26 May 10 ... Today's Thought.

"The only person standing in the way of your dreams is you. Oh, there will be people who will get in your way - but just like they got IN your way you can move them OUT of your way. However, you are wherever you are & because you are always there, moving yourself out of your way is more of a challenge. You can either be your biggest obstacle or be the most reliable person who has your back." ~ HSRjr.

24 May 2010 ... Today's Thought.

The world can be yours, or you can be be a slave to it. What sets you apart from the rest is what you do or don't do to achieve your dreams and goals. If you're expecting someone to just ring your bell and hand you a fat check, then you have long wait ahead of you.

HRJR Achieves a Life Goal!

I am pleased to share with you a milestone in both my career as a motivational speaker and my life overall.

Just a little over 20 years ago, at about 2 or 3 in the morning I was flipping channels on the TV when I came across a PBS special. At about 18 - 19 years old I saw motivational speaker, Les Brown for the first time - and I was motivated. After watching that special for an hour or so, I knew even back then that I could be somebody ... that I did not have to stay in the hood. Although I did not yet know who or what I would become, I did not think it was possible for me to do what he was doing.

Over the years, I bought his tapes and books, and watched him on TV if & whenever I could ... especially when he got a talk show of his own (which he describes as "the most successful talk show to ever be cancelled from network television"). When I made the decision to become a motivational speaker myself back in the fall of 2005, best believe it was in his footsteps I was choosing to follow. I set a goal to someday meet him, or at the very least, be able to afford to someday see him speak live.

This past Friday evening that goal was achieved and so much more!

Not only was I able to meet him, but I was personally introduced to him by a friend who was organizing the event at which he was speaking. When my wife & I showed up and she saw us; she took him by the hand, excused him from the conversation he was having, and pulled him over to us. I don't know what or how much my friend told him about me, but he greeted me first with a smile, a handshake, and a joke - and then he hugged me ... and as a man I am not ashamed to say I broke down.

I then presented him with a copy of my book, "FIND A WAY TO MAKE A WAY!" and before I could show him where his name was in the dedication he said to me, "When you write your next book let me know - I want to write the foreward." Then when he saw his name in my book, he told me he was honored. Later on in the evening he gave me his personal e-mail address and told me that he wants to train me to become an even better speaker.

The Law of Attraction states that you will get in life what you focus on. Ask the universe for what you want; Believe that it is meant to be yours; and finally (I add in put in the work necessary so that you can), Receive what is meant to be yours.

Words of WEALTH from Suze Orman

Susan "Suze" Lynn Orman is an American financial advisor, author, motivational speaker, and television host. She gives common sense approaches to saving and investing. I came across this article and thought I would share it with you!

Lasting wealth is not found in the numbers flickering from the ATM screen. It's built on the foundation of who you are, how you act, and what you believe in. Follow these steps over the next 10 years to ensure financial security:

1. Take an oath of financial honesty. A crushing credit card balance caused by your need to impress others is a costly lie. Living within your means is living honestly. Find ways to save $25 a week and you'll free up $100 a month. Invest it and in 25 years you could have $80,000.

2. Stop settling for what the world offers. You need to be your own best advocate. If there's no raise this year because of the economy, meet with your boss to determine grounds for a raise next year. If you're self-employed and haven't increased your rates in years, I have to ask, why are you putting yourself on sale? I say it's fear. Recognize that this fear is keeping you from having more in your life.

3. Avoid debt bondage. Yes, debt is necessary; it's how you own a home or get a college degree, but the trick is to respect it. Take on only what you can afford. Have a credit card balance? Use the $100 from step one to increase your minimum payment on a $10,000 balance that charges 18 percent interest and you could save almost $24,000 in interest fees.

4. Make your financial life work within the new normal. The best move you can make today is to let go of what was and focus on what has been dubbed the new normal: a period of more moderate growth. That means, for instance, you need to expect that your house will appreciate at roughly the rate of inflation.

5. Get in great credit shape. I've always said a high FICO score is a key component to security—but it's even more important now that lenders are so circumspect about making loans. A FICO score of at least 700 is your best defense. And if you find yourself in the job-hunting pool, a good score could distinguish you from others. (Yes, many employers check FICO scores. It's considered an insight into your sense of responsibility.)

6. Remember that every no leads you that much closer to a yes. The pain and anxiety of shocks like layoffs or divorce are unquestionably destabilizing. But you make things worse when you see these events as major setbacks, instead of starting points for you to reimagine and reclaim your life. I also believe you can reduce the pain by adopting a "hope for the best, plan for the worst" mind-set (i.e., have an emergency fund).

7. Open up. Most people in financial trouble hold tightly to what they have. To put yourself in position to receive more in life, you must first open your hands—and your heart—by giving to others today. If you want to learn about a specific charity, check out the free service CharityNavigator.org.

8. Save for indulgences. Assuming you're on track with your retirement savings, have no credit card debt, and have an emergency savings fund, I'm not going to deny you fun—so long as you've saved up for it. If you want to have $5,000 for a milestone birthday trip in two years, you'll need to put away about $200 a month now, given today's low bank rates.

9. Eliminate the "I shoulds." Take care of every major must-have document this year—a will, a healthcare power of attorney, etc.—you've sworn for years that you'd get to.

10. Choose your legacy. This is all about the deathbed test. Will loved ones describe you in terms of what you bought for yourself, or will they talk about who you were and how fiercely you loved? Make that question your guidepost, and I will 100 percent guarantee that life will be richer than you can imagine.

Just Like Cotton ... HRJR COMES TO HARLEM!

The HRJR Booksigning Tour CONTNIUES!

(THIS) Friday - April 16th 6pm - 8pm

The World Famous
Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe'
2319 Frederick Douglas Blvd; (Harlem) NY, NY 

Come on out & bring a friend...
or 2 or 3 or 4 or MORE!!

11 Apr 10 ... Today's Tought

"HE is able and this has been proven time and again; however, if YOU are not able - then neither you nor any of the things you want to achieve and have in life will ever be ACTUAL. Putting your situation in God's hands doesn't get the issue resolved unless you are allowing God's hands to work through your own." ~ HSRjr.

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