Now Year’s Resolutions

Nope. Not a typo. It’s always today which means your time is now. Have you had a chance to read “It’s Always Today?” Well if you have then you understand how having clear directions can expedite the achievement of your goals. Setting your GPS (Goal Procurement Strategy) then applying focus, effort, and discipline to the tasks or resolves contained within that strategy is essential for success.

Even luck favors the prepared. I’ve heard it said that New Year’s resolutions are a waste of time since most people are great at starting, mediocre at persevering, and poor at finishing, if quitting doesn’t become a better idea first. This time, scrap the New Year’s resolutions and make your Now Year’s resolutions. Face it; if you can’t start now then waiting until the New Year won’t make much difference. Spend the next 10 days or so setting your GPS. Write out your one year plan for 2012 and your one month plan for January. Go ahead and use January 1^st as your starting point only for ease of record keeping. Live everyday in the now. Review your resolutions, and your budget, often if not daily to maintain your focus. It’s always today. Yesterday this was tomorrow but come New Year’s Day, right now will be last year.

-- Wood Butler, Jr.

P.S. If you haven’t read “It’s Always Today: Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours,” make that a Now Year’s Resolutions as well. It’ll really change your perspective on life. www.hollawood.com/today

Avoiding an Audit?

An IRS audit can be scary. Especially for those who are unprepared or who knowingly have discrepancies and deceitful information on their tax returns. The IRS is a force to be reckoned with. However, there are many who do not fear being audited. These are the people who prepare their taxes timely with honesty and integrity. They keep accurate and detailed records to back their claims. Their paperwork is neatly packaged, labeled and filed where it can be easily accessed upon request. They even have backup copies in a separate secure location just in case something happens to the originals. So when faced with an order to be audited by the IRS, “Bring It On!”

Well…is your life plan prepared for an audit? Of all the things you said you wanted to do, are you prepared to prove you have done them or are at least well on your way? Even if you’ve set your GPS, can you prove your progress? You may have faith in yourself but can others have faith that you are doing what you proclaim. Faith without works is dead. We all need to get to a point where our work can be easily seen and audited. An athlete that wants more money with his contract renewal can’t just say, “I will do better.” He has to show what he has been doing to deserve more money. The team audits his worthiness using his current and previous statistics. No outstanding play, no outstanding pay.

It’s time we step our game up. We all want more, so why not act like it. Show what you know. Prove your moves. Don’t say it if you can’t display it.  Give your very best effort in all you do. Have a good friend audit your plans periodically to keep you honest on your quest for success. The whole purpose of an audit is to make sure things are being done in the correct manner. If changes need to be made, make them and don’t give excuses. Aim to make your life auditable.

-- Wood Butler, Jr.

It’s Always Today! It’s Always Today! It’s Always Today! It’s Always Today!

Have you read it yet? Well…what are you waiting for? Head on over to www.hollawood.com/today and get your copy Today! Read the testimonials. Explore the concepts. Preview a few chapters. Order a few extras as Christmas gifts…Oh yes, Books Make Excellent Christmas Gifts!

Doable Weight Loss Effort

There are thousands of weight loss plans and diet trends available to anyone who doesn’t live under a rock. So why do so many people still struggle with their weight and vital statistics? For starters, most people don’t understand how a body works and even less understand how their body works. I’m no expert but I am a student of life so I explore what I don’t understand and devise a way to effectively apply it to my life.

Weight gain happens when you continually take in more calories, especially calories from fat, than your body can use as fuel or send out as waste. Everyone is different. We have different family genetics, physical abilities and limitations, metabolic rates, and lifestyles. So when it comes to diet and exercise, we need to spend some time exploring ourselves in order to derive what will work best for us. There is no one size fits all weight management plan. There are those who can’t do Tai Bo, P90X, or Insanity workouts. There are those who are allergic to honey, cayenne pepper, and/or lemons for crash dieting. There are those who are diabetic or disabled that can do neither. However, each journey begins with the first step – no matter how small that step may be. Here are some tips to help you start.

Diet

·         Focus on the timing and distribution of your meals. Eating several small meals evenly distributed throughout your day instead of overindulging 2 – 3 times daily boosts your metabolism. Avoid late night eating, especially unhealthy snacking.

·         Keep fluids fresh in your body by hydrating and urinating often. Make water your beverage of choice and drink lots of it. Add a little lemon juice for taste. Avoid sodas and excessive amounts of juice. Alcohol does contain calories. Don’t hold your bladder until the last minute. Go as often as you can or are allowed by your situation.

·         Fresh is best. Choose to eat raw fruits and vegetables and consume them as soon as they are cut to preserve their vitamin potency. Eat hot foods and cold raw foods in separate feedings to aid rapid digestion.

·         Track what goes in and out. Record everything you eat in a journal even if only for a short period of time. This will keep you mindful of the good and bad things you are eating and easily adjust your diet. Track your bowel movements to ensure that your body is discarding its waste regularly.  

