New Year and New Pathways

Well, the New Year is soon to be on us once again. Have you gone through the same old tired routine of setting goals, knowing you won’t commit to them? I have finally realized one of my goals this year-my book (actually, me and Jaime Karalis’) The Pathways to Success, just rolled into my hand this past. Man, what a Christmas present and a true adrenalin rush! It was one of my professional goals this time last year to have the book finished, edited and off to the printer before old man winter set his cap on again.

You know, you can do the same thing. No, I’m not talking about writing a book, although that is an option if that is your desire. Think about just one personal goal and one professional goal you would like to see realized by end of 2011. Yes, you can still say you want to lose weight or whatever. But, can you reach just a little bit further? What? You want to hear my goals again for the year? Sigh, sure..read on.

A personal goal I would like to see and will see happen this year is to see a strong and long time relationship move forward. Stay tuned until this summer and you’ll see!

A professional goal I would like to see take hold is  that the techniques and motivational strategies Jaime and I have outlined in The Pathways to Success are shared with hundreds of people. I have coached so many people and businesses through my personal seminars and private sessions, that I really think people would find this book a true inspirational eye opener. No, I’m not tooting my own horn..Oops, I guess I am. That’s ok, if you don’t toot your own horn, who will?

Have a terrific New Year and give my book a spin.

Peace

Chris

www.thepathwaystosuccess.com

Ode to the Fishermen

Though BP has claimed to have capped the oil leak in the Gulf Coast, there is no capping the catastrophic damage the oil flow has done to the environment. It is not only marine life, birds and fragile ecosystems that have been destroyed, but also those whose lives are deeply entwined with the sea.

Very few media resources have broadcasted the pain and suffering of the Gulf Coast fishermen, their families and the venders who depend on their services. Think back some years ago when the Exxon Valdez leaked the equivalent of thousands of galleons of oil into and around the ports of Valdez, AK.  Even now, some 20 years later, the fishing industry is still struggling.  The tragedy of the Exxon Valdez doesn’t even begin to compare to the major disaster that is BP-British Petroleum.

The 3 billion dollars BP has set aside for clean up and recovery efforts is only a drop in the bucket to help these struggling families. It is a way of life that will be lost if help is not given.  In the spirit of Katrina and Haiti, relief endeavors, I am offering some of my popular personal coaching courses for only $5 each. Part of each purchase will go directly to the Adopt a Fisherman charity, established by musician and Entertainment Tonight news anchor, John Tesh.

Won’t you join me in making a difference? Go to www.level2relief.com and check out a chance to make a difference in our Gulf Coast brothers and sisters.

Until Later-Peace

Chris

Looking Out For #1

Think about it. Who is the most important person in your life right now? If you haven’t said-”me,” my question to you is-why not? You have to live with yourself day in and day out. Yes, you may have a spouse, kids or the in-laws living with you. But, ultimately-they will suffer if you don’t take care of yourself. What I’m talking about is looking out for #1.

What have you done for yourself today? I don’t mean the daily berating you give yourself just because you forgot to take out the trash or mow the lawn. What have you done to give yourself some quality “me” time? I am guessing-probably nothing. Am I right? Yep. Just think of all the gray hairs you could be avoiding if you had just taken time to relax and just totally veg out.

When I worked construction-I worked like a dog. It seemed like all I ever did was work. Yea, I occasionally went out with the boys for a cold one. But all I ever accomplished was getting hammered and feeling like crap the next 18 hr work day. When I left that career field, I vowed I would not be a slave to the dollar or those who demanded it.

I had to give myself permission to slow down and explore just what it is that makes me feel truly at peace. Eventually, I discovered that just by sitting still in a quiet area and doing no thinking-just breathing-was enough to really quiet my soul.

What is it that makes you want to be still? Think about it. Then-do something. Look out for numero uno.

Til next time-Peace

Chris

Bringing Your A-Game Everyday

I recently browsed the aisles of an old book store. I like to read but don’t often get the chance. I happened upon this one very colorful book cover. It was partially hidden, so I did not see the whole title. All I saw initially was “If Life is  a…” and I saw part of the author’s name-’mbeck.” Hmm, this intrigued me.

Once I tossed away a couple of heavy crates, I was able to freely pick up the book. It was worn, tattered and water damaged, but, I had to laugh. It was from one of my favorite authors-Erma Bombeck. She had a classic satirical book published called, “If Life is a Bowl of Cherries…What am I doing in the Pits?” I thought about the title while I absentmindedly thumbed through the dogeared pages.

