6 Misunderstandings about Great Leaders

Leadership is one of those words that can be misunderstood.

If you ask a thousand people to define leadership, you may get a thousand different answers.

However you may define leadership, it is needed.  Good leadership can positively impact the results and outcomes of any family, church, or business.

Tune into our next blog, which will describe a great leader.  Today, let’s discuss 6 misunderstandings about great leaders.

6 Misunderstandings about Great Leaders

 

Followers and leaders alike may have a skewed perspective of what makes a great leader.  However, I want to share these 7 misunderstandings to help you be the best leader you can be.

1.  Leaders work smarter, not harder.  Leaders have to be smart in their specific area of expertise, but they also have to work hard.  Many times, great leaders work very hard with making their dreams a reality.  So not only do great leaders work smart, but at some point all great leaders work hard because they are fully invested when it comes to their vision.

2.  Leaders know it all.  One of the biggest misconceptions of leaders and followers is that leaders know it all.  I don’t know any leader that knows it all.  Matter of fact, I don’t know anyone who has all the answers.  With that said, this should not stop a leader from gaining any and all the knowledge needed to be successful in their area of expertise.

3.  Leaders are always in the public eye.  It is a natural assumption for people to believe that great leaders should be in the public eye.  But there are different forms of leaders from extroverts to introverts.  There have been many introverted leaders who have shied from the spotlight, but these leaders have dynamically transformed their organizations.

4.  Leaders are born.  As with anything else in life, most things take hard work.  It takes learning, preparation, planning, determination, experience, and hard work to become a great leader.  There genetic advantages when it comes to leadership.  Colin Powell said the following:

“Effective leaders are made, not born.”

 

An even greater quote comes from Vince Lombardi.  He said the following:

“Leaders aren’t born, they are made.  And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.  And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”

 

5.  Leaders are always on top of their game.  Leaders are not always on top of their game.  All the great leaders of the past and present have had their moments of vulnerability.  No matter the magnitude of the leader, at the end of the day we are all still human.  So it is an unreal expectation for a leader or follower to believe leaders are always on top of their game.

6.  Leaders are men.  I will not waste too much time on this point because I think it’s a joke.  When we consider our past and present, our world has been blessed with so many great leaders from both genders.  These men and women have brought several unique skill sets and have come from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Many hold these misunderstood views on leadership, but if you remember some of these points you will discover ways to improve your leadership.  Stay tune for our next blog post.  We will discuss how to become a great leader.

 

Question: What other misunderstandings have you encountered when it comes to leaders leading?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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Are You Enjoying Your Entire Life?

It’s Monday!  And it’s that time again.  Time to start another week.

There are two phrases you probably hear every week at work.

Many times I have heard this statement, “I can’t wait for the weekend.”  I have also heard, “Is it Friday yet?”

I really love my weekends for several reasons.  One of the primary reasons I love the weekend is because of the time I am able to spend with my family.

However, in spite of my love for the weekend I rather not rush my life away waiting for a weekend, a holiday, or even a birthday.  Likewise, I encourage you not to rush your life away.

“Enjoy every day because you never know when it will be your last.”

 

Each day you live is an opportunity for you to live the life you want to live.  Make the best of every day and don’t waste your time living for just a few days out of the year.  Enjoy your entire life.

 

Question: Are you enjoying your entire life?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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50 of the Greatest Love Quotes

Love is one of the strongest emotions ever known to any life form, if not the strongest emotion.

Whether people say it or not, everyone is in constant search for love.  Yes, even those who you think least deserve it.  Everyone wants to be loved.  In most cases, lack of love is the reason why many people demonstrate negative behaviors.

“Love perfects all things.”

 

One day before Valentine’s Day, check out these 50 great love quotes.  This list by no means includes all the love quotes, but it scales many generations.  Whether you have a Valentine’s or not, I hope these quotes will help inspire you to love yourself and others.

1. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.  - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

2. Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.  - Mother Teresa

3. God is love.  - 1 John 4:8

4. A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love.  - Max Muller

5. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.  - Lao Tzu

6. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  - Luke 6:35

7. The first duty of love is to listen.  - Paul Tillich

8. Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so.  - Ray Stannard Baker

9. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no condemnation greater than these.  - Mark 12:31

10. Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.  WIthout them humanity cannot survive.  - Dalai Lama

11. Love has no age, no limit; and no death.  - John Galsworthy

12. Love is the flower you’ve got to let grow.  - John Lennon

13. I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear.  - Martin Luther King, Jr.

14. Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.  - Helen Keller

15. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  We love because he first loved us.  - 1 John 4: 18-19

16. Love cures people - both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.  - Karl A. Menninger

17. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and have himself for her.  - Ephesians 5:25

18. We can only learn to love by loving. - Iris Murdoch

19. A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge.  - Thomas Carlyle

20. Where there is love there is life.  - Mahatma

21. If you can learn to love yourself and all the flaws, you can love other people so much better.  And that makes you so happy.  - Kristin Chenoweth

22. Love must be sincere.  - Romans 12:9

23. Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.  - Zora Neale Hurston

24. We waste time looking for he perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.  - Tom Robbins

25. There is no remedy for love but to love more.  - Henry David Thoreau

26. We all need each other.  - Leo Buscaglia

27. Love does no harm to its neighbor.  - Romans 13:10

28. You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; in just the same way, you learn to love by loving.  - Anatole France

29. Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs.  - Proverbs 10:12

30. Love is a force more formidable than any other.  It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could.  - Barbara de Angelis

31. A friend loves at all times.  - Proverbs 17:17

32. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  - John 15:13

33. Keep love in your heart.  A life without it is a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.  - Oscar Wilde

34. Kindness in words creates confidence.  Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.  Kindness in giving creates love.  - Lao Tzu

35. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  - John 3:16

36. Spread love everywhere you go.  Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.  - Mother Teresa

37. Love I but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.  - Alexander Smith

38. Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  - Matthew 22:37

39. Do all things with love.  - Og Mandino

40. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.  - 1 Corinthians 13:13

41. Love is the greatest gift that God has given us.  It’s free.  Taraji P. Henson

42. Love is life.  And if you miss love, you miss life.  Leo Buscalgia

43. Bitterness imprisons life; love releases it.  - Harry Emerson Fosdick

44. Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.  - Khalil Gibran

45. Faith makes all things possible… love makes all things easy.  -Dwight L. Moody

46. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  - 1 Peter 4:8

47. Love is the beauty of the soul.  - Saint Augustine

48. At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.  - Martin Luther King, Jr.

49. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.  - Buddha

50. “Love perfects all things.”  - Bryant E. Hall, Sr.

