Inspiraelevation

Authenticity Locks in Success

May 27th, 2021
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Authenticity ensure that you are successful in the long term!

This is why you must be unapologetically you! You must be authentic, because you are your brand! And every output should have your unique fingerprint.

People should look at a piece of work, a process, or an idea and say that it is authentic, that is distinctly you.

But being authentic requires knowing who you are.

Are you familiar with the real you?

There is a unique show on Amazon Prime about self-discovery. Each episode stands alone. The feature opens the viewer to the world of the individual through several “SOLO” accounts. And the directors creatively craft the story lines out of a single question, which probes the viewer to dig deeper. Without a doubt the feature speaks well of the translation of ideology to purpose.

Discovering authenticity results from the mining of the mind.

Photo Credit: https://beforeverstrong.co.uk/

And feature “SOLO’s’ mine with such question as
- What would you say if you could talk to your past self?
- How would you respond if you met yourself?
- And how far would you go to find yourself?
And thus, begging the question.
- Would I like myself if I met myself?
- Am I living my existence fully?
- If given an opportunity, what would I change ?
- If I know what I would change, why haven’t I?
- And, do I need to go light-years away to find my true self?
While these questions are nothing revolutionary, they are questions that we should be asking ourselves. In the words of Nathaniel Hawthorne,

“No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.”

How can you be authentic if you do not know who you are or are trying to be what others want you to be? And what if the idea of finding out who you are is truly terrifying?

Well then, I proffer that you have work to do!

As Shakespeare once wrote,

“To thine own-self you must be true! – Hamlet

I would venture, this can never be done until you first know what it means to be an authentic you!
Accelerating Your Potential to Win!

May 19th, 2021

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Achievement is as much a mindset as anything else.

Unfortunately, it is not easy to develop the type of mindset that accelerates your success potential.

In fact, there is a dirty little word that is taboo in most motivational circles. People dare not utter it!

You got any idea what that word is?

That world is failure.

You got it; you can turn on any motivational podcast.

You can attend any motivational seminar.

You can engage in any reading material designed to motivate you, and they will all say the same thing.

You have to change the way you look at failure.

That is a fantastic concept!

And they are absolutely right!

We shape our lives through our patterns of thought.

But, thinking positively about your failures does not immediately transform how you feel.

Yes, we should look at every rejection or loss as a lesson.

And, we should use those experiences to fuel our fire and ambition.

But, feeling down about a loss or a rejection is perfectly okay.

It is a human reaction!

It is okay to feel bad!

Learning to align your thoughts and action is a process.

However, there is a way that you can speed up the process! There is a way that you can turn the hard, cold coal of negative experiences into fuel.

You can definitely accelerate your success potential.

The key

Count every win!

It does not matter what it is!

Count the wins!

It does not matter how small!

Count the wins!

Focus intently on those.

The sad fact is many people build a shrine to their failures.

That is the problem.

But, instead, “Look for small victories and build on that. Each small victory, even if it is just getting up five minutes earlier, gives you confidence. You realize that these little victories make you feel great, and you keep going. You realize that being paralyzed by fear of failure is worse than failure!” -Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I would usually have some personal or particular anecdote to drive this point home.

But my entire life is a testament to this principle. A principle I am learning every day!

If you believe you are winning in anything, you will start thinking you can win bigger. Not only that, but you will also begin to feel that you can win consistently.

Positive reinforcement begets positive results, trust me.

The more hype you are about your successes, the more likely you will do what you can to repeat those successes.

After a while, before you know it, you start to develop the mindset of a winner!

You will be unstoppable!
The Genie’s Secret: How to Get the Wealth you desire?

May 16th, 2021

Magic Smoke Coming Out Of The Bottle

There are but few people who do not dream of being wealthy. Because, well, let us face it no one likes to struggle.

But unfortunately, one does not become wealthy by wishing it.

In an interesting discussion with my kids, we talked about desires and dreams. As most conversations do, that conversation took on a life of its own. The talk soon segued into a brief discourse on manifestation.

You know the well-known adage, “you have to visualize before it’s actualized!”

Anyway, as we talked about all that we had dreamed and the fulfillment of those dreams, up to this point in life. My son remarked, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if we became millionaires tomorrow?”
I had to admit that would be pretty awesome. But, on the back of that comment, I asked him another question.
I said, “Well based on what you know, who do you think has the greatest shot of gaining wealth in this circle?”
He and my daughter did not deliberate long. They gave their responses based on their knowledge. Even so, will not divulge what their responses were, but let us say it led to a very robust and lively discussion. And I took it as an excellent opportunity to teach a valuable lesson.

Wealth does not fall from the sky, and it does not happen overnight, despite what some might believe.

You will never get something for nothing.
You have to put something out there!
That is to say, if you have anything in circulation that could make you wealthy, then how can you get wealth?

