Stop!

You need to rest and take care of yourself.

Just like the old airplane analogy, if you don’t put the oxygen mask on first, you will be no good for anyone else.

Your life is not intended to operate like a machine and go, go, go, 24/7.

"You are not here to be 'productive.' You are here to be you, to engage with your Something Larger, to move through the world with confidence and joy." - Emily Nagoski

How do you gain confidence and joy in life if you don’t give yourself time to enjoy the journey?

I have known many people that are working so hard to overcome the past and are working so hard for the future, that they miss the present; all that is going on right now in their life.

Be present!

You have to enjoy the journey!

Let’s face it… most of you don’t like cold calling!

It sounds so negative and sends chills down the spine of many.

So… Why not just make friends!

How?

It is really simple, you just have to change your mindset and your approach.

Let’s face it, cold calling sounds negative and painful and creates anxiety and fear in some of the best sales people.

But. it doesn’t have to.

In his book “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Dale Carnegie says, “You have to have a good time meeting people if you want them to have a good time meeting you.”

Such great advice. You have to just relax and have fun. Start a conversation based on what your new friend is interested in. This is as simple as looking around their work space and noticing pictures and plaques of what is important in their lives, and then listening to them.

When life seems overwhelming and you just want it to stop… What do you do?

There is so much hurt around us, and often we are hurt badly by others. This is where the way we think, and forgiveness comes in.

It is important to start by looking for the good in others and realize that everyone has their own life stuff happening.

Remember what I always say… “Life Happens, and Then You Choose!”

So what are you choosing?

Are you forgiving others and looking for the positive?

"Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it." - Mark Twain

When you feel crushed by someone, remember that fragrance, the good that is to come from the situation.

“God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose?” Romans 8:28

There is a purpose for everything that happens to you. You just have to look for it.

It can be hard, but it’s there.

There is great Power in Community!

When we come together and discover the possibilities of Community, things change for the better.

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." - Margaret J. Wheatley

Working together. Caring together. Living together.

We are Better Together!

We can do so much more together.

“To build an effective community, everyone must realize that their community is bigger than them.” - Idowu Koyenikan

Many individuals working together is so much more than the isolated one trying to go it alone… do everything by themselves.

So today, seek to connect with others and build community. When we come together we are able to do so much more. When our talents and abilities are joined together we can do amazing things.

Be Genuine.

Be Authentic.

The Real You is the answer to creating a successful business and a significant life. So start there and start seeing the positive results.

Why?

Because people are looking for authentic and real people to Know, Like, and Trust.

It’s True!

“Being yourself is probably the only thing you need to skyrocket your life.” - Hiral Nagda

What others are looking for is people that they can genuinely trust and connect with. People they can do life and business with.

Authentic community.

“Being real has nothing to do with the world. But, the world has a lot to do with the real you.” - Hiral Nagda

Are you easily distracted?

Do you lose focus and get frustrated?

Well… join the club. There are many of us that have to work hard to intentionally stay on track.

There is no easy answer, just hard work and dedication… choosing to focus your way out of distraction.

It is so easy to drift when you are in a meeting or working on a project, but you can create habits to keep your focus. Pre-plan how you will deal with distractions and times you lose focus.

How?

First of all, take one thing at a time. Multitasking is a myth and it will only make you more distracted and less productive.

“The shorter way to do many things is to only do one thing at a time.” – Mozart

When you focus on one thing at a time, you will accomplish more, faster. This will lead you to a more successful and productive life.

I love coffee!

That is why this newsletter is titled… “But First, Coffee!”

But is that truly the answer?

Is that the first thing you need in the morning?

As you may have read in past newsletters, I am a big “Morning Routine” person.

Part of that is coffee!

But first God, is truly how I start my day!

I am a true believer that God is my creator and the one who guides my footsteps.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33

Sometimes we get moving so fast in this fast paced world that we lose sight of what is really important.

Slow down and make space for what’s important.

"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." - Eddie Cantor

Do you know where you are going and WHY?

So many of us have lost sight of why we are doing what we are doing because we are so caught up in the WHAT.

We are moving at a break neck pace and headed for what we think is success… but is it?

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." - Lao Tzu

God has put nature in motion and it does not depend on the speed in what is being done, it is the WHY, the purpose behind it.

Do you feel like you are sinking?

Stuck in a rut?

Life gets Messy.

Sometimes we just need to be still and process… not try to dig ourselves out.

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

Know that there are bigger things at work in life and you are not alone.

Be present and pay attention to what’s all around you.

So often, we get so busy trying to fix things that we miss all the positive things happening around us.

Bob Goff says, “Admit it, we can get so busy trying to help God, that we miss out on what God is already doing in and around us. If our head is constantly down, striving and hustling, we might miss the new opportunities, the delightful new friendships.”

Tenacity and hustle are not bad, but you can get so bogged down in life that you are no good for anyone or anything.

Coming together with others is such a Blessing.

Community is such a Blessing.

We are Better Together!

