PASSION LIFE vs PASSIVE LIFE

Almost everyday I read someone’s status on Facebook; I hear someone in the local grocery store or talk with someone on the phone about how miserable their job is or how unsatisfied they are with their current position in life. And without fail the majority of the time the root of the matter is they are not living their Passion Life, but their Passive Life.

What do I mean by Passive Life, when I looked the word passive up, here is what I found. Passive is not participating readily or actively. I love it, when you are living your Passive Life; you are not ready or active in your daily life. Why is that, because you are not passionate about what you are doing.

How do most people end up living a Passive Life versus a Passion Life, because they take the road MOST traveled. We all have heard the statement “Get a good education that leads to a good job, with good benefits.” Well the problem is many get a good education in the wrong thing.

You can pick up any magazine and find articles that say, the highest paid career fields or fastest moving industries. So people select their degree fields based on that information. Stuff they can learn to do, but they are not passionate about. Years later they feel like robots. Wake up, get dress, do their job, go home, wake up, get dress, do their job, go home. This continues for years until they feel trapped, because they bought a house, car and a bunch of stuff they thought would make them feel better.

I know you may be reading this and say, that’s me, now what. Well it’s not too late for you to live a Passion Life. The first step is to admit, I’m living a Passive Life, and not my Passion Life.

The next step is to identify what is your Passion Life. For me it was to help people Live In Victory Everyday. Through my public speaking, books, seminars and training. Well, when I figured this out, I was in the Army, making a comfortable living and pretty successful by many standards. But I wasn’t passionate about what I was doing any more. Granted, when I first joined, I was excited, it was new, it was a new experience, but after six years, the new car smell had worn off.


The third step is you have to make a decision; I had to make one of the most difficult decisions in my life, to walk away from a comfortable Passive Life. I mean, I made guaranteed money, I was being promoted very fast, on track to lead a very successful military career, BUT, it wasn’t my passion. Remember, the definition for passive, not participating readily or actively. It was a struggle for me to wake up in the morning; I was using so much energy to complete a full day’s work.

The final step in the first phase of living your Passion Life; create a blueprint, a plan, an outline for how you will transition from a Passive Life, to a Passion Life. Once you know what you want to do, find out from where you currently are, what will it take to live your Passion Life? Maybe not a new degree, but some specific courses, maybe some specialized training.

Let’s recap the steps. First you have to admit, I’m living a Passive Life, next identify what is my Passion Life. Thirdly, make the decision, that you will not SPEND the rest of your life living a Passive Life, but start INVESTING in your Passion Life. Lastly, write out your blueprint.

My last bit of advice, don’t share with people your plans right off the bat. Most people that are living a Passive Life are very fearful, and will project their fear on you many times. Family, friends and colleagues many times mean well, and feel they are saving you from a whole lot of pain.

When I decided to leave the military, EVERY ONE told me I was crazy, every one of my supervisors told me I was making a mistake. But I had already made the decision two years earlier, so I was ready for all their questions and backlash. I knew they wanted the best for me, so I didn’t take it personally. Today I still speak too many of them, and they share with me how proud they are of me and I made the RIGHT DECISION.

What if Bill Gates would have stayed in school, and not followed his PASSION to start Microsoft. Henry Ford went against the grain and the norm, Thomas Edison wouldn’t give up on his passion to create a light bulb. The Wright brothers never gave up on their passion to fly.

The world is waiting for you to live your PASSION LIFE, passion produces genius.


Remember,

Think Better, Live Better

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STOP WAITING ON BARACK

Each week I travel and listen to conversations addressing the many problems and issues facing America. I turn on my T.V. and see the sea of people sharing their opinions on what the Government or President Obama should do. It all makes for great debate, and in many cases heated exchanges between the two Vietnam Vets at the donut shop, all the way to the top intellectuals of our time.

Two years ago, I watched with pride, as so many others, President Obama be sworn into the highest office and into one of most powerful offices in the world. As I set in my home my eyes swelled with tears of joy. Not so much because a Black Man was being sworn into office, I would have felt the same, if it were a White Female, an Asian Male or Female, a Hispanic Male or Female or whatever. To me it was a step forward in humanity and equality. America’s view of humanity was shifting.

Having the opportunity to travel to many countries and living overseas for over a decade, I had the chance to see people of all social, economical and racial backgrounds. Living in Germany, I was there when Angela Merkel became Chancellor. Travelled to India to see

Pratibha Devisingh Patil another female sworn into the office of President. I have travelled to Ghana several times, and saw John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor who was President at the time. So I already had a visual of a Black President.

If you study history, you will find that the times we are experiencing right now are not new, and will not be the last time we experience these types of challenges. So what do we as individuals need to do, to not only survive, but thrive. Complaining, debating and pouting will not change your situation, but these few keys will set you up for success.

