Time for an update of this popular blog feature.

Since the last update, I finished reading:

1) Awake the Giant Within-Tony Robbins

As I reported last time, I had read many bits and pieces many times but never cover to cover. Now I have ! This is a must read for all. I am still reflecting and working on some of the exercises Tony works you through so, read it  but it’s not ready for the bookshelf quite yet.

2) The Mentor Leader- Tony Dungy– If you lead others in any capacity, don’t miss this.

3) The Millionaire Messenger-Brendon Burchard

Brendon tells you how to market and monitize ANY expertise you have and you all have SOMETHING you know to offer the world. If you need help finding what this is, I’ll help you find it !

4) Make Today Count-John Maxwell

Another classic by Dr Maxwell. If somehow you haven’t read any John Maxwell books, read one now ! This would be a good place to start. Dr Maxwell show you how your daily agenda controls all outcomes in your life and why !

In addition to this old stack on my nightstand, I found two new books and devoured them.

1) Think and Grow Rich: The Lost Secret-Vic Johnson

My friend Vic Johnson has done it again. Vic has taken the classic Think and Grow Rich and translated the advice and shows you how to apply to everyday life. This is a great “how to” with plenty of suggestions. It is about a 80 page e-book that I read cover to cover in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down.

2) Leave No Doubt- Mike Babcock

As a hockey nut and a HUGE Red Wing fan, I know Coach Babcock knows what success is and how to find it. I have heard many, many press conferences and have LOVED how the Coach always tosses in lessons on life while recapping hockey games. I told my wife Mary Ann years ago that I wish he would write a book because I knew it would be powerful and it is !!! I wrapped it up early this morning on the front porch. It is excellent ! I love the Coach’s wording on many universal principles we all have been taught. This will have a special spot on my bookcase.

So Doug, what is left?

I have about 20 unread books laying around but here is what is next.

1) Positioning - Jack Trout

A marketing classic that is about half read. Deep insight into the world of marketing.

2) The Compound Effect- Darren Hardy

A how to jump start your life, your income and success. I’ll be starting this soon.

3) The Charge-Brendon Burchard

This was just releases and arrived in yesterday’s mail. It is billed as book to activate the 10 human drives that make you fell alive. This is a hot new release !

3) Starting Your Best Life Now- Joel Osteen

This is a guide Joel developed to help with any stage in your life based on his best seller Your Best Life Now. Just starting but sounds fantastic.

That’s all I have to report and recommend .

Turn in your book reports next Friday and the test is June 15th OR how you apply all you learn in these books.

Reading is knowledge and becoming a lost art.

Don’t get lost with the masses–that’s not you !!!

Hey !

Let’s have some fun  ! We all have a bucket list or a special item or two that one day we really want to own so we can play really hard.

I keep looking at the Boston Whaler’s Outrage, the Lund Baron, a bright yellow Porsche Boxster S,and a ’52 Chevy Pickup to customize.

As a woodcarver, I still want those one on one lessons from Shawn Chipa, David Sabol, Marv Kaisersatt or Harley Refsal.

What is on your list?? Let’s share what we secretly think about !

Can’t wait for your list !!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s out there ! You have one of the toughest yet rewarding jobs on earth.

Here is a video I am sure you will relate to. I hope you will comment on how close this is to your typical day !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6P2w5GkXmU

Hey ! Life has slowed down a tad ! Yeah !

The cottage is officially opened, 40 % of the leaves have been raked up, our 4 legged family member, Roxy, is properly buried, and the pace of life is getting to where it should be.

Busy, but that is good.

Trying hard to live life in harmony with my body and mind.

I had a chance to hide and to read and enjoy Vic Johnson’s new e-book, Think and Grow Rich- The Lost Secret. It’s a must for any Think and Grow Rich fans. I cancelled an appointment just so I could finish reading it. Vic offers some very fresh thinking and perspective to an all time classic. I highly recommend it ! Amazon will hook ya up.

We also celebrated by buddy, Roger’s birthday and my wife’s birthday.

