Inspirational Stories by Natasha Althoff-Kelley

A Doctor by the name of Judah Folkman kept in his archives an
article printed in the New York Times written by two physics
professors explaining how it would never be possible for airplanes
to fly. Three months later the Wright brothers soared through the
air at Kitty Hawk.

Folkman had proposed in 1970 an idea that conflicted with what
scientists at the time knew. He proposed that tumors generated new
blood vessels to feed themselves and grow. He was ridiculed, and
met with hostility and told that his study was futile science. At a
research convention, when he showed his ideas half the audience
walked out. For two decades he kept going, despite everyone else's
opinions and reactions.

My question is: Would you have kept going?

Today he has helped over 100,000 cancer patients from his research
and he is considered to be a leader in the fight to cure cancer.

Michael Jordon was cut from the varsity basketball team in his
first year at high school.

My question is: Would you have kept going?

Michael did double the practice of every other player on the team
and went on to become the best basketball player of all time.

Colonel Sanders, the father of legendary fast food chain KFC was
broke, with only a small house and an old car to his name. He was
65 years old. He decided to sell his chicken recipe to restaurants
for free in return for a small percentage on the chicken sold. He
was rejected over 1000 times.

My question is: Would you have kept going?

He got 1009 rejections to his proposal before he got his first
'yes'. With that one success Colonel Hartland Sanders changed the
eating habits of the whole world with Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).

Bruce Lee studied and mastered kung fu but all he really wanted was
to be an actor. He obtained some small roles in TV and film but
thought his big break had arrived when he heard there was to be a
new TV series called "Kung Fu" and they were looking for a new
star. He had a successful screen test but in the end the role was
given to David Carradine.

My question is: Would you have kept going?

He was offered and starred in many film roles after that and his
reputation as an actor and his skills in the martial arts made him
a household name.

Fred Smith was a student at Yale studying economics. He wrote a
paper disagreeing with his professor about air-freight through
passenger planes, and instead proposed having separate planes
dedicated to mail and not people. The professor gave him a low
grade.

Fred was not discouraged and went out to tell others of his idea
and to get investors. He was met with disinterest. However his
passion and his courage to his convictions served him well and he
raised $91 million on his untested idea.

FEDEX was born and in the first few years the losses amounted to
millions of dollars. The investors wanted to remove Fred and get
someone else to take over the company.

My question is: Would you have kept going?

Fred did not lose faith, he worked night and day to solve the
operational problems and that resulted in $75 million revenue with
$3.6 million profits. Today FEDEX is a multi-million dollar company.

W. Mitchell was a good looking 28 year old on top of the world! He
had finally saved enough money for his dream motorbike and life was
good. A traffic accident left him with a crushed elbow and pelvis
and burns to 75% of his body. His face was burned beyond
recognition and his fingers and thumbs had been burnt off leaving
him with two stumps where his hands used to be.

My question is: Would you have kept going?

After 6 months of rehabilitation he came across an idea for a stove
company. He thought to himself 'hmmm I know a bit about fire' so he
co-founded Vermont casting Inc which became Vermont's second
largest employer. With the profits he was making he bought himself
a personal aeroplane and despite the physical barrier of having no
hands, he learned to fly.

Mitchell thought he was on top of the world again. Life was good
and he had achieved so much.

However on a routine flight to San Francisco - a flight Mitchell
had made many times before - the plane malfunctioned and crashed.
There were four others in the plane and they all walked out.
Everyone except for Mitchell. He had crushed his twelfth thoracic
vertebrae and he would never be able to use his legs again. He
needed a wheelchair.

My question is: Would you have kept going?

He says about the accidents: 'Before my accidents, there were ten
thousands things I could do. I could spend the rest of my life
dwelling on the one thousands that I had lost, but I instead chose
to focus on the nine thousands I still had left'.

Mitchell is still a director of the board to a number of companies,
and is a successful businessman. He is also a co-founding chairman
of a $65 million company.

What is the point of these stories I am telling you?... well you
tell me... Whatever you take out of these stories is the message
you are ready to hear right now. To me the theme of this article is
persistence. I go. Until. No buts, maybes, excuses, could of, would
of, should of. Just I do. Until. I trust whatever you needed and
wanted to understand and assign meaning to, you did in the most
perfect way for you!

Going The Extra Mile Will Get You Even Farther by Jack Canfield

Are you someone who consistently goes the extra mile and routinely
over delivers on your promises?

It's rare these days, but it's the hallmark of high achievers who
know that exceeding expectations helps you stand above the crowd.
Almost by force of habit, successful people simply do more.

As a result, they experience not only greater financial rewards for
their extra efforts but also a personal transformation, becoming
more self-confident, more self-reliant, and more influential with
those around them.