Exercise

·         Numbers are relative. Don’t worry about how much weight others can lift or how many repetitions they can do. What they can do is relative to their size, experience, and possibly supplements and/or chemicals.

·         Focus on execution. Doing 10 optimal weight repetitions through your full range of motion with the correct form is worth twice as many bad reps at twice the weight. Also, injuries can result from incorrect execution.

·         Stretching is essential to maintain flexibility and prevent injuries. Stretch before, during, and after exercising. Stretch everyday even if you don’t exercise.

·         Education eliminates fear. There are many myth-conceptions about weight lifting and cardiovascular exercise. Attention Women: Lifting weights will not turn you into He-Man. Attention Men: Sit-ups alone will not turn your keg into a six pack. There are many many more but spend some type researching what you want to achieve from exercising and you won’t be scared to go full steam.

These tips are far from everything. With a little focus, effort and discipline, weight management will become more doable.

-- Wood Butler, Jr.

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Quality vs Quantity (of Life)

Something hit me recently. What’s so good about life? Calm down, I don’t mean it like that. I’m referring to the rules and standards governing what’s good and not so good in and about life. It hit me when having a conversation with a co-worker about career choices and quality of life.

It started with a comment about the security guard in the parking lot of our office. “I sure would hate to be that guy,” she says. “What a waste of life just sitting in a car all night.” I agree; there are better things you can contribute to the world. I said, “Sounds pretty good to me. Getting paid to play Angry Birds and talk on the phone.” She rebuts, “But he ain’t making no money doing that. Besides, how much Angry Birds can you play?” I said, “That guy is probably saying I’d sure hate to be that guy running back and forth past that window all day.” She then says, “That job don’t pay what this job pays. He ain’t got the cool stuff I got.”

Ok, stop. I immediately switched to my objective inverted perspective. While presumably everything my co-worker said may be true, she really does not know. For all she knows that guy may own that security company and the contract may be very lucrative. He may be single with no kids or pets, living with a roommate in a modest apartment without a car note or any other major bills. That means whatever he earns will go much further than what she earns which is split in many directions. He may be an heir to a fortune but just works the security job for healthcare benefits. And most importantly of all, he may get to go home after 8 hours and enjoy his “cool stuff” whereas my co-worker spends 2 hours commuting and 10 -12 working almost every day. Her family rarely sees him.

So who’s doing good? I would trade every dime my father ever made to have him back. The time he spent working or tired from working long hours that he couldn’t be at my basketball practices, track meets, PTA meetings, science fairs, etc. would have meant more than some “cool stuff”. I am very appreciative for what was provided such as food, clothing, and shelter. I don’t know how much money he made so if he made any more or less I don’t know if I would have noticed. I do know he died before he retired and left all his “cool stuff” to people who didn’t work for it.

Quality of life is not in what you earn or what you have. It’s in what you value and what you do to support and appreciate that. Money comes and goes. Time just goes. Don’t confuse having money or things with having a good quality of life. There are many people who grew up without money, things or even parents who turned out to be some of the most successful and generous contributors to our society. There are also those who grew up having everything and wound up depressed, incarcerated, or committed suicide. Take a moment to find out what’s really important to not only you but to your family and others who need you. You may find that you’re doing too much and it’s still not enough.

-- Wood Butler, Jr.


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Why People Lie

I’d like to believe that I’m a pretty objective fellow. So even though I know right from wrong, I also know that people, including myself, will always do right…and wrong. Therefore I don’t trip over people’s flaws and short-comings as long as they aren’t in denial that they have them. Most of us have heard of the 10 Commandments from the Bible. Some of us even know them by heart. If you’re like me, you’ve probably said to yourself that one or two are either worse than or not as bad as a few others. However, I came to realize that neglecting to follow any of them can lead to the occurrence of any of the others.

Lying is one of those ill-advised actions that seems to have varying levels of consequence if any at all. There are little white lies, perjury to grand jury, conspiracy, pranks, government cover-ups, tabloid stories, deception by silence, and everything in between. However, the truth is truth and is backed up by proof. Lies are just lies. So why?  Why do we lie?

Well there is no easy, clear cut answer since each individual uses their own moral code to decide whether to lie or tell the truth. I hear people saying they wish other people didn’t lie. The problem is that most people can’t handle the truth. I heard that…you just said that you can but if you have to say it then you probably can’t. If someone could be completely honest without fear of being judged, condemned, divorced, terminated, shot, evicted, abandoned, or disowned, they would surely choose the high road. We all make dumb decisions and do deeds that if others knew about would land us in hot water. Therefore, some of us lie or at least withhold information in lieu of disclosing the whole truth.

To err is to be human. To judge is to be God. Yet we as humans try to play God and judge other humans. To avoid being judged, humans often lie. We all have a part to play in greatly reducing lying. 1. Tell the truth and be willing to accept the consequences for your actions, whatever they may be. 2. Accept the truth no matter what it is or how much it hurts. This may not eliminate lying but any reduction will be most helpful in making the world a better place.

