During a recent coaching call I was asked by someone who was facing a challenge that would require her to turn what she perceived to be a weakness into a strength. If she was not able to do so, it would likely lead to the inability to achieve her objective. I shared with her a story about a young Judo champion who was able to turn adversity and a perceived weakness into a gold medal strength. And since we are all faced with those challenges from time to time I thought I would share the story with you.

It’s the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “shouldn’t I be learning more moves?” “This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the sensei entered the boy in his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy artfully used his one move to win the match.

Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.

“No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”

TT

Today marks the 40th anniversary of man’s landing on the moon.  Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969 — arguably the greatest technological feat of the 20th century.

I was 10 years old at the time but I can still remember watching the black and white images on our one little TV set in the living room.  That lunar landing and the first words to follow “one small step for man- one giant leap for mankind� captivated millions of people around the world and inspired the belief that anything was possible.

What inspires you today?  What marvel of man’s ingenuity, passion, or contribution serves to move you to take or at least consider your own giant leap forward?

Like millions of others you may be answering that question with a great deal of thought only to come up with a big fat question mark and a feeling of disappointment.  It is true that on the surface finding that inspiration can seem like a daunting task with little hope of success.  Whatever struggle is going on in your own life may indeed eclipse the good that is happening all around you – below the surface.

When Buzz and Neil left the moon that day and headed home to earth all they brought back with them was what they could find on the surface – moon dust and rocks.  They didn’t have the equipment, time, or the inclination to go deeper or to look below the surface but rather surmised that it must be more of the same.

You on the other hand have the ability to dig deeper to discover the true treasure around and below you.  If you want to start seeing man’s ingenuity, his ability and desire to create better lives for others, and witness his contribution then you must first be what it is you wish to see.

If you want to be inspired then seek to inspire.

If you want to see man’s contribution then you yourself must begin to contribute.

If you’re looking for help – then start looking for someone you can help.

If you want to take that giant leap in your own life then make it about helping and inspiring others to take the LEAP.

You and I can’t afford to settle for the dust on the surface… our inspiration and perhaps even our lives depend on our desire and ability to dig deeper.

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How is it some people seem to prosper and feel a sense of abundance regardless of what is going on around them?

Join me as I dig deep into the success strategies and principles that will invoke the law of attraction and all but guarantee a lifetime of abundance with the author of Double Your Income Doing What You Love, Raymond Aaron.

Raymond Aaron is considered “the world’s leading goal achievement expert and coach� by many of today’s top thought leaders.

• Learn How You Can Have Exactly What You Want… Right Now!
• How You Can Double Your Income Regardless of What the Economy is Doing
• Identify The Things You Truly Love and What Loves to Take Your Energy Away
• Learn How to Keep Yourself Motivated and Moving Forward Inspite of Resistance

This interview is part of our LEAP Inspiration and Direction teleseminar series brought to you by Experience The LEAP

DR. “TOPHER” MORRISON – Settle for Excellence steps in for Bob Greene on tonight’s call.

Since 1989, Topher, has trained tens of thousands of people worldwide, as an acclaimed, dynamic presenter on topics ranging from personal growth to sales training.  

Dr. Morrison is internationally recognized for his columns on personal development, keynotes, and leadership training. 

Innovative and prolific, Topher is the creator of the Music Trance series – music specifically created for the profession of hypnotherapy.  He is the author of the best-selling book, Settle for Excellence (Stop Chasing Perfection)

Wednesday, April 8  6pm PDT / 7pm MDT / 9pm EDT click the link to get all the details INTERVIEW WITH TOPHER on tonight’s call.

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Stewart Welch author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Rich

This interview is part of our LEAP Inspiration and Direction teleseminar series brought to you by Experience The LEAP

On this call Tom and Stewart talk about trusting the universe, moving forward in the face of fear, self mastery, and the opportunities available in this fear based economy.

Some of you may know this episodes guest from the Peak Potentials stage where he has helped lead several events and has changed hundreds of lives. What you may not know is that he has been recognized by Money Magazine, Worth Magazine, Mutual Funds Magazine, Bloomberg Magazine and Medical Economics as one of America’s top financial advisors.  He has appeared on CNBC, CNN and Fox News and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Smart Money and Kiplinger magazine.

