Loose is Fast!
If you watch racing much, you will hear the commentator make the comment, “Loose is fast.” A loose race car is one that turns easily. A tight race car is one that doesn’t want to turn even as the driver turns the steering wheel. When a car is loose you will also hear it referred to as “free.” It has no problems turning in the corner.
A loose car can go barreling into the corner, pivot and power out. A tight race car has to be let off the gas a little so the front tires bite and make the turn instead of pushing across the track. Tires pushing across the track and having to slow down to gain traction combine to reduce lap times.
In life, loose is fast also. Being able to make decisions and trust that they will succeed allows you to speed toward your goals. Being a little loose—turning easily—makes it easier to get off the fence and go after what you want.
The goal here is to start making those decisions that you have been dreaming about for years. Quit talking about starting that new business and do it. Stop contemplating your returning to school and register for classes. Make a choice today that will allow you to go barreling toward your dream, and never look back.
Like everything else in life, too much of something is never a good thing. A race car can be too loose: the car turns so freely that the back end wants to come around on the driver. A person can also be too loose, but you can avoid this by making educated decisions. Get a coach or a mentor. Make a game plan and stick to it.
Yesterday we talked about all the things in life for which we are grateful. Hopefully you made that long list and tucked it away in your purse or wallet. Today I want you to be loose. I want you to get off the fence about what it is in your life that you want to accomplish. Make a move that sets you up for achieving that goal. Hire a coach or a trainer and make a game plan. Whatever your goal, make a decision today that moves you toward it. Get loose!
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Quote of the Day! “Willingness without action is imagination” -unknown
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Big One!
The Big One!
I was inspired to speak about the Big One with NASCAR’s being in Talladega this past weekend. The Big One usually happens at one of NASCAR’s restrictor plate races. For those of you new to racing, restrictor plates are used to cut down the horsepower on race cars to keep them from exceeding speeds that would be unsafe for both the drivers and the spectators. Cutting down on speed causes the cars to run in a pack called the draft, because on these large tracks two cars running together are much faster than one by itself. Having large groups of cars running together makes for some exciting racing but can also cause some tense moments. When you have 43 cars doing 180 mph in one pack, all within approximately two seconds of each other, one mistake can cause a huge wreck.
In such close proximity one driver’s mistake can set off a chain reaction leading to the Big One—a wreck taking out dozens of cars and tons of expensive equipment. To avoid the Big One, drivers need to be patient, pay extremely good attention, and choose their battles wisely. If they don’t, the collateral damage caused by their poor judgment could be devastating.
I want to talk about this today as a reminder that what you do in your life affects people around you in either a good or bad way. I think that I have made a positive impact in many people’s lives, but I may also have caused the Big One. My drinking and drug addictions have negatively affected many people. I have hurt many around me who were involved in my “wreck” because there was no way around it. Now that I am in recovery, however, I am more cognizant of how my actions affect others. By constantly reminding myself of my purpose on this Earth, I strive to be a better person and have a more positive impact on other people’s lives.
As long as each of us is still on this Earth, we are not “totaled.” Like a race car, you can be repaired after a wreck and race again another day. After the “Big One” at Talladega tempers flare and heated exchanges ensue. After a while, however, everyone calms down, and the guy you wrecked may be the one you push to victory at the next super speedway. Let this be a life lesson.
Remember we all make mistakes and should not be too hard on ourselves for them. As long as we realize that the choices we make affect others and we keep this at the forefront of every decision, we will make a positive impact on this Earth.
We have talked about being grateful in the past, but today I really want to focus on that. I want you to sit down and make a list of all of the things for which you are grateful. You should be able to come up with hundreds, if not thousands. Just write down as many as you can in ten minutes. Take a look at that sheet once you are finished and feel—concentrate on feeling—thankful. Keep it with you. On a bad day, pull it out and remind yourself of everything you have been blessed with…and smile.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Quote of the Day!- “Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.” –Albert Einstein
I was inspired to speak about the Big One with NASCAR’s being in Talladega this past weekend. The Big One usually happens at one of NASCAR’s restrictor plate races. For those of you new to racing, restrictor plates are used to cut down the horsepower on race cars to keep them from exceeding speeds that would be unsafe for both the drivers and the spectators. Cutting down on speed causes the cars to run in a pack called the draft, because on these large tracks two cars running together are much faster than one by itself. Having large groups of cars running together makes for some exciting racing but can also cause some tense moments. When you have 43 cars doing 180 mph in one pack, all within approximately two seconds of each other, one mistake can cause a huge wreck.
In such close proximity one driver’s mistake can set off a chain reaction leading to the Big One—a wreck taking out dozens of cars and tons of expensive equipment. To avoid the Big One, drivers need to be patient, pay extremely good attention, and choose their battles wisely. If they don’t, the collateral damage caused by their poor judgment could be devastating.
I want to talk about this today as a reminder that what you do in your life affects people around you in either a good or bad way. I think that I have made a positive impact in many people’s lives, but I may also have caused the Big One. My drinking and drug addictions have negatively affected many people. I have hurt many around me who were involved in my “wreck” because there was no way around it. Now that I am in recovery, however, I am more cognizant of how my actions affect others. By constantly reminding myself of my purpose on this Earth, I strive to be a better person and have a more positive impact on other people’s lives.
As long as each of us is still on this Earth, we are not “totaled.” Like a race car, you can be repaired after a wreck and race again another day. After the “Big One” at Talladega tempers flare and heated exchanges ensue. After a while, however, everyone calms down, and the guy you wrecked may be the one you push to victory at the next super speedway. Let this be a life lesson.
Remember we all make mistakes and should not be too hard on ourselves for them. As long as we realize that the choices we make affect others and we keep this at the forefront of every decision, we will make a positive impact on this Earth.
We have talked about being grateful in the past, but today I really want to focus on that. I want you to sit down and make a list of all of the things for which you are grateful. You should be able to come up with hundreds, if not thousands. Just write down as many as you can in ten minutes. Take a look at that sheet once you are finished and feel—concentrate on feeling—thankful. Keep it with you. On a bad day, pull it out and remind yourself of everything you have been blessed with…and smile.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Quote of the Day!- “Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.” –Albert Einstein
Thursday, April 23, 2009
You Wanna Bump?
Bump Drafting
This is a fitting topic as NASCAR heads to Talladega this weekend. The circuits largest and fastest track where drafting is a necessity. We have talked about drafting in previous blogs…where two cars run faster together than one car by itself. Bump drafting is when the car trailing gives a little push or a bump to get the lead car going faster. It’s a pretty amazing sight to see a car being pushed at over 180 miles an hour. This technique is used to help make passes. I’ve also seen cars being bumped by a teammate or friendly competitor to the checkered flag for the win.
Bump drafting is about people working together to accomplish a common goal. Usually passing a competitor. Do you push your teammates to succeed? Do you nudge the people in your life so that you can all accomplish the common goal? Are you allowing the people in your life to push you to achieve what you are capable of?
Now let me be clear. I am not talking about going around being pushy. I’ve seen many times on the track where a driver bumped another car too hard or pushed him in the middle of a turn causing a huge crash. Bump drafting takes skill. You have to know how much to push and when to do it. In life it takes the same kinds of skills. There is a time and a place to push someone to achieve their greatness. Don’t push to hard or you could cause a wreck.
But with the right tact you should be able to motivate and inspire others to perform to their fullest capabilities. You might have to give them a little push but together you can win the race of life.
Today I’m going to bump draft you a little. I want you to schedule a time in your planner this week for something that you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t done. If you’ve been meaning to get on that treadmill but haven’t done it then I want you to mark it on the calendar. Block off time for zero interruptions. If you’ve been meaning to work on your relationship then I want you to get with your partner and schedule some time to spend together. Do something out of the ordinary this week, make a commitment to it, and keep it.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Quote of the Day!-“ What you do today will determine how you feel tomorrow.” – Marshall Sylver
This is a fitting topic as NASCAR heads to Talladega this weekend. The circuits largest and fastest track where drafting is a necessity. We have talked about drafting in previous blogs…where two cars run faster together than one car by itself. Bump drafting is when the car trailing gives a little push or a bump to get the lead car going faster. It’s a pretty amazing sight to see a car being pushed at over 180 miles an hour. This technique is used to help make passes. I’ve also seen cars being bumped by a teammate or friendly competitor to the checkered flag for the win.
Bump drafting is about people working together to accomplish a common goal. Usually passing a competitor. Do you push your teammates to succeed? Do you nudge the people in your life so that you can all accomplish the common goal? Are you allowing the people in your life to push you to achieve what you are capable of?
Now let me be clear. I am not talking about going around being pushy. I’ve seen many times on the track where a driver bumped another car too hard or pushed him in the middle of a turn causing a huge crash. Bump drafting takes skill. You have to know how much to push and when to do it. In life it takes the same kinds of skills. There is a time and a place to push someone to achieve their greatness. Don’t push to hard or you could cause a wreck.
But with the right tact you should be able to motivate and inspire others to perform to their fullest capabilities. You might have to give them a little push but together you can win the race of life.
Today I’m going to bump draft you a little. I want you to schedule a time in your planner this week for something that you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t done. If you’ve been meaning to get on that treadmill but haven’t done it then I want you to mark it on the calendar. Block off time for zero interruptions. If you’ve been meaning to work on your relationship then I want you to get with your partner and schedule some time to spend together. Do something out of the ordinary this week, make a commitment to it, and keep it.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Quote of the Day!-“ What you do today will determine how you feel tomorrow.” – Marshall Sylver
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
You MUST make some adjustments!
