A Chance To Do Something Amazing
Randy’s messages to me start out “Dear Steve” Anyone who addresses me as Dear Steve with sincerity is a friend. I know Randy very well from his books, tapes and Randy’s Rant. Fasten your seat belts.
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Randy’s Rants
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Dear Steve,
It’s another New Year, and another chance to do something
amazing with your life.
Please read that last sentence again, and really think about it.
Can you imagine a life of challenge, adventure, and growth; a
life not just of success, but also significance. Can you imagine
living an “amazing†life?
I hope you can, because that is your true destiny, the one you
are meant to live.
But that may take a new way of thinking, one radically different
than what you’ve been doing for many years of your life. It may
mean reevaluating your core beliefs about money, success,
health, religion, government, and happiness.
Unfortunately, most people have lost the ability for critical
thinking. They have been told “what†to think for so long,
they’ve actually forgot “how†to think. Independent thought has
given way to herd thinking, and discernment has been replaced
with mindless acquiescence.
Today a politician with some marketing savvy and an
understanding of how to exploit the media can write their own
ticket. And once they are elected in a position of influence,
they can accumulate powers that most dictators only dream of. Of
course depots like Idi Amin, Fidel Castro, and Papa Doc
imprisoned their enemies, spied on their subjects, tapped their
phones and read their mail. But at least they had the common
courtesy to deny doing so.
Now President Bush detains people for years in prison camps
without charging them, denies them due process, and he will not
only spy on you, wiretap your phone conversations, and read your
email – but he actually brags about it, and tell you it is good
for you! And the herd will nod their heads and say, “well if it
prevents another 9/11…â€
But I’m ranting again, aren’t I?
The fascinating thing is, if they can get you to ask the wrong
question – the answer doesn’t really matter.
I’m writing this on my way to Hawaii. I’m on the first leg,
which is a 9.05 AA flight from Miami to DFW. Since I am tall
enough, vain enough, stupid enough, and rich enough to overpay
an extra $3,000, I’m sitting up front, and get served breakfast.
The coach cabin has a “food for purchase†program.
The question they were asked in the back was whether they wanted
to buy potato chips, trail mix, a large bag of M&M’s, or a
quarter pound Snickerdoodle cookie. Of course the question that
no one is asking, is what happens to people who eat a canister
of chips, big bag of M&M’s, or a quarter pound sugar cookie for
breakfast?
If you want to be happy, if you want to have a great New Year,
if you want to live an amazing life – you have to think
differently. You’re going to have to start questioning things –
and asking the right questions.
I don’t think the critical thinking necessary to living an
amazing life comes from pondering the question, “What is the
meaning of life?†The real question for you is likely more along
the lines of, ‘What would bring meaning to my life?’
Each year at this time, I do a lot of reflection on what kind of
year I have had, and where I want to go in the next one.
Hopefully you do as well. The end of the calendar year marks a
good delineation for making changes, enacting new habits, and in
particular, replacing old beliefs that no longer serve you.
As I do my inventory, I have to say I have lived an amazing life
thus far. I’ve seen the curvature of the earth from 58,000 feet
on the Concord, written seven books, fell in love in Paris, been
in the stands when my team won Game Seven of the World Series,
hit a few walk-off homeruns for my own softball teams, scuba
dived with giant sea turtles, flown a plane, prayed in the
Crystal Cathedral, meditated in a Shaolin Temple, saw a ballgame
with Roger Clemens pitching against Greg Maddox in Wrigley Field
no less, rang the bells in a church tower, rode a hot air
balloon, won a Viper drag race competition, visited over 35
countries, was able to make sure that last words they ever heard
from me were ‘I love you†for my grandmother, grandfather and
great aunt before they died, and most rewarding of all, I have
been able to help thousands of people see the inherent greatness
they possessed, before they knew they had it.
Now it hasn’t been all joy and fun and seasons in the sun…
I had my restaurant seized by the IRS, spent time in jail for
armed robbery, got shot on the other side of another robbery,
ingested more controlled substances than you’ll find in a
Walgreen’s warehouse, and attracted enough negative
relationships to fill Dr. Phil’s broadcast schedule for the next
two years.
But you know what?
I have lived an amazing life. And the wonderful things far
outweigh the bad ones. And truth be told, it was the bad ones
that allowed me to become the person I am, and manifest the
wonderful things. If I do it all over again, I wouldn’t change
one single thing.
But I’m not done. And neither are YOU.
It is 2007, and adventure is beckoning you, calling you by name.
This is your chance to start or continue the adventure called
your life. But it will take discernment, critical thinking, and
asking the right questions.
So what’s more important? Obsessing over who sent you a holiday
card that you didn’t have on your list – or calling someone who
was on your list and telling them how much they really mean to
you?
You can worry about how you’ll pay that extra $500 or $1,000 you
charged up for holiday presents. Or you could devote that
thought process to how you can create enough value in the
universe to manifest an extra $200,000 or $350,000 in income
this year.
Think about most of the things most people worry about: Their
neighbor’s leaves blowing into their yard. Their apples falling
into their neighbor’s yard. Whether they tipped the waiter or
pizza guy $2 too much.
They could only get four not five of the new releases they
wanted at the video store, so they can veg away their weekend.
They actually have to walk half a block, because they couldn’t
find a closer parking space at the mall. The substitute mail
carrier comes 30 minutes later than the regular one.