These high achievers stand out from the crowd because of their
extra efforts. They are unwilling to give up, even in the face of
difficult times.

They get the promotions, they get the loyal customers, they grow
their businesses twice as fast, they get financial rewards, job
security, and they go home feeling satisfied.

Do you exceed expectations?

Do you surprise people with more than they were expecting from you?

Do you have the opportunity - but also the personal initiative - to
go the extra mile?

To be successful you must change your thinking. You can only win by
making extra efforts. People who go the extra mile always get
payback. You will discover yourself becoming more self-confident,
more self-reliant and more influential with those around you.

People notice the special services and all the small touches that
make dealing with you so pleasurable. And when they are talking to
their friends they will mention you and recommend you because you
are the one who stands out.

People will see that you pay attention to detail, that you consider
all the small things that really make a business successful, that
you care about your image, and that you belong with all the other
people who work hard to achieve. You will attract new business and
new opportunities.

Listen to any success story and you will hear of someone who worked
exceptionally hard to get what they wanted.

You'll hear how they put in the extra time, did what wasn't part of
their job description, and over-delivered on what was asked of
them. You'll hear how they stuck at it until they broke through,
and usually you'll hear how it only took them a couple of years to
do it.

What have you been doing for the past couple of years? Think of
what you could accomplish if you made it a habit to exceed
everyone's expectations. Image what doors could be open to you if
you decided to be of better service and value.

How are you willing to go the extra mile? What kind of extra
service are you willing to provide in order to stand out from the
rest? What areas of your life could you be giving more of your
effort and time, becoming more valuable, and improving your
reputation?

Be willing to treat everyone like you'd treat your dearest friend.
Don't skimp on service. Don't be mediocre or run of the mill. Show
people what you are capable of. Show them that you care about your
image and reputation.

When it comes to success, the people who are willing to go the
extra mile get there that much faster!

Motivational Video

Hi readers,

Everybody needs a mentor or coach to push them to achieve their goals, whether they need it or not.

Will Smith Wisdom

Hi readers,

In this video, Will Smith shares his secrets of success.

Enjoy watching!

Move Forward To Grow Wiser by Mark Foo

As you move forward, you grow wiser.

Move forward because standing still is the guaranteed way to fail. Moving forward, whether you walk through victories or defeats, is the only way you will learn and grow.

Every step you take brings you one step closer to your goals. While on the journey to your dreams, you gather wisdom from your experiences, which helps you make better decisions in the future. In doing so, you are setting yourself up for a life with no regrets.

Be eager to learn new lessons around you every day. You are mature enough to learn from the situations of others even before you face those situations yourself. When you experience a shortcoming, remind yourself that mistakes are simply lessons in disguise.

When you experience a personal victory, take note of successful strategies that you can use in the future. If you ever encounter failure, reflect on your actions in order to perform better the next time.

Open yourself up to new challenges with confidence allowing life to be your classroom. Each day, embrace life with the expectation that you will receive knowledge from the most unexpected places.

Be daring to venture into every day, even when you are surrounded by uncertainty, because being a risk taker pays off with new knowledge that you never would have acquired otherwise.

Today, choose to walk forth into your destiny with wisdom and direction. Embrace the opportunity to learn from the many sources of knowledge that engulf you. Your knowledge increases as you fearlessly accept the lessons you are being taught by life itself.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What lessons has life taught you recently?
2. What unexpected knowledge can you find today?
3. How can you share your wisdom with others?

Anything In The Horizon Is Possible by Mark Foo

As long as you think you can, anything in the horizon is possible.

Always be open to the possibility of success. Look for ways to succeed rather than excuses to fail, and so you'll enjoy the thrills of success. Confidence and an optimistic attitude are the traits that pave the way.

In the classic story, The Little Engine That Could, it was the smallest engine in the train yard that climbed the mountain to save the day. He just kept saying, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..." all the way up.

In the same way, you don't have to be the strongest, smartest, most beautiful, most educated, or most experienced person to succeed. All your lights don't have to be green in order for you to get started on your journey to success.

The world is filled with examples of people who've succeeded despite the tremendous odds against them! What makes the difference? Attitude!

Develop your winning attitude daily with affirmations and positive self-talk. Congratulate yourself for even trivial achievements because what are they? Successes of course!

If you feel your confidence waning, remind yourself of your past successes to build it back up again.

When you encounter a challenge, waste no time in continuing to move ahead. Just tell yourself, "I think I can," and jump right into searching for a viable solution.

Today, make your mantra to be "I think I can." Nothing is out of reach for you if you decide it is what you want. Your can-do attitude can always bring you success!

