Why am I hot happy?

The Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness comes from the pursuit of our God-given purpose; nothing more, nothing less. Happiness is a state of freedom to pursue what we have been called to pursue. Our purpose is detected, it becomes evident, at the intersection of our passions, our potential, and our ability to generate enough income doing what we love, absolutely love to do. The pursuit of happiness comes from enjoying the challenge to be free. Happiness is that feeling we get after our personal daily prayers. Let your faith guide your life. Let your strengths be your reasons; never let your weaknesses become your excuses for not pursuing happiness. Happiness is the byproduct of:

1.      Learning. Turning information into knowledge and knowledge into wisdom.

2.      Working. Working to produce the things that benefit society.

3.      Loving. Having people around us who we can share our innermost thoughts and conditions.

4.      Enjoying leisure. Finding enjoyment in our simple activities everywhere we go.

5.      Sharing and serving. Sharing our time and treasures for the benefit of others without expectations.

6.      Being grateful. Counting our many blessings.

7.      Being generous. Sharing ourselves, our talents and resources.

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

Wisdom is our greatest possession

Falling in love with learning

What is the greatest possession we can ever own? Wisdom

The possessions of greatest are those that can be shared without losing their value.

1.      Seek wisdom. Wisdom comes to those who value feeding their brains over feeding their stomachs.

2.      Success is inconvenient. One of the big secrets to success is simply doing what others are not willing to do.

3.      Get the right education. Could the educated poor have possibly been poorly educated?

4.      Polish your genius. Genius without wisdom is like a diamond in the rough.

5.      Change what matters. Things only change when we make time to change things.

6.      Learn from the wise. We pay interest when we borrow money; we collect interest when we borrow brains from others.

7.      Purpose brings clarity. Find your purpose and you will never have to worry about retirement.

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

The Optimist Dreamer

Optimist Dreamer

Success looks different to each one of us. Failure looks the same. Failure is the inability to reach our goals and dreams. Define what success is and what it means to you. Success comes from our ability to chase our goals and dreams. Success comes from a deliberate attack on our current reality. Here are a few nuggets to ponder:

1.      True maturity leads to childlike wonder. Wonder is the precursor of dreaming.

2.      Pessimists go to their past to get advice to their future. Pessimism leads to failure.

3.      Optimists go to their future to get advice to their future. Optimism leads to success.

4.      Resist the temptation of letting others spend your time for you. Be a good steward of your time.

5.      A true educator inspires others to see the potential in themselves. Our greatness comes from developing our potential.

6.      When we tell the stories of our own struggles we light a path for others to follow. Create your story so you can share with others.

7.      The future belongs to those who give birth to a new dream before the previous one reaches maturity. Never live another day without a dream.

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

Intelligent or Wise?

Intelligence is not enough

The intelligent person looks for ideas, the wise person creates them. Spring is that time of the year when we ought to release a new version of ourselves. 

1.      Intelligence without hunger is like having a Ferrari without the engine.

2.      Intelligence without common sense is like knowledge without purpose.

3.      Humility without greatness is like having good soil without seeds.

4.      Integrity without courage is like a river without fish.

5.      Imagination without logic is like a GPS without a battery.

6.      Intelligence without kindness is like knowledge without action.

7.      Weeds come naturally even in the best gardens.

Bookshelves decorate a house like flowers decorate a garden.

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

Problem and Solution

We Became the Problem

The leaders in a society are a reflection of who we are. Everything rises and falls on leadership. If we don’t like the current leaders/candidates, then let’s go to the mirror and take a close look at ourselves and our society. Perhaps there we will find the problem. The right solution can only be found once we have correctly defined the problem.

1.      Overall decrease in readership and self-study.

2.      Overall decrease in number of workers and work ethics.

3.      Overall increase in drug use and incarcerations.

4.      Overall decrease in acceptance, approval, and appreciation of others.

5.      Overall increase in complaining, criticizing, and condemning of others.

6.      Overall increase in seeking entertainment and pleasures.

7.      Overall increase in spiritual poverty.

Who is responsible for all the above? We are. Let's take time and take a close look and reflect on the One that paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. The solutions are found there!

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

Self-Education means better future

The Self-Educator

 Continuous self-education has never been so critical to our future.

1.      It takes courage to educate oneself.

2.      Wisdom is the greatest possession we have.

3.      Self-education leads to a life of inner peace.

4.      Great books are weapons of mass education.

5.      Daily nuggets of joyful learning make for a great life.

6.      Those who need the most want to be educated the least.

7.      There is no end to the holding capacity of an open human mind.

8.      True education is about self-study, self-reflection, and self-discovery.

9.      Self-education adds knowledge to your brain and money to your pocket.

10.  A city of voracious readers is a safe and prosperous city with many leaders.

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

Common sense is no longer common

What in the world is going on?

Have we lost our compass?

Common sense is no longer common.

Has the world adopted stupid and stinking thinking?

Imagine a world where:

1.      Work leads to drudgery.

2.      Diversity leads to division.

3.      Incompetence leads to politics.

4.      Terrorism leads to martyrdom.   

5.      Equality leads to incompetence.

6.      Democracy leads to dictatorship.

7.      Mediocrity leads to entitlements.

8.      Education leads to lack of thinking.

9.      Religion leads to spiritual poverty.

10.    Information leads to misinformation.

Are we there yet? Times of trouble are opportunity times for leaders to emerge and lead.

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

How do I go about choosing the next President?

What we are looking for in our next President?

