My grandpa, Glen Stratton, had a way of teaching things using analogies and with sayings of his that we frequently called “Glenisms”.  One of his most popular sayings was, “I wouldn’t throw stones at your outhouse like that”.  I’ll let you figure out that one.  I’m not sure if he purposely meant for his instructions in one area of life to be applied to several areas of life, but they did leave lasting impressions.

My grandpa taught me to have a love of horses and also taught me how to team rope.  In learning how to ride horses and to rope there was always a guarantee that at some point you were going to be bucked off.  With that guarantee there was also a guarantee that no matter how small you were or how big the horse was you ALWAYS got back on.  This was not negotiable.  In fact, if you didn’t get back on it taught the horse a bad lesson; that it could buck someone off and be okay with it.  Try being the next rider on the horse after it’s formed this bad habit.

Isn’t this the same with life?  At some point we are guaranteed to be bucked off and if we don’t get back on what have we taught ourselves or learned from the lesson?  In fact isn’t getting back on an empowering action that strengthens us while if we were to stay off it would be a disempowering action that would weaken us.

There is a favorite poem that I have framed, hanging in my bedroom, entitled “Don’t Quit”.

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will, when the road your trudging seam all uphill.

When the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit, rest if you must but do not quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, every one of us sometimes learns.

And many a failure turns about, when you might have won had you stuck it out.

Don’t give up, though the pace seams slow; you may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out; the silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are; it may be near when it seems so far.

So stick to the fight when your heart is hit; it’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

I would like to hear about your greatest triumph and the feeling that came from conquering.

And as always, if you enjoyed it, please share it, digg it, stumble it and retweet it…

Tiffany is a key note speaker for the self founded company The Lighthouse Principles and is also endorsed by Jack Canfield, co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.  Tiffany is also a personal coach and mentor who has had remarkable success helping others to get their desired results.  She is a seasoned success trainer, speaker, coach, and facilitator helping individuals and organizations alike  in creating stellar results and lasting change in their professional, financial, and personal lives.  She is a powerful person and demands a presence.

Ty Bennett is also a speaker and author for Leadership Inc which he founded in 2009.  Ty has a life changing audio CD called The Power of Belief.  Ty is a gifted communicator who has a unique ability to make the complex simple and to teach and inspire. At age 21, Ty started a business with his brother Scott, which in a few short years they built into a multi-million dollar, international enterprise.  He is currently in the process of co-authoring a book with Kevin Hall about the two most important days of your life.   Kevin just released a New York Times best seller Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through the Power of Words.

At this point you are probably wondering what the point of this post is. Have you heard that your network is your net worth?  As an entrepreneur are you an introvert or extrovert.  Especially in today’s competitive world it is more important than ever to get yourself out into the public’s eye serve first.  It is easier now than it has ever been to make connections…powerful connections.  Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube have been the means of connections that would have never existed otherwise.  It is no wonder that there are more millionaires created now than in any other time in history.

One more thing…today’s lunch was the first time that I have met Tiffany, although we have communicated a few times via Facebook.  She did something that really impressed me.  She asked Ty and myself if there was any way that she could serve us.  She didn’t ask us half way or at the end of our meeting.  She asked right at the beginning.  Tiffany has mastered that if you help enough people get what they want, eventually you will get what you want.

What is the most powerful connection that you have made?

Glen Stratton

My Grandpa, Glen Stratton, always told me that if you see something that needs to be done, just do it.  I don’t know if he took this from Nike or if they took it from him but it did make a lasting impression on me.

He also taught me that today is the first day of the rest of my life.

On my eighth birthday my grandpa gave me a framed quote, entitled Believers Creed, which I still have today. I suppose that he saw potential in me that was not limited to my age or circumstance.

Believers Creed: Today is the very first day of the rest of my life. This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it…or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, and not loss; good and not evil; success, and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price that I have paid for it. I will try just for today, for you never fail until you stop trying.

I suppose that I would ask what lessons are we teaching our children, if we have any, or even those with whom we associate with?

Regardless of what you religious or spiritual convictions are, the video below reminds us that we are all part of something that is greater than ourselves.

As always, after watching the video share the lessons that have been the greatest worth in your life and the lesson they taught.

Born with no shin bones, it would be easy to think that Aimee Mullins would be content with leading a “disabled” life or at best a “normal” life.  Instead of buying in to her reasonable excuse to live a life of mediocrity Aimee decided at a young age that she wanted and was worth much more.  Instead she became an Olympic Athlete, a model, an actress, and an inspiration to many around the world.  She knows firsthand what it means and what it takes to overcome adversity and to harness it into opportunity.

It is mind boggling to watch her and know that she was at one time looked at as being “disabled”.  On the contrary she is a living testimony that the human spirit can triumph over all hardships and come off a conqueror.

