Thought For Day - Get a Bigger Problem

"How do get rid of a little problem? You get a big problem."

Mark Victor Hansen

Thought For Day - Don't Let Someone Live in Your Head

"Holding a grudge is like letting someone else live in your head rent-free."

Thought For Day - Will & Faith

The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible."-

Richard M. DeVos

Thanks Lisa Tavana (FB)

Thought For Day - Get a Good Idea

“Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work it until it’s done and done right.”

Walt Disney

Thanks Elaine

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Wind Beneath My Wings

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 -Inspirational Music

Saturday's Motivational Video -Tesla Motors

Christmas Music # 4 -Joy to the World

Christmas Music # 3 - Feliz Navidad

Christmas Music # 2 - Holy Night Celtic Woman

Christmas Music # 1 - Nat King Cole

Merry Christmas - Feliz Navidad - Happy Holidays

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and a Wish for Your Best Year Ever........

Christmas Eve Music # 4 - Give This Christmas Away

Christmas Eve Music # 3 - Silent Night - Aaron Neville

Christmas Eve Music # 2 - Silent Night - Gaelic

Christmas Eve Music # 1 - A Prayer

Personal Ramblings - Gratitude Campaign

Thought For Day - Success

"To believe in yourself and to follow your dreams, to have
goals in life and a drive to succeed, and to surround
yourself with the things and the people that make you happy
- this is success!"

~Sasha Azevedo

Thought For Day - Time Will Pass

"Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish
something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will
pass anyway; we might just as well put that
passing time to the best possible use."

— Earl Nightingale

Thought For Day - Make a Way

"We will either find a way, or make one."

Hannibal

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Just a Dream

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Happy

Saturday's Motivational Video - 13 Rules of Leadership

Personal Ramblings - Support REEL Academy

http://www.thereelacademy.org/about.html

Thought For Day - Make it Happen

"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.”

Thought For Day - Heroic Dreams

"We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look."

Thought For Day - Success isn't a Secret

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself"


Thanks Peter Parker

Thought For Day - Take the High Road

"Take the high road; it certainly isn't very crowded and you will get to your destination much faster."

Larry Winget

Thought For Day - Let Go of Anger

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned. "

Buddha

Thanks to Ben Ramsey

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Killing Me Softly

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Joe Cocker

Saturday's Motivational Video / Commercial - No Excuses

Thought For Day - The 90% Difference

"I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. We are in charge of our attitudes."

Unknown

Personal Rambling - Get the Christmas Spirit - Give to Others

What can you do? Give a little, give a lot, give of yourself, give your time, just give and make a difference this year.....

Give a $1 to Operation Gratitude to send care packages to the troops serving this holiday or give more than $ 1

Donate your used cell phones

Give of your time and volunteer @Operation Gratitude Dec 12 and Dec 19th



http://www.opgratitude.com/



Give a shoebox to a needy kid





http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/


"The secret of living is giving" Tony Robbins

Thought For Day - You May Be the World

"To the world you may be one person; But to one person you may be the world."

Unknown

Thought For Day - Give More Time to Your Improvement

"Give so much time to the improvemnt of yourself that you don't have time to criticize others."

Jim Rohn

Personal Ramblings - Ten Steps to Wrap Up 2009

Here is a great article from Suzanne Lyons. I took a couple of her seminars many years ago in Flash Forward. Check out her website........

http://www.suzannelyons.net/



TEN STEPS TO WRAPPING UP 2009
Give Yourself the Best Holiday Gift Ever!


1) Take a thorough serious look at your year. Go through your calendar, day timer, diary, etc. See where you are out of communication, out of touch, and out of integrity with colleagues, family and friends. Make a complete list.

2) Take your list and write up what you would need to do or say to clean things up (to be complete). I am not saying that you have to take the actions. You can take the actions if you want to, but often just the act of acknowledging what is incomplete will have it disappear.

3) Go back through your year and take note of all the projects, areas and anything from your "To Do" list that is incomplete or unfinished.

4) Take this list and write out what actions you could take to be finished or be complete. It is up to you whether or not you take the actions, but once again in order to be complete with 2009 it is important to take note of the above and acknowledge what is left unfinished.

5) Accomplishments: Now it's time to brag! I love this part. Go through your year again and this time make a list of all of your accomplishements...no matter how small you think some of them might be. All too often we focus on what's wrong, what we didn't get done or what we should have done. So now I want you to focus on everything you accomplished. Claim it! Be proud of it! Take joy and pleasure in it!

