Big Brother Blog: August 2010

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Benjamin Franklin 13-Week Self Improvement Challenge | The BridgeMaker

The Benjamin Franklin 13-Week Self Improvement Challenge

Posted: 29 Aug 2010 05:47 PM PDT

Energy and persistence conquer all things. – Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, scientist, inventor and a principal architect of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, may have been the first self improvement expert, too.

In 1726, a young 20-year-old Franklin was crossing the Atlantic from England back to Philadelphia. During his 80-day journey, Benjamin Franklin used the time to develop a personal plan of conduct. His plan consisted of 13 virtues listed below.

Franklin committed to focusing on one virtue per week. At the end of the 13th week, he would start the process over again; thus, cycling through the plan four times a year. Ben Franklin followed this plan until his death at age 79. He found comfort and happiness in each of the virtues and used these to guide his entire life.

Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues

Franklin tracked his progress on charts he created (image right). The first letter of each day was listed on the top and the first letter of each virtue was indicated down the left side. He would add a dot if he felt he fell short of meeting that virtue on a given day. Benjamin Franklin carried these charts with him as a reminder of his personal plan of conduct.

The following 13 virtues continue to be relevant today. Next to each virtue is Franklin's definition. Underneath is my current self-critique. You are welcome to do your own analysis as you read:

1. Temperance ("Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.")
My self-critique: My diet is the best it's been in years. Donuts and French Fries are still a problem though. I have adopted the new habit of not drinking alcohol during the week, but I still have my share of beer and wine on the weekends.

2. Silence ("Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.")
My self-critique: My goal is to limit the gossip and think before speaking, especially in contentious situations. One area I need to silence is speaking critically of others.

3. Order ("Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.")
My self-critique: I like order. There's something about structure and routine that comforts me. However, my penchant for order can stifle the need for "thinking outside the box." Creativity and being challenged to take a new approach needs its time, too.

4. Resolution ("Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.")
My self-critique: I take commitments and goals seriously. But there are times I ignore what my inner voice is telling me to do. Fear of change can dilute my determination to keep moving forward. Sometimes it's just more comfortable to stay right where I am – this is when I abandon my resolve.

5. Frugality ("Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.")
My self-critique: The past few months have been budget busters. Mary Beth and I agree we need to turn the spending habits into saving ones and learn new ways to be frugal.

6. Industry ("Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.")
My self-critique: Checking email, Facebook and pointlessly surfing the Internet are my biggest time-wasters. I need to use this time more productively.

7. Sincerity ("Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.")
My self-critique: This is my big win. While there is always room for improvement, I make the conscious choice everyday to be sincere, heartfelt and transparent as possible. But sometimes I confuse sincerity with kindness. Too often, I say what I think wants to be heard, rather than what I really think.

8. Justice ("Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.")
My self-critique: There are times when I purposely hold back and not give what someone has asked to receive, or deserves to receive. I need to provide equal justice more often.

9. Moderation ("Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.")
My self-critique: I can get caught up in the moment and stop listening to my good sense. I do this with work, my blog, exercise and the nights I enjoy a glass of wine, or two.

10. Cleanliness ("Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.")
My self-critique: I’m good here, I think. I shower and brush my teeth (twice) everyday. Mary Beth has appointed me the official vacuum cleaning person at home. In full disclosure, I do have the habit of leaving my shaven hair in the bathroom sink.

11. Chastity ("Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.")
My self-critique: I would never do anything that would disrespect my wife – period.

12. Tranquility (“Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.")
My self-critique: Writing brings me the most tranquility. At night, I plug into some music and allow the words to flow. When there is conflict at home or work, my anxiety soars and my tranquility plummets. I need to learn how to keep my balance better during these times.

13. Humility ("Imitate Jesus and Socrates.")
My self-critique: I try. My heart is open to everyone and I attempt to live the examined life.

Accepting the 13-Week Self Improvement Challenge

So, it looks like I have some work to do.

Beginning today, I'm keeping a virtue chart. Tackling Temperance first, I will monitor my weekly progress. Using a tool Franklin didn't have in the 18th century, I will provide my updates on The BridgeMaker page on Facebook.

For me, this challenge isn't about trying to master each virtue perfectly; it's about acknowledging the areas in my life that could use some improving right now.

