Thought for the Day - Dream Come a Size Too Big

"Dreams come a size too big so that we can grow into them."

-- Josie Bisset

Thought for the Day - The Poorest Man is a Man Without a Dream

"The poorest of all men is not the one without a nickel to his name. He is the fellow without a dream.... He is like a great ship made for the mighty ocean but trying navigate in a millpond. He has no far port to reach, no lifting horizon, no precious cargo to carry. His hours are absorbed in routing and petty tyrannies. Small wonder of he gets dissatisfied, quarrelsome and "fed up". One of life greatest tragedies is a person with a 10-by-12 capacity and a two-by-four soul."

-- John Maxwell

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Stairway to Heaven

This is dedicated to my 1st girlfriend "Naitia" Pattie Villanueva who just passed away last week. Stairway to Heaven was playing the night we got together in the Bronx after a People's Concert we put on in Poe Park. She was a very special person loved by family and friends. Heaven has another angel...

Saturday's Motivational Video - Vision

Thought for the Day - Adversity Makes You Stronger

"Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever"

~Isak Dinesen

Short Hiatus

Sorry I haven't posted daily but I have been swamped working 18-20 hour days on a film shoot. I will be back posting on Saturday.

John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Design Your Life

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much."

-- Jim Rohn

Thought for the Day - Choice Not Chance

‎"Either you set your goals and, in doing so, have your life governed by choice or you do nothing and have your life governed by chance."

-- Robin Sharma

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Be Happy

Thought for the Day - CANI - Constant and Never Ending Improvement

“I believe life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve. This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent. As simplistic as this may sound, it is still the common denominator separating those who live their dreams from those who live in regret.”

― Anthony Robbins

Thought for the Day - Step Up to Adversity

“The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain -- he is inspired by it. The persistent winner is not discouraged by a problem -- he is challenged by it. Mountains are created to be conquered; adversities are designed to be defeated; problems are sent to be solved. It is better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills.”

- William Arthur Ward

Thought for the Day - Game Changing Insight

"Please remember this game-changing insight: we see the world - not as it is - but as we are."

-- Robin Sharma

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video - I Can Fly

Saturday's Motivational Videos - I Am Potential

Thought for the Day - Be the World to Someone

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”

-- Brandi Snyder

Thought for the Day - Don't Squander Your Down Time

‎"What you do in your down time will have a huge impact on what you produce in your up time."

-- James K Larson Jr.

Thought for the Day - Seize the Day

“Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so spend it wisely”

- Kay Lyons

Thought for the Day - Trade Fear for Faith

"The caterpillar trades off its legs for its wings because it can never crawl fast enough to fly. The trade off is part of the transition and transformation. We must choose to trade off fear for "faith" ...I can't for "I can" ...and I won't for "I will" if we ever expect to experience our transition and transformation. There is nothing on the outside of a caterpillar that tells you it's genetic code on the inside is hard coded to be a butterfly. Think about it... think about you.?

-- Stephen Pierce

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Thought for the Day - Know Your Purpose

"Success is...
knowing your purpose in life,
growing to reach your maximum potential, and
sowing seeds that benefit others."

— John C. Maxwell

Thought for the Day - We Only have This Moment

“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand – and melting like a snow flake”

- M.B. Ray

Time is the one thing we can't create and we never know how much we have before we reach the end of the road. Make every moment count. Appreciate it and carpe diem....

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - What is Your Mission in Life?

What is your Mission in life?

Have you ever taken the time to figure out what is your mission or purpose in life? Have you written up a mission statement that can guide your life? I have done it a few times and plan on reviewing and redoing it for the next phase of my life. I suggest you pick up a book on it and attempt to create your unique Mission in life.

-- John Duffy

Thought for The Day - What's Most Important to You in Life?

What's most important to you in life?

Have you ever asked your self that? Do you know the answer to that question? I like to ask that question of people when I meet them and even when I am hiring someone. I like to know what is most important to someone.

What's most important to me in my life is growth. Ever since I was 15 years old and I dropped out of high school I started to read anything I could get my hands on and I have gone on a life long journey of learning and growing.

Discover what's most important to you in life and decide if is still what you want to be most important to you. If not change it and refocus your life.

