How to Get What You Want - Be Thankful

So, we are continuing our series on how to get what you really want.

There is nothing I love more than seeing supernatural success take over our mediocre circumstances. This is the place where you can't help but smile, and shake your head at the goodness of God.

What is the single biggest key to laying hold of the supernatural success? Well, after clearly seeing it with your imagination, the secret is to jump for joy with gratitude - before you see it with your physical eyes. Be grateful for the promise, and do not doubt.

Several years ago, Paul had a great job with a beautiful broadband company in Spokane, Wa.
At that time I heard a specific word from God in my spirit. "A famine is coming to this land, but don't worry. I will take care of you. Do not go get a job when it happens."

Oh boy. I was so excited to see what this meant. At the time I was staying home with our four little kids, and the finances, were a little tight, so I was sure it meant that Paul would get a promotion.

Instead, he got laid off. (this was shortly after 9/11 - Thanksgiving time.) Woo hoo! We both had faith, that promotion would come quickly.

The first month went by, what a time of amazing refreshing. But no new job. How strange. But we were thankful for what was coming!

The second month - same thing. Thank you! How strange that I was not to go work.

The third month - now, this seemed like an unfair vacation.

The fourth month - where in the world was the money coming from - we didn't know, but we hadn't lacked - not even through Christmas. Thank you!

The fifth month - we kept giving, and kept seeing supernatural provision. We were thankful.

The sixth month - this was amazing - having Paul home to help with the toddlers was a dream come true to me!

The seventh month - it began to feel like our 'vacation' was winding down. The anticipation was still building.

The eighth month - we kept rejoicing in the job to come, in the salary that would be at least a 20% raise, and finally...

Paul was hired by the company in Spokane that still employs him down here in Tennessee.
We were thankful!

Now, neither of us would have dreamed that we would have gone 8 months without a paycheck. The media was abuzz with the fact that there were no "family wage jobs," in Spokane." This made us all the more excited to see a miracle.

The idea that God would fail us was absolutely unthinkable. We had such a special grace for this time.

If it makes you feel any better, the day before Paul's new employer called, he did feel a crack in his faith! He slammed his Bible shut and hollered "It's not working. It shouldn't take this long!" Still I was able to stay strong for him, as he would for me in the next test we faced.

lesson - find someone to stand with you!

In the end, we enjoyed eight months together during a very special time in our children's lives. We never failed to give away ten percent of our little income, never paid a bill late, never went without a good meal, and we did not incur any debt. Paul's new job brought the 20% increase we were expecting. (yes, now we believe bigger.)

Several months later when we did our taxes, we looked at the numbers and I shook like a leaf. It was then that I felt a sickening wash of fear.

"Oh my gosh," I gasped "We were poor!"

By then, it was funny.

Now I know that money is just energy. It is spiritual. It comes in response to faith and gratitude, as does every good thing.

Today, our annual income is several times more than our "poor" year, but looking back, that may have been one of our richest seasons ever.

What is it you are believing for? Do you have a promise for it at all? If so, rejoice in the promise, forget about the problem, and you will see miracles.

Assignment:
Finish this sentence as specifically as possible, and then look at it constantly:

"I am SO happy and thankful now for..."

Put all the wonderful things you enjoy - past, present and future - and declare them all in present tense.

When it puts the smile on your face - you know you are in the right place to receive.

Until next time,

Gina

Phil 4:6 (New Life Version)
6 Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need.

Facing Obstacles on the Journey

We've been talking about my mission to see you ENJOY your life and live it On Purpose. We talked about how important it is to be very specific about what exactly you want, and we talked about asking the right questions.

So, what about when you are faced with obstacles? What should you do with those big, insurmountable, highly stressful, events that seem to throw you off course and steal your joy?

DON'T PANIC -STAY IN A PLACE OF FAITH.

The obstacles that come against us seem bigger than they are. They seem insurmountable when they are not. They do not have to throw us off course, and they certainly do not have to stress us out and steal our joy. There is ALWAYS a way to get where we need to go.

