Live Your Best Life

Living On Lack

TimDraayer — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:34:27 -0500

For awhile now, our country has been spoon feed a theory--one which has served only to broadcast one single, solitary idea.

Lack.

News about the economy, bailouts, unemployment (and the list goes on) have been so deeply penetrating most everyone I talk to subscribes to the idea of America sliding into the 10th level of hell. And soon.

Lack, lack and more lack.

With that eventually, we will most certainly be drawn into the dark pits along with it ... right?

At least, it seems to be the story we are told time and time again in newspaper articles and on the daily news. But I'll leave the debate of politics and the media to someone who is far more interested in such tedium than I.

This post is not going to be about conspiracy or about how jaded and corrupt the media may/may not be. Today I want to focus on being response enabled. However, the current situation with an unstable economy presents a good example of how we always focus on the things we lack.

In all things we have a choice, we can focus on the perception of lack or we can be response-able and take action towards the resolution of a problem.

Take the past few years I've spent in network marketing as an example. I'm a strong introvert working successfully in network marketing. As an introvert I didn't have the innate people and communication skills that many possess. After spending a year in network marketing (2006) and not making a penny I could have folded and walked away from it all.

Instead, Tom and I focused on finding something which would accentuate the positives within me, and allow me to find my voice. At the time, I didn't have even an ounce of confidence in me but he noted the passion in the emails I sent him recounting the joys of self discovery.

As a result, I started blogging and within a single month I was getting linkbacks to this very blog from high profile bloggers. Next thing I knew, I had a following and a fantastic group of people who were cheering me on. For the first time in my life, people were telling me I had value and a talent, a talent for writing and inspiring others.

As a lost and confused introvert these were very new and shocking statements. It took me that entire first year to even begin accepting their praises because I was so well versed in the idea of lack.

I don't understand why they are saying these things. I'm just an average joe, sharing some thoughts, experiences, quotes and poems which have inspired me to grow.

I'm not a talented writer.

Why are they describing me as a thought leader? I'm not ready for that (Little did I know...)

Blogging was my first success story.

Keep in mind that up to this point I'm constantly at odds with myself. Resisting the drastic rate of change I was going through, fighting to understand the attention I was receiving and ultimately accepting that everything I've ever needed to attain everything I want in life was planted within me at birth.

After a year of blogging Tom would introduce me to my second mentor, Matt Jamieson, who taught me his method of marketing his networking opportunity online.

The three of us were joining a company together and in that 2 hour conversation with Matt, my eyes were opened.

In less than two weeks, my domains were hitting the first page in Google, then Yahoo and MSN on dozens of relevent keywords. In a matter of a few months I went from making no money to having more leads than I could possibly handle alone.

Soon after I would be making enough to qualify me as a traditional home based travel agent--simply from earning commissions on the sales of the product. This doesn't even take into account the money I earned from building an organization of people beneath me who also wanted to own their own business.

Now, lets go back to the beginning for just a minute. Knowing this about my history and the successes I've had... What would have been different about my life if I had decided to give up and walk away from network marketing after a few months?

Would I be as happy as I am now?

Would I have eventually faced the demons who plagued me for the first 30 years of my life?

Would my tendency to talk myself out of a good thing ever be broken?

Would I ever learn to make use of what God gave me instead of focusing on the things I lacked?

Maybe, but I'll tell you what...

Looking back at where I was and how much pain I was in ... that was a real lack. What I really lacked was a complete life. Because I didn't focus on the skills I lacked, I was able to reclaim my soul. The friends, growth and fun I've experienced was worth every bit of struggle, every tear.

This is why it is so important for you to not focus on the things you don't have. It doesn't matter if you don't have the personality, skills, or money. Focus on and be glad for the things you have and a path will be revealed.

Sunshine and Silliness

TimDraayer — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:47:04 -0600

This morning I had the distinct pleasure of catching a glimpse of the sunrise while at work. There is something is always something unique about each sunrise, whether its the colors playing off the spherical shape of the sun or the halo effect.

