Schedule for Success [1 ed.] 9780986017117, 9780986017100

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Schedule for

S ucceSS

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SCHEDULE FOR

S UCCESS TURN YOUR SCHEDULE INTO STEPPING STONES FOR SUCCESS

P A U L D.

JONES Prior Lake, MN

© 2012 Paul D. Jones All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Published by

Prior Lake, MN

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jones, Paul D. Schedule for success : turn your schedule into stepping stones for success / by Paul D. Jones. – Prior Lake, MN : 306 Entertainment, 2012. p. ; cm. ISBN13: 978-0-9860171-0-0 1. Self-management (Psychology) 2. Personal coaching. 3. Success. I. Title. BF632.J66 2012 158.1—dc23

2012943741

FIRST EDITION Project coordination by Jenkins Group, Inc. www.BookPublishing.com Cover design by Chris Rhoads Interior design by Yvonne Fetig Roehler Printed in the United States of America 16 15 14 13 12 • 5 4 3 2 1

This book is dedicated to my uncle Willie Luster. .

You have always found the time – not only for me, but for all of our family. You taught me values that I can’t thank you enough for. People always say they wish they had a rich uncle, and I realized that God has indeed blessed me with one. You gave me wisdom, knowledge, and discipline – all of which are worth more than any dollar that a man could give. I know, deep down inside, that much of my success is from the mentoring you gave me as a young boy. In reality, you are more than an uncle to me – I see you also as my Dad. May God bless everyone with an Uncle Willie.

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Contents

Acknowledgments..................................................................ix Book I: Schedule for Success

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Schedule for Success.............................................................. 3 Schedule Your Mind for Success.......................................... 7

Schedule Sound Physical Health...................................... 11 Schedule Great Relationships........................................... 15 Schedule Freedom from Fear.............................................. 21 Schedule Hope for Future Achievement.......................... 25 Schedule Advancing Yourself............................................. 29 Schedule for Now................................................................. 33

Book II: Schedule Staying Connected

9 Staying Connected................................................................ 43 10 Consider the Source............................................................. 47 11 Don’t Be a Monument. Be a Movement............................. 51 12 Your World Tomorrow......................................................... 57 13 Your Paradigm Dictates Your Logic.................................. 61 14 Root Causes of Failing......................................................... 65 15 The Virtue of Patience......................................................... 69 16 The Secret Is, There Is No Secret...................................... 75

About the Author................................................................. 79

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Acknowledgments

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thank my Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, without whom none of this would be possible. May God continue to get the glory.

To my wife Nancy: Thank you for putting up with me and my work schedule. You know I am a dreamer who acts on his dreams. You made it easier for me to do this. Thank you for being a great Mom to our wonderful kids, Anesha and Lil’ PJ. I love you both with all of my Heart! To my Mother Betty: Thank you for being a strong woman. Your encouragement and belief in me kept me going when times got hard. Thank you, Momma. I love you. To Uncle my Willie Luster: Thank you. I am a better, stronger man and father because of your love and support. I can’t thank you enough for all of your tough words growing up. You are one of the wisest men to ever walk this Earth. I am proud of you and thankful to have learned so much from you. Edward “Sporty” James, thank you for your help and raising me. I have learned a lot from you. Shelly Boldon, you go way beyond the call of duty, and I know that God is going to bless you for your commitment and dedication. Thanks for hanging in there through the tough times. You are a great friend, and I love you!

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Mario Dattilo, you and Star are amazing, and I am thankful to know you. I can’t thank you enough for all of the many times that you have gone beyond the call of duty. You have shown me what loyalty looks like. You and your family are incredible people, and I am happy to call you a friend. I love you bro! To William Lockett: Bro, I cannot thank you enough for your friendship and partnership. You have been heaven-sent. Your integrity as a business partner, your honesty, and your leadership are all greatly appreciated. Your desire to serve and help others is second to none. God is smiling from Heaven with blessings for you. Tim Lee (“Pops”) and Ann Nesby (“Mom”), thanks for taking me in and giving me a roof over my head when I moved to Minnesota. We have come a long way. No one can tell us God is not good. He brought us out, and victory is ours. We have a testimony for sure. I love you both, thanks for your love and kindness. To my life coach and Pastor Randy Morrison and Roxane Morrison: Your word is truly inspiring and influential. I love Speak the Word Church International. Thank you for sharing God’s word with the world. My family is whole from your complete word. Maria and Romeo Maldonado, Chau and Laura Le, Justin and Kimdra Halverson, Karen, Jamecia Bennett, Paris Bennett, J. Isaac, Alfonso Greene, Jan and Bill Hanson, David and Lyn Harrel, Troy Harris, Dexter Johnson, Troy Malone, Lynn Tharaldson, Melanie Smieja, Bill Wiseman, Pastor Dannie and Joeann Evans, The House of God Church, Norvell Brown, Lee and Rhonda Lemons, John and Patrice Jones, John Alston and family, Shawn Herrick and the Sac Global Team, Sean and Carmen Grey, Shane and Dana Douglas, Ron Williams, Phil and Lucy Mims, Dr. Kevin Pine, Marquise and Tiffany Williams, Adam and Monika Quitter, Carlton and Torri Hitchcock III, Kris Newman, Patao Yang, Al Thomas, Pat Hintz, Steve Schultz, Lisa Childs, Alan Holt, Chris Jourdain (“Chief ”), LaRohn and Brenda Latimer, Kenmond Sanders, Pastor Paul Betuku and Pete Betuku, Latonya “Bree’s Mom” Reynolds, Phyllis & Malcom Foat, Contina Jones-Graham & Rod Graham, Donnie and Sharon Green, Daryl and Terry Green, Beverly and Herbert Taylor, Demetria Green, Angie and Bishop Tony Hastings, x

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Antwan and Leslie Luster, Antonio and Shatika Luster, the whole Luster family, Angelo Ellerbee, Double Exxposure Media, Lenny (“Alize”) Jones, James Eichelberger, Dan Baldwin, the Jenkins Group, my old Excel family and 60K teammates. All the loving people in Rockford, Illinois, and Beloit, Wisconsin. I know I may have forgotten someone who I am sure has impacted my life in some form. Please know that I am thankful, and I ask that God continues to bless us all. Thank You!

Paul D. Jones

Turn Your Schedule into Stepping Stones for Success

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BOOK I

Schedule for Success

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“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13

Chapter 1

Schedule for Success

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uccess in business, family, relationships, and life in general isn’t that haphazard. Yes, people do experience those mysterious “blessings from above,” but I believe it is important to consider those gifts in light of Benjamin Franklin’s wisdom when he said, “God helps those who help themselves.” Success doesn’t just drop down on us from the heavens. Success, even though it often seems fleeting, is something that can be achieved through “helping yourself ” – through scheduling. I have taught for years and seen the principle proven through careful study and even more so via careful application in my own life and in the lives of others. Whatever you want to accomplish in life can be accomplished if your goals are carefully scheduled. Scheduling is the process by which you plan the effective use of your time and thereby reduce stress and maximize your effectiveness. Your schedule becomes a road map.

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Better yet, it becomes a treasure map. When you schedule properly, there will always be a treasure at the end of your journey.

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” Proverbs 6: 6-8 Before you create your life’s schedule, you must write what you desire to accomplish – your goals. Don’t just think about them. Write them down. You will find power in this simple act, as somehow writing down ideas makes those ideas real. Writing something in concrete terms transforms dreams into soon-to-be-accomplished realities. Writing them down tells you how strict your schedule must be and suddenly your entire life will come together in a new perspective. When Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in the Americas, one of his first acts was to burn his ships. His message was clear: “There is no turning back. Our choice now is success or failure.” Writing down your goals is something like burning those ships. You’re burning your excuses. From that moment on, you either take action (start scheduling) or you fail. It’s that simple. Fear not and remember that your schedule is a map. You will know when to sleep, when to work, when to spend time with family and friends, and even when and what to eat, in order to give yourself a winning schedule for a long-term healthy and productive life. Scheduling for success will easily become a lifestyle. But for now, while you’re in the learning phase, I’ll break it down into its basic components. Scheduling is a five-step process: 1. Identify the time you have available. 2. Block in the essential tasks you must carry out to succeed in your goal. 3. Schedule in high-priority urgent tasks and vital “housekeeping” activities.

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4. Block in appropriate contingency time to handle unpredictable interruptions. 5. In the time that remains, schedule the activities that address your priorities and personal goals. That’s it. That’s the big secret. Master those five simple steps and you will master your life. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure them out or to be able to put them into practice. The following chapters address scheduling on a more profound level. What are “essential tasks?” How do you define “urgent tasks?” What’s the difference between “vital” and “housekeeping” activities? These and other questions and challenges will be addressed in the coming chapters. The above five steps represent your working outline of what to do. Now, we will examine the deeper issues and the profound effects scheduling will have on your life.

“Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” Luke 14:28

Schedule for Success

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“Hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Hebrews 3:6

Chapter 2

Schedule Your Mind for Success

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eople who maintain a positive attitude are remarkable. Their outward appearance and way of doing things is a reflection of an inner confidence and hope for the future. They are the ones who bring you the sunshine when you may be feeling gray. They are usually the life of the party outwardly and yet the ones most likely to have the purest inner peace. A positive mental attitude means you are able to respond with an encouraging outlook to every situation in life. You realize that not everything in the world is good, but that everything has a purpose and that purpose ultimately leads to good. A positive mental attitude means that happiness and unhappiness are defined by our assumptions and do not depend on what we are facing outside of ourselves. It takes the form of sayings such as, “Our attitude decides our altitude.” The thing that matters most is not what happens to us, but how we react to what happens to us. Positive people believe they will win in tough situations in life. Ultimate victory is inevitable, and they believe there are no 7

unconquerable disasters, only new places of opportunity. They adjust their schedules and keep moving toward their desired goal. In order to embrace a more positive attitude, fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Focus on the excellence in life that surrounds you. Positive individuals are just happier, as they do not allow bad news to dictate their future. One of the most effective means of achieving a true positive mental attitude is through scheduling. This chapter is about scheduling that most powerful of all instruments – your mind.