Keep your eyes fixed on the final outcome. Where are you headed? More importantly - how will you feel when you get there? As much as possible, hold to that feeling now. Of course you will get there, and when you do, it would be a shame to have wasted so much time and energy feeling terrible along the way.

As I type this, my fifteen year old son is en route to Honolulu from Tennessee - by himself, to play baseball with a team of players that he doesn't know. He and another team mate whom he just met, have been re-routed to several different airports for one canceled flight after another. Their luggage is headed to the wrong city. They have had very little sleep, and multiple opportunities to panic throughout the past eight hours. At one point, it looked like they might have to spend the night in Dallas.

Now that is an obstacle on a journey!

Through the myriad of phone calls and text messages one thing is clear. He and his new buddy have managed to stay calm, as they find a way to get there. They just ate, and they are actually enjoying themselves. They are looking forward to getting to Hawaii.

How are they managing that? They have each other.

I can imagine that if Jordan were facing all of these issues by himself, he would be nearing emotional meltdown. It is amazing the power of just one friend, who also knows better than to panic.

Lesson:

1. Stay focused on the end goal
2. Keep your emotions in check
3. Ask for help from people who know what they're doing
4. Pick team mates who are positive

Obstacles come against everybody. We don't all face the same obstacles on the same journeys, but we all can use them as opportunities to learn something that we didn't know before.

I have faith in you. Whatever it is that you are dealing with - it is smaller than you. You are bigger than you look, stronger than you feel, and there is ALWAYS a way to get where you want to go. So do not panic. Stay in a place of faith.

I'll be here, cheering you on.

Until next time - Keep playing hard, and enjoy your game!

The Power of Questions to Get What You Want

Remember when you were little? You probably drove the adults around you nuts by asking, "Why?" all the time. You were naturally curious, and you were learning at an astonishing rate. During your first four years of life, you learned more than most college students learn in four years of university study. In fact, you learned ideas that shaped your life - ideas about money, relationships, and your self.

Today, I want to encourage you to return to your curious nature. Ask more questions! In fact,
I really want your input today. I am asking you - what is the greatest question you have about
achieving your dreams, or creating wealth, or overcoming obstacles?

I am convinced that if we ask the right questions, we will discover the "right" answers.

Some people only ask un-empowering questions like:
"Why do bad things always happen to me?"
"What is wrong with me?"
"Why are people so stupid?"

These might be honest enough questions, but you will find greater power in asking more specific
questions like:

"How might I overcome my doubts about this project?"
"What must I do differently right now to achieve the result I want?"
"How might I influence my team to unleash their true potential?"

Often I step into the future when dealing with a problem, and I ask from there:
"How did I turn that around so powerfully?"
"How did I create so much freedom in my schedule?"
"How did I quit feeling so stressed-out all the time?"

Your mind is incredibly powerful. It will absolutely seek out the answers to the questions you pose.

Today, please let me know what questions you are asking. If you have any questions about
the Five Steps to Guarantee Your Victory - feel free to ask me those too.

I am committed to your success, and I'm working on some programs that you can study at
home!

Until next time, keep playing hard, keep the questions coming, and enjoy your game!

In your corner,

Gina

How to get what you REALLY want

This is it.

After several conversations in a row with people who are struggling along in life, I am on a mission. It is a mission to see you ENJOY your life - and LIVE it ON PURPOSE.

I'm going to start with a posting every Tuesday for a while about How to Get What You Really Want. Much of what I say may not be new, but I pray you'll hear it in a new way, and be able to take some action to seize something precious that has been eluding you.

Take these ideas and apply them to whatever area resonates with you. It can be business, relationships, or your health and fitness. Whatever area - these steps are the same.

Step ONE -
Know what you REALLY want.

This seems obvious, but most people don't even know what excites them. They don't have a clear image of what they want in their career, in their business, in their home life, in their health, in their stuff.