Many times in life, we are driven by love or fear.  From your attitude to your actions, let love drive all your interactions.  Not only will our world be a better place, but also your world will be much better off with love in the driver’s seat.

 

Question: What’s your favorite “love” quote?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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How To Create Perfect Balance In Your Life

There are many myths surrounding living a balanced life.

Myths such as:

- A balanced life is when you are able to split up your time with your personal life getting 50% and work getting the other 50%, or

- A balanced life consists of the following breakdown: 25% personal, 25% marriage, 25% children, and 25% work.

I believe these ideas are great, but in “real life” these ideas do not work.

Life Balance Defined

 

Balance has two unique definitions.

1. An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.

2. A condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.

When we talk about balancing our lives, we use a little bit of both definitions.  I like the last part of the first definition and the beginning and end of the second definition.  So let’s define life balance.

“Life balance is giving proper priority and perspective to all aspects of your life to keep your life upright and steady.”

 

Do you have balance in your life?  Is your life out of balance?

These are questions only you can answer.  Of course, your church leader may be able to help you with this question, but at the end of the day only you know how much time you spend with all the various aspects of your life.

I believe that it is impossible to give every area of your life equal attention.  If you could equal attention to all aspects of your life, I don’t think it would be healthy.

In our extremely demanding world, achieving life balance gets harder and harder.  However, even with high demands, we must remember those things that matter most.

Creating life balance isn’t a quick fix.  It is not a one size fits all.  The advice and humble suggestions I will give you are just the beginning steps to building a perfect life balance for your life.

Balance Your Life

 

Where do we start?

We know how important it is to have balance in our lives, but where do you start?

1. Talk to God.  Before you start creating, it may be a great idea to talk to the Creator.  Regardless of whether you go to church or not, it is important to discuss your need for life balance with the One who created you.  God knows you.

This not only works for life balance, but it works for everything else in life.  I have a great friend in the healthcare industry that practices medicine.  He is one of the finest orthopedic surgeons in our country.

He is well known and a well-accomplished surgeon, but the most impressive thing about him has nothing to do with his surgical skills.  His devotion and love for God impresses me more than his surgical skills.  Before every surgery, this amazing doctor consults with God and prays with all his patients.

If you do not know what to say, just ask God for insight.

Success with your life balance starts with talking with God.

2. Analyze your life.  Only you can do this.  This analysis should be an individual assessment.  Stop and take some time to look over your life.

Ask yourself the following questions to get a good feel for your current reality:

- Questions Have you talked to God?

- What do you spend most of your time doing?

- How much time do you spend at work?

- How much time do you spend with your family?

- Do you spend any person time alone?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, explain in detail what you are doing if you are spending time is these areas of your life.

3. Prioritize.  Now take the information you have learned from analyzing your life and prioritize.  Some people think this is the easiest step, but it can be one of the hardest steps.

If you have been spending time with everything but yourself, it can be hard trying to carve time out for yourself.  Or vice versa with work or family.  I think we all know how important family is, but you cannot spend all your time with family and neglect working to provide funds for your family.

4. Develop a plan.  Start an action plan.  This plan will have various steps to completing your desired goals of prioritizing.  It may include setting a specific time when you will leave work if you work excessively.  It may be committing a specific time when you will escape from your family daily and read o work out.  Whatever you plan to do, make your plan relevant, objective, measurable, and time-related.

5. Stick to the plan.  No matter what happens, stick to your plan and make it work!  Nothing should stop you from reaching success with you plan.

At the end of the day, just remember that life balance is not a one size fit all.  Your balance has to work for you and your family.  I strongly encourage for you to walk yourself through these five steps weekly, if not daily depending on your need.  Start today because there is no reason for you not to enjoy a balanced life.

 

Question: How can you create a better balance in your life?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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Why It Is More Than A Job

Monday can be a challenging day for most people because it is time to go back to work; back to the grind!

How do you feel about your job?  Would you be surprised to hear most Americans are unhappy with their jobs?

The Conference Board has been running a job satisfaction survey since 1987.  According to the latest report by the New York-based nonprofit research group; the majority of Americans (52.3%) are unhappy at work.

On the other hand, the first initial survey revealed 61.1% of Americans were satisfied with their job.

What does All This Mean?  Why are People Dissatisfied?

 

This means many are disconnected with their organizations, thus causing a decrease in workplace productivity.

There are many reasons why people dislike their job, included the following, but no limited to:

- Poor management

- Loss of enthusiasm

- Lack being challenged

- Unhappy with pay

- No room for growth

- Don’t feel valued

- Feelings of the grass being greener on the other side

A Change is Gonna Come. . . .

 

Are you part of the majority?  If so, try these suggestions for a much needed change:

- Change your attitude,

- Change your approach,

- Change your perspective, or

- Change your job.

We have heard the phrase,

“If you love what you do, you will never have to work a day in your life.”

I live by these words.

Make the Best of It. . . .

 

Let’s face it — we spend the majority of our lives on a job / working — but think about what the alternative could be.  Why not try to make the best of it, somehow, some way!

As a physical therapist, I have been blessed to meet many great people and help them navigate through their rehabilitation.  I am so grateful for every client I have the pleasure of working with.  We leave an imprint on one another.

It is so rewarding to help someone on their road to recovery.  I am able to see their before and after and be a part of such a life circumstance.  But what is even more rewarding than that, are the relationships that are formed!

The hours can be long and the paperwork seemingly never-ending, but I will always make the best of it.  It is about the experience and more than anything the ability to serve with purpose.  It is more than a job for me.  It is a key part of my life.

 

Question: How can you make positive mindset changes to look at your job differently and make your work a more rewarding experience?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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3 Ways To Supercharge Our World

You never know how you are affecting others especially your children.  I believe we are put on this Earth to serve and give to others.  Please watch this touching video of a father interacting with his son.