6) Acknowledgement: There are two sides to this one. Giving and receiving. Both are very important and both are missing in our culture. And it is all part of being complete. In all of 2009, what would you like to be acknowledged for. For example, "I would like to be acknowledged for sticking to my weekly exercise program." Write out a list of all the things you want to be acknowledged for and share it with a friend. Perhaps you could have a friend or family member do the exercise so you can share your lists with each other. A friend of mine, with her family, does the accomplishment and acknowledgement lists every Christmas. Wow!

7) Acknowledging others: Who do you want to acknowledge? Make a list and include the acknowledgement in your holiday cards, calls and emails. Acknowledge not only what they did, but also who they are for you and the difference they have made in your life.

8) Expectations: A friend of mine once said that "human beings are walking expectations just waiting to be unfulfilled". So that said, what about going into the holiday with your friends and family with absolutely no expectations at all! Just allow them to do what they do and be who they be and have no reaction. Just keep falling in love with them over and over again no matter what. Wouldn't that be a fun adventure to take on for the holidays?

9) Appreciation and Gratitude: There is a great quote by Melody Beattie where she says that "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Create a list of all the wonderful things you appreciate and are grateful for. Come up with at least 50! Look at this list everyday and keep adding to it.

10) Contribution: Since this is the season for giving, the greatest gift you can give is yourself....your time, your love, your kind words, your ongoing commitment to be an example for humanity...bringing excitement, possibility, joy, love and passion to everything you do and everyone you touch!


Have the best Holiday Season ever!

Thought For Day - Today is the Best Day Ever

Have The BEST Day Ever

What do we really mean when we ask each other “how
are you doing?”

Most of the time it is a surface level comment
just to be polite.

For most of my life I have tried to maintain a
positive mental attitude.
However, from time to time I allowed myself,
like you probably do as well, to wallow around
in self pity.
Then I would despise how I felt and change my thoughts.
After changing my thoughts I soon found that my
reality would change as well.

Henry Ford, the famous American who revolutionized
automobile manufacturing said, “Thoughts are things.”
He was right. Thoughts determine the lens of how we
view and perceive the world.
And we can consciously change how and what we think.
I’ve done it.

In the past, when people asked how I was doing my
reaction was usually to give a summary of my
circumstances.

How are you doing? “Oh, pretty good.”

How are you doing? “I’ve been better.”

These were common answers to the questions. What
I found was that what I thought and then spoke
became my reality. Literally, one day I woke up
and DID NOT like my reality. So I began speaking
a desired reality into existence.

Now, when asked how I am doing, I always say, “I’m
having the BEST day ever!”

The reaction from some people is priceless. These
usually sound something like:
“Wow, I wish I was too,” or, “Gee, that’s great!”
and sometimes the brave (or just curious) will ask,
“Really? Why’s that?”

It’s one of the most frequent questions I get. How
can this be your best day ever?

I even have one client who argues with me. She says,
“I’m having a pretty good day, but it’s not the best
day I’ve ever had.” After several attempts to explain
the philosophy behind my statement, her exasperation
became so great that she just stopped asking me how
I was doing!

Have the BEST day ever!

It is NOT about the circumstances, it’s about your
mindset. Each and every one of us has circumstances
each day that range from unpleasant to really bad.
If you focused on the circumstances, then yes, that
becomes your reality.

In my book of faith and doctrine it says, “be content
in whatever circumstances in which you find yourself. . .”

I thought about that a lot and decided that I would
give it a try, and have the best day ever.

Also, I began to live in the present. It used to be
that I could not enjoy the present because of “suffering
from mistakes” of my past, and worrying about what
would happen in my future.

My conclusion is that the only day I have is today.
Now. Right now. That’s it, I can’t get back my
yesterdays and there is no promise of tomorrow. I
only have today. If that isn’t enough of a realization
for you to have the best day ever then “snap out of it!”

You see it boils down to this. This is the only day
you have. Yesterday is gone, forever, and, tomorrow
may never come. Yes, this is the best day ever!

No matter what your circumstances, IT IS THE BEST
DAY EVER!

Some always find a way to ask about bad possibilities:

“What if you lose your job?” I was out of work when
I found this one, so the door for greater opportunity
will swing open. Have the BEST day ever!

“What if a family member dies?” Then I will celebrate
their life and cherish all the memories I have.
Have the BEST day ever!

What if you die in a car crash on the way home?”
According to my book of faith and doctrine, I am
promised a new body in a beautiful place, with my
Messiah, forever. Now how can that be bad?
Have the BEST day ever!