This is why in the SCORE! guide - I encourage you to take a long time on step one. Spell out your vision.

A very important law here is the law of specificity. This means that you must be crystal clear on what you want. I'll give you an example from one of the first times I began getting specific with my desires.

I was 17, and tired of selling men's suits. (actually, I got that job this same way, but by now, I was ready for something new.) So, I started thinking and I wrote the following things down:
1. Work outside
2. Work full-time
3. Be done working by 4:30 each day
4. Get to wear comfortable clothes
5. Make more than I'm making now

So, then I started asking:
What jobs might fit this description?

Finally, I got an idea - I could work for the parks department in the summer kid's day- camp program. Perfect! And how fun. I was perfect for the job.

However, I didn't get hired. I couldn't believe it. Did they NOT read my application and see how perfect I was for this? I'd been tutoring kids and developing programs since the eighth grade! But alas, this job would have only paid minimum wage.

Instead within the week, I was hired by the school district to be a non-union gardener. "Gardener," mind you was a generous term for "lawn-mower," but the job suited me just fine.

I ended up getting to...
1. Work outside (when we weren't driving around trying to cram 4 hours of work into an eight hour day)

2. Work forty hours a week (and not a moment more - most of the crew WERE union members)

3. Get done each day by 3 pm

4. Wear jeans and "sneakers"

5. Make double what I made selling suits

So, I was a happy laborer. In fact, that summer I spent each day listening to motivational teaching tapes as I mowed the lawns, and this had a great impact on the direction of my life.

I have practiced this law of specificity on just about everything since then, from that Cutie -Pie that I would marry, to the homes that we would live in - and it has always worked.

Yes, there is more to it, but that is the imperative first step.

So, now it is your turn. What are you believing for right now? Get specific. Let me know about it. It thrills my heart to be able to believe with you.

Until next time - Get out that paper - and get writing!

Next Tuesday I'll tell you the next step!

Hint - it rhymes with Relieve....

Let me know how I can help you.

Gina

Get Huge and BE Somebody

When I was in High School, I had a boyfriend who was a football player. He often wore a T-shirt from a local gym that read, "Get Huge and BE Somebody." He thought it was a hilarious slogan.

Puh-leese!

When he went to play college ball on a full-ride, the pressure to Get Huge and Be Somebody became even worse. The joke wasn't funny any more. At 6'2 and 215 pounds, he wasn't quite huge enough, or something. He left football, went to a different university, and became a minister.

"Get Huge and Be Somebody."

What a silly slogan. I could have had my own slogan for the next several years. My variation said, "Get Skinny and BE Somebody." I drove myself to disorder.

BE SOMEBODY!!

This is what the world tells us, and then they give us feeble attempts at how to prove that we are somebody at long last:

Get Huge. Get Skinny. Get Rich. Get Drunk.

And then what? Then are you somebody? Finally are you validated? I work with high-achieving clients every week who definitely feel like they swallowed a lie somewhere along the road.

I have a better idea.

YOU ARE SOMEBODY!

Be who you are created to be. Be the child of God. Be the answer to somebody's prayer. Be the friend who sticks closer than a brother. Be the mate who loves unconditionally. Be the parent who actually enjoys the moment. Be joyful. Be at peace. Be strong. Be courageous. Be faithful. Be who you are - when no one is looking.

That is the person you need to be-friend. The real you. The one who is worthy simply because of grace.

Amazing things happen when you become clear on who you want to be. You find resources to do what you want to do, and the power to leave a legacy. You even find it easy to acquire what you want to have.

Success in life is not so much about what you achieve, it's about who you become in the process.

That my friend, is huge.

You are somebody.

Don't wait to celebrate.


1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain;

Focus on the Fun in Your "Game."

Last Sunday my oldest son asked me to drive him to the baseball field to meet most of his High School teammates. (Unlike the others, he's too young to drive.)