-- John Duffy

9/11 - 10 Years Ago - Never Forget

Sept 11, 2001, My city New York and my country America was attacked. I took it personal as I believe many of us did. It changed me profoundly forever. I came back to New York City from Los Angeles where I live today and visited Ground Zero that December and I felt the incredible loss and pain but also saw the strength and resilience of Americans and especially my fellow New Yorkers. Hard to believe it has been ten years ago......

There were a total of 2,977 deaths. The victims were distributed as follows: 246 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors), 2,606 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon.

More than 90 countries lost citizens in the attacks on the World Trade Center

It's been 10 years since Sept 11, 2001 and I personally will never forget and hope we always remember....

I have made it a habit to attend a commemoration event on Sept 11 every year since 2002.

It is great to see the 9/11 memorial and the rebuilding of the WTC happening.
Visit here for interactive 9/11 Memorial on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeverForget911

"America has its faults as a society, as we have ours. But I think of the Union of America born out of the defeat of slavery. I think of its Constitution, with its inalienable rights granted to every citizen still a model for the world. I think of a black man, born in poverty, who became chief of their armed forces and is now secretary of state Colin Powell and I wonder frankly whether such a thing could have happened here. I think of the Statue of Liberty and how many refugees, migrants and the impoverished passed its light and felt that if not for them, for their children, a new world could indeed be theirs. I think of a country where people who do well, don't have questions asked about their accent, their class, their beginnings but have admiration for what they have done and the success they've achieved. I think of those New Yorkers I met, still in shock, but resolute; the fire fighters and police, mourning their comrades but still head held high."

--Prime Minister Tony Blair

"Many heartbreaking things happened after 9/11 and maybe the worst is that there's no heroic statue to them, no big marking of what they were and what they gave, at the new World Trade Center memorial.

But New York will never get over what they did. They live in a lot of hearts.

They tell us to get over it, they say to move on, and they mean it well: We can't bring an air of tragedy into the future. But I will never get over it. To get over it is to get over the guy who stayed behind on a high floor with his friend who was in a wheelchair. To get over it is to get over the woman by herself with the sign in the darkness: "America You Are Not Alone." To get over it is to get over the guys who ran into the fire and not away from the fire.

You've got to be loyal to pain sometimes to be loyal to the glory that came out of it."

-- Peggy Noonan

Tribute to all the victims of 9/11

Where Were You?

Saturday's Motivational Video - Don't Quit

Thought for the Day - Get Confused

"Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful."

~- Milton Erickson

Thought for the Day - Don't Let Others Limitations Define Us

"We must not allow other people's limited perceptions to define us."

-- Virginia Satir

Not only can we not allow other's limited perceptions define us. we need to not allow those perceptions to creep into our mind and and our unconscious and hold us back. As Les Brown likes to say "There's Greatness in You." And there is greatness in us so expand your definition of who you are and grow to meet it...

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Get Excited About What You Can Be

"I want you to get excited about who you are, what you are, what you have, and what can still be for you. I want to inspire you to see that you can go far beyond where you are right now."

-- Virginia Satir

We all are unique with different skills, passions and interest. No matter where we are in life there is more possibilities we can tap if we choose to. We all can "Go Big or Go Home" and yes we have the ability to do more, be more, experience more, achieve more, contribute more and live more than we are right now. I know for a fact that I can go far beyond where I am right now and I will continue to strive to go there...

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Everyone is Unique

"Every person's map of the world is as unique as their thumbprint. There are no two people alike. No two people who understand the same sentence the same way... So in dealing with people, you try not to fit them to your concept of what they should be."

-- Milton Erikson

I learned about the renowned Hypno-therapist Milton Erikson years ago from Tony Robbins and read a lot of his work and impact in the field of hypno-therapy. Whether you know it or not we are all in the communication game either with our family, friends, co-workers and clients and understanding that no two people understand the same sentence the same way is important that just because you said something doesn't mean the other person understood it the way you wanted to convey it. So we need to understand others first and then attempt to be understood. We need to constantly check in to make sure we are indeed being received the way we are trying to communicate.

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Keep Learning

"We can learn something new anytime we believe we can."

-- Virginia Satir

I know that one of the best decisions I made in life is to keep learning and keep growing. I also learned that I can learn anything I am committed to learning. So learn something every day, better yet learn a lot of things every day. Keep learning...