 

It is amazing to see the love of this father.  There are a few things we can learn from this short video clip.

1. Connect with your child.  Whether you like the music or not, it is apparent this child loves his father and his father loves him.  Love takes work and time.  You cannot spend quality time until you have spent a lot of time.  You may spend ten hours with your child, but there may only be one memorable moment during those ten hours.  Make time to connect with your child.

2. Be your child’s role model.  Every child has a unique personality and responds differently.  It is quite obvious this father has made a dynamic impression on his son.  The young man lights up when he hears the melodious sounds from them music coupled by the uplifting words delivered passionately from his father.  You can see the strong bond between this father and son.  I think we as can say that this child believes his father is cool!

3. Speak life into your children.  It is no surprise that we all respond better to positive encouragement.  It was refreshing watching this child come to life when his father started rapping.  With each word, the young man seemed to gain more hope and inspiration from his father’s love.

At the end of the day, it is our job to speak life into our children.  We cannot wait for anyone else to instill hope and determination into our children.  Every child wants it, matter fact every child needs it.  The question is are you giving it?

If you have not connected with your child, been his or her role model, or spoken life into their life, it is time.

Supercharge your child and you will give a priceless gift to our world.  I think we would all agree that our world needs more of this inspiration and this type of supercharging.  So take some time today and supercharge our world by sharing this story of inspiration, hope, determination with someone else.  Pay it forward!

 

Question: What are your thoughts about the father and son in the video?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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How To Capitalize On Your Creativity

Many times when we discuss creativity, we think about authors, artists, and actors.  It is fascinating watching these individuals express their creative skills in unique ways.

You may never want to publish a book, paint a masterpiece, or win an Oscar.  But I believe you are just as creative as the previous mentioned individuals.

“God created each of us with unique gifts.”

 

What are you doing with the gift God gifted you with?

What is Creativity?

 

I am firm believer we all are good at something.  Also, I believe if we are good, we have the potential of being great with that gift.

You possess creativity within you and there are ways of capitalizing on your creativity.

Creativity is just producing something original that has value.

I have enjoyed working with my adult clients when it comes to capitalizing on their creativity through personal and professional development, but I get just as much fulfillment with volunteering my time at our church by working with our youth for the past nine years.

During those nine years, I have seen many brilliant children with great imaginations and ingenuity.  According to research, we all start off with amazing creativity.  However, somehow we begin losing the ability the create as we get older and enter the “real world.”

What if you could grow old and keep a resemblance of your imagination and creativity you had when you were a child?  I think you find yourself being a more prosperous person.

How to Capitalize on Your Creativity

 

Usually when you hear the word capitalize, it is used with money and sometimes sports.  If you are reading this and you are looking for a more prosperous life, I want to help you.  These eight tips will get you started in the right directions.

1. Focus on you.  I am not putting this point here for you to be selfish, arrogant, or egotistical.  But sometimes we focus so much on others that we neglect ourselves.

In the case of emergencies, there is a reason why adults are to put on the oxygen mask first if you are flying with children.  If you as the adult lose oxygen, you will have absolutely no chance of helping the child flying with you.

The same principle applies to your creativity.  You cannot help anyone else with their creativity if you cannot take time to focus on you and your needs.

2. Identify your strengths.  When you discover your strengths, you more than likely will find a spark for your creativity.  This spark will energize and empower your creativity.

3. Identify your weakness.  When you know your weaknesses, it gives you an idea of some things you can improve.  Improving these areas will further energize and empower your creativity.  No one can be perfect at everything, but do your best to minimize or eliminate your weakness.

4. Believe in yourself.  You may be thinking that this is the same as point one, but it is quite different.  Believing in yourself has to do with you infusing confidence into your creativity.

When you are attempting to capitalize on your creativity, just remember that everyone will not believe in your creativity.  And that is fine.  In the initial stages of your creativity, you may be the only one that believes until you are able to nourish and develop your creativity.

5. Keep a close eye on your success.  You can do this several ways, but I think part of you monitoring the success of your creativity needs to include writing goals and objectives.  Goal writing is an entirely different blog post because there are so many pieces to writing a good goal.

Along with with goal writing, you can use praise from past customers, peers, bosses, etc.  Find a way to keep a close eye on your success.

6. Search for sound encouragement.  Pick out people you esteem that know you and ask them their feelings about your creativity.  It goes without saying, these people should be individuals who will tell you the truth and give you an unbiased constructive feedback.  Ask these people about your strengths and what areas they believe you can improve.  You will be surprise to know some of these people may believe in your creativity more than you.

7. Test yourself.  Do not be afraid to challenge yourself and your creativity.  Up to this point, you have received great feedback internally and externally.  Now, what are you going to do with that feedback?  I hope you thinking of one word, GROW!  It is time to take that feedback and grow.

Growing means taking risks and doing different things to improve your creativity.

8. Give back.  Many of the other points has been about promoting you, but at some point we must find a way to give back to those who looking to capitalize on their on creativity.  There are a number of people who have no idea if they are creative or not.  Others may know the gifts they have been gifted with, but they are unfamiliar the process of how to capitalize on their creativity.

With all that said, know that you need to capitalize on your creativity.  When you capitalize on your creativity, you will find yourself living a more fulfilled life.  Not only will this create better personal opportunities, but it will enable more job and financial opportunities professionally.

I hope this information was helpful, but there are so many other things you may have questions about regarding your creativity.  Please contact me by email and let me know how I can help you capitalize on your creativity.

Please share your creativity with me on Twitter or Facebook.

 

Question: Which tip would help launch your creativity to the next level?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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2 Ways To Prevail Over Hate

What comes to mind when you think of hate?

My wife and I asked this very question to our boys this past weekend to receive a childlike perspective on hate.  My sons mentioned that hate was bad and a selfish act.  One of my sons proceeded to say, “Don’t be a hater.”

During our family discussion, my wife and I were trying to teach our sons the difference between love and hate.  Ultimately, we ended our discussion with the thought that hate is limited thinking.

However, I would like to include you in our discussion.  How do you feel about hate?

What is Hate?

 

Hate is an intense or passionate dislike for someone or something.