"Mom, twelve of us are meeting at the Little League Field to play tennis ball baseball - can you drive me up there?"

The request made me laugh.

"You mean on your only day off from baseball, you want to play baseball?"

I thought of all the times that these boys battle horrible weather, endure extra long practices, and the many school nights that they get home close to midnight. Yet, today, they would be giants on a Little League Field, with no coaches to yell at them as they played purely for (gasp) fun!

With a broad smile he replied, "Exactly!"

It was a heartwarming sight, and a much needed break from what sometimes feels like baseball tedium.

What is the game that you are playing today? Has it lost any of its youthful exuberance? Do you find yourself trudging through the motions?

If so, I encourage you to close your eyes and remember a time when it was fresh and new. Remember former victories and celebrate them again. If possible, shake up the routine a little, get out the "tennis balls," and do something in a different way.

Each moment is precious, so you might want to tune in with all your senses, and focus on the fun in your game once again. Who knows, you just might hit a home run.

Until next time - keep playing hard,

and enjoy your game!

Gina

Trader Psychology Mastery

To my friends in Nashville at the Options Linebacker Workshop...
(and everyone else who loves trading): I want to share ten minutes of Trader Psychology Mastery:

My Story How I Got Thin and Rich!

First the Inner and then the Outer, my friend! In this six minute video, you'll hear my story. Whether your struggles are personal, or financial, it's THE SAME ROCKS IN YOUR BACKPACK! "Never enough," must give place to "MORE THAN ENOUGH!"

Overcoming Performance Anxiety - Enjoy the Adrenaline!

Your Prosperity is Already in Your Hands

Have you ever wondered what in the world you could do to come out ahead, right now? I believe the secret is not outside of yourself - it is right inside. Your prosperity is already in your hands.

A while ago, I wrote about King David as he slew the giant, Goliath. That story includes one of my favorite secrets - that "God in you makes you bigger than your enemy."

The other secret for today, is this: Your success is already in you - there is something that you have in your hand, in your heart, that is valuable.

In young David's case, King Saul tried to dress the boy in his armor and give him his great, big sword. However, that was not going to work for David. The armor didn't fit, and the only weapon he knew was a sling and stones. He defeated an entire army by knocking down their leader with a sling and a stone.

What is it that is in your hand? It is very tempting to hear about what is working for somebody else, and jump on their bandwagon. But your prosperity is within your own hand. Oh yes, you will learn new skills, but right now there is something inside you -worth money, worth sharing. Your experience is part of your gifting, and your gift is making a way for you.

One day I realized that energy psychology was a gift inside my own hand. I hadn't shared it publicly, because it seemed too odd. But all sorts of doors of increase have opened for me as I have shared this gift. What once seemed like a private tool for my own success has brought relief to hundreds -maybe more, just through my materials on the subject.

Don't underestimate what is inside of you. What you know is infinitely more valuable than what you do! We'll talk more about that in the future. For now, just start asking yourself, "What isinside of me, that is worth sharing with others?" Who knows, the answer just might be the key to slaying the giants in your life. So start sharing!

Until next time, keep playing hard - and enjoy your game!

In your corner,

Gina

A Success Meditation Audio for You

I am posting this to all my online friends because I recently spent
three hours in a professional studio to make a very special audio gift
for you! It is a success meditation audio that is...

guaranteed to increase your success level by helping you
renew your mind from the inside out.

It’s often said that up to 96% of your behavior is driven by
your subconscious mind. That is why God tells us to
"meditate on his word day and night, so we’ll be careful to obey
it and then we’ll make our way prosperous and successful."*

He also says that we are transformed (metamorphed - like a butterfly)
by the renewing of our mind.* Well, most of my clients struggle with
a sort of poverty mindset, so I made this CD called ’Blessed to Be
a Blessing.’ It is a soothing track set to music that you can listen to
for 10 minutes to re-focus your day, or...

you can let it play and repeat
the affirmations three times as you go about your business, or even
as you nap.

