Destined for Prosperity

Just finished a really spectacular day. Started out with a networking meeting with our Diversity Networking Group. Had around 30 people in attendance as special speakers shared how they have achieved financial success. It really was a great time.

Then it was my turn to share. I remembered a few days prior when a colleague told a group of us how he was so blessed that he started to turn down work. He said that his few employees were tired, so he just told wouldbe clients no. There was a stirring in my spirit as I heard him say this. As I addressed our group the spirit of God just rose up within me and I told them this.

You were meant to be rich. You were put in a position of power, entrepreneurship and vision for a reason. That reason was not for you but for 10's, 100's or even thousands of people. This was something that I wanted our small but growing group to really get deep down in their spirit. "You were specifically chosen to be a provider for others, that is why you are an entrepreneur".

Many people only ask for enough for themselves and their family. This is the most selfish of desires. When you say this you are in essence saying, "I only care about me and mine." This is shear selfishness. That's not the reason why you were given the ability to make money. You were given a true gift because God knows you can take what you have and make it a mountain.

So as you begin your next day, believe that you have a mandate to produce because if you don't that ability you've been given will be given to someone else who will.

Fadi's Story

You can't ask a Free man the meaning of Freedom because he doesn't have a frame of reference to judge not being free. I spoke to Fadi, who knows the difference. See if you can judge now also.

Progress Pains

So you've started this awesome company. Planned for funding, infrastructure, networking and all the other things that the SCORE volunteer told you to put on the Business Plan. The only problem, a year into your first year the unexpected happens. This thing starts to take hold like a wild fire. I mean you are growing so fast that you can't keep up with the pace. So what do you do? What do you do when the very thing that you prayed for happens IN SPADES?

Access- There may be  many routes to get to Rome but only a few paths will get you there with the least amount of trouble. The first thing I'd do is to access where the heck I really want to go. Let me give you an example. You started out a 98lb. weakling and now you are sporting a size 23 neck with a 30 inch waist and 30 inch biceps. Things are just not the same as they were  before. In the old days all you wanted was to be able to pay the bills and maybe at some point be able to take a well deserved vacation. Now that you have more muscles than the ex-governator of California, your perspective may have changed. You find that you can lift more, run faster and use up more sun tan oil that you ever thought you would ever use. Now would be a good time to access really what your options and possibilities are. In other words, the Business Plan needs to be readjusted.

Align- Your little boy has grown all up overnight and you're thinking to yourself, "I can't imagine anyone else coming in and taking credit for all the hard work I've put into this wee one. Letting go and bringing in someone with a bit more experience is exactly what you will have to do in order for that child to benefit from his or her increased size, potential and spirit. Many business owners literally cripple their fantastic businesses because they are so fearful of losing control. Well, get over it Bill Gates. Your baby needs more air and since you can't provide it, call someone in who can.

Allow- This brings me to my last point. Allowing someone else to take over and take your business to the next level just makes good business sense. I don't know of any successful Fortune 500 company that didn't allow others in. It's like a rope who says that it would be just fine with only one cord. No there is power when you team up with a few more cords. You become stronger and get a better return when you team up with others.

Accessing, Aligning and Allowing others to help take your baby to the next level are excellent ways to continue your business on its way to the top of the corporate world. Don't cripple your business by trying to do it all yourself. Allow others to help you, it could mean the difference between winning and losing.

Speaking As Though It Were So

I'm a firm believer in speaking positive words. In a world of excessive negativity and 24/7 news feeds heck you have to speak positive words to your self all day just to keep your own sanity. But today I'm  writing about a concept that goes way beyond positive confessions about your situation. Positive confession can do much in the way of setting the tone for your attitude but that's about it.

In the bible, there is a passage of scripture that says that God spoke the world into existence. What the writers of the bible meant was that by the very force of his creative will, God was able to literally manifest in the physical that which He saw in the spiritual. OK, hope you got your mind around that one because we are moving on. God, the creative force in the universe has conveyed that very same creative ability upon us, his creatures. We are not God, we are his ambassadors here on earth. As ambassadors we have the authourity of him who sent us. That would mean that we are able to act in the same capacity of the person we represent.

If I were from Slovinia or Africa, I would have the same authourity as that of a Slovinian or an African. I would have all the riches and access that those countries have. Now let's get back to the focus of our article.
As children of the most powerful being in the universe we have been given a measure of that same creative force that our creator has. Which means that we can manifest (to a certain degree) that which we will to be.

Let's put this concept into practice. If I want to become a rich person, all I have to do is concentrate on becoming  that person. I would need to do all the things that  it takes to acquire riches and it would occur.
This is pretty simplistic but the point is, "The only person stopping you from becoming, attaining or acquiring anything in this life is you."

If you can dream about a matter, then you can attain it.The only thing that will stand between you getting to that goal is you. Think about the milestone of breaking the 4 minute mile. No one, not even the physicians, thought that man could physically break that barrier. We know now that all of the naysayers were wrong. Once the barrier was broken it became common-place for people to run sub 4minutes.

Now, the torch has been passed to you. What thing do you want to achieve? What milestone do you want to break? Is there a purpose that you feel called to that needs you to be there now? Then get up off the couch of life and get back into the game. You can't hit the ball unless you swing.

