If there are people you know who act on and talk about and assume certain things about you that are not in line with who you want to be … and what you want to accomplish – whatever they are – then you might be feeling like you are walking through life in quicksand. You are fighting to hold your head high but feeling pulled down.

Now imagine what it would be like if you turned it around and began hanging out with people who already have what you want and have the success traits that you aspire to duplicate?

Imagine….

Do you feel that load being lifted? Do feel that feeling of self – empowerment?

I have found that surrounding myself with giving, caring, supportive, successful, positive, happy and motivated people has been the number one reason for the contentment and peace and yes…success… in my life.  The fact is some people make you feel better, lift you up, inform and entertain, while others seem to be on a mission to depress, annoy, and enrage. Sorting the edifying from the toxic is a habit to get into early and often!

Here are a few tips to Build a Positive Circle of Friends and Associates:

• Read and follow people who inspire or motivate you
• Surround yourself with positive influences rather than people who bring you down
• Do not get drawn into protracted debates or arguments
• Block people who routinely aggravate you
• Avoid scenarios where you get drawn into negativity
• Seek out people who are succeeding at what you want to do and observe how they behave and think
• Find the learning opportunity in every interaction

“Your choice of people to associate with, both personally and business-wise, is one of the most important choices you make. If you associate with turkeys, you will never fly with the eagles.”
Brian Tracy

What You Can Do?
Ask yourself; are there any turkeys in your life?  Ready- Aim – Set them free…..

There are 3 things you can begin doing immediately to help in this area:

1. Take a look at your current relationships and determine whether they are supportive and enriching or toxic and destructive. A clue here is to examine how you feel about yourself when around various people.

2. If you identified any relationships which are not mutually supportive and do not empower you, or that drain your energy and make you feel bad about yourself, take steps to distance yourself from the people involved – FAST! This is a stumbling block for many people – the crossing of the bridge between what they know, and what they say they want. It’s not easy to leave familiar things behind, especially people, and this is a real sticking point. It may not be comfortable at first, but neither is hanging out with “turkeys”.

3. Make a plan to change yourself. Become the giving, positive, motivated, success focused person you want others to be and concentrate on developing only relationships which are enriching, supportive and empowering of this side of you!

4. Join groups, clubs, classes etc where the people who have your interests are most likely to be. Be pro-active in sending out invites to new people to get to know them.

5. Take a super successful person to lunch once a month. Tell them you are looking to get to know eagles and you see them as someone you would like to get to know. At lunch, ask that person what they think are the key(s) to their success.  Get to know them. And most importantly, ask if there is anything you can do to support their goals.

6. Be a Giver of acceptance, affirmative words, encouragement and avoid dragging others down with negative words and your own bad attitude.  You will have more people wanting to be in your circle than you have enough hours in the day for.

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.”
– Source Unknown

The bottom line is this – if there are people in your life that drain your energy, make you feel badly about yourself or hold you back, then you must take appropriate action… and quickly!  I’m not saying the transition will be easy for you. However, in the big picture this change will impact your life more dramatically than any other.

Another one of my favorite inspirational quotes is from Charles DuBois, who said:

“The important thing is this: To be able to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”

By Tamera Aragon

Fly with the eagles and be free!

I wish Thanksgiving came around more often… it’s a beautiful time of year when we are reminded to not only “feel” thankful, but to also find ways to “express” our gratitude.  So, some might ask, how do you feel thankful when life sometimes feels so hard?  Watch this video and be inspired to find a way.

On that note, I want you to know how thankful I am for you! I value the honor of serving you, our partners, clients and readers and look forward to being able to continue to do so for many years to come.

As my core desire is to inspire and motivate……I hope you will pay this gratitude forward ….and also take just a few minutes right now and share with those to whom you feel gratitude but don’t always take time to say it.  Feel free to submit your thoughts in a comment box below and send others to this page!

That’s right – right now – send a message, leave a voicemail, let someone know how much you care and appreciate them and what they do… right now.

Go ahead…do it now while you can and while it’s fresh on your mind.

Do you see what life holds in store for you today? Do you know how blessed you are?  You have so much to be grateful for. There is so much opportunity for those who can see it. Do you see it?

Watch this short video to open your eyes to the possibilities that lay before you now.http://beattheoddsmovie.com/

If you are still having difficulty finding your own blessings to be thankful for, try asking yourself these simple questions:

• Do you live free today?
• Does someone love you today?
• Have you heard children’s laughter?
• Are you part of a family?
• Do you have your limbs to walk or hands to touch? Or eyes to see? Or ears to hear? A voice to talk? …..Or maybe you are one of the really lucky ones who enjoy all of these gifts from God.

“When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup.”
Sam Lefkowitz

The more you think, the more you will realize that you are truly blessed.  Take in this moment…Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday reminding us to be and act thankful every day.

“Stars do not struggle to shine; rivers do not struggle to flow, flowers do not struggle to grow, and you need never struggle to excel in life. You are a child of the universe and have all the resources you need within you to create the life of your dreams. By Gods grace, you deserve the very best, ever and always. Know this.”