One form of hate we are all familiar with is racism, but there is a greater form of hate.  I believe the greatest form of hate is xenophobia.

Xenophobia is hate of anything foreign or strange.

Xenophobia is the greatest form of hate because it includes bullying, racism, socioeconomic hate, religious hate, political hate, sexual orientation hate, etc.

Regardless of the form of hate, the common denominator with most acts of hate is fear.

Prevailing Over Hate

 

The first key to overcoming hate is addressing the real issue and not the symptoms.  The real issue when it comes to hate is fear.  Here are two ways to prevail over hate.

1. Practice forgiveness.  Many people find it very hard to forgive, which leads to further fear and hate.  However, if we can find a way to let go and release those things that have negatively impacted our lives, we find ourselves prevailing over hate.

Hate can be directed towards yourself or others.  Sometimes you have to forgive yourself.  No matter whether it is yourself or someone else, hate is a heavy load to carry.  This is why it is so important to forgive and let go.

2. Give love.  Love is much stronger than hate.  We have seen and heard stories concerning actions driven by love.  Love will always overcome hate.

We have seen various types of actions driven by love such as love for God, love for country, love for children, love for spouse, love for life, love for sports, love animals, love for music, etc.  We have seen some amazing moments and actions driven by love.  There are two great quotes from the Bible relating to love.

“Love is patient, love is kind…it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.  Love never fails.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear…” - 1 John 4:18

 

Don’t Be a Hater

 

Unfortunately, one blog will not cure the hate of our world, but individually what we do can collectively make a big difference.  So in the words of my son, “Don’t be a hater!”

Hater is commonly used as a slang term.  According to UrbanDictionary.com, hater is defined as “A person that simply cannot be happy for another person’s success.  So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person.”

Instead of releasing any kind of hate into our world, let love prevail.

 

Question: How can you help this world prevail over hate?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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3 Insanely Powerful Traits You Need To Win At Life

First off, I know the title of today’s blog is long, but it is for good reason.

My wife and I were able to break away from our kids for a night for her birthday.  If you have kids, you understand how special that time can be.  My wife and I took full advantage of that time and spent a great evening out on the town.

Our night on the town included a lot of pampering for my wife.  At the end of the night, we decided to go to the movies.  She wanted to see American Sniper and I definitely was not opposed because I love war movies.

American Sniper is a great but difficult movie.  Bradley Cooper took us on an emotional roller coaster and a thought-provoking human journey.  Whether you believe in this individual character or not, we all must agree on being extremely grateful for our soldiers who have fought and those who are still fighting for our freedom.

I would like to share 3 insanely powerful traits I observed in this movie that will help you win at life.

#1 Remember your values.  Never forget the foundational principles that make you who you are.  It is quite easy to forget morals and values during difficult times, but I think that is when the real you is exposed.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Our values and belief systems guide us through life.  These values and beliefs help us to determine right versus wrong, good versus bad, or just versus unjust.  These values are standards and it is how we measure our attitude and actions.

#2 Commit to something greater than yourself.  In the movie, the soldiers had a unique sense of brotherhood.  Each soldier was committed to watching each other’s back.

Committing to something greater than yourself has to do with trusting your team.  There are some things an individual can accomplish solely, but most things in life require teamwork.

“Teamwork makes the dream work” - John C. Maxwell

 

#3 Make every sacrifice needed to win.  No I am not encouraging you to cheat to win, but I am encouraging you to do everything ethically and legally right within your abilities to win at life.

Winning only occurs with proper preparation and a tenacious determination.  Sacrificing is refusing to give up, abandon, resign, surrender, forfeit, or betray something.

“Winning isn’t everything, but who wants to lose.”

 

There is no reason for anyone to lose at life with the resources and information available in our world today.  In this age, the problem is not the knowing but the doing.

 

Question: What other traits are key to winning at life?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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4 Basic Ways to Launch a Stellar Career

During personal development sessions with my clients, I have not met anyone that wasn't interested in living a good life.  Everyone wants to grow, profit, and live a prosperous life.

“Prosperity will come to the man with discipline.”

 

Some believe there are secrets to living a good life and launching their career, but there are no secrets.  There are just for basic ways to launch a stellar career or live a good life.

1. Have a plan.  Most successful people have a plan because plans are blueprints for success.  Whether you follow your plan to a tee or if your plan fails, it is still important to develop a plan for success.  When you have a plan, you will always have something fall back on when all else fails.

It was John L. Beckley that said, “Most people don’t plan to fail, but fail to plan.”

Please do not people this person.

The first step to developing a good plan starts drafting a plan with winning strategies.  There are three parts to drafting a winning plan.  Your plan should be complete, clear, and current.

Is your plan…

- Complete?  Does your plan encompass every goal that needs to be accomplished?  Does your plan consider all the still and moving pieces needed to put your plan into action?  Does your plan include each action step needed to complete your plan?

- Clear?  How clear is your plan?  Is it easy to understand?  Can other people included in your plan understand how to current out your action steps?  Has everything been spelled out?

- Current?  How relevant is the information within your plan?  Does your plan reflect your present and future needs?  Does your plan take into consideration various threats and opportunities?

2. Major on people.  The most important thing in life is relationships.  One of the best ways to launch your career and live a good life is by focusing on people.

I have seen some great businessmen and women, but they lack the ability to relate to people.  No matter how knowledgeable and professional you may be, without the ability to relate to people no one will ever buy into or support your career.

There are some people who will not support you regardless, but those people do not matter.  Focus on people and watch you career take off.

3. Be a forever learner.  It is always important to be in the know versus being benighted.  The most successful people in history are forever learners.

If you are willing to figure out what you do not know, you will then be able to figure out what people, information, and things you need to launch your career.

4. Take risks.  Any success comes with risk.  If what you are doing does not require sacrifice, then it may not be worth your time.  Without risk, it will be hard to move your career to the next level.

 

Question: What other ways can you launch a stellar career?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

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7 Ways to Escape the Daily Grip of Stress

Stress is highly underrated.

Most people do not think about stress as being a killer, but stress it is a serious matter.  In fact, 75 to 90 percent of doctor’s appointments to primary care physicians involve stress.