-- John Duffy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Superman

Saturday's Motivational Video - International Motivation

An Indian Motivation Speaker on Attitude

Thought for the Day - Keep Raising the Bar

"No matter how many goals you have achieved, you must set your sights on a higher one."

-- Jessica Savitch

Many years ago I learned about goal setting and have made it a regular habit in my life. For me it isn't even mainly about the goals I set but the growth I experience in going after them. I would say personal growth is one of my highest values in life. Mark Victor Hansen probably sets more goals than anyone I have ever met or read about and he sets hundreds or maybe even thousands of goals and is always challenging himself to reach great heights. It's a great way to live and experience life. So set more goals, raise the bar, raise your standards and set your sights on higher horizons.....

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day

‎"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

-- Thomas Edison

Thought for the Day - Tell Better Stories

"Our stories may or may not conform to the real world. They may or may not inspire us to take hope-filled  action to better our lives. They may or may nor take us where we ultimately want to go. But since our destiny follows our stories, it's imperative that we do everything in our power to get our stories right." -- Jim Loeher

Thought for the Day - You Got To Believe

"What if we've had it backwards all this time and it was really supposed to say, "You've got to believe it ... to see it."

-- Most Powerful Life

It starts with a a vision or a belief. Disneyland was just an idea that Disney saw in his mind vividly way before it became a reality. Many years ago I created a vision poster of the life I wanted and at the time I had no clue how I was going to achieve any of it. I was working in the Post Office in New York on the graveyard shift. I had been there 5 too many years. So I believed in a different future in California in the film industry and most of what I put on that poster came in to being. So first dream it, believe it, have faith, take massive action and you will be surprised at what shows up in your life.

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Let Go of the Past

"The biggest threat to your future, is the past you won't let go of."

-- Stephen Pierce

It's like the story of a dog that was sitting on a front porch, howling in misery. A stranger approached and asked the owner why the dog was howling. The owner replied that the dog was sitting on a nail.

“Why doesn’t he get off the nail?” asked the stranger.

The owner replied, “I guess it doesn’t hurt enough.”

-- Unknown

Let go of your past, don't deny it learn the lessons from it and move on and create a bright future.

-- John Duffy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Fire to the Rain

Saturday's Motivational Video - Mark Brown's Message to Youth

Thought for the Day - Life Stories Are Powerful Therapeutic Tools

Oliver Sachs (in “The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat”) said that he felt that the ‘telling of life stories is perhaps one of the most powerful therapeutic tools available to man.’ (That’s not a direct quote, that’s a remembered quote.

-- Mark Travis

The stories we tell ourselves and the stories we tell others can either empower or disempower you. How you view your life and the stories you make up to make sense of that life can be therapeutic and can help you change your life for the better. Tell better stories to yourself and others. Tell stories where you are the protagonist/hero and are on a hero's journey through life.

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Give Yourself Reasons Why You Can

"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can."

-- Unknown

Finding enough powerful reasons to accomplish and achieve something is the path to success. Always find reasons why you can do something not why you can't and the quality of your live will change.

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Create Special Moments

“We do not remember days; we remember moments.”

— Cesare Pavese

"Create a special moment today."

-- Success Magazine

I'm a big believer in creating special moments or magic moments for family, friends and for myself. Life is a collection of these moments we remember. So make it a happen to create special / magic moments in your life.

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Leader Leads by Example

"A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not."

-- Author Unknown

Our actions always speak louder than our words. We should embrace being a leader and lead from the front and through our example.

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Character + Commitment + Discipline = Results

"It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through."

-- Zig Ziglar

CCD. Yes Character, Commitment and Discipline. Nuff said.

-- John Duffy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - This is My Now

Saturday's Motivational Video - Speech From Movie Any Sunday

Thought for the Day - Be Coachable

“A coach is someone who tells you what you don't want to hear, who has you see what you don't want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be.”

-- Unknown

In so many field of life it is obvious the role and value of a coach so why not in your life. We all need someone to raise the bar, demand more of us and challenge us to be the best we can be. I have had a few coaches in my life and expect to have more. I've come a long way and I have a long way to go.

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Life is a Miracle

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

--Albert Einstein

Starting with the miracle of life there are so many aspects of life we can appreciate and take as miracles. Whether they are or not is up to you to decide but I prefer to look at life with awe and gratitude. I prefer to not see life as mundane and ho-hum. So I'll stick with seeing the miracles in life.