Adjustments
During the course of a race, a racing team will make many adjustments to the car to improve its handling and increase its speed. These are done during the pit stops and can dramatically improve the results of the race, if the team makes the right adjustments at the right time. Watch a race sometime and listen to the pit crew’s conversation. Some adjustments are as simple as changing the tires’ air pressure to increase traction or adding tape to the grill to create more down force. A crew can also make adjustments to the suspension or move weight around on the car by adjusting the springs for better handling.
A key to continually winning races and being competitive is a racing team’s ability to work on the car throughout the race to improve it. Making good adjustments gives its driver the best possible set-up for ending the race.
Thinking of your life as a race, ask yourself, “Am I making adjustments constantly and consistently to improve my chances of winning? Am I doing the little things that will make my life more successful?” Look at your goal. Is it to improve your health? Then the adjustments could be to join a gym, take supplements or eat fresh fruit instead of that doughnut for breakfast. Is it to advance your career? Adjustments could include streamlining your daily activities, organizing your time better or eliminating busy work. Is your goal to improve a relationship? Make adjustments in the way you relate and show your love.
A key to being competitive in the race of life is to constantly work on yourself, to improve as the race goes on, to make those good adjustments that will give you the best chance of winning.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Competition-the act or process of competing.
Are we doing all we can do to be competitive in the race of life?
Quote of the Day! “Good habits are hard to make but easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to make but hard to live with.” -unknown
During the course of a race, a racing team will make many adjustments to the car to improve its handling and increase its speed. These are done during the pit stops and can dramatically improve the results of the race, if the team makes the right adjustments at the right time. Watch a race sometime and listen to the pit crew’s conversation. Some adjustments are as simple as changing the tires’ air pressure to increase traction or adding tape to the grill to create more down force. A crew can also make adjustments to the suspension or move weight around on the car by adjusting the springs for better handling.
A key to continually winning races and being competitive is a racing team’s ability to work on the car throughout the race to improve it. Making good adjustments gives its driver the best possible set-up for ending the race.
Thinking of your life as a race, ask yourself, “Am I making adjustments constantly and consistently to improve my chances of winning? Am I doing the little things that will make my life more successful?” Look at your goal. Is it to improve your health? Then the adjustments could be to join a gym, take supplements or eat fresh fruit instead of that doughnut for breakfast. Is it to advance your career? Adjustments could include streamlining your daily activities, organizing your time better or eliminating busy work. Is your goal to improve a relationship? Make adjustments in the way you relate and show your love.
A key to being competitive in the race of life is to constantly work on yourself, to improve as the race goes on, to make those good adjustments that will give you the best chance of winning.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Competition-the act or process of competing.
Are we doing all we can do to be competitive in the race of life?
Quote of the Day! “Good habits are hard to make but easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to make but hard to live with.” -unknown
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Making Choices!
I learned what I thought was a lot about right and wrong when I was a child. I thought I also learned a lot of good lessons. We were very polite children for the most part. We were what I considered a religious family. We went to church every Sunday. My mother ended up later in life becoming director of Christian Education for that same church we grew up in. So that may tell you a little about our upbringing.
But we learned most of our real lessons from our father. Unfortunately not the father above. Now my dad was what I consider a good man. He worked very hard as an insurance agent specializing in Agricultural things like crop insurance which then led to getting the farmers’ business for their home, auto, and life. He was very skilled not so much in sales but in delivering customer satisfaction. You see his work ethic led him to study corn future prices, cattle future prices. All kinds of topics that only farmers really pay attention to. But he wanted to be able to talk shop with them and show genuine interest in their business.
But by and far what earned him the most business and total customer loyalty were those devastating spring storms that the Midwest is so famous for. Not just tornadoes but hail storms, wind storms, flooding. You see when a storm came through in the middle of the night Larry was the first one out after it. He was great friends with the claims adjuster in the office and they would leave in the middle of the night to go to his client farms in the dark, in the mud, at all hours to check on their crops. Now who heard of a suit and tie paper pushing insurance salesman showing up at your farm in boots tramping around in your field to assess the damage and get a claim started at 4:00 am in the morning?
This impressed most of them and it didn’t take long for word to spread in that close knit community of farmers that Larry gave the best service above and beyond in the business. I learned a lot about business from watching him. I wanted to be just like him when I was growing up…like most children look up to there father. Unfortunately many of the choices I made when I entered the business world my father would have never made.
Business skills weren’t the only thing I learned from Larry. I should explain the Larry thing. See when we were growing up we spent a lot of time with babysitters and my grandparents. I guess they all referred to my parents as Audrey and Larry and we just picked it up. As long as I can remember they were always Audrey and Larry and they didn’t seem to mind me calling them that because they never said anything so it stuck. Now a lot of people around us growing up were appalled that we addressed them by their first name. But we never changed.
Many of the other skills I learned form Larry included the basics or they used to be the basics. Yes mam, no mam. Yes sir, no sir. Please and thank you. Opening doors for women including our mother and our sister. In general respect for others. In fact as long as I can remember as a child the big event of the week was Friday night at the country club. All of the local elite would be there for dinner. It was what I considered at the time to be a very eloquent dining room. We would show up in our Sunday best all five of us. The place would be packed. Everyone knew everyone else. The local business men in the community would come by our table and greet my father and our family. They would spend a few minutes talking small talk, discussing light amounts of business. Making a few jokes before moving a long to the next table. Larry would also make the rounds, shaking hands, kissing the wives on the cheek.
We children got to know almost everyone on a first name basis. And boy those older folks really took a liking to us. That might be because we were the only children in the place. The reason for that is everyone else got babysitters for their kids on Friday night. My parents waited till Saturday night for that. I’m pretty sure the reason for that was Larry loved showing off his family. How well behaved and proper his children were in public. That was the other reason there weren’t any other children there our age. You see the place was packed. The service was horrific. We sometimes had to wait as long as an hour to eat and we usually didn’t even get there till seven. Now not many five year old kids could sit still that long. But not a peep out of us. No temper tantrums. No whining. No running around.
That is because we knew better. You see Larry was also a very strict disciplinarian. There were plenty of spankings to go around. And all it took was a slight raise of or sternness in his voice with that look that shot through you like needles for us to know to pipe down. I guess we were pretty smart kids because it usually didn’t take us too many times of screwing up to learn our lesson.
Now I don’t want to make this blog for or against corporal punishment of children. That is a whole different debate for a different time but I can tell you as strict as Larry was there was never a spanking I didn’t have coming to me. You see every time I received a spanking I knew why I was getting it. In fact the thing I did before I got caught misbehaving I probably knew was going to earn me on of those hands across my butt…if not more than one. It didn’t take a whole lot of spankings before I didn’t do bad things anymore. The moral of this is that I sometimes wish today I knew that I had my dad to spank me before I made a choice. Because I probably would have made a different decision.
I told you my mother ended up being the director of Christian education at our church although when I was very much older. But to describe by mother to strangers I used to always tell people That if she and Mother Theresa died and they were both standing at the pearly gates but St. Peter could only let one of them in….I’m not sure which one he would pick but I know he’d have one hell of a decision. I’m sorry I couldn’t pardon the pun.
Audrey was so caring so kind. There isn’t a mean bone in her body. Everyone in our town loved her and so did we. Everyone in town knew her. It was a small town and her family had been there for ever. Literally they owned the first stage coach stop in town. She was a popular cheerleader, near the top of her class. Active in local events and church. But what seemed most important to her in life was being a Mom. For most of our childhood she was a stay at home mom. She proofread books but she could do that at home.
Like I said we spent most of our days either at school or outside. Now I’m not really sure what Audrey did all the time. She was a stay at home mother. But she didn’t take us to school. I already told you that we spent the majority of our summers alone at the country club. We had to ride the bus to and from school for the most part. We had a cleaning lady for most of my childhood because if we didn’t our house would have been a disaster. So I’m not sure if proofreading took all of her time. I mean they were really big books. Mostly medical books and journals written in languages like Russian and Spanish. Or maybe it was her volunteering with the church or the heart society or whatever charity or event that she couldn’t say no to.
But when we were with her she was great. There was no problem having all the neighborhood kids to the house to play or for a snack. We were a little spoiled by her. I hardly recall a time walking in to Wal-Mart when we didn’t walk out with some new toy. She took us to McDonalds for Happy Meals often. We had a great relationship with our mother and loved her very much. However we would treat her differently than Larry. Even though we loved her in some case I would say more than Larry we didn’t give her the respect we gave him. See she was so sweet. She could hardly raise her voice and when she did she was normally bluffing. In the very extreme circumstance and I mean maybe once maybe twice in my life she paddled me with a flimsy almost cardboard paddle. You know the ones with the rubber band that’s attached to a ball.
How come then I would make choices around her that I would never make around Larry? Is it because the bad choices I made would never result in the consequences that they would if Larry was around? But if I loved her more how could I disrespect her more. How come the people you are closest with or love the most you are willing to hurt the most with the choices you make?
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
But we learned most of our real lessons from our father. Unfortunately not the father above. Now my dad was what I consider a good man. He worked very hard as an insurance agent specializing in Agricultural things like crop insurance which then led to getting the farmers’ business for their home, auto, and life. He was very skilled not so much in sales but in delivering customer satisfaction. You see his work ethic led him to study corn future prices, cattle future prices. All kinds of topics that only farmers really pay attention to. But he wanted to be able to talk shop with them and show genuine interest in their business.
