Unfortunately instead, many individuals seem to be running around thinking about what they want, but not taking action to get there. Thought without action is fruitless. All the positive thinking in the world isn’t worth a darn if you aren’t taking positive action. Any action is better than no action even if isn’t entirely the right action, it is still movement. This also follows the theory of Ready, Fire, Aim that urges you to act even before you know precisely what you are going for. This has pros and cons, but does beat staying home and wishing and hoping!

Look inside yourself, find your own Secret and share it!

Often we get caught up in organizations we belong to for business, networking opportunities, and even keeping up with industry reading but don’t find ourselves getting ahead. It is because we are so busy learning, we forget to determine which strategies (and all is never the answer) are the best for us, and that implementation is critical to real success.

Surely you know one of those lifelong students amongst your friends? You know the one with the string of initials following their name, garnering every possible degree and certification but in the meantime never really putting any of it to fruitful real practice. Beware of falling into that trap. It isn’t what we know that matters, but what we do with it that makes the real difference.

Find your voice, determine your path, and go forth in success!

In business, I guarantee you will find greater success when you replace the word budget in your client conversations with the word investment. After all aren’t your services or product providing a valuable ROI? Budgets are simply for line item expenses, no return. An investment is not a line item and doesn’t have to rely on fitting into a budget! It offers a valuable return on investment that can be calculated and measured. This has allowed me to take a budget design project of $30K and turn it into an investment of $150K. What will changing your semantics do for you?

After all, if you don’t feed your brain but simply keep it on a diet of work in and work out, you will find your mental capacity diminishing rather than growing. What we read is easily as important as what we listen to (a diet of educational CDs will result in far greater benefit than a menu of nothing but rock and roll or even jazz, unless you are a musician!) We are only able to produce based on what we take in, too often it is very limited and limiting. Go beyond your own mental backyard and explore new technology, alternative viewpoints, different philosophies, and the latest trends. Sometimes we just need to be jogged by something we read or hear to make giant strides forward. Feed your brain, increase your wisdom.

Sometimes it takes just a word to give us a new outlook and make what may have been a negative into a positive. Since most individuals abandon their New Year’s resolutions within the first three days of the year (scientific study!) perhaps it has to do with the word itself. To resolve means – to loosen, release; to break up; to reduce by analysis; to clear up. To commit means – to promise devotion; to promise resources; to entrust something to somebody; to record something for the future. At Burning O’ Your Troubles we do release our troubles to the past and COMMIT by promise and devotion to our present and our future. Consider resolving to let go of your past and your troubles and COMMIT to your desired experiences in 2008.

Save money this holiday season: Before you go out shopping, take a very good inventory of what you already have and don’t need or want. I am betting that you have a load of goodies that would make great gifts, many never used at all! Consider giving from the wealth you already have before buying even more.
Save Money. Give What You Have.

Save water this holiday season: While it has taken me years to consider a permanent tree, this year makes the most sense with the severe drought we in Georgia are enduring. Permanent trees (well only until they lose their sparkle and start shedding) require none of that so precious resource H2O.
Save Money. Fake It.

Save energy this holiday season: Easy to do in the balmy 70′s we are experiencing, but what about when it does get cold? Use your fireplace. I see so many that are never used and they are great cozy house heaters in many instances. Whether wood burning, or gas logs, you can generate real heat!
Save Energy. Fire It Up.

Save someone else this holiday season: Every trip I make to the grocery store I add on one of those boxes of assorted canned foods for a mere $7.50. If that isn’t available there are coupons from $1 to $5 that you can add to help make the season brighter for someone less fortunate. Share your fortune.
Save Them. Share Your Abundance.

For example, there are designers that specialize in multimillion dollar homes and others who prefer budget projects. It is unlikely that either would do well at the others specialty, but better that they focus on their unique niches. There are speakers that are best with small audiences, under fifty or a hundred and others that have a gift for the more the better. I learned long ago while teaching at Emory that I derive an energy from my audiences and need a minimum to really create a synergy and the larger the better, that is just what I know about me. What do you know about you? How can you use that priceless knowledge to succeed in your life without having to “beat” others?
You life will become more peaceful when your desired experiences (aka goals) are your own and not related to anyone else’s. Personal best is the greatest potential you can achieve.

Age, intention, and demographic does have a lot to do with it. In my experience, since many, if not all of these services are so far free, it can’t hurt to put up a profile. Many are short or limited to name, picture and tidbits only, then send a handful of invites out and see what sticks. I know it sounds haphazard but trial and error is still a reasonable test method. I’m getting good response on Facebook, and amazed at the number of connections on Linked In. Ryze hasn’t done a thing for me as yet and I’ve been there the longest. MySpace so far seems strictly social, but the jury is still out. I’m still learning the ins and outs on Digg, Reddit, and Feedblitz. Zoom is waiting to be explored. Twitter seems interesting but you have to be proactive and post blog bits with live links back. One of the best experts in navigating all this is Penny Sansevieri. Penny tells you clearly and concisely how to benefit quickly and easily from these networks. She’s got a great free ezine that really delivers.

Green is considered an undemanding color. It is one of the easiest colors to perceive. It represents perfect balance, as the center of a rainbow. Green provides a sense of quietness, compassion, relaxation and comfort and is the easiest neutral. It is popular in home interiors as it gives the illusion of bringing the outdoors inside. And it is a neutral with personality far beyond a beige or taupe.

Green is also a hue of rebirth, regrowth, and renewal. It is what most of us in seasonal climates look forward to in the Spring. The astounding regreening with all the new leaves and plant growths after the grey of winter. It is a time for our spirits to reawaken and recharge.
It is also, of course, the color of money and for many alone that makes it a favorite! And often, it is money that can provide growth, and rejuvenation.