As you might have noticed I enjoy these things. They are such little things and yet they always put my perspective where it belongs--on a positive road.

Today, the result is the realization that I have great things waiting for me. More work to be done but I'm ever moving forward towards my goal and that to makes me happy.

I'm in something of a fun and sarcastic mood today. So, instead of going on and on about life, learning and all the things I normally talk about, I'm going to leave you with some questions to think on.

Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii? (Perhaps Rosa can answer this one for me :))

Why isn't "palindrome" spelled the same way backwards?

Why does one get in trouble for WRECKless driving?

You know that little indestructible black box that is used on planes? Why can't they make the whole plane out of the same substance?

When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?

Heh, ok, enough silliness ... have a wonderful day!

I know I am.

Cold Days, Long Walks

TimDraayer — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:04:17 -0600

Long, bitter winter days have made me feel their bitter sting at least. We are already in the second month of the new year, had a few months of winter and I have only now begun to ache for warmer days.

I can handle the cold. After all, I'm the guy who used to walk two miles in frigid (below zero) weather to get to work and back home again. All for lack of having a car.

How did I survive without getting pneumonia, flu or even a cough?

Sheer will, determination and a mind set on not letting the weather beat me. Logically it wasn't the smartest thing to do but as I said, I've always possessed a kind of determination which saw me through some pretty rough times.

These days I don't have it so bad. I have a vehicle and I'm no longer forced to brave that kind of cold to keep a job.

But one thing remains.

My long walks.

Work is no longer my destination. I walk to clear my head, generate ideas and to absorb the beauty around me in the outside world. It always amazes me how refreshing it is to go for a brisk walk on a cool summer morning.

For the moment, our winter has given away to a warmer temperment, allowing me to once again venture out and breath the fresh air, enjoy the sun on my face. As always, I feel a kind of renewal, a cleansing.

Have you ever experienced this? One of these moments?

Perhaps yours are not triggered by gong for a walk.

What causes this kind of joy to well up within you?

Do you allow yourself to indulge in these things you enjoy from time to time?

One of the finer things in life are these little moments. When it feels as if God is reaching out to touch your life with a little piece of heaven.

Cherish them.

Remember them.

Allow them to ease your worries and strengthen your spirit. This is why they exist.

Quotes Worth Repeating - Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

TimDraayer — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:19:22 -0600

"Superior achievement or making the most of one's capabilities, is to a very considerable degree a matter of habit. This was the reason why Joe used to say to the children, 'We don't want any losers around here. In this family we want winners.' They were encouraged to be winners, leaders and victors in whatever they set their minds to...to develop the habit." - Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

The Return to Live Your Best Life

TimDraayer — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:30:16 -0600

Its been a very long time since the last time I posted here. By all rights, I could let sleeping dogs lay and begin anew but it feels somehow as if I'm returning home. After all, within the protocols and code making publishing to Live Your Best Life a reality I would find my voice--not just my physical voice but one of spirit and joy.

The time spent here publishing my thoughts, feelings and findings are something I treasure so it made perfect sense to come back at the breaking of the next leg of my journey.

Since October of last year (2007), I have been writing and building a blog of a different sort. A business blog, if you will. There I have spent time cataloging experience and expertise in the areas of network marketing and internet marketing.

Even at Network Marketing Journey I would take the time to express myself through articles coming from deep introspection but this was not the overall goal of that blog. I always felt as if something were missing--or more precisely, I missed expressing myself as I always did here.

This is why I have chosen to return to Live Your Best Life. Because it is natural and right for me to do so.

Not only that, I have many things to share and story to tell and I can't wait to share them as events unfold before me.

I would be honored if you should decide to follow along with me. This day has been a long time in coming and though I knew it would arrive, I did not know when.

My story begins at a Wal-Mart in Owatonna, Minnesota. To me it was the most unlikely of places to meet the next person who would begin to mentor me in this life. But since when are the predictable things in life the ones of greater value?

I apologize for being a bit of a tease but I look forward to speaking with you again soon. Until next time!

Live Well and Love Often.

Tim