But by and far what earned him the most business and total customer loyalty were those devastating spring storms that the Midwest is so famous for. Not just tornadoes but hail storms, wind storms, flooding. You see when a storm came through in the middle of the night Larry was the first one out after it. He was great friends with the claims adjuster in the office and they would leave in the middle of the night to go to his client farms in the dark, in the mud, at all hours to check on their crops. Now who heard of a suit and tie paper pushing insurance salesman showing up at your farm in boots tramping around in your field to assess the damage and get a claim started at 4:00 am in the morning?
This impressed most of them and it didn’t take long for word to spread in that close knit community of farmers that Larry gave the best service above and beyond in the business. I learned a lot about business from watching him. I wanted to be just like him when I was growing up…like most children look up to there father. Unfortunately many of the choices I made when I entered the business world my father would have never made.
Business skills weren’t the only thing I learned from Larry. I should explain the Larry thing. See when we were growing up we spent a lot of time with babysitters and my grandparents. I guess they all referred to my parents as Audrey and Larry and we just picked it up. As long as I can remember they were always Audrey and Larry and they didn’t seem to mind me calling them that because they never said anything so it stuck. Now a lot of people around us growing up were appalled that we addressed them by their first name. But we never changed.
Many of the other skills I learned form Larry included the basics or they used to be the basics. Yes mam, no mam. Yes sir, no sir. Please and thank you. Opening doors for women including our mother and our sister. In general respect for others. In fact as long as I can remember as a child the big event of the week was Friday night at the country club. All of the local elite would be there for dinner. It was what I considered at the time to be a very eloquent dining room. We would show up in our Sunday best all five of us. The place would be packed. Everyone knew everyone else. The local business men in the community would come by our table and greet my father and our family. They would spend a few minutes talking small talk, discussing light amounts of business. Making a few jokes before moving a long to the next table. Larry would also make the rounds, shaking hands, kissing the wives on the cheek.
We children got to know almost everyone on a first name basis. And boy those older folks really took a liking to us. That might be because we were the only children in the place. The reason for that is everyone else got babysitters for their kids on Friday night. My parents waited till Saturday night for that. I’m pretty sure the reason for that was Larry loved showing off his family. How well behaved and proper his children were in public. That was the other reason there weren’t any other children there our age. You see the place was packed. The service was horrific. We sometimes had to wait as long as an hour to eat and we usually didn’t even get there till seven. Now not many five year old kids could sit still that long. But not a peep out of us. No temper tantrums. No whining. No running around.
That is because we knew better. You see Larry was also a very strict disciplinarian. There were plenty of spankings to go around. And all it took was a slight raise of or sternness in his voice with that look that shot through you like needles for us to know to pipe down. I guess we were pretty smart kids because it usually didn’t take us too many times of screwing up to learn our lesson.
Now I don’t want to make this blog for or against corporal punishment of children. That is a whole different debate for a different time but I can tell you as strict as Larry was there was never a spanking I didn’t have coming to me. You see every time I received a spanking I knew why I was getting it. In fact the thing I did before I got caught misbehaving I probably knew was going to earn me on of those hands across my butt…if not more than one. It didn’t take a whole lot of spankings before I didn’t do bad things anymore. The moral of this is that I sometimes wish today I knew that I had my dad to spank me before I made a choice. Because I probably would have made a different decision.
I told you my mother ended up being the director of Christian education at our church although when I was very much older. But to describe by mother to strangers I used to always tell people That if she and Mother Theresa died and they were both standing at the pearly gates but St. Peter could only let one of them in….I’m not sure which one he would pick but I know he’d have one hell of a decision. I’m sorry I couldn’t pardon the pun.
Audrey was so caring so kind. There isn’t a mean bone in her body. Everyone in our town loved her and so did we. Everyone in town knew her. It was a small town and her family had been there for ever. Literally they owned the first stage coach stop in town. She was a popular cheerleader, near the top of her class. Active in local events and church. But what seemed most important to her in life was being a Mom. For most of our childhood she was a stay at home mom. She proofread books but she could do that at home.
Like I said we spent most of our days either at school or outside. Now I’m not really sure what Audrey did all the time. She was a stay at home mother. But she didn’t take us to school. I already told you that we spent the majority of our summers alone at the country club. We had to ride the bus to and from school for the most part. We had a cleaning lady for most of my childhood because if we didn’t our house would have been a disaster. So I’m not sure if proofreading took all of her time. I mean they were really big books. Mostly medical books and journals written in languages like Russian and Spanish. Or maybe it was her volunteering with the church or the heart society or whatever charity or event that she couldn’t say no to.
But when we were with her she was great. There was no problem having all the neighborhood kids to the house to play or for a snack. We were a little spoiled by her. I hardly recall a time walking in to Wal-Mart when we didn’t walk out with some new toy. She took us to McDonalds for Happy Meals often. We had a great relationship with our mother and loved her very much. However we would treat her differently than Larry. Even though we loved her in some case I would say more than Larry we didn’t give her the respect we gave him. See she was so sweet. She could hardly raise her voice and when she did she was normally bluffing. In the very extreme circumstance and I mean maybe once maybe twice in my life she paddled me with a flimsy almost cardboard paddle. You know the ones with the rubber band that’s attached to a ball.
How come then I would make choices around her that I would never make around Larry? Is it because the bad choices I made would never result in the consequences that they would if Larry was around? But if I loved her more how could I disrespect her more. How come the people you are closest with or love the most you are willing to hurt the most with the choices you make?
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Monday, April 20, 2009
Are you to old?
I was not planning on this being the topic today, but as we follow our racing theme in the Fast Lane to Success blog, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the history that took place on a race track in Phoenix, Arizona Saturday night. For only the fourth time in NASCAR history a man who has been on this Earth for over half a century won in its premier series. Mark Martin took the checkered flag in first place on Saturday night at age 50 years and 89 days. In what many consider a young man’s sport, he proved that perseverance and dedication to accomplishing one’s goals does not have to end when one is “over the hill.”
Mark Martin went out there and beat the young guys in qualifying by setting the fastest lap and earning the pole position. He followed that by leading the first 102 laps of the race, showing absolute domination against his competitors. As the track changed and the sun went down, he faded back in the pack and off almost everyone’s radar. . .until the end of the race, that is, when he came back and sped to a huge 4-second lead over second place. Martin proved he still has what it takes to be a competitor.
What makes Martin’s victory even more special is that for the last two seasons he has been running a partial schedule. He has opted to forgo the grueling 36-week NASCAR schedule to spend more time with his family. Many, including Martin himself, thought his days of competing for an entire season to have a shot at the championship were past. That was until Rick Hendrick, one of the sport’s most competitive owners, offered Mark a full-time ride in the #5 car for this season. An opportunity to drive for Hendrick meant having fast cars week in and week out and possibly a shot at a championship. So far this year Martin has proved that he should be taken seriously as a contender for the Sprint Cup.
The fact that we are having this conversation about a man who would be way past his prime in most sports, much less one as physically and mentally demanding as NASCAR, speaks loads about the kind of person Mark Martin is. It would be hard to find anyone in the garage area who is in such good physical shape, and I am including guys 30 years his junior. Mark Martin trains more than almost anyone on the circuit and prepares himself for every race.
The moral of this blog is that no matter what your dreams are, they do not pass you by because of your age. And at no time should you give up because you have not accomplished what you thought you could by a certain age. Today is always the first day of the rest of your life. Think of Mark Martin, who came out of semi-retirement to compete and win! You can win, too!
In past sessions we have set our intentions, been grateful for what we have in our lives, worked on action steps, and worked on loving ourselves. One of the fastest ways to success is to visualize what you desire. Today I want you to start making a vision board. Find pictures of what you wish to accomplish and put them on your vision board. Suggestions might be a magazine cut-out of a classic Corvette or of two people in love or of a well-sculpted body. Be creative. Put this board where you will see it often—perhaps by your desk or in your office. I want you to be constantly reminded of what you are working to accomplish.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day!- Esteem-the regard in which one is held; especially: high regard
Let’s work on the esteem with which we hold ourselves in.
Quote of the Day!- “POWER is for use.”-Marshall Sylver
Mark Martin went out there and beat the young guys in qualifying by setting the fastest lap and earning the pole position. He followed that by leading the first 102 laps of the race, showing absolute domination against his competitors. As the track changed and the sun went down, he faded back in the pack and off almost everyone’s radar. . .until the end of the race, that is, when he came back and sped to a huge 4-second lead over second place. Martin proved he still has what it takes to be a competitor.
What makes Martin’s victory even more special is that for the last two seasons he has been running a partial schedule. He has opted to forgo the grueling 36-week NASCAR schedule to spend more time with his family. Many, including Martin himself, thought his days of competing for an entire season to have a shot at the championship were past. That was until Rick Hendrick, one of the sport’s most competitive owners, offered Mark a full-time ride in the #5 car for this season. An opportunity to drive for Hendrick meant having fast cars week in and week out and possibly a shot at a championship. So far this year Martin has proved that he should be taken seriously as a contender for the Sprint Cup.
The fact that we are having this conversation about a man who would be way past his prime in most sports, much less one as physically and mentally demanding as NASCAR, speaks loads about the kind of person Mark Martin is. It would be hard to find anyone in the garage area who is in such good physical shape, and I am including guys 30 years his junior. Mark Martin trains more than almost anyone on the circuit and prepares himself for every race.
The moral of this blog is that no matter what your dreams are, they do not pass you by because of your age. And at no time should you give up because you have not accomplished what you thought you could by a certain age. Today is always the first day of the rest of your life. Think of Mark Martin, who came out of semi-retirement to compete and win! You can win, too!