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - You Gotta Work

"You can be successful in this business by working half the day. Any 12 hours you choose." -

-Kenneth Cole

You have to work smart but you have to work. Success comes to those that put in the work.

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Be a Master of Change

“Resolve to be a master of change rather than a victim of change.”

--Brian Tracy

Life is changing faster than ever in every field. Flexibility is key to surviving and thriving. Don't resist the changes but embrace them and strive to be on the cutting edge.

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - When One Door Closes

“When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.”

— Alexander Graham Bell

I couldn't agree more. My life has been one of going through new doors and discovering the opportunities that were in front of me. I am who I am today because I kept searching and exploring for a better way, a better life and I found a lot of what I was looking for but I keep looking for more. So when doors close in your life look for another open door and opportunity, be flexible and open and who knows where life will take you....

-- John Duffy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - I Will Get There

Saturday's Motivational Video - What Will Matter

Thought for the Day - Make Course Corrections

“When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.”

— Napoleon Hill


Sometimes failure can be your best friend. I have made many course corrections in my life and anticipate making many more. Even when you fall on your face you have made some forward progress. So get up, fess up and make adjustments and step forward again and repeat this process as many times as necessary until you arrive at your destination...

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Go the Extra Mile

My father taught me to always do more than you get paid for as an investment in your future.”

-—Jim Rohn

If you want to live an extraordinary life you have to give your all to everything you do. You have to be exceptional. You have to go the extra mile. You have to be the person who under promises and over performs. When you do more that you are paid for you become more and that is the reward to you. So don't try to get over in life and do the least because all you will accomplish is live a smaller life and get over on yourself. Be the person that goes the extra mile...

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Life Isn't Fair

"Life is not fair, but it's not fair for everyone. That makes life fair. You have a better chance to achieve happiness and success if you stop thinking of how life has treated you, or what has happened to you and concentrate your energy creating the life you want."

-- Michael Josephson

If you have a kid you have heard that "That's not fair" moan over and over. And they are right it's not. It's normal for a kid to want everything to be fair they don't know better but it's sad when adults still have the same old whine. No life it's fair. It never was and it never will be. I know because I started out in poverty with the odds against me. It wasn't fair I thought back then but now I've let go and understand that's life, deal with it and I have. I've learned you just have to do everything to overcome the odds so you can create the life you want. Life isn't fair and there are earthquakes in California and hurricanes in South Carolina. That's life. Make the best of it.

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Quitting Lasts Forever

‎"Pain is Temporary, Quitting lasts forever." "Adversity causes some to break and others to Succeed. Everything in life is a Choice."

-- Unknown(or Multiple Authors) - Thanks Don A Cook

Some rapid fire quotes. And I say yes, yes, Yes!

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Don't Deny Defy

"Don't DENY where you've been - DEFY where you've been! It shaped you but it didn't break you."

-- Unknown - Thanks Chiao Kee Lim


I don't deny where I have been. I have lived a very colorful life. I came from the bottom and went down a few wrong roads on my journey but it didm't break me it shaped me. I am today who I am because of the struggles, challenges and decisions I made in my life bad and good. I am stronger, more determined, a little wiser and still learning, growing and moving forward. I defied the odds and I have lived some great stories and I will share those with others so they can learn from my experiences.

--John Duffy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - I Believe I Can Fly

Saturday's Motivational Video - The Window

Thought for the Day - Bring Your Best to the World

"Each of us has been put on earth with the ability to do something well. We cheat ourselves and the world if we don't use that ability as best we can."

-- Gracie Allen

First you have to discover what your gifts or ability is if you don't already know. Once you have discovered it you need to share it with the world and pursue your passion. If you are pursuing your passions it will feel like you you are never working. I'm still discovering, fine-tuning and exploring my passions. I tell people that I feel like I have been on a permanent vacation since I moved to California over twenty years ago. And that is a great feeling. I feel blessed to have found a way to enjoy what I do and not feel like I ever am working. I wish the same for you...

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Do What Can't Be Done

:I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can't be done."

-~Henry Ford

I have worked as a line producer on feature films for over fifteen years and making an independent film with too little money is always a miracle. Every time the challenge is the same to make the impossible possible and somehow, someway make the film and come in on budget and on time and we do. I am a big believer that the main thing is your mindset. You need to have an unstoppable mindset that welcomes challenges and like Henry Ford said "an infinite capacity to not know what can't be done."

