events and received tons of recognitions. Decades later he is still basking in his past success. If he had gone on to become a great Olympic runner or maybe even pursued advancement in this area his basking would have merit. But he didn’t he let the music die.

Learn to hit the replay button again and again and again. This is the only way to build on your past successes. Consistency is the key. Never let the music stop because when you do, know that there will be nothing left but silence.

Much has been said on how to become successful. Books have been written, seminars have been conducted and the mentors have spoken. The principals have been taught yet most people still suffer from one major setback in their quest. That setback is lack of funding.
Learning all the principals and concepts that come along with success and not having adequate funding to pursue them can be a major setback in the worst way. If funding is unavailable one must learn how to implement their ideas on a shoestring budget or create a passive income stream to help supplement their passion. Creating clever ways to build momentum is a must. Consistency is the key. For those who learn to overcome this obstacle, success can indeed become a reality.
The first obstacle to overcome is one of reality. You will not become an overnight success! The idea of this is nothing more than a fantasy. Everyone starts at the bottom and works their way up. Some faster than others but we all start in the same place. What you hear concerning overnight success stories is just the tip of the Iceberg. All of the blood, sweat, tears and years lay deep below the surface of the end story. For example, before a song can rank #1 on the Billboard charts, equipment has to be purchased, and a song has to be written, edited and recorded and liked by many. Before a book can become a New York Times bestseller it has to be written, published and marketed and purchased by many. (No Fans, No Sales).
Patience is a virtue and a mandatory prerequisite to those looking to become successful. In time with the right amount consistency your dreams will become a reality. The start of the process may require sacrifices but it will all be worth it in the end. Never give up no matter what. It could be one more week, one more day maybe even one more hour but in time, with patience success can and will be yours.

One of my wisdom teachers explained to me that it is important to seek advice of those with grey hair. I was told that the grey hairs of wisdom are based on experience and the wisdom given by those with grey hair should be cherished. I understood the position he was taking and also the advice that he was attempting to give. But in my flair for the extra I asked him several questions that would get him to further explain his position. I asked the following questions:
What about those like myself that have no hair, Should I ignore their wisdom?
Does grey haired wisdom diminish just because a person does not have hair?
How do I know the person with grey hair actually has any wisdom? (I have heard of many old fools)
He obviously knew that I was joking with the question I had asked but I wanted to make a point in explaining that general or blanket statements have no real meaning.
When trying to cover a topic, give helpful advice or when explaining one’s point of view, it is important to use your own words to express what dwells inside your mind. Learning to express your opinion based on your own words helps to not only expand your vocabulary but it also sets you apart. Everyone has something to say and it is important to say it in our own way. There are hundreds of mentors, coaches and motivational speakers that are in high demand because they have learned to use their own words to express their opinions.
Just about everything you will ever learn has been said at one time or another. What makes those words stand out above the crowd is how they are said. My wisdom teacher actually gave me a pat on the back for enlightening the conversation. He looked at me and said, “I guess you can teach an old dog a new trick.” I looked at him and said, “Here we go again!”

Reality says that we live world of uncertainty. On the flip side of the coin uncertainty is the unknown. This being the case it is plan to see that one’s reality has nothing to do with uncertainty. To further explain, let’s take a closer look at the two.
According to the official dictionary explanation reality is the actual being or existence, as opposed to an imaginary, idealized, or false nature. Based on this explanation it becomes obvious that reality is pretty concrete. In other words “It is what it is.”
Reality can take away hope and steal your dreams because reality says this is were you belong, this is your present moment. Many people are stuck in their reality, they have no idea what lies ahead. This by far is one of the biggest setbacks that plague many.
Reality says, were you are, were you are suppose to be but uncertainty trumps reality every time. Uncertainty is something that nobody can predict or guarantee. In other words your reality does not have to be the end. Try living an uncertain life and you will find that life is what you make it. It doesn’t have to be what it is. If you are living in the reality of your situation know that uncertainty says you still have a future and that future is undetermined. Accept the present but make plans for the future because in reality you have an uncertain future.

Today is the day that the forefathers made possible. Take advantage of the liberties that we all have gain through independence. Freedom is appreciated only when you take full advantage of it.
On this 4th of July, I ask that you celebrate life, liberty and your pursuit of happiness.