Make Your Schedule “Mind Accomplished” You can never achieve something great in the world until it is first fully achieved in your mind. As I’ve said, scheduling is an incredibly powerful tool for turning dreams into reality. It is so easy to do, as it’s all a mental control that we schedule into our lives. Once we learn how to schedule our minds for success, we will find that we no longer allow valuable time to be wasted and we can keep moving forward. Ask yourself, “How would my life be if I would just let go of harboring the bad – bad thoughts, bad feelings, bad dreams, and so on?” Imagine yourself never having to be Mr. or Mrs. Fix It of anything bad again. Imagine dropping that load of bad (whatever it may be) and just leaving it on the side of the road. Scheduling your mind allows you to do just that. Life does have its challenges, yet the right approach we apply to these challenges will allow us better outcomes. Any challenge that presents itself could very easily be the challenge that could propel you into extraordinary wealth, the next great invention, or the next great breakthrough the world has been waiting for. Pressure develops us into better and stronger people, the same way pressure makes diamonds.

“The Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded . . .” Isaiah 50:7 This positive mental attitude will make you great. When you believe that you are going to succeed, in due time your attitude will become even more

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confident in your scheduled plans – especially when you have invested the time and effort in scheduling your mind. I recently read a story of a chemist, Norm Larsen, who was trying to create a solution to displace water. If completed properly, his product would become the secret formula that would effectively prevent corrosion. In 1953, Norm tried and tried and tried and he failed and failed and failed. In fact he failed 39 times! He got it right on the 40th try and named his product after that final attempt. You know it now as WD-40. Just imagine if he had given up on the 39th attempt. There are countless success stories around the world of individuals who achieved because they kept the hope with the foundation of a strict schedule and a positive mindset. Make up in your mind to always see things in a positive light. Invest the time in yourself to keep your mind from being clouded with junk from the world. Schedule your mind so that you can schedule your life and schedule adequate sleep and study time in order to sharpen your mind and spark new inspiration. It has been proven that positive people live longer, have more friends, and have greater lasting relationships. Most of all, positive people are at peace with themselves. Remember, you are your biggest asset; therefore, start taking great care of “You, Inc.!” Having and maintaining a positive mental attitude is a psychological and a mental phenomenon in which the central idea is basic and powerful – you can increase achievement through optimistic thought processes. It implies that one has a vision of good-natured change in one’s mind; it employs a state of mind that continues to seek, find, and execute ways to win or find a desirable outcome, regardless of the circumstances. It rejects negativity, defeatism, and hopelessness. Part of the process of achieving a positive mental attitude employs motivational self-talk and exhibiting deliberate goal-directed thinking. It is evident that with the right attitude your life can and will be awesome!

“Take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

Schedule Your Mind for Success

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“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” John 3:2

Chapter 3

Schedule Sound Physical Health

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ow wrapped up are you in earning a living, putting away something in the bank, investing for the future, and so on right now? I know that we all have great plans to prosper, to be at peace, and to be happy, yet many times we may make the mistake of thinking that money alone can bring joy. We don’t pay attention to our overall physical well-being, and we pay a terrible price for that negligence. In fact, if you are not in good health, even though things seem to be going well in other areas of life, your ability to continue the journey at a good pace will be interrupted – perhaps permanently. What good is the “good life” if you’re not around to enjoy it? Listen to the signs your body may show you. Those signs are similar to the way the “check engine” light or oil light may come on in your car. Our bodies also have their signs: backaches, joint pains, irritability, fatigue, and forgetfulness. These are all warning lights that something may be wrong 11

physically, which if left unattended could lead to more serious issues. When you are truly in tune with your body and listening to it, it will tell you when to adjust your schedule. Playing the “tough it out” bit often will only cause you further delay in achieving your desired goal.

Good Health Is Not a Goal; It is a State of Being Good health requires that you schedule all aspects of your life with sound health in mind. You must schedule time for appropriate sleep, good meals, physical and mental exercise, spiritual development, and, yes, those regular checkups with your doctor. It’s a long list, but let’s utilize over-eating as an example of how you can benefit from scheduling your health. I confess that I have been guilty of over-eating more times than I care to admit. Scheduling for success requires us to conquer our flesh in certain categories. I recently completed a ten-day master cleanse, in which I ate no food whatsoever. For the first few days, my taste buds were yelling at me – craving every flavor under the sun. Yet, after successfully completing the fast, I realized that in those beginning days I really was not hungry at all. I was succumbing to the flesh, the desire to engage in the dining experience. My desire was more mental than physical. During the fast, if I sat around and thought about food, then guess what? I wanted food, but just for the entertainment value — and once I got active and began doing other things, the urge for the snack was gone.

“When a man is gloomy, everything seems to go wrong; when he is cheerful (and full of hope), everything seems right.” Proverbs 15:15 These are great words, and we should understand and use them to help shape our own character. When we stay full of hope, it is then that things will move with ease and ultimately just go right. Look to your own experience: which group — the gloomy or the cheerful — leads more productive, satisfying, and happier lives? Don’t you think there just might be a cause and effect at work here?

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Scheduling to be physically well and healthy directly affects those around you as well. It is the same as when we make up our minds to be cheerful. We automatically affect those around us by bringing cheer, laughter, and good will into their troubled world. Scheduling yourself to become physically healthy creates new energy that will give you that burst in life to grow. A cheerful heart is good medicine. This is why we must always protect our hearts from having heart attacks by treating ourselves well in our daily lives. That goes for all the other organs and systems in our bodies. It is essential to invest serious time reflecting on what you are feeling and going through in your daily walk on this earth. When we allow too many bad things affect us, we then become overwhelmed – our heart, for whatever we are doing, will give way, causing our inner spirit to weaken. A man’s spirit can sustain his broken body, but when his spirit dies, what hope is left?

“So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs, and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those that follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves, but become strong.” Hebrews 12:12 Take care of yourself and you will begin to realize that you have become a better leader. Your patience will increase and you will be able to tolerate all of the different challenges that life may present. Your faith will grow stronger and others will now be able to draw from the positive energy that is created by your serenity. Eating the correct foods, exercising, and getting proper rest are all essential to the way we think, take in information, and how we respond to challenges. Devote sufficient time to working out a schedule, committing it to writing, and move forward into peace, good health, and prosperity. I speak from experience. While I was busy scheduling success in all other areas of my life, my diet was terrible and I had no exercise schedule. My weight ballooned to more than 330 pounds, and I felt absolutely terrible. I knew that it was time to destroy my schedule and implement a new schedule that would make the new me. I made the decision to change my entire schedule in order to accommodate my health. The good thing is that I did it voluntarily before I had any real health issues. No matter how big

Schedule Sound Physical Health

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my goals, dreams, and plans of success were, if I didn’t schedule to get into good health, I’d never really enjoy them. My bad health would change all of my plans and perhaps even put an end to them via an early death. My new schedule started at 5 a.m. with a one hour workout. Secondly, I changed my entire diet. I scheduled when I would eat, how many calories I would consume, and I diligently recorded everything in writing so that I could stay on schedule. Yes, it took discipline to stick to my new schedule, but I did it! Within in one year, I lost ninety pounds. Throughout this process I realized the importance of staying healthy. I have permanently scheduled for success with my weight loss and continued my health maintenance. Stick with your health schedule and reap the benefits of it for a long, long time. Don’t falter; take heart and remember the words of Matthew:

“Thy faith hath made thee whole.”

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Matthew 9:22

“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions among you. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

Chapter 4

Schedule Great Relationships

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y pastor and life coach, Randy Morrison, says, “We are spirit beings mastering the human experience.” Think about the profound nature of this statement. As a spirit who masters itself, your human experience and relationships become deeper, greater, and more meaningful on many levels. Relationships in life are priceless. They help make your daily schedule go well. Think about the power of a simple smile and a nice compliment, given without a hidden agenda or sales pitch. It brings forth peace and will profit you more in the long run of life. Prosperity comes in many forms in addition to cash money. When you sow seeds of being a good human, you bring joy into others that will bring that same joy back to yourself. When people are in sync and harmony with each other, life just runs smoother.

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Rule Chaos or Chaos Rules Successful relationships are based on common rules – basic, easily understood, and known by all. When social standards are at an all-time low and people cannot agree to accept, respect, and adhere to the same principles, then chaos follows. Eventually the individual, the group, or even the society will experience a total breakdown or at least a mental retreat. Unless we learn to be united in our thoughts and purpose, we will continue to experience confusion in our relationships. We must be mindful not to allow chaos in, as it only destroys the harmony of a great relationship – bringing in disorder. When you spot disorder in relationships, you see people become uncomfortable. I call it a disease, as it disrupts the ease for the environment of having a great relationship. Obviously, we can’t schedule chaos or our response to it. How can you schedule something that does not yet exist? Yet, we can schedule how we will respond when those challenges or opportunities show up unannounced. When the moment arrives, we will then be in a position to rule the chaos rather than be ruled by it.

Master the Five Elements of Life It amazes me how people won’t come together through politics, religion, gender, or race, even if it would lead to harmony in human relations. Each of us has five significant parts to our lives, and we must schedule success into each of them. These parts are the: ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

the physical

the emotional the mental the social

the spiritual

All five of these parts are designed to work together in harmony. If one is out of balance it will then affect each of the others. It’s a bit like driving a car with a slow leak in one of the tires. Gas mileage, road handling, maintenance and upkeep costs, overall performance, and so on are all affected. Eventually all of the air will blow out of the one tire, causing an end to the journey until 16

Schedule for Success

that tire is fixed. Ensuring all five areas are “properly inflated” and balanced for success will provide a low-maintenance and luxurious ride through life. Understanding and mastering the five significant parts in our life will also put us in a great position for growth. It means we are well rounded and will be able to grow more and more in our relationships with others, as we have mastered real intimacy with maturity. Scheduling great relationships into your life may first require working on yourself. Mastering who we are in significant areas in our life is a “must do” for greater human relationships. Many times we look to point blame at others and say what others need to fix about themselves so that you can get along with them, when it is mostly ourselves who need to grow and change. Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5). Mature people don’t harbor grudges or strife and people who schedule for success just don’t have the time or the inclination. They understand that grudges (and any negative action or thought) will only stop them from growing. Harmony in human relationships moves you to higher levels of excellence that will make you focus on a more productive schedule. Do not take anything for granted, just go out and work in harmony. “In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don‘t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don‘t want anyone strolling off down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present Schedule Great Relationships

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in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.” (Ephesians 4:1-6) Wow! What if we all could work in harmony as that passage recommends? I believe that we can and those who do will experience new heights in their personal, home, and business relationships. Learn to love yourself and you will find that it is easier to love others. True harmony in human relations will always have the foundation of love and respect. By now you must certainly realize the necessity of scheduling appropriate time for family and friends.

