Being The Best You Can Be

Don't Settle for Mediocre

 

Often times in life I notice people are always trying to do the bare minimum to get by.  They see how much is required and they complete that amout and nothing more.  Don't just try to meet benchmarks...try to surpass them! 

 

This is the way I try to look at things.  The work you do is a reflection of yourself.  If you want to be viewed as mediocre or average then just do tha bare minimum.  This will help you blend in with everyone else.

 

But if you want to stand out and be set apart then do more.  Be better.  Don't settle for just enough.  You are great so do greater.  Don't be like everyone else. 

 

Be the best that you can be!

 

 

 

 

Deciding That Enough is Enough!

Taking Control of Your Life!

Sometimes in life we let certain people and circumstances take a hold of us and we remain under their reign.  At first we might not even realize that we have allowed someone or something to take control of us.  One day it just started and we did nothing and then gradually we are under hypnosis. 

The circumstance can be lack of money to keep up with your every day expenses.  It might be fear that you are not going to turn out a success and let people down.  It might be laziness keeping you from going back to school.  Whether it is the lack of money, the fear or the laziness make a decision to take control of your life and not let these things rule you. 

When you pray ask God for the strength.  If you don't pray, you need to start.  It is time to move forward.  Set your own path and stop letting everyone and everything tell you where you need to be and where you need to go. 

Blaze a trail and be you! 

Making the Most of Every Day

EVERY MOMENT IS PRECIOUS, TAKE ACTION

 

Each day has 24 hours that we have never seen before and with those 24 hours we can make decisions, make mistakes, have victories and much more.  But the important thing is that we at least make an effort to accomplish something.  Remember that you are never going to see these 24 hours again.  The worst thing you can do is let the day come and go and not make an effort of some kind. 

 

You might not feel like it will accomplish much.  You might feel like your efforts will be in vain.  But you will never really know that for sure unless you try.  The only wasted time is when you do nothing. 

 

As long as you have breath it is another opportunity to work towards your higher calling.  If you sit idle nothing will happen.  It is only when you take action that there is even a chance of something happening. 

 

Don't waste the life or the time that God has blessed you with.  Be productive and be about something good. 

 

Never give up hope and just make the most of every day.  Even if it is just one or two things you get accomplished, you are making progress.  If you do not work towards progress then you will have nothing. 

 

The only road to progress is action.

A Mother's Day Message

My Mother's Day Thoughts

Today many sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, granddaughters and grandsons, boys and girls, men and women, are celebrating the mother's in their lives.  We know that everyone that is walking the earth right now is here because a woman somewhere gave birth to them.  Now, that might not even be the woman that raised them but they are here because of that woman. 

For some, because of circumstances in life you may have been raised by a friend, grandmother, aunt, or adoptive mother. And this is okay.  The love of a mother goes far beyond biological means.  Any woman who has had the heart and love to care for a child is a mother.  Raising a child is not easy.  When a woman finds out she is pregnant she might cry tears of joy or tears of sorrow.  Some woman try all their lives and never have a child.  Others seem to keep having children even when they aren't intending to. 

Even if you don't want to, once you realize and come to terms with the fact that a new life is coming that is going to need you, you know your obligation to that child once they are here.  To care for them.  For nine months you have felt that child grow.  It has made you sick, it has made you tired, scared and sometimes it maybe even made you want to scream.

So what about the mother who has raised a child that is not her own?  She didn't prepare for it.  She didn't give birth.  She doesn't get called mom.  But she has opened her heart to everything motherhood - changing diapers, midnight feedings, school plays, driving lessons, relationship advice, and helping you step into adulthood.

These are not easy tasks and sometimes can even be harder when you are taking care of another woman's child.  So you are definitely to be rewarded.  And why you do it is obviously not for the reward because rewards often never come. 

Being a mother can sometimes feel like a thankless job.  But it shouldn't be.  It is one of the hardest and requires such sacrifice.

So to all of the moms reading: You are the best.  And if no one every tells you, you are appreciated and loved and thought of fondly.  God Bless you for your hard work, dedication and love.