You get over 30 minutes of powerful, Scriptural words spoken over
you to help you "Repack Your Backpack" and turn your dark, heavy rocks into apples of gold.

When that happens, you are able to walk out your God-given calling, and touch the hurting with abundant life. You are blessed to be
a blessing! I personally listen to this at least once a day - and everything
has changed for me, so I’m very excited to share it with you.

Please download this special, no-strings attached AUDIO. Feel free to burn it to a CD for you car. If it blesses
you, just share it with others, and send me a comment.

I’m always thinking of ways to help my friends.

Here is the player and download link:

If there is any way that I can serve or support you, please let me know.

In your corner,

Gina


P.S. - I know some people have a hard time with
the "prosperity gospel." This audio is not about
growing in materialism. It is about being a blessing!

P.P.S .- Many of you are not on my Built To Win list-
I would be so happy if you would join my inner-circle
by filling out the form on my FREE STUFF tab:
http://builttowincoaching.com/FreeStuff.aspx

Again here is the download link to Blessed to Be a Blessing


*For Scriptural support see Joshua 1:8 and Romans 12:1-2

Energy Psychology for Athletic Performance

The above video demonstrates one Peak Performance technique that I use with great success for our athletes as well as business professionals. This is the Flow On Demand Energy Therapy that is written about in my Book. The Book is called Flow On Demand-the Athlete's Edge, and it is being downloaded every day on the internet with wonderful feedback.

Enjoy, and feel free to write with any questions:
Gina@BuiltToWinCoaching.com

Until next time - Keep playing hard and enjoy your game!

Practice Makes Perfect

The other day I raised the question of subconscious sabotage. I wondered if the young catcher (my son) may have injured himself in response to unconscious inner conflict about his worthiness of starting over some seniors on his team. I still think it is a possibility. I can assure you, he has that conflict no more.

However, here is another possibility: lack of practice on that particular play. Have you ever grown comfortable with your performance and stopped practicing part of it?

I know in this case, the catchers have been so busy working with pitchers, that they have been robbed of their own defensive practice. It takes experience and repetition to anticipate certain move from a ball. Then it takes more practice to get it right.

"Practice makes perfect!" or so we are told. In reality, practice only makes perfect when we constantly learn from the feedback and make minor adjustments to improve. Otherwise, practice only makes permanent. How many times do we fail to read the feedback of our own "game," and choose instead to go through sloppy motions?

In conclusion, I don't know if Jordan's injury was totally a result of subconscious sabotage or just failure to practice that catch, or a combination of both. What I do know is that I am stirred to examine my own performance.

Even though my main game is not athletic, I also want to be free from every trace of self-sabotage, and I want to practice thinking, speaking and producing winning results. I choose to do better today than yesterday. And then - I'll be even better tomorrow. How about you? Are you willing to challenge yourself to new and improved levels of success?

Keep playing hard!

Gina

PS - many of you are enjoying the Athlete's Edge, Flow On Demand. Somehow we are having technical difficulties getting some little videos up for you to view and answer your questions. But stay tuned! If you haven't seen the book, you can check it out here: Flow On Demand

Unconscious Sabotage

I usually write my Tuesday Tip first thing in the morning, but today was different.

I had to take my son to the doctor for an x Ray, to make sure his recent injury was not serious. I think there is a lesson in the injury in the first place. It may be a lesson on subconscious resistance to success.

Jordan is a sophomore in High School. That means obviously, that there are older boys than him who have worked very hard for their varsity slots. Whenever I would ask Jordan about starting, he would get agitated and talk about what is right and wrong about a sophomore starting over a senior. This is a clear case of conflict. Remember, as we talk about in my book, conflict is the opposite of Flow.

Well, right before this last game, his coach said, "Jordan, if you do well today, you'll probably be our starting catcher." Could that have triggered conflict? I think so, because on the very first play, the opposing hitter smacked a fly ball right between home and third, and as it tailed away from Jordan, he quickly tried to compensate and ended up falling with all his force on his elbow. It was the most bizarre looking thing I have ever witnessed on the field.

