Things We Live For

Things We Live For

1.       Hear our kid say “you are my hero.” 

2.       Listen to a passionate friend tell a great success story.

3.       Laugh our guts out until our ribs hurt and tears come out of our eyes.

4.       An old friend recognizes you, gives you a hug and says "it is wonderful to see you."

5.       Your baby granddaughter gives you a grand smile, grabs a book and says “read it to me, please.”

6.       Talk with any teenager without an EGO.

7.       Tap into the imagination and dream world of an 11 year old kid.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Bond It!

Bond It!

Build and bond it together!

1.       Trust must be present for any relationship to flourish. What is the glue that keeps relationships tight?

2.       Prevent quickly jumping to negative conclusions.  Where do negative conclusions come from?

3.       Learn to overcome any irrational and self-defeating fears. How can you overcome your fears?

4.       We must accept responsibility for our own unhappiness. Why do we tend to shift the responsibility to others?

5.       Relinquish petty needs and desire of immediate gratification for the greater good. Where does the desire come from?

6.       Do for others what they can’t do for themselves. Ask daily, what am I able to do for others?

7.       If you want to be loved, it is time to start looking for greatness in people. What are you waiting for?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Priorities or Obligations

Priorities or Obligations

 Do you live by your priorities or by your obligations?

1.       Live a life on purpose. Detect your purpose and live it.

2.       Take a personal inventory of your life once a year. Today is the best time to do it.

3.       Decide what type of person you want to become and life you want live. Take action on your decisions.

4.       Know yourself better than anyone else. Focus on your strengths and your weaknesses will be revealed.

5.       Live a principle centered life. Principles endure because they have passed the test of time.

6.       Know that you are going in the right direction. Decide to continue until you reach your destination.

7.       Be a master of self-care. Live by your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional priorities not your obligations set by someone else.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Pure and Simple EGO

Pure and Simple EGO

EGO stands for Edging God Out of our center. EGO sets in and grows when we put all but God at the center of our lives. Why not stop protecting what is stopping us from greatness?

1.       Great books allow you to see the world through the eyes of the writers. Is there a better way to improve your vision?

2.       Love, like trust, is earned. Can you force love?

3.       Relinquish your EGO if you want to live a great life. Why is surrendering so powerful?

4.       Lasting trauma comes from not learning the lessons in our suffering. How quick are you willing to learn the lessons and move on?

5.       Be a collector of happy memories. Are you collecting a memory each and every day?

6.       Moments of happiness and joy are the reservoirs you need during your trials. How full is your reservoir?

7.       Always add new insights and acquire new skills; an extra language is worth another million. What better assets to accumulate than skills and abilities?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Why did He come?

Why did He come?

Why did Christ come to earth to live a human life, endure enormous suffering, and dying on a cross?

1.       So we could seek and find the truth in Him. What is truth but what is found in Him?

2.       So we could model our lives after His. Who is your role model?

3.       So we could live an imperfect life and still be with Him in eternity. Can you imagine living eternity with Him?

4.       So we could endure any suffering that comes our way. When suffering comes your way can you think about what He had to endure?

5.       So we could be transformed and belong to Him. Have you started your transformation yet?

6.       So we could follow Him and serve as the example for others to do the same. Are you being the example for others to emulate?

7.       So we could see the light on the path to Him. Which path are you taking?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

A Great Tragedy

A Great Tragedy

The greatest tragedy in life is to die without fully knowing who we are. 

Be known for who you really are and not just what you do.

1.       Understand yourself first then you will understand others. How well do you understand who you are?

2.       We only get to keep what we give away. What else can you give that costs so little but love?

3.       Failure is an integral part of success. How resilient are you to your failures?

4.       Selective suppression, even when we are right, increases our influence. It is far better to be happy than to be right. How often do you leave things unsaid?

5.       Be wise and learn from disappointments and tragedies. It is in our suffering that we find our greatness. Did you know that suffering is a divine favor?

6.       Having courage does not come naturally to anyone. Are you cultivating your courage?

7.       Hugs are the most valuable and effective therapy available to us. Why not become a hug therapist?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

The Masterpiece

Find your craft and master it!

1.       Focus on building your masterpiece for humanity. What is your masterpiece for the benefit of others?

2.       Accountability is empowering. Why not be accountable for something in your life?

3.       Stand up for what you believe because you know why. Do you really know why you believe in what you believe?

4.       Start playing the game of LIFE even if you don’t understand it at first. Why not learn as you go?

5.       Help others get what they want and you will end up with everything you need. How willing are you to reorder your priorities to serve others?

6.       Never refuse to do something you can do. Why not do what needs to be done when it needs to be done?

7.       Be in competition with yourself not anyone else. Why not keep score in your life instead of everyone else’s?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Live or Leave It

Live or Leave It

1.       Be prepared to be resilient and persistent in LIFE. Is there any other way?

2.       Love them first, desiccate later. Why not meet people where they are at?

3.       If you don’t think you need other people, think again, they need you. Why are we so selfish?

4.       Love only endures when it is growing. Why are we so afraid of pain?

5.       Risk is always worth the effort. Why are we so afraid to risk?

6.       If we play it safe we will completely miss LIFE. Why do we play it safe?

7.       The challenge and motivation for personal growth comes from imbalance.  Feeling lack of balance yet?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Love and Beauty

Love and Beauty

1.       Beauty only leaves when love is gone. How beautiful do you feel?

2.       Internal beauty is unaffected by time and age. Why do we worry so much about external appearances?

3.       Have some craziness to shake up the deadly routine existence. Could the future belong to the rascals?

4.       Never fall into believing a great job gives you security. Did you know that security is no longer where it used to be?

5.       Love is a commitment to make sure we are there when needed. What is your commitment level?

6.       What you want is frequently not what you need. What do you want out of your life?

7.       I love the future because I plan to spend a lot of time there. Where are you planning to spend the rest of your life?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

How Bad Do You Want It?

How Bad Do You Want It?

1.       We need fulfillment more than we need riches. What need is at the center of your life?

2.       Passions don’t have to cool down as we age. Why do we readily accept what the world imposes on us?

3.       Love is the accumulation of a lifetime of wisdom. How big is your love?

4.       There is no limit of what a heart can hold. Can your heart be bigger than Texas?

5.       Never be afraid of the fear of vulnerability. Why not kill the fear by actually being vulnerable for a change?

6.       Never invite the possibility of failure. Why give it a chance if we know it will readily accept the invitation?

7.       We only actualize dreams when we truly want them to happen. Do you really want your dreams to become reality?

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)