I invite you to take the 13-week challenge with me. Here's how:

Download the Benjamin Franklin 13-Week Self Improvement Challenge chart (updated for the 21st century).
Go to The BridgeMaker page on Facebook and "Like" the page if you are not already a community member. This is where I will post my updates.
Read these weekly virtue updates on Saturdays – probably in the morning (U.S. Central time zone).
Post a comment to share your progress with the challenge.

If you need some one-on-one encouragement during the challenge, contact me at alex@thebridgemaker.com and I will be happy to support you.

History tells us Benjamin Franklin died a happy man. I'm sure his life's accomplishments contributed to his happiness, but I think staying centered on the things that matter most helped Mr. Franklin too.

Best wishes with your personal development challenge. We'll check in with one another next Saturday.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Five Laws of Stratospheric Success | The BridgeMaker

The Five Laws of Stratospheric Success

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 07:46 PM PDT

Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. – Martin Luther King, Jr. I've been in a funk lately. The past few months have been challenging. At home, my effort has been on preparing Andrew for college while making sure Emily has what she needs for middle school. Work has been equally demanding. Meetings, deadlines [...]

Click the headline (above) to read today's article. Thanks for your continued support. I appreciate it very much. - Alex

Monday, August 23, 2010

Love Finds You | The BridgeMaker

Love Finds You

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 03:30 PM PDT

You don’t have to go looking for love when it’s where you come from. – Werner Erhard

Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook.

Hope finds you

Hide and Go Seek is a favorite game played by children. No special equipment is needed – just a little time and a good place to hide. One player is deemed as It while the other players go to their secret hiding places in hopes of not being found, tagged and then considered the new It.

As adults, we still have the tendency to hide. We hide our feelings, emotions, and secret wishes. We fear if these things are discovered then they could be subject to ridicule and perhaps never happen. Ironically, we long to be It. We hope to be the one with the power to find what is hiding.

Even though you may push your dreams to a dark place; the dreams will be found and brought back to see the light of day. The It that counts to ten before finding you, along with the dreams that belong to you, is hope.

Hope always wins. It seeks you out. It offers encouragement and gives you the faith to keep going. Hope provides the spark needed to catch fire once again. It plants the good ideas in your mind and then shows you the way there.

And even in your darkest moment, Hope finds you.

Glory finds you

You were made to be exactly who you are. You have a purpose. A path has been created to take you on a special mission. No matter your job, education or financial status, you are here to make a difference.

If your life brings happiness, security, and purpose to another life then you have accomplished your mission. Your name may never appear in lights and a statue may never be commissioned, but the glory of you will live forever.

Take pride in the simple beauty of you.

And when you feel like you aren't making a difference, Glory finds you.

Mercy finds you

The things we do never go away. For better or worse, our deeds live right where we put them. When the words we choose hurt, the pain goes from an acute intensity to a dull reminder. When our actions cause sadness, trust takes a blow. When our thoughts drift to a dark place, our mind is kept from realizing the decency it deserves.

But no matter how far we fall, we can always change for the better. We can take our broken pieces and begin fitting them together again. Mercy welds these pieces back into their intended shape. We don't have to do anything special to receive mercy; we just have to be sorry for what we have done.

Forgiveness is waiting.

And when you feel like you don't deserve it, Mercy finds you.

Dignity finds you

Your best intentions are sometimes meant with indifference, discrimination, or worse. Some people find it necessary to show disrespect instead of support. Cruelty is used to influence rather than kindness. There are times when you are made to feel badly about who you are, what you believe and who you love.

However, humans are not made with a perfectly calibrated moral compass. Ignorance, prejudice, and intolerance can jam the signals given to us. When this happens, hurtful things are said and inappropriate behavior ensues.

No matter the words or actions fired at you, know this: You are a person of incredible value. God doesn't make mistakes and He doesn't make anyone who is subordinate to another.

Harsh words do sting; exclusion feels lonely and violence is terrifying, but you have the best repellent against all these things – your dignity.

And when you feel like they just might be right about you, Dignity finds you.

Love finds you

When you feel alone and your heart is breaking, hold on to the promise that relief is on its way. The space between the pain and hope's arrival is soothed by love. Love knows what lives in your heart and it knows how to take care of you.