This message wouldn't be complete without giving a personal word of thanks to my mother.  You are without a doubt the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful woman on the earth.  Unless someone knows you, they really haven't seen true sacrifice of one for another.  You never think twice about giving away the last of what you have if it means helping someone else. 

I love you more than words could ever say and I thank God for you and your beautiful spirit every day. :)

Giving God The Thanks For What He Has Done

Sometimes people ask me where the strength I have comes from or why even when there are challenges going on in life how I am still able to smile.  The answer is simple.  I know the Lord.  I am not saying that just by knowing Him that the challenges aren't there.  But by knowing Him and the way He cares for me I can manage those challenges.  Yes there will be occasions when I will feel a bit overwhelmed but His love calms me, His arms console me and He reminds me that He is there to protect me and watch over me.

 

When people ask me how I am able to deal with different situations in my life I simply tell them that it is nothing but God.  Plain and simple.  There is no reason to complain about it.  Complaining has never brought me a solution anyways.  If anything it makes me feel worse because I am then focusing on and giving power to the problem or challenge.  So what I do is I rely on God to resolve my issue.  It doesnt mean that I dont feel the pain or that I do not suffer sometimes.  What is means is that I am trusting in something bigger and greater than this one situation.

 

We have come to make our problems so big and our God so small - that is backwards.  So, today I stand firm on the word of God and declare victory over my circumstances and I will not allow them to overshadow the power of God!

 

 

How To Make Lemonade From The Lemons In Life

Dealing With Disappointments in Life

If you are like me, then there are times when you feel like you are getting just one bunch of lemons after another and nothing to really make you excited or happy.  It seems like all the things you need do not come your way and all the things you don't want come rushing to you without hesitation. 

 

Growing up I have always heard the saying, "When you get lemons, make lemonade".  It sounds nice and simple in theory but it is not so easy when you actually have to do it.  Sometimes it's not even nice, sweet lemons.  Some of them are bitter, rotten and just plain sour.  Who even wants to make lemonade with those kind of lemons?  Wouldn't it be better to just throw them away and never have to see them again?  I think that is a good idea.  But then, since there is nothing I can do about getting lemons I might as well make something with them. 

 

So this is what I do.  I look at the situation.  Even if there is a small, tiny little bit of good that comes from it that is what helps me make it through.

 

There are definitely times where even though there is a little bit of good, my stomach feels sick.  It is nauseous and full of butterflies and anxiety. This is because lemons can give stress.  With all this talk about lemons, what exactly are they?

The lemons in life can be anything we get or anything that happens to us that makes life tougher - it's the trials and tribulations we face.  That is why they are hard to endure.  What are your lemons today?  What is it that is making life hard for you today?

Sometimes it is hard to make lemonade from the lemons we have because we do not see the good in what has happened?  How can getting my car repossessed possibly be good?  How can losing a child possibly have any good to it?

Some of these questions only can answer.  I know there are times I am dealing with difficult times and I don't see the good and I get very discouraged.  There are some situations I do not think are lemons.  I think they are more than that and there is no lemonade to be made from them.  Some situations are just very bad.  I cannot see the good in them.  Those are the situations that I just need to give to God.  That is the lesson I have learned.

How to Create A Daily Schedule That Works

Eliminate the Obstacle of a Daunting Schedule

One of the biggest challenges I used to face on a daily basis was getting things done.  It is not because I didn't know all the things that needed to be done or because I didn't make a list.  The problem was, at the end of every day I felt like I had failed in getting everything done.  But the reason for that was not because I didn't have a list to follow.  There was so many things to get done that I realized I would never see the end of the list each day.  I felt like I wasn't getting anything accomplished. 

I realized that the problem was with the way I was organizing the things I needed to do.  I approached it a new way. 

Instead of working off of a long list of endless tasks every day, I found a better way.  This is what I do.  Following these steps:

Step 1.  Make a master list of ALL the tasks that need to be completed.

Step 2.  Prioritize all the tasks from most important to least important.

Step 3.  Now going down the list break it into lists of four or five tasks. 

Step 4.  Each day complete those four or five tasks.