Have a wonderful Holiday with many Blessings,

Tamera Aragon

P.S. – I want to encourage you to take time to share this message of hope to others. Just copy and paste this link…. www.TameraREI.com and make someone’s day!

Originally posted 2009-11-25 13:23:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Zig Ziglar says, “You can’t fly with the eagles if you continue to scratch with the turkeys.”

I have to agree…you see he goes on to describe the term “eagle” referring to high achievers – those positive, motivated, successful people who make you feel honored and appreciated when you are in their presence.

“Turkeys” are those that are negative, downers who probably don’t align with who you are inside… or even who you want to become.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi

When I decided to finally sort out my life, I had to seriously limit contact with some of my best friends because their values and morals did not match mine. Nor did their attitudes reflect the kind I wanted duplicate. So I had to begin by distancing myself a bit from those “turkeys”.

Are you afraid that if you begin changing your habits and thoughts, thus your circumstances, your current friends may no longer accept you?

What if they judge you and don’t understand your motivations, or say those dreaded words ‘you’ve changed’?

Well, if they do say those words, “you’ve changed”,say “thank you”! ‘You’ve changed’ are probably the most beautiful words in the Universe when it comes to success and wealth, and life change in general.

“When you blame others, you give up your power to change.”
Dr. Robert Anthony

Most people fear change. However, you don’t have to be “most people”. Try looking at the noticeable changes as a compliment acknowledging that not everyone around you is going to accept the ‘new you’.  Your acceptance of this truth will free you to act authentically as the person you aspire to be.

And when you are feeling like your own strength can’t carry you – remember there is a much strong source of strength – all you have to do is ask.

…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
The Bible – Isaiah 40:31

Watch for part 2 next week…. the exact steps to fly like an eagle and set those turkeys free.

Originally posted 2010-06-15 08:29:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I made the front page of our local newspaper…
You will want to read more about this amazing experience here!

“Once In A Blue Moon…”

I have heard this saying many times in my life and never gave it much thought. However, when I found out there was going to be a “blue moon” on New Year’s Eve this year, and because I was married on New Year’s eve – I just had to do more research as to what this meant!

(Be sure and read to the end as the meaning of my story could profoundly change the way you are looking at life!)

So what does it mean when you hear someone say: “Once in a blue moon…”?

The current technical modern meaning is that it is a 2^nd full moon in any given calendar month.

For instance this year a full moon occurred on December 2^nd. Therefore, Dec 31^st was the second full moon in one month which is a phenomenon that occurs every 2.5 years, (the next one will be in August, 2012).

However, the December 31, 2009 blue moon added another phenomenon. How often does a blue moon happen on New Year’s Eve?

I found out the 2009 New Year’s Eve blue moon is the first since 1990. Another won’t roll around for another 19 years.  That means we won’t see it again on New Year’s Eve till 2028!

And do you know the saying “once in a blue moon” first started being used in 1528, (See P.S. at end the end of this article for details), and had nothing to do with today’s meaning of this saying? In fact, in the last 500 years, that saying has evolved from a totally different meaning to what it denotes today.

The saying, “Once in a blue moon” started out to mean something that is likely to never happen but has since evolved to mean something which happens every now and then.

So I bet your asking yourself, “Where is Tamera going with this?”
Hang in there – I’m almost to the end…You see, I had something happen to me that would happen  literally only “once in a blue moon” ….taking on the original “never will happen again” meaning.

Here’s what happened:

Here’s the moral of the story… (besides how fun life can be if you’re out there in it!)

Today’s real estate market is a once in a blue moon circumstance just like the one I had on New Year’s Eve.  Have you thought about this? Today’s market is very likely NOT going to happen in again in our lifetime. Properties are on sale and cash flowing where they have not been in years.  Buyers are receiving gifts from the government for buying properties.  And sellers have a flood of houses to choose from being sold at a discount. (Short sales or REO’s anyone?)

Don’t be like so many of my friends and acquaintances who let this year’s blue moon experience pass them by.  Get up, get moving, set your goals –make a clear path and stick to it til you get there!  I am here to help if you need me… www.CoachingU2Profits.com I have everything you need to do it.  My program starts out with goal setting and it’s only up from there! I’m offering a sneak peak at this system for only $1.00!  If $1.00 is too much for you to check it out what I believe to be the most intensive real estate coaching training program out there today, then real estate investing is definitely not for you.  As you might already know,  it takes some risk. It takes stepping out and taking some chances. It takes action. It takes a little work.  But, keep this in mind… the blue moon is happening with or without you.  I may or may not be there in 2028 when the next New Years Eve Blue moon occurs.  But, either way, it is going to happen.

This market is offering so many opportunities and that is happening whether you choose to participate or not. I promise you – it’s way more fun to be a part of it, then reading about what you could have, should have, would have been part of … if only….