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Change Your Direction

"You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight."

-- Jim Rohn

All it takes is for you to make a new decision and take action to back of that decision and you will alter the direction you are headed and over time you will change your destination and destiny. I did it years ago when I left New York with practically nothing to my name and changed my life's direction and my destiny. It was the best course correction I ever made. So if you don't like the destination your life is headed in change your direction now.....

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Live a Great Story

"People love to have lived a great story. but few people like the work it takes to actually live that story."

-- Donald Miller

Donald Miller in his book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" shares how to experience better stories and how to live them. He looks at your life as a story that you get to write, experience and edit. The book challenges you to live better stories and a better life. Donald sums it up great by saying " If you watched a movie about a guy ho wanted a Volvo and worked for years to get it, you wouldn't cry when he drove it off the lot.. Nobody cries at the end of a movie about a guy who wants a Volvo. But we spend years living those stories , and expect our lives to feel meaningful." Now the big But comes in, you don't and won't get to live better stories unless you are willing to put in the work. And here comes another But, but it's worth it. So time to get busy living better stories...

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - We Must Do

"Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do."


--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Just Do It. It's all about taking action. We know what's right but we don't do it. We have long lists of shoulds but we don't do them. We have lots of wants but we do get them. We MUST DO!

-- John Duffy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Believe I Can Fly

Saturday's Motivational Video - Power of Music

Thought for the Day - Character Becomes Your Destiny

"Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. "

- - Frank Outlaw

YES!

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Get Committed

"There's a difference between being committed and interested. Interested means you'll do what's convenient, while committed means you will do WHATEVER IT TAKES!"

-- John Assaraf

We are interested in many things but it is only the things we commit to that we make happen. It's the difference between something we should do and something we must do. Make all the important things in your life a MUST.

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Experiment

‎"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

What a great empowering way to look at life. I would define success as creating as many experiments and experiences as you you can.

--John Duffy

The Power of Story - Mother and Daughter

Here is a powerful story that highlights the effect our choices have on our lives. It also shines a light on how we are all looking for connection and love in our life and that can be filled in a positive or negative way. Finally it's a story of redemption and transformation.


http://www.snapjudgment.org/daughter-daughter

Thought for the Day - Dreams Not Regrets

"A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams. "

— John Barrymore

I hope to never reach that state. I have so many dreams and keep adding more dreams every day. I know I will run out of time way before I run out of dreams. So Keep Dreaming...

- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Make the Days Count

"Don’t count the days-make the days count."

~- Muhammad Ali

There are many tracking tools I have used to make the days count. On a daily basis I have used a tracking system called "Six Things" where I list every morning the six most important things to accomplish for the day. I also use a system I created called "DI" or Daily Improvement where I attempt to raise the bar by doing just a little more in all the important areas of my life. And big picture wise I use " The Big Five" things that I need to accomplish before I die so I will have lived a fulfilled life. I supplement that with my growing "Bucket List." whatever you use find a way to make the days count....

-- John Duffy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Many Rivers to Cross

A different version....

Saturday's Motivational Video - Six Human Needs

Thought for the Day - Become What You Want to Be

“Regardless of what you are or what you have been, you can still become what you may want to be.”

-- W. Clement Stone

Like the words from that famous Jimmy Cliff song "So many rivers to cross" I have come so far and have been many things and yet the journey continues. You can still become what or who you want to be. I know I keep moving forward towards who I want to be and crossing as many rivers as I have to get there. So join me on the journey..,

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Mind Opened by Wonder

"I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief."

-- Gerry Spence

Now we will all like this quote but will we examine in ourselves how much of our own mind is closed because of belief?

Are we really ever willing or able to listen to people with alternate or even opposing points of view? Do we just read, listen and view those who agree with us and validate that everything we think is right? Are we really not afraid to entertain other points of view? Can we truly respect those we disagree with or do we have to mock and belittle them? Do you have a mind opened by wonder or do you have a mind closed by belief? I'm sure your mind is opened. Or is it?



-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day -There's Something Wrong

"There's something wrong if you're always right.".