Once you determine that you will not be emotionally
pushed back and forth by the “things that happen”
in your life, you will find that you no longer continue
to attract these negatives.

Your reality is that you will begin attracting good
things in your life.

In fact, people will become attracted to you because
of your genuine positive charge. The reverse is true
of “negative” people. Nobody enjoys their company
and most will simply try to avoid them.

Take the first step. Tell yourself that this is
the BEST day ever.

It’s ok if you don’t “feel” it or believe it yet.
Just say it. Every time you are asked “how are you
doing?” simply say “I’m having the BEST day ever!”

Your speaking it will make it your reality!

Have the BEST day ever!

Lance Curtis

Thanks Lance

Thought For Day - But Not You, Be Bigger

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts but not you...

Jim Rohn

Thanks Tony Robbins

Personal Ramblings - Thanks for Your Time

I received this as an email from my Cousin Sharon in Germany. I shared it with my twelve year old daughter. And she summed it up by saying "Aww Dad that is so special". It is a special story especially this holiday season and in the challenge economic times we are living through. It is a great reminder of what's really important in life......

THANKS FOR THE TIME

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him..

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said
He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked
"The box is gone," he said
What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone.. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom.

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package.. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago.. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most was....my time"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"

Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so, you will certainly brighten someone's day and might change their perspective on life...for the better.

To all my family, friends and everyone I sent this to or are reading this on my blog.

"Thanks for your time! "

Rest in Peace - Jim Rohn A Legend

I never met Jim Rohn in person but I heard him on tape and read his writings and saw him speak on videos. I also learned of him from a mentor of mine Tony Robbins. He was Tony's first personal development mentor and coach. He created a ripple in life and touched many directly and indirectly. He left a great legacy that made the world better for his being here. His spirit and teachings live on in our hearts and our lives.......

John Duffy


"I truly believe Jim Rohn is an extraordinary human being whose philosophy can enhance the quality of life for anyone who exposes themselves to it. He certainly had a positive impact on me at a time in my life when I was first forming the philosophies that guide me today."
- Anthony Robbins -
Author of 'Unlimited Power'


"Jim Rohn is one of the most articulate, powerful,thought-provoking speakers I've ever seen. His unique delivery and style puts him head and shoulders above the rest."
- Harvey Mackay -
Author of 'Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive'

"I've been a student of Jim Rohn since 1972. He was then and still is one of the most profound thinkers and mind expanding individuals I've ever had a chance to listen to."
- Les Brown -
Author of 'Live your Dreams'


http://tribute.jimrohn.com/

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Seasons of Love

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - The First Time

Saturday's Motivational Video - Sean Stephenson 3 ft Giant

Personal Ramblings - Legacy - What Matters

Last night I attended a Dad's program on Character Counts for my daughters school. The founder of "Character Counts" gave us this poem. Very true, great insight......



http://charactercounts.org/

Thought For Day - Character of a Man

"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him."

Unknown

Thought For Day - Wish You Were Better

"Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better"

Jim Rohn

Thought For Day - Be Who You Wanna Be

"Be who you wanna be, not who others choose to see. "

Unknown

Thought For Day - A Single Question

"A single question can be more influential than a thousand statements."

Bo Bennett

Thought For Day - Luck

"I've found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck,
take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often."

— Brian Tracy:

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - House of the Rising Sun

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Nina Simone

Saturday's Motivational Video - Tony Robbins in Rome

Thought For Day - Success

Success

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a
redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, it is an adaptation of a poem published in 1905 by Bessie Stanley. No version of it has been found in Emerson's writings.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. ~Edward Sandford Martin

Thanks Michael Lloyd

I'm spending Thanksgiving with my Cousin Pat Gavin's family. He passed away in October and is very deeply missed. I'm thankful for reconnecting with him a year ago after 40 years apart and thankful for the time we spent together and now to be part of his family. I am thankful for all my family and friends this Thanksgiving and all the blessings in my life.
So I say Thank You, Thank You , Thank You this Thanksgiving..........

Thought For Day - Move the Mountain

"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."

William Faulkner

Thanks Robert Allen

Thought For Day - Only the Miserable Can Create Misery

"The reason some people are hurtful is they are hurt-FULL. Only the miserable can create misery, have mercy for them. "

Sean Stephenson

Great insight and so true.

Thought For Day - The Turtle Effect

"The Turtle Effect was taught to me by my mother when I was a young girl. She told me that I could achieve anything I wanted to as long as I remembered to have a soft inside, a hard shell, and be sure to stick my neck out."