I was a brave man and took Mary Ann shopping and then to the Bonnie Mill Inn in Chesaning, Michigan.

Pam Wyant is the new owner of the Bonnie Mill trying to grow a former icon back to the popularity it enjoyed for years.

After kicking back for a day, we took a long road trip home and enjoyed Michigan’s State flower–the orange barrel.

I’m planning and working on a few online classes that will be offered soon so watch for the details coming soon !

Hi gang ! I quick note to let you know there is so much to talk about I don’t know where to start. Been there ?

After a big deadline on the 17th I’m regrouping to see all I ignored and all I need to do. My “to do’ list now is 413 pages long. Spending time just figuring out the truly important.

Reflecting.

Wondering why 9 days have passed and why there still is a “to do” list.

Catching my breath.

Scrambling.

Start some new projects, finish old ones. See some friends. Catch up on 800 plus emails. Gotta let most of them go unless they are direct messages. No special deals, special, once in a life time offers, shiny objects, Holy Grails.

Look for a new puppy, take care of the in-laws, worry a bit about the wife, get a nasty eye infection, try to go fishing, open the cottage, some playoff hockey, do a little carving.

Relax ? Slow down ?

Hmm, not yet !

Fear, that’s all I’m hearing. I hear this from almost all my coaching clients, my family, my friends, at church, at community events and on TV and radio.

Politicians use fear daily to scare us so they can sell us on a ploicy they are selling. Fear moves us. Fear sells.

Fear will cripple you.

Fear will make you miserable.

Click below to view a short video I recorded to help you deal with fear.
I know it will help !

Freedom From Fear

I think we have all gone through tough times or I as I call them “dark periods”.

A lot of bad news, bad karma, setbacks and just plain old fashion BS hit us for no reason.

We are working hard with a postive outlook and have solid goals but the results just are not there.

We get depressed, upset and do a lot of second guessing.

These attitudes can last for seconds, minutes, hours, days.

We know our first assignment is to work on our thoughts.

We pull out some of the classic books to re-read, we listen to some favorite motivating cd’s and if you are like me look for a new book a new cd that may put a new twist on things. That new book or cd helps me because I increase my focus.
I’ll admit when re-listening to some cd’s that have had a major impact on my life or key books that have greatly helped me in the past, I sometimes get Lazy. As the cd plays I continue searching for solutions to my dilemma rather than hearing all the advice. As I read “that” book I start only paying attention to the highlights I made and skip some important concepts. Blending material that I know has helped me in the past with some new thoughts, new approaches has major impact.

If I call a friend for help, I will rarely be so transparant, so honest that the real issue(s) don’t come out. Our friends sometimes put the lightwight gloves on when helping and don’t ask us the tough questions that they need to. They need to get in our faces and challenge us.

Mentors who know us can work wonders as they understand that little “box” called our mind. They know our history, past blockages and the way we think and respond. Mentors are often so busy it may take days or weeks to track them down and it is way to late to handle our urgent confusion, our urgent frustration.

Coaches can help you if you have an established relationship or a well etablished history of working together. This a key function of having a coach. The week to week value of using a coach is helpful, but when you are at the crossroads of a major decision, fifteen minutes of their time is worth often, thousands of dollars.

Once we get out thoughts in some type of order with a reasonable understanding we can start to analyze and relax into our feelings.

What we listened to, what we read, what mentors and coaches share just have to sink in. We need some time to let everything soak in. This is what I call the ‘sponge’ stage. Just let it soak in. Find a quiet spot and just think. Listen for answers . Listen for ideas and see what feels right. Then think some more.

Finally, put some action steps together.

Have a plan.

Don’t wait. Just jump in and get started.

Adjust your steps, your actions as you have to.

Results will follow but maybe not right away.

Be Patient.

Believe.

Have Faith.

Smile.

Be grateful.

Celebrate.

Dream some more !

It’s your turn to chirp in.