In past sessions we have set our intentions, been grateful for what we have in our lives, worked on action steps, and worked on loving ourselves. One of the fastest ways to success is to visualize what you desire. Today I want you to start making a vision board. Find pictures of what you wish to accomplish and put them on your vision board. Suggestions might be a magazine cut-out of a classic Corvette or of two people in love or of a well-sculpted body. Be creative. Put this board where you will see it often—perhaps by your desk or in your office. I want you to be constantly reminded of what you are working to accomplish.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day!- Esteem-the regard in which one is held; especially: high regard
Let’s work on the esteem with which we hold ourselves in.
Quote of the Day!- “POWER is for use.”-Marshall Sylver
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Fast Lane to Success Life Coaching's April Book Review!
Rules for Renegades: How to Make More Money, Rock your Career, and Revel in your Individuality by Christine Comaford-Lynch
Want a richer life? Break all the rules! Renegade entrepreneur—and runaway success story—Christine Comaford-Lynch has lived the kind of life most of us only dream about. From model to monk to multi-millionaire, she does what she wants—and things get done. Now, in ten outrageous life lessons, she shows you how to make your dreams come true. Your way. Your rules.
Rules for Renegades distills what Christine learned as she succeeded (and failed) in business, built strong (and disastrous) relationships and evolved spiritually and professionally. If you want to become financially independent, she shows you how to do it. If you want to build your confidence and self-esteem, she gives you a crash course. If you want a meaningful life with rich connections, she shares her secrets. Ultimately, she lets you in on the greatest secret of all—how to build a fulfilling life while rocking your career.
You will learn the surprising truths behind her most offbeat rules:
· Everything is an illusion, so pick one that is empowering
· Rock rejection and finesse failure
· Learn to love networking
· Work your money mojo
Rules for Renegades is not just the story of a remarkable entrepreneur. It is an amazing approach to life that breaks the rules and makes life work for you.
Christine Comaford-Lynch is a five-time CEO and company founder, and all five businesses grew to go public or be acquired. She has over 20 years’ experience in operational high tech positions with Microsoft, Lotus, Adobe, and Apple. She has assisted 700 of the Fortune 1000 companies and 300 small businesses in accelerating innovation and has consulted with the White House on tech and small business strategies.
I thoroughly enjoyed Rules because I can relate to Christine. Life can be challenging, but if you have the guts and are willing to think outside the box, then you, too, can accomplish your dreams. Christine’s amazing career came together in a very unorthodox manner. Her experiences show that no matter what problems you face in life, there is a solution if you are willing to be a renegade. If you want to succeed in business and in life, then this book is for you.
Not only is Rules empowering; it is filled with lots of helpful free stuff: links to sample business plan outlines, tutorials on sales and marketing techniques, and tools to help you enhance your own power. I highly suggest you read this book and take advantage of all the resources Christine provides by linking through my site below.
Erik Elsea
http://www.erikelsea.com/books/
Want a richer life? Break all the rules! Renegade entrepreneur—and runaway success story—Christine Comaford-Lynch has lived the kind of life most of us only dream about. From model to monk to multi-millionaire, she does what she wants—and things get done. Now, in ten outrageous life lessons, she shows you how to make your dreams come true. Your way. Your rules.
Rules for Renegades distills what Christine learned as she succeeded (and failed) in business, built strong (and disastrous) relationships and evolved spiritually and professionally. If you want to become financially independent, she shows you how to do it. If you want to build your confidence and self-esteem, she gives you a crash course. If you want a meaningful life with rich connections, she shares her secrets. Ultimately, she lets you in on the greatest secret of all—how to build a fulfilling life while rocking your career.
You will learn the surprising truths behind her most offbeat rules:
· Everything is an illusion, so pick one that is empowering
· Rock rejection and finesse failure
· Learn to love networking
· Work your money mojo
Rules for Renegades is not just the story of a remarkable entrepreneur. It is an amazing approach to life that breaks the rules and makes life work for you.
Christine Comaford-Lynch is a five-time CEO and company founder, and all five businesses grew to go public or be acquired. She has over 20 years’ experience in operational high tech positions with Microsoft, Lotus, Adobe, and Apple. She has assisted 700 of the Fortune 1000 companies and 300 small businesses in accelerating innovation and has consulted with the White House on tech and small business strategies.
I thoroughly enjoyed Rules because I can relate to Christine. Life can be challenging, but if you have the guts and are willing to think outside the box, then you, too, can accomplish your dreams. Christine’s amazing career came together in a very unorthodox manner. Her experiences show that no matter what problems you face in life, there is a solution if you are willing to be a renegade. If you want to succeed in business and in life, then this book is for you.
Not only is Rules empowering; it is filled with lots of helpful free stuff: links to sample business plan outlines, tutorials on sales and marketing techniques, and tools to help you enhance your own power. I highly suggest you read this book and take advantage of all the resources Christine provides by linking through my site below.
Erik Elsea
http://www.erikelsea.com/books/
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Fast Lane to Success Business and Life Coaching!
Today we are going to do something a little different than usual. On Tuesdays we are going to do a blog that gives you a little insight into me, the author. There will be stories about my background, about my struggles and my successes. Hopefully this will empower you to know that no matter what difficulties you are facing right now there is hope.
This is my story, a culmination of my life events so far. What I’ve learned from them and what lessons I can use to make my next 30 years better than the first. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately I still have to pay for some of my mistakes. Yes it could be nice to start off these next years with a clean slate but then I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I am happy with who I am but like all of us strive for something more.
I was born in a small farming community in Southern Illinois. It was a bedroom community for the city of St. Louis, Missouri. I was born in what I consider a fairly upper middle class family. Upper middle class for Southern Illinois. We had a nice house. Good parents. We didn’t want for much of anything. Waterloo is a town where you can let your kids ride there bikes all over town without worrying about them. There is basically no crime. It’s the kind of place anyone would want to raise a family.
It was a great time growing up there. I eventually became the oldest of three children and like most siblings we had our spats but all in all it was a very loving family. In the quaint little neighborhood about three miles out of town the houses were all set around a lake. Most of the other houses had families too with children of similar ages. So there was always something going on in the neighborhood. When we would get off the bus from school we would run in the house, we’d throw our backpacks down and just as swiftly run back outside to find the afterschool adventure of the day. A lot of this depended on the weather of course. You see St. Louis like most of the Midwest had very drastic changes in the seasons. I am writing this in SW Florida where I have lived for nearly five years. And I can tell you from experience that August in Ft. Myers in no way compares to the heat of August in St. Louis.
If it was the typical hot and humid day after school or in the summer we would put on our swim trunks and meet in the lake behind the house. The neighborhood kids would all take turns flipping our canoe over and using it as a diving platform. Or my favorite was going underneath it while it was tipped then popping my head up in the air trapped underneath and pretending it was a submarine. My life was filled with carefree days of play after school in the neighborhood. Football games in the fall. Playing in the woods in the spring, building club houses and forts.
This was except for the summertime when my brother and sister and I spent most of our time at the Waterloo Country Club. Now the Country Club was comprised of members who were the upper echelon of Waterloo society. But don’t compare it to most Country Clubs of upper echelon people. I have been in some very exclusive very ritzy Clubs during my years. This doesn’t hold a candle to those. Yes we had a golf course. A nine hole golf course with fairways so wide and forgiving that I even look like I know what I’m doing with a club in my hand. We also had a swimming pool which is where we would spend most of our time during the summer. Jumping off the diving board, playing Marco polo, dunking the smaller children. Our parents pretty much treated the Country Club as summertime day care. They would drop us off early in the morning and pick us up later in the afternoon. We were pretty much free to do what ever we wanted. We could fish in the many lakes which we sometimes saved the good ones to take home and stock the lake behind our house. We could play on the tennis courts although none of us ever excelled at tennis. I spent a lot of time on the putting green practicing my short game to no avail.
But our favorite part much to the dismay of our parents was the Tab. See all members were allowed to run a tab for food, drinks, etc. and then you would pay it at the end of the month on your bill. Luckily for our genetics or the fact we were running around all day and swimming the thousands and thousands of calories of candy and soda and chips and pretty much every other junk food you can conceive that we consumed had no effect on us. We had many a talking to at the end of the month about the size of that bill. But what did my parents expect with all that temptation and no one there to tell us no.
That brings me to the point I am going to try and make. About temptation. About life and the choices you make.
(to be continued)
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
If you are looking for either life coaching or business consulting please visit my website to find out more about the services we offer.
This is my story, a culmination of my life events so far. What I’ve learned from them and what lessons I can use to make my next 30 years better than the first. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately I still have to pay for some of my mistakes. Yes it could be nice to start off these next years with a clean slate but then I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I am happy with who I am but like all of us strive for something more.
I was born in a small farming community in Southern Illinois. It was a bedroom community for the city of St. Louis, Missouri. I was born in what I consider a fairly upper middle class family. Upper middle class for Southern Illinois. We had a nice house. Good parents. We didn’t want for much of anything. Waterloo is a town where you can let your kids ride there bikes all over town without worrying about them. There is basically no crime. It’s the kind of place anyone would want to raise a family.
It was a great time growing up there. I eventually became the oldest of three children and like most siblings we had our spats but all in all it was a very loving family. In the quaint little neighborhood about three miles out of town the houses were all set around a lake. Most of the other houses had families too with children of similar ages. So there was always something going on in the neighborhood. When we would get off the bus from school we would run in the house, we’d throw our backpacks down and just as swiftly run back outside to find the afterschool adventure of the day. A lot of this depended on the weather of course. You see St. Louis like most of the Midwest had very drastic changes in the seasons. I am writing this in SW Florida where I have lived for nearly five years. And I can tell you from experience that August in Ft. Myers in no way compares to the heat of August in St. Louis.
