When the times get tough, the tough get going... and keep on going...

So you don't feel you need any personal development? You don't feel the need to have any kind of "self-help" education? I mean, why waste your time to go to weekly support group sessions to learn from?

I mean, we're adults, right? There's a certain age where we feel we've had as much "experience" there is and we're perfectly able to steer our own ship, right?... Right?

John Wooden said he was most puzzled with those who don't believe in anything. He said we all had to believe in SOMETHING.

What do I believe in? I believe in being prepared. I once thought that self-help books, meditation, self-discovery seminars were like singing Kumbaya's around the fire but when life hits you at full speed like a loved one facing a disease or even you facing a terminal illness, a divorce,a tragic event, death, whatever the case, do you know where to turn to? What do you embrace when life's unexpected difficulties knock on your door?

We all face them at some point in time but what we may not be prepared for is how to process it all.  And learning this process is from constantly working at it on a daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly. Those philosophies we believe deep down in our soul, that support group we meet with on occasion, or that place we go to where we can be refreshed can be incredibly life saving when the times get tough.

Laugh all you want but when the hard times come, do you know where or who to turn to?  What do you turn to?

Are You a One-Hit Wonder???

Do you know how to be amazing? After reading such an inspirational blog from Network Marketing Pro Randy Gage's post: here I'm not only inspired but I'm reminded to celebrate who I am!

When we are conscious of greatness; of feeling great in our "own skin," I think it means that we've accepted our personal quirks and celebrate them!

I've always been embarrassed about being into songs that are one-hit wonders. You know the kind, the squeeky, high-pitched, disco-pop songs that everyone wants to forget, that you'll only hear on public radio? (The kind you'll hear in your car when driving alone but NEVER with anyone else in it?) Well, I love them! However, when I accepted this fact, it wasn't until this moment that I realized a sort of freedom.

My mom said she was surprised to find that maybe she didn't even know how to feel happy but I don't think this is too far-fetched with how most of us feel. Is it because we don't accept who we are?

Come on. Who do you know who is into things that are so absurd but you love them anyways? Do you love them because they are insecure of themselves or because they accept who they are, no matter how stupid their beliefs or what they like are?

Honestly, go out and don't just be amazed; BE amazing!!!

Women Are All the Same...But of Course!

You can't group women in the same category anymore. We're not merely just "women." We hold different titles, have different opinions, lead with various styles, and oppose each other's political beliefs as well as religions.

You can't even group minorities in the same category either for that matter. There is a growing spectrum of racial classes, social classes and environments that two Latins, two African-Americans, two Whites and two Middle Easterners sometimes cannot be measured in the slightest degree of similarity.

In July's issue of Fortune Magazine there is a section called "The Briefing" that says about two leading CEO's, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman that "...their approaches could not have been further apart."

Really?

If that's the case, then the Harvard Business Review may need to Move Forward in their quest to understand the lack of women in power. In their article on "Women and the Uneasy Embrace of Power," here Jeffrey Pfeffer may need to rethink the different styles, techniques, backgrounds and industries that make women rather unique to their contributions instead of continuing to classify women as one category.

Once we begin to recognize leaders as who they are rather than what title they hold, we will find more women, minorities and social classes that are "in power." We can find them when we recognize who they are, what they represent and what they stand for by getting to know them.

You're Into What????

I met a fellow the other day who told me he likes classical music. I thought it was funny until he not only told me who was playing on the radio and what era it was from but that when he was seven his mother used to drop him off at the symphony where he and all the other old ladies with blue hair would enjoy the symphony. And actually, I thought how attractive that was! (Not the ladies but the fellow of course.)

My husband is not only a golfer and has competed in college but he can watch a professional tournament on TV and can practically tell you the year and which tournament it is because he's seen every tournament there is (unfortunately until now that we're married but such is life). I like that and that's one of the reasons I golf but most importantly, I'm attracted to that quality about him. Not because he's into golf but because his passion has led him to know so much about it.

I've actually had to think about what I really like and know a lot about. I love God and I know my bible pretty good. I like music and can tell you which band is playing in any dive bar across America and I like to jog which, I'm able to pretty much figure out what my body is telling me because of years living in the gym.

However, maybe I don't know enough about what I'm really into as much as I would like.

Can you tell someone what you like and know so much about it (whatever you are saying you're into) because of your passion for it? Now THAT is attractive!