Anita's Video Blog #2 for January 20, 2010

Ready, Set, Goals - Day 11: Are Your Dreams Non-Negotiable?

Your dreams are priceless. Success in achieving your goals depends in large part to the value you place on your goals and dreams. What is the amount of money you would take in place of your dreams?
That is a critical question because it determines at what price point you will say, “Dreams, they never come true anyways.”

People come up with a gazillion excuses as to why they have not yet realized or at least started toward their dreams.






Some of the more famous excuses are…

“I don’t have the time.”

“I don’t have the money.”

“I could never do that, it was just a dream.”

“I’ll do it when I get older.”

“I’ll do it when the kids are grown up.”

“There’s no money in it.”

“What would people think.”

“I’m too old now, I should have done it when I was younger.”

“I have a family to support.”

                      …and on and on the list goes.


A Small Price on His Birthright: The Story of Jacob and Esau (Gen 25:20 - 28:5)

Esau and Jacob were twin brothers. Esau was the oldest by a few minutes, so he was entitled to the birthright and inheritance. But his brother Jacob was their mother’s favorite son. She came up with a plan to help Jacob buy the birthright from his brother Esau.

Jacob made some lentil soup and when his brother Esau had returned home after working very, very hard, he asked Jacob for some lentil soup. Jacob agreed to give him some lentil soup if he would give up his birthright. Esau was so hungry that he agreed to give up his birthright, his inheritance for a bowl of lentils.

Esau sold his birthright for a measly bowl of lentils. That was his price. That is what he was willing to take in exchange for his dream. But there is a second part to the story. Although Jacob had bought the birthright he still needed the blessing of his father Isaac.

Jacob’s mother helped him disguise himself as Esau. You see Esau was a very hairy man so Jacob’s mother helped him cover himself with hair and she also prepared his fathers favorite meal. Now with his disguise and meal in hand, Jacob went in unto his father who could barely see.

His father was suspicious because Jacob didn’t sound like Esau. His father reached over and felt his arms and thanks to the disguise, Jacob fooled his father and received the blessing. You can imagine that when Esau found out he was highly upset. In fact, he wanted to kill Jacob.

Jacob’s had to flee for his life. Jacob had the birthright and the blessing, but he had to give up everything to get them. Esau sold his birthright and lost the blessing because one night he was hungry.

What will you take in exchange for your dream?

Like Esau many sell their dreams for a meal, or a meal ticket. They give up on their dreams for a secure (not so much anymore) job. A job is fine if it’s your DREAM Job. Maybe you always dreamed of being a doctor or a teacher or a nurse. Then by all means go for your dream job.

Now that you have identifies your goals and dreams you must develop and determination and perseverance to accomplish them. Again, most people get this far and not much farther. The purpose of the series is to,

Help you Identify your goals and dreams, and to declare Why you want to achieve them, then to Expect to achieve and finally, take Action towards achieving them.

Yes, there will be challenges and days you just want to take the easy road. There will be days you wish you could just win the lottery and buy your dreams. But the truth is you cannot buy your dreams either.

If you go out and somehow artificially but your dreams you deprive yourself of the journey and the person you will become as a result of going for your dreams. True success cannot be bought, it must be earned. Jacob bought the birthright but he still needed to earn the blessing, and he only got that by deception too. That is why God changed his name from Jacob, which means deceiver, to Israel.

Do not deceive yourself into thinking that you can live a “life on purpose” while denying yourself of “your purpose in life.”

This is a step that many people skip in setting goals. And it is a major reason they do not ever reach those goal. A resolution is a promise to change something in your life that you are not satisfied with, whereas a goal or dream is a passionate desire to fulfill your right to an abundant life. In other words, you seek a lifestyle change. You seek purpose and value and meaning in your life.

What is the most famous new years resolution? I think it is “This year I’m going to lose weight.” Of course there are others like stop smoking, stop drinking, read more, spend more time with kids, etc.

Now the reason this resolution does not make it into February is because it is not attached to some greater purpose. That is why I spent so much time having you declare your WHY. Why is it your goal or dream? Your why has to be strong, unbreakable, non-negotiable.

People will try to negotiate you out of your dreams. They do this for selfish reasons and if you probe long enough you will discover it to be thus. Watch out for negative people who will try to make you feel silly for having a dream.

I know some of you might be thinking, yes, but you do not know what it’s like living with so and so, or working at such and such company, or being broke or losing a loved one, or, or, or…

I do know what most of those situations are like, but I also know I had a choice to accept them and remain in bondage to them, or to overcome them and use them as building blocks for reaching my dreams and accomplishing my goals.

"Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them."  ~Einstein

If you think your problems are holding you back – then they certainly will hold you back all of your life.

But if you think of your problems as experiences and opportunities to climb to great heights in success, personal growth, quality of life and dream builders, then they will certainly be that for you.

I know this is the hard part. That is why I will be with you every step of the way. Each week I will send you a reminder to keep moving forward. In that reminder will be testimonials, motivation, Inspiration, insight, tips, ideas and resources to keep you on track.