If it was the typical hot and humid day after school or in the summer we would put on our swim trunks and meet in the lake behind the house. The neighborhood kids would all take turns flipping our canoe over and using it as a diving platform. Or my favorite was going underneath it while it was tipped then popping my head up in the air trapped underneath and pretending it was a submarine. My life was filled with carefree days of play after school in the neighborhood. Football games in the fall. Playing in the woods in the spring, building club houses and forts.
This was except for the summertime when my brother and sister and I spent most of our time at the Waterloo Country Club. Now the Country Club was comprised of members who were the upper echelon of Waterloo society. But don’t compare it to most Country Clubs of upper echelon people. I have been in some very exclusive very ritzy Clubs during my years. This doesn’t hold a candle to those. Yes we had a golf course. A nine hole golf course with fairways so wide and forgiving that I even look like I know what I’m doing with a club in my hand. We also had a swimming pool which is where we would spend most of our time during the summer. Jumping off the diving board, playing Marco polo, dunking the smaller children. Our parents pretty much treated the Country Club as summertime day care. They would drop us off early in the morning and pick us up later in the afternoon. We were pretty much free to do what ever we wanted. We could fish in the many lakes which we sometimes saved the good ones to take home and stock the lake behind our house. We could play on the tennis courts although none of us ever excelled at tennis. I spent a lot of time on the putting green practicing my short game to no avail.
But our favorite part much to the dismay of our parents was the Tab. See all members were allowed to run a tab for food, drinks, etc. and then you would pay it at the end of the month on your bill. Luckily for our genetics or the fact we were running around all day and swimming the thousands and thousands of calories of candy and soda and chips and pretty much every other junk food you can conceive that we consumed had no effect on us. We had many a talking to at the end of the month about the size of that bill. But what did my parents expect with all that temptation and no one there to tell us no.
That brings me to the point I am going to try and make. About temptation. About life and the choices you make.
(to be continued)
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
If you are looking for either life coaching or business consulting please visit my website to find out more about the services we offer.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Fast Lane to Success Life Coaching!
Fast Lane Coaching!
Why do I compare life to racing? Why do I use racing metaphors in my writing? I believe my affinity for racing comes from trying to control something that is uncontrollable. All my life I have tried to stay in the fast lane. Racing has always seemed a good fit for me. It’s high speed excitement, the same kind of thrill one gets from a roller coaster ride or downhill skiing.
Racing, however, is entertainment; a life that is out of control is not. Is your life out of control right now? Are you struggling with addiction, financial problems or a bad relationship? These things are not fun, yet many of us continue to manifest them in our lives. Why? Why do we keep bringing the same problems into our lives over and over again? Why do we continue to do things that are destructive?
We create patterns in our life because of our programming, the way we perceive ourselves. If you do not love yourself, then you will not receive love from your partner. If you do not think you are worthy of wealth, then you will continue to struggle financially. Until I started to value my life, I could not fight my addictions even though I knew they were destructive. I needed to get out of that fast lane and into one that was more my speed.
Don’t get me wrong: this is not always easy. Often there are deep-rooted issues in our subconscious that cause a pattern of self-destruction. The only way to make a change in your life is to realize “I MUST change!” Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom. It takes looking into the mirror and saying, “Enough is enough!” That’s the day you also say and believe—truly, truly believe!—“I am worth so much more than this. I am worthy of anything I desire!”
Addictions, bad relationships, financial problems all cause drama in our lives. You feel like your life is moving 100 mph, but in the wrong direction. Get out of that fast lane and into the one that sends your life speeding toward success.
We have stated our intentions in present tense with our “I AM….” statements. We have listed what we are grateful for today in our lives. We have made a list of our “Action Steps” toward achieving our goal and have organized our game plan with a checklist. Today I want you to do something that will probably make you a bit uncomfortable at first. I want you to lock yourself in the bathroom or anywhere with absolutely no distractions and stare at yourself in the mirror for 5 minutes. I want you to really look at yourself. I want you to fall in love with yourself. Most people need to do this at least once a week to get the results I am expecting. We all initially look for what is wrong. We find wrinkles and blemishes. But we are all wonderful people, and we should all love ourselves first and foremost. Look at yourself deeply and realize how special you are.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day!- Must-1. to be commanded or requested to; 2. to be compelled by physical necessity to
We need to turn our wants into musts.
Quote of the Day!-“Reality is an illusion…albeit a very persistent one.”-Albert Einstein
Why do I compare life to racing? Why do I use racing metaphors in my writing? I believe my affinity for racing comes from trying to control something that is uncontrollable. All my life I have tried to stay in the fast lane. Racing has always seemed a good fit for me. It’s high speed excitement, the same kind of thrill one gets from a roller coaster ride or downhill skiing.
Racing, however, is entertainment; a life that is out of control is not. Is your life out of control right now? Are you struggling with addiction, financial problems or a bad relationship? These things are not fun, yet many of us continue to manifest them in our lives. Why? Why do we keep bringing the same problems into our lives over and over again? Why do we continue to do things that are destructive?
We create patterns in our life because of our programming, the way we perceive ourselves. If you do not love yourself, then you will not receive love from your partner. If you do not think you are worthy of wealth, then you will continue to struggle financially. Until I started to value my life, I could not fight my addictions even though I knew they were destructive. I needed to get out of that fast lane and into one that was more my speed.
Don’t get me wrong: this is not always easy. Often there are deep-rooted issues in our subconscious that cause a pattern of self-destruction. The only way to make a change in your life is to realize “I MUST change!” Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom. It takes looking into the mirror and saying, “Enough is enough!” That’s the day you also say and believe—truly, truly believe!—“I am worth so much more than this. I am worthy of anything I desire!”
Addictions, bad relationships, financial problems all cause drama in our lives. You feel like your life is moving 100 mph, but in the wrong direction. Get out of that fast lane and into the one that sends your life speeding toward success.
We have stated our intentions in present tense with our “I AM….” statements. We have listed what we are grateful for today in our lives. We have made a list of our “Action Steps” toward achieving our goal and have organized our game plan with a checklist. Today I want you to do something that will probably make you a bit uncomfortable at first. I want you to lock yourself in the bathroom or anywhere with absolutely no distractions and stare at yourself in the mirror for 5 minutes. I want you to really look at yourself. I want you to fall in love with yourself. Most people need to do this at least once a week to get the results I am expecting. We all initially look for what is wrong. We find wrinkles and blemishes. But we are all wonderful people, and we should all love ourselves first and foremost. Look at yourself deeply and realize how special you are.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day!- Must-1. to be commanded or requested to; 2. to be compelled by physical necessity to
We need to turn our wants into musts.
Quote of the Day!-“Reality is an illusion…albeit a very persistent one.”-Albert Einstein
Friday, April 10, 2009
Personal and Business Organization!
A race car will not run without a checklist!
A race car will not run without a checklist, and neither will you. Organization is key to any successful racing operation. Different racing series travel throughout the country and, in some cases, throughout the world. Logistics of moving people and equipment is the full-time job of someone on the race team. Can you imagine the repercussions of inadvertently leaving the spare engine at the shop in North Carolina while racing in California and needing it? The team would be grounded or scrambling to borrow one. That is a major example, but think of all the tools, nuts, bolts, tape, radios, oil, computers, uniforms, helmets, racing suits and other necessities for running a successful race team. These thousands of pieces of equipment had better be at the track come race weekend. And the only way to guarantee they are is to have a checklist.
Likewise, people wanting to accomplish a goal need a checklist. Have you said to yourself, “There aren’t enough hours in the day.”? Granted, with our careers and our families, we are living busy lives. However, the keys are 1) motivation, 2) prioritization and 3) organization.
· Ask yourself, “What am I truly motivated to do?” Without real motivation, you will be unable to make a change.
· Ask yourself, “Is this life change really important?” It has to be MOST important—prioritized first!
· Ask yourself, “What steps will get me to my goal?” Get organized with a checklist.
Because my goal is better health, my checklist includes
1. Eat a healthy breakfast.
2. Walk for 20 minutes during lunch.
3. After work spend an hour at the gym.
I check off each item as I complete it to give me a continual feeling of accomplishment. You can do the same. Make your checklist TODAY!
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Work of the Day!-Discipline-1.punishment 2.training that corrects, molds or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.
Don’t look at having discipline as punishment but look at it as correcting moral character.
Quote of the Day! “Tough times never last, but tough people do.”-Robert H. Schuller
A race car will not run without a checklist, and neither will you. Organization is key to any successful racing operation. Different racing series travel throughout the country and, in some cases, throughout the world. Logistics of moving people and equipment is the full-time job of someone on the race team. Can you imagine the repercussions of inadvertently leaving the spare engine at the shop in North Carolina while racing in California and needing it? The team would be grounded or scrambling to borrow one. That is a major example, but think of all the tools, nuts, bolts, tape, radios, oil, computers, uniforms, helmets, racing suits and other necessities for running a successful race team. These thousands of pieces of equipment had better be at the track come race weekend. And the only way to guarantee they are is to have a checklist.
Likewise, people wanting to accomplish a goal need a checklist. Have you said to yourself, “There aren’t enough hours in the day.”? Granted, with our careers and our families, we are living busy lives. However, the keys are 1) motivation, 2) prioritization and 3) organization.
· Ask yourself, “What am I truly motivated to do?” Without real motivation, you will be unable to make a change.
· Ask yourself, “Is this life change really important?” It has to be MOST important—prioritized first!