The Message “If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I‘ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” I Corinthians 13:4-7 Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “Me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best, Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end. 18

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Walk in love for all mankind and you will experience the growth that you desire in life. I promise to always walk in love for mankind, and I hope that you will do the same. It is the bridge to harmony in relationships. Of course, you can’t schedule love and friendship, but you can schedule time to find, develop, and nurture love and friendship. Do not neglect this area of your life; otherwise, you’ll discover that, like the flat tire I mentioned, the weakness in one area will affect all the other areas. It is said that one of the hardest things for people to accept is change. Sadly, too few of us realize that growth in life is usually a direct result of change. Imagine what will happen to your conscious mind if you allow it to sit idle, unaware that life is moving all around you at a very fast pace. Your mind will soon become mired in outdated information – making you virtually incompatible with the modern and ever-changing world. You can easily spot those who are stuck in the same place just by their daily actions. They appear as if they’re trying to buy music on cassette tapes, while not realizing they need to upgrade to current technology. My son will never see the relevance of the cassette tape, as it was outdated since his birth. His world will be an all-digital, online world. In fact, the world is smaller to him then it was for me. What seemed hard for me growing up will be a normal reality for him. Like John Sebastian sang, “And then I know that all I’ve learned my kid assumes. And all my deepest worries must be his cartoons.” That’s just the way life is. We can’t change it, nor should we try. Instead, we should schedule our lives for success so that we can accept change, move with and profit by it. Nothing in life stays the same, yet there can be harmony within change. A house will eventually need a new roof, plumbing, carpeting, and painting. A car will need new brakes, tires, lights, and fluids changed regularly. We are the same – we need new clothes, shoes, and new human relationships that will keep us sharpened and moving forward towards a more successful life. We don’t want to be stuck mentally with a today-mindset when tomorrow and an ever-changing future is to come. This is a wakeup call to action. We can no longer sit back idle and hang on to the way things used to be. The world has already changed. Do not create strongholds of the past; instead reach out into the future and step out confidently in the support of your relationships. Schedule Great Relationships

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“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalms 133:1

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“Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Chapter 5

Schedule Freedom from Fear

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ear is one of the most debilitating challenges anyone can face, and so many dreams and goals go unaccomplished because of it. President Franklin Roosevelt famously said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Fear of something is often far more dangerous than that something (whatever it may be) because fear paralyzes your potential to achieve the success that you desire. Conquer your fear and you will have the freedom to schedule and implement the methods that will lead to your ultimate success. I know that there are many things that cause fear, or anxiety brought on from something in the past. The past is just that – the past – and you cannot allow fears to control your actions in the present. Being controlled by your fears ultimately can cause you to self-destruct.

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Schedule yourself to be released from your fears. Remember, that which you fear will usually attract itself to you or be made to happen because you place too much focus on it. If you fear losing a person you are in a relationship with, your fear will then become a reality. If you fear losing an investment, then it usually causes you to avoid investing, which in turn may cause you to miss out on what could be a great financial opportunity. Fear, along with procrastination and laziness, will cause you to make excuses. Once you start making excuses, it will all go downhill from there. People who have fear also have an excuse for everything, and this will eventually leave them faithless. They cease all movement and just watch as the world passes them by. Therefore, don’t ever allow your fears to hinder your faith.

“I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 How do you schedule something as nebulous as freedom from fear? It’s actually far simpler and easier than you think. Scheduling freedom from fear is basically a two-step process. First, realize that fear is the true enemy. Yes, a sour economy, the potential for losing a job, a shaky investment, and so on are serious challenges, but the real challenge is overcoming the fear, which can force you into rash decisions, unsound actions, and misdirected thinking. After accepting that fact, you can move on to step two – which is to schedule something positive. Yes, it’s that simple. When I feel fear coming on, I schedule time for prayer – and you don’t get any more positive than that. Other people take time to meditate, exercise, state positive aphorisms, or read up on people who have overcome great hardships and so on. We’re all different, so I can’t tell you what to schedule, except to recommend that you seek out the most positive option. And prayer is to me the best of all options. Embrace freedom. We each possess free will and the ability to choose – the ability to schedule success in our lives. This means in your professional and personal life you can also have the freedom to have all the faith you will need to succeed. Let there be no limits placed on you, for you can achieve things that exceed all that you can imagine. Trusting God in your business and personal life is the key to freedom from fear. 22

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You can gauge your freedom from fear just by asking yourself, “Am I in the same place?” I don’t mean that in the sense of “Do you live in the same house,” “Do you drive the same car,” or “Do you have the same daily routine?” The question is related to your thoughts. Do you think the same today as you did yesterday? Even when a doctor is trying to find a diagnosis for your pain, he or she will ask questions in order for you to describe the nature and location of that pain. I saw a guy who was in the gym working out, and on his t-shirt it said “Pain is simply weakness leaving the body.” I love that! The more we conquer pain, the stronger we will become. The more we conquer fear, then the stronger we are mentally. Whenever you feel fear, remember that you are not alone, and schedule some time to reflect on that thought.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalms 27:1

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“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Chapter 6

Schedule Hope for Future Achievement

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ur hope, combined with our faith, keeps us all pushing forward in order to achieve the higher ground of future achievement. The future will come, and we all will play our part in it. Since the future is inevitable, doesn’t it make good sense to schedule your life so that you will achieve success in that future? This chapter uses three key words: hope, future, and achievement. Let’s take a closer look at them.

HOPE Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. “I hope I get the job . . . I hope this investment pays off . . . I hope our new company thrives . . . ” Having hope is crucial to everything we do in our daily lives. If you have no hope, then there would be no reason to schedule your life for positive action. 25

Let’s do a little wordplay, using “full” and “less.” Full is containing all that is normal or possible, whereas less is basically just the opposite. The container is empty, or contains less than it is capable of containing. Add the word “Hope” to that condition and you are hopeless, which means you have given up hope. Add hope to full and you get hopeful; you hope for more, but how can something that is full contain more? Simple . . . People who schedule for success schedule for bigger, better, and more productive lives. They’re never “full” because they’re always growing and can accept more of God’s bountifulness into their lives. We know with God all things are possible, therefore with your hope being full from the love of God, your faith with His word is the final word.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

II Corinthians 5:7

FUTURE Future is the time that is to come – something that will exist or happen beyond the current moment. Being driven by what you have always hoped for and stepping out on faith will allow you to arrive to your desired future. We can all agree that one thing is guaranteed: tomorrow will happen with or without us being a part of it. This is why we must all take great care of what we do today, which begins with scheduling. When you write your plans down, they will keep you organized and on the success track that you desire. Being unorganized will cause you to mismanage your time and money and will ultimately lead you to fall short of reaching your future achievements. I see lack of organization as a disease, as it destroys all potential for any good productive growth. It is ultimately up to you to keep your hopes up, as your hopes are the fuel to your passion that will carry you to your successful future.

“So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.” Proverbs 24:14

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ACHIEVEMENT Achievement is something accomplished, especially by superior ability, special effort, great courage, and so on – a great or heroic deed. Your hope is now full; you wrote your plan down; you scheduled it. Your hope, plus your action in writing your plans down, provides directions to the destination you have been working so hard to achieve – success. You’re like a professional football team that starts by practicing in preseason; the training, conditioning, and planning are all for one ultimate achievement – winning the Super Bowl. What is your personal Super Bowl? What do you hope to achieve in your future? Whatever it is, you must believe that you will achieve it, then you must take all of the necessary ethical steps to attain your goal. Schedule your success and let nothing deter you on the journey. The feeling of something achieved is priceless; therefore, never allow yourself to lose hope. Keep your hope alive and you will have a life filled with achievements.

Your Vision to See Good What is your outlook on life? Do you see things as being good – do you think good thoughts and expect good things? Happiness is not always a direct correlation to the amount of money that is in one’s bank account. The power of a positive outlook is so amazing. You can actually visualize a great outlook on life and get exactly what you envision. I absolutely love being around positive and outgoing individuals. I see them as true visionaries who see the good, even in what some may call bad or tough situations. This is an awesome personality trait, and one I admire. Also, when they tell you their vision of tomorrow, it is as if they are explaining someplace that they have already been. (Remember what I wrote about success being “mind accomplished.”) This kind of posture is an excellent example of a person who truly believes that all of their tomorrows will be bright. This type of visionary also has a positive attitude that exemplifies extraordinary faith. If they want a new car, then they will take all the actions according to their belief from within and see themselves rolling along in that new car. The smile on their face and the beat of their heart is all in sync with that new ride. The same is for those playing sports, like golf or what have you. When you visualize the motions that you must go through, many times Schedule Hope for Future Achievement

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it is then manifested into reality. You must see yourself as a winner at all times, while knowing that every great business leader, athlete, or pastor has had a down time in life. However, what makes them great is that when the chips were down or the game was lost, they still were able to see themselves back in the winner’s circle. Let’s look at it this way: we have all heard the saying that the average person who wins the lottery usually ends up broke within a few years. This theory is based on what happens to people who lack wisdom, a strong foundation, and vision. Regardless of the new fortune in their hands, they still think of themselves as their old selves. They spend unwisely, give foolishly, invest poorly, and never plan for long-term security. Regardless of your current status – rich or poor – you must develop and maintain the ability to see the good in life and to continually move toward it. Often in life the biggest winners and the truly successful may not get the trophy or even the recognition. And they could care less. They’re too happy being successful and enjoying life. Regardless of your current status, see yourself as happy, successful, and prosperous. Think and act victorious, and you will win. Don’t let the pressures of a sour economy pull you down. Tomorrow can always be better as long as you continue to believe that what is happening currently is only moving you toward something better. Good is becoming great, great is becoming excellent, and excellent will inevitably move into wonderful.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Psalms 23:6

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“They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Psalms 4:5

Chapter 7

Schedule Advancing Yourself

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he ability to receive and contain new information is based on your willingness to grow and learn. Every day lessons are being taught – are you learning from them or just considering them as mere coincidences and ignoring their value? You may be at the top of your game today in whatever field you are in; however, the key to staying on top is in your faith and capacity to apply yourself to the challenges that come your way. Having a new mind in new business situations will help you to continue your growth in all areas of life. When you openly receive information, you will then put yourself in a position to grow your own mental capacity, which will allow you to apply that information, schedule the appropriate steps, and take appropriate action. The capacity for applied faith will increase your confidence, which in turn will bring you great rewards.

