Letter From The Publisher
Dear Friend:
I’m sure we’ve all experienced what most of us like to call an “aha moment” or two in our lifetimes. Oftentimes, we experience those moments when listening to others speak about their own experiences.
Can we benefit from the wisdom of others? Of course.
Sometimes it only takes a few words to help us realize we need to take a different direction in our lives or that there is a better way of doing things. It is often said that wisdom comes from experience, especially those experiences that teach us when to change our path or direction.
We often hear people talk about their perspectives on life, or how they overcame a challenge or an adversity and we think, “Wow, why didn’t I think of that approach?” or we may say “Maybe that’s an approach I should consider” or even, “Maybe I need to change my perspective about an issue I’m experiencing.”
The insights we will present to you by the extraordinary people is this issue; however, go well beyond experiencing those “aha moments.” They make us think about how we view our lives. They also make us contemplate how we can change our perspectives about ourselves and life in general, so we can be more and achieve more.
That is why we decided to publish this extra-special issue. We want to share some words of wisdom with you, as well as some priceless perspectives from those who have learned from extraordinary challenges they’ve encountered and overcame. There are even some lessons from those people who have discovered a better approach to life and business.
We want you to think about beginning the New Year with a new attitude and a new direction. We hope you become inspired to envision and experience new ways of doing things, and if you’re on the right path, we want to encourage you to continue down that path with a renewed vision.
Wishing you a year filled with new goals, great results and many blessings,
Sincerely,
Exceptional People Magazine is not just a magazine. It is a life-changing experience.
Extraordinary Profiles
“Pursue your passion. Nothing replaces the hard work and dedication it requires to achieve. Enjoy the journey and adventure along the way. Help others. Do the right thing. You'll feel the joy and it will bring you peace and happiness.”
“Know the truth of who you are, and that you are a truly amazing being with infinite potential. The infinite potential lies within your imagination, in the inner vision and in your ability to envision a thing before it exists. If you can just see it, keep seeing it and believe it, and you’ve got a feeling, a sensation of what it’s like to experience that thing, it is said that you will unleash a whirlwind of life into the universe.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“We have within us the power to fly. Jesus said, ‘What I can do, you too can do,’ and so my advice would be to not limit yourself, and don’t allow other people to limit you. You have the power to fly. Just lift your wings and fly.”
“Remember this. Your smile is the first thing people notice about you and the last thing they remember about you, so keep it on.”
“Pick something that’s important to you that doesn’t directly benefit you ‐ it can be a career; it can be something to do out of the goodness of your heart. Do it because it makes you happy, and not because you receive any gain from it. Go farther than you thought you could, and continue until you see tangible results. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but commit to something that’s larger than you. Be willing to sacrifice. Be willing to give up your comfort zone. Go farther than people think you can, and definitely go farther than you think you can.”
“Make sure you have a compelling vision of what you want to create ‐ something that’s much bigger than yourself. Know why you want to create it by asking yourself how it is going to impact others and what need it is filling in the world.”
“Love yourself above all others. If you don’t love yourself, love others with all your might, and you will find you’ll begin to generate that same love for yourself. Love yourself, forgive yourself, cherish yourself, and be kind and gentle to yourself. That is the real secret to a happy life.”
“Remember that everybody stands on somebody’s shoulders and nobody, but nobody, gets anywhere alone.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“God is good all the time, no matter how things look on the outside. God lives inside of us. They said he worked six days and then he rested, and where did he rest? He rested in me, and he rested in you, so that we have the power, dominion and authority of God to be as magnificent as God is.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“Be faithful and have faith. Understand that with faithfulness, you’re going to have opposition, you’re going to have darkness, you’re going to have negativity, and you’re even going to have words that sting from people who are close to you. I would tell people what you are being told to do, you may not see it as making any sense because of the negativity and darkness that comes with it, but you have to be faithful.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“Preparation is the biggest key to success. You get opportunities in life and you have to be prepared for them. You can never over‐prepare.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“When starting a new business, give your brand and product exposure by using yourself first, and having a story behind it. Why are you doing it? Why should I buy from you instead of someone else? Come up with a real story you can tell, because everybody likes a story, and it's powerful.”
“Also, focus on one thing at a time. As a new business owner, I don't believe you can do 20 things at a time and be good at any of them. Don’t try to be everywhere and everything to everybody.”
“Additionally, be cautious, because when you start something and start to do well, you will be surprised how many friends you get. Most of those people, unfortunately, just want something from you. They care about themselves and what they can get from you. Just be careful about the people you have around you and people you meet on your way up. Not everybody wants the best for you.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“You never give to receive, but it’s important to understand it is impossible to give and not receive. That is how God designed the system. A life of giving and serving humanity is in itself the most rewarding life you’ll ever have. It’s not necessarily about money.”
