If you are a business owner or have an entrepreneurial spirit, this week’s blog is just for you.

In my personal library I have books that are well worn and I refer to regularly. These books have had a huge influence on me and have shaped me personally and professionally.

A book I would suggest you add to your personal library is “Secrets of the Rockefeller Habits” by Vern Harnish. I love this book because it is full of powerful concepts. I am very thankful for Vern’s book because it has positively influenced my businesses and I would like to share with you a few of these concepts.

The first is the importance of daily huddles. Huddles that are performed before each workday will effectively re-engage each employee with the organizations core values and core focus. During your daily huddle is when you review the organization’s goals and tract the progress. I have had the privilege to witness a pre-shift huddle at a Ritz Carlton Hotel. It was a powerful and influential experience that I can’t divulge the specifics of, but their daily huddles are a key contributor to their universally recognized exceptional customer service.

The Rockefeller Habits share two rules that every business should adopt.

Rule 1:

• Create products/services people can’t live without and is habit forming.(Starbucks anyone?)
• Crank up the new tools of sales and marketing to let the right people know.
• Design lean processes to execute on all the revenue you’re generating.
• Learn from other highly successful people on how to do all the above.

Rule 2:

• Create a business model driven by recurring revenues (Highest valued firms).
• Bring together a brilliant team that keeps getting smarter.
• Craft a viral story that attracts the right percentage of the market.
• Execute, execute, execute!
• You can, and should, succeed with both to maximize profits and sales.

If you are in business, use these two rules to access where you are. What do you need to implement into your business and where can improvements be made? If you are considering starting a business, then how lucky are you to be exposed to these brilliant concepts in advance? If you know someone in business please share this with him or her. They will be very grateful you did.

Be abundant, live inspired, fulfill your destiny.

Life’s journey is an amazing ride, if you think so. It’s a blessing to be able to experience the variety of emotions along the way. I know you’re thinking, “I can do without the pain, heartache and tragedies,” which I get. However, if we don’t experience these emotions we would lack contrast and therefore, perspective. It is during life’s most challenging times where we learn the most about ourselves and who we are. This is where we begin to appreciate the smallest of blessings.

We can allow life’s struggles to shroud us in darkness or we can choose to reframe our mind, which will ultimately illuminate the inherent lessons while planting the seeds for new growth. The harvest is an abundant mindset, which will nurture and cultivate a gratitude consciousness.

Imagine…without darkness there can be no light. Without sorrow and pain there can be no joy. Without anger and hate there can be no love and acceptance. And without pain there can be no healing. There is joy in every emotion. The vast amalgam of human emotions is truly a gift, if you think so.

Nature provides a perfect example of this delicate balance between dark and light. Imagine if there were no storm clouds and rain, how would the sun be able to provide its energy for growth. Each is dependent on the other for the full expression of life to fully mature into what it was designed to become. Therefore, we are also blessed with each human emotion so we can become conscious of who we desire to BE and what we choose to experience. This last point is perhaps the most important of all. It means we are in control of our destiny. This is a game changer because this is the foundation to personal growth and the expansion of a collective human consciousness.

We don’t have to be anything other than what we desire the most. If you want to experience more love, then give your love away. If you want more happiness become the happiest person you know. Laugh and be silly, smile till your face hurts and most of all, don’t take yourself so seriously. Most things are not really that important.

What we give away, we get back and therefore, our world becomes a reflection of us. If you have ever wondered why you keep experiencing the same things over and over it’s because the same you keeps showing up. Change you, change your world!

If I had one wish for you, it would be to a embrace every emotion throughout your day. Learn to be grateful for ALL emotions because they enriched the human experience. It is in the contrast where life’s magic occurs and self-exploration begins, if you think so…

Have you ever stepped away from one thing to pursue something else? To challenge yourself in away that makes you uncomfortable, so you can evolve to the next best version of yourself? Well, that is the journey I’ve been on the past 18 months. Give me a minute here because I believe there are lessons that can benefit everyone.

First, let me begin by thanking all of you who have been fans of this weekly blog. Your support and encouragement has meant a lot. My mission is to inspire millions of people to live happier, healthier and more prosperous lives. By providing great content in these three areas helps me accomplish this mission. However, you’ve likely noticed you have not received them of late. There is a good reason.