1. But God First
2. Believe Success is Yours
3. Be Specific about the Success you will Achieve

4. Build the Necessary Relationships

5. Make Small Improvements Daily

6. Develop a Desire to Serve

7. Strive to be Better, not Bigger
8. Develop your Financial Literacy
9. Protect your Health
10. Enjoy the Journey

Each of these keys can be implemented immediately; Congress doesn’t have to vote on them. The President doesn’t have to introduce them into law. Stop waiting on the President or anyone else for that matter to take control of your life.

In two or four years, President Obama will be out of office, he will sign a book deal, and First Lady Michelle will sign a book deal as well. They will hit the international speaking stage and become billionaires. Another person will be in the Whitehouse, and you will still be in your house, so don’t find yourself still complaining, debating and pouting about the same things. Create your own recovery plan and stimulus package now, and work it like you life depends upon it, because it does.

Think Better, Live Better!!!

THINK IT THROUGH

Everyday we are bombarded with bad, challenging or unpleasant news from some source. But at the end of the day, it is still our choice how we process the information we receive.

Here is a truth of life, trouble and bad things, indifferent things happen to everyone, but I have found that the way you RESPOND will make all the difference. Most people tend to REACT, rather than respond. Responding is a thought out plan to an event, as a reaction is an instant action in the heat of the moment.

You will probably agree that the majority of our worst outcomes our times when we didn’t take the time to think something through and we just made a random decision. Each day we are training ourselves how to respond or react to situations we don’t like.

Let me give you an example we can all relate to. Driving on the Freeway and some person (nice word used) cuts you off without signaling or anything. This is a training moment, do you respond or react. I know for me I want to react. Number one, by speeding up to catch this rude person, number two to give them THE LOOK and number three to fulfill the inner ego inside of me to say, “I showed them.”

But have you ever noticed once you pulled next to the car, the person is never looking at you or even worse, they are looking at you and you begin a screaming match with both windows closed driving at high speeds. JUST CRAZY, not a good look for you or me.


This type of behavior only grows and gets worse if we don’t learn how to RESPOND, rather than REACT.

So what we all have to learn to do is stop and always ask ourselves a few questions.

          1. Will responding or reacting make a difference?


          2. If I respond or react what is my goal?


          3. If I react, what message will I send about myself?


This doesn’t happen over night, but you must begin the process to change the way you think. So when you are presented with these little test, make sure you think, then RESPOND…………………



Remember,

Think Better, Live Better!!!

Are You Living Are Just Existing?

Over the weekend a business icon passed away. If you live in Detroit, Michigan you have no doubt heard of Don Barden, He was the first African American to own a Las Vegas casino and the first to own a major cable TV franchise. Mr. Darden was 67 at the time of his death. Upon hearing this news, I was shocked; I remember reading about Mr. Darden in a Black Enterprise magazine that he donned the cover some years ago.

I was impressed with his story of success from meager beginnings, to the great success he achieved in his life. But on that day I read about his passing, that number 67 stuck out to me.

It is said that life at it’s longest is far too short, I whole heartily agree. So my question for you today, Are You Living Are Just Existing?

I want you this week to examine your life and ask yourself a few questions. Along with the first question, I want you to ask yourself, am I living a life that if I died today, I lived it to the fullest. Next I want you to ask yourself, in the last few days, few hours of my life, can I look back with a smile.

No longer can you live someone else’s desires for you, you can’t afford to wake up everyday and be miserable. I’m not suggesting you quit your job today, or leave a relationship. But what I am saying, ask yourself what is necessary for me to live the life I will enjoy. Start charting out a course that will lead you there. If it is a career change, start planning for it this week. Your relationships need some adjustments, then get the help to make it happen.

Decide today that you are not just going to exist, but you are going to live life to the fullest and explore the best in life.

Expand your mind to what is possible. Grab a magazine about exotic places today and start dreaming. Stop telling yourself you can’t afford to live a better life; you can’t afford not to live a better life.

This week plan to meet new people that can open you to new experiences. Go somewhere new, eat somewhere new. Every Sunday when you review your week, I want you to be able to point out one memorable thing you did that past week. Whether it was a call to an old friend, a walk on the beach, a special time with your family, don’t allow another week to go by unlived.

Let’s get to living, not just existing!!!

Think Better, Live Better

DOES ANYONE CARE?

I crew up in Compton, Ca in what some described as one of the roughest neighborhoods in America. The sound of gun shots was a normal occurrence during the night. Loud sounding police alarms and ambulance were common place. Hearing that someone had gotten shot or were killed was so usual that it had no affect on the community, only on those who were directly affected were moved.

We live in such a day where even the most horrible news doesn’t move us anymore. I can remember when I was in the Army, I was sent to Bosnia to intervene in their war. We were told that land minds were all over the place, so when you drive make sure you drive in the middle of the road. Gun shots sounded off each evening, my senses where on high alert. But after some time, even the sounds of gun shots and the fear of land minds became normal. Just like when I was in Compton, it became a way of life, and I learned how to live within this hostile environment.