“Where you are now is going to be over at some point. What do you do with the rest of your life? Be careful about the choices that you make.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“When you get in alignment with your purpose and you’re doing the things you were put on this earth to do, the possibilities are limitless for your life in terms of what you can do and what you can become, as well as the impact you have in the world and on the lives of people around you. It’s all about aligning with the things you’re destined and created to do.”
“I believe if your focus is just on what you can do for yourself, then it’s difficult to be prosperous. If your focus is on what you can create for the world, then it’s much easier to become prosperous financially, spiritually and emotionally.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“Every company, whether they’re small or large, needs to be good corporate citizens. They need to support their communities, to support and engage their employees who are part of their team. For me personally, I think it’s important to give back to the community.”
“I’d like to tell kids there are a lot of things on television and in the world that are distracting or deceiving, and they may keep you from becoming what you want to be. Don't be deceived by what you see on television.”
“For parents, I would make sure that you instill God in your children. Discipline your kids. The word says to train your child in the way he should go, and when he gets older he will not depart from it, but to do that, you have to be a living example for them. My motto is, if you have the right priorities, your priorities will be in order. That’s what we live by. God first, and the rest will fall into place. Actively pursue God.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“In my opinion, we often forget where we came from. We don't cherish life, and it seems that people don't care anymore. I see people who are well known. They're secure and they look down on other people sometimes, so my overall view is everybody should look at each other the same, regardless of religion or background, and help each other. If we can do that, life will be so much easier.”
“God never denies. God sometimes just delays things a little bit. You may often hear people say, “Why me” or “What happened?” God watches over you, and he's holding out for awhile. That does not mean he’s denying you. He’s just delaying it for awhile to test your strength and faith. You'll become a stronger person for it.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“When you get to the end of your rope, when you reach your bottom, then obviously you need to do something different. You have to change your thought process. You have to try something outside of your comfort zone. At that point, you need to grow. Sometimes we become focused on trying to resolve issues by using the same thought process that caused the problem. At that point, it's time to look at things differently.”
“Read something, learn how others are doing things, or just talk to people. Sometimes we get stuck in our own way of doing things when there's outside information available that can help us. Live fully and beyond your fears. You don't always have to know the answers to how you're going to accomplish something, you just need to have the desire and the intent. Have a plan, have an intention and whether or not you know how to achieve something, or whether or not you know how to get where you want to go, things will change.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“We have to be open to opportunities. We have to be present in the moment, because an opportunity can fly pass before you realize it. They don’t always come gift wrapped. Just be aware of what’s going on around you. So many things are being presented that you just don’t know they are happening.”
“Pray
through it. Have vision and pray through any obstacles. Pray, be focused, and understand who you are and whose you are.”
“The first day in my class, I took a $20 bill out of my pocket and showed it to the class. I asked them if I were to give it to someone, who would want to take this $20 bill, no strings attached? Everyone raised their hand. The next thing I did was to crumple it into a ball and throw in the trash can. Then I asked, “Now, who still wants that $20 bill?” Everyone, of course still raised their hand.”
“I told them that shows you that you have worth. No matter what you’ve been told, no matter what your situation is, if someone told you that you couldn’t accomplish something, you must think of yourself as that $20 bill, whether it’s a crisp new bill in a new leather wallet, or if it’s crumpled in the trash can. If you unfold it, you don’t have to iron it to make it look new again. If you take it to the bank, they will accept it. That’s how you should think about your lives.”
“You have to prepare yourself. Always be doing something, and have a plan for where you want to go. By not having a plan, you’re planning to fail.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“Someone’s opinion of you doesn’t have to become your reality. Just because people say something, call you something or project something onto you, you don’t have to embrace it. You don’t have to act on it. You don’t have to react to it. You must learn to discipline yourself to live your life from the inside out, rather than from the outside in. How people live their lives is a result of the story they believe about themselves. Everybody has a story ‐ stories that can inspire, stories that can give hope, stories that can transform lives.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“Cherish those who have touched your heart in some way and appreciate the sacrifices others have made for you. Appreciate the beauty that life has to offer. Living life through patience and time will present extraordinary opportunities you never thought possible. Patience is not only a virtue, but it is necessary in our pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. Give of yourself and you will be richly rewarded.”
“Our thoughts are directly connected to our future and our outcomes, and our greatness lies in the power of our thoughts. If we believe, trust and have faith, I believe it will come to pass because we have called those things into existence.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“You make good plays and bad plays. How are you going to respond to the bad plays? You respond to them by making your next play your best play. That means you go out on the field with a clean slate, clear your mind from what happened yesterday and make today better. Do the same thing the next day, and the next day, and you’ll always make the next move your best move. That same principle applies to everyday life. Always remember to pay it forward.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“There are two words, fear and failure. Fear is just a mental construct. It’s not the wind blowing or grass growing. So, if it’s just a mental construct, you can eliminate it, because it doesn’t exist. The second word is failure. I submit there’s no such thing as failure. You know there are experiences where the outcome is an issue of life, but you’ve gained from it, you’ve learned from it.”
