Happy Birthday...Did You Know?

Here are few facts I found to be interesting and thought you may like to know.

History of Birthday observance can be traced back before the rise of Christianity. In pagan culture, it was believed evil spirits visited people on their birthdays. To protect the person having the birthday from the evil effect, people used to surround him and make merry. A lot of noise used to be created in such parties to scare away the evil spirits. In those times, there was no tradition of bringing gifts and guests attending the birthday party would bring good wishes for the birthday person. However, if a guest did bring gifts it was considered to be a good sign for the person of honor. Later, flowers became quite popular as a Birthday gift.

I have received a lot of birthday wishes from many of my friends online and offline so knowing these facts has me feel more blessed than ever.  Thanks to everyone who sent me wishes...

PS - My dad sent me the funniest card.  I just have to share it with you.  It said...

Turning 40?  Listen to your mind say...  You're Young!  You're Vibrant!  You can do anything a 20-year-old can do!  Then you open the card and it reads...  THEN LISTEN TO YOUR BODY SAY:  HA!!!  HA!!!  HA!!!

Never Judge A Book By Its Cover...

We should NEVER judge someone or something by what’s on the outside.  Let me explain...

I met a nice couple today who allowed me to have wonderful conversation with them.  We talked for over an hour about things in our pasts and how they relate to our lives today.  Several subjects were brought up and one stood out as being a great message to post for everyone.  I hope you enjoy it.

When I was in my mid-teens, a distant cousin revealed something to me that I carry with me today.  He was an average looking man with not much to speak of yet he had the most wonderful and beautiful wife you could imagine.  Not only was his wife a blessing but so was his daughter-in-law.  I wondered how the two of them could have gotten so lucky with women so I asked.  After all...I was hoping to have a date sooner or later.  His answer to my questions taught me a wonderful lesson that could apply to anything in life.  I hope you can follow along grasping the message that he taught just as I did years ago.

The first thing he told me was, “you should never judge a book by its cover.”  He then told me to go somewhere and look around for the most beautiful girl in the room.  Once I had spotted her, go up to her and casually start up a general conversation with her.  Try not to use  the normal lines she most likely had heard thousands of times but something that was meaningful and wasn't just a line filled with a lot of bull.  If she wasn't interested in chatting, simply move on to the next beautiful girl, holding your head up high, and do the same thing over again.  Sooner or later, one of the girls will want to talk to you.  He also said that just because she is so pretty doesn't always mean that she has a boyfriend.  He explained that most guys think the same thing.  Due to her looks, she must have a boyfriend...right?  WRONG...  Many guys, no matter their looks, physical or financial state, will think the same as you so they won't even bother to try to talk to her.  This would be their mistake and I could capitalize on it.  And I did.

As I got out of my comfort zone and began making meaningful small talk with several girls, I started to realize that what I was told was completely correct.  Most of the girls were looking for a true friend, a man they could talk to and spend their time with.  They were wanting someone to see them for their inner beauty as well as their outer beauty.  Over the next several years, I had the opportunity to date several girls that could be considered as beauty queens.  If you've ever seen me you would wonder why they would go out with me.  I just never judged a single girl by what I saw on the outside.  It must have worked...I've been married for over 14 years now.

As you go through your life doing your everyday chores and work, I hope you remember and apply this little lesson to your life as I do.  You may be surprised that the things you thought could never be a part of your life are soon becoming a part of your world.

Keep Smiling And...

NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!!!

You never know who is listening to you…

My mother always told me to watch what I do and say because you never know who is watching and listening to you.  This could have never been truer than the other day.  While on a full shuttle bus at a resort, a little six year-old boy was having a conversation with the driver.  By listening, you could have never told that he was only six.  His speech and words were much more mature than that of a boy of his age. 

As the driver came to a stop sign and as many of us do from time to time, he only slowed down to a very slow crawl but didn’t come to a complete stop before going through it.  This seemed to upset the little boy to the hilt.  He sat straight up in his seat, pointed his finger in the direction of the driver and said, “MR BUS DRIVER…DID YOU SEE THAT STOP SIGN?”  The driver replied that he did see it.  Then the boy went on to say, “THAT SIGN SAID S.T.O.P.!!!  IT DIDN’T SAY OPTIONAL!!!  THE WORD IS STOP NOT STOPTIONAL.” 

