HODGEPODGE BLOG

Linda Ellis has mastered the art of communicating the “Simple Truths of Life.” Her famous poem, The Dash, has only 239 words, but truly captures why we were put on this earth. Since we released the 3 minute “Dash movie,” over 30 million people have watched it on the internet and the feedback from around the world has been nothing short of amazing!

Today, however, we’re proud to bring you Linda’s new movie, Simple Truths of Life. The photographs, the music, but especially the words, are presented in an unforgettable way. Just sit back, turn up your speakers and click here to watch the Simple Truths of Life. And just in case you haven’t seen The Dash, come back and clcik here. You’ll get a “double shot” of inspiration! And feel free to share it by forwarding this email to friends and co-workers. They’ll love you for it!

To Life

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
Acts 16:6

A missed flight connection puts you in a seat next to someone bearing a heavy load in life.

A wrong turn takes you by an outreach center you had never heard of.

A waitress opens up and shares some difficulties she is experiencing.

A conflict with a neighbor becomes the open door for a new relationship.

Ask God to lead you, and He just might put you in the right place at the right time to accomplish something for Him. You never know what seemingly mundane occurrence can be an opportunity to serve Him.

Click here  for a fresh dose of inspiration to find and fulfill God’s purpose for you, and pass this note along to a friend who might need a little encouragement today.

The teacher of teachers gives His guidance noiselessly. I have never heard Him speak, and yet I know that He is within me.
Therese of Lisieux

What’s holding you back from living a second mile life today?

Be Inspired and Inspire others,
Troy Johnson

He was named “Coach of the Century” by ESPN. The Super Bowl Trophy is named in his honor. And almost forty years after his death, legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s words still ring true: “Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization – an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same.” His classic words, along with vintage photography, are presented in a beautiful gift book and movie titled What It Takes to Be Number One. Whether your team plays on the field or in the boardroom, this timeless message will inspire you to be number one.

Just click here to watch our What It Takes to be Number One movie and hear excerpts of Lombardi’s most famous speech. It gave me “goose bumps” the first time I heard it!

Also, today, to celebrate next weekend’s Super Bowl XLIV, we’re pleased to offer What It Takes to be Number One book, our 3 minute movie and the 20 minute audio CD of Lombardi speaking to a live audience, for only $12.00 (regular price is $19.95, a 40% savings). This also makes a treasured gift for any sports fan you know!

Note: This offer expires at 11:59PM CST on Monday February 1, 2010.

Live with Passion,

What it Takes to Be #1 with Audio CD and FREE DVD

The 212° concept is one of the most powerful communication ideas that I have experienced in my 30 years as an entrepreneur. Almost 4 years ago, Sam Parker and I wrote the Simple Truths gift book titled, 212 – The Extra Degree  and it has been successful beyond my wildest dreams!

If you’re not familiar, here’s the idea:

At 211 degrees…water is hot.
At 212 degrees…it boils.
And with boiling water, comes steam.
And steam can power a locomotive.
And, it’s that one extra degree that…
Makes all the difference.

So many times, in business and in life, it’s that one extra degree of effort that separates the good from the great.

What I love about the 212° idea is that you can use it to fit your own needs. It may be 212° service that you’d like to reinforce, or 212° attitude, leadership, or quality. Or maybe, you’ll choose to build your entire culture around the 212° concept…to differentiate you from your competition.

The real beauty of 212° is the simplicity of the idea. Once explained…everybody gets it. And once you get it…it’s hard to forget!

If you were to ask me what books from Simple Truths are “must haves” to start your Simple Truths library - 212: The Extra Degree would be at the top of the list. I guarantee you will love the rest of the stories found in this best-selling gift book only available from Simple Truths.In fact your purchase is 100% guaranteed. If you are not satisfied you can return any purchase for a refund.

Just click here to watch our 3 minute inspirational movie or to look inside the book.

All the Best,

212 – The Extra Degree with FREE DVD

It’s a society where teamwork, loyalty and communication are the norm rather than the exception. Sound like utopia? Actually, it’s already present in nature – in a wolf pack. The wolf pack knows who it is. Those in the pack exist for each other.

Twyman Towery, Ph.D., a professional speaker and consultant who studied the lessons of leadership in nature, has captured them in a new book for Simple Truths called Wisdom of Wolves. Twyman shares the parallels between the wolf pack and human behavior…in business life, family life, and personal life.

Today, I’d like to share a chapter from Wisdom of Wolves. Who knew that the key to success might just be patterning your attitude after that of a wolf?

The Introduction from
Wisdom of Wolves
by Twyman Towery

The attitude of the wolf can be summed up simply: it is a constant visualization of success. The collective wisdom of wolves has been progressively programmed into their genetic makeup throughout the centuries. Wolves have mastered the technique of focusing their energies toward the activities that will lead to the accomplishment of their goals.

Wolves do not aimlessly run around their intended victims, yipping and yapping. They have a strategic plan and execute it through constant communication. When the moment of truth arrives, each understands his role and understands exactly what the pack expects of him.

The wolf does not depend on luck. The cohesion, teamwork and training of the pack determines whether the pack lives or dies.

