The 1st January 2010 – another New Year and another New Decade.

I am not a huge fan of New Year Resolutions (I mean, if you are going to change something for the good, why wait to 1st of the year?) but naturally at years end you look back at the preceding year, consider the high points, the low points, everything. You may also just care to reflect on some of those resolutions you did not manage to keep.

Anyway, as I reflect back on 2009 I am pleased to report many high points and even the low points have been a lesson (once again)

As a quick reflection I have experienced Baja Racing in Mexico last January, plus business and leisure visits to San Diego, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Amsterdam, Iceland, Banff, Necker Island (where I met Sir Richard Branson), Calgary (where I met The Dalai Lama) and Sailing in The Greek Islands. I also had the great honour of reconnecting with my Money and Abundance Mentor from many years ago – Mr Jerry Gillies.

But for 2009 picking a highlight has actually been very easy – simply because last May I met a person whom I believe to be one of the most remarkable human beings on the planet right now – Mr Sean Stephenson

I met Sean on Sir Richard Bransons Private Island – Necker Island. A trip that you naturally would expect to be something out of this world and totally awesome touched me in ways I never expected just because of Sean being there.

A little Background:

When Sean was born he came into the world with a condition called “osteogenesis imperfecta” — which also translates into brittle-bone disorder — meaning as he came out basically every bone in his body was crushed from just the process of birth and the Doctors were pretty certain that Sean was going to die within the first 24 hours of my life.

NO words can really explain anyone’s first connection / meeting with Sean – so I am not even going to try. Look, I have to admit this – when I meet someone in a wheel chair who is clearly severely disabled I really don’t know what to do. Not proud of that, just telling it how it is – but with Sean it was like he reached out to you and drew you towards him.

Sean is the most positive, most upbeat person I know. I have met many Personal Development Gurus – frankly all the Big Ones, but no one has touched me like Sean.

I was also fortunate enough to conduct an interview with Sean for my son Michael’s website over at: IncomeDiary.com and I encourage you to check that out. Additionally visit the Sean Stephenson website at http://www.timetostand.com and buy the: Get Off Your But Book at Amazon.com

Here is a video I recorded with Sean on Necker Island

God Bless you Sean – it is my honour to call you a friend

Thought For 1st January 2010:

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called “Opportunity” and its first chapter is New Year’s Day – Edith L. Pierce

Happy 2010 Everyone

Barry

I will update another day on some of the things that have been going on — but for today I thought I’d just update with a little Graph (or Market Cycle) I came across this morning.

A very accurate description of the emotions involved I thought. Of course the biggest challenge is knowing exactly where we are right now on that cycle? So many are predicting that the worse is over – but is it really?

GOLD

This may not appear related to everyone — but I think this is also relevant:

In last 24 hours the price of gold has touched $1,000 an ounce for the first time in six months.

Gold – seen as an attractive investment in times of inflation – has risen 13.6% in value this year.

Gold has risen for the past eight years.

See here for more info:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8243291.stm

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he
asked about his bill and the barber replies, ‘I cannot accept money
from you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The florist was
pleased and left the shop.

When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a
‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door..

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his
bill, the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept money from you. I’m
doing community service this week.’ The cop is happy and leaves the
shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a ‘thank
you’ card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when
he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept
money from you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The professor
is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a ‘thank
you’ card and a dozen different books, such as ‘How to Improve
Your Business’ and ‘Becoming More Successful.’

Then, a Member of Parliament comes in for a haircut , and when he goes
to pay his bill the barber again replies, ‘I cannot accept money from
you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The Member of Parliament
is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen
Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between
the citizens of the UK and many Members of Parliament

A lot of people are angry with UK politicians — so this could turn out to be one of the most interesting elections for a while.

http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

I have come across this great quote a number of times recently – there seems to be some confusion as to who to credit it to – but I am going to go with: Zen Buddhist Text

Overall it pretty well sums up my own Philosophy For Life

“The master of the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his religion. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him, he is always doing both.”

I have been in San Diego this last week for Frank Kerns Masscontrol Workshop

One of the highlights of the workshop for me was the presentation by Dr Harlan Kilstein – the Founder of http://nlpcopywriting.com

Harlan’s presentation (complete in Jedi Monk robe) was OUTSTANDING and really I cannot recommend his strategies and insights highly enough.

Also, if you don’t want to do the copywriting yourself check out http://99copywriters.com

All the copywriters are personally known to Harlan and you simply submit your project and then approved copywriters bid for your project. (A bit like eLance or Rentacoder or 99Designs)

To find out more about how it all works visit: http://99copywriters.com/howitworks

As some of you will know, in a previous life I was a Home Improvements contractor and I met up with one of my old buddies this week – who is an Electrical Contractor (Electrician). As you do, I asked my buddy how business was – and to be frank I was expecting him to say he was struggling / work was short – but he surprised me by saying business was great and in fact he was turning work away.

His secret? – The Trade Ring

Have you ever had a trades person to your home – for example a plumber and you are impressed with their work and then asked for an introduction to another trades person, for example an electrician or a landscaper? I know I have and I also know that usually they have someone they can recommend. Then more often than not they write the name of their recommendation on a scrape of paper (often illegible) which inevitably gets lost.

Well how about that self same trades person having printed on the back of his business card the names of 4 other trades people he recommends – just their first name, their trade and a phone number.

In my buddies case he is in “partnership” with a Plumber, Landscaper, Carpenter and a Painter / Decorator and of course each of his buddies has his name and number on the back of their business cards.

All five TRADES are fully booked at a time when many others are struggling for work.

A simple but very effective idea that could be applied to so many businesses both offline and online.

The Validation Video

“Validation” is a fable about the magic of free parking — the good you do, comes back to you, often in ways you did not expect.

I have been meaning to do this video for a while — anyone who knows me, knows that I am passionate about being a entrepreneur.

Yet, far too people assume or suggest that whatever success we have was a fluke or luck – almost like we never worked or strived for our success! I find speaking to other successful entrepreneurs that this is something they experience also.

Do not let anyone NEG you out – steal your energy or put you down.

It is not what happens to you that matters – it is how you respond to what happens to you that makes the difference between success and failure.

A must watch video – Napoleon Hill – Think and Grow Rich – only 7 minutes long, but really it still is the best strategy for attracting abundance and wealth into your life.

What I like about this video is the lack of FLUFF – to the point and spot on advice if you ever want to become wealthy.

There are not many videos of Napoleon Hill around that I know of — so this really is a nice bit of LAW OF ATTRACTION History.

It is now over 20 years since I read Think and Grow Rich and I “owe” this book so much.

Napoleon Hill, the author of “Think and Grow Rich,” a book that discloses the secrets to getting rich according to Andrew Carnegie and 500 other very wealthy men.

A video about Tony Melendez – with English Subtitles – do watch it, you will be glad you did.

Tony Meléndez is a Nicaraguan American guitar player, composer and singer and songwriter who was born without arms. His mother took Thalidomide while pregnant, which caused his disability. Tony Meléndez has learned to play the guitar with his feet.

On September 15, 1987 Meléndez sang Never Be the Same while playing the guitar with his feet in a special performance for Pope John Paul II. Visibly moved, the Pope descended from his chair and embraced Meléndez. The Pope told Meléndez, “My wish for you is that you continue to give hope to others and continue in what you are doing”, which inspired him.

With his band, Tony Meléndez and the Toe Jam Band, has a busy concert schedule. Tony Meléndez also gives motivational talks and has written a book.

http://www.tonymelendez.com