I Converted....Finally!

For years, I've head true to Microsoft, buying PC after PC. Admittedly, I loved some of the functionality of Windows.

Just about every year I purchased a new Laptop or PC, upgrading to whatever was new and exciting form Microsoft.

And then came Vista. It looked so cool in all the pre-launch info. I eagerly anticipated it and shortly after it came out, I ran to BestBuy and purchased a new fully loaded HP Vista machine. Top of the Line of course!

And then my love affair with Microsoft ended. Problem after Problem. Hours of upgrades, lost network connections, confusing changes. I dreaded sitting in front of my computer, dreaded the HP Updates, Microsoft Updates, never ending Norton updates. It seemed my computer wanted to spend more time with itself than it did with me!

To top it all off, I had to go spend another $1000.00 to buy the new versions of many of the programs I was currently using b/c, of course, they weren't Vista compatible. Even some of my peripherals had to go!

Not that I don't like spending money, but a new pair of shoes, or a Prada bag would be much preferred over the latest editions of Adobe and Microsoft Office.

All the while my friends and business partners taunted me with tales of fun and ease, they snuggled with their MAC's, telling me how easy they were to use.

NO! I said, PC's are so much more advanced! There's so much more capability! There's so much...pain and agony!

Sometimes I feel like I need a PhD in computer tech to run the damn thing. Even more often, I feel like taking a baseball bat to my computer and just sending it back to Microsoft with a letter that says "User friendly my ass!"

Maybe I'm some kind of computer sado-masachist. Who knows. But after a week in the Bahamas, and my futile attempts to use GotoMyPC, have my Sony Microsoft Laptop function correctly and connect to the web right and returning to no less than 3 hours of mandatory updates needed to keep my machine functioning right, I hopped in my Bentley and John and I eagerly walked into the Apple Store.

We saw the genius at the door and when he asked if he could help us, we explained how frustrated we were with our Vista machines.

"I hear that often" he said.

"Show me what you've got", I said.

As he showed me the functionality of the MAC I was in awe. Could it really be this easy? I watched some of the kids on the little kid machines they had set up and there were 3 year-olds navigating and using the machine with ease.

Try that with a Vista machine. Crash and burn baby!

Was I willing to spend the time learning a new system? You bet...anything but torture myself any longer with Vista. What was Microsoft thinking? Sure, I'm not a big corporation spending millions on computers, but I spend about $10,000 a year on equipment and new machines. And...it totally wasn't worth it. Networking on Vista is like trying to pull your own teeth...lost connections and slow connections, security flaws...

I bought the New MacBook Pro to get started, and when I got home and opened the box it took me about 5 minutes to set up. Yep! 5 minutes.

"No updates?" I thought. And..where are all the little stickers all over the laptop telling me about every manufacturer of every part of the system. I had my little razor blade and Goo Gone ready to go...but no! Mac doesn't torture you with that.

I was able to use the computer right out of the box...and transferring my files, a piece of cake.

I had a question...get this. I called the Apple store, and they answered it...FOR FREE! No hours on hold, no providing a hundred different serial numbers, no forwarding and then getting disconnected, no trying to hear through the heavy Indian accent to get an answer. What typically would take me over an hour to accomplish with Microsoft, took me 3 minutes with Apple.

And this week, I've been loving my computer. John has been drooling on the machine...he doth covet my MAC.

Looks like we'll be heading back to the MAC store for him as well.

And, what am I doing with all the free time I've acquired in my life since I no longer have to re-boot or wait patiently for updates?

Have fun!

START MAKING BETTER CHOICES TODAY!

Your career is made up of choices. You choose what you want to do, where you will do it, and what type of education will get you there. Some of your choices empower you and others hold us back. Either way, we have power over what we choose in our career. The challenges in our career, in most cases, arise not by accident, but from the choices that hold us back. No surprises. So why are we so surprised when things go off course, or when we are faced with a major problem in our career? We do not intentionally make bad choices. We make choices based on the information we have at the time. We weigh our options and believe that our choices will turn out for the best. But what about the choices we are making today that we know are not good for us? Or, when you know in your gut that it’s time to make new choices and we do not?

