Which is better? Fame and fortune or helping others?

Before I start this post, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope it's been a great time spent with family and friends.

So today we are asking the question of what really matters to you, is it fame, money, power and success or is it helping others and making a difference in the world?

No matter what the answer to your question - let me start off by saying this - while one of these answers seems to have a more positive aspect to it then the other, both are just as valid and
worthwhile an answer than the other one and both can see a person lead a happy, life-changing and inspirational life.

Now I know a lot of you will read the last paragraph and say to me as if! Surely having fame and power is the ultimate win. You are popular and you can do all you like. I know there will be a lot of you however that will tell me that this is also an as if, because you can't be happy when you're focus is on money- and this is a valid point as well.

But what if I was to put a third category into the mix of answers. One that says that fame and money have an important role to play in helping others and making a difference in the world- and vice versa.

Think about this, every person starts from somewhere in life - I think a quote based around passages from the bible said it best when it says 'I am born, wrapped in swaddling cloths and one day I will exit once again' - there is no human in this world who hasn't been through that.

The difference is that for some, they are born into the lower socio-economic status while for others, they are born into the high echelons of life.

It's interesting to note that in Australia at least, a lot of our more well known success stories who grace our magazines actually came from families with very little and from their hard work they've been able to turn this around not only for themselves but also for their families as well.

If we focus on this case in particular, it's a perfect example of how the search for fame and power can be a good thing. The fact that others are more famous can give people something to aspire to, which can be the key to breaking the cycle and making a pathway towards a better life.

Money and success can also be used by the person once successful to help others around them to make their situation better or improve their lives.

The key to all of this is that while there is a focus on fame and success and money, it is done with an end result which is greater than all of this - which is to create change and make a difference.

If we take helping others as a focus, the same principle applies. There's no use in making your goal to help others if you are only doing it to make yourself look good. There needs to be a much greater goal of helping others to ensure they can achieve their best or to enable them to perform tasks that will help others in their community to make their goals happen.

Whether your goal is fame or fortune or helping others and making a difference - there's only one thing you need to remember and this is that at the end of it all - neither of these things are the be all and end all of life. What really matters is that throughout your journey towards these goals, you continue to live out the values of respect, love and use your gifts and talents to the best of your ability.

Do this and both of these options will lead to success and ultimate happiness both now and into the years to come.

Till next time...

It's better when we stick together

Hi everyone,

Apologies for the nearly month long break between posts - I've been busy with projects and then came down the flu - but I'm back now and ready to continue to hopefully help you to have the best life possible!

So it's time for number 3 in our reflection series of questions - now I know it's been a bit of time between drinks so the question revolved around the idea of whether you are someone whose path involves just themselves or does it revolve around family and friends as well.

Now if you're anything like me I'm guessing the answer to the question above will a bit more complex than just a one or the other.

It seems that as humanity, we are happy for people to be involved in our plans unless one of two things occurs:

1. The plan no longer is ours due to their involvement turning into their pet project
2. The plan that we have is shut down by those close to us 

Because of this, it seems that when it comes to plans - the ones that don't matter, we are happy for others to mess around in and do what they can to help us, but the big ones - the ones we have placed our futures in - well those are solely for us to control and choose.

Now before we continue, let me make one thing clear - this idea that we are the only ones who are in control or who have a say in a plan is COMPLETE NONSENSE! Anyone who thinks this should remember the golden rule - there is someone who put us on this earth in the first place (and it's not your mum or dad) and they have ultimate control over all plans in our lives- period. Even if we try to control the plans, if it's their desire for us to end up somewhere, they'll make it happen, even if it's via the long way around.

Ok, now that's out of the way, there are some other important reasons why this form of thinking isn't that sound.

1. If you have no experience in the area you are planning to succeed in, then it's vital that you get the support of those who have been on the journey before you to gain ideas on what works and what doesn't. You can't do this if you're flying solo.
   
2. When the road gets rough, no matter how much we all hate to admit it, we really value having someone around to provide support, give guidance and most importantly, just listen so that we can get past the point of frustration or disappointment and move towards achieving success.
   
3. If you alienate all your friends and family from this plan - no matter how much it means to you, there's a strong chance many of them (outside of the immediate circle) will feel hurt by this and start distancing themselves from you in all areas. You might just want to keep this goal or dream to yourself, but you might end up being by yourself instead.
   
4. Those who share and ask for support normally end up succeeding in their goals faster. Now this isn't some fancy quote or idea - it's the truth. Look at all those who have done great things in the world - not just in faith, but in science, technology, business - most of them started their projects with another person or they have mentors and backers a list long who worked
   
   with them to achieve the goal. When we go alone, the road can seem so much harder than it needs to be and this can delay us from wanting to keep going. Being in a group leads to more support, more ideas and in the end, a faster, more effective result.
   
   

Now after saying all that, let me say this. I know from my own experience that having the vulnerability to say that you need help or to ask for a person to join you in your goals is not easy and sometimes, takes more guts than just sticking it out alone.

The thing is though, we can't succeed in our goals if we try to do it by ourselves - it's why once God made Adam, he then created Eve - even the greatest creator of all knew humans needed a partner when it came to this crazy game we call life.

So my challenge to you today is to look at that goal you are wanting to achieve, Now write down a list of every person you know who can help you achieve that goal and start talking to them about it. It may not be every detail, but enough so they can help you to get to the next step. It's a challenge I know, but trust me from personal experience when I say, it's going to be so worth it.

Till next time everyone...