18 months ago I stepped away from blogging and other interests to head up a new company called, OolaCorporate Training. The mission of OolaCorporate Training is to bring the life changing principles of Oola to the corporate world. As you can imagine starting up a completely new company from the ground floor is a monumental task. I don’t share this to brag, but to point out in life there are times when opportunities present that require us to act. This was one of those times. I was fortunate to work with an amazing business coach and industry experts that made my journey less daunting. They took this neophyte and through a lot of hard work, taught me the skills and knowledge to be successful. I’m thankful for them and I am thankful for all those who I have had the pleasure to be on this journey with.

Here are the takeaways…

1. You are never too old to challenge yourself in any aspect of life. When we stop learning we stop growing. Life’s magic occurs when we are learning and we push ourselves to get uncomfortable. Even though it WILL be painful at times.
2. Look for opportunities, they are all around us. If it is the right opportunity, jump on it! The worst thing that can happen is it doesn’t work out. However, you will always be better for what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown.
3. There is nothing better than creating something from scratch. Seeing your dream become a reality is pure excitement.
4. Be passionate about everything you do. Do what you love and you will love what you do!
5. Surround yourself with talented and passionate people. They will make you look good and encourage you to show up your best.
6. Know what you need to know, because without the proper knowledge hard work can be wasted.
7. Mentors matter! Leaning on people who have “been there, done that” is a comforting feeling on your journey. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.

So there you have it, my seven lessons learned over the last year and half, which is a very Oola number. There were certainly more, however these were the most important. If you have never check out Oola please check it out by clicking on the link. I know you will be glad you did.

https://www.oolalife.com

Once again thank you for supporting these blogs, if you find them of value I would appreciate if you would share them. I really have a passion to serve as many people as possible. This platform helps me do so. I love the community we are creating. I’d love to hear your feedback on these blogs. Lets start a dialogue to share your thoughts, knowledge and ideas with each other to make ourselves, our families, our communities and our world a better place.

Live inspired, be abundant and fulfill your destiny,

Thank God it’s Monday,

I recently came across an inspiring article about leadership. We know that leadership appears in many forms and styles, but perhaps no more important than at home.

Stony Brook College former AD, Jim Fiore, came up with a new idea: the brown bag approach.

Looking for new and innovative ways to inspire his family, he started writing quotes on his son lunch bag. He knows as a leader of young people, that the thoughts we fill our heads with have a big influence on our attitudes and behaviors.

Looking for ways to empower his son with strong and noble thoughts, the lunch bag quickly became the talk of the school. The lunch bag became so popular, that his friends couldn’t wait for lunch period; not because of the food, but rather for the next empowering thought.

What can you do to empower your teams? What new and innovative ways can you come up with to lead your family or team to reach new heights? When people are inspired, they are more enthusiastic and hopeful about the future. They are more productive and better at problem solving. Collectively, they feel like there is nothing they can’t achieve.

Your team, family and communities are looking to be inspired and led. They are waiting for a leader to show up with a vision that is clearly articulated.

Practice the 3 C’s: Creative, Consistent and Clear.

Live inspired, be abundant and fulfill your destiny,

Thank God it’s Monday,

In a world so divided it is not uncommon to be vilified for speaking your mind. It seems that we have lost decency and respect for those with different opinions. Instead of considering different viewpoints many choose to become offended by those with who think differently. Social media is a major contributor to this cultural shift. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others have become a place where people troll your newsfeed looking to argue or criticize.

If you are someone who becomes easily ruffled by every comment or feel slighted, why would you participate on these sites? More importantly, you will never find peace engaging at that level.

It is important to be polite and considerate, but in the end, does it really matter? You are likely not going to change opinions, so why try?

I encourage you to periodically take stock of your social media accounts. That means you should go through your account and unfriend/unfollow those who are neither respectful nor kind. What’s the value in allowing toxic people to troll you? Get rid of them, unfriend/unfollow them today.

In the end do they really matter?

Live inspired, be abundant and fulfill your destiny,