Remember to “think positive” at every opportunity. Visualize success, not failure. Avoid negative environments and people. You are what you think. In fact, a study I recently read in Fitness Magazine stated that positive thinking actually increases longevity. I started experiencing the benefits of positive thinking when I became more aware of my thoughts and my feelings. I read as many books about positive thinking as possible and put into practice almost every technique I came across, from positive affirmations to meditation to using programs for positive thinking. I've gathered a good bunch of positive tips. I feel good when I can pass these tips on to others who may benefit. I practice the things I write about. My thoughts have changed my life for the better in very little time and continues to do so as I learn more. I invite you to explore the benefits of positive thinking and check out the following useful tips:
1.Decide On Your Dreams and Goals. Be specific about your goals. For example, say “I am taking a cooking class next month,” rather than “I would like to take a cooking class sometime.” Create
a plan to reach your goals, and stick to it.
2.Take Action. Goals alone have no meaning; you need to take action to make them real. Don’t let fear hold you back. "Just do it."
3. And Lastly, NEVER Stop Learning. Take classes, go back to school, read books, join a discussion group. If you are interested in a subject, make time to learn about it. Keep acquiring new skills. The Bottom line is, if you can Conceive it. . .You can Achieve it!
- Shannon Lavenia
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Why Plan To Be Happy Tomorrow, When You Can Today. . .Live Your Best Life Now!
Happiness is something everyone wants to achieve. While on the surface people may seem to be looking for money, recognition, or other things, what they actually seek is happiness. Unfortunately, many people never reach the level of happiness they desire. While I can’t claim to be the happiest person in the world (I wish I could :) ), I do know that Your happiness is YOUR responsibility. Don’t blame outside conditions or other people if you’re not happy. While things around you could change and go bad, it is you who decide how you will respond to them. You can decide to be HAPPY.
With that in mind, here are a few ways I’ve found to bring happiness in life:
1. Stop Comparing Yourself With Others:
Comparing yourself with others won’t do you any good. You will either feel proud when you are above, or feel jealous and frustrated when you are below. None of them brings true happiness. So stop comparing yourself with others and simply be your best.
2. Count Your Blessings!
There are so many things we should be grateful for, but we often forget them. When you realize how blessed you are, you will certainly be happier.
We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. You can start with some simple things we take for granted.
3. Find Your Inner Voice:
To find true happiness, you must first find your inner voice. Slow down and take some quiet time for soul searching. What will make your life meaningful? What is true happiness for you? By knowing what your heart says, it will be easier for you to align with it.
4. Help Someone!
Giving is an essential key to happiness. While we often think that we will be happier when we receive, the truth is we are happier when we give. This is also one of the most difficult things to apply.
You can apply this by finding someone in need and lending a helping hand. The person could be your family, friend, or even a stranger. You could also donate to a charity.
I feel when these areas in our lives are fully developed, our wisdom completely eradicates all negativity and all confusion from the mind. And to our Success, creates the right inner conditions, specifically receiving inspiring blessings, purifying negative karma, and accumulating meritorious energy- -All which will foster true Happiness!
-Shannon Lavenia
With that in mind, here are a few ways I’ve found to bring happiness in life:
1. Stop Comparing Yourself With Others:
Comparing yourself with others won’t do you any good. You will either feel proud when you are above, or feel jealous and frustrated when you are below. None of them brings true happiness. So stop comparing yourself with others and simply be your best.
2. Count Your Blessings!
There are so many things we should be grateful for, but we often forget them. When you realize how blessed you are, you will certainly be happier.
We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. You can start with some simple things we take for granted.
3. Find Your Inner Voice:
To find true happiness, you must first find your inner voice. Slow down and take some quiet time for soul searching. What will make your life meaningful? What is true happiness for you? By knowing what your heart says, it will be easier for you to align with it.
4. Help Someone!
Giving is an essential key to happiness. While we often think that we will be happier when we receive, the truth is we are happier when we give. This is also one of the most difficult things to apply.
You can apply this by finding someone in need and lending a helping hand. The person could be your family, friend, or even a stranger. You could also donate to a charity.
I feel when these areas in our lives are fully developed, our wisdom completely eradicates all negativity and all confusion from the mind. And to our Success, creates the right inner conditions, specifically receiving inspiring blessings, purifying negative karma, and accumulating meritorious energy- -All which will foster true Happiness!
-Shannon Lavenia
The REAL sources of pollution
Let's face it folks, it isn't just the cars we drive or the plastic water bottles. Factory farms produce an obscene amount of pollution.
Yes, let's find alternative fuels, but let's also take a look at the absurb amount of animals that are breed and slaughtered to feed American's overconsumption of meat.
Does a person really need a 24oz Porterhouse when 6-8oz is the healthy portion? And, what about all the waste! A huge portion of the meat grown and butchered actually is never used...it rots because it's never sold or eaten.