As you can see from the steps I share above, this is the easiest way to get your tasks done.  By breaking them down into manageable micro schedules you are able to complete all the tasks in one day and at least you can feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction knowing that you have gotten everything on your list completed. 

By following these four simple tips I am able to get more accomplished every day.  Of course you will need to revise the master list as more things come up that need to be done, prioritizing them as needed.

Small Businesses Do Not Need to Go Out of Business

Mom & Pop Businesses Do Not Need to Be Closing!

Small businesses are closing on every corner because of the economy or because of hard times.  It has always been the held perception that big businesses are making all the money and that the smaller businesses are suffering, broke, and on the verge of closing.  This is not exactly the case.  Some of these businesses might be in these situations but it doesn't mean it needs to be that way.

Small businesses first need to understand that there is a new way of bringing customers to your place of business.  Phone book ads,  word of mouth, and other local ad books are nice exposure for your business.  But there is a new generation of advertising your business. 

First, get a website.  If your business doesn't have a website right now you are suffering greatly right now.  When 90 percent of consumers are going to make a purchase of goods or services, they consult online first to shop for the best businesses out there.  If someone was to search for pizza shops in Boston, MA and you own a pizza shop, will they find your business?  Do you have a website ranking high in the Search engines for pizza shops in Boston, MA? Your business might not be a pizza shop but you get the idea.

Second, go social.  Using the power of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter will help spread the word about your business, get more people coming to your website and your business!

These are just a few of the many reason that mom and pop businesses do not need to be closing.  You can have all the customers busting down your front door if you are constantly putting your business before the eye balls of millions online.

For more information on how to develop or improve your business' web presence please feel free to contact me through the P&E Local Consulting Contact Page

Why Do I help Businesses Build Their Web Presence?

Business Owners Need A Web Presence, and I Help Them!

I believe every business should have a chance to bring in more customers and clients in order to make their business more profitable and more successful.  I help businesses do this by building optimized and social media integrated websites.  The website is designed to engage effectively with present customers, reach out to potential clients and communicate well with both. 

When you think about it, a website allows you to reach hundreds of thousands more people then you could ever reach with just word of mouth or phone book ads.  Having a website in today's day and age really can be the difference between a business owner having to close its doors or staying open.  There is a rough economy  out there but it doesn't mean that your business has to suffer.

No Need to Be Fake, Bring on the Real!

Too many times people try to be what they are not and say what they are not.  You are living a lie.  There is no need to be dishonest about what you are. Most people like to be so proud and full of boast. 

If you want to be proud, then why not be proud of your real self; the true you.

People like to hide behind masks so people don't know the real person, maybe because the real person.  Some people might be liars and cheats or something else that is not really a good thing to be.  If you don't like who you are then change. But don't lie about who you are.  It isn't fair for people to not know who you are. 

And it actually isn't fair to yourself either.  There is such freedom in being yourself. 

If you hate something don't pretend to like it.  If you like something don't pretend you hate it.

This is real talk. Like it or hate it.  Cool. Either way, it is honest and real.

The "Oh That's Life" Mentality

When we face disappointments or tough times, people will usually say, "Oh that's life."  When there is something bad that happens and we feel like there is no solution people will say, "Well that's life, things happen.  We can't always get everything we want."

For years this is what we have been told and taught.  But is it really enough?  Should be just accept things as they are?  I think in some cases you might not be able to change what has happened.  So in that case you need to accept.  But there are times where we can make a difference.  We do not have to accept the "Oh that's life" mentality.  There are times when we can make a different decision and change things. 

Don't always just accept that things have to be the way they are.  Everything is subject to change.  And if you really set your mind to it, you can make a significant change in your life and the circumstances around you.

It's The Little Things

You don't like the way he chews his gum so loud, he doesn't like that perfume you always wear.  

You don't like the way he leaves clothes laying all over the place, and he doesn't like how you always go out with your girlfriends on Friday nights. 
 
You don't like the way he looks over his shoulder at the girls passing by when your out, he doesn't like how you talk about your fights with him to your friends.