I realized that you can change your choices if a person really wanted to keeping the following in mind: 1. Make Peace With Your Past Choices: We’ve all made dreadful choices. It’s part of life. Sometimes, in order to make a good choice, you have to know what it feels like to make a bad one. The consequences of a bad choice can be a good motivator reminding you to not make that choice again. It’s important to make peace with the past choices so you can move forward. By closing the door to your past, a new door can open to a brighter future. 2. Look For A Pattern: If your career is not all you think it can be, ask yourself what choices brought to where you are today. Subtract from your thinking everything that other people “did” to you. Subtract your “bad luck.” Focus simply on the choices that you’ve made. Then, look for a pattern in your choices. Identify the recurring theme that holds you back. 3. Decide To Make Better Choices: Until you decide to make better choices, your choices will continue to work against you. Resolving to make better choices is crucial. It is the first step towards having focus and determination. Can you make better choices simply by saying you will make them? Why not? Your thoughts and words are powerful and career changing…Remember that! 4. Start Making Better Choices: Start today with a single act. Stop yourself when you are about to slip into your familiar pattern of bad choices. Replace that choice with a more positive action. One action leads to another, which leads to another. Before you know it, you are making better choices. The one small choice you make right now, that you have no proof will make a difference, and are afraid to take, is the action that done over time will lead to better choices and a more fulfilling career.

And Lastly, Ask For Help: I’ve noticed that the people who are suffering the most in their career are> the ones that are working on their careers by themselves. You are not meant to> work on your career challenges by yourself. Yes, you may want to begin alone (Most people do.) But when you find that days, weeks, months, and years are going by and you still have the same problem, make a promise to yourself that you will reach out to someone who can help you. So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
- SHANNON LAVENIA

GOOD THINGS AWAIT YOU!

I just read this great new book, Why Good Things Happen to Good People (Random House) that I had to share with you all. In it, Dr. Stephen Post and journalist Jill Neimark weave the growing new science of love and giving with moving real-life stories to show how giving unlocks the doors to health, happiness, and a longer life. "This book represents a dream come true for me," said Post. "It's dream that began when I was 16 years old. Most of my life has been focused on the science and philosophy of positive emotions and giving behaviors." Post has devoted much of his adult life to scientific research that sets out to prove the life-enhancing benefits of giving behavior and this book lays it all out. He serves as president of the Institute for Research> on Unlimited Love, which conducts and funds research on altruism, compassion and service.> His research shows that when we give of ourselves, especially if we start young, everything from life satisfaction to self-realization and physical health is significantly improved. Mortality is delayed. Depression is reduced.Well-being and good fortune are increased. If you're looking for something inspiring to read, please check out this book.. It will change how you think from the first 10 pages!
- Shannon Lavenia

LOVING YOU.....

Before we can have a truly successful relationship, we must first learn to feel love for ourselves. Loving Yourself is Relationship 101. It is a required course.We all know this. But knowing it and actualizing it are two different things.To live with and accept yourself, you need to open your heart and listen to what it is telling you inside. Your heart will never lie to you because it only tells the truth. You must have the courage to ask your heart why you refuse to love yourself the way you are. Usually when we are unhappy with ourselves, it is because we are embarrassed about whatever we are trying to hide. You need to help yourself by accepting yourself and loving yourself for who you are. This is the first step in order to heal yourself and feel good about you. You must realize that in order to change and strengthen yourself, you must accept yourself and learn how to live with ourselves in a productive manner. You need to look at life in a positive way. You need to say to yourself, "OK, I'm not happy with the person, I have become. I need to change and this is what I am going to do about it."This is the first step to healing and strengthening our souls and self-esteem. Be proud in who you are. Be thankful each morning that you can wake up and feel the warmth of the sun and the beauty that surrounds us all.
-Shannon Lavenia

Opportunity Knocks....Few People Answer

Actually, most people run, hide under their bed and complain about the noise!

There are two things that I have been in total awe about in the last 6 years since I became an entrepreneur.

The first is the amazing results people can have when they have a vision and apply a little bit of determination. I've seen single moms pull out of foreclosure to make over $500K within their first 12 months of business. I've watched as the most unassumming people, with hardly any business experience, become overnight millionaires because they had the "guts" to do it!

Opportunity is always knocking...the world is full of it!

The second thing that I have been in total awe at is people's absolute stupidity. Seriously. I'm always amazed at all the reason people have to NOT move forward in their life.