It's about responsibility in all areas...I'm not saying everyone should be vegan. That's a personal choice, but be conscious of what you eat, where it comes from the the true sources of pollution in the world.
Here's some shocking reports:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/factory-farms-47092401?src=syn&dom=yah_buzz&mag=tdg&ha=1&kw=ist
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/003959.html
Yes, let's find alternative fuels, but let's also take a look at the absurb amount of animals that are breed and slaughtered to feed American's overconsumption of meat.
Does a person really need a 24oz Porterhouse when 6-8oz is the healthy portion? And, what about all the waste! A huge portion of the meat grown and butchered actually is never used...it rots because it's never sold or eaten.
It's about responsibility in all areas...I'm not saying everyone should be vegan. That's a personal choice, but be conscious of what you eat, where it comes from the the true sources of pollution in the world.
Here's some shocking reports:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/factory-farms-47092401?src=syn&dom=yah_buzz&mag=tdg&ha=1&kw=ist
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/003959.html
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
DREAM BIG! THE THOUGHT STARTS TODAY..
It is not selfish to dream, nor unproductive to envision. All Innovation begins with inviting Imagination! Follow your deepest desires to dream of an amazing future that will propel you to your destination. Keep your train on track. The secret to the most successful people, in business and in life, is that they never lose focus, never stop reaching, never stop striving to overcome and accomplish their goals. You can too, right now.
It seems paradoxical but it is nevertheless true: you must dream beyond the imaginable to achieve success beyond the attainable. Are your visions of the future confined in a suffocating box of limitations? What is holding you back? How are you preventing yourself from success? Dream your dreams today.
Success requires initiative. If you act in business as your elementary teacher trained you, you will never advance. Were you taught to sit quietly when you do your work, only speak when spoken to, respond with expected answers, follow exact instructions without adding any creativity, and let others plan the lessons? To succeed in your personal and professional life, get up and move, be creative, take initiative, suggest new ideas, surprise yourself and others, design your own life, and envision the big plan.
In archery, there are four main components to success: have the tools (bow, arrow, strength), know your target, focus your aim, and shoot. Achieving your goals is like that.
1. Tools: Many inhibit their achievement by convincing themselves that they will never have the skills (tools) to accomplish their dreams. I have learned how to learn. You can too, even without a formal education. If you lack a skill to accomplish your goal, if you do not know it yet, or cannot do it yet, you can learn it! You CAN do it!
2. Target: Know your goal: what are you aiming to achieve? Take your dream to the next level by writing it down on paper, and then adding details until it becomes not just a hope but a plan.
3. Aim well: Remember to keep focused. Just as in archery, where your eye gaze affects how well you shoot, if you take your eye off your goal, your aim will follow. In addition, compensate for gravity and aim high. While a short trajectory can aim straight on, a long-term goal (or more distant target) requires you to adjust your aim as you shoot.
4. Shoot: This is so simple, but most goals are never accomplished primarily because of a lack of action. Take action today. Have a determined stance to achieve greatness and give to the world an inspiration that was designed to come from you alone. God gave you a purpose in life, find it and create your own success.
With the tools for the job and the target in sight, you take aim and soar to your future. Dream BIG, clarify your goal, aim high, and act, and you will hit the target you know will fulfill your life’s purpose. Remember as you DREAM, you get hope; as you HOPE, you aspire; as you ASPIRE, take aim; as you AIM, act; as you ACT, you SUCCEED; in success, you INSPIRE and it all starts with 1 Dream!
-Shannon Lavenia
It seems paradoxical but it is nevertheless true: you must dream beyond the imaginable to achieve success beyond the attainable. Are your visions of the future confined in a suffocating box of limitations? What is holding you back? How are you preventing yourself from success? Dream your dreams today.
Success requires initiative. If you act in business as your elementary teacher trained you, you will never advance. Were you taught to sit quietly when you do your work, only speak when spoken to, respond with expected answers, follow exact instructions without adding any creativity, and let others plan the lessons? To succeed in your personal and professional life, get up and move, be creative, take initiative, suggest new ideas, surprise yourself and others, design your own life, and envision the big plan.
In archery, there are four main components to success: have the tools (bow, arrow, strength), know your target, focus your aim, and shoot. Achieving your goals is like that.
1. Tools: Many inhibit their achievement by convincing themselves that they will never have the skills (tools) to accomplish their dreams. I have learned how to learn. You can too, even without a formal education. If you lack a skill to accomplish your goal, if you do not know it yet, or cannot do it yet, you can learn it! You CAN do it!
2. Target: Know your goal: what are you aiming to achieve? Take your dream to the next level by writing it down on paper, and then adding details until it becomes not just a hope but a plan.
