Shake It Off

Everyone goes through disappointments and setbacks from time to time, but if we hold on to the hurt and pain, we end up living negative and bitter lives. I've had my share of disappointments and setbacks in life but every time I get up and keep going. It's not always easy to do however, I find myself mentally masturbating thinking about the setback. I think about how much time I waste on reliving or dwelling on how I could have done it differently.

I'm learning that I need to simply learn the lesson quickly and move on. I have to "shake" it off. If I choose not to shake it off, it holds me captive to that past moment.

It's easy to live life focused on that rear view mirror. We can't do anything about the past except learn from it. We also don't have any guarantees about the future; we can only do something about the right now. The great news is your past doesn't have to poison your future.

I have started doing a new ritual in the morning when I'm getting ready for work. I've started shaking off the disappointments of yesterday. I discard discouragement, guilt, and condemnation.

It enables me to focus on what I need to accomplish today and move forward. It's important to me not to make the same mistakes so I am learning to grasp very quickly the causes of those feelings and move on.

2007 Trumpet Awards

This past week and weekend I spent time volunteering for the Trumpet Awards at Bellagio. The Trumpet Awards honors significant contributions to society by African American's and friends of the African American Community. The awards have been held in Atlanta for the past 14 years and this year was the first time outside of Atlanta.

Bellagio was the host hotel for the awards show that turned out to be an event to remember. I got the privilege of working with the production crew. The people I worked with put on the giant shows in Hollywood like the Grammy's, Golden Globes and Emmy's. I got to work with the producers, directors, writers and the rest of the amazing staff.

This is a picture of the founder and current CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation. Xernona Clayton was a personal friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and family. Xernona shared stories of what it was like to be a member of MLK's church and marches.

Here are the awards recipients:

* Toni Braxton - Entertainment

* Ed Dwight - The Arts

* Michael Jordan - Goodwill Ambassador

* Donnie McClurkin & CeCe Winans - Gospel Giants

* Justice Alan C. Page - Legal

* Percy E. Sutton - Business The Pinnacle Award

* Tommie Smith & John Carlos - 1968 Olympic Track Stars

* Dionne Warwick - Living Legend AwardSPECIAL AWARDS

* Nancy G. Brinker - President's Award

* Dr. Denzil L. Douglas - Global AwardPrime Minister, St. Kitts and Nevis (British West Indies)

* Orok Duke - Young STAR

* Clint Eastwood - Social Justice

* Hill Harper - The Usher Raymond Altruism Award

* J. Terrence Lanni - Chairman's Award

New Wind

After a meeting this evening with a dear friend who believes in me, I've caught new wind in my sails. I've re-set my sails to catch this wind and keep going forward after my dreams. Not many people in life get the opportunity to do what their passionate about. I've been given that opportunity and I'm not going to let anyone take it away from me.

Sometimes the mountains look too big to climb but sometimes no matter how big the mountains are, their worth the climb to the top even if it may cost you your life. Even if it takes every once to get over these mountains, I'm willing to take the risk and keep going. The payoff will be substantial if I keep pursing those dreams and this opportunity that I've had great passion for.

I've found that I'm not alone in these feelings of wanting to give it up and pursue something different. I've come across people in my classes that say they were a few days or a couple months from giving everything up. The class I teach gives them a renewed sense of purpose and renewed sense of commitment and a new perspective about their personal power and the things they can accomplish. I believe I am leaving a legacy now and even though I won't know the effects on most, I know that I am making life better for the people around me. Anytime you make life better for other people, you're leaving a legacy.

Speak To Your Mountains

Being in a tough situation this past week or so I've needed to guard my words and not allow negative, destructive words to come out of my mouth. In other words, I am creating either an environment of either good or evil with my words. I have to live with that world I'm creating with my words.


When David faced the giant Goliath, he didn't murmur and complain and say "God why do I always have these huge problems?" He didn't dwell on the fact that Goliath was three times his size. Nor did he dwell on the fact that Goliath was a skilled warrior and he was just a shepard boy. He didn't focus on the magnitude of the obstacle before him. He chose instead to focus on the greatness of his God. He changed his whole atmosphere through the words that came out of his mouth.





We must stop cursing the darkness. Let's start commanding the light to come. If you want to change your world, start today by changing your words.

How High Are The Mountains?

I'm at one of those points in my life where I'm sizing up the mountains. There's a lot of them in my path and trying to figure if their worth the trek to the summit. It's amazing how our direction can change so fast and so drastically.

The next few weeks will decide if I am going to go on the expedition or if I am going to find another path to take. The support for going forward is coming from other people in the same boat as myself while the powers to be above me are raining down hard. Between me forgetting my umbrella and being taken by this suprise winter storm we'll see where I end up.

My Christmas Gift

Well I finally own something I never thought I would have. I am an iPod owner. My mother bought me a 30GB iPod when I was home in Ohio. I have seen people with their ipods in the past and just thought it was a fancy M3 player. I am now amazed at all the capabilities of this little gadget.I can store 3,500 songs.... do you know how many CD's that is? I can import my CD's right into my iPod and it sorts them by artist, song etc.... Driving a Jeep Wrangler, I am always nervous leaving my CD's in the Jeep thinking they won't be there when I get back. I can now carry up to 3,500 songs with me and carry it with me into a mall, work etc...

I bought an adapter that plugs into my cigarette lighter that transmits my iPod music to any radio station not being used between 88.1 to 107.9. I am also able to download videos and watch, however for those that have ridden with me before, this is probably not a great idea while I'm driving.

Feedback, Gossip or Hell?

Have you ever had a situation where people are talking about you behind your back and present something different to your face? Some people call it feedback, some call it gossip... I call it hell. People think they've got your best interest at heart but do they really?

A great rule to think about is; would I say what I'm about to say if this person were present?

If I wouldn't say it to their face, why would I say it behind their back? This is an ultimate trust deposit or withdrawal from an emotional bank account depending on what I choose to do.

Hell is when the person being talked about finds out what's been said. It can bankrupt the great emotional bank accounts with just one action. It's worse when it's in a work setting and your management believes the comments without investigating.

One great thing is it's my choice how I respond to hell. I can choose to stay in hell or I can choose to start putting out the fires and looking for an exit.

2007 New Year... New Me

Today is the day people set out on ways to improve their lives. How successful they are on their New Years Resolutions are reflective of how committed they are to actually changing. This planet we live on is in a constant flux of change. Change is inevitable, growth is optional. I can't count how many times I've set new goals this time of year just to have them totally abandoned before the month is half way through.

This year is different for me. I'm in a job that I love assisting people in reaching new heights in their personal development. I can't help but be affected by each person that comes through my classroom. They touch my life with their stories, their happiness, sorrow, tragedies and triumphs. I learn more from them then they learn from me.

The three keys in helping me reach new heights is Discipline, taking control of my mind, body and spirit. Laser Focus, having the ability to get the clutter out of my mind and life and focus on what's truly important in reaching my goals both personally and professionally. Consistency, meaning that I am going to practice new behaviors to the point of mastery for the next 21 days. You ask my why 21 days, that's how long it takes to either make or break a habit. If I'm consistent for 21 days in working out, it will take root and I will be reaping benefits by spring.

Declaring my intentions publicly with my friends who read this holds me responsible and accountable. You will see changes in me the next time we meet!

What New Years Resolutions are you making this year?