Shame, regret and anger are sometimes used to keep Love away. While these tactics have formidable strength in the beginning , their power begins to fade over time because love finds a way to tell you that you still count; you still matter; and you are still loved – no matter what.

Still suspicious of receiving Love's grace? Wait for the compliment, discover the handwritten note, receive an unexpected telephone call or hear the right words at just the right time. This is love seeking you; finding you and then giving you just what you need.

Come out of hiding and embrace this truth. You no longer need to feel that love's light is meant for everyone but you. Take in its warmth. Be re-energized by its power. Allow love to cover you like a coat – tailored to fit just your size.

And even when you have stopped looking for love, Love finds you.

Looking for a little encouragement?

It would be my pleasure to offer you some encouragement. Send me a note (alex@thebridgemaker.com) to schedule a free 15-minute personal coaching session. The session can be conducted via Skype or through my LivePerson account.

If you need a little help, all you have to do is ask!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Old ancient Egypt photos | The Big Foto

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Taking Action: The Most-Prized Currency | The BridgeMaker

Taking Action: The Most-Prized Currency

Posted: 18 Aug 2010 05:36 PM PDT

What you think about expands, so think about what you want — not about what you don’t want! – Dr. Wayne Dyer

Article written by guest contributor Bamboo Forest. Please visit him at his online timer.

If you're a sensible person, you will decide right now to never think of what you don't want ever again.

I know it's a startling proposition, but it really shouldn't be. In life, we should strive to use techniques that work, whatever they may be.

If you were trying to lose weight, you wouldn't go on a diet of bacon wrapped lard would you?

If you were training for a boxing match, you wouldn't practice throwing weak punches, right?

You get the idea.

The bottom line is that we should strive to implement techniques that work and relinquish those that don't serve to further our goals.

What's in your mind is a constant reminder

If you were trying to quit smoking and you had a poster of a man enjoying a cigarette by your desk, you'd constantly be reminded of what you're trying not to do. As a result, you'd be tempted to break your commitment to quit smoking, precisely what you don't want.

In contrast, if you had a poster up of a very physically fit man taking a hike in nature with ease, this picture would inspire you to maintain your efforts to kick the smoking habit because you want to be physically fit just like the man in the poster.

Our minds are like posters that we take with us wherever we go. And the pictures we hold in our minds either motivate us to act in ways that take us closer to our goals, or further away.

If you have a sincere desire to reach your goal, you'll be very careful what you hold in your mind.

Every direction leads to an ultimate destination: our destiny. – Anthony Robbins

Holding in your mind the outcome you desire also produces positive feelings. Those positive feelings are conducive to positive action. Thinking about what you don't want causes depression, a mental state disadvantageous to self-enhancing action.

Focus on the present

Since what's in your mind influences your action, what do you think focusing on the past causes? If what you're thinking about is a pleasant memory, it will uplift your spirits.

If, however, you're merely dwelling on the past wishing things could have been different, you're holding a negative poster in your mind. Not only will having such negativity sitting in your mind depress you, it also won't compel you to take the kind of action you can right now to enhance your life.

Every great accomplishment anyone has ever made in life has been the result of the action they have taken. Action is the only currency in the universe that produces the results you seek. Since that's the case, strive to direct your thoughts in ways that positively direct you. That way, you'll reach your chosen destination before you know it.

Bamboo Forest created an online timer that helps anyone serious about getting things done be more productive. If you like his timer, you may also want to follow him on twitter, where he shares little gems of wisdom.

Take action and see where the good goes™

Each year, almost 9 million children in the developing world die of largely preventable and treatable illnesses before they reach the age of five – that equates to approximately 24,000 child deaths a day.

However, every 4 seconds a child survives thanks to the basic health care provided by local health workers.

Save the Children and the Ad Council are working together to mobilize citizen action in the U.S. to help local health workers save more children worldwide.

Help local health workers bring the good to the children who need it most. You are one step away from helping children around the world survive.

When you help one, you help so many. You can help the good go further.

