“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”  

                                                                                           - Joel A. Barker

I believe we are all born with a vision for what we want in our lives inside of us. 

Just think back to when you were child and the numerous visions you had for what you wanted to be in when you “grew up”.  Your imagination was boundless.  I personally wanted to be a cartoonist, a doctor, an astronaut and a super-hero (Actually, when I was 5-years old, I WAS Batman).  

I believe these visions are set inside of us so that we have a path...

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”

                                                                                  - Aristole Onasis

Each year, I am blessed to share my message of Black Belt Leadership and its Mind of a Champion principles with several groups across the country.

During many of these sessions, I discuss how the negative stories we create in our minds about our lives can dis-empower us and keep us from experiencing the happiness and success we desire. 

In contrast, I also share how Forward Focused thinking, can be used to overcome our perceived obstacles, and also re-frame our challenges as blessings in our lives when we really look at them with an open mind and heart.

...

“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”

                                                                                   - Hamlet

It is easy for all of us to label experiences in our lives as "good" or "bad" based on how they compare to our expectations.  It can be easy to reflect on our experiences as “bad” when things don’t go the way we planned. 

However, if the recent pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we need to be flexible in how we view situations and nimble in our approach to dealing with challenges that arrive us safely and triumphantly on the other side

It is often not until much time has passed that the situations we have judged as the most negative can be seen as...

“Success isn’t always about greatness.  It’s about consistency.  Consistent hard work leads to success.  Greatness will come.”

                                                                                             -  Dwyane Johnson

As I was hesitating to begin my daily mini-exercise routine this morning because I felt tired and sorry for myself, I was reminded of a story I heard many years ago.   

An elderly man who seemed to defy aging walked into a gym. 

In his early nineties, he still possessed a strong and lean frame with a powerful chest and biceps and triceps a teenager would be jealous of. 

His legs and his back were as solid as tree trucks,...

"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is wisdom.  Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power."

                                                                                                   - Lao Tzu

This power is already within you.

Several times each year I have the honor to co-facilitate, with my business partner, Theresa Byrne, our life-changing personal empowerment workshops we call, Higher Self-Defense. 

Higher Self-Defense (HSD) is an adrenal self-defense training where adults/teens from various backgrounds, life experiences and skill levels come together to experience what they tell us is a truly life changing...

“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.

                                                                                                         - Frank A. Clark

OBSTACLES are an inevitable part of the human experience and they are a certainty to be experienced in our role as leaders.  Obstacles come in many forms.  They manifest as health issues, financial struggles, relationship difficulties and overall roadblocks on our path to achieving our goals and desires.

Much of our progess in today’s world is derived from our quest to deal with obstacles and overcome them in the easiest and most efficient ways possible.  Look only as far as our modern-day...