Category Archives: Courage

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Take yourself off the Fiscal Cliff

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Have you ever wondered what is going to happen when the country goes over the fiscal cliff? The first thing that happens is the bill collectors will know that our country is serious about debt freedom. And all of us in the family called the United States of America will go over the Fiscal Cliff also and have to pay the price. We will all pay a price sooner or later for the mistakes of our elected officials and the wizards of capitalism.  As a leader I have great respect for both professions but I do not believe they are focused on the effect these problems have on the common family. Having said that, “What can we do about the coming Fiscal Cliff and the challenges it will present?”

I think we all need to take ourselves off the Fiscal Cliff.

 

These following principles apply to our personal lives and the United States of America collectively.

Tighten up now or get tightened up later

If you look at your finances and it costs you more to live than you earn, then you must tighten up your spending. Look at the things you do not need and cut all conveniences.  Remember convenience kills.  My queen says, “Convenience is for rich people.”  Every time you say, :it is easier this way”, in the arena of purchases please measure the true cost. If you are not honest with every purchase you will find your self with less capital to work with.

Anything that we can do to raise personal savings is very much in the interest of this country.
Alan Greenspan

I’m climbing up, but I’m taking the scenic route

Once you take yourself over the fiscal cliff there will be some bumps and bruises, mainly to your ego and your immediate satisfaction.  After the initial pain it is necessary to have a mind make over.  If you have truly tightened up your fiscal life then you will have to add patience to your fiscal assent.   I call this taking the scenic route.  It may take just a little more time but you are enjoying the view.  Enjoy the little things, like removing the noose of the creditors and spending quality family time. It is not happiness that you gain from going over the fiscal cliff it is peace and whole life prosperity.

Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.  Psalm 122:7

Are you ready to go over the Fiscal Cliff?  How will it hurt you? How will it help you?

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15 days to Jump Start you New Year

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As we age our shapes and our egos take a beating because of our habits.  Healthy living becomes an important part of our lives.  For me one of my revolving New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight, eat healthier and exercise more.  This year I am going to start early and I challenge you to join with me.  During the holidays season there will be amble opportunities to turn to bad habits.  We have to use these moments to define our healthy future.

 

  1. Stretch and Meditate

Every morning for 30 minutes warm up your mind and body

 

  1. Use breakfast as a healthy launch pad

Eat more fruits and grains

Take your vitamins

Prepare a healthy lunch at home- Saves calories and money

  1. Work out or find a heart rat raising activity

Add another 45 minute workout

If working out is not your thing PLAN smart activities

  • Walking the mall
  • Riding a bicycle
  • Dancing with the children
  • Working in the Yard (like I will do today… yeah pine straw)

Now here is where I will seem to go off message.  Eat what you would like after the second daily workout.  Just eat in moderation.  Have a healthy snack at night and you will meet your goals.  Life is full of good things to eat and fun ways to maintain your health.  Combine the two facets of life and your soul will have harmony.

My goal is to lose 5 pounds in 20 days.  What is your goal?

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Patience has no fear

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  • Fear and faith cannot exist together
  • Children of God must act on the will of their Father

 

 

Patience has no fear because it knows the outcome will be delightful.  Fear comes to move you off of your path of great accomplishment.  Once I was afraid to commit to working out because, I thought the time would take away from my family. Then I questioned if an unhealthy lifestyle would take away years at the end of my life or cause countless days at the doctor’s office.  Fear has an unstable foundation and will crumble with careful consideration.  A person can live with fear so long, that it becomes comfortable to them.  We let fear speak to us in daily activities, so much that we think fear is our unconscious mind attempting to protect us. We must use our faith, our abilities and the Almighty to combat this enemy.  In the canvas of the mind fear and faith cannot co-exist, one will dominate.  Faith requires action, fear promotes inaction.  When decisions arise today ask for wisdom to recognize when you are bowing down to the calamitous reports of fear.

 

Strive to be a faith giant.  Faith giants move to different states to pursue dreams. Faith giants call businesses with ideas to sell and have no prior experience.  Faith giants claim debt freedom while possessing a horrid debt to income ratio.  God helps faith giants and those of little faith but the more your faith is evident the more He has to work with.  The Bible says,

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  1 John 4:18

 

So love yourself, love people and love the Creator who continually supports you.  Repel fear and be patient for your dreams.

How have you overcome fear recently?

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Confession for protection: Psalm 91

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The following post is a prayer adaptation that I heard a long time ago.  It is a way to personalize Psalm 91.  There is a link to the original King James Version for your comparison.  I will highlight the altered portions.  You can say this in whenever you spend time with God it also good for your children use it as a prayer.

Psalm 91

I dwell in the secret place of the most High and shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

3 Surely He shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover me with His feathers, and under His wings shall I trust: His truth shall be my shield and buckler.

5 I shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand; but it shall not come near me

8 Only with my eyes shall I behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because I have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, my habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall me, neither shall any plague come near my dwelling.