-- Wood Butler, Jr.


It's been a long time coming!  The release of my new book "It's Always Today - Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours" is around the corner.  Stay informed by hitting the "LIKE" button on www.facebook.com/itsalwaystoday

Give Yourself A Raise

Before we get started, let me clarify that I do not judge what anyone chooses to do as a social activity. However, a proven model for success is to increase revenue and decrease expenses. Both of these tasks yield the same result: more money in your pocket. Most people only think of expenses as bills such as utilities, child care, car payments, rent, taxes, etc. Actually, an expense is anything that is not an investment; meaning it will not directly bring more money as an end result. We all have hobbies, vices, and social activities we enjoy that require our monetary contribution. We only get one run through life so you should be able to have and/or do many of the things you enjoy. Some of these things are stress relievers which add to your quality of life. Others are things that you could ultimately do without which would spare you the expense, essentially giving you a raise.

Take smoking cigarettes for example. It has been proven that smoking is detrimental to human health and our wallets. The average smoker puffs nearly a pack of cigarettes per day. The average cost per pack varies by state, New York being the highest and West Virginia being the cheapest, making the national average about $8/pack. Just 1 year of smoking a pack of cigarettes per day creates a $2920 expense. While experts agree that stopping is the best option, the reality is that if one wants to smoke, the cost nor the health consequences will deter them. Here's a tip, simply reduce the quantity of cigarettes smoked per day by 50%. That could instantly add $1460 back into your budget before factoring in the fuel cost saved by making half as many trips to the store to purchase them.

Smoking isn’t the only expense that we can remove from our budgets. I have things I’ve had to cut out or reduce in order to get my raise. I could then put that extra money in my IRA, vacation spending allocation, or gym membership. Try it out and come back with your comments so your experience may be a blessing to others.

-- Wood Butler, Jr.

It's been a long time coming!  The release of my new book "It's Always Today - Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours" is around the corner.  Stay informed by hitting the "LIKE" button on www.facebook.com/itsalwaystoday

Caught Sleeping

I had a truly "eye-opening" experience yesterday morning. The smoke alarm went off at 2:30 am and scared us into a frantic panic. We jumped out of bed like popcorn running around the entire house checking for fire. I was in a deep sleep so my eyes were not adjusted to the dark and I thought I was seeing smoke. My wife told the kids to slip some shoes on and get outside. After a sprint through the entire interior of the house, I ascertained that it was a false alarm and we all returned to bed.

However, before I fell back to sleep I was pondering the lesson in what had just happened. The lesson was that we were not prepared in the case that it was a real fire. We had no official escape route or alternate plan. We had shoes and other items in the floor that we tripped on as we ran to the kids bedrooms. We have dual-sided key deadbolts on the doors and the key is not near them. We didn’t have all of our important paperwork together in a sealed fire/waterproof safe. And evidently we haven’t been checking and testing the smoke detectors on a regular basis. Any of the above could have spelled disaster and unnecessary headache in the aftermath due to a lack of planning and preparation.

I let my mind wander to other areas of my life where preparation may be lacking or non-existent. You should do the same. When was the last time you reviewed your emergency escape plan? When was the last time you reviewed your insurance policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage? As your life changes, your insurance needs may change as well. There are so many other areas of our lives where we all are vastly under-prepared for the unexpected.

Coincidentally, while in the middle of writing this post, we experienced a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia. Everyone was running around wondering about the right thing to do. Some got under their desks, some went to an interior room, and others ran outside as the managers advised. It caught us completely off guard and by being unprepared we had no clue what to do.

We are ultimately responsible for everything that happens to us in our lives. We can’t predict or prevent everything, but being prepared can greatly reduce, stress, injury, casualties, and recovery time. Plan, prepare, and prevail.

-- Wood Butler, Jr.

   

It's been a long time coming!  The release of my new book "It's Always Today - Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours" is around the corner.  Stay informed by hitting the "LIKE" button on www.facebook.com/itsalwaystoday

Helpers, Hinders, and Haters

Opinions are like yesterdays, if you’re alive – you have one.  Some people keep them private while others spread theirs around like Wilt Chamberlain at Woodstock. And while having and sharing opinions can be fine, the intent is what we need to examine when we hear them. We all know that not everyone in our lives is there to help even though there are lessons that can be learned from anything. I took the liberty of dividing our friends, family, and associates into three groups: Helpers, Hinderers, and Haters.

Note: Just because a person fits in one of these groups does not mean they treat everyone the same nor does it mean they have to remain in that group if they desire to change their behavior.

Helpers

These are the people that know what your goals, dreams, aspirations, likes, missions, or values are and use their words, actions, resources and influence to guide good things in your direction. You know those people who are always plugging someone in when an opportunity arises. These people are always good to keep around and you should make sure they know just how much you appreciate all they do.

