Com os olhos da minha irmã

Com os olhos da minha irmã

Ja li milhares de livros mas o livro Lucy de Lucy Kortz me prendeu a atenção com poucos outro livros. Todos deveríamos ler este livro, pois esta repleto de sabedoria em forma de historias com fatos verídicos de sua vida. Os relatos de Lucy Kortz são testemunho de uma vida cheia de obstáculos e conquistas onde a perseverança vence qualquer tipo de preconceito e dificuldade na vida, especialmente na vida de pessoas com necessidades especias, como na vida de uma cega. Lucy é um livro poderoso que transcende religião, cultura, línguas, profissões, etc. Tive a honra de conhecer Lucy Kortz no dia 21 de dezembro de 2015 em sua casa em Santa Maria, RS, Brasil. Tivemos uma conversa muito boa junto com suas irmãs Wilma (também cega), Carmen e Noemi. Senti feliz em estar na presença de pessoas maravilhosas, cheias de alegria a paz. Obrigado Lucy, Carmen, Wilma, e Noemi por receber-nos (com a Cristina) em sua casa. Lendo o livro podemos tirar lições valiosas de um relato cheio de amor, fé e esperança. Recomendo que leiam este livro, Lucy. Aqui estão a 7 pérolas extraídas do livro.

1) Se apegue a Deus. Deus é verdadeiro; Deus nos protege e nos guia.

2) A felicidade vem da simplicidade. Aprenda a simplificar as coisas. O belo esta no simples.

3) Todo ser humano tem um valor inestimável. Todos fomos criados na imagem de Deus.

4) Fomos criados para viver em comunidade. Estamos aqui na terra para ajudar-nos uns aos outros.

5) A educação verdadeira vem da aplicação de princípios bíblicos. Como pais temos a obrigação de ensinar a nossos filhos os valores que vieram dos nossos antecedentes.

6) Todos devemos que deixar algo útil às gerações futuras. Todos temos uma história a ser contada para que sirva de testemunho de amor, fé e esperança aos outros.

7) Com Deus tudo é possível. Mesmo sendo cega Lucy consegue ver com os olhos da irmã Noemi e com sua mente. Lucy não só pode ver mas ter visão usando sua mente para criar um mundo maravilhoso ao seu redor e em todos os lados por onde andou.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Please share with others.  

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

Are you one of them?

Are you one of them Rascals?

THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE RASCALS

Safety is never found in mediocrity. Security is no longer where it used to be. Security is only found in our ability to learn, to change, and above all else, to perform. Rascal entrepreneurs are owners of the new economic age. It takes guts and courage to be a rascal. One must leave the past behind and sell out to a new future. The rascal entrepreneur is part of an elite group of warriors willing to go where others don’t dare to go, to the land of their dreams. So what are these rascals like, what are their traits that make them uniquely qualified to dominate the new economy?

1.    Their focus comes from their vision.

They know where they want to go. They have clear dreams and goals and are willing to sacrifice to achieve them.

2.    They play strong defense to protect their dreams and visions.

They prepare mentally. They are great simplifiers and know how to prioritize. They are often saying no to the good so they can pursue the great.

3.    They attach a business to their purpose and mission.

They are insanely passionate about who they are and what they do. They are dealers a bright future, enlisting others to be part of their mission and cause. They are community builders focused on improving the lives of those around them.

4.    They play by the rules until they create new rules.

They are work maniacs, seeking and banking on opportunities to innovate and grow. They adapt at a ferocious pace.

5.      They game plan then they work their plans.

They do what others aren’t willing to do and they do it well. Their strong discipline comes from a driven determination to win the games they play. They execute each task at hand like it is the last task they will perform in their life.

6.      They play strong offense.

They are guided by strong intuition. They see what others can’t see and are guided by inner wisdom from their strong sensory perceptions.

7.    They are mentally tough and resilient.

They are unwavering confident. They have thick skin. They are unpredictable because they are guided by radar that is on all the time.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Please share with others.  

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

Why isn’t our economy stronger?

Why isn’t our economy stronger?

Is it due to lack of economic growth?

Is it due to lack of innovation?

Is it due to lack of good jobs?

Is it due to the lack of consumer spending?

Is it due to the lack of leadership in Washington?

Is it due to the lack of investing by the wealthy?

Is it due to the strong dollar?

Is it due to the domestic and world political instability?

Is it due to the lack business investment?

