It Ain't About Your Feelings!

Do you remember a few months ago when I told you about the rut I was in? I told you about how I didn't feel inspired and didn't want to do the things I was supposed to do. I didn't want to write my newsletter, and I didn't want to speak or train. All because I didn't "feel" it.


I recall telling you that I had a lack of inspiration and that kept me from sharing a positive word with you for a few weeks. It wasn't right for me to penalize you for my "feelings". I realize that you might look forward to these messages on Monday to help you get through your week and when you don't get them you say, "What's up with Derek?"


So, please accept my apology: I'm sorry. But, we're family and I know that you forgive your brother! The truth of the matter is when you're in a position of serving others it ain't about you.
It's about the people you are serving. It's about using your God-given talents to help and uplift others.


It's about you living your purpose. Carrying out the mission assigned to you. We're living in times where we don't have time for fickle people. Or what some back in Chicago might refer to as "sometimey".


We can't afford to straddle the fence anymore. Either I'm all the way in or I'm all the way out.
Your time is limited and there are lots of things (other emails) competing for your attention.
We need folks who are going to be committed.


I often ask you to re-commit to your dreams and to finding a way to bring them into being.
Well, I'm re-committing myself to you. I want to see you get everything that you want. I want to see you living to your greatest glory.


To help you get there I'm going to write more, speak more, and give more.
I'm going to put in the same kind of effort that a Freshman trying to make his varsity football team would.


In order for this to work, this is what I need from you: your continued prayers, well-wishes, and support. And please continue to pass these letters along to those you love and who you want to see be, do, and have more.


Remember that we serve God by serving others.


Derek

Thought of the Day - Show Someone Else Love

It's amazing how a compliment or an act of kindness will change your whole perspective. Statements like "You're doing a great job" or "You have so much potential" or "I believe in you" have so much power. Think about the smile it would put on your face if someone shared those words with you.

So here's my challenge to you. Share those words or something similar with your spouse, a friend, a co-worker, or a church member. It doesn't matter who it is, but say something encouraging to someone else today. Make it a point to do this often. Make it a habit.

Universal laws state that whatever we put out into the universe comes back to us. So make an effort to put sincerity and happiness into the world.

I've had so many people tell me how something I said or wrote touched them. They've shared with me how an optimistic or positive statement gave them the strength to get through bad days. A great thing happens when you show love to another person: acts of love and kindness find their way back to you.

With that said, take this compliment and "love it": I appreciate you. I know that goodness is coming to you and your family today. You deserve it. If you need more proof that good things are supposed to happen for you, download my ebook Brilliance is Your Birthright here.

Love and joy!

Derek

Completely Random Funny Stuff

Missing Element to Your Entrepreneurial Success

Recently I introduced you to a leading transformational teacher who is creating enormous success with the life coaches and entrepreneurs she's working with – her name is Sharon Wilson.

Sharon is on the forefront of teachers today that are sharing what the "Missing Element" is. Her clients report amazing successes beyond logical explanation... and I know you will agree with us – the landscape of business is definitely changing.

Sharon has agreed to do a complimentary (this means FR*EE!) teleconference call on this very "Element" – it happens on Tuesday Jan 29th at 8 p.m. – 9pm ET /5:00- 6:00 p.m. PST. (There will be a special Question and Answer session to jumpstart you to greater success following the class at 9pm-9:30pm ET.) She's calling it "The Missing Element to Your Entreprenurial Success"

I know you will be motivated by what Sharon has to say. As a special bonus for registering for the call you will also get free admission to a very special call the week earlier with Mega success mentor Jack M. Zufelt called: How To Use The Conquering Force Within You to Achieve Maximum Success. . .Quickly"

Listen to Jack as he takes popular beliefs about success like Goal Setting, Daily Affirmations and listening to Motivational Speakers and shows you why they don't work! Then learn what it really takes to be 100% successful in all areas of life and perform at the highest levels possible!