Haters

Haters are those who actively make attempts to sabotage your success without valid reason. They purposely speak negatively or withhold information with the intention of distracting your focus and impeding your progress. Often, hating stems from jealousy, envy, greed, lust, pride, anger, and other sinful emotions that drive humans to behave maliciously. These people need help but since they usually do not acknowledge their disposition, help eludes them.

Hinderers

This is a strange group to be in since most people in this group don’t know they are in your way. In most cases, their impedances are non-malicious and semi-unintentional.  Hinderers figure what they do, or refrain from doing, is perfectly innocent since technically they are neither helping nor hating. Simple behavior such as gossiping instead of promoting, staying home instead of attending, and avoiding involvement for fear of responsibility all add up to one thing – being in the way of your success. Hinderers usually evolve into helpers or haters.

Rarely do you find someone who treats everyone the same so it’s hard to label someone as a definite hater or hinderer. However, the behavior you exhibit the most will land you in one of these groups. Decide which you want to be known and remembered as.

-- Wood Butler, Jr.

The “Cooler” Choice

This is for anyone who reads this and thinks it may be about them.

As we all should know, the world works on the 80/20 rule.  (Look it up if you are unfamiliar)  With that said, 80% of everyone in the world wants to be considered “cool” to some degree.  The rest of the people don’t care about that.  They are straight priority driven people seeking successful results.  For those of us who do like to be cool, where exactly is the line that separates what we are doing and what we should be doing to balance coolness and success? 

I know some wealthy people who are cool.  I know some losers who are cool.  The difference is, whether or not you consider the wealthy person to be cool, it doesn’t matter; they are wealthy.  They’ve done what they need to do to achieve their goals and are now able to support themselves and their families.  No, I’m not saying money is everything.  I’m saying that we all have a purpose in life and it takes resources to fulfill that purpose.  If you’re too cool for school, too cool to work, too cool to put your child’s needs in front of your own, then that’s not cool at all.  I know guys who live with their parents, have no vehicle, and wear their pants below their hips.  If you saw them, you’d probably think they were cool.  However, they wonder why it’s hard for them to land a decent job.  Listen – Good Jobs Want Good People, Not Cool Peeps.  Business is business and not personal.  If you really want something out of life, you have to really put something into it. 

Being cool has its place, but so does success.  Make the cooler choice; do what you have to do to get where and what you need.  THEN you can be as “cool” as you want to be.

-- Wood Butler, Jr. 

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Until Something Better Comes Along

I heard it again the other day, “I’m just doing what I gotta do until something better comes along.”  NEWS FLASH…It won’t. Opportunities don’t move, You Do!

It may seem like time is the governor of opportunity.  In reality, opportunity is the realization of focus and readiness.  For example, if you are a nurse and a head nurse position becomes available, that is an opportunity for you.  If you are a nurse and a doctor position becomes available, that is an opportunity, just not for you.  If you are a nurse who just finished medical school and a doctor position becomes available, that is an opportunity for you.  There are doctor and head nurse positions offered everyday but if that is not your aim or if you are not ready to fulfill them, you may not notice them.

Many people have dead-end jobs, jobs they despise, and jobs for which they are grossly overqualified and undercompensated.  At times, working these jobs is a necessary evil.  Doing something you don’t like year after year can kill your drive, ambition, and morale.  Humans can adapt to anything and it’s easy to become comfortable and/or complacent with anything, even if we don’t want to.  No one knows what the future holds; therefore, I can’t say there won’t be a time when you or I may have to work a dead-end job to makes ends meet.  However, merely reciting to yourself and others that you are just doing what you have to do until something better comes along is the statement that will ensure that you live the rest of your days unfulfilled and retire poor.

Doing what you have to do is what you have to do.  While you are doing what you have to do, find ways to set up what you want to do.  If you really are truly waiting for something better, make yourself better in the meantime.  Focus on what you think you are waiting for so that your senses will be attuned to recognize all the possibilities that exist at every junction in your life.  Don’t wait – act, improve and be ready when you see the opportunity you seek.     

-- Wood Butler, Jr.

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Career Day

When I was in elementary school, my teachers and parent told me I could be anything I wanted to be if I studied hard and stayed out of trouble.  The shining examples of what to be was usually a doctor or a lawyer.  To reiterate their point, the school would conduct a “career day” when students were encouraged to have their parents come and tell us about their contributions to society.  Even though all parents were invited, usually only the doctors and lawyers had the time, or the interest, to show up.  Needless to say I wasn’t paying much attention on that day because I chose to seek a job instead of a profession, which is a discussion for another time.

But what if we viewed career day as a concept and not just an event?  On our jobs, we deal with many stressful tasks and situations to can burn us out and make us disgruntle.  I’ve heard people say they should have gone to medical school or should have took the Bar exam.  Well, people in those careers go through the same things that the rest of us do.  Let’s explore.  To have success on our jobs, it requires us to have a lot of patience.  Ironically, that’s what a doctor needs to have a successful practice…a lot of patients.  A micro-managing boss, an inflexible schedule, angry customers are examples of some of the trials we must endure at work.  Lawyers make their biggest monetary gains from trials.  Other than the paycheck, you can see what they do and what the rest of us may do are essentially the same.  We all have a purpose for being here and no one said life would be easy.  We have to learn to use the power of perspective to help us get through the tough times.  For many of us, everyday is career day. 