Nikki Stone Olympic Gold Winner - Motivational Speaker

http://olympianstone.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/under-pressure-–-not-just-another-day-at-the-office/

Thanksgiving Week - Make a Contribution

This Thanksgiving as you spend time with family and friends take the time to remember the true spirit of Thanksgiving. Take the time to be grateful for all you have and make some time to give to others and to yourself by giving the gift of self.

Here are four ways you can contribute this week / holiday season or create your own act of contribution.




"Everyone has the need to contribute. It is one of the six human needs. If you give from your heart,
it will come back to you tenfold." -- Anthony Robbins

The International Basket Brigade is built on a simple notion: one small act of generosity on the part of one caring person can transform the lives of hundreds. It takes only one light to dispel the darkness, and even just one basket or a few, to bring hope! A Basket Brigade takes place when one individual prepares one basket to personally deliver to a needy family or individual.

What began more than 30 years ago as Tony's individual effort to feed families in need, has now grown into the Anthony Robbins Foundation's International Basket Brigade, providing baskets of food and household items for an estimated 2 million people annually in countries all over the world. Throughout the year International Basket Brigade volunteers deliver food, clothing, and hope to those who need it most. The Foundation would be honored to have you become a part of this truly wonderful event.

http://www.anthonyrobbinsfoundation.org/arf/inter_bb.php

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________



http://www.opgratitude.com/

________________________________________________________________________________________________________



http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dotorg_homepage


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Touch the Life of a Teen. Give them the Gift of Success.

http://www.successfoundation.org/

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 -Sacrifice

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - It's Not Easy

Saturday's Motivational Video - John Wooden

Thought For Day - Fess Up

"More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren't so busy denying them."

Harold J. Smith

Thought For Day - Re-examine

Re-examine all you have been told... Dismiss what insults your Soul."

Walt Whitman

Thought For Day - Real Leaders

"Real leaders are not people who can point out what's wrong. Anyone can do that. Real leaders are people who can make things better."

Goldsmith

Thought For Day - The Main Thing

"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."

— Stephen Covey

Thought For Day - Character

"Character is not made in a crisis, it is only exhibited."

--Robert Freeman

Personal Ramblings - Filmmaking

I'm reposting a great article from Suzanne Lyons Newsletter. Check out her websites and newsletter.

http://www.suzannelyons.net/

http://www.snowfallfilms.com/







TEN STEPS TO SUCCESS IN HOLLYWOOD
(Or any Business)


1. SET A GOAL - Do a one year goal. For example, "By December 1st, 2010 I will _________________________ _________________________________________. Then break it down into monthly milestones: January 1st, February 1st, March 1st, etc.

2. DESIGN YOUR PITCH - Do a FANTASTIC logline for your project or yourself depending on whether or not you are selling your script or yourself. Then prepare a two minute pitch to expand on the logline. If you are pitching yourself be sure to design your pitch drawing from highlights from your career and your personal life. I usually make a list of 5 to 10 highlights from my career and personal life and then I choose the ones I want to use in my pitch. As producers you should always have a great pitch ready that is about you because you will constantly be enrolling people in YOU, whether they be financiers, agents, directors, etc.

3. CREATE A DISPLAY OF WHO YOU KNOW (MAP OF RELATIONSHIPS) - Categorize the names of everyone you know in the industry, ie. producers, writers, casting directors, directors, entertainment attorneys, etc. Call everyone on your Map and tell them what you're up to.

4. NETWORK - Continue to expand your Map. Network, Network, Network. Get out there and meet people. Sometimes to push myself a little I will set a goal like "I will meet 10 new people this month". See my October Newsletter for some great tips on Networking and creating Relationships.

5. MAKE REQUESTS AND OFFERS - Make requests (not favors) of people on your Map. For example, "I'm really committed to meeting 3 new directors for my film project. Do you know any directors you could introduce or refer me to." Also, end every call and conversation with "Is there anything I can do for you". We all to often forget to do this and it means a lot to the person on the other end of the phone.

6. CREATE A HITLIST - Target who you need to talk to or meet with. RESEARCH. Read the trades. Make a list of 10 to 20 names and start calling. This could be one of the requests that you make to people on your Map. For example, "I am looking to set up a meeting with John Doe, Casting Director. He is on my Hitlist as someone I really want to meet. I know you have worked with him before and was wondering if I could use you name when I called him."