Two powerful mentors in two weeks to ensure your goals in 2008 really happen!

This is all you need this year to be on track and living your vision.

Just register for the fr*ee class and you can get access to this must attend New Year AMP up session today as our gift to you!

Simply sign up here.

We expect at least a thousand people on this call so sign on now!

With your free registration, you will also receive an additional gift from Sharon – her 7 day e-course, "Success From Spirit," which normally sells for $79.95. but she wants you to have it as our gift to you!

If you're looking for elemental strengths to add to your growing business success, I strongly encourage you to get involved in this call. Sharon Wilson has a lot to share, and I know you're going to learn something of significance.

Thanks,

Derek Felton

MLK Personifies Sacrifice

“Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice"- Martin Luther King, Jr.

When we think of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the words that often come to mind are civil rights activist, hero, freedom fighter, great orator, and minister. If you were to scientifically engineer a leader with the ability to inspire people to action and change, without question these would be some of the most essential elements.

But, when I think of MLK one word rings louder than all of the others: sacrifice. Just look at what he gave up for us to have these civil liberties which we're at risk of losing.

Marriages in the spotlight often have to deal with lack of privacy, long periods of separation, gender issues, and temptation. The marriage of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King was no different. It was not uncommon for MLK to be away from home 25 days or more per month. What kind of strain would that put on a college student and his girlfriend, let alone a married couple? There was also conflict between them because Coretta wanted to be more active in the movement rather than just stay home and raise their kids.

MLK didn't just wait around for others to do the work that he was capable of. It's widely known that he was initially resistant to stepping up as a leader. But, once he was into it he kept up the fight. There were many times when he thought about relinquishing his role as a visible leader in the movement to stay in the background. And could you blame him if he had done so? He could have easily gone back to Atlanta, been a preacher or an educator and came home to his family every night. Really, who wants to get beaten with nightsticks, hosed down, thrown in jail, and ridiculed - all in one day? Then turn around and do it again a few days later.

How many of us would be willing to deny our natural instincts to fight back? If you hit me, I'm going to do my best to knock you out. I imagine that you might be the same way. Even as babies we have an innate inclination to protect ourselves when we don't want someone to touch us. Now imagine yourself as a grown person voluntarily letting someone strike you because you believe this is going to be good for your entire country in the long run. I don't know if I could be that committed to non-violent social change.

His gift for arousing an audience with his speeches and his tireless effort are more than admirable. He didn't live to see the fruits that sprang from the seeds he planted. MLK fought for educational equality and now we have more kids than ever who don't even want to go to school. In the 1960's he pushed for bills to be passed that would erase "Jim Crow" and provide equal protection under the law, but in 2008 we have the Jena 6. Dr. King was a champion of dignity and respect, yet we continue to degrade and abuse our women.

As the saying goes, "we have to give up something to get something." For all that he gave up, I wonder if Martin would be happy with what we got.

How to Stand Out at Work

Me and a friend were talking about work yesterday during MLK day. It's amazing how even on holidays when you're supposed to be chillin' "the office" comes up. Anyway, we were discussing what makes a person a superstar at work.

There are may factors that go into it: working somewhere that values your ideas, staying away from gossip, having a supervisor who understands her team member's talents, actually doing work that you're good at, and having the desire to stand out. It also helps if you stay at a job longer than a month!

So if you're looking to get a raise, earn a promotion, get a letter of recommendation to graduate school, or even transfer to a new department as smoothly as possible, here's a list of things I thought might help you:

1. Do work that floats your boat. There is no substitute for actually being passionate about your chosen field. I spent the first 4 years after I graduated from college searching for something that would excite me. No wonder why I was ready to quit almost every job I had less than two months into it.

2. Come with some original ideas. Yeah you can simply sit and wait for your boss to give you something to do. You can also be the best team player in the world. But, if you don't come with some spine-tingling ideas that get you and your boss excited, you'll constantly see other people getting promoted ahead of you.