-- Linwood R. Butler, Jr.


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Moods

A person’s mood can change at the drop of a hat.  A person’s mood can change because they dropped their hat.  In fact, any of many things that are done, said, and experienced on a daily basis can change a mood faster than a Ferrari can hit top speed. 

By definition, a mood is a state or quality of feeling at a particular time.  However, we all know someone who seems to be in either a good or bad mood, well, all of the time.  A lot of that has to do with perspective.  Our take on an occurrence, a statement, a condition will affect our disposition.  It is undoubtedly best to be in a good mood as often as possible.  Achieving this is more of a challenge for some of us than for others.  Try thinking of the good things in your life at times when it seems everything is going awry.  A positive attitude has no choice but to eventually improve a foul mood.

It is imperative to remember that no matter how bad you may feel, you mustn’t spread your gloom or displace your emotions to the innocent people.  You may be mad at your boss, but take a deep breath before you go home and allow your mood to affect someone who has not done you any harm.  Don’t take the anger you have for your boyfriend out on all males in your vicinity.  Avoid yelling at the driver in front of you just because your dog died this morning.  Your mood affects my mood then mine affects someone else’s.  Emotions can be contagious.  Learn to recognize your moods and what triggers their transition to avoid drastic swings.  Constant mood swings are buzz killers.

Focus on being in the mood you want others to be in and watch it rub off on the world around you.  Laugh as often as you can.  Live life like it’s all you’ve got.  Stop to smell the roses, then pick a few and give them to some one who’s in a bad mood. 

-- Linwood R. Butler, Jr.


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Boys II Men

Ever heard the phrase “raised by wolves”?  If you haven’t, it’s referring to how some people act like wild animals as if they were born and reared in the wilderness where the rules of society don’t apply. We all know a human can’t really be raised by animals, but if you stop think about the concept it actually takes place with more traditional upbringings.  A baby born in Spain to Spanish speaking parents will inevitably growing up learning the Spanish customs and language.  The same goes for anyone born anywhere.  Caucasians who grow up in a predominantly African-American culture will act and speak as witnessed in their daily environment.  Some think it’s an act but our minds and bodies are made to gradually adapt to our surroundings.

So, that’s the real answer to what has happened to modern generations, especially young men.  They can only mimic what the come in contact with the most.  If a boy’s father is more interested in Facebook that seeing their child’s face, the boy will most likely seek attention from other sources or through undesirable behavior.  If you are verbally abusive toward your son’s mother, there is a good chance that he will become verbally abusive to other females.  If you call out sick from work when you actually well, your son will think that is okay and there lack responsibility in his own life.  Our kids are watching us all.  Even if you don’t have children, there is still some child who has observed, mentally recorded you behavior and will one day attempt to re-enact it.

We as adults have the right to do what we want within reason.  That is a part of our civil rights.  However, if real men don’t show boys how to become real men then they will remain boys for an indefinite period of time.  If real women don’t show girls how to become real women then there is no incentive for men to hold them to high esteem and value.  It’s a give-give situation; the more you have to offer, the more others will offer you.

Having something to offer is more than having money in the bank or and extra car in the yard.  It’s having responsibility, integrity, reliability, respect, accountability, education, willingness, and skills among many other positive attributes that are the traits of a true man or woman.  As a man, I am specifically challenging all men to raise our son and stop relying on their mothers to do our jobs.  Spend as much time with your sons as possible, teaching them about life’s abundant rewards and harsh realities.  Show them how to build strong minds and bodies through reading, writing and physical activity.  I run into 12 year-old boys who don’t know how to throw a football or hold a hammer correctly and as their father, I would be embarrassed.  That means out of 4,380 days no one has taken the time to show them “man stuff”.

Boys II Men may be a singing group, but it’s also what we should be aiming to make of our sons.  Real Men!  I’m not perfect and I’m sure there are many things I would have, could have, and should be doing with my son, who is a now a pre-adolescence boy.  However, when he becomes a man, he will not be able to tell his son that I didn’t try.  I’m happy with that.

--Linwood R. Butler, Jr.    

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Positively Negative

Are you wondering how the words positive and negative can exist in the same context?  Well believe it or not, you’ve been a participating factor in their coexistence.  It’s true.  Words have power.  The amount of power they have depends on their definition, the person who transmits them, and how they are received.  For instance, the word but depreciates the statement that precedes it.  “He’s a really nice guy but he just got out of jail.”  He just got out of jail but he is a really nice guy.”   See how both statements are essentially the same yet one may cause you prejudge him while the other may cause you have compassion for him. 