· Ask yourself, “What steps will get me to my goal?” Get organized with a checklist.
Because my goal is better health, my checklist includes
1. Eat a healthy breakfast.
2. Walk for 20 minutes during lunch.
3. After work spend an hour at the gym.
I check off each item as I complete it to give me a continual feeling of accomplishment. You can do the same. Make your checklist TODAY!
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Work of the Day!-Discipline-1.punishment 2.training that corrects, molds or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.
Don’t look at having discipline as punishment but look at it as correcting moral character.
Quote of the Day! “Tough times never last, but tough people do.”-Robert H. Schuller
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Jeff Gordon has a spotter. Do you?
Jeff Gordon has a spotter. Do you?
Every NASCAR driver who gets on a track of a Sunday has a spotter. You usually do not see them because they are perched high above the track on top of the luxury boxes or press boxes for a view of the whole track. What is a spotter? A spotter is a person who, through radio communication, gives information to the driver. He tells the driver when the green flag waves to begin the race. When the driver is in traffic, the spotter tells him if he is clear high or low. If there is a wreck up ahead, the spotter warns the driver and directs him how to avoid it. And spotters deliver very important information about the performance of the car. For instance, if one of the other drivers is running particularly fast lap times by running a slightly higher line on the track, a spotter could tell his own driver about it so he could also use that racing line. Basically, a spotter is another set of eyes for the driver and may see things that the driver is unable to see from his position in the car.
Why do you need a spotter? Think of your life as a race: at times you need to get going; other times you need to brake. You could probably avoid potential wrecks down life’s road if you had a spotter to help guide you around them. In business a spotter could be another set of eyes for you on a potential project. Or a spotter could give you the advice that allows you to run a different course from what you were, letting you go faster in accomplishing your goals.
A spotter could be a life coach, business consultant, mentor, any third-party person who does not have a major emotional attachment to you. Although having discussions with your spouse or significant other about things going on in your life and in your career is very healthy, I think that should be balanced with discussions with someone who can maintain that third-party objectivity. Find someone to bounce ideas off or with whom you are comfortable asking for advice—someone who does not work for the same company as you and who is not related to you. Remember you want a second set of eyes for your life—ones that give you an unbiased opinion and help steer you in the right direction.
Yesterday we wrote our goal in present tense, as if we had already accomplished it. Remember mine was “I AM sober.” Today I want you to contemplate all the things you are grateful for in your life that relates to your goal. In my case, two items on my list are, “I am grateful for AA meetings” and “I am grateful I do not feel the need to drink today.” Write out as many as you can, and then study them. Be thankful for all these things/people already in your favor.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day!-Destiny-something to which a person or thing is destined
Let’s control our own destiny through our thoughts and our actions.
Quote of the Day!-“Be a victor-not a victim.”-Marshall Sylver
Every NASCAR driver who gets on a track of a Sunday has a spotter. You usually do not see them because they are perched high above the track on top of the luxury boxes or press boxes for a view of the whole track. What is a spotter? A spotter is a person who, through radio communication, gives information to the driver. He tells the driver when the green flag waves to begin the race. When the driver is in traffic, the spotter tells him if he is clear high or low. If there is a wreck up ahead, the spotter warns the driver and directs him how to avoid it. And spotters deliver very important information about the performance of the car. For instance, if one of the other drivers is running particularly fast lap times by running a slightly higher line on the track, a spotter could tell his own driver about it so he could also use that racing line. Basically, a spotter is another set of eyes for the driver and may see things that the driver is unable to see from his position in the car.
Why do you need a spotter? Think of your life as a race: at times you need to get going; other times you need to brake. You could probably avoid potential wrecks down life’s road if you had a spotter to help guide you around them. In business a spotter could be another set of eyes for you on a potential project. Or a spotter could give you the advice that allows you to run a different course from what you were, letting you go faster in accomplishing your goals.
A spotter could be a life coach, business consultant, mentor, any third-party person who does not have a major emotional attachment to you. Although having discussions with your spouse or significant other about things going on in your life and in your career is very healthy, I think that should be balanced with discussions with someone who can maintain that third-party objectivity. Find someone to bounce ideas off or with whom you are comfortable asking for advice—someone who does not work for the same company as you and who is not related to you. Remember you want a second set of eyes for your life—ones that give you an unbiased opinion and help steer you in the right direction.
Yesterday we wrote our goal in present tense, as if we had already accomplished it. Remember mine was “I AM sober.” Today I want you to contemplate all the things you are grateful for in your life that relates to your goal. In my case, two items on my list are, “I am grateful for AA meetings” and “I am grateful I do not feel the need to drink today.” Write out as many as you can, and then study them. Be thankful for all these things/people already in your favor.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day!-Destiny-something to which a person or thing is destined
Let’s control our own destiny through our thoughts and our actions.
Quote of the Day!-“Be a victor-not a victim.”-Marshall Sylver
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Do you have an on/off pedal?
Do you have an on/off pedal?
Have you ever ridden with someone who thinks the accelerator is an on/off pedal? You know what I’m talking about. He hits the gas and your head flies back into the seat. Then he lets off, and your head flies forward. This continues during the entire ride, and you’re lucky you don’t have a mild case of whiplash by the time it is over. There is nothing smooth about the way someone like that drives. Plus, it seems exaggerated in heavy traffic…speed up…slow down…speed up…slow down…speed up…stop.
In racing this happens a lot. The cars are coming to the green flag to start the race and someone guns it too hard, spins the tires, loses traction, and can’t get up to speed, causing those behind him to jam on their brakes to try to avoid him. In drag racing one sees the cars at the starting line hit the gas. The tires lose traction, spinning like crazy. This usually causes a real cool burnout and tons of smoke, but the cars don’t go anywhere or, if they do, not very fast. The race is lost.
I see people every day do this in their life and in their business. They have a dream and go after it hard. However, when something causes them to lose traction, they quickly slow down or stop. They aren’t smooth. They try to take off like crazy, but all they create is a cloud of smoke. They have an intention but no game plan. They jump the gun without the proper planning, due diligence, contingency plans, etc. I’ve heard many times, “If you fail to plan, then plan to fail.”
In business this happens often. People start a business with all the best intentions but without the proper plan, proper funding, or proper team in place to help them get it to the finish line. The first time something causes that business to lose its momentum, the wheels come off the whole operation and the business fails.
I also see this in people’s personal lives. January 1st comes around and we make our resolutions: quit smoking, lose weight, spend more time with the family, be a better spouse, keep my commitments. We usually make it a week, a month…if we’re lucky, maybe more. We start off the New Year with tons of gas, but as soon as we hit the first bump in the road, we lose our traction and come to a screeching halt. We could have avoided this by creating a plan. Schedule your time in the gym, and get a workout buddy to accompany you. Plan a family night, and make it mandatory that everyone attend. Schedule a date with your spouse on a regular basis. Make these commitments and keep them by making a plan and being accountable.
If you take an easy-does-it approach to accomplishing your goals, taking things step by step, you will avoid losing traction and getting stalled. Set a goal, and create a plan of action that will get you to your goal smoothly.
We have stated our goal and estimated how long it will take us to achieve it. We have listed our strengths and compared them to those others see in us. Today I want you to write your intention in the present tense. Because my goal is sobriety, I wrote, “I AM SOBER!” That’s simple enough. Write your “I AM” statement 10 times, sign it, and hang it someplace you will see it every day.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day!- Superstar-a star ( as in sports or movies ) who is extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usually command a high salary.
I want you to see yourself as a superstar in your world.
Quote of the Day!- “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”-Jim Rohn
Have you ever ridden with someone who thinks the accelerator is an on/off pedal? You know what I’m talking about. He hits the gas and your head flies back into the seat. Then he lets off, and your head flies forward. This continues during the entire ride, and you’re lucky you don’t have a mild case of whiplash by the time it is over. There is nothing smooth about the way someone like that drives. Plus, it seems exaggerated in heavy traffic…speed up…slow down…speed up…slow down…speed up…stop.
In racing this happens a lot. The cars are coming to the green flag to start the race and someone guns it too hard, spins the tires, loses traction, and can’t get up to speed, causing those behind him to jam on their brakes to try to avoid him. In drag racing one sees the cars at the starting line hit the gas. The tires lose traction, spinning like crazy. This usually causes a real cool burnout and tons of smoke, but the cars don’t go anywhere or, if they do, not very fast. The race is lost.
I see people every day do this in their life and in their business. They have a dream and go after it hard. However, when something causes them to lose traction, they quickly slow down or stop. They aren’t smooth. They try to take off like crazy, but all they create is a cloud of smoke. They have an intention but no game plan. They jump the gun without the proper planning, due diligence, contingency plans, etc. I’ve heard many times, “If you fail to plan, then plan to fail.”
In business this happens often. People start a business with all the best intentions but without the proper plan, proper funding, or proper team in place to help them get it to the finish line. The first time something causes that business to lose its momentum, the wheels come off the whole operation and the business fails.
I also see this in people’s personal lives. January 1st comes around and we make our resolutions: quit smoking, lose weight, spend more time with the family, be a better spouse, keep my commitments. We usually make it a week, a month…if we’re lucky, maybe more. We start off the New Year with tons of gas, but as soon as we hit the first bump in the road, we lose our traction and come to a screeching halt. We could have avoided this by creating a plan. Schedule your time in the gym, and get a workout buddy to accompany you. Plan a family night, and make it mandatory that everyone attend. Schedule a date with your spouse on a regular basis. Make these commitments and keep them by making a plan and being accountable.