3. Speak up. Being the cool, quiet person at work who you don't hear a peep from all day might be okay if you're a librarian. But, this rarely gets you anywhere in a corporate setting. Have something relevant to say in meetings; when you see problems, fix them and let your supervisor know.

4. Keep a record of your accomplishments. Yes, your boss saw you take the initiative to change the water cooler. But, what else have you done that you can document? If you helped organize an important event or if your activity has increased your company's sales, make a detailed note of it in your files. When it comes time for your review you'll have a complete dossier of all the good you've done that year.

Do these simple steps and you'll be raking in the dough and movin' on up in no time!

Brilliance is Your Birthright - Free Download Now!

If You've Had Extreme Setbacks in your Career, Health, or Personal Life and You Think You've Been Beaten Up Too Badly to Make a Comeback...YOU'RE WRONG!

BRILLIANCE IS YOUR BIRTHRIGHT:

12 Steps to More Self-Confidence and Courage.

Here's what you'll discover today, inside...

You'll be reminded of how magnificent and unique you are
You'll know how and where to invest your time
You'll learn how to prepare yourself for opportunities
You'll learn how to cultivate optimism despite difficulties
You'll learn the secret to making failure impossible
And Much More...

I'm only offering this ebook as a free download for a limited time. Click the link below to download it now! In pdf. format so it can be read on almost any computer

Brilliance%20is%20Your%20Birthright%21.pdf

Completely Random Funny Stuff

God Don't Make No Junk

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

On the surface I see the blemishes on my skin, the few pounds I want to shed, and a man who has had a lot of successes and disappointments. I'm also looking into the eyes of an imperfect person who wants to be all that he can be, but who sometimes doubts he can ever get there.

But, if I peer in even deeper I can see something else: a man perfectly made in God's image. Growing up my mother used to say "God don't make no junk". Even as a little kid this would make me feel good about myself. It was a reminder that I was significant and that I was loved - whether I knew it or not.

As you get older it's even easier to criticize yourself because you've got a whole lifetime of mistakes to reflect upon. We tend to beat ourselves up for all the things we did that got us in the position we're in. Or for everything we should've done. Those days are gone. We can't get them back.

But, what if we just took some time everyday to appreciate who we are and what we have? How much better would we feel? How much more could we love ourselves?

How much more aware of our gifts would be be? How much more could we give to this world that needs us?

When we don't show ourselves love we're doing ourselves a disservice. We've been blessed with so much that we must open our eyes and see our goodness. There's a difference between humility and being self-depricating. Making negative statements about our appearance or abilities indicate, more often than not, problems with our self-image and self-esteem.

Here are a few tips for loving and recognizing ourselves as masterpieces:

1. Nourish and care for your body. Eat healthy foods and exercise regularly. This will do wonders for your confidence, give your more energy, and an edge. In the long run you'll be more productive, have a clearer mind, and, potentially, live longer. A simple change can be eating a piece of fruit with your lunch instead of those greasy french fries.

2. Taking breaks and having fun. each week you should set aside time for a "play date". Author Julia Cameron recommends doing something that is either creating, unusual, or even mindless. This can include going to a play, dancing, or take a sculpting class. Let's face it, we all think way to much about our problems. This will be a welcome diversion from the mundane aspects of our lives.

John Wooden's Success Principles

If there's anyone we can learn principles of success from, it's John Wooden. Wooden is the legendary former head coach of UCLA's men's basketball team. During his 40 years as a coach Wooden compiled four undefeated seasons of 30-0, won 19 conference championships, had an NCAA record 88 game winning streak, and captured an unprecedented 10 NCAA championships, including seven consecutive from 1966-1973.

Here are seven success principles created from the "Wizard of Westwood".

