Has it been that long?

Last month, my daughter turned 27. Today, my son is 20. I have two quick questions. Where did the time go? Is it true that the next 20 years will seem like 10?

Let me answer my own questions. The time went by one minute, one hour, one day, one week (etc - etc) at a time. In those moments, the questions went from daddy do you want to play ball with me to why can't I stay out until one am?

Yes the next twenty years will seem like ten and there is nothing we can do to stop father time. Accept it, enjoy it and make the most of it. Have you ever noticed that most of us keep time in years, quarters, and months. But the real champions track time in hundredths of seconds. Olympic Gold is usually determined in time that is quicker than a blink of an eye. Some things to consider:

1. Stop worrying about making this be your year. Make today be your day. If you put enough of "your" days together, the year will take of itself.

2. Have your goals and work hard to achieve them. But always remember, if you can't be happy striving to hit your goals, you won't be happy when you hit them. Enjoy the journey.

3. Don't ever forget that little kids will soon be big kids. Don't ever take for granted the question "Daddy, do you want to play with me?".

Happy Birthday to my son. I am very proud of you and your sister. Love you both.

The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.

Do you see yourself as successful?

I am not a golfer. I have never played the game. But I enjoy magical moments in sports. None were more magical than watching Phil Nicholson win The Masters earlier in April. As I heard Jim Nantz make the call, I remembered something that I read in Jack Canfield's book, "The Success Principles."

It seems that Jim Nantz and Golfer Fred Couples were suitemates at The University of Houston. Both had major goals. Nantz wanted to be the lead announcer on CBS and Fred Couples wanted to become a professional golfer and win The Masters. They actually playacted the event.

Fast forward 14 years to a magic moment. Couples won The Masters and he was interviewed by CBS's Jim Nantz. After the broadcast, both men shed a tear as they had reached a milestone goal. Here is what we can learn.

1. What is your goal? Nantz and Couples had clear goals of what they wanted to acheive.

2. Allow your sub concious to see yourself reach that goal. See yourself winning the award, making the speech. Think about what you will do and how you will celebrate.

3. Be willing to work for it. Couples did not win The Masters because he had a goal. He won it by having the goal and working hard to prepare for it. The same with Nantz.

4. Allow yourself the emotion once you win. Emotion is a God given thing, stop fighting and feel it.

Life is too short not to have goals; too long not to take chances; to hard not to enjoy your successes. Have a great week.

The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.

Take it or leave it!

KRZK 106.3 FM had two events this past week that gave me an idea for this week’s blog. The latest one was our giveaway trip to Vegas. (You can find out more at www.hometowndailynews.com)

During the giveaway, we played “Take it or Leave it.” Contestants had a chance to take the sure prize, which meant they would forfeit on the big prize of going to Vegas for The Academy of Music Awards Show. Most people wanted to stay in for the big prize; we did have two folks that took the sure thing.

Earlier in the week, we had a loyal listener night at The Paul Harris Show. (I should note that this is my perception of The Paul Harris Story and, although I consider Paul a friend, I did not interview him for this entry and he did not pre-approve it)

Paul Harris has been a star in Branson for a number of years. When you mentioned comics, Paul was at the top of the list. When people talked about the shows that Paul was in, the conversation was usually about Paul. Paul played take it or leave it, he left it and he has won big time.

Paul dreamed of having his own show, he got it. However, he knew he wanted more and he was willing to put in the work for it. A few years ago, he moved to Nashville and focused on his skills. He put in the time, he always believed in himself, and he was willing to “feel the fear” and do it anyway.

Recently, Paul was a co-host on the Steve and Janet show. That weekend he opened for Jeff Foxworthy. He was a hit and the producer of the show continued to hold him over asking him for more time. This is a brief look at The Paul Harris story but here is what we can learn from it.

1. You have to decide if you want to keep what you have or go for more. Success in a job or career that is not your dream can hold you back. Paul could have always been a comedian in about any show he wanted but he knew he wanted more.

2. Wanting success and working for success are two different things. You have to be willing to do what you need to do. These are dirty words to some like sacrifice, work, become a student, be willing to fail.

3. You have to believe in yourself. Many people, frankly including me, questioned why Paul would want his own show. When uneducated fools question your goals and aspirations, you have to follow Paul’s example and belief in yourself.

I am proud of Paul and I am proud to call him a friend. I hope that you can learn from his example of hard work, dedication, and follow his example for success. Perhaps you need to play Take it or Leave it.

The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.

Can they speak the language of success?

Recently, my sister and her family came in to visit us. My brother-in-law has done a lot of business travel. He told us about being a vendor at a trade show in Russia. Out of the four day show, there were only 10 people who spoke English. His company had paid for one of their major customers, who was originally from Russia, to work the booth and communicate with their prospects.

Think about how frustrated my brother-in-law would have been to see all the prospects at the trade show and not be able to communicate with them. It is the same frustration that we can feel when we are trying to hit a goal but we can't seem to understand how to do it. We just need to take my brother-in-laws lead and find someone who can speak the language of the success you are trying to reach.

You want to be financially secure. Go find someone who can speak the language, who has achieved that goal. Many have written books; many give seminars; many may be your friends. Find one that wouldn't mind talking about the concepts that helped them achieve.

The same can be true for losing weight, being a better spouse, parent, manager, salesman, etc - etc. If you think about it, most people don't mind talking about their successes. So ask them. (One word of caution -- if people are constantly talking about their success without being asked, they may be working hard to convince you of their success)

This week go find someone who "speaks the language you want to obtain" and talk to them. Have a great week.

The next time you need a speaker, make it easy on yourself and call me. I will inspire, motivate, and entertain your group. Check out my speaking demo at www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com then call (417) 339-6568 for availability. The only way I look good is making you look good for booking me.