3. Aim well: Remember to keep focused. Just as in archery, where your eye gaze affects how well you shoot, if you take your eye off your goal, your aim will follow. In addition, compensate for gravity and aim high. While a short trajectory can aim straight on, a long-term goal (or more distant target) requires you to adjust your aim as you shoot.
4. Shoot: This is so simple, but most goals are never accomplished primarily because of a lack of action. Take action today. Have a determined stance to achieve greatness and give to the world an inspiration that was designed to come from you alone. God gave you a purpose in life, find it and create your own success.
With the tools for the job and the target in sight, you take aim and soar to your future. Dream BIG, clarify your goal, aim high, and act, and you will hit the target you know will fulfill your life’s purpose. Remember as you DREAM, you get hope; as you HOPE, you aspire; as you ASPIRE, take aim; as you AIM, act; as you ACT, you SUCCEED; in success, you INSPIRE and it all starts with 1 Dream!
-Shannon Lavenia
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Young people doing great things!
My friend Jubril, a young entrepreneur who got started with affiliate marketing when he was in his teens (and was making way more than his teachers), just sent me a great article about a teen who's following his vision and making his mark.
Very inspiring: http://www.revenuetoday.com/readarticle.php?name=Harrison+Gevirtz:+The+Yearling&readpage=1
Very inspiring: http://www.revenuetoday.com/readarticle.php?name=Harrison+Gevirtz:+The+Yearling&readpage=1
Saturday, September 20, 2008
What a blast!
Ok, so I've been known to rock out with RockBand and Guitar Hero.
And...I LOVE MotorStorm on PS3. But I have to tell you, the absolute funnest of all I picked up today after a recommendation from my buddy Gene Braxton.
What else do home-biz millionaires have to talk about (other than making more money and cool cars of course) then video games?
Gene was going on and on and on about WII from Nintendo. So much so that I just had to go get one today and set it up. I got the WII Fit too.
It is the COOLEST thing...I've had so much fun.
And...it had blonde proof set-up! I was able to set this think up in like 10 minutes and start my WII Fit Yoga poses.
WII Fit is too cool. It has this board you put on the floor and the game walks you through measurements and calculating your BMI and WII Age (UGH!). Admittedly for a minute I wanted to throw the thing out the window but then I got into the Yoga and had a blast with balance and breathing and everything.
Tennis...fun!
Bowling...Incredible!
So...that's my recommendation for the day. Nintendo WII...fun for the whole family!
And...I LOVE MotorStorm on PS3. But I have to tell you, the absolute funnest of all I picked up today after a recommendation from my buddy Gene Braxton.
What else do home-biz millionaires have to talk about (other than making more money and cool cars of course) then video games?
Gene was going on and on and on about WII from Nintendo. So much so that I just had to go get one today and set it up. I got the WII Fit too.
It is the COOLEST thing...I've had so much fun.
And...it had blonde proof set-up! I was able to set this think up in like 10 minutes and start my WII Fit Yoga poses.
WII Fit is too cool. It has this board you put on the floor and the game walks you through measurements and calculating your BMI and WII Age (UGH!). Admittedly for a minute I wanted to throw the thing out the window but then I got into the Yoga and had a blast with balance and breathing and everything.
Tennis...fun!
Bowling...Incredible!
So...that's my recommendation for the day. Nintendo WII...fun for the whole family!
Friday, September 05, 2008
It's Time To Wake Up
I received a copy of Cosco's magazine for business owners today. As I was breezing through the articles to see if there was actually anything of value, I came across a featured member response section with a well known female financial advisor. Being that this particular woman is not one of my favorites, due to her super conservative financial advice (save every penny and dare not enjoy a latte every once in a while), I just had to read what she had to say.
One woman wrote in and explained that at 57 years old, she had $45,000 in an IRA. She was wondering if she should use some of that money to pay down her credit card debt (obviously paying a penalty and tax on it) or if she should keep it for retirement. Her credit card debt was sustantial and bore a rather hefty percentage rate.
What struck me most about the response she was given was the last line of it. The "savvy" financial advisor told her to keep her money in the retirement account because after all, if you spend it, what will you live on when you retire.
Seriously.?!
Let's think about this for a second. This woman is 57 years old. She has $45,000 in retirement. Even if it grows a little over the next 8 years, the woman would be able to withdraw about $300.00 a month if she plans on stretching that $45,000 for 20 years or more. $300.00 a month! What does this woman plan to live on after retirement? NOT THAT!
How deceptive to infer that the woman could live off that...$300.00 isn't even grocery money. Heck...it's not even gas money these days. How about giving her some real advice...like it's time to make some serious money if you ever plan on retiring!
The #1 place I avoid on this planet is Wal-Mart. Now, there are tons of reasons to avoid Wal-Mart...the people, the lines, the quality of everything cheap. But all those reasons are not what keeps me away. It's that every time I've gone in there someone who could be my grandpa is handing me a cart. And it breaks my heart. Truly, it does.