Have you ever thought that your daily routine could be stressful?  So what is stress?

What is Stress?

 

Stress is any mental and/or physical resistance.  So anything could take the form of stress.

Common stressors include events such as death, divorce, losing a job, financial distress, being diagnosed with a permanent illness, etc.

There are other common stressors, but they do not get as much attention because these are simple activities we do on a a daily basis.  These simple activities include brushing teeth, showering, driving to work, accomplishing work tasks, eating, caring for your children, etc.  And then there are those stressors that are just unnecessary.

So What are You Going to Do About It?

 

It is only stress if we get worked up over it.  So whatever “IT” may be, make sure that “IT” does not get the best of you.  Here are 7 ways to escape the daily grip of stress.

1. Learn to say “no.”  You can’t be everywhere at all times.  Know your limits and hold to them.  Whether it is personal or professional, saying “yes” and taking on more than you can handle is a guaranteed way to become stressed.  You should never be afraid to express your feelings.

2. Prepare the night before.  One of the best things you can do to remove stress from your life is to prepare.  Without preparation, stress tends to have a tighter grip on our lives due to procrastination.  What can you prepare at night?  Put your “To-Do List” together.  Prepare your clothes by ironing.  If you take your lunch to work, prepare it at night.  Just to name a few things you can do to prepare.

3. Stay away from people who stress you out.  In life there are “Givers” and “Takers.”  If you are constantly finding yourself around a “Taker, ” you may need to think twice about hanging around that person.  Limit their time in your space to decrease some stress.

4. Control everything in you can in your space.  There are several things you can control that will help keep your stress levels low.  Those things are as follow:

- Go to sleep.  More sleep helps just about everything out.  It definitely helps out with removing stress.  Check out 9 Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep (click link).

- Get up earlier.  To get up early, you will need to go to bed.  When you are able to get an earlier start to your day, you will notice yourself rushing less.

- Start your day with prayer.  I do not know a better way to start your day.  I get a great sense of calm when I pray to my Father in heaven.  Our Creator can give the best insight when it comes to making any decisions, so why not discuss your plans for the day with the Creator of all things.

- Leave for work early.  Do not wait until the last minute to leave for work.  The later you leave for work will cause you to have little control over arriving to work on time, which causes several reasons to stress.  Reasons such as receiving a verbal/written warning, losing your job, or just tarnishing your professional image.  Whatever the reason, it will just add more stress to your day.

- Drive sensibly.  If you leave early, you will be able to drive sensibly.  Otherwise, you find yourself driving with tension in your arms because your will be rushing.  As we discussed early, tension is just another form of resistance causing stress.  How can you drive sensibly?  If you are going to drive sensibly, just remember a few things: drive the speed limit, be cordial to other drivers, be safe, and let others go first.

- Tickle your ears.  Play your favorite music or listen to something that will put you at peace on your way to work.  We spend quite a bit of time in the car driving to and from work.  So why not make it a peaceful and productive drive.  I love my music, but prefer listening to educational information to advance my life.

- Take a nap during the day.  Not many people are able to get a full night of sleep, so I would recommend for people to take naps throughout the day.  Whatever you do, please do not take a nap while you should be working.  Use your break times take short power naps.

- Manage your time better.  Poor time management is a sure way of becoming more stressed.  Make a schedule and try not to stretch yourself too thin.  Better time management will keep you calm and focused.

5. Look at the big picture.  Sometimes we worry about things that do not matter.  Perspective is a key factor in life.  With good perspective, we will begin developing priority and purpose with our daily plans.

6. Focus on the positive.  There is positive in everything in life.  Never let the negative take over the positive.  Seeing the positive also helps with shaping perspective.

7. Learn to forgive.  I know this can be hard.  If you are unwilling to forgive, you will find yourself holding on negativity, hurt, guilt, regrets, etc.  When you are able to forgive, you end up freeing yourself of anger, resentment, and any negative energy.  Forgiveness is not for the person who may have committed the wrong doing, but it is more to help the person who received the wrong doing to start the process of letting go and moving on.

Just as you can increase your resistance, you can also decrease it.  Work some of these practices into your daily routine.  Decrease your stress and live a long healthy life.

 

Question: What other ways can you escape the daily grip of success?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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Is Your Heart in Shape for 2015?

If you are unable to keep your heart in shape, it will be tough to accomplish any of your life goals or dreams.

The heart is one of the most important organs of the body.  The heart keeps all the organs of the body supplied with blood by its strong pump.

So let us get to the heart of the matter.  Is your heart in shape for 2015?

Here are seven things to sure up to be effective in accomplishing your life’s dreams.

1. Know your history.  Review your family history and examine if there have been any diseases, especially of the heart, that is in your family history.  One of the biggest predictors of heart disease and other heart issues is family history.

2. Gather Baselines.  To advance or move forward with anything in life, you have measure your progress.  Not only do you need to measure, but you need to record your measurements.  If you do not write your findings down, it never happened.

What things should you measure?

You want to check the following:

- Weight, 

- Heart rate, 

- Blood pressure, 

- Resting heart rate,  

- Body mass index,

- Circumferential measurements of waist & heart, and

- Blood Levels (blood sugar, cholesterols, triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c)

3. Manage Your Diet and Weight.  One of the biggest ways to stay healthy is eating right, which is the best way to control your weight.  Poor management of diet and weight can lead to heart issues.

4. Stress Less.  Life can be busy.  We all have a ton on our plate, but we must find a way to remove some of the unnecessary stress.  Also, we should try to get enough sleep to keep our bodies functioning at a high level.  Sleeping is important.  Check out 9 Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep (click link).

5. Stay active.  We discussed diet being a big portion of keeping your heart in shape, but keep your body active is just as important.  With some form of activity, it can help you control your blood pressure, weight, heart rate, body mass index, and other blood levels.  If you would like to discover several ways to keep your body moving, please check out 3 Reasons to Keep Your Body Moving (click link).

6. Avoid Smoking.  Research suggests that smoking at least doubles your risk of heart disease.  Also, it has been researched that smoking can trigger a heart attack even if your arteries are nearly perfect.  Smoking narrows the arteries and raises your blood pressure, which increases your risk of irregular heartbeat and makes your blood sticky.  This increases your risk of blood clotting causing higher risk of heart problems.