This morning I woke up to the news of yet another young man gunned down in Inglewood, Ca. From my understanding, he was an entertainer, a rapper who was becoming very popular. I heard about it via Twitter, not the local news.

But what I did hear on the local news was stories about the cast of Jersey Shore going to Italy, a story of a young man who was not allowed to go to his prom and the millions of Tweets, Face Book post that were made in support for him to go to the prom.

My heart melted, because we are giving more attention to things that don’t matter, rather than crying out for things that are worthy. But we have become so numb to the news of another young male gunned down. It reminds me of the commercials that use to run when I was a young child about the starving children of Africa. Well they are still starving and we have just moved on.

There is a serious problem going on in America and I wonder does anyone care, or have we just become numb to it all.

The violence that is going on in America in the inner city is as worse as the prejudice that occurred in the last century. I think it is time for a Life Rights Movement, similar to the Civil Rights Movement. We need to get angry in a positive way, just as it was not acceptable for segregation and slavery; we have to feel the same way about our young men and women being gunned down.

I wonder does anyone feel that the genocide that is occurring in the inner city will have the same result as we felt racism, segregation and slavery would have on America’s future.

Remember,

THINK BETTER, LIVE BETTER!!!

Lessons On Success: What We Can Learn from The Lakers Loss

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge Laker’s fan. I enjoy their success on the court and agonize over their defeats. I like many other fans thought we would be celebrating the team’s 3-Peat and sending Coach Phil Jackson off into the sunset as one of the all time greatest coaches. Well, if Phil retires he will still go off into the sun set as one of the great coaches in any sport. However, there will be no 3-Peat for my Lakers.

I often tell people you learn more from failing then you do from winning. No one really studies what happens when they win, no watching film, no reasons given really for the win. But when you lose or fail, the microscope comes out, the fingers are pointing and answers, solutions are demanded.

What happened to the Lakers is what usually happens to many people who experience success on a constant basis. They relied on their past success, they became stagnate, they took the competition for granted and they stop improving.

I remember when I was in high school, running track; I had a degree of natural speed. Many of the races I won with no effort, but what I fail to realize was that everyone that I beat had instant motivation to beat me the next time they would race me. I returned to practice thinking I didn’t have to work that hard, because I already beat them.

I didn’t create a reason to work harder; I didn’t feel I needed to. I would just rely on my past success.

So what can we learn from the Lakers. Success is temporary. Every one you beat has instant motivation to work harder. Don’t live off past success, create the necessary motivation and desire to keep improving.

The Lakers our a successful organization, they have a long history of success, so I have no doubt that they will learn, correct the issues and be back on track.

But let’s all learn from them, and hopefully we can avoid the embarrassment the Lakers suffered by an opponent they took for granted.

Don’t allow your past success, to be your last success!!!

Remember,


THINK BETTER, LIVE BETTER!!!

LEADERSHIP & THE LAW OF RESPECT

The subject of leadership is a personal passion of mine and has been for over a decade. I try to read, listen and watch anything on leadership. It as been said that everything raises and falls on leadership. I think I love the topic of leadership so much because it really does control all aspects of our lives.

Now when I talk about leadership, you may be thinking I am talking about a person with a glorified position, someone like the President, a CEO of a company or maybe a ruler of a nation. But I need you to broaden your perspective on who is a leader. In its simplest definition, a leader is anyone with influence. With this definition in mind, the playing field just got a little wider.

So if a leader is anyone with influence, that means mothers and fathers, big brothers and sisters, teachers, lawyers, doctors and so on are leaders. Many people don’t think of themselves as leaders, because they don’t think they have influence. But as a parent, how many times have you told an older sibling not to do something because their younger sibling was watching them. You were really saying, you are a leader and I need you to set a good example.

When we understand that we are all leaders, it is then imperative that we realize that no matter the size of influence we have, we have influence. We must guard that influence and use it wisely.

I understand that for my eight year old daughter I have a great degree of influence, and that influence is multiplied beyond just her. Let me give you an example. If I tell my daughter something, or speak about someone to my daughter, she will repeat it to others, and who every she has influence over will repeat what was said and so on.

Since moving back to the United States, I have noticed that there is a great deal of disrespect for leadership in this country. Whether it is disrespect for parents, police, or just those in positions of authority. From how elected officials talk about each other to how the media speaks against the President.

There is always a penalty when leadership at any level is disrespected; the solution I believe is to return to a healthy respect for leadership. To do this, it takes everyone realizing they are leaders and they have influence.

No family, organization, community or nation will survive without a healthy respect for leadership…………………LEADERSHIP IS A NECESSITY, NOT AN OPTION !!!



As always,



THINK BETTER, LIVE BETTER!!!