Greatness Inside

"When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous." ~Wayne Dyer

In the news lately has been the pending decision of Lebron James, basketball superstar. He is in free agency and everyone is awaiting his decision regarding where he will play next year. Will he stay in Cleveland; will he go to Chicago; will he land in Miami? All of these questions will be answered.

What I have found interesting is the talk of money. And it is a lot of money they are talking about. Roughly $16 million per year to play a game, albeit very well. And I am not here to question "how much is too much" or try to say that no one is worth that kind of money. There are thousands upon thousands of people that have mind-boggling amounts of money.

In the talk of a possible contract, it was stated it might be $15 million or maybe $16 million. The people reporting state that $1 million dollars won't make the difference because it is "only $1 million dollars" we are talking about. Maybe not in the context of his contract, but it is an amount that could make a huge difference to others. Heck, I'll sign up to take it if he doesn't get it. But then I can only jump six inches off the ground and maybe get up and down a basketball court only once or twice.

It is the pursuit of money and what you do with it that makes a difference in this life. I contend and hope for everyone that you make as much of those mind-boggling amounts of money as you can. Yet what I truly hope is that you do something good with those amounts of money.

I wouldn't suggest you give it all away and I wouldn't suggest how you spend on things in your life. We all spend up to our means which is just fine. What I hope for is that you can do something for those less fortunate. For those that do not have the means to achieve. You setting up a program for learning, for improving life for those may just birth greatness out of others. It will certainly birth greatness in you.

So go out and make mind-boggling amounts of money. Each of you have the capacity to do so. Each of you have the ability to do great things. All I ask in return is you give back a little to others to make a difference in their lives. Then you will truly be great, then you will be a king inside.

Glass Of Water

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." ~Groucho Marx

There she was, the Delta Airlines flight attendant, standing at the front of the plane and pleasure was not written upon her face. It was getting late in the evening of a holiday with one more to go and 142 passengers.

Sometimes you can just see it all over a person. The pain or frustration of a day, a job or a lifetime. Many people would see it on another person and shy away. Not me though, I only wanted a glass of water.

The way she addressed or responded to people was not all that pleasant. I would describe it as a tourist asking a New Yorker for directions on a hot and humid day in Times Square. It was not going to be fun but I was determined to make an effort. Besides, all I wanted was a glass of water.

Rumbling down the aisle, "watch your elbows please" was the constant and stern warning of my flight attendant. I say 'my flight attendant' because I was going to make her smile and let her day finish brighter then it appears to have started.

So many times we see people that we would rather avoid. We get a perception of them that probably isn't very flattering. But we can never know what exactly is happening in their world. So much is hidden inside but it surfaces on the faces of those having a bad day. You can make a difference in that day, sometimes by simply asking for a glass of water.

When our row was approached, before asking for something I instead to ask how she was. I offered up a pleasant great day and thanking her for working on a holiday. All of a sudden it appeared, a smile. The hard shell of the day seemed to melt away. Maybe things would be just a little better. Maybe what troubled her was going to be okay.

And then, she offered me a glass of water.

Gone Fishin

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." ~Henry David Thoreau

Today marks a final work day before an extended holiday weekend here in the United States. On Sunday we celebrate the American holiday called Independence Day, which is not the one depicted in the movie with Will Smith. It is a time to remember those that fought and waged for our independence as a country. Along with the barbecues, parades and fireworks it will be a fun weekend.

It is also a weekend where I would love to be on a quiet lake. To be out in the middle of the calm waters with a fishing pole, cigar and cool drink catching fish. It is a serene thought that crosses my mind which takes me to that lake. I guess you could call it that 'special' place inside my head. Catching fish, quietly, consistently and then putting them back going about my business without any fanfare.

I have watched those fishing tournaments, the fancy fishing boats that some use. The racing across the waters to areas found with fish finders and six different pre-lured fishing poles. All going after the high profile fish, making a large impression on the viewing public. These fisherman are good at what they do and deserve credit for the work they do.

Those of us that do not have the expensive boats and sponsorships still get out there. We read the currents and temperatures, looking for a place to throw out our line. The catch can be hard at times but the result is still a great feeling. We go about our fishing without fanfare or notoriety.

The interesting thing is that we tend to forget that we actually fish every day. We enter into other peoples lives and impact them in ways we may not realize. But with each encounter or "catch", we have the ability to impact them in a positive way. To impact them such that when we leave or "throw them back", they are a little better.

So whether its down by the fishin hole or at the neighborhood grocery store, we are all fishermen in one sense or another. We can be high profile fishermen such as Anthony Robbins or Dr. Phil helping people create great lives. Or we can be the normal average Joe, "catching fish, quietly, consistently and then putting them back going about my business without any fanfare." Each of us can make an impact on another, each of us can make a difference in the lives of someone else.



Keep out the "Gone Fishin" sign and enjoy the wonder of it.

Half Way July

"A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view halfway up is better than the view from the base, and it steadily becomes finer as the horizon expands." ~William Lyon Phelps

Here we are, the halfway point of the year 2010. July first and the rest of the year lay out in front of us like the top of a tower. We have made our way, slowly and surely seeing an ever expanding horizon. The top may look insurmountable, but you just cut the insurmountable in half.

Continue your climb, continue with the goals you set for this year. It was way back at the bottom (January 1st) that you set out on your journey. The winds buffeted you; the rains tried to wash you away; heat and cold have placed their burdens upon you as well.

There are even people at the bottom yelling for you to stop. They are telling you that you can not make it. They are urging you to turn around and come back. But you have and continue to disregard their attempts to pull you back down.

And why do you keep moving towards your goal? As Janis Ian said, "once you're halfway home, you know that you can probably get the rest of the way there."

Those same obstacles will continue to claw at you. In fact the higher you get, your own fear may try to grip you. A fear so consuming that you may freeze your movement or turn around. Overcome those fears and look to the horizon. See the wonderous views expanding before you and know how much greater that view will be from the top.

The second half remains ahead of you, success is there and you can make it to the top. The further you go, the voices which try to hold you back will begin to fade. The obstacles will become less of a burden. Your own instincts will guide you further to the top.

Pretty soon you will be there, firmly at the top, basking in the completed journey. You will look out across the wide expanse and say to yourself, "wheres my next tower to climb?" And you will.