I know everyone of you has a struggle or challenge but most of you won’t admit it to yourself or even a close friend or love one.

But…. here is your chance. Post below a challenge you now have, a struggle, something keeping you up at night.

Use your name, a fake name, a nickname.

I don’t care!

Let myself and the readers help you.

Ideas or someone’s experience might be just what you need.

You now have a chance for very relaxed help.

No excuses !

I don’t think that I am alone struggling with focus all too often.

Between multiple business resposibilities, daily appointments, daily reading, family obligations, day to day “to do” lists, exercise, doctor appointments, volunteer work, reflection time, hobbies, minor emergencies, due dates, a little TV, catching the “big” game, text messages, email, phone calls and, and……

You get the idea. True focus, shutting everything down is tough. I don’t care who you are of what you do shutting down is tough unless you don’t have a life.

Experts time and time again tell us true focus is how we get ahead.

I know I stuggle with long periods of “true” focus but I am getting better every week. It is a developed skill. A developed habit.

How is your focus ?? Be honest. For most people it stinks !

What can you shut down, shut off to improve your focus ??

Do it ! Do it today !

The “good stuff’ to each and everyone one of us will be different.

Many of us will have overlap as we cover the important basics of love, happiness, family, friends etc.

Kenny Chesney a talented and popular Country singer had a big hit a couple years back in a song titled “The Good Stuff”.

It’s lyrics hit me the first time I heard it and it triggered several emotions.

The song deals with love as it describes the first big fight of a married couple.

It touches on alcholism as the husband runs for the cover of alcohol to solve his problems. It reminds me of many friends and people that I know that had alcohol problems and several that still do. It also reminds me of those friends that have been in AA for over 20 years and maybe 30 years and remain sober. It also makes me proud of two good friends Harold and Mike. If you guys get around to reading this, I’m damn proud of you both.

The song also deals with the sensitive subject of cancer. Just this week I learned of two more friends dealing with this nasty, nasty disease. Please pray for them, all cancer patients you know and all those you don’t know.

I have included the lyrics for you in case you haven’t heard this song.

Careful as you read them as I am sure they will strike an emotion.

Speaking of emotions, how are yours ?? Are they under control, out of control or are you a walking zombie with no emotions ???

Food for some reflection.

Take a couple minutes and get in touch with your deepest emotions.

Here ya go—-enjoy !

Well, me and my lady had our first big fight
So I drove around till I saw the neon light
The corner bar. it just seemed right so I pulled up.
Not a soul around but the old bar keep down at the end lookin’ half asleep
But he walked up and said, what’ll it be? I said the good stuff.
He didn’t reach around for the whiskey. he didn’t pour me a beer.
His blue eyes kinda went misty.
He said you can’t find that here.

[Chorus]
‘Cause its the first long kiss on a second date.
Mommas all worried when you get home late
And droppin’ the ring in the spaghetti plate
‘Cause you’re hands are shakin’ so much
And its the way that she looks with her eyes and her hair.
Eatin’ burnt suppers the whole first year and askin’ for seconds to keep her from tearin’ up
Yeah man that’s the good stuff.

He grabbed a carton of milk and he poured a glass.
And I smiled and said I’ll have some of that.
We sat there and talked as the hour passed like old friends.
I saw a black and white picture and it caught my stare.
It was a pretty girl with bu-font hair
He said that’s my Bonnie, taken ’bout a year after we wed.
He said I spent five years in the bar when the cancer took her from me.
But I’ve been sober three years now ’cause the one things stronger than the whiskey

Was the sight of her holdin’ my baby girl
The way she adored that string of pearls I gave her the day that our youngest boy earl married his high school love.
Its a new t-shirt sayin’ I’m a grandpa.
Bein’ right there as our time got small
And holdin’ her hand when good lord called her up
Yeah man that’s the good stuff.

He said, when you get home she’ll start to cry.
When she says, I’m sorry, say so am I.
Look into those eyes so deep in love and drink it up ’cause that’s the good stuff.

That’s the good stuff.