Today I got a response to my website www.trueprosperitynow.com and at the bottom of the response, this is what it said, "tired of working for others,would like to examine your info,but if this requires any upfront money please dont contact me.thanks"

I'm not kidding...I just couldn't make this stuff up. So, here's a guy who responds to the website of 2 self-made millionaires with a website full of incredible testimonials of people who have transformed their lives and he starts by saying, "if this costs money, don't contact me".

Basically he's saying, "I'm tired of working for others, but I don't believe in myself enough to do something that might have me take a risk (I'm a coward), so I'm doomed to work for someone for the rest of my life!".

Why is it that people use being broke as an excuse to stay broke?

I just don't understand the logic in it! When I was broke, I knew I had to do something to not be broke anymore. And...it was going to cost money. And...I had better figure out how to get it because being broke sucked.

Is it that people don't believe in themselves enough to bet on themselves? Or, do they really think that doing the same things that got them broke are going to magically produce more money?

It's the silliest thing I've ever seen...people saying, "right now I just can't afford to do a business".

Duh! You can't AFFORD not do to a business.

You've proved that everything you know to do WILL get you broke. You can be like most everyone else who's barking about gas prices or bitching about their paycheck. You can be like the other people who actually believe the economy is going to affect your income. You can join the ranks of the people who'd rather watch Desperate Housewives than spend time accomplishing greatness.

We need people like that in the world to pour the coffee, answer the phones, file the papers and sit in the cubicles. They provide awesome service and are totally appreciated!

But, unless you are willing to take a risk and bet on yourself, stop pretending you want better results, because when it really boils down to it and you're called to the mat to make a decision...to make decisions like entrepreneurs do, you just can't do it!

When opportunity knocks, some people find a million reasons why the "timing isn't right", or "it's not the right opportunity".

The best are the people who contact me who I find in my database from 2 or 3 years ago...years have passed and they are STILL looking. Procrastination is a killer. It's not the timing that isn't right...it's the person. The timing is ALWAYS right to make money. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS. But for some people, they'll never be right.

It's no wonder less than 1% of the world enjoys my lifestyle...there's few people who are willing to put their money where their mouth is, few people who have the fortitude or determination to really live their life to the fullest.

All I know is I made a decision to take action, plugged into a system and in less than 2 years was a millionaire. Here's all the reasons I had to NOT do it "I don't know anythign about business. Sounds like a scam. Too good to be true. What if I fail? I don't have the money. Maybe the market's saturated. I don't have any experience. I don't know how to use a computer."

But, I looked in the mirror and I just knew that if anyone could do it, I could. Period, end of story.

So to those of you who do what it takes day in and day out...YOU ROCK! Thank you for being an example of SUCCESS, ACHIEVEMENT AND BOLDNESS. You make the world go round.

Are YOU Holding YOU Back….Realize Your True Greatness Today!

Building esteem takes work. It’s not a simple matter of clicking your heels three times, repeating a few phrases, and you’re transported instantly to a place of blissful self-acceptance. Building esteem is a process. It requires something of you – your time, your thoughts, your energy, your emotions, your passion. It requires you to challenge deeply- and long-held beliefs about yourself and others. It requires you to question, to reflect, to answer, and to question again. Building self-esteem requires that at some level, there lies within you a sense of self worth that believes you have the right to be free of debilitating feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness, or defectiveness. At some point, you have to get tired of the low self image, of constantly putting yourself down and beating yourself up. You get to a point where you’re ready for change.

Building esteem is a process. It takes time to get to the point where you stop listening to and believing the negatives. If you are struggling with low self esteem, it sometimes will take every tool in your emotional toolbox, every weapon in your arsenal to not give in to feelings of inadequacy. There are numerous strategies and techniques to use. Different things work for different people. I have to pull out what I know to be great about myself. Here's an exercise you can do to develop your self-image. Commit to learning something new. Think of something you've put off doing, or would like to do, and do it. Take the time to learn how to do it. Whether it's knitting a sweater, learning to play guitar, developing a website or starting a business. Commit to doing it and take action. The feeling of accomplishment you'll feel when you have mastered the skill and/or achieved the success will be awesome!"elf to counter what I think falls short in myself. I read books that inspire me, listen to tapes that encourage me, keep people around who believe in me. It’s a day-at-a-time process and that’s how I approach it – each day acknowledging my accomplishments, no matter how small, until I get where I want to be, enjoying the best in me at all times!

- Shannon Lavenia