“I think people should eliminate their fear of failure and recognize they need to be an actionaire, and live every moment to its fullest extent. Enjoy life, have some fun, but stay focused on your business activities. If you’re going to do things and build things, build them green, make them sustainable, because we all need to make our contributions to the planet by doing things that are right and energy efficient.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“People on earth seek heaven in the afterlife, but I suggest they look around and feel they are living in heaven right here in America. They can achieve something today, but because their lives have become so complicated and so fast paced, they don’t slow down to enjoy what they've just achieved. They just want to go on to the next thing. I suggest slowing down and enjoying your accomplishments today, and that will provide you with more fuel to reach your second goal.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“The problem most of us have is we don't dream big enough. I think we sell ourselves short, and especially young people by not challenging ourselves enough. You just do what you can where you are with what you've got and keep building on it. One important faith lesson is you're not given all the answers to start with, but if you'll take one step in the direction you think you need to go, there'll be enough light given so you can take another step.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“You can achieve, and you can be great. Nobody is better than anybody else. It’s just a matter of working hard, being dedicated and making sacrifices. It’s a matter of investing in yourself. Fight for your future and understand what it means to be the perfect version of yourself. God invested so much into you, and I feel it’s our duty to make good on those investments.”
“Diversity is about differences and similarities. It’s about organizations being able to get more of what people bring, rather than less of what they bring. The most successful organizations get people to bring more of what they know, more of who they know, more of their experiences and more of their cultural knowledge. If you have two, 2,000 or 200,000 people working for you, you’re better off if you can get them to bring what they know, their connections, their networks, their cultural information, their way of doing things and to bring their best ideas. That’s what diversity and inclusion is about. It’s about getting people to bring their ideas.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“Success can be defined as making money, having an important title, or as getting a lot of resources or material things, but what's important is it has to be self‐directed and self‐driven. When you think about what's significant in your life, when you think about the legacy you want to leave, it isn't necessarily the money that you made or the title that you had, it's the people that you’ve touched. It's the individuals you helped. It's the difference that you were able to make in the world. I think it's so important to think about what your values are, and those values should drive how you spend your time, and how you treat people and how you spend your money.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“If you’re an entrepreneur or small business person, what an awesome place to be, and you’ve got a huge responsibility. You owe it to yourself and your family and everyone to do the right things in order to get there. That’s where you practice the will, skill and refill philosophy where you’re filling your mind with the right things, so you can have the right attitude, the right motivation and the right desire. You’re learning the right things to enhance and grow your business, whether that’s marketing, sales or how to manage your budget.”
“You also owe it to yourself to understand how to have a successful business in all the areas that are important, like sales, marketing, budgeting, product development and operations. Take inventory to see what you’re good at and what you’re not good at, and then get the skills in the areas where you need improvement.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“Customer experience is crucial. You need to be able to target them, data mine and know who the niche customers are, and what customers you want to come back to you. Try to build a loyalty program, such as a rewards program. Try to build data‐driven marketing campaigns, whether it's email or point‐of‐purchase, or in general, engaging in marketing campaigns that will bring the customers back.”
“You cannot start a business without having a repeat and retention strategy that is data‐driven. At the end of the day when building a company, it's about people, so you need to build a team of excellent people.”
“When you change your mindset, you change your life. You have to realize that you have to change your mindset if you’re in the wrong place. Sometimes you have to realize that no matter how hard it is, when you change your environment, you can also change your life.”
Extraordinary Profiles
“Take more personal responsibility for your health, because in the long‐term, it’s the only thing of real value you have. Once you’ve got your health, you can have relationships that work and the ability to produce income, if that’s one of your quests. You can travel the world if you’re seeking experiences, and you can apply your money to worthy causes and make a difference.”
“Life is short, and in order for it to be meaningful, you need to leave a legacy, which is why I wake up every morning and I ask myself this question: Is this the greatest value and benefit that I can deliver to the world? That is the question I challenge everyone to ask themselves, and if it’s not, you want to step up and pursue that passion.”
“You must wake up, and dream big dreams. You must show up and always give your best. You must stand up and become the leader that’s within you. You must step up to the plate and swing for the center. And last, but not least, you must think up and make up your mind to win.”
“The only thing you can do each day is get better or get worse. You never stay the same. If you can come to the end of each day and say, “I got better,” then it was a good day. People who think they can just coast and continue on the same path are getting worse, because someone else is getting better.”