These things, and thousands more like them, are the daily
worries of the herd. You don’t have time for that. Your life is
far too short. You have to escape the herd and be a contrarian.
And speaking of contrarians, Larry Winget has a new book just
released this week. Buy it today. Better yet, buy five or ten.
Donate a few to the library, pass out a couple to your deadbeat
relatives. But read it yourself.
The title is, “It’s called Work for a Reason†because this book
is straight talk about business. Larry covers everything from
making sales and delivering high quality customer service, to
leadership, sexual harassment, dealing with idiots, hiring and
firing, and how to become invaluable to your company and your
customers.
He trashes a lot of what you hold dear and have become
comfortable with. He doesn’t care whether you love your job or
are happy at work. It’s not about being happy or loving your
job: it’s about doing your job! His chapter entitled “Teamwork
Doesn’t Work†will confound and astound you. And Larry’s “Dirty
Dozen Employer Handbook†and “Dirty Dozen Employee Handbook†are
priceless. He also gives you a huge list of “short, hard
expensive lessons” that alone are worth the price of the book.
Publisher’s Weekly raved about the book in a review and I got an
advance copy that I loved. I think it’s destined to become a
business classic. The book epitomizes Winget’s caustic,
no-holds-barred style, yet like anything Larry does, it is
hilarious. His stories will make you laugh while they teach you
the simple truth about every area of business success.
If you remember, I told you about his last book, which was,
“Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life!†I love Larry because he
is a contrarian. We have a lot in common, but we’re still each
unique.
Like me, Larry is bold, brash, and controversial. He doesn’t
worry about political correctness, or what you think of him. He
shaves his head too, although he’s not quite as good looking as
I am. He’s not afraid to get in your face, although he doesn’t
possess the subtlety, diplomacy, and tact that I do. And of
course he doesn’t have the humbleness, modesty, and considerable
humility I do. But don’t hold that against him.
Larry’s books are fun, entertaining and thought-provoking.
They’re the perfect antidote to herd thinking. And his new book
is the perfect one to start the New Year with, and develop the
mindset to live an amazing life.
Get it and you’ll be glad you did. Here’s the link for complete
details: http://www.larrywinget.com/itscalledwork.html
Please use the book as a small part of the big new goal for
2007, living an amazing life.
Some other things you could do in 2007 to have an amazing life:
Volunteer at a homeless or runaway youth shelter. Write a book.
Adopt a child with special needs. Start a workout program. Take
up ballet. Eat only fresh fruit until noon each day. Learn to
ride a unicycle. Get rich. Compose an Opera. Learn a new
language. Learn your old language. Take up painting, or
sculpture, or woodcrafts. Get enough sleep. Stay up till 4 am
sometimes, but make it worth it. Rescue a pet from the Humane
Society. Find a cure for a disease. Forgive somebody. Forgive
everybody. (Even yourself.) Send some money to the relief effort
in Africa. Send some money to the relief effort in your own
town. Pray for Peace. Unplug your TV for a month. Take up a
musical instrument. Get a tattoo or a piercing. Have a midlife
crisis.
There are lots more I could suggest, but you get the point. And
the whole point is whatever you do, it should come from your
critical thinking, not mine. I will say this: If you sleep about
seven hours a day, work about eight, and then watch TV or movies
for about five, your chances of living an amazing life are
pretty slim. But reactivate your brain, change some patterns, do
some critical thinking, question some beliefs, and the odds look
pretty good.
For some of you, living an amazing life will mean you have to
give up drugs and alcohol. For others, you need to find some
wicked weed and get stoned.
Maybe you spend money foolishly and need to learn how to
cultivate wealth. Maybe you need to stop being so poverty
conscious and treat yourself to flying First Class, a day at the
spa, or buying a $1,000 pair of shoes.
Some of you need to connect with the spiritual power that
governs your world. Some of you need to lose all the doctrines
and dogma you were brainwashed with by your religion and learn
to think for yourself.
Maybe gambling is destroying your life and you need to join a
12-step group to stop. Or maybe you need to fly off to Vegas for
the weekend and plunge your lungs out.
You may need to stop running away from intimacy, be willing to
do the work that a relationship entails, and commit to your one
true soul mate in the world. Or you may need to find a bordello
or swingers club and fuck your brains out.
Your life doesn’t have to be a Robert Ludlum novel, a James Bond
movie, or an Indiana Jones adventure. But it doesn’t have to be
“Little House on the Prairie†either! What about if you didn’t
always wear your favorite outfit, eat at the same restaurant,
order the same entrée, drink the same drink, leave the same tip,
and drive the same way home? What if you got out of your rut?
What if 2007 was really, truly different than 2006? What if it
was the most amazing year of your life? And what about if it
started today?
Happy New You.
-RG
P.S. I forgot to mention, Larry is offering a special
arrangement for you. Click the link to get the book and you can
choose to buy from anyone you want. Then he will show you how to
get $50 of his other stuff FREE. But you have to buy it by
January 8th to get all the goodies. Click on the link below for
the details: http://www.larrywinget.com/itscalledwork.html
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Please pass this along to others who may appreciate it!
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May You Enjoy Prosperous Health, Happiness and Wealth
Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting
Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve now consults personally with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Most projects are self-funding within 90 days. The client then experiences a very high return on investment. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting http://www.stevepohlit.com Learn how to use a blog to help build your business by registering for Blogging for Profits at Steve Reports. Ask Steve a question by visiting Ask The Consultant call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly.