There are many statements that each of us makes on a daily basis that express our lack of faith in what is possible when we focus our efforts in the correct manner.  Sayings like “things could be worse”, “it is what it is”, and “at least you have a job”, are all statements meant to be positive but are actually positively negative.  Let’s explore why this is.

Things could be worse.  True.  Things could be worse if you believe or accept that things could not be better.  Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  Whatever happens to you that you think is worse is still better in someone else’s situation.  Prepare against the worst and plan for the best. 

It is what it is.  True.  It is what it is but is that how it has to be?  When you say it is what it is, you have either accepted that it is not possible to make a positive change or you have given up on your efforts to do so.

At least you have a job.  True.  At least you have a job to help support yourself and family.  Is that where it ends?  Is that all life is about?  No!  Having a job is an excellent thing.  However, we were put here to progress and prosper.  Whether you are born in a cave or born to Bill Gates, if you have the drive to succeed, it can happen.  The phrase at least means just that – the bare minimum.  Once you accept the least as okay, you will surely throttle your aspirations of success.  A job should be a means to build a successful life experience for you and the world around you.  If you are not happy where you work or not working in your field of purpose, continue to do so as long as absolutely necessary.  In the meantime, utilize every dollar, moment, resource, and opportunity to transform your life into what you really want it to be.  

Beware of how you view and convey your views regarding your possessions and life situations.  Your words and perspectives have a direct effect on your actions.  Stay positive and blessed.

-- Linwood R. Butler, Jr.

Take 60 seconds to visit the fan page for my upcoming book titled, "It's Always Today - Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours" and hit the "LIKE" button to stay informed about its release and other special news.  www.facebook.com/itsalwaystoday

Would You Rather Make a Dollar or a Difference?

If you’re like me, naturally, you want to do both.  But…if you had to pick one and forsake the other, which would it be?  We all know you can survive without money but you can do so much more than survive if you have it.  However, having money only benefits the person who has it unless they have the conviction to use it to make a difference.

I often hear statements like love don’t pay the bills, which to an extent is the truth.  The emotion love, itself, doesn’t pay the bills, but being loved can cause your bills to get paid.  Underprivileged citizens, victims of crimes and natural disasters, and those who may have lost their employment all attract support from friends, family, and strangers.  Of course you have to have something yourself before you can assist anyone else.  Therefore, making a dollar is very important. 

Money isn’t the only way we can make a difference in this world.  We all have some to offer whether it is our time, our talent, or our treasures.  Sharing our gifts with others should be our desire and our duty.  Everyone needs help in some capacity.  If you are in a position to be a catalyst for positive change you should take the liberty to do so.  I hear the term “self-made millionaire”,  but  no one can truly do it alone.

The bottom line is that it takes a dollar and a difference to keep the world rotating smoothly.  Explore ways to balance your money–making efforts with you difference-making actions and you’ll changes many lives, including your own.

Linwood R. Butler, Jr.

Take a moment to visit the Facebook fan page for my upcoming book titled, "It's Always Today - Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours" and hit the "LIKE" button to stay informed as the book launce approaches.  www.facebook.com/itsalwaystoday

Comfortable or Complacent?

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be comfortable.  Even when we die we want to rest in peace.  While alive, we like Sleep Number beds, Snuggie blankets, deep tissue massages, Dr. Scholl's gel insoles, 18-Hour bras, LazyBoy EZ chairs – if it’s comfortable, we want it.

Has being comfortable impaired our drive and ambition?  Has it eliminated our hunger for improvement and our pursuit of absolute greatness?  Our ancestors endured many struggles from wars to slavery, famines to stock market crashes, social injustices to natural disasters.  All of those hardships made them stronger as humans and more valuable as members of society.  Parents often say that they want their kids to have it better than they did.  They don’t want their offspring to struggle and endure the problems and setbacks that, coincidentally, were the  very things that made those parents the strong survivors that they were. 

The world nowadays is based on convenience and comfort.  Modern generations need to remember that strength is only gained by perseverance, pushing past what you currently are aware you can handle.  To put this in perspective, bodybuilders use a spotter which is someone to make sure they don’t hurt themselves while they lift heavy weight.  No spotter is necessary during warm-up sets because the weight is light and they are aware that they can handle it with no problem.  When they begin to lift weight which is beyond the load or the number of repetitions they’ve previously done, they use a spotter.  Even with the spotter’s help they still strain and struggle to lift the heavy load.  If they never lift heavy then they will never struggle, however, they will never get stronger either.

Again, there’s nothing wrong with being comfortable but realize that resting at all times can weaken your body and mind.  Without testing the limits of your abilities you may eventually become worthless in the eyes of society, although you should always have self-worth.  Stay thirsty for new knowledge and physical challenges as they will inevitably make you a better you.

-- Linwood R. Butler, Jr.

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Does Stress Control How You Roll?

The hustle and bustle -- the daily rat race -- the price of life; our increasingly busy society has many monikers.  However, if not handled effectively, it can be summed up with one word: stress.  Stress is an energy that does not posses its own form or power until it assumes a host.  Technically, stress is only imaginary.  It exists on in the mind even though the effects of stress are evident in the physical body.  I used the word imaginary because the situations that cause stress are subjective to the person involved.  In most cases, stress is created from fear of not meeting expectations that are set forth.  This is why unexpected occurrences often increase levels of stress since they are hindrances to meeting existing deadlines, quotas, or objectives. 

So how do we deal with such formidable opposition to our otherwise smooth sail through life?  The answer is perspective and precaution.  As long as we are alive we will all have our share of ups and downs, wrongs and rights, good times and bad.  “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”    That’s Newton’s third law of motion which contextually applies to physical masses, yet, is also applicable to our lives as well.  Our lives are always in motion; moving in, out, around, and about.  With all of this movement, it’s easy to see how one can become overwhelmed with all that needs to be done in our 24 hour time allotment.  We have to learn how to use perspective to our advantage and precaution as weapon.   

Perspective is often confused with perception.  Both words mean the way we see things.  The difference is that perspective is a choice.  Perception is what you interpret or believe to be the case.  Put on some dirty, weathered clothing along with a baseball cap turned backward, then go to the Mercedes lot and start browsing.  On your watch, time how long it takes to gain some attention from a sales person.  After he comes over, tell him you love the car and would like to take it for a spin.  Every salesperson is different so I won’t prejudge what the specific answer to that question would be.  However, browse the same car lot wearing a suit, clean cut and shaven, holding your Blackberry smartphone.  Do you think your experience would be the same?  Probably not.  The salesman is using perception to gauge the level of service he plans to provide.  If you reveal that you are a dressed-down millionaire or a well-dressed vagrant, the strategy changes immediately.  Perception can be, and is often, incorrect.

You can choose to view people, places, things, and situations in any manner you choose.  This is perspective (which is also one of the conceptions discussed in my book, “It’s Always Today”).  One of the most famous analogies for perspective is the half-full or half-empty drinking glass.  The amount of liquid does change no matter how you view it.  What changes is your strategy.  The glass either needs to be filled or finished.  Perspective can help you as mush as it can harm you.  Anything can be seen from a different angle than your current take on it.  Thus the reason that a job, spouse, children, social environment, money, and many other things that cause stress for some seem to bring joy to others.  These people of the latter make the most out of the hand they are dealt by looking on the bright side.  This is not always an easy task.  Do your best to think positive, even in a seemingly bad situation.  By doing so you will find that stress will return to its rightful, imaginary place.  

Precaution is one of the greatest weapons in the war on stress.  Surprises are a major cause of stress as they add to your already overflowing daily expectations.  While no one can be prepared for everything, being cautious goes a long way toward avoiding surprises and stressful situations.  There is such a thing as being overly cautious which can hinder your progress in achieving your goals.  You must learn to leverage the risk you take against what you are trying to win and willing to lose.  Then, whether you win or lose, you are better able to deal with the outcome of your moves.

The problem with stress is that it causes us to think, say, and do things that we otherwise would not.  Some of these things include swearing, yelling, slamming things, crying, fighting, aggressive driving, and a host of others.  Stress breaks us down from the inside out, affecting our relationships, performance, and overall health.  Simply changing our perspective and not allowing stress to control how we roll, we and reclaim ownership of our lives.  The world is full of surprises; prepare well and prosper.

-- Linwood R .Butler Jr.                          

Take a moment to visit the Facebook fan page for my upcoming book titled, "It's Always Today - Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours" and hit the "LIKE" button to stay informed as the book launce approaches.  www.facebook.com/itsalwaystoday

Username and Password

It’s 2011 and if you’ve so much as touched a computer, even if only while dusting, you know what a username and password are; at least as far as technology goes.  A username is a word or phrase used to identify someone when logging into an application on a computer.  A password is a secret word or phrase helps to prevent unauthorized access to the application or information. 

It’s called a username because the person signing into the application is the user; they want to use that particular application for a purpose.  Knowing the correct password allows them access to use the system that would otherwise be unavailable to them.  A password is a simply a security measure.

There are those who choose to use other people for their purpose.  While this is essentially the definition of networking, I am referring to the misusing of people.  I have associates that I know only call me because of what I can do for them.  Beware of the people you call your friends as some of them are only in your life to use you.  They try different passwords until they gain access to your possessions and/or assistance.  We should be willing to help our fellow man with what we have, however, being used is not a good feeling.  Take note of what people are able to offer if it seems they are always the beneficiary of your kindness.  If you are a user, attempt to balance what you give with what you receive.  You’ll find that people are more willing to be a real friend than just your sponsor.

-- Linwood R. Butler, Jr. 

Take 60 seconds to visit the fan page for my upcoming book titled, "It's Always Today - Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours" and hit the "LIKE" button to stay informed about its release and other special news.  www.facebook.com/itsalwaystoday

 

Preservation vs. Reparation

Nothing on Earth lasts forever.  Even if it does, you won’t be here to verify it.  With that said, each of us has an individual responsibility to do what we can to maintain ourselves, hopefully extending the period of time that we are alive.  Those who take good precautionary care of their bodies and educate their minds generally live longer, more active lives than those who do not.  However, in life there are no guarantees.  Eating right and exercising will help with your desire for longevity, but many other factors, events, and circumstances can dramatically shorten your lifespan or even end it abruptly.

Regardless of the odds, we must give ourselves the best chance for healthy life continuance.  Our families need us around.  Our friends want us around.  Our jobs depend on us for success.  We don’t want to let any of them down, but what can we do about it?  Surely our Creator is the only one who truly controls life and death.  Well, while that is true, we were created to be free-thinking and self-healing organisms.  If only we would do what is required to promote the self-healing process, we could live as long as we want.  This may sound far fetched to some and to a degree it is.  The fact that there are so many things that work against the self-healing process is the catalyst to the belief that longevity is a fluke.

So why is preservation better than reparation?  That’s simple.  Reparation means to restore to good condition.  The need to restore something indicates that its condition has deteriorated to an unfavorable state.  Preservation means to maintain the current state of something, minimizing the possibility of injury, malfunction, and disrepair.  Naturally, preservation should be your obvious choice. 

As we mature, our lives become filled with things that require more of our time and attention.  This makes living a healthy lifestyle seemingly impossible.  I’ve often heard people say, “I don’t have time for that” or “I can’t rest, I work two jobs.”  Then, when their body breaks down landing them in the hospital, they have no choice but to make time.  We’ve all seen it happen before.  So the question we need to ask ourselves is, why wait until it gets to that point?  If we have good health now, why not maintain it?  We shouldn’t let pride or possessions prevent us from preserving our well-being.  Good wealth is useless without good health.    

Preservation is a choice.  We must decide whether value-sizing our combo meal now is worth the possibility of taking blood pressure medication later.  We must choose whether smoking cigarettes today is as pleasurable as the oxygen tank we may have to lug around in the future.  No one can predict the future, but each of our present actions are what shape it.  Repair is much harder, costlier, and time consuming than preventative maintenance.  We must replace the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” thinking with “if it ain’t broke, keep it that way.”  Make preservation a goal and reparation a resort.  Take care of yourselves.

-- Linwood Butler, Jr.

Take 60 seconds to visit the fan page for my upcoming book titled, "It's Always Today - Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours" and hit the "LIKE" button to stay informed about its release and other special news.  www.facebook.com/itsalwaystoday

Making the Most of the Meantime

Often we fail to recognize what we have until it’s gone.  If we were to make a list of things that fit in that category, time would surely top most of our lists.  Time never stops -- for anyone.  The only limit to what we can do with our time is our mental capacity to conceive what can be done and our efficiency at performing or delegating those tasks. 

By now, nearly everyone has heard of multitasking.  That is the effort to accomplish more than one task at the same time.  Multitasking is usually done on purpose.  You know you have multiple things to do and only so much time to do them so you multitask.  Some people are better multitaskers than others.  I have two friends who try to multitask when we are talking on the telephone.  I can always tell when this is happening because there will be a long pause after I speak, followed by a general reply that fails to match my previous comment.  I usually call them out on it for fun.

Often, there are times when we are waiting for something to be completed and the completion time is beyond our control.  This creates what is called meantime, the time between two events.  For instance, taking your car to the mechanic for an oil change normally takes less than an hour and does not warrant dropping off your vehicle.  So for about one hour you will be sitting in the shop’s lobby while the mechanic does his job.  In the meantime, you can choose to do nothing, sleep, read a magazine, talk on your cell phone, or watch TV.  All of these activities, though relaxing or entertaining, are essentially non-productive.  You can use that opportunity to do some of the things for which you never seem to have the time.  Bring your laptop, tablet PC, or smartphone with you to work on your long-term projects or to review your list of goals.  Bring some elastic bands and a pair of sneakers to do a quick workout.  Bring your copy of “It’s Always Today” and change your life in 24 hours.  Planning is the key to capitalizing on your meantime.

Remember, meantime is different than multitasking in that you are not obligated to do anything else but wait for something else to happen.  It may be as simple as how my children eat cereal and brush their teeth while they await their clothes to be ironed.  It may be as complex as interning or volunteering in the field in which you are seeking your college degree until you graduate.  Maximizing your meantime is a choice that is based on how quickly you want to reach your goals.  Everything that it takes to accomplish your goals will still need to be done, so why not do those things during the time that is technically delegated to another task? 

Rest, relaxation, and recreation are essential elements of healthy living.  If you absolutely need to do those types of activities while you await other things to transpire, by all means exercise your liberty.  If not, make the most of the meantime and watch how your productivity and efficiency increase exponentially.    

-- Linwood R. Butler, Jr.

Be the first to know about my upcoming book release of "It's Always Today - Change Your Entire Life In Just 24 Hours" by hitting the "LIKE" button on www.facebook.com/itsalwaystoday