I wrote these tips 2 years ago, as a part of some career targeting that I was doing at that time. I followed my own tips and they have worked wonderfully. Consider these points to enliven your own career enhancement and direction…

1- Develop your future goals around confidences you hold so deeply, that opposition or difficulty can not take them from you.!

     To be quite honest, I have had my share of overwhelming odds stacked against me. But my conviction is so strong about my future career goals that I will not give up. I am determined.

       Yes, you guessed it. That is my second point.

 2- If you firmly decide on something that you want to do; apply the focused power of repeated determination to see it through. 

      Remember these great examples of how determination paid off, to stimulate your own courage:

– – Charles Schultz (Peanuts) had every cartoon he turned in rejected by his high school yearbook staff.

– – Gone With the Wind was rejected by 38 publishers.

– – 12 publishing houses rejected J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter manuscript.

– – It is said that Walt Disney was turned down 302 times, before finding financing for his dream of creating Walt Disney World.

     These great mentioned leaders were so compelled with determination that adversities were not even remotely, considered as a reason for stopping. They were Pregnant with the Possibilities of their vision and could not be dismayed, from completing their goals.

      And that brings us to point number three.

 3- Develop and articulate your vision so thoroughly that growth must happen as powerfully, as the natural miracle of a seed pushing through the dirt. 

     If you are not Pregnant with Possibility of your pursuits? Then how do you expect to sell others on your ideas?

     As a young child, when the neighbors dog died; they asked me to do the funeral message for their dog; because they knew I was a good speaker. In elementary school, I had the leading role in a school play, because it was clear that I loved to speak. When I was a pre-teen, I won a speech contest, with a speech entitled. “This I believe.” My topic was the dangers of pollution and what we can do about them. This speech, even as a 10 or 11-year-old was motivated by my speaking passion. This passion helped me to achieve 1st place for my community, in that Optimist Oratorical contest.

     In Junior High School, I was the announcer for a community wide event sponsored by the PTA at my school; because I was entertaining to listen to and recognized as a good speaker.  In High School I was asked to MC a Christian event in a local stadium, to raise funds for local youth projects. And as a senior, I had the leading role in my high school play, of Thomas Wolfe’s Our Town. [Yes, I got to kiss Emily. ]

     I could go through my whole adult career and tell you how I spoke and made a difference in many, many places and ways. How I preached in many churches. How I lead groups of salesmen and distributor teams in training groups, all over the southeast. How I presented a marketing presentation in Europe that had them beating on the tables, wanting more. And on and on the story could go.

     The bottom line is; I like to share my speaking abilities with other’s, like a frog likes to jump or a bird likes to sing. It is intrinsic to my nature. Woe is me, if I do not!  Which brings me to point number four.

4- Commit your career path to something you were clearly designed to do; to a talent that you plainly possess. Focus your aim, where you have great likelihood of success. (Yes, point 1 & 4 are related.)

     Republishing these 7 points is a way to let my aspirations and experience in this area, encourage and inspire you also, in the achievement of your own goals.

     I love to motivate, encourage, enrich, lift, enhance, elevate, and inspire the lives of others. I get great joy out of service. Which brings me to point number five.

5- Life is not just about you. Decide on a career path that allows you to help others.

Marinate and meditate on that statement for a moment. Life is not just about you. Decide on a career path that allows you to help others.

     If you live a hundred years, it will still be a short time. I have heard it said that time goes fast, when you are having fun. Yet, I have found that time just goes fast, period (fun or or no fun!) Do not waste your life on pursuits that are only self serving. Leave something behind that will benefit others. Do not live only, for a shell of materialism and greed. Let your desire to do something significant in your life, cause you to grow into an altruistic person; a benevolent person: a person who helps others. Be someone who leaves a legacy of love behind you. And then, even though time is short; your time will matter. Your life will make a difference.

      This knowing that time is short brings me to point number 6.

6- You do not know how long you have. So, start now. There is no time to waste, in getting started.

     “Slam” is my nickname, because my style is wide open! And that is generally how I go after things. To think in basketball terms. Full court press! To think in football terms. Blitzing every down!

     My life path is now centered around growing my authorship and key-note speaking endeavors. I have been and am, growing exponentially in my experience and professional career.

     But even the best kite has to launched in the air to fly. And that brings me to point number seven.

7 – Plan your launch and execute. You can not fly, if you do not get off the ground.

    Plans don’t work, unless you work them. Do your diligence on the drawing board. But take your good plans off theory table and put them to work on the practice field.   That is what I am doing now and will continue to do, in the upcoming 2015-2016 calendar years.

     Take these 7 points as more than a guideline. Take them as a call to action. Do your diligent planning and then get to work, on making your plans come true. Remember, the hardest step is the first one. Good luck and Get started, in your own career revitalization! May God help you make your good dreams come true!

Have you considered using “Slam” as a Power-House speaker at your next event? 336-688-7538