11 For He shall give His angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways.

12 They shall bear me up in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone.

13 I shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall I trample under my feet.

14 Because I have set my love upon God, therefore will He deliver me: He will set me on high, because I have known His name.

15 I shall call upon Him, and He will answer me: He will be with me in trouble; He will deliver me, and honor me.

16 With long life will He satisfy me, and show me His Great salvation.

Please share this with your friends and family.  My book is coming soon, join the mailing list.

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Change your thoughts and grow

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The Patience to Dominate is a state of mind that converts all of a person’s dreams, goals, setbacks and delays into positive progressions for ultimate success.  The process of procuring patience is a major key to dominating your life.

The principles of the Patience to Dominate have relevance for the wildly successful and those with limited success. You may think that you do not have anything successful to report.  If you are alive you have a slice of success.  And your decision to read this shows your interest in improvement.  Now let’s prepare to dominate.

 

I have formulated a definition for The Patience to Dominate it is:

Increasing ones capacity for calm, admirable endurance of a trying situation, circumstance or person, this comes out of understanding, mastery or control of oneself and the knowledge that the Creator has supreme determining or guiding influence over all.

 

You have the patience to dominate by mastering yourself. To master and control yourself, you must dominate your thoughts and dominate your actions. Your thoughts should line up with your goals. If you want something to change and you are continuosly thinking thoughts of “it is always going to be like this”, then you will not have change.  Focus your thoughts on the change you desire.

After your thought world is functioning proper, put actions to your thoughts.  Actions small and great are required to dominate your world.  Move forward at every opportunity. Even when you catch yourself falling into bad habits don’t give up, make a positive action in your mess.

 

Know that The Creator “has supreme determining or guiding influence over all.” He is there helping you dominate, you are not alone.  When you exhaust all of your options, positive thoughts and positive actions, He is already there with the help.  You have to settle this in your mind and heart and move without fear.

 

You will have the Patience to Dominate if you change your thoughts, change your mind and trust God.

 

What will use your abilities to dominate today?

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Hurricane Sandy: Patience for Recovery

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My heart goes out to all the people dealing with the aftermath of the recent Super Storm Sandy.  The winds of the hurricane are gone but the echo remains.  I know the strain of this walk back to normalcy because of the recent tornadoes in Alabama.  While we were spared the wind damage, we sustained flood damage. To give you an idea look around your house and think of losing everything that is below your waist line.  Imagine all of your pillows, shoes, records, appliances and yes and your furnace and air conditioner completely ruined.  Now, imagine losing everything and having no answers about recovery.  We had members of our Boy Scout Troop lose their entire home.  So let’s pray for all of these people and towns; pray that they keep their peace during these trying times. Peace is what everyone involved in Hurricane Sandy will need.

Here is a letter I would write if one of my personal friends were in the storm:

I am glad that you and your family are safe.  God’s grace is evident in every situation.  Recovery will seem elusive because of the enormity of the storm and it may seem overwhelming right now.  There is hope if you are willing to be Patient.  Patience is weaving a pattern to achieve a desired outcome. With all of the chaos of assessing the damage and lose of you and your neighbors I urge you to make a decision. Make a decision on what outcome you desire.  While there are some factors to consider in regards to finances and personal preferences but your true focus should be on what do you want this situation to look like in a year.

 

Think big picture or your mind will get caught in the space of “what I used to Have/Do”.  Recovery is possible but restoration is up to a higher power.  You can recover your peace and joy, real soon.  Look to a brighter future that is free from your past.  I know you have a lot to do so I will send you another letter in a week to give you some more ideas on having the Patience for Recovery.

 

Dominate your actions, Dominate your thoughts, Dominate your world, tm

William J. Spencer, IV

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Do not get tired of dreaming.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubyblossom/

Dream like a baby

 

The other day I was thinking this dreaming thing gets old, especially if you have high expectations.  The problem comes when dreams do not see any results.  Every dreamer needs encouragement so I am here to help those of you that still want to be on the dream team.  Below are a few things that can be used in low moments to you back on track.

1.       Be encouraged

Be happy that you still have the opportunity to envision a more peaceful existence.

2.       You have to keep hope alive

No hope, no life.  This is simple but direct because once you give up the hope of achieving your dreams; your ability to dream will diminish.

3.       Think positive and shine the light on your dream

Norman Vincent Peale had it right; there is Power in Positive Thinking.  Think big and think positive often.  Also, shine a light on your dreams.  Let some others know about what you are dreaming about.  Do not feel ashamed for delayed dreams.

4.       Stay with your dream, persistence pays dividends

You will see victory if you continue to the end.  The privilege of persistence is that you are now familiar with the enemy.  Now you know what do to and you are equipped to overcome.

5.       Loose the attitude

Just because you are not living in a dream state, does not give you the right to throw sour grapes at everyone else.  If you have an bad attitude, you are blocking your dreams. 