No one is going to hunt you down and seek out! No one is on a mission to determine what you have to offer! You must promote what you have to offer for someone to find it.
Ideas do not make you successful.
Implementation of ideas equates to success.
Working 9-5 and collecting a check will not make you wealthy?
It will sustain a specific state of existence! But, one must invest in a growth vehicle to expect bigger returns!
Your expectation must match your contribution!
If you have not contributed, added, invested, or created anything how can you expect success or wealth?
You have to put something out to get something back.
Today, make the decision to create, invest, or contribute.

Every day put something out. The more you put out the greater you can expect. Then the hope that you could become wealthy sometime in the new future, can be a pretty safe bet!

As you think on the above, think on this exemplary statement of John F. Kennedy’s spoken at Berkley in 1962,
“…we must think and act not only for the moment but for our time. I am reminded of the story of the great French Marshal Lyautey, who once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow-growing and would not reach maturity for a hundred years. The Marshal replied, ‘In that case, there is no time to lose, plant it this afternoon.’
Surprises from Unlikely Places

April 28th, 2021

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Inspiration and motivation sometimes come in the most unexpected ways at the most unexpected times.

Well, so do life lessons.

Most of the time, we have to simply pay attention to the things and people around us.

And, quite a few days ago, I learned one of the greatest life lessons ever.

I am a mother of four beautifully talented children. I constantly stand in awe at how blessed I am. The joy I feel is simply indescribable.

My youngest is three years old, and he is such a wonderful kid. His creativity and imagination are boundless. He seems to make something out of anything. The sheer excitement on his face as he shares his new creations with I and his father are priceless.

However, even he is not without his challenges in life. Who isn’t right?

In fact, he is just starting to tackle potty-training with the help of his dad. And, he is doing awesomely. I am astounded at how fast he has caught on. Then again, it’s not so surprising. When it came time to wean him from the bottle, it was as if he quit that bottle overnight. In the same fashion, he is adjusting to potty-training.

But, then again this territory is not new for most moms. However there is so much more to the story I have to tell.

A few days ago, my awesome three-year-old treated me to one of the greatest lessons ever.

I happened to walk by as my baby sat like a big boy on his potty,

I didn’t disturb him, I just stood right outside that door beaming with pride.

It was not the big step that was so inspiring, but rather what he was saying to himself.

I stood outside that door as my little boy exclaimed to himself, how a good boy he was, and what a good job he was doing.

My little boy was encouraging himself. He was instilling pride.

What was even more refreshing is that the praise came from an authentic place. It came from within.

Although I applauded him for his efforts, I understood that nothing would replace that pride he felt within himself for accomplishing something.

He had somehow, in his limited time on this planet, picked up that the best motivator is intrinsic motivation.

It was a humbling lesson.

Most of the time, I forget to encourage myself. From time to time, I still look externally for someone to validate me.

It is quite sad that no matter how long I have lived, I have found that this is a lesson I keep repeating. Yet, I am thankful for the reminder. And, I am incredibly grateful that it came on the lips of my little one.

In case you need a reminder, don’t forget to encourage yourself.

In the words of my little one, “You got this, you can do it!”
Power in Words

April 24th, 2021

There is an undeniable power in words

Word is Bond!

There are many things in life that require a transaction, an exchange between two parties. In most interactions, especially within the marketplace, there must be some medium of exchange. You have to provide something to get something.

Today we have many mediums of exchange, as medium of exchange promote trade. Those mediums include; debit, credit, crypto currency, etc…

And, in exchange for a recognized method or promise of payment, a vendor willing provides the buyer with a product or service.

However, transactions are not exclusive to the economic market.

There are also social markets, wherein social contracts, must be upheld.

These markets also require an exchange.

There is a saying that aptly fits here,

“In this world you will never get something for nothing,” meaning an exchange will always be necessary.

Unfortunately, or fortunately as some might see it, fiscal currency will not carry one far when negotiating and sustaining social contracts or relationships.

A cash deposit, or promise of one, will never buy loyalty, trust, companionship, friendship, or love.

And, to attempt to purchase any of those with fiscal currency only brings about impoverishment.

There will never be enough money in the world to successfully sustain solid relationships.

However, there are currencies that do work!

Time,

And, the power of words

Time is money, and

your word is bond

In the world of social contracts keeping to what you say is everything.

Martin Luther King once shouted from mountain top, that men are at their best when they are judged for content of character.

Character is displayed through action. And thusly, quality of character is judged through interaction.

The first interactive exchange that will occur between parties is an exchange of words.

Therefore rendering, words as essential.

John D. Rockefeller one of the most successful and powerful men in U.S. history once said
“I believe in the Sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character-not wealth, or power or position – is of supreme worth.”

If Rockefeller’s success is any indication of his belief system in action, then it is worthy of attention.

Remember, when seeking success remember that building relationships are essential, words carry the biggest power.

Say what you mean and mean what you say