Another FREE audio for you - and a question...

What an awesome week of victories and defeats!
Football! Ultimate Fighting! Basketball playoffs!
I love it all - the fighting most of all - who knew? And who didn't love watching Georges St. Pierre beat the pants off of BJ Penn? I couldn't even find anyone to bet against me at the sports club.

But again, the real lessons were "Beneath the Surface,"
to quote the title of Micheal Phelp's first book.

Speaking of Micheal...What was he thinking?
Now the photos of him are plastered everywhere
as he is smoking pot from a bong (looking like quite
a pro at it) His fans were forgiving after his DUI,
but on this one, he lost a lot of them.

Love and respect your fans - when they're not around.

Why?

Because...

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE - WHEN NO
ONE IS WATCHING!

And even if you're famous for what you do, people
want to believe in who you are.

The real hero of the week?

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger -

Oh, not just because of his miraculous crash landing
on the Hudson River a few weeks ago, where his
cool head saved at least a hundred and fifty lives.

No, that was too public.

His hero award today?

He gets the award because through the chaos of
the crash landing, he lost his library book in the
plane cockpit.

Because of this, when no one was looking, he called
the library to inform them of the lost book and ask
for a waiver of late fees.

Um, he really didn't have to do that, but he did
because it was the "right thing."

What was the book about?

Professional ethics.

He probably could have written the book.

What made him a hero when the pressure was on
to crash-splash land an airplane? His character.

Lots of "winners" have the talent to take them
where their character can't keep them.

Not you. You have both - talent and character.

Be who you want to be - when no one is looking.

God sees everything - and...

The Game Knows.

Here's an audio about the Five Steps that make
you a real winner.

I'm sharing with a crowd of firefighters and cops -
so it's a fairly intimate setting with some of my
favorite heroes.

You can download it here:
http://sohappygina.audioacrobat.com/download/FirehouseSCORE.mp3

Or you can just listen through your computer right here:
http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WTjbX8hs

I'll see you again next week. I am thankful for all our
new readers. Let me know how I can serve and support
you.

Remember that you were made to win - so keep playing
hard, and enjoy your game!

In your corner,

PS - If you don't know how to keep your cool under
pressure - than learn the secrets in Flow On Demand-
The Athlete's Edge. The same techniques that work
for professional athletes under fire, will work for you
too - whatever your game. You can get it here:
http://www.builttowincoaching.com/athletes/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Coming up:
I know a majority of my readers on this list are testosterone- driven men who
cannot for the life of them relate to the romance project I'm releasing in the
next two weeks.

However, if you are married, than you will be really happy if your wife gets
a hold of it, (although I'm sure she wants you all the time...)
so please find a way to share it with her, and her girlfriends.
I'll keep you posted.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you would like to quit spinning your
wheels and finally experience true breakthrough
in your life and business, than please visit:
http://www.BuiltToWinCoaching.com for your
free MINDSET MASTERY MINI-COURSE.

Gina Parris is an internationally sought-after
peak performance speaker, coach, and author.
She is the founder of Built To Win Coaching,
Where she equips business owners and
solo-preneurs to skyrocket their authentic
success through mindset mastery and strategic action.

http://www.BuiltToWinCoaching.com
Abundant Life - expressed in your livelihood
(931) 461-7836

Success Verses a Successful Life

What makes a person a success? We are such a performance driven culture. I make my living as a peak performance coach. And yet, it is your success in life as a whole that means more than any successful performance.

As we draw near the close of the year, it is time to ask - was it a successful year? Did you come closer to the goals that matter to you? Did you make good on your promises to yourself and those around you? Are you living a successful life?

I read "success" books like most people listen to music. I read biographies and autobiographies of "great" people, but I've noticed that even for these, success is easier to come by than a successful life. They may become millionaires but lose their marriage, succeed in business but have children who despise them, succeed in sports or entertainment, yet have addictions that eat them alive. That, my friend, is not a successful life. It is not your inheritance to have public success at the expense of private peace. You can have both.

Today, I encourage you to look at all of your roles. Who are you as a spouse, a friend, a parent, a son or daughter, a sibling, a co-worker, an employee, a boss? How do you want to be remembered under each of these hats? What words would you like to have describe you? Hint - for this exercise you can not use the word "successful." Instead, I recommend quality-of-life words like, "Faithful, joyful, loving, satisfied, generous, fulfilled..." Think of who you want to be when no one is watching. That is authentic success.

