"No" will BREAK you or MAKE you!

Before we can walk or talk, a baby hears the word NO hundreds if not thousands of times. As parents its our job to ensure our kids are safe, so NO you can't touch that its too hot, NO you can't play with that its not a toy, NO you can't chew on that you can choke.

Here's dictionary definition of the word NO as: used to give a negative answer or reply to a question, request, or offer... 

But lets think about this...This two letter word has designed every aspect of the world that we live in. Now on the surface, the word NO simple means the definition stated above. And to the average person, NO gives the feeling of being REJECTED or DISMISSED. The crazy thing is the word NO has pushed too many people out of the game. It's redirected people from their passion, their dreams, their aspirations. It's stop people DEAD in their tracks and made them RETREAT for the hills. Or even worse, the word NO can give people a complex of self-worthlessness and depression. A FEAR of ever again taking a risk or going against the grain.

Let me tell you something, we weren't put on this earth to live in fear, depression, or self pity. If I can have your permission, I like to share how to let the word NO make you EXPRESSIVE instead of SUPPRESSIVE. 

Now my intention isn't to motivate you. In fact, if you need that, listen to a Les Brown, Tony Robbins, Eric Thomas, Brendon Burchard, John Maxwell, etc. While those individuals are great at what they do, I'm just as inspired by leaders like Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Steve Jobs, and Stevie Wonder. Now their messages may be completely different, but it's their posture and the conviction of their words that made people MOVE to ACTION. These leaders didn't have sight, they had VISION! 

What every single one of us has in common with these great leaders is we all have been subjected to the same word, NO. Would you agree, at some point we all heard NO, you can't do that. NO, that's impossible. NO, you should stay where you are. 

The difference is simple.NO didn't PARALYZE them, they heard NO and it  MOBILIZE them.

Reinvent Yourself

Fact... everyday thousands of people migrate from all over the world to the United States. They see America as the land of opportunity, the land of milk and honey, the promise land. Most of the time families come over to America to start a business. But the ironic thing is most of Americans never think about starting a business. The few that do, they think its a mysterious process. They know they WANT to start a business, but they don't know WHERE to start. There is SO much opportunity out there too. But just think back to your school days. Were we being taught how to start businesses, or were we being taught to go to school, get good grades, get a good job, and live happily ever after? Now I can't knock that thought process, because that's exactly what I did. But we all do realize that's not enough. Right??! Robbing Peter to pay Paul could only goes so far. 

The only way people can stay relevant is their willingness to change and reinvent themselves. Now, there is people out there that say change is not good. Don't change anything, if it ain't broke... well you know the rest. Listen you HAVE to change! The world is changing, the economy changing, technology is changing, people change, business changes, YOU have to change! If you do not focus on where you are today and where things are going tomorrow, and if you are not willing to change, if you do not have the courage to change, you will be extinct like a dinosaur in a minute. And guess what, we are living in a world today where billion dollar companies go out of business left and right. Yes, billion dollar companies going bankrupt because they weren't willing to change and adapt with the times. Some of us work for those companies. College kids graduating not finding jobs. The ones that do find jobs take them from others who have been at a company for 20+ years because they can pay that college kid less and make them do double the work.

I've made it this far only because I am willing to make changes, I am willing to reinvent myself, and I'm telling you what, we are in a season of change, a season of reinvention. Now reinvention doesn't happen over night, it's a process. You have to wrap your mind around where you are going, and remember change takes time. I don't know what your confidence level is or your belief level is in yourself, but what I am telling you its doable of all of us, its possible, and you can do it 100 times faster than you think you can. You just have to make a decision to want change! Your kids are watching you, be an example for them and live your life to your fullest potential. Teach them the things their teachers and schools just can't. 

Your kids are always watching!!!

I have the best kid a dad can ask for! Sarah just grew up watching mom and dad volunteering, donating, and giving back...Now, she's taking on the possibility of raising awareness with a $20,000 dollar fundraising goal with 6 weeks left for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She sent her campaign details to our local paper and less then a week later they published her cause. God is Great! For more details on how you can help, Sarah helped us create a page... 

visit www.lls.org/pages/epa/studentoftheyear2015/dbrown‪#‎10kidsnoproblem‬ ‪#‎babymaker10‬ ‪#‎nonprofit‬ ‪#‎curecancer‬ ‪#‎LLS‬

Take Your Life By The Wheel!

You ever take a road trip? Some people say “I’ll drive” while others will call “shot gun”! That’s how people are in life too.

When you call “shot gun”you’re cool where ever the driver takes you. Sitting “shotty” you can’t control how fast or how slow you get there, how many stops it takes along the way, or the expected detours you may have to take. The most you control is what radio station is on. You know you will get to point “B” eventually. “Shot gun” will gladly give up the control so they can sit back, chill out, and enjoy the ride.

The driver on the other hand refuses to let go of the wheel. Getting from point “A” to point “B” is way too important to just let anyone take control. The driver sets the pace, only stopping to refuel when the tank is low, completely focused on the destination - allowing nothing to stop them until they get there.

So what’s the big difference? Well eventually both people arrive at point “B”, but their journey along the way, their experiences, well, it’s completely opposite. As 2015 begins, now is the time to take control on your journey. Don’t sit back and chill out, flicking through the radio stations. Now is time to take your life by the wheel, set the GPS and live past your potential.

You may not have chose to be born, but you can choose to live. Design your life and your future. Ask yourself, are you riding “shot gun” or do you have pedal to the floor?!