1. Be Quick but not in Hurry
2. Be at Your Best When Your Best is Needed
3. Don't be Afraid of Failure, but Learn From It
4. Practice Self-Discipline and Keep Your Emotions Under Control
5. Be observant and Eager to Learn and Improve
6. Be Interested in Finding the Best Way, not in Having Your Own Way
7. There is no Substitute for Work

Inspirational words from a NIKE Commercial

Sooner or later, you start taking yourself seriously.
You know when you need a break.
You know when you need a rest.
You know what to get worked up about and what to get rid of.
And you know when it's time to take care of yourself, for yourself.
To do something that makes you stronger, faster, more complete.
Because you know it's never too late to have a life.
And never too late to change one.

Just Do It!

10 Qualities To Help You Reach Your Dreams

Looking at successful people, like actor Harrison Ford, author Maya Angelou, singer Gloria Estefan, and cyclist Lance Armstrong, we wonder: How did they do it? How did they achieve their phenomenal success? It starts with a dream, a deep-seated, heartfelt desire. Then, if you can steadfastly hold onto any of these 10 qualities, you will be on your way.

Harrison Ford wanted to be an actor so badly that even a short-sighted studio producer could not discourage him. After Ford’s film debut playing a bellboy with one line to say (“Paging Mr. Jones, paging Mr. Jones,”) the producer took him aside to tell him he didn’t have what it takes to be a true actor. “You ain’t got it, kid!”

Click here to keep reading

Man Loses 400 Pounds without Surgery!

A courageous journey of personal transformation, fueled by friendship and the ability to trust after so many years, a man is able to lose 400 pounds. He is now best friends with his trainer, fitness correspondent for Good Morning Arizona, Chris Powell.

Four and half years ago, David Smith weighed more than 630 pounds. He had spent nearly a decade on the couch in his parents' house eating pizza, raiding the fridge, and drinking soda. For much of his life he said he "felt like the elephant man."

Today Smith is enjoying life and the inspiration he gives others.

Click here to read more

S. African Entrepreneur's Success Lessons

He was always an A student.

"I went to school without shoes. I knew I had to work hard to make sure I got a better life," says the serious young man in shiny loafers and a well-pressed blazer, owner of a small computer repair and sales company.

But why him? Why has Terrance Mohlala made it when so many others like him in South Africa – one of the least entrepreneurial nations in the world – have not?

Click here to find out

Op-Ed: Daring To Hope, Obama in Iowa

(OP-ED) I heard my first political speech of the '08 presidential race on the car radio today. Four years ago I was so intensely invested in who won the presidency that I flew to Iowa and stood in sub-zero temperatures to volunteer for the Dean for America campaign.

Dean's enthusiastic "screaming" into a crowded hall (filled with deafening noise) where we, his most fervent fans, were gathered (after having just lost Iowa), caused him to lose in other states and the campaign that once fed my political heart, caused it to break.

Today I listened to Barack Obama, and choked up with hope, decided I'd write in a moment when hope is still possible for me. The causcuses in Iowa have not yet begun. No concession speeches have tried to fire up a room where the flame has gone out.

Click here to read more

Fostering Success After Foster Care

For youth “aging out” of the foster care system at age 18, thrust out on their own, homelessness or crime can be a consequence of efforts to support themselves. Now, a service in Milwaukee gives young adults the guidance, financial assistance, and occasional “kick in the butt” needed to move their lives forward in a positive direction.

James Pekrul, Executive Director and Founder of the Foster Youth Independence Center in Milwaukee knows what it's like to be dumped on the street unprepared at 18. A product himself of a series of Milwaukee foster homes, he says, "I never thought anything positive would come from my experiences in foster care, but I guess we are all capable of finding some good in something that is broken."

Click here to read more

Cornell West on Achieving Greatness

Psychologists now know what makes people happy

The happiest people surround themselves with family and friends, don't care about keeping up with the Joneses next door, lose themselves in daily activities and, most important, forgive easily.

Click here to read more...

Community Heroes #1 - John Fuller Wins MLK Award

At the 26th Annual Johns Hopkins Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 11th, 2008, The Johns Hopkins Hospital's diversity and equal employment opportunity (EEO) officer John Fuller received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Community Service in 2007.