Remember finding true success is not a matter of accomplishing some external goal to validate who you are. Rather, it is becoming who you want to be, and in so doing, attracting all of the pieces necessary to live the life of your dreams. You were created to live a life of purpose - a life on purpose. You were meant to be blessed in order to be a blessing. Toiling endlessly is a part of the curse. I choose to rejoice in the blessing purchased on the cross.

Enjoy the little things today. Count out loud, the things that make you smile. As you do, you will realize that your success has been available all along.

Until next time,

Enjoy the journey

Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

On Being Vulnerable

I have just returned from San Diego where I gathered with about 20 other coaches to launch our businesses to new heights.
I expected it to be a fruitful time. I was unprepared for the genuine love that would bond us all together so quickly.
How did we get so close to eachother? We let ourselves be vulnerable. We knew that we were safe.
As we tackeled the emotional barriers that keep us short of our potential, we cheered each other on. We gave to each other the kind of compassion and faith that we normally give our clients and loved ones.
It made me proud to be a coach; to work in a field with so many of pure heart.
It also made me wonder how any one in this world reaches their highest potential without a skilled and loving coach in their corner. Where else does one go week in and week out, where she is totally safe, can be totally vulnerable, and find healing, and unlimited success?
I know one thing for sure, I am committed to bringing increase to as many people as come my way. I want the world to know there is a safe place.

Proverbs 20:18
Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.

They Might Not Like You!

I was reminded of a conversation I had with a mom when I was 14 years old. We had just met this family and they invited my whole family to their home for dinner. I was excited because they had some kids close to our ages. I was enjoying the evening very much when this Mom said to me,
"Gina, you are the most interesting young girl I have ever seen. As I watch you, it's like it never even occurs to you that people may not like you!"
I stopped in my tracks, wondering what in the world she meant.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
She repeated her observation, and so I asked, "Do I bother you?"
"No." She said with a smile, "I just think it is interesting how easily you mix with everybody."
I left the room thinking what a bummer it would be to spend my life worrying about whether or not everyone liked me.
Over the years however, I have realized that most people have some sort of this fear of rejection. They fear reaching out to other people because they are not sure they have any internal value to offer. People who fail to see value in themselves are quick to see the weaknesses in others as well. This sometimes comes off as a critical spirit, and it makes the people around them feel badly.
As a result, the critical, under-confident person may indeed be unpopular. The fear fulfills itself.
The Great Commandment teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves. There is nothing holy in not loving yourself. You cannot give away what you don't have, but you only get to keep what you give away.
Don't be afraid. God's love in you can not fail. If you get a revelation of how loved you are, it is easier to break the cycle of defeat.
And what about those people who really don't like you? Well, greater is the Love in you, than the hate in them! Choose the higher way -you'll know what to do.

Gina
1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.

The Hero of the Story

My in-laws stopped by for a visit last week from San Diego. As they drove into our driveway, they were greeted by the twins. Matthew was wearing a shirt that said, "Robin Hood."
"Guess what." Matthew told them, "I was in a play called Robin Hood."
"You were? That is wonderful."
"Yes, and I was the HERO of the story!"
"The hero!" said Grandma. "You mean you were Robin Hood?"
"Well, no." He replied. "I was a skunk. Actually, I was Skunk Number Two."

You have to love a director who can convince a skunk that he is the hero of the story!

You are probably a hero to somebody. Today you can tell yourself, "I am the hero of this story!" And then create your day just as you desire.

We're going to Williamsburg Virginia for a week of baseball today. I will be a hero if I can stay cheerful with 4 kids in a car for 12 hours. Each Parris child will be a hero if he stays sweet. And the All-Stars will be heroes if they play like they know how...in 3 digit heat.

Pray for us,
Gina

Lessons from Aladdin

I love to watch Disney's story of Aladdin.

It is a tale of a young orphan who dreams of finding himself in a better place with the woman of his dreams. The woman is of course, the princess.

The real show stealer is the genie, who would like to convince the boy that magic carpets and princely clothes, and mighty elephants are not what make him a prince worthy of the princess. It is his ability to be himself, brave and true.

Because the princess is already true royalty, she has the perception to see that this "street rat" belongs in the palace, despite his humble upbringing. She sees his royal qualities, even when he does not.

In the end, Alladin becomes the prince, not by the power of the genie, but by the power of his selfless love. His character was proven in the face of danger.

Many people see themselves as unworthy street rats, when in reality, they have been called to be royalty, seated in heavenly places.

It is said that you don't know what is inside of a teabag until you put it in hot water. The same can be true of a man or woman. Whether you are a prince or a pauper will be evident when the tough times come your way.


James 1:2-4
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,(royal) not lacking anything.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light