There is a silly maxim in some organizations that everyone, to be a valuable member, must aspire to be the leader. This is personified by the misguided CEO who says he only hires people who say they want to take his job. Evidently, this is supposed to ensure that the person has ambition, courage, spunk, honesty, drive – whatever. In reality, it is simply a contrived situation, with the interviewee jumping through the boss’s hoops. It sends warnings of competition and one-upmanship throughout the organization rather than signals of cooperation, teamwork and loyalty.

Everyone does not strive to be the leader in the wolf pack. Some are consummate hunters or caregivers or jokesters, but each seems to gravitate to the role he does best. This is not to say there are not challenges to authority, position and status – there are. But each wolf’s role begins emerging from playtime as a pup and refines itself through the rest of its years. The wolf’s attitude is always based upon the question, “What is best for the pack?” This is in marked contrast to us humans, who will often sabotage our organizations, families or businesses, if we do not get what we want.

Wolves are seldom truly threatened by other animals. By constantly engaging their senses and skills, they are practically unassailable. They are masters of planning for the moment of opportunity to present itself, and when it does, they are ready to act.

Because of training, preparation, planning, communication and a preference for action, the wolf’s expectation is always to be victorious. While in actuality this is true only 10 percent of the time or less, the wolf’s attitude is always that success will come-and it does.

Because of training, preparation, planning, communication and a preference for action, the wolf’s expectation is always to be victorious. While in actuality this is true only 10 percent of the time or less, the wolf’s attitude is always that success will come-and it does.

Wisdom of Wolves is one of the most fascinating books I’ve read. I could not put it down!                      Just  click here for more information or to look inside the book.

Wisdom of Wolves

“Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.”

Albert Schweitzer said these words and how very true they are. We’ve all had times in our life when we desperately needed a “shot of inspiration” to move forward. Kate Nowak, has written a beautiful book that truly brings this idea to life. May You Be Blessed is not about religious beliefs…it’s about joy, appreciation, kindness and love. It is filled with inspiring stories, beautiful photographs and life-changing insights. I loved it and think you will too

May You Be Blessed with FREE DVD

It is no secret that thousands of people make money blogging…but many more thousands of people blog and don’t make a dime. In many cases it’s just that they don’t want to –they are blogging strictly for fun. And that’s all right. Blogging can be a great way to connect with other people who share your interests or to reach out to friends and family. Blogging can give back to you in plenty of ways that have nothing to do with money. In fact, if I didn’t get a dime I would still blog. But in these hard times, who wouldn’t appreciate some extra money every month?

You have probably seen ads for blogging programs that promise you can make $90,000 a month. I guess there are a handful of bloggers doing that –but I’m going to pass on talking about wild claims. The fact is that you can make good money blogging –and you can have a lot of fun doing it.

Some people might consider me an “old dog.” After all, I’ve been an entrepreneur for more than 30 years, but you better believe that I’m always looking to learn “new tricks!” My goal is to never stop growing and to always keep my mind open to fresh solutions.

One solution we’re all looking for these days is a way to accomplish more in our limited time. Author Amy Jones takes us back to the basics in Twice as Much in Half the Time- Secrets to Simplifying Your Life. It’s loaded with nuggets that will make a positive difference in your life.

Here’s an excerpt. Enjoy!

Excerpt from: Twice as Much in Half the Time,
by Amy Jones

What does it mean to manage your time (and life) better? Simply put, it means to live your life in such a way that you are able to accomplish more, so that at the end of each day you can realize measurable results and enjoy a sense of fulfillment. This often involves learning to do things differently so that the outcomes are more efficient and effective (and even less time-consuming) than before. After reading from countless resources and speaking to over half a million people on the subject of time management, I have come up with a simple truth. Learning to manage your life and your time isn’t rocket science. Anyone can do it! In fact, it is often the simple things you can do that will make profound differences. Sometimes you even have to go backward in order to go forward; so let’s go back-to-basics with this example.

First, grab a pencil and paper. Think back to the time you started school, all the way back to kindergarten. One of the first things you learned was how to identify shapes. Next you learned to draw them. On that sheet of paper I want you to do something very simple. Draw one triangle. That was simple, wasn’t it? Now, draw as many triangles as you can in twenty seconds. Stop. Count how many you were able to draw. Write down that number. Do you think there might be another way to complete this activity and draw more in less time?

Start at one side of the paper and draw connected W’s all the way across the page. Now put a line across the top and the bottom. See how many you can draw in twenty seconds using this method. Wow, that creates a lot of triangles! In only a few seconds you have learned to do this activity more efficiently and effectively in a much shorter amount of time. A seemingly insignificant change can make a significant difference in what can be accomplished in a given amount of time. In fact, you most likely made up to four or five times as many triangles the second time around.

What if you could do four or five times your sales volume by making a simple change? Or what if you could get four or five times as much done each day by making a simple change? Would that work for you?

If so, always be on the lookout for “new” ways to do “old” things, and keep your mind open to using alternative methods and plans of action. This book is filled with simple things that can make a profound difference. Are you ready to learn some new ways to manage your life and your time even better?

Then let’s get started!

 For more information or look inside the book, just click here Twice As Much In Half The Time.
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Finish Strong in 2009,