If you take an easy-does-it approach to accomplishing your goals, taking things step by step, you will avoid losing traction and getting stalled. Set a goal, and create a plan of action that will get you to your goal smoothly.
We have stated our goal and estimated how long it will take us to achieve it. We have listed our strengths and compared them to those others see in us. Today I want you to write your intention in the present tense. Because my goal is sobriety, I wrote, “I AM SOBER!” That’s simple enough. Write your “I AM” statement 10 times, sign it, and hang it someplace you will see it every day.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day!- Superstar-a star ( as in sports or movies ) who is extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usually command a high salary.
I want you to see yourself as a superstar in your world.
Quote of the Day!- “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”-Jim Rohn
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Increase Your Speed by Drafting!
On super speedways, racers use the technique of drafting to increase their speed. Drafting is when one car tucks in behind another car, lessening the effect of drag from the air. Basically two or more cars running in a line can go faster than one car by itself. Resistance from the air is drastically reduced when in the draft.
This technique can be used in life as well. I know this is going to come as a shock to some of you, but whatever problem or goal you have has been had by someone before you. Why are you fighting the resistance by yourself? Why not follow someone who has been there before? You could drastically reduce the drag on your own life by tucking in behind someone who has paved the way.
I want to fight my alcoholism, so I surround myself with people who are sober and have managed to stay that way. I go to meetings and listen to how they accomplish and maintain their sobriety. I talk to people who have years of experience. They have been in my shoes before, and they are now where I want to be. Sure, I could have tried to quit on my own. I might have been able to do it. Those race cars can definitely make it the 500 miles around Indianapolis by themselves, but they increase their speed by drafting.
The fastest way to get to where you want to be in life is to follow someone who has been there before and laid out the path to success. If you want to start a new business, research the industry. See what has worked and what hasn’t for people who have been there before. If you want to improve your health quicker, do research online or in the library about health and wellness from quality professional trainers and nutritionists. If you want to invest, spend some time and do the required research on that investment. See how similar investments have worked for others.
Others in the personal development industry may say, “Be a leader, not a follower.” I see where they are coming from, but, on the other hand, why not use successful techniques rather than fighting your way through life by yourself. I recently attended a seminar in which the speaker advised the crowd to “Ready, Fire, Aim.” While it motivated the audience members to get off the fence and make a change in their life, I know from experience that it’s not that simple. If you hold down the gas while entering a turn and then try to point the car in the right direction, you will almost certainly crash and burn. I have seen this many times, especially in today’s economy: people have jumped into an investment or started a business without knowing enough and have been hurt financially. Surround yourself with people who have been successful, and you will avoid making some very costly mistakes.
Be grateful for those who have gone down these roads before. Learn from them. Do the research. If you follow a proven leader, then you will get to the end of the race much faster than going it alone.
Today I want you to list as many of your good qualities as you can. After you’ve made your list, ask three of the people closest to you to do the same. Then compare these lists. Do those close to you recognize similar qualities in you? Are there differences? Give some thought to what others see in you.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Receive—to come into possession of, acquire.
Let’s start receiving all that is available to us in this world.
Quote of the Day! “When my world is small, my problems seem big, but when my world is big, my problems seem small” −unknown (i.e., Expand your world!)
This technique can be used in life as well. I know this is going to come as a shock to some of you, but whatever problem or goal you have has been had by someone before you. Why are you fighting the resistance by yourself? Why not follow someone who has been there before? You could drastically reduce the drag on your own life by tucking in behind someone who has paved the way.
I want to fight my alcoholism, so I surround myself with people who are sober and have managed to stay that way. I go to meetings and listen to how they accomplish and maintain their sobriety. I talk to people who have years of experience. They have been in my shoes before, and they are now where I want to be. Sure, I could have tried to quit on my own. I might have been able to do it. Those race cars can definitely make it the 500 miles around Indianapolis by themselves, but they increase their speed by drafting.
The fastest way to get to where you want to be in life is to follow someone who has been there before and laid out the path to success. If you want to start a new business, research the industry. See what has worked and what hasn’t for people who have been there before. If you want to improve your health quicker, do research online or in the library about health and wellness from quality professional trainers and nutritionists. If you want to invest, spend some time and do the required research on that investment. See how similar investments have worked for others.
Others in the personal development industry may say, “Be a leader, not a follower.” I see where they are coming from, but, on the other hand, why not use successful techniques rather than fighting your way through life by yourself. I recently attended a seminar in which the speaker advised the crowd to “Ready, Fire, Aim.” While it motivated the audience members to get off the fence and make a change in their life, I know from experience that it’s not that simple. If you hold down the gas while entering a turn and then try to point the car in the right direction, you will almost certainly crash and burn. I have seen this many times, especially in today’s economy: people have jumped into an investment or started a business without knowing enough and have been hurt financially. Surround yourself with people who have been successful, and you will avoid making some very costly mistakes.
Be grateful for those who have gone down these roads before. Learn from them. Do the research. If you follow a proven leader, then you will get to the end of the race much faster than going it alone.
Today I want you to list as many of your good qualities as you can. After you’ve made your list, ask three of the people closest to you to do the same. Then compare these lists. Do those close to you recognize similar qualities in you? Are there differences? Give some thought to what others see in you.
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Receive—to come into possession of, acquire.
Let’s start receiving all that is available to us in this world.
Quote of the Day! “When my world is small, my problems seem big, but when my world is big, my problems seem small” −unknown (i.e., Expand your world!)
Monday, April 6, 2009
Slow Down to Speed Up!
Slow Down to Speed Up!
This topic is fitting because my favorite racing series, NASCAR, just finished racing in Martinsville, VA this past weekend. This track is ideal for applying this principle, Slow down to speed up. The reason for this is that if you overdrive the car, you will not get the most traction and cannot speed up coming out of the turn as quickly. Rather than over- driving the car into the turn, by slowing up a little you can carry your momentum through the turn and accelerate out. By going just a bit slower, your overall lap times actually improve.
This might be one of the hardest concepts I have had to learn. My personality wants everything right now. I am the king of instant gratification. When I see something I think looks good, I go charging at it like a bull. In business this has caused me to invest without doing the proper research. In relationships I have made life-changing decisions without truly getting to know the person. Because I went charging in, I lost traction and went skidding into a wall. If I had slowed down and reflected on what I was doing, I would have been able to maintain control, make educated decisions and avoid problems for myself and those around me. By slowing down I would not have lost the momentum in my life and, even though there was a turn to make, I could have easily accelerated through it.
Yesterday we stood back and realistically calculated the amount of time we can devote to our goal each day. We also asked ourselves how long we thought it would take to reach our goal, committing ourselves to it. Today I am asking you to get organized. If you have decided to devote one hour of each day to work on your goal, then block that time out of each and every day. Put it in your planner. Mark it on your calendar. Remind yourself of this commitment! Remember, if you cannot keep commitments to yourself, to whom can you keep them?
A personal goal was a healthier lifestyle. Now I go to the gym 6 days a week. I don’t feel guilty about its affecting any other aspect of my life because it’s the commitment I have made to myself. If your one goal is better health, do something similar. Block a daily amount of time for working out or taking a walk. Every day! Whatever step you have to take on a daily basis to move you closer to your goal, do it. Now put this time commitment in your journal!
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Time—every moment there has ever been or ever will be.
Let’s make the most of our committed time.
Quote of the Day! Willingness without action is imagination. −unknown
This topic is fitting because my favorite racing series, NASCAR, just finished racing in Martinsville, VA this past weekend. This track is ideal for applying this principle, Slow down to speed up. The reason for this is that if you overdrive the car, you will not get the most traction and cannot speed up coming out of the turn as quickly. Rather than over- driving the car into the turn, by slowing up a little you can carry your momentum through the turn and accelerate out. By going just a bit slower, your overall lap times actually improve.
This might be one of the hardest concepts I have had to learn. My personality wants everything right now. I am the king of instant gratification. When I see something I think looks good, I go charging at it like a bull. In business this has caused me to invest without doing the proper research. In relationships I have made life-changing decisions without truly getting to know the person. Because I went charging in, I lost traction and went skidding into a wall. If I had slowed down and reflected on what I was doing, I would have been able to maintain control, make educated decisions and avoid problems for myself and those around me. By slowing down I would not have lost the momentum in my life and, even though there was a turn to make, I could have easily accelerated through it.
Yesterday we stood back and realistically calculated the amount of time we can devote to our goal each day. We also asked ourselves how long we thought it would take to reach our goal, committing ourselves to it. Today I am asking you to get organized. If you have decided to devote one hour of each day to work on your goal, then block that time out of each and every day. Put it in your planner. Mark it on your calendar. Remind yourself of this commitment! Remember, if you cannot keep commitments to yourself, to whom can you keep them?
A personal goal was a healthier lifestyle. Now I go to the gym 6 days a week. I don’t feel guilty about its affecting any other aspect of my life because it’s the commitment I have made to myself. If your one goal is better health, do something similar. Block a daily amount of time for working out or taking a walk. Every day! Whatever step you have to take on a daily basis to move you closer to your goal, do it. Now put this time commitment in your journal!
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Time—every moment there has ever been or ever will be.
Let’s make the most of our committed time.
Quote of the Day! Willingness without action is imagination. −unknown
Friday, April 3, 2009
In a spin, both feet in!
In a spin, both feet in!
Yesterday we talked about what to do when you’re in doubt about situations in your life. But what do you do when your life is out of control? The second thing I learned at Skip Barber Racing School was In a spin, both feet in. When you’ve already lost control of the car, then you need to immediately push in the clutch and brake hard. In this situation you are just along for the ride, but by pushing in the clutch you cut the power to the wheels. And by jumping hard on the brakes you are trying to get the car whoa’ed down before you hit the wall.