“I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love. I thank them for their patience and grace.” - Matt Lauer

I am a work in progress for sure, and need good people around me… and so do you!

For me, it starts with my morning routine. I start with the word of God, journaling, and then reach out to my family and community with encouragement.  This gets my day started right.

“I am blessed to receive a word from God every day in receiving the scriptures and reading the scriptures. And God speaks through the Bible.” -Ted Cruz

Through His word I can bless others.

I am able to be a light in the world. God gives it, and we all need it.

I love to be able to inspire and encourage others daily. Lift them up.

One of the great blessings of community.

What is your Purpose in Life?

If you don’t know why you wake up in the morning, it is time for some intentional thought and Purpose Planning!

Like TD Jakes says, “If you can't figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.”

So what are you passionate about?

What are you good at?

You were created by God with value and talents!

There is only one You!!!

"The Lord has made everything for its purpose!” Proverbs 16:4

My Purpose is to “Inspire and Encourage everyone I come in contact with, to Live a Purpose-Driven Life of Significance.”

I want you all to be Difference-Makers, World-Changers, and make an Impact on the world around you, just like God created you to do!

What is the most important thing to you?

Find it and Live it!

For me, my priorities are God, My Beautiful Wife and Family, and then my Friends and Community. That comes before work and the rest of life.

Audrey Hepburn says… “The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters.” but is it?

I agree it is important to enjoy your life and be happy, but what helps you enjoy your life? What makes you happy?

That is what is most important.

I believe that God is the beginning of all things! He is who created joy and all that we enjoy!

Mark 12:29 says… “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'" This verse essentially summarizes the first commandment,

The theologian A. W. Tozer famously said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us”

You do it for the love of the game.

My son and daughter-in-law took me to an NFL game this past weekend between my favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks and the LA Rams. It got me to thinking how much the game of football and life are similar.

Passion is what drives players to play and passion is what usually drives people to do what they do in life… or at least it should.”

Determination is why in football, when players get knocked down,  they get back up. Same with life, when people get knocked down or have a setback in life, they get back up and try again… or at least they should!

“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall” - Vince Lombardi

Start the New Year with learning how to Love Better.

We hear how important self-care is, and that is true. But, how can you care for yourself if you don’t love yourself?

So many people struggle with this. Life circumstances have beat them down and they struggle to love others because they don’t love themselves.

You can change that!

Knowing you are loved makes all the difference.

I love the beginning of John 3:16, a bible verse that most people know. “For God so Loved the world that he gave.”

You are Loved!

God Loves You!

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Isaiah 9:6

Jesus was born to give us life.

He is the Reason for the Season.

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come!”

What’s so merry about Christmas? Jesus!

I am so thankful for this season and time with family and friends, but I am most grateful for life in Jesus.

He has given me life, and sustained me through this year and my cancer battle. He is always with me and I am so grateful!

And I am Blessed with an amazing family and community.

Thank you all of you for a tremendous 2024. Your love, support, and prayers for me and my family have made such a difference. I am truly grateful.

We are in a Season filled with Hope!

Christmas time is a time to give and love and feel that spirit of hope through what is all around us. But, it is not just a feeling. Hope is a Choice!

So I recommend… Choose Hope.

Hope is a great mindset to live by and an even better perspective on life, believing there are better things to come in your personal life and your business.

Being filled with hope helps you in all you do as you move forward with your life.

In Proverbs 29:18 it tells us that without Hope the people perish.

So hold on to Hope

Hope gives us strength to do amazing things.

What do you love?

Is it your business and work, or are you in the business of loving people?

What is really important in your life?

Often you can get so caught up in loving your business. If you are spending all your time working on your business and not focused on the people, you lose focus on what’s really important.

Zig Ziglar says, “you build the people, and then the people build your business.” That means focus on loving people first.

Love is a choice.

It is a verb, not a noun.

So who do you love?

When you start each day, where does your Joy come from?

Who or what is your source of Joy and Hope?

In Nehemiah 8:10  it says, “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength.”

It is so easy to get dejected and down through life struggles. I have learned this first hand and I have had to make a choice.

Yes, that’s right, you can choose a life filled with Joy.

I choose Jesus in my life for he is my source of Joy and Strength.

So let me ask you again, when life struggles come, and they will, who or what is your source of Joy and Hope?

I have had my moments lately. Struggling through my health and business.

There are times I feel down and like a heavy weight is on my shoulders. I feel unable to do what I think I need to do to be successful and provide for my family.

I feel like I am failing.

Then I remember that my feelings and circumstances do not define me. I serve a Big God who is right beside me through it all.

We all fail to achieve what we want to accomplish at times… it is human nature.

We are not perfect.

We need to hold on.

I Choose Life… I choose to live by choice, not by chance and I choose my perspective on life.

This is a God-given blessing we all have.

“Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain... To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices - today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.” - Kevyn Aucoin

We are all human and we all have ups and downs in life, but after each thing happens, we get to choose what to do with it and where to go from there.