Here is a list of traits of someone fit to be the next president of the United States of America. We are living during times of scarcity of leaders so no candidate is likely to fit the call. However, this list is intended to help you to rate the candidates. Be wise on your choice and do vote for the one with the best CHARACTER, the best track record of RESULTS, and the best ability to build RELATIONSHIPS on a foundation of TRUST. 

1.      Someone with wisdom from experiences and clear vision and with the strength, the courage, and the grit to lead the country out of slippery slide of mediocrity.

2.      Someone with proven experiences of leading others from a clear vision to a better reality.

3.      Someone who truly understands the big picture and will never sell convictions for personal conveniences and gains.

4.      Someone with proven abilities to go against the grain, the status quo, and the promoters of a failed past.

5.      A true visionary and revolutionary leader answering the call to serve society inspiring and protecting the freedom fighters, the producers and the innovators.

6.      Someone who can withstand the resistance from the enemies of excellence, the skeptics, the haters, and the critics who love to occupy and tear down instead of building a better country.

7.      Someone who is an authentic leader and not a fake, someone who can deal with evil promptly and swiftly. 

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

The tsunami is coming; are you ready?

You can withstand the upcoming tsunami?

It is not how much you make; it is what you do with what is left that counts. It all starts by being a saver. Financial illiteracy keeps the poor enslaved by their own ignorance. The wealthy know the money game and they are fit to play in any economic environment. How does one get the EDGE to create wealth in any economy? Read the following and start with step one all the way to step seven. You will then be in a position to withstand the financial tsunami that is coming after this election, no matter who gets in the fancy offices in Washington.  

1.      Financial Fitness. Be financially fit. Get out of debt and stay out of debt. Learn to have fun with your finances by playing the getting out of debt game. Invest more to feed your brain than you spend to feed your stomach. Understand the financial matrix, the monetary system, and how it impacts you. Financial education has never been so critical as it is now.

2.      Long Term Thinking. Be wise with your money. Financial education is the only permanent solution for all the temporary financial problems. Define clear long term financial goals and stay true to them. Always ask the question – will my decisions prove to be good decisions 10 years from now?

3.      Delayed Gratification. If you don’t have the cash to buy you have not earned it yet. Think of debt like you think about cancer; it works against you everyday 24 hour a day. If love instant gratification, you will end up in debt and with many crappy things.

4.      The Power of Compounding. Make sure the power of compounding is working in your favor and not against you. Compare apples to apples. Always look at the total cost of anything, not just the monthly payment.

5.      Taxation. Failing to understand and to take advantage of the tax laws is failing to build wealth. Credible advice in this area it is not only prudent; it is a must if you are to build wealth. Never panic, become a better planner.

6.      Investments. Follow the right investment hierarchy. Build a sizable emergency fund then build a savings fund before considering any sort of investment. Invest in assets and not in liabilities. Invest more and spend less, at least until your assets are outpacing your liabilities by a long shot. Time in is more important than timing markets. Resist the temptation to buy and sell at the wrong times; apply dollar cost averaging.

7.      Diversification. The old advice of not putting all the eggs in one basket is still good today. Diversify your sources of income. Invest in your self-education and in the right business. What used to be secure in the past, a good job with benefits, it is no longer as secure as you think. The best asset to own is an asset that produces income in any economy, and that is a highly self-educated you!

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

Do you ever wonder why?

The Potential and the Reality

From my experiences in dealing with people, the reflections from those experiences in dealing with others, and the learnings from people for over half a century here are some simple nuggets about our Potential and our Reality.

The Potential:

1.      We are all created equal by our Creator.

2.      We are all endowed with many talents and abilities.

3.      We are all called to use our talents and abilities.

4.      We are all presented with opportunities to prosper.

5.      We are all confronted with life’s many problems.

6.      We are all granted the ability to make the right decisions.

7.      We are all possessed with the ability to love and be loved.

The Reality:

1.      Few people think they are inferior to others.

2.      Few people take the time to detect and develop their talents and abilities.

3.      Few people are working on their calling.

4.      Few people recognize the opportunities right in front of them.

5.      Few people become equipped to deal with life’s pressing problems.

6.      Few people take the time to make the right decisions.

7.      Few people dedicate their lives to serve the lovable and the unlovable alike.

Do you ever wonder why?

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."

Can you tell the difference?

Sheep dog or wolf

The people in power are in control, they are well financed, and they don’t want the system to change because the system is rigged in their favor. They are wolves disguised as sheep dogs. The greatest weapon we have to fight the wolves resides in our minds. It is our ability to educate ourselves. We are being enslaved by our own ignorance. It is ok to be a sheep as long as you know you are a sheep and know how to differentiate a sheep dog from a wolf. Choosing excellence or mediocrity is always a deliberate choice. Ignorance happens by itself, just like a garden becomes full of weeds when unattended. An attack to the status quo is required to go from a sheep to a sheep dog. Freedoms are lost slowly at first, then all of a sudden. Freedom is only gained by the shedding of sweat and blood. A nation of sheep without sheep dogs and shepherds does not last for long. Entrepreneurs are the sheep dogs; they are the protectors and propagators of freedom. Many educated derelicts are wolves pretending to be sheep dogs or even shepherds, hauling and demanding justice and equality, when they ought to take a close look at themselves and realize the sheep dogs can spot them from a distance. The wolves are not producers and they only exist to feed on the sheep. There will never be justice without freedom. What we need are many more sheep dogs to fight the wolves instead of feeding on their sheep.

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

I would love the opportunity to share my Nuggets with your audience!

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."