7. Build a strong support system.  You always need supportive people around you, but especially if you are making a decision to keep your heart healthy.  With a consistent supporting crew, you will be able to consistently keep your heart in great shape.  It is nothing like having someone to hold us accountable.

No matter our age, we all should want to keep our hearts in shape.  A heart in shape can make a difference in hearts of many.  It is all about the heart!

 

Question: With a healthy and in shape heart, what life goals will you be able to accomplish?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall, Sr.

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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5 Roadblocks to a Successful Life

If you asked a million people to define success, each person would have a slight variation of what defines success.

I believe success is waking up everyday with a sense of purpose.    Success is all about getting better, growing, or moving forward.  It has nothing to do with money, but doing things the right way will allow money to follow.

When you are striving for success, you will run into roadblocks.  You need to know those roadblocks and how to avoid or go around them.  So, here are five roadblocks to a successful life.

1. Our thoughts.  All of our actions are controlled by our thoughts.  Sometimes we are our own worst enemies.  Many times we fall short of success in many areas of our lives because of own thoughts.  I have heard people saying the following words:

- I’m too old to _____.

- I’m too young to _____.

- I don’t have enough time in a day.

- I’m not good enough.

It is never too late, but it is quite easy to talk yourself out of success.  Stop talking yourself out being successful and find a way to hold those thoughts back.

One way to change these thoughts is to be selective about what you let into mind.

2. Listening to negativity.  Do not let negativity break or shatter your success.  You are better than any negativity that may try to discourage you from being successful.  Do not listen whether it is a friend, family member, co-worker, boss, or just a plain “hater.”  I usually do not focus on the haters, but with this point I have to mention them to tell you to ignore them.

3. Living larger than life.  When we think we are bigger than life, we then start getting “cocky.”  Read my last blog post, Two Big Differences Separating the Confident and the “Cocky” (click link).

Stay humble and remember that we were created to help others.  It is never about one individual; it has always been about a team.  In the case of life, it is about giving and serving others.

4. Living in a box.  It is natural for us to hold to our routines and form habits.  It is nothing wrong with routines or good habits, but success comes with taking risks.  We have to get out of the box and expose ourselves to new things, so we can grow.  Do not get stuck in a box because of your fear of taking risks.  Discover ways of challenging your mind.  For a few tips, read 18 Ways to Challenge Your Mind (click link).

5. Past memories.  How many times have you heard or have you said, “I wish things were like they use to be.”  When you get caught up in past accomplishments, you it ends up limiting your success.  The same is so for focusing on past failures.  Instead of emphasizing your past memories, focus on the present and how you plan to move forward.

Be aware of these roadblocks and live a successful life.

 

Question: How do you plan on avoiding these roadblocks to your success?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall, Sr.

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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Remembering the Dream

Everyone has a dream.  This one man has influenced all our dreams.

Over 52 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech that changed the history of our nation.

There are so many things we have learned from this amazing speech.  These hopeful and inspirational words came during a time of difficulty.  If you have a few minutes, take some time to read or listen to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

His dream was not only for blacks, but also for all races and ethnic backgrounds.

Other than the famous words of “I Have a Dream,” there are a few other words that stand out.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. repeated three words towards the end of speech that should resound throughout our lives.  Those words are “Let freedom ring.”

We all have benefited from Dr. King’s dream.  The freedom we all enjoy comes from several path blazers with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. being one.  It is that freedom that allows us to think outside the box and capitalize on new opportunities.

So, I want to leave you with 12 life-changing quotes from Dr. King.

12 Life-Changing Quotes from Dr. King

 

1. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

2. Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t se the whole staircase.

3. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

4. The time is always right to do what is right.

5. Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’

6. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

7. We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

8. I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear.

9. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

10. Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking.  There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions.  Nothing pains some people more than having to think.

11. Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.  It is a sword that heals.

12. A lie cannot live.

 

Question: What are your thoughts about Dr. King and his efforts to change our world?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall, Sr.

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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Two Big Differences Separating the Confident and the “Cocky”

The one thing in life we all need is confidence.  However, what is the difference between the confident person and someone who is just plain “cocky?”

There are two big differences between the confident and the “cocky.”  Before we discuss the two big differences, we need to define the confident and the “cocky.”

What the confident and the “cocky” look like

 

There are different characteristics that define both groups of people.

Being confident is living…

- Bold,

- Courageous,

- Fearless,

- Hopeful,

- Thankful

- Positive,

- Self-assured, and

- Sure.

Whereas being “cocky” is living…

- Arrogant,

- Brash,

- Entitled

- Overconfident,

- Presumptuous, and

- Self-confident.

Two Big Differences Separating the Confident and the “Cocky”

 

1. Belief in God.  Believing in God has a way of humbling even the most arrogant person.  For whatever reason, there may be some who will say believing in God is a sign of low confidence.  On the contrary, I believe it takes a courageous person to believe and give full control of their life to God.

It is natural for us to attempt to control everything in our lives, which is the position of being “cocky.”  However, when we believe in God and His mercies, we become more dependent on Him and confident in God’s plans for our lives.

2. Serve People.  Along with believing in God, confident people are never ashamed to help others.  Confident people will always find a way to serve others, no matter a person’s race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, or religion.

Those who are confident desire for others to be confident, so they intentionally and passionately serve to pass along that same confidence to others in search for a better life.

 

Question: Can you recognize any characteristics of confidence or cockiness in your life?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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18 Ways to Challenge Your Mind

It is very important to exercise your body, but it is just as important for us to exercise our minds.

“A challenged mind is a healthy mind.”

 

No research is needed to understand that people with strong and healthy minds live more fulfilling lives.  There are many ways to keep your mind challenged.

Here are 18 ways to challenge your mind:

1. Read.  Your brain stays sharp when you are able explore and learn new things.   I love to read the Bible because it has so many life lessons.  (It is a great read, I recommend it).  Along with the Bible, you should read anything you can get your hands on such as newspapers, blogs, magazines, books, poems, song lyrics, etc.

2. Watch the news.  It is important to know what is going on in our world.  You may not think that it affects you, but our world is like a pond.  If you throw a rock in the pond, the entire pond feels the impact.