As we spent some time dealing with his deep disappointment, I also had him get clear on his "worthiness" issue. Thankfully he found out today that the bruised nerve is healing up, and nothing is fractured. But he will have to sit until it is completely recovered.

This is not just a baseball story. Unconscious sabotage happens in many arenas, including wealth creation, health and fitness, and relationship success. It is the same reason that 95% of all lottery winners find themselves back to their pre-lottery state within five years of winning. Because they never resolved the inner conflict about wealth. This is an invitation for you to look at your own "game," whether it is athletic, or financial, or personal, and look for hidden internal conflict.

Do you in any way see yourself as unworthy of success? Do you have conflicting emotions about how others may perceive you if you become very successful?


Today your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to get clear again on what you want, and why you want it. And then, walk in gratitude for the ability to make it happen. It is a gift, after all. If you have any inner conflict, then practice our three steps:

1. Acknowledge your conflict
2. Accept yourself anyway
3. Create an empowering response

IE - "Even though, I'm not sure I deserve this success right now, I accept myself anyway, and I choose to receive it with thankfulness."

Whatever it is for you, write it down, and keep saying it, tapping on your targets so you can feel the energy of it.

Success is easy when you eliminate the barriers.

Until next time, I encourage you to keep playing hard, and enjoy your game!

In your corner,

Gina

PS - If you are not sure about the book, you can check it out right here:

Hello again my friend,

It’s time for a quick Tuesday tip:

Question – Are you in a good mood right now?

Tip:

You can change your mental state, by changing your physiology.

If you are feeling stressed or annoyed, look at your body posture and countenance. How are you sitting, are your eyebrows furrowed? What are you thinking about?

Now, think of a moment when you were thoroughly enjoying yourself. What expression was on your face then? How were you breathing? (yes, breathing!) How did you sit or stand?

Now, just for fun, put that expression on your face. Let yourself smile. Sit up tall, enjoy the moment. Breathe!

Sure, your smile the first time was in response to something you enjoyed, but notice the power when you smile by choice. Your body is wired in a way that emotional triggers cause physical responses, but the opposite is also true. Physical triggers cause emotional responses. When you smile, you feel better, because your brain associates the smile with good things.

So, for very important reasons today, I encourage you to smile. You deserve to feel good, and your smile makes those around you feel better. When we feel good, productivity goes up, when productivity goes up profits rise, and when profits rise, we want to smile. So let’s just start with the smile, and start the ball rolling!

Smile - it increases your face value. ~Author Unknown

Please do not underestimate the value of this post. This one new habit could change your day, your week…your life!

Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile. ~Author Unknown

Until next time, I’ll be…

In your corner (and in love with your smile),

-Gina

PS - Did you know I wrote a whole book about another way to master your mood and perform at your peak? It's called Flow On Demand, the Athlete's Edge. Although the techniques are used by elite and amateur athletes around the world, the instruction will help you win your financial and personal games as well. You can learn more and order it here: Flow On Demand, the Athlete's Edge

Attracting Winners To Your Circle

Could you use more high-caliber friends and mentors in your life? Then think about this:

"The relationships we have with the world are largely determined by the relationships we have with ourselves." -- Greg Anderson

Did you know that this world is full of fascinating, intelligent and generous people who want to cheer you on and see you succeed? It’s true, there are winners all around you, ready to stand by your side. What is it you would like to learn this week? What would you like to do better? If you could talk to someone who was very successful, what would you ask?

“But I don’t have any friends like that!” you may lament. This may seem true, but in reality, if you will be that kind of friend to yourself and others, you will attract just the kind of people who will pull you up higher too. You will attract true winners into your circle.

This week, be a friend to yourself. Acknowledge your weaknesses, and affirm your unconditional self-love anyway. Look at others with grace. Believe in their strengths, and let them know it.