Watch part of her story below and as always, drop me a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

As an entrepreneur I am always eager to share what my latest venture is or to be involved with the next entrepreneurial seminar but how enthusiastic am I in getting involved in my own community, let alone with those who live right next door to me.  I wonder if in the 5 days of torture ensuing in the death of little Ethan if signs or clues were not given to where an observant neighbor might have been able to interject and save Ethan’s life.

I am not talking about being nosy, gossipy or meddlesome.  I am simply saying that we need to be more involved with our neighbors and community.  Ask yourself these questions and if you are not able to answer them, then you have some homework to do:

1.      What are the names of my neighbors?

2.      What are the names of my neighbor’s children?

3.      What are the occupations of my neighbors?

4.      What are the religious or ethical beliefs of my neighbors?

I believe that we are our brother’s keepers.  Steven R Covey, in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, states that we are interdependent beings; meaning that we thrive when we work together harmoniously.  You and I can accomplish 3 times more than I can alone.  With instant messaging, texting, Facebook and Twitter we are losing the personal touch that caused us to flourish in the first place.

Ethan Jonathan David Stacy has not been the first child to lose their life to domestic violence but I want you to ask yourself if his death has to be needless.  I believe the time has never been greater than now to step outside of our digital world and really get to know who is around us and what caliber of people they are.

Below is the obituary for Ethan that I took from www.ObitsUtah.com.

Ethan Jonathan David Stacy

September 22, 2005 ~  May 11, 2010

Hometown: Richlands, VA

ETHAN JONATHAN DAVID STACY, 4 years old of Richlands, Virginia, passed away Tuesday, May 11, 2010 in Layton, Utah. Born at Fort Stewart Army Base in Savannah, Georgia on September 22, 2005, he was the son of Joe Gary Stacy of Richlands, Virginia. Ethan was a fun loving boy who enjoyed life and loved playing with his Transformers.

Ethan is survived by his loving father – Joe Gary Stacy and his fiancé Becky Leigh Elswick of Richlands, Virginia, One sister – Alisa Destiny Stacy, Mt. Carmel, IL, One Brother – Destrian Jonathan David Stacy, Mt. Carmel, IL, Paternal Grandmother – Peggy Jo and her husband David Akers, Grundy, VA, Paternal Grandfather – Gary Steven and his wife Freda Stacy, Hurley, VA, Maternal grandparents – John and Katrina Busby, Apopka, FL

He is also survived by several Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

Funeral services for ETHAN JONATHAN DAVID STACY will be conducted Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evangelist Mike Rife officiating with burial to follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery, Richlands, Virginia.

Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home chapel after 5:00 P.M. Tuesday with evening services at 7:00 P.M.

Active Pallbearers will be Marshall Osborne, Brett Sword, Aaron Keene and Jacob Keene.

A memorial fund has been set up for Ethan Stacy at Tru Point Bank – P. O. Box 1010 – Grundy, Virginia 24614 – Ethan Stacy Memorial Fund.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, Virginia is in charge of all arrangements.

What are your thoughts or feelings about getting out in your neighborhood and community and being involved?

ObitsUtah has recently developed and launched an online obituary and death notice listing service for the state of Utah.  This is a cost effective approach to traditional newspapers whose obituary listings run anywhere from $500 – $3500.  ObitsUtah.com will run the obituary for a fraction of the cost and for an extended period of time.  “When my brother-in-law- died two years ago” , said Randy Clouse, owner of ObitsUtah, “I was shocked at how much the newspapers were charging for the obituary.  It was no more than a glorified death notice and they wanted over $500.  From that time on I knew that I wanted to create a forum where family members could place the death of a loved one where they will be remembered and honored, and at the same time making it very affordable”.

With the support of the Utah Funeral Directors Association, ObitsUtah is rapidly becoming the source for all Utah obituary listings.  Some of the services that are included within the website are:

• Obituaries will be listed until the funeral is over. If you place an obituary on Monday and the funeral is on Saturday, it will run from Monday until midnight on Saturday.
• Obituaries will be available online in their searchable archives for two years.
• Obituaries include a life story that is any length, and a photo or clipart.
• A share feature allows family and friends to share the obituary on Facebook, Twitter and other social sites.  It also allows them to email the obituary.
• A newpaper style printout is available for a keepsake.
• An online memory book is provided, where friends and family can send online condolences.

Families who want to use the service of ObitsUtah need to place the obituary through the funeral home or mortuary.  “We wanted to build the site to where the funeral homes can place obituaries so that the site remains clean and unencumbered” said Clouse.  Families who live out of the state of Utah are also able to place their obituary on the site.  To do so they simply need to contact ObitsUtah.com.

For more information visit www.ObitsUtah.com.