Keynote speaker Rev. Al Sharpton presented Fuller with the award, which is reserved for distinguished faculty, staff, graduate students and retirees of The Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins Hospital/Health Systems whose spirit of volunteerism and citizenship reflect that of Dr. King.

Fuller's volunteer resume is long and diversified. He has organized food bank and clothing drives for two Native American Reservations and assisted with personal tax returns and emergency funding.

Click here to read more...

Someday It'll All Make Sense

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. - Proverbs 4:7

A relationship that was once good went bad. A business that had potential to grow prosperous failed. Health issues that arose unexpectedly and had you questioning why this was happening to you. Maybe a loved one who you were just hanging out with has suddenly passed on.

When these things happen we want to know why. In fact, we want all the answers right then and there.

But, even more than answers, we want relief. We want a cure for whatever is causing our pain.

You may have even prayed and meditated about it over and over again. Pleading with God to give you the reasons why your life seems to be going downhill.

You say, "I'm a good person who has always treated people with respect. I'm not perfect but I do my best to live right. Why am I going through this?"

You pray, wait, question, and even cry as you seek clarity.

What my experience has shown me is that I rarely get the answers I want right then and there.

There's usually a maturation process that has to take place for you to truly understand what's happening.


Rarely do our issues go away in an instant. It often takes a while for us to learn.
Your education canprove to be quite intensive with many lessons along the way.

Sometimes there needs to be a behavior change. Other times we must shift our thinking in order to really grasp what life is showing us.

And then, even after there has been a behavioral and mental adjustment, it just takes time.

If you're like me, you're probably a little impatient. But, I've found that time has made me wiser and a better decision-maker.

Just keep holding on to your faith. Know that that God is with you.

I know very few people (myself included) who are actually in a place in their lives that they thought they'd be a few years ago.

Our lives have gone in a direction that seems to be off course.

But, if you get anything out of this letter, get this: Wherever you are in life is where you're supposed to be.

Don't be sad about it. Don't fret over it. You took certain actions that got you to where you are and there were other actions you didn't take.

That's all in the past now, it is what it is, and you can't change it. Just continue to press forward knowing that things will improve.

The pieces of the puzzle will eventually come together. And one day you'll understand why things are the way they are.

Derek

I have Bad News and I have Good News

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I know that depending on the day and what kind of mood you're in that your answer might change.

But, if I asked you this question every day for a year would your attitude sway more toward having a positive or a negative outlook?

Recent events have challenged my view of the world.

At an event for young professionals, I overhead a group talking about how HIV and AIDS is increasing at an alarming rate in the African-American community, especially among women.

Four other people discussed how we knew about global warming for over 50 years and did almost nothing about it, and yet another group focused on the plight of public school education and how institutions throughout the country are worsening.

Later that week at a conference, a panel of experts gave further evidence of how turbulent times are. 1 billion people in the world live on less than $1 a day; entertaiment and technology entities such as the music business and MySpace are spreading materialism, apathy, and nihilism; and young men in inner cities are worse off now than ever before because of the declining number of fathers and a lack of guidance and mentoring.

These meetings took their toll on me. I left the functions feeling both more informed and more pessimistic about the world. I questioned if we (the world) are really spinning out of control towards an imminent destruction.

Events like the ones I attended aren't isolated. We have these conversations all the time at work, in the barbershop, on the train, and elsewhere.

Yes, we have issues. But, there had to be someone somewhere tackling the problems we hear about all the time.

I was determined to uncover some good news. For my own sanity I needed to make a case for OPTIMISM.


Here's a short list of social entrepreneurs and activists I discovered who are causing systemic change across critical issue areas, including the environment, institutional responsibility, health, peace, social and economic equity, and human rights.
Kiva - A site for international micro investing. See in some parts of this world the dollar is still worth alot and a small amount can go quite a long way to change a persons life. On the site you will see folks from all over the globe looking for small bits of help to finance a new washing machine or cart or seeds for crops. Loans can be made for as little as $25. Visit them at www.kiva.org.