What you tend to see in yourself is what you will tend to see around you.

We’re all in this together – let’s keep climbing higher.

In your corner,

Gina

Peak Performance Speaker and Coach Gina Parris is passionate about seeing people move from frustration to freedom in their lives and livelihoods. Whether your game is

Athletic, financial, or personal, she can help you win it.

Choosing a Role Model

To listen to this post, you can simply click above.

One thing I always advocate when it comes to being a great leader, is the idea that you want to be inspired by your own role model. When we are in the trenches committed to unleashing the winners around us, we can sometimes get overwhelmed with the status quo. We need those people who are able to pull us up and inspire us with the courage to make a difference.

I'd like to take a moment to mention one of my early role models, Norma LelaCheur. I was twelve years old when I first met this woman, in my hometown, of Spokane, Washington. We came to visit the little church that she and her husband pastored, and she got up to speak. Before she spoke however, she saw, me. I mean she saw me. I wasn't invisible to her. She made me feel special. And then she took the pulpit.

She spoke unlike anyone I had ever heard. She was captivating in a totally transparent way. Her humor was self-deprecating, and she showed that she had nothing to prove. As she laughed at some of her weaknesses, I thought, "Oh my goodness, she is like me!" And in that moment, I knew that one day, I wanted to speak and touch lives too. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to be powerful, godly, encouraging.

For the next decade, I continued to grow under her influence. I became a motivational speaker, and a minister, and then married and moved to Europe. I like to think that I continued to touch lives. She and her husband were very influential, not just in my life, but in thousands of lives all over the country.

When I was in my late thirties, Paul and I moved back to Spokane for awhile, to raise the kids around family. During that time, Norma got sick. The doctor said that she had an "enlarged heart." Those of us who knew her replied, "Well, duh!"

We didn't dream it would kill her, but on May 17, 2004, Norma went "home." She was seventy-three.

The church (which was quite large by now, and pastored by one of her sons) was packed, with people from all over the country. The amazing thing was that while Norma's body lay in the casket, her image and voice rang out from a giant video screen. Her message had been recorded just a few weeks previous. She spoke as passionately as ever, pleading with "everyone within the sound of my voice," to know that they could choose life. She spoke of a "Heaven to gain, and a Hell to shun," and she reminded us that "this life on earth is the short life."

With tears rolling down my cheeks, I thought about the last 25 years. I thought of all the wonderful young people that I had been privileged to work with over the years. I thought of the ones who told me, "I want to be like you!" As I looked at the woman on the screen, I thought, "Wow. This is the power of influence. Thank you Norma, for impacting my life, so that through me, you could bless even more. Thank you for teaching me to laugh at our weaknesses, to enjoy life, and to love God and people. Thank you for putting in me a passion for the Word."

Now, I want to ask you, my friend. Do you have someone who has touched your life? Who has inspired you to be all you can be, to unleash your greatness? If you haven't found someone yet, I encourage you to keep looking. Find someone who resonates with you.

You can be mentored by someone even from a distance by reading their materials, and soaking up their life. I have had many mentors like that.

Ultimately, you will be the leader that someone else names as their role model. That my friend, is a beautiful thing.

As we embark on a wonderful new year, I will still be here, in your corner. I believe it is a year for your business, your health, your relationships, to soar to new levels of success.

Until next time,

Keep playing hard, and enjoy your game!

Gina

Christmas in My Dreams...

Remember that sad World War II Christmas ballad, I'll Be Home For Christmas? It seems like my theme song for these past few years, based on the line "...if only in my dreams."

Today, I salute everyone who is away from their loved ones on Christmas, especially those who are in harm's way. May you find something to make you smile, may you realize that you have friends who will stick closer than a brother, and may that peace that transcends all understanding guard your heart and your mind.

I do miss my parents and my four sisters and their families at this time. I miss getting together and having everyone in my kitchen - even though it was always Mom who brought the most important stuff. (Please don't tell her that I serve instant potatoes and canned cranberries down here in Tennessee!)

