Have you ever asked youself: What does it take to be a champion? Why am I not achieving the results that I desire? What is holding me back?

Chances are that you have. It is very likely that you also have a goal, a vision, maybe even a written mission statement. I know that at this very moment I have several written goals, but I can't always remember each one clearly. It is sometimes easier for me to focus on what I don't want, rather than what I do want.

To bring my desire into focus it is essential to have a single purpose. Something that relates to those various goals, but is really the underlying value. Then I focus on that value. How much do I want to reach that goal? Does it consume my thoughts? Do I have each detail of the benefit, the payoff, for achieving that value scripted out? Then I ask myself, when does the planning end and the doing begin? (Those who are busy doing often don't realize they are champions, they didn't plan to be a champion.)

Have plans and goals, but don't waste effort planning when you could be doing what needs to be done to achieve the goal. Be a champion by taking the steps to do what needs to be done each day. Listen to those values deep in your heart and make good decisions because you are a champion, don't try to be one. Remind yourself of all the good. Focus on serving and helping. Don't worry a second about tomorrow or regret the mistakes that got you here.

Doing comes from knowing who you are. Be a champion and you will do what champions do.

Ruth 4:15
15And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age...

What system do you use for finding prospects? At some point the referrals may be slow or not coming at all. If you are just starting out, what systems should you use?

If you know of some other posts that deal with this please point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.

I passed the insurance exam and applied for my MO license which I received in the mail just last week. I am now employed as Agency Producer instead of being a Consultant.

I'm so excited!

The last month I have been really focused on learning the new skills I need to be successful in sales. Being a salesman is not only a huge challenge, but a huge opportunity. My Dad has been a salesman for 20+ years, and he has given me several books to read. One of my favorites is The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino, another is Ziglar on Selling by Zig Ziglar.

I have been surprised at how much of what is in these books I have heard before in another way. But I realized something very important, a secret that was hidden right in front of me that I never gave enough attention.

Everyday habits bind me to a course of action, one that is almost impossible to escape from. Like the DNA in a tree that tells itself how fast, how high, how wide, and what fruit to grow. Like an object with a large mass being acted upon by inertia-its own gravity.

There are many philosopies that we adapt into our lives without even realizing how deep they become rooted. It is so nice to know that we were created with the ability to create, to change and not just react. I am who I am because of my choices, because of what I focus on and think about. Because of the habits and patterns of thinking that are established over time.

I'm so excited to be in the right place at the right time!

suc·cess      /səkˈsɛs/

Having what you want, or enjoying what you have? Being content, or having ambition? My desires and appetites have dictated much of my actions. I'm learning that many of my good intentions won't take me where I want to be. Success is a delicate balance of values. I determine where I spend my time and if I enjoy how I spend that time. Reaping what I sow, consequences of actions I did not realize would have such long term impact, I am sometimes tempted to take a break.

Taking a break usually means I am not actively involved in a conflict, sometimes maybe a conversation, but usually I let my mind wander. When I wander in the state of mind where imagination is free I begin to contemplate one of two things. I either begin to think about what got me here, and what actions I took, how far back I did what I did, why I did what I did. Or I begin to imagine what it would feel like to be who I want to be, to be doing the things I would like to do, to have the freedoms, responsibility, and life that I really desire deep down somewhere that aches.

How did you get where you are now? Where do you want to be? What will it take for you to get there?

This gap between what I want and where I am makes my creative imagination work for me, to develop ideas to overcome this distance. When I close the gap I will celebrate my success and then look again to see where the gap is opening up again.

I've heard it called creative tension and those who have achieved great success have learned how to cope without turning that creative tension into stress.

That's all I got for my first blog. I look forward to a new year and opportunity for great success.

Quote: "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these." - George Washington Carver