Ask Alex: Receive a free 30-minute coaching session.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Digital Paintings by DigitalHyperGFX | Best Bookmarks

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Howard Behrens

Ten Commandments- Passover

Monday, August 16, 2010

How to Move from a 7 to a 10 | The BridgeMaker

How to Move from a 7 to a 10

Posted: 16 Aug 2010 05:13 AM PDT

Life must be understood backwards; but… it must be lived forward. – Soren Kierkegaard

Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook.

You've heard the question before, "On a scale between 1- 10, how would you rate fill in the blank?"

Although somewhat arbitrary, this rating system does provide a good snapshot for discerning how you feel about a particular person, thing or issue. However, the most important component with this rating scale isn't determining the numerical value you give, but how that numerical value can be improved.

For example, let's say the question is "On a scale between 1- 10, how would you rate your effectiveness as a parent?" Perhaps your answer is, "A seven."

Not bad. Being a seven is pretty good. In fact, there are a lot of effective parents who would rate themselves as a seven. But, imagine if you were trending towards a 10? Think of the opportunities and resources you could provide your children. Think about how you would feel about yourself.

Next, how would you rate your overall personal development? Are you achieving your goals? What is the level of happiness, achievement and success you feel in your life right now?

Whatever your answers happen to be, these numerical values can be improved if you choose – beginning today.

Moving to a 10

In the example above, let's assume your answer is "seven." Ask yourself what would be three things you could do to become a 10. Likewise, if the answer you gave was a "six," the next step would be to identify four things you could do to become a 10, etc.

A word of caution: Learning to become a 10 does not imply being a 10 makes you perfect. It just means you are learning to maximize your talents and efforts to the best of your ability. It just means you are looking for ways to continue to grow and succeed. Perfection is impossible. There are no perfect 10s in life; just the pursuit of them, which is of remarkable value.

Acknowledge what's keeping you stuck

The most significant obstacle that keeps us from moving up the rating scale is we get stuck. We get stuck with being a six as a spouse; our careers are at a five; and our level of happiness is at a three.

We get locked into a pattern and sometimes see no escape. We begin to think that what we have in life is what we have in life and there are no other opportunities. Sometimes we need the heavy roof that hangs over our heads to weaken, if only a little, in order to create a pin-hole small enough that a beam of light can peer through to remind us that hope lives on the other side.

In the absence of this small miracle, we must create the pin-hole ourselves. We must make the decision – the choice, to pick up our heavy boots and move forward. The pain of not knowing how to do so weighs us down. However, the mud can be knocked off and the beam of light can begin to poke through when we surrender our anxiety and replace it with hope and courage.

You must make the choice to ask a question like, "What are the three things I can do to become a better spouse or partner?"

Make a plan

The answer to this question begins with acknowledging what you do well, as a partner. If you don't know, ask. Find out the areas where you achieve. Ask your partner how he or she would rate you.

After your partner provides the answer, allow the rating to resonate with you for a while. Then ask (assuming you received a "six," in this scenario), what are the six things you do well.

Take these in and soak up their value. Next, ask for the four things needed to be a better partner. Bingo – here is your plan. Rather than assuming what you need to do, your partner is telling you, first hand, to do these specific things.

You have a place to start now. These four items are not a report card; they are expressed wants and expectations of you. You get to choose if you want to begin doing these things or not.

Learn to become a 10 in all areas of your life

This exercise is not just confined to your personal relationships. You can extend it to all areas of your life by following the same process.

At work, ask your co-workers and supervisor to give their ratings. Recognize the areas where you are being effective and attempt to do more of those things. Likewise, ask for the feedback. Ask for the three, four or five things you could do that would help you and motivate you to achieve your professional goals.

Finally, rate yourself on a scale between 1-10. When you have a quiet moment, ask, "How happy am I, really?" Don't rush yourself and be as real with yourself as you can to arrive at an answer.

If it's a "three," then it's a three; this doesn't mean it always has to be a three, it just means it's a three right now. Also, a three doesn't mean you are being ineffective, it just means you could learn to increase and sustain your level of happiness.

Follow the process and take a look at the areas of your life that are making you happy. Perhaps you could put more time into these areas. Next, make a plan. Identify the six or seven things that you could do that would make your happier. Don't wait on any one else to bring you happiness – you must go after it!

Learning to become a 10 is a process. The reality is you will never give yourself 10s across the board, nor should you. That's not the point.