Is it due to lack of entrepreneurship?

Yes to all the above. However, could the following be the underlying reasons our economy not being stronger and growing?

1.      Debt load. A heavy debt burden by government, businesses, and consumers takes is taking its toll on economic growth. In the last 44 years, since 1971, the total debt by these three sectors (equally divided) has increased from 2 to 60 trillion.

2.      Demographics. The 76 million baby boomers drove the economy since they were in diapers. Boomers age aging and staring to put the brakes on their spending.

3.      Bureaucracy and regulations. Government and business bureaucracy is running rampant and stifling economic growth.

4.      Tax, tax, and more tax. The consumers are getting hammered by increased taxation and higher prices while wages are stagnant. Guess who pays for government debt? Consumers do via increased taxation. Guess who pays for business debt? Consumers do. Guess who pays for consumer debt? You know it.

5.      Lack of faith. There can be no growth and prosperity where there is spiritual poverty.

6.      Excess reliance on government. There can be no progress where there is way too much reliance on government.

7.      Lack of historical perspective. Economic lessons are always repeated when the lessons are not learned. We live in a world with very short memory thus repeating our mistakes. Imagine the blind leading the blind!

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Please share with others.  

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

All About Thinking

All about Different Thinking

Why not think like successful people do.

One thing about successful people is that they think different.

So what is it about their thinking that can help us to become better thinkers?

1.      Big thinking. Think big thoughts and cultivate big picture thinking.

2.      Engagement thinking. Think often and think focused thoughts.

3.      Exploration thinking. Think about all the possibilities around you.

4.      Question thinking. Question popular thinking. Think innovative thoughts.

5.      Reflective thinking. Learn from thinking. Reflection is one key to wisdom.

6.      Unselfish thinking. Be a prodigious and a generous thinker.

7.      Higher thinking. Think thoughts that really matter, elevated thinking.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Please share with others.  

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

What are you waiting for?

What are you waiting for?

Your ship is not coming; you have to swim to it. Here are thoughts to jump start your own race towards your treasure island:

1.      Find your uniqueness and bank on it. 

           Your greatness is disguised in your uniqueness.

           Attach a business to your purpose.

2.      Decide to become the person you were born to be. 

           Have faith and demonstrate it. 

           Fill your brain with truth and action.

3.      Surround yourself with people better than you. 

           Yes, they are out there.

           They may just be waiting for the next hungry student.

4.      Someday does exist. 

           Start your race today. 

           Don’t be self-deceived.

           Pick your desired treasure and create mental images of them.

5.      Pile up skills instead of diplomas. 

           Start with communication skills. 

           Feed your entrepreneurial spirit.

6.      Read the right books. 

           Study them to find the knowledge you need.

7.      Have the right mentors. 

           Keep on examining your life to self-correct. 

           Reflect backwards; live forward.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Please share with others.  

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

7 Steps to Achievement

7 Steps to Achievement

If you are not happy and you know it, do something about it. If you are not living the life you’ve always wanted, definitely do something about it. If you feel trapped, get some urgency and do something about it. If you feel suffocating pain by the circumstances you are in, hang in there, greatness may on your horizon. Here are a few things to think and act upon.

1.      Awareness. Awareness is the 1^st step on the road to achievement. We often have to get mad before any change can occur. We only change when the pain to stay the same is greater than the pain to change. No pain, no change; no change, no progress.

2.      Reflection. We must pay attention to what we are unhappy about. Understand that happiness comes from within. Take some time to define the changes you want to see in your life.

3.      Listening. If you are not happy with the results you are getting in life, perhaps it’s time to stop listening to yourself and the wrong sources of information. Those negative thoughts embedded in our subconscious mind are deeply rooted and must be overridden with positive thoughts and emotions.

4.      Unplug. Unplug to the wrong sources of information and stop listening to people that don’t have the results you are looking for. Plug into the right sources with the right information, from people with the results you are looking for; learn to think and act like they do.

5.      Faith. Strong faith is the foundation of all positive change. We don’t lack potential, we lack faith. Faith is present when we believe before we see. Surrender to the truth and be disciplined to exude faith in who you are and all you do.

6.      Action. Write your own “book of acts”. Be known for taking action in the midst of chaos and despair. The road to failure is full of fools that were victims of analysis paralysis. Keep your scoreboard in front of you and make continuous adjustments to get to your desired destination. A great life is always comprised of many small victories compounded over time.