My future blogs are going to really be digging into the nuts and bolts of real estate investing, sharing what I learn and continue to learn on this exciting road I am walking called real estate investing. I was recently dubbed “The Flippin Queen” due to the number of properties I have bought and sold (flipped).  Of course, though this is true, the label is all in fun… and I am going to run with it.

I want to encourage you to start 2010 right. When you fail to plan – you plan to fail.  Take the first step to plan … plan to work… then work the plan!  And don’t miss out on this “once in a blue moon” real estate investing market.

It’s 2010
Don’t ask when!
The time is now!

Tamera Aragon

P.S.  Here is the history of the saying, “Once in a blue moon”:  According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first reference to a blue moon comes from a proverb recorded in 1528:

If they say the moon is blue,
We must believe that it is true.

In other words, saying the moon was blue was equivalent to saying the moon was made of green (or cream) cheese;  it indicated an obvious absurdity.

In the 19th century, the phrase “until a blue moon” developed, which meant “never.”

The phrase, “once in a blue moon” today has come to mean “every now and then” or “rarely”. Whether it gained that meaning through association with the lunar event remains uncertain. However, this is the meaning most used today.

Originally posted 2010-01-04 10:13:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Want to be blessed in 2010?   Remember this! We don’t need to give to get more.  Instead, we need to give more from our heart to others that are needy because it is the right thing to do.

Tithing is the practice of giving away 10% of your income (tithe means “tenth”), usually to a charitable cause.  Some people absolutely swear by the practice of tithing and consider it integral to the process of wealth creation.

Benefits of tithing include:

• Overcoming scarcity thinking. Tithing helps you develop a greater sense of abundance.  By giving away 10% of your income, you’re programming your subconscious to believe in abundance thinking.  This can make you more open and receptive to receiving money.  If you think abundance, you’re more likely to experience abundance.
• Supporting a worthy cause. If the money you tithe is put to good use, you can financially support a cause that’s important to you.
• Achieve greater wealth. Whenever you earn more money, your tithes increase as well, so your cause(s) receive greater financial support.  This can be extremely motivating for some people.

Personally I think some people get too caught up in the specific practice of tithing and lose sight of its real purpose.  Too often I see people feeling guilty about not tithing (or not tithing enough).  Or they develop a love-hate relationship with the practice, feeling compelled to tithe even though they have mixed feelings about it.  They feel they should tithe, but they don’t completely want to tithe.

We have all been commanded to manage our own families, households and obligations. If it comes down to it, these are what should always come first. During these the hard economic times, we all — no matter our denomination –we must remember that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), and you can’t possibly be a cheerful giver if you are starving and your utilities are cut off.

And keep this in mind, tithing money is only one of many ways to serve, but certainly not the only way.  In ancient days, agriculture instead of coins was used for tithing. It’s not money that is the root of evil (actually it is the root of much good).  It is the LOVE of money that is the root of evil.  By giving, you will be blessed knowing you Love the comfort and happiness of others as much as you love yourself. Some people are workaholics. (Who, me?)  Maybe I need to tithe time as much money. Some people spend a life time educating themselves. Maybe it’s time to share that information freely with others.

In summary, if you present circumstance just does not offer you money to give, money is not the only way.  Here are some other ideas.

• Give time. Donate time to a cause you find is worthy.  Perform an act of service.
• Give information. Write articles or start a blog to share your knowledge freely with others who may benefit by it.
• Give talents. Use your skills to help someone who can’t afford to pay for them.
• Give acknowledgement. Smile at people.  Give someone a kind word today.  Acknowledge a job well done.
• Give encouragement. Be supportive of those around you.  Let others know you care about them.
• Give thoughts. Intend the best for other people.  Pray or meditate for others if those practices have meaning for you.
• Give touch. Give someone a pat on the back, a handshake, or a hug.  Give a massage.  Give a night of wild passion.

Have you ever heard this?

• The Golden Rule – Give unto others as you would have them give unto you.
• What goes around, comes around.
• What you sow you reap.
• If you help others to get what they want, others will help you get what you want.
• The More you give, the more you receive.

Or how about serial reciprocity -  where the benefactor of a gift or service will in turn provide benefits to a third party. This is where the term “Pay it forward” comes from.

As we move through these busy holidays and into 2010, I wish you and your family many blessings and a 2010 that is overflowing with abundance as you act in ways that creates the same for others.

Tamera Aragon

P.S. You need to watch these 3-minute videos. They’re life changers. Both messages make a great theme or motto for the New Year – and for your life.  Enjoy…

212° the extra degree® is a powerful philosophy that reminds us how sometimes it’s the smallest things that can make the biggest differences.

Simple. Clear. Actionable.

You can read an excerpt from the book or pick up a copy (20-minute read, at most) at GiveMore.com/212.

SMOVING:

Smile & Move™ is a fun new call-to-action you and your team can use as a reminder to stay focused on the fundamentals of being valuable to each other and to your customers.

It’s all about attitude and action.

Learn about each by visiting SmileAndMove.com or by picking up a copy of the little book at GiveMore.com/smile (20-minute read, tops).

Originally posted 2009-12-23 16:14:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter