Made from Concentrate! part 1

"Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus." Alexander Graham Bell

I may have mentioned before that I was from the Kool-Aid generation .  I also think I shared that because of sugar and gas crisis of the 70's (remember 16% interest rates and borrowing a cup of sugar from your neighbor?) that my mother used 1/4 cup sugar instead of the recommended 1 cup.   That made the first quart or so a little tough going down, but that last glass?  My sisters and I used to fight over that last glass as all the sugar settled down at the bottom of the pitcher making it oh so sweet!  It was that last glass that made me understand why kids would yell...   "Hey Kool-Aid!"   I also remember at church for communion Sunday, my mom mixing Welch's grape juice from the can.  She would squeeze the can and a slushy, icy, gooey concoction would ooze out into the pitcher.  She would then fill up three cans of water and pour it into the pitcher...actually she used 4 cans to make it stretch further (ssshhh!).   Mothers.   As I stood beside her, I would take the lid from the grape juice and lick the top.  My mouth would pucker and my glands would go into overload, but it was oh so good.   "Momma, why is this so good?" I asked, still smacking my lips.   "Baby, it's made from concentrate", she answered, opening another can to get ready for the congregation.   "Why do you add water?  It is great right out of the can!" I exclaimed licking the next top she handed me.   "Most people can't handle concentrate.  That's why the directions on the can tell me to dilute it with water."   "Well, I love concentrate!"   "You are special, super-human, you can handle anything," she answered rubbing my head.   Some of you immediately see the connection, the metaphor, the simile...dare I say, the parable.   Some of what is keeping you from your greatness is not the environment, the economy, the boss, the leads, the haters or the cold of winter.  It is simply that you are not concentrating on your goal in an effective manner.   What I know is that the best things are...   Made from Concentrate!   Pursue Your Greatness!  Until next time, I wish you Money, Power, Success!

Delay is not Denial!

"Sometimes things aren't clear right away. That's where you need to be patient and persevere and see where things lead." Mary Pierce

Happy Monday!   Delay is not Denial.   Some of you have heard the title before...probably in church.  I used to think it was an emotional "salve" applied to make people feel better about the fact things were happening as fast as they wanted in their lives.   I thought it provided a window for people to procrastinate or put off making vital decisions or taking critical action.  If we are honest, people love to use a spiritual excuses for their human challenges...living in self-denial.   Being older, and wiser, I have amended some of that perspective.  I realize that you can think, plan and act with urgency and tenacity and sometimes the thing you want is elusive.    Delayed.   The other day I was travelling and my return flight home was delayed.  I got alerts on my phone 3 times adding 30 minutes, 1 hours and then 2 hour delays to my departure time.   It was already late and the day had been good...but long.    I found an isolated spot to hunker down for the wait.  I tried taking a nap and when I couldn't fall off, I decided to read.  It was a book I had bought over a year ago but had never gotten to.   It sparked several ideas, which I feverishly began to write down.  At the end of the 2 hours, I had 4 pages of notes and ideas.  I felt excited, energized and refreshed.  I had become so engrossed in what I was doing that I missed my zone being called.   My flight took off without incident.  Even though I had a middle row seat, I had a great power nap on the plane, and arrived some safely.    For a moment, think of the thing that seems delayed in your life.  That thing by way of your effort and persistence that still seems elusive.  Hold it in your mind for a moment without anxiety, frustration or worry.   Do you have it?   First - check your strategy.  If it is good, don't change a thing.  Second - check your effort.  If you are giving it your all, stay the course.   Third - Could it be possible that the delay is serving to give you a more complete victory in multiple areas of your life?  Could it be there is something even more glorious awaiting you than what you had planned?  Is there the possibility that the extra time is for you to be better prepared for what is about to happen?   If #1 & #2 are in line, I have a sneaking suspicion that what is happening (or apparently not happening!) in your life today is found in #3, because now I understand that...    Delay is not Denial!    Pursue Your Greatness...until next time, I wish you Money, Power, Success!