DOWNLOAD AUDIO VERSION – Basic Practice – Freethinkingtools.com

An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching. Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948), political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement.

As a real estate coach I often hear people asking what new techniques can be used to succeed, what can be added or what has changed with the methods of success.This question often puts me in a quandary because I am empathetic to the genesis of the question, which is clearly the desire to create and move forward.

That entrpreneurial drive is always alive and well as people seek to push their own creativity and learn more so they can be the one to develop the next evolution or a better mouse trap. Yet the flip side of the coin always begs the question…why are we so compelled to stray from what works now…okay so maybe it’s patronizing to say it, but I can’t resist: if it ain’t broke then why fix it!

As an entrepreneur myself, I almost feel guilty even saying that, but I will certainly explain why. Clearly there is no doubt that everybody has goals and for now I’ll stick with a financial example. The hardest part for most people when it comes to attaining financial success is simply deciding what it is they would like to do for a living. Too often they take the first job that comes their way that pays well, then they compromise their desires and live a tortured life doing something that they really can’t stand doing but can’t break free for fear of financial ruin.

DOWNLOAD AUDIO VERSION – Thank You – Freethinkingtools.com

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. -William Ward (1921-1994), American author.

This week my reunion whirlwind continued with a trip back to my high school…a place I had not returned to in 25 years, for really no reason other than I’m just never in the area and have in the past had conflicts during prior reunions. However, a 25 year walk back in time was just too important to miss and am I ever glad I went!

I have already spoken about old friends and how important it is to reconnect and I will only say once again that taking a walk back in time completes you as you get back in touch with years that really form who you are. But at this event I was struck by a much stronger feeling of thankfulness!

To completely understand why the emotion was so strong I have to take you back in time with me. A time growing up in the city of Boston during the 1970s when racial segregation in the school system was a topic of tumultuous debate and fervor. Through the fateful decision of a Boston judge, the concept of forced busing become a reality.

In short, the concept of forced integration changed the city into a bastion of violence and protest. It was really no good for anybody. While everyone would have love to see the end of segregation, the last way to make it happen was to force it upon a bunch of kids already struggling with the challenges of growing up.

DOWNLOAD AUDIO VERSION – Old Friends – FreeThinkingtools.com

Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies. -Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC), a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher to Alexander the Great.

It’s amazing how time seems to have flown by when we look in the mirror. What seems to be only minutes can actually be years. That look back into our own living time capsule can conjour up many emotions from painful to wonderful. There is no doubt either way that a life look-back is a great teacher and this week for me it reminded me of the value of true old friends!

I had the opportunity to catch up with some friends that I have not seen in years…in some cases over 25 years! Even though much time has passed, the faces are all the same…sure I get it…we all look a bit older, but the history of the relationship is captured in those faces. And the best part is that it’s real! I mean time just comes rushing back and the memories once faded are instantly alive and real again!

But the feeling I noticed the most is based on that question in your gut that challenges you to think…did I make the best of these realtionships when I had the chance? I’m not saying that I beat myself up or suggesting that you do either, I’m simply realizing that life really is about our relationships with other people and how we treat or have treated each other.

I know relationships are more difficult when we are younger because we are more filled with the insecurities of youth, but wow what a long lasting impact those friendships really do have over time; definitely more impactful than we ever realize at the time. The friendship bonds that are made when we are young might even be the strongest because we have many less life worries like jobs, kids, spouses, money and any other overwhelming responsibilities!

DOWNLOAD AUDIO-Wasted?-Freethinkingtools.com

Lack of money is the root of all evil. -George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Irish playwright, winner of both an Oscar and the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Have you ever worked your tail off and really felt like you accomplished something and then felt like you were due a big reward…primarily a bunch of cash…but when you went to count the spoils there was a lot less there than you thought there should be? You know that dejected feeling that you get when you look in your bank account and after paying all the bills there is really nothing left?!

How does this seem to happen all the time? Even though we say it won’t EVER happen again, it seems to pull us right back into the trap over and over again! Certainly money is NOT the essence of life, but man oh man when you don’t have enough to show for your efforts,  it can certainly suck the wind out of your sails and make life miserable. So we have to be very careful not to rationalize away the fact that we have to deal directly with money retention…but of course once again it requires a head exam!

Well what is really at work here? Why does this seem to happen to the majority of us? Certainly there are those that seem to have money flow freely to them and attach itself like Velcro, but the rest of us seem to be in a constant oil wrestling match with the elusive dollar…why?