Truly, who says one has to stay in the pits? Cherries, like life, are sweet when plucked (or lived) at the most optimum time. Occasionally, there will be pits-hard, unyielding and unavoidable. But do you have to keep the pits around you-and have them pulling, nagging and joyless?

Absolutely not. Successful people do have days which can be classified as the pits; hard, ruthless and sometimes heartbreaking. Do these people let themselves fall into the pits and wallow? Yes-but only for a moment. They have responsibilities to themselves and others who may depend on them. So, how do they stay successful? They bring their A-game. Even when they feel like they are in the pits, one would never know it.

Each successful person has developed an A-game persona. Where’s yours?

Until Next Time-Peace

Chris

Don’t Stop Believing in Yourself

Recently, I saw a well-dressed, 40-ish woman crying her heart out. She was sitting in a small corner booth at the back of a local coffee shop where I frequently stop. I’m a guy-you know, the tears get me. It doesn’t matter if it’s my girlfriend’s, mom’s or Ms. Jane Q. Public-I can’t stand to see a woman cry. There, I’ve said it. So, I sat in a table near her and offered her a napkin or two.

I introduced myself. No, it wasn’t a come-on. This poor woman needed to bend someone’s ear. I bought her some coffee, she dried her tears-to an extent-and told me a story that rings true with so many in this economy.( For the sake of privacy, I’ll call her Miss Jane. )She had just come from her 4th job fair in as many months. She was an Elementary teacher. She went on to tell me of how many degrees she has, experiences and how she was laid off from a job with only 3 years teaching experience.

She said the last job she applied for had over 3000 applicants. For a 3rd grade teacher? It sounded incredulous to me. She insisted it was true. She became licensed in X amount of states and spent a ridiculous amount of money on required testing. When, she wanted to know, was it going to end? All the education and diplomas in the world and they are all useless…She couldn’t get hired. What was she going to do?

I pondered her situation. Indeed what could I tell her?  I remember asking her, “When did you stop?” She looked up at me and stared, someone dumbfounded.

“Stop what?”

“Believing..in whatever you worship, your abilities…yourself?” I continued. “Because that is what you have done. When you gave in to tears and frustration, you gave up on yourself. In this day and economy, you are the only person whom you can truly rely to know the kind of person you are…the worth of knowledge and experience that you bring to the table are invaluable.”

She looked at me kind of sheepishly-”I never thought about myself in that light, maybe you’re right.”

Of course I’m right. If you don’t believe in yourself and what you have accomplished in your life thus far, who will?

Peace-

Chris

Motivation

Motivation. Mo-ti-va-tion. Root word is motivate. Meaning: inspiration, incentive or impulse.
Each day, you have to find a way to keep yourself motivated or inspired. I’m not talking about just your personal life. So many people are tired of dead-end jobs and have to find something which would give them motivation or incentive to clock in at the appointed hour. Are you one of those people? I don’t know anyone, who at some point in their life, say is this all there is? Clocking hours for a paycheck? When I worked in the construction field, I know I got tired of long hours, getting hot and sweaty. Was the pay good? Yea, sometimes. It just felt so…deadend. Know what I mean?
What kept me going during those years, and even now, is developing a sense of what do I want to do today, rather than, what do I HAVE to do. Here are my have to’s…

Have to:

eat

bathe

connect

make a paycheck

Here is what I WANT to do:

Eat healthy foods to keep my body fit.

Take a hot shower as long as I want

Connect with people I love and don’t work with

Earn a living doing what I love to do.

What are your haves and want to lists? Think about it.

Until later-peace

Chris

Better Life According to Our Forefathers

I found this from an old letter a friend from Africa had sent me. I wanted to share it with you.

1) CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS

2) CONTROL OF ACTION

3) STEADFASTNESS

4) IDENTIFY WITH HIGHER IDEALS

5) EVIDENCE OF A MISSION…

6) EVIDENCE OF A CALL TO SPIRITUAL ODER

7) FREEDOM FROM RESENTMENT

8) CONFIDENCE IN THE POWER OF THE MASTER (TEACHER)

9) CONFIDENCE IN OUR OWN ABILITIES

10) PREPAREDNESS FOR INITIATION (INTO A NEW LEVEL of Spiritual Thinking)

I thought about these and realized-how much we miss out on the simple things. Sometimes life really is just black and white.

Til Later-Peace
Chris