7. BRAINSTORMING - Get ideas outside of what you alone can come up with. So often we try to do it alone and it's crazy. In the Flash Forward workshops over the years we had a built in one-hour exercise called "Brainstorming" where we divided into teams of six or eight people and then divide up the time equally. Then one person would state what they needed and then they would be quiet and just listen and take notes as everyone threw ideas at them. They were not allowed to comment on the ideas at all. They just wrote everything down and then took from the ideas what they wanted. It was extremely successful.

8. KEEP STATS - I know this doesn't sound like fun and we all get a bit squeamish when we think about statistics. However, it is such a great wake up call to what actions you are really taking as opposed to what you are just talking about. Make a list of 3 to 5 categories you want to track and then add up the actions you have taken on a weekly basic. In the workshops I have led I always include this as part of the program. People are always shocked at how few calls they have made compared to what they thought they had. Categories could include: Number of production companies contacted about my project; number of meetings set; number of auditions; number of scripts sent out; number of new relationship made, etc.

9. GET A MENTOR - No matter what level you are at. Make it easy for them. Request only a little of their time over a very specific period of time. For example, three ten-minute conversations over the next four weeks, or a half-hour coffee meeting, or a lunch together. Also, please be prepared with your questions ready and it is important that you generate the conversation. It is not your mentor's job to generate it. Remember it is a business relationship so always acknowledge them for their time.

10. CREATE A SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR YOURSELF - It is extremely important to be held accountable for your promises! We're only human after all and sometimes when the going gets tough the tough get going. Don't let that happen. Be held accountable for your word and your actions. Every Tuesday morning a group of 6 of us get together to talk about our goals and what actions we are going to take that week. On Friday we email in what we have done so far, and what is still left to do before we meet the next Tuesday. It really helps keep us focused and on target, and the coaching and brainstorming we do with each other is priceless.

A BONUS TIP: HAVE FUN AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOURSELF DAILY! We are here to have fun (no matter what business you're in) so keep that in mind at all times. The more you take on having every action, every milestone and every goal as FUN, the more people will want to play with you and the more you will attract into your life everything you want. Also, don't wait for others to acknowledge you. Acknowledge yourself. In the Launching the Future workshop I lead I include a page where people list what they want to be acknowledged for, just to get them in the habit of acknowledgment.

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday JD

Today I celebrate my birthday and today I also celebrate the courage, vision and love that my parents had that took them from the farms of Ireland to America during the Great Depression to eventually give me a great life and the America Dream.

it's funny how when I was younger I would get depressed on my birthday and eventually I turned it into my one and only Designated Depression Day and finally I decided I didn't need to be depressed for even one day and let that go. Now I see it my birthday more as a Designated Gratitude Day. A day when I can focus on all I am grateful for.

So today I celebrate all I am grateful for and it is a very very long list. Thank you to my family, especially my new Irish family, friends and all those who have touched my life over the years and gave me the gift of your friendship, love, humor, company and contributed to who I am today. It's been a long and interesting journey. You're in my memory and my heart. Thank you.

I got a special package from My Cousin Marie all the way from the mountain of Glanduff Ireland. She sent me a Irish Baseball hat and scarf and birthday card.

My cousin is 65 years old and rides her bike up and down the mountain 1/2 hours each way to get to the town to buy the present and to mail it to me. Truly a gift and some sacrifice from the heart. I can't convey how special a birthday present it is and how it is a symbol of the love that is in my life that I feel so grateful for.

So my birthday today will look like this:

Exercise - The Steps in Santa Monica
Meditating, Journaling and Visioning and for my future @ the Self Realization Gardens in Santa Monica
Create a Vision Board for 2010
Volunteering for a 1/2 day packing care packages @ Operation Gratitude
Working / Writing on my Documentary. TV Series Proposal and my Memoir Book
A special dinner with my family.
And having my cousin Sharon and her family calling me from Germany to sing me a Happy Birthday
Calling my Aunt Maggie and Cousin Marie in Ireland to share my day with them
And receiving Birthday wishes from my family on the East Coast and from all my friends on FB

It doesn't get better than this......

I believe my best years are still ahead of me and I look forward to achieving more, contributing more and living an even more fulfilling life.....

So a toast..... Slainte
I share this day with all my family and friends and say Thank you




John Duffy

Saturday's Motivational Video - Les Brown Story

Thought For Day - What Lies Within

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us"

Unknown

Thanks Scoty Jones

Thought For Day - What's the Solution?