The driver chuckled as he asked the little boy where he had heard that and to his surprise the little boy replied, “My dad, the Missouri Highway Patrol Officer sitting in the back seat.”  WOW!!!  Busted, the driver thought.

Where had the little boy heard this?  Had his dad said this to his mom before?  Had he heard his dad tell someone else that they were riding with?  It doesn’t really matter…he had heard it somewhere before and remembered it. 

This just went to prove what my mother had told me many times.  We really must pay close attention to what and how we do and say things around others for we never know who is listening.  We could influence someone in a positive or negative way without even realizing it. 

This brings up a saying I saw the other day on a T-shirt.  It said, “Live your life so the preacher won’t have to lie at your funeral.”  Think about it…

As I listen to people around me as well as messages on audio books and lessons, I will do my best to post the best of the stories here for everyone to enjoy.  All we ask is that you help us by passing this on to others so they too can read our posts. 

Keep smiling…

Reputation is made in a moment; Character is built in a lifetime.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression so you should always try to do your best for you never know who will be watching. Think about it...

When The Student Is Ready...The Teacher Will Appear.

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear". This statement hit me really hard this year when I started looking for a mentor. My wife and I have been in many marketing ventures for over 13 years now and never really made much money to speak of. A friend told me that there is no such thing as luck. Luck is being prepared when opportunity comes knocking at your door. We've all heard this but several months ago, my friend started knocking at my door to tell me about something he found and best of all...IT'S FREE!!!

He told me about a free ebook, "Success In 10 Steps", that he had downloaded and read. He told me that the book never once mentions a company name, product, opportunity or anything...it just teaches you what to look for in a solid company. At first, I laughed it off. BUT, that night I went to the site http://www.realfreedom101.com/ and got my own copy. I am glad I did!!! That little book has changed my life.  I am sure it will change the way you look at things as it did for me.

"Happy WIFE...Happy LIFE". This little book has made a huge difference in the lives and attitudes in our house.

Get a free copy for yourself today.  I look forward to seeing you on the beaches of the world.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother...

A few days ago, a long time friend asked if I would help him do something. I didn't know if I should or not for I didn't really understand the situation. Then, the words to a song came to mind and I knew I had to lend a helping hand. I know all of you have heard this song at least once but have you ever really listened to the message? Have you ever thought about by just lending a helping hand, you may change the life or lives of someone? Read the words to the song and think about how they relate to all fellow networkers.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother...

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother...

Now that you've read these simple words, I hope you get a better idea that by simply lending a hand you may indeed change the life or lives of others? This is why I do the things I do.

A few months ago, I was turned on to the best mentoring program in the entire world. Over 107,000 people have said the same thing. It all started when I downloaded the free ebook, "Success In 10 Steps", found at http://www.realfreedom101.com/. This simple to read book set my mind at ease and explained why my past failures were not my fault at all.

I wish you all the best and hope these song lyrics helped to enlighten you.

Nobody cares how much you know, until...

Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

The past 24 hours proved this statement to be so true for me.  You see, yesterday, we took the kids swimming at a local lazy river and water slide.  As we started to get out of the van, my little six-year-old son came over and gave me a hug.  This was a sweet gesture, I thought.  Then, he did something that really took me by surprise.  He came back over to me, gave me another hug and said, “I love you so much daddy that I just had to give you another hug.”  This melted my heart and made me tear up a little.  Not much could have spoiled my moment.  To say the least…we all had a blast.

As I thought about it, I realized just how this moment had spoken to me.  No matter how you are feeling, what the environment provides, how your business is going or whatever the situation…take a look around to be aware of all your surroundings then seize each and every moment so you have no regrets.  Be sure to tell the people who are close to you just how special they are.   

As we were leaving, I noticed a saying on a T-shirt that applies to this message.  It said, “Always try to live your life in a manner so the preacher won’t have to lie at your funeral.” 

Think about it…