I miss those magical Christmases that beckoned us to come outside with hot cocoa and sleds. I miss having all the spouses and kids running around the house and cheering over football games. I miss the noisiness of it all; even if the parties required my sweet, quiet husband to decompress afterwards in a dark corner with muted video games. :)

"It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you… yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand." -- Mother Teresa

Thankfully, no distance or situation can take the spirit of Christmas away. Although I dream of the day that peace prevails over every family and world gathering, I rejoice that God became flesh and lived among us, and that he chose to never leave us as orphans. I'm thankful for my friends and family in our little home, in this little town. And I'm thankful for you. This Christmas, I'll see you in my dreams - and Mom will have brought enough food for all of us!

Till next time,

Merry Christmas.

How To Have Great Gain

To hear this blog instead of reading it, click here: (It is less than 5 min. long)

How to have great gain. That is my subject today. Not how to have "weight gain," which is an unatural result of the slippery slope between Halloween Candy and New Year's Resolutions. We'll talk about that later.

No, today, I want to share some good news about great financial gain, relationship gain, and happiness gain, because today, I woke up very rich - several times, I might add. Once at 1:00 am, exactly one hour after lying down for the night, again at 4:30, when the heat from all Paul's cast aside covers finally caused me to swelter into wakefulness, (This happens nightly, and I must admit that my response is not always a smile.) and again at 5:00, when I decided to go back to sleep for another hour. The funny thing was, each time I woke up, I was acutely aware of the prosperity all over my life, and my desire to stir up abundance in every one I meet.

What made me so rich? Was it the checks I've been getting in the mail? I don't think so, but that's a part of it. Was it the great deals I found on my kid's Christmas gifts? Nah. Was it the fact that I spend my days doing what I love? Why yes! And just what do I love? The small stuff!

I love to look back to all that I ever dreamed of when I was younger - finding a fabulous husband, having a home, and kids of our own, and having a career where I get to speak and write and help people, being able to do what I want, when I want. And alas, those days have been upon me for years. I am living my dreams. And here's the funny thing - most of the time the fulfillment of those great dreams is quite - daily.

There was nothing spactacular about one single thing that happened yesterday or today. In fact today, there was even some irritated squabbling as the two older kids looked for missing clothes. Few things are as irritating to Jordan as losing his expensive undershirts, except of course, losing all his sweatshirts. Some days I imagine he'll have nothing to wear to his winter baseball practice except his pajamas. And Kristan, well, she had her own issues surrounding her basketball game tonight, while Nathan nearly forgot his backpack, and poor Matthew was staying home with some stomach flu... No. The morning did not look blissful for about ten distinct minutes.

That is when I saw our riches in action. It is in the daily stuff. If you can embrace the daily-ness of every day life, then you can be rich indeed. None of us really has any guarantee of tomorrow, so why wait to be happy?

Why did I wake up rich? Because each time I awoke, I was aware of all the love that fills our home - even when we get on each other's nerves. I was aware of the fact that the worst sicknesses we've ever faced have been gone in 72 hours and I was aware that we have never gone without food and warm shelter. I was aware that my worst days are a hundred times better than most of the world's best days.

My friend Bill says that a man's prosperity is not shown by what he accumulates, but by what he is able to give away. You don't have to be rich to have that mindset. I've seen people in 3rd world countries, smile exuberantly as they give away one of their only chickens, and I've seen wealthy Americans in pain over giving away a hundred dollars. The contrast is remarkable.

Are you rich today? If you are reading this on your computer, and you know where your next meal is, you are richer than most of the world. The secret to great gain is to tune in to it - and enjoy it!

In this crazy, commercial season, I encourage you to slow down, count your blessings, and find something to do for somebody who is not in your immediate family and who can't pay you back. Your gift does not have to be about money.

If you have something to give, and you can give it with a happy heart, than you have great gain, for sure!

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.