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Develop Your Undeveloped Faith We continually hear people – mostly leaders – say, “Have faith.” I want to clarify this for you, as many people also have the assumption that faith and belief mean the same thing, when in fact they do not. They are words with entirely different meanings. Faith means “action,” so when people say, “keep the faith,” they are telling you to keep going and to keep working hard. They know that through your consistent action, your faith, you will accomplish the goal you have set for yourself. Belief is simply a state of mind. How you see yourself or how you see an opportunity around you is your belief. Basically if you have a positive belief system or a negative one, it is how you believe your future will be. Let’s look at this in another way. My “belief ” in my car is such that if I have an errand I need to run, I believe my vehicle can get me where I need to go. However my “faith” is the action to actually grab my keys, walk to the car, start it up, put it into gear, then drive myself to my desired location. The car works, yet it is my “faith” that moves me into action to use the vehicle for what it was created for. Mark this – the great thing is that when you combine your belief with your faith, remarkable and almost unbelievable achievements will occur. Now you may be thinking: what is “undeveloped faith?” Undeveloped faith is a phenomenon that appears when it is time for you to advance to the next level. When propelling yourself to a new level, you will need to develop new actions and new habits. For example, let’s say someone showed you how to make way more money than you ever dreamed. You may listen to what he or she has to say and truly believe in your heart that the system or business can really work the way it is shown. Yet, you will need the capacity to apply your faith. Like the scenario of the car, the care is the means that can get you to your desired location. If the desire was further away and you had to get there faster, you would then learn how to fly a plane or helicopter. So the undeveloped faith in this example would be to learn to fly so that you can take action in becoming a pilot.

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Learning to f ly mentally is you thinking on a higher level. Set your mindset higher, and you will go higher. You will still arrive at your destination, which may be the dream life that you desire. Your willingness to develop the skills to take action can and will move you to any level of achievement. This is all possible simply because you recognized the unrecognizable. You, as they say, took the “leap of faith.” You combined your mind’s “belief ” with your “faith” to conquer any objections and doubts that may and most likely will occur. Have complete confidence that you will make it within the time span that you have set out for the journey, as realistically, the only thing that is stopping you is you! Again, the only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Storms will surely come to attack your mind and belief, yet it will be your developed faith that will help you to endure to the end.

“If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed . . . nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20

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“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest now! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.” John 4:35-36

Chapter 8

Schedule for Now The Principle of “Now” Businesspeople often form a terrible habit of putting off the important things that should lead directly to their success. It sounds like this: “At the end of the month I will have my promotion,” “This is going to be my record breaking month, I will have X amount in sales made by the end of the month,” “By next year this time I will be at the top level.” Notice that the time frame for accomplishing this success is always “later.” This is terrible goal planning – if you can even call it that. All this looking to “later” does is hide what is really going on – procrastination. It’s even worse when leaders fall into the same trap. All they’re doing is forming a justifiable excuse to avoid following up. It gives them a false sense of expectation without a true foundation. They never schedule success, and therefore they never achieve success. When the time comes to act, they put off the plan again by coming 33

up with another excuse. I have learned a lot about life from playing sports. For example, when my team was behind and we made the excuse that the field was cold and slippery from the rain, the coach would reply, “Well it is cold, slippery, and rainy for the other team also.” This principle works the same way in business and sales. If one team is failing and yet another company or sales team is having success in the same economy and under the exact same conditions, the unsuccessful group isn’t acting the “now.” Someone, probably the team leader, has chosen to put things off. The problem may even be worse than a lack of planning; it could be just laziness. Instead of acting in the now, they stay in the old and familiar routine of “getting ready” to get ready. Instead of good sound plans to act on now, the hype and rah-rah starts all over again. They say they are going to produce (later, of course) and they get all excited. Then procrastination sets in and the whole unproductive and even counter-productive cycle begins again. I have met many who say they would like to be a millionaire, yet their work ethic doesn’t even match that of an average working man, let alone that of a millionaire. Let’s look at the facts: The average person works forty hours per week. Now, a business owner who really functions in the “now” puts in at least forty hours per week, 160 hours per month, and 1920+ hours per year. The average median household now is $46,326 per year; however if you talk to any hard-working business owner, they will tell you that they work fifty to sixty hours per week. This means real productive work, networking with new clients, and closing on new business that will expand the business into new territories, while ultimately raising productivity numbers every week to the planned level and beyond.

“Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Revelations 14:5 Why say you’ll do something tomorrow when you can say “I’ll do it now?” Why say next week or next Tuesday when you can close the deal now? This, in my opinion, is a win-win situation. We need to do things now; therefore, let’s not put things off for another day, week, month, or year. Let’s schedule our success and let that schedule begin with today – right now. 34

Schedule for Success

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Think about it. God is Now according to our faith. We must Now show the evidence of what we say we Now want. Yes there will be challenges, however we are business owners functioning now, as everything that we want now is based on our actions now, even with the day-to-day challenges that are normal for business owners. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:3-4) As long as we endure, we will be complete and lack nothing. We just have to master the principle of doing things now. Do all important things now, and with urgency. Schedule them now and do them now, for tomorrow is not an option.

How Much Did That Excuse Cost You? Oftentimes many go through life with the attitude of, “What we don’t know will not hurt us.” This is not a valid concept. What we don’t know will indeed hurt us, and it will also cost us exponentially. Carrying this attitude is nothing more than carrying a permanent excuse. People who use excuses use them to let themselves off the hook for not giving it their all. They in turn create exceptions for themselves and then justify their shortcomings. This is not how you schedule success. The excuse is a gray area, and your full potential is always lost in that gray area. Could you have finished the race if you had trained harder? Could you have passed the test if you had studied harder? Would you have gotten that promotion or raise if you had worked harder? When you make excuses, you are a part of the problem because you are terminating the possibility of success with each excuse you make. Your excuse to not properly schedule your life is costing you money. What is your excuse bank account balance at? How many excuses have you given throughout your life that have cost you serious time, energy, heartache, and money? Think about the last big thing that you were a part of that fell short. Who, or what, do you blame for falling short and not having the end result you had hoped for? Was it your age, health, Schedule for Now

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gender, education, environment, race, friend, spouse, government, or the economy? What was the excuse? Is it true? Is it really to blame? Or, was there something else you could’ve done? In many cases we say hindsight is 20/20, which is how you see that there are multiple things you could’ve done before accepting failure. In sports, did you schedule the training needed to be above average, or did you just do the normal routine like everyone else? What did that excuse cost you? Are you in sales? Did you fail to schedule to hit your sales goals? What did that excuse cost you? Are you unemployed? Did you not schedule what is necessary to be employed? What did that excuse cost you? As you ref lect on these scenarios, do you realize that you have millions – maybe even billions – in your excuse bank account while your current bank account is running low? The excuse of disorganization and lacking a good schedule may cost you and your family millions. Be mindful of excuses: Excuses stop you from learning from your mistakes. Excuses prevent you from leading effectively and demote your value as a professional. Excuses ruin your credibility as a responsible person and your placement in society. Excuses invalidate your faith in God. When you make an excuse for Yourself, you are telling God that you do not need Him in this situation and that His power does not have credibility for you. To truly eliminate excuses and conquer the battles required to achieve a successful life, you must become a soldier for success. To live a life of no excuses, you must conquer your flesh, as the excuses come from the flesh. Be mindful not to schedule excuses and remember that your success is hidden behind your last excuse. Therefore, move forward and no longer let excuses cost you your future.

Challenge Yourself to do Better Doing better in life is a common desire. People desire better homes, cars, clothes, jobs, and relationships. Doing better in life is not an issue, as everyone 36

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has the ability to do better. The challenge is in developing and maintaining the drive that motivates you to do better. One of the biggest challenges is having consistent commitment. Doing better takes focus and dedication in your actions as well as in your thoughts. Facing challenges takes time and energy, yet you must be willing to sow time, energy, and in some cases money into achieving more and doing better. If you are not willing to sow into yourself, then you will default and self-destruct. When we internalize doing better, it is then that our actions will be in sync with our belief. The challenge of doing better will no longer be so much of a challenge; rather it will become a new, exciting, and rewarding way of life. Do not take your goals for granted; be willing to make the adjustments necessary to stand up to the test of life. A better “everything” awaits you – as long as you are willing to endure the minor, then you will achieve the greater!

“Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Galatians 6:7

Don’t Complicate Your Success There is always a good sound method to reaching your desired goal. I urge you to do your best and avoid complicating your drive to success, as life is already difficult enough. Consider the classic movie The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy was told many different things about her pathway home. She was focused; she believed she would have success and reach her goal as long as she followed the yellow brick road to the Wizard, whom she was told would have the answer she was looking for. As she journeyed, she picked up the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Tin Man and then came under attack from the Wicked Witch. Her many adventures were unnecessary, as she could have easily gone home sooner just by clicking her heels three times. How many of us right now are taking the long, winding, and unnecessary route to success? Are we picking up excess baggage, distractions, and stress along the way? The children of Israel could have made it to the promised land in eleven days instead of forty years if only they had not caused confusion amongst themselves. They allowed internal complications to hinder their progress toward a successful journey. Do not fill your mind with stress, pettiness, Schedule for Now

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and worry, like the children of Israel did. The stress and worry can cause you to become physically ill as well as form bitterness towards your family, friends, and your life. Clouds in your judgment will form and will cause you to complicate things when you could have kept things simple. Contracts state what the rules of engagement are for each party in a business deal. If a party doesn’t follow the rules of the agreement, it is called “a breach.” Whenever a breach happens, confusion is sure to follow, and confusion adds more unnecessary twists and turns to that pathway of success you’re on. Do not breach your covenant with yourself and your scheduled success, as it is a sure way to complicate your life. Be practical in scheduling your success, but have faith in a higher power. If you do your part in the natural world without all that extra worldly fear, the supernatural will intercede and give you success.