Stewart Welch, III is the founding principal of two fee-only investment management and financial advisory companies serving clients throughout the United States. One company specializes in Wealth Management services for wealthy families while the other helps those who aspire to create multimillion dollar estates.

He welcomes your questions and comments: stewart@welchgroup.com or visit his website at www.WelchGroup.com./.

In addition, he is the author of four books on personal finance including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Rich.

I know times are tough and we’re all feeling it at one level or another.

It is also a time of opportunity and a chance to define who you are.  It’s how you handle adversity and challenge that will define not only who you are but whether you will prosper or just survive in the years to come. 

Hardship and challenge can give you purpose and meaning and become the catalyst for greatness.

I was listening to the Today Show this morning as I was writing an article inner strength when I overheard Matt Lauer mention a familiar name.  Augie Nieto the founder of LIFE Fitness and a prominent leader in the fitness industry for nearly three decades. 

A few years ago Augie received a life changing diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). It meant a slow humiliating and painful death.  Augie wanted to end it and even tried to do so.

Then he made a decision that his illness had meaning and that he could use it along with his influential list of contacts to truly make a difference.  He and his wife immediately got to work and created Augies Quest a foundation to raise money for aggressive treatment and cures for MDAs and ALS and in just three years they raised over $18 million dollars.

Now at age 50, Augie is approaching his role as co-chairperson of MDA’s ALS division with the same ironclad will and determination that catapulted him to entrepreneurial heights in the fitness world. Greatness is defined by our action under adversity not when things are easy.

You too can make a difference in some small way everyday… find a way to make yourself, me, and others proud of you.

I watch very little television these days.  After all, why would I?  There’s so little time and way too much bad news being televised.  Who needs it!   Every now and than however a show comes along that sparks my curiosity.

 A new “reality” program called, ’The Secret Millionaire’ on FOX network did just that.  The show features different “self absorbed” multi-millionaires who go completely undercover as an almost destitute person living at the poverty level.  The undercover millionaire is sent to a some remote poverty stricken area of the US to live for a full week with only a few welfare level dollars in his or her pocket. They have to find a job if they are going to make it. 

Their main objective is to find some poor unfortunate individual or organization worthy of help, then wright them a check for some fairly big bucks.  The total give away is in the area of $100,000.00 or more of their own money.  Although the show itself is tainted with an obvious philanthropy-for-profit undertone (which I have no real problem with) the end result was quite inspiring. 

I found myself having to wipe more than a few tears away from my eyes as I watched the faces of the people who were so desperately in need receive a check for a substantial amount of money.

This wasn’t a handout to people who have found themselves in dire straits as a result of alcoholic or drug abuse, but rather a helping hand for people who have chosen inspite of their own circumstances to stay in their communities and give back, contribute, and help others purely out of the goodness of their own heart.

When the show ended I was left with several questions and impressions not the least of which was how important money really is in helping others less fortunate. 

As good old Abe Lincoln once said, (more…)

What makes people make the decisions they make… or not make?  How can we influence those decisions? Your ability to influence or even persuade others can make the difference between success and failure for both you and them. This is an ART that can be learned and mastered.   

Recall that old adage “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink”… or can you?

It is true you that can’t make them drink or do what you want… you have to persuade them to do it.

I am asked constently, “How do you get people to do what you want… so easily?”

If you are selling anything including your own services the art of persuasion is a skill you MUST master if you are going to be successful.

If you have ever thought that you could have more confidence, or would like to be more persuasive with your approach with people then please read the next few sentences carefully. Because I have a passionate desire to help people make the decisions they know they should be making but for one reason or another do not, I have made the the art of persuasion a life long study.

The great leaders of the world are great leaders in massive… (more…)

Check out the interview I did with David Lemberg on Total Lifetime Fitness Radio. 

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Whose voice does David remind you of?  Let me know if you think he sounds like someone from a very famous TV show.  Curious to see if your guess matches mine. 

Post your comment and I’ll send you a special report on how to achieve any goal with my special ACTION criteria.  I think you will enjoy the interview as well.  It’s powerful. 

In this 30 minute interview we talk about how to activate your internal success mechanism for weight loss and fitness goals.