The point is to keep nourishing what's working in your life, and do more of that. And at the same time, identify areas that could lead to greater personal growth and then begin to make a plan. There is tremendous value in recognizing what you would like to change in your life. This is all the whole point of moving from to a 10.

Ask Alex: Receive a free 30-minute coaching session.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

A Snapshot of Humanity: 30 Amazing Portrait Photographs | CreativeFan

NEVER EVER GIVE UP IN LIFE

Most Interesting Moments in the Animal World. Part 6 - AmO Images: Capturing the Beauty of Life - AmO Images: Capturing the Beauty of Life

Adorable Drawings of Famouse Characters by Drew Struzan | Life Artworks - Painting, Modern, Photography

Thursday, August 12, 2010

A Back-to-School Guide (tips & more) | The BridgeMaker

A Back-to-School Guide (tips & more)

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 03:59 AM PDT

The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you. – B.B. King

Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook.

In less than two weeks big changes are in store for my family. Mary Beth and I take our younger son, Andrew, to college and then a few days later our younger daughter, Emily, begins middle school. In four days, one child begins learning how to live on his own while another child begins learning how to expand her world a little at a time.

Preparing for these back-to-school dates has required careful planning and a flexible budget. Even more challenging, Andrew and Emily's shopping lists couldn't be more different. Our son needs big-ticket electronics and dorm room furnishings. Emily is required to have more "sophisticated" school supplies (the days of Disney character notebooks and crayons are over).

To make certain my wife and I were buying the right items we visited the college and middle school websites to download the supply lists. Most schools have a link to this information on their home page. Next, we searched the internet to find the best prices and shipping options. Our search took us to Amazon.com.

Knowing we had little time to get these items, we decided to do most of our shopping (with one exception noted below) online. Amazon.com is currently having some great back-to-school sales, including free shipping.

We traded the department stores for our home and started filling the virtual shopping cart with the needed supplies. The extra time, and money, saved will be used to enjoy the remaining summer days with our children.

Emily's middle school supply list

Each subject area has its own requirements. Here's what we purchased for Emily:

She needs a three-five subject spiral notebook for Communication Arts.
Her math teacher is requesting a three-ring binder, three-hole punched quad-rule graph paper, and a one-subject notebook.
Two packages of 50 count 4 x 6 lined note cards is required for social studies.
Emily is about to experience the joy of her first P.E. class. Her school is providing the t-shirt, but we had to order gym shorts to complete the uniform.

The middle school's website also provided a general supply list all sixth graders will need:

Accordion binder with 8 pockets
200 sheets of college-ruled notebook paper
Plenty of #2 pencils
Medium ball point pens – blue or black
Colored pens (for correcting work)
Book covers (whatever happened to using brown paper bags?)

One item not on the supply list, but considered a back-to-school necessity by our daughter was a school locker accessories kit. This kit has all the popular locker bling. From stickers to mirrors, Emily's locker will have a unique style and personality – a great confidence booster as she moves from the security of elementary school and to the uncertainly of middle school.

Andrew's college supply list

Andrew's list was certainly more expensive than it was during his high school years. In those days, a new book bag, some new clothes and a school parking decal was all he needed. But sending a child to college is like setting up a "mini house." Since the comforts of home don't leave, new comforts have to be bought.

The first item on Andrew's list was a laptop computer. His instructors require students to bring laptops to class. Even though Amazon.com has affordable computer prices, Mary Beth and I made the decision to purchase one during a recent Tax Free weekend.

We live on the Kansas side of Kansas City, but beginning this past weekend the other side of the state line offered its annual Tax Free weekend. Missouri, like other states, offered this promotion as a stimulus program for the merchants and to help families with the cost of sending children to school.

The best news was Kansas residents were invited, too. Missouri offered tax free purchases on clothing, school supplies, computer software, and personal computers. Your state may offer a tax free weekend as well. Click here to see a complete listing of states that participate in the Tax Free program

With a laptop computer purchase strategy in place, we turned our attention back to Amazon.com. Other items we purchased:

The college does not provide an Ethernet cable, but one is required for internet access.
Regarding the comforts of home, Andrew needed bed linens for a twin size bed. We found the perfect item with the bed-in-a-bag – everything he needs in one convenient, portable bag.
Our son is a snacker . We found him a perfectly-sized dorm fridge to hold his favorite snacks and sodas and with plenty of space leftover to share with his roommate.