                                                                                                               

New Networking Mixer Protocol

Just wanted to give everyone an update on a simply fantastic event Linda and I attended a few nights ago. It was put on by a local networking group here in Las Vegas. The venue was set high atop the Mandalay Bay in one of their executive rooms. The view from the penthouse suite was SWEET!!! It really made you want to get to know the people who were invited to attend the gathering.
In particular we met a few people that made our night. This is the focus of my blog. In the past we've all been told to go into networking events and blast through all of the would-be prospects and then go home. IMPERSONAL!!!! At the end of the night you almost feel dirty. You've gone in to wipe your mouth off on the sleeve of whomever was near you and then you've left without so much as a thank you or even stayed long enough to have a smoke. (Pardon the metaphor)
But networking has turned into this really sleezy exercise in getting phone numbers and hopefully contacts.
I'm here to dispel the notion that networking is a terrible way of getting contacts. It can be a fun and rewarding time spent making new relationships and promising business associations.
Here are some tips on how to turn a bad date (networking mixer ) into a romatic relationship.
1. Look for the right person
2. Look for the right person looking for you.
3. Spend more than a minute
4. BMFM
5. Followup

1. The Right person- Physically, posturing... Is the person you want to be in a relationship with business-wise, someone who fits the build? Are they flashy, outgoing, bright looking.

2. Looking for You- Someone who is cowaring in the corner isn't looking to make connections. Look for the person who is looking for you also. It is obvious. They are outgoing and respond as you glance at them.

3. Don't look for the one night stand approach to networking. Spend some quality and quantity time with your future association. Build the relationship starting that night. At the end of the meeting give them a sincere hug or handshake. Don't be in a rush to get to the next person. You want quality relationships not quantity.

4. Book a meeting From a Meeting- Don't leave it up in the air about your next meeting with your new friend and associate. Make concrete plans to get together and let them know that you are seriously interested in being a part of their near-term and possibly long-term business life.

5. Followup- Call them when you said you would. Emails are fine but a phone call, lunch are much better. Get in the habit of staying connected. That is the only way you will be able to translate that first meeting into a series of meetings and ultimately success.

Take these tips to heart and see if they are as effective for you as they have been for me and my short networking  experience.

Sherman

Sherman Ray is a noted speaker, author and businessman in the Las Vegas area. He is founder of Diversity Networking Group and contributing writing to Red Letter Media.net leadership site. He is available for speaking engagements and can be seen at major events in the Las Vegas valley area.

The First Hour of the Day

Looking back on all of my writings throughout the years, I don't believe that I have ever written on this subject. It's like I've been blind to a part of everyones life, that really needs to be reiterated over and over again. The subject is "You, or ME Time".
What do I mean by "Me Time"? That is the time before everyone else in the house wakes up and you are all by yourself. In my home, which now consists of around 7 people, it is something that I cherish. Once everyone in the house wakes up, it is nonstop pandemonium until 8:30pm. That's when I shut everyone down and there is silence.
Between the time that all are awake and all are sleeping can be the most draining part of each day. You need a time to recharge your batteries and energize your soul. That is "Me Time".
Here are some suggestions on how to really get the most out of that special time totally devoted to you.
1. Exercise
2. Spiritualize
3. Socialize
4. Visualize

For me, I try and incorporate all 4 of these treats into an hour and a half each morning. I start off with some vigorous riding or running. As I am out on the road course or track I am speaking with the Lord. I generally am asking for guidance and mercy.
As I wind down my morning I stop by a local watering hole to see who is in the mood to socialize. Whether it be the counterhelp or the crazy people who, like me, are out looking for strangers to speak with, it is all part of the energizing of my soul.
Finally, I spend a bit of time visualizing where I would like the day to go or maybe a project that I am working on.

If you spend a bit of time on yourself, each and every morning, then you will find that all else goes pretty well. You have the energy to take on the day unlike those folks who just jump out of bed and hope to get it done all on their own.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Today we finally got to find out if an empanelled jury of her peers was able to render a verdict of guilty on Casey Anthony. This thing had been going on for months. I mean was she guilty, a bad mother, a liar...what was she thinking of for 30 days as her child went missing? The questions after the verdict were more than the ones during the trial. In the final analysis, Casey was found not guilty of the death charges but guilty of being a liar. Duh?

I think we all knew that she was a liar. The real question was whether or not she was a killer too. In my mind and in the minds of many others, she just wasn't smart enough or gutsy enough to go through with the whole thing. In order to do this kind of deed you really have to have that special something that only a few possess.

On a brighter note, I view the whole Casey Anthony case as a metaphor for myself and people like me who are in business or are pursuing anything worth their time. When you are in business you are actually on trial on a daily basis. You have put yourself in a place where you are saying to the rest of the world that you are going to do this or that. Whether it is in the business of salvage, architecture or in my case Interior Design, we are all on trial for being guilty of practicing our trade. The pivotal question that needs to answered,. Is there enough evidence against you to find you guilty of being a business person or are you going to be found not guilty for lack of evidence?

Here is the case.

Can anyone say that it is beyond a shadow of doubt that you are what you say you are? Can they bring witnesses against you? Is there remains of your work? Are you GUILTY? Can they prove that you are a calculating, cold-blooded business man or woman. Can they search your phone logs, email, letters, tapes, friends who might have overheard you bragging about your latest JOB?

This is what it means to be guilty on all charges. If you are found stone cold, dead to rights guilty then maybe you need to decide whether or not you are in the right line of work.

It's like I told my kids, "Don't lie because you aint good at it." If you are gonna lie, cheat, steal then at least be good at it. In a twisted way there is alot of truth in this statement. If you are going to call yourself, a business person then at least be good at what you do or get good at it.

When I go before the judge and jury, I want to be found GUILTY on all counts.