"To solve any problem, here are 3 questions to ask yourself: First, what can I do? Second, what can I read? And third, who Can I ask?"

Tony Christodoulou

Not necessarily in that order. i prefer to see problems as challenges and believe there is always a solution

John Duffy

Thought For Day - It's the Life in Your Years

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."~

Abraham Lincoln

Thanks Sharon

Veteran's Day

In Memory of my Dad Patrick Duffy, my Father in-Law Jules Lisella and my friend CJ Bau, May they rest in peace and in honor of all those who have served.


Donate to the Wounded Warrior's Project

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Thought For Day - Silence Doesn't Equal Agreement

"You have not converted a man because you have silenced him." -

John Morley

Freedom Without Walls - 20th Celebration of Fall Of Berlin Wall

20th Anniversary Celebrations

On November 9, 2009, Berlin will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with a "Festival of Freedom".

In the United States, the German Embassy is coordinating a public diplomacy campaign with the motto "Freedom Without Walls" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The campaign is focused on promoting awareness of the fall of the Berlin Wall among current college students, and students at over 20 universities will participate in "Freedom Without Walls" events in late 2009.

There was a time that it never seemed possible. No one could not imagine the collapse of Communism and the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Yet the impossible became possible and freedom happened. It started in the imagination of the oppressed German people living under the brutal East German regime. It was a great day for Germany and the world twenty years ago,

A comparison in case you forgot the differences or maybe are not clear about them:

Communism

"The dictatorship of the Communist Party is maintained by recourse to every form of violence"
Leon Trotsky

"Ideas are more powerful than guns. we would not let our enemies have guns, why would we let them have ideas"
Joseph Stalin

Democracy

"There are many people in the world who really don't understand, or say they don't, what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world. Let them come to Berlin"
John F Kennedy

"The West won't contain communism, it will transcend communism".
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall".
Ronald Reagan

Great days lie ahead and people are imagining freedom from their brutal regimes.

Freedom's Calling - Iran is Next....... and..... North Korea and........ Freedom's Calling.........

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Whenever, Wherever

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Smooth Operator

Saturday's Motivational Video - Ironman Sara Reinertsen

Thought For Day - Embrace Uncertainty

“Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity.”

R. I. Fitzhenry

Thanks Ben Ramsey

Condolences to Family and Friends at Fort Hood

My heart and condolences go out to the families & friends of those killed at Fort Hood and my wishes for a speedy recovery for the wounded.

john Duffy

Thought For Day - Your Destination is Not Determined by the Winds

"Your destination in life is not determined by the blowing of the wind, but rather the setting of your sail. Remember, we all have the same challenges (winds blowing on us). So if some people are succeeding wildly, while others are falling down... it is how you are responding to the challenges that is dictating your course and your destination."

Jim Rohn


Thanks Brian Carruthers

Thought For Day - Pursue Those Dreams

"Dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them"


John Duffy

Thought For Day - Greatest Success

"Our greatest success will come just one step away from our greatest failure."

Napoleon Hill

Thought For Day - Be Honored for What You Give

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video 2009 # 2 - Cry of Freedom

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Naitty Waller & Henry Girls

Saturday's Motivational Video - Dealing with the Economy

Thought For Day - Our Choices Make Us

"We all make choices...but in the end, our choices make us."

Angie Rodriguez

Thought For Day - This Shall Make Me Better

"Instead of thinking; 'This Too Shall Pass', change your thought process to; 'This Shall Make Me BETTER'...Growth comes through experience"

Tony Robbins

Thought For Day - A Job Never Started

"It's a job that's never started that takes the longest to finish."

J. R. R. Tolkien

Thanks Kevin Van Hook

Thought For Day - Step Out on Faith

Many of the most successful people in our history had setbacks. Donald Trump, Walt Disney have been bankrupt but it never stopped them from trying again. Some people fail once and give up. The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the word "extra." Be extraordinary! Step out on faith. As Martin Luther King once said, "Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Thanks Scotty Jones

Thought For Day - No Eraser

"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser"

John W. Gardner

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Ring of Fire

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos 2009 # 1 Red House

Saturday's Motivational Video - Homeless to Harvard

Thought For Day - What is your % of Responsibility?

What percentage % are you responsible for in a relationship? partnership? your career? your life?

No, not 50-50 or 51-49 but 100%. It's only when you take 100% responsibility for your relationships and life do you achieve the results you want.