10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  James 3:10-11

 

Here is an easy way to get back to on the Dream Team.  Pick two things that you know you can do and complete them.  After that pick three hard things and finish them quickly.  Now you can do this over and over again until your Dreams are Dreams no more.  All you have now is a Dream life.

 

What 2 things are you going to do today to help your Dreams?

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What kind of Ambassador are you?

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Be an Ambassador

  • Realize that you represent a higher cause
  • Your response or lack thereof must demonstrate control

 

Ephesians 6:20 For which I am ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The idea of an ambassador is fascinating because you represent all the power and honor of the organization you represent however you are not the focus of that privilege.  Whatever cause you represent whether it is Boy Scouts, a multinational corporation, a family or a country the cause is greater than you as an individual.  Realizing that you represent more than just yourself should add restraint to your regimen.  Your actions now carry more weight which is good when positive motives are in play.

When you are a diplomat you have to decide whether to use Hard Power or Soft Power. Here is a quote from my forthcoming book “Patience to Dominate”

While it is rational to stay patient and focused on your goal, there are actions and mannerisms that can be used to diffuse tense situations and still allow you to emerge victorious.  This method is termed, soft power.  Soft power is used in diplomacy to enhance relationships and still influence the current situation in your favor.

Conversely some negotiations require a drastically different approach.  This diplomatic approach is called hard power. Hard power is like and eagle spreading his wings to demonstrate his majesty.

When you are serious about your position on a matter or an end goal, many times, the thing that challenges you will have less leverage.   “Patience to Dominate” the book

 

Ambassadors have many decisions to make on behalf of those they represent. Patience is needed to decipher what course to take when presented with a situation.  In all situations control over your tongue, your gestures, your finances and your time articulate the position of those you represent.

 

 

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

How will you be diplomatic today.

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Failure is an option, do not choose it

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulobrandao/I am not failure, Patient Leadership uses failure as another opportunity to achieve greatness.

If you fall, fall on your back. If you can look up, you can get up.
Les Brown

The other night I could not sleep and it was entirely my fault. It was the night after the Toastmasters Table Topics contest, where I came in second to better competition. I believe if I would have done my best, I still would have been challenged to succeed…. BUT, I stunk, my words were garbled, my eye contact was weak and my sentences were tangled. Worst of all I conveyed the personality of a sad toad. Maybe, this a little harsh but I believe I rank with the best speakers God put on this earth. Granted I am still evolving, I believed this was a step towards my achievable dreams. All that being aside, I went home with my head hanging down. And lost sleep thinking of how many; many times I have captivated the crowd in these situations. Truth is, I failed and I needed to figure out how to right the ship and right my mind. Oh, this was my first contest of this sort, so how could a person who teaches on patience be upset.

Upset I was so I called the Magic City Toastmasters, President, Alex Bumpers and he gave me his philosophy on how I should handle this situation.

Steps to take after a failure.

State of Reflection
Allow your mind to go over the details of the events. Give yourself some time to digest and process all the events. No judgment, just contemplation

Strategic Phase
New Vision is necessary to proceed. You had a vision of what success looked like and now you have to decide if you have the same desires. Queen Janetta said,”
You have to decide if you even want to play that game anymore.” Some goals are worth going for again and others are just proving grounds for the better life.

Action Plan
“Roles and Goals”. Define who’s going to do what and when. Make decisions that will propel you to the next level. My one reason for joining
Toastmasters was to improve my skills as an inspirational speaker. After my last performance, I can see there is aspects of my craft that need enhancement.

Implementation
Alex Bumpers says, “You can’t be successful from 40,000 feet in the air, you have to get down in the trenches.” Hands on enactment are vital to the success of any
venture. Put your dreams into action. All babies need milk to grow. See and do it. The future belongs to those who are about their business.

Success or Failure
After following these steps you will either have success or failure and in both events you should go back to the Reflection phase to gather more intelligence.
By continuously repeating this process you will eliminate failures and multiply success.

Anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment, put your head down and plow ahead.
Les Brown

What process do you use after a failure or success?

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Decision Makers use courage and conviction

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Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isaiah 28:16
To live your life with courage and conviction, know your true values and dreams. Patient Leadership leads with principle and planning. The beginning of this Bible verse talks about the foundation that God has laid for in Zion, namely Jesus, the precious cornerstone. Then He follows it up with, “He that believeth shall not make haste”. This same type of conviction can be carried into life on all matters. If you believe in your goal you will have courage and patience. Do not be so hasty to arrest a situation, allow the facts and the truth to rise to the surface. It takes courage and conviction to stand on your sure foundation.
As I developed areas that focused on the philosophy of “Patience to Dominate”, many opportunities to expose the plan prematurely came up. I had to have the courage to continue working the project that was in front of me and not get distracted. Conviction was necessary to assure myself that I was on the right path. It was my duty to continue building a sure foundation before launch.
Apply courage and conviction to every area of your life and watch the blessings rain down on you. There is room for the dreamers and believers that are bold in their endeavors. Go forward with confidence in yourself and the God who made you.

What are examples of your courage and conviction?