Any of this sound familiar?  When you look at this list it might not seem like a big deal, typical relationship stuff.  People do not realize that little things that occur on a regular basis are the things that wear on your relationship constantly.  If you deal with one big situation or crisis, you move on from it and it's done. 

But when you have constant aggravations day after day it takes a more exhausting toll on you.

If there are things that your loved one does that bother you that much you need to talk about it with them.  The longer you let them go on, the more you are going to be annoyed by the person. 

Communicate.  When you love someone you want to make things better.  If your heart is not in making things better, maybe your heart is not in love anymore.
 

The Power of the words "Thank you"

If any of you work with the public like me then you know what it is like to encounter all kinds of people with all kinds of attitudes.  Some look grouchy, some sound grouchy, some are angry and take it out on you the minute they see you even if you had nothing to do with the reason they are upset.

Then others come walking to you, you greet them and they stay silent.  You proceed to help them and then they turn and walk away without even saying a word, never mind a thank you.  It's just amazing to me that people expect you to roll out a red carpet for them and then they do not even have common courtesy.  What is that all about?

I think some people are just down right miserable.  Others I think put on this front of toughness while they are out.  But come on really.  What are you accomplishing by being rude to me?

As I write this I have people coming to me and the last 4 in a row didn't even say thank you for my helping them.  I know we are supposed to be the "bigger person" but when you are dealing with mostly rude all day, that can be very draining.

So the bottom line is, if you are one of those people who comes into a public place and does not respond to the person helping you or does not say thank you for the assistance or help that someone provides, I ask you that you consider a small smile and a thank you for the help you have received.  It's just common courtesy. 

Why Do We Obsess Over Celebrities?

Unless you have been living under a rock lately, you know that every radio station, TV channel and online source is talking about Charlie Sheen and giving their thoughts, opinions and two cents. We have an eye on his interviews and follow his tweets to see every word he says.  Why?  

Why do we rush to the TV or the computer to see what celebrities are doing, saying, tweeting and such?  Sometimes I think it is the drama.  If we do not have enough drama in our own personal lives already we tune in to partake in the drama of others.  And celebrities are the ones whose lives are put on display constantly, by either themselves or the media that chance them.  

It is what people love or else every other show in TV today wouldn't be a reality show.  But why do people love it?  Weigh in and tell me.  Leave a comment if you like.

Do you really want it, work hard!

Too many times I hear people talking about what they want and how bad they want it.  Okay, I can respect that.  So when I ask what you are doing to make it happen and you don't say much, there is your answer of why you don't have it yet.

Things are not going to come to you by magic.  Everything you want requires work and dedication.  If you don't put the effort in, you are not going to get much in return.


Lesson learned.

Supporting The One You Love

When we are in a relationship with someone it is inevitable that there are going to be times when one of you is up and one is down.

Also there may be times one of you has a hard decision to make. When these types of situations arise you need to be there to support each other. The worst feeling a person in a relationship can have is a feeling of loneliness or that they do not have the support of the one they love.

When you are in a relationship with someone, especially after the first year your relationship has gotten to a deeper level than before. You will notice that the decisions you make have an impact in the life of your significant other.

Two quick points I want to make then I will wrap this up.

1. Your relationship is a team and you need to work together for a better outcome.

You should both be reaching individual milestones and goals but at the same time those goals should include each other and work towards the growth of your relationship together.

2. Be Understanding And Don't Judge

Sometimes your loved one may feel like they can't come to you for support because you will judge them or criticize them off the bat before they even tell you what's going on. Listen to them and see what is going on.

You might disagree with what they need to do but respect them as an adult and as your equal and let them speak. Try to give your opinion only when it is asked for. Maybe they just want someone to listen so they can release the burden but do not want to be told what to do.

Relationships are not easy, especially when there are tough situations and a decision needs to be made. But just remember that you are in it together and you must treat the one you love like the one you love!

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This is my first post!

This is my first post on my own personal blog.  There are so many things in life such as dating advice, make up tips, Christianity, business, building websites that I discuss with individuals, friends and business associates. 

I thought it might be nice to have one collective place that I can share these thoughts, conversations and advices.

So I will start tomorrow.  But for today just an introduction.  :o)