Preparation Meets Opportunity

"What we call luck, what we call chance, is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
-Will Smith

Last week, I went to Salt Lake City for a business conference. I opened this business, which sells products to improve peoples' health and help them lose weight, in June. I have been preparing for a few years to open a business which I believe in with all my heart. When the opportunity came through a friend of mine, who is involved in the business, I did my research, tried the products, met the team, and then decided to make a decision.

Luck, at least what most people consider luck, doesn't exist. It never has. Very rarely do serendipitous things happen. What you don't see when you run into successful people is the blood, sweat, tears, and heartaches that they've endured to get where they are in life.

My good friend, John Livia, gave me a tidbit of wisdom a while back. "Don't be so obsessed with the trophy, but become obsessed with the journey." For me, this changed the way I looked at things. Instead of focusing on the big business with employees, buildings, customers, etc and all the trappings of success, I became focused on meeting new people, doing research, and finding my way in the world. I think it's just as important to find what you DON'T want to do as it is to find out what you DO want to do.

So the next time you see someone who is successful, realize they made tons of sacrifices and worked hard to get where they are. If you want to be there, get obsessed with the journey rather than the trophy that you see!

Cheers

Potential: What Does It Really Mean?

"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

-Thomas Edison

Potential- Capable of being or becoming.

What potential do you have? This is kind of building on my last two articles ("Inspiration To Be What We Could Be" and "Don't Be Afraid to Be Great"). However, this quote really makes me think about what could be.

Have you ever felt like you are in a funk and can't seem to figure out the cause?

Do you feel stuck in your job or career and your not going anywhere?

In my humble opinion, these are signs that you aren't reaching your full potential. I have had an interesting case of this. For about six months from October 2006 to March 2007, I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere.

Sure, I had a great job working here in the library. Sure, the markets and my investments were doing great. But, something just didn't feel right. I didn't feel like I was growing. It all came to a head in March when I kind of broke down and gave up some of my old insecurities and worries. After this, life started looking up. I tried some new things out and chilled out with new people more often. This was the cure. I grew. During this time, I also met my girlfriend. Life does funny things like this sometimes.

So the moral of this story is...ALWAYS STRIVE TO FULFILL YOUR POTENTIAL. Don't be scared because it will always work out the way it's supposed to work out.

Cheers!!!!

Inspiration To Be What We Could Be

"Our chief want is someone who will INSPIRE us to be what we know we could be."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I haven't written an article on "Never Selling Out Your Integrity" (Rule 1) in quite some time. Most people wouldn't consider integrity having to do with yourself but rather thinking of it as not lying or cheating. However, Integrity is defined as

"the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished"

Recently, in my personal life, I have been going through a major stage of growth. This is a transition phase from being a boy to a man. Many people never go through this phase out of fear. Admittedly, I haven't always faced this transition with courage and bravery. I have sulked in fear and was scared of being myself ("Don't Be Afraid To Be Great"). Luckily, I have a great support system in place to help me grow.

My girlfriend has really helped me to face up to my fears. My insecurity hasn't always been aware to me because I have bottled up my feelings. However, when things are ready to come out they will, so I figure it's best to be in control of it.

A major manifestation of this personal growth has been my decision to quit drinking energy drinks and other sugared soda. As I write this, I'm almost at two days without having sugar soda. This has been a very hard thing for me but my health is more important. I have sort of depended on a quick hit of energy from sugar and my diet has suffered. I'm always trying to find ways to improve myself and this is one of the last bastions of weakness that I haven't touched yet (Rule 5).

All this gets back to Integrity. You have to be true to yourself. Don't Sell It Out (Rule 1), Stay Positive (Rule 2), Don't Do Anything Less Than Your Best (Rule 4), and Always Find Ways to Improve (Rule 5). I hope that all of you readers feel that I inspire you to be better. This is my soul goal in writing this blog. To help my readers become better people!!!

Have a Great Day!

Don't Be Afraid To Be Great

"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."

-William Shakespeare

This was the BQuote of the Day from bguides.com. It really struck me because this was a major issue I have dealt with my entire life.

Most peoples' egos would say that they are born great. Even fewer people will achieve greatness, and we all know the stories of people who have greatness forced upon them.

For me, I have kind of always struggled with realizing that I had a lot of potential. I grew up in a home where people (my mom, grandparents, and father) told me that I could do whatever I wanted to do if I set my mind to it.

I heard this so much that I believed it for the most part. However, there was (and probably still is a trace) of self doubt.

Can I Do It?

Is It Really Possible?

Am I Really That Great?

These are questions we all have. I have had them for all my life. I fight through them daily. The point of all this is to say YES YOU ARE GREAT!!! If you want something, you can achieve it. Believe it and you can do it! It's all about keeping a positive attitude and believing...even when you have no reason to believe.

Have a great day!

Apologies To My Readers

I want to apologize for not writing as much the last month. I take responsibility and hope you guys will forgive me. I will be writing more soon. I've been on vacation and have procrastinated. Again, I'm sorry for leaving you hanging. I will work better on this. I will prove it with my actions...because we all know actions speak louder than words.

Sincerely Always,

Brad Spencer