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Well, are you?  Let’s start with…what do you think most people are like.  As you think of most people, what are some words or phrases that you would use to describe them?

These words and phrases that came to your mind, are they positive or negative? 

That says a lot about you – and not in a “good or bad” sense.  It can give you clues to how you can become better than you used to be.  How you can be different than most people.  And most importantly, how you can teach your children to be themselves rather than be like most people. 

We view the world through our own windshield and that windshield has on it all our experiences, decisions, beliefs, emotions – all the things we believe are true in our life.  These things are true for us but it doesn’t mean they are true for anyone else. 

So how we view most people reflects what most people mirror back to us.  So when we notice that others are angry all the time – this tells us something about ourselves such as perhaps we’re pretty angry too or we’re denying our own anger.  For example, when I was recently asked this question my responses were

1. Most people don’t love themselves enough
2. Most people don’t believe in their own potential enough
3. Most people don’t take action enough

I do the work I do because I want all parents and their kids to believe they are enough and to take action that brings out their best self and allows them to shine in their life.  So when I came face to face with my responses about what I think I see in most people I turned inward and asked myself – do I think these things because those are the things that I notice about myself? It’s definitely something to chew on. 

The journey of my work and my life has been a lesson in knowing myself and owning what I feel and live.  And I say it’s a journey because I haven’t arrived anywhere yet (and I don’t mean death).  I know what the place I want to arrive at is like: the feelings, thoughts, and external circumstances of being there – but I’m not there yet.  And I realize that most people aren’t at their arrival point either.  We’re all on a journey whether we realize it or not and if we don’t know where we want to get to, we may never arrive.  And this goes beyond just goals - I’m talking about the whole experience of the goals and everything else that I want in my life.  Because we can achieve a goal and still not feel like we’ve arrived.

In order for me to not be like most people I want to work on some things in my self.  And when I know that I can think of most people and say they are:

• more loving
• more kind
• judging less
• giving more
• achieving more
• know what they want
• leading by example more
• swearing less
• taking more time for themselves
• enjoying their food and their life more 

then I will know I have arrived.

So ask yourself, are you like most people?  What does that say about you? I’d love to read your comments.

When you think about all the music you listen to on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis, who is it that gets played the most? Why do you listen to that particular artist most often? Is it the lyrics? Is it the melodies they put together? Is there some special personal meaning that particular artist has for you? For me: I have to say it would be Eminem. I know, many of you may be scratching your heads going, WHAT? WHY? Well, let me explain. I like the fact that his music comes from the heart. He raps about his experiences growing up and going through life and he does not let the nay sayers stand in his way from expressing himself in the way he seems fit.(He does whatever it takes) If you take the time to listen to the lyrics of many of his songs they are very meaningful in there own way. His new song ”I’m not Afraid” is absoluely amazing, as is “Lose Yourself” from the Soundtrack to his movie “Eight Mile.(Which by the way you should see if you haven’t)  Sure he has several songs that maybe were not great but I choose to listen to the ones that I enjoy. There are many artists that have songs that were not Great. Look at all the one hit wonders that skyrocket the charts for a few months and then disappear and that is why we have so many muscicians. Because all types of music means something different to every listener. My suggestion is to keep a very open mind when hearing a new style of music or new artist. You may find something you really like. Bye for now, and keep those tunes rockin’!

I think the there are a few reasons for this.  The first one is that people don’t define what success means to them.  They have grand visions of mountains of money, cars, houses, travel, etc.  When you really think about it, though, is that what success means to you or is that just what you think you want?  If you’re not absolutely sure that that’s what you want and that that’s your definition of success, then you’re not going to pursue it with a burning desire.  Does success mean material things to you? If yes, then define those in detail and go after them!

The second reason is that some people aren’t willing to take responsibility to achieve success.  Once you know exactly what you want to be, do and have to achieve your definition of ”successful” in your life, are you willing to do whatever it takes to get it?  OR do you have too many excuses standing in your way and you just choose to complain about how you don’t have all those things.

Another reason is people don’t believe they can achieve success.  They carry around with them baggage from their childhoods, their teenage years, and all their life experiences.  With all those negative things that stand in your way it’s hard to see clearly.  People are afraid to let their negative emotions go.  I don’t understand this.  Your life experiences will still be there – preserve the memories, not the emotions.  Let the baggage go and move forward with all your energy to create your success.