3. Work your brain.  Try not to use things such as calculators when your brain can be utilized effectively to do simple arithmetic, etc.

4. Play mind-stimulating games.  You can play mindless games, but find a way to play games that will stimulate problem solving with your brain.  Try playing games the following games: crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, scrabble, anagrams, logic problems, rebuses, chess, etc.

5. Watch thought-provoking movies.  I like my action movies, but I have to make time for those movies that will challenge my mind.  Movies such as Good Will Hunting, Seven Pounds, A Beautiful Mind, Dead Poets Society, and Patch Adams.

6. Start a new hobby.  Don’t waste any time.  Start a new hobby if you have idle time on your hand.  Keep your brain active and sharp.

7. Exercise your body.  Research has proven that exercise helps with the healthiness of the brain.  Exercise increases blood-flow and oxygenates the brain.  You can accomplish this many ways.  Here are just a few:

- Walking

- Running

- Jump roping

- Dancing

- Yoga

- Cycling

- Hiking

- Tai Chi

- Yard work

- Swimming

- Tennis

- Golfing

8. Listen to inspiring music.  I love all kinds of music, but Classical music is on way to spark my creativity.

9. Study a foreign language.  Research has ben done on the benefits of knowing another language.  That research also made a direct correlation between increased pay and how many languages a person knows.

10. Travel.  When you travel you get the opportunity to experience various cultures, which will also challenge your mind.

11. Go back to school.  A great way to challenge your brain is going back to school to get that degree you have always wanted.  It will give you better skills and boost your career.

12. Eat healthy.  Certain foods are great brain foods.  Foods with antioxidants, olive oils, whole grains, onion, and avocado are known to give the body and brain health benefits.  Some other foods include fish, fruits, and veggies.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it is also considered the best meal for the brain too.

13. Supplement your brain.  Please discuss the use of supplements with your medical doctor.  It does have to be a pill, but there are many forms of supplements that can help your brain.  Certain supplements have been found to be healthy for the brain such as Omega-3, green tea, vitamin B, water, Kombucha, vitamin E, vitamin C, Matcha, grape seed extract, and lecithin.

14. Meditation.  Meditation has a big role to play in challenging our minds.  It allows us to focus and relieve our stress, which helps to challenge our minds.

15. Smile.  The more you smile; you will discover yourself developing a new positive demeanor.

16. Get sleep.  Sleep helps to rejuvenate the brain and also helps us think quicker.  See 9 Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep (click link).

17. Volunteer your time.  Volunteering helps others get places they are unable to get to themselves.  Volunteer gives you a sense of humility, which is great for our brains.

18. Join a book group.  Hear how others think.  Discuss great topics and amazing books in these groups that will change your mind forever.

 

Question: What ways do you challenge your minds?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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8 Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Life

We frequently hear three words when we discuss appreciating life.

“Life is short.”

 

I know this is a common phrase, but it is true.

My family and I just lost a loved one to a senseless murder.  No matter your age, life is precious.  While our family mourns this loss, please keep us in your prayers especially his wife and children.

Anytime death touches us, it makes us think twice about how we are living life.  I want to leave you with a few thoughtful tips to help us all make the most out of life.

Tip #1 - Put God first.  You never know when it will be your time to go.  Life is just a preparation period before meeting our Maker.  Do not waste that time.  Make the best of your preparation period.

Tip #2 - Know that you are not alone.  We were created to develop and nourish the various relationships in our lives.  Seek strength from those family and friends in your life to help you during the good and bad times.  Life can be a challenge, but a support system will assist you during any phase of your life.

Tip #3 - Appreciate every moment.  Take time to enjoy every moment of life.

Tip #4 - Show your love.  Many times we use the words, “I love you.”  But do we really mean it?  Love is an action word.  Take it a step further and show that love.  It may be a hug, kiss, phone call, text, card, a kind word, etc.

Tip #5 - Live without regrets.  Do those things that you have always wanted to do.

Tip #6 - Be grateful for what is in front of you.  We all have been guilty of wanting more out of life, but what about the things in front of us?  Be grateful for the people and things you do have, instead of focusing on the what you don’t have.

Tip #7 - Be true to yourself.  Everyone has a special gift to contribute to our world.  You are unique because of your individuality.  God created you that way.  You have a special gift.  So be yourself because everyone else is taken.

Tip #8 - Do not chase “stuff.”  Human life and strength of character are a big deal.  People may make a big deal out of money, fame, cars, jobs, college degrees, houses, etc.  At the end of the day, those things are just “stuff.”

Join me in extending sympathy to all those families who have lost loved ones due to sudden, tragic deaths.

 

Question: What other tips could we use to make the most out of life?  Leave your comments below.

 

With Sincerity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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3 Easy Ways to Fire Up Your Life Daily

It is quite easy to get caught up in the everyday “hum drum” routine of life.  Most of us have a daily, tightly fitted routine.  If anything goes wrong or falls out of place, many times we that will cost us our entire day.

I completely understand with the various responsibilities in which I am able to serve many people.  No one is exempt from the daily “grind.”

However, what if there was a way to add some spice to your life?  What if you could add positive drama to your life that would help progress your life in a positive direction?

What Fires You Up?

 

When you look at your daily routine, what fires you up?

What peaks your interest?  What puts a smile on your face?  What moves you to do things you never thought would have been possible?

For my athletes and those who love athletics, think about the excitement surrounding the sport.  Whether you are a producer or listener of music, what types of feelings come to mind when you think of your favorite song?  If you are techie, what feelings do you embody when new, sensational technology hits the market?

We all get fired up about something, but why should it be a seasonal deal?

I would like to share 3 easy ways to fire up your life daily.  The key word is daily!

3 Easy Ways to Fire Up Your Life Daily

 

1. Start your day with positive energy

 

Waking up at the last minute and making a mad dash for your job may not be the right way to start you day.  Of course, we all want as much sleep as possible.  Matter fact, we need our sleep.  Don’t believe me, check out the 9 Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep (click link).

With a little planning, you may find some extra time to fire up your life.  I like to start my day with prayer, reading my Bible, or both.  It is the best way to start my day.  After consulting with the Creator of all things, I feel more equipped to handle the challenges of the day.

