The Road to Lifestyle

"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." - Christopher Reeve

This past week I attended two classes on leadership at Aileron ( http://www.aileron.org/ ), an entrepreneurial mecca for those who desire to improve themselves and all aspects of their business. One class was aimed at insuring that, as leaders, we understand what kind of message we are sending/projecting to our respective organizations. The second discussed what it means to be a "Servant Leader." The classes were taught by T.D. Hughes, former CEO and now Chairman of the Board of LaRosa's ( http://www.larosas.com/ ), a local pizzeria (OH, IN, KY locations) that has been in business since 1954. After the classes a group of business associates and I gathered in a conference room to discuss our lessons learned. We then went on to discuss ways to expand our insurance businesses by way of recruiting. The gentleman at the head of the table exclaimed, "I'm tired of people wasting my time..." and before he could finish a flash of disdain undoubtedly appeared on my fa...

"The key is not to prioritize what is on the schedule, but to schedule your priorities." - Stephen Covey

"Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred . A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can...begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - W.N. Murray about the Scottish Himalayan Expedition

"Many times we desire to change the people in our life that don't meet our expectations. We overestimate our ability to change others because we fear the unknown. When we understand our ability to create the exact life we desire, we realize we can create new relationships with people that will meet our expectations ... not because we changed them but because that is who they already are." - Nick Bogatin

Ah what would life be without the salient wisdom of the fortune cookie? Yes, last night I had Chinese food. It was good too... really good. And as I opened up my fortune cookie, I held my breath in anticipation of the wisdom of the ages that was about to pour out. My fortune cookie said: I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Hmmm ... yes indeed. The cookie also implored me to "LEARN CHINESE" and spelled out the word for "Beverage; drink" as "yin liao ." My lucky numbers were included as well. My what an information packed little strip of paper! And then I thought, why not double my good fortune by opening up a second fortune cookie? Shall I dare? And I dared... "Your efforts will result in much profit," it told me so matter-of- factly . Wonderful. This is my year. Life is good. I think I'll have a sip of my yin liao and reflect on my good fortune...

"Knowing exactly what you want to do, with unwavering conviction, is the spark that generates everything." - Deepak Chopra