Thought For Day - Get Back on the Horse - A Variation

"Sometimes when you get thrown off the horse you have to get up, dust yourself off. Grab the silly beast by the bit, Look him straight in the eyes and tell him " If you do that again, I'm going to beat your ass... Now calm down and I'll feed you some carrots as soon as we get to where we're going"

Joseph Mcclendon

I know a raw perspective but I hope you appreciate the humor in it.

John Duffy

Thought For Day - Out of Suffering

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. "

Kahlil Gibran

Thanks Ben Ramsey

Thought For Day - Success isn't a Secret

"Success is not a secret — it never has been. There are only a
few really good ideas, and not one of them is a secret."

Larry Winget

There are no "Secrets".

John Duffy

Thought For Day - Make Choice to Help Others

"You have a choice. The choice to invite people into your life to help them. When you meet someone, ask them "How can I help you?""

Keith Ferrazzi

A powerful question. Try it... It will ramp up your life.......

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Apologize

Thanks Sharon

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Shutting Down Detroit

Saturday's Motivational Video - Magic Johnson

Thought For Day - Do You See What You Believe?

"My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose - somehow we win out. "

President Ronald Reagan

Thought For Day - Stronger Men

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men."



President John F. Kennedy

Thought For Day - Adversity

"There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time. "

Malcolm X

Thought For Day - Real Winners

"The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better."

Barbara Pletcher

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Only God Knows

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Brother's in Arms

Saturday's Motivational Video - An Extraordinary Life

Thought For Day - Small Steps Towards Goals

"My best advice is to set small, attainable goals for yourself."

Skateboard Legend Tony Hawk - Oct 2009

Thought For Day - Don't React Emotionally

"When your emotions run high, your intellect and your ability to acess your resources runs low"

Steve Linder

Thought For Day - It's Never Too Late

"It is never too late to be who you might have been. "

George Eliot

Thought For Day - Victory in Defeat

"Sometimes you win. Sometimes it looks like you've lost. When it looks like you've lost, remember, there is always a victory hidden in defeat."

Chris Widener

Thought For Day - Opportunity in Every Difficulty

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

Winston Churchill

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Song For You

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Say

Thanks Cousin Sharon

Saturday's Motivational Video - The Best Motivation

Thought For Day - Be Remembered for the Right Thing

"You're either going to be known for the problems you solve or the problems you create."

Unknown

Thought For Day - Anger Stops the Search for Truth

"In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves. "

Buddha

Thanks Ben Ramsey

Thought For Day - Stories Are Emotional Transportation

"stories are emotional transportation. Do you weave stories into your daily conversation?"

Keith Ferrazzi

"Facts tell, stories sell..."

Paul Darwish

What stories do you tell yourself about your life? Are you the victim or the hero? Are you the lead or a bit player? Don't get trapped in old stories, make up new and better ones......

John Duffy

Personal Ramblings - Nostalgia - The Bronx - Freedomland 1963

I went here as a kid........

Thought For Day - Old Stories

"Don't let your old "stories" prevent you from creating new ones"


Tony Estigoy

Thought For Day - Pessimist Don't Blaze New Paths

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to uncharted land or opened a new heaven to the human spirit."

Helen Keller

Thought For Day - Being Happy is a Habit

"Being miserable is a habit. Being happy is a habit. The choice is yours."


Tom Hopkins

Personal Ramblings - A Write Up

A friend and line producer Michael Mandaville posted this on his website www.citizensoldierhandbook.com. to share my website with his readers. Appreciated. Thanks Michael.....



A friend of mine, John Duffy, set out various goals for himself and has accomplished quite a few over the years in the challenging Film Industry. His site, GlassThreeQuartersFull, is a fine example of optimism spreading on the internet, not only as a testament to his determination to guide his own Emotional state toward a Positive Outcome but help others along the way. He uses music, quotes, ideas and thought. Check it out. Here are three quotes from his site.

'What's the difference between a hero and a coward? They were both scared to death. It's just one stepped forward and one stepped back. Deal with it. Work it out and move on." Lionel Richie

"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." Lance Armstrong

"A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. " Kahlil Gibran

Personal Ramblings - Check out Friend's Book - Citizen-Soldier

Check out a friend and fellow line producer Michael Mandaville's book "Citizen-Soldier"and website


http://www.citizensoldierhandbook.com/

http://url4t.com/YC1

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 -Wings to Fly

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - I Believe in You

Saturday's Motivational Video - Leadership

General Colin Powell grew up in my neighborhood Mott Haven in the South Bronx.....

Thought For Day - Flexibility

"You need to have more flexibility in coming up with solutions than your clients have in coming up with problems."