7.      Lead. Let your character be the compass for all your actions. Look at your life’s scoreboard to check your results and make adjustments. Deeply care about those around your and be a master at building relationship. Treat your customers like diamonds.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

In Thanksgiving

In Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is the day we take the time to thank our Creator for all the blessings bestowed upon us. What are you thankful for? Take 10 minutes to write down your list; I assure you, the act will be a great investment of your time. We can pray anytime and anywhere for who we would like to become. Not knowing the truth makes us slaves of the lies the world bombards us with.

Here is my list:

1.      My success for I can remain humble.

2.      My failures for I can grow in wisdom.

3.      My vision for I can see with my mind.

4.      My God for His forgiveness of my sins.

5.      My suffering for I can clarify my purpose.

6.      My health for I can work and serve others.

7.      My opportunities for I can fulfill my potential.

8.      My freedom for I can help others become free.

9.      My mission for I can share the truth with others.

10.  My faith for I can prepare for better days to come.

11.  My time and treasure for I can put them to a great cause.

12.  My family and friends for living life with deeper meaning.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone who got reading this far J

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

Are you a leader?

Are you a leader?

If you google the word leadership, in a fraction of a second you get over 460 million hits. There is so much information about leadership yet there is so little understanding about true leadership. No wonder there is a severe shortage of leaders in the world today. Leadership is influence in a positive driven direction. Everyone can become a leader because everyone can have influence. Leadership is a choice. Leadership can be learned but it cannot be taught. Leadership is a personal choice. One has to have the hunger, the strong desire to become a leader. Hope the following add to the understanding of leadership.

1.      Leaders put their character in motion.

2.      Leaders are followers and have followers.

3.      Leaders act by the courage of their convictions.

4.      Leaders are always working to improve themselves.

5.      Leaders leverage their character, tasks, and relationships.

6.      Leaders influence other to become who they were born to be.

7.      Leaders are daytime dreamers energized by their vision of a bright future.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

KAIZEN Your Life

KAIZEN Your Life

Kaizen is the practice of continuous improvement. The power of kaizen is in the truth that big results come from many small changes accumulated over time. The almost unnoticeable small improvements compounded over time produce powerful results. Take full responsibility for your life. Don’t get fooled by what the world tells you. Just keep being the energizer bunny!

1.      Good habits bring good results. Attack the bad habits and replace them with good habits. There is no magic bullet to cure deep rooted problems; many small problems are contributing to your current situation.

2.      Grasp the current situation. Be brutally honest with yourself. Self-deception is the road to self-destruction. Get data to understand why you are where you are.

3.      Find the truth. Speak with data, manage by facts. Surrender to the truth and the truth will set you free. Denying the truth will negate any efforts towards improvements.

4.      Take action to correct root causes of problems. Take a close look at behaviors. Put urgency towards improving. Time is of the essence. There is no time to completely re-tool your life. List and prioritize the many small changes needed.

5.      Partner with others. Find accountable partners and work as a team. Leverage the different experiences of others. Learn from the mistakes others have made. Be open and accept suggestions for improvements.

6.      Set realistic, small goals. Start making and never stop small improvements. Keep working on multiple small changes at a time instead of a big change. Track progress by keeping an eye on your score card.

7.      Don’t get fooled by the myth of overnight success. Overnight success takes decades in the making. We will all do the work of millionaires during our lifetimes; why not become one?

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

Got the Secret?

The Big and Best Kept Secret

The big and best kept secret to success and significance is not a secret and it has not been kept under locks at all. It has been well known for centuries. In our microwave society we are all looking for that silver bullet, for that magic pill, the secret that will bring us instant success and significance. Stop searching for the holy grain, it does not exist, it is a myth. The history of success shows that success is a journey of failures and experiences full of pain and joy. There are principles behind success that when followed will bring lasting prosperity to anyone. Are you willing to learn and apply the following not so secretive principles, certain to rise you above the circumstances you find yourself are at the moment?

1.      Know who you are. Work on yourself above all else.

2.      Desire and hunger. The drivers that propel forward. Choose the right mentors.

3.      Decision and action. Actions behind decisions. Wisely choose your pursuits.

4.      Build relationships and partnerships. The keys to significance.

5.      Work and keep score. Be in a relentless pursuit. Serve and put love at the center of it all.

6.      Friendships and sharing. The keys to fulfillment.

7.      Give honor to our Creator. The real source of power.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!