The Power of Agreement The power to agree and work together is one of your most valuable assets when working with others as part of a team. I have always pointed out the simple multiplication factor of: 1 x 0 = 0. The same equation applies to money: $1,000,000 multiplied by 0 is also 0. Anything that you do must work together and be multiplied by a valid positive number or else it will stop the original plan. This is assuming first that you have a plan. Remember, working with no plan is also planning to fail. You cannot achieve success until you first schedule success. Imagine a football team running an offensive play, but none of the players can agree what the play should be. The quarterback would get the ball and the players would instantly rush into total chaos, not knowing what to do. The defense would most likely push your team for a loss, assuming they don’t somehow take the ball from you. Now put this concept into your daily life. If you are not in full agreement – no matter how skillful, smart, and talented you are as an individual – you will not achieve success. It is important to remember that you and your team (family, club, department, company, division, and so on) must be in agreement in order for your schedule to work in your favor.

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The answers to getting out of poverty are everywhere, yet until you first make up your mind to get out of it and then create a schedule to escape it, you will always be trapped in it. The problem people have today isn’t wanting to have life be better; it is their inability to agree to work together to make whatever they are striving for a reality. This means you must honor relationships, as your relationships will bring multiple resources. The resources that people in agreement bring are more in the realm of knowledge and wisdom, not money. Ironically the Bible reads, “Knowledge and Wisdom are what creates wealth.” When you gather with folks who all agree, then the strategy and the plan that you carry out will bring the money. As a team, you must be committed to the end result in order to achieve total uncompromising complete success. In fact, if you have enough agreement, you will become almost unstoppable. People can go from ordinary lives to extraordinary lives through the power of coming into agreement with each other. The Lone Ranger was never alone. He had Tonto who was in agreement with him to do right. Get rid of the do-it-alone mindset. You must be willing to leverage your assets with others because you will always do better with someone who is in agreement with you. Allow yourself to step up to another level of blessings by coming into agreement with strong agreeing partners. It’s time for us to all grow; you just need to come in agreement to do so with a few others.

Use the Power of Unity There is nothing more powerful than working in full agreement with your partners. When you work together, effectiveness and productivity are multiplied. Things will run smoother and your results will be much greater. Just imagine a community where everyone shares and believes in the same mission statement and goals. With everyone having the same spirit, actions are unified, which leads to a complete community that lacks nothing. Teams, churches, businesses, families, homes, and governments that work together will receive better results. I know some of this may seem obvious, yet when we really look at the state of our overall being, we see that in many areas unity is not present, although on the surface it appears to be. Don’t allow yourself to go in circles, Schedule for Now

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as if you were in a canoe paddling only on one side. This is only wasting energy, working away paddling and exhausting yourself to no good end. Do you fit this scenario? Most people who are working against themselves instead of working with a team usually don’t notice it until it is almost too late. If you are working to better yourself, make sure that those who are working with you are truly committed in accomplishing a common, wellunderstood goal. If you constantly have someone saying one thing then doing another, you must let that person know that they are not in unity with you and the rest of the team. When everyone follows directions and becomes a part of the plan, then your end results will be satisfactory. More than that, they will be exemplary. In his book Success Journey, Dr. John Maxwell, one of the greatest inspirational authors of our times, says, “Success is not a trip that you take alone. But it is something that you take with your family and your friends. Think about it, if at the end of all the achievements and accomplishments you find yourself alone, then will you call it success in real sense?”

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalms 133:1

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BOOK II

Schedule Staying Connected

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“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelations 22:17

Chapter 9

Staying Connected

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ife never stops. We move in a constant current, whether we are conscious of it or not. Recently I watched a news story about a young lady who was in a terrible car accident. She had broken many bones, including her neck, and the paramedics told her family they did not believe she would make it to the hospital alive. Remarkably, the young lady did survive – primarily because the doctors put her into an induced coma for two months so that most of her organs and bones could start to heal. Ironically I had just been teaching on being connected and realized how this young woman’s life support equipment not only kept her alive, it helped her endure the pain. Now let me ask you the ever-important question, “How many of you have allowed a relationship, plan, idea, or goal to die because you have disconnected from it to soon?” A disconnect only happens when we lose hope, and lost hope affects our spirit. When your spirit is down, we tend to disconnect or disassociate ourselves with what has let us down. However, all we really need to do is realign our thoughts, make appropriate adjustments, and get back on track. 43

Do not get caught up in trivial issues that could block your pathway to success. Stay on schedule; stay in high spirits and indeed your spirit will rise. Strong faith is not built in easy times. God does not react to your needs; He reacts to your faith.

Make the Right Connection Personal growth is tied to having the right connections in life. Knowledge and wisdom are essential, yet being truly connected to other people can open countless doors now and in your future. So ask yourself, who do you know? It is who you know and who knows you that can assist in your rise to the next level. We must stay connected to the vast and available resource of the other people in our world. I recently consulted an older client who in the past was very successful in her field of business, yet today she becomes easily frustrated and complains about her younger competitors. They simply outgrew her, not because they were smarter or better, but because they have embraced the power of the internet and modern technology while she has not. Being connected to the internet connects them to more clients. Although my client is actually more knowledgeable and has way more experience in her particular field, many potential customers don’t know that because she’s not connected to them. I believe that if you are a business owner and you don’t have a website as a marketing resource tool, it is the equivalent of saying you had a business twenty-five years ago, yet you never bought a phone system. How could someone have called your business if you did not have a phone? Clients and consumers wouldn’t take your business too seriously, would they? Well that’s the same for today. We live in a different world now. Today, this is the Google, Bing, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube world. You must be connected to all of these things. They are that proverbial wave of the future; ride it or get swept under. Everyone should have what I call a “connection kit” to make sure you find, nurture, and maintain valuable connections. Your connection kit should include:

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1. The Holy Bible: Being connected to God’s wisdom will give you the faith to keep going when times get hard. I believe that the Bible is the best business and life resource book that will ever exist.

2. Who you know may be the best referral to the person or persons you will need to gain wisdom and guidance from next. People are an important factor in whatever you do, so serve people well, with love, and what you sow you shall reap.

3. Education: Make sure that you are always increasing your personal skills so that you do not allow yourself to become outdated. Always look to learn more every day.

4. The power of technology and online services: For many today, the internet is their first form of communication. For more information, people will go to your website or send a text message before calling you. Stay connected and current and use the power of the internet to help achieve your schedule of success. Continually look to connect yourself with more good people. Then figure out a way that you can serve them as they are serving you. People serving people, in the right manner, will spark incredible achievements in this lifetime. Your resources are unlimited.

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

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“Of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be glory forever.” Romans 11:36

Chapter 10

Consider the Source

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ne of my favorite hobbies is relaxing by sitting back and just watching people. I wonder where they are coming from, where they are headed to, and if they are truly happy in life or are enjoying their daily activities. Have you ever stopped and wondered why some people seem naturally negative or rude? Just the other day I was sitting in my local Caribou Coffee shop, and I observed a couple of ladies sit and do nothing but comment to each other about just about every person who walked in. Those comments were consistently negative. It finally hit me that these two were very insecure about themselves and obviously lacking inner happiness. Throughout my years of developing my faith, I have learned that when people are with God, they see the good in everything and would never think to waste time criticizing trivial things such as hairstyle, makeup or clothing choices. With every thought, with every action, and with every decision, there is a source, and when you are sourced with God you will not be a transmitter of negativity. When you consider the source, you have to wonder what had happened to an adult that caused him or her to be mean. My guess would 47

be that there is a lack of love. Let’s look beyond those ladies and into something deeper – their upbringing. Were they taught or shown loving actions as they grew up? Maybe we should ask, “Who has framed their mind? Who told them that others are not beautiful in their own way?” Something cannot come from nothing, and many things can happen to us during the course of our lives, so we must consider every source. Who made you believe that you are less, when in fact you are more? Who said you will not make it when our Lord said you could? Who said you needed the drugs, the alcohol, the girl or the guy, and the money to be happy? Who told you that you had to put someone else down for you to feel good about yourself? Who told you these things? Let’s consider the source. We are all influenced by someone or something in life. When you consider the source of the information that you are acting upon or designing your life around, make certain that you understand the underlying root and know the motivation for it. As I have grown throughout the years and have gained a much better understanding of myself, I often now say, “You can’t frustrate me out of my blessing.” Fear, fatigue, and frustration cause us to miss our goals by forcing us off of our schedule. Don’t let any of these three “F words” take you out! Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights before Satan came to try to trick Him out of His blessing, knowing that Jesus was fatigued. Yet, He had the strength to tell Satan to get behind him and that Satan was beneath Him. This also symbolizes the Word from God that we are the head and not the tail; we are above and not below. Jesus knew this and considered the source of the information. He knew that it didn’t line up with God’s Word. Our success will be simple if we continue to consider the source of our thoughts and actions. We will not be derailed from reaching our true potential or destiny. Happiness and peace, wealth and riches in our homes are ours in abundance to have and enjoy right now! Continue to always be mindful of the source so that you will no longer be tricked out of your blessings. Remember, that there is only one true source for those blessings.