-- Arnold H. Glasgow

I once was always right and yes something was wrong. I thought I knew all the answers and yet I only demonstrated how little I knew. Now time has passed and I have learned so much more and yet I know now how little I know and how much I can learn. And I know I'm not always right and I'm good with that and a lot less is wrong in my lfe...

--John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Your Darkest Day - Your Greatest Day

"Your darkest day can be your greatest gift if you find the lesson."

--Dave Ulloa

Don't know if you had a chance to discover this yet but it is so true. Or at least it was for me. I remember my darkest day only it lasted for months. My world was collapsing in around me emotionally, personally, financially and a couple of close friends were dying and I was lost and in those darkest moments I discovered my strength, courage and what was really important in life. I found the lesson that the old was coming to an end and I needed to start all over and create a new day, a new me and a new life. It was in my darkest despair I found a path to a new life both metaphorically and physically. I packed up everything I had, that was easy it consisted of two suitcases worth and found a ride to California and started all over from scratch. I created a new life and it never would have happened if I didn't go through those dark days, nights and months and discover the lesson. So remember Spring always follows Winter....

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Be as Great as You Choose

"Everyone has a fair turn to be as great as he pleases."

~- Jeremy Collier

How often do we reflect on the fact that we truly have the ability and the opportunity, especially in this country, to be as great as we choose. We can be as healthy as we want. We can be as successful as we want. We just need to set our goals, put in the work and never give up.

-- John Duffy

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Born Free

Saturday's Motivational Video - Leadership

Thought for the Day - Perspective and Gratitude

Yesterday I was having a personally challenging day and feeling overwhelmed and I received a FB messages thanking me for my Blog and for helping this friend deal with some challenges in their life. It made me feel grateful that I have helped someone by sharing inspirational quotes and my experiences. After responding to that timely kind message I felt energized to handle my challenges. It reminded me what goes around comes around and what you give out you get back. I am strengthened to continue to encourage others to be the best they can be as I challenge myself to do the same.

Next up I saw post from a another friend on FB that just got her orders to ship out to Afghanistan. It put my situation into perspective. Life is challenging and we all have step up and face our tests with courage. I wish her a safe tour of duty and a speedy return.

I thank these friend's for helping me deal with my day. Stay Strong...

John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Player or Pretender

"Pretenders look the part, talk the part and claim the part, but fall short of fulfilling the part. Players have a servant's mindset. Pretenders have a selfish mindset. Players are mission conscious. Pretenders are position conscious. Players can deliver the goods. Pretenders promise the goods. Players love to see others succeed. Pretenders are only interested in their own success."

"Pretending to be real is a lot more exhausting than just being real."

-- John C. Maxwell

John Maxwell nails the difference between being authentic or being a fake. In life you should under promise and over perform. So the conclusion is clear. Don't be a Pretender be for Real!

-- John Duffy

Thought for the Day - No Victims Only Volunteers

"Being Proactive is about taking control and ownership of your life. It is not about laying blame or justifying, which is what victims do. There are no victims, only volunteers."

-- Keith J Cunningham

I love the statement there are no victims only volunteers. Now of course like all things in life there are exceptions to this and this is not to say there are not situations where people truly are victims. The purpose of the statement is to point out that many times in life people choose yes choose to play victim instead of empowering themselves to take an alternative action or course of behaviour. The point is to be proactive and take full control of your life. Yes there are many circumstances in life outside of our control but we have a choice and control over how we respond to to it. So choose to not volunteer to be a victim in life...

John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Power Thinking

"The difference between “power thinking” and “positive” thinking is slight but profound. To me, people use positive thinking to pretend that everything is rosy, when they really believe that it’s not. With power thinking, we understand that everything is neutral, that nothing has meaning except for the meaning we give it, and that we are going to make up a story and give something it’s meaning."

--T. Harv Eker

I like the thinking behind this distinction. Others have called it "Possibility Thinking" which I like as well. wasn't much a fan of Positive Thinking when too often it seemed to be nothing more than wishful thinking. I have to admit that I find a lot of New Age stuff rather aire fairy and not grounded in reality. My background growing up in poverty in the South Bronx definitely grounded me in reality. So what I like about T Harv's insight is the reality is things happen and are indeed neutral and we give them meaning and we make up stories to process and deal with reality. So if we are story makers why not make up an empowered meaning and a possibility story. I believe it helps to make a realistic assessment of where you are even if the reality is worse than you like. Once you have that reality based assessment you can set goals and take massive actions to achieve your desired results.