Americas Founding Fathers were all entrepreneurs who fought and died for a better way of life far removed from the idea of Socialism and a large Government.

Most likely the two most impactful events in Americas history where big government was challenged were the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.  The first was the people against government and the latter was the government and people against the government and people.  In both scenarios the integrity of the American people propelled them to success.  The question that many are asking is are we entering the 3ed stage in American history where the people will once again have to stand up to a government who is encroaching on our liberties?

Mitt Romney addresses the importance of supporting the entrepreneur, free enterprise and capitalism. Entrepreneurship and Freedom are one in the same. When Americans rights and freedoms are jeopardized so is our right to entrepreneurship.

What are your thoughts on Government and Entrepreneurship?  Does the size of the government threaten the effectiveness of an entrepreneur?

Massive Online Leverage

and it’s no wonder so many people are jumping into the trend. But in order for you to succeed, you have to completely understand the simple concepts which the most successful Internet businessmen have mastered. In that way, you can break through the niche you’ve decided to participate in.

It’s true what they say – too much information can be overwhelming. Nowadays, there are just too many gurus and their secrets seem to contradict one another. When applied, these tips seem to do more harm to the business than good. The general advice most gurus give to newbies is to buy this and buy that. They encourage them to take a risk. There’s truth to their statements but these newbies should make decisions based on sound judgment – and not just because a lot of Internet marketers are doing the same thing.

Truth be told, you don’t have to buy the Internet marketing tools in order for your business to succeed. If you want to be a successful Internet marketer, you need to be completely focused. You should understand the foundation of your business. That is why before you completely jump into Internet marketing, you need to strategize. What does your business offer? What makes your business different from your competition? What’s your target market? There will be distractions along the way but once you set your eyes on the prize, then this would make you completely impenetrable.

If you want a successful MLM business, you need to overcome four hurdles. The first is to have a website that allows you to make money online. There are affiliate programs you can contact that will get this done for you without any cost. Once yo0u have the website, then the business will slowly take off.

The next thing on your to-do list is to generate traffic to your website. You can get these from other sites. You can also promote your site in different ways. Remember that your online business will only make money if it gets 100 visitors a day. If you get 1000 visitors then you truly are very lucky.

Once you generate traffic, you can tweak your site in such a way that will make your visitors become leads. This is a skill that you should definitely learn as an Internet marketer. You may have traffic to your site but if they are not paying then it does not matter.

Finally, once you’ve started a relationship with your constant visitors or your leads, then you should interact with them regularly. In doing so, you get to profit from them again and again. Once you’re used to doing this, then you can say that you are a master online marketer.

These days, when you say “brand”, people instantly think material branding. Branding from commercial products, these companies that have made their mark in our consciousness. And how did they make that mark exactly? It’s through years and years of consistent quality and unique product packaging. A good marketing and advertising strategy helped too. And what was achieved was a sort of trademark, a brand, a guarantee that you will get your money’s worth.

You may wonder why you should have a personal brand. Well, look at you and your business as living stories. Tell your audience, in this case, your customers what makes you and your business unique. Tell them what sets you apart from your competition. Think of those moments that make you stand out. You have to help them understand your tools and your community. You can do this by improving your own communication skills.

When you talk to your customers about your business, deal with them as if you are an annual review. Tell them what your business has done and what the goals are for the coming year. You should have integrity nonetheless. Another thing you should remember is that you must improve what you have. Do not lament on what you lack. If you focus on your liabilities, then you will not be able to work on your strengths.

As children, we are taught to be well-rounded. We should strive to fix what’s broken. But there are cases when you need to show your colleagues what you can do and impress them about your abilities and your perspectives on the business. You have to accept the parts of your job that you’re very good at accomplishing. You should encourage them that you can get it done for them. Remember that you are branding yourself.

Since you are brand and you are marketing yourself, it is best to think about your characteristics. Identify your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Re-invent yourself and invest in your well-being. After all, you are your own brand.

But then, you have to realize whether it is worth the time investing in something that you’re not. You can build and deliver power through those parts of you that are already considered to be your best gifts. If you look into other several works, these words have already echoed. Flip through those self-improvement books and you will see this statement.

Finally, the most important technique that you should learn in personal branding is confidence. You have to nurture your confidence. When you do, then you will accomplish far more than any software, logo, or slogan. You are your own brand, remember that. You have to empower your belief in yourself. This is the best strategy and method that you can do.

Don’t forget to comment and share…

In seeing the huge growth of the social media arena Microsoft has jumped in allowing users the ability to stay connected while increasing productivity. New relationships are also being fused with Facebook and MySpace and are following the existing association that Microsoft already has developed with LinkedIn.

Now that this the integration has gone live Outlook users can download the LinkedIn for Outlook application and renovate their desktop inboxes into social media hubs.