If your life is out of control right now, you should put both feet in. Hit the brakes. Step back from your current situation. Evaluate your life. Your goals. Your relationships. I know this is easier said than done in many situations. Many times in my life I have been spinning out of control—in business, with my addictions, in relationships. Before I applied this principle of in a spin, both feet in, I would usually try to power out. My problem was that I did not recognize that I was already completely out of control. I tried to gas it, which just resulted in a harder impact when I finally hit the wall.
If you know you are in a bad relationship, find the power within yourself to put a stop to it. If you are battling addiction, remove yourself completely from your current situation. Check into a treatment facility. If you are riding a business venture in an unstoppable downward spiral, then cut your losses before you lose it all. If your life is out of control, hit the brakes and limit the damage as much as possible. Don’t get me wrong: there will probably still be some damage, but if you’re spinning, you anticipate that. In a spin, both feet in will help you come to a complete stop so you can start again in a different direction.
Yesterday we put in writing what we have done in the past to try to accomplish our one main goal—the one achievement that will improve all aspects of our life. Today I want you to figure how long it would take—starting immediately and focusing completely—to reach that goal. Determine realistically how many hours a week you can spend—1?...
7?...40?—to totally transform your life. Really think about this. Then jot notes in a journal. How many hours a week and how many weeks do you think it will take for you to accomplish your goal?
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Commit—to carry into action deliberately.
Let’s commit to accomplishing our goal.
Quote of the Day! “Hoping someone else will do it for you requires more energy than just doing it yourself.” –Amy Emme
Yesterday we talked about what to do when you’re in doubt about situations in your life. But what do you do when your life is out of control? The second thing I learned at Skip Barber Racing School was In a spin, both feet in. When you’ve already lost control of the car, then you need to immediately push in the clutch and brake hard. In this situation you are just along for the ride, but by pushing in the clutch you cut the power to the wheels. And by jumping hard on the brakes you are trying to get the car whoa’ed down before you hit the wall.
If your life is out of control right now, you should put both feet in. Hit the brakes. Step back from your current situation. Evaluate your life. Your goals. Your relationships. I know this is easier said than done in many situations. Many times in my life I have been spinning out of control—in business, with my addictions, in relationships. Before I applied this principle of in a spin, both feet in, I would usually try to power out. My problem was that I did not recognize that I was already completely out of control. I tried to gas it, which just resulted in a harder impact when I finally hit the wall.
If you know you are in a bad relationship, find the power within yourself to put a stop to it. If you are battling addiction, remove yourself completely from your current situation. Check into a treatment facility. If you are riding a business venture in an unstoppable downward spiral, then cut your losses before you lose it all. If your life is out of control, hit the brakes and limit the damage as much as possible. Don’t get me wrong: there will probably still be some damage, but if you’re spinning, you anticipate that. In a spin, both feet in will help you come to a complete stop so you can start again in a different direction.
Yesterday we put in writing what we have done in the past to try to accomplish our one main goal—the one achievement that will improve all aspects of our life. Today I want you to figure how long it would take—starting immediately and focusing completely—to reach that goal. Determine realistically how many hours a week you can spend—1?...
7?...40?—to totally transform your life. Really think about this. Then jot notes in a journal. How many hours a week and how many weeks do you think it will take for you to accomplish your goal?
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Commit—to carry into action deliberately.
Let’s commit to accomplishing our goal.
Quote of the Day! “Hoping someone else will do it for you requires more energy than just doing it yourself.” –Amy Emme
Thursday, April 2, 2009
When In Doubt, Power Out!
This is the very first thing I learned at the Skip Barber Racing School: when in doubt, power out. In racing this means that when you are in a turn and you feel like you might not make it, accelerate through it. Sparing you all of the physics involved in this, the simple explanation is that giving the car more gas when it is starting to go sideways puts more weight on the rear tires for more traction. This maneuver goes against a lot of your instincts, especially if you are new to racing. A natural reaction with a car beginning to get out of control at over 100 mph is to let off the gas or hit the brakes to slow down. This will almost certainly cause you to spin out of control and hit the wall, crash, and burn.
Powering out of the turn means you are going for it. Only one of two things is going to happen. You’re going to make it through the turn…or you’re not. The same principle can be used in life and in business. If you are having problems in your relationship, give it more love. If you have a business venture that is struggling, give it more attention. In any case, power out. You have power, so devote more of it to those areas of your life that you have doubts about. When in doubt, power out. That extra effort you give might just be the traction you need to move forward. Only one of two things is going to happen. In that relationship to which you gave more love, either the love is going to be returned or it’s not. That struggling business venture to which you gave more attention is going to succeed or it’s not. In either circumstance you will be able to look yourself in the eye and feel good about giving it your all.
Yesterday we said that any idea or thought that is not put on paper is wasted. We answered the question about the one thing you want to accomplish. Today I want you to put down on paper what you have tried in the past to accomplish that one thing. How far were you willing to go in the past to get what you wanted? So now answer the question, What have I tried in the past to accomplish my goal?
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Negotiate—to get through, around, or over successfully.
Let’s get good at negotiating all of the turns we have in our lives.
Quote of the Day! “The shortest distance between two people is a smile.” –unknown
Powering out of the turn means you are going for it. Only one of two things is going to happen. You’re going to make it through the turn…or you’re not. The same principle can be used in life and in business. If you are having problems in your relationship, give it more love. If you have a business venture that is struggling, give it more attention. In any case, power out. You have power, so devote more of it to those areas of your life that you have doubts about. When in doubt, power out. That extra effort you give might just be the traction you need to move forward. Only one of two things is going to happen. In that relationship to which you gave more love, either the love is going to be returned or it’s not. That struggling business venture to which you gave more attention is going to succeed or it’s not. In either circumstance you will be able to look yourself in the eye and feel good about giving it your all.
Yesterday we said that any idea or thought that is not put on paper is wasted. We answered the question about the one thing you want to accomplish. Today I want you to put down on paper what you have tried in the past to accomplish that one thing. How far were you willing to go in the past to get what you wanted? So now answer the question, What have I tried in the past to accomplish my goal?
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the Day! Negotiate—to get through, around, or over successfully.
Let’s get good at negotiating all of the turns we have in our lives.
Quote of the Day! “The shortest distance between two people is a smile.” –unknown
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Welcome to the Fast Lane!
Welcome to my new blog! I am happy that you are checking it out. My goal is to earn you as a consistent reader by providing you with quality content. I would like to start this blog off with a prayer both because it’s how I want to live my life every day from this day forward and to bless this blog, its author, and all those it may touch today and everyday in the future. This blog will include some spirituality but by no means is religious. It is for everyone no matter what your beliefs are.
—"Lord (as you understand him), make me a channel of thy peace - that where there is hatred, I may bring love - that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness - that where there is discord, I may bring harmony - that where there is error, I may bring truth - that where there is doubt, I may bring faith - that where there is despair, I may bring hope - that where there are shadows, I may bring light - that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted - to understand, than to be understood - to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen."
That prayer means so much to me. This blog is about taking the fast lane to success. I have experience in the fast lane both behind the wheel of a race car and in living life. I am what they call a type A personality. There is never enough action for me. I have to be going a hundred miles an hour in whatever I do to feel like I am accomplishing something. That is probably what led me to the excitement of strapping into a car to go 170+ miles per hour. The adrenalin rush is amazing. This also probably somewhat explains my addictions to both drugs and alcohol. For me there is never enough of that rush you get when you are trying to control something that is on the verge of being out of control. That includes my life.
I will tell you many stories about my successes and my failures in future blogs.
Since today is the first blog I will walk you through what I hope will be helpful daily exercises to get your life into victory lane.
“Any idea or though not put on paper is wasted”- David Essel
So I would like you to start a journal if you don’t already have one and do the daily exercises.
Today let’s set ONE intention. Answer this question: What do you want to accomplish?
That’s great! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the day! Intention-a determination to act in a certain way: resolve
Let’s show resolve and accomplish our goal!
Quote of the Day! “Vision without implementation is hallucination” –author unknown
—"Lord (as you understand him), make me a channel of thy peace - that where there is hatred, I may bring love - that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness - that where there is discord, I may bring harmony - that where there is error, I may bring truth - that where there is doubt, I may bring faith - that where there is despair, I may bring hope - that where there are shadows, I may bring light - that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted - to understand, than to be understood - to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen."
That prayer means so much to me. This blog is about taking the fast lane to success. I have experience in the fast lane both behind the wheel of a race car and in living life. I am what they call a type A personality. There is never enough action for me. I have to be going a hundred miles an hour in whatever I do to feel like I am accomplishing something. That is probably what led me to the excitement of strapping into a car to go 170+ miles per hour. The adrenalin rush is amazing. This also probably somewhat explains my addictions to both drugs and alcohol. For me there is never enough of that rush you get when you are trying to control something that is on the verge of being out of control. That includes my life.
I will tell you many stories about my successes and my failures in future blogs.
Since today is the first blog I will walk you through what I hope will be helpful daily exercises to get your life into victory lane.
“Any idea or though not put on paper is wasted”- David Essel
So I would like you to start a journal if you don’t already have one and do the daily exercises.
Today let’s set ONE intention. Answer this question: What do you want to accomplish?
That’s great! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Erik Elsea
www.erikelsea.com
Word of the day! Intention-a determination to act in a certain way: resolve
Let’s show resolve and accomplish our goal!
Quote of the Day! “Vision without implementation is hallucination” –author unknown
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