It's the small things that can make us feel the most comfortable. I typed "dorm room stuff" in Amazon's search bar and found several items Andrew will appreciate having in his new home. On the page I found:

A bedside caddy
A dorm caddy shower tote
An underbed storage chest
A pop-up hamper
A multipurpose storage cart
A "Room Rules" metal sign
plus more; click here to see these items

No doubt the next two weeks will go in a blink. Soon Andrew will be adjusting to his new home and Emily will be making new friends. Mary Beth and I will have the chance to stop, catch our breath, and start getting use to the idea we only have one child remaining at home.

It is our hope the next seven years crawl by slowly so they can savored. But when the day comes for Emily to go to college, my wife and I will know what to do. We will check the college's website, shop for the best prices and then order what our daughter needs.

It will be the day after that will catch us by surprise. Our back-to-school years will be over, but knowing we gave our children what they needed, plus a little more, will make the emptiness a little more bearable.

Editor's note: A version of this article first appeared on The Daily Brainstorm as part of their Back-to-School series. It's my pleasure to re-publish this for the readers of this blog.

Ask Alex: Receive a free 30-minute coaching session.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

NGC Best Photographs For July 2010 | Best Bookmarks

Friday, August 6, 2010

40 Amazing Pictures of New York City | Thumb Press

Thursday, August 5, 2010

This I Believe | The BridgeMaker

This I Believe

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 12:43 AM PDT

In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true. – Buddha

Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook.

This I Believe
There are no accidents without value. No matter how difficult the circumstances in life, we can grow and learn from what happens to us – everything happens for a reason. Taking the time to find the value in these events is up to each of us.

This I Believe
You cannot change or heal what you do not acknowledge. For real and lasting growth to occur, we must first come to terms with our reality and see it for what it really is in order to reframe it and learn from it.

This I Believe
Happiness is a choice. Each day we can either choose to face the day with a positive attitude or allow the obstacles and setbacks to overwhelm us and make us anxious and angry.

This I Believe
Love can be eternal. While it's true no one can make you happy, you can feel happiest about yourself when you are with someone who gives you the time and space to bring out your best.

This I Believe
We all have a purpose in life. To find your purpose, make a list of all the things you want to accomplish in your life. The one that jumps off the page and makes you begin to cry is your purpose.

This I Believe
Life and learning is a process. Try to avoid saying you can't do something, instead, state, "I have not learned how to..," or "I'm learning how to…"

This I Believe
Never give up. The day you quit is the day before the goal or task is accomplished.

This I Believe
We measure our progress in life incorrectly. Instead of measuring where you are now to where you want to be, measure yourself from where you have been.

This I Believe
It's OK to make and have money – a lot of money if you wish. Your character is not defined by how much money you make; your character is defined by what you do with the money you make.

This I Believe
As parents our main responsibility is to nurture and protect our children. We also have the responsibility to break the cycle of any harm, dysfunction or pain we experienced as children. I believe our jobs as parents are to make our children's life better than our childhoods. The real payback occurs when our children do likewise as parents.

This I Believe
Always love your partner and always fight fairly when disagreements occur. It is never acceptable to strike your partner – ever. Listen to their point-of-view and then offer your own. Remember, would you rather be right than happy?

This I Believe
Living a happy and fulfilling life is more about the "what" than the "how." Focus on "what" you want. The "how" will reveal itself naturally over time if you fully commit to the "what."

What do you believe?

What are your core beliefs? What do you know to be true in your life? Please share in Comments below.

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About Me

Monday, August 30, 2010

Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues

Accepting the 13-Week Self Improvement Challenge

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Monday, August 23, 2010

Friday, August 20, 2010

Thursday, August 19, 2010

What's in your mind is a constant reminder

Focus on the present

Take action and see where the good goes™

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Monday, August 16, 2010

Moving to a 10

Acknowledge what's keeping you stuck

Make a plan

Learn to become a 10 in all areas of your life

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Emily's middle school supply list

Andrew's college supply list

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Friday, August 6, 2010

Thursday, August 5, 2010

What do you believe?