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. When you start toward a new goal, what is your attitude?
2. What goal have you achieved simply because you thought you could?
3. What's holding you back? How can you move past that and believe in the possibility of your success?

Taxi - Living Life‏

Dear readers,

A story to share...

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked.

'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me.

She was wearing a pink dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.

'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a
hospice'.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued.

'The doctor says I don't have very long.'

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds.

She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.

'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind
me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.

What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.


We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great
moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Do You Make These 3 Mistakes with Manifesting by Thomas Herold

Looking back at my own life I have made many mistakes over and over again. They say there is a lesson to learn in each mistake, and there is no need to make the same mistake twice.

For a long time some of my mistakes just kept repeating themselves. It seemed a common and recurring theme, and I had no idea how to get a handle on it.

It took me many years to finally get out of this jungle of repeating mistakes and to find the answers. When you finally get them, the answers seem to be ridiculously easy to follow.

Mistake 1: Thinking You Don't Have Enough Time For It

We all live by the same physical rules; however, the same set of rules seems to appear differently to each of us. How often have you told someone (or yourself) that you don't have time for something? We only have 24 hours in a day—you alone decide what you do in these hours.

It seems to be more convenient to say “I don't have the time” rather than saying “I don't want to use my time on it.” Can you feel the difference? In the first phrase you have not taken ownership of your time—someone else has the time. You put yourself in the role of being a slave to time itself, and, if you are honest with yourself, it does not feel at all empowering.

In the second phrase we take full responsibility for our time. Know that this may upset some people when you say it. You tell them that whatever they want from you is not necessarily as important for you as for them. In reality, you are just being honest and this will, in the end, make you feel humble.

The interesting thing is that when you start doing this, you will attract more honest people in your life. You will get more comfortable over time with expressing this kind of yourself in this way to others and people will start appreciating your honesty. You will soon see the rewards.

Your dreams will come true if you make the time available to manifest them. Have you already used the Setting Intention sheet in your ebook? If not, the best time is now!

• Make a list of what you want to achieve in your life over the next few years.
• Make a list of your most inner desires
• Make a list of your life dreams

Set your mental blueprint. This is the beginning of all your dreams coming true. Most people fail with business intentions in particular and life intentions in general because they never create the blueprint in the first place that makes them happen. They are too busy with putting their valuable attention on daily clusters. Make sure you are not one of them.


Mistake 2: You Don't Like How It Is, Therefore You Try to Change It

You cannot change what you don't like! Too much of your attention is focused on the problem rather than on the solution.

Start with accepting your current situation. Take full ownership of it. Understand that it is somehow a result of your thoughts and actions, even if you don't comprehend why. Let go of any sadness or anger you hold towards yourself and others. Forgive yourself and others. We all make mistakes, and mistakes are not necessarily the bad things as you have come to believe.

Making mistakes (and understanding them) is how each of us learn to move on through life. Simply understand that your past and current actions did not lead to the results that you have expected. That's it—don't take it too seriously.

Only after you have gained a neutral perspective towards your current solution is it time to take a new approach. Being neutral means that when you think about it, no other thoughts or feelings come up. However you feel about it in the moment, no second feelings will arise.

Mistake 3: You Are Discouraged - Therefore You Give Up

You had the best intentions. You put in all your efforts and you certainly believed in your goals and dreams. However, nothing really ever changed—you are frustrated and discouraged. You start to believe that it is not meant to be. Maybe God does not want you to experience achieving your goals. You start finding all kinds of excuses why your dreams did not manifest. Finally you give up—you admit to yourself that you obviously don't have the power to pull this off. This is the place where dreams vaporize, where evaporating goals become a part of history that nobody will ever see.

Besides having no dreams and goals at all, this is the second most prevalent reason why people never fulfill their dreams.

It is important that you hold your intention and reconnect with it at all times. If your ego gets too involved, you’ll try to force it to happen. Allow yourself enough time and space to let your intention manifest in its own way and under its own conditions. Understand that the more people your intention serves the more likely it will happen.

Discouragement is not failure, it simply means that your expectations have gotten ahead of you.

Pay attention to the coincidences in your life, as they will show you the way. They may seem insignificant, but they are real. Acknowledge them, be grateful to what you have and then act on whatever opportunities come up.

There are no unrealistic dreams; there are only unrealistic time frames.

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational quotes for you to lighten up your day...

Get Back Up When You Fall Or Fail...

Hi readers,

I will like to share with you an inspirational and empowering video.

Be inspired and finish strong!

Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005

Hi readers,

I will like to share with you an inspirational and empowering video.

In this video, Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivering his commencement speech to the graduates of Stanford University in 2005.

In it he shares his success formula with the graduates.