These are good people who worked hard and had the idea that the government or the companies they worked for would take care of them. It was a false concept. We have to learn from this. We have to ensure the next generation understands money: how to make it, how to use it, how to experience it, how to manage it and most importantly...how to grow it. Live for today, plan for tomorrow. My female friend in the Costco magazine would rather us sacrifice today, save for tomorrow. For some I guess that's OK, but I'd rather enjoy my life and have plenty for tomorrow as well.
How is this possible? Through education. The more I learn about money, the more responsible I am and the more control I have. The more control I have, the more responsible I am...it all goes hand in hand. Can you believe I graduated high school without even knowing how to balance a check-book? It's not in any high school textbook. When I graduated college, I had already amounted $5000.00 in credit card debt. A credit card was easy to get and even easier to use.
I had to learn how to make money and more importantly how to manage it. My first year as an entrepreneur I made a little over $480,000. At the end of that year I had a lot of shiny new things and great experiences but nothing saved. I didn't even have the money for taxes, so I had to work even harder next year to pay for last year. I didn't like that and said never again!
Let's educate ourselves and provide real advice to people. Inferring that someone is going to be able to live off of $45,000 for retirement when they are already 57 years old, in my opinion, is deceptive. It perpetuates ignorance. Instead, offer education. Say what the reality is and offer solutions. Empower people to make better decisions and understand the reality of their situation. The ostrich-effect (putting your head in the ground) has left thousands of grandmas and grandpa's serving up burgers and handing out carts. We can be at cause for empowering the current and next generation so they avoid the hang-ups of credit card debt, miss-use of credit and appropriate planning for the future (wealth building).
Here are some great resources I highly recommend:
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Why We Want You To Be Rich by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki
Cash Flow game by Robert Kiyosaki
One woman wrote in and explained that at 57 years old, she had $45,000 in an IRA. She was wondering if she should use some of that money to pay down her credit card debt (obviously paying a penalty and tax on it) or if she should keep it for retirement. Her credit card debt was sustantial and bore a rather hefty percentage rate.
What struck me most about the response she was given was the last line of it. The "savvy" financial advisor told her to keep her money in the retirement account because after all, if you spend it, what will you live on when you retire.
Seriously.?!
Let's think about this for a second. This woman is 57 years old. She has $45,000 in retirement. Even if it grows a little over the next 8 years, the woman would be able to withdraw about $300.00 a month if she plans on stretching that $45,000 for 20 years or more. $300.00 a month! What does this woman plan to live on after retirement? NOT THAT!
How deceptive to infer that the woman could live off that...$300.00 isn't even grocery money. Heck...it's not even gas money these days. How about giving her some real advice...like it's time to make some serious money if you ever plan on retiring!
The #1 place I avoid on this planet is Wal-Mart. Now, there are tons of reasons to avoid Wal-Mart...the people, the lines, the quality of everything cheap. But all those reasons are not what keeps me away. It's that every time I've gone in there someone who could be my grandpa is handing me a cart. And it breaks my heart. Truly, it does.
These are good people who worked hard and had the idea that the government or the companies they worked for would take care of them. It was a false concept. We have to learn from this. We have to ensure the next generation understands money: how to make it, how to use it, how to experience it, how to manage it and most importantly...how to grow it. Live for today, plan for tomorrow. My female friend in the Costco magazine would rather us sacrifice today, save for tomorrow. For some I guess that's OK, but I'd rather enjoy my life and have plenty for tomorrow as well.
How is this possible? Through education. The more I learn about money, the more responsible I am and the more control I have. The more control I have, the more responsible I am...it all goes hand in hand. Can you believe I graduated high school without even knowing how to balance a check-book? It's not in any high school textbook. When I graduated college, I had already amounted $5000.00 in credit card debt. A credit card was easy to get and even easier to use.
I had to learn how to make money and more importantly how to manage it. My first year as an entrepreneur I made a little over $480,000. At the end of that year I had a lot of shiny new things and great experiences but nothing saved. I didn't even have the money for taxes, so I had to work even harder next year to pay for last year. I didn't like that and said never again!
Let's educate ourselves and provide real advice to people. Inferring that someone is going to be able to live off of $45,000 for retirement when they are already 57 years old, in my opinion, is deceptive. It perpetuates ignorance. Instead, offer education. Say what the reality is and offer solutions. Empower people to make better decisions and understand the reality of their situation. The ostrich-effect (putting your head in the ground) has left thousands of grandmas and grandpa's serving up burgers and handing out carts. We can be at cause for empowering the current and next generation so they avoid the hang-ups of credit card debt, miss-use of credit and appropriate planning for the future (wealth building).
Here are some great resources I highly recommend:
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Why We Want You To Be Rich by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki
Cash Flow game by Robert Kiyosaki
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