Steve Linder

i would add you need to have more flexibility in coming up with solutions than your kids, family, associates or life has in coming up with problems.....

John Duffy

Thought For Day - Do You See What You Believe?

"Do you see what you believe or do you believe what you see?"

Sidney Baker, MD

This is a quote that should make you really think. Most people see what they believe most of the time, It's true in medicine and it's true in politics and it's true in life. It's hard and takes work to challenge yourself to break free from your filter of beliefs and see what is there. How often do we acknowledge we have assumptions and beliefs about most things. How often do we take the time to consider all the alternative ideas and beliefs on a subject and what experiences leads people to hold them.

An example is vaccinations. Either you're for them or against them but have you really tried to understand the other side, Could if be possible that both sides have some valuable ideas and maybe the truth is in the middle or maybe 75% of one side and 25% of the other? Or maybe your view or side is mainly right but you can appreciate the humanity and good intentions of most of the people on the other side if not all.

Try looking at things from different perspectives, from a distance, from the future or from the past point of view. Question authority and assumptions even or maybe especially yours.

And try to remember the humanity of people with different life experiences and points of view. And consider the slim possibility that maybe you're not right about everything all the time. I know it's hard to go there when you believe you are never wrong but what if you are and were. Hmmmmm

John Duffy

Life Management Tool

Here is a Life Management Tool I adapted from a few people and use daily. It is numbered in the order of the priorities in my life. Feel free to adapt it and re-prioritize based on your life. Hope it is useful.....

Thought For Day - No Time

One of the biggest excuses people make for not doing something is "they don't have enough time".

We do what is important to us.

Did you forget to eat yesterday? Did you forget to sleep yesterday? Did you forget to go to the....?

No I bet you didn't. And I bet you didn't forget to watch TV. Did you? But did you forget to workout or read a book that will improve your skills or offer you new opportunities? Hmmm I know , You don't have the time.

I think you know what you have to do. The question is will you do it. Are you a will do or a will not?

Cmon time to make it happen......

John Duffy

Thought For Day - Get Some Bones

"To succeed in life, you need 3 things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone."

Reba McEntire

Thought For Day - Deal with Today

"What happened yesterday was yesterday and what's gonna happen today is gonna be today.If you can just get that in your head, then the rest you can deal with."

Lionel Richie

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - People Who Died

Rest in Peace Jim Carroll

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Catholic Boy

I read Jim Carroll's book "Basketball Diaries" when it came out in the 70's and I was in my 20's. I related to parts of growing up in an Irish-American family and going to Catholic schools. It was a powerful book that I turned a few friends on to at the time.
RIP James Carroll

Saturday's Motivational Video - The Big Questions

I met W Mitchell at a Tony Robbins seminar in Maui 17 years ago. Meeting him put all the challenges I was going through in perspective. Never again would I complain or whine about any problems or difficulties I faced. My new belief would get tested many times since that day but I would never forget W Mitchell. He became a model for me of what is possible.

Thought For Day - Heroes and Cowards

'What's the difference between a hero and a coward? They were both scared to death. It's just one stepped forward and one stepped back. Deal with it. Work it out and move on."

Lionel Richie

Thought For Day - Never Quit

"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever."

Lance Armstrong

Thought For Day - Act

"A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. "

Kahlil Gibran

Thought For Day - Don't Let Them Bring You Down

" If you can't take a person up with you, don't let them bring you down with them!"

Les Brown

Thought For Day - Will and Will-Nots

"Life is not about the haves and the have-nots, but about the wills and the will-nots.

What are you willing to do that you haven't done in the past? What step are you willing to take that others aren't taking? It's rarely about "can you?" and almost always about "will you?""

Larry Winget

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 - Push It to the Limit

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - American Dream

Saturday's Motivational Video - Teach Like Your Hair is on Fire

Don't Back Down

Sept 11 2001 - Never Forget - 8 Years Ago

Sept 11, 2001, My city, New York and my country, America was attacked by Islamic Terrorist. 2,974 innocent people lost their lives that day. I took it personal as I believe many of us did. It changed me profoundly forever. I came back to New York City and visited Ground Zero that December and I felt the incredible loss and pain but also saw the strength and resilience of my fellow New Yorkers and fellow Americans. Hard to believe it has been eight years ago......

I will never forget and hope we always remember....

I will participate in a walk and rememberance today in Los Angeles to honor and remember all those lost and fallen heroes of Sept 11, 2001

Tribute to all the victims of 9/11