“Every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:13 48

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The Day You Stop Dreaming Are you in this world just to exist, or do you have a dream? If you have a dream, or even once had a dream, did you write it down? Where has it gone, and what steps have you taken to make it tangible? We all hear the saying, “Live the dream life,” and this doesn’t mean that you have to have the biggest house on the block with the nicest cars and memberships in the most exclusive clubs. If it does, so be it. It could be having more spare time to enjoy your family. For any parents with kids in their teens, or grandparents, you have realized that time goes fast. In fact, it goes so fast that if you are not aware, you will lose track of time and lose valuable moments that you could have spent with your loved ones. The reality is that your dream is your dream and you are the only one that it has value for. I speak mostly about my family, as they are what mean the most to me. I have a dream for them, and I want to do well enough in life so that we can actually live out our dream life while we are all still young. That’s why the title of this section of my book is so important. “The Day You Stop Dreaming” is the day you lose hope. People who are without a vision shall always perish. People can become hopeless to the point of stagnation. This gives a false sense of credibility to their failed attempts at success. Losing hope is a means of coping with their “perishing” instead of learning so that they could adjust to carrying on with the journey. The day you stop dreaming is the day that your excuses make sense to you. That’s a scary thought. Let’s look at how an excuse works. When you are in a crowd of people and you have to get through, you say “excuse me” to every person blocking your path. They then let you by and you move on. You use the “excuse” word, which is the ticket to get you to where you want to be. Now in reverse, the day you stop dreaming, that “excuse” is also used. Only, in this scenario you say “excuse me” and then stop your forward motion. It’s like you’re apologizing for getting on with your life. The scary part is that it is used to excuse you from hitting your goal. This is the day that you begin to fade away and perish. When you value your dreams in terms of goals, you view obstacles differently and will be ready to handle them when they come. You will not

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give up hope no matter what happens. Your conviction for bringing your dream to life will be evident in your daily actions. Unlike most of the people standing in the crowd, you will be working and moving forward to accomplish a dream while they’re stumbling along just to pay bills. If your dream is rooted in your heart, then all you have to do is stay strong and stay focused.

“Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerned of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 6:11-12 Your actions speak louder than your words. The bottom line is if you intend to do it and it is from the heart, then what you say will be how you act. The day you stop dreaming is the day you cancel your destiny. When you fulfill your dream, that dream will last long after you pass away. The following are names of people who never gave up on their dreams, and we all see the success they have achieved long after they had retired or passed away. ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

Sam Walton – Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club

Kurt Carlson – Radisson Hotels, TGIF Ray Kroc – McDonalds Jack Welch – GE

Mary Kay – Mary Kay Cosmetics

The “Founding Fathers” – The United States of America

Jesus Christ – The healer, His Sacrifice freed us from sin and condemnation

Like them, dream. Dream big and go for it now!

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits.”

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Psalms 72:17

“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed . . . nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20

Chapter 11

Don’t Be a Monument. Be a Movement

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ctions speak louder than words, and today, success and scheduling for success is all about action. Throughout history we have seen, and in the future we will continue to see, many kinds of movements. One I personally hold dear to my heart is the Civil Rights Movement. Just think, although today we are all free, at some point someone had to start a movement and remain consistent with that movement without looking back once it was started. I today could not see my son or daughter being forced to sit in the back of the bus, being denied education, not being able to enjoy a nice entertaining evening, or being told they can only enter from one biased location. God loves all and he will show us the way every time. Therefore, we just have to be willing to be a part of a positive movement. With as many opportunities that are in the world that can and will advance you, are you sitting back waiting to become a part of a movement? Or, are you instead becoming 51

a monument – that is, are you a stationary being without growth? Lot (of the Bible), his wife and two daughters were told by God to escape Sodom and Gomorrah. His instructions were simple: do not look back. During the escape, with freedom in sight, Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt – a monument to disobedience. Lot and the daughters obeyed God and reached freedom. They were willing to pay the price and go through the struggle without wavering even one bit. Ask yourself, what movement are you in today? Is it to feed the children? Is it to make more money? Is it to run for office? What is it? Everyone is a part of some movement; however, most may not know it. The phrase “missed opportunity” is operative in many individuals today. Do not let yourself fall into this category. Keep moving, keep pushing and keep propelling to make a positive change, not just in your life, but also in the lives of everyone around you. People on the move don’t have time to sit back and blame someone else for their lack of progress. They get in and get the job done and move on to the next challenge. The key elements of a movement are: 1. One man can start a movement.

2. A movement need not be started by the most skilled member of the movement. 3. When beginning, look around, and even if no one else is joining the dance, just keep dancing. 4. When the one guy who joins your movement slowly fades away, keep going. 5. Before you know it, the people joining your movement won’t even know you started it.

6. When your movement takes a life of its own, just let go. There will be no stopping it. 7. The very people who stare and call you crazy as you dance in your movement alone will be the very same people dancing the hardest in the end.

Try re-evaluating your personal mission – your schedule for success. Does the movement show in your daily actions? You don’t want to be caught living 52

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in a false sense of reality. For example, if you meet daily or weekly with a group of folks and are always saying that you are going to do something incredible that’s going to change lives for the better, yet you never do so, then you will soon be recognized as a “monument” person and not a “movement” person. Your value as a team member and as an individual will be significantly reduced if not outright eliminated. When you attain your status, it is far better to be recognized as an achiever in motion rather than as a monument stuck in the past.

Restoration Often we reflect back through life and say, “If I had only known back then what I know now, I would have done that differently.” That’s the old “hindsight is 20/20” mindset. I realize today that there are many things I would have done differently, yet living in the past does not help me gain leverage for tomorrow. May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, however you must develop the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far. We have winners and losers in life, yet the only losers are the ones who see themselves as such. When you are down and feeling low -and that happens to us all – never allow yourself to fall into a state of depression or to feel victimized. Always wish well of others when you are down. This is the proof that you know that what you are going through is only for a moment and that this too shall pass. Mentor someone whose hindsight can become your foresight. I love the Biblical story of Job. Satan came upon him with all kinds of life-destroying afflictions just to get him to lose faith in God. Job stayed strong despite all of the hardship and misery. Even Job’s friends played the game of saying Job must have done something bad for all of these bad things that were happening to him. Job prayed for them the whole time and he wished no ill feelings. He stayed faithful to God. 42:10 reads, “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job scheduled his life around serving God. He stayed true to his schedule and reaped the rewards for his diligence. So many people point out the line where Job said, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh it away.” So now see that the Lord will give you double for Don’t Be a Monument. Be a Movement

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your trouble as long as you stay focused and willing to serve and pray even for your friends or associates that show a lack of belief in you at times. Understand that your honest struggle on faith’s journey is more honoring to God than religious-sounding talk or mere religious observance. Pray for those who misunderstand you. God restored all that Satan had taken when Job prayed for those who had falsely accused him. Forgiveness is the key to restoration. If you haven’t already, schedule your life around God. Begin now and serve and pray for everyone around you today. No matter what people do, say, or think about you, commit to praying for them. I am on a mission to serve and restore the lives of three people this week. We are all more than conquerors as long as we are willing to have thoughts of love and prayer towards each other. I pray that every person who reads this will pass a prayer on forward. It’s easy to pray for ourselves to be blessed, but it shows more that you are caring and unselfish when you can devote prayers of peace, good health, prosperity, and increased love into others. We all know the old saying, “What you make happen for others will happen for you.” I pray that you are blessed this week.

Above Average Thinking You know it does not take much effort to be above average. Yet, many times people in life get stuck in a standstill, not even coming close to using their full God-given potential. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “You don’t have enough faith. I tell you if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move.” Nothing is impossible. He is also saying it doesn’t take much to be above average. You may wonder what it takes in your actions to be above average and I tell you – not much at all. What if you arrived at work fifteen minutes early to organize and prepare yourself for your day? This would make you more productive, and you might stand out more for the next promotion. What if you always looked for the positive outcome, a win-win scenario, in all of your daily dealings with others? This would make more people want to be around you because they would know that you are fair and are a person of integrity.

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Does it really take much to read a little more, exercise a few minutes longer, dress a little nicer, smile more, pray more, and give the glory to God for your small victories? We all hear the word “serve,” but few realize the significance of that word. The average person wouldn’t think to serve because they are focused on being served. You know them by the “what’s in it for me” attitude. Above average people never wait for a crisis to hit in order to serve. They do it as a daily habit, therefore, when times get tough they know what to do and they always have something to fall back on. The average person quits when times get tough instead of working through and gaining more experience from the situation. Pressing on and not giving up gives them more experience and equips them for the next battle or challenge. Sometimes to be above average, you don’t even need to go the extra mile. All you need to do is take an extra step. Above average people will always be the leaders who make the most money and have the best of life in all areas simply because they walk and live with the spirit of excellence. When most people look to find a way out of life’s challenges, above average people see a green light giving them the “go ahead” to keep moving forward. What else is interesting is that most above average people don‘t even realize that they are above average. They are too focused on their schedule, plans, and goals to have time to compare themselves to anyone else. They simply are just being the best ‘them’ that they can be. Are you being the best ‘you’ that you can be? It takes so little to be above average. Ask yourself, are you just going with the flow or are you leading the flow? It’s okay to go against the grain, especially when you can see how you want your tomorrow to be. No tomorrow is promised to any of us, yet that’s not an excuse to sit idle and do the same thing every day with no plan to make each day, each week, or each year better than the last. Everything in life is about growing. As we read this, we are growing older, so schedule your tomorrow as God blesses you to have another day. The day can be more abundant; we can imagine or think, according to the power that works inside us. Stay focused and continue moving forward.

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“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

Chapter 12

Your World Tomorrow

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he world we live in is a direct response to the actions we took yesterday. What will you do to shape the world and the lifestyle that you will live tomorrow? The last few weeks I have been asking people, “What kind of lifestyle would you like for you and your family?” I received many contradictory answers. I have found that what people say that they would love to have does not match up to the goals represented by their daily activities. Today, the entire day is one big field ready for planting and growing your success. Plant well, so that you may have the desired harvest tomorrow. If you do not do anything today, you will have nothing tomorrow. Realize an important truth – even if you don’t do anything, seeds still get planted on your behalf. Whoa! Think about that. Something or someone outside of your best interest still plants seeds that shape your world tomorrow – seeds that may grow into your failure instead of your success. I live directly across the street from a beautiful golf course. My street is even called Greenview. Every morning I see the groundspeople out 57

manicuring the beautiful greens. It is a daily upkeep operation. Imagine what would happen if they didn’t treat the greens every day. Eventually, I would see dandelions and other weeds growing on the course. Obviously no one would have planted anything that would work against the golf course’s purpose. Yet, just because the wind blows, unhealthy seeds blow in. This is why the greens are worked on, manicured, treated, and taken care of everyday – to keep those choking weeds under control. Whether you make an effort or not, something will be planted in your field. Schedule daily planning to help shape your life into the perfect tomorrow you want it be. Don’t just sit idle and accept whatever the wind blows in. We must be wise and cautious with our daily decisions. To do otherwise is to steal from yourself and permit the slow, self-destructing inner theft of your own future. You are at the head of the first row in that field. Will you plant yourself a great tomorrow? This week, work more to keep things simple and don’t go out of your way to complicate things. To do so is to quite literally “go out of your way.” Your way to a better tomorrow is the only way you should go. I recommend that you keep God first and stay in daily prayer. You can talk to God the same way you talk to a friend. Take out all of the religious jargon and simply open up to God, so that He can lead the way for you. Again, scheduling time for God is essential in scheduling for success. The world you live in tomorrow can be an awesome world without heartache, pain, and the stress of finances and debt. A great peaceful and loving lifestyle with all of the “fixings” is ours to have tomorrow, as long as we are mindful of our actions today. May God get the glory!

Take Firm Hold of Instructions As we all grow and mature in life, we learn that life is really based on following instructions. We have instructions on virtually everything. Thanks to the power of the Internet, or as some say the “information super-highway,” virtually no one should be ignorant today. Life would be so much easier for many if they just followed directions. I even find myself at times veering off of simple instructions, only to realize that if I had just stuck to the directions, I would have reached a pivotal point much faster. 58

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Following instructions to a plan schedules you for success. If a man showed you a plan on how to make $40,000 a month from serving others and teaching them to do the same within a specific given time, you’d be interested wouldn’t you? Of course, and most likely you’d follow the directions to the letter, and within the allotted timeframe you’d be wealthy, right? The same discipline applies if you just wanted to make a perfect dinner for your guests and are given the instructions on how to do just that. Most likely, the meal would come out picture perfect – provided you followed those instructions. Many of us ask for a guarantee, yet as I learn more about God’s will, I understand that our guarantee comes from us staying within His will and holding onto the wisdom to follow the instructions to live as perfect a lifestyle as possible. Proverbs 4:1-13 reads, “Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, ‘Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor. Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction; do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.’” Our lives are the result of us following instructions to a specific plan. Many may give instructions, yet depending on the root of those instructions, they may not be the best for you. If you follow the direction and the instructions of a fool, you will then end up living a foolish man’s life. The only way to live in wisdom is by following the instructions that God has set forth. That is the only way to truly schedule your life for success.

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Let’s all live a good healthy lifestyle full of God’s loving grace with peace and prosperity in our homes. This week and forever, take a firm hold of instructions that will grow you to the next level of excellence.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

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“We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” II Corinthians 5:1

Chapter 13

Your Paradigm Dictates Your Logic

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any people are attempting to make changes in their lives. They desire better finances, they want to lose weight, and overall they want to have a better lifestyle – but without trying to change themselves. For any change to take place in your life, your thoughts, feelings, and actions must be in sync. Once all of these are aligned, your conscious mind will be in sync with your sub-conscious mind, and it is then that things will begin to grow accordingly. Your mind, body, and spirit will be aligned with your hopes, dreams, and desires. Those not in sync with themselves multiply the challenges they face achieving their schedule of success. They tend to have many mood swings and experience many ups and downs, including changing jobs and opportunities, some even go as far as to change girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, 61

or wives. They often later find themselves repeating these same negative cycles multiple times. In the battle between the subconscious and the conscious, your inner man will always win over your outer man. This is why your conscious mind must also be in sync with your subconscious mind. Your conscious mind has the ability to accept or reject anything. Your subconscious mind doesn’t. It will become whatever it soaks up. This is how people get emotionally involved. You have to incorporate the thinking of your sub-conscious mind, as it is the programming element of your life. When you change the programming of your thoughts, you automatically change your life. We are pre-programmed, like a computer, to have certain functions. As with a computer, you can upgrade the memory and download new files that give the user more ability and functionality to grow. This is why we all need paradigm shifts at times. A paradigm shift is simply seeing things differently and on a more positive note. It’s seeing things as being better and not worse. Some people see a green light to move forward in life, while others see a red light. The problem with those who only see red lights is that they trap themselves at a certain level and are unable to allow themselves to move forward. Their logic does not allow them to go forward because of their negative viewpoint. They will even say, “Yes, I would like to have more out of life,” but they take no action to do so. This is due to the way they are programmed. It is the same with many people who constantly read books, pray to God, go to seminars for personal growth, buy all of the DVD’s, tapes, and workout programs for their personal growth, yet they still don’t grow. All this preparation is useless because they never allow a true change in their sub-conscious mind. A true paradigm shift is not possible under those circumstances. The ability to be greater is based on your ability to change from the inside out. Your paradigm dictates your logic. If you desire to earn more, your actions have to be logical according to how you are programmed. Allow the good information to come into and become a part of your life. Believe and have faith from the inside out. Don’t be afraid of hard work as long as it is smart work. Most logic says working forty hours per week for forty years of your life and taking only one to two weeks off for a vacation is normal. Those who see the green light see a different lifestyle, which is doing what makes 62

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them happy while creating wealth to have a greater lifestyle tomorrow for themselves and their family.

Stop, Then Go; Stop, Then Go People often start something that has the potential to advance them through their schedule for success. Perhaps the goal is a home business, a weight-loss plan, a new job, a new relationship, or something else of genuine value. In the beginning, you can tell that there is something that excites people about getting started. I can’t say people can do everything, as we all have different talents. I will just remind you that Jesus said in Mark 10:27, “For with God all things are possible.” Knowing that all things are possible is why we must all have faith to finish what we start. We all must form good habits to maintain our character to complete our schedule. When people start projects or ventures only to stop shortly afterwards, loss is the only outcome. That loss could be money, integrity, time, or even your respect. The Apostle Paul said it best in 2 Corinthians 8:10-12, “And this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” You see, every time you stop, starting back up is more difficult. Don’t kill your potential momentum, which is the constant acceleration of your growth. Once you are in the momentum stage of growth, everything will come together for you. What once seemed hard will get easier and simpler. This week, work to master and increase your patience. Your patience, while you are in the midst of your work, will help you reach that great reward. When you stop, then go, then start back and stop again, all you are doing is bringing forth your personal frustration, which has the potential to attack your self-esteem and belief. Never doubt yourself. You will make it this week and every week, as long as you make a commitment to never stop. Be mindful that your blessings come after the storm, after the fire, after the tough and even sometimes embarrassing moments. You must be willing to go through whatever comes Your Paradigm Dictates Your Logic

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your way to make it to your goal. Pressure makes diamonds, and you are a true diamond, so embrace the pressure and it will increase your value. Your blessing awaits you; therefore, don’t stop on yourself. Go hard! No weapon formed against you shall prosper, as you are more than a conqueror. You are a shining winner!

“Blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” Hebrews 6:14

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“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23

Chapter 14

Root Causes of Failing

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ailure is inevitable. You can’t escape it, but a failure today does not automatically mean an end to your schedule for success that leads to a brighter, happier, and more fulfilling tomorrow. Accept failure, and by that I do not mean for you to become complacent about it. Accept the fact that at some point, you will fail. At that moment, accept it, learn from it, and move ahead with your schedule. What causes failure? I have narrowed a large list down to a few key elements. Watch for them. Watch out for them, and you should be able to narrow down the list of your own failures as you continue working through your schedule for success.

Poor Communication Good communication is important in all facets of life. It is the means by which instructions can clearly be relayed, which leads to successful results. We all have heard that knowledge and wisdom combined create wealth. Solomon asked God for more knowledge and wisdom, and as a result 65

King Solomon became the richest man to ever walk the Earth. It is through good communication that any relationship, whether personal or corporate, will thrive. It is important to sharpen your people skills to become a better communicator. That which you communicate to others will soon be better understood, and that understanding keeps you on your schedule for success.

Making Excuses Pastor Randy Morrison says that excuses are the crutches of the weak and uncommitted. Do your best to avoid becoming someone who makes excuses. After all, who or what are you excusing yourself from? If you want to do something, set out a goal to do it without any thought of having to make excuses. Jesus spoke to a man in John 5 who had been lying down in the same spot for thirty-eight years. Jesus asked the man, “Why?” The man instantly came with all sorts of excuses. After he presented the excuses, Jesus then asked him if he wanted to be made well. He then told the man, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” The excuses that the man was making had become greater and more debilitating than his sickness. He had convinced himself into believing his excuses more than relying on God’s ability, which lead him to the next cause of failing.

Laziness Lazy people destroy themselves. There is no greater waste of talent than those who have failed even though they have the ability to succeed. Laziness is also a foundation for making excuses. “Because God ordained work for man, laziness is a sin.” The Bible has many things to say about laziness. Proverbs 21:25 says, “The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!’ As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 66

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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” Laziness is an attitude and not a permanent condition. Like all attitudes, it can be changed – and the sooner the better.

Lack of Planning A lack of planning generally leads to disaster. At best, it will disrupt your schedule for success in major ways. We all know the saying, “When you fail to plan, your plans will fail.” You must realize that someone is always planning. Just going with the flow, with no actual plan of your own, will eventually enslave you to the plan of someone else. I call this being ambushed by someone else’s plan. People who don’t plan will always ambush you with their problems or sales pitch. When you get sucked into their issues, your scheduled plans are negatively affected. Like the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins in Matthew (25:1-10) “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” The five foolish virgins were trying to ambush the five wise virgins. Be wise and always have a map for your life – a schedule for success. The map will give your schedule more value to you. So – plan your work and be sure to work your plan.

Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2 Root Causes of Failing

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Bad Attitude A bad attitude is just a waste of a good mind. I remember an old anti-drug abuse commercial that showed an egg in a frying pan. The announcer said, “This is your brain on drugs.” It was a powerful symbol that drug abusers were destroying their minds. That’s how I see people who consistently have bad attitudes. They just don’t realize how fast and how far a smile and a positive outlook on life can take them. A positive attitude can also be the motivating factor to overcome all things that can cause one to fail. This week you will be successful! All you have to do is to avoid being lazy, plan for your success, properly communicate your vision, don’t make excuses, and have a great attitude!

Giving Up Many times, usually most of the time, people just simply give up on their schedule for success too soon. Don’t stop too soon just because you are getting flustered. I believe that people don’t fail; they give up. Put the time in and let God’s blessing come to pass for you. Don’t give up on God to answer the prayers that you have prayed as you diligently work.

“Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, of we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

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“On the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15

Chapter 15

The Virtue of Patience

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e all would love whatever we want in life to happen fast. Yet we must understand that there is always a learning process. Let’s take kids as an example, especially those at the pre-school age. They are taught to wait in single file when they are with a group. My son told me, “Someone butted in line,” when he was waiting for his turn to ride a horse. Naturally that was a moment for me to step in and teach him – and for him to also teach me. I assured him that he would get his turn and then told him how it was better to serve and to give. Why would I tell my son such a thing about someone’s rude behavior? When you have patience, you can take a bigger view on the situation, which allows you to having a better appreciation for the blessing that is to come. That’s why. While I know as a parent he was anxious and ready to ride right then like the other kids, he was given a bigger view by knowing he was going to ride regardless of who broke in line. He also began to serve and help others to organize the line. Without realizing it, he had become the leader and the kid that other kids respected simply because he

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implemented what he had been taught. By using patience, he was respecting his fellow brothers and sisters and in turn had earned their respect. Having patience is a necessary virtue, which develops characteristics that are valued for promoting individual and collective well-being. Every good leader, manager, parent, coach, or teacher must have patience. Patience is forgiving and moving on instead of dwelling on the bad. Patience will keep you working for a brighter day during the gloomiest of times. Can you imagine how much patience God has with us all? I am so glad that he is a forgiving God. Patience will keep you in the game when other people call it quits. People with a history of quitting are basically impatient people, and they pay a terrible price for that impatience. The Book of James in the Holy Bible is one of my favorite books. James 2-4 states, “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let your patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.” The key phrase is, “Perfect and complete lacking nothing.” Let’s focus on the word “lose.” When something is lost, it is gone. When you lose your patience, a downfall usually follows. This week, let’s stay on schedule and continue striving to be people of excellence. Just don’t lose your patience when the various trials of life come. Don’t make the mistake of doing what quitters do and treat your life like a get-rich-quick opportunity. You must have patience to stick it out even when others around you don’t understand you or your efforts. Live from practicality, not just theory alone. Lead like my four-year-old and have a solid patient attitude as a part of your character makeup. You will win!

Showing Up Is Half the Battle We have all heard the saying, “You will never know unless you try.” I have worked years as a motivator doing my best to help people see that if they have a vision and desire something, then they should go for it. Yet, countless number of times I have witnessed people take themselves out of the game before they even start. Think about that type of attitude. It’s not little faith;

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it’s simply no faith at all. They play devil’s advocate to evaluate their plans and then just adopt the “devil’s” arguments as their own. There is nothing wise about playing a devil’s advocate. I don’t even like the meaning of it. An “advocate” is a person who speaks on the behalf of another person; therefore, when you play devil’s advocate, you are speaking on behalf of the death and destruction of your schedule for success. Here is the reality: anything can go wrong – and probably will go wrong – if that is where you put your focus and attention. The true key to success is to focus on what it takes to succeed and move in that direction. Federal agents are trained to spot counterfeit money by studying genuine bills until they master the look and feel of the real thing. When they see fake money, they are able to recognize it right away. You are not counterfeit because you were created in the perfect image of God. Thus, when it is time for you to advance yourself, please answer the call and show up for duty. Step up to the challenge, and don’t take time to worry about how hard it may seem or how tough it may look. Realize that when you move with faith, God also moves on your behalf, and God will open the door for you. He will fight the battle on your behalf solely based on your faith. God fought the battle for King Jehoshaphat when the armies of surrounding nations had declared war on him. In II Chronicles 20:13 we read, As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph. He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” You can read the rest on your own; however, to make it plain for you, they got blessed simply by showing up. No one can say what tomorrow will be, yet I The Virtue of Patience

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know that if you show up to the battle, then God will do the other half of the work. He will fight with you in your battles, too. Get up, get out, and start doing productive activities, as there is nothing more powerful than your desire and determination to get what you want. The greatest thing is that you control it, so never count yourself out, and always count yourself in.

“It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:26

The Fourth Watch – Your Journey to the Other Side All our actions must lead up to our goals. Do not be hesitant in your direction once God has given you the faith word. He has already said “Go,” so by all means go! Matthew 14:22-25 reads, “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.” We see here that Jesus “made his disciples go to the other side.” This was their direction, and Jesus did not leave it open for other options or variance. Do not contradict God’s word; instead carry the intensity throughout the path. In the above example, we realize that the time period the disciples had to row against the waves had become quite demanding. The Romans divided the night into watches of three hours each, so there were four watches to the night. Here are the time divisions: First Watch – Sunset 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Second Watch – 9 p.m. to Midnight. Third Watch – Midnight to 3 a.m. Fourth Watch – 3 a.m. to Sunrise. During the first watch, the disciples began with great intensity. They kept rowing and rowing and getting nowhere. They began to get discouraged. People always start with intensity, and then when things don’t go easily, 72

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they get discouraged. During the second watch, I’m certain that the disciples were tempted to quit, yet they continued to struggle and kept rowing. We must rely on faith in such times. It may seem like making it to the other side is just not God’s plan for us, yet we must surround ourselves with believers. During the third watch, they still had gone nowhere and more were tempted to despair. If things are difficult, we might be tempted to think God must be against us, yet keep your heart pure so that you do not become bitter with the task. You may even be tempted to put hidden timelines in your mental schedule for a successful journey to the other side by saying that if it doesn’t happen by a certain date and time, you will quit. That is folly. Quitting on a dream is still death. Remember that faith is invisible, but it’s Action. During the fourth watch, they were still in despair. The disciples must have been thinking, “We’re doomed. We can’t do it. We’ve lost. We are going to perish in this sea.” It is then that Jesus comes to His disciples. He comes when it is darkest. He comes after they have struggled for nine or ten hours. He comes to them not at the beginning of their struggle, but at the end of their struggle. Matthew 14:26-33 reads, “And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’ When working and scheduling for success, you must first be willing to fight through the storm. Realize that even in the middle of the storm, you may be called to step out of the boat, to leave your comfort zone. Stay focused on the schedule instead of the confusion of the storm. Understand that anytime you take your eyes off of the Lord when you are in a storm, The Virtue of Patience

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you will sink. Also, you cannot put time limits on God, as God is always on time. You just have to make sure you have plans for success that include God. Do not be afraid, as he has said, “Come”. Now step out. Schedule yourself for success, endure the storm, go to the other side. You are a success story!

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“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34

Chapter 16

The Secret Is, There Is No Secret

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travel frequently to speak at large events throughout the country, and one of the most common questions that I receive is, “What is the secret to success?” Each time I have gotten this question, I noticed that people came to full attention, waiting for the answer. It was like the old E. F. Hutton marketing campaign, “When E. F. Hutton speaks everyone listens.” My reply most of the time is a question, “Why do you think success is a secret?” I follow with the New Testament quote that heads this chapter. While many look puzzled, some actually get it. If you are a good person, then you will treat people with love and respect. In turn, they will most likely do business with you or recommend and refer you to others. But how does one gain the business knowledge or marketable skills necessary to follow through once you have earned someone’s trust and respect? In today’s age of technology, it is possible to learn how to do virtually 75

anything just by being online. You can even basically educate yourself online for free. With search engines such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo, obtaining the knowledge and wisdom to gain success in any area of life is not a secret. Everything we want to know is out there. The real question people need to ask themselves is, “Am I willing to do the research, study, and learning necessary? Laziness will destroy anyone’s potential success. The difference between someone who fails and someone who succeeds is often their motive. If your motive is pure and loving and based on a desire to be a true servant to your clients, friends, employer, husband, or wife, then I am sure you will see success. I have learned to simply walk and do right by God, and things have always just fallen into place for me. Don’t sit around having idle talk, asking the same question in many different ways. Life is sometimes as simple as one just being consistent and committed to doing what they say they are going to do.

“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk.” Timothy 1:5-6

Be In It, To Win It Often when speaking with colleagues, I use the phrase, “Youknow that you are planning to win when you practice to win.” By that I mean when you step into the game of life at the beginning of each day, you are playing to win. To be a winner, you must first practice – and that begins with great preparation. Everyone has it in them to succeed as long as they are willing to pay the price with the necessary sacrifices. Think about any person on the move, and you will notice a totally different attitude. These people are constantly set on “go.” These achievers understand that sitting idle can and will cost them time and growth. When you are in it to win it, “it” represents whatever you are working to accomplish. For some, that may simply be to have a great day with family and friends. For others, it can be success for the business they own, the sporting team they have joined, or satisfactorily completing the duties of their job. However, you cannot be a conqueror unless you are first at peace

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with yourself. Your focus must be in sync with your heart, as it is without a doubt that when your heart is involved, then your passion will increase. We know Jesus was “in it to win it,” from his actions told in Luke 9:57-62 (New King James Version). Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” From this passage we can clearly see why Jesus was “in it to win it” from where He says let the dead bury themselves. It shows that he was not willing to allow any excuses from man to disrupt or distract where his heart was set. Another passage found in Matthew 6:20-21 (New Living Translation) reads, “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. When you work from your hearts desires then and only then is when you will truly focus. Focus from your heart puts you in sync with yourself from your attitude, which will create winning habits directing your tongue to speak winning words.” Luke 6:45 reads, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Speak well, believe well, see well, and do well this week. Be in it to win it, while understanding that many of the limitations you face in life are self-imposed. What you believe about yourself can keep you locked behind your fears or thrust you forward into living your dreams. You can make it!

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

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About the Author

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aul D. Jones, a Minneapolis-based businessman, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker, has devoted his time to educating the public on various life and financial circumstances. Jones, a God-made millionaire, has spent most of his life overcoming challenges most people face. He credits his success to his incredible determination and faith.

Jones became a million-dollar producer, within a two-billion-dollar company—breaking sales records and being awarded for building one of the fastest-growing and largest sales team within that company. His great speaking ability and charisma have made him a very sought-after speaker within an array of venues—from corporate retreats and sales conferences to churches. Jones has been known to educate, inspire, and move audiences into action. Jones is the owner of Jones Marketing Group, Inc., which encompasses the businesses JMG Net-Worth and My Financial Worth.

www.MayTheJourneyContinue.com www.MyFinancialWorth.com www.jmgnetworth.com www.PaulyJones.com

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