You need to subscribe to my weekly newsletter, “The Goal-Getters”

You assignment is to catch up on any of the previous post and/or sit back and visualize what your new life will be like. Use all five senses and really imagine your amazing new life with your goals accomplished and your dreams realized. Again, be specific and see it as clearly as you can. Smile and breathe deeply and think thoughts of gratitude.

Ready, Set, Goals - Day 8: Get Passionate About Your Goals

Your goals are your goals and it is up to you to get passionate enough about them to succeed. Realizing your dreams and achieving your goals take passion and you will need to fire up that passion again and again.
Here is an affirmation to help keep you passionate about your goals...

I am passionate about my goals.

My passion drives me forward to live the life of my dreams. I know what I want in life and set goals to get me there. I know that each goal I achieve brings me in union with what I desire. I feel truly invigorated with each success!

Meeting a goal, no matter how big or small, strengthens my confidence and self-esteem. I enjoy these feelings and strive to receive them as often as possible.

Setting and achieving goals is a never-ending circle of positivity that fuels my passion even more. My passion encourages me to persevere over obstacles and it is replenished and increased with every goal I complete.

My passion enables my success. I use tools to ignite and refuel my passion on a daily basis, even when I face challenges that try to smother it.

My tools include affirmations to transform negative thoughts into positive ones, meditation to relax and rejuvenate my energy, prayer to connect my spirit with the Highest Power Source - Jesus, and notes and pictures to inspire and remind me of my goals.

Today, I choose to feel inspired by my passion and let the excitement propel me forward to achieve my goals, regardless of any challenges that may arise.


Action Questions:
Don't just read them, answer them and then put action behind them. DO Them!

Do Something. Do Anything, but don't just sit there hoping your goals will be achieved...See That They Are!


1. Am I passionate about my goals?


How badly do you want change?

What are you willing to give up (what bad habits) to achieve your goals?

What is the alternative if you do not reach your goals and live your dreams?

I’ll repeat it here again, but in a different way.


We talked about the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" with James Stewart where he got a chance to see what the world would be like if he had never been born. This time I want you to imagine what Your Life will be like if you do not go after your dreams and reach your goals.

"Your most valuable asset can be your willingness to persist longer than anyone else." ~ Brian Tracy

"At the worst, a house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived." ~Dame Rose Macaulay,


2. Where can I find additional inspiration?

I would start with the BIBLE!

Then there are quotes to inspire and encourage.

"We can draw lessons from the past, but we cannot live in it." ~Lyndon B. Johnson

“If 2009 was the year to survive then let's make 2010 the year to thrive!” ~@leadtoday

"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." ~George S. Patton

“Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there.” ~ Author Unknown

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person s determination.” ~Tommy Lasorda

"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents." ~Andrew Carnegie


I could go on and on. But do you feel the motivation starting to rise within you? Just reading those quotes you start to thinking, “Yes, I can do this. I will succeed.”


And so you shall!


Motivational, inspirational and educational CDs are great to listen to, especially while driving. Turn your car into a university on wheels.


Other like-minded, success striving, abundant living people. Careful here though- stay clear of negative people who will pull you down to where they are and where they intend to stay - mediocrity. You are above average. You are an Over-Comer. You are an Abundant Life Living Person. Why would you take advice from your broke and dead-end job friends and family?

A great place to meet other people realizing their dreams are networking groups and seminars.


3. What task can I achieve today to fuel my passion and get me back on track toward my goals?

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” ~Robert Collier

Make up your mind you WILL Succeed! It first starts with a decision. Then you must believe it is going to happen. EXPECT IT!

Write down your goals and review them often, at least once month. Tweak, adjust, modify, change, and re-purpose your goals as often as you need to.

Get training and/or coaching from those who are where you want to be.

Pray! And if you Pray, don't doubt or worry. If you are going to worry-no need to pray because you are showing that you do not really believe "That With God ALL Things Are Possible"


4. The Greatest Motivator of ALL!

I have found that the greatest motivator of all is to GIVE. Go out there and be a blessing to as many people as you can, as often as you can. Helping others, especially people who cannot in any way contribute to your business or help you in reaching your goals, will set in motion events that will help you in your business and in reaching your goals.

It's the Law of the Harvest: You will reap what you sow. So sow goodness and kindness.

"An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves." ~Lydia M. Child

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." ~Ann Landers

BE a Go Giver!




Exercise 12:



Over the next several days I want you to go over or complete your previous exercises. I know I keep harping on being crystal clear on your goals, dreams, purpose, because the last four sections of this series will be dedicated to action steps. You do not want to put action behind something you do not desire to do.

Get out there, get out of the nest of comfort and ease, spread your Wings and Soar to the Land of Possibility!!!



Go for the most Amazing Life you can. Period.

How To Possess The Overcoming Courage of The Lion

Possess - to have as an attribute, knowldge or skill.

I am writing this in response to a dear friend I met on twitter who has a son with visual spatial thinking style. She asked if I could give some quotes on overcoming challenges, so this is for her and anyone else who needs encouragement to overcome a challenge.