John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Bitter or Better

"You can choose to be bitter or you can chose to be better. Which choice are you making today?"

-- Author Unknown

Ain't it true when someone hurts you or something doesn't go our way we choose to get bitter and carry the hurt and bitterness with us. What would happen if you choose instead to respond by getting better? I'm sure you know the answer.


John Duffy

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

Saturday's Motivational Video - The Upside of Down

Thought for the Day - Leaders Inspire

‎"If you’re not inspiring those around you, you’re not Leading. You’re following."

-- Robin Sharma

No matter what business or endeavor you are in if you are a leader your role is to inspire people to be the best they can be. The way to truly inspire is to have your actions match your words and to lead by example.


John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Set a Baseline Standard

‎"If you don't set a baseline standard for what you'll accept in life, you'll find it's easy to slip into behaviors and attitudes or a quality of life that's far below what you deserve."

--Tony Robbins

This is crucial but easier said than done. I just put this in front of me to look at every day to remind my self where I am slacking and falling down. In some areas of my life I have set this and surpassed it but in others not so good. So I am going to re-look at ht different areas of my life and set a higher standard and a new baseline....

John Duffy

Thought for the Day - Carve Your Blessings in Stone

"Learn to write your hurts in the sand and carve your blessings in stone.."

-- Author Unkown

Very powerful advice on how to live your life. Just like the waves will erase what you write in the sand find a way to let the hurts disappear. Instead focus on your blessings and live every day grateful for all you have. If you do this you will discover more blessings in your life than you thought.

John Duffy

Thought for the Day - You Gotta Sweat

“Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get.”

-- Ray Kroc


There is no get rich quick, there is no something for nothing, there is no way to get to the top of the mountain without climbing. You gotta sweat. You got to put in the work.

John Duffy

Happy 4th of July

The song "American Heart" resonates very deeply for me.

"I’m American made
I got American parts"...

I was born in the Bronx, the son of two Irish immigrants who came to America in 1928 during the Great Depression to find the American Dream and they gave it to me.

I can say that I became a proud Born Again American on September 11, 2001.

"‘Cause a mother can always find her child
Even when that child don’t know he’s lost"...

And yes I was lost for many, many years searching for a Utopia and rejecting and not appreciating America but thankfully I found my way back home.

And today I can say unequivocally I am a believer and a champion of American Exceptionalism and the American Dream.

"But I say I still believe in
The greatest Liberator, Innovator, Cultivator
Freedom knows..."

This July 4th we can celebrate the bringing of justice to Osama bin Laden but more importantly we can celebrate all that is great about America and all that unites us. So I can say in the words of "American Heart"

"I’m American made
I got American parts
Got American faith
In America’s heart

Go on raise the flag
I got stars in my eyes
I’m in love with her
And I won’t apologize"

Happy July 4th. Let Freedom Ring......

John Duffy

Thought for the Day -Heroes Live Up to Their Responsibilities

"A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom."

— Bob Dylan

This Veteran's Day remember those heroes who put it on the line every day for us.

John Duffy

Gary Sinise and Lt Dan's Band for the Common Good- Movie opens today July 4th

www.ltdanbandmovie.com

The movie "Lt Dan's Band opens today July 4th. I saw it at a pre-screening at the USC military social work program and highly recommend you download it.

1 out of every $4 per download will benefit Gary's new foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation whose mission is to serve and honor those who serve our nation and their families. Check out the article and you can register for the July 4th premiere at

This July 4th remember those that serve and make a donation to organizations that give back to the Veterans. Here are a few deserving organizations...

Gary Sinise Foundation
http://www.garysinisefoundation.org/

Gary Sinise Foundation on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/GarySiniseFoundation?sk=app_190322544333196

Operation Gratitude
http://www.opgratitude.com/index.php

Wounded Warrior Project
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Fisher House
http://www.fisherhouse.org/

Sunday's Eclectic Music Video - Hold Your head Up

Saturday's Motivational Video - Don't Give Up

Thought for the Day - Take Action, Take Massive Action

‎"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."

-- Conrad Hilton

And they don't stop taking action. Sometimes the best solution is to take massive action. I know there were many times I didn't know the answers but I kept trying stuff, experimenting and taking action to I got a result I wanted. Just Do It...,

John Duffy