Video: Putting Faith into Action

Motivational Interview with Kevin Bracy

Listen to this interview I conducted with "The Epitome of Motivation", Kevin Bracy.

Get inspired as we talk about his rise to prominence as an internationally recognized speaker, how to discover and develop your talent, and the importance of investing of yourself.

My Interview with Kevin Bracy

Listen to this interview I conducted with "The Epitome of Motivation", Kevin Bracy.

Get inspired as we talk about his rise to prominence as an internationally recognized speaker, how to discover and develop your talent, and the importance of investing of yourself.

Click the link below to listen!

derekfeltonandkevinbracy.mp3

Down Doesn't Have to Mean Out

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela

Let this letter sink into your consciousness like lotion into your skin. Remember it when you're tempted to dwell on all of your mistakes, missteps, and shortcomings. Call it forth when you're about to compare yourself to someone else who you think has more going for themselves than you.

Don't let where you are today determine where you're going to be tomorrow. I was talking with a hero of mine, a gentleman named Willie Crawford. If you've spent significant time online in the last 10 years it's possible that you've heard his name. You may have even purchased one of his products. Willie regularly receives, on average, over $20,000 per month from his online ventures. He said that he might even make more than $100,000 this month alone! Yet, he doesn't run a major company with tons of employees. He runs his operation independently out of his home office. The guy has even written a best-selling cookbook! He is, without question, an Internet marketing "guru".

But, it wasn't always like this. He came from an impoverished family of tobacco farmers in North Carolina. In fact, most of the people that he knew were on welfare. He wasn't surrounded by positive, successful role models that he could learn from. So, how did he go from being down and disadvantaged to being a mega-successful entrepreneur? He realized that everything he had gone through in life were lessons teaching him how to prepare for greatness.

He learned - like we all should - that he is FREE. Free to decide his future. Free to live his purpose. Free to experience goodness. Free to help himself to anything he wants in life.

You have this freedom, too. But, are you going to let not finishing school keep you down? Are you going to let a failed marriage keep you down? Are you going to let bad habits hamper you and keep you from your destiny? Are you going to empower your misgivings? To put it plainly, how many times are you going to fall and stay down?

Just because you have fallen doesn't make you irredeemable. It makes you human. Falling is a part of living. It took me a long time to get to this point. But, I finally, really and truly understand that there is no shame in stumbling.

Failure is not determined by the number of mistakes we make. What matters is how we respond to our indiscretions. Don't let your faults and lapses in judgement become the defining elements in your life. The truth is that you have the final word on whether you make it or not.

In order for us to change the course of our lives we're going to need a combination of acumen, astuteness, cleverness, enterprise, get-up-and-go, industry, initiative, judgment, and resourcefulness. So embrace your humanity, love yourself, and don't give up when you fail - your success might be just around the corner.

5 Very Interesting Quotes

These are a few quotes I got from my buddy, Doug Manning's site at www.reellifewisdom.com.

"The worth of a life is not determined by a single failure or a solitary success.”
The Emperor’s Club (2002) – William Hundert (Kevin Kline)

“Tragedy is a test of courage. If you can meet it bravely, it will leave you bigger than it found you.”
A Star is Born (1937) – Grandma Lettie (May Robson)

“Where the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.”
The Sound of Music (1965) – Maria (Julie Andrews)

“I know what I have to do now, I’ve got to keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?”
Cast Away (2000) - Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks)

“I believe we write our own stories and each time we think we know the end, we don't.”
Little Black Book (2004) – Stacy (Brittany Murphy)

American Idol Contestant: Exhausted All of His Options?

So I'm watching American Idol a few days ago and one of the contestants is voted off the show by the judges. There is always a wannabe singer who acts a fool when she's dissed by Simon Cowell. But, this one guy said, after he got the boot, "What am I going to do next with my life? I can't believe I didn't make it to the next round!" If you would have seen his audition you would've been surprised that he made it as far as he did. But, that's another story. Moving on...

Come to find out, the singer who was having a fit over not making it is only 21 years old. I'd say he has plenty of time to figure out what he's "going to do next." For entertainers, speakers, writers, cops, and just about anything else, there's always more than one way to achieve your goals. For a singer, American Idol is just one of hundreds of ways to make a living as a vocalist.

One of my friends is an actor who has uncovered a gazillion outlets that let her pursue her passion. She has appeared in movies, TV shows, plays, commercials, a "live" CD; created a theater company, acted in live Internet broadcasts, and currently, she's on a luxury cruise ship in Europe performing nightly shows. On top of that, she told me that if she didn't get another gig, she would become a teacher and coach others to theatrical glory.

When you think you've gotten to the point where you're ready to raise the white flag of surrender, ask this question: Have I exhausted all of my options? You see, if there's more that you can do, if there are more opportunities out there, then you owe it to yourself to seek them out.

Other questions to consider are: How badly do I want this? Am I really committed to this journey? What am I willing to sacrifice for this endeavor? Can I live with the sacrifices I may have to make?

It's often in the very process of achieving goals that we forfeit our victory. The danger in giving up too soon is that we never arrive at the place we're supposed to be. Decide today to pursue your dreams with all the energy you have. As my coaches used to tell me, "Leave everything you have on the field today!" Don't give up when you still have something to give! The best is yet to come!

Having Faith: By Kevin Bracy

Picture the day when you are able to wake up after a great nights rest and you are overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude and achievement. The day before you has been planned by you and only you, there are no restraints, no obligations, there will be no rushing, no punching a time-clock...this day will be productive and prosperous.

What a far cry from starting your day by crawling out of bed frustrated, unfulfilled, unhappy, no sense of achievement and not even a hint of gratitude because your day entails doing things that you do not want to do, things that bring you no internal satisfaction. You would rather hide under the covers than face another day full of hard work, money challenges, self image issues and challenging relationships all thanks to you living outside of your purpose.

Getting to the day when you wake up refreshed, renewed and relaxed is not easy; there will be people that laugh at you, that say you are just dreaming, they may even tell you that you will never make it. You will even have days when you doubt yourself, when you think that doing what you love for a living will never become your reality.

Look closely, can't you see the momentum shifting your way? It may not be the wave that you have been hoping for, but I bet if you look you can find at least a hint, a sign of great things to come. Do you notice your revenue increasing? Remember, revenue is not always immediate, sometimes the revenue for the work you do now does not come your way for some time, be patient and keep doing the roadwork, it is coming...now do you see it? Are you noticing the growth? Growth in yourself, in your thoughts, your dreams...your possibility thinking?

FREEDOM, it can be your reality. You don't have to earn your living in a way that leaves you feeling empty, that takes time away from your true passion, from your calling. You can do what you love and get paid for it, you can have a fulfilling and prosperous career that allows you to get excited about all that you get to do each and every day.

How? One word...FAITH...confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, of an idea, confident belief in you. Have the faith to chase your dreams, to take a chance, to make a change in your life and put yourself in the position to help others do the same. Remember, faith is belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence; it is complete confidence...confidence in yourself, confidence in your abilities, confidence in your gifts.

Faith pays off. It just may be the last ingredient you need to empower yourself to live your dreams.

Have Faith. Do you?

By Kevin Bracy www.kevinbracy.com

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

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