Have ever seen a lion timidly go after its prey? Once the chase is on, the lion has full courage, complete control over the situation, determination, skill, knowledge and desire. Even if it doesn't catch its target- it knows that tomorrow is another day and the chase will be on again with the same courage and determination. When the lion is on the chase, the only who is afraid is the one being chased. Stop being chased by your fears, turn it around, and start chasing your fears, challenges, dreams, goals, etc. with the knowledge and courage and sound mind God has given you.


Do you really know and believe How Great, Almighty, and All Powerful God Is? If you do then start living VICTORIOUSLY! If you don't, then get to know and believe this about God so you can be an OVERCOMING LION!!!

Robert Schuler said, “Most people who succeed in the face of seemingly impossible conditions are people who simply don’t know how to quit.”

The Lion of Judah - He is the Great I Am!

So then meeting a challenge is really about courage, and courage is about faith, and faith is about courage, which is about meeting the challenges of life head on and having no fear or doubts that whatever the outcome, God has it all in control. So Rejoice!

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and a sound mind.” ~II Timothy 1:7

Fear just means that one has a lack of confidence. So to overcome a challenge, if you can just get your confidence up, you will have the courage and the strength to overcome every challenge.

So How Can We Increase Our Confidence?

To increase confidence you have to increase your knowledge and understanding. If you have a deep and profound knowledge, understanding and relationship with God and his Word (the Bible), then you should have great faith, faith to move mountain and overcome challenges.

Definition of “COURAGE” ~ ability to conquer fear or despair: bravery, valor, and fearlessness, guts, heart, and nerve, stoutness, lionhearted, gallant, undaunted & valiant.

Definition of “CHALLENGE (Challenged)” ~ A stimulating or interesting task or problem; a summons to a duel; presented with difficulties.

Take a close look at the above definitions of the two words “courage” and “challenge”

Now let’s turn around a challenge into an opportunity. Here is how we will do it. First we will take some words from the definition of courage and then combine them with some words from the definition of challenge and come up with a POWER PHRASE of FAITH!

I have lionhearted ability to conquer every difficulty that comes my way.

With my heart and gallant ability I conquer every duel life throws at me.

I see a problem coming my way and I meet it head on with fearlessness and undaunted faith to overcome it quickly.

How I Build Courage and Faith in my Life is by doing the following activities:

First I get courage and faith from the Bible. In its pages that, “all things are possible” and “you are more than a conqueror” and “you can do all things through Christ” and “you can mount on wings as eagles and soar”

And the next most important way I build and keep a courageous attitude is by surrounding myself with other people who are courageous and successful and over comers. They are my pastors, mentors, mastermind teams, family and friends. They are people like you who I meet on the various social media sites.

Then I also get courage from reading stories of others who have overcome great challenges like, “Helen Keller” and “Sojourner Truth” and “Abraham Lincoln” and common folk from every walk of life. I like to read biographies of over comers such as these.

My faith and courage increases each time I attend church and hear a sermon and fellowship my church family.

And then I read only empowering and encouraging books. I listen to only empowering, encouraging and inspirational music and programs. I watch almost no television at all and when I do watch an occasional movie or show, it too has to be empowering, encouraging and, or inspirational.

You have keep negative music, programs, shows, movies and people at a great distance. Because what you put before your eyes, what you allow your ears to hear, the type of places you visit, all influence your COURAGE METER.

If your COURAGE METER on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being lowest and 10 being highest) is on the lower end then you have to start putting in More Encouraging tidbits into your life and start removing discouraging influencers from your life.

Examine your environment, CDs, DVDs, TV Programs, Newspapers, Magazines, Books, etc. and if the majority of them do not uplift and have a positive or motivational or inspiration message, then out they go as quickly as you can get to a trash can.

This excerpt by John Bailey from his book, A Diary of Private Prayers sums it up pretty well.

Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.


Let me use disappointment as material for patience.


Let me use success as material for thankfulness.


Let me use suspense as material for perseverance.


Let me use danger as material for courage.


Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering.


Let me use praise as material for humility.


Let me use pleasures as material for temperance.


Let me use pains as material for endurance.

End quote.

My parting words of encouragement are to…

Keep Smiling…

Thomas Edison said, “If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”

Keep Going Forward…

Martin Luther King said, “If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But by all means keep moving.”

Keep Using Your Challenges as Stepping Stones to Victory…

Bernice Winter said, “If you’re lying in a hospital be looking at the monitor that is recording your vital signs, you want to see peaks and valleys, not a flat line. Get excited about those curves that life throws you – those peaks and valleys. It means you’re alive and still in the game.” (from page 326 of Cash In A Flash by Mark Victor Hansen & Robert G. Allen)

Keep Looking To The Hills To Where Our Strength Comes From…

Exalting His Name…

We Have Overcome! Halellujah, Hallelujah!

Copyright 2009 Anita Crawford Clark   All Rights Reserved Worldwide