WITNESS - A Web site where individuals can upload videos that expose human- rights violations. Footage can be uploaded from cell phones and other mobile devices, allowing immediate posting of user-generated content. Visit them at www.witness.org.

Majora Carter - Founder of Sustainable South Bronx, a health and environmental agency dedicated to addressing land-use, energy, transportation, water and waste policy, and education in order to advance the environmental and economic rebirth of the New York borough. Find out more at www.ssbx.org.

Mimi Silbert - Founder of The Delancey Street Foundation, a residential education center where drug addicts, criminals and the homeless learn to lead productive, crime-free lives. It has been called the most successful rehabilitation project in the United States. Find out more about her at www.delanceystreetfoundation.org.

I could give you tons of other examples, but you get the point. There are people all over the world doing the work to make the world safer, cleaner, and healthier.

Instead of being paralyzed by the big picture they measure success one project at a time.

They are optimists who believe in the power of the human spirit to overcome obstacles.

What do you believe in?

Derek

Others Don't Determine Your Destiny

I've written to you several times over the last year about being aware of your self-talk and living your purpose .

A few weeks ago I told you about an incident that occurred where I talked myself out of a potentially great opportunity.

While I might have missed out on the chance to work with an influential man who has done great things, I haven't missed out on my chance at greatness.

The truth is that no one person, other than you, can determine where you end up in life. Your boss might fire you, but it's up to you to bounce back and find another job. Your coach might cut you from the team but it's on you to get back in the gym and work on your game.

Success or failure in life is a result of cumulative decisions that you make. Yes, God, the universe, and other people work with you, but it is you who was given free will to choose to be who you are.

Yeah, there may have been people in your life who hated on you and second-guessed every move you made.

But, the dreams and goals that live in you were planted there by an unlimited Creator, not by people with limited vision.

If one person doesn't like your idea for a business does that mean you shouldn't do it? Of course not! Many of the most successful enterprises in the world - like Microsoft, Apple, Mc Donald's, and the whole hip- hop culture - were initially discouraged by those in "power" who said that their ideas "would never work" or were "stupid".

C'mon, look at YouTube and Myspace! People are becoming stars and getting book and TV deals from creating silly videos and songs. NONE of us ever thought that would happen!

Let's put the responsibility where it belongs - on ourselves. Most people go through life blaming someone else or life's circumstances when things don't go right.


I'm not trying to discourage you from listening to good counsel, however we need to take back our power. We can't let other people's negativity get into our heads.
I'm also not saying that the criticisms of our family and friends don't affect us, but we must stay strong and learn to look inward toward God when other men are trying to bring us down.

Never fear, though, because I have two simple solutions to help us have extraordinary futures, gain more control over our lives, and determine our destinies:

Read and get started.

The first simple change is to get on a reading program. In the next few years you will be the sum total of what you put in your mind. If what you are allowing into your mind on a regular basis is not in harmony with where you want to be in the future you may want to make some changes.

I could quote you some recent studies that speak to how little we read nowadays and how it affects our well-being, but I'll hold off on that. If you want the info email me and I'll send it to you.

What we focus on expands in our lives. If we put positive information into our minds we can more easily block out naysayers and increase our chances of attracting positive circumstances.

Too many people spend their lives "getting ready" to do something or waiting for the time to be "just right" before they will initiate a change of course in their lives. Yes, I know getting started is not always so simple and can be the most difficult and scary thing.

I've got news for you: the time is never perfect. You're never going to have 100% of the answers so you may as well get going.

You don't have to skydive into getting started. Just take baby steps. But, get it crackin'! (If you want to know more about how to do this, email me and I'll send you the "1% Rule" newsletter from September.)

That's pretty much it. Sounds very simple, right?

Just remember, when other folks are shooting your plans and ideas down and the doubt is creeping in, you are who God says you are!

Derek