I finally watched the movie The Bucket List. Have you seen it? It not, I highly recommend that you watch it.  It has some very profound lessons and some hilarious moments.   The scene that stood out most for me was where Carter and Edward are sitting and looking at the pyramids and discussing the two questions that Egyptians believed they would be asked at the entrance to their proverbial pearly gates:

Did you find joy in your life?

Did your life bring joy to others?

These two questions are very applicable to all areas of life, and not just in a spiritual way.  How would you answer them?

Your work is a big part of your life, isn’t it?  As a business owner and entrepreneur, you have chosen to do what you do for many reasons.  It could be because you feel you need to give back to others, or you have a talent to share with others, or you want to leave this world a better place, or you make a lot of money.  Only you know the reasons for why you’re in the business that you’re in.  And only you know if you’re truly doing what you’re meant to be doing.  

When you live and work according to your purpose you automatically enrich the lives of others because only you have the special solutions to their problems.  Once you realize the potential of the gifts that you have, you also realize that it’s your duty to share them – because there are people looking for exactly what you have to offer.   There are people who need you and who’s lives will change because of you.

 Have you asked yourself recently, “does what I do bring me joy?”  and “does what I do bring others joy?”

If you can honestly answer yes to both questions then you know you’re on the right path.  You know you’re fulfilling your life’s purpose.  If you can’t answer yes to one or both of these questions, then what’s missing for you?  What would it take for you to answer yes?  As Carter discovered in the movie, life passes in a flash and it’s important to live it.  Dr Wayne Dyer says, “Don’t die with your music still in you.”  If you feel at any level that you’re not doing what you’re truly meant to be doing and you know that you’re the one who’s standing in the way of your own joy, then do what it takes to get out of your own way!

There are so many tools to help yourself release past baggage, communicate more effectively, and to feel joy!  Here’s another question for you, how much life do you have to spend to recognize that your business isn’t getting you the results you want?  There is always room for improvement, do whatever it takes to reach your highest potential.  When would now be a good time to start?

What are you willing to give up today to build a stronger tomorrow?

This is pretty easy for me to answer. I’ve already been living without some of the things I used to do and have in order to be able to raise my children the way that I want to and to build my business successfully.  One of the things I had to do when I began this career change is put a pause button on all those activities that weren’t absolutely essential to my success and forward movement.  I was going to school, working, and had my family to take care of.  My priorities were, of course, my kids and my family, because even if this career flopped, I would still have them.

So I gave up TV (no big loss), my crafting hobby, tole painting, and also learning to play guitar.  I gave these up for the time being because in order to make sure this career didn’t flop I have to do whatever it takes to succeed.  And these are hobbies that I can pick up again whenever I want to.  I still do things for fun and I enjoy them.  It’s not that I don’t have any fun.  I’ve simply shifted what I do with the time that I have so that I guarantee my own success. 

This career chose me and I know it won’t flop.  It’s my passion and that’s what drives me.  I am building a stronger tomorrow for me and my family by focusing on those things that matter most right now and it’s very fulfilling.

What is the most powerful thing that an entrepreneur can do to make sure that they succeed?

Stay in a place of positive expectation and take massive action!!

When you’re asked “how are you?” what do you normally answer?

The standard answer is “fine.”  I’ve gotten away from that because what does “fine” really mean?  It could be you’re good, bad, and anything in between.  I answer “fabulous” because that’s how I aim to feel.  Of course, sometimes I have a day when I don’t feel so fabulous.  It happens to everyone.  I do focus on the good things that happen to me and “fine” just does not even begin to describe them.

How about you?

What’s the most annoying question you’ve ever been asked?

LOL. I can’t think of any recent ones but when I was pregnant I remember being asked the same three questions over and over again. After 9 months it got pretty annoying and I wanted to make a t-shirt with the answers printed on the front to save people the trouble!

The questions were:

When are you due?

Do you know what it is?

Are you going to find out what it is?

If you saw someone shoplifting, what would you do?

I would tell the first store employee I saw.

What’s your favourite time of year?

This is a tough one because I love different aspects of all the seasons. I love watching things grow in spring. I love the summer heat and camping. I love the smell of fall and fresh squash. I also love the snow in the winter.

I’m grateful that I get to live in a part of the world that has all 4 seasons. I make a point to experience all the things I like mindfully no matter what time of year.