Here are a few other ways to start your day off with positive energy:

- Read a motivational quote or blog every morning,

- Conversation with our spouse (if he or she is awake),

- Cuddle with your spouse or kids (if they are he or she is sleep),

- A few minutes reading your favorite book,

- Enjoying nature while walking your dog, cat, or just walking by yourself,

- Watching a few minutes of your favorite morning show,

- Calling another friend who is awake (please do not call someone who is sleep, unless it is necessary),

- Exercising first thing in the morning,

- Spend a few minutes listening to your favorite music,

- Kiss those you love before leaving the house.

2. Help someone other than yourself

 

One of the greatest feelings in the world is helping someone else.  We help ourselves everyday, but there will always be someone in need.

“We were created to serve.”

 

One reason why serving someone else is a big deal is because teaches you that it is not about you.  Also, it gives the server a better sense of humility.  With humility comes better perspective.  Better perspective will allow you to see your day in a positive light.  With your day now in more of a positive light, now it is time to get fired up about life.

3. Review your life goals

 

This may not sound like it will contribute to firing up your life, but reviewing your life goals is a great way to infuse some fire into your life.  Why?

There is nothing like knowing if you are headed in the right direction or not.

If you are headed in the right direction, reviewing your life goals should spark some excitement for you to do more of what has already made you successful.  If you are not headed in the right direction, reviewing your life goals should stimulate some urgency for you to do something difference to obtain success.

Fire up your life daily and enjoy a successful life.

 

Question: What fires up your life?  Leave your comments below.

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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9 Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

We all are guilty of not getting enough sleep at times.  However, we can’t make that a habit.  We become sleep deprived when we habitually are not able to get enough sleep.

When I have not received enough sleep, I am usually less focused and easily distracted.  I

We can make a million excuses justifying why we are unable to get enough sleep.  At the end of the day, the excuses will still be excuses.  We all need a good night’s sleep.

According to an article called Sleep and Health from the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, it states that insufficient sleep can be link to the following:

- Day-to-day feeling of irritability,

- Obesity,

- Diabetes,

- Cardiovascular disease and hypertension,

- Deficient immune function,

- Common cold, and

- Decrease in life expectancy.

Go to Bed

 

My parents would always say three words to me as a child, “Go to bed.”  I always felt like I was going to miss something.  So, I would try to stay up as long as I could before falling asleep even in my bed.

I don’t have my parents saying those three words to me now and it is easier to fall asleep as an adult.  But I do still hear the same sentiments from my wife these days.  When I start working on something, it is easy to get lost in trying to successfully complete the project.  I may not hear the words, “Go to bed.”  But I do hear my wife frequently say, “Honey, come to bed.”

There are many reasons why we all need to hear these words, “Go to bed.”

Just remember that sleep is a precious commodity.  Use it to your benefit.

Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

 

When we get really busy with other things in our lives, we tend to cheat on our sleep.

I am not telling you to hit your snooze button and lay in the bed all day.  You may end up losing your job.  However, discover ways of taking back something so precious as sleep.

You may need to take short naps during your short breaks at work or take a longer nap during your lunch breaks.  Just make sure you set your alarm clock, phone, or watch so you can get back to work.  You may need to go to bed earlier or change your work hours.

Find a way because the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep are worth your time.  Here are the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep:

1. You will perform better in every aspect of your life,

2. You will stress less,

3. You will live longer,

4. You will have better control of your weight,

5. You will improve your memory,

6. You will decrease the effectiveness of the chemicals that cause inflammation in our bodies,

7. You will be more creative,

8. You will have a stronger concentration, and

9. You will feel better overall about life

How Much is Enough?

 

I have heard a variety of people give a wide range of responses when it comes to the proper amount of sleep hours for an adult.  The answers have been from six to ten hours of sleep.

According to the Mayo Clinic and other health experts, most healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night to function at their best.

After writing this blog, I feel the need to go take a nap.  How about you?

Make the best of your life by getting more sleep.  It is critical to your success.

 

Question: How can get more sleep or improve your sleeping habits?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant Hall

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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3 Steps to Turn Nothing into Something

Success does not depend on what you start with, but success depends on what you do with what you have within your possession.

 

It is hard to believe that most successful people and organizations start with little to nothing.  With that said, what do the successful do that is different than most other people?

When you take a close look into the life of the successful, you will discover their uncanny ability to turn nothing into something.  If you follow these three steps, you will find yourself living a successful life as well.

Step 1 - Know Your Story

 

Life is full of challenges and opportunities.  One of the reasons why the successful are able to turn nothing into something is because they know the importance of their story.  We all have a unique story.

Do you know your story?  Better yet, do you know how to gain inspiration from your story?

We all have overcome some form of difficulty when we look back over our lives.  Use those life experiences to turn your nothing into something.

Step 2 - Change Your Attitude

 

We did not have much when I was a child, but my siblings and I never felt like we were lacking anything.  Rather than encouraging video game play, instead my parents would send us outside to play.  We made up most of our games with our imagination because we just did not have latest and newest toys and games.

We have the unique ability to turn nothing into something as children, but somehow we end up losing the ability to be creative and imaginative.  Think about all the structures we created as children from LEGO’s, Building Blocks, sticks, rocks, and dirt.

“All it takes is a change in attitude to turn your nothing into something.”

 

The successful are able turn nothing into something because they trust their ingenuity.  Instead of getting bogged down with the adult cares of this world, they are able to CHANGE their attitudes to be more open and creative.

Step 3 - Believe in Your Ability to Change

 

You have established your story and now have changed your attitude to a more creative one.  What’s next?  Like the successful, you have to believe in your ability to turn nothing into something.  If you don’t believe, no one else will.

Believing has everything to do with positive visualization.  When you believe, you are able to see people, things, and your dreams in a positive light.

I do not know what your nothing is, but it’s time to turn that nothing into something.

Following these three steps will not only turn your nothing into something, but it will allow you to step into the circle of the successful.

 

Question: What in your life needs to be turned from nothing to something?  Leave your comments below.

 

Peace and Prosperity,

Bryant

MTN Universal, LLC

 

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